Meeting in person with local community health organizations is essential to understanding the needs of the core patient population served by Harborview Medical Center. Community-based organizations help “fill in the gaps” by providing culturally and linguistically responsive education, advocacy, and support so individuals and families can truly thrive.
We recently hosted a community partner tour for UW and Harborview Medical Center staff, residents, and nurses. The purpose of the tour was to connect healthcare providers and support staff with trusted local organizations serving immigrant and refugee communities — and to better understand the culturally tailored services available beyond the hospital walls.
Casa La Tina
Our tour began at Casa Latina, a social justice organization with more than 30 years of history supporting Seattle’s Latino community. Casa Latina provides advocacy, education, and workforce development opportunities for its members.
Members can build computer skills, attend English language classes, and receive job-readiness training that creates pathways to stable employment such as day labor and housecleaning work. The organization also leads “Know Your Rights” campaigns, worker advocacy initiatives, fair wage efforts, and gender-based violence prevention programs.
A powerful takeaway from our visit was the reminder that fair-wage work provides dignity, stability, and the foundation for self-reliance, health, and emotional well-being. Casa Latina is not an employment agency; rather, it equips members with the skills, knowledge, and advocacy needed to pursue growth and long-term stability. As Executive Director Suzzanne B. reflected, “Domestic work makes all work possible. This invisible workforce deserves decency and respect.”
Global Perinatal Services
Next, we gathered at the UW Othello Commons space, where we heard from several additional community leaders. First was Global Perinatal Services (GPS), whose mission is to create culturally responsive pregnancy and parenting experiences for Black, immigrant, and refugee families.
GPS was born from lived experience. Founder Faisa Farole, a Somali-born midwife and mother, witnessed too many Somali mothers in Washington state undergoing cesarean sections they did not fully understand — often in hospital rooms without language access or culturally responsive care. Determined to address these inequities, she formed a small team of Somali women trained as doulas to provide not only birth support, but education, advocacy, and cultural bridge-building.
What began as Somali Doulas Northwest has grown into Global Perinatal Services — an organization dedicated to restoring voice, agency, and safety to families who have historically been left out of the conversation. Faisa and Ekua shared how GPS supports pregnant women, newborns, and fathers, working toward a blueprint of “healthy mom, healthy baby” through low-barrier access to birth support. GPS also provides doula certification locally and globally, strengthening culturally grounded care worldwide.
Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA)
We next heard from Lisa, Alina, and Yasmin of the Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA). Founded in 1985 by immigrant women, ReWA provides safe, culturally informed services for immigrants and refugees throughout Washington state.
ReWA addresses challenges many newcomers face, including:
- Loss of home and identity
- Navigating unfamiliar laws and cultural expectations
- Emotional distress and isolation
ReWA staff collectively speak English, Arabic, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, Somali, Ukrainian, Russian, Kurdish, and Turkmen. Their counselors deeply understand the immigrant and refugee experience. They honor the culture and lived experience of each individual they serve while promoting self-sufficiency and empowerment.
A central theme of their presentation was the importance of creating “a feeling of coming home.” By reducing isolation and helping newcomers reconnect with culture and community, ReWA strengthens emotional well-being and belonging.
Somali Health Board
Fartun and Najma then introduced us to the work of the Somali Health Board. The organization’s mission is to reduce health disparities within the Somali community while honoring Islamic cultural values as the foundation of its services.
Their programming spans the lifespan — supporting youth, families, and elders. Services include:
- Mental and behavioral health support
- Youth and family education programs
- A robust soccer training program for boys and girls that promotes both physical and mental health
- Health education and culturally appropriate services for Somali elders
The Behavioral Health Program specifically addresses high rates of undiagnosed and undertreated mental health conditions in the community, working to reduce stigma and increase access to care in culturally and religiously grounded ways.
Othello Station Pharmacy
Our final stop was a visit with trusted community partners at Othello Station Pharmacy. Co-founder Dr. Abdirahman Tache shared how he and Dr. Ahmed Ali were inspired to open a locally owned pharmacy that truly serves the linguistic and cultural needs of the community.
The pharmacy provides services in more than 15 languages, ensuring patients can ask questions and receive clear, culturally sensitive guidance about their medications. Dr. Tache discussed common concerns such as medication confusion, adjusting regimens during fasting periods, and supporting adherence to preventive therapies.
Together, Othello Station Pharmacy and its sister location in Tukwila play a vital role in strengthening health literacy, medication safety, and trust in healthcare for immigrant communities in South Seattle.
Why These Connections Matter
This community tour reinforced an important truth: healthcare does not end at the hospital door. Community-based organizations are essential partners in advancing health equity. They provide trusted relationships, cultural understanding, language access, and wraparound services that allow patients to succeed long after a clinic visit ends.
By strengthening relationships between hospital providers and community organizations, we build a more connected, compassionate, and culturally responsive system of care — one that truly meets people where they are.
