Building for Eternity: Construction Begins on the Tubman Health Center
Photo: Michael B. Maine
On June 5, the Rainier Beach community came together to turn the soil on a project years in the making. Community members, partners, elected officials, and supporters gathered near the Rainier Beach light rail station for a ceremony marking the official start of construction on the 26,000-square-foot Tubman Health Center, a facility designed by community, for community.
According to a recent Tubman Health press release, the gathering was a moment of reflection, honoring the collective effort, organizing, and advocacy that brought this vision to life. Founding Board President and Tubman Health patient Nacala Ayele set the tone for the event with a libations ceremony to honor the ancestors. In a grounding practice, attendees placed their hands in the soil, intentionally rooting their hopes for healing, care, and community wellbeing into the future site.
Photo: Michael B. Maine
The Tubman Health Center is designed to be a pillar of health and wellness, offering a model of care that exists at the intersection of health and freedom. The new facility will integrate allopathic and naturopathic primary care, behavioral health, and various healing modalities under one roof. Building highlights include:
8 healing suites and 3 behavioral health suites
8 massage and acupuncture treatment areas
A mammography and ultrasound suite
A hydrotherapy spa, a grab-and-go cafe, and an herbal apothecary
Dedicated spaces for movement and community gathering
As Community Ambassador and emcee Monisha Harrell emphasized during her closing remarks, this project is built on a foundation of collective commitment. The Center is projected to serve 12,000 primary care patients annually and reach over 16,000 community members through wellness programming designed to address the systems that determine wellbeing.
This milestone marks a shift toward a self-determined future for marginalized communities—a future where trustworthy, holistic care is not just provided, but generated by the people it serves.
Construction is expected to be completed in Winter 2027. To learn more about the Campaign for Health & Freedom, please visit www.tubmanhealth.org.
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