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For six decades, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) has worked to address health disparities by preparing health professionals, advancing community-centered research and building partnerships that expand access to care in underserved communities. That longstanding commitment made CDU a place suitable for Covered California’s Los Angeles open enrollment kickoff, drawing attention to the importance of health coverage and the resources available to help Californians obtain it.

Open enrollment, which runs November 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027, is the annual period when Californians can sign up for health insurance, renew their existing coverage or explore other available plans.

“We are proud, like we are every year, to kick off open enrollment with our first event here in L.A.,” said Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California. “Even in a year of change, there are options for affordable health insurance, and our connectors to coverage are here to help you navigate the process. I cannot think of a more fitting place to deliver that message than here at Charles R. Drew University.”

The event took place in front of a newly recreated mural of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., originally created in 2018 through a partnership between CDU and Covered California. After years of exposure to the elements, the mural was recreated by community activist and award-winning muralist CruShow Herring. The artwork provided a meaningful backdrop for a gathering centered on access, opportunity and the well-being of communities.

“This university has a long-standing commitment to advancing health equity in communities that have historically faced barriers to care, and at Covered California, we share in that commitment,” remarked Altman.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer emphasized that health coverage is fundamental to good health, helping people establish relationships with health care providers, receive preventive services, manage chronic conditions and seek care before health issues become more serious.

“Access to health care is also a health equity issue. In a county as large and diverse as Los Angeles, we know that not every community has the same opportunities to achieve optimal health,” said Dr. Ferrer. She also highlighted the importance of partnerships that help residents receive clear, culturally, and linguistically appropriate information to inform their healthcare decisions.

Covered California has connected more than seven million Californians to health insurance since marketplaces opened in 2014 following the passage of the Affordable Care Act. In 2026, more than 1.7 million Californians were insured through Covered California, including more than 850,000 in the greater Los Angeles region.

Rev. Dawnesha Beaver, ’11, MPH, CDU adjunct instructor and vice president of programs and services at Riverside Community Health Foundation, spoke to the importance of ensuring that coverage translates into meaningful access to care. She highlighted the role of community-based organizations in connecting residents with services and support, while underscoring the need for collaboration across organizations.

“We stand as ambassadors shoulder to shoulder to say that we not only want people to be covered, but we want people to access, utilize and benefit,” shared Beaver. “Ultimately, we want the incidences and prevalence of these statistics that we continuously see ravage our communities to go down. But that is going to require all of us being intentional, informative, and engaging in this work. Because no one of us can survive alone.”

Beaver also emphasized the urgency of preparing the next generation of health professionals.

For CDU, that work begins with training health professionals who understand the needs of the communities they serve and are equipped to address the barriers that affect their health.Through education, community engagement and partnerships together, the University continues to help build a health care workforce that can make a difference where it is needed most.

“If we’re going to see the change that we’ve been waiting on, we must partner together,” said Beaver. “California is the place, California is the time, and the time is now, not just to be covered, the time is now to be healed.”