Southwest Center celebrates the 9th anniversary of The Parsons Center for Health and Wellness this November! We’ve taken the opportunity to reflect on our journey leading up to this anniversary, the incredible accomplishments of the past nine years, and the important work that still lies ahead.
We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, the City of Phoenix, Phoenix voters, and all those who have creatively collaborated to make the Parsons Center the essential resource hub it is today.
Way back in 2006, Phoenix voters approved a $3.6 million City of Phoenix bond that would help establish a new home for Southwest Center. The City directed these funds toward purchasing the 50,000-square-foot building formerly occupied by Gannett’s former Channel 12 building. After a capital campaign raised millions more in private donations, including over $8 million from the Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation, the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS began renovating the building.
With the development of this inclusive facility, Arizonans living with HIV/AIDS gained access to support and services in a central location. Set in the heart of downtown Phoenix (at 1101 N. Central Ave.) just one block north of Central and Roosevelt, we are centrally located and conveniently accessible by bus and light rail. We can’t imagine a better home!
In November of 2013, the monumental grand opening was attended by Congressman Greg Stanton (who was currently serving as the Mayor of Phoenix), then City of Phoenix Councilman Tom Simplot, Bob and Renee Parsons, and hundreds of community members. Bob Parsons stated, “This new building is all about hope. It is about the hope that we can get rid of the stigma and misunderstanding that surrounds this disease. The hope is that the education this facility will afford the community will stop the spread of HIV. And most importantly, the hope that one day, not too far from now, Southwest Center will play a critical role in finding a cure for HIV/AIDS.”
Southwest Center serves over 30,000 Arizonans annually, providing care and support through a holistic approach.
Southwest Center now serves over 30,000 Arizonans annually, providing care and support through a holistic approach. This includes HIV/STI testing and prevention, primary and medical health services, community outreach, mental health care, case management, empowerment programs, nutrition services, gender-affirming programs, and more. This co-location of services acts as a one-stop shop - a comprehensive resource for the community.
Beyond this, The Parsons Center for Health and Wellness provides a vital home to several partner organizations, including Valleywise Community Health – McDowell, one•n•ten, GLSEN Arizona, and Genoa Healthcare. These partners tremendously extend the impact and reach of the Parsons Center on the Greater Phoenix community. We encourage you to check them out (and have included some info about each of these remarkable organizations below).
Valleywise Community Health Center – McDowell serves as an HIV specialty clinic and provides an array of services, including dental and behavioral health care. It is a space where all are welcome for compassionate care and ongoing support, no matter one’s HIV status.
one•n•ten serves LGBTQ youth and young adults ages 11-24, enhancing lives by providing empowering social and service programs that promote self-expression, self-acceptance, leadership development, and healthy life choices.
GLSEN Arizona works to ensure that each student in every K-12 school is valued and treated with respect, investing in four evidence-based interrelated areas of activity: supportive teachers, protective policies, inclusive curriculum, and student-led Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) clubs.
Genoa Healthcare provides hands-on, personalized pharmacy services that make it easier for people to get and stay on their medication. People-first and full-service, Genoa is dedicated to serving and celebrating people from all backgrounds.
We have also experienced tremendous growth over the last nine years! The Parsons Center for Health and Wellness is Arizona’s largest HIV/AIDs primary care and support services facility, providing services for individuals throughout the Valley. We are incredibly proud of our home, and look forward to continuing the important work of ensuring everyone in our community has barrier-free access to health and wellness, for many years to come.
The Parsons Center is currently eligible for another City of Phoenix General Obligation (GO) Bond as part of a package that will go to the voters in November 2023. If funded, our project will create a second floor in the Parsons Center’s main lobby and Big Box for new clinical and office space, and transform a portion of the building’s lower-level into rooms for group therapy sessions, educational programs, meetings, and more. This will support not only Southwest Center, but also one-n-ten and Valleywise Community Health Center in our organizations’ crucial work to serve our community. We are working hard to secure this funding because we know continued growth is critical to meet the future.
To lend your support to the effort, let the City of Phoenix leaders know here.
The Parsons Center for Health and Wellness wouldn’t be what we are today without the support of the Phoenix community. Thank you for standing with us over the years and celebrating our anniversary!
About Southwest Center
Southwest Center provides barrier-free, affirming and inclusive services to promote well-being and advance health equity for diverse communities and all those seeking compassionate care - especially people of color, LGBTQIA2S+ and Queer individuals, and those affected by HIV.