4th Annual Black Wellness Fair Empowers Black Women with Critical Discussions on Cancer, Mental Health, & Nutrition and Fun Personal Care

Photo Caption (left to right): Dr. Paris Thomas, Dr. Yvonne Collins, Vernita Flucker, and Chelsea Whittington (moderator) pose with Lisa Hinton, Associate Director of State Partnerships for the American Cancer Society, following their panel discussion on breaking the silence around cancer.

The Chicago Urban League hosted more than 240 attendees on March 15, 2025, at our 4th Annual Black Wellness Fair, themed “Women’s Edition: Health and Heritage.” In recognition of Women’s History Month, this free event was dedicated to empowering Black women through health and wellness resources and community connection. 

This year’s event featured health screenings, wellness activities, a healthy cooking demonstration, networking opportunities, and exciting raffle giveaways. Attendees also had the opportunity to get resources or purchase products from 48 vendors.

“Black women continue to face significant disparities in healthcare access, treatment, and outcomes, which is why we chose to focus this year’s Black Wellness Fair on their unique health needs,” said Karen Freeman-Wilson, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. “At the Chicago Urban League, we recognize that health equity is a critical pillar of economic empowerment, and we are committed to ensuring that Black women and their families have the knowledge and resources they need to thrive.”

Some of the wellness activities at this year’s event included:

• “Boots on the Ground” line dancing workshop led by CUL President & CEO Karen Freeman-Wilson
• Yoga sessions
• Meditation
• Sound therapy
• Jazzercise
• Pilates
• Healthy Cooking stations
• Express manicures
• Mini massages
• Makeup demonstrations
• HIV testing
• Screenings for hypertension and diabetes
• Free refreshments

The event also featured two expert-led panels: 

• Combatting Chaos, Confusion, and Depression: Tools to Manage and Protect Your Mental Health
  • Tamara Denton, Ed.D, LCPC, Founder & CEO, Purposeful Life Counseling and DUI Services
  • Katara Washington Patton, MDiv, Author of Navigating the Blues
  • Executive Editor & Contributor, Our Daily Bread Publishing
  • Brenda Taylor, DMD, Founder and CEO of Love Dental
• “Shhh. We Don’t Talk About That”: Ending the Silence and Using Our Voices to Help Prevent and Treat Cancer 
• • • Yvonne C. Collins, MD, PhD, Gynecologic Oncologist and Chief Medical Officer of CountyCare,
    • Paris Thomas, PhD, Executive Director of Equal Hope.
    • Venita Flucker, PA-C, Cervical Cancer Survivor, Physician Assistant at JHS Hospital of Cook County

The American Cancer Society helped organize the cancer discussion and also provided information on their efforts to improve outcomes for Black women’s health through its VOICES study. The study aims to better understand cancer and other health conditions among Black women. To learn more about VOICES, sign up here: https://cloud.message.cancer.org/voices

“Cancer is often a difficult topic to discuss. Through this event, we hoped to break the stigma and have attendees walk away with actionable steps for future prevention and treatment,” said Lisa Hinton, Associate Director of State Partnerships for the American Cancer Society. “For many, the Black Wellness Fair is the first step in taking charge of their health, and we are proud to partner with the Chicago Urban League to provide a safe, welcoming space for that journey.”

The American Cancer Society, South Side Help Center, and Pure Juice and Vegan Foods were top partners in the event.  

The Chicago Urban League’s Black Wellness Fair is an annual event that is free and open to the public.

To view more photos from this year’s event, check out our posts on Facebook here and here.