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Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) held the 20th.Th Annual Rhythm Walk and Health Fair Saturday at Martin Luther King Park.
Community members joined city leaders, business owners, organizations and health care systems to address health disparities in the Grand Rapids community.
“It depends on other factors that affect our community, they affect the health of our community, housing, low income, food, education, you know, all of these things are major contributors to health disparities and so we want to build awareness around that and that’s why our organization exists.” That’s why our organization was founded in 2002,” GRAAHI CEO Vanessa Greene told FOX 17 on Saturday.
Khan Ned, one of the founders of GRAAHI, explained how COVID-19 has highlighted many of the issues that GRAAHI has been working to combat for the past 20 years.
“For a number of years, we’ve been behind in results for a number of reasons, but in particular, I think, you know, being a part of the last couple of years, it’s brought some of these issues to the fore, and a lot of partnerships and others broadly joining this effort and focusing on this issue. And I think we’ve seen both strategies, policies, and certainly, trying to see how we can engage our community. He is a real participant in whatever the future may look like,” added Ned.
Saturday’s event included more than just a walk for awareness.
Event organizers said there were more than 30 information tables from various locations, including Spectrum Health, Trinity Health St. Mary’s, Cherry Health, Michigan Health-West University, Cure Violence and the Grand Rapids African American Nurses Association.
We have a mammogram section here at Spectrum Health. We have a vaccination clinic, as well as blood pressure screenings with students from Grand Valley State University as well as students from the Grand Rapids African American Nurses Association, and in addition to walking tours, we are offering some clinic services to the community. It’s the same today, so we’re really excited about the support,” Green explained.
Organizers hope this annual event will have life-changing results not only for community members, but for the health care system as a whole.
“We hope to gain more awareness and get people involved and the systems look at the work of the Grand Rapids African American community and look at the disparities and needs in the community and provide more resources and support so that we can grow in our impact to improve health outcomes,” Green said.
In addition to promoting health, you are engaging in activities that remind the muscles of how you think about health. It’s the same with everything else that’s going on in our lives and how they can thrive and do well, so we’re really excited to have them here,” added Ned.
GRAAHI gave away free backpacks and school supplies at Saturday’s event.
For more information about Grand Rapids African American Health Institute, click here.
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