Pacific Oaks College will host its 2nd Annual Black Health and Wellness Fair, in honor of Black History Month, on March 4. The event, sponsored by the Student Government Association, will take place at the college’s parking lot at 45 Eureka Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to the public.
The fair will feature entertainment, fun activities, and free health screenings. It will focus on educating the Black community about emotional well-being, healing, preventative care, nutrition, exercise, and mental health, with the aim of decreasing health disparities.
According to Pacific Oaks Professor Sheree Bielecki, the theme of the fair acknowledges not only the legacy of Black scholars and medical practitioners, but also birth workers, doulas, herbalists, and others.
Pacific Oaks Professor Sheree Bielecki. [Pacific Oaks]
Aside from the activities and entertainment, the event also features vendor information tables available for community partners to inform and educate the community about their work related to Black Health and Wellness. Food vendors will also be present at the site.
Bielecki said the school decided to continue the fair because of the good turnout at the inaugural fair.
Over a hundred people including school staff, faculty, students and members of the community attended last year’s fair.
During the previous fair, Congresswoman Judy Chu spoke on behalf of Black History Month as well as Black health and wellness. The late councilmember John Kennedy also attended the inaugural fair.
Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Brian McDonald and Deputy Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco also came.
“It was great. It was a very surreal moment,” said Bielecki. “We had a nice turnout. We also had, which I love, a nice size group of seniors that attended.”
“Many of the community were very happy with the fair. And so I decided to do the fair again,” she added.
Bielecki invites the Pasadena community as well as neighboring cities to once again come and enjoy the fun activities with Pacific Oaks College students, staff and faculty.
Local businesses, community groups, and health organizations, including Huntington Health will participate at the fair, according to her.
“We have the Children’s Village with activities,” said Bielecki. “We will also have vendors that provide resources or let the community know about businesses that work with children and families. There will also be community resources and information, free health screenings.”
For more information, contact Bielecki through sbielecki@pacificoaks.edu or call (626) 529-8202.
