People of Progression’s health fair aids Appleton area Black community
GRAND CHUTE – Members of the Black community in Fox Cities will have the opportunity to meet with health care professionals, including massage therapists, mobility specialists and personal trainers, in a more relaxed setting on Saturday .
The Hip Hop Health Fair, held at the Wisconsin Academy of Sports, 3375 W. College Ave., provides an opportunity to learn about the resources available.
“We want to have an environment just for Blacks to feel safe and provide them with the health care resources they avoid because the health community has traditionally not been built for us,” Kristen said. Gondek, who founded the People. of Progression, the Fox Valley community advocacy organization that hosted the event, along with Taperz Barber Shop owner Cainan Davenport.
The health fair showcased COVID-19 vaccinations by the Multicultural Coalition, blood pressure tests and tables from local health care advocacy organizations.
Trish Sarvela, director of development for the Partnership Community Health Center, said, “We are excited to be working together for this event because there are so many opportunities to work to eliminate health disparities and help communities continue and you will be healthier. “
People for Progress was formed in the summer of 2020 to give the Black community a safe place to discuss the issues they face.
In the aftermath of the civil unrest following George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, the group was the first in Fox Valley to give the community a place to heal and be emotional.
The organization began meeting weekly at the Taperz Barber Shop, but after seeing the popularity of the sessions, Gondek and Davenport wanted to create resources that would help the Black community thrive.
“It started with talks, but we thought that wasn’t enough – we really needed to bring resources into our area that would help the most marginalized group,” Gondek said.
Nearly two years into its creation, People of Progression has provided holistic approaches to healing, skill development and breaking down systematic oppression for Black people in Fox Valley.
With the release of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gondek said providing these health care resources at the Hip Hop Health Fair was even more important because the pandemic did not equally affect the Black community.
“If I look around and the impact that COVID has had, it’s our time to make a big change and change how things are done about racial differences and inequality, “said Multicultural Coalition board member Lisa Cruz.
People of Progression hopes to continue hosting health fairs every half year, with plans for their next fair in September.
Gondek, who is also the project coordinator for People of Progression, said he wants health fairs to illustrate to health care providers the right way to reach marginalized communities.
“It’s about including our community in a culturally respectful way, because we have historically had little representation of health care resources,” he said.
People of Progression also offers Black Men Talk and Sisters United support groups, as well as a Generational Guidance Group that connects young people with a mentor to help them build trust and a positive identity. .
The next People of Progression event will be a family movie and barbecue night June 4 at Great Northern Park in Neenah.
The 8 p.m. event will feature and showing “Encanto” with free burgers and hot dogs for attendees.
Sophia Voight is a government watchdog reporter for the Appleton Post-Crescent. He can be contacted at [email protected] or 920-993-7102.
