Christian Times - October 2018 (online)

P2 October 27 - November 9, 2018

October 27 - November 9, 2018 P3

A new study of faith-based ap- Dr. Olugbenga Ogedegbe, center, demonstrates the proper technique for taking blood pressure readings
proaches in the treatment of hyper-
tension in the Black community lifestyle changes. The sessions were run by mem- Church in Brooklyn. In her role as a health ad-
has found that people who re- bers of the church acting as lay health advisers. viser, Amanda Hoyte-Badu was trained to lead ses-
ceived therapeutic lifestyle advice These were followed up with three monthly phone sions on topics such as how to lower blood
and motivational interviewing ses- calls updating one of the group leaders from the pressure and set goals to improve health. She and
sions in a church environment had weekly sessions about their progress. two other advisers from her church also followed
a greater reduction in systolic up with participants in the months after the inter-
blood pressure levels than those The other group received one lifestyle session vention.
who received only health educa- focused on high blood pressure, also known as hy-
tion in churches. pertension, and 10 sessions given by health experts “The curriculum encouraged more dialogue
on another topic such as Alzheimer’s disease or and collaboration as opposed to us just lecturing
“What we found was that for the group fire safety. Members of this group did not receive to them, and I think they appreciate that, us being
that had the intervention, there was a sig- motivational calls. more collaborators as opposed to just teachers,”
nificantly lower blood pressure reduction Hoyte-Badu said. “I think it created a safe envi-
in them than the other group. In other Both groups had their blood pressure measured ronment and supportive environment for them to
words, that group had a reduction in blood at the start of the program, six months after it kind of share how they were doing with the chal-
pressure by almost 6 points compared to began and nine months from the start. lenges and just feel comfortable to share their jour-
the control group,” said Dr. Olugbenga ney in trying to make behavioral changes, because
Ogedegbe, an author of the study and pro- The MINT-TLC group had a systolic blood that’s really difficult.”
fessor and director in the Division of Heath pressure reduction of 16.53 mmHg after six
and Behavior in the Department of Popu- months; members of the health education group The sessions were always opened with a prayer
lation Health at NYU Langone Medical had a systolic blood pressure reduction of 10.74. by a health adviser or a participant, including
Center. This culminated in a net reduction of 5.8 mmHg. Scripture that was relevant to that week’s topic.
The MINT-TLC drop had shrunk to 5.3 by nine Members of her church received the project well
Blood pressure is measured in two months, but this was still clinically significant, ac- and were excited to be a part of it, Hoyte-Badu
parts: systolic and diastolic. Systolic is the cording to Ogedegbe, who is also director of NYU said. At the end of the program, they had a potluck
pressure when your heart is beating, and di- Langone’s Center for Healthful Behavior Change. meal, and everyone bought a healthy dish they had
astolic is the pressure when it’s resting, ac- learned about or had found themselves.
cording to the US Centers for Disease One of the first churches to become involved
Control and Prevention. A healthy blood in the project was Nazarene Congregational
pressure reading is less than 120/80 mil-
limeters of mercury (noted as mmHg), with
the first number systolic and the second di-
astolic. High blood pressure is 140/90 or
higher.

The American Heart Association says
nearly half of all non-Hispanic Black adults
in the United States have some form of car-
diovascular disease. According to the
American College of Cardiology’s Guide-
line for the Prevention, Detection, Evalua-
tion, and Management of High Blood
Pressure in Adults, 45.6% of American
adults have hypertension.

For the new study, researchers split 373
people from 32 New York City churches
into two groups. One, called the MINT-
TLC group, attended 11 90-minute weekly
group sessions focused on making healthy

P4 October 27 - November 9, 2018

A BOROUGH PRESIDENT

AND HIS MOTHER ON THEIR

JOURNEY TO

RECOVERY

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Borough President Adams joined his mother Dorothy for a
Adams tells how faith in God and medical checkup with Dr. David Dunaief.
diet & lifestyle changes, paired with
the right medical professionals, Photo Credit: Erica Sherman/Brooklyn BP’s Office
transformed their diabetes and
placed them on a path to healing
and wellness

BY ERIC L. ADAMS stress. The poor health that had eases can be reversed when the planted within me an opportunity
One cold day in January of imperiled my mother’s life was body is no longer poisoned with to heal my mother. It shattered the
now threatening to derail mine. poor dietary choices. myth that my mother and I had dia-
2016, I witnessed my mother inject betes because we had shared the
herself with insulin to deal with her As I have shared in previous I found the right partner in Dr. same bad DNA. It wasn’t our DNA
Type 2 diabetes. Despite several messages to you, I visited five doc- David Dunaief, who was opening — it was our dinners (and our
years of being on this injection tors and they all told me that I his practice in Brooklyn Heights. lunches, breakfasts, and snacks).
routine, the grimace on her face would be on medicine, including Dr. Dunaief took my mother as a
clearly showed that she had never insulin, for the rest of my life. Only patient and immediately put her on As borough president, I have a
gotten used to the sharp pain. once I looked beyond their prog- a tailored food regiment to assist family of more than 2.6 million
When I left her home, I sat in my noses did I discover the power to her body in reversing the various Brooklynites to help care for, and I
car and had a conversation with heal myself; after transforming my chronic diseases from which she see my mother’s turnaround as
God. “I am not a doctor,” my plea diet, all of my symptoms reversed was suffering, some of the same only the first step. I set out four
began, “but I wish I could do in three months. ailments that so many of our par- years ago to make Brooklyn a safer
something for my mother to ad- ents are going through (arthritis, place to raise healthy children and
dress her diabetes.” With my Type 2 diabetes in re- diabetes, heart disease, high blood families, and the next four years
mission, I turned my attention to pressure, etc.). Just like me, she are going to see our work go
As the saying goes, be careful my mother, hoping to try this experienced remarkable change. deeper into communities to work
what you wish for. method of recovery with her. The After several weeks, my mother hand-in-hand with neighbors in
approach needed to be tailored, of noticed her blood sugar dropping need of support. Health impacts us
A few months later, I was told course, since I did not want to cre- due to the dietary transformation. in so many ways, be it mental or
that I too was diabetic, and that my ate unnecessary complications for After 30 days, she was able to get physical, from the condition of our
diagnosis came with far more se- a 79-year-old woman; although my off insulin entirely. homes to the state of our finances.
vere symptoms than what my mother was taking three drugs to Proactive, preventive measures are
mother was showing. I was losing control her diabetes, her A1C level The morning she called me to our focus at Brooklyn Borough
my eyesight, there was irreversible was still dangerously high. As say that her injections were over, Hall, in addition to building the in-
nerve damage in my hands and such, I sought out a doctor who be- my prayers were answered. I real- frastructure that connects us with
feet, I had high blood pressure and lieved in nutrition-based healing ize now that God did not bury me the tools that help us heal.
high cholesterol, and I had devel- and understood that chronic dis- with the weight of diabetes; he
oped a small ulcer from years of

October 27 - November 9, 2018 P5

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P6 October 27 - November 9, 2018

Nobel Peace Prize Recipient on a

“Mission Entrusted to Us by Christ”

You may have heard about the chologically,” said Mukwege. out in his country extends well be- ters, our mothers and our daugh-
Nobel Peace Prize being awarded The Congolese doctor noted that yond the Congo. ters,” he explained.
last week, but since the names
weren’t famous, you might not it is in this process of healing from “This war, which initially en- Meanwhile, Mukwege is calling
have realized that one of the recip- the aftermath of sexual violence that gaged seven African states, and is people of faith to step in and help
ients has a remarkable testimony women can “regain their dignity.” the so-called first great African war, change the prevailing toxic mindset
of faith. is not ethnic,” he said. “It is an eco- that devalues women.
“When it happens in the life of a nomic war that has already caused
His name is Denis Mukwege. woman to be raped, sometimes you more than 5 million deaths and “It is up to us, the heirs of Mar-
His nickname: “Dr. Miracle.” have an impression that it was ‘just thousands and thousands of women tin Luther, through God’s word, to
a rape,’ as some people who don’t being raped.” exorcise all the macho demons pos-
“The importance of Dr. Muk- understand the meaning of rape sessing the world so that women
wege’s enduring, dedicated and say,” Mukwege explained. “But we “How can we accept such bar- who are victims of male barbarity
selfless efforts in this field cannot understand that it’s a very deep baric practices in the 21st century?” can experience the reign of God in
be overstated. He has repeatedly trauma and women need to regain Mukwege asked. their lives,” Mukwege said.
condemned impunity for mass confidence in themselves.”
rape and criticized the Congolese “That is why I choose to leave He went on to warn that a faith
government and other countries In a 2017 keynote speech at the the operating room from time to that is disconnected from the harsh
for not doing enough to stop the 12th Lutheran World Federation time to make known to the world the realities of the world is one that ren-
use of sexual violence against (LWF) Assembly, Mukwege warned indescribable suffering of our fellow ders believers unfit to “fulfill the
women as a strategy and weapon the rampant misogyny being played human beings, our equals, our sis- mission entrusted to us by Christ.”
of war,” the Nobel committee said
Friday.

Mukwege, a gynecologist who
has treated tens of thousands of
women in the past two decades –
many of whom are the victims of
gang rape by militants, is the son of
a Pentecostal minister who found
his calling to medicine after helping
his father pray for the sick. In a re-
cent interview with NPR, the 63-
year-old physician explained that his
faith greatly influenced his holistic
approach to caring for his patients.

