As part of the National Minority Health Month, which is celebrated every year in April, Western Illinois University is continuing with activities and events as part of its Uplifting CommUnity Health Month to recognize and celebrate minority health initiatives. This year's theme is 'Resilience: The Strength of Our Community.'
This Saturday (April 18), members of the WIU community and general public are invited to take part in the Fourth Annual Walk and Roll Color Run, beginning at 11 a.m. on the Sherman Hall front lawn. The first 25 participants will receive a t-shirt.
At 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 22, the Rev.
Dwight Ford, head pastor of Grace City Church in Moline, Illinois and president and CEO of Project Now Community Action Agency in the Quad Cities, will present a keynote address in the University Union Brattain Lounge. The WIU alumnus, also known as 'The People's Pastor,' enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps following his graduation from high school and completed a six-year military career, with tours of duty in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm service tours. He earned various awards and was listed in the top 10 percent of enlisted Marines. The Rev. Ford earned his bachelor's degree in business from Western, a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA and a doctorate from Northwestern University. Before becoming the executive director of Project Now, he was the executive director of the Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership and as the executive director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center in Rock Island.
A social will be held from 6:30-7 p.m. prior to his keynote address From 6-7 p.m., Wednesday, April 29, 'Sweet Sips and Confident Smiles: Learning How to Protect Your Smile' will be held in the Macomb City Hall Community Room, and from 7-8 p.m. in Knoblauch Hall 230, on the WIU campus, a free presentation, 'The Terrifying Truth of Sex Trading: Harm Reduction and Health Promotion at WIU' will be held.
The month-long celebration will conclude Thursday, April 30 a Health Fair from 2:30-5 p.m. in the WIU Multicultural Center.
Uplifting CommUnity Health Month sponsors include on the WIU campus: Beu Health Center; Campus Recreation Center; College of Education and Human Services; College of Fine Arts and Communication; College of Arts and Sciences; Maureen Bezold's HLTH 512 Class; Health Sciences Graduate Student Associationl Uplifting CommUnity Health Month Planning Committee; Multicultural Center; Office of Employee Initiatives & Campus Culture; Office of the President; Office of the Provost and Academic Vice President; Physical Plant - Facilities Management; Sodexo; Student Belonging & Community Relations; Student Government Association; Student Health Advisory Committee; University Communications & Marketing; and WIU Bookstore.
Macomb/community sponsors include: City of Macomb Mayor’s Office; Hy-Vee; Larry A’s Pizza; McDonough County Health Department; McDonough District Hospital; and MDH Community Pharmacy.
About National Minority Health Month Observed every April, the month raises awareness about health disparities impacting racial and ethnic minority populations and promotes equitable health outcomes.
It focuses on education, early detection and strengthening partnerships to combat chronic illnesses, particularly heart disease and diabetes.
National Minority Health Month was established in 2002 by Congress, based on Booker T. Washington’s 1915 National Negro Health Week.
