Caroline V. Clarke on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

 Update: Audio of the show can be found here.

For several months, I have shared with anyone who would listen about the book, Postcards from Cookie: A Memoir of Motherhood, Miracles, and a Whole Lot of Mail. I fell in love with this amazing story from page one and have read it several times. I highly recommend reading it for several reasons. Tune in to Living Your Best Life Radio to hear why I as well as many women in my life loved reading it as well.

On Saturday, August 30, 2014, Caroline V. Clarke, author, award-winning journalist, and the host of Black Enterprise Report, will join us to share her journey to find her birth mother. Listen as Caroline shares how her initial inquiry about her adoption with Spence-Chapin Adoption Services was because of concerns about her health that could be hereditary. Concerned about the unknowns that could affect the health of children, she made an appointment to meet with a social worker at the agency.

Only expecting a few general answers, hear Caroline share that she was given a file that was several pages single typed that gave her clues to who her mother could be. Her journalistic background lead her to realize she knew her birth family. Caroline V. Clarke's birth mother was Carol "Cookie" Cole, the daughter of Hollywood's legendary crooner Nat King Cole. Caroline will share several stories that she did not discuss  in the book. Listen as she talks about the journey of others who have opened up to her about their own adoption stories. She also shares about her own vulnerabilities as she sought to build a relationship with her birth mother without hurting her mother and father who raised her to be the woman she is today.

This show promises to empower, inspire, and motivate you to live your BEST life!

 Living Your Best Life Radio can be heard on 760 AM in the Middle-Tennessee Region, Tune In, military bases, and streamed live on U-Stream.TV from 9-10AM CST. This show will also air on WTST, a member of the HBCU radio network (XM 142)

More About Caroline V. Clarke

Caroline V. Clarke hosts the Black Enterprise Business Report, a weekly, nationally syndicated television show that offers unduplicated reporting on black business, careers and lifestyles to today’s consumer. Black Enterprise Business Report reaches 80% of black households, in 52 broadcast markets and 145 cable markets; it can also be seen online via BlackEnterprise.com. Prominent business leaders and newsmakers interviewed by Clarke include RUSH Communications' Russell Simmons, NBC Universal executive Paula Madison, Chicago City Treasurer Stephanie Neely, Teen Nick CEO Nick Cannon, and Secretary of Labor Hilda Soliz.

An award-winning journalist whose experience spans print, digital and television platforms, Clarke is also Executive Editor of Black Enterprise, influencing the production of content across all platforms, including her blog, Winging It: Work. Life. Balance? for BlackEnterprise.com. In addition, as co-editorial director of the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit, she determines the editorial direction and theme of the nation’s largest annual conference targeting African American women executives. She was instrumental in creating this event and has held this position since the inception of the Summit, in 2004.

In more than 20 years with Black Enterprise, Clarke has served in a number of other key roles including senior editor and editor-at-large, Black Enterprise magazine; editorial director, Black Enterprise Books; and general manager, interactive media, where she helped to run Blackenterprise.com as well as launch other digital platforms for Black Enterprise content delivery.

Clarke is the author of Take a Lesson: Today’s Black Achievers on How They Made It & What They Learned Along the Way. Her second book, entitled "Postcards from Cookie," debuted from Harper Collins in March.  Prior to Black Enterprise, Clarke worked at The American Lawyer and several newspapers.  She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Smith College and a master’s degree with honors from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
(Source: www.Iamempowerd.com)

Photos: Caroline V. Clarke

A Grandfather's Note From Heaven

One of my greatest struggles in life has been overcoming the loss of my maternal grandfather, Joe Jackson. It has been several years since his passing, but there are times when it feels as if his passing was yesterday. I can remember his laughter; I can see his smile; I can repeat most of his stories verbatim; and quite often, I feel his suffering as he fought a hard and painful fight against cancer.

Often, I wondered what could have been done differently, especially to ease his pain. The first couple of years after his death, my dreams were filled with his moans, and I would awaken in the middle of the night with tears streaming down my face. I could still fill the grip of my grandfather’s hands as I held his at night, trying to comfort him to no avail.

I remember the careful planning of his final arrangements and the great pride my family took, especially my Aunt Henrietta, in making sure that every final detail was impeccable and benefiting the home-going of a patriarch and his meeting with the King.


As I learned to manage the heartache and sadness of the loss of my grandfather, I found respite by helping others by volunteering with organizations that mirror my grandfather's values. What started out as a way to deal with this difficulty became a mission—a mantra—and helped me to grow as a person. I now volunteer weekly and often find a “Mr. Joe’s story” in every venture and use these anecdotes to help others overcome difficulties or to meet an underserved need in the community.

On Christmas morning 2013, Clarence "Pop"Holmes left us. He was my father-in-law whom I loved like a father. His kindness and enduring ways were like Velcro—sticky on both sides. Pop often reassured me that he understood my quirky nature which seemed to be in stark contrast to the rest of his family of sportsmen who talked sports and more sports.

When I had something exciting to share or was in the midst of a dream deferred on the verge of fruition, Pop would be the most likely go-to-person to share the possibilities or the good news. He would become just as excited as I was. And when my bright idea or dream turned out to be just a hair brain notion, he never voiced ridicule and would only find words of encouragement. He would give me that look, “We’ll get it next time.”

Like my grandfather’s death, Pop’s death was a great loss. Unlike my grandfather’s demise, I had not braced myself for or strangely welcomed Pop’s final exhale like I did my grandfather. Pop was a strong, healthy man—a young man—who left all too suddenly. My grandfather's body was ravished by cancer and death was his escape. As I cried for Pop, the pain of losing my first hero in life began hitting me at the same time. I found myself mourning two men.

While packing to head to Memphis to prepare for Pop’s final arrangements, I rumbled through my closet to find an appropriate hat and pulled down a few hat boxes. As I reached for a hat box that possibly contained a black hat, a large box containing some of my grandfather’s fedoras fell and opened from the impact. Seeing my grandfather’s fedoras that were given to me by the family literally took away my breath.

