State Rep. Jake Wheatley is hoping a series of events he is sponsoring this weekend will improve the health of his district in every sense of the word.
“When you hear the word ‘health’ you always go instantly to physical health, but we’re also talking about your financial health, your mental health, and your emotional health, your communal health,” Wheatley said. “So that really was the impetus for what we wanted to do. And we wanted to get people out moving, we wanted to get people out talking, we wanted to get people out to share, so we kind of combined our activities.”
The series of events begin Friday night with a free day and reception at the Thelma Lovette YMCA, where Dr. Jeannette South-Paul from the University of Pittsburgh Medical center will speak to visitors about their health.
Saturday will start with the UPHill 5K run/walk that travels mostly up hill through the Hill District and ends at Wheatley’s annual community appreciation party in Kennard Field of Reed Street. Along with games, music and dancing, the party will look at yet another kind of health.
“We talked about the financial health of communities," Wheatley said. "Well a lot of the individuals in the 19th District, they are looking and seeking jobs. And sometimes we have employers who are looking for employees and employees who are looking for employers, but they don’t connect all the time. So part of our Community Appreciation Day is going to really be a jobs fair as well.”
On Sunday Wheatley will return to the Thelma Lovette YMCA for a health expo featuring health screenings and healthy cooking demonstrations.
Wheatly said the events are also open to people who live outside of the 19th Legislative District.
