A Historic Weekend for Choose Healthy Life in New York
This past weekend marked a pivotal moment for Choose Healthy Life (CHL) as faith, leadership, and community came together in celebration and transition.
On Saturday, September 13th, at the House of Justice in Harlem, Rev. Al Sharpton—CHL Clergy Council Co-Chair—joined CHL leadership to announce the transition of New York Clergy Leadership. Rev. Lawrence Aker III, Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Brooklyn, was welcomed as CHL’s new New York Clergy Leader, succeeding Rev. Jacques Andre DeGraff, who has faithfully led since CHL’s inception.
The announcement was followed by a Sunday service on September 14th at Cornerstone Baptist Church, where the congregation gathered for a spirit-filled celebration. The service drew distinguished guests including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, each offering congratulatory greetings and praising CHL for its transformative work in improving health outcomes for underserved communities across New York.
In her remarks, Governor Hochul reaffirmed the state’s commitment and shared how proud she was of the work and the impact that Choose Healthy Life has had on the communities they serve.
Rev. Sharpton celebrated both leaders, noting Rev. DeGraff’s unwavering dedication and Rev. Aker’s vision for the future.
The weekend served not only as a time of transition but also as a reminder of the vital role CHL plays in uniting faith and science. Through its partnership with 30 churches in New York, CHL has already reached more than 100,000 individuals, trained trusted health navigators, and delivered critical services including health screenings, social support referrals, and navigation of social determinants of health.
As Rev. Aker shared, “Integrating faith with science has allowed us to gain the trust of our community members. I am honored to take on this role and continue the work of connecting our people to the health services they deserve.”
With heartfelt tributes to Rev. DeGraff’s legacy and a renewed commitment to CHL’s mission under Rev. Aker’s leadership, this weekend of celebration reflected CHL’s ongoing promise: to ensure that every person has the opportunity to live a longer, healthier life.
