On a Saturday in September 2022, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was buzzing with energy and anticipation as The Urban League of Louisiana and Ochsner Health came together for the first time to offer the community a unique wellness experience that provided health access, information and expertise designed to improve the lives of residents and their families.
On that day, adults and children received free health screenings, watched some of Louisiana’s best chefs create nutritious versions of their favorite dishes, exercised as they learned new fitness moves from personal trainers, learned about jobs and procurement in the healthcare sector and sought personal advice from medical experts.
For one woman, the event the inaugural Big Health Event was potentially lifesaving. She had attended the Big Health Event after having tried several places to get a mammogram and was hoping to finally get one in the Mammogram Mobile Unit that had been driven onto the floor of the convention center the day before. She received a screening that Saturday and learned that she had Stage 1 breast cancer. That screening allowed her to then seek the treatment she needed for her diagnosis.
In the modern economy, a city’s prosperity depends not only on its industries and infrastructure but also on the health of its people. Now in its fifth year, the Big Health Event has emerged as a strategic investment in human capital. By increasing access to healthcare, promoting wellness, and connecting career seekers and entrepreneurs to the economy, the Big Health Event contributes directly to the city’s economic resilience and long-term growth.
While Louisiana is rich in culture, resilience and community strength, it also faces significant health challenges. According to the United Health Foundation’s 2025 America’s Health Rankings, Louisiana ranked 50th in overall health among all 50 states. The report highlights persistent challenges across multiple areas that shape health outcomes including social and economic conditions, health behaviors, physical environment and overall health outcomes.
These rankings underscore the urgency of expanding access to health education, care and wellness resources to residents, particularly for those who are uninsured, underinsured or living in asset-limited households, to lower rates of chronic disease and poorer health conditions.
The Urban League of Louisiana, a historic civil rights and economic empowerment organization founded in New Orleans in 1938, created the Big Health Event to address generational health disparities in Louisiana. The event offers a wide range of free health screenings, healthy cooking demonstrations, fitness demonstrations, educational resources, STEM activities, health and wellness expert panels, giveaways and more for everyone in the family. The Big Health Event is designed to ensure that health and wellness education resonates with residents and leads to healthier lifestyles and communities.
The event is also a contributor to the factors that make the phrase “health is wealth” have true economic meaning.
Preventive care through screenings and interactions with health experts can reduce long-term financial burden on individuals, families and the public health system. By catching health issues early, residents can avoid costly emergency care and maintain productivity in the workforce.
A healthy workforce is a productive workforce. Chronic illness is one of the leading causes of absenteeism and reduced work performance. By equipping residents with tools to manage and prevent disease, the Big Health Event contributes to labor force participation and efficiency.
The Big Health Event also serves as a marketplace for local and regional small businesses and corporations. Small businesses and companies gain exposure to thousands of attendees, creating opportunities for sales, partnerships, visibility and brand recognition and the opportunity to make a meaningful community impact.
The Morial Convention Center is the gathering space for residents from different neighborhoods and backgrounds who come together to improve their own health conditions but also the health conditions of their social, educational and faith institutions. This strengthens social cohesion, which is itself a determinant of community health.
Since its founding, the Big Health Event has served thousands of residents in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport. This year’s experience will take place in Hall J of the Morial Convention Center, on August 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free to the public. The Big Health Event Zones include Health Screening, Health & Wellness, Main Stage, Fitness & Movement, Culinary Demonstration, Youth & Family, and Community Resource. For sponsorship or other information, please contact cwashington@urbanleaguela.org.
