HOUSTON, Texas – The City of Houston issued a Proclamation stating that April 15th will hereby be known as Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) Wellness in Houston Day! PVAMU’s Wellness in Houston is having a positive impact within communities and will continue to provide first-rate resources and support to the Greater Houston area as we tackle health disparities through an accessible, holistic approach. Last Saturday at the Acres Homes Spring Fling Health & Wellness Fair hosted by PVAMU Wellness in Houston, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner gracefully shared a few words on the importance of maintaining your health.

“Acres Farm happens to be home,” Mayor Turner said. “This is the neighborhood where I was born and where I reside to this day. So, I am very proud of the fact that Prairie View, MD Anderson, Harris Health, and all the partners are collaborating to provide the needed information and services to this community.”

Several members of the CAHS leadership team were present, including Gerard D’Souza, Ph.D. Dean and Director of Land Grant Programs, Carolyn Williams, Ph.D., Executive Associate Director of Cooperative Extension Programs, and TeKedra Pierre, Director of the Information, Impact, and Sustainability Center. “It is amazing to see so many community partners come together in one place with a common goal of providing direct access to resources related to health and wellness,” Dr. Williams said.

Launching amid a global pandemic, PVAMU’s Wellness in Houston project (formerly Healthy Houston Initiative) has built a foundation in Harris County, delivering educational workshops, programs, and other events that focus on health, wellness, finance, nutrition, and agriculture. All of which promote long-term healthy lifestyle changes and behaviors among individuals in limited-resource communities.

After relaunching the program in 2022, the WIH project has continued to bring forth services that reflect the project’s goal of expanding awareness of nutritional and health services available to families. These efforts include but are not limited to improving healthy self-care practices through screenings, assessments, and referrals, providing workshops and educational opportunities focused on parenting and family support, and improving access to healthy foods.

This project is made successful through the intercollegiate efforts brought forth by the College of Juvenile Justice, College of Business, College of Nursing, and the College of Agriculture & Human Sciences.

Nkem Anyasinti
Project Manager II, Wellness in Houston
ncanyasinti@pvamu.edu