The walk will take place on Saturday, July 15, 2023, beginning in Fairmount Park

PHILADELPHIA — The Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement is hosting the tenth Brothas Stroll tomorrow, July 15 at 11 a.m. in an effort to raise awareness about the issue of Black men’s health. The event is organized in partnership with the Mayor’s Commission of African American Males, the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, Engaging Males of Color, and the Department of Public Health.

“Poor health outcomes and low life expectancy among Black Americans are a direct effect of long-standing systemic inequities,” said Eric Westbrook, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement. “The goal of the Brothas Stroll is to disrupt these disparities and improve health outcomes for Black men and boys by creating a stronger sense of community and connecting us to essential and possibly life-saving resources. Dedicating time to stroll through spaces we usually rush by allows us to reflect, appreciate and encourage each other in our journeys forward while also honoring those who are no longer with us.”

The walk will begin at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art to the Schuylkill River Trail for a 5k loop, and end at the Lloyd Hall Recreation Center on Boathouse Row where participants can access free health screenings and other resources as well as enjoy music and food.

This initiative was inspired by the report Brotherly Love: Health of Black Men and Boys in Philadelphia issued by the City in March of 2019. It is the first-ever report that highlights the unique challenges faced by Black men and boys in Philadelphia today. The report revealed that health is primarily influenced by the conditions under which individuals live their lives and laid the groundwork for actionable steps that can be taken to improve their health outcomes.

Brothas Stroll Details

When: Tomorrow, July 15, 2023, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Where: 

  • Starts at the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130.
  • Ends at Lloyd Hall, 1 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA 19130.

The Route: Approximately 3 miles long.

Registration: Members of the public can register online.

Note: Media representatives are invited to attend the stroll.

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The Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement (OBME) works to close the opportunity divide for men and boys of color. Their work is inclusive, serving Latino, Asian, immigrant, and other populations of men and boys in Philadelphia.

OBME directs and supports the efforts of the Mayor’s Commission on African American Males, and coordinates My Brother’s Keeper Philadelphia, a program that aims to dismantle systems of inequality. OBME is part of the Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement.

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