Alianza Poder Community Health Workers Hub
The Alianza Poder Community Health Workers Hub is an emerging program within the Capaces Leadership Institute. The purpose of this program is to serve our local communities in Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties by improving community health and promoting health equity through a culturally responsive training that is focused primarily on social determinants of health and adverse community environments. The training will be designed to certify local BIPOC CHWs through the Oregon Health Authority. Beyond training for certification, the Alianza Poder Community Health Workers Hub will provide seed money for alliance partners to increase CHWs on their teams. Thereby, increasing the quantity of CHW’s in the area, equip trainees with the information, education, and resources on local social determinants of health, and in turn, improve community health and promote health equity in our communities.
Our intention is to achieve these four major outcomes:
- Establish a local training resource that is Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate
- Establish a local Hub for Coordination and Support of Community Health Workers
- Increase the number of BIPOC-led CBOs employing CHWs in our region
- To have 10 BIPOC CHWs working in BIPOC-led CBOs in our region by 2024
Meet The Team...
Levi Herrera-Lopez has been Executive Director of the Mano a Mano Family Center since 2010. Levi has held various roles including Coordinator of multiple community engagement and/or direct service projects, before ultimately being appointed as Executive Director in 2010. As Executive Director to the oldest Latino-led community-based organization, Mr. Herrera-Lopez is sought out regularly for his knowledge of this important population (about 25% of the population). He has served in many community roles, including the Marion County Children and Families Commission, advisory committees to local law enforcement, and with the local School District. As Executive Director, he oversaw a partnership with other nonprofits in Salem, Oregon that resulted in having the first Latina Community Health Worker certified and housed at the Mano a Mano Family Center. Since that time, he has continued to provide oversight and guidance to the team of CHWs at Mano a Mano.
Born in Las Ranas Michoacan, Mexico. In 1990 he immigrated to Salem, Oregon with his family. Jaime worked as a farmworker picking crops for 12 years. In 2005, he began working with Farmworker Housing Development Corporation (FHDC) as a Community Organizer and later became Director of Fund Development. From 2013-2017 Jaime was Secretary-Treasurer for PCUN and the Executive Director of Accion Politica PCUNista (APP), Oregon’s Latino progressive 501c4 organization. In 2011, Jaime was recognized by Shelterforce, the oldest community, economic development magazine in the nation, and selected as one of 6 under 36 young leaders in the country. Jaime serves on several boards including Western Oregon University’s Board of Trustees, Oregon’s Youth Development Council, and the Marion County Children and Families Advisory Commission.
Jules was born in Patamban, Michoacan. At the age of 5 her family immigrated to Newberg, Oregon. Although Jules considers Newberg her hometown, her Indigenous Purépecha roots continue to play a key role in her professional work and community service. Jules graduated with a double major from the University of Oregon in 2017 with a BA in Law and Human Rights & Spanish Literature. She is currently finishing up her Master’s program in Nonprofit Leadership. In her free time you will find Jules training for a half marathon, dancing or catching up on the latest political updates.
Susana is a proud first-generation immigrant, daughter of immigrants. In her pursuits to higher education, she immersed herself into her community and has been heavily involved with first generation students pursuing higher education. In 2016, Susana attended Chemeketa Community College where she received an Associates in General Studies and in 2018, she transferred to Western Oregon University and graduated with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Social Science, Humanities, and Biology. During her free time, you will find her hiking, playing tennis, or freelancing as a local Photographer in the area. Her life mission is to inspire and amplify the voices of her community, all in hopes for a better tomorrow.
