An Interview with Annie Ifill, Project Director - Heathier Glades
Tell us about your business?
Eight years ago, Palm Health Foundation invested 1 million dollars into 6 communities throughout Palm Beach County where residents and community stakeholders can decide what they want to focus on to improve health outcomes in their respective communities for the next 5 years. In 2017, Healthier Glades was launched serving the communities of Belle Glade, Canal Point, Pahokee and South Bay. Our area of focus is behavioral health and its impact on resident’s ability to achieve overall health and wellness.
Does your business have a mission/vision?
Yes. Our vision is for all residents to be thriving physically, emotionally and spiritually. Our mission is to assist residents in coping with life stressors and creating a sense of wellbeing that will impact the Glades communities.
Tell us about your management team.
For Healthier Glades it is a resident-led initiative in which I was hired by the community as the Project Director. I am a staff of one that receives direction from my leadership team that consists of residents and community stakeholders. The majority of my work involves engaging residents to build their capacity to do things to better their communities. In each community, we have residents that are already doing the work and Healthier Glades role is to support resident-led efforts when asked or needed
Why did you decide to join the chamber?
By joining the Belle Glade Chamber, this will give Healthier Glades the opportunity to connect and partner with other local businesses to promote/support healthy activities for Glades residents. Also, I am an alumni of Leadership Glades 2019.
Is there something special about your business that you would like to share?
For the past 3 years, we have been offering “Mini Grants” to residents and non-profit organizations as a way to support local resident and grassroot efforts. With this effort, we are educating residents about how to apply for grants to improve their communities and provide them with support and mentorship throughout the process
Name a “fun fact” about your business.
With our efforts being “resident-led”, we get an opportunity to work with all residents of the Glades including family members/classmates and each interaction is unique. The Project Director is a native of the Glades and a 1990 Graduate of Glades Central Community High School.
Healthier Glades
491 E. Main Street Suite 5A
Pahokee, FL 33476
(561) 685-4829
Hours: Monday-Friday (hours vary between 8:30am-7pm)
Saturday (when needed)
