For residents living in the Brighton Park neighborhood of Chicago’s Southwest Side, this month’s opening of a long-anticipated health center on the corner of 47th St. and California Ave. represents a major turning point for health equity in the area. Esperanza Health Centers, one of the top-ranked Federally Qualified Health Centers in the nation, and Mujeres Latinas en Acción (MLEA), the oldest Latina-led social services organization in the country, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 17th to inaugurate its 26,000 sq. ft. health center designed by internationally-recognized architect Juan Gabriel Moreno of JGMA. When it opens, Esperanza Brighton Park will offer award-winning services in adult medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, psychiatry and behavioral health to residents regardless of income, insurance or immigrations status. Programs and activities addressing pediatric obesity, childhood literacy, diabetes management and self-esteem building among kids will start this summer while bilingual HIV primary care services – a first for this area – is slated to begin this winter. The co-location at Brighton Park will also facilitate referrals between the two, allowing women to have greater access to both primary care and behavioral health services at Esperanza and domestic violence or sexual assault services at MLEA. With 3,400 sq. ft. of counseling, office and meeting space, MLEA is set to launch services at the new site on June 15th. For more information, please visit www.esperanzachicago.org or call 773-299-7932.