Black Community Health & Wellness Association

06/09/2025

🌘Belated Eid al-Adha Greetings from BCHWA

🕌✨Though the official observance was Friday, we join our Muslim community members today in recognizing the significance of Eid al-Adha, a sacred holiday rooted in faith, sacrifice, and unity.

📿🤲🏾Eid al-Adha, or the “Festival of Sacrifice,” honors the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son in devotion to God, a story shared across Abrahamic traditions. It is a time for prayer, reflection, generosity, and community, marked by the sharing of meals and acts of charity.

🕋At the Black Community Health & Wellness Association, we celebrate the diverse cultural and spiritual traditions that enrich our communities. We extend heartfelt blessings to all who observed, and we honor the values this holiday represents, faith, resilience, and care for one another.

☪️🧕🏾Eid Mubarak to all.

05/31/2025

🛑 The to***co and v**e industries continue to profit off our pain, flooding Black communities, youth spaces, and women-centered platforms with menthol-flavored products that are more addictive and harder to quit.🚬

🌀 Menthol masks the harshness.
🧠 It boosts ni****ne’s effects on the brain.
🚭 And now, it’s in v**es too, hooking a new generation.

📉 The Truth:

💨Menthol makes both ci******es and v**es feel smoother, but increases addiction.

🧑🏾👩🏾 In fact, Black youth are more likely to start va**ng with menthol or mint flavors, not by accident, but by design.

🫩 Studies show menthol in v**es can rewire the brain, reinforcing dependency and increasing long-term ni****ne use.

🪦 Between 1980–2018, menthol smoking caused 157,000 premature deaths among Black Americans.

🧠 The Trap:
To***co companies sponsor our events, fund our leaders, and use our language, all while selling us products that kill. This includes modern v**e marketing on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube aimed at our youth.

✨ This May, we fight back:
🚫 No Menthol.
🚷 No Traps.
🙌🏾 No More.
Because We Matter!

📞 Ready to quit smoking or va**ng? Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for FREE support.
🔗 BecauseWeMatterLV.org
❤️ Data courtesy of the American Heart Association (2022)

05/31/2025

🏫🚸As the school year wraps up, it’s the perfect time to prepare for a healthy start to the next one!

💉✨The BCHWA proudly supports the Vax Facts Nevada campaign to raise awareness about required school vaccinations in Nevada. From kindergarten through 12th grade, keeping our children protected means making sure their immunizations are up to date and on time! ✅

💡 Need help finding where to go?
Visit vaxfactsnv.org to locate clinics and explore options for free or low-cost vaccines through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.

Let’s work together to keep our kids, schools, and communities safe. 🌍❤️

05/29/2025

🛑 🚬NO MENTHOL MAY 🛑

This May, the Black Community Health & Wellness Association stand with the Because We Matter campaign and the Southern Nevada Health District to speak truth to power.

🟣 The Trap: Menthol is added to to***co products to make them feel smoother and easier to use, making it harder to quit and easier to get hooked.

🟢 The Truth: Menthol enhances ni****ne’s grip on the brain and numbs the throat, allowing deeper inhalation of toxic chemicals.But this goes deeper than flavor.This is about social determinants of health, and the targeting of our youth.

🧠 🏙️ Black youth are more likely to be exposed to menthol cigarette marketing, live in areas with higher to***co retailer density, and face systemic barriers to care and education.

🟧 Housing instability.

🟧 Underfunded schools.

🟧 Limited access to cessation support.

🟧 Over-policing and medical distrust.These conditions don’t happen by accident.They are the result of decades of targeted harm.

🚫 No Menthol.
🚫 No Traps.
🚫 No More.

📞 Need help quitting?Call the Nevada To***co Quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOWOr text QUITNOW to 333888 for FREE culturally-informed support.

Together, we break the cycle.✊🏾 Because We Matter.

***coJustice

03/14/2025

📢 Calling All Community Vendors! 📢

Join us for the Rare Disease Day Celebration on March 21, 2025, from 5-8 PM at Pearson Community Center in Las Vegas! 🎉

We are looking for community partners, nonprofits, and healthcare organizations to connect with families impacted by rare diseases and share valuable resources at this incredible event! 💙

🌟 Why Participate?
✅ Engage with the rare disease community
✅ Share your resources and services
✅ Network with other organizations
✅ Increase visibility for your cause
✅ Support an important and underserved community

This event, hosted by Dreamsickle Kids Foundation and sponsored by Vertex & Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, will feature patient speakers, refreshments, and rare disease education.

📌 Vendor spots are LIMITED! Sign up today:
🔗 https://www.cognitoforms.com/dreamsicklekidsfoundationinc/dskfvendorregistrationform/publish/?source=login

Help us make a difference in the rare disease community—register now and be part of this special celebration! 💜

03/01/2025

🌙✨Celebrating Ramadan with Our Community

As the holy month of Ramadan begins, the Black Community Health & Wellness Association (BCHWA) extends warm wishes to all who observe this sacred time of reflection, prayer, and community.

