More than 1,500 residents and over 40 partner organizations came together in Sunset Park on Sept. 20 for the 10th Annual Health Empowerment Celebration, a four-hour festival filled with health resources, cultural performances and family activities.
Organized by RaisingHealth Partners, the event also marked the organization’s 15th anniversary and celebrated the resilience of immigrant communities navigating extraordinary challenges in 2025.
The festival featured pavilions dedicated to health screenings, cancer services, mental health care, food and nutrition, plus family programming, reflecting RaisingHealth’s whole-person care model.
“This year’s theme is about showing what Brooklyn Strong really means,” said Hewett Chiu, RaisingHealth’s president and chief executive officer. "By celebrating our many cultures and bringing together world-class health resources in one place, we’re uplifting the strength and unity of our community.”
Residents received flu shots, vascular and blood pressure checks alongside other preventive services, while children explored an NYU Langone ambulance to learn about emergency response. More than 450 families also received bags of culturally tailored groceries.
A major highlight of the celebration was a united effort around cancer prevention.
For the first time in New York City, all major cancer providers, NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine joined forces in Sunset Park.
The partnership introduced NYC’s first low-dose CT Radiology Mobile Unit, expanding early detection of lung and thoracic cancers for underserved residents.
Mental health took center stage as well, with RaisingHealth’s flagship program offering on-site education and stress-relief activities. The nationally recognized program has been honored by the American Psychiatric Association Foundation for its success in reducing barriers to care through culturally and linguistically tailored counseling.
Cultural expression was woven throughout the day. Traditional Mexican, Chinese and American performances included lion dances, Mexican folkloric dance, Chinese classical dance, guzheng music and contemporary ballet.
Families joined in arts and science activities, postcard painting and admired a large community mural by local artist Yukiko Izumi, underscoring the connection between creativity, culture plus public health.
Key partners included NYU Langone, Coalition of Chinese-American IPA, Chinese American Medical Society, Anthem, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, RTW Foundation, Brooklyn Org, and NYC Health+Hospitals’ NYC Care Program. The organization also received recognition from elected officials, with congressional, state, and city proclamations highlighting its impact locally and nationally.
