Originally Published at: UNC LCCC Office of Community Outreach
On March 18, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) office, in partnership with the Raleigh Housing Authority, hosted a Health and Wellness Fair focused on increasing access to cancer education and preventive health services. Nearly 50 community members attended the four-hour event, which offered health education resources and screenings, including prostate cancer screenings. Ten Raleigh Housing Authority residents completed a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening during the fair.
The event was led by William Moore, Men’s Health Project Coordinator, and Ana Salas, Senior Community Outreach Coordinator, both with UNC Lineberger’s COE team. Moore is a key partner in statewide prostate cancer and men’s health outreach initiatives and works closely with UNC Urology and the UNC Men’s Health Program to help reduce cancer disparities. Salas has played a longstanding role in educating community partners about cancer prevention and screening, strengthening connections between UNC and communities across North Carolina.
In advance of the fair, Moore and Salas conducted multiple educational sessions for Raleigh Housing Authority residents. These sessions provided foundational information about prostate cancer, supported informed decision-making and created space for broader conversations about cancer-related questions and concerns.
The planning and execution of the event reflected a strong, multidisciplinary collaboration across UNC programs and community partners, including Jonathan Barrett and Ray Tan, MD. Raleigh Housing Authority staff cited the COE team’s professionalism, coordination and commitment throughout both the planning process and the day of the event.
“I want to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation to Ana Salas, William Moore, Jonathan Barrett and everyone who contributed their time and effort. The expertise, kindness and collaboration demonstrated made this a valuable experience for our residents and reinforced the importance of outreach and education in community health.” – Alexis Whitney, Resident Services Coordinator for the Raleigh Housing Authority.
Whitney added that working with the UNC Lineberger COE team provided meaningful insights into prostate and breast cancer awareness and exemplified strong representation of UNC Health and the university’s education mission.
Both the educational sessions and the Health and Wellness Fair emphasized the importance of culturally informed, community-centered health education. The event further strengthened UNC’s partnership with the Raleigh Housing Authority and underscored the impact of bringing accessible health resources directly to residents.