Social, health, and economic inequalities are no match for nonprofit in North Minneapolis

Residents of North Minneapolis face challenges others do not, including racial inequities and socioeconomic barriers that studies show can contribute to chronic disease, mental health concerns, and other critical wellness factors.

“It has been a pleasure seeing our physicians, interpreter staff, our dentists, and our behavioral health folks really coalesce about being able to provide high-level level whole-person integrated care, especially now, given the climate that we’re in,” said Kimberly Spates, CEO of NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center in North Minneapolis.  The website also speaks of serving all financial situations, saying, “We will see you even if you can’t pay.”

NorthPoint was founded in 1968 with a mission to increase access to health care and social services in a community that today is primarily Black, according to an estimate from Northside Achievement Zone, which shows 78% Black or African American residents, 9% Hispanic/Latino, and 4% multi-racial. 

“Our medical department does a really good job of managing chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and asthma because they affect a large portion of our Black population,” said Spates.

Physical wellness is just part of the offerings at NorthPoint, which also include behavioral, dental, and health and human services. Over the past several years, NorthPoint has undergone a multimillion-dollar expansion to meet the needs of the more than 30,000 residents it serves annually. The former 67,000 square foot facility was expanded to 135,000 square feet and now includes expanded food shelf distribution, child wellness and spiritual wellness centers, new dental specialty services, a grab-and-go café, teaching kitchen, and community courtyard, among other physical and program updates, all designed to integrate health and human services to address all aspect of the community’s health and wellbeing.

“I want everyone to know what services we have and also that we can help everybody,” said Dr. Laura Solyntjes, a pediatrician and NorthPoint.

Maria Rivera Rosales has been taking her kids, now adults, to NorthPoint for more than 20 years. She appreciated the communication among other attributes. “Once you have your kids there, they really keep track of them.” Rivera Rosales said she also values the access to experts. “They really focus on the kids. You can even bring them in to see a nutritionist.”

NorthPoint offers appointments on Saturdays and is open late, until 7 p.m., on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “We know people work and they have a lot going on,” Spates added.

She recognizes the value of going above and beyond when it comes to care and says NorthPoint’s partnership with Spencer Eyewear is a good example of that. “As a person whose eyesight is very bad, I know what it’s like as a kid to go to the rack, in the back, for the ugly glasses that nobody wants,” Spates explained. The partnership allows NorthPoint to offer new eyeglass options to adults and kids so they can select the glasses they want.

It's a clear vision of care that is catching on and is open to new patients. To learn more, go to:

www.northpointhealth.org.