Hope and Destiny are not words typically associated with sickle cell disease but that’s the title of a new book on the illness

ATLANTA— Hope and Destiny are not words typically associated with sickle cell disease but that’s the title of a new book on the illness by an expert from Emory University School of Medicine.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that changes normal, round red blood cells into cells that can be shaped like crescent moons. Certified physician assistant Allan F. Platt Jr., P.A.-C., M.M.Sc., sees firsthand the agonizing grip the disease can have on patients. For more than twenty years he has provided compassionate care for his patients at the Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.

Platt’s work inspired him to write a book to give patients and caregivers a comprehensive guidebook to manage sickle cell disease through the lifespan.

Hope and Destiny: The Patient and Parent’s Guide to Sickle Cell Disease and Sickle Cell Trait is a compassionate and informative guide and fact book for patients and caregivers to reduce symptoms, relieve pain and better understand the cause and growth of the disease. “I hope this book will raise public awareness about the disease and the issues patients face each and every day. This is a large underserved population in the United States and globally,” says Platt.

According to the National Institute of Health, sickle cell anemia is most common in people whose families come from Africa, South or Central America, Caribbean islands, Mediterranean countries, India, and Saudi Arabia. In the US, it's estimated that sickle cell anemia affects 70,000–100,000 people, mainly African Americans. The disease occurs in about 1 out of every 500 African American births. Sickle cell disease also affects Hispanic Americans occurring more than 1 out of every 36,000 Hispanic American births. More than 2 million Americans have sickle cell trait. Platt co-authored Hope and Destiny with James Eckman MD and Lewis Hsu MD. Eckman is a Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute and Director of the Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center at Grady Memorial Hospital.

Hsu is the Director of the Pediatric Sickle Cell Program at Children’s National Medical Center.

In this third edition the authors offer new research findings and the latest updates in treatment options. The expanded content covers anti-sickling therapy with hydroxyurea, gene therapy, foods and supplements that help prevent sickle cell complications, pregnancy and issues surrounding reproduction, cord blood banking, bone marrow transplants and new hope for other options.

Hemoglobin is the iron containing oxygen transport protein in the red blood cell. Normal red blood cells contain hemoglobin A. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that contain mostly hemoglobin S, an abnormal type of hemoglobin. Normally, red blood cells live for about 120 days before new ones replace them - hemoglobin S cells only last about 16 days.

“Normal red blood cells move easily through blood vessels, taking oxygen to every part of the body,” Platt explains. Sickle shaped cells on the other hand can get stuck and block blood vessels, preventing the oxygen from getting through. The result is pain, for some excruciating. “Pain is a daily fact of life for those with sickle cell disease, so prevention and treatment methods need to be taught to families and caregivers," says Platt. Sickle cell disease can harm organs, muscles, bones and cause infections, anemia and stroke. Since many providers do not understand sickle cell, Platt says he hopes the book will help patients become experts in their disease and take an active role in their treatment.

Hope and Destiny provides helpful advice for finding the right healthcare team; how to manage the psychosocial aspects of living with a chronic disease; cope with pain and sickle cell “crises” and use faith and prayer in living successfully with the disease.

Hope and Destiny is available online and at local bookstores.

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The Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University is an academic health science and service center focused on missions of teaching, research, health care and public service.

Contacts: Juliette Merchant: (404) 778-1503

Mary Church Terrell

Mary Church Terrell - September 23, 1863 – July 24, 1954, daughter of former slaves, was one of the first African-American women to earn a college degree. She became an activist who led important associations and worked for civil rights and suffrage.

In all matters affecting the interests of the women of her race. Mrs. Mary Church Terrell, of Washington, D. C., is a leading spirit. Three times in succession she was elected President of the National Association of Colored Women by most flattering majorities. When, according to the provision of the constitution, which limits the term of officers, Mrs. Terrell could not be re-elected president, she was made Honorary President.

She has twice been invited to address the National Woman Suffrage Association at Its annual convention in Washington. Her public utterances have always made a profound impression on her hearers and no speakers associated with her have received more applause from audiences or higher praise from the public press than herself. Not many years ago when Congress, by resolution granted power to the Commissioners of-the District of Columbia to appoint two women on the Board of Education for the public schools, Mrs. Terrell was one of the women appointed. She served in the board for five years with great success and signal ability.

Mrs. Terrell is the only woman who has ever held the office of President of the Bethel IJterary and Historical Association at Washington, the foremost and oldest Lyceum established and controlled by colored people in America. Her splendid work as presiding officer of this organization had much to do with her other subsequent success in attaining similar positions in other bodies of deliberation.

Mrs. Terrell's life has been an interesting one. She was born in Memphis, Tenn., of well-to-do parents. She graduated at Oberlin College in 1884 with the degree of A. B. In 1888 she received the degree of A. M. from Oberlin. She was for a while a teacher at Wilberforce University at Xenia, Ohio. In 1887 she was appointed teacher of languages in the Colored High School at Washington. She went abroad for further study and travel in 1888 and remained in Europe two years, spending the time in France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy. She resumed her work in Washington in 1890. In 1891 she was offered the registrarship of Oberlin College, being the first woman of her race to whom such a position was ever tendered by an institution so widely known and of such high standard.This place was declined because of her approaching marriage. In 1891 she was married to Mr. Robert H. Terrell, who is a graduate of Howard College and who was recently appointed by President Roosevelt to a Federal Judgeship in the District of Columbia, being one of the two colored men first to receive this high distinction.

Mrs. Terrell has a daughter whom she has named Phyllis, in honor of Phyllis Wheatley, the black woman whose verses received the commendation of George- Washington and many other distinguished men of her time.

Mrs. Terrell is now engaged by a lecture bureau. She has traveled extensively in the West, speaking before large audiences and everywhere her talks have received the highest praise. The Danville, 111., "Daily News," speaking of her address before the Chautauqua of that town, says:

"Mrs. Terrell's addresses are the pure gold with less dross of nonsense than any lecturer that has come upon the stage at this Chautauqua. From the first word to the last she has something to say, and says it as a cultured lady in the best of English, which has no tinge of the high falootin or the sensational. Such speakers are rare. She should be paid to travel as a model of good English and good manners."

Mrs. Terrell's eloquent utterances and chaste diction make a deep impression, which must have influence in the final shaping of the vexed problems that confront the Negro race in this country. Her exceptional attainments and general demeanor are a wonderful force in eradicating the prejudice against colored women. She is making an opening for her sisters as no one else is doing or has ever done.

TEXT CREDIT: Twentieth century Negro literature: or, A cyclopedia of thought on the vital topics relating to the American Negro.

Title Twentieth century Negro literature: or, A cyclopedia of thought on the vital topics relating to the American Negro Editor: Daniel Wallace Culp. Publisher: J. L. Nichols & co., 1902. Original from: the University of Michigan. Digitized: Sep 17, 2008. Length: 472 pages. Subjects: Literary Criticism › American › African American, African American authors, African Americans, Afro-Americans, Literary Criticism / American / African American, Social Science / Ethnic Studies / African American Studies.

TEXT RESOURCE: Mary Church Terrell From Wikipedia

Blind Lemon Jefferson Black Snake Moan VIDEO

"Blind" Lemon Jefferson (September 24, 1893 – December 19, 1929)

Birth name: Lemon Henry Jefferson. Born: September 24, 1893. Origin Coutchman, Texas, U.S. Died: December 19, 1929 (aged 36), Genres: Blues. Occupations: Singer-songwriter, guitarist, Years: active 1926–1929.

Black Snake Moan, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Paramount Records.

