The Atlanta Hawks and Kaiser Permanente recently hosted “Real Talk, Real Strength: Men of Color Health Summit,” a transformative wellness event designed to provide men of color with a supportive space to connect, recharge, and engage in honest conversations about their mental and physical health.
The summit took place at State Farm Arena and welcomed nearly 100 attendees for a day focused on reflection, empowerment and education around men’s health. Designed to address mental, physical, and overall well-being in men, the event brought together expert voices to engage participants in meaningful conversations and offer practical solutions for living healthier, more balanced lives.
“In order to really make a difference in the health, particularly of African American men, we have to go to places where they are in the community,” said Dr. Marcus C. Griffith of Kaiser Permanente Medical Group. “Whether it’s sporting events, our churches, barber shops, are places we can connect. One of the best ways to connect with men of color is also to have brothers who are physicians and specialists to talk to about the common health problems that we experience.”
“Real Talk, Real Strength: Men of Color Health Summit,” kicked off with an inspiring keynote from Ryan Wilson, co-founder/CEO of The Gathering Spot, setting the tone for a day centered on empowerment and wellness. Throughout the event, participants heard from a diverse group of speakers including former Atlanta Hawks center Kevin Willis, Dr. Marcus Griffith and Dr. Aaron Cooper of Kaiser Permanente, Kyle Walcott, Director of Advancement at Coca Cola Scholars Foundation, Alvin A.B. Bailey, Founder of Hills 4 ATL, Phillip J. Koo, Chief Medical Officer of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Chef and Restauranteur of Atlanta and Continent Brooklyn, Scotley Innis and Official DJ of Atlanta United, DJ EU.
The event also included small group breakout sessions where attendees were encouraged to share personal experiences and discuss strategies for prioritizing health and well-being in their everyday lives.
Alexis Roe, VP of DEI impact and strategic initiatives of Atlanta Hawks, discussed the importance of the event. “The Atlanta Hawks and Kaiser Permanente believe in strengthening the community, and a part of strengthening the community is understanding our health, how we show up for our families and our friends also is dictated by our health,” Roe said. “How we show up at work is dictated by our health. But it is so uncommon with men of color to have these conversations, so it’s critically important that we’re planting a seed. This conversation is not going to change the trajectory of the city of Atlanta and men of color, but we wanted to plant a seed on the importance of checking in with your health. We noticed over 63% of men of color do not go to the doctor. We don’t get checked from a mental health standpoint or do our routine checkups. The checkups matter because they can have early detection for things. So we’re just trying to plant a seed.”
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