“As a black owned business we feel proud to acknowledge and celebrate the Juneteenth holiday by holding this Wellness Fair and showcasing over 10+ local Black & minority owned businesses.”
By Luke Kellersohn
Ann Arbor’s The Fitness House is hosting a Wellness Fair this Saturday, June 19th. In addition to The Fitness House, several other local businesses will be present at the event for attendees to learn more about some of the great Black and minority owned businesses in the area. Providing a fun atmosphere with music, food, and a variety of free entertainment, the Wellness Fair aims to bring people together to network and have fun in an enjoyable environment.
The Fitness House, a local health and wellness collaborative, boasts a facility containing both indoor and outdoor workout areas, sandpit, pro-style basketball hoop, and a multipurpose sports field. Attendees of the event will be able to participate in fitness challenges for prizes, as well as enjoy complimentary amenities such as car detailing and massages. AFC Ann Arbor will be giving away some free tickets to Wednesday’s Community Kicks Cup in Hamtramck. The Wellness Fair provides a space for not only those interested in learning more about what The Fitness House has to offer, but also for local residents to learn about the many businesses/organizations that will be in attendance.
Brian Young, owner of The Fitness House, planned this event to highlight some of their partners and other local businesses. The Wellness Fair was intentionally scheduled on June 19th to coincide with Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating the emancipation of slaves.
“As a black owned business we feel proud to acknowledge and celebrate the Juneteenth holiday by holding this Wellness Fair and showcasing over 10+ local Black & minority owned businesses. Many of the collaborating organizations/businesses at this upcoming Wellness Fair specialize in programming for marginalized youth, addressing social injustices, and overall strengthening not only the black community but our local community as a whole,” said Young.
Young also highlighted that Juneteenth brings a conflicting set of emotions. The holiday, while celebrating a day of liberation, also serves as a reminder of our country’s darker past and even the continued systemic issues that minorities face today. Rather than hosting an empty celebration, Young chose to highlight other local black owned businesses and celebrate the day with partnership.
All of the collaborating businesses are either personal or professional friends of Young, and AFC Ann Arbor was one of the first he reached out to. Having been friends with co-owner Bilal Saeed for years, Young knows about the plethora of social work that the club is involved in.
“I believe AFC embodies the type of organization that we love to support and collaborate with. Their passion toward social justice and anti-racism in sports is admirable to say the least,” stated Young.
The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. and last until 3:00 Saturday afternoon. Young emphasized the importance of the event for The Fitness House explaining, “One of our biggest missions is to serve others by collaborating with other like minded businesses & organizations. We are proud to be one of the leaders in this area bringing people together to build a stronger community.”