Jefferson died in Chicago December 10, 1929, of what his death certificate called "probably acute myocarditis". For many years, apocryphal rumors circulated that a jealous lover had poisoned his coffee, but a more likely scenario is that he died of a heart attack after becoming disoriented during a snowstorm. Some have said that Jefferson died from a heart attack after being attacked by a dog in the middle of the night. More recently, the book, "Tolbert's Texas," claimed that he was killed while being robbed of a large royalty cash payment by a guide escorting him to Union Station to catch a train home to Texas.

Paramount Records paid for the return of his body to Texas by train, accompanied by pianist Will Ezell. Jefferson was buried at Wortham Negro Cemetery (later Wortham Black Cemetery). Far from his grave being kept clean, it was unmarked until 1967, when a Texas Historical Marker was erected in the general area of his plot, the precise location being unknown. By 1996, the cemetery and marker were in poor condition, but a new granite headstone was erected in 1997. In 2007, the cemetery's name was changed to Blind Lemon Memorial Cemetery and his gravesite is kept clean by a cemetery committee in Wortham, Texas

VIDEO CREDIT: Moezzilla

TEXT CREDIT: Blind Lemon Jefferson From Wikipedia

Granville T. Woods

GRANVILLE T. WOODS, ESQ. (April 23, 1856 – January 30, 1910), Electrician—Mechaiucal-Engineer-Manufacturer of Telephone, Telegraph and Electrical Instruments.

Some men are born great; some have greatness thrust upon them and some achieve greatness." To the last class belongs G. T. Woods, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, April 23,1856. He attended school until he was ten years of age, when he was placed in a machine shop where he learned the machinist and blacksmith trades. In the meantime he took private lessons and attended night school, and exhibited great pluck and perseverance in fitting himself for the work he desired to undertake. He pursued with assiduity every study which promoted that end. November, 1872, he left for the West, where he obtained work as a fireman and afterwards as an engineer on one of the Iron Mountain Railroads of Missouri. While in the employ of the railroad company he had a great deal of leisure, and as saloons had no attractions for him, he took up the study of electricity as a pastime.

In December, 1874, he went to Springfield, Illinois, where he was employed in a rollingmill. Early in 1876 he left for the East, where he received two years special training in electrical and mechanical engineering at college. While obtaining his special instructions, he worked six half days in each week in a machine shop, the afternoon and evening of each day being spent in school. February 6, 1878, he went to sea in the capacity of engineer on board the Ironsides, a British steamer. While a sailor, he visited nearly every country on the globe. During 1880 he handled a locomotive on the D. & S. Railroad. Since then he has spent the major portion of his time in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he has established a factory for the purpose of carrying on the business, as indicated at the head of this sketch. A company has been formed recently for the purpose of placing Mr. Woods' Electrical Railway Telegraph on the market.

Illustration of Granville T. Woods Born: Granville T. Woods April 23, 1856 Columbus, Ohio United States. Died: January 30, 1910 (aged 53) New York City, New York. Cause of death: Stroke. Resting place: St. Michael's Cemetery, Queens, New York. Residence: 201 West Third Street, Columbus, Ohio. Nationality: American Education: Elementary School, Occupation: Inventor. Home town: Columbus, Ohio Spouse Loretta Woods. Children: Jake Woods. Parents: Tailer and Martha Woods

Mr. Woods says that he has been frequently refused work because of the previous condition of his race, but he has had great determination and will and never despaired because of disappointments. He always carried his point by persistent efforts. He says the day is past when the colored boys will be refused work only because of race prejudice. There are other causes. First, the boy has not the nerve to apply for work after being refused at two or three places. Second, the boy should have some knowledge of mechanics. The latter could be gained at technical schools, which should be founded for the puKpose. In this respect he shows good sense and really prophesies the future of the race, and these schools must sooner or later be established, and thereby we shall be enabled to put into the hands of our boys and girls the actual means for a livelihood. He is the inventor of the "Induction Telegraph," a system for communicating to and from movingtrains, and is intended to diminish the loss of life and property, and produce a maximum of safety to travelers.

In the United States patent office, in the case of- Woods vs. Phelps' RailwayTelegraph Interference—L. M. Hosea, attorney for Woods, and W. D. Baldwin, attorney for Phelps—it will be shown that the patent office has decided that Mr. Woods was the prior inventor of this system.

The following appeared in the Cincinnati Sun:

Granville T. Woods, a young colored man of this city, has invented a new system of electrical motor, for street railroads. He has invented also a number of other electrical appliances, and the syndicate controlling his inventions think they have found Edison's successor.

The Cincinnati Colored Citizen, in its issue of January 29, 1887, says:

We take great pleasure in congratulating Mr. G. T. Woods on his success in becoming so prominent that his skill and knowledge of his chosen art compare with that of any one of our best known electricians of the day.

The Catholic Tribune, January 14, 1886, said of him:

Granville T. Woods, the greatest colored inventor in the history of the race, and equal, if not superior, to any inventor in the country, is destined to revolutionize the mode of street car transit. The results of his experiments are no longer a question of doubt. He has excelled in every possible way in all his inventions. He is master of the situation, and his name will be handed down to coming generations as one of the greatest inventors of his time. He has not only elevated himself to the highest position among inventors, but he has shown beyond doubt the possibility of a colored man inventing as well as one of any other race.

The following appeared in the American Catholic Tribune, April 1, 1887 (Cincinnati, Ohio):

Mr. Woods, who is the greatest electrician in the world, still continues to add to his long list of electrical inventions.

The latest device he invented is the Synchronous Multiplex Railway Telegraph. By means of this system, the railway despatcher can note the position of any train on the route at a glance. The system also provides means for telegraphing to and from the train while in motion. The same lines may also be used for local message without interference with the regular train signals.

This system may be used for other purposes. In fact, two hundred operators may use a single wire at the same time. Although the messages may be passing in opposite directions, they will not conflict with each other.

In using the devices there is no possibility of collisions between trains, as each train can always be informed of the position of the other while in motion. Mr. Woods has all the patent office drawings for these devices, as your correspondent witnessed.

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: Men of mark: eminent, progressive and rising

Sissieretta Jones The Black Patti

Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones, known as Sissieretta Jones, The Black Patti (January 5, 1868 or 1869 – June 24, 1933. Compared to the Italian soprano at the time, Adelina Patti, Jones was dubbed the "Black Patti".

Among the more recent singers, perhaps the most distinguished is Madame Sissieretta Jones. She was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1870. Her father was pastor of the local Methodist Church. When still a young woman her parents moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where her voice soon attracted public attention. She showed her talent as a singer as early as five years old. After making a number of public appearances in Providence, she was invited to go to New York and sing at Wallack's Theatre.

At age fourteen she was accepted at the now defunct Providence School of Music and also attended training classes at The New England Conservatory in Boston. She aldo met and married her husband "David Richard Jones" a well known gambler.

Her success was so great that she was immediately engaged to tour South America and the West Indies. In 1886 she sang with great success in Madison Square Garden.

She has sung with success in all the principal cities of Europe, and during recent years has had her own company, known as the Black Patti Troubadours at the head of which she has appeared in every important city in the United States. The groups performances included blackface minstrel and “coon” songs also featured acrobats and comedians toured the United States and abroad for 20 years.

On June 1892 Jones became the first African-American to sing at the Music Hall in New York (renamed Carnegie Hall the following year). Among the selections in her program were Charles Gounod's "Ave Maria" and Giuseppe Verdi's "Sempre libera" (from La traviata). The New York Echo wrote of her performance at the Music Hall: "If Mme Jones is not the equal of Adelina Patti, she at least can come nearer it than anything the American public has heard. Her notes are as clear as a mockingbird's and her annunciation perfect." She first performed at the White House in February 1892 for President Benjamin Harrison and returned to appear before Presidents Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt. She also appeared before the British Royal Family.

