One Brooklyn Health hosts annual Gospel Fest

One Brooklyn Health (OBH) ​will on Sunday, Oct. 13 host its annual OBH Gospel Fest in collaboration with Pastor Gil Monrose of Mt. Zion Church of God 7th Day and Brooklyn Center for Quality Life.

Enid Dillard, OBH’s senior director of marketing and communications, told Caribbean Life on Monday that the event will be held in the Kahn Auditorium at the OBH Brookdale Medical Center campus, 535 Rockaway Parkway, Brooklyn, from 4 – 6 p.m.

“Featuring gospel choirs and artists from the central Brooklyn community, this effort is designed to celebrate the invaluable partnership between One Brooklyn Health and the clergy of Central Brooklyn, and the important connection between physical and spiritual wellness,” said Dillard, the daughter of Guyanese immigrants, stating that, “this unique collaboration started over 14 years ago at the OBH Kingsbrook Medical Center campus, as a result of the important alliance the medical center fostered with their local clergy and health ministries.”

Created by Dillard and Pastor Monrose, Dillard said the event historically attracts over 250 patrons annually, “offering an afternoon of healing and inspiration with a breadth of information on medical services, special programs and support groups offered at One Brooklyn Health.”

Enid Dillard, senior director, Marketing & Communications, One Brooklyn Health System. Photo by Jean Pierre Dillard

Dillard said OBH “works very closely with our community’s churches, as we depend on their advocacy to increase awareness and education about the important programs and services we offer.

“Our mission includes a strong commitment to community collaboration, and this event and our partnership with Mr. Zion are reflective of that,” she said. “Our churches rely on us to facilitate needs as well, and this event celebrates our collective effort to advance healing and inspire wellness throughout our community.

“We thank Mt. Zion for their years of commitment, partnership and support,” she added.

Pastor Monrose, who was born in the US Virgin Islands of St. Lucian parentage, said: “As clergy, we play a very important role in our community’s health, and having partnerships like the one we have with One Brooklyn Health is important to us.

“Mt. Zion and Brooklyn Center for Quality Life are committed to increasing access to health education, health screenings and collaborating on programs that speak to the social determinants of health like gun violence and food insecurity,” he said.

“One Brooklyn Health has been our partner in all these efforts, and the OBH Gospel Fest helps to commemorate that partnership and our dedication to our community’s spiritual and physical wellness,” he added.

Dillard said this year’s event highlight is the OBH Gospel Choir, which includes voices from across the OBH system, comprising three medical centers and their affiliated facilities, Interfaith Medical Center (IMC), Brookdale Hospital Medical Center (BHMC) and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center (KJMC).

She said the event will also feature community gospel artists, such as the Mt. Zion Praise & Worship Team, the Phillip Singers and the CCNY Liturgical dance team.

“The community will have the opportunity to learn more about the impressive programs at OBH, including their extensive Pastoral Care Program, support services such as the Stroke Survivors Support Group, the Breast Cancer Survivor Support Group, OBH Centers of Excellence and more,” Dillard said.

For further information about the OBH Gospel Fest, visit www.onebrooklynhealth.org; or contact Dillard at 718-344-5579, or email: [email protected]