“What I’m doing really is not
only to treat women – their bodies –
(but) also to fight for their own right,
to bring them to be autonomous,
and, of course, to support them psy-

REV. DENNIS A. DILLON President / Publisher The Christian Times is published in Brooklyn, New York. We welcome
KAREN COX Vice President / Senior Editor your letters to the editor, news, information and articles of interest to the
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1990 - 2018 Celebrating 28 Years of Journalistic Excellence

October 27 - November 9, 2018 P7

Last year’s Peace Starts With Me 3000-voice choir at Madison Square Garden

On November 12, 2018, members of the Family Coming Together
Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU)
USA and the American Clergy Leadership Conference for Peace on
(ACLC) will join Americans everywhere to pause in
honor of the men and women of every creed and color Veterans Day
who sacrificed and gave so much for the sake of this nation
and to the cause of freedom around the world as well as those who made worship that significantly highlighted the rally. And the upcoming
the ultimate sacrifice. So many more continue to pay the price with their November 12th event promises to be even bigger and better, featuring
health, their work, their time and their tears. We thank them all. If you are the Pastor of Hip Hop, Grammy-award winners Hezekiah Walker and
a veteran or have a family member who was a veteran, we invite you to international Gospel singer, Yolanda Adams. And just announced, Israel
join us at the Peace Starts with Me: Healing America rally at the Nassau
Veterans Memorial Coliseum on November 12 and unite with us in the Houghton and Citizen Way! Their
cause of peace. music is going to lift us out of our
seats all afternoon to a level of love
In the words of Ephesians 4:3: “Make every effort to keep the unity of and understanding.
the Spirit through the bond of peace.” NIV
Emmy award-winning director
In the spirit of that vision, the Peace Starts with Me rally is back by and producer A. Curtis Farrow,
popular demand. First held at Madison Square Garden in 2017, the arena
was packed with people hailing from a wide variety of national, racial, contined next page
and religious backgrounds, bringing a unique beauty to the praise and

P8 October 27 - November 9, 2018

known for breaking the world Temple African-American Catholic
record for the largest Gospel Choir
at 1,175 voices, outdid that feat Congregation and Senior
at Madison Square Garden
with 3,000 voices. This National Co-Chairman,
November, he will do
something that nobody ACLC said, “Nothing
else in America has
ever done before, by is more exhilarating
bringing the rafters
down in the glory of and acceptable to
God with a 5,000
Voice Choir! It’s not God, our Creator
too late to join the choir
and make history. Go to and Heavenly
peacestartswithmechoir.com.
Parent, than
The Nassau Coliseum, a
beautifully renovated arena with ministers of the
a concert seating capacity of
18,511, is the perfect setting for a gospel coming
peace rally with top of the line
LED screens and Wifi availability. together in one
NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau
Veterans Memorial Coliseum, has accord to lift up the
made it part of their mission to be a
positive impact in the Nassau name of Jesus in
community and beyond by making
effective initiatives and programs praise of God. As the
available for children and families
in the areas of athletics, hymn says so eloquently
community development, culinary
arts, education and music and to be and succinctly: ‘In Christ
a positive impact on veterans and
military families. The Coliseum’s BISHOP NOEL JONES DR. HAK JA HAN MOON there is no East or West, in
commitment to reach beyond their Him no South or North,
stadium walls to make a better peacemakers of today and
America as well as being situated tomorrow. earth, starting within each of us. but one great fellowship of love
in a county rich with Christians
hailing from all denominations, The Peace Starts with Me She has carried this message (and peace) throughout the whole
makes this venue the perfect production promises to be a soul-
setting for calling all to become the shaking manifestation of the Holy around the globe to rallies in South wide world.’”
Spirit in action. There will be an
inspirational message by Bishop Korea, Austria, Japan, Brazil, Again, it’s not too late to join
Noel Jones, Senior Pastor of the
City of Refuge Church in Gardena, Senegal, and next to Zimbabwe the 5000 Voice Choir. Go to
CA, a megachurch with a
membership over 17,000. The and South Africa after her stop on peacestartswithmechoir.com.
highlight of the rally will be the
keynote message delivered by Dr. November 12 in America. Come To sign-up to be A Peace Starts
Hak Ja Han Moon, Co-Founder of
FFWPU International, who is and experience the Holy Spirit of with me dancer, learning the steps
carrying on the legacy of peace
begun by her husband, the late Peace through the inspirational at home with your friends, visit
Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Since the
rally at Madison Square Garden, messages, music and dance. peacestartswithmedance.coM.
Dr. Moon has called consistently
on each of us to be the leaders of The American Clergy To purchase tickets, go to
this great nation to restore peace on
Leadership Conference (ACLC), Ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-

which is comprised of pastors from 3000 to buy tickets direcly from

all over the United States, has the Nassau Coliseum box

come together to co-sponsor this Be there at Nassau Veterans

peace rally in the spirit of brotherly Memorial Coliseum on November

and sisterly love under one God, 12, 2018 at 3:00 pm, joining

sharing the same passion and thousands who will raise their

desire as all peacemakers for a voices for peace and observe and

world of harmony and peace. honor our veterans who, with their

Archbishop George Augustus sacrifice, made the cry for peace

Stallings, Jr., founder of Imani possible.

October 27 - November 9, 2018 P9

Understanding Mental Health with John McQueen, Ed.S., LCSW-R

As adults in our society, we are pre- ological factors determine the SYMPTOMS RISK FACTORS
sumed to be competent and productive in level of mental health of a person
many arenas, e.g. love, career, relationships at any point of time. For example, years, but most begin earlier in If you could benefit from
and family, personal responsibility, com- violence and persistent socio-eco- life. mental health treatment or
munication, making and keeping commit- nomic pressures are recognized have a loved one who could,
ments, etc. But where and when were we risks to mental illness. Poor men- The effects of mental illness the Center for Psychotherapy
supposed to learn about and get coached in tal health is also associated with can be temporary or long lasting. (347-244-7258) can help. Sim-
these subjects? rapid social change, stressful You also can have more than one ply stated, because of our focus
work conditions, gender discrim- mental health disorder at the same on cultural relativity, we will
Ironically, traditional educational meth- ination, social exclusion, un- time. For example, you may have help you succeed where others
ods do not teach us to be proficient in many healthy lifestyle, physical depression and a substance use fail.
of the arenas that are the greatest sources ill-health and human rights viola- disorder.
of satisfaction, joy, and accomplishment in tions. In addition, there are spe-
adult life. It turns out that learning about cific psychological and
the issues that fundamentally define adult- personality factors that make peo-
hood has been, for most of us, pretty much ple vulnerable to mental health
a sink or swim proposition. With no formal problems. Biological risks in-
curriculum to help, we have had to learn clude genetic factors.
the hard way, on our own, through the
school of hard knocks. Signs and symptoms of men-
tal illness can vary, depending on
Deficits in the foregoing life skills ex- the disorder, circumstances and
plains why there is a whole subculture of other factors. Mental illness
many people in our society who are strug- symptoms can affect emotions,
gling to make ends meet, are conditioned thoughts and behaviors. Some-
to think and act in ways that are antithetical times symptoms of a mental
to their self-interest, and as Henry David health disorder appear as physical
Thoreau famously stated in Walden, they problems, such as stomach pain,
“lead lives of quiet desperation.” If we are back pain, headache, or other un-
to put an end to these harrowing and debil- explained aches and pains.
itating conditions, first, mental health has
to be destigmatized and service providers Mental illness is common.
need to go beyond cultural competency and About 1 in 5 adults has a mental
focus on cultural relativity: the path of illness in any given year. Mental
wholeness, growth and transcendence. illness can begin at any age, from
Mental health, no doubt, is the tested plan childhood through later adult

Mental health and mental illness are in-
creasingly being used as if they mean the
same thing. For purposes of this article,
they do not. Since definitions clarify un-
derstanding, working definitions of mental
health and mental illness, our two key
words, are here established.

Mental health is the state or condition
of being well mentally, characterized by
soundness of thought and outlook, adapt-
ability to the environment and balanced be-
havior. It is reflected in the way we think,
feel and act as we face life’s situations; it
affects how we handle stress, relate to one
another and make decisions; it influences
the way we look at ourselves, our lives and
others in our lives.

Mental illness, on the other hand, refers
to a wide range of mental conditions – dis-
orders that affect a person’s mood, thinking
and behavior. Examples of mental illness
include depression, anxiety disorders,
schizophrenia, eating disorders and addic-
tive behaviors.

Multiple social, psychological, and bi-

P 10 October 27 - November 9, 2018

A Cure for
Glaucoma?

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease of the eye

characterized by three compo-

nents:

DANIEL 1) Damage and loss of the retinal
LAROCHE, ganglions cells and optic nerve de-
scribed as cupping
M.D.

2) Loss of visual field

3) Usually increased eye pressure (pressure may be have eye pressure or glaucoma and feel that you may be losing vision, I rec-
ommend you seek the care of a glaucoma specialist for a second opinion.
normal at times) DON’T GO BLIND FROM GLAUCOMA!

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the world today. There Dr. Daniel Laroche is a board certified ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist. He is the President and
are over three million people with glaucoma in the United States today Director of Glaucoma Services of Advanced Eyecare of New York with offices located at 215-43 Jamaica
and over 1 million do not even know it. There are over 80,000 people Ave, Queens Village, N.Y 11428, (718-217-0424) and at 49 West 127th Street, NY, N.Y (212-663-0473). A
that go blind from glaucoma every year. It is the leading cause of pre- graduate of New York University and Cornell University Medical College, he completed his residency in
ventable blindness in African-Americans and people from the Caribbean. Ophthalmology at Howard University Hospital and specialty training in glaucoma at the New York Eye and
Ear Infirmary. He is the inventor of the Intrascleral Ciliary Sulcus Suprachoroidal Microtube Technique to
People at risk for glaucoma include the elderly, Blacks, and people treat Glaucoma.
with elevated eye pressure, primary relatives with glaucoma, per-
sons with high myopia, high hyperopia, history of eye trauma, and
diabetes. Blindness from glaucoma is insidious. In most cases,
there is no pain, and the loss of vision occurs slowly from periph-
eral to central. The central reading vision is not affected until the
end thus most people do not realize it until they have lost a sub-
stantial amount of their peripheral vision. In low or normal pres-
sure glaucoma, the central vision may be affected first.

There are many different types of glaucoma. The most com-
mon one is open angle glaucoma where the drainage angle appears
open but there is functional obstruction of the outflow pathway.
Another less common type is angle-closure glaucoma. Here there
is a mechanical obstruction of the outflow pathway by the iris (the
part of eye that gives it its blue, brown, or green color). Most
glaucomas are treated with eye drops that help to lower the in-
traocular pressure. Laser treatment can be successful in some pa-
tients with open angle glaucoma. Laser is the initial treatment in
angle closure glaucoma. Surgical treatment is used in more diffi-
cult cases.

