May 1, 2026 • 9 mins
How is healthcare showing up where it’s needed most? Today, we explore how Temple Health is transforming community care in North Philadelphia through innovative partnerships and neighborhood-based services. At the center of this effort is the Rev. Leon H. Sullivan Community Impact Center, a groundbreaking initiative developed in collaboration with community leaders and organizations like Called to Serve CDC. Located in the heart of North Philadelphia, the center brings healthcare, education, workforce development, and social services together under one roof—making care more accessible, trusted, and community-driven.
We’re joined by Dr. Nina O’Connor, Chair of Family and Community Medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and Reverend Mike Major Sr. of Called to Serve CDC. Together, they explore how the Sullivan Community Impact Center is creating new pathways for health, empowerment, and connection in North Philadelphia.
đź”— Learn more:
Temple Health: https://www.templehealth.org
Sullivan Community Impact Center: https://www.calledtoservecdc.org/sullivanimpactcenter.html
We’re joined by Dr. Nina O’Connor, Chair of Family and Community Medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and Reverend Mike Major Sr. of Called to Serve CDC. Together, they explore how the Sullivan Community Impact Center is creating new pathways for health, empowerment, and connection in North Philadelphia.
đź”— Learn more:
Temple Health: https://www.templehealth.org
Sullivan Community Impact Center: https://www.calledtoservecdc.org/sullivanimpactcenter.html
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, and welcome to Insight, a show about empowering
our community. I'm Lorraine Ballar. Tomorrow, Philadelphia's getting ready for
once in a generation moment, an historic summer that includes
FIFA World Cup, Major League Baseball's All Star Game, and
the celebration of America's two hundred and fiftieth Birthday. We'll
tell you how the city is getting ready and making
sure every neighborhood benefits. As we celebrate World Heritage Month,
(00:23):
we explore how food connects cultures. With chef Mia Castro
and later political strategist Attima Omara shares powerful insights and
the critical role black women have played in shaping American democracy,
but first in communities across Philadelphia. Improving health outcomes means
more than just providing medical care. It means building trust,
(00:44):
removing barriers, and creating spaces where people feel supported and connected.
A new collaboration between Temple Health and the Sullivan Community
Impact Center in North Philadelphia is doing just that. The
center brings healthcare services together with community leadership and support
programs designed to empower residents and improve access to care.
(01:04):
Joining us to talk about this innovative partnership, our doctor
Nina O'Connor, Chair and Professor of Family and Community Medicine
at the Lewis Kat School of Medicine at Temple University,
and Reverend Michael A. Major, Senior Executive Director of Call
to Serve CDC. Together they're helping create new pathways for health,
opportunity and connection in North Philadelphia through the Sullivan Community
(01:28):
Impact Center. So I'll begin with you, Reverend Major. For
listeners just learning about the Sullivan Community Impact Center. What
is it and what does it make possible for residents
in North Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
The Solton Community Impact Center is an extension of Zion
Baptist Church and our ministry in the community, and it
really tries to bring together a conglomertion if you will
have services that centered around health and justice and providing
a space people can access quality healthcare and a safe
environment that the community is welcoming and open to be.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Doctor O'Connor. Temple Health often talks about meeting people where
they are. What does that look like in practice? Through
this partnership with the Sullivan Community Impact Center.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Thank you at Temple, we really do think a lot
about meeting people where they are. In this instance, this
means taking the care out into the community into the
Impact Center, where community members are already participating in all
kinds of other activities and services. Instead of patients having
to come to Temple, we're going to have clinicians, community
(02:32):
health workers, and other resources in the Impact Center. We've
specifically chosen family medicine because it's a great first interaction
with the healthcare system. We can see patients of all ages,
we can see all genders, we can address almost any problem,
and then we can help people navigate into the healthcare system,
which we know is really confusing and sometimes hard to
(02:54):
figure out. Additionally, we envision this as longitudinal relationships with
our community neighbors. Family medicine is very relational and holistic,
so we hope that we can be trusted partners with
our neighbors in this new space.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Referend Major trust is essential in community work. What difference
does it make for neighbors to have healthcare services embedded
in a space that's already familiar and welcoming.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
The difference by having health care embedded in the space
that community is already welcoming is you remove the barriers.
