Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic

A five-part series highlighting the local artists commissioned to contribute original artwork to the new clinic 

This is part three of a five-part series. Tune in each Friday to see more of our featured local artists. 

On March 7, 2022, Seattle Children’s new Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (OBCC) opened the doors to begin serving patients from a second location in the Othello Square complex. In order to deepen the connection with the area, some 21 artists from the local community who are Black, Latinx or Indigenous were commissioned to contribute more than 30 pieces of original artwork in the new building. Using the guiding principles of art that would support health through nature, celebrate inclusiveness, cultivate wonder and joy, and celebrate and honor history, artwork was carefully selected and placed throughout the clinic to enrich the space. Take a journey below through the special artwork showcased throughout the clinic. 

Vikram Madan 

World Tree, 2021 – located in exit stairway

“The tree is a metaphor for shelter and community, a gathering place for ‘birds’ of different kinds. Birds, like humans, often make long migrations, which highlight not just their tenacity, but also their fragility and resilience. This artwork uses birds and trees to celebrate diversity, neighborhood, and welcoming community spaces.” 

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A five-part series highlighting the local artists commissioned to contribute original artwork to the new clinic 

This is part two of a five-part series. Tune in each Friday to see more of our featured local artists.

On March 7, 2022, Seattle Children’s new Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (OBCC) opened the doors to begin serving patients from a second location in the Othello Square complex. In order to deepen the connection with the area, some 21 artists from the local community who are Black, Latinx or Indigenous were commissioned to contribute more than 30 pieces of original artwork in the new building. Using the guiding principles of art that would support health through nature, celebrate inclusiveness, cultivate wonder and joy, and celebrate and honor history, artwork was carefully selected and placed throughout the clinic to enrich the space. Take a journey below through the special artwork showcased throughout the clinic.  

Ari Glass 

Path to the Golden Age, 2021 – located in the dental waiting room

“Behold! This artwork serves as a continuation of the mural on the Othello Safeway I painted in collaboration with Craig Cundiff and Henry Luke. Guided by the Sun, endemic species of birds, flowers and animals reflect the people and cultures historically present in Othello. This mural was painted to reverberate a spirit of well-being and engage visitors in modes of play, rest, and discovery.” 

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Michael Willen is a champion for equity at Seattle Children’s and the winner of the 2021 Odessa Brown Ken Feldman Award.

When Michael Willen, art therapist, was growing up in Boulder, Colorado during the 1990s, he heard lots of talk about accepting those who were different from you. Reality, however, often didn’t align with the talk.

“You couldn’t be openly gay or talk about something like being transgender,” he recalls. “I wanted a community to connect with, but I didn’t have that resource until I went to college. I wondered why we couldn’t have more of that.”

These days, Michael is helping build an open, accepting community for students at the Alyssa Burnett Adult Life Center and inpatients at Seattle Children’s. His crowning achievement is Diversity Club, a class at the Alyssa Burnett Center that celebrates diversity and helps students become advocates for equity.

For these reasons, Michael recently received the 2021 Odessa Brown Ken Feldman Award, one of Seattle Children’s highest honors, which recognizes individuals or teams that encourage, promote, and display compassion and advocacy for all people.

Read full post »

A five-part series highlighting the local artists commissioned to contribute original artwork to the new clinic 

This is part one of a five-part series. Tune in each Friday to see more of our featured local artists. 

On March 7, 2022, Seattle Children’s new Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (OBCC) opened the doors to begin serving patients from a second location in the Othello Square complex. In order to deepen the connection with the area, some 21 artists from the local community who are Black, Latinx or Indigenous were commissioned to contribute more than 30 pieces of original artwork in the new building. Using the guiding principles of art that would support health through nature, celebrate inclusiveness, cultivate wonder and joy, and celebrate and honor history, artwork was carefully selected and placed throughout the clinic to enrich the space. Take a journey below through the special artwork showcased throughout the clinic. 

