Local

$8.3 million achievement center in Moncrief would provide medical care, mentorship

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Kappa Alpha Psi Jacksonville Foundation Inc. has teamed up with Wolfson Children’s Hospital with hopes of creating a state-of-the-art healthcare facility to serve the Northwest Jacksonville community.

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In addition to meeting medical needs, the site would also help keep young men on the right path.

It’s called the Dr. Charles B. Mcintosh Community Achievement Center.

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Dr. Charles B. McIntosh is Jacksonville’s first African American pediatrician.

The capital investment is $8.3 million, according to city documents.

Kappa Alpha Psi is seeking a $500,000 grant through the city’s Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund toward construction of the center.

On Monday, a 6-0 vote was made in the Mayor’s Budget Review Committee meeting -- in favor of filing a bill with City Council for the grant toward this project.

That grant would help this dream become a reality.

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Action News Jax spoke with Lawrence Dennis, Executive Director of Kappa Alpha Psi Jacksonville Foundation.

“It allows not only for Wolfson to expand their services -- it allows us to expand ours as well in terms of mentoring programs that we do for our young men and some additional programs that we offer within the community,” Dennis said. “It’s simply a win-win scenario.”

The proposed location is 3717 Moncrief Road West, across from Raines High School.

The clinic would help provide affordable healthcare to citizens, with a focus on youth.

There would also be opportunities for middle and high school male students to learn life skills, leadership training, financial literacy and health education.

Projections for the new facility estimate 3,300 primary care visits and 1,100 unique patients will be served annually once the clinic is established, according to the project summary.

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“We’re looking at this as being something that’s state-of-the-art and something that we can all be proud of,” Dennis said. “Something that we hope will revitalize a portion of Jacksonville that often goes unserviced.”

Eric Wilson has lived at his Moncrief home for 50 years.

“I think it’s very good,” Wilson said. “It could help the people around the neighborhood.”

Irvin Covington who lives off Moncrief Road, agrees.

“I think it’ll be beneficial, and it’ll make the area look better,” Covington said.

The proposed site is located on a fixed bus route of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.

The JTA is planning to offer Youth Passes to minors to ensure they’ll have access to the center.

This comes as city documents say three clinics within the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development boundary have recently closed, creating a large gap in medical care for the area.

A project summary shows that Sulzbacher Health Center is committed to the project and has agreed to manage the clinic.

Kappa Alpha Psi Jacksonville Foundation, Inc. already has a number of mentoring programs offered year-round for individuals within the community.

The Foundation has provided around $425,000 in scholarships to high school seniors.

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CLICK HERE to donate and to learn more about the Dr. Charles B. Mcintosh Community Achievement Center.