2nd Health Fair on the Block Provides Healthy Outcomes
Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Network displays several souvenirs passed out to participants of the GADC's Health Fair.
Ernest Sanders
A cold and blustery day could not stop nearly one hundred Auburn Gresham residents and visitors from attending the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation’s (GADC) 2nd Health Fair at the intersection of 79th & Racine. A combination of 20 healthcare agencies and service providers participated in this outdoor health fair.
This health fair piggy backed off of GADC's 1st health fair held earlier this summer. According to Carlos Nelson, Executive Director of GADC, this 2nd health fair was initiated because of Auburn Gresham constituents.
"Many residents and business owners contacted me and asked what was happening in front of our offices. I explained we were hosting our first street health fair to reach our residents and support Auburn Gresham’s Quality of Life Plan. Each of them asked when will there be a second one."
Universal HealthClinics gives s free blood pressure screening to a Auburn Gresham constituent.
Ernest Sanders
This 2nd fair was coordinated by GADC's Americorps Member, Tiffany Horton. Horton joined GADC in September 2008 working in part with the Elev8 programming (formerly known as Integrated Services in Schools). As part of its long term objective, the Elev8 initiative works towards sustainability of its programming to provide Auburn Gresham families with multiple realms of supports, including comprehensive health services, extended-day learning opportunities, and family income support. This health fair provided some additional resources towards Horton helping the Auburn Gresham community reach this objective.
When asked about the importance of this health fair, Horton said, “The goal of GADC’s health fair is to educate community members about the healthcare-related resources available in their community.”
GADC's Elev8 healthcare partner Access Community Health Network conducted basic health screenings and shared information about their forthcoming school-based healthcare center to be located at Perspectives Charter Schools-Calumet Campus. Auburn Gresham's newest healthcare provider, Universal HealthClinics, provided free blood pressure screening in addition to distributing coffee mugs, pens, and magnets.
GADC community partners Ramon Gardenhire (L-Federation for Community Schools) and Sheena Panoor (Voices for Illinois Children) brave the cold elements as participants in GADC's Health Fair.
Ernest Sanders
Other partners of the 2nd health fair included: Illinois Voices for Children, LISC, the Federation for Community Schools, Auburn Gresham Center for Working Families, Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network, Organic School Project, UCAN, Smoking Cessation, American Life Insurance, Department of Public Health, The Ark of St. Sabina, St. Sabina Employment Resource Center, Protecting Your Brain, Breast Cancer Awareness, Chicago Health Corps, ALL KIDS Insurance Enrollment, Healthy Food and Lifestyle Choices, Youth Abstinence, American Cancer Society, Physical Fitness, HIV awareness, Living with Asthma, Diabetes Awareness, Human, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Martin Luther King Park & Family Entertainment Center, and many others.
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