A walk through Philadelphia’s Mt. Airy neighborhood revealed stories of resilience, fear and hope before a community lung cancer screening event even begins.

By Milton Kirby | Philadelphia, PA | July 12, 2026

Six blocks.

That was all it took to remind me why community journalism still matters.

On a warm Friday afternoon, I walked the neighborhood surrounding Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ, where residents will gather on Saturday, July 25^th 10:00am – 12:30pm, for the Lung Cancer Screening to Treatment 2.0: A Community Conversation.

I wasn’t conducting a formal survey. I wasn’t knocking on doors.

I simply walked.

Two blocks along Ogontz Avenue. A turn onto 18th Street. Two more blocks through a neighborhood where families relaxed on front porches, neighbors washed garbage bins after a delayed pickup, and others returned home from work or afternoon errands.

Nothing about the neighborhood immediately suggested that conversations about lung health would soon unfold.

Yet before I completed my walk, I had heard stories about a punctured lung, years of asthma, fear of cancer screening, and the quiet burden carried by caregivers who often neglect their own health while caring for others.

Those conversations reminded me that every neighborhood has stories waiting to be heard. Sometimes all it takes is slowing down long enough to listen.

Looking Beyond Statistics

Public health reports can tell us how many people develop lung cancer each year. Researchers can identify risk factors and explain who qualifies for screening.

But statistics rarely introduce you to the people behind those numbers.

That afternoon, the people of Mt. Airy did.

Each conversation revealed a different path to lung disease and a different reason why community education matters.

No two stories were alike.

RB’s Journey Through Trauma and Recovery

One of the first residents I met was RB.

His lung problems did not begin with smoking.

Years ago, he survived a gunshot wound that pierced one of his lungs. Later, exposure to mold triggered asthma complications and recurring respiratory infections that led to repeated hospitalizations.

“There were times I was in the hospital every month,” he told me as he reflected on years of treatment and recovery.

Today, he continues receiving regular medical care and says he is doing much better than he once was. His story serves as a reminder that lung disease can develop for many reasons. Trauma, environmental exposure, chronic illness and other health conditions can all leave lasting effects on the lungs.

His experience challenged a common assumption that every conversation about lung health begins and ends with smoking.

It doesn’t.

A Conversation About Caregivers

As our conversation continued, another topic emerged.

Sitting next to RB was his companion, who has accepted responsibility for managing RB’s care.

Watching the two of them together reminded me of another caregiver who has shaped my own life.

I shared the story of my cousin, who devoted years to caring for my mother until she passed away on June 19 at the age of 95.

I gently encouraged the caregiver not to make the mistake of neglecting her own health while ensuring that RB gets all of his health needs cared for.

People who care for loved ones often remind others to see a doctor.

Sometimes they need someone to remind them to do the same.

Fear Can Become Another Risk Factor

A few houses down the block, I met Andre.

He told me he has smoked for about 20 years.

He also shared something healthcare professionals hear every day.

He has never been screened for lung cancer.

As we talked, the reason slowly emerged.

It wasn’t because he didn’t know screening existed.

It wasn’t because he couldn’t find a hospital.

Like many people, he was afraid of what screening might reveal.

Fear has a way of postponing difficult conversations.

Sometimes it postpones doctor visits as well.

Rather than criticize his hesitation, I invited him to attend the July 25 community conversation.

“Just come and listen,” I told him. “Nobody is going to make you do anything.”

Community health events give people an opportunity to ask questions without the pressure that sometimes comes with a medical appointment. Physicians, survivors and healthcare advocates can explain who qualifies for screening, how the process works and why finding lung cancer early often provides more treatment options.

Whether Andre attends remains his decision.

But our conversation reflected something many healthcare providers understand.

People cannot benefit from screening if fear prevents them from taking the first step.

Every Porch Has a Story

By the end of my walk, I realized I hadn’t interviewed dozens of residents.

I had only spoken with the people who happened to be outside enjoying the afternoon.

Their stories cannot represent an entire neighborhood.

Nor should they.

But together they painted a picture that statistics alone cannot provide.

One resident was living with the lasting effects of trauma and respiratory illness.

Another admitted avoiding screening because of fear.

A caregiver quietly balanced another person’s health while risking her own.

Three conversations.

Three different experiences.

Three reminders that every family encounters health challenges differently.

Why July 25 Matters

Those conversations help explain why HEAL Collaborative, in partnership with Amgen, is bringing Lung Cancer Screening to Treatment 2.0 directly into the Mt. Airy community. Together, the organizations are working to remove barriers to information by connecting residents with physicians, survivors, patient advocates and healthcare professionals in a welcoming community setting.

The free event will take place on Saturday, July 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ, 6401 Ogontz Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19126.

Participants will learn about lung cancer risk factors, who qualifies for screening, the importance of early detection, available treatment options and local resources that can help people navigate their healthcare journey.

Shenika Bond, Regional Director of Community Outreach and Advocacy Engagement for HEAL Collaborative, said the goal is for participants to leave with more than information.

“We want people to leave with the confidence to talk with their personal physicians, request screening if they qualify, and become strong advocates for their own healthcare,” Bond said.

That confidence begins with asking questions.

It grows through understanding personal risk factors, learning when screening is appropriate, and having informed conversations with family members and healthcare providers.

The message shared throughout the initiative is straightforward: Anyone with lungs can develop lung cancer.

While smoking remains the leading risk factor, environmental exposures, occupational hazards, family history and certain medical conditions can also increase a person’s risk. Understanding those risks and knowing when to seek screening can lead to earlier detection, more treatment options and better outcomes.

More Than an Event

As journalists, we often measure success by stories published, photographs taken or events covered.

Walking through Mt. Airy reminded me to measure something else.

Not how many interviews I completed.

But how many conversations had begun.

Through partnerships like the one between HEAL Collaborative and Amgen, organizers hope those conversations that begin on neighborhood sidewalks will continue inside churches, doctors’ offices and family living rooms, where informed decisions about lung health can ultimately save lives.

If even one resident decides to ask a physician about lung cancer screening because of a conversation that started on a neighborhood sidewalk or outside a local church, then that walk accomplished far more than filling seats on July 25.

It demonstrated what community journalism is meant to do.

Connect people with information that can improve lives.

Sometimes, it may even help save one.

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