East Montgomery Times

The Reverend Leon H. Sullivan Community Impact Center has commenced its journey with a groundbreaking ceremony, marking the beginning of a new chapter for North Philadelphia. The event was attended by Called to Serve and the congregation of Zion Baptist Church, as well as members of Temple University Health System (TUHS).

Located near TUH-Main Campus in the former annex of Zion Baptist Church, the center aims to provide a variety of services for the community. It will house 16 exam rooms dedicated to Primary Care within Temple’s Department of Family and Community Medicine. Additionally, it will serve as headquarters for Temple's Community Health Worker program and the Lewis Katz School of Medicine’s Community Engagement Office.

Dr. Nina O’Connor, Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, emphasized collaboration with local residents: “This is an ideal opportunity for Family Medicine to move into the community in partnership with our neighbors and to redesign Primary Care together.” She also noted that "the Impact Center is associated with Called to Serve," which she believes will make locals feel comfortable seeking care there.

The center will feature not only medical services but also community-focused facilities such as an art gallery with youth programming, a coffee shop, and an e-sports mentoring program. Dr. O’Connor highlighted ongoing dialogue with community leaders: “We’ve been meeting with community leaders and members of Zion to find out what the community likes about our current practice... We’re going to take all this feedback and use it to shape our program in this new space.”

Patrice K. Armstead from Social Work underscored visibility: “Now that the Community Health Workers will have a space of our own, we’ll be much more visible within the community.” Steven R. Carson from Population Health mentioned collaborations like workforce redevelopment programs through Lenfest Center for Community Workforce Partnerships.

Nicolle Strand from Lewis Katz School stated that their medical students would host various supportive activities at the center: “By locating the Community Engagement Office in the Impact Center, we’ll be making those resources more accessible.”

At its core, this project reflects Reverend Mike Major's vision—a former member who grew up attending Zion Baptist Church under Reverend Sullivan's leadership—focusing on healthcare access, education opportunities, workforce development initiatives aligned closely with both Reverend Sullivan’s mission as well as Temple University’s commitment towards empowering communities.