Metro Wellness & Community Centers has a new name: Metro Inclusive Health. The rebrand announcement, which also includes an overhauled logo design, comes more than a week before the grand opening of the organization’s new health and community center in St. Petersburg.
Metro’s updated identity is a nod to its roots. After all, the organization continues to provide inclusive healthcare services to Tampa Bay — just as it has for more than two decades, starting with HIV case management in 1992.
“In our founding days, we served many that were not included in traditional healthcare channels,” said CEO Lorraine Langlois in a statement. “Since then, inclusivity has been a guiding theme for the organization in many ways.”
Recently completed at 3251 Third Ave. N., St. Pete’s 47,000-square-foot health and community center serves as a partnership between Metro and CAN Community Health. The facility will allow Metro to meet the growing demand for its services and expand self-sustaining funding opportunities.
The community center showcases 10,000 square feet of event space, as well as several conference and meeting rooms for Metro’s LGBTQ+ programming. Locals can rent out the rooms, too, which offer digital whiteboards and video conference capabilities. A 5,000-square-foot co-work setting with offices is even in the works.
As for the health center, it features exam and intake rooms for services like primary care and HIV treatment and management. There’s a centralized nurses' station, checkout area and on-site pharmacy as well.
The community center is the centerpiece of that aforementioned grand opening. Scheduled for 2 to 6 p.m. Feb. 9, the celebration invites the public to enjoy tours, a cookout, refreshments, DJ tunes and performances from entertainer Matthew McGee.
So far, nearly 1,000 guests are expected to attend.
This article appears in Jan 24-31, 2019.