Get your H1N1 Flu Shot TODAY! It's not all all about Miss Piggy! It is SERIOUS.

Last week I volunteered for the Department of Health at Wilson Senior High. I helped out by doing Data Entry for individuals that received their Swine Flu Shot. I know since I am in public health that I am suppose to call it H1N1, however the "Swine" just kind of stuck with me. At the end of the evening I was able to receive my own shot because I am in a high risk group because I have a low immune system with asthma. I didn't feel sick the next day, however some people may, everyone is different. Please contact the health department with any major questions and feel free to contact me with any questions.

Check out the DC Department of Health Swine Flu/ H1N1 site for updated clinic's all of the shots are FREE of cost!!!
Here is the link to the DOH Swine Flu H1N1 and stay up on national information at: http://www.flu.gov/

Follow Flu.gov on twitter
Check out their YouTube Videos!

If your Gonna Get it On- You Gotta Put it On Recap!

The day before Halloween my good friend Tunde and also President of the Black Public Health Student Network relived our Condom Outreach from last year by passing out around 4,000 condoms.

The key message is really about prevention. I would prefer that everyone wait for the "right one" but in the mean time we will engage in risk reduction.

We spent majority of our time at Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro Stop,where most of the YOT's- youth of today hangout. We continued to hand out condoms on the metro and then we ended up on U street.

My favorite was the barbershop on U street- Edge's Barber Shop. Great health promoters, friendly, friendly service and Master Barber and owner Donnie Ray even let me have a photo with him!! This is a great place to reach men! Thank you Mr. Ray!

If anyone would like to do their own outreach they can make little kits like we did- with materials and condoms from DC's Department of Health.
Just click on this link to order some condoms to your home- or simply head in to the office and speak with Mariel or Latoya.
And if you would simply like to order your own and you are a DC resident here is the link for that too!! HERE

Like I said. . . If your gonna get it on You gotta put it on!!!

TOWN HALL MEETING on MENTHOL | Monday, October 19, 7:30 pm Howard University Hospital

For anyone that knows me they know that I am extremely passionate about ridding the community of NEWPORTS, BLACK & MILDS and anything that directly targets the Black Community.

Please come out and not only support me but support DC at this important Town Hall meeting!
Ms. La Tanisha Wright from the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network will be in attendance. Ms. Wright is a former tobacco industry manager and now personal friend. Come listen to her and others speak of how the tobacco companies leave no stone unturned to target the black community!

If you have any question please feel free to e-mail at nwtose@gmail.com

Vida Senior Centers, DC's Hispanic Senior Center Receives Award @ NHCOA Conference!

Congratulations to Vida Senior Centers!

Vida was presented with the "Community-Based Organization Award" from the National Hispanic Council on Aging Conference this past Tuesday at the Marriott at Metro Center.

Check out remarks from Vida's executive director on Vida's YouTube Page here

Vida Senior Centers (formerly EOFULA - Spanish Senior Center) maintains the quality of life of Latino seniors living in isolation or within a family context in the Washington, D.C. metro area. They are the only senior center in the DC area specifically geared towards Latino seniors.

What can I say? I have grown quite fond of the abuelito's (or seniors) at the center. Afterall, I get to spend 5 days a week with these amazing people!

Vida will also be celebrating their 40th Year Anniversary October 27th! Please be on the lookout for more posts concerning the event!




I ♥ DC

Vida Senior Centers is located at 1842 Calvert Street, NW in Adams Morgan stop by!
follow Vida on Twitter

AIDS WALK 2009 DC

Make it personal this year. . . . HIV/AIDS affects everyone in DC.
Think about how it may affect you or someone you know.

I know one of my closest friends sisters whose life was robbed short of HIV/AIDS. She was unaware that she was at risk of the disease because someone in her life was making choices in their relationship without her knowledge. KEEP IT REAL DC! Talk about it and keep talking about it. AIDS does take lives.

You have heard OVER 3% of the DISTRICT of COLUMBIA is infected with HIV/AIDS but that statistic is just the people that are reported to be infected.

When people are not well they are not working or taking care of their families. I encourage everyone in DC to make an efforts to make fighting HIV/AIDS a top priority!

Please visit this link for more information about where to sign up for the walk and of course you can visit all of my previous posts about HIV/AIDS for additional information about the disease.

