Digital Exhibits

Margaret Garza, Alfredo Garza, Hector Hinojosa, Greg Van Pelt, Dr. Greg Mecklem, and State Rep. Mitch Greenlick oral history interview about the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center's history.

A video recording of Margaret Garza, Alfredo Garza, Hector Hinojosa, Greg Van Pelt, Dr. Greg Mecklem, and State Rep. Mitch Greenlick giving short interviews about the history of the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center. The video begins with Margaret Garza talking about her early memories of the clinic, and when her family came to Oregon as migrant workers. She states that the clinic was really a 'child' of Centro Cultural. Her parents and family were immensely involved with the clinic, from being part of the janitorial staff, working as nurses, and to running specimen to labs. She mentions the impact that the clinic has had on the migrant and poor community of Washington County, and talks about where she sees the future of the clinic going. At minute 4:15, Alfredo Garza begins by stating that the clinic began due to a need in the community. He mentions the story of the young child, Virginia Garcia, who died due to lack of communication and not receiving the right medical treatment. He mentions that in Washington County, agriculture is a strong base, and would like to see Virginia Garcia turn into a major hospital someday. Hector Hinojosa begins at minute 9:10, and talks about how he and his family came to Washington County as seasonal migrant workers in the 1960s. He was the summer school principal at the school where Virginia Garcia attended and was actually one of the administrators that suggested she be sent home due to her high fever. He mentions that the community support was split in terms of the movement to open the clinic, but that once Virginia Garcia died, it sparked and sped up the movement to open this community clinic. Greg Van Pelt starts at 13:20 describing his early memories of the health center. He remembers that Virginia Garcia died at St. Vincent's hospital and recalls a man named 'Tom' who really influenced him into understanding the the child's death was unacceptable. He describes the community reaction to starting the clinic as 'fantastic' and argues that the health centers has set an example of innovation and new models of care. At minute 17:55 Dr. Greg Mecklem starts and remembers first hearing of the clinic by reading an article about a community group that was trying to start a community clinic due to a child's death from a preventable disease. Being touched by this story and his desire to work in a rural community he became hired by St. Vincents hospital who funded his first year working at the Virginia Garcia clinic. He mentions some of the grants that the clinic obtained in order to keep the health center running and at minute 23:35 mentions two directors who really pushed the growth of the clinic. Lastly, State Rep. Mitch Greenlick starts at minute 25:35 and explains how in the early days of the health center, he was the supervisor of a group of Americorps Vistas. He explains a time he and two Vistas were arrested for 'trespassing' a migrant camp for simply speaking to the owner and arguing that they should be allowed to take a child to the doctor. He mentions how they went to Federal Court and ensured their right for the Vistas to go to the migrant camps to offer care to the migrants. He feels that the blood and heart of the community is in this clinic.

Garza, Margaret

Garza, Alfredo

Hinojosa, Hector

Van Pelt, Greg

Mecklem, Greg

Greenlick, Mitch

Washington County (Or.) -- History

Hispanic Americans -- History

Garza, Margaret

Garza, Alfredo

Hinojosa, Hector

Van Pelt, Greg

Mecklem, Greg

Greenlick, Mitch

Washington County (Or.)

Cornelius (Or.)

1 video file

English

VG_OH_3

In Copyright

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Foundation

Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center

Moving Image