It provides a safe place for people to engage in
healthcare where they could hopefully own their own healthcare as
evolved because they're in a place that already is trusted
about folks in the community, and so by having a
healthcare provider in that same space, the perspective would hopefully
(03:40):
be there, Okay, this people, I can.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Trust, Doctor O'Connor. How does bringing clinicians, community health workers,
and support services together in one place help address both
medical needs and the social factors that affect health.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Well, this is really a different way of delivering healthcare.
Instead of starting with a clinical perspective, starting with the
community perspective. We're doing a lot of listening. We're hearing
what the community needs and wants in this space. We're
also asking them what would make them feel more comfortable
getting healthcare in this space, and then we really hope
(04:13):
to redesign the entire practice around ongoing feedback from the community.
You know, in addition, some of health is physical, but
a lot of health is social. A lot of health
has to do with your environment, and so by having
other services in the building that address some of those
other factors, I think we're going to be able to
take out a much more comprehensive approach.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Reverend Major, this collaboration brings healthcare systems and community leadership
together in a powerful way. What makes this partnership work
so well?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
I think bringing healthcare and communitadyship together in this new
innovative way, it works because the people leading and are
trusting each other. We both have the same objective, same goals,
and so we've already begun talking about ways. So we've
been working together up to this point, but this brings
it to a whole different level. But the level of
trust is there on both sides allows us to experiment
and explore various ways that going work in a different.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Way, Doctor O'Connor. What kind of programs or services will
people be able to access at the center, from preventative
care to community resources.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
So certainly we'll have comprehensive healthcare. You know, we can
manage almost any initial condition. We'll have a focus on
chronic disease management because we know that illnesses like hypertension
and diabetes are disproportionately represented in this part of the city.
But over time, we really hope to move the needle
more towards prevention. You know, how do we work with
(05:34):
people actively partnered with them and try and prevent these
different types of illnesses. We'll have traditional healthcare, but we
also imagine classes and group visits and other resources. And
then on the first floor there'll be a hub that
helps connect people with different social programs or community resources
to address other needs they might have.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
And I'm gonna add also we will have a therapy
suite on the third floor as well.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Yes, and the community health worker program will be housed
in this new space, as well as some social work
and also just gathering spaces for other groups, community groups
to use for their purposes.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Right, So, really it's engaging in community. It's, as you
said earlier, meeting people where they are. So, Reverend Major,
you've spent decades working in the community. What does this
mean to see this long standing vision for a community
centered hub become a reality.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
I think what it means for me personally in terms
of it becoming a reality as a hub is a
place that people can come and get help and be empowered.
I think if looking at this five years from now,
get ahead of the question. But literally, people own their
own healthcare. I think about my own healthcare and a
lot of times I'm engaging with the practitioner and in
some cases it's a partnership, and so the idea of
(06:48):
folks being able to own their own healthcare and be
partner and building empowered to do that, I think is
really kind of cool to see happen.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
I love that, And I'm going to ask doctor O'Connor
to also speculate five years from now, for having this conversation,
what will success look like for this partnership and for
the families in North Philadelphia.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
So I come back to the word trust, I think
Mike esad earlier. You know, if we build a place
where our patients and our community members have trust and
feel respected, they're going to be more likely to take
care of their health, to engage in the different programs
in the center, and to make positive changes in their
own life. And we'd really love to be partners with
(07:30):
them in those changes as we advance the health and
the wellness in North Philadelphia.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
And I'd like to give you both an opportunity to
share a final message about this collaboration between Temple Health
and Sulivan Community Impact Center in North Philadelphia. Revn Major
start with you.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I suppose the word the final world will be hope.
To create a sense of hope for people, for community
that in some cases does not have that kind of hope,
and so that we might be a place that people
can and experience and see hope for the future.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I love that, doctor O'Connor.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
I also love hope, and I'll add respect. You know,
we want this to be a place where everyone feels seen,
everyone feels valued, everyone feels respected. You know, that involves
a lot of listening, and we're ready and willing to
redesign the care to make that happen.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Well, those are all wonderful and empowering words that you
share with us. If people would like to know more
about the Sullivan Community Impact Center in North Philadelphia, Reverend Major,
how do they find out more about that?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Our website is www dot call c A L l
E D T O s E r v E c
DC dot org. That's a call to serve CDC dot org.
And there's a link on my website that will point
you to the fellow in the Communion Tech.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Center and doctor O'Connor. If people want to know more
about Temple Health and all the many services that are provided,
how do they find out more?
