Dear Closing the Health Gap Community:

I invite you to join us for "The State of Black Health: History, Politics & the Future" on Monday, April 28 at the Holloman Social Justice Center. This important event will explore the historical and political forces that continue to shape Black health outcomes today. We’ll begin with a screening of The Color of Medicine, a powerful documentary on the legacy of Homer G. Phillips Hospital, followed by a thought-provoking fireside conversation on prevention, early detection, and the health challenges our community faces.

Presented in partnership with Community Action Agency Cincinnati-Hamilton County, The Village of Healing, and the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, this event will educate, inspire, and empower. Let’s come together to better understand the past—and shape a healthier future. Click here to register!

Blessings for a safe and healthy week ahead!

Renee Mahaffey Harris

President & CEO

Trump’s gutting of public health institutions is setting the stage for our next crisis

The Trump administration is gutting our national public health infrastructure in real time, setting the stage for the next public health crisis. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), tasked with “protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to protect themselves,” is set to see a reduction in staff from 82,000 to 62,000 (a decrease of almost 25%) alongside major cuts to spending on contracts.

Staff reductions come as the result of induced resignation and early retirement from the “Fork in the Road” initiative set forth by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), as well as proposed layoffs across several divisions, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2,400 layoffs), Federal Drug Administration (FDA, 3,500), National Institutes of Health (NIH, 1,200), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS, 300), and many others.

Chiropractic Care for All Ages

At Cincinnati Healing Arts, their team believes that spinal health is essential at every stage of life. Their gentle, effective care can be adapted to meet the unique needs of family members of all ages. Check out this article to see how chiropractic care benefits different generations and why a family approach to spinal health makes sense.

LOCAL 12: Local health organization shifts focus to smaller programs for community wellness

The Center for Closing the Health Gap is changing its approach to community health initiatives, moving away from its traditional large health expo in Washington Park. Instead, the organization will host a series of smaller programs aimed at addressing specific health needs.

Renee Mahaffey Harris, President and CEO of the Center for Closing the Health Gap, explained the shift in strategy. "So we're moving in a new direction because of our mission. We are here to close the health gap and while the expo has been a wonderful environment to bring us all together, we couldn't follow people because we weren't registering people," she said. "So being able to do things in a smaller setting so that we can actually register people, that we can bring in the right expertise, and then we can build a conversation that enables people to get the resources and thought processes to really begin to activate their own agency and advocacy in their health."