“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PEOPLE OF COLOR FESTIVAL – SEPTEMBER 11, 2010

Tucson, AZ – The 5th annual People of Color Festival takes place on Saturday, September 11th from 8:00am-1:00pm at the Northwest Neighborhood Center (2160 North 6th Avenue, south of Grant Road).

This festival, focusing on the promotion of health and wellness among African Americans and the medically underserved of Southern Arizona, is sponsored by the Coalition for African American Health and Wellness, and features free entertainment, games, food, health and safety exhibits, workshops, health screenings, activities for kids, and door prizes.

The People of Color Festival supports efforts to reduce health disparities as part of Arizona Healthy People 2020. Our theme: “Wellness, Mind, Body, and Soul,” and our keynote speaker, Dr. Cheryl Ritenbaugh, University of Arizona Professor of Family and Community Medicine, will open the session around 10:00am with her presentation “Complimentary, Alternative, and Traditional Medicines: Systems of Care Focused on Wellness for the Whole Person.” Following her will be panel presentations on Mind, Body, and Soul.

“We’re excited about this year’s event that will bring together resources to help people of color and others who are medically underserved address their well-being and get information and support to become better stewards of their own health and our community’s health,” said Mary F. Stoute, president of the Coalition for African American Health and Wellness.

One of the highlights of the festival will be the presentation of Harriet Tubman Vanguard Awards to seven outstanding and unwavering supporters of community health and wellness:
Community Health Activist: Sheila H. Parker, MPH, DrPH
Community Health Educator: Paul Appleby
Community Health Provider: Nicola Finley, M.D.
Community Health Volunteer: Mary F. Stoute
Community Organization: SAAF (Southern Az Aids Foundation)
Faith-Based Organization: Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
Community Health Policy Advocate: Linda Leatherman

The 2010 People of Color Festival sponsors include Community Partnership of Southern Arizona, La Frontera Center, SAAF, El Rio Community Health Center, Pima County Health Department, Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN), Tucson Southern Arizona Black Chamber of Commerce, and Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.”

About the Coalition for African American Health and Wellness: “Our mission is to promote healthy living and improve the overall quality of life for African Americans and medically underserved people in the Tucson community.”

For more information, visit www.caahw.org or contact Mary F. Stoute, President of the Coalition, at (520) 471-6481 or maryapple@aol.com.

I’ve been to this festival in the past (being a so-called “Person of Color”) and there was lots of helpful health & well-being information for all minority populations.

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