The LaGrange Chapter of The Links Incorporated will host its Black Family Wellness Expo on Saturday, March 21, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Mike Daniel Recreation Center located at 1220 Lafayette Pkwy. in LaGrange. Its focus is to address health and economic disparities that impact Black families while promoting intergenerational long-term wellness. The Black Family Wellness Expo is free to the public, with no registration or fee to participate.
Organizers described a local landscape shaped by food insecurity, chronic disease and uneven access to preventative care in rural areas. Based on data collected by The Links, elementary school children are the primary demographic when discussing food disparities, as most students rely heavily on school meals. “Right now, we’re noticing trends showing that our children, particularly the elementary school children, are suffering from food disparities. You know, the only meal that they get per day is usually in school,” said Linette Horris Ward, the president of the LaGrange Chapter of the Links. Organizers also noticed that, in addition to the food disparities, several medical issues are trending in the community.
According to organizers, the medical issues most noticed in the community revolve around kidney disease/failure, hypertension, and a large portion of the community runs risks of heart disease and congestive heart failure, all of which are deadly if not closely monitored. Horris Ward also noted that food imbalances among adults can contribute to these health risks. She says that most health-related risks begin with a diabetes diagnosis, and without monitoring or maintaining a healthy diet, can lead to more severe problems such as a heart attack or stroke.
