AWER member Bridgette Long provided a warm introduction to Ms. Audrey Clark, Health and Wellness Leader at the Good Samaritan Health Center, which serves the English Avenue and Bankhead Highway communities on Atlanta’s Westside. Audrey is a passionate advocate for healthy living, drawing in part from her own journey of improved nutrition, active lifestyle habits, and sustained attention to personal wellness. Because she has experienced the transformative effect of these changes, she is committed to helping others discover pathways to better health through accessible, practical self-care.

Audrey shared that Good Sam believes healthcare is a basic human right, yet those living in poverty are often the least likely to receive timely or effective care. This lack of access contributes to worsening health outcomes and deepens the economic challenges many families face. To address these inequities, Good Sam provides full-service medical and dental care for all, turning no one away. When necessary, the center partners with hospitals and specialty providers to ensure patients receive care at the lowest possible cost. Residents in zip codes 30314 and 30318 receive priority access, and much of the center’s programming is offered at no cost or on a carefully designed sliding-scale model.

Good Sam’s medical services include sick visits, checkups, physical exams, wellness visits, school screenings, immunizations, and athletic physicals. Its dental clinic offers extractions, fillings, crowns, bridges, and dentures, while behavioral health support and nutrition counseling expand the center’s whole-person approach. Wellness initiatives include diabetes prevention, nutrition education, fitness classes, and community walking groups. Transportation is provided for patients who need assistance getting to and from appointments, and an on-site pharmacy helps ensure affordable access to prescribed medications.

Audrey highlighted the center’s strong emphasis on nutrition and preventive wellness. Good Sam operates a one-acre organic farm that supplies low-cost produce, with nothing priced above five dollars. This farm supports the center’s “farm-to-table” teaching model and helps address food access challenges in the neighborhood. Each Friday, the center hosts a dedicated clinic serving unhoused individuals, offering free healthcare, meals, and hygiene kits.

Audrey next described Good Sam’s fitness and community engagement programs. In partnership with the YMCA, the center offers a full gym and classes at sliding-scale prices. The Good & Active program supports seniors through mobility and strength activities, while the Good Pace walking club meets twice monthly on the Westside BeltLine. Audrey’s own 100-pound weight loss and recent participation in a bodybuilding competition demonstrate her personal commitment to the health practices she teaches.

Audrey Clark - Good Sam Powerpoint NPU.pdf