In 1893 Jones met composer Antonín Dvořák, and in January 1894 she performed parts of his Symphony No. 9 at Madison Square Garden. Dvořák wrote a solo part for Jones.

At the age of 46, she returned home to Providence, devoting herself to church work, taking in homeless children, and caring for her ailing mother. To make ends meet, she sold three of her four houses and most of her medals and jewels, leaving her penniless when she died of cancer at age 74 in Rhode Island Hospital.


TEXT CREDIT: The story of the Negro: the rise of the race from slavery, Volume 2 By Booker T. Washington.

IMAGE CREDIT: The white side of a black subject: enlarged and brought down to date : a vindication of the Afro-American race : from the landing of slaves at St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565, to the present time.

TEXT RESOURCES:

• Sissieretta Jones biography
• Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones
• Matilda Sissieretta Jones Britannica Online Encyclopedia
• Sissieretta Jones blackhistorypages.net
• Jones, Sissieretta (1869-1933) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed
• Sissieretta Jones (1869 - 1933) - Find A Grave Memorial

The role of vitamin D in halting and reducing subclinical cardiac damage in African-Americans suffering from high blood pressure

The role of vitamin D in halting and reducing subclinical cardiac damage in African-Americans suffering from high blood pressure.

DETROIT - A Wayne State University School of Medicine physician researcher has received a $1.9 million National Institutes of Health grant to study the role of vitamin D in halting and reducing subclinical cardiac damage in African-Americans suffering from high blood pressure.

Phillip Levy, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of emergency medicine and resident of Farmington Hills, Mich., will use the five-year grant to determine how vitamin D affects cardiac structure and function, and vascular function in blacks with hypertension. The research could identify vitamin D as a safe, effective and inexpensive therapy to stop, and even reverse, cardiac ravages caused by high blood pressure.

"This project focuses on a vulnerable demographic subgroup at high-risk for hypertension, poor blood pressure control and, consequently, adverse pressure-related cardiovascular complications," Levy said. "Vitamin D is an inexpensive therapeutic intervention, which, if shown to be efficacious, could greatly enhance the existing approach to secondary disease prevention in a widely accessible, cost-effective manner."

Phillip Levy, M.D., M.P.H.

High blood pressure affects the black population to a greater degree than other demographics. Blacks also have more difficulty absorbing sufficient amounts of vitamin D through exposure to sunlight because of skin pigmentation. Previous studies, Levy said, suggest a relationship between the degree of skin pigmentation and thickening of the muscle tissue in the wall of the heart's main pumping chamber - a condition known as left ventricular hypertrophy. Common in those with high blood pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, especially heart failure. Importantly, the cardiovascular risks associated with left ventricular hypertrophy start increasing early in the process, often before the appearance of overt symptoms. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to high rates of cardiovascular disease in blacks but whether supplementation can reduce this risk is not known. It is thought that vitamin D deficiency may accelerate ventricular changes that occur with high blood pressure, thus serving as a potential point of intervention.

The study will include Detroit Receiving Hospital emergency department patients between the ages of 30 and 74, who come to the hospital with poorly controlled chronic hypertension but no prior history of secondary cardiovascular disease. Levy said 267 patients who agree to participate in the study will be screened, with the anticipation that 75 percent will have vitamin D deficiency. Those with vitamin D deficiency will then undergo cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to screen for increased left ventricular mass. Based on prior work funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Physician Faculty Scholars Program, Levy anticipates that 60 percent of those evaluated by MRI will have left ventricular hypertrophy resulting in a final sample of 120 patients. These study enrollees will be randomized to receive blood pressure control with additional placebo or vitamin D supplements for an entire year.

Levy said patients enrolled in the study will receive 50,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D3 every other week, an amount consistent with current therapeutic recommendations. The supplement will be provided in a liquid gel capsule. Most people who take vitamin D purchased over the counter ingest 1,000 IU daily.

Levy expects to find that individuals who receive vitamin D therapy will experience a regression in left ventricular mass beginning 16 weeks after they start taking the supplements. That regression should continue and increase in magnitude over the course of a year. Myocardial fibrosis, which comprises much of the increase of left ventricle mass in those with hypertension, should decrease. Other expected outcomes include improved vascular function with a decrease in central and possibly peripheral blood pressure.

"Vitamin D's effectiveness in further reducing left ventricle mass would decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease complications in African-Americans," Levy said.

Additionally, if serum markers parallel MRI findings in the study, Levy said, they could then serve as a screening and assessment tool.

Levy will serve as the principal investigator for the study. His research mentor, John Flack, M.D., M.P.H., professor and chair of internal medicine, and Rafael Fridman, Ph.D., professor of pathology, will be co-investigators.

"There are biologically plausible mechanisms through which vitamin D deficiency can cause or contribute to left ventricular hypertrophy," Flack said. "Populations, such as African-Americans, who manifest high rates of vitamin D deficiency also have excessive rates of left ventricular hypertrophy. The test of whether moderate- to high-dose vitamin D replacement can regress left ventricular hypertrophy is long overdue. Vitamin D is safe, reasonably cheap, and has enormous, but mostly unproven, therapeutic potential."

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Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.

Wayne State University Release Date: June 02, 2011 Contact: Julie O'Connor Voice: 313-577-8845 E-mail: julie.oconnor@wayne.edu

The University of Maryland is appointing Bonnie Thornton Dill dean of Arts and Humanities

Bonnie Thornton Dill: First African American Woman Dean of Arts and Humanities, Women's Studies Chair Serving Two-Year Term.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland is appointing Bonnie Thornton Dill dean of one of its largest colleges, Arts and Humanities.

Dill, long-time chair of women's studies, is expected to serve until June 30, 2013. She is the first African American woman to hold the post, and succeeds James Harris, who is stepping down after 14 years as dean. Dill's term begins August 1.

Internationally known for her cross-cutting scholarship on race and gender, Black and Latina women in higher education, as well as issues such as work, family and poverty, Dill has led women's studies at Maryland to national prominence - it is one of a select few universities in the United States to offer a doctoral degree in the field; it serves as the base for the National Women's Studies Association and editorial home of the pioneering journal, Feminist Studies.

Note: Bonnie Thornton Dill is the first woman to serve as dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. Under an earlier organizational structure in the 1980s - before there were colleges or deans at Maryland - Shirley Strum Kenny served as "provost" of the division of Arts and Humanities.

Courses on women and gender are now regularly offered by 26 departments and programs throughout the university, including African American Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Art History, Asian American Studies, Biology, Classics, Communication, Comparative Literature, Education, English, Family Sciences, French and Italian, Germanic Studies, History, Israel Studies, Jewish Studies, Journalism, Kinesiology, LGBT Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, U.S. Latina/o Studies, and Theatre. Dill has spent two decades in the department, first as professor and later as chair. She is also the founding director of the Consortium on Race, Gender, and Ethnicity at Maryland, which promotes "intersectional" research.

Her scholarship includes three books, most recently, Emerging Intersections: Race, Class, and Gender in Theory, Policy and Practice (2009), and numerous articles.

"Bonnie's scholarly life has been defined by intersections and cross-disciplinary work - excellent preparation for the challenges of leading such a diverse college as Arts and Humanities," says Senior Vice President and Provost Ann G. Wylie, on announcing the appointment. "Under her leadership, our women's studies program has grown in both size and stature. She is a pioneer in her field, and a number of colleagues in the college recommended her highly. President Loh and I are confident that she will bring further distinction to the invaluable work of the College of Arts and Humanities."

