At Saturday’s WURD Empowerment Expo, a local African American shopping bazaar will come with a little something extra to keep Philadelphians healthy this season: health screenings, job resources fair, and panels on issues regarding wellness of all sorts.
The family-friendly event by the only African American-owned radio station in the state will be held at Community College of Philadelphia from 10 am to 6 pm Saturday. It is, event coordinator Yashira Rivera says, in keeping with WURD’s mission to educate and uplifts its listeners.
“It’s health, finances and supporting local businesses,” Rivera says. “It’s a trifecta in regards to everyday living.”
The event, at CCP’s Pavillion Building, will have three separate areas. A Wellness 
Pavillion, which will offer free health screenings, as well as health and medical resources; a Career and Job Resources Center, which will offer information about job openings in the region; and a Holiday Market, with over 30 local small retailers, such as Kima Kreative Studio, Pound Cake Heaven, JM Eyewear, and Prosperity Books.
“It’s important to support your local economy,” Rivera says. “At the same time, health and mindfulness is everything. If you’re not healthy, you can’t work and you can’t participate.”
In addition, the expo will feature three panels: Mind Your Business, featuring business executives from Bank of America, Reed Development and other organizations; Diversity and Inclusion Roundtable, featuring Sulaiman Rahman, President/CEO DiverseForce and Jeffrey Brown, President/CEO Brown’s Super Stores; and Violence as a Public Health Issue, with experts from EMIR Healing Center, the Cradle to Grave Program, and the CHOP Violence Intervention Program.
In between panels, there will be workshops on wealth creation, wellness and technology. The event, broadcast live on WURD 96.1FM, will end with a healing drum circle led by DJ Ashley “A List” Johnson.
Saturday December 2, 10 am – 6 pm, free, The Pavilion at Community College of Philadelphia.