We are excited to announce San Diego County Supervisor, Paloma Aguirre, as the new Champion for the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative (COI). This announcement comes at a momentous time as the COI celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026. Supervisor Aguirre represents District 1, which spans South San Diego and border communities from National City to Imperial Beach and some of the same neighborhoods where COI has spent two decades working to build healthier environments for children and families.

As COI’s Champion, Supervisor Aguirre brings a powerful voice to our collective work. A Champion helps connect the on-the-ground efforts of more than 400 COI partners working in schools, clinics, childcare centers, businesses to local government. Her engagement strengthens COI’s ability to advance policy, systems, and environmental changes that improve the lives of all families in San Diego County.

As we reflect on 20 years of collective action, Supervisor Aguirre’s appointment represents a bridge between our history and our future. She is a first-generation college graduate and daughter of Mexican immigrants who has spent her career advocating for working families, immigrant communities, and environmental health. Before joining the County Board of Supervisors in July 2025, she served as Mayor of Imperial Beach where she focused on the Tijuana River sewage crisis, a public health issue that continues to affect the health of thousands of families in San Diego County. In addition, Supervisor Aguirre has been a strong voice for protecting food assistance programs, including leading county-level action in response to federal SNAP cuts that affected nearly 400,000 San Diego County residents. 

Aguirre’s background and commitment to the San Diego community are rooted in the lived realities of immigrant and working families. This commitment to equity is mirrored in the COI’s own evolution; since its launch in 2022, the COI Community Council is central to driving COI’s priorities and community-engaged strategies. The Community Council is a group of diverse leaders who bring their lived experiences and the community’s knowledge and perspective into the COI. 

Supervisor Aguirre’s commitment to District 1 aligns with COI’s mission to expand access to healthy food and beverages and safe physical activity while improving social and built environments. Because District 1 includes many communities that have historically faced the greatest barriers to equitable health services and opportunities for healthy living, her work directly supports COI's focus on reducing and preventing childhood obesity, particularly in neighborhoods where the need is most urgent.

We are grateful for Supervisor Aguirre’s commitment and look forward to the work ahead. To learn more about Supervisor Aguirre’s priorities, click here. To learn more about COI or to get involved, visit sdcoi.org or contact our team directly at sd-coi@ucsd.edu