Rooted in activism

In 1969, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, a group of Brown Berets in East Los Angeles were inspired to take action and build a free clinic that would enable their community to access appropriate, affordable health care in the right language. The East LA Barrio Free Clinic was created and sustained by community volunteers, and supported by cash donations. While AltaMed has expanded well beyond the walls of that initial clinic, the climate in which we exist has not entirely changed. We are still here to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate care where needed, and thanks to your support, the scope of our work not only includes quality care, but developing our community by providing workforce pipelines, support for higher education, and advocacy around health care policy and voter rights. More than 50 years later, we can’t afford not to advocate. Your continued support means we can continue to lift up the communities in which we exist.