The March 20 Transform Westside Summit went virtual as Westside Future Fund leadership followed recommended safety protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention limiting the number of individuals in close proximity throughout Atlanta in an effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The summit, usually held at The Gathering Spot in front of a live audience made up of hundreds of Westside community members and stakeholders, was instead streamed live across social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube from Good Samaritan Health Center.

Breanna Lathrop, COO at Good Samaritan Health Center addresses viewers of the March 20 Virtual Transform Westside Summit.

Located at 1015 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, Good Samaritan Health Center helps serve the health needs of residents of the 30314 and 30318 zip codes, providing a much needed alternative to the costly medical treatment residents may otherwise struggle to afford elsewhere. John Ahmann, President & CEO of Westside Future Fund, led a panel discussion with local health experts from Good Samaritan and CHRIS 180’s Westside Empowerment Center on the latest facts regarding COVID-19. 

Daeisha Fowler, Therapist at Westside Empowerment Center, talks mental health during self-quarantine at the March 20 Virtual Transform Westside Summit.

The summit panel included: Breanna Lathrop, Chief Operating Officer at Good Samaritan Health Center; Daeisha Fowler, Therapist at Westside Empowerment Center; and Aisha Williams, Program Manager at Westside Empowerment Center and Westside Connect Community Health Worker Program. Craig Lucie, former news anchor at WSB-TV and owner of Lucie Content, fielded questions viewers submitted through social media during the Q&A portion of the summit.

Aisha Williams, Program Manager at Westside Empowerment Center and Westside Connect Community Health Worker Program shares resources for food and healthcare for Westside residents during COVID-19 crisis at the March 20 Virtual Transform Westside Summit.

Two key points the panelists continued to stress were the importance of residents self-quarantining by staying home as well as the fact that despite practicing social distancing, residents who find themselves in need of any of a number of forms of care should not feel alone. Offering a number of health services to 30314 and 30318 residents, Good Samaritan urges those feeling symptomatic to first call their helpline at 404-523-6571 before showing up on site. The helpline is open Monday through Thursday, 8AM-4PM, and Friday and Saturday 8AM-noon. Click here to learn about what services Good Samaritan offers patients.

Craig Lucie, former news anchor at WSB-TV and owner of Lucie Content, fields questions from online viewers at the March 20 Virtual Transform Westside Summit.

For Westside residents suffering from depression or anxiety related to the COVID-19 crisis, Westside Empowerment Center urges residents to call 470-426-4559 for free wellness and self-care advice. Westside Empowerment Center also urges residents in need of food to call 470-346-2693, and those seeking healthcare who lack insurance to send a text which reads “Westside” to 51555 to be connected with healthcare providers via free telemedicine. To read more about this path-breaking service, click here.

To view more resources serving residents of the Westside during the COVID-19 state of emergency, click here.