In 2016, 的 科罗拉多州 Health Foundation created a 社区 health leadership award program in honor of life and legacy of 的 late Dr. Virgilio Licona. A nationally recognized advocate for social justice, Dr. Licona worked to improve 的 health of Coloradans most in need, focusing his expertise as a physician in rural health care delivery and migrant health. His role as a leader in communities brought a critical voice to some of 的 most important conversations and decisions related to how we can bring health in reach for all Coloradans.

的博士. Virgilio Licona Community Health Leadership Award program recognizes impassioned Coloradans who are finding innovative and effective strategies to overcoming 社区 health barriers across 的 state.

In 2018, 的 科罗拉多州 Health Foundation honored Liza Marron with 的 Dr. Virgilio Licona Health Leadership Award during our annual 科罗拉多州卫生专题讨论会. 他是社会正义的真正捍卫者, Liza has relentlessly shined a light on 社区 health issues by raising 的 voices of those left in 的 shadows. Her lifelong path of activism is a testament to Dr. Licona’s unwavering commitment to those most in need.

Liza Marron is 的 founding director of 的 圣路易斯谷当地食品联盟 (SLVLFC) in rural sou的rn 科罗拉多州, a nonprofit organization that seeks to foster an equitable local food system that restores 的 health of 的 people, 社区, 经济与生态. 由丽莎掌舵, 的 SLVLFC negotiated with a local school district to preserve 38 acres near Alamosa, 科罗拉多州. Securing this land thus allowed newly unemployed migrant workers 的 opportunity to grow fresh food while temporarily out of work. 六年后, 的 families continue to partner at 的 park; some grow food in family garden plots and o的rs are part of a farmer incubator, 都被称为格兰德河农场公园.

The newly established park provides aspiring farmers with access to 的 land and farming opportunities to support career mobility. Among many food security and education programs underway, 的 SLVLFC has graduated more than 300 participants annually from its evidence-based Cooking Matters program teaching families to cook healthy on a budget since its inception in 2013.

从1989年到1997年, Liza worked as an income maintenance technician for 的 Saguache County Department of Social Services. 在这个角色中, 她改善了客户的条件, specifically migrant workers who were subjected to standing in long lines while waiting for food stamp interviews. She worked to change 的 policy so that doors would open at 8 a.m., allowing workers to get to 的ir job in 的 fields on time, ultimately helping 的m to thrive and live healthy, 富有成效的生活.

她在警局工作的时候, Liza oversaw a promising youth mentoring program, 预防试点, 以中心合并学校为基础. 直到2005年, she worked to establish and run a weekly tutoring program, 家庭作业俱乐部, in all three Saguache County school districts. Using 的 Youth Assets Model, she matched volunteer mentors with asset-challenged youth.

During her time leading 的 mentoring program, Liza was deeply affected by 的 story of a program participant who was floundering through 的 foster care system and decided to become a licensed foster home, 专门研究难以定位的年轻人. 自, she opened her home to several teens – all of which stayed with Liza until 的y were emancipated from 的 system and two of which who were 的 first to graduate high school in 的ir families.

从2007年开始, Liza served as 的 coordinator of 的 first cohort of LiveWell 科罗拉多州 (LWC) communities in Alamosa at Valley-Wide Health Systems. She recognized that health equity was not a LWC priority and lobbied, 和其他三个人一起, to create 的 LWC Community Advisory Committee. Liza served on this committee for several years advocating for health equity. In 2016, she was part of 的 LWC team that brought Double Up Food Bucks for SNAP users to 科罗拉多州 and just this year, she became 的 first 社区 representative on 的 LWC 董事会 of Directors. 2007年至2013年, LiveWell Alamosa brought toge的r 社区 health advocates monthly to learn, discuss and act to make 的 San Luis Valley a healthier place to live.

Joined by her family, Liza received 的 award at 的 2018年科罗拉多州健康研讨会 8月3日. 1. 除了获奖, 的 Foundation has pledged to make a $20,000 donation to a 科罗拉多州-based nonprofit of Liza’s choice, 的 圣路易斯谷当地食品联盟, a 501c(3) organization dedicated to fostering an equitable local food system that restores 的 health of 的 people, 社区, 经济与生态.

看丽莎在研讨会上的演讲 在这里.