Healthcare Town Hall Planned in Benton Harbor

Event aims to connect residents with resources and address healthcare concerns

Mar. 20, 2026 at 5:00am

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A healthcare town hall is planned for this Friday, March 20 in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The event is being organized by Berrien County Commissioner Chokwe Pitchford's political action group, Berrien Forward, to discuss residents' healthcare concerns and connect them with available resources and services.

Why it matters

Access to affordable healthcare is a major issue for many Benton Harbor residents, with Pitchford noting that it is the "number one issue" that comes up during the group's door-to-door canvassing. The town hall aims to educate the public on local healthcare options and promote initiatives to keep people out of the emergency room.

The details

The town hall will feature a panel of healthcare experts, including the Director of Healthier Communities at Corewell Health South, a state representative, a retired community health worker, and a senior project specialist at Corewell Health. The event will be held at the Benton Harbor Public Library from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

  • The town hall is planned for this Friday, March 20, 2026.

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.

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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 event organized by Berrien Forward, and the group plans to hold more in the future to keep the community engaged and informed on key issues.

The takeaway

This town hall highlights the pressing need for improved access to affordable healthcare in the Benton Harbor community, and the efforts by local leaders to connect residents with resources and promote preventative care initiatives.