Black Wellness Expo in Tyler connects community to resources
Published 6:00 am Tuesday, February 24, 2026
EmpowerNet hosted its third annual Black Wellness Expo this past Saturday at APEC, aiming to bridge gaps in healthcare access while connecting community members with resources for physical, mental, and financial wellness.
“Black people do suffer from a lot of chronic illnesses at a higher demographic rate, more than other demographics,” said Antwanise Jackson, president and founder of EmpowerNet. “It’s also important because a lot of people tend to overlook personal wellness… This brings the resources to them rather than having to go search for them.”
Jackson said she started the Black Wellness Expo three years ago after dealing with her own health issues and witnessing her family struggle with pre-existing health conditions. She said the event was created to raise awareness about the health challenges disproportionately affecting the Black community.
“It really came about from my own journey,” Jackson said. “But this was also a way to bring awareness to the community about the issues that the black community suffers from, because we do suffer from diabetes and heart disease at an alarming rate, but I also wanted to give attention to those entrepreneurs.”
EmpowerNet is a nonprofit organization that provides tools and resources for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Jackson said the group offers financial training, public speaking workshops, image consulting, marketing guidance, and brand exposure opportunities to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
“It’s just basically a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs,” Jackson said. “We do like community events like this so they can get the exposure, but also workshops so they can learn techniques and skills.” The organization has upcoming workshops focusing on filing business taxes correctly, AI marketing, social media, digital aspects of businesses, and more.
“One of our big pillars and part of our mission is community engagement and collaboration,” Jackson added.
Vendors at the expo included local health providers offering immune-boosting supplements and yoga sessions, young entrepreneurs selling homemade body scrubs and juices, and mental health professionals. Michelle Allen Franklin of Reflections: Choosing Me Guilt-Free provided consultations for depression and anxiety, a service she started after experiencing severe grief and panic attacks following the loss of several family members in a short amount of time.
“I was going through my life as usual—going to church, singing in the choir, volunteering — but I was suffering at night,” Franklin said.
As a longtime Christian, Franklin said she initially struggled to reconcile her faith with her mental health challenges. “I thought people would judge me, or that going through this meant I wasn’t strong enough or didn’t really believe in God,” she said. “…I wanted people to know it’s OK to not be OK, and that seeking help doesn’t make you weak.”
She added that many in the Black community suffer silently due to stigma, making events like the expo vital for raising awareness.
“This expo is so necessary because, as you walk around and talk to the different organizations represented here,” Franklin said, “you realize people don’t know how much help is available. If you’re unaware, events like this connect you with valuable resources. People are suffering when they don’t have to—there is help out there, and that’s exactly why we’re here.”
Jackson said the Black Wellness Expo is one of several events EmpowerNet hosts to support the community. Later this summer, the organization plans to expand its young entrepreneur program in preparation for the annual Back 2 School KidPRENEUR Festival in August.
“Since it went so well, we’re turning it into a full 4-week program,” Jackson said. “The kids will come in, and they will get to learn the basics of how to be business owners.”
For more information on how to become involved with EmpowerNet, visit empowernetetx.org.
