Our Mission
Our mission is to educate and empower rural communities in the Central Valley to create healthy individuals, families, and communities. The project is conducted through a community-based approach by cultivating informed and active community members so they can advocate for systemic and policy changes in the fight against cancer
Our Team
Ginnie Day
Ginnie Day (she/her/hers), MPH, is the Community Engagement Manager for ACS CAN’s VIVA project in Madera, Mariposa, and Merced counties. Ginnie received her Master’s in Public Health at the University of Arizona in Tucson. She returned to the Central Valley to engage in initiatives focused on equity for healthier communities where all people can thrive. In her free time, she enjoys family time, yoga, and mountain or urban hikes with her energetic Australian Shepherd.
Dulce Velazquez
Dulce Velazquez (she/her/ella), MPH, is the Project Director for the VIVA Project in the Central Valley. Dulce holds a Master of Public Health degree and enjoys serving the communities of the Central Valley. In her free time Dulce enjoys listening to music, meditating, and enjoying the outdoors.
Angelica Garcia
Angelica Garcia (she/her/hers) is a Community Engagement Manager with VIVA and covers the counties of Fresno, Tulare, and Kings. She brings 10 years of experience in program development, advocacy, community organizing and trauma informed practices. Angelica is passionate about equity and transforming systems and policies that impact the most marginalized communities. She is committed to serving communities with compassion, and all-around support. In her free time Angelica, enjoys listening to podcast, visiting beaches and spending time with her family.
VIVA Project Goals
VIVA project focuses on cancer prevention through community education, engagement and empowerment. The current goal of the project is to reduce secondhand smoke exposure and provide tobacco cessation resources in multi-unit housing complexes, healthcare facilities, and community colleges/trade schools. This work is conducted in six Central Valley counties including Mariposa, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare.
VIVA is a project of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), which is the non-partisan, policy advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society (ACS). Please also visit: Fightcancer.org and Cancer.org for more information.
Our 3 Focus Areas
Help communities pass smoke-free multi-unit housing policies to protect youth, adults, and families from secondhand smoke.
Work with clinics and healthcare facilities to implement smoke-free policies and tobacco cessation services.
Assist community colleges and trade schools to pass smokefree policies so those on campuses can breathe clean air.