Speaker 3 (08:57):
So they can also find us on the web and
we have online scheduling. If patients are interested in finding
a new primary care provider, but I would also encourage
them to go to the Call the Serve web page
because it really captures the vision of this partnership so well.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Beautiful doctor Nina O'Connor, Chair and Professor of Family and
Community Medicine at the Lewis Kats School of Medicine at
Temple University, and the Reverend Michael A Major, Senior Executive
Director of Call to Serve CDC. They are talking about
this wonderful new pathway for health opportunity and connection in
North Philadelphia through the Sullivan Community Impact Center. Thank you
(09:35):
both for joining us today.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
We'll have more insight after these messages.
Good morning, and welcome to Insight, a show about empowering
our community. I'm Lorraine Ballar. Tomorrow, Philadelphia's getting ready for
once in a generation moment, an historic summer that includes
FIFA World Cup, Major League Baseball's All Star Game, and
the celebration of America's two hundred and fiftieth Birthday. We'll
tell you how the city is getting ready and making
sure every neighborhood benefits. As we celebrate World Heritage Month,
(00:23):
we explore how food connects cultures. With chef Mia Castro
and later political strategist Attima Omara shares powerful insights and
the critical role black women have played in shaping American democracy,
but first in communities across Philadelphia. Improving health outcomes means
more than just providing medical care. It means building trust,
(00:44):
removing barriers, and creating spaces where people feel supported and connected.
A new collaboration between Temple Health and the Sullivan Community
Impact Center in North Philadelphia is doing just that. The
center brings healthcare services together with community leadership and support
programs designed to empower residents and improve access to care.
(01:04):
Joining us to talk about this innovative partnership, our doctor
Nina O'Connor, Chair and Professor of Family and Community Medicine
at the Lewis Kat School of Medicine at Temple University,
and Reverend Michael A. Major, Senior Executive Director of Call
to Serve CDC. Together they're helping create new pathways for health,
opportunity and connection in North Philadelphia through the Sullivan Community
(01:28):
Impact Center. So I'll begin with you, Reverend Major. For
listeners just learning about the Sullivan Community Impact Center. What
is it and what does it make possible for residents
in North Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
The Solton Community Impact Center is an extension of Zion
Baptist Church and our ministry in the community, and it
really tries to bring together a conglomertion if you will
have services that centered around health and justice and providing
a space people can access quality healthcare and a safe
environment that the community is welcoming and open to be.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Doctor O'Connor. Temple Health often talks about meeting people where
they are. What does that look like in practice? Through
this partnership with the Sullivan Community Impact Center.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Thank you at Temple, we really do think a lot
about meeting people where they are. In this instance, this
means taking the care out into the community into the
Impact Center, where community members are already participating in all
kinds of other activities and services. Instead of patients having
to come to Temple, we're going to have clinicians, community
(02:32):
health workers, and other resources in the Impact Center. We've
specifically chosen family medicine because it's a great first interaction
with the healthcare system. We can see patients of all ages,
we can see all genders, we can address almost any problem,
and then we can help people navigate into the healthcare system,
which we know is really confusing and sometimes hard to
(02:54):
figure out. Additionally, we envision this as longitudinal relationships with
our community neighbors. Family medicine is very relational and holistic,
so we hope that we can be trusted partners with
our neighbors in this new space.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Referend Major trust is essential in community work. What difference
does it make for neighbors to have healthcare services embedded
in a space that's already familiar and welcoming.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
The difference by having health care embedded in the space
that community is already welcoming is you remove the barriers.
It provides a safe place for people to engage in
healthcare where they could hopefully own their own healthcare as
evolved because they're in a place that already is trusted
about folks in the community, and so by having a
healthcare provider in that same space, the perspective would hopefully
(03:40):
be there, Okay, this people, I can.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Trust, Doctor O'Connor. How does bringing clinicians, community health workers,
and support services together in one place help address both
medical needs and the social factors that affect health.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Well, this is really a different way of delivering healthcare.
Instead of starting with a clinical perspective, starting with the
community perspective. We're doing a lot of listening. We're hearing
what the community needs and wants in this space. We're
also asking them what would make them feel more comfortable
getting healthcare in this space, and then we really hope
(04:13):
to redesign the entire practice around ongoing feedback from the community.
