MHI Health Pulse - August 2025
- MHI Gtkpr
- Aug 21
- 7 min read
On August 28, 2025, the Multicultural Health Institute (MHI) will be joining Give 8/28, a national day of giving focused specifically on supporting Black-led and Black-benefitting organizations. Give 8/28 isn't like other fundraising campaigns.
Give 8/28 takes place during Black Philanthropy Month and commemorates multiple critical historical landmarks in Black Americans’ march toward freedom. Here are just a few:
August 28, 1945: Major League Baseball President Branch Rickey met with Jackie Robinson to tell him he would be integrating the Majors. This reminds us of the importance of representation across all sectors of life. The MHI is committed to levelling the healthcare playing field by mentoring tomorrow’s doctors and ensuring doctors represent the communities they serve. We also train Community Health Workers (CHW) and aim to become a certifying agency for CHWs.
August 28, 2005: Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana. The storm, which devastated New Orleans, inordinately impacted many of the city's Black residents. And we know environmental disasters always disparately impact Black communities. That’s why the MHI remains committed to advocating for environmental health, resilience and preparation targeting the most vulnerable in our communities.
And... on August 28, 2025: YOU joined #Give828 in support of Black self-empowerment through philanthropy!
Learn about all of the historical August 28 moments here.
In 2025, we're at a critical juncture. The disproportionate impacts of complex chronic health challenges and environmental disaster on Black communities underscore the vital need for resources to support MHI operations today.
The MHI is on the ground every day, ensuring our communities are equipped with knowledge and resources to access the healthcare and educational opportunities needed to not just survive, but thrive. We center excellence as we carry out our time-proven strategy of PEARLS: prevention, education, advocacy, research, linkage to care, and sustainable solutions. We cultivate and support future pipelines of science, technology and health leadership.
This is why we need your support to continue the work.
Support the Multicultural Health Institute this #Give828, and help us provide essential health education, expand community outreach and wellness initiatives, and fund programs that promote wellness and access to care for families and students in our community. We continue to train Community Health Workers and aspire to become a certifying agency for culturally-representative and -sensitive community health workers.
Supporting our #Give828 campaign takes two steps:
1) Donate to us through the month of August or consider signing up for recurring donations.
2) Share your support on Facebook, Instagram, Linked In.
Tag us in your posts with @Multicultural.Health.Institute.MHI on Facebook and #Give828 to join the national Black giving community. Donate on the Give 8/28 website or double your donation with the Flanzer Trust.
Thank you for your generous support!
Upcoming Events
MHI Safekeepers Angie and Bonnie obtained additional specialized training in climate health and effects of extreme heat as part of ongoing collaboration with MHI and the local branch of the National Medical Association, the Gulf Coast Medical Society, facilitated by the Florida Clinicians for Climate Action.
They and subsequent MHI Navigators who will be trained, will all be surveying most vulnerable members of our community impacted by heat events and providing hurricane preparedness. Our next event will be August 31 at Bethlehem Bible Church, and hopefully with sufficient funding, more to come in September.
National Observances
With several nieces and mentees recently having babies or expecting in the coming months, we are happy to remember the importance of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, giving young lives the best start in life. Find more information and resources on this post from the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. You can learn about the history of breastfeeding here. You can also connect with a Pregnancy Care Team at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
Current Updates
We at MHI had an amazing time at our Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway, where over 100 community members came out to receive supplies, information, participate in screenings and enjoy a fun day! Thanks to our incredible activators, Barbara and Angie, we were able to distribute over 30 backpacks filled with school essentials and health information and resources. A special thank you to Humana for providing food, Bay First Bank for providing funding and printing assistance, and to Amy from All Labs for sharing helpful health information with attendees, we look forward to future screening events with her assistance. We are so grateful to all the donors and supporters who made this event possible. Your generosity helped our students and their families start the school year off right!
We at MHI wish all students a fantastic start of the school year! 🎒📚
May it be full of learning, growth, and fun.
