Mar 19, 2025

WXYZ Features Zaman’s Community Health Center

Detroit’s WXYZ-TV 7 recently featured Marcella Rodriquez-Awad’s story – one that’s all too common in metro Detroit.

In the past, the grandmother of six was often forced to choose between health care and other basic necessities to support her family. As a result, her health would take a back seat and be neglected if not for Zaman’s Community Health Center, which provides health care services to the organization’s clients. Rodriquez-Awad recently started receiving health care treatment at Zaman, despite not having any insurance.

It’s a scenario Zaman sees regularly as it serves marginalized women and children living well below the poverty line, who are often trying to get by on less than $12,000 a year.

"We want to make sure that women don't have any barriers to getting the proper healthcare that they need," Maya Mortada, Zaman’s Director of Health Services told journalist Faraz Javed.

The Community Health Center offers free health education programs and both physical and mental health services with a focus on time equity, cultural competence, and spiritual sensitivity. Currently, the Community Health Center relies on a combination of grant funding and private donations, as well as volunteer health care professionals from local health systems like Corewell Health.

That includes Dr. Karen Weaver, who serves as Zaman’s volunteer Chief Medical Director at the Community Health Center, which opened last June. 

“Opening a health clinic for patients that didn't have any access really resonated with me because it's a population that doesn't get healthcare unless they end up in the emergency room, and that's not what we want,” said Dr. Weaver.

To learn more about the Community Health Center and how you can help break the cycle of poverty – visit Zaman’s website.

Visit WXYZ for the original story which posted on March 16, 2025.