Building A Better You In Burlington A Success

Building A Better You brings health-focused education and support. 

Greensboro – Alamance County residents received free health care screenings and connected with local community resources while taking steps toward healthier lives during Cone Health’s Center for Health Equity Building a Better You: Alamance County event on Saturday, May 16, at Ebenezer United Church of Christ in Burlington.

Where people live plays a significant role in how long and how well they live. Factors such as access to health care, healthy food options, transportation and affordable housing all affect life expectancy. Cone Health created Building a Better You events to help close long-standing life expectancy gaps by bringing services and resources directly into the community.

The free community wellness event brought together 94 attendees and 35 local exhibitors offering wellness services and community resources. Participants had access to screenings for ankle-brachial index (ABI), kidney disease, blood pressure, blood sugar, A1C, cholesterol and prostate cancer. The event also featured health education for families, interactive activities for children and adults, and high-value raffle prizes, including $100 gift cards, travel items and swag. Attendees received free food bags provided by Brito Food Market and connected with resources spanning eldercare, family and children’s services, nutrition, employment and spiritual support.

“In Burlington, about 14 percent of adults are living with diabetes, and roughly 15 percent of people in ZIP code 27217 do not have health insurance,” says Dr. Olu Jegede, chief health equity and community impact officer at Cone Health. “Those realities make Building a Better You especially important for Alamance County. This event brings free care and trusted resources directly into the community, so families can get support that can make a real difference in their health.”

Cone Health’s Building a Better You events continue to draw strong community participation across the region, often serving as a first connection point for residents seeking chronic disease management, mental health, nutrition and family care services.

This year’s Alamance County event demonstrated meaningful progress in engagement, with 74.5% of attendees receiving screenings compared to 18.6% at last year’s event, highlighting increased participation in preventive health services and continued momentum in advancing community health.