All people should be screened regularly for glaucoma as part
of a medical eye exam. Screening should consist of an eye exam-
ination consisting of gonioscopy (examination of the drainage
angle), intraocular pressure measurement with goldmann appla-
nation tonometry (this is much more accurate than the air puff
mechanism), and dilated optic nerve examination. If there appears
to be any damage to the optic nerve or abnormal pressure, then a
visual field test should be performed, and optic nerve photos
taken. Persons with a family history of glaucoma, older than 40
years of age, myopia, hyperopia, and diabetes should be screened
regularly every year. Persons with thin corneas should be more
aggressively monitored and treated for glaucoma as the disease
tends to be worse in these patients.

New surgical treatments can lower intraocular pressure to pre-
vent accelerated vision loss from uncontrolled glaucoma. If you

October 27 - November 9, 2018 P 11

By Monique Gore-Massy

It was a hot summer day on the 15th of July, during a heatwave
in the summer of 2010. I sat in my internist’s office with a
printed laundry list of ailments that had beguiled me – and other
doctors for almost two years. I sat on the edge of the exam table
anxious, awaiting answers to my pending health concerns. The
prior misdiagnoses left me morphing into “Fiona” from Shrek. The
constant ER visits, consults with numerous specialists, and WedMd
searches, all coupled with my holistic homeopathic treatments, fast-
ing and repeat offender of altar calls, led me to this moment.

After exhaustive tests and what seemed like an eternity, I left the
office waiting for results. Then there was the call, which came on
a Saturday morning. I remember saying “Saturday morning calls
from a doctor are never a welcoming ring.” All of my results were
not conclusive, but I was told to immediately proceed to the ER,
my complements were extremely low. I listened to the nurse, told
her thank you, and continued with my day. I was a fool.

I was just over 2 months away from my big wedding day. I couldn’t
afford to forgo a Saturday at the emergency room; that nurse must have
lost her mind! I was in pre-programmed “saint” mode. I sent up a prayer,
dabbed myself with anointing oil, and then dragged myself around the re-
mainder of the weekend to wedding errands, church, and then, of course,
into work Monday morning …

I sat at my desk, distracted and unable to fully concentrate. Then there
was that dreaded number on my cell. I answered with apprehension, and
I heard a lot of medical yammering. But then those fated words rang out:
“You have a disease called LUPUS …”

Things became very unclear afterwards, I didn’t even know what
lupus was. I didn’t even know if it was English! But I was told to get to
the doctor’s office ASAP. I called my mom and then fiancé, Alvin, and
we prayed. I’m quite sure when we hung up, my mother got her prayer
warriors on the line and they began to plead the blood like never before.
That day was July 19, 2010 – it is forever seared in my head. That day
changed the trajectory of my life.

What subsequently transpired over the next few years was comparable
to being an unwilling rider on a never ending rollercoaster! Since leaving
that doctor’s office, I’ve been faced with the perils of lupus. People often
marvel at my strength, my presentation, and all I’m doing in spite of lupus.
Many have no context of how lupus attempted to steal my life. I wouldn’t
wish the amount of heartache I’ve faced on anyone. Lupus is an autoim-
mune disease that doesn’t play favorites. Your body attacks itself, seeing
your own organs as foreign invaders. It would have been enough to say I
looked like an open wound, but I further experienced how ferocious this
disease could be when systems started to fail. I lost my ability to run,
walk, write, shower on my own, and my mobility was fleeting. I lost my
sight, experienced kidney failure, battled cardiac involvement, blood dis-
orders, and infections (to name a few) – all while in chronic pain.

I tried to deny how sick I was, only to be forced onto disability and
further loss of what I thought was my identity. I was a newlywed; that

continued next page

P 12 October 27 - November 9, 2018

Becoming a LemonadeMakercontinuedfrompg.11

crazy fiancé Alvin still wanted to become years? Was this keeping me the whole time? I had a I’m thriving after witnessing lives being tattered and
my husband. I tried to break things off, he reckoning, and there was no going back after that. taken by lupus. I’ve gone from being ashamed of
wouldn’t allow me or the lupus diagnosis this disease to raising awareness and advocating for
to separate us. He had no idea how bleak There are still many unanswered questions, but patients in the halls of the U.S. Congress to far as
it would become, but he always held on to there is one thing I know for sure. If you have a cir- the continent of Africa. I’ve had the opportunity to
the “future looking bright.” This man took cumstance that’s claimed you for its own, I want you partner with life changing organizations like the
his vows before actually proclaiming them to know that there is simply nothing too great for Lupus Foundation of America, fight for healthcare
at our wedding. When lupus came into my God. This is my story. Only God can allow a dubi- bills, engage and empower patients disproportion-
life, it also moved into his. It altered our fi- ous diagnosis of lupus – for which there is clinically ately impacted in the local Black community and di-
nances, our living conditions, our family still no cure – to inexplicably work for my good. aspora, participate on platforms and reach audiences
planning, our interactions as husband and Many days I still feel so unworthy, almost guilty that
wife. Suddenly he had a full-time patient continued on next page
on hand that needed around the clock care.
Although I’ve always had a terrific support
system of parents and loved ones, I was in
uncharted territory and still felt quite alone.

After a few years of progressively spi-
raling downward, trying every treatment
available on the market, I decided to stop
chemotherapy and resided to dying. Death
had become a looming part of my thought
process. It seemed every bit of hope,
prayer, and will to live was drained from
me. Besides, there was/is no cure, so what
would be the point of living? Intercessory
prayers were constantly going up for me;
my pastor, Rev. Derrick Williams, Sr. con-
tinued to declare the word of God over my
life, over our home, etc. But, my faith was
beyond broken pieces. I didn’t think God
needed me around anymore, I didn’t think
anyone would miss me.

So, how did I arrive to this place
today? What made the difference and
turned things around for me? Great scien-
tific minds have asked me these questions,
doctors marvel at my case. I often get
emotional because my story sounds com-
pletely unreasonable. Themazing life, ed-
ucation, means or things I had couldn’t
save me. After all, I was left for dead a few
years ago. I can directly point to a few tan-
gible things: my incredible of team special-
ists and providers, my husband, my
parents, my village of support, and over-
hauling my lifestyle (diet, activity, etc).

But then there is that omniscient force
that my homo sapient cranium could not
fully explain. Apostle Paul’s letter to the
Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 20 helps me
explain this: “Now to Him who is able to
do exceedingly abundantly above all that
we ask or think, according to the power
that works in us.” THIS is the power of
Jesus of Christ.

Had I not been singing and praising
about this “wonder working power in the
precious blood of the lamb” down the

October 27 - November 9, 2018 P 13

I would have never imagined. I believe I’m branding CAREER What is a CRNA?
a lupus lifestyle in a different way. SPOTLIGHT

In whatever state you find yourself, God wants It is often said that a good thing needs no make it difficult for a student to maintain full-
you to be well. Your life will be altered, but patients salesmanship. Yet, the most prestigious ad- time employment as an RN while going
and families can be a part of the process; there is ac- vance practice specialty in nursing remains a through the nurse anesthetist program. In fact,
countability on our part for our health. This includes secret to most. A Certified Registered Nurse some programs forbid students from being
taking whatever your life’s lemons are and using Anesthetist (CRNA) is a registered nurse who gainfully employed while in school. These re-
them purposefully. I’m finding ways to advocate specializes in the ad-
through diet, fashion, faith, decorating, travel, etc. ministration of anesthe- strictions often
That’s what I call making lemonade – being a sia. CRNAs provide leave the most well
LemonadeMaker. Wellness is not just for me, it’s also anesthetics to patients thinking and bril-
for someone else. in every practice set- liant minds from
ting, and for every type entering into the
I have no idea what the coming 24 hours hold, of surgery or procedure. field because of fi-
but I’m no longer living in constant fear. I can re- They are the sole anes- nancial constraints.
member opening my eyes, despondent and frustrated thesia providers in The typical pro-
about waking up on this side. But what’s in store for nearly all rural hospi- gram lasts from 27
me goes beyond a diagnosis. I’m learning to tap into tals, and the main to 36 months.
God’s purpose and operating in HIS expectation. provider of anesthesia to the men and women
serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. After complet-
Am I still faced with challenges and uncertainty? ing the program, one must take and pass the
YES! Is this the life I planned for? NO! What do Though the requirements for being a credentialing exam in order to be allowed to
any of us really know about planning life? So many CRNA differ from state to state, all programs work as a CRNA. CRNA’s have an array of
blessings and integral people have come into my life require a registered nurse (RN) seeking entry health care settings and specialties in which
through this adversity. Just when I need to be re- into a nurse anesthetist program to possess a they offer their services. CRNAs are highly
minded, God flexes His powerful presence. There’s Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing respected for their work and earn some of the
nothing so iconic about me, but the oil on my life is (BSN) and at least 1-2 years of hospital ex- best salaries in the nursing field. The auton-
great and that’s the difference. That’s why I’m so perience in a critical care setting. omy of practice, the broad knowledge, exten-
humbled and so grateful God is using me, my mar- sive skills, and the handsome income are
riage and my story. The academic rigor, intense clinical train- attractive enticements to one of nursing’s old-
ing, and the public health implications often est and most revered specialty.
Stay tuned and join the journey, I can’t wait to
see what HE does next!

P 14 October 27 - November 9, 2018

Blacks Living Longer, But Health Disparities Remain

For decades, research has docu- here today,” Leandris Liburd, tween these two races in all age sure, may go unnoticed and un-

mented a number of Ph.D., M.P.H., M.A., the associate groups fell from 33 percent in 1999 treated for years, the researchers

disturbing racial disparities in director of CDC’s Office of Minor- to 16 percent in 2015. This racial point out. This can lead to an ear-

health care, including higher death ity Health and Health Equity, said gap closed completely for deaths lier death.

rates among African-Americans in a press briefing. “Death rates for from heart disease and for all Previous studies have also

than Whites. While that’s still true Blacks have declined substantially causes of death in those aged 65 noted that death rates have been

today, new government data shows in the past 17 years. The CDC sees and older. rising for middle-aged White

some significant improvements. this as a move in the right direc- However, of particular concern, Americans, in large part due to the

According to toll of the opioid epi-

a report recently However, of particular concern, the researchers found demic.
released by the When it comes to the

Centers for Dis- that African Americans in their 20s, 30s, and 40s are death rate from homicide,
ease Control and more likely to live with or die from health conditions the lead author of the
Prevention, the CDC report, epidemiolo-

age-adjusted that typically occur at older ages in Whites. gist Timothy Cunning-
death rate among ham, Sc.D., emphasized

African-Ameri- that there was no im-

cans declined 25 percent from tion, although we recognize that the researchers found that African provement over the 17 years of the

1999 to 2015. However, although there are still gaps in those Americans in their 20s, 30s, and study.

