Tying activity to spirituality may help some people be more active.PODCAST

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat. HHS HealthBeat Download MP3 for PODCAST

Tying activity to spirituality may help some people be more active. Researchers checked how that works by enrolling about 60 African-American women over 60 years old in physical activity programs through their churches.

For half of the women, the programs included Scripture readings that focused on making their lives better; the others got non-religious health material.

The researchers say the group that got Scripture did more walking at six months. O. Kenrik Duru at UCLA led the research, and says:

I’d really advise people to ask around. If it’s not in your church, then maybe a church in your community is offering physical activity with a faith-based component.’’ (7 seconds)

The study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at HHS.gov

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Statement by the President and First Lady on Kwanzaa

Michelle and I extend our warmest thoughts and wishes to all those who are celebrating Kwanzaa this holiday season. Today is the first of a joyful seven-day celebration of African American culture and heritage. The seven principles of Kwanzaa -- Unity, Self Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith -- are some of the very values that make us Americans.

As families across America and around the world light the Kinara today in the spirit of umoja or unity, our family sends our well wishes and blessings for a happy and healthy new year.

The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release December 26, 2010.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, along with daughters Sasha and Malia, sing during services at St. Michael's Chapel at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kailua, Hawaii, Dec. 26, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Smithsonian Acquires Rare “Black Wall Street” Film Depicting African American Life in Tulsa

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History recently acquired a collection of home movies filmed by the Rev. Harold M. Anderson of Tulsa, Okla. Dating from 1948-1952, the 16 mm film reel shot by the original camera over many years documents Tulsa’s Black Wall Street neighborhood. That section of Tulsa was devastated by a 1921 race riot that left 85 people dead and many buildings destroyed. The Rev. Anderson captured a vibrant and entrepreneurial African American community, revived and thriving almost 30 years after the riot.

Called Black Wall Street because of its prominence within the community, the footage highlights the African American-owned businesses, schools and community organizations that fostered prosperity and promoted pride among the citizens of the neighborhood. The film was donated by the Rev. Anderson’s family through his daughter Pat Sanders. It will be preserved in the museum’s Archives Center, alongside other collections documenting the African American experience, including the extensive collection of materials from the Scurlock photo studio of Washington, D.C. After conservation treatment the film will be available to researchers and scholars.

“This footage is especially important because it looks at the Black Wall Street community through a personal lens,” said Brent D. Glass, director of the museum.

Tulsa’s Black Wall Street neighborhood.

“It is rare because so few African American home movies from that time period exist, and it provides viewers with less-mediated footage and an insight into the interdependence of this community.” The National Museum of American History collects, preserves and displays American heritage in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Greensboro lunch counter sit-in, the museum explores stories of freedom and justice, both in Washington and online. To learn more about the museum, check americanhistory.si.edu. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000, (202) 633-5285 (TTY). # # # SI-153-2010

Media only Valeska Hilbig (202) 633-3129

2011 Marion Thompson Wright Lecture Series Explores 'Beauty and the Black Body'

NEWARK, NJ – The evolution in the concepts of black beauty – and how they have changed over time – will be explored at the 2011 Marion Thompson Wright Lecture Series. New Jersey’s largest and most prestigious conference commemorating Black History Month celebrates its 31st anniversary on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at the Paul Robeson Campus Center on the Rutgers University’s Newark Campus. It is free and open to the public.

Next year’s program entitled Beauty and the Black Body: History, Aesthetics, and Politics will examine how the presence and persistence of African Americans in the United States have challenged and reshaped notions of beauty, especially in the realms of art, popular culture, and photography. Deborah Willis, professor of photography at New York University, will give The Marion Thompson Wright Lecture Saturday morning, in conjunction with her current exhibition Posing Beauty: African American Images from the 1890s to the Present. Richard Powell from Duke University, whose research examines race and representation in the African diaspora, will comment on Professor Willis’ lecture.

At the time of the MTW conference, Posing Beauty will be on display at The Newark Museum, located within the footprint of the Rutgers-Newark campus. Immediately following the MTW conference, the audience is invited to attend a free reception at The Newark Museum to view the Posing Beauty exhibition and enjoy live musical entertainment by The Bradford Hayes Trio.

