Vecinos, an organization dedicated to providing health services to rural and immigrant communities, opened its first clinic this week community clinic based in western North Carolina.
The new center, located In Franklin, it will offer primary medical care, mental health and social support. It will focus on people without health insurance or with insufficient coverage, many of them agricultural workers and migrant communities who, until now, had to travel long distances to receive care.
“It's hard to believe this moment has finally arrived, but here we are, united at the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Neighbors"said Marianne Martinez, the organization's executive director, during the opening ceremony.
The Vecinos clinic in Franklin is the result of four years of planning. More than $8 million was raised through donations, local partnerships, and the commitment of a team that "has historically worked from mobile units."
The Vecinos clinic in Franklin will not only offer basic medical care. It will also function as a comprehensive health center, designed to respond to the specific realities of rural and immigrant communities.
From medical consultations and mental health services to legal assistance and dentalThe Vecinos clinic will operate under a collaborative model among nonprofit organizations. All will focus on health equity.
“More than a clinic, this is a wellness center where we accompany our patients in a comprehensive way,” explained Yolanda Pinzón Uribe, director of programs at Vecinos, to Enlace Latino NC.
“We don't just want to treat illnesses, but also support each person's economic, social, and emotional environment.”
Comprehensive and community-friendly health services
For Ricardo Bello-Ball, executive director of the organization United, The opening of the new center represents a concrete relief for hundreds of latin families who live and work in rural areas of the western part of the state.
“In this county there are about 10,000 Latinos, many of them working in the fields. Before, they had to travel up to two hours to see a doctor. Now, at least, the distance is reduced to 45 minutes or an hour,” he explained in conversation with Enlace Latino NC.
The clinic began receiving patients this Tuesday and will also offer extended hours. These will include afternoons and evenings, to accommodate the Labor journeys of those who work in the fields or in essential industries.
This flexibility, uncommon in other rural clinics, aims to ensure that people can access medical services without having to sacrifice a full day of work.
A collaborative model to expand access
In addition to the services provided by Vecinos, the center will house other nonprofit organizations that will work together under one roof.
Among them are Pisgah Legal Services, which will offer legal assistance on housing, immigration, and employment issues. Also, Macon County Community Center, focused on supporting Latino families.
Furthermore, the Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic will expand access to dental services. They will also be part WNC Alliance, specializing in supporting people affected by domestic violence and sexual assault.
“The new health center is a transformative step, not only in what we do, but in how we do it,” said Marianne Martínez, executive director of Vecinos, during her speech. “For the first time, we will be able to offer integrated medical care, mental health, and social support. All in one physical space and with partners who share our vision of equity.”
Pinzón Uribe added: "We are building more than just a care center for a sick community. We want a health center that offers education, prevention, emotional support, and comprehensive healing spaces."
A process marked by resilience
The creation of the Vecinos clinic in Franklin involved more than four years of planning and logistics. During that time, Vecinos maintained its mobile operations while navigating challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hurricane Helene and internal changes in its structure.
Funding was achieved through private donations, partnerships with local organizations and the sustained work of its staff and management team.
A recognition to those who sustain the community
Stacy Guffey, Deputy Mayor of Franklin and member of the board of directors of Vecinos, was present at the inauguration.
In an interview with Enlace Latino NC, noted that the opening of the center responds to a structural need in the region: improving access to medical services. This is vital in an area where many people, especially low-income workers, remain excluded from the health system.
“There are many people here who don't have insurance. People who work every day, who support their families, and who can't take care of their health,” he said.
He estimated that nearly 30% of the population in North Carolina lives without health insurance. In rural areas like Franklin, that percentage could be even higher.
Guffey also acknowledged the contribution of the Latino community to the town's daily operations. "Franklin wouldn't function without the Latino workforce. They're our neighbors. And it's critical that we take care of them as well," he said, referring to a rural county where many essential jobs depend on migrant labor.
It may interest you: Ventilators will be distributed to seniors and people with disabilities.
Neighbors Community Health Center
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The new clinic offers medical, mental health, and social support services to low-income individuals, regardless of their immigration status.
All care is bilingual and culturally tailored to the characteristics of the population it serves, particularly farmworkers, who face specific barriers to accessing the health system.
Vecinos plans to serve approximately 1,600 people between its mobile clinics and its permanent location in Franklin. Forty percent of its patients are farmworkers, and more than half of that group—approximately 40 people—hold H-450A visas for temporary employment in the agricultural sector.