Patient Darlene Solomon at the Center
Neighbors, friends, and past and present patients of the North by Northeast Community Health Center gathered on Friday, October 21, 2016 to celebrate the opening of the clinic’s newly renovated, larger home at 714 NE Alberta. The clinic was founded in 2005 by Dr. Jill Ginsburg and the late Pastor Mary Overstreet Smith, whose daughters spoke emotionally about their mother’s commitment to the neighborhood and to services focused on the local African-American population.
Prosper Portland provided $366,000 in Community Livability Grant funds to make most of the necessary improvements to turn the building into a first-class health center. Supporters set a fundraising goal of $100,000 to finish the renovations for the Center, which is the only clinic in Oregon focused on African-American health.
Prosper Portland programs encourage progress toward the goal of healthy, complete neighborhoods – and community livability grants are especially targeted to assist projects that promote resilient, caring communities.
The new home for the Health Center allowed a local landmark to remain in African-American ownership as a vital community asset, where both longtime patients and newer visitors can take advantage of primary care services, education, and health screenings. In addition, this redevelopment project directly fulfills the North/Northeast Community Development Initiative goal to foster economic prosperity among African-Americans and people of color.
