2025 Black Family Wellness Expo held at Concord Church in Dallas
Thousands gathered Sunday at Concord Church in Dallas for the Black Family Wellness Expo.
Now in its second year, organizers said the free, family-centered event focuses on reducing health disparities in the Black community by providing critical health screenings, resources and education.
The Expo was held by The North Texas Cluster Chapters of The Links, Incorporated in collaboration with Concord Church.
The Links, Incorporated, an international, not-for-profit corporation, is considered one of the nation's oldest and largest volunteer service organizations, committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other people of African ancestry.
Organizers said the Expo was part of a national effort by the organization to reduce health and economic disparities.
"Generally, in the Black community we are not screened or go to the doctor as frequently as we should," said Jasmin Barnes Jones, The Links, Incorporated.
"[This] event is to make sure our folks get screened and know what underlying conditions they have," she added.
Various health studies indicate that compared to their White counterparts, Black Americans tend to suffer and die from multiple chronic health issues at higher rates, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza, pneumonia, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.
The day-long event offered free health screenings, mobile health units from Baylor Scott & White, Black Heart Association, Dallas Fire, and Colgate Bright Smiles, panel discussions on maternal and mental health, aging and chronic disease prevention, in addition to other resources specifically for caregivers, veterans and families.
"The first year we did this event ] we found out that 51% of the participants realized [they] had some underlying condition that prompted them to go to a primary care physician or just a physician in general," Barnes Jones added.
Located on Pastor Bailey Drive, Concord Church is known for its consistent presence in the Red Bird community, and Senior Pastor Bryan Carter said the event was a way for the church to practically discuss a healthy living with the community.
"It's all about helping families to learn awareness about different diseases that may impact them as well as how to get by the care that they need, extend their lives and have a great quality of life," said Carter.
"The reality is that so many people of color are impacted by health disparities and today is about addressing those and also about giving people a path forward," he added.
