RVA CENTER FOR JUSTICE SPONSORS "RELEASE THE PRESURE: A FARM TO TABLE EXPERIENCE"
4/8/26, 5:00 PM
The Reuben V. Anderson Center for Justice sponsored the 2nd Annual Tougaloo College 100 Men in Suits Day: Release the Pressure, a campus and community initiative focused on cardiovascular health, Black men’s wellness, professionalism, and food as medicine. Sponsored through the Delta GREENS Food Is Medicine Initiative, the event featured moderator Dr. Victor Sutton and keynote speaker Dr. Richard Rayford, who led discussions on hypertension, preventive healthcare, and healthy living. The evening combined health education, leadership, fellowship, and a Farm to Table Experience to promote awareness surrounding heart disease prevention and community wellness.
The Reuben V. Anderson Center for Justice sponsored the 2nd Annual Tougaloo College 100 Men in Suits Day: Release the Pressure on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Jessie L. Sherrod Auditorium inside the Bennie G. Thompson Academic & Civil Rights Center.
Centered around the theme “Brother to Brother: Release the Pressure,” the event addressed the intersection of cardiovascular health, nutrition, food access, and Black men’s wellness. The program brought together students, community leaders, healthcare professionals, and advocates to raise awareness about hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, and preventive healthcare in Black communities.
The evening featured remarks and discussions focused on preventive cardiology, lifestyle medicine, and the importance of regular medical care and early intervention. The featured speaker was Dr. Richard Rayford, a cardiologist with Merit Health Medical Group Cardiovascular Care Jackson, who spoke on cardiovascular disparities impacting Black men and strategies for improving long-term heart health.
The program was moderated by Dr. Victor Sutton, Executive Director of the JHS-Community Engagement Center, who guided the discussion surrounding health equity, prevention, and community-centered healthcare engagement.
The event also included on-site health education, conversations surrounding LDL cholesterol and blood pressure management, and the “Release the Pressure: A Farm to Table Experience,” which highlighted the connection between nutrition and cardiovascular wellness through food-as-medicine programming.
Additional program elements included presentations from student leaders, recognition of campus and community impact honorees, and partnerships with organizations committed to public health, agriculture, and civic engagement. The initiative was supported through collaborations with the Association of Black Cardiologists, the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, the Tougaloo Agri-Growth Initiative, and student organizations across Tougaloo College.
Organizers emphasized that 100 Men in Suits Day continues to serve as more than a display of professionalism and unity, evolving into a platform that promotes wellness, mentorship, leadership, and community empowerment.