On 15 Feb 2025, the Heart of Northside started a conversation with the community about health at the Heart of Northside Health Fair. Our hope and plan is for this to be the first of many such events. Vendors from all over the city attended, and their enthusiasm and support of the neighborhood was quite moving, to be honest.
This is who was here:
- The Northside Health Center was there with staff to check blood pressures, connect people with care, answer every kind of health-related question, and even dispense condoms;
- University of Cincinnati Medicine Residents were checking glucose, HgA1c, and even doing oral cancer screenings;
- Dr. Matthew Dailey, a University of Cincinnati Neurologist and Northsider, came to explain stroke signs and symptoms, and provide information on how to prevent stroke;
- The University of Cincinnati Health Sciences Library was on hand to provide information about how to find reliable health information;
- The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center was on hand to answer questions about cancer and cancer prevention;
- NeighborHub Health was present to help our homeless neighbors connect with health care;
- The Cincinnati Birth Center was present to support our neighbors with their pregnancies;
- Freestore Foodbank was on hand to help neighbors connect with services to improve food security and to connect to benefits;
- The Cancer Justice Network was on hand to help you find services to address a cancer diagnosis;
- Dr. Ritch Hall from PsychWorks LLC was present to help connect with mental health services;
- Madelyn Morris from the Counseling Source was here to connect with mental health services;
Additionally, representatives from Devoted Health, CareSource, and Dedicated Senior Medical Center were present to answer questions about Medicare, Medicaid, and other health insurance questions.
I am incredibly grateful to the people who volunteered at the Fair: Richard Tarantino, Violet Oudomsouk, Shruti Mishra, and Adda Ridder. They helped set up, tear down, advertise, give surveys, and helped neighbors navigate the fair.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval popped in to chat with neighbors and to check in on the Heart of Northside’s progress since his last visit!
We gave out free blood pressure cuffs to people who had elevated blood pressure, did six screens for oral cancer, checked our neighbors for diabetes, answered tons of questions, and provided even more information. Most importantly, we built a stronger, more resilient community.
So much is unclear about what our healthcare system will look like in the coming weeks and months. It is my hope that the Health Fairs will be part of an ongoing conversation with you, Northside and Cincinnati neighbors, about what you need and how you want your healthcare system to look in the future. This is an opportunity to not just get important information about your health now, but to shape a new system for tomorrow.
We continue to want to hear about obstacles you have to eating healthfully. If you have about 7 minutes, please fill out this survey to let us know about barriers you face in your life to more healthful eating.
The recipe book we are creating (and hope to have available online for free soon), Cooking from the Heart of Northside, is one response to your feedback. We have created recipes you can make from ingredients that are available right here in your neighborhood, and that require a knife, a burner, or an air fryer to prepare. No fancy kitchens are necessary to make a great tasting and healthy meal from ingredients you can get here in Northside.
We are currently looking for two health care professionals for a longterm volunteer opportunity at area recreation centers. Please click here to find out more!
Your feedback to our survey, as well as at our Health Fairs, will help us shape a healthier and more cohesive Northside. Please come and get healthy in community!
