Black Health Matters summit delivers free screenings to more than 1,600 New Yorkers

Black Health Matters held its 8th annual Health Summit & Expo at Riverside Church during Harlem Week, offering free screenings and health education to New Yorkers as 45,000 people lost Essential Plan coverage. The event expanded bilingual support, drew more than 2,000 total attendees and highlighted growing demand for preventive care in communities facing access gaps.

Why it matters: - Black Health Matters' annual summit provided free preventive care at a time when thousands of New Yorkers lost insurance coverage and may face new barriers to early detection and treatment. - The event focused on Harlem and surrounding communities, where access to screenings, education and navigation support can affect long-term health outcomes. - The summit also expanded bilingual services for Spanish-speaking New Yorkers, addressing a separate access gap.

What happened: - Black Health Matters hosted its Health Summit & Expo at Riverside Church in Upper Manhattan during Harlem Week 2026. - The event marked the summit's 8th year. - More than 1,600 people attended in person, and 350 joined virtually. - The summit offered about $2,500 in free clinical screenings per attendee, according to the event materials. - The event came after an estimated 45,000 New Yorkers lost Essential Plan coverage when the state's Section 1332 waiver expansion ended on July 1, 2026.

The details: - The summit provided 13 free preventive screenings on-site. - Screenings included A1C, 3D mammograms, PSA, FIT tests for colorectal cancer, blood pressure, blood glucose, kidney and liver function, lipid panel, cholesterol, brain health, HIV and digital hand strength testing. - The event also scheduled appointments for breast, cervical and lung cancer screenings. - More than 300 attendees used the new Promotores de Salud section for bilingual healthcare support. - The bilingual area connected attendees with healthcare professionals, community resource navigation and enrollment assistance from partner organizations serving Latino communities. - The summit drew 68 community and hospital partner organizations. - The program featured expert-led sessions on autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis, hATTR amyloidosis, multiple myeloma, kidney disease, lung cancer, colorectal cancer prevention, mental health, dermatology, clinical trial education, nutrition and fitness. - Co-hosts and speakers included Roxanne Shanté, Colby Natasha Nixon, Lamman Rucker, Sandra Bookman, Elijah Westbrook, Dr. Michael H. Forde and DaShaun Johnson. - Governor Hochul sent a prerecorded greeting praising the event's mission and the state's efforts to reduce systemic healthcare barriers. - New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin welcomed attendees in person.

Between the lines: - The turnout suggests demand for free, accessible preventive care remains high as insurance changes ripple through New York communities. - The bilingual services point to a broader strategy: health equity efforts are moving beyond one-size-fits-all outreach toward language-specific support and enrollment help. - The mix of screenings, expert talks and partner organizations shows the summit working as both a service event and a community navigation hub.

What's next: - Black Health Matters is likely to keep using the summit model to deliver screenings, education and referral support in future years. - The organization says its mission is to bridge the health equity gap with evidence-based resources for disease management and wellness. - More information is available from Black Health Matters.

The bottom line: - Black Health Matters used Harlem Week to turn a growing coverage gap into a one-day access point for screenings, education and bilingual support for thousands of New Yorkers.