Today we are excited to premiere “Legacy of Love: Community Healthcare Rooted in West Oakland.”

This short film highlights our origin story and the journey of our founders: Ms. Cloteal Davis, Ms. Jessie Hamilton, Ms. Olivia Parks, and Ms. Edith Brown. These determined African American mothers had moved to California during the Great Migration, seeking a better way of life. But when they landed in West Oakland, they realized their children’s health needs were at risk and not being served by the larger hospitals in the city. By 1967, they found “a way out of no way” and founded the first Black-led and Black-serving federally qualified health center (FQHC) on the west coast. Nearly 60 years later, West Oakland Health is embarking on its next chapter.

Stay tuned! We will be hosting community screenings to share news about our “Greatness Agenda” and our exciting new plans for 2024!