Community Health Centers are recognized

My name is Juan Carlos Vega. I obtained a BS in Marketing and a Minor in Latin American & Caribbean Studies from Michigan State University and a Master’s in Library and Information Studies from the University of Maryland. My work pays special attention to social justice and health disparities among communities of color and LGBTT populations, and addresses how the lack of information and resources directly affect the health, social and economic parity for these communities. I am constantly exploring the role that information and libraries play in community development and engagement. My involvement in health promotion began in 2001 when I transitioned into the non-profit world after 10 years of working for academic libraries and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. My experiences in health issues include tobacco, alcohol, obesity and nutrition, cultural competency, and health disparities. I have managed special libraries at the National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention (LCAT) and The Praxis Project and local ones in Puerto Rico at the Art Museum of Puerto Rico and the Sila M. Calderón Foundation. After living and working 17 years in the United States, I returned to my native Puerto Rico to be closer to my family, volunteer my time to local health and social justice causes, and enjoy yoga and the beach to keep a happy life. I relocated to Washington, D.C. on July 1, 2016. View all posts by Activist Librarian