CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – One group spent its Saturday, March 16, celebrating African American Health in Charlottesville.
The Black Family Wellness Expo was held at the Boys and Girls Club.
March 16 marks the National Impact Day of Service for the Charlottesville chapter of The Links, Incorporated.
The nonprofit spent the day promoting health and wellness in the African American Communities of Charlottesville.
“Easier to access. It’s all one-stop-shop,” Health and Human Services Facet Chair Lisa Jones said, “You can get information as you come in about everything you need.”
The Links, Incorporated in an international organization with about 17,000 members.
The Charlottesville chapter says it’s been serving its community for more than 25 years.
“We are nonprofit for Service Organization of African American ladies,” Links Incorporated Charlottesville chapter President Deborah Bell Burks said.
All chapters of The Links, Incorporated across the world are hosting expos Saturday.
Here in Charlottesville, the chapter decided to host a Black Family Wellness Expo.
“It is to address the many health disparities that exist in the African American community,” Bell Burks said.
Jones helped organize the event and says the groups and resources at the different booths aim to address each part of a person’s health and wellbeing.
“Heart disease, CPR, voter registration, financial wellness, any type of wellness that they can think of, mental health awareness. So as to bring awareness and to help reduce the disparities,” Jones said.
Jones says the goal is to make these free resources more accessible and in return, help with preventative care.
“You may have someone who’s been diagnosed with heart disease, you need information about that,” Jones said, “It’s a time for you to check up on all of your wellness issues and take care of that in one place.”
Jones hopes this will be the first of many expos.
“Hopefully this will be ongoing every year here in Charlottesville,” Jones said.
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