After regaining my composure, I began examining the box. As I pulled out several hats, I put them close to my heart and recalled fond memories of my grandfather wearing each. But when I returned the last head wear taken from the box, I noticed a note card on the floor.

 This note card was created by Aunt Henrietta who mailed several hundred of them to me to give to friends and customers from Nashville and other places as acknowledgment of their acts of kindness during our bereavement. I believed that I had given out or mailed them all and definitely did not think I had any left. But there it was—a note card, appearing out of the blue, that I had not seen in seven years and at a time when I once again was filled with grief. However, after reading the carefully thought out message that expressed the goodness of my grandfather and how much he loved his family as well as how much his family loved him, I believed it was truly a message from above.

My sadness was replaced with gladness, for I believed that God was letting me know that my grandfather was alright, and that he was welcoming a new friend into heaven—Pop Holmes. I will always cherished this reminder of my grandfather's life, his note sent to me from heaven.

Photos: Genma Holmes 

Regina Prude and Ella Henderson on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations and leaders who lead by example. With extraordinary acts of kindness and charitable giving that help countless lives daily, these organizations and leaders embody "Be the change you want to see in the world".

Throughout 2013, listeners will hear from presidents of organizations who are global change agents. We will also hear from CEOs of social enterprise businesses who are changing communities and college educators who are taking their students out of the classroom and into surrounding neighborhoods to learn and serve others.

Naomi N. Tutu with Regina Prude on the "Leadership Zone" Radio Show

On Saturday, October 26, 2013 tune in to hear from two dynamic women of faith, Regina Prude and Ella Henderson, share about their lives and family legacies. Listen to Ms. Prude share about being a cancer survivor and how she chose her doctor by asking him a question about his belief in his ability to help her. Ms. Prude will discuss the roles faith and prayer have in our lives to heal us even when we are faced with issues that seem hopeless. Ms. Prude will discuss the importance of clinical trials, being an informed patient, and how to advocate for your health. Ms. Regina will also share life lessons learned from her late husband, Dr. Floyd Prude, and the legacy of his ministry that is still impacting her family and others today.

Ella Henderson/Henderson Manor Farm

Ella Henderson will share with the audience how eating healthy is one of the pillars to good healthcare. Listen as she shares about her multi-generational family entrepreneurial enterprise,  Henderson Manor Farm in Marengo County, Alabama. Hear how the Hendersons are leading a movement to help communities and families save time and money by eating garden fresh produce and herbs. Henderson Manor Farm not only produces a wide variety of vegetables but offer nutritional recipes and cooking demonstrations to help families break the cycle of eating processed foods that can be detrimental to their health.

Ms. Henderson will also discuss how families can create land trusts to ensure generational wealth.

Living Your Best Life can be heard on 760AM in the Middle Tennessee Region, on Tune In, streaming live online at UStream.TV, and on military bases on Saturdays from 9:00-10am CST. This show will also air on the HBCU Network.

More About Regina Prude

Genma Holmes welcoming Regina Prude to XM airwaves!

For thirty-six and a half years, Regina Prude was a formal partner in ministry, serving as pastor’s wife at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Beloit, Wisconsin, with her late husband, the Dr. Floyd Prude, Jr., was Senior Pastor. She cherished those three decades of working by his side, offering behind-the-scenes leadership and support for many church ministries.

She is living our her dream to impart the good news of the Gospel…the evangelion in a different way. Technology has opened doors we couldn’t have dreamed about when The Prudes first stepped onto the path of servant leadership.

Regina Prude is a messenger who wants everyone within her reach to know that they can be awesome. And that they can have an authentic, genuinely deep relationship with the great God of the universe.

After living in the Midwest nearly all of her life, Regina Prude now lives in Nashville, TN, surrounded by her daughter, son-in-law, three grandchildren and great-granddaughter.  Her son still lives in Wisconsin but they are never very far apart.

More About Henderson Manor Farm 

The Henderson Manor Farm (HMF) is a family owned farm based originally in Marengo county Alabama. Raised around large families and managing a 10 acre farm, set the tone for great cooks and the love of good and healthy food. In 2000, the Henderson Family saw the need to restore the basics of nutrition to the family dining table. Because families have been conditioned to produce everything as fast as possible, no one has time to sit at the table and enjoy a good healthy meal.   Seeing this as an opportunity to help others, The Henderson Manor Farm began working diligently to empower families to grow and consume chemical-free and non-polluted produce that are needed for their nourishment.

The Henderson Manor Farm Program addresses many concerns for the health of our rural, urban and underserved communities by offering gardening and cooking training/classes for Health Fairs and/or Nutrition Demonstrations. For more information about their programs, click here.

A Special Mother's Day Tribute to Dr. Verla Vaughan on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations, leaders, and volunteers who lead by example. With extraordinary acts of kindness and charitable giving that help countless lives daily, these organizations, leaders, and volunteers embody "Be the change you want to see in the world".

On Saturday, May 4, 2013 tune in to hear Dr. Verla M. Vaughan daughters (Kim, Tracey, and Harriet) honor their mother with a special Mother's Day tribute to her life and legacy. Hear the Vaughan girls share about "Mommy" and the lessons she instilled in them by being an example to them and countless others. Hear them talk about Dr. Vaughan; the educator, a servant leader, a community Shero and a friend.

Listen to her daughters talk about their beloved mother's passion for being an advocate for the voiceless and the medically undeserved in the community. Dr. Vaughan's areas of research included HIV, diabetes, geriatrics, and cancer survivorship. Her last study, before her untimely death, was studying elderly African-Americans with diabetes who suffered with depression. Her daughters will share about the number of health care professionals Dr. Vaughan influenced while teaching at Tennessee State University's School of Nursing, through her research, editorials, and numerous lectures given around the country.