Pickin', by Lauren Kelley (1999)

The MTW afternoon session features three distinguished speakers who will further examine the theme of Beauty and the Black Body from their perspectives: Professor Maxine Craig from the University of California at Davis who will draw on her scholarship in the field of gender and race studies; Professor Tiffany Gill, from the University of Texas, Austin, whose scholarship looks at the emergence and importance of the black beauty industry in modern African American life and politics; and Dr. Okwui Enwezor, an internationally preeminent scholar, art critic and curator of African art.

During a special presentation, Dr. Marc Mappen, historian and former executive director of the New Jersey Historical Commission, will receive the second Marion Thompson Wright Award in recognition of his steadfast support, and the Commission’s co-sponsorship, of the Series since its inception. The inaugural award was presented to Lonnie Bunch, director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture at the Smithsonian Institution, in 2007.

The lecture series was co-founded in 1981 by Dr. Clement Price, Board of Governors Distinguished Service Professor of History at Rutgers University, and the late Giles R. Wright, from the New Jersey Historical Commission. Over the past 30 years, the conference has drawn thousands of people to the Rutgers-Newark campus, and has attracted some of the nation’s foremost scholars and humanists who are experts in the field of African and African American history and culture. It has become one of the nation's leading scholarly programs specifically devoted to enhancing the historical literacy of an intercultural community.

“The Marion Thompson Wright Lecture Series is a civic ritual without peer,” according to Dr. Price. “It is also a prominent symbol of civic engagement, public scholarship at a very high level, and community endearment to lifelong learning.”

The annual conference was named for East Orange native Dr. Marion Thompson Wright, a pioneer in African American historiography and race relations in New Jersey, who served for many years on the faculty of Howard University. An honors graduate of Newark’s Barringer High School and Columbia University’s Teachers College Class of 1938, she was the first professionally trained woman historian in the United States.

The Marion Thompson Wright Lecture Series is sponsored by the Rutgers Institute on Ethnicity, Culture, and the Modern Experience, the Federated Department of History, Rutgers-Newark and the New Jersey Institute of Technology; and the New Jersey Historical Commission/Department of State. The 2011 conference receives additional support from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, and the Rutgers Committee to Advance Our Common Purposes.

For additional information about the program, visit the Institute’s website at: http://ethnicity.rutgers.edu, or contact the Rutgers Institute on Ethnicity, Culture, and the Modern Experience, 973.353.3891.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Media Contact: Marisa Pierson 973/353-3896 Office of Media Relations, Alexander Johnston Hall, 101 Somerset St. New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1281, 732-932-7084

College of Human Medicine sponsors MLK program on health equity

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Khan Nedd, an internal medicine physician in Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine, will discuss the importance and hurdles of providing care to the medically underserved as part of the college's annual program honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

Nedd, whose program is called "Health Equity: Providing Quality Care to the Underserved in Our Communities," will speak at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at 130 Secchia Center in Grand Rapids. The event will be simulcast to MSU's East Lansing campus in A133 Life Sciences Building.

Nedd, a 1986 alumnus of the College of Human Medicine, also serves as chairperson of the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute and medical director for Hospitalists of West Michigan. ###

Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 17 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.

Contact: Jason Cody, University Relations, Office: (517) 432-0924, Cell: (734) 755-0210, Jason.Cody@ur.msu.edu

Binding Wounds, Pushing Boundaries: African Americans in Civil War Medicine

New NLM Exhibition Focuses on the Contributions of African-American Surgeons and Nurses during the Civil War

Many histories have been written about medical care during the American Civil War, but the participation and contributions of African Americans as nurses, surgeons and hospital workers have often been overlooked. Opening Friday, October 1, 2010 at the National Library of Medicine, a special display, Binding Wounds, Pushing Boundaries: African Americans in Civil War Medicine, looks at these men and women, and how their service as medical providers challenged the prescribed notions of race and gender pushing the boundaries of the role of African Americans in America.

Binding Wounds, Pushing Boundaries will be displayed in the first floor lobby and History of Medicine Division (HMD) Reading Room of the main National Library of Medicine (Building 38), on the National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda, Maryland, through February 28, 2011. The Library is open 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays (except Federal holidays) and 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM Saturdays.

Through historical images and never-before-seen Civil War era documents, Binding Wounds explores the life and experiences of surgeons Alexander T. Augusta and Anderson R. Abbott, and nurses Susie King Taylor and Ann Stokes as they provided medical care to soldiers and civilians while participating in the fight for freedom.