Professor Dill is recognized as an outstanding teacher and mentor, having received both the Jessie Bernard Award and the Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award, given by the American Sociological Association, and the University System of Maryland Regents' Faculty Award for Mentoring.

Dill is also active in her profession. She currently serves as president of the National Women's Studies Association and chair of the Advisory Board of Scholars for Ms. Magazine. Formerly, she served as vice president of the American Sociological Association.

"Bonnie exemplifies the kind of educational innovation, as well as the interdisciplinary collaboration that marks our leadership team," says University President Wallace Loh, who is currently accompanying Gov. O'Malley on a trade mission to China. "More than ever, we must stress diversity and inclusiveness as the path to global educational excellence. Bonnie's outstanding accomplishments and talents will make a major contribution to this effort."

PRIORITIES

Dill promises to be a strong advocate for the arts and humanities, the college's diverse programs, and to enhance the university's reputation as a leader in "inclusive excellence" on matters of diversity and equity.

"We must promote an understanding of how essential arts and humanities disciplines are to human progress," Dill says. "Without education and research in these fields, we'll fail to learn from society's successes and its failures. I'll be a strong voice for the importance of our College's work in our rapidly changing world and in service to the State of Maryland."

Dill points, for example, to the College's ongoing mission of educating "global citizens who think creatively" about the challenges of the 21st century. "Our graduates are the measure of our success," she adds. "The yardstick is their ability to think critically, boldly and imaginatively."

GROWTH OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES AT MARYLAND

During his 14-year tenure as dean, James Harris significantly raised the College's profile, describing it as "a wonderful period of growth," last fall, when he announced plans to step down.

"I congratulate Bonnie for agreeing to take this critical leadership position and wish her the best of luck," says Harris. "I will, of course, support her fully."

Harris will leave his post at the end of June, and Dill will begin in August. "Dr. Juan Uriagereka, associate provost for faculty affairs and professor of linguistics, has graciously agreed to serve as interim dean for the month of July," Wylie says in an announcement.

Wylie adds that a search will commence in fall 2012 for the next Arts and Humanities dean to serve at the conclusion of Dill's term in 2013.

DILL BIO

Dill is a graduate of New York University, where she received her M.A (1970) and Ph.D. (1979). She received her B.A. from the University of Rochester (1965). Dill taught at the University of Memphis, and then came to Maryland as a professor in the women's studies department in 1991, where she currently serves as chair.

University Communications Newsdesk, University of Maryland For Immediate Release June 2, 2011 Contacts: Neil Tickner, 301 405 4622 or ntickner@umd.edu

Baltimore's festival of African American music and culture

Today, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake joined event producer greiBO Media to announce events and musical acts at the 2011 African American Festival. Taking place July 2-3, this free and family-friendly festival of African American music and culture has been held in Baltimore for three decades. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors from up and down the East Coast converge on the city to enjoy African American food, music, art, crafts, and dance.

The star-studded extravaganza featuring Charlie Wilson, Noel Gourdine, and many other national musical acts will be held at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, July 2, 2011 from noon to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday, July 3, from noon to 9:00 p.m. Coca-Cola is the title sponsor. In addition to entertainment, the 2011 African-American Festival will feature health screenings, cultural foods, contests, giveaways, and much more. Additional musical acts will be announced in the coming weeks.

“The African American Festival brings together our community of families to honor our past, celebrate our accomplishments, and showcase our future,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “I believe that we live in one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the country, and I love any opportunity to show it off to people from out of town. I am grateful for the efforts of our sponsors and our Advisory Board members to make this the best festival Baltimore has ever seen.”

2011 African American Festival Photographer Credit: Mark L. Dennis

The African American Festival is the largest annual African American cultural event on the East Coast and has attracted over 300,000 visitors to the two-day celebration for more than 30 years. The African American Festival has become one of Baltimore’s most well-attended, premier attractions for citizens and tourists alike. The event includes a variety of world-renowned and local entertainment, arts and crafts exhibits, jewelry, sculptures, ethnic and American cuisine, educational resources, and an interactive children’s area. This year, AAF will continue to build on its legacy of promoting tradition, cultural awareness, and Baltimore’s rich history while inspiring the future of the African American experience.

“We are grateful for the hard work of the individuals responsible for making this year’s event a success,” said Shelonda Stokes, President and CEO of greiBO Media. “Our volunteer advisory board, Mayor’s Office staff, and sponsors are helping to breathe new life into a festival celebrating the history and culture of Baltimore’s African American community. Thanks to their commitment, Baltimore’s legacy will continue to thrive and grow for years to come.”

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Mayor, Baltimore City 250 City Hall - Baltimore Maryland 21202 (410) 396-3835 - Fax: (410) 576-9425

CONTACT: Ryan O’Doherty (410) 818-4269 ryan.odoherty@baltimorecity.gov

For more information, please visit www.africanamericanfestival.net/, or follow the Festival on Facebook (AfricanAmericanFestival) or Twitter @BmoreAfram. ###

IMAGE CREDIT: African American Festival | July 2-3 2011, Baltimore, MD: Photographer Credit: Mark L. Dennis

Charlotte H. Johnson Dean of the College at Dartmouth

Dartmouth President Jim Yong Kim today announced that he has appointed Charlotte H. Johnson, vice president and dean of the college at Colgate University, as Dean of the College at Dartmouth. She will assume her new role in July.

Johnson has been dean at Colgate since 2006, leading a student affairs division of 114 staff in 16 units. Key initiatives she led at Colgate include divisional strategic planning, a structural reorganization, developing and implementing a divisional diversity plan, and re-envisioning an initiative to integrate students’ residential and educational experiences.

In announcing the appointment, Kim said, “Charlotte is a visionary leader in the field of student affairs. Her thoughtful and extremely effective approach to her work at Colgate is widely respected, and we’re thrilled that she’s agreed to join our team at Dartmouth.”

Johnson, who was appointed following a national search, said, “I have long admired Dartmouth and am excited and privileged to be joining President Kim, Provost Folt, and the exceptional leadership team they have assembled. This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead and innovate. I look forward to partnering with the Dean of the College staff, students, faculty, and alumni as Dartmouth continues to distinguish itself as a leader in higher education.”

Charlotte H. Johnson brings 14 years of experience working with students to her new role as Dean of the College at Dartmouth. (courtesy of Colgate)

The Dean of the College is Dartmouth’s senior student affairs officer, providing leadership for a comprehensive set of undergraduate student affairs programs and services. The dean is a member of the president’s leadership team, and is responsible for numerous activities including student support services, counseling services, campus life programs, dining services, health services, judicial affairs, and campus safety. The dean works closely with the faculty to integrate Dartmouth’s curricular and co-curricular experience, and to foster a climate conducive to the academic, personal, and professional success of students. Provost Carol Folt said Johnson’s “reputation as a strong and inclusive leader will serve her well at Dartmouth. Charlotte combines a genuine affinity for students with outstanding ability to collaborate across the institution and manage a complex organization.” “Charlotte Johnson’s intelligence, interpersonal skills, administrative acumen, and wit combine to make her a leader who is also a trusted colleague and good friend to students, faculty, and staff,” said Rebecca Chopp, president of Swarthmore College and former president of Colgate. “Her deep commitment to educating moral and visionary leaders for a diverse, global, and constantly changing world in the 21st century will benefit Dartmouth.”

Johnson brings more than 14 years of experience working with students to Dartmouth. Prior to her role at Colgate, she served, from 2000 to 2006, as assistant dean for student affairs at the University of Michigan Law School, and, before that, was the law school’s director of academic services, beginning in 1997. At Michigan, she collaborated with faculty to create new interdisciplinary academic programs. She was also a member of the legal and communications strategy teams that contributed to the defense of the university’s admissions policies in the landmark 2003 Supreme Court case upholding affirmative action in higher education.

