WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Grammy award-winning gospel singer VaShawn Mitchell, who grew up in south suburban Harvey, will perform at a South Side town hall meeting about Hepatitis C next week.
The free performance will be part of the Town Hall Community Action Forum on Hepatitis C from 6-9 p.m. Thursday at Trinity United Church of Christ, 400 W. 95th St.
The event, part of a three-city tour, is being sponsored by The Balm In Gilead, a Maryland-based nonprofit. Blacks are one ethnic group the organization is targeting with the traveling town hall meetings, which will end Sept. 16 in Jacksonville, Fla.
“The Centers for Disease Control recommends that anyone born between 1945 and 1965 get tested at least once a year. Within the African-American community, chronic liver disease, which is often Hepatitis C-related, is a leading cause of death among people between the ages of 45 and 64,” said Pernessa Seele, founder and CEO of organization. “Our goal with this event is to raise awareness about the risks of Hepatitis C and to mobilize the community to get tested."
She added that the blood virus could be contracted from unsanitary equipment at a tattoo parlor, barbershop and hair and nail salons.
Mitchell is traveling with the organization to help promote awareness about Hepatitis C, according to Seele.
"He was with us for the first stop in Capital Heights, Md., (and) he will be with us in Chicago and on our last stop in Florida," Seele said.
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