The Vaughan sisters will address their mother's battle with cancer and her heart to continue to teach, even as a patient, to medical students and health care professionals. Many of the nurses who cared for Dr. Vaughan were her former students. Because of Dr. Vaughan's strong commitment to community service,  her daughters will share their plans to keep her legacy burning brightly with several projects that will involve community engagement, nursing, education, and patient advocacy.

Join us as we continue to bring people and causes to the airwaves that are "Living and Giving" throughout the year. This show will empower, inspire, and motivate you to live your BEST life while helping others and celebrating the Mothers, Mommies, Moms, Mamas and women role models that are in our lives. 

Living Your Best Life, a radio show that empowers, inspires and motivates one to live their BEST life, can heard on 760 AM in the Middle-Tennessee Region, military bases, and streamed live on U-Stream.TV from 9-10AM CST. This show will also be aired on WTST, a member of the HBCU radio network.

More About Dr. Verla Vaughan 

Colleagues and former students of Dr. Verla Marie Williams Vaughan will remember the longtime educator and administrator as an excellent role model, scholar, mentor and a very caring person who pushed her students to achieve at their highest potential.

Vaughan, a tenured professor of Nursing,  died Feb. 23 at age 64, taught at Tennessee State University for more than 36 years over which time she developed a reputation for being devoted to her job and her students.

Dr. Kathy Martin, Associate Dean in the College of Health Sciences and Executive Director of Nursing, with whom Vaughan worked for many years, called the late educator a leader in fostering excellence in education within the nursing profession.

“Throughout her career as a nurse educator, Dr. Vaughan served as a role model, scholar and mentor for nursing students and colleagues across all levels,” Dr. Martin said. “She exemplified the vital role that nurses play in improving the health of others especially in the area of diabetes management and improving health care disparities.”

Dr. Vaughan joined the faculty in the Division of Nursing in the former School of Nursing at TSU in 1977. In addition to teaching, she served in many capacities including coordinator of the RN-BSN degree-completion program, and interim director of the BSN program – all while serving in different nursing capacities at local hospitals.

Dr. Vaughan also served as the chair of the Christine Sharpe Lectureship series, an annual program that provides TSU nursing students and community leaders the opportunity to dialogue and exchange ideas with key nursing leaders from around the country.


Dr. Vaughan, who earned a B.S. degree in Psychology from TSU, received a master’s degree in Nursing from Vanderbilt University, and a Ph.D., also in Nursing, from Texas Woman’s University.

 She was married to Harry L. Vaughan, whom she met while the two were students at TSU. Her children are Sydney Kevin Aldridge, Jr., Tracey Dixon, Kimberly Vaughan and Harriet Wallace. She is also survived by three grandchildren, including Kayla Vaughan, Amber Quarles and Taniya Dixon.

Click to read more about Dr. Verla Vaughan click here.

"Friends of Bridgett" on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations, leaders, and volunteers who lead by example. With extraordinary acts of kindness and charitable giving that help countless lives daily, these organizations, leaders, and volunteers embody "Be the change you want to see in the world".

Bridgett Evans O'Lannerghty with her daughter, Laura

On Saturday, April 27, 2013, tune in to hear from two friends on a journey to beat cancer. Listen as Bridgett Evans O'Lannerghty share with listeners her on going battle with cancer.  Bridgett, who has worked in the entertainment industry for over 33 years, was diagnosed with Stage 3 Inflammatory Breast Cancer in March 2012. After twelve rounds of chemo, a single mastectomy, additional chemo, and radiation she was pronounced free of cancer in November 2012. However, in January of 2013, cancer reared its ugly head once again as Stage 4 cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes.

Bridgett has many family, friends, and legions of fans who are praying for her to kick cancer's butt. Listen to one of her closest friends, Lisa Florian, share about the fundraiser, sponsored by hope-4-health, that will help raise money to defray the staggering cost of Bridgett's medical bills.

Join us as we continue to bring people and causes to the airwaves that are "Living and Giving" throughout the year.This show will empower, inspire, and motivate you to live your BEST life while helping others as well. 

Living Your Best Life, a radio show that empowers, inspires and motivates one to live their BEST life, can heard on 760 AM in the Middle-Tennessee Region, military bases, and streamed live on U-Stream.TV from 9-10AM CST. This show will also be aired on WTST, a member of the HBCU radio network.

More About Bridgett's Financial Needs

After the loss of her job due a downturn in the economy, God blessed Bridgett with a new job shortly before her first diagnosis. This provided much needed income and health insurance just in time!

While health insurance covers a large portion of the medical expenses, the deductible and uncovered co-pays mounted into thousands of dollars over the first diagnosis before she was hit with the second diagnosis.

Additionally, being a single mother with two children in college is a struggle in and of itself.  Her employers have been very generous with her treatment schedule and are going far above and beyond what would be expected to assist her, but she has had to miss a lot of work due to treatment and hospital admissions, which is very stressful for her.

Her need for treatment is great, and her friends have rallied around her to form “Friends of Bridgett” to help with the medical costs. The motto of Friends of Bridgett is: 

Call it a clan, call it a network,

call it a tribe, call it a family.

Whatever you call it, whoever you are,

you need one.

~Jane Howard

The first official fundraiser, sponsored by hope-4-health, began this week and runs through the end of May.

Bridgett's children:

Evan is a Junior at University of TN, Chattanooga and Laura Brennan is a Sophomore at St Louis University.

Dr. Sheron Patterson on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations and leaders who lead by example. With extraordinary acts of kindness and charitable giving that help countless lives daily, these organizations and leaders embody "Be the change you want to see in the world".

We will hear from individuals who are global change agents. We will also hear from CEOs of social enterprise businesses who are changing communities and college educators who are taking their students out of the classroom and into surrounding neighborhoods for real world life lessons and to serve others. Listen to young men and women who are energized to help make a differences in their communities and regions by challenging status quo and shattering glass ceilings.

