Mental Wellness, which encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, is vital to living a fulfilling and purposeful life. For the Black community, nurturing mental wellness is especially important, due to the unique stressors, including systemic racism, social disparities, and historical trauma in America. According to the Office of Minority Health, part of the Department for Health and Human Services, African American Communities generally are at higher risk to have heart diseases, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes, COVID-19, and HIV/AIDS compared to their majority counterparts.
Black Health and Wellness means having a unified community that listens to, cares for, advocates for and helps the least resourced among us get the necessary care to live the best holistic and fulfilling lives possible.
“We Are The Village”
Rho Omega & Friends Inc., a 501(c)3 organization, is steadfastly committed to our mission:
To uplift and empower the community by providing focused, effective, and participatory leadership that improves public policy and enhances the overall education, social and economic status of the community.
This is accomplished through various community programs including the following:
Frank R. Rayson Good Citizenship Award
This program awards high school youth for positive character demonstrated in the school place and community environments.
Shreveport/Bossier Omega Lamplighters
Our premier youth mentoring and development program focuses on community involvement, scholastic performance, financial literacy and college readiness via empowerment seminars and hands-on workshops.
Urban Community Garden Initiative
The garden is a free, fresh vegetable utopia in food desert areas of the community that allows families to pick fresh vegetables year-round.
- Monthly gardening workshops are provided, teaching citizens how to grow and cook fresh foods. The workshops also educate citizens on what foods help fight disease, and which ones to avoid when sick. Dozens of families attend each month.
- Monthly community cookouts are conducted to feed the homeless and less fortunate in these areas. The gardens feed 2500+ people annually.
Christmas Toy Giveaway/Children's Holiday Party
Annual community Christmas party providing food, activities, and Christmas gifts for 500+ plus children in the community. All children in attendance receive a great meal, an opportunity to sing and dance, and of course meet Jolly Ol' Santa Claus.
Let The Good Times Roll Juneteenth Festival
The Festival has the distinction of being the largest Juneteenth celebration not only in the surrounding Ark-La-Tex area, but in the entire state of Louisiana. We promote the festival to educate and stimulate the social awareness of the health issues adversely affecting the African American community. Each year we create a kid zone, a farmer’s market, health screenings, bike riding/5K race, and amazing local, regional, and national entertainment. An estimated 20,000 people attend the festival over the weekend and provide the Shreveport/Bossier community with an economic impact of over $1,000,000.
- Kid Zone is provided to promote physical activity and social awareness. 3,000+ children participate in the Kid Zone over the weekend.
- Farmer’s Market is provided on the Saturday morning of festival weekend to promote the preparation and availability of fresh food in the area. 1,000+ people attend the Market.
- Health Fair is also held on Saturday morning of festival weekend, giving free health screening, blood testing, HIV testing, dental hygiene, covid vaccine, haircuts and health information provided to everyone in attendance. 1,200+ people attend the health fair.
- Entertainment is provided for each day of the festival. The festival draws people from neighboring states and beyond, greatly stimulating the local economy.
- Bike Ride/5K Run either a Freedom Bike Ride, or 5K Run, around downtown Shreveport is held Saturday morning on festival weekend. Dozens of people participate.
When families, friends, strangers and even enemies can come together in a safe and friendly environment... Friendships are born, great family memories are made, and wars are ended. Our programs give us opportunities to create and provide benefit to our communities. The smiles we see on the faces of the people we are blessed to impact say it all.