Mayor Adams To Declare NYC a “Choose Healthy Life City” at Gracie Mansion Clergy Breakfast and Mayoral Roundtable
Celebrating Choose Healthy Life’s Two-Year Anniversary of Administering COVID-19Vaccinations/Testing through its Black Churches and the Launch of its Community Wellness Program featuring Wellness Wednesdays and the Blueprint for Wellness.
Date: Monday, November 7, 2022
Time: 8:30am to 10am
A Choose Healthy Life and NYC Mayor’s Office special event featuring a Clergy Breakfast and Mayoral Roundtable forum at which Mayor Adams will declare New York as a “ChooseHealthy Life” city, recognize Choose Healthy Life for its accomplishments on its two-year anniversary to address COVID-19 and health disparities through the Black church, and salute this public-private partnership which has become a national model.
Speakers will also announce the launch of the Choose Healthy Life Community Wellness program featuring Wellness Wednesdays and the Blueprint for Wellness. The Blueprint is a risk-based health screening test developed by Quest Diagnostics and is offered by the churches at no charge. The program debuted in NYC this past weekend with successful events at Union Grove Baptist Church and Antioch Baptist Church. Wellness Wednesdays provides the infrastructure, in a culturally appropriate setting, to empower individuals to make healthy choices and be connected to resources in the community and beyond.
The forum will include remarks from Mayor Adams, CHL Co-Chair Rev. Al Sharpton, CHL Founder Debra Fraser-Howze, New York Clergy Leader Rev. Jacques DeGraff, Quest Diagnostics Senior Vice President and General Counsel Mike Prevoznik, United Way of NYC CEO Grace Bonilla and select clergy leaders. “Having connected with over 120 churches nationwide to host over 2500 events, administering close to 100,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinations through our work with Choose Healthy Life, United Way of New York City understands the deep value of the partnership between theChurch, their neighborhoods, companies like Quest who are motivated to support their communities, and government agencies that know that healthy communities thrive,” said Grace Bonilla, President and CEO of United Way of New York City (UWNYC). “That’s why we’re honored to be joining Mayor Adams today to celebrate Choose Healthy Life and our work together in keeping New York’s communities of color healthy and thriving. UWNYC’s health equity work addresses social determinants that contribute significantly to poor health outcomes; Choose Healthy Life is at the center of our efforts.”
"Choose Healthy Life recognized the power of the Black church as trusted messengers in our local communities", said Rev. Al Sharpton, Co-Chair of Choose Healthy Life's National BlackClergy Health Leadership Council. "As pastors, when we stand up and get vaccinated - others take note and do the same. I want to thank the Mayor for recognizing our important role in addressing the healthcare needs for those in need by declaring New York as a Choose HealthyLife city.
"Though Choose Healthy Life was founded during the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mission for our organization has always been to establish a sustainable healthcare model centered around our Black churches to address health equity", said Debra Fraser-Howze, Choose Healthy Life. "We demonstrated we could be highly successful in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and today marks the national launch of our Community Wellness program here in New York City. We are proud to be partnering with United Way of New York City and Quest Diagnostics on this initiative."
Choose Healthy Life (CHL) is a non-profit faith-based organization that ensures Black churches –the oldest and most trusted institutions in the Black community – receive the necessary resources, training, and support to address COVID-19 and other health disparities by delivering preventive wellness programs. CHL initially established a network of fifty (50) Black churches in five major cities –and grew to 120 churches across 13 states. In its first year, CHL hosted over 2,500 events, and administered nearly 100,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinations through its churches. The success of the program has been centered around the leadership of the Black Clergy and the establishment of a faith-based community health workforce in the church. In November 2020, under the leadership of CHL founder Debra Fraser-Howze with support from founding partner Quest Diagnostics and implementation partner United Way of NewYork City, the National Black Clergy Health Leadership Council was established to guide the organization.
Note to media: Interviews with quoted participants are available by contacting Judy Klym atjklym@thewakemanagency.com.