BRENTWOOD, CA, — East Contra Costa County residents struggling to navigate a complex healthcare system will soon have new champions in their community. The recently formed Healthcare Literacy Council of Contra Costa County has selected eight Los Medanos College students to play a key role in its public education initiative by serving as Healthcare Literacy Ambassadors. These ambassadors will act as trusted, community-based messengers, bringing simple, digestible healthcare information to untapped spaces across the region.
“The goal of this campaign is to meet people where they’re at and to help them understand the healthcare system so that they can have better health outcomes,” said County Supervisor Diane Burgis. “The ambassadors will be out in our community helping empower people to access their healthcare system and manage their health more confidently.”
The selected ambassadors include Alyssa King, America Delgado Rivera, Andy Nguyen, Brianna Navarro Sotelo, Janine LaChaux, Monique Grant, Natalya Danila Marroquin and Valerie Macha Ramos. The eight were chosen from a competitive pool of applicants for their natural communication skills and passion for serving their community. Spanning academic disciplines, cultural backgrounds and lived experiences, they make up a diverse cohort poised to connect with equally diverse audiences.
Each ambassador will receive comprehensive training, compensation and ongoing support to share key healthcare literacy information in ways that are accessible, memorable and culturally responsive. Beginning in January 2026, ambassadors will deliver community classes at schools, senior centers, clubs and faith-based organizations; and have a presence at fairs, special events and on social media.
“By empowering students as local educators and advocates, we’re building lasting bridges between healthcare systems and the communities they serve,” said Pam Galley, senior vice president and area manager of the Kaiser Permanente Diablo service area.
The pilot program will run through 2026 in District 3, focusing on outreach in Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood, as well as unincorporated areas of Bethel Island, Byron, Discovery Bay and Knightsen. The Council plans to expand the program countywide as its “Right Care Right Way” campaign grows. Local community organizations can request community classes from Healthcare Literacy Ambassadors at www.rightcarerightway.org/community-classes.
The Healthcare Literacy Council of Contra Costa County—a partnership between County Supervisor Diane Burgis, Kaiser Permanente, Contra Costa Health and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District—is dedicated to helping residents navigate the healthcare system with confidence. For more information on the Council and its outreach efforts, visit www.RightCareRightWay.org.