Dr. Sheron C. Patterson

On Saturday, November 3, 2012 tune in to hear Dr. Sheron Patterson.  Dr.Patterson, a breast cancer survivor, will share from latest book, Blessings and Bling: How Faith and Fashion Helped Me Survive Breast Cancer. Blessings and Bling chronicles how Patterson used her deep faith and her love of fashion to help her survive breast cancer. Dr. Patterson will also share how she did not allow a cancer diagnoses discourage her from giving back to her community. She turned despair into determination to fight as she fought for survivor and helped others. She will share about mobilizing other breast cancer survivors to build two Habitat for Humanity houses. The money raised from the build was used to provide funds for mammograms for women in need.

The author of numerous books, Dr. Patterson has been featured in Ebony, JET, Essence magazines, and on CNN and BET. Locally, she is the relationship expert on Good Morning Texas, on Dallas’ ABC affiliate WFAA. Dr. Patterson is a veteran journalist who has hosted local and nationally syndicated radio and television programs.

Living Your Best Life, a radio show that empowers, inspires and motivates one to live their BEST life, can heard on 760 AM in the Middle-Tennessee Region, military bases, and streamed live on U-Stream.TV from 9-10AM CST.

Excerpt from Book:

“Faith and fashion will not keep you from the challenges of breast cancer. I am not writing naïve, fairy tales that will lull you into the false-hoods that your health journey will be trouble free because of your relationship with Jesus or the latest pair of jeans. Reading this book will not guarantee that you will outlive the cancer in your body Your hair may fall out due to the chemo-therapy. The radiation treatments may burn your skin. Your cancer surgery site may become infected and require additional work. The stress and strain of the cancer may chase away family and friends…. I will help you make lemonade from your lemons; make Kool-Aid out of your cancer, and popsicles out of your problems. I am not trying to minimize the severity of your situation” Faith and Fashion are an amazing combination--Blessings and Bling

More About Dr. Sheron Patterson

 Dr. Sheron C. Patterson is a survivor and philanthropist who helps others survive and even thrive on an international basis. In 2006, Dr. Patterson was diagnosed with breast cancer. She turned what could have been a tragedy into a triumph and took the public with her every step through a radio, print and television education/inspiration campaign that helped others face their health issues head on called The Patterson Pledge. She launched Breast Cancer Builds, a program that brings survivors of breast cancer together to build a Habitat for Humanity house. Once Dr. Patterson learned of the disparities in the health care system, she reached out to low income women through a partnership with two Dallas hospitals and provided not only mammograms, but breast health information as well. This project called was Mammograms for the Masses. Dr. Patterson hosted international delegations of breast cancer survivors for informational and inspirational visits in collaboration with the U.S. State Department.

To celebrate surviving breast cancer five years, Dr. Patterson launched two philanthropic projects. In connection with Methodist Health System, she launched A Year of Living and Giving, a fund raising campaign seeking $200,000 to help 1,000 low income women receive free mammograms. Dr. Patterson also penned her survivor testimony in her newest book, Blessings and Bling: How Faith and Fashion Helped Me Survive Breast Cancer. A portion of these proceeds also help low income women receive free mammograms.

Currently, Dr. Patterson is the Communications Officer for the North Texas Region of The United Methodist Church. In this role, she edits a newspaper, directs a website, hosts the video newscast, coordinates social media outreach, and handles all public relations, advertising and marketing. She is active in the Dallas community and serves on numerous boards such as the Board of Trustees of Southern Methodist University and the Board of Directors of Methodist Health System.

A sought after speaker, she has spoken nationally and internationally at events such as “Women Thou Art Loosed” conference with Bishop T. D. Jakes and in Liberia, West Africa. For the past twenty years, she has served as an itinerate elder in The United Methodist Church and has been appointed as senior pastor to four United Methodist churches in Dallas, Texas (Crest-Moore King, Jubilee, St. Paul, and Highland Hills.) She holds the distinction of being the first African-American woman to be ordained in the North Texas region of The United Methodist Church. These extraordinary accomplishments landed Dr. Patterson a place of honor in the National Women’s Museum.

Dr. Patterson holds an undergraduate degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, two Masters Degrees, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dr. Patterson is married to Robert Patterson, Sr. They have two sons, Robert Jr., and Christian.

Dr. Harold Freeman and Dr. Lovell Jones on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Now that the SCOTUS has upheld the Affordable Care Act as constitutional, where do we go from here? For many doctors, scientists, educators,and social activist, they will continue to address healthcare issues for the voiceless in our country and around the world. In the United States, the health of our economy is directly tied to health of millions of uninsured Americans in every state of the union. As America tries to recover in the world's financial marketplace, we must address the plight of the medically undeserved in our county, without political talking points, by hearing from individuals whose mission is to fight disparities.

For the next several weeks, Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes will feature many keynotes, panel participants, non-profits, cancer survivors, and students from the 25th Anniversary of the Biennial Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Undeserved and Health Equity. They will address next steps, community engagements, healthcare issues that are persistent and best practices that are helping to eliminate health disparities.

On Saturday, July 14, 2012, we will kick off this series with two forerunners in the fields of medicine, science, education, and research; Dr. Lovell Jones and Dr. Harold P. Freeman. Dr. Lovell Jones is the co-founder of the Intercultural Cancer Council. Dr. Jones was recently awarded The Ruth Kirschstein Diversity in Science Award and was honored this week by the NAACP with the Unsung Hero Award for his work with cancer prevention in the African American community.

Dr. Harold P. Freeman founded and pioneered the concept of patient navigation in 1990 for the purpose of eliminating barriers to timely cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care. It has since evolved to include the timely movement of an individual across the entire health care continuum from prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive, to end-of-life care. Dr. Freeman is also founding president of the state-of-the-art Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention located in East Harlem.

Living Your Best Life, radio that empowers, inspires, and motivates you to live your BEST life, is heard on 760AM in the Middle Tennessee Region, military bases and lived streamed at Ustream.TV from 9-10AM CST.

