When it comes to living a long and prosperous life, our health is the greatest asset we have. No matter who you are or what your life may look like, when our bodies and minds are thriving at peak performance, we are empowered to stand strong, stay active, and make a difference in our communities. Here in the Capital City, we are lucky to have an abundance of world class health resources at our disposal. And when our community comes together for the health of all those who call our city home, the future looks bright for the wellness of all Trentonians.
On Saturday, October 12th, the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) hosted their annual Hispanic Heritage Month Wellness Fair. Throughout the day’s festivities, families from all over the Trenton community had the opportunity to avail themselves to a number of vital health and wellness resources. From on-site vaccinations to clothing giveaways, social services information, and more, this year’s Wellness Fair offered participants a one-stop shop to get a head start on their health this fall.
On this remarkable day, LALDEF was joined by a number of partner organizations, including Move Over Breast Cancer, the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium, NJHealth, Princeton Federal Credit Union, RWJBarnabas Health, the NJ Dept. of Labor, the Mercer County Hispanic Association, the Mercer County Board of Social Services, Aetna, Crossroads4Hope, and more. With a smiling face and a helping hand, the outreach of these organizations played an invaluable role in getting local families connected with the resources and services which they need. A memorable day for all in attendance, the 3rd Annual LALDEF Hispanic Heritage Wellness Month has once again made a profound difference in the lives of the Capital City community.
Discussing the importance of this beloved yearly event, Cecy Jimenez-Weeast, LALDEF’s Executive Director, shared “As the Executive Director of The Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, I want to emphasize the importance of celebrating Hispanic Heritage in our Mercer County community. Our organization and broader community recognize and honor our Heritage and how our culture shapes and contributes to our community in New Jersey. Through our Wellness Fair in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we at LALDEF can unite our community to celebrate our Hispanic Heritage, culture, and contributions and uplift and support our county’s health and well-being. By working closely with community partners, we can create a strong support network for all Mercer County’s residents, uplifting our neighbors while celebrating the culture and Heritage that brings us all together.”
Established in 2004, the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) promotes the rights of all immigrants (with a focus on the Latin American community in the Mercer County area); facilitates access to health care, education and legal representation; advocates for the integration of immigrants; and fosters inter-cultural communication to strengthen our communities.
For more information on LALDEF’s many wonderful initiatives and services, please visit their website, linked here: LALDEF – Home. You can also keep up with LALDEF’s many happenings across social media, including X, Facebook, and Instagram. If you have any questions or would like to learn more regarding how you can support LALDEF’s important work, please contact their team at (609) 688-0881 or info@laldef.org for further assistance. This Hispanic Heritage Month celebration puts health at the helm, and thanks to the devotion of organizations like LALDEF, the future is looking bright for all Trentonians.
