My Humboldt Life January roundup spotlights local schools, health

The January 2026 My Humboldt Life collection (Vol. III, No. 1) was released online on Jan. 14 as a compact community roundup of short features and local announcements aimed at Humboldt County residents. The package bundles human-interest reporting, practical guidance and organizational news that affect daily life across education, health, culture and small business.

At the center of the issue is a cover story titled "Roll On," profiling Berit Meyer and Brian Ferguson. Other items include Quality Counts Humboldt awards recognizing early education programs, a restaurant feature on Cocina Oaxaqueña, and a school sister-school partnership linking Lafayette Elementary in Eureka with a school in Taiwan. The collection also offers healthcare navigation guidance for residents, community thank-you notes connected to Santa's Workshop, and a slate of nonprofit and business announcements such as grants and leadership changes. Notices about cultural and museum staffing round out the package.

The breadth of topics matters because short, timely notices like these serve as connective tissue in a county where services are often dispersed. Early education recognition through Quality Counts Humboldt signals where families may find high-quality preschool and kindergarten programs and helps parents, educators and funders identify priorities. Coverage of Lafayette Elementary's international partnership highlights opportunities for students to broaden perspectives beyond local classroom walls, an especially meaningful development in a rural district with limited resources for exchange programs.

Healthcare navigation guidance has direct public health implications. Clear information about how to find medical, behavioral health and social services can lower barriers for uninsured or underinsured residents, immigrant families, elders and others who face transportation, language or cost hurdles. That type of reporting supports equity by steering people toward care and by illuminating gaps that local policymakers and funders can address.

Small-business and cultural reporting matters economically and socially. A restaurant spotlight like Cocina Oaxaqueña promotes local entrepreneurship and foodways tied to the county’s immigrant and Indigenous communities. Announcements about grants and leadership changes reveal shifts in organizational capacity that will affect service delivery, advocacy and cultural programming in the months ahead. Museum and cultural staffing notices are especially relevant for educators, families and tourism-dependent workers who rely on public programming and seasonal employment.

For Humboldt readers, the monthly My Humboldt Life package functions as a practical, community-focused digest: a place to learn about school partnerships, find guidance on healthcare access, celebrate volunteer-driven efforts, and monitor which nonprofits and cultural institutions are reshaping services. Keep an eye on future monthly issues for ongoing updates, and reach out to listed organizations directly when you need program details or want to support local service providers.