DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — “Black families are the last group to ever get a checkup…” said Pat Carpenter, President of the Tri County Illinois Chapter of Links Inc. “They wait until there is something wrong.”
To help this growing concern, Carpenter’s chapter hosted the Black Family Wellness Expo on Saturday to support health and economic disparities amongst Black families.
Several community health partners set up tables in the Boys and Girls Club of Decatur. The event welcomed attendees to meet with doctors and connect with providers.
“Not only are we offering physical health, but we’re offering mental health and financial health too,” added Carpenter. The national initiative holds these expos throughout the country during the month of March.
Lakeisha Purchase, the chapter’s Health and Human Services Chair, shared how important these resources are. “We bring all of these vendors together and have them centrally located.”
Purchase also noted how certain communities can be impacted by more health conditions than others. The expo hopes to create a safe space for families to find the care they need.
“We hope that when you see someone who looks like you, it breaks down that barrier and you’re more receptive to talk to them and see what services they can provide.”
Some of the resources available at the event were dentistry, financial literacy, nutrition education and blood pressure checks.
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