North Central Health District

It Takes a Village Festival and Community Resource Expo Brings Hancock Community Together

Posted May 22, 2024 by Michael Hokanson

Hancock County Schools, North Central Health District’s Supporting Health Initiatives and Nurturing Equity (SHINE) Team, the Sparta-Hancock Chamber of Commerce, Hancock County Health Department, the City of Sparta, and the Hancock County Board of Commissioners are happy to announce the successful conclusion of the It Takes a Village Festival and Community Expo.

The event, which took place in Sparta, GA on Saturday, April 20th, brought together 80 organizations and over 500 residents for a day of community spirit and resources. Attendees gave positive feedback, highlighting the diverse range of vendors and the family-friendly activities available. 

The festival kicked off with a parade through the heart of Sparta, featuring several floats from Hancock County residents and a performance from Hephzibah High School’s “Big Red Marching Machine” marching band. The Community Expo started soon after, featuring live entertainment from Mama Mia and DJ Ova One. 

Vendors from across Georgia participated in the event, offering various health resources and complimentary services. These included free general laboratory services, health screenings, and a giveaway table with over $15,000 worth of items. All who came out had the opportunity to explore valuable materials concerning health and wellness, education, employment, and more. The event also had interactive workshops, bounce houses, and a live DJ for the kids, making sure that families could enjoy the event together. 

“We are grateful for everyone’s presence at the It Takes A Village Festival & Community Resource Expo. Thank you for taking the time to be there and making it a memorable occasion, and we hope to see you back all next year on April 19, 2025.” said Alicia Wright, Program Manager for the SHINE Program. 

The It Takes a Village Committee would like to extend special thanks to our sponsors, Henry Schein, Project Glimmer, Delta Dental, Washington EMC, The Council on Alcohol and Drugs, and Peach State Health Plan.  

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Funded by the CDC’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Program, the Supporting Health Initiatives and Nurturing Equity (SHINE) Program is committed to improving the health outcomes and reducing health disparities among the African American population in Baldwin, Hancock and Washington Counties by implementing proven public health strategies in the areas of Nutrition, Physical Activity, Early Care and Education (ECE), and Adult Vaccinations. 

Interested in working with the SHINE Program? Visit nchd52.org/SHINE for more information about the SHINE program and to register as a partner.