Partnering to Empower Healthy Living

Cedars-Sinai celebrated community and culture at the 19th annual Taste of Soul Family Festival, Los Angeles’ largest free one-day street festival.  

The all-day, multigenerational celebration brought more than 500,000 Angelenos to Crenshaw Boulevard to experience the city’s finest food and music, and to learn about available community resources. As one of the event sponsors, Cedars-Sinai provided health information and experts to help empower community members to prioritize health and wellness.

“Taste of Soul is more than just an event—it’s a joyful celebration of the Los Angeles community’s strength, resilience, and unity,” said Christina Harris, MD, Cedars-Sinai’s vice president and chief health equity officer. “With more than 45 initiatives dedicated to community health, diversity, inclusion and health equity, we’re here to support everyone on their health journey.”

Founded in 2006 by Danny Bakewell Sr., civil rights activist and executive publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel, the Taste of Soul festival is a celebration of Los Angeles’ Black community and culture. This year’s festival featured celebrity host Tiffany Haddish, three music stages, voter registration booths, children’s activities, and a range of health, financial and community resources.

As part of the festivities, Cedars-Sinai engaged attendees through interactive activities, including a family photo booth and games for children. A “Conversations Corner” connected festivalgoers with healthcare experts available to answer questions.  

Attendee Pastor Mark Charles stopped by the Cedars-Sinai tent to share his connection to the medical center.

“Cedars-Sinai delivered my son back in 1978, and they did an excellent job,” Charles said. “If I ever got sick or needed to go to a hospital, I’d choose Cedars-Sinai again. I feel very fortunate to have a hospital like Cedars-Sinai in our community.”

Read More on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: At Cedars-Sinai, a Dedicated Focus on Black Birth Equity