Page 13 CDU Newsletter
Summer 2023
CDU Awarded $ 1.1 Million After Community Vote
Charles R . Drew University of Medicine and Science has been awarded approximately $ 1.1 million to support the operation of the CDU Kedren Mobile Street Medicine Program .
The news comes from an official press release announcing the Los Angeles City Council ’ s approval of funding to selected local nonprofits to implement community ideas in three areas known as REPAIR Zones : Boyle Heights , Southeast LA and Mission Hills-Panorama City-North Hills .
The funding was determined following a community-wide voting period where area residents were invited to review and vote on the various proposals under consideration .
“ Charles R . Drew University of Medicine and Science is equal parts excited and humbled by the citizens of Southeast L . A . who voted for the CDU Kedren Mobile Street Medicine Program ,” said Alexander Rodgers , M . D . “ Our Street Medicine program will provide culturally responsive primary health care services , preventative care , behavioral health , mental health , HIV / STI prevention , and case management services free of charge to all residents in the Southeast L . A . REPAIR Zone , but especially to underserved and under-resourced individuals and families . The University is thrilled to be included in the City ’ s inaugural cohort of grantees for LA REPAIR .”
L . A . REPAIR , which stands for Los Angeles Reforms for Equity and Public Acknowledgement of Institutional Racism , is the city ’ s first participatory budget pilot program and will distribute roughly $ 8.5 million directly to nine L . A . City REPAIR Zone neighborhoods .
The entirety of L . A . REPAIR is community-led , from the Advisory Committees running the process in each zone to the idea collection and the vote , in which anyone over 15 years old can help decide how to spend the funds .
The CDU Kedren Mobile Street Medicine Program , which has been in existence for over 30 years , plans to use the funding to serve 10,000 community residents over a 12-month time period .