Loretta Jones, civil rights activist and policy advocate, receives UCLA Medal

Civic Engagement

Loretta Jones, founder and executive director of Los Angeles-based Healthy African American Families, who has been widely lauded for her commitment to improving health equity in underserved communities, received the UCLA Medal, the university’s highest honor, on Dec. 4.

“By addressing health disparities and promoting health equity — insisting that good health should be a right for all, not just a privilege for the lucky few – she has raised the public profile of health care access as a true social justice issue,” said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, who presented the award.

Throughout the ceremony, colleagues and admirers shared their memories of working with Jones during her long affiliation with UCLA. While the stories varied, the theme was consistent and included in a citation presented with the medal: “She stands up for those whose voices are seldom heard.”

Read more on UCLA Newsroom.
Read Chancellor Block’s speech.