Ward 1 Business Spotlight: Central Avenue Clinic

Neighborhood HealthSource welcomes Dr. Hindi Hussein to their Central Clinic this fall. With a medical degree from Howard University, Dr. Hussein is a family medicine doctor who enjoys caring for people in all stages of life. She has a special interest in pediatrics, women’s health and prenatal care. About her work, she says, “Having grown up in an underserved region, it has always been my desire to join an organization whose mission it is to provide quality health care for underserved populations.”


Dr. Hussein is fluent in Somali and English. Her philosophy of care: strengthening patients’ own advocacy for their health care, taking into account not just their health status but their whole wellbeing—job experience, living environment, overall factors in their life—and how that impacts their health. She is committed to access to care that takes into account cultural nuances with sensitivity to any socioeconomic or language barriers people may face. Outside of work, Dr. Hussein is interested in travel medicine, global health and medical mission trips. She enjoys cooking and spending time with family and friends.

Public Health Advisory Committee Opening

The City of Minneapolis Public Health Advisory Committee (PHAC) has an opening for a Ward 1 representative. The role of the committee is to advise the City Council and the Health Department on policy matters affecting the health of Minneapolis residents and to serve as liaisons between the City and the community in addressing health concerns. In this role, PHAC shall make every effort to ensure that the concerns addressed and represented reflect the diverse viewpoints and interests of the Minneapolis community as a whole.

The term would begin immediately and end on December 31, 2017. Interested applicants should complete the Application Form (pdf) and the Voluntary Demographic Questionnaire (pdf). Send completed forms toopenappointments@minneapolismn.gov, or by fax: 612-673-3812, or:

City Clerk Appointments
Room 304, 350 South Fifth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415-1382

You can apply on your own behalf, nominate others for consideration, or inform the City Clerk's Office of someone to whom you'd like application materials to be sent. For further information, please contact Margaret Schuster at 612-673-2301 or Margaret.Schuster@minneapolismn.gov.

City of Minneapolis Passes Safe and Sick Time Ordinance

On May 27, 2016, the City Council passed the “Safe and Sick Time” ordinance which ensures paid safe and sick leave for most employees within the City of Minneapolis boundaries. The new ordinance will not take effect until July 1, 2017. This is the first ordinance of its kind in the State of Minnesota. Click HERE for more details and to read the ordinance itself.

Leroy Leftwich: Ward One Public Health Hero

As part of the City of Minneapolis' celebration of National Public Health Week in April, Council Member Reich had the opportunity to award Leroy Leftwich (pictured at right) with a Public Health Hero award for his work teaching young people how to bike and ski.

Mr. Leftwich works with low-income, minority and immigrant students at Pillsbury Elementary School. Every year through Pillsbury's celebrated Pedal Power program (which has also been a Public Health Hero award-winner), he teaches basic biking skills to 30 or so nine and ten-year-old kids who may never have previously been on a bicycle. He is also head ski coach and instructor for Pillsbury's 4th grade class and assistant ski coach for the 5th grade class. Several student members of Pillsbury Pedal Power biked down to City Hall with Mr. Leftwich for the Awards ceremony.

Mr. Leftwich truly embodies our City's health goal of "Thriving Youth and Young Adults" as he opens new worlds for these children.

Senior Partners Care Program

An increasing number of Minnesota’s low to moderate income individuals are at risk of sliding down the slippery slope toward financial crisis. The problem is becoming critical for thousands of older or disabled Minnesotans whose income is between 100% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Index. These are people who are on Medicare, do not qualify for Medicaid, and are frequently unable to pay the balance of their health costs after Medicare has paid. Fortunately, there is help for these Minnesotans, who meet eligibility requirements, with the Senior Partners Care program.

The Senior Partners Care program helps Medicare beneficiaries bridge the financial gap between what they owe on medical bills and what is covered by Medicare. Senior Partners Care is not insurance. However, thanks to partnerships with hundreds of hospitals, clinics and providers statewide, seniors and disabled may have all or part of their healthcare debt waived by participating providers.

To qualify, seniors and disabled must have Medicare A and B, no supplemental insurance, meet income and asset thresholds, seek care from participating medical providers and submit an application with a modest annual fee, for approval. For an application or to receive more information on Senior Partners Care call 952-767-0665 or toll free 1-888-541-5488. Or visit us at http://seniorcommunity.org/programs/senior-partners-care/

Senior Partners Care Information

Does the financial burden of the gap left between medical bills and Medicare keep you or a loved one from getting critical medical care needed to stay healthy? Stop worrying, there’s a solution! Let Senior Partners Care (SPC) help you. SPC is a statewide program, which began in 1973, that helps low to moderate income Medicare beneficiaries limit their out of pocket expenses by waiving the balance on medical services and treatments after Medicare payment for eligible clients who use SPC healthcare providers for Medicare approved services.

SPC has partnered with most of the major metropolitan area hospitals and hundreds of clinics and providers statewide, with some of the key providers being Fairview, HCMC, Park Nicollet/Methodist, North Memorial, HealthEast, and Minnesota Oncology. Partners agree to accept Medicare as full payment on Medicare covered services for SPC members.

For program details and applications visit www.seniorcommunity.org/programs or call (952) 767-0665.

Former Highland Market Comes Down

This September demolition began at the site of the former Highland Market, the first steps in a major shift on Central Avenue as Walgreens moves down the street. The move is part of a larger business realignment that will bring two brand-new buildings to Central Avenue. Neighborhood HealthSource's Central Clinic will move from their aging building at 2610 Central Avenue to the Methven-Taylor property at 2310 Central, while Walgreens will build a new store at 2600-2620 Central. This activity is the culmination of discussions with the Ward 1 Office, Walgreens and Neighborhood HealthSource over the course of the past two years.

2600 Central Avenue has long been a problematic corner, with a significant amount of Police and Inspections Department resources going toward monitoring  and dealing with criminal activity and livability issues (in the photo at right CM Reich holds a long list of Regulatory Services and Licensing complaints received for the former Highland Market).

The new Walgreens store will be larger than the current location and will feature a drive-through at the rear of the building. The building's design took into account both community comments and the Central Avenue Design Guidelines. As a result, the landscaping plan will include rain gardens, an amenity advocated for by the Holland neighborhood. Adelheid Koski, president of the Holland Neighborhood Improvement Association, and Nick Christoff, Walgreens District Manager, were also on hand to mark the launch of the project with the demolition of the row of aging buildings. Up next: Neighborhood HealthSource Central Clinic will have a groundbreaking ceremony at 2310 Central in a few weeks.

Free Radon Detection Kits

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers, but it is 100% preventable. Radon problems can be easily fixed. An invisible, odorless, radioactive gas, radon can be found in many homes across Minnesota but can only be discovered by testing.

The Minnesota Department of Health has donated more than 250 radon test kits that will be given way free on Friday, October 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pick up your free kit at Minneapolis Development Review, 3rd Floor, 250 S. 4th Street while supplies last (one per household). Beginning November 1, radon detection kits will be available for $9 each at Minneapolis Development Review.