San Jose Mission Clinic
Every so often a project comes along that is truly a labor of love.
The San Jose Mission Clinic is a free clinic run by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. The clinic primarily serves a Spanish-speaking population, many migrant workers who would otherwise have very limited access to healthcare. I (Jill) began volunteering at the clinic in the Fall of 2015, shortly after making the decision to pursue a career in medicine.
This Spring the clinic was able to expand into a new building on the property, to better accommodate the patients they serve.
It was the perfect opportunity for us to leave a lasting mark on the community that has touched me so much, so I asked Nate to design and paint a special scene in the new clinic's waiting area.
Working closely with the program's director, Sister Sara Proctor, we designed a scene using colorful inspiration from Oaxaca, Mexico. The hope was that the mural would brighten patients' days with vivid imagery and iconic elements from home.
Spreading the mural across a corner of the room helps to make it feel more immersive. From the right viewpoint, you can almost hear the church bells and smell fresh mango from the fruit stand.
With our move to Chicago this summer, I know will greatly miss the San Jose Mission Clinic and all of the wonderful people I met throughout my time there. I'm glad that we were able to leave behind just a bit of beauty and color.