South Bronx community celebrates health center with fall festival
New York Amsterdam News
by: Jiana Smith
South Bronx residents gathered near the future site of the HEArts community center to celebrate community and learn more about holistic health on Saturday.
The Fall Health Festival, an event organized by nonprofit organizations South Bronx Unite, the Mott Haven Port Morris Community Land Stewards, and Qi Zone Wellness, featured a variety of alternative health showcases, from tai chi and acupuncture sessions to Indigenous spiritual wellness services.
Mychal Johnson, co-founder of South Bronx Unite and the Community Land Stewards, said the fall festival served as a microcosm of what the HEArts Center will stand for. “Things we envisioned in terms of bringing these elements together…it just brought on this real feeling of community,” said Johnson.
The event also featured art sessions and live music by the community student band Upbeat NYC. Barry Kostrinsky, a longtime South Bronx community member, said he came to the Fall Festival to connect with longtime friends and see the work that has been done. “It’s nice to see a community grow and change, see the people evolve,” he said. “Everybody tries to do good here.”
