08/04/2026
Greetings, Nobles and Daughters throughout the Domain,
We hope and pray that you have been well during July. We have finally arrived at August, Imperial Session month. We look forward to meeting and greeting all the Nobles and Daughters at the National Community Health Initiative Oliver and Martha Washington Diabetes Walk and Health Fair on Saturday, August 15th from 8:30am until 11:30am at WaterWorks Park. We have also added a Life South Mobile Blood Donation Bus to the health fair and we encourage all that can give blood, after or before you walk. The blood drive will start at 8am and end at 4pm. This blood drive will also continue during Project Care, which will be in the same location at WaterWorks Park. We included the NCHI Walk flyer and NCHI Blood Drive flyer to this communication. This annual walk not only benefits our member’s physical and mental well-being, but it also serves as a powerful tool for fellowship at Imperial Session.
The Imperial Session NCHI Workshop will be on Tuesday, August 18th from 2pm-5pm in the Marriott Water Street, 2nd Floor, Salon 5. All Temple and Court NCHI Representatives and Desert NCHI Coordinators are requested to attend.
August is National Wellness Month. During this month we Encourage hydration, better sleep, and the consumption of more fruits/vegetables. We also continue to request that all temples and courts discuss mental health and the presence of mental illness during your meetings and during your social gatherings. Please find attached the proposed Health Awareness Topics for August 2026. These topics aim to enhance our community's understanding of various health issues that impact us all. Continue to also focus on the following:
Mental Health Awareness: Focusing on the importance of mental wellness and available resources for support.
Nutrition and Wellness: Discussing the role of balanced nutrition in preventing disease and promoting overall health.
Preventative Care: Emphasizing the significance of regular check-ups, screenings, and vaccinations.
Substance Abuse Prevention: Raising awareness about the dangers of substance abuse and how to seek help.
Elderly Health: Tactics for improving health outcomes in older adults through practical lifestyle changes and community support.
By sharing these topics, we hope to spark conversations that lead to greater awareness and proactive health measures in our communities.
Please be reminded that our Temples and Courts are encouraged to be proactive and proceed with the following options and disseminate the mental health resources below:
Find their local (state or county) mental health resources and providers.
Have a mental health professional speak during a temple or court meeting to discuss depression.
Display and distribute print materials at key locations (e.g., barbershops, churches).
Participate in a health fair and distribute materials.
Work with congregations and health ministries to focus on mental health.
Develop local partnerships that make larger workshops a wider impact possible.
Encourage local mayors and city officials to establish proclamations on men’s mental health.
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
National Institute of Mental Health
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Capstone Institute/Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed at Risk, Howard University
Lee Thompson Young Foundation
Mental Health America
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Black Nurses Association
National Medical Association
All Illustrious Potentates and Commandresses are requested to allow your NCHI representatives time during your meeting to present health topics and highlight health related activities that will be beneficial to the membership.
Please be reminded that Black Health Matters is one of our sponsors and our organization is one of their community sponsors. In addition, Black Health Matters has created a monthly newsletter that will be tailored directly to the needs of our membership. We are asking all nobles and daughters to support this endeavor in efforts to spread timely and relevant health and wellness information to our membership. Feel free to forward this email to the nobles and daughters that are not on the NCHI Email list. All NCHI Representatives, Coordinators, Illustrious Potentates, Illustrious Commandresses and all members are requested to please register at the link below to directly receive this newsletter and to support our partnership with this influential organization.
Here is the link: https://bit.ly/imperialupdates
Thank you for your continuous support of the National Community Health Initiative and all the Imperial Council Initiatives.
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