Artist Spotlight: A Mural That Unites Community
Jul 1, 2026
"This mural I’ve created is about bridging communities, connecting people, celebrating our culture, and expanding access to care.”- Jesse Fregozo
For Jesse Fregozo, his mural at the new Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello’s Community Well-Being Center is not just art on a wall. It reflects a lifetime of connection to Adventist Health White Memorial in East Los Angeles, to Montebello, and to the broader San Gabriel Valley community that shaped him.
From Boyle Heights to Montebello: A story rooted in community
Raised in Boyle Heights and now living just minutes from the City of Montebello, Jesse’s story is deeply rooted in the neighborhoods served by Adventist Health White Memorial. His connection began long before he ever picked up a brush for this project.
“I remember always coming to the hospital, dropping my mom off at Adventist Health White Memorial, Los Angeles,” he shares. “Their doctors saved her life many times.”
Those moments, sitting beside his mother during her illness, built a lasting sense of trust and gratitude. Over the years, that connection has expanded. Family members, friends, and neighbors throughout East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley have all turned to Adventist Health White Memorial for care.
“Adventist Health White Memorial has always cared for us. Not just us, but the whole community.”
Today, that same community is reflected in his work.
Painting a story of care and belonging
Commissioned by Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello to create this signature mural at the Community Well-Being Center, Jesse brought his lived experience into every detail. The mural stands as a visual story of the region. Landmarks from Montebello and surrounding neighborhoods ground the piece in place. A braided tree rises at its center, symbolizing strength, roots, and the deep ties that connect families across generations. Hands of different tones reach and support one another, capturing the diversity and unity of the San Gabriel Valley.
“I wanted people to see themselves in the mural,” Jesse explains. “And for them to know this space belongs to them.”
The mural also represents something larger. It reflects the mission of Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello to inspire health, wholeness, and hope. This means showing care for the whole person and investing in the well-being of entire communities, not just within hospital walls, but across neighborhoods like Montebello, Pico Rivera, and beyond.
For Jesse, being part of that mission is personal.
“To create something here, in Montebello, for [Adventist Health] White Memorial, a place that has done so much for my family and my community, it’s really an honor.”
His work is already gaining international recognition, but its most important impact is local. It welcomes, it tells a story, and it truly invites people in.
And that invitation matters.
Honoring the communities that shape us
The Community Well-Being Center in Montebello offers vital resources including food assistance, transportation and housing support, health and wellness education, youth leadership programs, and pathways into healthcare careers through workforce development, internships, and volunteer opportunities.
These services are changing lives across the San Gabriel Valley, but they rely on community support to continue.
Jesse’s mural is more than a piece of art. It is a call to connect, to heal, and to act.
The center now also offers complimentary beauty services for members of the community where we make people feel special.
The Community Well-Being Center is open Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
100 Harding Ave Montebello CA 90640, located on the Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello campus.