You know, in addition, some of health is physical, but
a lot of health is social. A lot of health
has to do with your environment, and so by having
other services in the building that address some of those
other factors, I think we're going to be able to
take out a much more comprehensive approach.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Reverend Major, this collaboration brings healthcare systems and community leadership
together in a powerful way. What makes this partnership work
so well?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
I think bringing healthcare and communitadyship together in this new
innovative way, it works because the people leading and are
trusting each other. We both have the same objective, same goals,
and so we've already begun talking about ways. So we've
been working together up to this point, but this brings
it to a whole different level. But the level of
trust is there on both sides allows us to experiment
and explore various ways that going work in a different.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Way, Doctor O'Connor. What kind of programs or services will
people be able to access at the center, from preventative
care to community resources.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
So certainly we'll have comprehensive healthcare. You know, we can
manage almost any initial condition. We'll have a focus on
chronic disease management because we know that illnesses like hypertension
and diabetes are disproportionately represented in this part of the city.
But over time, we really hope to move the needle
more towards prevention. You know, how do we work with
(05:34):
people actively partnered with them and try and prevent these
different types of illnesses. We'll have traditional healthcare, but we
also imagine classes and group visits and other resources. And
then on the first floor there'll be a hub that
helps connect people with different social programs or community resources
to address other needs they might have.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
And I'm gonna add also we will have a therapy
suite on the third floor as well.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Yes, and the community health worker program will be housed
in this new space, as well as some social work
and also just gathering spaces for other groups, community groups
to use for their purposes.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Right, So, really it's engaging in community. It's, as you
said earlier, meeting people where they are. So, Reverend Major,
you've spent decades working in the community. What does this
mean to see this long standing vision for a community
centered hub become a reality.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
I think what it means for me personally in terms
of it becoming a reality as a hub is a
place that people can come and get help and be empowered.
I think if looking at this five years from now,
get ahead of the question. But literally, people own their
own healthcare. I think about my own healthcare and a
lot of times I'm engaging with the practitioner and in
some cases it's a partnership, and so the idea of
(06:48):
folks being able to own their own healthcare and be
partner and building empowered to do that, I think is
really kind of cool to see happen.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
I love that, And I'm going to ask doctor O'Connor
to also speculate five years from now, for having this conversation,
what will success look like for this partnership and for
the families in North Philadelphia.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
So I come back to the word trust, I think
Mike esad earlier. You know, if we build a place
where our patients and our community members have trust and
feel respected, they're going to be more likely to take
care of their health, to engage in the different programs
in the center, and to make positive changes in their
own life. And we'd really love to be partners with
(07:30):
them in those changes as we advance the health and
the wellness in North Philadelphia.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
And I'd like to give you both an opportunity to
share a final message about this collaboration between Temple Health
and Sulivan Community Impact Center in North Philadelphia. Revn Major
start with you.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I suppose the word the final world will be hope.
To create a sense of hope for people, for community
that in some cases does not have that kind of hope,
and so that we might be a place that people
can and experience and see hope for the future.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I love that, doctor O'Connor.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
I also love hope, and I'll add respect. You know,
we want this to be a place where everyone feels seen,
everyone feels valued, everyone feels respected. You know, that involves
a lot of listening, and we're ready and willing to
redesign the care to make that happen.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Well, those are all wonderful and empowering words that you
share with us. If people would like to know more
about the Sullivan Community Impact Center in North Philadelphia, Reverend Major,
how do they find out more about that?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Our website is www dot call c A L l
E D T O s E r v E c
DC dot org. That's a call to serve CDC dot org.
And there's a link on my website that will point
you to the fellow in the Communion Tech.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Center and doctor O'Connor. If people want to know more
about Temple Health and all the many services that are provided,
how do they find out more?
Speaker 3 (08:57):
So they can also find us on the web and
we have online scheduling. If patients are interested in finding
a new primary care provider, but I would also encourage
them to go to the Call the Serve web page
because it really captures the vision of this partnership so well.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Beautiful doctor Nina O'Connor, Chair and Professor of Family and
Community Medicine at the Lewis Kats School of Medicine at
Temple University, and the Reverend Michael A Major, Senior Executive
Director of Call to Serve CDC. They are talking about
this wonderful new pathway for health opportunity and connection in
North Philadelphia through the Sullivan Community Impact Center. Thank you
(09:35):
both for joining us today.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
We'll have more insight after these messages.
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