A special Black Men's Health Conference is coming up this weekend - aiming to connect men in the Black community with providers and advocates who can help boost health outcomes and more.
Carbondale's Carl Flowers brought the idea to several regional partners and got the ball rolling - he says it's important to make connections as well as build community to raise awareness.
"This is an opportunity for us to come and hear from some of the medical professionals in southern Illinois who are going to share with us importance of healthy living - spiritual health, mental health, as well as physical health."
Experts say barriers to care exist in marginalized communities - and Doctor Sam Stokes says those barriers include economic and social challenges... particularly among Black men. But he says events like this one can help.
"So once we at least identify those barriers, and address those barriers, and deal with them, hopefully we can break things down and maintain that bridge from healthcare to being more mindful with our health."
Saturday's conference will be at the Carbondale Civic Center from 7:30am to 12:30pm. There will be free wellness screenings - including blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar checks, along with speakers from Dr. Stokes to SIU Strong Survivors' Phil Anton, and Pastor Christopher Swims.
You can get more information through theJackson County Public Health Department, Centerstone, SIH, the SIU School of Medicine, or the Carbondale NAACP.
