By Denise L. Norris, Communications Consultant
As attendees exited the Black Family Wellness Expo (BFWE) held on Saturday, March 8th, from 11 AM to 2 PM at KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy, were asked what they enjoyed most about the event. Was it the diverse vendors, delicious food, energizing DJ music, lively dancing, interactive exercise fitness breaks, inspiring keynote speakers, generous raffles, meaningful fellowship, or strong community engagement? Their unanimous response: ‘All of the above!’
The San Diego (CA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated (https://www.sandiegolinks.org) is thrilled and deeply grateful for the overwhelming interest, support, and success of its inaugural BFWF. The event welcomed individuals of all ages for a day of health, wellness, and community engagement—all completely free of charge. President, Angela Hilliard, stated, “We had a vision of what we wanted, but we were wonderfully surprised, and very thankful about the huge amount of community engagement that occurred, and far beyond our vision.”
The BFWE was led by event chairs: Iris Savage Dargan, Dr. Rio Dickens-Celestin, Mireille White, and Valena Sibley. Reflecting on the event’s success, Iris Savage Dargan shared, “We prayed. and worked tremendously hard, on this endeavor- as a result, we are so thankful for God’s favor.” BFWE featured over 90 volunteers and 50 vendors, exceeding initial expectations. Mireille White noted, “We initially set modest goals for vendor participation; however, interest quickly grew beyond our projections. Ultimately, we had to cap participation to ensure a professionally managed and high-quality experience for all” Dr. Rio Dickens-Celestin remarked, “We could not have been more pleased with the incredible range of professionals who participated, including distinguished doctors, dentists, attorneys, chiropractors, massage therapists, and estheticians.”
BFWE is a community-driven initiative that was created to address health and economic disparities while promoting wellness in the Black community across the US. Dr. Audra Meadows, representing the University of California San Diego School of Medicine emphasized the significance of the expo, stating, “The BFWE was a much-needed initiative for our community. We are so delighted to partner, as a sponsor, for this event. We look forward to serving the community again in the future and appreciate the collaboration with the San Diego Chapter of the Links Incorporated.”