Blacks as a whole are living achievements.” 40s are more likely to live with or “Homicide is the seventh high-

longer, their life expectancy is still Racial disparities in all age die from health conditions that typ- est cause of death among Blacks

four years less than Whites and groups are narrowing because ically occur at older ages in and has not decreased to major ex-

critical racial disparities still persist death rates are declining faster Whites, such as heart disease, tent in any age group other than 65

between the two races, researchers among Blacks than Whites, the stroke, and diabetes. and older,” he said in the press

say. data showed. The overall disparity Risk factors for these chronic briefing.

“We have some good news in rates for all causes of death be- diseases, such as high blood pres- continued on pg. 22

MEDICARE and MEDICARE ADVANTAGE and
MEDICAID
MEDICAID
Some Medicare beneficiaries have the option to enroll in Medicare
Medicaid and Medicare are two Advantage, which replaces their Part A and Part B benefits with a pri-
different government programs vate insurance plan.
that provide healthcare benefits
to qualifying individuals. By law, every Medicare Advantage plan must provide at least the smae benefits
Medicare is a federal program, as Medicare Part A and Part B, but many offer additional benefits such as prescrip-
while Medicaid is managed jointly tion drug coverage, dental coverage, vision coverage, and wellness programs.
by the federal government and
individual state governments. Some people are dual eligible for Medicare Advantage and Medicaid. If you’re enrolled ina
Whether you’re eligible for Medicare Advantage plan that provides coverage for a treatment, service, or prescription
Medicare, Medicaid, or both de- drugs, your Medicare Advantage plan will cover it rather than Medicaid.
pends on several factors, includ-
ing your age, income and Medicaid may also cover your Medicare Advantage premium if you have one.
disability status.

MEDICARE is typically available The following are some of the primary insurance
to people who are 65 years or providers in our area. This is not an endorsement of any
older and have a qualifying dis- of the below listed providers nor is this a comprehensive
ability or medical condition list.

MEDICAID is typically available HealthFirst ......................... 888-659-5971 and
to low income families, qualify- MetroPlus ......................... 866-986-0356
ing pregnant women and Fidelis ................................ 800-860-8707
children, and individuals AgeWell New York ............. 718-696-0206
receiving Supple- United Healthcare .............. 544-644-4458
mental Security Empire Blue Cross ............ 855-731-1090
Income MedicareAdvantage.com ..... 855-900-3787
(SSI).

800.MEDICARE 800.541.2831
MEDICARE MEDICAID

October 27 - November 9, 2018 P 15

ERNESTINE SHEPHERD

Hers is a long story, Ernestine Shepherd is her name and this record-setting, life-empowering
but in her own
words, “Somebody bodybuilder was in New York with United Healthcare, flexing her muscles,
gotta tell it!” From
the stage at the exuding poise and talking to seniors and their care providers about health,
Brooklyn Academy of Music in the
Fisher Theatre, this 82-year-old female healing and wellness.
bodybuilder commandeered the crowd
with gracefulness and agility as she Shepherd tells the story of how annoyed she and her sister were when
shared her story of transformation. Her
face told no tale of her age, and neither they could not fit into swimsuits back in 1992 t the age of 56. “Our bodies
did her lean, mean body that most 40-
year-olds would covet – a fatless body, were totally out of shape and so we started to take aerobics classes. We later
pronounced muscles in her back, arms
and chest, and an indented stomach. started bodybuilding. My sister Mildred was highly motivated and gen-

uinely competitive, and I was just following along,” the passionate fitness

trainer shared.

And then tragedy struck. Shepherd soon lost her sister to a brain

aneurysm. She was bewildered and felt empty, overwhelmed by the loss of

the very source of her motivation.

But in her own words, Mildred’s death was an even greater motivation

and thus, Ernestine Shepherd set out

to fulfill her sister’s dream of be-

coming a Guinness World Record

bodybuilder – and in 2010, at the

age of 74, Ms. Shepherd was de-

clared the world’s oldest competi-

tive bodybuilder by the Guinness

Book of World Records.

What is truly amazing is the fact

that almost 10 years later, Shepherd,

who hails from Baltimore, holds

several bodybuilding titles, is a

nine-time marathon runner, and a

personal fitness trainer who contin- GEORGE
ues to lead exercise classes and pro- HULSE
mote health and fitness to seniors,

continued on next page

P 16 October 27 - November 9, 2018

church groups, and in other set- vital resources and a better under- twenty-five top Black leaders in tably ranked among our 2018 top
tings like the “A Better You” pro- standing of Medicare and health in- the field of health and wellness. 25.
gram organized by United surance services. These men and women represent a
Healthcare. wide range among the tens of thou- This edition also includes the
Tolbert is passionate about her sands of men and women who head of key medical centers like
Under the leadership and guid- work and is the key driver behind serve in what is a most critical in- Harlem, Woodhull (Brooklyn) and
ance of Rita Tolbert, Director of this roadshow that is purposeful dustry in the life of al communi- Queens Hospital Center, and, of
Multicultural Marketing for United about educating underserved com- ties. Corporate leaders like Ms. course, a few of the area’s notable
Healthcare, communities across the munities on how to maximize op- Tolbert, the invaluable leadership medical doctors, dentists, and psy-
United States are gaining great in- portunities for the best impact on and the community conviction chiatrists/psychotherapists. The
sights on a wide range of informa- their health. She has assembled a demonstrated by Mr. George Christian Times believes strongly
tion and resources on healthcare most dynamic team, which in- Hulse, Vice President at Health- in lifestyle healing and has also in-
and related services. Working in cludes Mrs. Shepherd. First, and Pfizer’s Chief Medical cluded Queen Afua, a holistic prac-
partnership with AARP, seniors Officer Dr. Kevin Williams are no- titioner and wellness coach whose
and their caregivers are exposed to This special health edition of career spans some 40 years.
The Christian Times highlights

QUEEN AFUA DR. GREGORY CALLISTE
Holistic Practitioner CEO, Woodhull Medical and Mental
A pioneer in the green foods movement, Health Center
Queen Afua is the author of 5 books, the Gregory Calliste was appointed CEO of
creator of the Heal Thyself product line, Woodhull Hospital in April of 2016.
and CEO of the Queen Afua Wellness Prior to this appointment, he was the act-
Center. Queen Afua has devoted her ing CEO for North Central Bronx Hos-
life to fighting the overwhelmingly high pital. In his current position, he is
rates of hysterectomies, fibroids, hyper- responsible or ensuring quality standard
tension, and other diseases by teaching of care, increasing workforce engage-
people how to understand and utilize the ment, expanding access, building com-
power of food, self-care, and holistic munity collaborations and providing an
healthy choices as an empowering lifestyle. Her renowned 21 Day Detox exceptional patient experience at New York City Health and Hospitals Cor-
and Rejuvenation Program has been clinically tried and tested in partner- poration. He has held several senior administrative positions at NYC
ships with medical doctors to show proven results in lowered blood pres- Health+Hospitals/Kings for over 20 years. Mr. Calliste has an MS in Pub-
sure, decrease in medication dosage, and weight loss. Queen Afua has lic Health from Columbia University and an MBA from New York Institute
inspired over 1,000,000 women, men and children throughout the United of Technology.
States and the Virgin Islands, Canada, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe
with her workshops, books, products, and presentations. EBONÉ M. CARRINGTON
CEO, Harlem Hospital
DR. DELROY BROWN Eboné Carrington made history in 2016
Eastern Dental Group when she became Harlem Hospital’s
A native of Jamaica, West Indies, Dr. youngest-ever CEO at the age of 37.
Brown came to New York at the age of Today, she manages this 282-bed facility
eight. Raised in Rockland County, he with over 2,400 employees and a $400
started the journey to his career by million budget. Her ties to Harlem Hos-
studying nursing at SUNY Brockport. In pital go beyond her own work as CEO:
his junior year, the program’s director her father is the late Dr. James McIntosh
told him that men should not be nurses for whom Harlem Hospital’s dentistry department is named and her mother
and created an environment to discour- was an administrator who oversaw New York State’s Supplemental Nu-
age the 7-8 men in the class of approxi- trition Program for Women, Infants and Children – making for over 80
mately 70 students. Brown decided to years of shared public service between the three of them and a personal
shift to biology with the intention of becoming a pre-med major. He was connection to the Hospital forged over decades. A graduate of Stony
accepted to New York University’s School of Dentistry. Mentored by Brook University, credits all of her success using a quote that her mother
African American oral surgeon Dr. Moses Snead and prosthodontist Dr. uses constantly: “To God be all the
Stan Dawkins, Delroy finished all of his requirements in three years. Dr. glory!”
Brown, who has over 30 years of military service, is also the first Black
dental surgeon in New York State for the US Army. With war escalating DR. JOSEPH F. EWA
after 9/11, he went to Iraq in 2005 and served a total of four months, with Psychiatrist
three of those months spent directly in Iraq. In addition to his private prac- Dr. Ewa is a psychiatrist in Brooklyn,
tice on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, he serves as the chief dental officer and is affiliated with multiple hospitals
for the United States National Guard. Additionally, he is the creator of the in the area. He graduated from the Uni-
Green Hill Super Meal Blend, which is high in fiber, low in fat, low versity of Benin College of Medicine in
glycemic index with multiple amino acids and proteins — a healthy alter- Nigeria, and did his residency at Colum-
native to breakfast cereal which he hopes will also be used to combat bia University at Harlem Hospital Cen-
global hunger in many undeserved areas around the world. ter, where he completed his General

