By Rev. Stephen Herrod, Contributing Columnist
In the historic Gratiot-Woods neighborhood of Detroit, healing is taking root in a new way. From health care enrollment and assistance to helping youth get into school, from food, housing, and utility assistance to education on healthy lifestyles and behaviors, these resources are now closer to home than ever. Residents can access support for managing chronic conditions and medications, receive free preventative care such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes screenings, and get referrals to a variety of other services. There are also resources for substance use disorder, mental health support, crisis intervention, and more.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is excited about what this means for the community. Neighborhood Wellness Centers bring these services into non-traditional health care settings, places where people feel at ease, supported, and known. In this case, a neighborhood church on the Eastside of Detroit. All services are free of charge. Open to all Detroit residents.
Historically, the Black church has been far more than a place of worship. It has served as the heart of the community, an epicenter for support, connection, and empowerment. Bethel Baptist Church, East, located at 5715 Holcomb Ave., Detroit, MI 48213, has long embraced that calling, and now, we continue in that tradition through new partnerships and renewed purpose.
In collaboration with MDHHS and the Detroit Health Department, Bethel Baptist Church, East, has reimagined part of our space to house a Neighborhood Wellness Center and provide a home base for community health worker services.
This collaboration is more than just a logistical arrangement; it is a vision for what can happen when public health agencies and trusted neighborhood institutions come together for the good of the people. It models the kind of creative, community-rooted strategies that are essential for organizations committed to being salt and light in a morally declining and ethically decaying world.
Placing a Neighborhood Wellness Center inside a church that has a long-standing relationship with its surrounding community is a classic example of meeting people where they are. The Detroit Health Department has a wealth of resources that could benefit residents, yet many people are simply unaware that these services exist. By hosting a wellness center within the church, we are building a bridge, helping neighbors cross over to the resources, care, and hope they need. And in a very real sense, the doors of the church are open, not only for worship, but for wellness, wholeness, and community transformation.
Looking ahead, we must continue to move beyond tradition, isolation, and “the way it’s always been done.” We must continue to work together and form coalitions with like-minded organizations, with justice and liberation as our guiding goals.
We are not alone in this work. Across Michigan, churches are part of this same partnership and have opened their doors to Neighborhood Wellness Centers with the betterment of people in mind. These efforts demonstrate the power of collaboration and the potential of faith communities to play a central role in community well-being.
Hours of Operation for the Neighborhood Wellness Center located in Bethel Baptist Church, East:
- Monday: 10 AM – 5 PM
- Wednesday: 10 AM – 6 PM
- Friday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Additional locations can be found at michigan.gov, and for a complete list of programs and services offered by the Detroit Health Department, residents can also visit DetroitMI.gov.
By increasing awareness of the sites already open, and by planting seeds for future possibilities, we are working toward a healthier, stronger, and more connected Detroit.
Rev. Stephen Herrod is the Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church East, located at 5715 Holcomb Ave. in Detroit, MI.
About Post Author
