The Family Fun Block Party is back!
Colorado Black Health Collaborative and be well Health and Wellness Invite Residents to Attend the 2017 Family Fun Block Party to promote healthy living programs within the African American Community
DENVER (August 1, 2017) – The Family Fun Block Party is back! This time with more family and more fun. The Colorado Black Health Collaborative (CBHC), The Mental Health Center of Denver and the Stapleton Foundation’s be well Health and Wellness Initiative (be well) are collaborating again this year to bring the residents of Denver another celebration focused on health and wellness in the African American community. The Family Fun Block Party is an end of summer finale jam-packed with food, dancing, and interactive events. All activities focus on ways for families to take charge of their health for a lifetime of optimal wellness.
Attendance at the Family Fun Block Party is free and will take place again at the Dahlia Campus for Health and Well-Being (3401 Eudora St., Denver, 80207) on August 26th from 1:00-5:00 pm. The Family Fun Block Party is a festive summer event for all ages, and provides an opportunity for residents of Denver to gather information from dozens of community organizations on healthy living ideas and resources that encompass exercise, diet, and mental health. Over 600 residents attended last year’s Block Party and more are expected to attend this year. Some of the returning food vendors include Two Sistah’s Catering and Mo Better Greens. Scheduled activities and performers include DJ Starchild, a youth carnival, line-dancing with Mr. Charles Doss, and a family fit boot camp with Mile High Fitness just to name a few. Parking for the event is available along Dahlia Street or East 33rd Ave or East 35th Avenue, with overflow parking available adjacent to Dahlia Street on Bruce Randolph Avenue.
“This year our team is excited and hoping to create a family oriented event that engages the African American community in fun-filled opportunities to connect with local health providers and use them as resources to develop and maintain healthier lifestyles that can benefit the entire family,” said CBHC Vice Chair Dr. Terri Richardson.
Both the CBHC and be well have received grant funding through the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This national program, which aims to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in health, establishes community-based programs and culturally tailored interventions serving African Americans, American Indians, Hispanics/Latinos, Asian Americans, Alaska Natives, and Pacific Islanders. CDC statistics state that health disparities remain widespread among members of racial and ethnic minority populations – with African Americans leading many categories.
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most racial and ethnic minorities in the United States.
• Non-Hispanic blacks have the highest rates of obesity (44%) followed by Mexican Americans (39%).
• Compared to non-Hispanic whites, the risk of diagnosed diabetes is 18% higher among Asian Americans, 66% higher among Hispanics/Latinos, and 77% higher among non-Hispanic blacks.
“We all deserve to live in communities where we have the tools and resources that we need to live healthy lives,” said Vice President of the Stapleton Foundation and Director of the be well Health and Wellness Initiative Alisha Brown. “The partnership we have established with the CBHC and the Mental Health Center of Denver to bring critical information to the African American community through an event with something for all ages has been fantastic.”
Understanding that mental health is such an important factor in overall wellness, the two groups also partnered with the Mental Health Center of Denver to further promote awareness about resources available to the community. Dahlia Campus for Health and Well-Being continues to be a beacon of hope for the African American community, and was chosen as an ideal location for this second-year event. The facility sits on four acres with classrooms, community therapy spaces, play areas for kids, an urban farm, and more.
“The Dahlia Campus for Health and Well-Being is proud to once again serve as the host location for this important event in our community,” said Dahlia Campus Site Coordinator Taliah Abdullah. “Events like the Family Fun Block Party further our goals of building a truly healthy community that supports one another in all areas of well-being and all stages of life.”
About the Colorado Black Health Collaborative
Family has always been important in our community. The Colorado Black Health Collaborative (CBHC) believes that health is a family affair and they are the most valuable assets we have. We always celebrate birthdays, weddings, graduations, holidays, and other treasured moments in our lives. In order for us to continue to enrich our future and celebrate these occasions, we must focus on our health. We can work to improve and preserve our family heritage by sharing ideas and finding better ways to address our health issues. We are obliged to come together to discover what’s necessary to develop key elements to keep us healthy and strong as a people and help tackle the health disparities that exist in our family. Each one of us is a link in our family’s chain, and we know a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. United we can stand strong and healthy.
About the be well Health and Wellness Initiative
The be well Health and Wellness Initiative is a grassroots movement of communities coming together to take charge of their health and wellness. The mission of be well is to effect programs, policies, and practices to create health equality and access for all people. be well’s vision is for a culture in which all people have an equal opportunity to achieve the health they desire, regardless of their race, income, gender, location, education, or any other social barrier.
About Dahlia Campus for Health and Well-Being
Dahlia Campus for Health and Well-Being is the result of a strong partnership between the Mental Health Center of Denver and the Northeast Park Hill community, understanding that those in the community are the ones who know best how to improve their health and well-being. Building on the strengths of the community and informed by natural community leaders, Dahlia Campus offers a comprehensive array of services focused on what neighbors report they need to live well and feel good. Community members do not have to be a client of Mental Health Center of Denver to participate in programs at Dahlia Campus.
Media are welcome to attend The Family Block Party event and will have opportunities to speak with leadership from the Colorado Black Health Collaborative, be well Health and Wellness Initiative, Mental Health Center of Denver, event volunteers, and members of the general public.
Contact Information:
Colorado Black Health Collaborative – (720) 579-2126
be well Health and Wellness Initiative – (303) 468-3243
Mental Health Center of Denver – (303) 300-6333