Previously, she worked for eight years at Garan Lucow Miller, a law firm in Detroit, where she focused on corporate and municipal defense in cases involving medical devices, insurance coverage, and lawsuits involving exposure to toxic substances. She was the first African American woman to be made a partner of the firm. In 2008, she received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Service from the National Bar Association. Johnson has also presented at national conferences on the importance of access and inclusion in higher education.

Search Committee Chair Michael Mastanduno, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, noted that, “Charlotte is exceptionally skilled at bridging the gap between student and academic affairs. She recognizes that we are all working toward the same educational goals, and has a strong record of building partnerships in support of that.”

Anna Sonstegard ’11, Search Committee member and former Panhellenic Council president, said that Johnson “appreciates the multitude of student experiences and actively solicits student perspectives on campus issues. Most importantly, she seeks to hold students accountable.”

The national search was facilitated by Parker Executive Search, and the Search Committee solicited community input through a website and three open forums for students, faculty, and Dean of the College staff. Search Committee members represented a range of areas within the College. In addition to Mastanduno and Sonstegard, the members were: Julie Dossantos ’13; N. Bruce Duthu ’80, professor and chair of Native American studies; Evelynn Ellis, vice president for Institutional Diversity and Equity; Maria Laskaris ’84, dean of Admissions and Financial Aid; C. Robertson McClung, professor of biological sciences; Uthman Olagoke ’11; Harry Sheehy, director of Athletics and Recreation; David Spalding ’76, chief of staff in the Office of the President; Eric Tanner ’11, student body president; and Barbara Will, professor of English.

Johnson earned a BA in psychology in 1985, ranking first in her graduating class at the University of Detroit. She earned a law degree from the University of Michigan in 1988.

Additionally, she has completed continuing education programs at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and at Michigan. She was chosen by the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan to be a Menttium Scholar at Menttium Corporation, of Minneapolis, where she completed a program supporting leadership development and diversity for high-performing mid-career level women.

Johnson will take over from Sylvia Spears, who, in August 2009, took on the role of Acting Dean of the College for two years, with the expectation that a national search would be launched during the 2011 academic year.

“Sylvia has skillfully guided the Dean of the College division through the budget process and significant organizational change over these last two years,” Kim said. “Provost Folt and I thank her for her dedication and service.”

Dartmouth College Press Release Contact the Office of Public Affairs (603) 646-3661 • office.of.public.affairs@dartmouth.edu

Jackson Community College will present the 2011 Community Juneteenth Festival

Jackson Community College will present an evening of great music from the sound of Detroit divas to some Distorted Soul at the 2011 Community Juneteenth Festival, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. June 18 at the Riverwalk Amphitheater, downtown Jackson.

Performing at the Juneteenth event will be Rock & Soul, comprised of Teresa Marbury & Bruce Pooley, and featuring Mia Johnson, and Detroit’s musical phenomenon Nadir, whose music is called Distorted Soul because it combines funk, soul, rock, jazz, folk and hip-hop.

Rock & Soul has been performing in Michigan for more than 10 years to audiences of all ages. Teresa Marbury was recognized as Motown Music Female R&B Singer 2010. Her solo CD, “No Ordinary Girl,” was released in 2010 to great reviews and was featured on FX Radio. It was produced by her husband, Buster Marbury, drummer with the Temptations. Rock & Soul has headlined at Detroit’s best casinos since their opening, and have performed summer concerts across the state.

Mia Johnson is a Detroit native and product of the Motown era. As a young girl she would listen to records for hours and sing her heart out, and at 14 a family friend took her to her first singing gig where she made $5. She sang in every church and school choir. She has a vocal range that can handle everyone from Martha Reeves and Diana Ross to Phyliss Hyman and Aretha Franklin. She joins with Rock & Soul to perform a tribute to the Divas, including Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Martha Reeves and Tina Turner.

Emancipation day celebration - later known as Juneteenth and a public holiday in Texas.Juneteenth celebration in Austin, Texas, on June 19, 1900.

Jonah Nadir Omowale, or Nadir, is a noted singer/songwriter known for his unique blend of music into his own sound. He is a Tennessee native who relocated to Detroit in 1999 and has received 10 Detroit Music Awards. His solo debut album, Distorted Soul 2.0, was released in 2004 to great reviews and was named Best Funk CD of 2005 by SoulPatrol.com. His second album released in 2008 was entitled “Workin’ For the Man,” a combination of live and studio tracks. In 2010 he recruited a new band, and they are working on a new release slated for this year. In addition to his music, Nadir was a correspondent for MTV’s Emmy Award-winning Choose or Lose Street Team covering the 2008 U.S. presidential election. He earned a bachelor’s degree in recording industry management with a minor in music from Middle Tennessee State University.

The Juneteenth festival is a free community event that helps to raise funds for JCC’s College Preparedness Program. CPP provides two free years of college tuition to students identified by their principals in sixth grade based on their ability to benefit from the scholarship, who go on to successfully graduate high school.

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of freedom for African-Americans. Originally celebrated on June 19, it commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas and originated in Galveston in 1865. The observance of Juneteenth as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. Today, Juneteenth commemorates African-American freedom and emphasizes achievement.

May 27, 2011 For immediate release 517.787.0800, M-Th 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., F 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Media Contact: Marilynn Fryer, 517.796.8466 e-mail: FryerMarilynT@jccmi.edu

IMAGE CREDIT: PICA 05476, Austin History Center, Austin Public Library

Karen Bass On this Memorial Day, we give thanks and offer praise to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces

Honoring our Veterans this Memorial Day May 28, 2011 Issues: National Security, Veterans

Los Angeles, CA – U.S. Rep. Karen Bass released the following statement in advance of Memorial Day:

“On this Memorial Day, we give thanks and offer praise to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who have worn the uniform and taken an oath to defend our nation. We pause to remember the 624 service members from California who have made the ultimate sacrifice and died in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

“Democrats have always stood with our veterans. We enacted a new GI Bill restoring the promise of a full, four-year college education for our returning heroes from Iraq and Afghanistan. We strengthened health care for more than 5 million veterans and have expanded efforts to treat brain injuries and post traumatic stress disorders that have affected so many of our troops. We improved our support for military families by building better military family housing and child care centers.

“Last week, I visited Iraq. Though I am well informed on the ongoing events transpiring within Iraq and the region, there is nothing that can quite prepare you for visiting a war zone. There really isn’t an answer to the question, “Did you enjoy your trip?” because visiting a country tormented by brutality and bloodshed is not something meant to be enjoyed. From Baghdad to Kirkuk in the north, I could see the scars of conflict, but also the seeds of opportunity.

“There are strong flickers of hope where there was once a bleak forecast. Our troops are working to transition security responsibility to the Iraqis. The process is being carried out as we speak. The commander of the transition is General Lloyd J. Austin III, the highest ranking African American officer in the Armed Forces is a leader of uncommon strength with the clarity of vision to undertake this massive operation. It is because of leaders like General Austin, as well as the men and women under his command, that our nation’s Armed Forces remain the envy of the world.

“On this Memorial Day, let us wish for a speedy and safe return home of our troops who are in harm’s way and look forward to a day absent of war and conflict.

karenbass.house.gov Washington, DC 408 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-7084 Fax: (202) 225-2422 Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30AM-5:30PM EST

African-Americans who have multiple sclerosis (MS) have lower vitamin D levels than African-Americans who don’t have the disease

ST. PAUL, Minn. – African-Americans who have multiple sclerosis (MS) have lower vitamin D levels than African-Americans who don’t have the disease, according to a study published in the May 24, 2011, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. However, most of the difference in vitamin D levels was due to differences in climate and geography.

