Fulton County District 6 Commissioner Nancy A. Boxill, the Fulton County Arts Council and Fulton County Health Services celebrated the installation of a figurative sculpture at the Neighborhood Union Health Center with a dedication ceremony on Thursday, October 28, 2010.

“The dedication of this sculpture is a long overdue honor for the women who had the vision in 1908 to recognize the need to feed the mind, bodies and spirits of the community through the promotion of good health and recreation for its citizens. We are also here to honor those who continue to serve this community through the Neighborhood Union Health Center,” said Commissioner Boxill.

“Neighborhood Union continues to evolve in its efforts to provide an integrated model of services to the citizens of Vine City.  We provide diverse services that include primary health care, behavioral health services, employment counseling and dental health all under one roof to meet the needs of the community,” said Fulton County Health Services Director Dr. Patrice Harris.

The bronze composite sculpture on a marble base donated by the Polycor Georgia Marble Company, Inc.  is entitled Cradle (The Future in Our Hands).  The sculpture is of a mother and child, which is inspired by, and pays homage to, the countless caring women who have been involved in Neighborhood Union over the years as leaders, clients, volunteers and staff.  The sculpture also serves as a tribute to the infinite potential of youth.

The seated mother encircles and supports the joyous child who reaches for the sky.  The two figures symbolically represent the relationship of Neighborhood Union to its community.  The woman is full figured and robust representing the foundation of support and nurturing that the Health Center provides to the surrounding neighborhoods.  The child, like the community, is cradled in her arms, buoyant and full of energy as he raises his hands and head in expectation, praise and thanksgiving.

The sculpture was created by Basil Watson, along with apprentice Cosmo Whyte.  Watson was born and educated in Kingston, Jamaica, where he studied at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.  Watson has created more than twenty public sculptures in media as varied as welded and stainless steel, stone, wood, copper, bronze and bronze composite.  These sculptures are located in stadiums, universities, churches and sculpture parks in Jamaica as far away as China in 2004 and most recently in Guatemala in 2010.

Cosmo Whyte is an Atlanta-based artist who receives his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Bennington College in 2005 and a Post Baccalaureate Certificate from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in 2007.

History of Neighborhood Union Health Center

The concept for the Neighborhood Union Health Center began in 1908 when a group of devoted African American Women dedicated themselves to promoting health, recreation, housing sanitation and general welfare for black people under the leadership of Mrs. Lugenia Hope.  Their motto was “And Our Neighbors as ourselves.” 

In 1944, with the assistance of Mrs. Grace Hamilton of the Atlanta Urban League, the Westside Health Center opened on the current site in a frame house owned by the Neighborhood Union and operated by the Fulton County Health Department.  The facility was staffed by black physicians and nurses. 

Appointed as the Administrative Nurse, Mrs. Carrie L. McCarter, R.N. was the first black Public Health Nursing Supervisor in Georgia and remained in the position until her retirement in 1972. At the suggestion of Mrs. McCarter in 1952, the land was donated to the City of Atlanta and the Fulton County Health Department in exchange for the construction of a new building. 

The center was built and continues to operate, in honor of these women and remains as an eloquent mark of respect to the consummation of the dreams of the founders.

The NUHC received funding from the Westside Tax Allocation District in 2007.  A $4 million dollar renovation was undertaken to expand and modernize the facility.  The facility reopened in February 2009.