Speaker 0: All right. We're going to go to item 25, you.
Speaker 2: Adam, 25, is a communications from councilmen, a chair of the Government Personnel and Election Oversight Committee. Recommendation to approve the naming of the newly renovated North Health Facility, the Ron R Arias Health Equity Center.
Speaker 0: Okay. I'm happy to make this make this motion. Here we have a video to prepare. But I want to start by thanking Chair Hoover now for taking up this item. We're excited about this facility and and particularly the dedication, the approval of the dedication of this name, Ronald Arias Health Equity Center on our tech services. The pull up of video. Hi. I'm one of these Vice Mayor Rex Richardson and welcome to go Long Beach. In recent years, the city has made investments into advancing community health and equity for the residents of our city. And we're excited to announce the city's first health equity center at Horton Park in North Long Beach. And we are particularly honored to propose the naming of this facility in honor of the father of our modern health department, Ron Arias. Let's hear from community stakeholders on why this facility is so vital for our community. Well, the importance of health equity is basically trying to assure that the entire community has a standard of health. The problem that we've encountered over the over the years is that many parts of our community have been left out.
Speaker 1: Traditionally, we've had neighborhoods that have been severely impacted by environmental factors, and the families that live in those areas suffer more. And so there needs to be more advocacy and more resources in those areas to fight those inequities of having a healthy environment.
Speaker 4: If the community is healthy, that can be a healthy workforce or a healthy student base. Then that leads to people who are alert. People are hungry to learn and people who are motivated to do better for themselves. And I think health equity is the essence of that type of success.
Speaker 5: So this new Center for Health Equity really gives us that opportunity to start to create the services needed, the connections, all of us to be able to to build more health equity within our city. We have a center for families and youth in North Miami, and in that space is really focused on family preservation and working to strengthen families and then also some work with the school district. We're expanding those opportunities now, really focusing continue to strengthen families, but also building our new Office of Youth Development. For people to be well, healthy and well, they have to have strong mentors, strong opportunities for education. So that will be there as well as our violence prevention efforts. The workforce development will be co-located at the site to provide workforce opportunities for people reentering out of incarcerated settings as well as for as for youth. So we really we've launched a number of other different programs and all of those will be offered there as well
Speaker 4: . This is important to North Long Beach because it allows access more freely to people who live in that area. They don't have to worry about barriers such as transportation. They are in a familiar neighborhood where they feel comfortable maybe going back and forth for many reasons, and they can build relationships with the staff there.
Speaker 5: So there's so many opportunities for community based organizations, community members to meet and gauge plan and really do their work for the for north on.
Speaker 4: Public health looks at all of this and begins to try and put pieces into place that.
Speaker 0: Will improve the outcomes and give particularly children the opportunity to grow up healthy and to succeed.
Speaker 1: So Ryan strongly believes that regardless of where you live in the city of Long Beach, you should have equal access to health resources to be able to have that resource there and be named after Ron Arias. I think that really speaks really loud about how committed we are to having a community center named after someone that is community and that represents community and trust. And I think those are key factors.
Speaker 4: The trust factor starts with the name on the building, but it ends with the compassion and empathy of the staff within. And given that the health department, which I'm sure they will staff that building with people who care, staff that building who carry on the legacy of someone like Ron Arias, who believes in the people that they serve and believe that they deserve a better quality of life. That is an example of the trust that the name begins with and the service ends with. And as a result, we have a healthier community.
Speaker 5: We've been building off his legacy for the last eight years in that work and really naming equity as a key space. And so we're just really proud to be able to do that.
Speaker 1: As difficult as it has been sometimes. He really pushed and advocated for community health. So I'm really proud that he's being recognized for his work and for his dedication and his passion.
Speaker 0: The naming of the building after me is a very humbling experience, to be very honest with you. I mean, I always felt that I was just doing my job and I tried to do the best job that I possibly could. But it also reflects on the staff team that we had at the Long Beach Health Department, which was an incredible team that was committed to trying to make positive changes in the community that we work in. So you've heard from our stakeholders. This new facility will have health care services for our community, a workforce center, reentry services. These are all things that our communities need to thrive. And you see why Ron Artest is the perfect namesake for our new proposed Ron Arias health equity center. Among these, vice mayor Rex Richardson. And thanks for watching. Go on these. All right. So thanks to L.B. TV and all the guests in that video, I think they summed it up. We're excited to open this the center in the next month. Our construction is complete and Ron is excited for this facility. I think the name reflects the intention of the programs and services within. And so that said, I'm happy to make this motion seconded by Councilman Austin. Thank you, and I'm happy to second this motion. Ron is a great individual who served this city for many, many years, as you heard in the video. He exemplifies health equity and legacy in the city of Long Beach. And so it just happens to be a district resident who is somebody who I think we all lean on for advice and good counsel. His wisdom here in the city of Long Beach for many years. I know I have. And I'm happy to second this motion as important as this the final in fact that councilmember to. I want to thank my fellow council members for bringing that forward. Abdul Rahman, since. Well, let me just say, I've known for a long time. Over 40 years. Admiral Ryan has seen him develop over the years that he's seen me and I've had the honor of working with Ryan when he was director of the Health and Human Services Department. I was his administrative officer for six years, so I had a lot of good close communication with him. His wife, Phyllis, was my tutor when I was at Cal State Long Beach. That's how far back we go. So I'm honored to know Ron and very enthusiastically support the naming of this facility in his honor. Thank you. Thank you. Calcium is in there.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Vice Mayor, and congratulations on the senator. And congratulations on picking such a wonderful person to me, even after I know when I first got introduced not only to the Health Department, but when I was working finance and Saint Mary's Medical Center. He was someone that I really admired very much because of his commitment to the community and to health. Back then it was over 20 years ago, but I feel the same way today and I'm so very happy to be able to support this item. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Fantastic. Thank you. Welcome. Congratulations in advance to Ron. We we've not we've all known you a long time and we think this is a very appropriate fitting dedication. And we look forward to the ceremony in about a month. That said, there's no public comment. Members, please cast your vote.
Recommendation to approve the naming of the newly renovated North Health Facility, “The Ronald R. Arias Health Equity Center”, in recognition of the legacy, contributions and services of former Long Beach Director of Health and Human Services Ronald R. Arias.