Harambee Health Center (South Madison Health & Family Services)

Harambee Center - a health and family organization - is formally known as the South Madison Health and Family Center (SMHFC). Eight separate agencies are active partners who are co-located in the facility. It was created, with support from neighborhood and community agencies, to provide primary and preventive health care for South Madison and to allow various clinical experiences for students. The public-private partnership with the UW Nursing, Pharmacy, and Medical Schools and Edgewood College School of Nursing also serves to meet early educational needs and family and parenting support of an underserved community.

In early 2005, the City of Madison purchased the Villager Mall where SMHFC is located. CDA then facilitated dialogues with Harambee agency executive directors, Harambee Board members, the Harambee Coordinating Office, and interested guests about the future of the South Madison Health and Family Center.

As a result of the discussions, there was stated agreement among parties present that Harambee, as a concept, should continue - with a restructured Board of Directors. The partner agencies collectively updated the Harambee by-laws.

For more information:

• Purchaser of Villager Mall
• Article by Jonathan Gramling on Harambee Center
• Badger Herald on Harambee

Collaborative Partners:

Neil Heinen, Editorial Director, WISC-TV and Madison Magazine; James Kramer, Harambee Coordinating Office, South Madison Health and Family Center.