At the second session of PHEN’s 2025 Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit, Adrian Backus, JD, MDiv, PHEN’s Director of Church Partnerships and Community Outreach, welcomed the audience to the second session of PHEN’s 21st African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit. He also thanked the sponsors, PHEN Founder Mr. Thomas Farrington, and Rev. Blane Newberry, the moderator of the session. Rev. Backus discussed PHEN’s church partnerships and how they have spread the word about the prostate cancer disparity to raise awareness and save lives.

He explained that PHEN’s community rally initiatives have spread the word about early detection screening with free PSA screenings as well as treatments and clinical trials with sponsoring partners and church-based partnerships.

“Our faith-based partnerships initiative includes having a conversation and highlighting PHEN’s collaboration with the A.M.E. Zion church leaders,” mentioned Rev. Backus. “The PHEN prostate cancer community rally activities include the participation of clergy, elected officials, medical professionals, survivors, and all who spoke out through recorded messages on early detection, treatment options, and clinical trials.”

“These messages are promoted through paid radio and social media advertisements. Each rally concludes with an educational symposium or virtual/hybrid town hall meeting and a free PSA screening,” he described.

“Over the last five years, PHEN’s prostate cancer community rally has reached more than 24 million people,” said Rev. Backus. “Through seventeen rallies across 29 cities in 17 states, it is still continuing to grow. The rallies are transforming communities as they join this mission.”