April 30 Gospel Explosion to mark National Minority Health Month
North Sarasota and Newtown-area churches are joining together for the Fourth Annual Gospel Explosion, promoting community health and wellness in recognition of April as National Minority Health Month, the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County has announced.
The event will take place on Saturday, April 30, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Booker High School’s Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Auditorium, located at 3201 N. Orange Ave. in Sarasota, a news release says.
Local health care agencies— including Community AIDS Network, First Step of Sarasota Inc., the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County, Genesis Health Services, Links Inc., the Multicultural Health Institute and the West Coast Lupus Foundation — will distribute information regarding minority health matters and provide free HIV and STD testing along with other no-cost health screenings, the release adds.
“I am thrilled we are able to offer this free community event for the fourth year running,” said Bill Carter, who works for Genesis Health Services and First Step of Sarasota as a case manager, in the release. “We know education about health-related issues often happens at the pulpit and through choirs in our area churches,” he added in the release. “Local church choirs will again perform inspiring and uplifting songs of joy and hope that carry a positive message.”
Families are encouraged to attend and enjoy fun activities with their children, the release says. Free refreshments will be provided.
This year’s National Minority Health Month theme, Building Healthy Communities: Accelerating Health Equity throughout Florida, “reflects continuous and collective efforts to increase momentum toward becoming a state where all Floridians achieve the highest level of health possible,” the release points out. “This observance serves as a reminder of the progress made and the commitment to improve health for minority communities,” it notes.
For more information, call 256-6620 or visit www.hivsarasota.org.