October 27 - November 9, 2018 P 17

Psychiatry Residency and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship. He appears to be an average Brooklyn resident, but the disease has affected
taught for several years before setting up his own child and adolescent psy- every aspect of her life. It is a mysterious and misunderstood disease that
chiatry practice in Brooklyn. With nearly 40 years of diverse medical ex- strikes without warning, affects each person differently, and has no known
perience, especially in psychiatry, Dr. Ewa currently serves as the Director causes or cure. In recognition of her work as a patient advocate, Monique
of the Division of Psychiatry at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center and a was named 2015 National Lupus Advocate of the Year. She and her team,
lead psychiatrist for the Brooklyn Veterans Administration Medical Cen- “The Lemonade Makers,” first came together for the Lupus Foundation’s
ter. Walk to End Lupus Now, but the group has now blossomed into a source
of hope and purpose for others like her affected by this cruel disease. Her
DR. JULIUS GARVEY ultimate mission is to promote a profitable lifestyle with lupus while work-
Thoracic and Cardiac Surgeon, Med- ing towards eradicating it.
ical Professor
This youngest son of Black nationalist JENNIFER HARVEY
Marcus Garvey was born and raised in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Jamaica, West Indies. He is the founder Ms. Harvey, a migrant from Jamaica,
and Medical Director of Garvey Vascular began caring for patients in their homes
Specialists. A highly trained and creden- as a home health aide and in the hospital
tialed surgeon, he is a Board-Certified as a nurse’s aide. Her love for people and
surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and her innate desire to see them healthy
treatment of vascular diseases. His hos- drove her into the professional healthcare
pital appointments are expansive – he arena. She realized that greater knowl-
has been an attending Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Harlem Hospital and edge would equate to a more significant
Montefiore Hospital (Bronx). He was also Chief of Vascular and Thoracic impact, so she began her academic journey at Kingsborough Community
Surgery at Queens Hospital Center and is presently an attending surgeon College, where she completed her nursing prerequisites and transferred to
on staff of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center. He has also held ex. SUNY Downstate Medical Center, where she receives a Bachelor of Since
Garvey is both nationally and internationally recognized for his contribu- in Nursing and subsequently a Master’s of Science in Nurse Anesthesia.
tions to medicine, and he speaks, teaches and presents clinical research at She served as a lecturer and clinical instructor, and then as the director of
conferences across the country. His exposure and expertise in vascular the nurse anesthesia program at SUNY Downstate. She has been a Certi-
surgery, cardiovascular surgery, phlebology, and wound care leads his de- fied Registered Nurse Anesthetist for 15 years, and is an accomplished en-
termination to comprehensively address the concerns of all of his patients. trepreneur who has been in private practice for the past eight years.

DR. WILL GIBBS GEORGE HULSE
Pain Management & Rehabilitation Vice President, Community Engage-
Medicine Specialist ment, HealthFirst
Dr. Gibbs is a Diplomate of both the Through his work, George has been a
American Board of Physical Medicine driving force for HealthFirst’s positive
and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and the impact on the community they serve. He
American Board of Pain Medicine. He has been a stalwart proponent of collab-
has been in private practice since 2002. orating with community organizations,
He has served as the Chief of Service for provider organizations and government
the Department of Rehabilitation at agencies to improve health outcomes for
Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, the the populations serviced by HealthFirst.
Medical Director of the Department of In his capacity as the Vice President of Community Engagement, Mr.
Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Medicine at the New York Hospital Hulse oversees community engagement, events and public relations strate-
Queens, the Director of Rehabilitation for Queens Hospital Center in Ja- gies to enhance HealthFirst’s community goals by developing a vital
maica, NY, and the Medical Director for the Center for Rehabilitation in streamline for members, providers and community that services the needs
Flushing, New York. To know Dr. Gibbs is to know a doctor who values of many underserved communities. A graduate of City College, CUNY, he
and practices self-discipline and healthy living. The former bodybuilder also sits on numerous boards including the American Diabetes Association,
has a passion for practicing medicine because it challenges him to ease his 100 Black Men, and the Boy Scouts of America.
patients’ pain and to help them get back to functional living. He believes
that most pain can be managed or elimi- DR. MICHAEL E. JACKSON
nated with accurate and careful assess- Dermatologist
ment, diagnosis and treatment. A native New Yorker, Dr. Michael E.
Jackson has served the Brooklyn com-
MONIQUE GORE-MASS munity for more than 25 years. As the
Patient Advocate founder and Director of Jackson Derma-
The Lupus Foundation tology PLLC, he has designed and cre-
Monique was diagnosed with the au- ated a state-of-the-art facility that blends
toimmune disease known as lupus at the the “Art of Healing” with the “Science”
age of 31, two months before her wed- of Medicine. Combining Art & Science
ding after suffering from symptoms for began in Dr. Jackson’s undergraduate
more than a year. On any given day, she
continued next page

P 18 October 27 - November 9, 2018

CONTINUED FROM PG 17 help people. Upon completion of his secondary education, he migrated
education, where he completed training in electrical engineering and psy- the United States, where he pursued studies at Brooklyn College, and
chology from SUNY at Stony Brook University. He had subsequent train- launched his career in Podiatry at New York College of Podiatric Medicine.
ing at SUNY Downstate School of Medicine and also Englewood Hospital He has had a distinguished career serving the Brooklyn community for
in New Jersey, where he trained in internal medicine. As a medical student over 30 years. His patients describe him as kind, gentle and skilled. In ad-
and resident, Dr. Jackson studied under A. Paul Kelly, M.D. and Pearl dition to his private practice, he frequently participates in medical mission
Grimes, M.D., two of the pioneers and leading authorities in the care of trips.
ethnic skin disorders. As a result, Dr. Jackson’s approach for challenging
skin care concerns are safe and effective for patients of all skin types and DR. DANIEL LAROCHE
ethnicities. Dr. Jackson is also known for his Dermatology research at the Ophthalmologist
Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center with an emphasis on HIV Dis- Dr. Laroche is the Director of Glaucoma
ease. Dr. Jackson completed his Dermatology training at SUNY Downstate Services and President of Advanced
Medical Center as the first African American graduate from the Depart- Eyecare of New York, with locations in
ment of Dermatology. After graduating, Dr. Jackson became an integral Harlem and Queens Village, NY. With
member of the faculty where he trained countless residents and dermatol- over 26 years of experience and expert-
ogists and improved the quality of care provided by the department. In his ise in treating glaucoma, cataracts, dia-
time at Downstate, Dr. Jackson also served as the Co-Director of the Ethnic betic retinopathy, macular degeneration,
eye pain and other specialties, Dr.
Skin Institute. Dr. Jackson is considered Laroche is passionate about diversity and
to be one of the foremost authorities in inclusion in the healthcare sector, at medical schools as well as in the work-
treating ethnic skin concerns. place. He is also a Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and is
actively involved in teaching students all over Manhattan.
DR. GORDON JOHN
Podiatrist — Publilius Syrus
Dr. Gordon John is a podiatry specialist
in Brooklyn, New York. A native of
Guyana, he has always had a thirst for
knowledge and always knew that he
wanted to choose a career that would

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Bedford Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation
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WWW.ALLURECARE.COM

October 27 - November 9, 2018 P 19

JOHN McQUEEN Colgate Dental Van, where he provides free dental care and education to
Executive Director/Founder, Center for inner city youth. A native New Yorker and Harlem resident, Dr. Merrick
Psychotherapy completed his Doctorate in Dental Surgery at New York University, and
For more than 25 years, Mr. McQueen proudly provides dental internships at his office to aspiring and current
has been conducting workshops and giv- dental students who attend his alma mater.
ing lectures throughout the United
States, Canada and the English-speaking DR. TAMARA MOISE
Caribbean addressing areas such as par- WADSON FILLS, PA-C
ent effectiveness training, cultural com- Co-Founders, Big Apple Urgent Care
petency, self-actualization, and family A community-focused urgent care clinic
life education. He is nationally recog- that serves East Flatbush and the sur-
nized for his work with the Black family, rounding Brooklyn neighborhoods, Big
particularly the Black male. He is a pioneer in the development of rites of Apple Urgent Care is locally owned and
passage programs and is a Black family specialist who works with indi- operated, and is led by Dr. Tamara Moise
viduals, couples, groups and children (including teenagers). . He is a li- and Wadson Fils, PA-C. They bring a
censed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Family Life Educator, combined 21 years of emergency med-
Mental Health Harm Reduction Specialist, and Educator. Before entering ical experience to the practice. The cen-
private practice, John worked as caseworker, administrator, supervisor, and ter is brand new and their highly trained
psychotherapist in various mental health and protective/preventive service medical team is committed to patient-
settings. In Brooklyn, he is instrumental in developing and implementing centered care. In addition to treating ill-
Afro-Therapy, a culturally-sensitive therapeutic model for responding to nesses and offering medical services,
the unique needs of people of African descent. He also conducts year- they also provide wellness solutions and
round training for selected social workers who are interested in the goal health education resources in order to
of learning the theory and practice of Afro-Therapy in the context of psy- create a healthier and happier commu-
cho-educational processes. His areas of specialized training include do- nity. Lead physician Dr. Moise obtained
mestic violence prevention and corrective training, mental health specialist her medical degree from the University
training in working with deinstitutionalized patients and post-traumatic of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
stress disorder, training in holistic health, conflict resolution/mediation – School of Osteopathic Medicine, and
models, and individual and family therapy. most recently worked as an attending
emergency physician at Lutheran Med-
DR. ALLISON McLARTY ical Center (now NYU Langone Hospital – Brooklyn) and Brookdale Uni-
Cardiothoracic Surgeon versity Medical Center in Brooklyn. Wadson Fils is a certified Physician
Dr. McLarty is a practicing Cardiotho- Assistant who has worked in some of the busiest hospitals in the New York
racic Surgeon in Stony Brook, NY. She City area as an Emergency Room Physical Assistant. Children of Haitian
treats adults with acquired heart disease immigrants, they both have a strong passion to serve communities in un-
who require surgery, with her special in- derserved areas.
terests involving aortic surgery, includ-
ing minimally invasive endovascular JOHN PALMER, Ph.D.
stenting for aortic aneurysms and surgi- Director of Community Affairs and Di-
cal treatment of aortic dissection. She is versity, Touro College of Osteopathic
the surgical director of the Left Ventric- Medicine
ular Assist Device (LVAD) program and Throughout a career in which he has held
uses leading-edge technology to treat severe heart failure with the new im- several executive level positions at hos-
plantable heart pump. She is active in the Women’s Heart Health program. pitals and healthcare organizations, Dr.
John Palmer has worked to better these
DR. LEON MERRICK institutions, to improve the health and
Dentist well-being of the people they serve, and
In 1999, Dr. Merrick became one of the to help preserve Harlem and African
first dentists in New York City to acquire American cultural history. He got his
and use the DLas300 dental laser at his start working in an outpatient clinic in East New York (Brooklyn) and part-
practice. Since then, he has continued to nered with another colleague to write a proposal for another clinic that was
remain at the forefront of technology in funded by the city. He then took the position of assistant commissioner of
dentistry. In 1992, he helped establish the NYC Department of Mental Health and then went on to help manage
the East Coast Dental Laser Symposium. Brooklyn’s Kingsboro Psychiatric Hospital, subsequently ascending the
Additionally, Dr. Merrick continues to ranks to executive director of that hospital. In 2011, Dr. Palmer retired
perform his civic duties through his part- from the NYC Health and Hospital Corporation after serving more than
nership with the Abyssinian Baptist 12 years as the executive director of the Harlem Hospital Center and the
Church as the Chairman of their Medical Ministry. He continues to ad- Renaissance HealthCare Network, making him the longest serving exec-
vance his dental expertise through active participation in continuing edu- utive director in the history of both institutions. Upon “retiring,” he was
cation and conferences all over the world. Dr. Merrick makes it a priority offered the position of director of community affairs by the Touro School
to give back to his community through his annual involvement with the
continued next page ...

