The Links, Incorporated is excited to launch nationwide our second annual Black Family Wellness Expo, to share information to help everyone — from infants to seniors — live healthier, happier lives. This year’s multi-city events are built upon The Links, Incorporated’s successful inaugural launch last year.

While the organization has worked to battle health disparities in the communities where members have served for decades, March 2023 was the first time that chapters and Links members worked on the same day coast to coast to address many health disparities and general wellness in a singular, one-day event within their communities and for a nationwide audience. In addition to educating communities of African descent about the numerous health disparities impacting them, this year, The Links, Incorporated has expanded its efforts to include information related to financial wellness and voter registration and education to ensure communities are equipped and empowered to make informed decisions impacting them at the national, state and local levels.

It is well known that health disparities in the Black community lead to a lower quality of life and a shorter life span. For example:

• Heart disease is the number one killer for all Americans and stroke is also a leading cause of death. The risks for both heart disease and stroke are even higher for Black Americans because they have higher incidences of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity which are contributing factors. (American Heart Association)

• Black Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial or ethnic group in the United States when it comes to most types of cancer. (American Cancer Society)

• Black Americans between the ages of 18-49 are two times as likely to die from heart disease than whites. (CDC)

• Black Americans are more than three times as likely as whites to have kidney failure. In addition, the increased rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and heart disease in Black Americans also increase their risk of kidney disease. (National Kidney Foundation)

• Blacks are more likely to have Alzheimer’s Disease than whites and have a higher familial risk than other groups. (Alzheimer’s Association)

• Over 70% of Black Americans die without having a will or other estate planning document in place. Getting Black Americans and other people of African descent to advocate for their own healthcare and financial well being is more important than ever.

And working together, we can change these statistics. Education and information are key to empowering Blacks to fight for their own wellness and the wellness of the communities in which they live, work and play.

The right to vote is a critical part of our society, as is educating voters about the issues that matter in their communities. To that end, voter registration and nonpartisan voter education are among our core priorities as an organization. Through our social action and voter registration efforts, The Links, Incorporated works to ensure that as many people as possible have a say in the policies that affect them every day and at every level of government.

Our National Legislative priorities and public policy goals reflect the needs of the communities we serve. The core legislative priorities we embrace to address those issues are: civil and voting rights; equal pay and economic empowerment; women’s health equity; social justice and public safety; education; and environmental justice and climate change.

The Links, Incorporated and its partners are working together to reduce health and other disparities in the Black community nationwide.

Join us for our Black Family Wellness Expo on Saturday, March 16th from 10am - 1pm at 9050 Viscount, Building B, to learn more about how you and those you love can reduce the risks of these diseases that are disproportionately impacting our community, prepare financially, and become civically involved.