Q&A with Alex Johnson,

Our Funder Perspectives segment highlights insights from dedicated leaders in the world of philanthropy and spotlight their work to improve Los Angeles. In this issue, we are proud to feature Alex Johnson—Interim Vice President of Programs & Public Affairs at The California Wellness Foundation!

What has inspired your deep dedication to philanthropy? What excites you about this work?

My dedication to philanthropy is rooted in history — the history of this nation toward people who have persistently been intentionally marginalized. The legacies of segregation, racism, and economic inequality are not distant chapters; they are realities that continue to shape communities, opportunities, and daily life. Witnessing how the past persists in the present makes clear that the work is far from done, and it steadfastly drives both an ever-present rage, and my commitment to act.

What excites me most about philanthropy is its potential to be a catalyzing force for change. It is not about charity or recognition, but about resourcing the vision, courage, the “good trouble” and determination of those closest to the struggle. Every investment is an opportunity to transform injustice into possibility, to support ideas and efforts that reimagine what justice, wellness, and freedom can look like. My dedication is rooted in a desire to make a meaningful impact and help communities bend history toward liberation and equity.

What is the mission of The California Wellness Foundation and what vision is the foundation unrelentingly working toward over the long term?

Our mission is to protect and improve the health and wellness of all Californians. As a statewide foundation, we are deeply committed to racial justice and responsiveness, making grants across California and leveraging all of our assets to advance health for everyone. Under our current strategic plan, Advancing Wellness, this work includes expanding access to quality health care, good jobs, strong education, safe neighborhoods, and healthy environments.

Our vision is bold and long-term: a California where wellness is not a privilege determined by race, income, or ZIP code, but a shared right for all. In our grantmaking, we continue to prioritize core operating support and multi-year funding, and we work collaboratively with community leaders, foundations, and cross-sector partners to achieve lasting impact. At its heart, our work is about creating the conditions where equity, justice, and opportunity allow every community to thrive.

What is the current funding focus at The California Wellness Foundation?

Our current Advancing Wellness grantmaking strategy focuses on four main pillars rooted in the social determinants of health: community wellbeing, equity in access, economic security and dignity, and leading for power & change. Much has changed since we launched that strategy over a decade ago, including an urgent need to invest in civic engagement, equitable health access, and narrative power.

We are now in the midst of a strategic planning process to chart the next chapter of our work. This process draws on grantee partner feedback, community insights, and guidance from an advisory committee with equal representation from community partners, foundation staff, and board members. While this planning unfolds, we continue to leverage all our resources — grantmaking, impact investments, our voice, and our influence — to advance our mission and support the long-term health and wellness of California communities.

In what ways does The California Wellness Foundation distinctly support and enhance organizations and initiatives that tackle existing and reinforcing conditions contributing to health and wellness inequality?

We understand that community power is built over time. That’s why we provide multi-year, flexible support that enables organizations to grow, sustain themselves, and lead effectively. We fund advocacy, civic engagement, and leadership development, including support for organizations that do C4 work, recognizing that systemic inequities are deeply entrenched and require long-term solutions. Central to our approach is trust — trusting community leaders to define their needs, set their strategies, and advance their visions.

Too often, wellbeing takes a backseat to the work — but the work cannot happen without it. That’s why we created Wellness Together, an initiative that includes our sabbatical program, Be Well, Lead Well, and curated experiences designed to strengthen resilience and sustain leaders. By supporting the people behind the work, we help ensure that those driving change have the energy, focus, and capacity to advance long-term solutions for communities.

What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing the region, and how is The California Wellness Foundation working to address those?

California faces overlapping challenges, including structural racism, economic inequity, housing instability, gun violence, inequitable access to health care, and climate-related disasters. These issues are interconnected and hit hardest in communities that have long been excluded from resources and opportunity. Cal Wellness responds by funding organizations that advance equity, build civic power, and drive systemic change. We stand in solidarity with communities, trusting their leadership to define priorities, set strategies, and drive solutions. At the same time, we remain nimble, providing rapid-response grants for urgent crises. Our role is to support resilience, amplify voices, and help communities dismantle barriers so that long-term, community-led transformation is possible.

Why is investing in racial justice so important in achieving and advancing health equity?

Race remains one of the strongest predictors of health outcomes in America - and racism is persistent and pervasive. African-American, Indigenous, and Latino communities, in particular, continue to bear the brunt of structural racism, facing barriers that prevent full access to opportunity and wellness. Health equity cannot be achieved without addressing these inequities at their root. Investing in racial justice means dismantling systemic barriers, centering those most affected, and ensuring that wellness is not a privilege but a shared reality for all.

Why does The California Wellness Foundation choose to partner with Liberty Hill?

We partner with Liberty Hill because they exemplify grassroots power and a commitment to justice. Their model lifts up community leadership, centers racial equity, and strengthens long-term movement infrastructure. By working together, we amplify voices too often silenced, support organizations rooted in community, and advance systemic solutions. We cannot achieve meaningful change alone — real transformation requires partnering across philanthropy, government, community, the business sector, and others to build the region and state we want to see. This collaboration reflects our belief that philanthropy achieves its greatest impact when it stands shoulder-to-shoulder with movements, advancing wellness and equity for all Californians.