Community Outreach
Los Angeles County, CA

Laura Edith Velazquez-Garcia

Community Outreach Representative- Los Angeles County, CA

LIBERTY Dental Plan

In my position as Community Outreach Representative for LIBERTY Dental Plan, I am honored to be able to work with many communities within Los Angeles County to promote oral health.

During 2016-2017 I coordinated and participated in many workshops, both large and small. Inclusive to effective community outreach programs includes forming oral health care alliances and partnerships to better reach the communities we serve. Most recently, I formed a partnership with White Memorial Medical Center, which allowed LIBERTY to provide seniors from ¡Vive Bien! oral health education workshops and an understanding of how Medicare and Medi-Cal health care systems operate. I am happy to share that LIBERTY is now featured in their monthly members newsletter to promote oral health.

Building bridges to promote oral health

LIBERTY’s Laura Velazquez Garcia (right) in an interview with Univision in Sacramento

While my primary focus is community outreach to the Southern California Los Angeles County communities, I was honored to assist LIBERTY’s Danielle Cannarozzi launch the Early Smiles Sacramento initiative, which was featured by Univision Sacramento to promote this new initiative.

Launch of Early Smiles Sacramento campaign – January 24, 2017

LIBERTY’s Laura Velazquez Garcia (Left) and Ahtziri Avila

After doing a presentation to oral health advocates at PROJECT SAFE in Sherman Oaks, doors opened for LIBERTY to begin doing presentations on oral health to teens, adolescents, and to new mothers. Additionally, Family Resource Centers have now invited LIBERTY to do future parent education workshops on oral health.

Project Safe community outreach, Sherman Oaks, CA

Besides community workshops, much of LIBERTY’s community outreach focus is centered around community health fairs. I have participated in health fairs along with hygienist Laura Perez from Center for Oral Health who has volunteered her time to accompany me to provide free dental screenings at community health fairs. Some of the health fairs we’ve attended include: Univision Health Fair 2017, Senior Health and Fitness Day event, CareMore, YMCA Healthy Kids Day, Arroyo Vista Health Center Adult Health Fair, and more. In addition, I have strengthened LIBERTY’s partnership with First 5 Los Angeles.

Univision 2017 Health Fair, Los Angeles – June 17, 2017

First 5 LA, CA

2nd Annual Tooth Fairy Convention, Los Angeles – February 11, 2017