Berrien County Hosts Healthcare Town Hall

Event aims to connect residents with resources and address healthcare concerns

Mar. 20, 2026 at 10:00pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Berrien County Commissioner Chokwe Pitchford and his political action group, Berrien Forward, are organizing a town hall event in Benton Harbor to discuss healthcare options and resources available to local residents. The event will feature a panel of experts who will answer questions and provide assistance to attendees.

Why it matters

Healthcare access and affordability are major concerns for many Berrien County residents, with some having to choose between paying for necessities like food and rent or their insurance premiums. This town hall aims to educate the public on the social services and programs available to support better health outcomes.

The details

The town hall will be held at the Benton Harbor Public Library from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on March 20th. The panelists include Corewell Health South Director of Healthier Communities Nicki Britten, State Representative Joey Andrews, retired community health worker Margaret Clayborn, and Kyna King, the senior project specialist at Corewell Health. They will discuss local healthcare options and resources to help residents proactively manage their health.

  • The town hall will be held on March 20, 2026 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

The players

Chokwe Pitchford

Berrien County Commissioner and organizer of the Berrien Forward political action group.

Nicki Britten

Director of Healthier Communities at Corewell Health South.

Joey Andrews

State Representative.

Margaret Clayborn

Retired community health worker.

Kyna King

Senior project specialist at Corewell Health.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“You have people who are struggling right now and having to choose between paying for groceries or paying their rent and paying for their insurance premiums.”

— Chokwe Pitchford, Berrien County Commissioner

“A lot of people think that healthcare is just the ER room, but we want to try to promote policies, initiatives, and programs that are trying to keep people out of the ER and give them more tools personally to have a better impact on their health.”

— Chokwe Pitchford, Berrien County Commissioner

What’s next

The town hall is the first in a series of events planned by Berrien Forward to engage the public and address key issues in the community.

The takeaway

This town hall highlights the ongoing challenges many Berrien County residents face in accessing and affording healthcare, and the efforts by local leaders to connect them with resources and information to improve their health outcomes.