Community Engagement: A Ride-Along with the CDU and Kedren Health Street Medicine Team( continued)
linkage where otherwise none would exist. He takes a direct approach to providing services and gives them community-friendly nicknames.
Take for example, the Cupid workshop, held once a month for two hours. As one steps into the Granada anteroom, there is a metallic miniature of the ancient Roman love god Cupid dangling overhead, attached to the ceiling by a flimsy string.
Medicine Program. As the team went about its work of registering, counseling, inoculating, and treating, many local residents passed by, many with curious interest. It is evident why Granada has achieved its reputation as a safe, nourishing space.
The neighborhood was buzzing. Black and Brown people were patronizing businesses along the stroll bordering 110th Street and Broadway. Drivers were finding parking space on the crowded street, whether or not they blocked other vehicles. Passersby looked at the street team’ s tables set up outside the main entrance with wondering eyes as to what’ s in the boxes and is anything there for them.
AND THE NOISE!!! Caravan after caravan of colorful Levi-ed, bandana-ed, earring-ed up guys and gals on Harleys, Indians, BMWs, Ducatis, and Hondas, as well as less exotic motorcycles, that blew by all the while that the team was doing their work. LOUD … but not just loud. With the cacophony, the bikers made the most definitive statement of who rules these streets, po-po be damned.
Perez uses the Cupid workshop as an opportunity to offer mental health services.“ The Cupid workshop is designed to discuss barriers in personal relationships. Participants feel like they’ re going on a date with themselves. It is an opportunity for those participants not used to mental health services to do demystify and normalize their contact with that resource,” he noted. The Granada CalFresh site enrolls people who need food stamps and an EBT card. COVID-19 testing has continued on an active basis, post-pandemic.
The continuous biker caravan outside triggered another anecdote that explained why the site is so pivotal to its popularity.“ On this site was a bar that started in 1926. It was called the Black Hole. A few people have died here.” As he made that pronouncement, he pointed to a hole neck-high in a windowsill, and another hole at the bottom of main the entry door to the HIV testing room.
The Granada, however, is also the site of many precious local memories. Pointing to the intake room he says,“ That room was where girls would dance with mirrors and light behind them.” He’ s kept many of the old amenities.“ It makes people feel comfortable,” said Perez.
Granada President Francisco Perez had a satisfied smile as he surveyed all of the action. This is his world and he’ s well adapted to the scene and its challenges. Originally from Santo Tomas, Nicaragua, he came with his family to live in the US at the age of 12.
Perez initially met Cynthia Davis in 1996 in West Hollywood when she was directing CDU’ s Mobile Health Outreach Project( MoHOP) targeting runaway and homeless youth. Today, Granada on Broadway is an active partner with CalFresh, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the LA County Office of HIV and STD Programs, and Drew CARES.
Perez credited Granada’ s success largely to his partners whose presence provides opportunity for service
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 8