The Taste of Soul is known for its incredible line-up of performers and food vendors, but the opportunities extend far beyond the realms of live music and cuisine; medical screenings, including blood pressure checks and body mass index (BMI) measurements, nutritional information, health insurance registration, mental health resources, career opportunities and more.
Between 39th and Coliseum, Medical Tent Station #2 was occupied by InnovAge, a neighborhood center for senior healthcare at 3760 Degnan Blvd. InnovAge provides a myriad of benefits to ensure the health of its members: specialty care (dental, vision, physical therapy, and behavioral health), social engagement through activities, meals, exercise, and group outings, transportation to medical appointments and centers, connected healthcare for primary, emergency, and hospital coverage, and in-home assistance.
Further south toward Stocker Ave., W. King HealthCare Group’s tent was an incredible resource for Taste of Soul attendees to learn more their options in choosing a Black-owned medical practice. In an exclusive interview with the Sentinel, owner Dr. William King shared that his practice has been participating as vendors at the Taste of Soul for nine years.
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“We’ve been excited to do this, I mean I grew up in Baldwin Hills. My clinic is right across the street. We do blood pressure checks, HIV screens, hepatitis B screens, we’re giving out Narcan [an opioid overdose combatter] because of the high numbers of [deaths from] Fentanyl.
“We have several local physicians with us now, several nurses. So the community gets to see Black doctors who are willing to help. It’s reaffirming for our patients to know they have [a team] that is invested in their health. We’re really doing what we’re supposed to be doing. This is why I went to medical school,” Dr. King acknowledged.
Various health resources and departments, including UCLA Health, were also in attendance teaching CPR, continuing the mission to get “95% of Los Angeles Country CPR-certified”, a UCLA representative stated.
Additional heroic presences were CAL FIRE and the Los Angeles Fire Department, which had informational tents as well as Fire Marshals to safeguard the entire festival.
Chief Dave Fulcher, the current Southern Region Chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire (CAL FIRE) gave the Sentinel a deeper understanding of the scope of firefighters’ heroism.
“We’re actually what you call an all-risk fire department. We just got back from the east coast, we had people from our [Urban Search & Rescue] teams helping out with hurricane relief. Last year, we were in Hawaii [helping with the wildfires], earlier in 2023, we were in Mammoth Lakes helping with the snowfall. Those are just a few of the emergency responses.
“We’re trying to affect people’s lives in a positive way no matter what, and that’s most rewarding. We have over 115 different classifications that work with CAL FIRE to help us with our overall mission which is really to serve, safeguard, and protect the people and property of California.”
Whether you have or have not thought of a career within CAL Fire as a firefighter, food service provider, or an office worker, Chief Fulcher urged that “you too can fit in [here].”
Go to fire.ca.gov to learn more about the department and career opportunities.
