This Saturday, the 15th Annual African American Women’s Wellness Walk and Expo will take place from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Frederick Douglass Neighborhood Resource and Recreation Center in Cleveland. Organizers are putting the finishing touches on what promises to be a meaningful event focused on health and community empowerment.
Yvonka Hall, Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition, explained the purpose behind the event. “This is our way to lift up other women,” she said. Hall, who has been involved with similar initiatives for 15 years, felt it was important to create a space that goes beyond just talking about health but addressing the challenges African American women face.
Drawing from personal experience, Hall shared her motivation for spearheading the event. “My mother was a victim of domestic violence, killed in the Kinsman area on September 14, 1974,” she said. “We take this mission very seriously because domestic violence can lead to a higher risk of other health issues.”
Hall emphasized that the event aims to address not only domestic violence but all health disparities affecting African American women.
For co-chair Charmaine Jordan-Payton, the event is a way to educate others about health concerns after witnessing several family members succumb to illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. “This is about helping our community learn more about their health,” she said.
Environmental Justice and Event Coordinator, Samario Ford, is also excited to see the event come together. “Watching all these women get active is really inspiring,” Ford said.
The walk and expo are designed to raise awareness about wellness, foster community engagement, and provide support for women in Northeast Ohio. The event will take place at the Frederick Douglass Neighborhood Resource and Recreation Center, and proceeds will go towards promoting health initiatives for African American women.