Elisa Nicholas, MD, MSPH

Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma’s Project Director and founder Dr. Nicholas has a Master’s of Science in Public Health, and in addition to pediatrics, completed a residency in preventative medicine. She is a nationally known leader in community health and health care delivery to underserved populations. Dr. Nicholas is Chief of Staff at Miller Children’s Hospital, is a steering committee member of California Asthma Partners and is a member of Children’s Asthma Management Program (AMP). She has received numerous awards in asthma care and community health programs, such as, Senator Alan Lowenthal’s “Women of the Year” award, the California League of Conservation Voters 5th Annual Environmental Leadership Award, the Community Service Award from Blue Cross and the Community Health Star Award from the Clinic Association of Los Angeles County.

 Erin Huffer, MPH

Erin Huffer, Project Manager.
 

 Gerardo Gómez

Gerardo Gomez, Assistant Project Coordinator, has a Bachelors of science in Healthcare Administration and Master’s in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from CSULB.  He gained an interest in the Latino Health Professionals Project (LHPP), a project that intends to place more Latinos in professional positions in the area of healthcare.  Emphasized by the fact that our community needs health care personnel and administrators who are capable of identifying and providing an efficient service – both culturally and linguistically – Gerardo’s work with LBACA has enabled him to contribute to the community in a meaningful way.

 Maria Garcia

Maria Garcia has been a Community Health Worker for the Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma for almost four years.  She has completed Health Leadership Trainings through The Children’s Clinic, Neighborhood Leadership Training through Long Beach City, and other extensive trainings.  Working with families to help them control their children’s asthma is very fulfilling.  As a resident of Long Beach, it has been and continues to be a very rewarding and satisfying job.  Her goal is to continue working closely with parents and making a difference.  As a wife and mother she feels that having a healthy and active family is essential in being able to enjoy what our great city has to offer.

Phaktra Huch

Phaktra was born in Cambodia and came to America 30 years ago as a refugee.  Phaktra has resided in Long Beach since 1993.  She has been working at Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma for over 2 years as a CHW. She does volunteer work at her children's school, Anaheim Community Police Center, Cambodian Community Organizations and community events.  She likes her job very much and feels it is rewarding seeing the changes in families’ lives with asthma after receiving our services.  She is hoping this program will continue for many years to come.

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Irene Mineses

Irene Mineses is a CHW at the Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma.  She began working at LBACA two years ago and has enjoyed working with Long Beach families and community. She especially enjoys being part of the LBACA family.  Her top priority is to help families become empowered through the acquisition of asthma health knowledge.  Being a mother of three children she knows how important it is to see children be happy and healthy.  One of her goals is to gain more knowledge to better serve the families and communities and work with them in achieving their goals in relation to asthma.

Herendira Razcon

Herendira Razcon has always demonstrated a passion for working in and serving her community. She began working in her community of Long Beach as a volunteer in 1996. Her volunteer work began at the Juvenile Crime Prevention Program (JCPP), where she was on the Financial Board, which was in charge of providing fiscal support to fund community improvement projects. She later became employed at JCPP as a Community Worker. She has taken part in several Leadership trainings such as the Kellogg Institute Training program at California State University of Long Beach, The Long Beach Partnership for the Public Health Training, Long Beach Leadership Training, the Family and Schools Together (F.A.S.T.) Training and San Francisco State University Leadership in Health Training. From these trainings she has gained several skills, which has increased her knowledge and has helped her become a well-rounded person.

In 2002 she was hired as a Community Health Worker for LBACA, where she conducts home visits, educates families about asthma, and empowers families to better the health of their children. At LBACA she has acquired skills and wonderful experiences in serving families. She finds it rewarding being able to help families and their children but gains much more in getting to know the families and their culture. She enjoys teaching the community about how to make their homes asthma friendly and live healthier lives. In order to better serve her community she has enrolled in English and Computer classes. Herendira has been happily married for 24 years, is a proud mother of five, and one adorable grandson.
 

 Delores Simms

Delores Simms, born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, graduated from Rosa A Temple High School.  She lived in California since 1970, and has been a resident of Long Beach since 1979.  Delores attended El Camino Jr. College, and U.C.L.A.   Delores is a proud mother of 4 children.  She has worked in the community as a leader for many years, and is now a Community Health Worker at the Long Beach Alliance for Children With Asthma, serving families, and working to control their child’s asthma.  She believes in LBACA's mission that, "Together we can control asthma now."

 Martiza D. Gutierrez

Martiza D. Gutierrez, Office manager, began working at LBACA in 2005. She moved from Arizona to Long Beach to serve as an Americorps VISTA member. During her year of service with Americorps, she worked in a non-profit clinic (The Children’s Clinic) to develop and implement a literacy program called “Reach Out and Read” and to initiate the design of a “Help Desk” for the organization. After she completed her volunteer service she continued working with TCC as a Community Worker and later as a teens advocate. She also worked as a parent trainer with the “school readiness program” from the YMCA of greater Long Beach. She joined LBACA first, as an Assistant evaluator, were she obtained evaluation information during the home visits of the CHW program. Then in 2008 she continued with LBACA as a part-time office manager, a job that has brought a new challenge and great satisfaction to her life. Moreover, she is very glad to be part of an organization that has great dedication and passion to improve the quality of life of children with asthma.

 Martha Beatriz Cota

Martha Beatriz Cota, Community Outreach Liaison for LBACA, studied the career of Social Working with an emphasis in community advocacy in Sonora, Mexico. She worked with the municipal government in community improvement programs primarily in health, housing and reforestation in rural and urban areas. She has lived in Long Beach since 1988 and since 1996 has worked voluntarily representing and organizing Latino parents who have children learning English as a second language to advocate for better quality education. Martha has had the opportunity to take trainings on health and environment from the University of Long Beach, the Department of Health and other institutions.

She graduated from the Leadership Program of the City of Long Beach (NLP) has participated in the Board Association of Washington -- planning and organizing health fairs and safety.  She is a community activist whose approach is that all families can obtain better health services, education and low-income housing. Her passion is working with the community, listening directly their needs and thus being able to organize, inform, and help them prepare themselves to make decisions and take advantage of the resources at hand.  She is a member of the board of directors of Housing Long Beach. She also worked with LBUSD, in parents education centers and for the migrant program, and she has had the opportunity to work for Los Angeles County Office of Education. Other non-profit institutions for which she has worked are: YMCA, YWCA, EXCHANGE FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER, JEWISH FAMILY FUNDATION and now for LBACA.

 Elena Rodriguez-Gutierrez

Elena Rodriguez-Gutierrez, Community Outreach Liaison for LBACA has volunteered and participated in endless activities in the Long Beach community.  Eventually, she was elected president of the parent association at Webster Head Start.  After years of volunteer work at the LBUSD, she was elected president of District English Learners Advisory Committee. She also worked as a Parent Mentor for the Migrant Education Program from the PALMS office at the LBUSD where completed many leadership and education trainings. As a volunteer for LBACA, she has completed health related trainings where she learned how the polluted environment is affecting her community, her family, and herself. She is currently attending Long Beach Community College and has completed the ESL courses and is working to get her Human Services Certificate. As a west Long Beach resident, she understands the community’s health and environment concerns; as a result, she is interested and proud to collaborate with different agencies and the community as they strive to leave a legacy of cleaner environment, and healthier future for our children.