We asked Dr. Michelle McLean and Jan Hefner, "What did you learn from this trip?"

Dr. Michelle McLean: I learned a lot about Cuba that I really didn't know before as far as the history and culture. Cuba has a 97% literacy rate for all their citizens, and they also provide free education through college and even medical school for all of their citizens. Cuba really focuses on education, health and wellness. Their healthcare system is based on the premise that it is far better to prevent health issues that to be reactive. Every Cuban must have a visit with the doctor at least once a year. 

Something really unique to Cuba that would be wonderful to replicate here is the way they deliver healthcare. Each neighborhood is divided into areas of approximately 1500 homes, and they have their own doctor and nurse who live in a small home in their neighborhood. The doctor and nurse are responsible for the healthcare of everyone in their area as well as for all the health needs of any schools in their area. 

Beginning in Kindergarten, all children are taught about health and wellness, illness prevention, nutrition, basic first aid and CPR, and how to avoid unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. The delegation saw very little obesity in children or adults, and there was not really any fast-food or junk food readily available. 

Janet Hefner: Technology is not the answer to improving US health outcomes. Creating a better network of education, promotion and support, and access to preventive care are the critical elements to success. A culture of health is easy to say and very hard to achieve. Cubans benefit from a committed government, a large number of trained medical professionals, and a widespread network of Consultorios, or doctors offices, found in nearly every neighborhood in the country. They also have committed Promotoras, many from the Cuban Federation of Women, who provide much needed human resources to spread the word of health education and prevention.

There is much we can learn from the Cuban approach to public health, and it doesn't need millions of dollars to implement many of our lessons. It does take a willingness for organizations to embrace new practices and to be a part of the solution. We can make dramatic improvements in our communities if we work together at achieving our common purpose.

South Kern Sol, Question and Answer, Reyna Olaguez

 Editor's Note: The Arvin City Council just became much younger. Two young women, Erika Madrigal, 28, and Jazmin Robles, 24, were worn in to the city council on December 16, they joined another young member, Jose Gurrola, 21, who was elected at age 19 in 2012. South Kern Sol spoke with the two new council members separately to learn more about them and about their priorities for Arvin. We combined their responses below.

Madrigal: I actually came from Mexico in the year 2000 with my family. I was 12 or 13 years old. [In] Michoacan, there was a lot of unemployment and education wasn't that great, so my mom and dad decided it was better to come here and pursue the American dream.

When I was in high school, I worked the grape season with my parents for a few years. It was nice to learn what my parents had to go through to give us a better life.

Robles: I grew up in Arvin. My parents are both from Mexico, and they both met here while working in the fields. My parents never took us to work in the fields like most parents in Arvin do.  My dad always said, "education comes first." He would encourage us to take a summer class instead.

 Read more here.

 South Kern Sol, News Report, Alfredo Camacho

LAMONT, Calif. - Close to a hundred South Kern residents gathered at the David Head Center in Lamont on Nov. 20 for Building Healthy Community's 'central table', a meeting held every three months to gather public input on community health issues. Residents from Greenfield, Arvin, Lamont and Weedpatch attended the meeting to outline the community's priorities for the coming year. Among the most popular issues discussed were recreation and the environment.

"People were most concerned about enforcement of existing codes and laws; they feel they're not being followed," said Cesar Campos, director of the California Environmental Justice Network who was facilitating the Environmental Action Team's table. "Their goal is to have safe drinking water."

Read more here.