More About Dr. Lovell Jones

Director
The Center for Health Equity and Evaluation Research (CHEER),
Office of the Vice President for Cancer Prevention & Population Sciences,
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson)

Director
Reproductive Biology Program
Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences
The University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston

Professor
Department of Health Disparities Research, MD Anderson
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, MD Anderson
Graduate School of Social Works, University of Houston

Other
Chair, Health Disparities Education, Awareness, Research & Training (HDEART) Consortium
Cofounder, Intercultural Cancer Council
Founder, Biennial Symposium Series on Minorities, the Medically Underserved & Cancer
Principal Investigator, SECURE Gulf Coast Consortium

Dr. Jones is the founding co-chair of the Intercultural Cancer Council, the nation’s largest multicultural health policy group focused on minorities, the medically underserved and cancer. He has edited "Minorities & Cancer," one of the few comprehensive textbooks on this subject. He is the founding chair of "Minorities, the Medically Underserved and Cancer," the nation’s largest multicultural conference which provides a forum for exchanging the latest scientific and treatment information. This biennial conference brings together people from all ethnic communities and social strata to share strategies for reducing the incidence of cancer among these populations. Dr. Jones spearheaded regional hearings on cancer and the poor for the American Cancer Society. In 2002, Dr. Jones, along with Dr. Armin Weinberg, the other co-founder of the Intercultural Cancer Council, received the Humanitarian Award from the American Cancer Society.

From 1989 to 1995, Dr. Jones was co-principal investigator of the National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer, the first major minority outreach project sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. He has served on the board of directors of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, the National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Prostate Health Council of the American Foundation for Urologic Diseases. Dr. Jones also served on the Institute of Medicine’s Roundtable for Environmental Health Sciences, Research and Medicine and on the Environmental Protection Agency's Scientific Advisory Panel. He currently serves on the Advisory Council for The Benjamin Banneker Institute for Science and Technology and the Partnership for Prevention as well as a number of other national advisory committees.

In 1991, Dr. Jones chaired the Training Session of the Strategic Fact-Finding Meetings on Minority Health and Training in Biomedical Sciences for the Office of the Associate Director for Research on Minority Health (now the National Center on Minority Health & Health Disparities (NCMHD) at the NIH. He also participated in a 1994 review of the activities of the Office of Research on Minority Health at NIH. A co-author of the congressional resolution that designated the third week in April as "National Minority Cancer Awareness Week," Dr. Jones was honored in May 2000 on the floor of the U. S. House of Representatives for his work addressing health disparities among the underserved.

He has served on the Breast Cancer Integration Panel for the Department of Defense and has published over 100 scientific articles on subjects ranging from hormonal carcinogenesis to health policy. His work with estrogen has led to major findings, including the discovery that compounds labeled as weak environmental estrogens may cause adverse effects when exposure occurs during a critical time of development. Because of these results, researchers have begun to rethink when they define environmental estrogens as weak.

In founding the Health Disparities, Education, Awareness, Research & Training (HDEART) Consortium, the efforts are now extending globally. As part of this web page, you will find more information on the effort of HDEART and its attempt to address health disparities utilizing the "Biopsychosocial Model".
Education and Training

Ford Foundation Fellow, Cancer Research Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley
PhD, University of California at Berkeley. Field: Zoology. Emphasis: Endocrinology and Tumor Biology
Postdoctoral Fellow, Reproductive Endocrinology Center, University of California at San Francisco

Research Interests

The relationship between hormones, diet and endocrine-responsive tumors
How natural and environmental estrogenic agents may initiate cancers in hormonally responsive tissue
Dr. Jones’ group published the first report of a cultured, immature, mammary gland cell line with a functioning estrogen receptor. This research may allow scientists to study how breast cancer cells respond to environmental estrogens
For more about Dr. Jones Current Research and more click here.

More About Dr. Harold P. Freeman

Present Positions
President and Founder of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention and New York

Senior Advisor to the Director of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD
Chief Architect of the American Cancer Society initiative on Cancer in the Poor
Director of Howard University
Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery
Professor of Clinical Surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
Medical Director of the Breast Examination Center of Harlem, a program of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, since 1979
Trustee of Howard University Hospital since 1993
Elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 1997

Past Positions
Chief of Surgery and President of the Cancer Center at North General Hospital
Founding Director of the National Cancer Institute Center (NCI) to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (2000-2005); also Associate Director of NCI during that time
Served as President and Chief Executive Officer of North General Hospital in New York City
Served as National President of the American Cancer Society, 1988-1989
Served as Chairman of the President's Cancer Panel, having been appointed for four terms, first by President George H. W. Bush in 1991, and by President Clinton in 1994, 1997, and 2000
Served as Director of Surgery at Harlem Hospital Center for 25 years (1974-1999)

Awards & Recognitions
Honorary Doctor of Science degrees have been awarded to Dr. Freeman from Albany Medical College, Niagara University, Adelphi University, and Catholic University of America. He was also awarded the University of California at San Francisco Medal. Other selected awards include: The Mary Lasker Award for Public Service; the Time, Inc. International Health and Medical Media Awards' Lifetime Achievement Award; the American Cancer Society's Medal of Honor; the CDC Foundation's Champion of Prevention Award; the Breast Cancer Research Foundation's "Jill Rose Award," the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Special Recognition Award; the Avon Breast Cancer National Leadership Award; the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer National Foundation's Betty Ford Award; the International Spirit of Life Foundation and the Washington Cancer Institute's Spirit of Life Award; the Mayo Clinic Charles G. Moertel Memorial Lectureship Award; the Association of Community Cancer Centers' Achievement Award; the George Washington University Cancer Institute's Distinguished Public Service Award; the Rudin Prize in Medicine and Health; the Dorothy Height Lifetime Achievement Award; and the First Annual Medical Assembly "Humanitarian Award" at the United Nations Meeting the Global Challenge of Cancer in New York City.

Dr. Freeman was recognized by Black History Makers in 2006 with the Daniel Hale Williams Award. The American Cancer Society established the "Harold P. Freeman Award" in 1990 to recognize his work in dealing with the interrelationships between race, poverty, and cancer. This award is presented annually by American Cancer Society divisions throughout the United States to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the fight against cancer in the poor.

