ARTS AND CRAFTS enthusiasts will be turning out in large numbers Saturday and Sunday for the 44th annual Nillie Bipper Creative Arts Festival at the Tri-State Exhibition Center. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Pictured is one of the craftsmen and local customers at the 2010 festival. Banner file photo, DONNA KAYLOR
This fifth annual event is again sponsored by 100 Black Men of Bradley County and will be held at Bradley Square Mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Healthcare providers and vendors in the medical and pharmaceutical industry will be in abundance at the annual gathering which represents the newest component of the 100 Black Men organization. For 17 years, 100 BMBC has targeted its focus on mentoring at-risk children while also becoming a key source for scholarships and education-driven initiatives. The healthcare focus was added five years ago.
“The Health Fair has become one of the cornerstones of our organization,” said Jonathan Porter, 100 BMBC president. “Health and wellness have become one of our key components.”
Saturday’s health focus will tackle the issue of public awareness from several perspectives; one will be the presence of health professionals who will provide a variety of health screenings and a second outlet will be the availability of promotional literature and information, both printed and verbal, that will help area residents to better understand health and its impact on people’s everyday lives.
“The Health Fair will spotlight area health care providers and vendors in the medical and pharmaceutical industry,” according to information provided by Rasharon M. King. “It is also an opportunity to present health information and take advantage of screenings, and is an effort to help participants possibly identify healthcare concerns and aid in reducing healthcare disparities.”
The community event is free and open to everyone — all ages, genders and ethnic origins.
The 100 BMBC civic-minded organization has provided its community outreaches since 1994.
“The 100 Black Men of Bradley County organization has prided itself in mentoring numerous young men and women, and has distributed over a half-million dollars in scholarship money to deserving area high school students,” Porter said. “Five years ago, the mission was expanded with the start of the Health Fair.”
The group promotes the Health Fair as a communitywide festivity whose focus is the entire Cleveland and Bradley County community.
Some of the health screenings and information booths to be available Saturday include asthma/spirometry, blood pressure, breast model, bone scans, cigarette smoking, circulation exam, dental exam, health mini-lecture, HIV/AIDS screening, mental health, nutrition education, prostate model, vision and hearing screening and weight management.
The event also will include Bradley County voter registration.
Donations will be accepted in order to be eligible for a community drawing for a 42-inch flat screen TV. Proceeds from vendor sponsorships will go toward the organization’s scholarship program.
Information about the event, or about any component of 100 BMBC’s community work, may be obtained by contacting Porter at 423-596-0740 or send an email to president.100bmbc@yahoo.com. Information may also be obtained by calling Oscar Kelly at 423-479-6271.
