SEL empowers members to create and lead projects that reflect their passions and create a tangible impact within their own communities. Here are a few projects we’ve worked on…

1) AB 703 Grassroots Campaign Project

• SEL Member Sahil Mehta drafted and pitched Assembly Bill 703 (Assemblymember Alex Lee, 2025), which establishes a childhood cancer voluntary tax contribution fund.

• The journey began when Sahil’s elder brother, Ronil, passed away due to diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). Empowered to change this outcome for others, Sahil proposed AB 703 to Assemblymember Lee in January 2025.

• The SEL authored the petition, which was distributed throughout California. The SEL worked alongside ACS CAN to coordinate the petition efforts. In addition to digital outreach, the SEL organized and staffed over 10 grassroots petition collection stands throughout the state, engaging directly with community members and collecting signatures to demonstrate widespread constituent backing for the legislation.

• AB 703 was designated as one of ACS CAN’s three state priority bills in 2025. During Cancer Action Day, ACS CAN legislative ambassadors— including multiple SEL members— met directly with lawmakers and their staff in Sacramento to discuss the importance and impact of AB 703. During these meetings, ambassadors highlighted the bill’s policy objectives and the importance of funding pediatric cancer research.

• AB 703 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in July 2025. Check out our thank you video to the Governor for his support!

• Now that the bill passed, here are our current initiatives to continue our work:

  • Pledge Collection Initiative: The SEL has been hosting pledge collections and tablings across California to further educate local communities about the voluntary pediatric cancer research tax contribution fund. Our team has designed informational brochures, pledge forms, and tabling guides, which can all be viewed through the QR code below.

  • Video Initiative: The SEL is working on producing a  Public Service Announcement (PSA) promoting the stories of those who have been touched by childhood cancer. The video subcommittee is bridging the voices of children across California together, expressing the need for research in pediatric cancer. Production of two drafts is currently being developed.

  • External Partnerships Initiative: The SEL is actively conducting outreach to children’s hospitals, pediatric nonprofits, and related organizations to build awareness of the tax contribution fund.

  • Bill Replication Initiative: The SEL is working to replicate the success of AB 703 in Rhode Island, Washington DC, and Maryland. Leveraging our committee members’ state ties, we are hoping to establish voluntary tax contribution funds for cancer research across those three jurisdictions. In Rhode Island, the SEL has established a partnership with the Brown University Initiative for Policy and has begun discussions with lawmaker offices. The bill language has already been drafted, and our team is currently working on a policy whitepaper to further highlight the importance of cancer research funding.

2) Cancer Education Curriculum Project

• The SEL identified gaps in cancer awareness among high school students and responded by developing a day-long cancer education curriculum, which included information and interactive activities about cancer prevention, risk factors, screening guidelines, and the importance of early detection.

• After piloting and refining the materials, the SEL successfully distributed and implemented the curriculum in 12 schools.

• To expand the initiative’s impact beyond the classroom, the SEL partnered with Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi to advance policy efforts supporting cancer education statewide. The SEL drafted a state resolution recognizing the importance of cancer education and encouraging schools across the state to incorporate early detection and prevention awareness into their health curricula

• The "Student Cancer Education, Detection, and Prevention Week" Resolution (Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, 2026) will be officially introduced through the legislature later this year, officially designating the second week of October 2026 for cancer education in schools across California.

3) Hepatitis B Chatbot Project

• A team of SEL members worked together to create a Hepatitis B chatbot, designed to educate the general public about Hepatitis B through an interactive, question-and-answer format

• The chatbot was coded to answer questions about hepatitis B, its symptoms, prevention, treatment, and more

• We are now working to create partnerships with other organizations that are interested in spreading awareness of Hep B, planning community outreach events to listen to individual’s stories with HBV, and highlighting the importance of vaccination amid the new Hep B Vaccination suggestions.

• Eventually, we plan to collaborate with the ACS CAN policy team to pursue legislation related to HBV and liver cancer.

4) Hack4Hope Project (Cancer Policy Hackathon)

• In October 2025, the SEL brought together 115 high schoolers for a 10-hour virtual hackathon designed to tackle urgent, real-world problems within cancer policy. A total of 19 teams competed, coding solutions like a treatment cost calculator, a tool to simplify clinical trials, and networks designed to build friendships between cancer patients

• In January 2026, the SEL worked with the KiraKira Institute to host an in-person Hack4Hope in Los Angeles. The event brought together 150+ students, technologists, clinicians, advocates, and community members to design interactive tools and games that address real cancer policy, prevention, access, and health equity challenges, as well as activating 5-10+ clinics, organizations, and partners.

5) Women’s Health Equity Project

• Created the "Teen Girls' Reproductive Health Awareness Month" Resolution, which will be introduced by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan in August 2026. This resolution aims to empower young women to take charge of their reproductive health needs and establishes September 2026 as Teen Girls' Reproductive Health Awareness Month.

• Developed a policy brief on insurance coverage for Pap (cervical) screening and ovarian cancer risk services in California, analyzing gaps in coverage and proposing evidence-based solutions.

• Future plans: Working on additional legislation to expand reproductive health access and education for young women across California.