Education
Dr. Freeman received an A.B. degree from the Catholic University of America, and a M.D. degree from the Howard University College of Medicine. At Catholic University, Dr. Freeman received the Harris Award for "Outstanding Scholar, Gentleman, and Athlete," and was later recognized as "Outstanding Alumnus in the Medical Arts" and inducted into the Athlete's Hall of Fame of the University. Additionally, he received the Daniel Hale Williams Award for Outstanding Achievements as Chief Resident at Howard University Hospital.

Social Media Activists, Jody Schoger and Shawn P. Williams, on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

The twelfth Biennial Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Underserved & Health Equity begins June 27 in Houston with an internationally renowned faculty intent on making inroads in one of this country’s most intractable problems: disparities in health care experienced by minorities and underserved populations.

A combination of panels, speakers, break-out sessions and workshops will focus not only on defining existing disparities but also will seek solutions and chart new initiatives in policy making, prevention, and empowering communities in the era of health reform.

Join us on Saturday, June 9,2012 as we discuss the role of social medial in the era of healthcare reform and how it is use to engage, educate, and empower the medically underserved and bring to light social injustices. We will hear from social media change agents, Jody Schoger and Shawn P. Williams, share about their social medial platforms that have received national recognition.

Jody Schoger and Shawn P. Williams will share how their online activism has helped challeged how information is disseminated to the public. They will give us insight on the importance of being an educated consumer and how the media has shaped perceptions regarding the healthcare debates. Schoger and Williams are speakers at the 12th Biennial Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Underserved & Health Equity.

Tune into 760AM in the Middle Tennessee Region, streaming live at UStream.TV and on military bases on Saturdays from 9:00-10am CST.

More About Jody Schoger




Jody Schoger is a writer and cancer advocate with more than 25 years of experience in public relations and communications in health care, science and education. A featured columnist for OncologyTimes, she is also a co-founder of the popular “BreastCancerSocialMedia” (#BCSM) tweet chat for breast cancer survivors and author of the respected WomenWithCancer blog.

Following her own diagnosis with a locally advanced breast cancer in l998, she has devoted her energy to helping other cancer survivors. An engaging speaker, Jody has served as a grant reviewer for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and on Life Beyond Cancer Foundation’s Survivorship Committee. She is a member of the Breast Health Collaborative of Texas and serves on the American Society of Breast Surgeons’ Patient Advocacy Committee. Her articles have appeared in Cure Magazine and she has been featured both in USA Today and on the SIRUS program “Doctor Radio.”

More About Shawn P. Williams





The Mayor of Dallas, Texas, Mike Rawlings, recently appointed Shawn Williams to manage the GrowSouth initiative and digital media for the office of the mayor. Shawn will also assist with the mayor’s business growth opportunities.

Shawn P. Williams launched the nationally acclaimed and highly-recognized DallasSouthBlog.com which eventually became known as Dallas South in June of 2006. In 2008, Dallas South was one of a select number of blogs nationwide to be awarded credentials for the Democratic National Convention. The website has been featured on NBC Nightly News, The Chicago Tribune, CNN, NPR, BBC, and many other national outlets.

In June 2009, Shawn helped to organize Dallas South News, a nonprofit news organization that utilizes technology, social media, and journalistic principles to empower and inform underserved communities. He serves as President and Editor-in-Chief of the hyperlocal news website that focuses on Southern Dallas. Dallas South News won Momentum Texas’ inaugural Southern Dallas Business Plan Competition in October 2009.

In March 2010, Shawn received the Austin American-Statesman’s Texas Social Media Awards, which recognized the Top 25 social media users in the state. He is a guest columnist for the Dallas Morning News, has written articles for D Magazine has provided monthly commentary for WFAA Channel 8’s Inside Texas Politics and contributed to the weekly news segment on Reporters Roundtable with Cheryl Smith.

In November 2011, Shawn published his first book Blogging While Black.

Online:
Jody Schoger: www.twitter.com/jodyms and www.facebook.com/jodyschoger

Shawn P. Williams: www.twitter.com/shawnpwilliams and www.facebook.com/shawnpwilliams

Biennial: ICCNetwork.org
Health Equality
www.twitter.com/healthequity12

Text INSPIRE to 99000 to win a copy of kids bike, Shawn's book and passes to The Frist Center.

Previous show featuring Pam Jackson of ICC can be found here.

Sharecropper's Healthcare Plan can be found here.

25th Anniversary of Biennial Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Underserved & Health Equity

Creativity Moves on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes and Mocha Market Magazine as we spotlight young, talented, and out of the box thinkers who are business and social change agents. From serial entrepreneurs who will not allow the word “no” be a stumbling block on the road to success to leaders of organizations who challenge the status quo by leading by example to military men and women who are taking their military training that helped rebuild foreign countries and now applying their skills in their communities and in the marketplace. Tune in to hear best practices, how they became overcomers, and how they turned missteps into opportunities.

On Saturday May 5, 2012, Dr. Jacob Weiss of Playing by Air will share his latest project, Creativity Moves.

Creativity Moves is a 4-day event coming to Nashville on May 24-27, 2012 that will mobilize the city's creativity to benefit the Nashville community. The programs will bring together a wide range of the local community, including creative professionals, artists, entrepreneurs, non-profit leaders, meeting planners, educators, cancer survivors, families, and the public.

The entire community is invited to come together to celebrate a shared passion for creativity and giving back.

Along with Dr.Jacob Weiss, we will hear from Joy Huber, cancer survivor and author of Cancer with Joy, and Lu Sipos, founder of Gabe is my Heart. Hear both women share how cancer impacted their life and how they use their stories to empower, inspire, and motivate others to serve.

Living Your Best Life, is a radio show that empowers inspires, and motivates one to live their BEST life. Living Your Best Life can be heard on 760 The Gospel in the Middle TN Region, Inspirational Networks, military bases, and UStream.TV from 9-10AM CST.

