Our Story

Minnesota’s first free medical clinic

A Clinic with an Integrated Care Model

People’s Center is a certified Health Care Home. This means we have on-site medical, dental, and behavioral health services as well as additional support to provide holistic care to each individual patients. The teams prioritizes inter-departmental communication for every single patients’ needs, and places cooperation at the core of our practice. Using this care model, we treat each and every person in their entirety and make informed referrals to our incredible host of community partners. Giving patients the access, support and resources they need to maintain and stay healthy.

Our History

Originally, the Riverside Chapel of the First Presbyterian Church, dating back to 1913. In 1968, the building was first used by volunteers, then in 1970 donated to grassroots organizers in the neighborhood who wanted to address the needs of the West Bank students and residents. The result was Cedar-Riverside People’s Center, Minnesota’s first free medical clinic.

We were the first FQHC in the nation to hire a dental therapist to increase patient access to dental care and reduce medical costs, and the first community clinic in Minnesota to invest in a bridge or interface between our Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and Electronic Dental Record (EDR).

In 2003, we became a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). In 2017, we re-branded to People’s Center Clinics & Services. Since becoming an FQHC, the number of patients served annually by People’s Center increased from 2,000-9,000– demonstrating the burgeoning need for accessible and affordable health care in our service area.

The Many Stars Campaign

Expanded to serve our community

Purchased in 1970 by a group of dedicated university students, our building had served as a beacon of health for the historically immigrant population in Cedar-Riverside for over 50 years. People from Somalia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Mexico, and so many others found providers here who treated their health as a priority.

As we jumped from seeing several hundred, to more than 30,000 patients a year, this required us to make some big changes. To do that, we re-designed our entire building, adding new services throughout, and saying goodbye to our in house theater!

That theater became a new dental clinic, and we added a new pediatrics and women’s health center, new rooms for behavioral health visits, and much more.

Our CEO, Ann C. Rogers

Ann C. Rogers has built a career of innovative community impact, serving people while building critical infrastructure for lasting change. She joined People’s Center as Chief Executive Officer in May 2020. Ms. Rogers’ background includes 25 years of experience as a leader in the health care industry, serving in roles leading corporate social responsibility, health care operations, external relations, community benefit, public affairs, and government programs administration for health care service companies in the Twin Cities area.

Most recently, she served as Corporate Social Responsibility Leader at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. Additionally, Ms. Rogers has worked in External Affairs and Public Affairs at UCare, Community Affairs at Delta Dental of Minnesota, and Government Affairs with HealthPartners.

Our Board of Directors

  • Mr. Steven Schwister

    Board Chair

  • Mr. Edward Sheehy

    Board Secretary

  • Mr. Idara Uko

    Treasurer

  • Ms. Munaa Mohammed

    Board CQI & Compliance Chair

  • Mr. Said Garaad

    Governance Chair

  • Mr. Maneesh Bhagat

    Board Member

  • Ms. Deqa Sayid

    Board Member

  • Mr. Mohamed Ahmed

    Board Member

  • Ms. Melissa Vogt

    Board Member