Ramadan is a time of spiritual renewal, self-discipline, and compassion, where millions around the world fast from sunrise to sunset, focusing on gratitude, faith, and giving back to those in need. It is also a reminder of the importance of health, wellness, and community support, values we deeply cherish at BCHWA.

To our Muslim brothers and sisters, may this month bring you peace, strength, and abundant blessings. May your prayers be answered, your hearts be full, and your generosity uplift those around you.

🕌 Ramadan Mubarak! 🕋

02/22/2025

🌿✨ Join Us for Unity on the Trail! ✨🌿

📅 Tomorrow, February 22nd
⏰ 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
📍 Craig Ranch Park, North Las Vegas

The Elevators Club & Black People Hike Las Vegas are bringing the community together for “Unity on the Trail,” a FREE event filled with movement, mindfulness, and meaningful connections!

🌟 Enjoy exciting activities from incredible organizations, including:
🥊 Mayweather Boxing Gym – Get moving with a dynamic cardio and strength session!
🏃🏾‍♀️ Black Girls Run Las Vegas – Join a guided run for all fitness levels!
🎭 Falcon Tours – Experience poetry in motion and nature’s inspiration!
🧘🏾‍♀️ Sound Bath & Wellness Circle – Breathe, relax, and restore.

🎶 Live music, workshops, food, and great vibes!
Bring your family, friends, and positive energy – we can’t wait to see you on the trail!

01/24/2025

✨ Join Us for the First Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Support Group of 2025! ✨

📅 Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM PST
💻 Location: Virtual (via Zoom)
🎤 Guest Presenter: Chanell Grismore | Sr. Manager, Patient Affairs Liaison – West Coast (Pfizer)

This support group is open to Nevada SCD patients, caregivers, and advocates. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and engage with our community and the incredible insights of Chanell Grismore from Pfizer!

Important Details:
• Sign up here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/DREAMSICKLEKIDSFOUNDATIONINC/SCDSupportGroupJanuary30th
• Registration Requirements: You must answer all questions on the registration form to receive the Zoom link.
• Participation Requirements:
• Check-in is required on Zoom and must be completed during the session.
• Gift cards will only be sent to the email address you registered with and will be issued within 5 business days.
• You must stay for the entire duration of the group to qualify for the incentive.

➡️ Looking Ahead: February’s support group will be held in person—space will be limited, so stay tuned for more info!

Let’s kick off the new year strong. We can’t wait to see you there! 💪

01/21/2025

📣✨If you’re in the Los Angeles area next month, checkout this event for Sickle Cell Disease Awareness.

Cayenne Wellness Center and My Footprints LA proudly announce the Sickle Cell Awareness Family Day and 5K Walk to raise awareness and support for individuals and families impacted by sickle cell disease (SCD). The event will take place February 22, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM PST at Pelona Vista Park, 37720 Tierra Subida Ave, Palmdale, CA 93551.

The event promises to be a vibrant and educational day for the whole family, featuring:

🩸 5K Walk to promote awareness and solidarity.
🩸 Blood Drive to support individuals living with SCD.
🩸 Face Painting, Bounce House, Vendors, Food Trucks, and a 🩸 DJ for entertainment and engagement.

Sign up here: https://charity.pledgeit.org/sicklecellawareness5k?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_zvtkonheri

01/20/2025

🕊️Today, as we celebrate the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., let us also take a moment to recognize and support the current organizations and individuals pushing for positive change in our communities. Whether in civil, social, economic, or health efforts, their work continues to advance the vision Dr. King dedicated his life to achieving.

🤍✨While Dr. King is remembered as a notable and influential figure of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, it’s important to acknowledge the immense challenges he faced. He navigated financial hardships in supporting the movement, endured shifting public support, and survived violent attacks on both himself and his property—all while tirelessly advocating for justice and equality.

🌎Let us honor Dr. King’s memory not only by celebrating his achievements but also by standing with today’s leaders and organizations working for equity and progress. Together, we can carry his dream forward.

12/28/2024

🎉✨Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us at the 3rd Annual Healthy Holiday Celebration, a W***y Wonka themed event, hosted by BCHWA & Dreamsickle Kids Foundation!

🍭🍫🍬🎲 This year’s event was nothing short of spectacular, featuring delicious meals, fun-filled games, raffle prizes, and an array of community resources that brought us all closer together.

🏆One of our grand prize raffle brought immense joy, awarding one fortunate attendee $500 to support her living expenses!

🎥Make sure to check out the event highlights in our full video recap (click on the video to watch it in higher resolution). You won’t want to miss the joy and community spirit captured at this incredible event!

🍬

12/26/2024

🎁✨Warmest holiday wishes from your extended family at BCHWA! This past year has brought us moments of joy and challenges alike, and we know that unexpected hurdles may lie ahead. Rest assured, we are here with you every step of the journey. Let us welcome this season with hope and togetherness. We anticipate reconnecting with all of you in the coming year! #2025