Who we are

Heart, Body & Soul, Inc. (HBS), a Brooklyn based 501(c)(3) nonprofit was created to serve communities of color, particularly Black men in underserved communities, as it relates to their physical and mental health and to improve and increase communication between Black men, their healthcare providers, and their families regarding their overall health.

Through its annual signature event, “The Black Man’s Health Festival”, virtual & in-person discussions, pop-up events and health screenings, HBS provides a platform for members of the medical community, holistic practitioners, fitness professionals, food and nutrition experts as well as mental health professionals to speak with and engage Black men from the local community to ensure they are empowered to make the best health decisions for themselves and their loved ones.

HBS continues to increase awareness through special events, video, web campaigns and alliances with local and national healthcare organizations aimed at furthering these objectives. Additionally, HBS will be working with key partners to provide access to resources that can aid/assist those less fortunate or who are simply overwhelmed due to certain circumstances.

Our Founder’s story

Heart, Body & Soul (HBS) was conceptualized by Christopher Williams. A resident of Brooklyn, Christopher experienced a number of personal health issues, which began with a heart attack in October of 2015 at the age of 42. “I never imagined I would have suffered a heart attack at that time, especially considering the fact that I felt like I was at my optimal fitness level. I was in the gym 5 – 6 days a week. The scariest part of all of this was being told that I had a 98% blockage in one of my coronary arteries and had the doctors not checked my bloodwork to see the levels of my cardiac enzymes, it might have been missed. Thanks to the advancement of technology, all they had to do was implant a coronary stent, which is used to open the artery so the blockage can be cleared and blood flow can resume. It took a year for me to get myself back in the right state of mind. I battled with doubt, depression, anxiety and overall worry that it would happen again.” Thankfully, he was able to move forward and with the benefit of cardiac rehab, make a full recovery.

Unfortunately for Christopher, life had some new events in store and in September of 2021, after having to rush to the emergency room for an apparent case of appendicitis, he was later diagnosed with appendiceal cancer, a rare type of cancer that grows from cells that make up the appendix. “The diagnosis felt like a punch to the gut, but I knew I couldn’t waste time worrying. I had to take action fast. After sharing the details with my loved ones and being encouraged to get a second opinion regarding treatment, I did some research and found the oncologists who treated me at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). My surgery was tentatively scheduled for November of 2021, but on October 8, 2021, I suffered a second heart attack, which required another stent and 3 months of cardiac rehab, before I could undergo surgery to remove the tumor and part of my colon. The cancer would have to wait.”

Finally, in February 2022, after receiving clearance from his cardiologist, the cardiologist at MSKCC and after a colonoscopy to determine if there was any change, Christopher underwent a right hemicolectomy, which is a laparoscopic robotic procedure conducted by the surgical oncologist. During the procedure the tumor was removed, and part of his colon was removed and resectioned to ensure he had full function post-surgery. Once the surgery was completed, the next step was to determine the stage of the cancer, which was reported to be stage III appendiceal cancer and the team at MSKCC recommended he start chemotherapy.

Christopher was ready to begin his healing process, but again, there were a few more challenges to overcome. In late February, following his surgery and recovery at home, Christopher began to experience some unusual chest pains, which worsened during mild exertion. He immediately contacted his cardiologist, who scheduled him for an angiogram the following day. The findings showed a 95% blockage in his coronary artery and required another coronary stent. There is no denying that all of these experiences took a toll on Christopher mentally, physically and emotionally, but when asked about it, he had this to say – “I definitely needed a strong support system in place to deal with all the challenges laid out before me. I mean, even after my last coronary situation, I ended up back in the emergency room for a serious blood infection, which led to a 2-week hospital stay and 6 weeks of antibiotics, all while undergoing chemotherapy. Was this stressful? Absolutely, but I felt gratitude more than anything else, because through it all, I still had my life.”

All of these experiences with his personal health, combined with the experiences of friends and family members led Christopher to see that something different had to be done. He knew that communities of color required special attention when it comes to access to quality health care, resources, education and so much more to ensure better lives, but what was screaming loudly, was the need to focus his efforts on helping Black men. When asked why he developed Heart, Body & Soul, Christopher had this to say – “Health is a huge issue in the Black community and unfortunately due to the healthcare disparities that exist, including lack of access to quality wellness programs, food deserts in our community and limited health education to name a few, Black men are less likely to get annual check-ups, seek mental health services or share their health challenges with others. Whether it’s cultural, psychological or generational, the fact remains that open and honest conversations about physical and mental health need to be had and it needs to happen frequently among Black men.”