I might add it is a fun event to participate in with your friends! I had a blast last year with mine!

ATTENTION BLACK CAUCUS! Make Banning Menthol Cigarettes a priority

Every year in DC the Black Caucus arrives to DC to discuss important issues surrounding the black community. I am asking to make the banning of MENTHOL CIGARETTES like NEWPORTS and KOOLS ILLEGAL and a TOP priority!

It is not enough for the FDA to simply ban fruit flavored cigarettes.

Candy and Fruit Flavored Cigarettes Now Illegal in United States; Step is First Under New Tobacco Law
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The black youth of today are smoking- Newports and Black & Milds in DC. Black & Milds are sadly considered cigars and are not even regulated with a warning of their health risks.

Did you know that 75%-90% of African Americans smoke menthols?

U.S. Tobacco Bill Puts Focus on Menthol Cigarettes - Stop Smoking - FOXNews.com
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SMOKING STILL is the leading cause of preventable death in the US!
400,000 deaths a year.
Alcohol-30,000 deaths a year.

It is so ironic that I found this pack of Newports on the ground in Target last week, because Tobacco was on my mind! I had just spent the day with PRO- CLEAN AIR, and yes ANTI-TOBACCO people at the DC Tobacco Free Families Conference.

DOAN
"death of a Newport"
na na na na hey hey hey GOOOD BYE!

HEALTHCARE REFORM NOW! This is Personal! I ♥ DC

It has now been 78 days that I have been "couch surfing" and without my own place due to my own student loan mis-management and high health insurance costs. I am so grateful and blessed for my friends that have taken me in during this time in my life. I am horrified that my 86-year-old grandmother has basically maxed out her credit cards paying for my $600 a month health insurance/Rx. She knows that if I loose my insurance I will never be covered again due to pre-existing conditions. HELP ME to HELP MYSELF!




I ♥ DC

I ♥ Ballou on BET!

As many of you know I have been following Ballou, a documentary film for now about a year! I was so sad when I missed the movie in theaters that when the movie was available to order on DVD I was one of the first to order it! I was shocked when I received the DVD in the mail before the release date. I e-mailed the producer to make sure there was no mistake. I was so shocked when I heard back from the producer Mr. Casey Callister. He simply said, "We are trying to get the DVD out to DC residents early!" I knew from that point on that Mr. Callister was in tune with the DC community and I have been attached to the Ballou movie ever since.

Please make sure and check out this post about the movie from last year.

This last weekend Ballou, a documentary film premiered on BET.
Casey invited me to the Premiere Party for the Movie this last weekend at Indulj on U Street. I ♥ Indulj! They always run a great mix, and the DJ's that are in the house can keep the crowd moving. One thing I appreciate about the club is that it is a totally black-owned Club and all of the owners are native Washingtonians!

The event was hosted by: Tim O. and the Guest Hosts were of course Casey Callister, Producer/Director of Ballou, a Documentary Film and Matthew Barnhill Jr., Senior Executive at BET.
The night was a blast and I even got to meet Mr. Watson the band director!!!!! What I love to see is positive images about the (youth of today) YOT's in DC! Thank you Mr. Callister, for portraying the youth as they are and Mr. Watson for encouraging the youth to move forward, to want more and to be more! Thank you again everyone for a great evening!!!

DC Tobacco Free Families Annual Conference! COST. . . FREE. . . Experience- PRICELESS!

For anyone that knows me they know that the DC Tobacco Free Families (DCTFF) Conference changed my life. YES, changed my life!!!! The contacts I made were endless, the information I gained was not only new and fresh but the conference addressed issues, and helped me gain skills that were relevant to me in serving the DC community as a stand-alone volunteer! The DCTFF addresses the needs for youth, organizations, faith-based initiatives, HIV/AIDS, the Latino population, the LGBT community and any suggestions the community wants to hear!

Please check out this flyer. . .
And also visit DC Tobacco Free Families website here
and for any questions or additional information contact Charles Debnam @ cdebnam@aladc.org
Did I mention this is where I met Paul Spires aka "Crucial Thoughtz?"
(Team Champions, Star of DCTFF Secondhand Smoke Commercial, Artist, PG Community College)
Ashley Blakeney, Ballou High School (Team Champions, Ballou, A Documentary Film)
Because I attended the conference I was able to be involved in future DCTFF events like the "Follow the Signs" Workshop given by my newly discovered sister Ms. La Tanisha Wright of the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network (NAAPTN).

