It was a year ago this October that the near half-century-old Family Health Center in Kalamazoo named its main headquarters building after local humanitarian Moses Walker. He was pivotal in starting the center to help those with limited means get medical care. We interviewed him about his many contributions to the community at the time of the naming ceremony. Today's WestSouthwest is an encore presentation of that interview with WMUK Local Morning Edition Host Earlene McMichael. It originally aired Nov. 17, 2017. (Click on triangle to hear it.)
Walker, 77, is a retired Borgess Medical Center executive. He served multiple terms on the Kalamazoo City Commission and on many boards.
His resume also includes a stint, starting in the late 1960s, as executive director of the historic Douglass Community Association outreach center on Kalamazoo's northern end. Within two years of being there, he helped found the Family Health Center nearby. Initially located in a trailer, the center has grown to five locations.
The Western Michigan University graduate remains involved with the health center as a board member. He is the immediate past board chair, and was once interim director.