MHI Scholar Updates
MHI Scholar Cyriac Versini completed a stellar summer internship at Manatee Department of Health with presentation of his research paper comparing Manatee and two other Florida Health systems. He had a chance to work and learn about all aspects of the health department and met with Health Director Jennifer Bencie who provided encouragement. His final paper, over 100 pages, including in-depth analyses, graphical data depictions, and sophisticated contrasts with suggestions on quality improvements despite resource limitations, that could be implemented. It is anticipated that this work may serve as groundwork for his eventual aspiration to pursue his PhD. He returns to finish his MPH at UNC Chapel Hill this fall. Cyriac started as an MHI scholar in his freshman year at New College, and we look forward to hearing of his continued success.
We appreciate the efforts of MHI Data and Tech interns Mitran and Felix working on MHI graphics, social media, research prep and MHI Youtube Channel updates. They return to rigorous academic high school programs and we will continue efforts linking them to opportunities to interview, shadow, and be mentored by supportive clinicians.
Environmental Justice
After the tragic death of a Booker High School student this year, the students are very interested in the intersection of pollution, safe hydration, and general fitness.. We celebrate beginning our 3rd year of Environmental Ambassadorship in collaboration with Sarasota Waterkeepers at Booker HIgh School. They are continuing work to survey about effects of heat, water quality and safety concerns. Previous ambassadors continue pursuing collegiate STEAM studies, several interested in EJ fields. We are seeking scholarship support for them and for ongoing projects including steel water bottles to help improve and encourage better hydration during heat events. We look forward to strengthening educational efforts and expanding data sources from our previously placed “Purple Air” monitors throughout North Sarasota. Ongoing mentoring of our BHS ambassadors working with the EJ collaborative, Cocoanut neighborhood Association, Amarayllis Park Neighborhood association, Gulf Coast Medical Association, FCCA and numerous other concerned community organizations ensures strong monitoring and support of future pipeline of STEAMH leadership.
You can track fluctuations of fine particulate matter and see the real time readout of the Fine Particulate count here:
To track Red Tide status: https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/
How would you like to be part of a Medical Research Study?
Participants receive various incentives and refreshments as well as the opportunity to make a lasting impact for generations to come. For more information about Roskamp’s research, call the research staff at (941) 256-8010 or email redtide@roskampclinic.org. You can also visit https://www.roskampclinic.org/trials/redtide/
Given the ongoing Environmental Health Challenges impacting our state and nation, We know the importance of advancing community efforts with emphasis on education, individual and collective action to do what we can however we can. Learn about the Environmental Impacts and steps you and your family can take to improve your health in our recent report and consider joining the Environmental Collaborative. If interested, please reach out to northsrq.nature@gmail.com. In the Spring of 2023, the MHI held an Environmental Justice Community Collaborative. You can read the entire convening report here, and if you or your organization would like us to make a personalized presentation for your organization summarizing the findings, data updates and emerging recommendations, please submit a request to admin@the-MHI.org
Eleanor's Portico of the Arts
Happy Birthday Ellie! August 17, 1933
We are so grateful, despite a hard, 3-hurricane start, to celebrate the productive year our 2nd Ringling Museum Eleanor Merritt Fellow, Dominique Goden had as we also welcomed the 3rd Ringling Museum Eleanor Merritt Fellow, Camilo Loaiza Bonilla (pictured) this month. He's an artist who just completed his MFA in creative writing at USF and has been teaching writing at USF and will have an exhibition opening at the University of Tampa in late August. In addition to continuing Ringling’s community engagement for MLK day, Booker High School VIP arts portfolio preparation advisement, SAAC and WSLR presentations, Camilo is heavily involved in creating community programming and will help to expand the Wonder to broaden its audience and reach a more multicultural community. He will also work with Ringling Board Emeritus and architect, Javi Suarez along with Ringling curatorial and education departments as part of Nuestros Vaiven (Our Sway) opening at the Ringling in September. We're all excited about what Camilo will add to the fellowship and The Ringling.
As we look ahead to new health initiatives and awareness campaigns, we are hopeful that the spirit of community we felt throughout this year will continue. At MHI, we are constantly inspired by people like you, who give their time, skills, and resources to create a healthier world for all.
Let's continue lifting each other up. You can stay engaged with our mission by:
Ensuring you're up-to-date on your health checks
Volunteering at one of our upcoming events
Donating to MHI to support our programming. Remember MHI donations up to $500 to Flanzer Trust are doubled. You can also contribute via the Give 8/28 website.
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