Follow the Signs (FTS) is a training program that raises awareness about how Big Tobacco specifically targets Black communities. It was developed by NAATPN’s West Region Director, La Tanisha Wright. Ms. Wright is a former tobacco industry manager. She has expertise in tobacco marketing, merchandising and advertising.

What can I say? I ♥ DCTFF!!

See you at the Conference!

This is why I love DC. . . Adams Morgan Edition

I was on my way to work at Vida Senior Centers and I saw this. . . I ♥ DC

Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy dead at 77- How will Teddy's death effect healthcare reform?

Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy dead at 77 - CNN.com

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School is just around the corner. . .What will your teen be doing after school?

Teen Life Programs sponsored by Children's National Hospital

The Teen Life Clubs is Childrens National's year-long health education, empowerment youth development program for 11-14 year old adolescents, who live in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The program strives to develop adolescents™ individual strengths and help them build life skills by using our copyrighted Steps to S.T.A.R.dom© curriculum. The clubs also provide monthly enrichment opportunities, mentors, and academic support. Families are involved through weekly correspondence and parent workshops.

The comprehensive TLC youth development program includes:

Weekly health education sessions which address four units of adolescent health: personal identity, healthy bodies, violence prevention, world of work/ financial literacy. These sessions include clubs for male adolescents and clubs for female adolescents that are held Monday Thursday, 4 pm -6 pm.

• Weekly homework assistance is offered to all TLC members every Thursday, 6 pm -8 pm at the main hospital. Dinner is included.
• Gender-specific, monthly enrichment activities held on one Saturday per month. These include events like open sessions, ropes course, CPR training, self-defense training, family dinners, holiday parties, basketball tournaments, community service learning, and graduation.
• Ongoing group mentoring relationships with trusted, trained adults who serve as positive role models.
• Program referrals to other after-school programs for adolescents who graduate from Teen Life Clubs. The program also refers adolescents to other needed hospital services and resources.
• Exciting leadership opportunities such as the youth advisory council and summer internship.
• Program incentives such as a weekly stipend, free snacks, prizes, and gift cards.
  

Membership All pre-teens, ages 11-14, who are interested can complete a membership form and fax a completed copy to 202-476-3711. We also accept pre-teens who are not Children's patients and/or do not reside in Washington, DC. Please note: each Teen Life Club is limited to the first 15 teens who sign up. TLC Registration Process

• Sign up today
• Parent Consent Form
  

Contact Sheena Ware directly at 202-476-6018 with any questions. Community Partnerships Children's has an extensive list of community partners who collaborate with Teen Life Clubs including George Washington and Georgetown Universities, University of Maryland, Howard University, Junior League of Washington, Defend Yourself, Innerquest Ropes Course, Advocates for Youth, We Can!, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, DC Central Kitchen a Healthy Returns Program, Women Empowered Against Violence Everywhere (WEAVE), Peace-a-holics, and Washington DC public, public charter, and private schools.

2008-2009 List of TLC Sites: BOYS CLUBS - Comp Clinic; Boys & Girls Clubhouse #11; Covenant House; Ron Brown Middle School GIRLS CLUBS - Children's Hospital; Boys & Girls Clubhouse #11; Covenant House; Roots Public Charter School

Research The Teen Life Clubs have been awarded an evaluation grant by the Joe Higdon and Ellen Sudow Fund of the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region to work with consultants from the George Washington University School of Public Health. The evaluation will measure how effectively the program curriculum and activities are in reducing risks related to STs, HIV and unplanned pregnancy. We ask parents to sign a consent form for their teens to participate in the pre- and post- tests that are given to them at the beginning and end of the program. The consent form is optional and refusal will not affect your teens chances of participating in the program. Learn more about our other programs:

• Teens Against the Spread of AIDS (TASA)
• Today's New Teens (TNT)
• Teen Talk

For More Information CLICK on the link below:
Departments & Programs - Children's National Medical Center
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I actually was able to interview some youth that were involved in this program and they really enjoyed it! If you have any questions please e-mail me!

I ♥ DC