Cristina Abeja Hoshell is presented with an award from Mexico¿s President Felipe Calderon by Consul of Mexico Gina Andrea Blackledge Cruz and Alejandro Rivera of the Mexican Foreign Institute on Tuesday in Calexico. (Chelcey Adami) |
CALEXICO — Cristina Abeja Hoshell has spent the past decade working on multiple levels to improve health care for the community’s seniors through bilingual education.
This week she receives national and international recognition for her work by the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health and President Felipe Calderón of Mexico.
Hoshell is one of 30 women selected to be honored by Berkeley and will travel to Oakland this week for the honor.
The Mexican Consul in Calexico, Gina Andrea Blackledge Cruz, presented Hoshell with a framed letter of recognition from Calderón on Tuesday morning.
“She’s a person that’s been working with the seniors in the community and has helped a lot of Mexican people that live in the Imperial Valley,” Cruz said.
Hoshell said she was surprised and excited by the recognitions and beamed Tuesday morning as family, friends and strangers applauded her efforts.
As a community action team coordinator with AARP, the Mexican native noticed that most senior services are in English while the majority of the seniors needing services in the Imperial Valley speak Spanish.
She can quickly describe instances where she counseled seniors in the community who had been treated rudely by health-care staff or were misled about health services.
“They are vulnerable, because some lack education. So many people try to take advantage of them. People see them as business, not as human beings,” she said. “Seniors deserve respect from the community and the people.”
With a bachelor’s degree in library services, a master’s of business administration and a wide smile, she’s well-equipped to do the work she does.
Beyond the Valley, Hoshell also does work in Sacramento speaking with lawmakers to advocate for better senior health services in the community.
“The Imperial Valley is not San Diego, it’s not Los Angeles,” she said. “There are people here who have worked in the fields, and most don’t have education.”
Hoshell tries to educate seniors about their rights in regard to health care as well.
She pushes healthy habits and has organized events to help keep seniors active. She has also helped organize food drives and more through Valley senior club such as Club de Los Amigos in Calexico.
“I’m not surprised (about the recognition), because she volunteers for a lot,” Club de Los Amigos President Isabel Wong said. “She’s very active.”
After the April 4, 2010, earthquake, she collected food and clothes for Valley seniors who were left without resources.
“I know the community and I know the seniors here and what they need is love,” she said. “Seniors need love.”
Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or cadami@ivpressonline.com
This week she receives national and international recognition for her work by the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health and President Felipe Calderón of Mexico.
Hoshell is one of 30 women selected to be honored by Berkeley and will travel to Oakland this week for the honor.
The Mexican Consul in Calexico, Gina Andrea Blackledge Cruz, presented Hoshell with a framed letter of recognition from Calderón on Tuesday morning.
“She’s a person that’s been working with the seniors in the community and has helped a lot of Mexican people that live in the Imperial Valley,” Cruz said.
Hoshell said she was surprised and excited by the recognitions and beamed Tuesday morning as family, friends and strangers applauded her efforts.
As a community action team coordinator with AARP, the Mexican native noticed that most senior services are in English while the majority of the seniors needing services in the Imperial Valley speak Spanish.
She can quickly describe instances where she counseled seniors in the community who had been treated rudely by health-care staff or were misled about health services.
“They are vulnerable, because some lack education. So many people try to take advantage of them. People see them as business, not as human beings,” she said. “Seniors deserve respect from the community and the people.”
With a bachelor’s degree in library services, a master’s of business administration and a wide smile, she’s well-equipped to do the work she does.
Beyond the Valley, Hoshell also does work in Sacramento speaking with lawmakers to advocate for better senior health services in the community.
“The Imperial Valley is not San Diego, it’s not Los Angeles,” she said. “There are people here who have worked in the fields, and most don’t have education.”
Hoshell tries to educate seniors about their rights in regard to health care as well.
She pushes healthy habits and has organized events to help keep seniors active. She has also helped organize food drives and more through Valley senior club such as Club de Los Amigos in Calexico.
“I’m not surprised (about the recognition), because she volunteers for a lot,” Club de Los Amigos President Isabel Wong said. “She’s very active.”
After the April 4, 2010, earthquake, she collected food and clothes for Valley seniors who were left without resources.
“I know the community and I know the seniors here and what they need is love,” she said. “Seniors need love.”
Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or cadami@ivpressonline.com
