What do nearly 1,000 women that live in Winnsboro, Marion, and Orangeburg South Carolina have in common? They all showed up for the 2006 Health Ministry Empowerment Tour—a one-day conference complete with free health screenings, life management workshops, and to hear gospel sensation Ann Nesby speak.

The Health Ministry Empowerment Tour is a collaborative initiative between Select Health of South Carolina and IMARA Woman Magazine and offers health education and quality of life resources for minority women.

Multiple Grammy-nominated Ann Nesby, who's also the grandmother of American Idol contestant Paris Bennett, shared intimate details about how she suffered with diabetes and battled with obesity.  It wasn't until she was hospitalized with congestive heart failure that she decided it was time to make a change … right then and there.  Nesby’s message encouraged attendees to be more proactive about preventive health.

“This outreach program is important because it allows us to reach underserved communities where we see the greatest need for quality of life resources and life-saving health information,” said Kathy Stone, Select Health Vice President of Public Affairs.

Empowerment workshops were conducted by licensed professionals of local and regional organizations, including Clemson University’s Extension Program, Darkness 2 Light, the American Heart Association and more.