Community health fair helps to highlight event
This past week, Jack and Jill of America, Inc. held its 46th National Convention right here in the Twin Cities. Established in 1938, Jack and Jill of America is a national membership organization of mothers with children between the ages of 2 and 19, which seeks to nurture future Black leaders “through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving, and city duty.”
With 262 chapters spread across seven geographic regions, Jack and Jill of America engages more than 50,000 individuals who are making an indelible impact in communities across the United States every day.
In advance of this year’s convention, Jack and Jill of America’s National President Kornisha McGill Brown stated that “this promises to be a memorable gathering where we will celebrate our rich history, strengthen our bonds, and chart a course for the future of our organization.” That said, the organization’s latest assembly offered even more than it has in previous years.
In addition to deciding on Minneapolis as the site of 2024’s national convention, Jack and Jill of America likewise chose to launch its inaugural Community Health Fair, billed as “Your Health, Your Legacy,” at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Tuesday, July 23, where more than 20 local, regional and national organizations participated.
“Adding a health fair to the national convention this time around meant a lot to us,” noted Sativa Leach-Bowen, Jack and Jill of America’s National Vice President. “Although we do a lot in philanthropic giving, a big part of our mission is communication, outreach, and sharing vital information with those whom we serve. In this case, it is to provide education and resources around health and wellness issues in our communities.”
Among the many agencies and organizations that participated in Jack and Jill’s first-ever Community Health Fair were the American Cancer Society, Minnesota Department of Health, the SonRise Project, the American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, Volunteers of America for Minnesota and Wisconsin, Jaden Sebastian Blake Foundation, Sabathani Community Center, and Hue-MAN Partnership.
Clarence Jones, executive director and community engagement strategist with Hue-MAN, told the MSR why it was so important for his organization to get involved with the health fair.
“In part, it’s just a goodwill gesture to welcome the delegates of Jack and Jill to our city. This is a national conference,” Jones explained.
“But it’s much bigger than that,” Jones added. “It’s a chance for us to highlight the work we are doing here in the Twin Cities while also developing meaningful relationships and learning more about what is happening in other cities. To share appropriate information with participants and their families and communities. That helps us all.”
Not only did those attending the Jack and Jill Community Health Fair have the chance to engage vendors about health-related resources and the type of work that they are doing, but were able to experience an array of health and wellness services directly and initiatives onsite, including blood pressure and CPR workshops provided by the American Heart Association; breast cancer screenings by Touch4Life; and spending time in an inspirational respite living room sponsored by the Twin Cities’ own Reviving Roots Therapy and Wellness.
When asked about plans for Jack and Jill’s next national conference, which will take place in 2026, Leach-Bowen said that another community health fair will definitely be part of that gathering.
“Each time we come together as an organization, be it regionally or nationally, we always want to be sure we left a community better than we found it,” she said. “Sure, we impact local economies in dollars we spend at hotels, restaurants, and convention centers. But we are really trying to leave a tangible footprint in those communities by focusing on the health of the families we support. That’s the legacy we are looking to build.”
Here at Jack and Jill of America’s 46th National Convention, part of that legacy includes donating more than $58,000 to the George Floyd Rise & Remember Foundation.
For more information on Jack and Jill of America and how to get involved, visit www.jackandjillinc.org.