I’ve wanted to attend the GHS Minority Health Summit the past few years, but other commitments always came up. Last year, it was the baby shower for my daughter.
Now, I work for GHS and will attend my first summit Saturday, April 13 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the BI-LO Center (register here). I’ll not only be there, but I’m seeing the behind-the-scenes work that is involved with making the summit a really special event.
Seven years ago, the first summit drew 500 people at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Simpsonville. The event has kept growing and attracted nearly 5,000 people at the BI-LO Center last year.
The community has embraced this event.
Last week, more than 100 community leaders were invited to a lunch offering an overview of this year’s summit, which will focus on obesity and include BMI screenings. The speakers include Dr. Benjamin Carson, a world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon; Cullen Jones, an Olympic gold medalist swimmer; and Dr. Ann Kulze, a best-selling author and nutrition expert.
One of GHS’ representatives told the lunch crowd that the summit isn’t a GHS event. She said, it’s a community event. That’s a perfect description.
People left the lunch with armloads of fliers to distribute across the community. They also expressed a sense of ownership in the event. When Dr. Thaddeus Bell, a Lowcountry physician known for his colorful delivery, was introduced, a man at my table offered his approval by saying, “Oh, he’s good. He tells it like it is.”
Several people raised their hands when asked if they’d attended the event in the past, too.
The summit not only attracts thousands of people, but it brings 50 community partners together that serve as resources for information, screening and the ability to pair attendees with a medical home.
I’ve been told that last week’s lunch was the largest announcing the summit in its seven years. People seemed eager to attend the event and to bring others to get information. In fact, a few churches began calling the event’s organizer last month asking for information about the summit.
The community has responded by attending the event in record numbers and by assisting us in spreading the word.
I’m looking forward to being part of this event that’s become an Upstate institution.
