Healing California

The Center for Health Journalism has teamed with ethnic media organizations in California to report together on health equity, immigrant health, community well-being and gaps in health care in a unique collaborative learning effort. Learn more about the initiative here

By
Mariana Duran

Health care providers in San Francisco are taking note of a growing interest in acupuncture among Latinos. In January 2025, the Mission Neighborhood Health Center (MNHC) opened its first acupuncture clinic in the Mission District, offering free and sliding-scale services. Appointments are now booked almost two months in advance. Many are middle-aged Latinos working low-paying, labor intensive jobs and Acupuncture helps them manage workplace injuries and chronic pain from years of hard labor. 

By
Carlos Alberto Trestini

Cuts to the food assistance program CalFresh in California could impact more than 735,000 beneficiaries. Latinos make up about 55% of all participants, making the program critical to address food insecurity within the community. These families often face disproportionate challenges in affording food, and program cuts could have a significant negative impact.

By
Jian Zhao

When both her children came out as queer, Janice Lee struggled initially to accept, but it didn’t take her long to come to terms with it. She read a lot and made the effort to learn about sexuality and gender identities. In many Asian households, changes are taking place, as parents challenge long-standing patterns of shame and silence around LGBTQ+ identity.

By
Robert Hansen

Although California has banned suspensions for “willful defiance” in grades K-12, both Elk Grove Unified and Sacramento City Unified school districts continued to suspend students for defiance during the 2023-24 school year, according to an OBSERVER analysis. The issue has gained new relevance as federal policies under the Trump administration threaten funding for schools that implement equity-based discipline practices.