FERGUSON, Mo. — It was a celebration of change Thursday morning in north St. Louis County.
Leaders and community members were at the ribbon cutting for its newest space. Affinia's new health center found a home in Ferguson, Missouri, providing affordable primary and preventative health needs.
The new $7.5 million location is approximately 15,000 square feet in size, including 23 medical exam rooms, four dental operatories, two behavioral health exam rooms and two Medication-Assisted Treatment (substance use disorder) exam rooms. Midwives will be on site too.
The center sits right next door to Emerson YMCA, a new partnership to cover every aspect of health.
"That's how we make [a] generational change ... we have wrapped around services," Tirae Abernathy, a certified nurse midwife, said.
Wrapping their arms around Ferguson, Affinia aims to close the gap on health care deserts here.
"It would be remiss if we didn't mention that Ferguson played a huge role in the Black Lives Matter movement and that health justice and health equity [are] essential to racial justice, racial equity. We do believe midwifery and health care is a part of the solution of celebrating Black life," Hali Ledet, certified nurse midwife, said.
This center is led by Black medical professionals.
Two north St. Louis County natives returned home serving as doctors in the community that shaped them.
Dellwood is a special place for Dr. Iesha Draper.
"My mom moved into Dellwood a month before I was born. I was raised in North County, she's still in the same house," she said with a smile.
Dr. Kristia Abernathy is also excited to return.
"Me coming back to North County is kind of why they hired me to come back here to this neighborhood. This has always been a dream of mine to come back and work in North County," Abernathy said. "I want people to pay attention to preventative health before we venture off into chronic disease."
It's a dream to give back to the place that gave them so much.
Now, they said they're ready to be a part of the change in their hometown.
"Anything is possible," Draper added.
"It's possible, anything you want to do," Abernathy said. "Don't be afraid to ask for help."
Congresswoman Cori Bush helped secure funding for Affinia and initially requested it in April 2021.
Bush shared this statement:
“I’m proud to have secured $2 million for Affinia Healthcare to invest in the life-saving clinic in Ferguson. Affinia Healthcare has been doing the work on the ground to ensure our most marginalized and historically excluded communities can access the healthcare they need. I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Kendra Holmes, the entire Affinia leadership team, including former President Dr. Alan Freeman, and the YMCA for all they continue to do for our community and expanding a host of services ranging from primary care to substance use treatment to dental care and more in North County. I look forward to continuing our partnership on meaningful health equity initiatives for the St. Louis area.”