A barber shop and beauty salon are not the first places that come to mind when thinking about a healthy body.
Yet, replicas of these businesses will be a focal point of a giant health pavilion being held during the National Urban League 2003 Annual Conference, which opens Saturday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown.
The shops represent the importance of the grass-roots approach in spreading credible health information in trusted venues to a community still experiencing a variety of ethnic and racial health disparities.
"A Healthy Day in the Neighborhood," billed as the largest minority health fair ever held in the region, is free and open to the public.
"This is a grand opportunity to disseminate health information for the national audience as well as to the local and regional public," said Ray Howard, project director with the Center for Minority Health at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.
This is the first time the conference, held in cities across the country, will include a health pavilion. More than 50 exhibitors will provide screenings and education, Q&As with doctors, group exercise sessions and stress relief.
It moves forward the goal that has become a top priority since Stephen Thomas took over as director of the Pitt center three years ago: to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.
On average in the United States, blacks have a life expectancy of 73, five years less than that of whites. Blacks also experience a higher death rate from heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke and AIDS than whites. Improving access to health information for African Americans is one way the center is trying to resolve the problem.
"We want to put health at the very pinnacle in the message of parity," Howard said. "For people to have successful economic lives and social lives, they must be physically and emotionally well."
The Pitt center has targeted inner-city barber shops and beauty salons in an innovative outreach effort. Actors from the Pittsburgh Penn Community Theater will perform skits depicting how hair-care professionals can spread health information to patrons.
Last fall, the center sponsored a twist to the annual Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day by posting doctors in barber shops and beauty salons to discuss health issues.
Howard said that this fall, staff at barber shops and salons in the Hill District, Oakland, East Liberty, Homewood and possibly Wilkinsburg will be trained as lay advisors in a pilot program to spread scientifically sound and socially appropriate health information.
They'll focus on seven "priority areas" where disparities exist: cancer, heart disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, immunization, infant mortality and mental health.
Eventually, computers with Internet access may be placed in these shops so patrons can be linked to additional resources.
"We can't afford to miss one opportunity to reach the public," Howard said.
Among other events related to the health pavilion will be a 1-mile power walk in Point State Park led by a celebrity Sunday, Monday and Tuesday mornings. The 30-minute walk will begin at 7:15 in front of the Hilton Hotel and Towers on Commonwealth Avenue. (Inside the convention center during inclement weather)
There also will be the Ultimate Stress Free Zone, featuring massage therapy, yoga and other activities to help visitors understand and alleviate stress.
The pavilion is sponsored by University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which will offer a variety of specialists for Q&A sessions on everything from the dangers of smoking during pregnancy, osteoporosis risks and recruiting more minorities into health careers; GlaxoSmith-Kline; American Legacy Foundation, Bayer and Pfizer.
Schedule of activities
Some details are subject to change. For up-to-date schedules, check the Web site of the Center for Minority Health at www.cmh.pitt.edu or call 412-624-5665.
The free pavilion will be held in Hall A, second floor of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
The video presentations listed below will focus on cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, immunization, infant mortality and mental health.
The guest celebrity challenge will be a medical expert providing a challenge to good health.
July 26, (noon to 5 p.m.)
Noon, Pavilion opening ceremony
12:30 p.m., Guest celebrity health challenge
1 p.m., Gospel concert
1:30 p.m., Low impact aerobics for all ages
2 p.m., Healthy tips in the neighborhood
2:30 p.m., Cooking demonstration and taste test: Southwestern
3 p.m., Health promotion video
3:30 p.m., Low impact aerobics for seniors
4 p.m., Youth health information poster presentation by Philadelphia Catalyst for Change
Sunday, July 27
7:15 a.m., Celebrity power walk at Point State Park
11 a.m., Gospel concert
11:30 a.m., Youth health information poster presentation by Philadelphia Catalyst for Change
Noon, Guest celebrity health challenge
12:30 p.m., Obesity prevention program for teens
1, 2 and 3 p.m., Health promotion videos
1:30 p.m., Youth health troop tobacco prevention skit by Center for Healthy Hearts and Souls
2:30 p.m., Cooking demonstration: soul food
3:30 p.m., Low Impact Aerobics for Seniors
4 p.m., Healthy tips in the neighborhood
Monday, July 28
7:15 a.m., Celebrity power walk at Point State Park
10 a.m., noon, Health promotion video
10:30 a.m., Guest celebrity health challenge
11 a.m. and 4 p.m., Youth health information poster presentation
11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., Healthy tips in the Neighborhood
(Pavilion closed between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.)
2:30 p.m., Cooking demonstration: vegetarian
3:30 p.m., Low impact aerobics for seniors
Tuesday, July 29
7:15 a.m., Celebrity Power Walk in Point State Park
10 a.m., Health promotion video
10:30 a.m., Cooking demonstration: breakfast
11 a.m., Healthy tips in the neighborhood
11:30 a.m., Youth health information poster presentation
Noon and 4 p.m., Healthy promotion video
(Pavilion closes between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.)
2:30 p.m., Guest celebrity Health Challenge
3:00 p.m., Youth Health Troop Tobacco Prevention Skit
3:30 p.m., Low impact aerobics for seniors
Virginia Linn can be reached at vlinn@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1662.
E-mail this story 
