Inglenook Library Hosting Free Women's Health Issues Program on Friday, April 22

Birmingham, Ala. - Join Inglenook Branch Library, 4100 40th Terrace North, for a discussion on heart disease and stroke prevention from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. this Friday, April 22, the latest in a series of free women's health workshops the Birmingham Public Library is hosting through June 2022.

This Friday's event at Inglenook Branch Library will feature Dr. Celeste Willis,  a board-certified family medicine physician specializing in urgent care. In addition to gaining valuable health care information from Dr. Willis, attendees will receive dinner, door prizes including gas cards, and take-home literature about health issues. There will also be free child care provided, fun family games, and more. 

Registration in advance is required. Call (205) 226-4025 for more information. Upcoming programs include a women's health workshop from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, May 13 at North Birmingham Library, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, May 27, at Inglenook Library and a finale food and fun family event on Friday, June 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at North Birmingham Library.

BPL began hosting these events at Inglenook and North Birmingham Libraries in March to help provide healing and promote hope for women as part of our celebration of Women's History Month. The speakers were  Bridget Rene, who was featured in this BhamNow spotlight on 7 Black women yoga instructors in Birmingham  and Dr. Nadia Richardson, founder and executive director of No More Martyrs, an organization dedicated to addressing mental health issues. 

The workshops are funded by a $20,000 grant The Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library received from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham (CFGB).  

The grant was received from the CFGB’s Jefferson County Department of Health Public Health Advised Fund. It aims to address the physical and mental effects of environmental racism on generations of women and children in Birmingham’s North Birmingham and Inglenook neighborhoods.

Over a three-month period, BPL will host health events at its North Birmingham and Inglenook library branches, targeting communities who live near the ABC Coke plant, especially Black women and children. The programs will include health-focused learning sessions, on-site interviews and screenings, talks by medical and health experts, and take-home materials to extend these benefits into daily living.

After the Jefferson County Board of Health received a settlement from Drummond Co. (owner of the ABC Coke plant) for $387,500 for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson told CBS 42 they wanted to give back to the communities impacted by the environmental health violations.

“I am glad to see these settlement funds being used for the health benefit of the community,” said Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson in a statement to BPL. “On behalf of the Jefferson County Department of Health and the Board of Health, I wish to thank the Birmingham Public Library for their work to empower people with knowledge and tools that can lead to healthier lives.” 

At the Inglenook and North Birmingham Branch Library programs, speakers from the health care industry and specialized services will share informational materials on health and wellness available to help them. 

In addition to the series of programs, BPL has identified library books and pamphlets that address the prevention and care specific diseases, mental wellness, personal growth, and enjoyment. Many of the materials and books are written by Black women for Black women.

“As members of the community and based on BPL’s historically successful outreach efforts into these neighborhoods, we understand that programs offered after work—and with a meal—have much greater chance of success than those that require attendees to find and pay for childcare and dinner,” BPL said in its grant application.