“MS is not as common in African-Americans as it is in whites, although the disease tends to be more severe in African-Americans,” said study author Ari J. Green, MD, of the University of California San Francisco and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “We have known that vitamin D levels are associated with MS and that African-Americans are at increased risk for having low vitamin D levels, but little research has been done to look at vitamin D levels in African-Americans with MS.”

Melanin, which determines the level of pigment in the skin, acts as a filter of UV light, which limits the amount of vitamin D that can be produced by the body in response to sunlight.

The study involved 339 people with MS and 342 people who did not have the disease. Researchers looked at vitamin D levels in the blood, the severity of the disease, the amount of UV exposure for participants based on where they lived and the proportion of European genetic ancestry participants had.

Multiple Sclerosis: T1-weighted MRI (post-contrast) of same brain slice at monthly intervals. Bright spots indicate active lesions.

A total of 77 percent of the people with MS were vitamin D deficient, compared to 71 percent of those without the disease. The people with MS were exposed to a lower monthly UV index (average of 3.8) than those without the disease (average of 4.8). They also lived an average of about one degree of latitude farther north than those without the disease. The link between low vitamin D levels and MS was weaker, but still present after adjusting for the differences in UV exposure and geography. People with a higher proportion of European ancestry in their genes were less likely to have low vitamin D levels than people with a lower proportion of European ancestry, but European ancestry was not associated with MS.

There was no association between vitamin D levels and how severe the disease was.

People should talk to their physicians about blood testing for vitamin D levels, whether they should take supplements and how much UV exposure they should get, Green said. “These findings may provide a mechanism to help explain how genes and the environment interact to produce MS,” he said.

The study was supported by the American Academy of Neurology Foundation/National Multiple Sclerosis Society Clinician-Scientist Development Award, the National Institutes of Health, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and a University of California San Francisco Resident Research grant.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of 24,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit www.aan.com. ###

TEXT CREDIT: American Academy of Neurology

IMAGE CREDIT: BNL Chemistry Department

Disparities based on race and ethnic origin exist in every aspect of stroke care.

DALLAS, May 26, 2011 – Disparities between racial/ethnic minorities and whites cross all aspects of stroke care, according to an American Heart Association/American Stroke Association scientific statement.

The statement, published online in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, is a comprehensive analysis of the role of race and ethnicity in stroke care and its impact on the numbers of people who have a stroke, live with its effects or die among minority groups compared to whites. It also addresses how access to care, response to treatment and participation in clinical research affects these groups.

“We see disparities in every aspect of stroke care, from lack of awareness of stroke risk factors and symptoms to delayed arrival to the emergency room and increased waiting time,” said Salvador Cruz-Flores, M.D., M.P.H., lead author of the statement and professor of neurology and director of the Souers Stroke Institute at St. Louis University in Missouri. “These disparities continue throughout the spectrum of the delivery of care from acute treatment to rehabilitation.”

Experts in different areas of stroke care analyzed the issue of racial and ethnic disparities in current scientific literature. Hispanic-Americans, African-Americans, Asian-Americans and Native-Americans constitute 28 percent of the U.S. population.

Because that is expected to almost double by the year 2050, “there is an increasing need to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in health care,” the authors said.

The review also included Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiians/other Pacific Islanders.

The burden of risk factors is different among racial and ethnic groups according to the statement. For example, African-Americans have a high prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and obesity as well as other risk factors for stroke, while Hispanic-Americans have a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome and diabetes compared to whites and African-Americans. The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that include three or more of the following: elevated waist circumference, elevated triglycerides, reduced good cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and elevated fasting glucose.

Other factors that impact these disparities range from economic and social issues to cultural and language barriers. In addition, attitudes, beliefs and compliance among populations differ and the perceived or true presence of racial bias within the healthcare system can negatively impact a patient’s compliance with a healthcare provider’s advice, medications or treatment, according to the statement.

“It is important for members of ethnic and racial minority groups to understand they are particularly predisposed to have risk factors for heart disease and stroke,” Cruz-Flores said. “They need to understand these diseases are preventable and treatable.”

Educating the public and healthcare community can improve stroke care for minorities, he said.

Some of the statement recommendations include:

Development of public health policies to close the gap between minorities and whites in all aspects of stroke prevention, incidence and care;
More education and research to reduce disparities in stroke care;
Increased access to insurance coverage in minority populations; and
More research on American Indians, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

“It is striking that we are in the 2lst century, with many advances in stroke care, yet we are still struggling to fix the differences that are present not only in the distribution of the disease but also in the level of care we provide to the different racial and ethnic groups,” Cruz-Flores said.

Co-writers are Alejandro A. Rabinstein, M.D.; Jose Biller, M.D.; Mitchell S.V. Elkind, M.D.; Patrick Griffin, M.D.; Philip B. Gorelick, M.D.; George Howard, DrPH; Enrique C. Leira, M.D.; Lewis B. Morgenstern, M.D., and representatives of the American Heart Association Stroke Council, Council on Cardiovascular Nursing, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, and Interdisciplinary Council on Quality of Care Outcomes in Research.

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receives funding mostly from individuals. Foundations and corporations donate as well, and fund specific programs and events. Strict policies are enforced to prevent these relationships from influencing the association’s science content. Financial information for the American Heart Association, including a list of contributions from pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers, is available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding. ###

NR11-1082 (Stroke/Cruz-Flores)

Contact Us Phone 1-800-AHA-USA-1 1-800-242-8721 1-888-474-VIVE Address Dallas, TX 75231 or 1-888-478-7653

Black Latino Playwright Conference at State University San Marcos receives Access to Artistic Excellence grant from the National Endowment of the Arts

The Black and Latino Playwrights Conference at State University-San Marcos has received a 2011 Access to Artistic Excellence grant from the National Endowment of the Arts.

The $15,000 award will support the Black and Latino Playwrights Conference, providing an opportunity for black and Latino playwrights to develop new, unpublished and unproduced plays through a week-long rehearsal process culminating in staged reading presentations. Texas State is one of 1,145 not-for-profit national, regional, state and local organizations recommended for a grant as part of the federal agency’s second round of fiscal year 2011 grants. In total, the Arts Endowment will distribute more than $88 million to support projects nationwide.

The 2011 Black and Latino Playwrights Conference will be held Sept. 12-18, with staged readings Sept. 16, 17 and 18. The conference is headed by Artistic Director Eugene Lee, whose acting credits include Good Times, Blacklisted and Coach Carter, and Associate Artistic Director Joe Luis Cedillo, a playwright-directors and former literary manager/dramaturge at the Alley Theatre in Houston.

Eugene Lee

The conference annually lends an ear to new voices and helps writers--in collaboration with directors, actors and dramaturgs--shape their stories and hone their craft in an environment that allows the writer to explore, grow and learn fearlessly. For more information about the Black and Latino Playwrights Conference, visit www.theatreanddance.txstate.edu/blackandlatino. About the National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector.

To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at at www.arts.gov.

Posted by Jayme Blaschke University News Service May 25, 2011 University News Service, 480 J.C.Kellam Phone: 512.245.2180. Fax: 512.245.2336

Diahann Carroll and her success as one of the first African Americans on prime time television VIDEO

Marcus Williams from the communications office at OPM tells us about Diahann Carroll and her success as one of the first African Americans on prime time television.

