Masonic Cancer Center partners with Positive Image to kick off cancer awareness series
For our entire 30-plus year history, the Masonic Cancer Center (MCC), University of Minnesota has been committed to advancing cancer research and education to improve health outcomes across all communities. As our center continues to evolve and grow, so do our collaborations with Minnesota’s communities. We are proud to announce a new partnership with Positive Image, an organization dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of Black communities through education, advocacy, and access to resources! Together, we’ll be putting on a multi-event series throughout 2025 specifically focused on Black men’s health, called “Power Over Cancer."
See details and RSVP for the next event in the series!
Our collaboration will focus on reducing cancer disparities through culturally grounded education and outreach. While the series will explore cancer broadly, it will place a special emphasis on cancers that disproportionately affect Black men. Black men face some of the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the country. For example, they are 1.8 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from it compared to white men. Through a series of educational events and culturally-relevant resources, we are working together to increase awareness and promote early intervention in the fight against cancers impacting Black men.
By the end of 2025, we hope to:
- Increase awareness of prostate cancer risk factors, symptoms, and screening options among Black men in Minnesota
- Promote early detection and screening
- Reduce healthcare barriers by building trust and encouraging open communication between Black men and their healthcare providers
- Provide culturally-tailored educational materials that can continue to serve the community
Our ultimate goal is to make space to provide education and also to open a dialogue about cancer that breaks down cultural stigma and encourages Black men to engage more fully with healthcare providers about their health.
A closer look at the series
We kicked off the series with our March 20 event dedicated to prostate health: the Prostate Cancer Town Hall, held at the B Suite in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This event, focused on Black men, featured an impactful talk from MCC’s Dr. Chris Warlick.
Dr. Warlick’s engaging presentation sparked a lively and meaningful discussion among participants as the group explored specific recommendations for Black men regarding prostate cancer, screening, and prevention.
MCC and Positive Image are excited to welcome community members to a series of future gatherings, all strongly shaped by community input, which will focus on various aspects of cancer and health.
- June 7 | Men’s Empowerment Breakfast: A morning of learning and dialogue focused on cancer and other health basics and disparities impacting Black men.
- June 14 | Father’s Day Golf Event: An annual event from Positive Image that will raise awareness of cancer by focusing on the importance of early detection and prevention.
- August (date TBA) | Breaking Down Risk and Prevention: A summer gathering focused on how everyday habits—like the foods we grill—affect prostate cancer risk.
- September 17 | Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Fireside Chat: An MCC Fireside Chat with a prostate cancer expert and survivor.
- October 26 | Mother/Son Dance: An annual event from Positive Image that will raise awareness of breast cancer with a focus on the importance of early detection of cancer in both men and women.
- November (date TBA) | Survivorship and Support Networks: A discussion of cancer survivorship and the importance of social support, nutrition, and lifestyle changes for cancer prevention.
- December (date TBA) | What’s Next?: A community conversation to help shape the future of this cancer awareness series.
Each event will be designed to foster learning and community engagement while addressing both cancer and other health issues that disproportionately affect Black men. We invite you to join us as we help bridge gaps in health knowledge and access and build a more informed and proactive community!