Dr. Detric Fletcher (right) sees a patient in The Port’s Free Health Clinic. (The Gate/Sonya
Eldridge)
When the boiler went out at Back of the Yards’ Port Ministries earlier this month, programming came to a screeching halt while Director David Gonzalez and others worked to identify solutions.
Two out of the three ministry buildings were completely cut off from heat and the organization began a massive fundraising campaign that received coverage from some of the city’s largest media organizations.
The heat is on today, and programming is up and running again thanks to widespread support from the greater community.
There was certainly no shortage of support, Gonzalez said, calling it ‘humbling.’ “So many people supported our need, from supplies, to logistics to financial contributions,” he said.
Founded in 1985 by Friar Augustin Milon (a.k.a. “Father Gus”), the Port Ministries is a Catholic organization inspired by Franciscan beliefs to provide an array of services to those in need, which includes a free health clinic.
Within the past year, the organization has evolved under the leadership of New York native David Gonzalez who previously worked as a program director for a Providence, Rhode Island arts organization called AS220.
Gonzalez has brought a number of fresh ideas and approaches to the organization, including the Zero Dollar Initiative, a program funding concept he first developed at AS220.
The idea, he said, is that any program can operate without formal funding streams. The organization runs its programs mainly with the support of committed volunteers. Last year, more than 200 people volunteered at the organization. Most of them also participate in the organization’s programs which include everything from the Bread Truck, which distributes meals at designated stops throughout the neighborhood and after school programs where mothers can drop their children off while they learn English or other new skills including sewing and cooking.
“The community has access to very little resources. What we try to do is mimic that here. So not only are we putting our faith in that God is great and he will provide, we’re also saying that if we hustle with our personal legend, we could also do it with zero dollars. Anything we want to do is possible with zero dollars.”
And so far this year, around 1,200 people have received free checkups and immunizations, school exams and prescription drugs through The Port’s Free Health Clinic, which operates with the help of volunteer doctors and donated medical supplies and equipment. Client medical records are all digital, making it easy to communicate with other medical providers when necessary.
Dr. Dectric Fletcher has volunteered at the clinic in his free time for the past seven years.
“I just saw how much need there was out there and I was just drawn into it.” Fletcher sees about 10 patients a week. He said most patients suffer from the most common chronic conditions, from high blood pressure, asthma to diabetes and basic viral infections.
“We’re able to not only see [patients] and diagnose them, but we can actually give them medication that they can come in, and continuously get refills on as well.”
Fletcher said The Port clinic receives its prescription medications mostly through donations and has a pharmacy fully stocked to treat the most common conditions.
The clinic is hoping to branch out into physical therapy and psychiatric services as they move forward.
“A lot of the patients actually come in for physical ailments and then later when we’re trying to diagnose them, through questioning, we have found out they have a lot of deep-seeded psychological things going on. We just feel there is a need to address that and really thoroughly treat the whole person.”
“It’s our role to give back, it’s so super important. I think a lot of times people get so caught up in their own worlds that they forget there’s so much need out there.
Back of the Yards resident and ESL teacher Patty Coti first became involved with The Port 24 years ago. In her native Mexico, Coti was a high school teacher, but when she arrived in Chicago nearly a quarter-century ago, she didn’t know any English. Coti heard about ESL classes at The Port on Ashland, part of the organization’s original offices. Soon after, she became conversational in English.
Coti volunteered for 15 years before coming on board as a part-time ESL instructor.
“The mothers [who are also ESL students], are a great help. They keep this place going. We don’t have janitors, they take care of everything, and they keep it nice and neat.”
She said the mothers also take turns cooking meals and teaching each other new skills. As a second-degree black belt, Coti teaches basic Tae Kwon Do and fitness classes.
“If one knows something, they teach the others, so it’s great, learning and sharing skills,” Coti said.
Sharing and learning from one another embodies the new approach Gonzalez has taken since taking the helm of the organization. In fact, Gonzalez said, that tenet has formed the basis for one of the organization’s new programs, The People’s School, which is currently under development. The program will soon offer a series of free, ongoing life-skill, educational and artistic workshops for all ages.
Also new to the organization this year is the addition of Pilsen-based Mujeres Mutantes, an all -female, interdisciplinary art collective who are currently moving into The Port offices. The group will soon be offering art classes to the community in exchange for workspace.
Next month, on Feb. 8 the organization is hosting a fundraiser at Lagunitas Brewery called ‘Plump up the Port.’ Tickets are available on the organization’s website, theportministries.org. All proceeds will support Port Ministries’ programming.