911 Call To Philadelphia’s African American Community As New City-wide Wellness Campaign Kicks-off

May 30, 2011 - PRLog -- AS HEART DISEASE, OBESITY AND DEPRESSION INCREASE IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY ,  the Black Women’s Health Alliance (www.pbwha.org ) is sounding the alarm by kicking off a new campaign “Creating A Legacy Of Wellness: Mind Body & Spirit” with a press event on Thursday June 2, 2011 at City Hall from Noon to 2pm. The new campaign is designed to engage city and community leaders so they become concerned about the health of their constituents and begin instituting wellness activities and programs in their arenas. “We have to do something to reverse this negative trend toward unhealthy lifestyles in the African American Community,” says Brenda Shelton-Dunston, Executive Director of the Black Women’s Health Alliance. “We hope this event inspires invited guests from area churches and community organizations to make health a number one priority.” Philadelphia City Council will designate June 2, 2011 as “Creating A Legacy Of Wellness: Mind Body & Spirit” Day in the city of Philadelphia.  The Keynote Speakers for the event are Dr. Marilyn Hughes-Gaston and Dr. Gayle Porter of the Gaston & Porter Health Improvement Center, Inc. in Washington D. C.  Gaston and Porter are internationally known experts in the areas of evidence-based strategies and interventions and will focus on the impact health disparities have on minority communities and the “urgency” to “unite” to shift the paradigm from health disparities to wellness and prevention. The Alliance is also enlisting the help of the city’s top leaders to help emphasize healthy habits and wellness. The purpose and goals of the campaign are to unite and align minority leaders to establish a Creating a Legacy of Wellness: Mind, Body and Spirit Coalition. The Legacy of Wellness Coalition will strategically improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities of African American women, women of color and their family members, friends and neighbors through advocacy, education, research and support activities, programs and services.  Here are the specific goals:

•   To unite and mobilize minority leaders to develop, integrate, and expand health awareness activities and/or policy changes within their organizations that benefit employees, constituents, clients, patients, congregational members, and the community at large.

•   To increase knowledge and awareness in the areas of weight reduction, stress, depression, mental health, and cardiovascular disease of 1000 African-American women, teen girls, and their family members, friends, and neighbors.

•   To leverage existing and establish new partnerships and collaborations with community and faith-based organizations, health and human service providers, research and education institutions, organizations, and governmental entities at the local, state and federal levels.

In addition to kicking off the new campaign, the newly expanded and energized board of directors of Black Women’s Health Alliance will be presented.  

The media is invited to the kick-off campaign “Creating a Legacy of Wellness: Mind Body & Spirit” on Thursday June 2, 2011 at Noon at City Hall. Confirm your attendance by contacting Leslie Patterson-Tyler at Leslie@TylerMadePR.com or (609) 247-2632.

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The Black Women’s Health Alliance (BWHA) is a non-profit community based health and human services organization founded in 1983. The BWHA works to improve healthcare outcomes and reduce health disparities experienced by medically underserved women of African ancestry and other women of color, as well as their families through advocacy, education, research, support activities, programs, and services. BWHA also helps to improve access and quality of healthcare and eliminate traditional and emerging barriers to service delivery. We empower women to be self reliant and sufficient by raising their awareness of the health issues that pervade their families and communities. Thus, we strive to develop relevant programs and support services that women seek and trust in Philadelphia.