LONG BEACH, CA-When it comes to issues related to health, it’s all about getting educated and being informed. KJLH-102.3 FM, the Inglewood, California radio station owned by song master Stevie Wonder, has always been about promoting information and education to Southern California’s urban communities, in one form or another.
The station’s daily pep talk focuses on social issues affecting black and brown communities-in and around Los Angeles. The health of black women and women of color has been the rallying cry for KJLH radio personality Adai Lamar for years.
A spinoff of Lamar’s push for black women to get to know their bodies and take care of their health better has been the annual KJLH Women’s Health Expo. Mammograms, blood pressure and cholesterol checks, wellness education, eyes exams, and cancer screenings are just a few of the free services offered at the health and beauty expo every year.
This year’s attendees to the KJLH Women’s Health Expo got a bit more than the regular medical services being provided. They also got a dose of celebrity appearances (Vanessa L. Williams, Soul Food; singer Raheem DeVaughn), a frank discussion from Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and took part in a few of the panel discussions on the state of women’s health.
The KJLH Women’s Health Expo, which was held at the Long Beach Convention Center, is typically a full day of educating women about the importance of their health and wellness. There certainly was plenty to do with all of the vendors and demonstrations on hand about healthy food, haircare and the importance of daily exercises and getting free massages.
One of the main takeaways from this year’s s health expo was the appearance by Waters. The outspoken lawmaker was very energized in her message to the many women she spoke to about the importance of educating themselves and taking advantage of health services when they are available.
Waters stated “that because of KJLH’s advocacy and health education efforts, African American women understand more about public health. We are better able to recognize our own health problems and symptoms of disease’s and so because of KJLH’s hard work we’re able to take care of ourselves our families and our communities.”
