TODOS UNIDOS

Article published on April 2007 by California Department of Health Services

Some aspect of being a local community-based organization are nearly impossible for larger organizations to replicate. The local agency, the staff and volunteers that run them are often directly from the community, sharing a common history and commitment. When Carlos Torres of TODOS UNIDOS talks with anglers in Bay Point, Pittsburg and Antioch, his son Angelo often joins him, making it clear that he's no stranger in the community. The community is a part of who he is.

Similarly, TODOS UNIDOS roots reach deep into the East County of Contra Costa communities, stretching out to immigrants and refugees, anglers, farmers, mothers, and teens. Their mission is to raise the health, economic, education, social, and cultural levels of underserved Latino families. In 2006, TODOS UNIDOS participated in 17 fairs and conferences, ranging from the 2006 Women's Summit to the yearly Almond Festival and Corn fest. They met with clients from the Young Latina Mothers Group as well as the Refugee Health Promotion and Disease Prevention program. They conducted five workshops at health clinics, parent groups, seniors and Head Start programs, and reached an estimated 1500 individuals with a personal message about fish consumption.

In order to work with such a diverse population, TODOS UNIDOS tailors their communication to fit their clients. Like other mini grant agencies, they found that people often stopped eating fish completely when informed about mercury and other contaminants. So, TODOS UNIDOS decided to emphasize the benefits of safe fish consumption. Their approach begins with connecting the home to the larger environment, encouraging clients to look at how their personal behaviors may affect the world around them. They participated with TODOS UNIDOS volunteers in a community clean-up day with the East Bay Parks District at the new park area of the Bay Point Waterfront. In addition, they manned a booth at the Antioch Community Environmental Fair.

TODOS UNIDOS also collaborates with other agencies with overlapping interests. Their educational display places fish mercury information, "Eat Delta Fish Safety" sign, maps of the watershed Delta region right beside guidance on how to dispose of mercury products like light bulbs, thermometers, and batteries-once again connecting personal behaviors to the larger issue. Similarly, they are modifying their distribution plan sending informational materials to the Contra Costa County public library system.

TODOS UNIDOS has many plans for the future. Their website is midway through its construction and already prominently features mercury in fish information. They hope to strengthen relationships and collaboration with the sanitation department that processes mercury waste products, and put up posters and materials in the local libraries.
They are also committed to holding more workshops and community events, and expanding their use of the media through public service announcements. Additionally, they will reach out to Latino organizations in the South Delta and San Joaquin River valley to coordinate outreach efforts around a new fish safety advisory that will be issued for these areas.