By Cecil Egbele | Contributing Writer | California Local News Fellow

Free health screenings and vendor exhibits draw a broad cross-section of residents; Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, Rep. 35th District, warns Kern County has been a designated health care shortage area “for decades” with no remedy in sight.

The Bakersfield Chapter of Links Incorporated hosted its fourth annual Black Family Wellness Expo on the third Saturday in March, attracting a large and engaged crowd. Coinciding with the organization’s National Impact Day of Service, this year’s event emphasized community solidarity and proactive wellness. Attendees included health practitioners, nonprofit vendors, elected officials, and residents, all coming together for a day of free health screenings, educational resources, and dynamic discussions focused on the health challenges disproportionately affecting Black families in Kern County.

Bakersfield’s mayor, Karen Goh, also addressed attendees at the start of the day, lending the city’s official voice to the cause, while the Links’ leadership expressed delight at the active participation of the community.

“The event was wonderful,” said Christi Dugas-Cramer, president of the Bakersfield  Links chapter. “So many people came out to get their blood pressure checked, to check on their health, to dance with us, to walk with us, just to work on their health and be in person with us.”

On the grounds of Lowell Park, the venue of the expo, residents lined up for blood pressure checks, diabetes screenings, and consultations with vendors representing a wide range of health and wellness services. A donation station from the blood bank was also on hand.

Moving with Purpose: Tai Chi and Participatory Wellness

Among the day’s participatory highlights was a Tai Chi demonstration by Debra Dunn-Yonke, a senior trainer at the Tai Chi for Health Institute. Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese practice that combines slow, flowing movements with deep breathing to promote balance and relaxation, drew enthusiastic and curious attendees to the floor. The session served as a live embodiment of one of the event’s core messages, that accessible, low-impact movement is possible for everyone, regardless of age or fitness level.

Vendors and a Cross-Section of Community Care

A wide array of vendors occupied the expo floor, each representing a distinct aspect of community health. Vendor booths covered everything from home health and hospice services to fentanyl prevention, doula services, pregnancy support, and alternative wellness options.

“All of our  services are free. We offer free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, parenting classes, baby showers. Parents earn points through classes to get items like car seats,” said a representative from The Bakersfield Pregnancy Center.

The Angel Family Crisis Prevention Network, an NGO that centers on fighting abuses and fostering self-sufficiency, was on the ground to highlight its six-week seminar on the dangers of fentanyl overdose and navigating “peer pressure in school regarding drugs.

At Michele Spenser’s booth, the mood was different, as this mind and sound therapist approaches wellness through a noninvasive, non-pharmaceutical method using nature and sound. “Sound is medicine,” she said. “It gets to the energy and vibration of a person.”

Education, Equity, and Year-Round Commitment

The wellness expo is an annual signature program of the Bakersfield Links chapter, but the organization’s health-focused work extends well beyond a single annual event. Co-Chair Rhonda Williams, a pharmacist, hopes that this offers an honest reflection on prevention culture. “I think it’s really hard to get people to steer away from the idea that we’ll fix it when it happens,” she said. “We have to take an active role in health care.”

The organizers say this expo also aims to bring access, empowerment, and information closer to the people, making sure the Black community and other communities of color have the tools to live long, healthy lives. “Our focus is making sure that everybody within our community gets health care and  remains healthy,” Dugas-Cramer said. “We’re mainly focusing on health right now because  there is such a disparity between other races and our race when it comes to accessing  care.”

A County in Crisis

Assemblymember Bains, a family medicine physician who continues to practice on weekends even while serving in the legislature, pointed out to the Bakersfield News Observer the urgency of the healthcare landscape in Kern County. Bains, who is also running for Congress, attributed much of the crisis to a persistent shortage of physicians willing to serve in the area, worsened by high patient-to-doctor ratios. “Physicians are seeing close to 60, maybe even 100  patients a day,” she noted. “This area has been designated as a health care shortage  area for decades, and nothing’s been done.”

Legislatively, Dr. Bains highlighted her success in passing a bill establishing a medical school in Kern County. Called the “Grow Our Own” bill, it’s a strategy to build a physician pipeline rooted in the community.

Looking Ahead

For Dugas-Cramer and Williams, the real measure of success will be seen not just in the foot traffic on a single Saturday, but in whether Bakersfield families walk away with the information, the motivation, and the community ties to take ownership of their health. “I want them to take away information, as to where they can seek help, as well as preventive measures,” said Williams. “Prevention is really key.”