Celebrating Welcoming Week
In celebration of Welcoming Week 2004, three local organizations are bringing back the popular Health and Wellness Fair. This event will be held on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ponderosa Park in Bend. Mosaic Community Health, Volunteers in Medicine, and Deschutes County Health Services are co-hosting this second annual outdoor event. The aim is to welcome immigrant, refugee, Latino, and other community members by providing easy access to useful information for improving health and well-being.
Addressing Health Disparities
“We aim to improve the health and wellness of community members who are most affected by health disparities and inequities,” said Shana Falb, Community Partnerships and Engagement, Deschutes County Health Services. The event will showcase vetted healthcare providers and social service organizations to improve community access and ultimately reduce those health inequities.
Inclusivity and Belonging
Welcoming Week will take place citywide from Sept. 8-17, celebrating inclusivity and belonging in Bend. The City of Bend, a Welcoming City since 2017, participates in this national event annually. This year’s theme, We’re All In, calls for unity and recognition of our strengths and differences.
Services and Activities
The fair aims to increase awareness of where Central Oregon community members can receive medical and pregnancy-related healthcare, social services, vaccine education, and other care addressing social determinants of health. On-site health services will include emergency dental care, blood pressure checks, and education on hypertension and diabetes.
Overcoming Obstacles
“A key obstacle to improved health outcomes for Latino and other immigrant community members is access to information, including where and how to access health services and providers,” said Jason Villanueva, Mosaic Spanish Communications Coordinator. The goal is to bring people together and improve the health and wellness of the community’s most vulnerable members.
Family-Friendly Activities
The event will also offer group classes facilitated in Spanish, free nutritious food from a local vendor, and fun health education activities for children and families. Interpretation services in multiple languages will be available, and most vendors will have bilingual staff.
Community Support
To help the event grow, organizers reached out to area businesses and organizations for sponsors, including Pacific Source Community Solutions, St. Charles Foundation, City of Bend, Deschutes County Health Services, and Bigfoot Beverages.
This story is based on submitted information and has not been verified by our news team. link
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