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Health Foundation of South Florida Introduces the 2025 Black Health Summit In Action

As National Minority Health Month reaches its conclusion, the Health Foundation of South Florida is making a significant announcement: the kickoff of the 2025 Black Health Summit In Action. This event emphasizes community-driven strategies and aims to mobilize grassroots leadership to address healthcare disparities faced by Black communities.

The 2025 Summit marks a pivotal moment in the initiative's journey, taking its mission from mere discussions to impactful actions within the communities grappling with challenging health disparities. The focus is on empowering local leaders and co-creating solutions that address real-world issues affecting health equity.

Addressing Community Priorities

The 2025 initiatives are a direct response to the needs identified by community members, particularly concerning access to quality healthcare, affordable housing, community safety, and culturally informed outreach. Participants of previous summits underscored the reality that healthcare cannot be effectively enhanced without addressing the socioeconomic factors influencing health.

The Health Foundation is committed to actions that have been designed with community input, showcasing their dedication to the needs of those who are most affected. This year's summit features various pivotal initiatives including:

1. Allapattah Collaborative Affordable Housing Ownership Initiative

Stable, affordable housing is crucial for health, and yet, gentrification threatens many historical Black neighborhoods in Florida. The Health Foundation has taken a proactive role by supporting the Allapattah Collaborative’s plans for a mixed-use development in Little Santo Domingo. This project promises to deliver 32 affordable housing units alongside eight storefronts, enabling residents to remain in their neighborhoods while fostering paths to small business ownership and economic stability.

2. Expanding Access to Care in Underserved Communities

Health care access remains a pressing issue in Black communities, with many residents uninsured or underinsured. The Health Foundation is exploring avenues for investments to bolster free or low-cost health services in areas such as Miami Gardens and Opa-Locka. Their goal is to improve access to preventive care, chronic disease management, and comprehensive wraparound services that collectively enhance health outcomes over time.

3. Dade County Street Response (DCSR)

Aiming to bridge significant health access divides, DCSR is addressing the needs of Liberty City—a neighborhood in Miami marked by extreme under-resourcing. Under the leadership of Dr. Armen Henderson, DCSR offers free medical care, case management, legal advocacy, and health education to low-income residents often overlooked by traditional healthcare structures. The Health Foundation applauds DCSR’s efforts and considers future collaborations to create similar models for community care.

4. Take Your Loved One to the Doctor Campaign (Lauderhill-Overtown)

To promote health awareness among Black men, the Health Foundation is backing a local initiative stemming from a national campaign by radio personality Tom Joyner. This campaign encourages men to prioritize their health and family well-being. With support from Melissa P. Dunn of MD Marketing, the initiative leverages community leaders to dismantle barriers to healthcare access while reframing health as a shared community value.

5. Circle of Brotherhood Peacemakers Program

Building sustainable health solutions requires trust and community leadership. The Health Foundation continues to support the Circle of Brotherhood's Peacemakers Program, a violence intervention initiative funded by Everytown for Gun Safety. This program employs trained violence interrupters to mediate conflicts and connect residents with essential services, indirectly promoting better community health outcomes.

Commitment to Health Equity

Loreen Chant, President and CEO of the Health Foundation of South Florida, emphasizes that raising awareness is merely a starting point. The Black Health Summit In Action is designed to support practical, community-informed strategies aimed at identifying and dismantling health disparities faced by Black residents.

The Health Foundation looks forward to bringing the Black Health Summit back in June 2026, when partners and community members will gather again to exchange ideas, celebrate achievements, and continue the journey toward health equity.

Learn more about the Health Foundation's efforts at www.hfsf.org and access the 2024 Black Health Summit report here.

About the Health Foundation of South Florida

For over three decades, the Health Foundation of South Florida has invested more than $148 million in nonprofit endeavors that enhance health across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties. Their mission encompasses initiating collaborations, advocating for policy changes, and transforming systems to bolster community health, with a focus on vulnerable and low-to-moderate-income populations. For detailed insights, visit www.hfsf.org and follow them on social media.