P 20 October 27 - November 9, 2018

CONTINUED FROM PG 19 City and Nassau County. With a passion for helping people in all aspects
of homecare, he considers himself an advocate for his clients. He was pro-
of Osteopathic Medicine, and has been with Touro since 2012. In addition moted from Director of Fiscal Operations to his current position after suc-
to this role, he continues his private practice and consulting, and serves on cessfully turning around the finance department and improving the
the boards of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, Harlem Mothers company’s collection by an additional $1.5 million in revenue. Roberto
S.A.V.E., and the Public Health Planning Council of New York State’s De- holds a degrees in both Finance and Accounting. He hopes to continue
partment of Health. the growth and expansion of the company, as they have recently moved
into a new state-of-the-art facility, b increasing their census and offering
PAUL RICHARDS, RN MSHI licensing in HHA, CAN, and LPN to the community.
Director of Healthcare Informatics,
The Allure Group MARIAN Y. SCOTT
Born in the island of Jamaica and later
migrating to the US at the age of 6 with Director, Community Health Education
his parents, Paul Richards understood
early that building knowledge through & Government Affairs, Mount Sinai St.
education would provide leverage in a
competitive job market. He attended Luke’s and Mount Sinai West
New York Institute of Technology and
later received a Bachelor’s degree in Fi- Driven by a strong work ethic impressed
nance. With the market in turmoil at the
time, he re-evaluated his options and decided to transition into healthcare, upon her by her parents and grandpar-
later receiving his license as a Registered Nurse and ultimately his Mas-
ter’s in Healthcare Informatics from Adelphi University. He is currently ents, Marian Scott has dedicated her ca-
the Director of Healthcare Informatics and Quality Improvement for The
Allure Group, where he utilizes his background in business along with the reer to giving back to the community.
knowledge of the healthcare landscape to track, trend, and analyze clinical
statistics. Her belief that everyone has a right to

CHRISTOPHER ROKER health care – regardless of ethnicity, gen-
CEO, NYC Health+Hospi-
tals/Queens der, age, education, religion, sexual ori-
Christopher Roker is an oper-
ational expert focused on entation, or disability – fueled her efforts working with community leaders
building, growing and im-
proving the profitability, per- and local organizations to coordinate life-saving health screenings in New
formance and value in
organizations with a leader- York City’s most underserved communities. As a devoted mentor, volun-
ship style that fosters team-
work and motivates staff. He teer, and community advocate, Marian values respect for and acknowledg-
recently spent more than 3 years at The MetroHealth System
in Ohio, first serving as Vice President of Surgical Care and Pe- ment of differences, and feels that an organization thrives when inclusion
rioperative Services, and then serving as Senior Vide President
and Chief Hospitals Administrative Officer, where he was re- is reflected in its culture and practices. continued next page ...
sponsible for overseeing inpatient hospital services and depart-
ments. Mr. Rocker previously held leadership positions at St.
Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, Beth Israel Medical Center in
Manhattan, and The Parkway Hospital in Queens. He holds a
B.A. from SUNY Oswego, and an MB from Pace University.
He was appointed CEO of NYC Health+Hospitals/Queens in
Jamaica, NY in 2016. He is the younger brother of NBC
Today’s weather anchor, Al
Roker.

ROBERTO SAMEDY
Executive Director,
BHRAGS Home Care
Corporation
Mr. Samedy leads a team of
800 dedicated workers striv-
ing to provide superior serv-
ice to their clients across the
five boroughs in New York

October 27 - November 9, 2018 P 21

ERNESTINE SHEPHERD NEVER HEARD
Body Builder/Fitness Guru
In 2010, at the age of 75, Ernestine was declared Premiers Nationwide
by the Guinness Bok of World Records as the for a 1-Night Event
oldest competitive female bodybuilder in the
world. Today, at the age of 82, she is still an ac- NEVER HEARD: Let Go and Let God Handle It is the
tive, albeit no longer competitive, bodybuilder. story of Aaron Davis (David Banner), who is accused
She was a model in Baltimore for years, but at the of murder and incarcerated for a crime he adamantly
age of 56 she and her sister Mildred Blackwell declares that he did not commit. His son Jalen (Romeo
went shopping for swimsuits and found their bod- Miller) is forced to grow up on the streets of Los An-
ies were out of shape. They started taking aero- geles without the guidance of a father and primarily
bics classes, and her sister began competing in bodybuilding shows under the name Velvet; raised by his mother Shala (Robin Givens) and his
Ernestine followed under the name Ernie. Unfortunately, her sister died in 1992 following Grandmother Camilla (Karen Abercrombie). Jalen
a brain aneurysm; Shepherd carried on her bodybuilding career in part in memory of her finds himself in hot water with his girlfriend Paris
sister. Since the age of 56, she has won two bodybuilding titles as well as run nine (Karreuche Tran) when they realize his life is at risk
marathons. She leads exercise classes for seniors at the Union Memorial United Methodist after his friend Diggy (Dijon Talton) decides to partner
Church in Baltimore and works as a personal trainer. She also published a book, Deter- with one of the biggest drug dealers in the city, leaving
mined, Dedicated, Disciplined to Be Fit, in 2016. Her diet consists of 1,700 calories a a large debt to be recouped. Everything seems to turn
day, mostly from boiled egg whites, chicken, vegetables and a liquid egg white drink, and around when Aaron is reminded to put his faith in God
she runs about 80 miles a week – all without taking supplements. first and use the power of prayer to help solve his prob-
lems. Will Aaron find a way to prove his innocence
RITA TOLBERT and save his son’s life before it is too late?
Director, Multicultural Marketing, United HealthCare “I think this movie will really resonate with many fam-
Ms. Tolbert has more than 25 years of experience in the ilies worldwide,” director Josh Webber explains. “In
health and life insurance industry. She began in the life we are constantly faced with choices and each
health care industry as a patient advocate, helping pa- choice you make has their own set of consequences.
tients understand their coverage and financial options Never Heard teaches us that sometimes we may make
in preparation for long term hospitalization. She col- the wrong choice, yet it is never too late to change your
laborated with patients, guardians and caregivers to ul- course and find the righteous path.”
timately remove financial or insurance barriers and Fathom Events, Webber Films, and Riveting Enter-
instead focus on treatment and recovery. That patient tainment bring NEVER HEARD to more than 500 se-
advocacy principle has remained at the core of how Rita lect movie theaters on November 1 at 7:00 pm. Visit
approaches her daily work; at heart, she is a consumer www.FathomEvents.com for a list of theaters.
advocate. While at UnitedHealthcare, she’s also been responsible for multicultural mar-
keting, acquisition marketing of the AARP Hospital Indemnity Plans, and advancing Op-
erational Excellence. She works passionately to help African American seniors and those
who are Medicare eligible to gain a clearer understanding of Medicare and take control
of their health care through education.

DR. KEVIN W. WILLIAMS
Chief Medical Officer, Pfizer Rare Disease
Dr. Williams began his career at Pfizer in January 2004
as a Director, Regional Medical and Research Special-
ists working in the HIV disease area. After moving into
a Team Leader position in July 2005, he served in vari-
ous leadership roles, and was appointed CMO of the
Rare Disease division of Pfizer Innovative Health in
May 2016. In this role, he leads a Medical Affairs or-
ganization of approximately 150 medical colleagues
around the globe supporting Pfizer’s efforts and portfo-
lio in Rare Disease. He pursued medicine after being inspired by his father’s work as a
general practitioner in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He received his medical
degree from the UCLA School of Medicine and is board certified in Internal Medicine.
Following a 2-year fellowship in Health Services Research at UCLA and a brief academic
career as Instructor of Medicine at the UCLA School of Medicine, he spent 8 years in pri-
vate practice caring for HIV-positive patients while maintaining an academic appointment
at the UCLA School of Medicine as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine. In ad-
dition to his medical degree, Dr. Kevin has a master’s in public health from the UCLA
School of Public Health and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School. He is passion-
ate about raising awareness and increasing understanding of sickle cell disease in the
African-American community.

