By Cheryl Smith
I made plans in July. I canceled those plans in November.
The plan was to spend January 20, 2025 in the nation’s capital showing my appreciation and love for the first Black woman to serve as president of these United States of America.
I was excited about the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by watching my sorority sister, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, swear in the Honorable Kamala Devi Harris as the 47th president.
What a day, what a day! Well, despite a valiant effort, our ancestors wildest dreams and my hope for the future will not materialize in 2025.
But we must not despair. We must live to fight another day, and, we must march on until victory is won!
Which brings me to my truth.
In order to fight, we must be healthy —from the rooter to the tooter!
Prior to COVID-19, the Don’t Believe the Hype Foundation, along with other sponsors, began hosting the Realizing the Dream Healthy Living Expo. Initially held in December and featuring the incomparable Dick Gregory as the headliner, the event was moved to Dr. Martin Luther King Day and partnered with the annual parade commemorating the Drum Major for Justice’s life!
This year’s presenting sponsors, Comerica Bank and Cre8ive Outlet, along with WAAITT (We Are All In This Together) are joining with the Don’t Believe the Hype and Celebrating Life Foundations, in con-junction with I Messenger Media LLC (Texas Metro News, Garland Journal and I Messenger), SAADIA, African American Museum, MOCCA Cosmetics, Heroes House and others, to host the Realizing the Dream Healthy Living Expo — because together we want to build stronger communities.
The 8th Annual Realizing the Dream Healthy Living Expo is scheduled for Monday, January 20, 2025, at the African American Museum in beautiful Sunny South Dallas.
This family-oriented, fun and message-filled event is a wonderful way to pay homage to the man who worked to make this world a better place.
Dr. King had a dream and he wanted a better world. In order to live in a better world, we must be healthy in a number of ways: mentally, physically, spiritually, financially, socially and holistically.
Through the Healthy Living Expo, we will be addressing all of those areas. We will have vendors, speakers and programming geared toward building stronger families and communities. There will be community activists, educators, advisors, and just like in the past, we will also have entertainment, screenings and opportunities to assist attendees in bettering their lives. There will be college representatives, insurance and financial planning advisors, voter registration and education booths and much more.
According to Dr. King, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
He also said, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”
Together we will be filling a void on January 20. And guess what? This year’s cookoff features Collard Greens and Corn-bread! So you think you can cook, well come on and enter (see form).
And we’re joining with Pastor Jackie Tolbert to feed 500 families! Stay tuned for more details
Many are looking for places to eat and something else to do on this national holiday and we’re providing the venue, the information, food, entertainment and programming that will engage the masses.
We also know that in spite of what is going on in life, we must continue to live until we take that last breath. Admittedly, we have some challenging days before us. Let’s get together, collaborate, sup- port one another and grow together.
Plan to join us!
WHAT: Realizing the Dream Healthy Living Expo
WHEN: Monday, January 20, 2025 – 10am-4pm
WHERE: African American Museum in Fair Park
Admission: LOVE
