Salute to Student Health celebrates the power of community and student voices
The L.A. Trust Executive Director Dr. Sarah Rodman (left)
with this year's honorees and their families
On October 7, healthcare providers, educators and civic leaders gathered at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Downtown Los Angeles for The L.A. Trust’s sixth annual Salute to Student Health gala. The evening raised awareness and funds for student health while recognizing two community leaders whose work reflects a shared commitment to healthier, more equitable communities.
The event honored Cástulo de la Rocha, president and CEO of AltaMed Health Services, with the Visionary Award, and journalist Memo Torres, who reported on ICE activities for L.A. Taco, with the Champion Award. Both were recognized for their leadership in expanding access to care, elevating community voices and addressing the challenges facing Los Angeles families.
Cástulo de la Rocha
De la Rocha reflected on his decades of work building access to healthcare and the importance of investing in the next generation. “If we want them to succeed tomorrow, we have to invest in their health care and need to invest in them now,” he said, emphasizing the connection between good health and opportunity.
Memo Torres
Torres shared how teachers and mentors who believed in him as a youth helped shape his path, inspiring him to give back to his community through journalism and advocacy. He praised The L.A. Trust’s Wellness Youth Advocates (WYA) program and the support it provides young people.
Drawing from his own experience, Torres emphasized how the support of three people helped shape his future, underscoring the importance of having someone who believes in a young person’s potential.
Putting student voices at the center
Video between Memo Torres and Wellness Youth Advocates
(click on image to view)
A highlight of the evening was a video featuring five WYA student leaders from Elizabeth Learning Center High School, Carson High School and MaCES High School, in conversation with Torres. Filmed at Taqueria El Bebe, a family-owned business, the video offered a candid look at the concerns, hopes and experiences shaping young people's lives.
The students discussed mental health, financial pressures, immigration enforcement and uncertainty about the future. They also shared how their school communities and the WYA program help them find support, connect peers to resources and advocate for change. Their reflections underscored the importance of creating spaces where young people feel heard and can turn to one another for support.
WYA student panelists
During a live student panel moderated by Torres, three WYA participants, Krisabel Octavo, Nigel Barron and Mariana Contreras, spoke about how the program has shaped their perspectives and strengthened their commitment to helping others. They described learning about issues such as mental health, suicide prevention and substance use, and then sharing that knowledge with their peers.
Student panelist Mariana Contreras thanked the event’s supporters for helping young people make a difference in their communities, saying, “You give us a voice to be able to help other people.”
The students also urged adults to continue investing in youth programs and creating spaces where young people feel comfortable asking for help. Their message reinforced the importance of peer leadership and ensuring students have access to the resources they need to thrive.
Investing in student health
In her first Salute to Student Health as executive director, Dr. Sarah Rodman highlighted the connections between student well-being, family resources, neighborhood conditions and access to healthcare. She also shared how The L.A. Trust connects health and education systems through its school-based wellness centers, oral health initiatives, WYA program, Data xChange and policy advocacy.
Rodman highlighted the importance of the peer-to-peer support fostered through WYA, sharing an example of a student who recognized that a peer was struggling with their mental health and knew how to connect them with professional support. The story illustrates how equipping students with the knowledge and resources to help one another can make a meaningful difference.
Guests participate in the live auction
The evening also featured a silent auction and a live auction with prizes including trips to Mexico and Europe; guests made generous Fund-a-Need pledges that raised money for The L.A. Trust’s student engagement programs. The delicious dinner featured Yucatecan cuisine by Chef Juan Chan of EK’BALAM Yucatan Cuisine.
Salute to Student Health celebrated the collective effort needed to help young people thrive. From healthcare providers and educators to community leaders and student advocates, everyone gathered to demonstrate what is possible when a community unites to put student health first.
