Oakland Health and Wellness Fair
OverviewRamsell Corporation is a for-profit company in Oakland, California that provides information services to agencies that serve underserved populations. As a community service, Ramsell wanted to organize a health fair to provide myriad educational, diagnostic, and wellness services to the homeless, very low income, and predominantly African-American population of East Oakland.
Partner GoalsThe primary goal of the Oakland Health and Wellness Fair was to attract a large population to the event that might not otherwise have access to such services; services that the partnership would offer free of charge. A secondary goal was to generate significant community goodwill and media coverage of the event for Ramsell in the partners.
Strategy of CampaignBruce was hired to develop a cross-sector partnership to maximize the reach and impact of this one-day health fair. He began by reaching out to the California State Assemblymember for the East Bay area, the mayor of Oakland, the Alameda Board of Supervisors, the Alameda County Public Health Department, Kaiser Permanente, and One Pacific Coast Bank. With their participation assured, Bruce was able to underwrite the event and attract local/regional organizations in the health and wellness industry. KTVU-2, the Fox TV affiliate for the San Francisco Bay Area, KBLX radio, and the Bay Area News Group, the largest newspaper group in the San Francisco Bay Area, offered extensive free media coverage.
ResultsNinety-four organizations provided on-site services, such as dental and vision checkups, blood pressure, HIV/AIDS testing, child immunizations, Senior health services, smoking cessation, asthma analysis, and much more. There was even a fire and rescue ambulance for children to explore and free children’s fire hats to wear. In one day, over 600 homeless and low-income East Bay residents received multiple free services from this amazing assembly of partners and providers. The media coverage was off the charts. Indeed, a Google search a few days after the Heath Fair showed ten pages of media coverage!
“Though the Health Fair was just one day, it will have a lasting effect on underserved and uninsured residents, as it will link them to services they need for a better, healthier life.” Angela Ball, Director, public health nursing for the Alameda County Public Health Department.
Partner GoalsThe primary goal of the Oakland Health and Wellness Fair was to attract a large population to the event that might not otherwise have access to such services; services that the partnership would offer free of charge. A secondary goal was to generate significant community goodwill and media coverage of the event for Ramsell in the partners.
Strategy of CampaignBruce was hired to develop a cross-sector partnership to maximize the reach and impact of this one-day health fair. He began by reaching out to the California State Assemblymember for the East Bay area, the mayor of Oakland, the Alameda Board of Supervisors, the Alameda County Public Health Department, Kaiser Permanente, and One Pacific Coast Bank. With their participation assured, Bruce was able to underwrite the event and attract local/regional organizations in the health and wellness industry. KTVU-2, the Fox TV affiliate for the San Francisco Bay Area, KBLX radio, and the Bay Area News Group, the largest newspaper group in the San Francisco Bay Area, offered extensive free media coverage.
ResultsNinety-four organizations provided on-site services, such as dental and vision checkups, blood pressure, HIV/AIDS testing, child immunizations, Senior health services, smoking cessation, asthma analysis, and much more. There was even a fire and rescue ambulance for children to explore and free children’s fire hats to wear. In one day, over 600 homeless and low-income East Bay residents received multiple free services from this amazing assembly of partners and providers. The media coverage was off the charts. Indeed, a Google search a few days after the Heath Fair showed ten pages of media coverage!
“Though the Health Fair was just one day, it will have a lasting effect on underserved and uninsured residents, as it will link them to services they need for a better, healthier life.” Angela Ball, Director, public health nursing for the Alameda County Public Health Department.
