Together Toward Health Partner El Sol Recognized by the White House

Throughout the pandemic, Together Toward Health community-based groups made impacts locally, and in July 2021 one community-based partner was recognized nationally for their work to end the pandemic.

El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center in San Bernardino was celebrated in Washington, D.C. for its creative and comprehensive outreach efforts to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19 in their community. Dr. Anthony Fauci publicly lauded El Sol in a tribute video, and two El Sol promotores were invited to the White House to be honored for their crucial grassroots efforts.

El Sol’s innovative efforts included using popular music videos to reach Spanish-speakers and youth and leading capacity building support for all TTH grantees, such as community health worker certification and safety trainings. Other notable successes included the organization’s ability to secure additional support, on referral from TTH to new opportunities, including receiving $10,000 worth of Uber rides for people to get vaccinated and expanding their call center and helpline support.

El Sol’s COVID-19 prevention efforts have helped save countless lives and overcome vaccine access barriers in rural areas among at-risk community members. Their Captain Empath video and comic book series are available in English and Spanish for any organization to help communicate about vaccination and mental health topics related to COVID-19. The national recognition  validates the hard work of all Together Toward Health grantees as organizations who helped create the playbook for equitable practices that communities across the nation can emulate.

See some of El Sol’s videos, below.