Entries by Dr. Frecia Gonzalez

Looking to Empower Staff in 2022? Four Steps to Implementing a Peer Mentoring Program

Traditional mentorship in the workplace has focused on connecting an expert with someone new to the workforce. Workplace mentoring programs have been shown to benefit staff. They increase engagement, improve retention, and provide opportunities to develop skills. In the last decade, technological advancements and the influx of a younger labor force have tipped workplace mentoring […]

IPS Wins Sierra Health Foundation Grant

New program will support the Latinx immigrant youth community in the San Diego border region SAN DIEGO, December 1, 2021 – The Institute for Public Strategies announced it has received a grant to address substance use in the Latinx immigrant youth community along the Mexican border. The grant comes from Elevate Youth California, a project of The Center […]

Transgender Remembrance Day, November 20

The Institute for Public Strategies acknowledges and mourns the loss of transgender and gender diverse lives this past year, many of whom are often nameless. We commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance to bring awareness to the violence committed against transgender and gender diverse people who are endeavoring to live their lives authentically. We commit to […]

Our Right to Protest is Under Assault

“Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” — Congressman John Lewis Peaceful protestors have been redeeming the soul of America since its founding. They are among our nation’s heroes. Labor rights, women’s suffrage, civil rights, gay rights, voting rights, reproductive rights, […]

Misinformation About COVID-19 is a Crime that Should Have Consequences

As seen on the San Diego Union-Tribune. Some people’s staunch allegiance to misinformation about COVID-19 was sadly unmistakable at a San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting on Aug. 31 when the board declared health misinformation a public health crisis. Despite opposition from close to 200 people and hostility from some of speakers at a […]

Vaccination is Our Best Path to Ending the COVID-19 Pandemic

As a public health nonprofit agency working in many diverse communities, we aim to help mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 virus, which has hit under-resourced communities the most. A focus on prevention not only makes good sense, but in the case of vaccination, saves lives. Data show not only higher COVID-19 impacts in communities […]

Institute for Public Strategies to Present Community Power and Equity Case Study at APHA Annual Conference

SAN DIEGO, August 2021 – An Institute for Public Strategies (IPS) program manager has been selected to present this year on health inequities in communities of color at the prestigious American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting and Expo in Denver. The APHA event is the largest and most influential gathering of public health professionals, with this […]

Five Youth Engagement Strategies that Work (Even During a Pandemic)

Youth can be the most effective advocates and change makers. But for those of us in public health, engaging youth during the pandemic has been challenging for a myriad of reasons (zoom fatigue tops the list). In addition, students have busy schedules, competing interests and limited availability. This article provides five how-tos from three professionals […]