More about Creativity Moves

Nashville, TN — On May 24-27, Nashville will come together to celebrate creativity and a spirit of giving back to the community. Creativity Moves Nashville is a four-day event mobilizing the city’s creativity to benefit Nashville, with programs for artists, creative professionals, entrepreneurs, non-profits, health care, and the public.

Nashville is home to a thriving community of creative talent, from musicians to startups, including a mix of amateurs and professionals. The same passion that drives these individuals’ creative growth also fosters a desire to give back to meaningful causes and non-profit organizations.

Innovative partnerships between creative and non-profit communities provide opportunities for individuals to develop successful careers that also benefit a greater cause.

From musical reviews that educate about cancer prevention to photographers capturing portraits for people in need, Nashville residents are finding meaning by applying their creativity to benefit the community.

Creative individuals are looking for ways to give back while developing their hobbies and careers, and local non-profits are seeking creative strategies to build awareness and fundraising for their programs.
Creativity Moves: Connecting Creativity and Causes

Creativity Moves Nashville nurtures connections and partnerships between creativity and causes, generating awareness for local community-building programs and resources.

The event will feature a half-day professional development conference for creative leaders and non-profit organizations, city-wide creative workshops, live performances, and a free program for young adult cancer survivors on the power of sharing one’s story.

The event will take place at Belmont University’s Black Box Theatre, hosted by Nashville’s Sideshow Fringe Festival, with additional locations for the creative workshops. All elements of the program include components of both creativity and giving back.

Artists, entrepreneurs, and other creative leaders will learn career-building strategies by developing mutually beneficial relationships with non-profit organizations and causes. In turn, representatives from non-profits will explore new approaches to connect with the creative community to achieve success in their fundraising and programming goals.

For more info about Creativity Moves click here.

More About Joy Huber

Joy Huber is a stage four young adult cancer survivor and the founder & author of "Cancer with Joy" published by Morgan James Publishing of NYC. She is an award-winning international presenter, individual coach, and the co-writer of the song "Bright Side Effects" (see the Music Video and additional videos on YouTube).

Joy helps the newly diagnosed and those on their support team discover how to transform fear into happiness with resources, support, and en'courage'ment. She wrote "Cancer with Joy" to be the essential resource for the newly diagnosed providing helpful and highly valuable information that saves precious time, energy, and money. Joy was professionally trained in coaching by Coach U, and she offers individual coaching on a limited basis.

At Creativity Moves Nashville, Joy will share her story of how she went from stage four cancer diagnosis to book deal in less than a year! Joy is professionally trained to coach others with a story to tell and presents an entrepreneurship program for young adults.

More About Chemo Duck

Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program® is a program of the Nashville-based nonprofit organization, Gabe’s My Heart. Established in 2004 to provide education and comfort to children living with cancer through medical play using therapeutic tools, Gabe’s Chemo Duck Program has provided more than 5,000 ducks to children around the world. Our goal is to enable hospital staff, parents and caregivers to prepare children for chemotherapy treatment and eliminate the fear of the unknown. We work directly with child life departments at our affiliate hospitals to ensure children and their families obtain the full benefit of our program. Chemo Duck is a stuffed yellow duck dressed in blue hospital scrubs with a bandana around its head, a chemotherapy port on its chest and an immobilizer on his arm. In a gentle, age-appropriate manner, children learn what to expect during cancer treatment and have a friend to share the experience. In turn, children can use Chemo Duck to help friends, siblings and classmates to understand and empathize with their experience. For information about Chemo Duck click here.

A Life Changing Encounter with a Homeless Woman

A year ago, I volunteered to help with a project for women cancer survivors. I have participated in several events over the years that were geared to help restore or uplift the spirits of cancer survivors through pampering, empowerment or patient advocacy. Diving in heart first, I was excited to volunteer to help stamp out the stigma of cancer. At this event, I met women from diverse backgrounds on various stages of their journey with their cancer diagnosis. Some of the women had recently completed their treatments and some of them were a few years down the road. Some were well known in the community and supported by family and friends. A few were still in treatment but only one was homeless.

Enter Wanda.

Wanda was in a battle for life with no place to call her own. She was referred by her oncologists who knew about the special event. When Wanda entered my makeshift dressing room, she was a bit nervous as she gave me a once over and checked out the surroundings packed with designer clothes and jewelry on loan to me from personal friends from around the country. As I introduced myself, I promised her we were going to have a fantastic time as I pulled my “stylist” title out of the box for her makeover and photo session. I shared with her about my grandfather who was the motivation for me volunteering that day. Wanda countered my icebreaker conversation with words of her own as she told me how she wanted to look. “Not shy, this one”, I thought to myself with a smile. After our intro, Wanda tried on clothes while preparing for her photo shoot. During that time together, we shared about each other lives. Wanda did not hold back her thoughts and gave me quite a few old school zingers about her observations about life from a street perspective. Her words were honesty on steroids. She shared her thoughts about “people wanting to help others when their own lives are messed up.” Hearing her priceless commentary had me roaring with laughter and deep in thought. Wanda talked about her cancer diagnosis and her chemo treatments that seemed endless. She did not hold back about the physical and mental pain. She expressed her gratefulness for the Madison Church of Christ congregation that befriended her and took her under their wings. The more I inquired about how she was taking care of herself, the more she shared about her life and background. "Cancer was the last thing on my mind,” she said softly at one point. She had seen many trials before cancer, I was told. But those trials produced one of the most courageous women I have ever met.


When she was photographed, her inner strength and beauty that I saw firsthand filled the camera lens. Wanda was radiant and proud. My tears flowed uncontrollably as the photographer kept telling her how stunning she was as he was encouraging her to give him her best smile for the camera. By the end of the shoot, Wanda was ready to sign with the Ford Modeling agency!

As we were calling the day a wrap, I introduced Wanda to my friend, Daphne, who was volunteering also. I told Wanda that Daphne was a dentist. With all the frankness that only Wanda can deliver, she pulled off her well-coiffed wig that was used in her beauty transformation and said, “A dentist! How come you did not introduce her to me first? I really need to visit her!” With a jerk of a wig, Wanda gave me a dose of reality. Just like that, Wanda told us in her own way, what her real needs were!