"This exhibition opens the door to this rarely studied part of history and brings a voice to those that have remained silent for nearly 150 years," says curator Jill L. Newmark of the History of Medicine Division. The online version of the exhibition launched October 1, at: www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/bindingwounds.

The traveling banner version of the exhibition will begin touring the United States in October 2010. For more information, contact nlmtravelingexhibits@mail.nlm.nih.gov or visit the HMD traveling exhibition Web site: www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/about/exhibition/travelingexhibitions/bindingwounds

This exhibition was developed and produced by the National Library of Medicine, with research assistance from The Historical Society of Washington, DC.

MCTC Partners with Local Organizations for 3rd Annual MLK Day of Service and Announces Student African American Brotherhood Program

Minneapolis—Dec. 17, 2010 Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) announces the 3rd annual MLK Day of Service breakfast and volunteer event and introduces a new chapter of the Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB) on January 15, 2011, the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

MCTC will honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at our MLK Day of
Service breakfast and volunteer service event. The breakfast will feature an
inspirational message from Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe, founder and CEO of the Student African
American Brotherhood (SAAB). WCCO’s Reg Chapman will emcee the event.

When: Saturday, January 15.

Registration and breakfast: 7:30 – 8:15 a.m.

Program featuring Dr. Bledsoe: 8:15 -­‐ 9 a.m.

Volunteering in the community: 9 a.m. -­‐ 1 p.m.

Where: Minneapolis Community and Technical College, T Building Cafeteria.

Who: MCTC Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, Friends and Twin Cities community members. Cost: Free and open to the public to participate. Registration: Contact Dan Brasch at 612-­‐659-­‐6315 or volunteer@minneapolis.edu to register.

Registration is necessary. The deadline to register is Jan. 7.

Bledsoe's organization has successfully formed chapters at colleges and universities
across the country to increase the number of African American and Latino men that graduate from college. MCTC will be the first campus in Minnesota to have a SAAB chapter. By creating a positive community of peers based on a spirit of caring, MCTC
hopes to improve the graduation rates of its students. Bledsoe will talk about the importance of joining together to reach community goals.

After breakfast and Bledsoe's presentation, participants will load onto buses and go
out into the community to volunteer at 13 organizations, doing everything from reading to children to preparing meals. There will also be volunteer projects on campus. Educational barriers, like the ones Dr. Bledsoe will speak about, as well as
poverty and homelessness are often intertwined and will be the themes of this year's MLK birthday celebration. MCTC expects to recruit 250 volunteers for this event.

More information will be forthcoming about the MLK Week of Activities. For
more information about the MLK Day of Service and volunteer opportunities, visit http://www.minneapolis.edu/MLKDayofService2011/

Editor's note: For the last 20 years, MCTC has celebrated the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King via our Celebrate the Dream event. This event has traditionally been held at the Basilica of St. Mary and has featured speeches and stirring musical performers, including addresses from Dr. King's children and leading thinkers and celebrities. Thousands have gathered at the Celebrate the Dream events to honor the life and work of Dr. King and to celebrate his legacy. They have left the evening's event with a greater sense of inspiration and motivation, but without a direct opportunity for service. To better honor Dr. King's legacy, we have decided to transition that event to the MLK Day of Service. We will no longer hold an event at the Basilica of St. Mary.

About Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) MCTC is the most ethnically diverse college in Minnesota. A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, MCTC offers students more than 130 liberal arts, technical and career program credential options designed to prepare them for good jobs in high-­‐demand professions. Located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, MCTC enrolls more than 14,000 students annually and is an active partner in initiatives designed to
strengthen the social, economic and cultural vitality of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. For more information, visit www.minneapolis.edu.

For Immediate Release Contacts: Amy Danielson, Marketing and Communications Coordinator 612.659.6225 or Amy.Danielson@minneapolis.edu

RTC Recruit Inspired by Golden Thirteen Relative

NAVAL STATION GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NNS) -- When Seaman Recruit Steven Smith, 22, of Detroit, graduates from Recruit Training Command (RTC) here Dec. 22, he'll take away a lot of family heritage, history and pride.

Smith arrived at RTC Oct. 28, and, at the time, little did he know he would enter a building named after a great-uncle and one of the first 13 African-American Navy officers.

