Haines City, Florida is a small rural town 45 minutes south of Orlando, surrounded by exurban sprawl and stretches of farmland. A railroad cuts through the town, separating more affluent areas from the historically African American Oakland neighborhood, named for the towering oak trees that once provided shade from the Florida sun.
It's here we met Pastor Baker, a lifelong resident and pillar of the Haines City community.
Pastor Baker, Community Care Resources (CCR), and Alchemy have joined forces to expand community-based care in a region hard hit by the dual epidemics of HIV and opioid addiction. In public health, terms like “community-based care”, “place-based interventions”, or “culturally-informed care” are often used, but they can feel disconnected from the on-the-ground work these buzzwords aim to describe. But during our visit, Pastor Baker took us to “The Tree” where it became clear what true community-based care looks like - and what is needed to make it effective.
“The Tree” is one of the last remaining eponymous oak trees that serves as a meeting place for the Oakland community. “I think it goes back to our culture in Africa where it was hot,” Pastor Baker explained. “So you go up under the tree where it was shaded. Our culture is under the tree. If you want to know anything going on about anything, you go to the tree.”
As he greeted each person by name, Pastor Baker introduced CCR and Alchemy, explaining how the team would be conducting HIV and STD testing right there at The Tree. He shared that they could access care and get their medications at the nearby clinic and pharmacy. Though still in its early stages, this partnership is built on the essential elements of effective community-based care: deep, trusted relationships, and meeting people where they are—whether a rehab center, a neighborhood bar, or even under a tree. These efforts ensure that no one slips through the cracks, even in the most challenging circumstances.
“Our church, we represent the soul part. We want to help people spiritually and get to know God”, said Pastor Baker. “The clinic comes with the body. You go through something, you’re on the streets, we can check you, make sure you're clean. And you don’t have to come to church. We just want to make sure you’re alright. That's where the clinic comes in.”
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