The new Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital officially opened its doors in July of this year, but on Thursday, August 6, 2015 the hospital bearing the name of the late civil rights leader, played host to the ecumenical community of Los Angeles.
A cadre of distinguished men and women representing Los Angeles clergy gathered under a large white tent erected on the lawn of old King Hospital to participate in an ecumenical prayer breakfast where medical and political leaders shared their jubilation for the much needed medical center.
Rabbi Lisa Edwards, Senior Rabbi, Beth Chayim Chadashim, reflected on the old King Hospital which was born following the Watts Riots of 1965. “I think the new hospital is going to make a huge difference in this city. Opening 50 years after the first hospital and after the necessity for the first hospital was made known and then all of the difficulties in between, I think it’s really past time but also in some ways the perfect time.” 
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital is located on the same campus of the old King Hospital, to the rear in a shiney state-of-the-art building. As the sun reflected off of the beams and glass of the new medical center, Rev. Xavier L. Thompson, Senior Pastor, Southern Missionary Baptist Church indicated the need to have a Trauma Center return to one of the nation’s most gang infested, high crime and poverty riddled communities. “The Trauma Center/Emergency is centrally located right in the middle of the community that is populated with African Americans. The crime rate is certainly higher than other communities throughout Los Angeles. So to have a Trauma Center/Emergency that is near by is very significant as relates to saving lives, as it relates to administering medicine and health to those who are in need. I think that is a blessing to the community particularly to minorities, Blacks and Brown.” 
At the helm of the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital is Dr. Elaine Batchlor, who serves in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer. Speaking to an array of the city’s divers clergy, Dr. Batchlor was passionate about the mission and vision of the new hospital while requesting prayer from the ecumenical community. “I want to ask you for a special blessing for my leadership. For the wisdom and strength I will need to continue everyday to understand and act upon the right thing to do. Thank you.”
The phrase ‘It’s the right thing to do’ was at the heart of the Dr. Batchlor’s remarks. The Harvard graduate and mother of twins provided reason for why she accepted the challenge of building a new and modern hospital in the heart of South Central Los Angeles at this time in her distinguished and celebrated medical career. “I’ve been asked over the past several years why I would take on the difficult project of opening a brand new hospital in an underserved community. Particularly one that comes with a troubled history. I want to tell you as difficult as the challenges are the answer to that question has always been a simple one. Because it’s the right thing to do.” 
The visionary behind the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital is Mark Ridley-Thomas, Supervisor, County of Los Angeles, Second District. It’s safe to say without Ridley-Thomas, there would be no glistening new King Community Hospital . “There’s a reason hospitals are not open everyday, every week, every month and every year. When was the last time you’ve seen a new hospital? And not just in this community but in the whole county, in the state? It’s a rare event for a hospital to be built these days and time. So this is a huge accomplishment and we’re as proud as we can be of what has been accomplished. A lot of hands on deck and in the final analysis we simply want to make sure the people of this community and all who frequent this hospital get the best of what the practice of medicine has to offer.”
Apostle Beverly “Bam” Crawford presided over the Blessing Of The Hands Ceremony. Crawford, who is native of the Watts and Compton community expressed delight in the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital. “It is heartfelt for me because I love this community and I’ve dealt with a lot of people, the Bloods and Crips and families that have fallen through the cracks of life. The former King Hospital is the place where people would come if there was any kind of trauma. King Hospital was where they could handle gun shots. I was so sadden when the old King hospital was no longer available. We didn’t have a Trauma Center in our community.” Crawford admits the former hospital went through some challenging times. “Back then the reputation of old King Hospital became so compromised, it became the brunt of jokes. I just think Black people and people of color in this underserved community, we need to learn how to strive together and not exploit what is going on in our communities. I’m so glad for renewal, resurrection and revitalization. This is a very special day. I’m excited about the hospital and I’m looking for great things.” 
At the close of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital Prayer Breakfast, Supervisor, Mark Ridley-Thomas was clearly focused on the future of the new King Hospital. “My hope is that we build on the success of this day and we continue to cause this medical campus to be an exceptional example of what healthcare delivery can mean in the 21st Century.”
Photo Credit/ReelUrbanImages
