LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Americana World Community Center makes it a priority to help new residents find their healthy start in life while in the United States. The center is expanding that investment, alongside Family Health Centers, by raising $3.9 million to invest in the renovation of their healthcare space.
The project will take the clinic away from the small trailers they use behind the campus to establishing themselves in the south wing of the Americana building.
The campus is already a one-stop-shop for education, childcare and health care for newcomers from around the world. The executive director of AWCC Emilie Dyer said FHC provides medical services to multiple patients and need to expand.
"If we don't provide the support services that we offer at Americana and at Family Health Centers then people aren't able to live into their potential and offer that in our community," Dyer said. "The opportunity to do so, and the funding, and the motivation of the community has just now really hit it's watermark."
Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services at FHC Liz Edghill said being located in one building will benefit every client they serve.
"Having us in one building, simplifying that and giving them a space that really has the dignity they deserve," said Edghill.
That respect is given to multiple people from across the world like Elian Nindola who fled her home country Burundi because of the violence she experienced.
"I got a family here, a new family like mom and dad," said Nindola. "That's why I like it here."
Since being helped to get established in Louisville she's now returning the favor by working at AWCC to welcome others with similar experiences.
"That's why I still worry about the people who die today in the Congo," Nindola said. "Because I remember how it was in my country."
Dyer said AWCC's campus serves between two and three thousand people annually.
At this moment FHC also serves those families with their clinic in a trailer behind AWCC's main building.
"The trailers are old they were meant to be for two years and it's been seventeen," said Edghill. "We've expanded, we've added but we're at capacity."
Migrants that come through the formal refugee resettlement program have access to blood work, health screenings and other services. Nindola herself was able to get vaccinations and therapy.
"What we really want is this warm handoff in one building under one roof," said Edghill. "There everybody has no wrong door. They can come in for services and meet their health needs or social services needs."
The organizations said they need your help to meet their goal. If you want to help out, you can make a donation by clicking here, or attend one of their fundraising events. The next one is on April 25 at Mango's Mexican Restaurant.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.