Addie Boswell

The World’s Welcome, 2021 – located in the waiting room

“Designed to be welcoming for all, the waiting room has vibrant colors and nooks that function as ‘front porches.’ What if one of those front porches let the outside in? I started my mural as a window looking out into the neighborhood, but found an open door was even better. It is a beautiful day in Rainier Valley, and our heroine is ready to step out and join it.” Read full post »

The new clinic marks the second location for OBCC, expanding to serve patients where they are

Today, Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (OBCC) Othello clinic opened its doors in the new Othello Square complex. Inside the 42,000 square-foot space, patients will have access to an innovative, integrated approach to care – where medical, dental, behavioral health, physical therapy and rehabilitation, nutrition services and more are available under the same roof, at the same appointment, if needed. And, as always, the clinic’s ‘Quality Care with Dignity’ mission means we care for each patient’s whole health regardless of a family’s ability to pay. The new OBCC Othello location brings these services closer to the 75% of our existing clinic families who have moved to south for more affordable housing.

“We are excited to be able to meet families where they are and making it more convenient to receive the services they need in a holistic way,” said Dr. Shaquita Bell, senior medical director, Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic. “If a patient makes an appointment for one issue, but another one arises, we will be able to provide those added services on the spot.”

With the support of donors who contributed more than $125 million to community health and wellness initiatives, Seattle Children’s invested $52 million to build this second OBCC location in south Seattle and approved a long-term financial support plan that includes $37.5 million in operational funds and a $125 million endowment. The support plan ensures OBCC’s financial health and mission to provide equitable pediatric care to current and future generations. Read full post »

Amna and her family moved to Seattle to get the best treatment possible for her daughter Jude, who has sickle cell disease. This is Amna’s story in her own words. 

I will never forget the moment I learned I was pregnant with my daughter, Jude. I had moved from Sudan to join my husband, Amar, in the United States the year before. In my culture, we have big families with lots of kids, and Amar and I wanted to start our own family right away.

It took a long time for me to get pregnant, but when I finally did, I felt like I was flying! I named my baby Jude that day. In Arabic, it means “the gift.” She was my gift from God.

Back then, I never imagined my baby’s life would be at risk before she reached her first birthday.

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Sarita Wall is the vice chair of the Black and African Heritage Network

Sarita Wall started working at Seattle Children’s in summer 2019, and she knew immediately that she wanted to volunteer at her new organization to get involved with her new work community.

“I wanted to do something meaningful and be around people who share some of the same experiences and who look like me,” said Wall, who is an executive assistant at the Neurosciences Center.

She joined the Black and African Heritage Network and met the leaders of that inclusion network, or employee resource group, including Shakema Magee, the chair of the group. Wall said BAHN was “very involved in the Black community within Seattle Children’s,” which she appreciated.

Wall is now the vice chair of BAHN. Among other activities, BAHN coordinates the Annual Walk Run for Sickle Cell, which raises awareness and educates people about the disease. It also helps create a sense of community around sickle cell. The event was canceled for the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Dr. Shaquita Bell has been caring for families at OBCC for nearly 16 years.

Seattle Children’s has appointed Dr. Shaquita Bell as senior medical director of Odesa Brown Children’s Clinic in south Seattle, where she has served for nearly 16 years. The organization also named Dr. Kenisha Campbell as medical director at the clinic.

Bell will lead OBCC in the Central District and the new clinic at Othello Square, which is slated to open in March. Both doctors will have roles at the two locations.

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When Michael Willen, art therapist, was growing up in Boulder, Colorado during the 1990s, he heard lots of talk about accepting those who were different from you. Reality, however, often didn’t align with the talk.

“You couldn’t be openly gay or talk about something like being transgender,” he recalls. “I wanted a community to connect with, but I didn’t have that resource until I went to college. I wondered why we couldn’t have more of that.”

These days, Michael is helping build an open, accepting community for students at the Alyssa Burnett Adult Life Center and inpatients at Seattle Children’s. His crowning achievement is Diversity Club, a class at the Alyssa Burnett Center that celebrates diversity and helps students become advocates for equity.

For these reasons, Michael recently received the 2021 Odessa Brown Ken Feldman Award, one of Seattle Children’s highest honors, which recognizes individuals or teams that encourage, promote, and display compassion and advocacy for all people.

The Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic helped establish this award in 2006 to recognize individuals and teams that, beyond their formal job description, model diversity, inclusion, and quality care with dignity. A committee administers the award every year.

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