What's Happening

By Vignetta Charles, PhD | December 1, 2024

Every year in the HIV field, we lose many heroes. These may be people living with HIV (PLWH) who advocated for themselves and others (“nothing about us without us”), or changemaker allies who focused their talents on addressing ongoing inequities in HIV prevention and care, or people who reminded us that HIV (or any disease) is only one aspect of anyone’s life and reminded us that seeing our whole selves is core to our humanity. In 2024, we lost some greats who changed our lives and the lives of so many others who work in the HIV field and beyond. We highlight a few giants who were partners in ETR’s work and inspire us to keep up the fight.

By ETR's Native Health and Wellness Team | November 20, 2024

At ETR, we recognize that achieving health equity among Native American communities starts by acknowledging their role as the original stewards of this land. We affirm our commitment to partnering with Native communities to address the many health disparities rooted in historical trauma, systemic oppression, and the ongoing consequences of forced displacement as they continue to shape the health and well-being of Native communities today.

By Ravena Soto | November 19, 2024

Staff from ETR’s Native Health and Wellness team had the honor of attending the first Native American Heritage Month parade outside of the California State Capitol. For this historic event, we were joined by our partners from United Indian Health Services and Redwood Valley Rancheria. The parade, hosted by the California Legislative Native American Caucus, came together with a sense of mission after months of planning and many miles of travel.

By Kristin Kennedy, MS, MPH, CPH | October 3, 2024

Our support for workplace affinity groups like the Queer and Trans (QTs) Affinity Group of ETR reflects our commitment to improving the health and well-being of youth and communities by championing science. These groups not only create safe spaces but also advocate for the well-being of historically marginalized staff, bridging civil rights activism with our broader health equity goals. 

By Annalisa Cortez | August 29, 2024
Project Assistant, TCCC

ETR’s Tribal Community Coordinating Center provides culturally appropriate guidance and assistance to California Indian Tribes to access and implement tobacco related programs. Hear from Annalisa Cortez, Project Assistant, on her experience with youth leadership and advocacy efforts to improve Native health.

By Vignetta Charles, PhD | May 4, 2024
Chief Executive Officer, ETR

Happy May the Fourth!  Annually, I write reflections on what Star Wars has taught me about leadership and organizational development at ETR. I usually write in late April when my reflections are very current to the moment. This year, I’m writing this in March since I will be on sabbatical in April and May—which means I’m on sabbatical as you read this blog post. As a person for whom working is a core part of my identity, I struggled with the idea of a sabbatical. 

By Michael Everett, MHS, EdD | February 29, 2024
Chief People and Culture Officer, ETR

Often, when we think of Black History Month, we are prompted to consider the greatness of Blackness in the past. Honoring the past is essential, especially considering some of the erasure of Black people, histories, and experiences emphasized over the last few years. We must also continue to chart the path for what we intend for it to mean to be Black in the future. In our constant effort to combat anti-Black racism and institutionalize our values, ETR leadership continues the progress by commissioning the Black to the Future (BTF) ETR workgroup.

By Ravena Soto | November 16, 2023

California is home to 109 federally recognized Tribes, yet many residents are unfamiliar with the plethora of unique cultures that surround them. The Indian gaming industry has created visibility but has not rectified misperceptions. In many circumstances, it has contributed to new misunderstandings. The very concept of contemporary California Tribal people navigating the complexities of modern life is hard for many to comprehend.

By The ETR Team | August 31, 2023

When it comes to evaluating and disseminating research, many organizations will often play multiple roles in the process. For example, in the field of public health, organizations may develop a new product or curriculum, serve as the evaluator to test the effectiveness, or take the lead in disseminating the findings or product to a large-scale audience. In any of these roles, there is a potential for real or perceived conflicts of interest.

By Sarah Han, MPH | August 25, 2023

Young people face multiple challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, with stigma from providers and staff and compromised confidentiality and privacy as key barriers. Learn more about Sarah Han's experiences as a part of a globally representative advisory group of young professionals at Women Deliver 2023 in Rwanda for the Measuring Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (MY SRH) Initiative led by Metrics for Management.

By Vignetta Charles, PhD | May 4, 2023

May the Fourth, an annual celebration of the Star Wars franchise, is a day where fans around the world like me show our appreciation for this amazing body of work. Like Star Wars, we’ll continue innovating and providing science-based solutions in support of youth, families, and communities in a variety of formats.

By Vignetta Charles, PhD | December 20, 2022

As we close out 2022, ETR wants to extend our gratitude to YOU for your partnership! Over the past year, we worked with you through education, training, and research to develop science-based solutions to advance health equity. Through our collective work, we ensured that science-based health information was available to schools and communities nationwide and across the globe.

By The ETR Team | December 9, 2022

ETR is thrilled to announce that Madhuri Jha, MPH, LCSW (she/hers) will join our team as the new Vice President of Science, Equity, and Integration! ETR is looking forward to Ms. Jha joining our mission-driven efforts to improve health and increase opportunities for youth, families, and communities

By Ravena Soto | November 1, 2022

Each November is recognized as Native American Heritage Month in the United States, marking a time to celebrate the rich cultures and diverse people descended from the original inhabitants of these lands. Native stories and contributions are plentiful, but they are often omitted or modified to fit a more acceptable narrative. Native people are inseparable from our nation's past, present, and future, and their exclusion is our collective loss. This month, and every month, provides an opportunity to learn and understand the impacts of misrepresentation and erasure.

By The ETR Team | May 5, 2022 (Updated June 24, 2022)

Access to safe, legal abortion is at critical risk. In the next few months, 26 states could vote to ban abortion, putting in place insurmountable barriers to abortion services for over 36 million women and people who can become pregnant, which can have a profound lasting impact. We’re in this fight and are prepared to be an active, engaged partner in creating a culture that mirrors our mission, vision, and values.

By Vignetta Charles, PhD | May 4, 2022

It’s May the Fourth again when Star Wars fans like me celebrate the franchise. This feels like a terrible time to celebrate when there are ongoing active threats to health care and human rights. And still, if we don’t pause to think strategically, we may well repeat mistakes and challenges of the past. On this day, I will still take the opportunity to think about how this prolific franchise causes me to reflect on life and leadership. This reflection is not intended to dismiss my grief and anger, but because it will help fuel my fire to continue on in this fight for health equity. Fueling me today is the newest installment in the Star Wars franchise, The Book of Boba Fett, and how it has helped me think about our past and progress toward the future.

By Michael Everett, MHS, EdD | February 9, 2022

Happy Black History Month (BHM) from ETR! Formally, this annual celebration started as Black History Week and was pioneered by Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950). A Black Virginian sharecropper turned international educator, Woodson would not have his dream fully embraced until 25 years after his death. By 1975, every US president starting with Gerald Ford would officially recognize Black History as an opportunity to celebrate a neglected part of American History. In addition, the celebration highlights the essential role of Black Americans in building the United States from its colonial beginning.

By Vignetta Charles, PhD and Morey Riordan | October 28, 2021

As an organization committed to advancing health equity, ETR is dedicated to honoring the contributions, history, and evolving health equity topics of LGBTQ+ communities across the globe. In honor of LGBTQ+ History Month, ETR’s CEO Vignetta Charles chats with Morey Riordan, Founding Director of the Transgender Strategy Center, on the past, present, and future of LGBTQ+ History Month in the US.