AUSTIN– Austin Children’s Shelter recently paid tribute to Newton Isaac Collins Sr. Collins was a freed slave from Birmingham, Ala. who settled in Manor, Texas in 1863, where he was re-enslaved. After the Civil War, Collins received his freedom and became a carpenter and construction business owner, purchasing about 92 acres in 1872 in what is now East Austin. In 1891, he traded a portion of his property to buy 506 acres of farmland in Pilot Knob, near what is now known as McKinney Falls State Park. Information about Collins was discovered by Ada C. Anderson, 88, (his great granddaughter).

DENVER, CO– The National Black Business Information Clearinghouse (www.BlackBic.org) recently joined the BIC family of entrepreneurial web sites that are dedicated to ensuring the success of small business owners.

The Black BIC web site, which is free to  use,  provides Black Entrepreneurs national and local resources  on accessing money, managing and marketing a small business, Procurement, tips on Technology,  Demographic information and local information on permits,   licensing, economic development etc.  

Additionally, the web site contains research on small business and training videos on financing, networking and business development.

Black men suffer far worse health than any other racial group in America. There are a number of reasons for this. They include racial discrimination, a lack of affordable health services, poor health education, cultural barriers, poverty, employment that does not carry health insurance, insufficient medical and social services catering for Black men.

• The life expectancy for a Black male child born in 2004 is 69.5 years, compared with 75.7 years for White males born the same year, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

• Black men are more likely to get and die from prostate cancer than men of any other racial or ethnic group in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• A Black man has a 1-in-5 chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime and a 1-in-20 chance of dying from the disease.

• Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for Black men, behind lung cancer.

• About 42 percent of Black men have high blood pressure, compared with 31 percent of White men, according to the American Heart Association.

• Cardiovascular disease overall was also more prevalent among Black men — 41 percent, compared with about 34 percent of White men.

• 45 percent of African American men do not have a doctor they see regularly.

• 28 percent of African Americans are uninsured, compared to 17 percent of Whites

The relationship between diabetes and heart disease should not be ignored, according to an expert at Baylor College of Medicine.
“Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with diabetes, and diabetes is the leading cause of heart disease in America,” said Dr. Alan Garber, professor of medicine in the section of endocrinology at BCM.

African-Americans are especially at risk. The Office of Minority Health reports African-American adults are less likely to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease, however they are more likely to die from heart disease.

In fact, in 2006, African-American men were 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease, as compared to non-Hispanic White men.
Additionally, the Office of Minority Health reports African-Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes as non-Hispanic Whites. Although African-Americans have the same or lower rate of high cholesterol as their non-Hispanic White counterparts, they are more likely to have high blood pressure.
To reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, patients with diabetes must maintain an exceptionally low level of LDL cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol, and a lower target blood pressure.

To do this, they must incorporate a heart healthy diet with their diabetes diet of low calories and sugars. A heart healthy diet includes reducing saturated fats.
“Maintaining cholesterol and blood pressure levels is a must for patients with diabetes, “Garber said. “It’s critical that they get hold of this.”
Garber also says that medication is key in helping control diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure.

“Diet and exercise help, but statin drugs should be used to help control high cholesterol, and medication for high blood pressure should also be taken,” said Garber.
Garber recommends checking with your physician before starting an exercise routine, and working closely with the physician to develop a treatment plan.
In terms of diabetes, Garber says that by the time someone is diagnosed with the disease, they only have half of their pancreatic insulin secretion capacity, so medication is required for what the pancreas can no longer do.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), working in collaboration with the Ad Council and the Stay Strong Foundation, announced today the launch of a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to raise awareness of mental health problems among young adults in the African-American community. The new PSAs were unveiled at a Black History Month event at Howard University to coincide with the first annual HBCU National Mental Health Awareness Day. The launch was telecast to colleges and universities nationwide.

Mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, are widespread in the U.S. and often misunderstood. According to SAMHSA, in 2008 there were an estimated 9.8 million adults aged 18 or older living with serious mental illness. Among adults, the prevalence of serious mental illness is  highest in the 18 to 25 age group, yet this age group is also the least likely to receive services or counseling.  In 2008, 6.0 percent of African-Americans ages 18-25 had serious mental illness in the past year. Overall, only 58.7 percent of Americans with serious mental illness received care within the past 12 months and the percentage of African-Americans receiving services is only 44.8 percent.

“Raising understanding and attention to these issues within the African American community will provide greater opportunities for those needing help to receive effective mental health services,” said Kathryn A. Power, Director of SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services. 
The campaign aims to promote acceptance of mental health problems within the African-American community by encouraging, educating and inspiring young adults to step up and talk openly about mental health problems. The ads feature real personal stories of African Americans dealing with mental health problems.

THE THREE DOCTORS
Drs. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt,
fondly known as The Three Doctors realize the importance
of physical health as well as emotional health. Through The
Three Doctors Foundation they seek to inspire and motivate
youth through education, to achieve leadership and career
success in their community through the formation of positive
peer and mentor relationships. The Three Doctors Foundation
stands on the premise that “Our Children Can Not Aspire To
Be What They Can Not See”.


Women’s health advocacy is making tremendous strides, with government, foundations, non-profits and private industry leading the charge for greater awareness and treatment of health conditions impacting women. 

But unfortunately the same intensity has not been unleashed to adequately address health problems for men.

While outreach efforts have raised the awareness of breast cancer, urged women to seek proper prenatal care and lead to critical research into the major health problems of women, there seems overall to be far less advocacy for men

Termetrice Gibbons

HOUSTON- Termetrice Gibbons was born into a family of child care entrepreneurs. But this MillerCoors Urban Entrepreneurs Series and Business Plan Competition grand prize winner took things a step further, using her passion for education to launch a completely new business concept. Enter Excel Assistance, an online marketplace linking educational professionals around the United States and the world who want to network and exchange products and services.

Gibbons’ business focuses on educational vendors and suppliers of the industry’s national associations and organizations who want a convenient and economical way to purchase or sell their new, used and overstocked items. Through Excel Assistance’s Web site (www.excelassist.com), they’re able to list, sell and auction off equipment, merchandise, freelance services and management assistance, as well as network with other professionals in their field. Excel Assistance membership is free, and leads are generated by Excel members. They can post professional service requests and advertise their products and capabilities, and wait for other members to bid on these services and products and submit proposals.

Rev. Floyd Flake

Born in Los Angeles, Calif., Rev. Floyd Flake grew up in Acres Homes, in Houston as one of 15 children of Robert Flake, Sr. and Rosie Lee Johnson-Flake. He entered the ministry at age 16 at Greater Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church.

Tre’Chele Dukes

Tre’Chele is the daughter of proud parents Melvin and Tieasha Waddy.  Her school activities include National English Honor Society, Student Council, the Lady Eagle volleyball team, the Lady Eagle basketball team, and the Lady Eagle softball team. 

Tre’Chele enjoys scrapbooking, photography, debating, science, and software design. One of her favorite Willowridge memories is the Homecoming glow and the dark pep rally.  Her quote for inspiration is “failure is not an event but rather a judgment of an event.

Failure is not something that happens to us or a label we attach to things. It is a way we think about outcomes.” Upon her graduation, Tre’Chele plans to go to college and major in computer engineering.  Her goal is to succeed at being the best that she can be.

Jaymin Jones

Last month,  Jaymin Raphael Jones traveled to Huntsville, Texas and won first place in a spelling bee competition. He competed against 50 other third grade children in the Association of Christian Schools International Annual Spelling Bee held at the Alpha and Omega Academy. Jaymin represented his school, the Humble Christian School in Humble, Texas. Jaymin is a very bright, articulate and intelligent young man, having made straight A’s since he began school at Intelligent Minds Development Center at 18 months of age. Jaymin is the only son of Pastor Derrick and Karen Jones, and has one sister, Kayla that he adores very much. He also enjoys basketball, football, going to church and playing games on his X-Box 360 and Wii gaming systems. Congratulations, Jaymin!