By Stephen Witt, Los Angeles County Politics
Dennis Taylor finally got his second chance — and yesterday he shared it with everyone who walked through the door.
Taylor, executive director of Vermont Galaxy, cut the ribbon on a free clinic at his nonprofit’s facility at 10121 S. Vermont Avenue, delivering on a promise he made to himself after surviving COVID, pneumonia, a stroke and a period when he could not walk.
“I asked God if I get a second chance,” Taylor said. “I feel this way because I didn’t have — I didn’t know what I was going to do. But now I have this. This is my second life chance around.”
The clinic, which will operate Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, offers primary care and urgent services to adult patients at no cost. Taylor brought his mother, Betty Taylor, his twin children Cameron and Cambria, and his daughter-in-law to witness the opening.
The medical team is led by Dr. Wilkins Martinez, the clinic’s medical director, and Dr. Kenneth Clark, who said the two work in partnership. Martinez, whose background is in community medicine and public health, said she was drawn to the project by a nurse practitioner colleague named Tisha, who connected him to the opportunity.
“I’ve always been interested in underserved medicine,” Martinez said. “It’s been something I’ve been doing even before I entered medicine.”
Clark, a former forensic medicine specialist who practiced in Pennsylvania and New York before relocating to Los Angeles, said a call from Taylor set him on a new path.
“I was very excited,” Clark said. “This was my first go around at this kind of medicine, but it’s been evolving over the last year. I’ve never been more excited.”
Nurse practitioner Dr. Latasha Reed, whose background spans family medicine, psychiatric medicine and addiction medicine, rounds out the clinical team. She said her father’s friendship with Taylor opened the door.
“It was exciting to be able to offer free medical services and preventative care to people that really need it,” Reed said.
The clinic will treat basic physical and mental health conditions and outpatient substance abuse issues, with severe cases referred to appropriate facilities. The team is working toward formal referral relationships with area hospitals, including MLK Community Hospital.
The opening drew elected officials from across South LA, each presenting certificates of recognition. Hayley Hutt, a field deputy for Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, Westmont, West Athens, Westchester, Gardena, Marina del Rey), presented a certificate from the 61st Assembly District commending the clinic as a “vital hub for advancing health, wellness and compassionate care throughout South LA.”
A representative for Assemblyman Mike Gipson (D-Carson, Watts, Willowbrook, Compton, North Long Beach, Harbor Gateway, Harbor City, Wilmington, San Pedro) of the 65th Assembly District also attended. His rep, Dion Arnold, noted that he had witnessed the project’s development from its earliest stages.
“I saw all the blood, sweat, and tears that he [Taylor] put into making this clinic happen,” Arnold said.
State Senator Laura Richardson (D-Inglewood, Carson, Compton, Gardena, Hawthorne, Lawndale, Lennox, Watts, Willowbrook, Wilmington, San Pedro, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, West Athens, Westmont) was represented by Barbara Carton, who presented two certificates — one to the Vermont Galaxy Free Clinic and one to Taylor personally, the latter citing his “leadership and tireless advocacy” and recognizing the opening of the “first short-term residential” facility.
“You notice I said first,” Carton told Taylor. “Start looking for your second right now.”
Dr. Ayanna Davis, a candidate for the term-limited Gipson’s seat and currently a Los Angeles Unified School District board member, was also on hand. She said the clinic’s opening is emblematic of what happens when communities receive the resources they need.
“When communities are made whole, children thrive,” Davis said. “I’m always here to support anything that directly impacts the community.”
Vermont Galaxy’s wraparound model extends well beyond medical care. Taylor said the organization provides daily meals and clothing to anyone who needs them, and that workforce development programs are in the works. At full build-out, the facility is designed to accommodate 60 to 72 residents — though the shelter component awaits final permits, with sprinkler installation the remaining hurdle.
LACP first reported on Vermont Galaxy’s funding challenges in October, when Taylor described the difficulty of operating in an unincorporated pocket of the county that falls on the boundary of two county Service Planning Areas — a bureaucratic gap that advocates say leaves the community statistically underserved despite obvious need.
On Thursday, at least for a morning, the gap closed a little.
Residents seeking care can call or text (323) 373-5798 or email thegalaxyfreeclinic@gmail.com. The clinic is open Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
