While traveling the country to communities where health and wellness are significant concerns Debra Peek-Haynes was inspired by a story from Flint.
Like many households impacted by the local water crisis, a woman Peek-Haynes met was beyond concerned. Her son was suffering in school, displaying symptoms of lead exposure. Despite Flint’s many support initiatives, including educational programs, increased medical efforts, and public awareness campaigns, the woman took matters into her own hands.
“She changed her family’s diet and her son is doing better,” says Peek-Haynes, speaker and nutrition consultant.
Inspiring stories like the determined mom’s are at the heart of Savor the Flavor of Flint, a celebration of community health Peek-Haynes will help facilitate at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27.
Presented by TheHUB Flint and sponsored by the Michigan Fitness Foundation, the free event will feature live music, including a performance by gospel star Kierra Sheard, family and children’s activities, free food sampling and recipe demonstrations by local cooks and neighborhood leaders.
Peek-Haynes, author of Healing Kitchen: The Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Living, will speak at Savor the Flavor of Flint’s main stage.
“First of all, I think it’s significant to have this event because people need information that can encourage them to either improve their current dietary habits or change their dietary habits,” Peek-Haynes says.
A Michigan native, Peek-Haynes began her mission to promote wellness through nutrition after overcoming a fertility issue by changing what she ate. Her next book, The Simplified Guide to Healthy Living, will be published this spring.
“It’s important that we bring back some good things to Flint, and not just on the health side, but to encourage people to stay the course.” -April Cook-Hawkins, First Lady, Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church
Peek-Haynes says “no matter what your health condition, your diet can make a huge impact, positively or negatively.”
Based in Texas, the wife of an influential pastor sees an opportunity for the religious community, especially churches in Flint, to use their key role in the lives of parishioners to encourage better nutrition.
April Cook-Hawkins, wife of Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church’s pastor, Jeffery Hawkins Sr., agrees.
Prince of Peace hosted the Genesee Health System in a presentation to its worshippers. One of several church leaders participating in Savor the Flavor of Flint, Cook-Hawkins says she and her husband practice what they preach by regularly visiting the gym together and enjoying snacks like nutritious fruit smoothies.
“This particular smoothie I’m making is a strawberry-peanut butter-banana smoothie,” she says of her scheduled demonstration at Savor the Flavor. “It’s one of my favorites and it’s packed with protein, so if you had that hard work out it will help your muscles recover.”
Flint’s churches have played an increasingly visible role in advocating for the health of worshipers and residents, with some congregations participating in research and others launching fresh produce and market initiatives. Savor the Flavor will showcase some of the religious community’s efforts to impact positive change.
It’s not only the church community planning to share the spirit of fun and fellowship at Saturday’s event. Sureena Gurrola, a staff translator at Hispanic Technology and Community Center of Great Flint, will demonstrate how to prepare picadillo, a quick, traditional Latino dish designed to feed families.
Hispanic Technology Center serves the community by assisting clients with transportation to medical appointments and social service support. Gurrola also notes the need to promote better diets in Hispanic neighborhoods.
“I know health is an issue, especially in our culture,” Gurrola says.
“The hardest part is portioning, because we’re usually just put-everything-in-the-pot kind of people,” she says.
Local Hispanic residents are “coming around” to recognize the need for healthier choices, Gurrola adds. Similar to stew and traditionally made with beef, Gurrola’s picadillo recipe uses ground turkey, squash, zucchini and corn.
“For a little bit of money it feeds quite a few people,” she says.
Lela McGee Harvey, co-founder and director of Operation Unification, Inc., a non-profit that promotes quality, affordable housing, and co-founder of The Village, a for-profit supporting independent business ownership, will demonstrate how to make the “ethnic healthy taco.”
With Operation Unification’s Executive Director Charles Young Jr. she hosts the “Operation Unification Radio Show” Saturday mornings on WFLT 1420 AM, discussing local issues.
“I have personally been on a trajectory for wholesome living and nutritional living,” McGee Harvey says. “So I’ve adhered to that diet for about 28 years.”
McGee Harvey eats a lot of fresh, organic food and primarily consumes primarily fish and poultry instead of red meat. She was drawn to participate in Savor the Flavor of Flint in part by a desire to share her experience avoiding being underweight, as opposed to the more common challenge of obesity.
Balance is important in health, Peek-Haynes says, offering nutritional tips and information at her website. Her recipe demonstrations on the main stage will include stir fry and greens, which represent a popular dish among flavor-seekers who “want to know how they can create a southern cuisine, without making it unhealthy,” she says.
Among other scheduled Savor the Flavor of Flint activities are a performance by the Nightfire Drumline, Hasselbring Hustlers and other local entertainers, a prize drawing, and vending by local shops and businesses.
“It’s important that we bring back some good things to Flint, and not just on the health side,” Cook-Hawkins says, “but to encourage people to stay the course.”
For more information on Savor the Flavor of Flint please click here.
Culinary cultures will combine to celebrate at Savor the Flavor of Flint added by E.B. Allen on
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