Out & About Event Recap featuring the National Panhellenic Council of Arizona's First Annual Health and Wellness Expo at Historic Dunbar Pavilion

Welcome to our Out & About Event Recap featuring the National Panhellenic Council of Arizona's First Annual Health and Wellness Expo at Historic Dunbar Pavilion On Saturday, September 7, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, the National Panhellenic Council of Arizona (NPHC) gathered at Tucson's historic Dunbar Pavilion to host their 1st Annual Health and Wellness Expo. The day brought together more than 30 community partners, dedicated to addressing African American health disparities and fostering community empowerment throughout Southern Arizona. Event organizers, Recarde Johnson, President of NPHC-Southern Arizona; Sam Ross, Kappa Alpha Psi Tucson Lead and Arizona Achiever Foundation representative; and Freda Marshall, CEO of the Dunbar Pavilion, kicked off the event with high energy and enthusiasm. Following the welcome, Sam Ross introduced Lucy Howell, CEO and Co-Founder of the Force for Health® Network, with a special invite to play the Reality Health Games this fall, and who then introduced the first speaker, Moses Akpan, President of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Arizona. Moses, accompanied by Akilah Gilbert, a Community Health Worker living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), shared a compelling overview in honor of SCD, and the new 360° SCD Hub app that supports the entire SCD ecosystem. Then, Akilah Gilbert shared her personal story with a moving testament to the ongoing challenges and triumphs of living with SCD. Vana Dee Lewis, Youth Outreach and Coordinator for NAMI Southwest, emphasized the importance of mental health awareness and highlighted various support options available for the community, especially for young people. George Rushing, Behavioral Health specialist presented on the importance of self-care and Crystal Jackson, Field Associate for the Red Cross of Arizona, stressed the critical role of blood donations, particularly for individuals with Sickle Cell Disease, encouraging attendees to contribute to this life-saving cause. Brother John's and Tucson Junetteeth sponsored a delicious and healthy lunch and refrehments, followed by Dr. Yvette Maria Miller, Chief Medical Officer of the Red Cross, underscoring the importance of the 360° SCD Hub app, while also delivering vital information about managing hypertension and diabetes. She urged the community to take proactive measures in controlling these conditions. Dr. Arianna Sholes-Douglas, a Women’s Health Physician, rounded our the speakers, presenting “8 Things to Know About Black Moms,” offering key insights into maternal health disparities and the specific challenges facing African American mothers. The event also featured a successful blood drive hosted by the Red Cross of Southern Arizona, collecting 34 pints of blood—an essential resource for the Sickle Cell community. In addition to the informative talks, community partners, including the University of Arizona’s College of Public Health, College of Nursing, Sarver Heart Institute, Cancer Center, the American Heart Association, and the Red Cross of Southern Arizona, were on hand to provide valuable resources and support. This 1st Annual Health and Wellness Expo event, hosted by the National Panhellenic Council of Southern Arizona's really exemplified the power of collaboration and community in addressing the health disparities faced by African Americans in Tucson. With the support of local leaders and organizations, the event made a tangible impact, fostering awareness, education, and health equity for all. Since Sam Ross is also a member of the TEAM Up! Greater Tucson Executive Council and Advance the Dream Teams, the Force for Health® Network is honored to play our role in supporting and amplifying these efforts through inclusion into the Realty Health Games, a virtual health challenge for individuals, groups and communities, which include a series of MOVE, LEARN, SERVE and EARN Challenges kicking off October 1, 2024. Join the fun! Go the www.theforceforhealth.com for more information.