Ahndiya Glasper (far left) at the table honoring her late great-grandmother and mother.
Latoya Glasper was planning a community wellness day as part of her new job with the city Health Department. It would be a resource fair, named “Momma’s Love Community Day,” in honor of her late grandmother.
Before Glasper was able to see the event to completion, she underwent a sudden health crisis and died in June. At 42 years old, Glasper left her five children and own mother.
This Saturday, the Health Department put on the event anyway — dedicated to Glasper’s memory.
Momma’s Love Community Day brought public and private community partners, as well as hundreds of attendees, out to Goffe Street Park in Dixwell from 12 — 4 p.m. with the goal of “promoting a high quality of life, disease and injury prevention, and health, safety and family well-being.”
Each of the collaborating organizations was there because they have a stake in community health, whether that be child passenger safety, lead poisoning awareness, or Covid-19 vaccination. They offered information on their services and provided resources, for example an opioid overdose nalaxone kit and tutorial.
Health Department employees Amber and Marjeta offering information on child passenger safety.
The Health Department incentivized visitors to stop by each table with a “passport program.” Upon entry, attendees received a print-out booklet with pages that corresponded to each of the tabling organizations. After an individual visited a table, they would earn a stamp in the booklet on the respective page.
Later, the amount of stamps in someone’s booklet could be exchanged for the same amount of raffle tickets. The prizes, which were all purchased by the Health Department, ranged from arts & crafts, to baseball tickets, to airplane tickets, to a kid’s bike.
Andressa Granado demonstrating how to administer narcan in the event of an opioid overdose.
The fair also featured a free vaccination service, complimentary food from Michelina’s Pizza, live entertainment, and a bounce house.
Glasper's children with Alder Ficklin (back center): Jawuan, Jahzaria, Ahndiya, Zyiara, and Dasani.
About halfway through the day, Health Department Director Maritza Bond took to the stage to present a city proclamation. The citation honored Glasper’s “18 years of service to the City and healthcare field.” Beaver Hills Alder Tom Ficklin also presented a citation on behalf of the Board of Alders to express condolence and sympathy for the family.
Thank you to the volunteers and donors who put on the Momma’s Love Community Day interior community in honor of Latoya Glasper. What a wonderful tribute.