ROSEVILLE, Calif. — The National Native Network welcomes Melissa Meza and Efraim Lopez to the NNN program.  Meza and Lopez are new team members with the California Rural Indian Health Board, Inc., a partner of the NNN.  Meza will be the primary contact for the National Native Network.

Melissa Meza is the Health Education Specialist II with CRIHB and actively leads the California Tribal Comprehensive Cancer Control Program as well as the National Native Network activities.  As Health Education Specialist II, Meza is granted with coordinating an array of initiatives focused on promoting good health practices related to tobacco prevention, cancer control nutrition, obesity prevention, and many others.

Prior to her work with CRIHB, Meza has focused her work on Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention (NEOP) related activities.  She has actively led the NEOP funding within her county and was heavily involved with the Latino community as a Bilingual Health Educator and Community Advocate for Latino Outreach of Tehama County Non-Profit Organization.

A vast amount of Meza’s background is in nutrition as she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Science Communications from Chico State University.  While at Chico State University, Meza completed an internship with the Center for Healthy Communities as a Bilingual Community Nutrition Assistant.  This internship sparked Meza’s interest in working with various communities and being and advocate for healthy living on all spectrums.

“As a member of the National Native Network, I look forward to continue working with various communities and increasing Native American members’ health and longevity of life,” said Meza.

Efraim Lopez has worked in the public health care field for two years.  He currently works at CRIHB as Health Specialist I.  He recently left Yolo County where he worked as a Health Specialist.  Efraim holds a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Community Health Education.

He is a former Emergency Medical Technician and is applying for his Master of Public Health.  Lopez has volunteer work which involves translating at a local clinic as well as medical mission trips to Peru and Dominican Republic.  In his spare time, he enjoys hiking and spending time with loved ones.

Lopez will be working alongside Meza to complete National Native Network activities.

Melissa Meza can be reached at her CRIHB office at 916-929-9761 or at mmeza@crihb.org.

Efraim Lopez can be reached at his CRIHB office at 916-929-9761 or at elopez@crihb.org.

For more information on the National Native Network, visit http://www.keepitsacred.itcmi.org/.