P 22 October 27 - November 9, 2018

... BUT HEALTH Scholarship Opportunities for
Students Studying Healthcare
DISPARITIES REMAIN
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SUMMER HEALTH PROFESSIONS
continued from pg 14 EDUCATION PROGRAM (SHPEP)
Provides students interested in health careers with ae opportunity for a transformative
It remains the leading cause of death in Blacks ages 18 to 34 and summer experience. Pre-med and Pre-dental college students, nursing, pharmacy, physi-
the third leading cause of death in those age 35 to 49, Cunningham cian assistant, and public health are part of the program. The FREE six-week summer
said. enrichment program helps college students enhance their academic proficiency and ca-
reer development opportunities in a health profession. Participation in the summer en-
Additionally, the report shows that Blacks ages 18 to 34 are nine richment program may better position students for acceptance into advanced degree
times more likely to die from homicide as Whites in the same age programs. To be eligible, you must: 1) be a US citizen, permanent resident or individual
group. In the 35- to 49-year-old age group, the rate for Blacks is granted deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) status by the US Citizenship and
five times higher than Whites. Immigration Services; be a college freshman or sophomore at time of application; have
a minimum GPA of 2.5; and identify with a group that is underrepresented in the health
One more positive area was improvements in HIV/AIDS. The professions. The SHPEP application opens December 1, with the deadline for submis-
data showed an 80 percent drop in HIV deaths among 18- to 49- sions on February 15. Learn more at www.shpep.org.
year-old African-Americans from 1999 to 2015. Dramatic decreases
in HIV deaths were also seen among Whites, but a wide disparity TYLENOL FUTURE CARE SCHOLARSHIP
remains with Blacks seven to nine times more likely to die For healthcare students who are enrolled in degree programs that will allow them to ac-
from HIV. tively treat patients. Applicants must be residents of the 50 United States, Puerto Rico,
or District of Columbia; must be enrolled at an accredited school and have completed at
The researchers explain that social and economic conditions, in- least one year of undergraduate study. Ten $5,000 and Ten $10,000 scholarships are
cluding poverty and access to health care, contribute to the dispari- awarded annually. Applications open May 1 online with a submission deadline of June
ties seen in the report. According to the study, African-Americans in 28. Applicants are evaluated by their college GPA, academic records, community in-
all age groups had lower educational attainment and home owner- volvement and essay. www.tylenol.com/news/scholarship.
ship and nearly twice the rate of poverty and unemployment as
Whites. GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS
This $1.6 billion initiative seeks to provide opportunities for outstanding minority stu-
The report calls for public health agencies and community or- dents with substantial financial need whoa re studying science, public health and several
ganizations to come together and implement programs focusing on other disciplines. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.3 and be a US citizen, US
preventive health measures to help reduce racial health gaps, such national or permanent resident. Eligible ethnicities include African American, American
as healthy eating, physical activity, quitting tobacco use, disease Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander, and Hispanic American. Awards vary based
screenings, and sticking to prescribed medication. on financial need and are determined by the cost of tuition, fees, books and living ex-
penses for the academic year. For more information, visit gmsp.org.
Other sectors of the community — including education, busi-
ness, transportation and housing — can also do their part to create MAXINE WILLIAMS SCHOLARSHIP FUND
social and economic conditions that promote health starting in Named after the founder of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA),
childhood, the researchers say. this fund supports medical assisting students. Current students with a GPA of 3.0 or
higher are eligible to apply. In addition, applicants must have completed one quarter or
“It is important that we continue to create opportunities for all one semester at a college-level medical assisting program accredited by the Commission
Americans to pursue a healthy lifestyle,” Cunningham said. “Public on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The amount of the
health professionals must work across all sectors to promote health award is $1,000 and a one-year membership in the AAMA. Students must ask a program
at early ages.” director of a medical assisting program for an application. The deadline is February 15.
www.aama-ntl.org/about/endowment/scholarship-fund.
how girls?
well INSTITUTE OF ORAL HEALTH (IOH) SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
do Applicants must be enrolled as full-time students in an accredited dental hygiene program
you in the US and have completed (oar are in the process of completing) a minimum of one
know these year in a dental hygiene curriculum. They must also be a member of the American Dental
Hygienists Association (ADHA). Award amount is $1,000 to $2,000. Deadline: Febru-
Learn more about your ary 1. www.adha.org/ioh-scholarships-main
breast health at
AMERICAN MASSAGE THERAPY ASSOCIATION (AMTA) SCHOLARSHIP
KnowYourGirls.org One scholarship of $5,000 available to a student enrolled or admitted to a 500-hour min-
imum entry-level massage therapy program. Applications must be submitted by Decem-
ber 7. amtamassage.org/forms/scholarshipformintro.aspx.

OCCUPATIONAL/PHYSICAL THERAPY SCHOLARSHIP
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) offers a scholarship to two students
who are in financial need. Applicants must be US citizens and students who have been
accepted to or are enrolled in an accredited school of occupational or physical therapy.
Award amount is $2,000. Deadline is February 15.
www.dar.org/national-society/scholarships/nursing-medical-scholarships.

CAROLINE E. HOLT NURSING SCHOLARSHIP
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) offers a one-time $2,500 award to
three students who are in financial need and who have been accepted or are currently
enrolled in an accredited school of nursing.
www.dar.org/national-society/scholarships/nursing-medical-scholarships.

October 27 - November 9, 2018 P 23

SOLUTIONS ON P. 27 HEALTH & WELLNESS

ACROSS 14 Dietary goal 24 Minor irritation 4 Diaphragm spasms
1 TV addict? 18 Disease investigation 26 Embrace 5 ____ existing condition
8 Muscle spasm 20 Ginger and taro 27 Green beans and mashed 6 Exercise assistant
11 Columnist Landers 21 Romantic palm fruit? 7 Compressed feeling
12 Infrared 22 No longer fashionable potatoes 8 Head ___ head
13 Cost 23 Radio band 29 Something we want to forget! 9 Chicago locale
30 Entrance area 10 Spa treatment substance
32 Brussels veggie 13 Total, for short
33 First state to secede from the 15 Word processor, for short
16 Italian, abbr.
Union 17 Garden digger
34 _____ Marie Presley 19 Bone disease
36 Food magician 23 Internet question
37 Greensboro locale 25 Chili or curry?
39 Wrap around 28 Muscle contractions
42 The, German 31 Skin problem
43 Spoil 35 Tendency to stay put
44 Starbucks’ temptation 38 Ocean kings?
46 Small scrapes 40 Restaurant type
48 Dear 41 Making less painful
49 Musical scale note 42 Jean material
50 Bread type 45 Head ___ head
52 Muse 47 Voices
57 Sweet smell 51 ____ ____ Sisterhood
58 Levels of Indian society 53 Not applicable, for short
54 Computer
DOWN 55 Where it’s ____
1 Heart-related 56 Taoist power
2 Top of the line, with A
3 Not well

How many of the 19
HEALTHY FOODS
below can you find in
this word search grid?
Words can run in one of
eight possible directions
horizontally, vertically,
or diagonally.

ALMONDS CHEESE TOMATOES
APPLES CRANBERRIES WATER
BANANAS EGGS WATERMELON
BLUEBERRIES LEMONS WHOLEGRAINS
BROWNRICE OATMEAL YOGURT
CARROTS ORANGES
CASHEWS SPINACH

P 24 October 27 - November 9, 2018

Uncover some wisdom from the book of Why aren’t banana’s ever lonely?
Ecclesiastes by carefully following the Because they come in bunches!
instructions below. Are you wise enough
to solve this on your first attempt? What does a nosy pepper do?
Gets jalapeño business!
ABCD
Why did the tomato blush?
1 Truth The Wise end Because it saw the salad dressing.

2 a people matter lesson Why are you looking so glum?
I’ve lost my root vegetable.
3 numbers better than acts Don’t worry, it will turnip.

4 beginning gift kingdom and Why did the potatoes argue?
Because they couldn’t see eye to eye.
5 lies is certain will
Why did the tomato get
6 than knowing property pride embarrassed?
Because it saw the chick pea.
1 Cross out all the words in Columns A and F that have five letters
2 Cross out all the words in the table that rhyme with “eyes: What did the lettuce say to
3 Cross out all words that are books of the Bible the celery?
4 Cross out all words in Row 2 that have more than two vowels Quit stalking me.
5 Cross out all words in Column D that have double letters
6 Cross out all words in Row 4 that contain all the letters in “God” What do you call a retired
7 Cross out all 7-letter words vegetable?
8 Cross out all words in Column B that end in T A has bean!
9 Cross out all words in Row 6 that have three syllables
Why did the grape stop in the mid-
SOLUTION ON P. 27 dle of the road?
He ran out of juice.

Why did the tomato go out
with a prune?
Because he couldn’t find a date.

What did the father tomato
say to the baby tomato
while on a family walk?
Ketchup.

Why do fungi have to pay
double bus fares?
Because they take up too mushroom.

Why do mushrooms get invited
to all the vegetable parties?
Because they are such fungis
(fun guys, get it?)

What do chickens grow on?
Eggplants!

Why don’t eggs tell jokes?
They’d crack each other up!

October 27 - November 9, 2018 P 25

Why We Support the

Peace Starts with

REV. RICHARD and Me Rally
MRS. MARJORIE BUESSING
BISHOP JESSE
President, Family Federation for World Peace and EDWARDS
Unification - USA
Mother Moon is coming to America to ignite a spiritual Chair, ACLC-NYC
renewal in our land. She knows that America’s great- This event will bring an explo-
ness comes from her attending God. When this nation sion like a Pentecost with Nas-
is first in giving, loving, serving, and being a model to sau Veteran’s Coliseum as the
other nations, God will continue to bless this nation epicenter. It will bring a spiri-
tual tsunami that will down the
PASTOR walls that separate people. We
T L BARRETT have been divided for too long. We are living in the time
of the prophesied last days, and we will see revival like
Life Center Church of God in Christ, Chicago, IL we have never known. I can;t wait!
Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peast, and as one of his rep-
resentatives, I am committed to doing whatever Jesus PASTOR TANYA
would do to promote the cause of peace, love, and unity EDWARDS
among all people. Therefore I will meet you in the
spirit of Jesus at the Nassau Veteran’s Coliseum on Family Church of New York
Monday, November 12th. I want to add my vibrational City
energy to and with the energy of Mother Hak Ja Han Moon and the 20,000 other Those who are truly ready will
peacemakers. Let’s work together so real peace on earth can become a reality. be gathering from the East,
West, North, and South ! I hear
REV. DR. KENNARD DAVIS the sound of Pentecost, and it's
coming to Nassau Veteran’s
Truth Center for Higher Consciousness, Brooklyn Coliseum on November 12th. You do not want to miss
This is an opportunity for people from various denom- your opportunity to be part of this life-changing event.
inations to come together to heal our divided nation
and to understand the true meaning of hope and peace. DR. MICHAEL
The “Peace Starts with Me” rally will be of great im- JENKINS
pact on our spirituality. We can only realize true peace
when we are aware of the fact that we are spiritual be- Chairman Emeritus, ACLC
ings. Mother Moon will bring a transformative mes- Chair, MCNY Group, Inc.
sage of peace and hope that will impact all nations. We are excited by the move of
the Holy Spirit at this time and
PASTOR MARK ABERNATHY believe that Jesus is now usher-
ing in a new era of peace. We
Connect Point Christian Center, Snellville, GA are excited that Christian lead-
I am wholeheartedly supporting this event because it ers, great men and women of faith, are leading this effort
is providing me and the nation with the opportunity to to bring unity to our families and churches. They are tes-
connect with people who are willing to work together tifying that the Message of Hope and Healing that Mother
for the cause of healing the nation and the world. Moon is bringing will bring a miracle!! May God Bless
His anointed clergy.
ARCHBISHOP
SULANCH LEWIS-ROSE CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

Little Rock of Zion Int’l Deliverance Ministries, Bklyn
This event of hope and peace will enrich and empower
you. This message of love, peace, and relational heal-
ing is a message that trasncends every boundary and
will bulldoze the walls that create barriers to our unity.
Hope to see you there!

