The Howard University Department of Community and Family Medicine and the Howard University Cancer Center are turning to a signature D.C. sound to raise awareness about a deadly yet preventable disease: colorectal cancer.

On Saturday, Mar. 28, Howard organizers will host a Go-Go–themed community health fair at the Go-Go Museum and Café, marking the kickoff of a colorectal cancer awareness campaign aimed at reaching residents across the District. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Running from noon to 4 p.m., the free event will showcase Go-Go performances, host on-site health screenings, educational resources, and provide direct access to medical professionals. The event is also supported by the DC Department of Health and community-based partners such as Zion Baptist Church Health Ministry at Zion Baptist Church, located in Maryland and the District. 

“Go-Go is deeply rooted in D.C. culture,” said Dr. Finie Hunter-Richardson, assistant professor in the Howard University College of Medicine. “By centering this campaign around it, we hope to create a space that feels familiar, engaging, and accessible while delivering critical health information.”

The event will also feature five prominent Go-Go band partners who help anchor the campaign in D.C.’s signature sound: Sugar Bear of E.U., Be’la Dona, Tink Jones of UnKut Band, Envizion, and “Shooters” of Alla Bout Money.

The fair will include free prostate cancer screening, an “Ask the Doctor” booth, a walk-through inflatable colon exhibit, and fitness demonstrations, alongside performances from local artists. The event is also designed to connect residents with resources that can support early detection and prevention — key factors in reducing colorectal cancer outcomes.

Colorectal cancer remains one of the most preventable, yet deadly cancers when not detected early, with disparities continuing to affect Black communities at higher rates. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, non-Hispanic Black people have the highest rates of colorectal cancer deaths.

Through this initiative, Howard aims to close that gap by combining education, access, and cultural relevance, Hunter-Richardson said.

The event also calls on Howard students to participate, offering volunteer opportunities. 

Learn more about colorectal cancer from a recent episode of The Daily Drum on WHUR, where Dr. Hunter-Richardson and Dr. Elizabeth Ordor, chief of education in the Department of Community and Family Medicine at Howard University Hospital, discussed prevention, screening and disparities. 

Howard programs regularly host community health fairs and outreach events as part of their ongoing mission to expand access to care. This event reflects that broader commitment — one rooted in decades of training physicians, researchers, and public health leaders dedicated to addressing disparities that disproportionately impact Black communities.

For more information on volunteering at this event, contact Dr. Finie Hunter-Richardson at fkhunter@howard.edu. 

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