Esperanza Health Center e-News - November 2021

As we round out the Thanksgiving season and prepare our hearts for Advent, we want to take a moment to thank you for your unwavering support throughout the year. With your help, we have been able to faithfully serve our neighbors and friends in the midst of uncertainty, loss, and many more challenges. Thank you for being part of our community and for helping us to spread esperanza throughout our beautiful city!

COMMUNITY PAINT DAY WITH MURAL ARTS PHILADELPHIA A New Mural at EHC Inspired by Veterans

Photos by Akeil Robertson

Earlier this month we partnered with Mural Arts Philadelphia and artist Philip Adams for a Community Paint Day -- held in celebration of our veterans -- at our Kensington site. During this event, community members, Esperanza staff, and others had the opportunity to paint a portion of a new mural that will be installed this coming winter on the side of the property that faces the rear entrance of our Kensington site. This mural was inspired by veterans returning home from service. We are grateful to everyone who participated and are so excited to see the final mural later this year!

ABOUT THE MURAL  For the creation of the new mural, artist Phillip Adams conducted workshops with a number of veterans from Philadelphia. Their conversations explored the meaning of the camouflage pattern worn by most branches of the military -- including uniformity and as a literal effort to disguise one's self -- and a discussion with veterans about the concept of "home" including the role of home as a place of refuge returning to civilian life. As Phillip explains: "This concept draws on this conversation of home, the Veteran experience of being seen and unseen, and finding growth within themselves and within their community. From the known pattern of camouflage, flowers emerge symbolizing beauty and growth. This is a gradual transition, but one that brings us closer to the path of home in all of its forms. Centered in the design is the actual house the mural is projected to be on. It is owned by Esperanza Health, which is fitting, as much of our dialogue connected the concept of home to various forms of health - physical and mental health of the individual and the health of the community."

VOLUNTEERING AT ESPERANZA A note from Karen Norris, Volunteer Coordinator

We could not do what we do without the help of our amazing volunteers. At present we have 46 volunteers and four interns. There are 28 applicants in process to begin volunteering. Some come to speak Spanish or because they have a particular interest in the Latino community. Others are interested in a career in medicine or come to fulfill a class requirement. We regularly partner with Cairn, Temple, LaSalle and St. Joseph's Universities to receive their students. Less formally we have students from Penn and Drexel and Bryn Mawr. Some volunteers come to see what faith-based medicine looks like. Our volunteers read to children, support the clerical, nursing and medical admin teams, screen patients for COVID at our doors, support our COVID vaccine and testing efforts, do SDOH screenings, and work in countless ways with Community Health and Wellness programming. One volunteer is even helping me do my own job...and we are about to start some musical volunteering - cello and guitar in our waiting areas! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, email Karen at karen.norris@esperanzahealth.com or visit our volunteer page and see what opportunities are waiting for you!

Volunteer With Us!

WE ARE HIRING Esperanza is seeking qualified individuals to join our team! We currently have part-time, full-time, and temporary positions available in the many areas, including: Clinical, Medical Assistants, Finance, Management, Clerical Assistants, and Administration. Join our ministry to provide affordable, quality health care services in Jesus' name! Browse Career Opportunities

GIVE THE GIFT OF ESPERANZA Your generous gift to Esperanza Health Center will enable us to give esperanza to our patients and our community in 2022— as we continue to address the COVID-19 pandemic by providing free testing, vaccines and health services, and through comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, wellness and many other integrated services. Make a Donation Today!

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Our Mission: Compelled by the love of God in Christ Jesus, in cooperation with the Church and others, Esperanza Health Center is a multi-cultural ministry providing holistic healthcare to the Latino and underserved communities of Philadelphia.