Health fairs are essential to a community because they provide its members with information that is vital to their health. They provide general related information regarding one’s health, healthy food, and basic health tests. This year, for the first time ever, Courtney Baldwin and Michelle Frankel decided to initiate the health fair. Frankel said,”It’s something that I’ve wanted to do since I became the HA (Health Academy) coordinator, but I knew I couldn’t do it alone. Ms. Baldwin suggested we do it, and together we made it happen.”

Baldwin, who works with the HealthCorps (an organization designed to make students healthier), is supposed to conduct health fairs as part of her duties. So Baldwin and Frankel teamed up- with the help of their students and many organizations- to make this event possible. Baldwin said, ”For the past two months Ms. Frankel and I reached out to community organizations about attending the fair. Then we worked with our students to create educational and engaging booths, and lastly, we worked on advertising the event to the public.

After school the quad is usually empty, but on April 20, 2017, it was filled with booths and people, and looked like a mini farmer’s market with 20 different student booths. Some gave out free vegetables, smoothies, or fruit. Others gave out information about events or health related topics, such as mental and emotional health. Many students attended the event with their friends. Freshman Geo Verdin said, “I decided to come with my friends because I liked the music the DJ was playing and there was a lot of information brought to us, instead of us having to search for it.”

Many students enjoyed the Health and Wellness fair. Freshman Alfredo Zavala said, “I enjoyed the health fair because there were many great opportunities our school and community has to offer.” Other students, like sophomore Maria Ponce, thought that the health fair is going to help the school and community become healthier. Students working the booths knew how important it was to share information with their peers. Lizeth Medrano was handing out bags filled with vegetables, she said, “It feels good to give healthy snacks to my peers. Some students go home and have nothing to eat, so I know this is going to be very helpful.”

All in all, Alisal’s first Health and Wellness fair was a success. Blanca Salazar said, “The health fair was a lot fun and I feel like it made me more aware of my health.” The goal of the event, according to Baldwin, was to “educate students and community members on their health, and to provide services and healthy snacks free of charge.”  Frankel said, “We [Baldwin and Frankel] were both very proud with the outcome. Our students worked incredibly hard on their presentations, and the organizations were phenomenal. They went out of their way to accommodate us, and the information and resources they provided were awesome. Indeed, the goal was certainly met, so next school year, Alisal should expect another successful Health and Wellness fair.”