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Congratulations Marin City Health and Wellness Center!

Congratulations Marin City Health and Wellness Center!

Everyday Vesper Society links arms with leaders and communities to uplift through service, break down barriers, and elevate community voices. We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of Marin City Health and Wellness Center (MCHWC) flagship clinic and its new Women’s Health Clinic in San Rafael! Marin City residents through their grassroots efforts fought to make primary care accessible for low-income families in this historically African American community dating back to 1942.  During World War II many African American shipyard laborers migrated from the South and eventually settled in Marin City by choice or due to racial discriminatory laws limiting housing opportunities. The new 23,629 square foot facility on Phillips Drive replaces a 17-year old temporary clinic space and doubles the patient capacity. Here are some quotes from MCHWC’s leadership. Nancy Johnson, Chair, Board of Directors states: “The opening of these two new centers is consistent with MCHWC’s mission of providing innovative health and wellness services to all, with the goal of African American health equity. They are key components of our overall expansion plan, which included the previous opening of the Bayview Clinic in San Francisco. Now, after 17 years providing care at Drake Ave., we have …these new centers in Marin. It’s a dream come true.” Harold Wallace, CEO, explained that “The new clinic is night and day compared to Drake Ave. It’s twice the size and a modern, highly functional facility. We have added staff, more medical exam rooms and dental chairs; have expanded behavioral health spaces and installed an emergency generator. Plus, we have implemented new technologies – including a 360-degree dental x-ray machine, an intraoral dental x-ray system, telemedicine for behavioral health, a fiber-connected IT system, and wireless technology inside the building.” “In addition to making this a highly functional facility, it was important... Read More

Hiking Humboldt Kids

Hiking Humboldt Kids

Vesper Society lifts up through service, breaks down barriers, and elevates community voices. During the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, First 5 Humboldt encouraged families to stay active and spend time outdoors in nature. They reached out to hiking legend Rees Hughes, author of Crossing Paths: A Pacific Crest Trailside Reader and Hiking Humboldt Volume 2 to create a resource for this purpose. The wonderful result of this collaboration is Hiking Humboldt Kids, published by Backcountry Press. First Five Humboldt purchased complementary copies for local families with children ages 0-5, just in time for summer break. As it turns out, older folks really enjoy the length of the hikes too. It took almost two years to produce the book that includes history, fun facts, and activities, all designed to inspire wonder and appreciation of nature. Educators, photographers, artists, and translators all contributed to this bilingual English/Spanish edition. Respect for the complex history of Humboldt and the humility of the leaders who made this happen is notable, in the Land Acknowledgement, at the very beginning of the book. The rich and stunning lands within the boundaries of Humboldt County include the traditional, ancestral, and present homelands of several Indigenous nations, including the Hupa, Karuk, Mattole, Wailaki, Wiyot, and Yurok. These lands were taken from these communities during an extended period of forced removal and genocide that has had far-reaching impacts, yet these peoples have been and continue to be stewards of this place. We honor and acknowledge the strength and resilience of these communities that came before us, that are with us now, and the future Indigenous peoples of this area. We have endeavored to weave in this recognition throughout this book. We would like to extend our gratitude to those who have shared perspectives and knowledge with us on... Read More

Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo Celebrates 50 Years of Health Care Excellence

Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo Celebrates 50 Years of Health Care Excellence

Vesper Society links arms with leaders and communities to uplift through service, break down barriers, and elevate community voices. We congratulate Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo in Imperial County, CA on their 50th  anniversary! Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo (CDSDP) was established in 1970 with one small medical clinic in Brawley, CA. It was a pioneer health center that launched a national movement to provide local access to health care for hardworking farmworkers and their families. CDSDP was one of the first two health centers designated as a migrant health center in the State of California. Starting with a staff of 12 employees and a budget of $300,000, CDSDP quickly became an integral part of the community. And as local needs changed, CDSDP expanded its health care services to the general population. Today, CDSDP operates 10 health centers and five dental clinics in Imperial and Riverside Counties in Southern California. This is a valuable service in this geographically-isolated area where social and economic disparities create many barriers to health care. CDSDP’s health centers are located in areas designated as Health Manpower Shortage Areas, Medically Under Served, and High Migrant Impact Areas. Given its proximity to the US-Mexico border, CDSDP’s expertise lies in its ability to serve and treat a large Latino, primarily Spanish-speaking population. CDSDP’s award-winning telehealth and outreach departments assist a hard-to-reach population in overcoming barriers to accessing quality health care. Transportation is provided for free for those patients that need it and health centers have been expanded or renovated to become one-stop shops where all services from dental to pharmacy and laboratory are offered in one facility. CDSDP’s Board Chair, Rosendo “Rusty” Garcia, takes “pride in Clinicas’ 50-year history and ties to the community. I am humbled to be part of an organization that goes above and... Read More

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