5 minute read
MLK Health Fair: An Event of Relevance and Inclusion
By Lavonne Bryan, Bellevue Alumnae Chapter
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For nearly two decades, the Bellevue Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., chartered in 1989, has had an annual health fair. The health fair is held on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. The decision to hold the fair on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. observed holiday was to honor and commemorate his mission for equality while also addressing the needs of the community through service in a specific way. By focusing on the health of historically underserved communities and continuing the goal of equality through presentations, resources and information sharing, the chapter has increased access to health information and thusly created opportunities for people to make more informed health choices. The Bellevue Alumnae Chapter has worked in partnership with the City of Bellevue to expand the outreach of the MLK Jr. Health Fair with collaboration of marketing, extended programming, and service with this event.
The services provided at the MLK Jr. Health Fair over the years has included presentations by licensed health professionals, community presentations that include youth, adults, and older adults, music performances, community vendors, minority business vendors, interactive health and wellness activities and elected officials’ speakers. It has always been important to the chapter to build and maintain a relationship with the community in which we serve and that includes awareness and understanding of the changing issues and relevant need of the times. Over the years, the MLK Jr. Health Fair has changed in both location and focus. The location has moved from the Crossroads Mall to the Factoria Mall (both in Bellevue, WA), and in both 2021 and 2022 the MLK Health Fair was virtual.
In 2021, the chapter had to plan and execute the MLK Jr. Health Fair in the most unpredictable of circumstances, the Covid 19 pandemic. While schools were closed or virtual, most businesses closed, healthcare services limited to virtual or emergent, mental health unwellness at an all-time high, and physical health care being delayed or overlooked, this Physical and Mental Health event seemed even more important. The Sorors of the Bellevue Alumnae Chapter worked diligently with the City of Bellevue, to ensure a virtual program not only happened in 2021, but it would continue to address the needs of the community and be on mission with the values of the sorority. The program was mostly live, through the zoom platform, with
various speakers and entertainers. It was successful in reaching over 178 registrants, viewership spanning five (5) states and internationally. Most of all, the chapter was successful in never missing a year of holding a fair. MLK Health Fair - January 2021 - YouTube
In 2022 the MLK Jr. Health Fair was still a priority for the chapter. However, the Covid 19 pandemic was still ever present. With new Covid 19 variants, vaccinations, vaccination questions and discussions, mask mandate discussions, inflation, shortages of resources and changes in the structure and personnel of the longtime partner City of Bellevue, the chapter once again had to regroup and visit the most efficient way to address the physical and mental health needs of marginalized communities with the challenges affecting everyone on a macro and micro level. The Sorors of the Bellevue Alumnae Chapter came together, supported the MLK Jr. Health Fair committee through their encouragement, outreach, and support, as the committee pivoted toward another even more virtual direction.
The 2022 MLK Jr. Health Fair would be predominately composed of 3–5-minute pre-recorded presentations from health and wellness presenters, youth presenters, and music and art performances. The only live programming would be the Masters of Ceremony (MC), that included the Bellevue Alumnae Chapter President and the City of Bellevue representative, and the elected officials. Approaching the health fair in this way was beneficial because it allowed for easier time management, less rehearsal coordination as with live performers, less expense and further reach and attendance as well as extended viewership through our partnership with the City of Bellevue on Bellevue TV and YouTube.
Once again, the 2022 MLK Jr. Health Fair was successful. The health fair was attended by 222 participants nationally and internationally, has since had an additional 133 views, which is an increase in attendance over our 2021 event. Additionally, the health fair was 90 minutes, included two (2) youth speakers, three (3) dance performances, two (2) musical performances, two (2) Mental Health Professional presentations, two (2) Community Wellness presentations (mentoring and life planning), eight (8) door prizes from minority owned businesses and five (5) elected official speakers, including the Mayor of Bellevue, Lynne Robinson. Our focus in 2022 was on youth and the pandemic. The youth speakers spoke directly to current issues effecting their lives that included the pandemic and racial injustice. There was also a moving youth dance performance that spoke to the narrative of inequality.
Martin Luther King Jr. Virtual Celebration and Health Fair 2022 - YouTube
While it is unclear what direction the chapter will need to pivot in the future when planning this event, whether in person, virtual or both. What is clear is the fortitude of Bellevue Alumnae Chapter to come together in times of adversity and become even stronger. It is said ‘for every action, there is a reaction’ and the reaction of the Bellevue Alumnae Chapter to address the Physical and Mental Health needs of our community is unwavering.
When asking chapter members “Why do you think the Bellevue Alumnae Chapter MLK Jr. Health Fair is important,” one Soror responded, “Because it highlights a lot of the great work we are doing in the community and touches on healthcare which is something that is not always talked about in our communities.” Year after year, the Bellevue Alumnae Chapter adapts and addresses the needs of the community through service and commitment in Physical and Mental Health through our MLK Jr. Health fair and we plan to do it for years to come. So, it seems, while both have tried, not a snowstorm or a pandemic can stop Deltas on a mission to serve.
Lavonne Bryan Bellevue Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. PhysicaL & Mental Health bellevuedeltaprez@gmail.com
