KKV was well represented at the Conference on Friday, July 8, 2022 organized by the Hawaii Community Health Worker Association. This was the first in-person Association gathering in two years and brought Community Health Workers (CHW) from across the state to discuss emerging priorities and focus on building leadership capacity. KKV’s Lalo Kalahele, Evelyn Sowas (Economic Assistance program “Ea”); Merlita Compton, Stella Jacinto, Josie Sagasi, Katary Sop, and Maria Calapini (Elder Care); Nabin Oli (KPT); and Austin Haleyalpiy (KVIBE).

Lalo was one of five speakers on the CHW Workforce Development panel, along with representatives from the Queen’s Medical Center (Mia Taylor), HMSA (Dr. Dave Moskowitz & Lia Thorne), and Hawaii Public Health Institute (Jessica Yamauchi). For the past two years, Lalo has headed KKV’s Ea Program, which is part of KKV’s Hui Hoaka COVID-19 response activities and was created to address the immediate economic needs of households. “Ea” means “sovereignty” in Hawaiian but also stands for “Economic Agency”. Many of KKV’s COVID-positive patients lost jobs due to the pandemic and then experienced additional traumas, such as being unable to access public rental support programs and hotels designated to help patients isolate. Ea intervened on behalf of families needing public services and ensured that patients had access to emergency financial assistance. The team distributed more than $20,000 in $500 gift cards, so that newly diagnosed or exposed patients could better afford groceries, supplies, and other necessities during isolation or quarantine. Ea also directly distributed more than $450,000 in rental and utility assistance to COVID-effected households. The Ea team has since focused on helping families access child tax credits, building community networks, and connecting families to city and state support programs. As Ea evolves, staff are working toward more aspirational support for families, such as workforce training, financial planning, scholarships, and technical assistance for small business startup.

The panel format celebrated the importance of relationships and storytelling as an essential tool for CHWs.  Lalo shared some of KKV’s stories from the pandemic, including the story of Merlita Compton’s work helping a senior client with her various needs.  The woman was so grateful to KKV and to Merlita that she asked Merlita to “turn on her camera” so that she could see Merlita’s face. She said, “I want to be able to recognize you someday when I pass you on the street so I can give you a hug.” Another story recounted Aunty Evelyn’s work on behalf of a young woman who had recently given birth.  She tested positive, and her family—fearing they would catch COVID—kicked her out of their home.  She had no cellphone, but Evelyn was able to find her through Facebook and messaged her.  KKV located the young woman and picked her up to bring her to an isolation hotel. 

KKV was started 50 years ago with the work of CHWs making connections and building relationships within the community.  We are grateful to all KKV’s CHWs and to the expanding EA program for their hard work and expertise ensuring care and services for a rich, diverse and culturally complex community.