As many people know (but maybe not enough) October is Italian-American Heritage Month in the United States. These 31 days give us some time to reflect on the importance of Italian-Americans and their proud history, culture, and general impact on our country. NEW Health is fortunate to be right in the middle of one of the Italian-American neighborhoods in the US, Boston’s North End. There is simply no way anyone can walk down a street in the North End without feeling and experiencing the rich Italian culture.
That culture doesn’t only stem from the world-famous restaurants, or the churches, or the pastry shops but more importantly, it comes from the people. The pride that comes with being Italian-American is clear through their passion, their generosity, and their love of tradition. In fact, NEW Health would not exist if it weren’t for the Italian-Americans in this neighborhood.
NEW Health’s humble beginnings start in 1970 when a group of 12 women and 3 men, led by Elaine Wilson the founder of the health center, had a vision to help their neighborhood. With the goal of ensuring access to affordable and convenient healthcare for local Italian families, the North End Community Health Center opened in 1971 as the first Italian-American health center in the country. Now with thousands of patients and an array of services that have grown since its start, NEW Health has made sure to follow through on the original mission of taking care of our community. And as one of the bedrocks of the North End, NEW Health has done its part to bring light on Italian-American heritage, with events like Taste of the North End. This gathering brought dozens of local Italian restaurants together to donate food for a charitable evening supporting many North End organizations and non-profits.
For over 50 years, we have had the privilege of serving the people of the North End and we look forward to keeping our great work going. Italian-American culture didn’t just start NEW Health but has shaped us into a generous, passionate, and caring organization that wants to better our communities. We are very proud of our own Italian heritage and appreciate the many organizations in our wonderful community who join us in our work. NEW Health sincerely wishes everyone, a Happy Italian-American Heritage Month!
