By: Ashmar Mandou

Earlier this month, Humana opened a new community location in Norridge dedicated to providing an array of services, such as cooking demonstrations, exercise classes, and social activities. Lawndale Bilingual Newspaper recently interviewed Associate Director for Humana community locations Daryl Fohr to discuss what people can expect to see when they enter the new location.

Lawndale Bilingual News: Talk to me about the inspiration behind the Humana community location?
Daryl Fohr: Humana is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve. We want to break down barriers to health and provide resources near where people live. So we’re excited to deepen our commitment to the local area by opening this new community location at Harlem Irving Plaza, which is our second community location in Cook County -we opened a center at Evergreen Plaza in Evergreen Park last summer. We also have two other community locations in Illinois, one at Yorktown Center in Lombard, and one downstate in Peoria.

How do you hope this new service transforms the lives of community members?
It’s not enough to just say that we want to help folks become “healthier, together” -our new location in Norridge is part of a companywide effort to bring our health and well-being goals to life, and offer a real resource for the community.

What can visitors expect to learn from the Humana community location?
The new location is a resource that’s open to the public.  It’s a place where community members can go and take advantage of programs and classes and resources at no charge – Humana membership is not required for most activities – and make friends, have fun, and engage in healthy activities.  We offer cooking demonstrations, exercise classes, educational seminars (such as “Ten Tips for Better Sleep” or “COPD: Breathe Easier”), and social activities (including crafts, bingo, and coloring for relaxation).  When you stop by the center, you can pick up an activities schedule we’ve compiled for each month. In addition, anyone with a Humana health plan can get help with customer service questions from an on-site Humana representative.

What is the most rewarding component of creating this type of space?
Norridge is a wonderful community and we’re excited to become a part of it.  At our other community locations in 18 states across the country, it’s been rewarding to hear from folks who say they made new friends, learned a skill, or began to incorporate exercise into their lives because they found a class they really liked.  To be able to serve the community in this way is a privilege.

For those interested in checking out the new space, what would you like for them to know?
We welcome all members of the community to our new center at Harlem Irving Plaza (at Center Court near Gloria Jean’s Coffee and near entrances “C” and “H” from the parking garage).  No appointment is needed, so we invite everyone to stop each Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  For more information, your readers can call 331-315-5219.

Photo Credit: Humana