Over 15 years ago, CJ Page received a life-changing diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. After learning to manage his own health, he was motivated to create positive change for his community. In 2009, he founded Community Health Action Network (CHAN) to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes for children and families in the High Desert.
“All we wanted to do at first was help people with health disparities in low-income communities,” said Page. “We’ve grown in so many directions since then – it’s been a real blessing.”
Now, with a team of eight staff members, CHAN provides essential health education and wellness activities for at-risk families throughout the High Desert. These activities include resources for new parents, food distribution, nutrition and fitness education and financial literacy classes.
One of their most popular programs is a walking program in partnership with Desert Valley Hospital. Nearly 200 residents gather at the Hesperia Mall daily to escape the heat and safely exercise indoors. Walkers also receive wellness checks and resources for managing their health.
CHAN is an integral part of the High Desert, helping nearly 5,000 residents and families annually. It has expanded its services to Barstow and Lucerne Valley. However, serving as a beacon of health and wellness didn’t happen overnight.
“It takes time to build bridges with the community and our county partners,” said Page. “But over time, we became the pillar of the community.”
Throughout the years, the nonprofit has adapted its approach and services based on changing community needs such as rising temperatures, mental health and workforce development.
In addition to providing programs and resources, CHAN advocates for access to nutritious food and other wellness opportunities, such as free fitness classes, especially in the most rural areas of the High Desert.
The CHAN team has worked tirelessly to build relationships with the community and county partners. Their collaborations with San Bernardino County Public Health and St. Joseph Medical Center have allowed them to effectively address social determinants of health and combat health disparities.
However, building and managing a community-based organization comes with its challenges. Page, like many nonprofit leaders, created CHAN out of a need but didn’t have business training or background in nonprofit management.
“‘I’ve been so busy being out in the community, working and engaging with them, I didn’t have the time or know-how to build up the business part,” said Page.
That’s why CHAN, along with 29 other San Bernadino County nonprofit leaders, participated in the Spring 2024 Collaborative Capacity Building Grant program and completed a 10-course nonprofit operations training.
This initiative has equipped Page and his team with the necessary knowledge and skills to strengthen their infrastructure and expand their operations to better serve the community.
Through the $5,000 general operations grant, CHAN purchased equipment and software to better track the success of the programs and utilize data to leverage funding from outside the region.
“Because of the capacity training, we are now standing tall and looking for more opportunities to grow,” said Page. “But we will always be the heart of the people.”
Through their ongoing efforts and continuous growth, CHAN serves as a valiant Champion for Vibrant Health!
Community Health Action Network is one of our many Champions for Vibrant Health, actively working to improve their communities’ health and well-being every day.
You can become a Champion for Vibrant Health by interacting with the Foundation at various touchpoints, including but not limited to attending an IEHP Foundation event, subscribing to our newsletter, accessing our meeting spaces or applying for grants. Help us make the Inland Empire a vibrant and healthy place to live, work and thrive!