The OneCareNow Event in Isla Vista included the screening of the video The Healthcare Solution: California OneCare, followed by health care “horror” stories shared by members of the 50 in attendance. The audience represented all ages, from a UCSB Graduate student to a few in their 90’s.

Friendship Manor, an independent living facility for seniors, graciously allowed us to use their auditorium. A copy of the video was donated to Friendship Manor so that it could be shown several times in the future.

After refreshments, 30 of the audience formed a candlelight procession to Peoples Park about half a mile away.

At the park, the Unitarian ministers from the Goleta and Santa Barbara congregations led us in a mostly silent vigil in remembrance of those 2000 Californians who die each year primarily because of not having health insurance. The silence was broken by members of the vigil speaking the names of people they knew who had died needlessly. Many were surprised at the number of individuals who were named, not to mention the several dozen homeless who die and whose names most do not remember.