The Inland Empire Black Health Expo

On Saturday, Nov. 22, UCR held its first ever Inland Empire Black Health Expo. Beginning at 8 a.m., UCR welcomed health care professionals, teachers, students, parents and children of all ages to their campus to participate in various activities, workshops and informational booths from local health care providers. UCR’s African Americans United in Science (AAUS) and their co-sponsors designed an environment dedicated to improving the overall healthcare in the African American community. Among those sponsoring the event were AAUS, Healthy Heritage Movement, UCR School of Medicine, Colgate, Schools First Credit Union, Riverside Health Foundation, Western University, Inland Empire Black Nurses Association, African American Family Wellness Advisory Group and the Black Voice News. Attendees were encouraged to explore the various health related booths set up on the second floor of the university’s Highlander Union Building (HUB). The booths varied from health screenings to vendors to community resources. Farm Fresh to You was there providing their organic produce delivery services to the community. This family-owned business provides organic, non-GMO fruits and vegetables for delivery, farmers markets, and local restaurants. The Champions for Change from the County of Riverside Department of Public Health was also there promoting healthier eating habits. Aside from handing out free shirts, they also gave out cookbooks filled with healthy recipes and tips on how to get the little ones to embrace a diverse and healthy diet. Among the nutrition-based booths were organizations that dedicated themselves to mental health. Catholic Charities for example provides social services to senior citizens suffering from symptoms of depression. Their Late-Life Depression Program is made accessible to people over the age of 60 by offering no-cost options. Various representatives including Terri Akens brought flyers that provided awareness of community events around Riverside that are at no cost to the public. The Riverside Community Health Foundation offers monthly events including Zumba classes, cooking classes, lectures about diabetes, and seminars about healthy living. Most of these events are also offered in Spanish, making them accessible to a wide range of people. Nicole Centrofranchi on the other hand promoted a teen clinic available to community youth. At certain hours teens are welcomed to the clinic with or without parents to get information about topics that may seem uncomfortable at a young age. They also provide services and different methods of contraception to keep teens safe. Present were also various healthcare providers who offered low- to no-cost services to their patients on an income basis. One of these was Inland Empire Health Plan (IEPH), which provides health care for adults, families with children and people with both Medicare and Medi-Cal. This non-profit organization offers programs that assist families in acquiring health insurance and other health care services. The expo also had a series of speakers on topics related to African American health. UCR’s Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs of UCR School of Medicine, Dr. Michael Nudati, kicked off the opening ceremony by introduction the “lack of evolution in Black health.” He stressed the need to improve and change methods in which African American raise their youth and how they address health problems. He hoped that the Black Heath Expo would serve as “an opportunity to take the first step towards evolution.” Dr. Steve Wilson, a family practice physician, spoke about the importance of nutrition and how food can be a better medicine than prescribed medicine. Dr. Wilson believes in utilizing the nutrients found in organic fruits and vegetables to prevent serious diseases like Type II Diabetes. This celebration of a “healthy mind, body and soul” also incorporated workshops regarding fitness and exercise, college lifestyle and infections diseases. In these sessions the speakers showed how to incorporate exercise into busy schedules, how to manage the stress that comes with college and how to avoid picking up bad habits along the way. The Black Health Expo put the various local resources together to bring the African American community an awareness of the importance of physical and mental health at every age.