The Center for Closing the Health Gap

09/04/2026

For decades, healthcare in the U.S. has operated on a sick model system instead of a preventative care one. It's a big reason racial and ethnic health disparities are so out of control. As our CEO Renee Mahaffey Harris explains, it’s encouraging to see the broader healthcare conversation recognize what our work has long demonstrated: closing health gaps requires more than knowing what needs to change. It requires doing the work to change it.

Read this article and check out other important health topics by subscribing to our Weekly Update at https://closingthehealthgap.org.

09/03/2026

Health Gap CEO Renee Mahaffey Harris, MPH sat down with Spectrum News 1 Ohio to discuss how economic stability and physical health can be closely connected, particularly for entrepreneurs and small-business owners.

About 90% of the contractors and businesses the Center works with are Black-owned. “The only way that we save us, which is a term that we talk about, which activates people thinking about their health, is that we support each other,” Harris said.

Click below to check out the full story:

As National Black Business Month closes, Cincinnati leaders say supporting black-led businesses goes beyond where consumers spend their money.

09/02/2026

Join us for a deeply inspiring morning of connection and community at the Hope, Health & Happiness workshop with Dr. Anisa Shomo! Inspired by the generational lessons that sustain our families through difficult times, Dr. Shomo has created a powerful space to share wisdom from our ancestors, discuss community insights, and build a personal legacy of wellness.

🗓️ When: Saturday, September 26 | 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
📍 Where: Center for Closing the Health Gap Offices (3200 Burnet Ave.)

👉 Space is limited! Register today at bit.ly/HealthGapEvents or call 513-585-9879 with questions.

08/31/2026

It's back-to-school time, and Health Gap CEO Renee Mahaffey Harris, MPH talks about our DoRight! Kids program, our partnership with Cincinnati Public Schools and the critical importance of nutrition and oral care!

Learn more about DoRight! at https://closingthehealthgap.org/do-right

08/28/2026

Exactly 63 years ago today – August 28, 1963 – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C. His words resonate today as much as they ever have.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"

The dream has not been fully realized, but the hard work continues. The hope continues.

08/28/2026

Proud to support our friends at the Cincinnati OH Chapter of The Links, Incorporated as they prepare to celebrate The Essence of Emeralds: A Night of Legacy & Light: 7 Decades on Saturday, November 7.

The elegant black-tie evening will celebrate friendship, service, and impact, featuring dinner and cocktails, live music from 2nd Wind Band, and a keynote from former Essence Magazine Editor-in-Chief Susan L. Taylor.

For tickets: https://essenceofemeralds2026.com/essence-of-emeralds

08/27/2026

For Black Business Month, we sat down with Eric Kearney, President & CEO of The African-American Chamber of Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky, to talk about the impact of Black-owned businesses and why supporting them matters.

When Black businesses thrive, our communities thrive. Be intentional about how you shop, support, and celebrate Black-owned businesses.

08/26/2026

Caregiving is a labor of love, but it’s easy to lose yourself while taking care of everything, and everyone, else. 💙

For years, our one-day Caregiver Support Series events have helped attendees find restoration. Now, we are expanding our program to offer bi-weekly, ongoing support groups to help you navigate the daily challenges of caring for a loved one who is 60+. Led by licensed clinical counselor Traci Sippel, these new in-person and virtual sessions give you a confidential space to talk openly, gain coping tools, and connect with people who actually get it.

What to expect:
✅ Relaxed, supportive environment
✅ Zero pressure to share – you can just listen!
✅ Real, honest conversations

Find the group that fits your schedule:
🗓️ In-Person: Bi-weekly on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM starting Sept. 16 at New Leaf Counseling Group (11427 Reed Hartman Hwy, Suite 119)
💻 Virtual: Bi-weekly on Saturdays at 11:00 AM starting Sept. 19

👉 Scan the QR code to register or visit bit.ly/HGCaregiverGroups

08/24/2026

Extra time today? Make your way to the Deer Park Library and help save some lives. The American Red Cross Central & Southern Ohio Region is accepting donations from 11am-5pm. A single whole blood donation can save three lives, including trauma victims, cancer patients, and surgery patients. In the U.S. alone, someone needs blood every two seconds.

08/21/2026

Wanda and Greg participated in our last Diabetes Challenge. We're grateful to hear them share their unique perspectives about nutrition, exercise, and the power of taking control of your health. Next week, we kick off our new Diabetes Challenge, and we can't wait to see more impact stories in the weeks ahead!