More Than Prostate Cancer: Lessons from Save the Homies Day

When I started the Save the Homies initiative, I thought I knew exactly what I was doing. I’d attended the Iowa Cancer Summit and learned some sobering statistics: prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Iowa men, and it’s affecting Black men at an alarming rate. As a man of color in the age range when many Black men discover they have prostate cancer, I was shaken. I knew I had to do something. But that first Save the Homies Day back in September taught me that this work is about so much more than prostate cancer awareness.

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The Power of the Right Space

When you bring Black men together under the right circumstances, with nothing but love in the building, something incredible happens. Men became vulnerable in ways I hadn’t anticipated. They shared their experiences with prostate cancer—how they discovered their diagnosis, how they learned a family member had it, the fear they felt, and ultimately, how they found their way through it. There’s real power in that vulnerability, and witnessing it can move someone who hasn’t had that experience yet to take action for themselves.

Breaking Cycles for the Next Generation

One of my favorite parts of Save the Homies Day was seeing the little homies there. My son, Hudson, and the children of friends witnessed Black men talking openly about something we typically don’t discuss, especially not in front of people we don’t know. We were normalizing these conversations about health in real-time. When Hudson gets older, he won’t be afraid to talk about his health with his friends or to check on them and make sure they’re getting the preventative care they need. He saw older men modeling that behavior right in front of him, and that was incredibly powerful.

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Beyond Physical Health

While we gathered to talk about prostate cancer, our conversations naturally expanded to mental health and the weight of expectations placed on Black men. The pressure of being strong, of navigating our own health while taking care of our families — these themes came up repeatedly in small conversations throughout the day. It reminded me that health is holistic, and we can’t address physical wellness without acknowledging mental and emotional wellness too.

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Filling Knowledge Gaps

I was surprised to learn how many men didn't know when they should get their PSA test, what PSA even meant, or how the test worked. PSA stands for Prostate-Specific Antigen—it's a protein produced by the prostate gland, and elevated levels in the blood can be an early indicator of prostate issues, including cancer. The test itself is simple: just a blood draw. But the anxiety around not knowing what to expect can keep men from getting screened. Having a PSA kit on hand to demonstrate the process helped clear up a lot of misconceptions and ease those fears.

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The Road Ahead

There's still a lot of work to be done. There are many more men we need to reach and support through this journey. But Save the Homies Day showed me we're on the right track. When guys tell me, "I just came here for football and wings, but I'm leaving with a better understanding of why it's important to take care of my health," I know we're making a difference. This initiative has become about creating safe spaces, breaking stigmas, educating our community, and building a culture where Black men can be vulnerable, informed, and proactive about their health, all while showing the next generation a different way forward. That's what Save the Homies is really about.