Hyde Park Health and Wellness Summit Advocates for a Community Health Center

Hyde Park Health and Wellness Summit Advocates for a Community Health Center

The Hyde Park Health and Wellness Summit held this weekend marked the fourth year for the community’s advocacy for a responsive healthcare center that would provide vital services to residents facing health challenges.

Located in a neighborhood without a dedicated health center, Hyde Park has long struggled to address healthcare needs effectively. The Boston City Council began exploring the establishment of such a center in 2021, but the progress has stagnated amid ongoing discussions about potential locations.

Michael Curry, president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, emphasized the importance of grassroots activism during his keynote address. He stated, ‘The moment we are in is one that requires every single one of you to be an activist. Bad things happen when you stop paying attention.’

According to the Massachusetts League, more than one million residents utilize community health centers, which focus on primary and preventive care for underserved populations, providing care regardless of patients’ financial circumstances. A health facility in Hyde Park would significantly improve access to essential healthcare services for residents lacking nearby major hospitals, a point previously noted by the Globe.

Throughout the day-long summit, multiple speakers and community leaders participated in a town hall discussion emphasizing the necessity of reducing healthcare deserts and health disparities throughout Boston. The discussions centered around ‘building a healthier future together in Hyde Park,’ with health experts and local leaders providing insight into the current healthcare landscape.

The event was well-attended, with significant participation from both residents and local elected officials, including Representative Ayanna Pressley, who expressed support for community health initiatives.

Alexia McGregor, an assistant professor of health policy and politics at Harvard, remarked, ‘Over the course of this morning and afternoon, we will all put our heads together to continue to show us the roadmap to a community health center.’

The summit highlighted the critical importance of community health centers in neighborhoods like Hyde Park. Since the establishment of the first community health center in 1965, the movement to address healthcare disparities in the United States has expanded significantly, proving successful in improving access to care. Today, there are approximately 1,400 community health centers serving over 32.5 million individuals nationwide, as noted by Curry.

Curry reiterated the significance of having health centers situated within communities due to the strong relationships they foster with local residents. ‘Get behind all the elected officials that in this moment are fighting to make sure you all, not just black and brown folks, benefit,’ he stated. ‘All of us benefit when we do the right thing — when we center health equity.’