30,000-Square-Foot Health and Wellness Center to Provide Comprehensive Services That Will Continue to Strengthen the Communities of West Lakes

$13.5M Project Makes History as the First-Ever, Large-Scale Collaboration Between AdventHealth, Florida Blue, and Orlando Health

Lift Orlando, a nonprofit that works with residents, business leaders, and community partners for neighborhood revitalization in The Communities of West Lakes, hosted a groundbreaking Ceremony for the Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center on Wednesday, June 9 in Orlando. 

The 30,000-square-foot, two-story center, scheduled to open in summer 2022, will sit on 3.8 acres of land and will be strategically located across the street from the new Jacqueline Bradley & Clarence Otis Family Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. The center will serve as an economic engine for the community and create approximately 40 full-time jobs.

The Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center, named by a resident committee, is designed to provide residents with convenient access to holistic health, financial, and lifestyle services. First-class amenities will include a community café and gathering spaces, a co-working space, financial wellbeing center, fitness studio, and outdoor green spaces. The second floor will feature an approximately 8,000-square-foot healthcare center operated by Community Health Centers, Inc. (CHC), a federally qualified health center. Lift Orlando, Elevate Orlando, and other neighborhood partners will also be located on the second floor.

“Lift Orlando is thrilled to break ground on the Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center,” said Eddy Moratin, president of Lift Orlando. “The center will offer a transformative, new approach to community health built on the Community of West Lakes' legacy of neighborly love. We hope this project serves as an inspiring example and catalyst for more projects that fuse healthcare, community engagement, and business leadership for community prosperity and racial justice.”

The project is a result of the first-ever collaboration, of this scale, between healthcare powerhouses, AdventHealth, Florida Blue, and Orlando Health, which provided funding and vital data to inform many aspects of the facility. The state-of-the-art center, designed by Baker Barrios Architects, Inc., will feature modern design aesthetics with decor that honors the rich history of the five historically African American neighborhoods that make up The Communities of West Lakes.

To combat deep-rooted healthcare disparities in The Communities West Lakes and Orlando’s 32805 ZIP code, Lift Orlando selected Community Health Centers, Inc. as the resident healthcare provider. CHC will offer comprehensive healthcare services, such as primary care, behavioral care, and same-day services, regardless of insurance coverage, along with employment for community members.

WORDS FROM HEART OF WEST LAKES WELLNESS CENTER HEALTHCARE FUNDING PARTNERS

“Florida Blue is committed to building healthy, strong communities, and this can only be achieved through creating health care accessibility,” said Tony Jenkins, Florida Blue market president. “The Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center is an incredible solution that brings forth comprehensive, high-quality wellness services for families and individuals of all ages, and we are proud to have joined Lift Orlando, and the other partners as we focus on creating greater impact by advancing communities together.”

“Greater attention to whole health and wellness is essential to the strength and vitality of a thriving community,” said Randy Haffner, president and CEO of AdventHealth Central Florida. “AdventHealth’s mission is committed to whole-person care — body, mind, and spirit. In partnership with Lift Orlando, we recognize that individual growth requires a nurturing approach toward healthier living so we may all live life to the fullest. The Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center will deliver on the promise of whole-community health by bringing a brighter future to children and families and a stronger, more vibrant neighborhood.”

“We know that access to high quality, affordable healthcare is a challenge,'' said Mark A. Jones, president, Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center and Lift Orlando board member. “Orlando Health’s goal in partnering with Lift Orlando is to help build pathways to health and wellness as a part of the broader mission of preservation of the neighborhood’s cultural heritage.”

“We are excited to have been chosen as the healthcare provider for this project and have already started our entry into the community by offering COVID-19 vaccines and participating in community events,” said Debra Andree, MD, president and CEO of Community Health Centers, Inc. “Our rich history and mission of focusing on quality healthcare aligns with the needs of The Communities of West Lakes.” 

To track the short and long-term impact of the Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center’s services, Lift Orlando has enlisted the help of The Polis Institute. Major funding for the center was provided by AdventHealth, Dr. Phillips Charities, Florida Blue, Orlando Health, and Truist Foundation.

Lift Orlando is a nonprofit that works with residents, business leaders, and community partners for neighborhood revitalization in 32805. We strengthen The Communities of West Lakes by providing mixed-income housing, cradle-to-career education, health and wellness initiatives, and economic viability opportunities. Our vision is to see neighborhoods where children grow up with hope and return with joy. We invest in people, places, and partnerships.

By the end of 2021, our West Lakes Community Campus will include the Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center, 200 units of mixed-income apartment homes, 120 affordable senior apartment homes, an innovative Early Learning Center, and the Jacqueline Bradley & Clarence Otis Family branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. Learn more at LiftOrlando.org.