“When we take on someone else’s burden, it doesn’t just disappear. We absorb it, and that’s how patients receive higher-quality, more consistent care. You don’t have to accept that healthcare is purely transactional.”
– Matt Siemer, MCC’s late Executive Director
For years, Matt was looking for a home for the many consulting projects he and other staff at MCC took on to help local non-profits flourish in the mobile healthcare space. He came up with the concept of the Mobile Community Health Incubator, with a physical space called the Community Dispatch, for Incubator partners to securely house their clinics – as storage is one of the biggest barriers to running a mobile clinic. He wanted to provide historical knowledge MCC had, to help non-profits avoid the many costly mistakes that can occur when running a mobile clinic. The Community Dispatch officially launched in April 2025, and it has been an honor to work with community organizations who share Matt’s love of and vision for Chicago.
While we debuted our incredible Community Dispatch space last spring, operations started for the MCHI in late 2024. Since then, through this program, our partners, alongside Chanel, our External Partnerships Manager have:
- Run 1000+ clinic days
- Launched two fully functional mobile clinics (from just an idea to wheels on the road)
- Filled nine parking spots in the Community Dispatch with externally operated clinics
- Launched a quarterly newsletter supporting information sharing among partners
- Held two big parties in the garage
These early results affirm our belief that when organizations shoulder the work together, communities receive care that is stronger, more resilient, and built to last.
Matt’s Favorite Things
Traditionally, in this campaign, we ask staff to share their favorite places in the neighborhoods we serve. To celebrate and honor Matt, we will use this space to share his favorite Chicago spots.
Matt loved to bake, and appreciated a delicious baked good – his standards were high! He frequently recommended checking out Sauce and Bread Kitchen in Edgewater/Rogers Park. Per their website, Sauce and Bread Kitchen (SBK) is a brick and mortar amalgam of two beloved Chi-Town food forces, social enterprise Co-op Sauce and bread baker extraordinaire Crumb Chicago. Like Voltron they joined for greater awesomeness and simply named themselves after what they do best (Sauce and Bread Kitchen).
If you are in the neighborhood, stop by SBK, grab a sandwich and a beer, and think of Matt! And maybe get some french fries – he loved french fries!
A Tribute that Sticks
The Mobile Community Health Incubator is living infrastructure. It takes intention, maintenance, and collective investment to sustain. As we honor Matt, we are also ensuring this work remains strong and viable long-term.In the spirit of honoring his favorite things, Matt genuinely *loved* stickers. Anyone who donates $20 or more will receive a limited-edition holographic bumper sticker as a small thank you and tribute.
