Living healthy has to be a priority says organizers of the Don’t Believe the Hype Foundation’s 2nd Annual Realizing the Dream: Healthy Living Expo which will take place on January 21, 2019, from 10 am to 6 pm at the African American Museum located at 3536 Grand Avenue in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas 75210.
The free community event is in conjunction with the City of Dallas’ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration. The expo will be open immediately following the historic annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade in South Dallas.
“Americans are constantly bombarded with content about healthy living and because of the sheer volume of information circulating, it can be a challenge to decipher what is accurate vs. inaccurate,” said Cheryl Smith, founder of the Realizing the Dream: Healthy Living Expo and Don’t Believe the Hype Foundation. “This family-friendly expo provides the perfect opportunity for people to start the New Year off right by learning the proper methods to be healthy physically mentally, spiritually, financially, socially and holistically.”
Ms. Smith said she is pleased organizers were able to embrace a healthy program that is beneficial and educational.
Entertainment
In addition to seminars and demonstrations, the Expo will also feature Country/Western sensation IMAJ, motivational speaker Keith Harley, science and technology guru Amir Makin, hair expert Dr. Linda Amerson, health experts Denice Ford and LaShante Williams, Rev. Yvette Blair-Lavallais and the Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists.
There’s going to be yoga from Ebony Smith of YogaNdaHood and exercise tips from Coach Candi Francois.
Vendors will have everything from vegan recipes and weight loss programs to financial literacy and voter education information.
There will be elected officials, including Judges Tammy Kemp and Raquel “Rocky” Jones and scholarship information.
There are also vendors who will be selling jewelry, books, clothing, music, candles and novelties.
The Realizing the Dream: Healthy Living Expo has partnered with Parkland Health & Hospital System, Methodist Health System and Dallas County Health & Human Services, to offer blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and STD screenings, respectively, as well as mammograms on-site at this year’s event.
“We are excited to partner with Parkland Health & Hospital System, Methodist Health System and Dallas County Health and Human Services to offer services to the community,” said Ms. Smith. “A lot of people may be experiencing various physical symptoms but have no knowledge of the root causes.
“By offering mammograms and a variety of important health screenings at the Healthy Living Expo, our goal is to help individuals identify any underlying medical conditions they may be suffering from and ultimately put them on the right track to treatment and recovery.”
DNA Testing
Lucky attendees will also have an opportunity to win DNA tests from Ancestry DNA.
TBAAL Memberships
There will be FREE memberships to The Black Academy of Arts and Letters for the first 200!
Mammograms
The Methodist Mobile Mammogram Unit will be at the expo from 9:30 am to 4 pm. Appointments must be made in advance of the event.
To qualify for a mammogram, individuals must be age 40 or older and have no current breast problems.
To schedule an appointment or for more information, please call (214) 947-0026. Most major insurance plans are accepted including Medicare Part B and Medicaid.
Parkland Health & Hospital System will have medical staff on-site administering blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screenings, and Dallas County Health and Human Services’ Medical Mobile Clinic will also be at the expo providing STD screenings and resources for treatment options.
Advance appointments are not required for the screenings and expo attendees will be served on a first-come, first-served basis.
Monticello Exhibit
Attendees are also encouraged to check out the Monticello Exhibit at the Museum. Jan. 21 is the last day!
31-Day Challenge
The expo will also feature “Friendship-West Baptist Church presents the Pastor’s 31-Day Health Challenge.”
“I contacted Dr. Haynes (senior pastor) and told him I wanted to be included,” said Ms. Smith. “We have to address the health crisis in our communities and I applaud the efforts and programming at Friendship-West.”
The Realizing the Dream: Healthy Living Expo will feature informative presentations, panel discussions, live demonstrations, food, entertainment, giveaways, a variety of vendors, screenings from Parkland Health & Hospital System and a Sweet Potato Pie Contest.
Other sponsors for the 2019 Expo include State Fair of Texas, Karrington and Company, Texas Metro News, Garland Journal, I Messenger, Service Broadcasting (K104 FM and KRNB FM), Urban One (97.9 The Beat and Majic 94.5 FM), 106.1 KISS-FM, KHVN-HEAVEN 97, the African American Museum, Pan African Connection Book and Resource Center, Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists and Heroes House.
Sweet Potato Pie Contest
Think you have the best recipe in town? Enter one or more of three categories — traditional, pie with a twist and diabetic-friendly. There is no entry fee, but all contestants must complete and submit an entry form, and deliver your pie to the African American Museum by 9 am on Jan. 21.
For details, call (214) 941-0110.
Founded in 1995 by veteran journalist and newspaper publisher, Cheryl Smith, the Don’t Believe the Hype Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides scholarships for college students.
And mark your calendars for the next event: 25th annual Don’t Believe the Hype Celebrity Bowl-a-thon in June at USA Bowl.
