Imagining a Healthy Future
At AltaMed, art is more than something displayed on a wall — it is a tool for healing, self-expression, and community connection. Through the “Imagining a Healthy Future” program, AltaMed invited community members across Southeast Los Angeles to envision what healthier neighborhoods, stronger families, and brighter futures could look like through art.
Developed through the PoderArte grant, the initiative brought together local artists, AltaMed professionals, and residents for a series of hands-on workshops designed to spark creativity and conversation. Participants explored questions that deeply affect their daily lives: What does a healthy future look like? What do communities need to thrive? How can art help people feel seen, heard, and connected?
For many participants, the workshops became more than creative sessions. They became spaces for reflection, storytelling, and empowerment. Through painting, writing, and collaborative projects, community members shared personal experiences, hopes for future generations, and visions for healthier, more vibrant neighborhoods.
The program reflects AltaMed’s longstanding belief that art plays a critical role in wellness. Rooted in the organization’s commitment to culturally responsive care, AltaMed integrates art throughout its clinics and community spaces through its nationally recognized art collection, which celebrates the histories, cultures, and lived experiences of the communities it serves. By creating opportunities for artistic expression, AltaMed helps foster a sense of belonging and emotional well-being alongside physical health.
The poetry and songwriting workshop, led by Marissa Herrera and Raul Pacheco of 4C LAB, guided 50 students of the East Los Angeles Community College theater program through a series of empowerment and self-awareness exercises. The participants shared their voices through poetry and spoken word to create an original musical expression and a community poem.
“Imagining a Healthy Future” also highlighted the power of collaboration between artists and community organizations. Local artists helped guide participants through the creative process, encouraging them to transform their ideas into visual stories that reflected both personal and collective aspirations. The result was a powerful body of work that captured resilience, culture, healing, and hope.
The initiative was made possible through funding from the California Creative Corps pilot program, established through a one-time $60 million allocation in the 2021 California State Budget and administered by the California Arts Council. AltaMed received a $50,000 grant to deliver six workshops over a six-month period throughout Southeast Los Angeles.
Through programs like PoderArte, AltaMed continues to demonstrate that building healthier communities extends beyond clinical care. It also means creating spaces where people can share their stories, celebrate their cultures, and imagine a healthier future together.
About the AltaMed Art Collection
The AltaMed Art Collection includes approximately 4,000 works spanning from the early 1900s to the present, representing all mediums — including sculpture, painting, prints, photography, ceramics, and more—in a variety of artistic styles. The collection features prominent Chicano artists, including Carlos Almaraz, Roberto Gil de Montes, Frank Romero, Patssi Valdez, John Valadez, Laura Aguilar, and César Martínez. It also includes Mexican masters like Rufino Tamayo, Raúl Anguiano, Graciela Iturbide, and José Chávez Morado, as well as contemporary artists such as Betsabeé Romero, Minerva Cuevas, and Gabriel Orozco. Additionally, Latin American, Asian American, and Black artists are incorporated to enrich the visual dialogue on identity and other shared experiences and cultures.
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