P 26 October 27 - November 9, 2018

MIN. REIKO JENKINS ARCHBISHOP
ANGELO
National Co-Chair, ACLC Women in Ministry ROSARIO
We are excited by the move of the Holy Spirit at this
time and believe that Jesus is now ushering in a new Church of God’s Children
era of peace. We are excited that Christian leaders, Bronx, NY
great men and women of faith, are leading this effort It is a great pleasure to welcome
to bring unity to our families and churches. They are Mother Moon as she returns once
testifying that the Message of Hope and Peace that again to America and New York. I ap-
Mother Moon is bringing will bring a miracle!! May plaud her initiative to bring harmony
God Bless His anointed clergy. and peace between all denominations, religions, and races.
There is only one race the human race. There is only one race
ARCHBISHOP VONI JOHYN — the human race. I pray that on November 12th, all people
of faith will join together as one family guided by the Holy
Isaiah’s Temple of Mt. Hope SBC, Brooklyn Spirit to bring peace to our communities and our world.
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength”… with the Peace of God. This has been a BISHOP
long time coming, since the transition of Father LUONNE ROUSE
Moon oversix years ago. The opportunity now pres-
ents itself for Mother Moon to extend her love and 1st Church Baldwin, UMC
blessing to all souls. "Peace starts with me" is an existen-
tial truth, and I've made an experien-
BISHOP PATRA KIDWELL tial, informed choice to support this
rally and cause. The cost of disciple-
God’s Ministry International Church, ship is priceless; by faith in Jesus, it's
Landover Hills, MD paid in full. Let peace, here and now,
I’m so glad that Mother Moon is coming to speak begin with me.
at the Nassau Veteran’s Coliseum. She will give a
message of healing, hope and peace, not just for BISHOP
Christians, but for the whole world. She will speak MICHAEL SYKES
of the grace of God, because grace is what we need
in our world today. With Christ as the center of our United Missionary Baptist
world, we can realize a world of peace. True Church,
Mother will come with that outpouring. It is imperative that lives will be lib- East Orange, NJ
erated and changed. Come with an open heart to receive this message. Don't Jesus prayed in John 17 that God
miss it. would make all people one. I believe
Mother Moon’s message of healing,
DR. KI HOON KIM hope, and love will bring us all into
unity. After one woman opened the door for evil in the world,
Co-chair, ACLC women have been mistreated and abused throughout history.
We are living at the most important time in history Now one woman comes to liberate all the sons and duaghters
in which God and Jesus are moving to call us to be- of God, and restore their proper positions.
come one centering on God's Love. This is the call-
ing of Father and Mother Moon, to stand as True DEMIAN DUNKLEY
Parents under God's anointing and in His image.
Mother Moon is bringing the mother's heart to New Director, NE Subregion, Family
York and to the world declaring the message that Federation for a Heavenly USA
human effort alone will not solve the terrible prob- Jesus longed to bring peace by invit-
lems our world faces today. Only God's power and the True Love of Jesus ing all people into a true relationship
coming through True Parents can we end the division and suffering." with God, but if religious leaders
work and act independently, we risk
BISHOP CECIL G. RILEY alienating God from His children.
However, the more we work together
Freedom Hall Church of God, Brooklyn beyond racial and religious divides, the more we will model the
You can count me in! Here again is a great opportu- true nature of godly people who attest God as our Heavenly Par-
nity for a huge collective victory. We are gathering ent. God needs each and every one of us to build a peaceful
at the Nassau Veteran’s Coliseum amid a huge crowd world, and this is the parental heart behind Mother Moon’s in-
of witnesses. We are laying aside the weight and the vitation to Nassau Coliseum on November 12.
things that doth so easily beset us. To this end, we
must lay aside race, religion, sex, status, and our in-
dividual beliefs and denominations so we can all take
center court and deliver a slam dunk for peace. Mother Moon’s message of
peace and hope is particularly timely during this season of global strife, the
craziness in Washington, DC, and the imbalance of justice in New York. Let’s
come together and celebrate Jesus, lift up hope, and take a stand for peace!

October 27 - November 9, 2018 P 27

WISE UP: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.” – Ecclesiastes 7:8 NIV

It’s Time to Pray ... leaders at her
church were
By Jennifer Penn trust has destroyed and caused the gender, or orientation, abusing being so mean.
Recently I was grappling with decay of our very fabric. The vile power to hurt and treat others After a hug,
behavior of those we should unfairly, promulgating hate with a she was told
the state of the world we live in and respect and look up to is unsettling. war of words, sending vicious hate that she should
the uncivil behavior that has now For the state of the world to be seen mail, lying, making phone calls to keep on loving
become quite acceptable and a part in a new light, anger, hatred, malign others, bullying, and everyone as
of our being. Our fragility as mere racism, and bigotry must be disrespect are just some of the God would want us to do. She
mortals who sanction such eradicated. We can help to repair things that makes the state of the responded, “But God don’t like
behavior has jolted me. Condoning the damage that has been done to world spiral out of control. mean, rude people.” This was right
this is wrong, and our spirits appear the world if we do not indulge in out of the mouth of a babe …
so broken that this behavior is negative behavior. Respect and courtesy have
becoming the new norm. flown out the window. Destroying The song “From a Distance”
We have lowered the bar to a others’ character, turning a blind has a verse that says, “God is
I began reading a book aptly standard that is now eye to wrong has become the norm watching us … From a distance I
titled “Time to Pray”. As a unrecognizable. It begins with our when it should be unacceptable. just cannot comprehend what all
phoenix rising from the ashes, we leaders and trickles down to us all. Finding common ground to begin this fighting’s for” – and God is
can begin to renew ourselves and This unsatisfactory behavior is positive dialogue must begin with indeed watching us.
perhaps regenerate the dilapidated permeating the air around us. us.
world where we exist. Our loss of Decrying others because of race, It is time to pray.
focus on character, values, and Recently a child asked why the
Ms. Jennifer Penn is a member of St. Mary’s
Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, NY.

P 28 October 27 - November 9, 2018

Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams (far right) and Council Member Alan Maisel (far left) joined the family of United States Army Sergeant Roshain Euvince
Brooks, along with local leaders State Senator Roxanne Persaud (third from right) at a street co-naming ceremony in honor of Sergeant Brooks.

PHOTO: Stefan Ringel/Brooklyn BP’s Office

Canarsie Street Co-Named for
Army Sergeant Roshaine Brooks

Brooklyn Borough President a community ceremony along with lation to the Brooks family who has strength and endurance. Sergeant
Eric L. Adams and Council Member members of Sergeant Brooks’ fam- lost so much, it is only fitting and Brooks was first deployed to
Alan Maisel unveiled a street co- ily and local leaders State Senator proper that we dedicate this street in Afghanistan from June to November
naming in honor of United States Roxanne Persaud and Assembly honor of American hero Sergeant of 2014 for combat. He was com-
Army Sergeant Roshain Euvince Member Jamaane Williams. Roshain Brooks,” said Council pleting his second deployment in
Brooks, a 30-year-old resident of Member Maisel. “His ultimate sac- Iraq where he was killed while he
Canarsie and paratrooper assigned “We as Americans are able to sit rifice to our country should never be and his unit were transporting explo-
to the 82nd Airborne Division who under the tree of freedom because forgotten, and the memory of sives. He leaves behind his 14-
was killed in the line of duty on Au- Sergeant Brooks watered that tree Roshain Brooks will forever be a month-old daughter Anneilia, other
gust 13, 2017 while deployed in with his blood and sacrifice,” said part of New York City history.” family members, friends, and fellow
Iraq. Borough President Adams. “There soldiers.
is nothing more profound than a Sergeant Brooks was born on
Sergeant Brooks was posthu- man or woman who adorns a mili- March 25, 1987 in Manchester, Ja- “We would like to thank Coun-
mously awarded the Bronze Star, tary uniform and puts himself or maica to Elaine Robinson and cil Member Maisel and Borough
Purple Heart, Meritorious Service herself in the path of harm to fight Evince Brooks, and was the oldest President Adams for their commit-
Medal, and Combat Action Badge. for those things we hold dear and of four siblings. He immigrated to ment in making this street dedica-
Borough President Adams and precious. In Sergeant Brooks’ loss, the United States at the age of 13, tion in memory of our son Roshain
Council Member Maisel joined in he gives us all life. We are proud of and in 2010 he moved with his fam- a reality,” said the Brooks family
asking the City Council to grant this him, and this street co-naming will ily from Florida to Canarsie, where in a joint statement. “This has been
tribute, and on July 29th of this year, cause everyone who walks down he became an American citizen. His a very difficult time for our family;
the bill that stipulated the street co- this block to realize that a great sol- desire to serve his new country led however the continued love and
naming for the corner of Avenue L dier was on this block. Let him for- him to join the Army in 2011. In support we have received from the
and East 85th Street was enacted into ever be in our hearts and our preparation for the rigors of the mil- community has been heartwarm-
law. Borough President Adams and minds.” itary, he started his own training in ing. Thank you and God bless you
Council Member Maisel co-hosted Seaview Park to enhance his all.”
“Although this is a small conso-

October 27 - November 9, 2018 P 29