When CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) announced that it was having a community health fair at the arena in Congress Heights that bears its name on Oct. 18, Maurice Foushee decided it was a good idea for him to attend.
An active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.’s Omicron Eta Lambda chapter and the MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk and Parade Committee, Foushee drove a few miles south from his Hillcrest home in Ward 7, to the Ward 8 site as a way of engaging with the community and prioritizing his health.
“I learned about this event from an email that I received from the Anacostia Coordinating Council, so I decided to check it out,” Foushee, 63, told The Informer while at CareFirst Arena on Saturday. “Besides, I needed to get my A1C checked [for diabetes] and I did, and everything turned out OK.”
Foushee was among hundreds of people who went to the organization’s first District community health fair to meet with medical professionals, wellness screenings and receive information on healthy living habits. Organizations such as the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association talked to attendees about illnesses and how they can be avoided and, if necessary, managed.
The District government’s Ward 8 Profile of Health and Socio-Economic Indicators reveals that area residents face significant health challenges, including: a 15-year lower life expectancy compared to the overall city average; high chronic rates of diseases like obesity and hypertension; and disproportionately high rates of death from homicide and HIV/AIDS.
The report said Ward 8 residents face barriers to access mental and physical health care in contrast to other wards, particularly those west of the Anacostia River, with many residents reporting fair or poor health and a high prevalence of smoking.
Ricardo Johnson, the executive vice president of strategic growth at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, said the fair serves a distinct purpose.
“Health is personal, but it also connects us all,” he said. “By coming together with our community partners, we’re meeting people where they are and creating experiences that inspire healthier living. Real change happens when communities feel supported, informed and united around their well-being.”
Bringing Care to the Community: ‘We Want to Meet People Where They Are’
Even before the event started, several people were waiting outside to get into the arena and go onto the floor where vendors were setting up for the 11 a.m. kickoff.
Foushee walked around the fair with a bag of health information from various organizations and chatted with the vendors.
“I’m glad I came,” he said. “I learned about health organizations while here. This was a good place to have this fair. A lot of people came here because it was here at the arena, who ordinarily would not have come.”
For Shar Ferrell, CareFirst’s director of community engagement and events, holding the event at the arena was very intentional— far beyond the site’s name.
“We want to have an impact in the community,” said Ferrell, 52. “CareFirst wants to do more than just to put its name on a building. We want to meet people where they are, and improve their health outcomes.”
The event, which included a live performance from The Experience Band, was open to all residents and offered flu shots, biometric screenings, glucose examination, and cholesterol review and BMI (body mass index) checks. Fair coordinators also distributed WMATA Smart Trip farecards and fresh produce.
Vendors such as United Planning Organization and Dreaming Out Loud, a food hub based in Southwest, D.C., distributed hot food and bags of groceries particularly for federal workers and those who are indirectly affected by the shutdown such as is the case for the former, Ferrell noted. In addition, she emphasized federal employees have access to CareFirst services beyond Saturday’s wellness event.
Jonathan Tate, founder of Food on the Stove, a nonprofit that provides nutritious meals for first responders while they are on duty, said he didn’t hesitate to participate in the health fair.
“We wanted to introduce EMS to the people,” Food on the Stove’s founder Jonathan Tate told The Informer. “EMS means Eat More Salads. If people eat more salads and eat healthier, they will stay off of ambulances. Food is medicine. If people eat the right food, they won’t need as many medications. Today, we featured our house salad, Southeast Asian salad and chicken Caesar salad.”
As she celebrated the event’s success, Ferrell said CareFirst doesn’t plan on stopping with Saturday’s programming, with preliminary plans to have additional fairs throughout the city.
“We are looking at sites in Ward 7 and Ward 5, and coming back to Ward 8,” Ferrell said, before emphasizing CareFirst’s mission to push toward improved health for all District residents. “We are serious about addressing chronic health conditions. We know we can have a greater impact.”
