HEALING, HEALTH, and HAPPINESS:

The Heart Of West Lakes Wellness Center Has It All

OUT HOW THIS INNOVATIVE CENTER IS CHANGING THE GAME FOR COMMUNITY WELLNESS IN ORLANDO.

BY MARK SHAMLEY

Istill remember the energy on February 10, 2023, when I arrived at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center, located west of downtown Orlando, Fla. I could feel the excitement in the air as if I was about to witness something incredibly special. And I was; I was about to witness history being reborn.

At that time, I had just started my role as Lift Orlando's first-ever vice president of Community Impact. For those unfamiliar, Lift Orlando is a nonprofit that strengthens neighborhoods so people can thrive. We bring people, places, and partnerships together to help create mixed-income housing, cradle-to-career education pathways, health and wellness services, and economic viability opportunities. My job is to collaborate with my colleagues and commu- nity partners as we strive to achieve this vision alongside the residents of West Lakes.

As I sat there contemplating the magnitude of the moment for the residents of Rock Lake, Lake Lorna Doone, Lake Sunset, Clear Lake Cove, and Bunche Manor/Hollando, who had brushed aside skepticism to embrace a vision, I knew the real work was just about to begin.

The Heart's ribbon-cutting ceremony was the culmination of nearly a decade of hard work. In 2016, a study had shown that the West Lakes community had limited access to healthcare. There were only 12 healthcare access points for the five historically Black neighborhoods that make up the 32805 ZIP Code near Camping World Stadium. In comparison, in that same year Winter Park’s 32789 ZIP Code had 112. These results were unacceptable, and some- thing had to be done. Together with neighbors, business leaders, and healthcare and philanthropic leaders such as AdventHealth, Orlando Health, Florida Blue, Dr. Phillips Charities, and Truist Foundation, we put together a plan. The dream: a new take on community wellness that would focus on ensuring residents could connect, learn, and thrive in every area of their lives. The Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center was born.

Fast forward to today, and the Heart, also known as the community’s living room, is finally here, thanks to the additional support of new funding partners like the Trisons Foundation and the Deibel family. Located at the gateway into the West Lakes Community Campus, the approximately 30,000-square-foot, two-story building offers first-class amenities and services designed to promote physical and financial well- being, lifestyle services, and places for the community to gather — all in the heart of the West Lakes neighborhoods.

As you walk in, you will find the Legacy Café, the West Lakes Financial Wellbeing Center, which is also home of the Small Business Institute and the Prosperity Platform powered by Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, the Florida Blue Center Orlando West Lakes, and the Heart of West Lakes Event Space. The exterior of the building boasts ample green spaces for neighbors to relax and gather. Upstairs, Community Health Centers, Inc., offers comprehensive healthcare services, providing a vital, new resource to combat the area's lack of access to healthcare services.

But the Heart is more than just a building with amenities. It is the result of the first-ever, large-scale collaboration of this type between healthcare powerhouses such as AdventHealth, Florida Blue, and Orlando Health. Most importantly, it is the result of collaboration between these powerhouses and West Lakes residents.

Decades ago, the area we now call “West Lakes'' was a thriving community steeped in pride and cul- tural significance. But over time, disinvestment and inequitable practices led to many of the resources crucial to residents’ success being cut off. Thankfully, the pride and spirit of the residents never waned. Today, thanks to the dedication of HOA leaders, residents, and partners, the Heart will now help restore access to many of those lost resources.

As Orlando District 5 City Commissioner Regina Hill said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, "To thrive, you need a healthy community. [The Heart] means that the community will have access to quality healthcare–from cradle to the golden years."

Residents will continue to shape the character, services, and programming of the Heart. By the time you read this article, nearly 30 neighbors will have joined a focus group to hone and guide the Heart's healthcare services.

Today, when I look at the Heart, I see the rich history of The Communities of West Lakes and the prosperous future that awaits us inside.

If you're interested in learning more about the Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center, including hiring information and opening details, please visit HeartofWestLakes.com to sign up for the newsletter and to keep up with updates on social media.

And we’re open to your ideas and feedback about the events and programs hosted at the Heart. Please scan the QR code to share your ideas and to sign up for our newsletter.

If you're interested in learning more about Lift Orlando and our work in West Lakes, please visit LiftOrlando.org.

Fmu Hires National Champion Basketball Coach

Florida Memorial announces the hiring of NAIA National Championship coach Delano Thomas as men’s head basketball coach. The NAIA National Coach of the Year and the Don Meyer Coach of the Year brings championship experience to South Florida, including one of the best runs in the history of NAIA men’s basketball. “When we set out to find our next head men’s basketball coach, we wanted to find someone who is a solid recruiter with a championship mindset that understands the importance of graduating student-athletes,” said Director of Athletics Jason Horn. “We found that in Coach Thomas. He will be a great addition to our team of coaches, and his vision for our program resonated with our staff.” Thomas constructed one of one of the greatest turnarounds in college basketball history during his tenure at Shawnee State. During the 2020-21 season, he led the Shawnee State men’s basketball program from worst-to-first in their best season ever as a program, going 31-2 overall en route to its firstever Men’s Basketball NAIA National Championship. “This is an exciting moment for my family and I,” said Coach Thomas. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity at Florida Memorial, thankful for AD Horn, and the administration. I’m looking forward to getting to work and help elevate FMU.”

Ewu Hits Record Application Numbers

Admission applications for 2023-24 academic year exceeded the 10,000 mark last month, an increase over the previous year’s total of 9,078 and the 2020-21 academic year which saw 6,157 applicants. The increase in applications is due in part to the newly offered undergraduate and graduate degree programs that will launch in the fall. Degree programs include Bachelor of Science degree in the areas of: Forensic Science, Computer and Information Science, Social Work, Accounting, Public Health and Sports Management and graduate degree programs in Cyber Security and Public Administration. Accordingly, by the outset of the 2023-2024 academic year, the university plans to have introduced ten new academic programs to its academic curriculum since 2018, thereby increasing its overall degree offerings by 187.5% to fifteen total. The 157-year-old institution has transitioned from being a college to earning university status, and launched its first-ever graduate degree program(s)—the 100% online Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Education Policy and Advocacy (MEPA) programs—as well as a new undergraduate Bachelor of Forensic Science degree program in 2021. During the spring 2023 commencement ceremony, President & CEO, Dr. A. Zachary Faison, conferred the first class of MBA degrees.

Famu Grad Tapped For Leadership Role At Nike

Florida A&M University alum G. Scott Uzzell was named Nike’s vice president/general manager of North America, the company recently announced. Uzzell, a FAMU School of Business and Industry (SBI) graduate, had served as CEO and president of Nike’s Converse division for the past several years. The move comes as part of senior leadership changes at Nike Inc. “that will continue to build on its strong momentum and underscore its commitment to product innovation, serving athletes and unrivaled brand storytelling, while driving deeper integration across the business.” In his new role, Uzzell will report to Craig Williams, formerly president, Jordan Brand, who will become president, Geographies & Marketplace, NIKE, Inc.