Carroll is best known for her title role in the 1968 television series Julia, which made her the first African American actress to star in her own television series where she did not play a domestic worker. She was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1969, and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress In A Television Series” in 1968. Her first Emmy nomination had come in 1963 for Naked City. Other earlier work included Jack Paar, Merv Griffin, Johnny Carson, Judy Garland and Ed Sullivan, and on The Hollywood Palace.

In 1984, Carroll joined the nighttime soap opera Dynasty as the Dominique Deveraux, half-sister of Blake Carrington played by John Forsythe. Her high profile role on Dynasty also reunited her with actor Billy Dee Williams, who briefly played her onscreen husband Brady Lloyd. Carroll remained on the show until 1987, simultaneously making several appearances on its short lived spinoff, The Colbys.

VIDEO CREDIT: USOPM

TEXT CREDIT: U.S. Office of Personnel Management

RESOURCE: Diahann Carroll

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago accepted the resignation of the Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Echols

With deep gratitude for his 14 years of service, the board of directors of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago accepted the resignation of the Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Echols. Dr. Echols was the first African American to serve as president of a North American Lutheran seminary. A celebration of Dr. Echols’ leadership at LSTC is being planned for a later date.

“President Echols has provided visionary leadership for LSTC and among the ELCA seminaries,” said the Rev. Dr. Philip Hougen, chair of the board of directors. “Under his leadership, LSTC successfully completed an ambitious $56 million comprehensive campaign, built the Augustana Chapel and created the Cornelsen Director of Spiritual Formation position. Dr. Echols also helped create A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice, making LSTC one of the top 20 seminaries in the U.S. in interfaith studies. Over the last several years he has initiated efforts to get the ELCA seminaries to collaborate more closely to better serve the church.”

After the ELCA entered into a full communion agreement with the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Dr. Echols led LSTC in a decade-long closer collaboration with McCormick Theological Seminary (PCUSA). He has been a leader in the ELCA and in the wider community, serving on the board of the ELCA Division for Ministry, the executive committee of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, and the steering committee of the USA Section of the Council of International Black Lutherans. He is the editor of I Have a Dream: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Future of Multicultural America (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).

James Kenneth Echols

Echols was elected president of LSTC in May 1997. He served as academic dean at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP) from 1991-1997. He joined the LTSP faculty in 1982, teaching American Church History. Since 2005 he has team taught, with Dr. Albert “Pete” Pero, The Theology of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. course at LSTC. A native of Philadelphia, Echols received the bachelor of arts degree from Temple University and the master of divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He continued his studies at Yale University, where he received the degrees of master of arts, master of philosophy, and doctor of philosophy in the history of Christianity.

The LSTC board of directors has appointed the Rev. Dr. Philip Hougen to serve as acting president while it prepares for a presidential search. Ms. Sarah Stegemoeller was elected as chairperson of the board at its May 15-17 meeting in Chicago.

Contact: The Rev. Dr. Philip Hougen Acting President 773-256-0728 phougen@lstc.edu Jan Boden Director of Communications 773-256-0744 jboden@lstc.edu

The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago forms visionary leaders to bear witness to the good news of Jesus Christ. Its approximately 325 students come from all parts of the United States and from around the world to study in the masters level and advanced studies programs. Graduates become pastors, other church leaders, and university and seminary professors. LSTC is a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a member of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools, allowing students to cross-register among the 12 member seminaries and drawing on a wealth of ecumenical resources. LSTC enjoys a number of cooperative arrangements with the University of Chicago.

Troy University's Rosa Parks Museum will open the Smithsonian traveling exhibition "IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas"

MONTGOMERY—On June 4, 2011, Troy University's Rosa Parks Museum will open the Smithsonian traveling exhibition "IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas" focusing on the seldom-viewed history and complex lives of people of dual African American and Native American ancestry.

Through the themes of policy, community, creative resistance and lifeways, the exhibition tells stories of cultural integration and diffusion as well as the struggle to define and preserve identity. "IndiVisible," produced by the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in collaboration with the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), remains on view through July 31, 2011, and will then continue to travel to museums around the nation.

Since the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas, the lives of Native and African peoples have been closely intertwined. From pre-colonial times, they intermarried, established communities and shared their lives and traditions. But racially motivated laws oppressed and excluded them. Blended tribes worked to preserve their land and rebelled against displacement. Their survival strategies included involvement in social movements, joining together to fight oppressive conditions and regaining economic sustainability. Their unique African-Native American cultural practices through food ways, language, writing, music, dance and the visual arts have thrived.

Comanche family, early 1900s. Back row, from left: Ta-Tat-ty, also known as Qu-vuh-tu; Wife-per, or Frances E. Wright; Ta-Ten-e-quer. Front row: Henry (left) and Lorenzano, also called Moots. Courtesy Sam DeVenney.

"The topic of African-Native Americans is one that touches a great number of individuals through family histories, tribal histories and personal identities," said Kevin Gover (Pawnee), NMAI director. "We find commonalities in our shared past of genocide, alienation from our ancestral homelands, and the exhibition acknowledges the strength and resilience we recognize in one another today." "We are proud to have contributed to this important and thoughtful exhibition," said NMAAHC director Lonnie Bunch. "African American oral tradition is full of stories about 'Black Indians,' with many black families claiming Indian blood." The exhibition was curated by leading scholars, educators and community leaders including Gabrielle Tayac (Piscataway), Robert Keith Collins (African-Choctaw descent), Angela Gonzales (Hopi), Judy Kertèsz, Penny Gamble-Williams (Chappaquiddick Wampanoag) and Thunder Williams (Afro-Carib). As part of this groundbreaking exhibit, Troy University's Rosa Parks Museum will be hosting several programs including a lecture by one of the exhibit's curators Dr. Robert Keith Collins on June 9 at 6pm in the auditorium titled "Native American Cultural Change & Blackness and Indigeneity."

Other programs that will take place during the exhibit include lectures by exhibit curator Dr.Angela Gonzales and by University of Alabama Professor Dr. DoVeanna S. Fulton- Minor, a children's workshop titled "Moving Beyond Stereotypes, a Teen Summit featuring Native-American youth and local youth groups, and a panel discussion featuring Native American's living in Alabama and a discussion by local university professors on how the issues raised in the exhibit are applicable to our community. The programs for this exhibit are funded by the Smithsonian Community Grant Program which is sponsored by the MetLife Foundation.

For more information on these events including times and dates, please visit the museum's website by going to www.troy.edu and selecting "Montgomery Campus." You can also contact the museum curator Viola Moten at 334-241-8701 or vmoten@troy.edu.

The accompanying exhibition book, "IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas," edited by Gabrielle Tayac, features 27 essays from authors across the hemisphere sharing first-person accounts of struggle, adaptation and survival and examines such diverse subjects as contemporary art, the Cherokee Freedmen issue and the evolution of jazz and blues.

Support for the exhibition was provided by the Akaloa Resource Foundation and the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian is an institution of living cultures dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of the life, languages, literature, history and arts of the Native peoples of the Western Hemisphere.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture was established by an act of Congress in 2003, and will be erected on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Currently, during the pre-building phase, the museum is presenting exhibitions, producing publications, hosting public events and offering an array of interactive programs and educational resources at the museum on the Web at www.nmaahc.si.edu.

SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C. for more than 50 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play.

Contact: Matt Clower or Tom Davis Troy Office of University Relations 334/670-3196 mclower@troy.edu

Common gene variant in blacks that may be associated with the development of life-threatening heart arrhythmias

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have pinpointed a common gene variant in blacks that may be associated with the development of life-threatening heart arrhythmias. The finding may help determine which patients are likely to benefit most from implantable cardio-defibrillators (ICDs).

