The federally-recognized Syracuse Community Health “Jazz in the City” public health concert series moves to the Near West Side this Thursday, with a free concert by New York City’s acclaimed pop salsa phenomenon “3D Rhythm of Life” in the street at Skiddy Park and Blodgett school.
Caribbean cuisine will be available, urban arts and craft vendors will show their wares, and a “healthcare village” of family service providers including a mobile unit from Syracuse Community Health will be present to give screenings and consultations to all, with NYS Lottery scratch-off prizes as incentives.
Syracuse Community Health is focusing its energies in the areas of health that suffered the most during the pandemic in the communities that they serve across the city. According to Keith Cuttler, the center’s chief operating officer, “People having these preventative measures fell off during the worst of the pandemic, and we see many patients coming back to us with uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure.”
At all events, they will have staff on hand to take blood pressures, discuss the importance of prevention, perform risk assessments, and make appointments on the spot for much overlooked preventive screenings including colorectal, breast, and cervical cancers, which are all at abnormally high levels in the urban community. They will also impart information about how to become a new patient at the center or at their school-based clinics, a new partnership with the Syracuse City School District.
“100 Black Men of Syracuse will be giving out fistfuls of New York State Lottery tickets as incentives for anyone choosing to be screened or interviewed by the health center’s staff. It’s easy to just not get tested, screened or boosted, and these prizes will play a part in getting some folks to be proactive about their health. We ask everyone to bring a loved one who they feel may be neglecting their health to talk to the friendly experts on hand at all these events,” said Larry Luttinger, organizer of the series,
The Prevention Network will also have personnel there to give out free NARCAN kits and the short training course needed to administer them correctly. New sponsor Hope Connections Recovery, a program of Catholic Charities, comes on board along with others to be present at all the concerts for consultation, including Molina Healthcare, ACR Health, Excellus, the New York State Department of Mental Health, Fidelis Care, YMCA, and Humana.
“It’s easy to take that first step and just have a chat with a health and wellness expert at these concerts,” said Luttinger. “Come for the music and fun and do yourself and your loved ones what could be a life-extending favor. It’s the right thing to do.”
All Jazz in the City concerts are free and open to the public.
IF You Go
What: Syracuse Community Health Jazz in the City public health concert
When: Thursday June 23, 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: 300 Oswego St., Syracuse N.Y. 13204
Who: 3D Rhythm of Life Orchestra
Cost: free