Program & Events
Explore Programs Offered by The California Endowment
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Programming designed to convene, build solidarity and create a connective tool to uplift voices in community for social change.
Watch select events below!
CalEndow Live
CalEndow Live is the public programs arm of The California Endowment. With health and racial equity at the center of our programming, CalEndow Live offers inclusive and topical lectures, roundtable discussions, film screenings, critical conversations with authors, educators, organizers, activists and artists, and through town halls and creative experiences.
Calendow Live is open for all and free for the public good.
Upcoming Event
CalEndow Live Presents Brenda Solórzano
The California Endowment’s President and CEO, Brenda Solórzano, will join CalEndow Live on November 19, providing a terrific opportunity for our community to get to know her. Brenda assumed her leadership role in early September. This live, virtual event will give Brenda a chance to share her thoughts on philanthropy, her hopes for California, and her excitement about returning to her home state and being back at The California Endowment. Brenda Solórzano is a nationally recognized leader in trust-based philanthropy, an approach that emphasizes building partnerships and sharing power with grantees and community organizations. She comes to the Endowment from the Montana-based Headwaters Foundation, where she worked to promote health equity and community power in Western Montana. Brenda’s daughter Ali will moderate this hourlong conversation and ask her mom about what she is looking forward to, what she missed about her home state, and how it feels to return to the organization where she began her career in philanthropy more than 20 years ago.
Register NowPast Events
Cristela Alonzo: Laugh and Learn
On September 18, writer, actor, advocate, and stand-up comedian Cristela Alonzo joined CalEndow Live for an insightful and funny conversation. She discussed her groundbreaking career and shared how her experiences in a close-knit first-generation immigrant family inspire her to work for change. The virtual event highlighted The California Endowment’s celebration of National Hispanic American Heritage Month and was moderated by board member María Blanco. Cristela is the first Latina to create, write, and star in her own major network sitcom, Cristela. Exploring Latino culture and skewering Latino stereotypes are pillars of her sitcom and her two Netflix comedy specials: Lower Classy and Middle Classy. Cristela is currently touring nationwide to perfect a third hourlong special, Upper Classy. A recording of the conversation with Cristela is available online.
Watch Recording
LGBTQ Pride Month with Elliot Page
CalEndow Live celebrated LGBTQ Pride Month with a virtual event featuring Elliot Page. The inspirational discussion on June 27 was moderated by board member Kris Hayashi. It was a fascinating discussion and the audience heard Elliot’s perspective on the importance of gender-affirming health care and his advice about supporting friends and family members coming out as transgender.
We are grateful Elliot joined CalEndow Live for this important conversation and appreciate audience members for asking so many thoughtful questions and sharing their support enthusiastically during the event.
Watch Recording
Daniel Dae Kim: Diversity & Inclusion in Hollywood and Beyond
Actor, director, and producer Daniel Dae Kim joined CalEndow Live on May 21 to discuss diversity and representation in the entertainment industry and share highlights from his work as an activist and entertainer. This live, virtual, event highlighted The California’s Endowment’s celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The California Endowment’s Jonathan Tran moderated the conversation. It was a fascinating discussion and the audience enjoyed listening to Daniel describe how he's using his platform to challenge norms and create more spaces for storytelling that embrace his community's full humanity and diversity. It was particularly inspiring to hear his message about not just talking about the change we hope to see but also doing the work necessary to actualize justice and belonging for all.
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Gloria Steinem: A Lifetime of Feminism, Organizing, and Social Change
Feminist activist Gloria Steinem joined CalEndow Live on March 7 to discuss the ongoing struggle for women’s equality and her life’s work as a writer, organizer, and early advocate for inclusiveness in social justice movements. A co-founder of Ms. Magazine, Steinem has been at the leading edge of feminist action in the United States for most of her life. She helped create The Women’s Action Alliance, National Women’s Political Caucus, Women’s Media Center, Voters for Choice, and many other well-known advocacy organizations fighting for equal pay, reproductive justice, and political representation. During the event moderated by The California Endowment’s Manal Aboelata, Steinem discussed the current state of the feminist movement in the United States and shared her candid feelings about the rollback of abortion rights, the importance of civic engagement, and the wave of anti-feminist and anti-LGBTQ legislation in the United States and globally.
Watch Recording
Justin J. Pearson: Expelled and Returned!
On February 8 at 6:00 p.m. PT, Tennessee Representative Justin J. Pearson will join CalEndow Live to share reflections on his expulsion from the state legislature and the strong community support that returned him to office. In a conversation moderated by Marisol Aviña, The California Endowment’s Director of Public Affairs, Pearson will explain why he continues to advocate for common-sense gun laws.
Watch Recording
Cheech Marin: Art, Comedy, and the Future of the Chicano Rights Movement
On September 18, award-winning actor, comedian, and art collector Cheech Marin joined CalEndow Live for a virtual event moderated by Michele Siqueiros. During their hour-long conversation Cheech told stories from his 50-year career in entertainment, described his passion for Chicano art, and shared many laughs with our live audience. Most of Cheech’s collection is housed at The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture at the Riverside Art Museum. Plan your visit to “The Cheech” today!
Watch Recording
Advancing Health Equity Awards & Workshop
Advancing Health Equity Awards honor local California public health departments who are exploring new territory and developing bold strategies to build power for health and racial equity. They showcase and reward public health department practices—with awards totaling $175,000 the first two cycles, and $235,000 the third cycle—that can inform and shape future health and racial equity work.
The Advancing Health Equity Workshop is designed for California-based public health practitioners who believe in fundamentally transforming how we approach health creation in this country. Practitioners gather to learn, support and inspire one another, and share innovative strategies that can build community voice and power for the health of all Californians.
Our intention is to hold the Awards every two years and the workshop yearly. Given how the Corona Virus is changing our social landscape, the Planning Committee is evaluating how best to bring public health practitioners together.
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Youth Awards 2024
Across the state, young people are standing at the frontlines, taking action, and leading conversations to create lasting change that will lead to a more equitable and healthy future. The Youth Awards, created in 2018, recognize and celebrate the young changemakers and youth-allied organizations that have made a tremendous impact on improving the health of their communities and across the state of California.
Award recipients are youth leaders between the ages of 13 and 26 whose actions impact public policies, create innovative models of service, strengthen local institutions, and inspire youth power in communities across California.
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CalEndow Live Presents Brenda Solórzano
The California Endowment’s President and CEO, Brenda Solórzano, will join CalEndow Live on November 19, providing a terrific opportunity for our community to get to know her. Brenda assumed her leadership role in early September.
Register Now