Three teams of current and former Randall Lewis Health & Policy fellows were honored May 15 as winners of the program’s inaugural policy and innovation challenge during the 14th annual Randall Lewis Fellowship Forum at La Salle College Preparatory High School in Pasadena.

The initiative tasked fellows to develop “comprehensive strategies for rebuilding Southern California communities impacted by the devastating wildfires of early 2025.”

Colleen Corrigan, Whitney Francis, and Jin Zhang took the first place prize of $25,000 for their project, “Leveraging Smart, Equitable Policy to Meet the Health, Housing, and Economic Needs of Southern Californians in the Face of Climate Change and Disaster Recovery.”

“Drawing from lived experience, field interviews, and emerging research, the team proposed a range of solutions — from bioremediation and community resilience centers to equitable insurance reforms and integration of climate supports into Medi-Cal,” the entry read in part.

“Reimagining Recovery: A Comprehensive Policy Blueprint for Los Angeles County’s Wildfire Resilience,” by Zachary Travis and Kevin Alvillar, took second and a $10,000 prize. The entry “offered a thoughtful and systems-level approach to wildfire adaptation and preparedness.”

Kriseira Lamas-Krauletz, Calleshia Gilliam, and Jaimie Le took third place and a $5,000 prize for “Equitable Solutions to Dire Fires in Southern California.” The team “proposed decentralized solar microgrids, modular housing for displaced residents, and AI-powered wildfire prediction systems. Their vision included trauma-informed recovery services, one-to-one replacement of lost rent-controlled units, and culturally sensitive rebuilding strategies.”

The Randall Lewis Health and Policy Fellowship is a flagship initiative of Partners for Better Health. More info is at p4bhealth.org/fellowship-application.

“The Fellowship has always been about investing in people with bold ideas and a heart for service,” Randall Lewis wrote in a news release. “This year’s entries reminded us that out of great challenge can come great innovation. I’m incredibly proud of all the participants for the creativity, care, and vision they brought to this challenge. Their solutions reflect not just policy expertise, but a deep commitment to the health and resilience of our communities.”