COVID Exhibition and Documentary

​Over the past five years, communities have persevered, organized and reimagined new possibilities in the face of a global public health crisis. The Center at Sierra Health Foundation partnered during this time on multiple programs with State and local agencies, philanthropic institutions and more than 400 community organizations to serve California communities hit hardest by the pandemic. We Were Who We Were Waiting For is a new art exhibition that reflects on the resilience and creativity that emerged throughout the state, centering the artists, nonprofit organizations and public-private partnerships providing critical information, resources and care to communities in need.

Through multiple mediums, this exhibition honors the collective work of these cultural stewards, who turned uncertainty into action and isolation into connection. It is a testament to the power of art and community in times of crisis and a call to recognize that we have always been our own catalysts for change.

Visit the exhibition March 29 through April 13 or check out the virtual exhibition walk-through here.

COVID Programs and Partnerships By the Numbers

  • More than 400 community partners across California
  • $240+ million in funding
  • Community organizations supported Californians in all 58 counties with 1.2 million vaccine appointments and 5.9 million vaccine appointment referrals
  • Trusted messengers delivered accurate health information to nearly 12 million people in more than 30 languages
Pictured: Two health care workers in masks looking at a report

I Was Who I Was Waiting For Documentary

The Center at Sierra Health Foundation’s 2025 documentary I Was Who I Was Waiting For provides an opportunity to reflect on the many sacrifices made during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting Bakersfield partner Community Interventions as a stand-in for the hundreds of organizations throughout the state that worked tirelessly on the front lines to support their communities even as they grappled with the impacts of the global crisis themselves. Community Interventions is a partner of The Center’s Vaccine Equity Campaign, a philanthropically funded program that engaged trusted community messengers to provide culturally relevant, accurate information and enable equitable vaccine access. The documentary features Community Interventions staff and partners Ucedrah, Ryan, Danielle and Vina and is directed by Aurora Brachman.

The collective work of the following partners is honored throughout the I Was Who I Was Waiting For documentary and We Were Who We Were Waiting For art exhibition. Their dedication and partnership has saved countless lives. 

