What makes a new beginning possible? Sometimes it’s having the courage to take the first step. Other times, it’s getting the support you need to move forward. At Venice Family Clinic, every interaction holds the potential for transformation—for challenges to become opportunities for change.

Join us in celebrating these stories of tenacity, hope and the profound impact of building trust and meeting people where they are with compassionate care.

A journey toward self-acceptance

For Charley Vo, connecting with Venice Family Clinic wasn’t just a win for his physical health—it was a path to embracing his identity. A nonbinary trans man, Charley had spent years avoiding conversations about his gender identity with medical professionals, fearing the same judgment and dismissal that had adversely affected his friends’ care. “There were so many ‘what-ifs’ in my mind,” he recalls. “What if they didn’t take me seriously? What if they treated me differently because of who I am? What if I can’t get the care I need?”

But at the Clinic, Charley found a medical home and an expert team that listened, understood and valued him. Getting the gender-affirming care he needed was a relief. “For the first time, I knew my doctors saw me for who I was,” he said. “I knew they genuinely cared about me.”

Charley began the work of building confidence in his identity through individual therapy and the Clinic’s LGBTQ+ support group, a safe space to connect with others on similar journeys. “Hearing another trans man talk about coming out to his family gave me the courage to do the same,” Charley says. “It helped me believe it was possible.” And that newfound belief led to a defining moment in Charley’s life.

Gathering his courage with the support of his community and care team, Charley wrote a heartfelt letter to his mother to share his truth for the first time. “It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done,” he admits. “But when she read it, she asked, ‘Are you happy?’ And when I said yes. Then, she told me, ‘Then I’m happy too.’ It was incredible, I never thought I would have that moment with my mother.”

Today, Charley reflects on his journey with gratitude. “Venice Family Clinic gave me the tools and the care I needed to find myself,” he says. “They helped me realize it’s never too late to be who you are—and to find people who truly care.”

Building community, one step at a time

The first time Gus Ramirez walked into a local Zumba class, he wasn’t sure he belonged. His hands shook with nerves, and he stumbled over the steps, convinced everyone was watching. But then, his instructor approached with a warm smile and a reassuring voice. “She didn’t just tell me to have fun—she showed me what it meant,” Gus recalls. “She made me feel seen, like I was part of something bigger.” That moment planted a seed, showing Gus how much a teacher’s kindness could inspire confidence and joy.

Years later, Gus would walk into another class—not as a nervous participant, but as a volunteer instructor at Venice Family Clinic.

Gus’s free Latin Groove classes, part of the Clinic’s Health Education program, combine movement, music and connection to inspire joy and well-being. His routines blend Latino rhythms with rock and roll, creating an inclusive and vibrant space where participants at all skill levels and ages feel welcome.

One day, a new participant shuffled to the back of Gus’s class, hesitant and barely moving to the beat. Sensing her unease, Gus encouraged her with small adjustments and plenty of praise, celebrating her efforts over her precision. Week by week, she began to smile, step in rhythm, and even laugh with others. “She told me she hadn’t felt this good in years,” Gus says. “That’s the power of this work—it’s more than dancing; it’s creating a sense of belonging.” As a patient himself, Gus understands the value of the Clinic’s holistic care. “Venice Family Clinic has been there for me,” he says. “Teaching these classes is my way of giving back to the community that’s supported me.” Through his work, Gus transforms what began as his own journey of self-discovery into something far greater—a resource for connection, healing and joy. “Someone once believed in me,” he says. “Now I get to do the same for others, all thanks to the Clinic.”

Breaking the cycle for brighter days

Before connecting with Venice Family Clinic, Coral Cuadra faced complex barriers to reclaiming her health. Homelessness, substance use and complications from uncontrolled diabetes defined her daily reality. “I didn’t think I could ever break the cycle,” Coral admits. But her mindset began to evolve when she connected with the Clinic at Safe Place for Youth’s access center. “I felt like I had people I could rely on,” she says. “It was the first time in my life that I felt really hopeful.”

With encouragement from her team and resources from the Clinic, Coral began managing her diabetes and taking care of her mental health. This stability gave her something new: the confidence and freedom to consider goals beyond surviving day to day. Having access to clinicians and counselors that would provide the support she needed gave Coral the confidence to pursue her education.

Her team’s unconditional encouragement kept her going, even as life presented new challenges. She took shelter in a tent during the height of the pandemic, charging her phone using a solar panel during the day and attending remote classes by night. “It wasn’t easy,” Coral remembers. “But I wanted to make my team proud. I wanted to make myself proud.” Coral’s perseverance paid off. With support from the Clinic’s integrated services, she earned her GED and secured stable housing. Sober for two years, she now gives back to the community through an after-school program, helping kids who face challenges like those she overcame. “Having people who believe in you makes all the difference,” Coral says.

Though her journey continues, Coral faces the future with confidence and hope. “The Clinic helped me believe I matter,” she reflects. “And that changed everything.”

Turning grief into compassion

Tess Clair’s world turned upside down when she lost her son to cancer. In their shared grief, she and her daughter sought a way to channel their loss and honor his memory. Volunteering became a way for them to connect, spend meaningful time together, and find moments of healing amidst the pain.

That journey eventually brought Tess to Venice Family Clinic’s homeless services team. The team offers compassionate support to unhoused patients, providing medical care, clean clothing, and basic hygiene supplies—all with dignity and respect. Tess embraced the small, impactful moments. “When we help someone without judgment, it’s not just about meeting their immediate need—it’s about showing them they matter,” she says.

Tess’ volunteering also became a way to create light for herself. “At first, I came to help others,” she says. “But I didn’t expect how much it would help me, too.” The people she met through the Clinic’s work brought her a new perspective and a sense of community. “Even in the hardest moments, there’s always something small we can do to make a difference,” she says.

Through her time with the Clinic, Tess has found a new beginning. “It doesn’t erase the grief,” she says. “But it gives me something to hold onto—a way to create something positive out of something so heartbreaking. Venice Family Clinic gave me a way to turn pain into purpose.”