by MOHAMED MAREI   

If streets could talk, those shaping the contours of South Central Los Angeles would have quite a tale to tell. In 1992, they witnessed the civil unrest and destruction unleashed after a jury dismissed charges against four police officers videotaped beating Rodney King. Looting, burning and rage followed. Fast forward five years. Blocks away from the epicenter, like a phoenix rising out of the ashes, stands the UMMA Community Clinic. Where hundreds marched in anger, tens of thousands now go to be healed. Where toxins poisoned the soil, children now eagerly line up to receive Christmas and Eid presents.

The story by now is a familiar one in homes throughout America: a group of seven idealistic and passionate UCLA students began knocking on doors. While many of their campus counterparts were landing lucrative post-graduation jobs, these seven journeyed to nearby-but-forgotten South Central L.A. No resume or product to sell, just an idea: establishing UMMA (“University Muslim Medical Association”)—a full-time medical clinic to serve Los Angeles’ poorest residents.

Among the group was UMMA co-founder Mansur Khan, a soft-spoken American Muslim physician who would go on to play a seminal role in the clinic’s growth. Khan attended UCLA in the early 1990s, and along with Rushdi Abdul Cader, was the unmistakable leader of its famed “campus revolution”: UMMA was one of several projects established during this time. Khan commented, “Our Islamic principles were the brick and mortar of this organization. We were a group of young Muslims who were bursting to put our faith into action to improve society. It wasn’t a PR project.” 

Tucked away neatly between these milestones are thousands of quieter stories of hope and healing. Jackie Baker credits UMMA with saving her husband’s life. Now fully insured via Medi-Cal, the Bakers can go anywhere, but continue to choose UMMA.This sense of loyalty—and, yes, love—for the clinic and its staff runs deep. As one patient remarked, “People should give all they have to UMMA. I don’t know how many places in the nation there are like this, but there need to be more. Just walk in here and you’ll see.”

Many have, in fact, walked in—and been impressed by what they’ve seen. UMMA’s efforts have been recognized by numerous publications, the L.A. City Council, and the U.S. Congress, where Maxine Waters addressed the House on UMMA’s 10th anniversary, praising its ground-breaking work. Eleven charitable health clinics in L.A. County have shut down, making UMMA’s survival—not to mention its continued growth—all the more incredible. With heartfelt intention, perseverance and a measure of grace, Khan and his colleagues may be redefining what it means to put faith into action.“Being made part of something good like UMMA is a blessing from God,” Khan stated,“ like all other blessings conferred upon us.”