Community Partners

  • Abrazar, Inc.
  • Abundant Blessings, Inc.
  • Access California Services
  • Access Support Network
  • Action Council of Monterey
  • Active San Gabriel Valley
  • African American Community Empowerment Council
  • African American Family and Cultural Center
  • AHN Foundation
  • Alianza Coachella Valley
  • All of Us or None
  • Alliance for Community Transformations
  • Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment Institute
  • Alma Family Services
  • Always Knocking
  • Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency
  • Amelia Ann Adams Whole Life
  • American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
  • Angeles Community Health Center
  • Antelope Valley Partners for Health
  • Anti-Police Terror Project
  • Anti-Recidivism Coalition
  • API Regional Network
  • April Parker Foundation
  • Arcata House Partnership
  • Arc California
  • Armenian Relief Society of Western USA, Inc.
  • Asian American Drug Abuse Program, Inc.
  • Asian Americans Advancing Justice Los Angeles
  • Asian Health Services
  • Asian Pacific Self‐Development and Residential Association
  • Asian Resources, Inc.
  • Asian Youth Center
  • Bay Area Community Health Advisory
  • Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council
  • Bayview Hunters Point Community Advocates, Inc.
  • Beit T’Shuvah
  • Bienestar Human Services, Inc.
  • Binational of Central California
  • Black Coalition Against COVID
  • Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation
  • Black Wellness and Prosperity Center
  • Board of Trustees of The Glide Foundation
  • BPSOS Center for Community Advancement
  • BrandGOV
  • Brighter Beginnings
  • Buckelew Programs
  • Building Resilient Communities
  • Building Skills Partnership
  • Calexico Wellness Center
  • California African American Action Fund
  • California Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs
  • California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators
  • California Association of Nonprofits
  • California Black Women’s Health Project
  • California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice
  • California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
  • California Health Collaborative
  • California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative
  • California Human Development Corporation
  • California Indian Manpower Consortium, Inc.
  • California Primary Care Association
  • California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
  • California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
  • California State Alliance of YMCAs
  • Campesinas Unidas del Valle de San Joaquin
  • Canal Alliance
  • Casa Treatment Center
  • Catholic Charities of California
  • CAUSE
  • Cedar House Life Change Center
  • Center for Care Innovations
  • Center for Community Advocacy
  • Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants
  • Center for Workers’ Rights
  • Center Point, Inc.
  • Central City Neighborhood Partners
  • Central Coast Alliance United for Sustainable Economy
  • Central Valley Empowerment Alliance, Inc.
  • Central Valley Workers Center
  • Centro Binacional para el Desarollo Indígena Oaxaqueño
  • Centro Community Hispanic Association Centro CHA, Inc.
  • Centro de Unidad Popular Benito Juarez
  • Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc.
  • Chabolla Community Center
  • Champions for Health
  • Chicano Federation of San Diego County
  • Chinatown Service Center
  • Chinese Progressive Association
  • Cid & Macedo
  • City Heights Community Development Corporation
  • CLEAN Carwash Campaign
  • Clinica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero
  • Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights
  • Code Tenderloin
  • Comité Civico del Valle, Inc.
  • Communities for a New California Eduation Fund
  • Community Action Agency of Butte County, Inc.
  • Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Inc
  • Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County
  • Community Coalition for Substance Use Prevention and Treatment
  • Community Development Technologies Center
  • Community Health Action Network
  • Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Inc.
  • Community HealthWorks
  • Community Interventions
  • Community Justice Alliance, Inc.
  • Community Medical Centers, Inc.
  • Community Organized Relief Effort
  • Conejo Health
  • Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement
  • Connecting Point North Valley Community Foundation
  • Cordova Neighborhood Church
  • Council on American-Islamic Relations California
  • Council on American-Islamic Relations Sacramento Valley / Central California
  • Crisis Intervention Services
  • CRLA Foundation
  • Cultiva La Salud
  • Cultural Brokers, Inc.
  • Deaf Counseling Advocacy and Referral Agency
  • Didi Hirsch Psychiatric Service
  • Disability Community Resource Center
  • Dolores Huerta Foundation
  • Downtown Women’s Center
  • Dream Youth Clinic
  • Earthlodge Center for Transformation
  • East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy
  • East Bay Sanctuary Covenant
  • East Los Angeles Women’s Center
  • Economic Development Corporation of Los Angeles County
  • El Concilio California
  • El Concilio Family Services
  • El Dorado County Community Health
  • El Nido Family Centers
  • El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center
  • Elica Health Centers
  • Employee Rights Center
  • Entercom
  • EPIC
  • Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco
  • Equality California Institute
  • Ethnic Media Services
  • Fair Opportunity for Change, Inc.
  • Faith In Action Bay Area
  • Faith In Action East Bay
  • Faith In Action San Gorgonio Pass
  • Family Assistance Program
  • Fathers and Families of San Joaquin
  • Filipino Advocates for Justice
  • Five Keys Schools and Programs
  • Folsom-Cordova Community Partnership
  • Foothill House of Hospitality
  • Fred Finch Youth and Family Services
  • Fresno American Indian Health Project
  • Fresno Building Healthy Communities
  • Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission
  • Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries
  • Fresno-Madera-Tulare-Kings Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
  • Gallegos United
  • Gamaliel of California
  • Garfield Health Center
  • Garment Worker Center
  • Glenn County Community Action
  • Greater Sacramento Economic Council
  • Greater Sacramento Urban League
  • Greenaction for Health and Environment Justice
  • Harm Reduction Coalition of Santa Cruz County
  • Health Care Integrated Services
  • Health Education Council
  • Healthcare in Action, Inc.
  • HealthRIGHT360
  • Healthy Aging Association
  • Healthy House Within a MATCH Coalition
  • High Sierra County Child Abuse Council
  • Hill Country Community Clinic
  • Hmong Cultural Center of Butte County
  • Hmong Innovating Politics
  • Hmong Youth and Parents United
  • Homeless Youth Alliance, Inc.
  • Homeownership of San Francisco
  • Horn of Africa Community North America
  • Hyde Street Community Services
  • I Am Love Movement
  • Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center
  • Inland Congregations United for Change
  • Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Collective
  • Inland Empire United
  • Inland Valley Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services
  • Inner-Tribal Treatment
  • InnerCity Struggle
  • Instituto de Avance Integral Latino CDC
  • Instituto de Educación Popular del Sur de California
  • Interim, Inc.
  • International Rescue Committee, Inc.
  • Iu-Mien Community Services
  • Jakara Movement
  • Kern Inyo Mono Central Labor Council
  • Kings County Commission on Aging
  • Korean American Federation of Los Angeles
  • Korean Community Services
