by Marisette Hasan, VP, Community Action & Policy
When most people think of Louisville, Kentucky, they probably think of horse racing or bourbon! However, during my recent trip to Louisville, I was enthralled and inspired not by the usual tourist attractions, like horse racing and bourbon, but by the unity, camaraderie and high-quality community Back 2 School/Health Screening event hosted by Pastor Alma Wooley with The Christ Cathedral of Praise Church, and a member of the Louisville Community Care Project.
Pastor Wooley and her congregation have served as the hosts for this annual community event for the past several years. Initially, it was a small community movement. However, the needs of the community outgrew what they could do alone. Elder Angela Overton, and the members of the Louisville Community Care Project, have raised awareness of the needs of the community. Today, event participants include AARP, the Humana Foundation, Hosparus Hospice, the University of Louisville Health System, ARCHANGELS, the University of Louisville Medical Center, and other key healthcare stakeholders.
This community grassroots event offers access to health screenings, health educational resources, back-to-school supplies, food, and serves as a multi-generational hub of activities for the community. This year’s event included:
- 15 Community vendors providing educational resources
- On-site health screenings for diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol
- One-to-one onsite medical consultations by a University of Louisville Health System medical team
- Food trucks with free food, paid for by community donors
- Door prizes and grocery gift cards
- Back-to-school backpacks loaded with much-needed school supplies
- Multi-generational family activities (music, bounce houses, face painting, etc.)
I enjoyed experiencing the sights and sounds of this community up-close and personal. I witnessed the joy of children laughing as they slid down the water slide and played in the bubbles. I engaged in conversations with the residents and listened to their stories. I saw the generosity of the exhibitors and yes, I enjoyed some wonderful chicken nachos and peach ice cream from the food trucks!
I took part in the health screenings, and received a personal consultation with Dr. Kim A. Williams, Sr., MD, chair of the University of Louisville Department of Medicine, and the Legacy Foundation, Endowed Chair in Health Equity. Dr. Williams is a strong advocate for plant-based diet regimens, and he shared with the participants a wonderful ‘Heart and Soul’ booklet filled with easy to prepare heart-health recipes.
From the outside, this community may appear to be impoverished and lacking in resources, but their community connectedness and spirit is strong! Neighbors brought neighbors to the event or carried food to those who were disabled or had mobility issues. I was honored to speak with fathers, mothers, and grandparents about their resource needs and their issues. One mother shared with us the need for eyeglasses for her daughter, who had experienced bullying at school, resulting in two pairs of broken eyeglasses. Another resident shared with me her need for financial assistance to purchase needed medications.
I was happy to share with attendees some good news – the Louisville Community Care Project will now have a community health worker advocate who will serve as a community liaison. She will help community members get access to needed services, such as health insurance, food, transportation, medical, mental health services, vision care, etc.
My observations and takeaways from the event:
- Building and establishing ongoing relationships with key influencers and community-based organizations is foundational for successful community impact
- Community influencers should be involved in the planning process as they bring lived experience and insights about what will work for the communities they serve
- Health screenings and education increases at the grassroots community level when made accessible, in familiar and safe places and provided, when feasible, by those who reflect the demographics of the community
- Upbeat, fun, friendly, family events will lead to increased participation in other programs as the participants share positive experiences
- Media outlets and social media communications before, during, and after community grassroots events are extremely valuable in positive messaging
About the Louisville Community Care Model
The Louisville Community Model of Care Project serves in partnership with faith leaders who are actively involved in places of worship where the majority of the parishioners are Black living in and around the 40203 zip-code. The risk of health problems within this population is increased, they become unable to afford care, and are likely to have far less access to preventive care services. Through community outreach and engagement, we are building trusted community partnerships among faith leaders, payers, and stakeholders to provide educational workshops, collaborative events, and wellness informational sessions. The Louisville Community Model of Care Project will serve as an impetus for model replicability within communities sharing similar demographics with similar health care needs.
To learn more about successful grassroots advocacy and community care model programs, join us at our upcoming National Leadership Summit, October 21-22 in Washington, DC.
