Advance the Dream LIVE RECAP: Season 4 Premiere — Health Literacy Month & Real Reflections

By Lucy Howell, Co-Founder, The Force for Health® Network

Season 4 Premiere — A Return with Purpose

Our Season 4 premiere of Advance the Dream LIVE marked a powerful return to purpose, energy, and connection.

Advance the Dream is our branded broadcast and community that is hosted and powered by The Force for Health® Network, where we shine a light on those who are actively advancing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream through education, service, and equity in health.

Each episode blends real-world conversations with teachable moments…a place where science meets story, and where courage, compassion, and community drive the dialogue forward.

This season, we’re focusing on how health literacy and personal accountability intersect with the human spirit. And what better time to do that than October for National Health Literacy Month.

What does Health Literacy mean to you?

Setting the Stage — Seeing the Science First

We kicked off the episode with one of our most powerful VIVA Health Literacy videos from The Risky Behaviors Journey — an immersive 3D look at what happens to the body when someone smokes.

The video walks viewers through the physiological impact of cigarette smoke — from inflamed lungs and damaged arteries to the way toxins affect the heart, skin, and cells throughout the body. It’s not scare tactics — it’s science, visualized in a way that anyone can understand.

As I said during the broadcast:

“When people can see what’s happening inside their bodies, it stops being just information — it becomes revelation.”

That opening moment grounded our discussion in why health literacy matters. Before we could talk about stories, we wanted to talk about systems — the miraculous, fragile, interconnected systems of the human body.

Dr. Robert Gillio, our Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder, used that moment to emphasize a crucial lesson: how understanding health data — and recognizing the difference between causation and correlation — can empower families to make informed decisions.

“Just because two things happen together doesn’t mean one caused the other,” Rob reminded viewers. “Health literacy begins when you start thinking critically about what you read and hear — and learn to ask the right questions.”

That set the perfect tone for what came next.

Real Reflections — Josh Williams’ Story of Resilience

From the science of the body, we shifted to the story of the heart.

Our co-host and National Director of Advance the Dream and YouDO Matter, Josh Williams, shared a deeply personal journey that reminded all of us why health literacy is about more than information — it’s about transformation.

Just last spring, Josh faced a medical crisis that changed his life forever. What began as a serious complication led to months of hospital care and, ultimately, an amputation.

He spoke with honesty and humility about how that experience reshaped his perspective:

“I didn’t think I was going to make it,” Josh said. “But I did. And now I have a responsibility to help others know their health…before it’s too late.”

Since then, he’s lost 46 pounds, rebalanced his lifestyle, and become an even stronger advocate for prevention and early screening. Through his YouDO Matter platform, Josh has launched U-Matter Health Promotion Day, encouraging students and local leaders to host screenings and community health events where education and access meet.

Dr. Rob reflected,

“Josh embodies what it means to learn it, live it, and share it. He took a moment of loss and turned it into leadership.”

That message — that health literacy begins with self-awareness and community empowerment — became the bridge to our next topic: how local health fairs and partnerships make that vision real.

From Reflection to Action — The Power of Community Health Fairs

After hearing Josh’s story, we turned our focus to how and where people can take those first steps toward health literacy. Community fairs are one of the best ways — and I’ve seen the impact firsthand.

Just recently, I attended the Second Annual Health Fair at Tucson’s historic Dunbar Pavilion, hosted by the National Panhellenic Council of Southern Arizona. This incredible event — led by Sam Ross and Cierla Conerly-Sims — brought together members of the Divine 9 fraternities and sororities for a day of screenings, resources, and community service.

Sam is not only a local leader but also a key partner with The Force for Health®, and I want to give him a special shoutout here — because it was through that event that I met our next guest, Kelly Ellsberry.

I even took advantage of the opportunity to get my blood checked — something I’d been meaning to do but hadn’t found time for. And I’m so glad I did. Kelly’s team of students performed the screenings, and I loved watching how confidently they interacted with attendees — eager to share their experiences, training, and career goals.

For more details, you can read my Out and About Recap from the event on the Force for Health® blog — it’s a perfect example of how partnerships like this bring learning and health literacy to life in our communities.

From the Mountains — Kelly Ellsberry on Knowing Your Blood

That experience made my on-air introduction to Kelly Ellsberry, Founder and CEO of Berry Best Phlebotomy Training Academy and Berry Best Mobile Lab Services, even more meaningful.

Kelly joined us from the top of Mount Lemmon, Tucson’s beautiful mountaintop escape where desert turns to forest in a scenic hour-long drive. Despite a few technical hiccups (mountain Wi-Fi has its limits!), her passion and purpose came through loud and clear.

“The blood is the first step to knowing what’s going on with your health,” Kelly said.

Her academy, based in the historic Dunbar Pavilion, partners with Goodwill of Southern Arizona to train phlebotomists and lab technicians — giving students hands-on experience while expanding access to local screening events and mobile lab services.

Kelly’s work perfectly embodies what Advance the Dream is all about — connecting education, opportunity, and community health in real time. We’ll absolutely have her back on a future episode as our partner projects continue to grow together.

Reflections — Advancing the Dream, Together

As we wrapped up the premiere, I found myself reflecting on how naturally the conversation flowed — from science to story to service to community.

Each segment underscored the message that health literacy starts with awareness, grows through connection, and thrives through collaboration.

Here are a few highlights that stayed with me:

Dr. Rob: “Every day is a chance to make the healthiest decision possible — and to teach others to do the same.”
Josh: “Know your health. Don’t wait for a crisis to learn about your body.”
Kelly: “Know your blood — it tells your story before you even speak.”
Me: “Population health is a team sport. Everyone plays a position.”

That’s what Advance the Dream is all about — amplifying voices, creating access, and connecting science to soul so we can all move toward a healthier, more equitable future.

Learn It. Live It. Share It. Earn It.

Visit ForceForHealth.com to explore our 360° learning tools, community challenges, and Reality Health Games — all designed to make health literacy personal, practical, and empowering.

Because when we understand the science, honor the story, and share what we’ve learned, we don’t just advance our health….We Advance the Dream.