A homeless woman taught me to make sure "my good works" met the needs of those I am trying to serve. Giving a winter coat to a man who lives in the desert is an exercise in futility. A homeless woman showed me that true compassion and a willingness to listen to those who need to be heard should be at the heart of volunteering. A homeless woman had me reevaluating if my volunteer hours were making any difference. A homeless woman had me questioning if my "good deeds" were actually meeting real needs. It might be a city flooded or hit by a tornado or a cancer patient who has no place to lay their head: in the end, we all need each other. Listening to Wanda, I learned the importance of knowing the true need of those who I am trying to serve. Wanda taught me to listen for the real answer when I ask, "How can I help?"

I stayed in touch with Wanda and her church members. They became her adopted family and friends. They all have endless stories about the goodness of Wanda. She is well. They say she has an apartment of her own and is finishing school. Everyone that knows her tell me exactly the same thing, “Wanda changed my life!” Wanda changed my life too. Because of Wanda, I have learned nothing in life is without purpose or meaning, even an encounter with a homeless person.

Originally published on Blogcritics

An Ironman With A Soft Heart; Chuck Beard

October is officially National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink ribbon themed events are in plentiful supply. I participate with many groups and organizations like most do during the month. But in the cancer community, cancer does not come once a year. It is a twenty-four hour, 365 day a year fight to strike down the dreaded disease. I chose to partner with individuals who understand that in order to beat cancer we must make cancer awareness and survivorship a part of mainstream conversation and not the color of a ribbon one month out of the year.

This past summer, I met Chuck Beard who is a huge advocate for the cancer community. I don’t think I have ever seen him with a pink ribbon. But he can usually be found wearing a red track suit with the name of someone who is fighting cancer on the suit. Chuck is an athlete who competes in races to raise money for cancer patients and their families. He also organizes concerts and art related events to raise money as well.

I was so intrigued with his brand of advocacy that I had to meet with him to learn more about his ambitious drive behind his passion to help others.

When we met, I found myself staring up at Chuck, “he shops in the big and tall shop” I silently thought to myself. Out of curiosity, I touched his arm and realized right away why he was perfect for competing in the 2010 Louisville Ironman event; his arm was flesh over steel. Chuck’s physical appearance embodied the Ironman persona but once he starting sharing with me about why he is involved in the cancer community, I heard right away the heart of a gentle giant and someone who has as much compassion for others as he has strength. Chuck, like millions, lost a loved one to cancer. Chuck’s best friend from childhood fought a long hard battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. To honor that friendship that shaped him at a young age, Chuck started an organization to address the needs in the cancer community. Chuck’s nonprofit has assisted families to help with everyday expenses while caring for a loved one that is hospitalized or undergoing treatment.

This approach to helping others in need is different from many organizations that raise money for cancer causes. Rarely do organizations give monies to individuals who are fighting cancer and usually untold financial stress at the same time directly.

Chuck’s foundation, Adventures Inside of Campus for A Cure, is a 501©3. Chuck and a few friends decided to fight cancer by pulling on a few of their favorite things: education, art, music, and good people. They use their collective resources to bring people together to have a ton of fun while making cancer awareness their top priority. Chuck and company do not see their group as an organization but a movement. “Our goals are to entertain through art and music, educate about the effects of cancer, and enlighten lives with the experiences we leave behind from city to city on our journey”, he said with a big grin. Adventures Inside a Campus For A Cure started in Kentucky in Chuck’s hometown but has found a huge following in Nashville and individuals from around the world.

At the time of our meeting, Chuck was training for an Ironman competition that was held on August 29, in Louisville, Kentucky. He was being trained by Centre College Football Coach Patrick Carter Conley and had been since mid-December of 2009. Chuck shared with me his weekly training which included 6 days a week of swimming, biking, and running. When I asked about his strenuous workouts, he said it was brutal but it would be worth it for a deserving family. Many donated money while Chuck was training and on the day of the event. 100% of the proceeds from the event went to two unknowing and deserving families in Nashville, TN and Louisville, KY that have someone in their families currently battling cancer. Chuck recruited two dear friends who worked in the medical fields from both cities to give him names of families who were in dire circumstances to be recipients of the donations.

If that was not enough, Adventures Inside a Campus for A Cure donations to the family remained anonymous. After hearing him share this bit of information with a big grin, it was hard to fight back tears. He said he wanted the families to know that they were not alone in their courageous fight against cancer, and that many people out there want them to feel inspired by the power of love. Doesn’t every person fighting cancer need an Ironman fighting their battle for them?

Chuck’s advocacy does not stop at triathlon meets or music and art events. He wrote a book titled Adventures Inside A Bright Eyed Sky. ALL money from the book sales goes to families in need. Every cent. Chuck gave me an autographed copy that I rushed home to read right away. I read a story about a boy named Jay who was about to turn thirteen and going through the challenges of life at such a young age. Chuck uses the humor of middle school minds to address grown up problems. The book is appropriate for all ages. As I read it, I found myself imaging Chuck as the young Jay. Since receiving my copy, I have given the book to three families who have young children battling cancer. Their responses have all been the same, “Thank you for the book, I would love to meet the author someday.” With quiet giggles, I said to myself, “You will, you will”, as I took the families names to pass on to Chuck.

Photo credit: Emily Beard

Article first published as An Ironman with a Soft Heart: Chuck Beard Trains for Families with Cancer on Blogcritics.


(Want to support chuck's efforts? Meet Chuck and others:

Local grassroots nonprofit Adventures Inside a Campus for a Cure will host an evening of art, music and conversation about cancer at The Rutledge Fri., Nov. 12, with doors opening at 8 p.m. The evening will feature works from local visual artist Jeff Bertrand and performances by Starlume, Venus Hum and Trenton, with all proceeds from the door benefiting Gilda’s Club of Nashville.)