  • Korean Immigrant Workers Advocates of Southern California
  • Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance
  • Koreatown Youth and Community Center, Inc.
  • LA Black Workers
  • La Familia Counseling Center, Inc.
  • LA Global Care
  • Lags Recovery Centers, Inc.
  • Latino Coalition for a Healthy California
  • Latino Equality Alliance
  • Latino Leadership Council
  • Legacy MD Medical Group, Inc.
  • Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
  • Lestonnac Free Clinic
  • Level Up NorCal
  • LGBTQ+ Collaborative
  • Liberty Towers Church
  • Lideres Campesinas
  • LifeLong Medical Care
  • Little Manila Rising
  • Logan Heights Community Development Corporation
  • Long Beach Forward
  • Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy
  • Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Los Angeles Black Worker Center
  • Los Angeles County Center for Strategic Partnerships
  • LUCHA/Poder Popular
  • Madera Coalition for Community Justice
  • Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund
  • Marshall Medical Center
  • McKinley
  • MEND – Meet Each Need with Dignity
  • Mendocino County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
  • Merced Lao Family Community, Inc.
  • Mercy Health
  • Mi Familia Vota Education Fund
  • Mixteco Indígena Community Organizing Project
  • Modesto Stanislaus NAACP Branch Unit 1048
  • Monterey Bay Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
  • Movement Strategy Center
  • Movimiento Cultural de la Union Indigena
  • Mujeres en Acción
  • Mutual Assistance Network
  • NAACP Stockton Branch
  • Native Directions
  • Neighborhood House of Calexico, Inc.
  • Neighborhood Wellness Foundation
  • Nevada-Sierra Connecting Point Public Authority
  • NorCal Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
  • North Coast Health Improvement
  • North Valley Labor Federation
  • Oak Hills Church
  • OCA ‐ Asian Pacific American
  • ONEgeneration
  • Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Inc.
  • Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development
  • Orange County Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
  • Organización En California De Líderes Campesinas, Inc.
  • Pacoima Beautiful
  • Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Asssitance, Inc.
  • Parent Engagement Academy
  • Pasifika Inland Empire Coalition for Empowerment
  • PathPoint
  • Peacemakers, Inc.
  • Peach Tree Healthcare
  • Pesticide Action Network North America Regional Center
  • Petaluma Health Center, Inc.
  • Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California
  • Plumas Crisis Intervention and Resource Center
  • Pomona Economic Opportunity Center
  • PPE Unite
  • Prevent Child Abuse California
  • Progress House, Inc.
  • Project Joy, Inc.
  • Promotoras con Alma
  • Public Health Institute
  • Rafiki Coalition for Health and Wellness
  • Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance
  • Reach Out West End, Inc.
  • Reclaiming Americas Communities Through Empowerment
  • Reestablishing Statford
  • Refugee and Immigrant Transitions
  • Reinvent South Stockton Coalition
  • Resources for Independence Central Valley
  • Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce
  • Roberts Family Development Center
  • Robertson Community Center
  • Roots Community Health Center
  • Roots Through Recovery
  • Rose Family Creative Empowerment Center
  • Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment
  • Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT)
  • Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce
  • Sacramento Building Healthy Communities
  • Sacramento Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
  • Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services
  • Sacramento LGBT Center
  • Sacramento Native American Health Center
  • Sacramento Steps Forward
  • Safe Place for Youth
  • Safe Refuge
  • Safe Return Project
  • Safer Alternatives Through Networking and Education (SANE)
  • SALVA
  • Salvadorian American Leadership and Educational Fund
  • San Bernardino Community Service Center, Inc.
  • San Diego County Medical Society Foundation
  • San Diego Housing Commission
  • San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition
  • San Diego Workforce Partnership
  • San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Foundation
  • San Francisco Interfaith Council
  • SBCS Corporation
  • School Health Clinics of Santa Clara County
  • Self-Awareness and Recovery
  • Self-Help Enterprises
  • Seneca Family of Agencies
  • Sensis
  • Serenity House
  • Services and Immigrant Rights and Education Network
  • ShePower Leadership Academy
  • SHIELDS For Families, Inc.
  • Sierra Meadows Foundation
  • Sigma Beta Xi, Inc.
  • Sikh Centre Redding
  • Sikh Cultural and Educational Center
  • SoCal Pacific Islander COVID‐19 Response Team
  • SoCalCosh
  • Sol Collective
  • Somali Family Service Of San Diego
  • South Bay Center for Counseling
  • South Kern Sol
  • South Sacramento Christian Center
  • Southern California Alcohol And Drug Programs, Inc.
  • Southern California Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health
  • Southwestern College Foundation
  • Spearitwurx
  • Special Service for Groups, Inc.
  • St. Barnabas Senior Services
  • St. John’s Community Health
  • St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church
  • Stanford Settlement
  • Stanislaus Asian American Community Resource
  • Stanislaus Multi-Cultural Health Coalition West Modesto
  • Starting Over, Inc.
  • Step Forward Foundation
  • Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc.
  • Teamsters Local 890
  • Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation
  • Tengx Center of the Northstate, Inc.
  • Tetteh Pediatric Health
  • The Alliance for Community Wellness
  • The California Consortium
  • The Cambodian Family
  • The Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley
  • The Community Action League
  • The Crossroads Foundation
  • The Folsom Cordova Community Partnership
  • The Freedom Center
  • The Fresno Center
  • The Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego
  • The Regents of the University of California, Merced
  • The Regents of the University of California, Riverside
  • The Ring of Democracy
  • The Sidewalk Project
  • The Source LGBT+ Center
  • The Training Institute for Leadership Enrichment
  • The TransLatin@ Coalition
  • The Village Project, Inc.
  • The Way Resource Center
  • Therapeutic Play Foundation, Inc.
  • Toberman Neighborhood Center, Inc.
  • TODEC Legal Center Perris
  • Trabajadores Unidos Workers United
  • Tracy Community Connections Center, Inc.
  • Training Institute for Leadership Enrichment
  • Tranz of Anarchii, Inc.
  • True North Organizing Network
  • Trybe, Inc.
  • Tuolumne Me Wuk Indian Health Center
  • Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Education Program, Inc.
  • UFW Foundation
  • Ujima Family Recovery Services
  • United Cambodian Community
  • United Farm Workers of America
  • United for Respect Education Fund
  • United Way California Capital Region
  • United Way of Kern County, Inc.
  • United Way of Monterey County
  • United Way of Northern California
  • Unseen Heroes
  • Urban Strategies Council
  • Valley Care Community Consortium
  • Valley Health Associates
  • Valley Onward
  • Valley Voices
  • Vietnamese American Roundtable
  • Vision y Compromiso
  • Volunteers of America, Inc.
  • Warehouse Worker Resource Center
  • West Fresno Family Resource Center
  • West Fresno Health Care Coalition
  • West Modesto Community Collaborative
  • Westside Family Preservation Services Network
  • Working Partnerships USA
  • Worksafe, Inc.
  • Wraparound Enterprises
  • YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles
  • Yolo County

