Absolutely Colorado: Peak Vista Community Health Center helping underserved communities for 50 years
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., (KRDO)- The healthcare system has changed dramatically in the last 50 years, and Peak Vista Community Health Centers is one center that has fought to make healthcare more accessible for low-income families and the homeless across Southern Colorado.
One of those people who fought for change is Jan Harris, a co-founder of Peak Vista Community Health Centers.
It all started with a free clinic 50 years ago, tending to patients despite their socioeconomic status and the color of their skin.
On their 50th anniversary, she shares how impactful this center has been for the community.
"Health should be a right and not a privilege, I really and until this day feel strongly about that," said Jan Harris one of the co-founders of the first clinic.
Growing up in Colorado Springs, Harris was inspired by the injustices being done around her.
"My grandfather had a small restaurant, but people of color weren't allowed to be serviced and they had to go in the alley and get food and that really upset me very much--things that I have seen along the lines of devaluing people, really affected me," added Harris.
During that time in history, Harris was considered a rebel because she went against all odds-- and even more when she began to work at the free clinic in 1971 which was an all-volunteer organization, open just two nights a week for walk-in patients.
"We had a big population of Hispanic families coming in, some did not speak English--we had other people that were just ill, they weren't good, they weren't well because they were homeless, so there was a diversified group of patients we serviced and each group had their issues and getting people to trust us to come in," said Harris.
It wasn't until 1973 that they open their first clinic on Wasatch Ave. in Colorado Springs. Through the different changes, one purpose was clear, to reduce individuals' and families' access barriers to healthcare. Now at their Breakfast of Champions this Friday they want to raise funds to continue that mission.
Though Jan Harris was just one of the co-founders, several people on this mission have seen their purpose play out in the last 50 years and want to continue this for decades to come.