“Blacks are disproportionally affected by heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death but are vastly underrepresented in the majority of clinical trials conducted to date,” said Albert Y. Sun, MD, lead author of the study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics.

“Much debate surrounds the identification of patients for ICD implantation, which takes into account efficacy, cost and complication rates.”

Sun said ICDs can effectively reduce sudden cardiac death in heart failure patients, but current evidence to guide physicians when deciding which patients may derive the most benefit is limited to only a few clinical variables.

While treatment guidelines are in place, most patients who experience sudden cardiac death fall outside of the parameters for a primary prevention ICD, a device which is designed to automatically detect and correct life-threatening arrhythmias by delivering a jolt of electricity.

Geoffrey S. Pitt, M.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor; Director, Ion Channel Research Unit. Medicine, Division of Cardiology, School of Medicine. DIBS Faculty, Member, DIBS Executive Board.

In the new study, researchers tested whether a gene variant previously linked to sudden infant death syndrome and other heart rhythm conditions was associated with arrhythmias in blacks with heart failure and a diminished heart function called reduced ejection fraction. “This is the largest genetic study to date of blacks with ICDs and it promises potential new diagnostic strategies to define patients who will most benefit from ICDs,” said Geoffrey S. Pitt, MD, PhD, director of Duke's Ion Channel Research Unit and the study’s principal investigator. The study included patients from the Duke Electrophysiology Genetic and Genomic Studies (EPGEN) biorepository developed by Svati Shah, MD, and Patrick M. Hranitzky, MD.

Researchers identified 112 blacks who received ICDs for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death and followed them for an average of two years. During that time, 23 of the patients had their ICD effectively activated, and 89 patients did not.

Patients with the gene variant, known as the Y1103 allele, were three times more likely to experience a potentially life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia that triggered the device into action. On average, patients with the gene variant also experienced their first arrhythmia sooner (609 days vs. 1057 days).

“These findings are significant because approximately 13 percent of people of African descent carry this variant,” Sun said.

Researchers said the presence of this gene variant is currently tested for and included in clinical genetic testing for many of the inherited arrhythmia syndromes, such as long-QT syndrome.

Sun said if this finding is validated through additional research, those tests could be used to help determine a patient’s risk of sudden cardiac death.

Study co-authors include Jason I. Koontz, Svati H. Shah, Jonathan P. Piccini, Kent R. Nilsson, Jr., Damian Craig, Carol Haynes, Simon G. Gregory, and Patrick M. Hranitzky.

This study was supported in part by a grant from Medtronic, Inc., to Duke University as part of the Medtronic–Duke University Strategic Alliance (MEDUSA).

By Duke Medicine News and Communications 2200 W. Main St., Suite 910-B Durham, NC 27705, Box DUMC 104030 Durham, NC 27710. Main Number (8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m., Monday-Friday) 919-684-4148. Fax: 919-681-7353. After Hours Cell Phone (evenings, weekends, and holidays) 919-257-7163

Media Relations Staff Contact Information: Doug Stokke Associate Vice President 919-660-1304 doug.stokke@duke.edu

African Americans with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) had a higher antibody response to influenza vaccination than European American patients

New research shows that African Americans with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) had a higher antibody response to influenza vaccination than European American patients. Treatment with prednisone, a history of hemolytic anemia, and increased disease flares were also linked to low antibody response in SLE patients who received the flu vaccine according to the study now available in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a peer-reviewed journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

The ACR estimates that up to 322,000 adult Americans are burdened with SLE, a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system fails to recognize the difference between healthy cells and foreign substances (bacteria and viruses), producing autoantibodies that attack a person’s own tissues and organs. Medical evidence shows that infectious diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for lupus patients, responsible for up to 23% of all hospitalization and 20% to 50% of all deaths. Current clinical practice advises vaccination against common infectious diseases, such as influenza, for patients with lupus to reduce their risk of infection.

“SLE patients are more susceptible to infection which is likely the result of immunosuppressive therapy and inherent deficiencies of the immune system,” said lead researcher Dr. Judith James, Chair of the Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and Professor of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. “Our study explored multiple factors which influence response to influenza vaccination in SLE patients with active and inactive disease activity.” For the current study, the research team collected blood specimens and disease activity details from 72 SLE patients prior to vaccination and at 2, 6, and 12 weeks following influenza vaccination.

An equal number of healthy controls were also recruited and followed. Researchers assessed influenza-specific antibody responses for antibody concentration (Bmax), relative affinity (Ka), and hemagglutination inhibition (HAI). Based on the overall anti-influenza response, SLE participants were categorized as high or low responders.

After vaccination the control group showed greater increase in the total amount of native antibodies compared to all SLE patients. Both the high and low responding patients had a significantly smaller increase in apparent affinity after vaccination compared to the healthy controls. Researchers did not observe a significant difference in HAI between SLE patients and controls, and few study participants had substantial increases in HAI titers after vaccination.

Researchers reported that African American patients were 3 times more likely to be high responders to the flu vaccine than European Americans. Patients taking prednisone (10 mg/day or more) were more likely to have a low response to influenza vaccination (67%) than a high response (47%). SLE patients who had a weak response to the flu vaccine were more likely to have a history of hemolytic anemia and experience moderate to severe disease flares following vaccination, compared to patients who had a greater response.

Dr. James concluded, “Studies investigating biomarkers that could predict which lupus patients are likely to experience a flare following vaccination are already underway. This information along with serologic tests of patients expected to mount a weak response would help clinicians identify those SLE patients who may need an alternate vaccination schedule or would need to be closely monitored after receiving the influenza vaccine.”

The Lupus Foundation of America has designated May as Lupus Awareness Month

Full citation: “Influenza Vaccination Responses in Human Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Impact of Clinical and Demographic Features.” Sherry R. Crowe, Joan T. Merrill, Evan S. Vista, Amy B. Dedeke, David M. Thompson, Scott Stewart, Joel M. Guthridge, Timothy B. Niewold, Beverly S. Franek, Gillian M. Air, Linda F. Thompson, Judith A. James. Arthritis & Rheumatism; Published Online: May 19, 2011 (DOI: 10.1002/art.30388).

rheumatology.org/ Media Contact: Dawn Peters (781) 388-8408 healthnews@wiley.com

IMAGE CREDIT: Mikael Häggström

S.Res. 187, to bring attention to the severe health disparities affecting minority populations

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today praised Senate passage of his resolution, S.Res. 187, to bring attention to the severe health disparities affecting minority populations in our nation such as African Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asians, Hispanics, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. Co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Mark Begich (D-AK), the bipartisan measure unanimously passed the Senate.

“I want to thank Senators Murkowski and Begich for joining me to promote greater awareness of health disparities in our nation. Data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Minority Health confirms that African American children have a 60 percent higher prevalence of asthma than white children, Native Americans and Alaska Natives are 2.3 times as likely to have diabetes as whites, and Asian/Pacific Islander men and women have three times the incidence of liver and IBD cancer as whites,” said Senator Cardin.

The Senator added: “Some of these differences are attributable to lower rates of insurance coverage. Minorities constitute one-third of America’s population, but half of the uninsured. But even when you factor in insurance coverage and income, studies have shown that minority patients receive lower quality health care.

We need to reach out to minority communities and ensure that their health care needs are met. If we are to improve overall quality of care and lower health care costs in this nation, we must eliminate health disparities.” In April, Senator Cardin joined U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, Assistant Secretary Howard Koh, and other officials from HHS at the Launch of the HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and National Stakeholder Strategy for Achieving Health Equity.

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Ben Cardin - United States Senator for Maryland Press Contact: Susan Sullam, 410-962-4436 509 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC, 20510