Education
Replay: Say Little. Do Much. The Molina Foundation.
By Antonio Ruiz
There’s a great view of the Long Beach harbor from the Ocean Avenue offices of the Molina Foundation and Dr. Martha Molina Bernadett, its founder. But there seems to be little time to appreciate it. There’s too much to do. Like connecting the dots between Education and Health.
“Well, the intersection of education and health is simple to understand,” explains Dr. Molina Bernadett, “If you can’t read, you can’t understand the directions on your medicine bottle. Or understand what preventive care measures you need to take to make sure your children are immunized.”
The Molina Foundation is a national nonprofit founded by Dr. Molina Bernadett and her husband in 2004. Based in Long Beach, the mission of the Molina Foundation is to reduce disparities and access to education and health. The Doctor emphasizes that education and health are inextricably linked.
“That really starts with literacy, being able to read, being able to understand your community and how to navigate the health care system requires education and understanding.”
The foundation has worked with more than 1,000 organizations and schools, donating nearly three million books, hosting workshops and programs for educators and families. AOC7 (which stands for non-profit Anaheim, Orange, Cherry and 7th) partnered with the Foundation at the Mark Twain Public Library where they were able to distribute 1,000 books in central Long Beach, according to the organization’s head, Mary Simmons. “The kids got 10-15 books each to take home.”
Celebrating Literacy
Books for Reading
It’s my Book.
Reading is Fun
It’s not just a sense of charity that drives the mission. “My parents were elementary school teachers before dad went back to school and became a physician. And I wanted to make sure that we honored that education legacy. We were raised with a high value of education.”
“As the healthcare delivery system has become more and more complex, it really places a lot of challenges on people,” she explained, “especially those with low literacy levels or who were raised speaking a language other than English.”
This is important so the poor can understand how to make a doctor’s appointment or where to get their medication that the doctor has prescribed. And most importantly, Dr. Molina Bernadett adds,
“How to ask a question of the doctor if you don’t understand what he or she has told you. That’s all part of Health Literacy.”
Shauna K. Hannemann, CSBG/CDBG Project Coordinator, Office of Samoan Affairs in Carson shared how the Molina Foundation supports Carmelitos public housing in North Long Beach,
“Most of our children participants struggle with reading and reading comprehension. Last year, when they were given these books, we were able to create a library/reading corner at the Carmelitos site. If I could put into just a couple words the difference it has made, it would be Hope & Empowerment.”
For Dr. Molina Bernadett, the family is very important in literacy and in development in general.
“And that family can be big and broad. One of the other parts of the life continuum that cannot be overlooked is when people become old and they can become socially isolated. That’s bad for their health, for their community, for their family.”
That social isolation is a big problem that can be bridged by bringing generations together.
“We see the ability to bring generations together through reading and shared experiences as something that benefits the whole family. [It] benefits the young child getting ready for kindergarten or in their early years of school and it benefits their older family member grandparent, aunt or uncle. So we believe that family can help throughout the generations.”
The Molina Foundation does its part with a number of programs, like Book Buddies, a cornerstone program that encourages children to read for pleasure. “Because if you want to read anything, then you can learn anything else. But if you are not engaged enough to start to learn, to read, then it makes it very difficult.”
Over the years, the Foundation has had different programs ranging from math-related programs to peer mentoring to a program called Experience Counts.
“Experience Counts takes the experience of educators and shares it with others whether school principals, teachers, or parents,” says Dr. Molina Bernadett, “Tips on how to work with children, to help them learn to read, to help them learn to navigate their world and to get them engaged in learning.”
“We really want to encourage and inspire a life long love of learning,” she said. “Because if we’re able to do that, once we get them that head start, then they’ll be able to learn on their own. For Life.”
The Molina Foundation works with many partners.
“The foundation relies on community, whether it’s a local business, other community-based organizations or individuals,” said Dr. Molina Bernadett. “They can join us by sponsoring different activities sponsoring classrooms, helping give books to children or volunteering. We have lots of opportunities for each of the things. We can’t do this alone.”
Sarah M. Soriano Executive Director of Young Horizons Child Development Centers, praised the Foundation for “…the continued donations of books both for our centers as well as for the children to take home to begin a home library.”
Dr. Molina Bernadett wants everyone to share in the mission that was passed on by her parents.
“We were raised to believe that it’s important to serve others, to put others before yourself and that there are people who, for whatever reason, are struggling at times in their lives.”
Simple words.
“Everyone deserves respect. And when you’re down on your luck you need it more. That was something that we were raised with. My mother used to say ‘Say little. Do much.’ It wasn’t a phrase she came up with but it was a phrase she lived by. My parents always put others before themselves.”
And through the Molina Foundation, that legacy continues.
For more information about the Molina Foundation and how you can help, visit their website at www.molinafoundation.org.
