The Susan Baird Kanaan Award!

The Healthy Mendocino Steering Committee presented Susan Baird Kanaan with an award at the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Advisory Board meeting for her dedicated service to Mendocino County. "The Susan Baird Kanaan Award" was created as an annual award to be presented to a community member who has exhibited "Exemplary Service for Creating Community Health". Susan is the 2018 inaugural recipient for her dedication to service, enthusiasm and caring for our community.

Susan was the founding chair of the Healthy Mendocino Steering Committee, and is a longtime member of the Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency Advisory Board and the Yoga Mendocino board of directors. She grew up in California, and earned a BA and MSW at UC Berkeley. After nearly 30 years of living and raising her two sons outside California, she moved to Ukiah with her husband, Benj Thomas, in late 2001. She sings and occasionally performs with Cecilia, a Ukiah-based women’s vocal ensemble. Professionally, Susan is a science writer and editor in the field of public and community health. Her clients include national, state, and local organizations, from small nonprofits to large foundations and government agencies. She has been a consultant writer for the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS), a federal advisory committee, since 1990, and does occasional projects for the California HealthCare Foundation.

Susan has the passion and determination to focus her energy on what she believes in and we our fortunate to have her focus be on creating change here in Mendocino County. Thank you, Susan, for your time and commitment to Mendocino County!