Black Health Matters 2026 Summit & Expo Drives Prevention, Access, and Health Equity for New Yorkers During Harlem Week

Black Health Matters

Grammy Award Winner Roxanne Shanté, Dr. Alister Martin, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Roslyn Y. Daniels, CEO and Founder of Black Health Matters

Dr. Margaret B. Collins presented "Turning Points in the World of Kidney Disease: What the Black Community Must Know" at the Black Health Matters 2026 Summit & Expo during Harlem Week

Over 1,600 New Yorkers attended free health screenings amid the loss of Essential Plan coverage for 45,000

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, August 19, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Black Health Matters (BHM) delivered on its promise of systemic community health support, by hosting their Health Summit & Expo at Riverside Church in Upper Manhattan during the Harlem Week 2026 Health Summit & Expo for its 8th year. The event brings free, day-long health services to the community and has become a staple event in Harlem. The event brought over 1600 in-person and 350 virtual attendees, offering approximately $2,500.00 in free clinical health screenings per attendee, at a time when an estimated 45,000 New Yorkers lost Essential Plan coverage when the state's Section 1332 waiver expansion ended on July 1, 2026.

“When 45,000 New Yorkers lost Essential Plan coverage in July, we knew our community would be left without access to the preventative care that keeps people healthy,” said Roslyn Y. Daniels, CEO and Founder of Black Health Matters. “What we saw last week – nearly 1,600 people walking through Riverside Church in a single day for free screenings and education – tells us the need is urgent and real. Black Health Matters exists to fill this gap.”

Black Health Matters responded directly to that coverage gap, providing 13 free preventive screenings on-site, including A1C, 3D mammograms, PSA, FIT tests for colorectal cancer, blood pressure, blood glucose, kidney and liver function, lipid panel, cholesterol, brain health, HIV, and digital hand strength testing, along with appointments for breast, cervical, and lung cancer screenings.

New this year, BHM created a dedicated Promotores de Salud (Health Promoters) section connected to address the specific healthcare barriers faced by Spanish-speaking New Yorkers. Over 300 attendees accessed bilingual healthcare professionals, community resource navigation, and enrollment assistance from partner organizations serving Latino communities.

“As COO, I see the months of planning, partnership-building and coordination that go into making the Summit possible – but the most meaningful moment is watching that work translate into real access for families, caregivers and community members who need it most,” stated Black Health Matters Chief Operation Officer Dr. Patricia Saint Cyr-Hager, DrPH. The Summit’s response directly addressed a healthcare access crisis disproportionately affecting low-income New Yorkers and communities of color across Manhattan.

SUCCESS BY THE NUMBERS

o 2000 total attendees - in-person and virtual - expanding access beyond Harlem to communities across the country.
o 13 free clinical screenings performed on-site
o $2500.00 in estimated total value of free screenings and services delivered
o 68 community and hospital partner organizations represented on-site
o 300 attendees served through the new bilingual Promotores de Salud (Health Promoters) section

The Black Health Matters Health Summit & Expo was co-hosted by a roster of notable partners, speakers, and voices from entertainment, media, and public health, including:
o Roxanne Shanté, Lifetime Grammy Award Winner and two-time breast cancer survivor
o Colby Natasha Nixon, Beyond the Gates Actress & Lupus Advocate
o Lamman Rucker, Actor, Speaker & Health Advocate
o Sandra Bookman, ABC7 Eyewitness News Anchor
o Elijah Westbrook, Emmy Award-Winning Journalist, CBS2 News New York
o Dr. Michael H. Forde, DrPH, MSPH, Doctor of Public Health, Educator & Content Creator
o DaShaun Johnson, “The Guru of Abs” Fitness Expert, who led live wellness activities

In a pre-recorded official greeting, Governor Hochul commended the gathering's mission and emphasized the state's ongoing dedication to dismantling systemic healthcare barriers.

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin addressed attendees in person, delivering a compelling welcome address focused on local solutions to healthcare disparities.

Expert-led sessions addressed chronic disease management and health equity disparities, covering autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis, hATTR amyloidosis, multiple myeloma, kidney disease, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer prevention, alongside mental health, dermatology, clinical trial education, nutrition and fitness.

Black Health Matters is the nation's leading health and wellness platform for Black and Brown communities. Founded in 2012, BHM's mission is to inspire meaningful change through purpose-driven health initiatives by bridging the health equity gap with evidence-based resources for disease management and wellness. For more information visit www.blackhealthmatters.com.

Stephanie Scott-Bradshaw
First and Last PR
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