Media Partners

  • California Black Media
  • LAGRANT
  • M&M Media Solutions
  • Nakatomi & Associates
  • NUNA
  • Radio Bilingue
  • RadioTNT
  • RS-E
  • Sacramento Black Media Coalition
  • The Crescent
  • Univision Sacramento
  • Wreactor

Philanthropic and Business Partners

  • Almond Board of California
  • California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce Foundation
  • California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Foundation
  • Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
  • Facebook
  • Glide Foundation
  • IKEA US Community Foundation
  • Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)
  • Kaiser Foundation
  • Latino Community Foundation
  • Netflix
  • NextGen America
  • Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce
  • Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
  • Sacramento Property and Business Improvement Districts
  • Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce
  • Sacramento Region Community Foundation
  • Sierra Health Foundation
  • Silicon Valley Community Foundation
  • Slavic-American Chamber of Commerce
  • The California Endowment

State and Local Government Partners

  • California Mortgage Relief Program
  • City of Sacramento
  • Sacramento County
  • State of Calfornia Department of Public Health
  • State of California Department of Health Care Services
  • State of California Department of Social Services
  • State of California Employment Development Department
  • State of California Governor’s Office
  • State of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
  • State of California Labor and Workforce Development Agency
  • State of California Office of Civic Engagement
  • State of California Office of Health Equity

Artists

  • Adrienne Pao
  • Anjelica Muro
  • Carmen Cristina Moreno
  • Elena Loureco
  • Ernesto Yereno Montejano
  • Francisco Palomares
  • Grupo Recreacion
  • Hector Mendoza Anguiano
  • Isabel Gonzalez
  • Jennifer Williams-Cordova (in collaboration with Community Interventions)
  • Jessica Wimbley
  • Juan Felipe Herrera
  • Kaylene Moua (in collaboration with Hmong Innovating Politics)
  • Leonel Mendoza
  • Los Originarios del Plan
  • Masako Miki
  • Natalia Mendoza
  • Raul Baltazar
  • Robin Lasser
  • Sahib Singh (in collaobration with Jakara Movement)
  • Santiago Savi (in collaboration with MICOP)
  • Serge Gay, Jr.
  • Sunroop Kaur
  • Tamara Cedre
  • Tatiana Ortiz-Rubio
and the many individuals, elected officials and community leaders whose contributions were critical to this collective work.

With special thanks to The Center at Sierra Health Foundation Past and Current Staff.