The Tri-State Defender will host its next TSD in the Community Forum focused on health care in Memphis and Shelby County on Wednesday, May 6 at 6 p.m. at Memphis Health Center, 360 East E. H. Crump Blvd.
This installment brings together local leaders whose work sits at the intersection of care, community and accountability, addressing some of the most pressing health challenges facing the region.
Across the United States, chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and hypertension continue to disproportionately impact Black Americans. Barriers to access, affordability and trust in the health care system contribute to disparities that remain deeply entrenched. Mental health — long under-discussed in many communities — is now emerging as one of the most urgent and complex challenges.
In Memphis and Shelby County, those national trends are magnified. The region consistently ranks among the highest in the nation for rates of chronic disease and poverty-related health challenges, making access to quality care and preventive services an ongoing concern.
“TSD in the Community is about creating space for conversations around the issues that matter most to our entire community, while intentionally examining how those issues impact the Black community,” said Stephanie Jones, editor of the Tri-State Defender. “That’s the perspective we bring to our reporting, and it’s the viewpoint we bring to these forums. Health care is especially important because it affects everything — without it, progress in education, business and leadership becomes much harder to sustain.”
The panel includes Judge Sheila Bruce Renfroe, General Sessions Division 9 Mental Health Court; Dr. Patrick Malone, internal medicine physician with Regional One Health; and Dr. Veronica Gant, clinical director of Memphis Health Center. The discussion will be moderated by Lori Spicer Robertson.
The May 6 forum will explore chronic disease, mental health, fitness and the rising cost of care, while offering perspectives grounded in both clinical expertise and community-based experience.
This installment builds on previous forums focused on women in leadership, Black businesses and education — each designed to elevate issues that directly affect the trajectory of the community with health possibly the most foundational topic yet.
This installment of TSD in the Community is sponsored by the Tri-State Defender and Google.
To reserve a spot at the forum, which is free to attend, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/discussing-health-and-wellness-tickets-1988323587374?aff=oddtdtcreator
