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conferenceseries .com
Volume 7, Issue 7 (Suppl) J Obes Weight Loss Ther, an open access journal
ISSN:2165-7904 Obesity & Fitness Expo 2017
November 13-15, 2017
November 13-15, 2017 | Atlanta, USA 17th World Fitness Expo
16th International Conference and Exhibition on
Obesity & Weight Management
&
Cultivating health equity in California’s San Joaquin valley
Genoveva Islas
Cultiva La Salud,USA
C alifornia’s San Joaquin Valley is the backdrop for Cultiva La Salud; six representative low-income Latino communities are focus
sites for intervention including Turlock, Ceres, Southeast Fresno, Orange Cove, Southeast Bakersfield and Arvin. The primary
purpose of Cultiva La Salud is to reduce the experience of health disparities among Latinos in the targeted communities through
interventions that address poor nutrition and physical inactivity. To prevent chronic disease and promote health equity, Central
Valley communities need population-based strategies that create greater access to healthy foods and beverages and promote physical
activity. Cultiva La Salud has promoted equity and actualized opportunities to cultivate healthier communities by engaging residents
in planning, implementation and evaluation processes, building their capacity to be advocates for change and encouraging their
collective voice and influence for action. To further ensconce equity as an outcome Cultiva La Salud has connected interventions
with opportunities for economic development and civic engagement; these two areas help to address the vulnerability experienced
in the targeted communities related to poverty and power imbalances. Cultiva La Salud is designed with the belief that equity will be
achieved in California’s San Joaquin Valley when every Latino has the opportunity to attain his or her full health potential and they
are not disadvantaged from achieving their potential because of social position or circumstance.
Biography
Genoveva Islas has earned her Bachelors of Science in Health Science with an emphasis in Community Health from California State University, Fresno and received a Mas-
ters in Public Health degree in Health Education and promotion from Loma Linda University. She is the Program Director of Cultiva La Salud. Cultiva is dedicated to creating
healthier communities in the San Joaquin Valley by fostering policies, systems and environmental improvements to allow for greater access to healthy foods/beverages and
increased opportunities for physical activity. She is a recognized Culture of Health Leader by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Genoveva Islas, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2017, 7:7 (Suppl)
DOI: 10.4172/2165-7904-C1-54