"I knew the history of the Golden Thirteen and of my great-uncle," Smith said. "I did not realize that the building was referred to as the Golden Thirteen."

On the night of arrival at RTC recruits enter the Golden Thirteen in-processing building. The first thing they see is a prominent photo of those 13 officers, known as the Golden Thirteen, the building's namesake.

When Smith saw the large framed black and white photograph he focused on the officer pictured second from the left in the first row - his great-uncle Samuel Edward Barnes, Ph.D.

"Group of recently appointed Negro officers." Left to right, front row: Ensigns George Clinton Cooper, Graham Edward Martin, Jesse Walter Arbor, John Walter Reagan, Reginald Ernest Goodwin. Back row, left to right, Ensigns Phillip George Barnes, Samuel Edward Barnes, Dalton Louis Baugh, James Edward Hare, Frank Ellis Sublett, and WO Charles Byrd Lear. February 1944. 80-G-300215.

During the first days of in-processing, Smith, like many recruits, had missteps trying to learn the ways of the Navy. And, like many recruits, he got an earful from his Recruit Division Commander (RDC), Master Chief Fire Controlman Brian Happli. "My RDC (Recruit Division Commander, Master Chief Fire Controlman Brian Happli) asked me, 'Are you sure you want to stay in the Navy?'" Smith said, after his first misstep during in-processing. "My reply was, 'Yes Master Chief; my great-uncle was Samuel Edward Barnes - one of the Golden Thirteen." After revealing his relation to Barnes, the in-processing staff took Smith to the display cases containing more pictures and documents pertaining to the Golden Thirteen.

Throughout history until World War I, African Americans were limited and segregated in what they could do as enlisted Sailors. Becoming a commissioned officer was not allowed.

In June 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order that prohibited racial discrimination by any government agency.

The Navy began officer training for 16 African-American enlisted men at RTC in March 1944. Twelve were commissioned as ensigns and one was appointed as a warrant officer. These men became known as the Golden Thirteen.

After serving as officer in charge of the recreation and athletic programs at Great Lakes and as the personnel officer in Okinawa, Japan, Dr. Barnes was honorably discharged.

He earned a doctorates degree from the Ohio State University and made a name for himself in the field of sports administration. Later he became the first African-American member of the governing council of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Smith remembers spending summers with his great-uncle in Ohio when he was about 10 years old. Barnes was a big influence in the young man's life.

"He once told me, 'A man cannot be a man until he serves his country,'" he said. "Even as a kid I wanted to follow in my great-uncle and my father's footsteps by serving in the Navy."

Dr. Barnes died on Dec. 28, 1998, on Smith's birthday. He attended the funeral at Arlington Cemetery.

"I didn't know how much my great-uncle meant to people until I was at his funeral," Smith said. "There were thousands of people; I have never seen that many people in one place. I remember the flags and the 21 Gun Salute."

When he and his girlfriend of six years got engaged, Smith decided that it was time to join the navy. They plan to get married on Dec. 26; four days after he graduates from boot camp.

"I use my family's past as motivation," Smith said. "Every time I walk into my ship, I think of how my dad and my great-uncle were going through the same things I am going through now. I know I have to carry out my heritage."

Smith will report to Electronics Technician advanced ("A") school in Groton, Conn., following his graduation as he looks to continue his Navy career in the submarine force.

Naval Service Training Command By Brian Walsh, Recruit Training Command Public Affairs Story Number: NNS101217-15 Release Date: 12/17/2010 4:03:00 PM

Rutgers–Newark Law School Clinical Program’s Edna Baugh Receives Leadership Award From Legal Services of New Jersey

NEWARK, NJ – Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ) has presented Edna Y. Baugh, Assistant Director for Clinical Administration at Rutgers School of Law–Newark, with its Jeffrey C. Green Board Leadership Award. LSNJ recognized Baugh for her many years of dedicated service as a member of the board of trustees of Essex-Newark Legal Services (ENLS). The award was presented at LSNJ’s Annual Legal Services Conference on November 23.

“Edna’s dedication to the cause of equal justice and the delivery of legal services to the poor is inspirational,” said Jon Dubin, Associate Dean for Clinical Education, Professor of Law, and Alfred C. Clapp Public Service Scholar. “Her long-time service and leadership on the board of ENLS have helped advance these causes immeasurably and I am delighted to see her recognized with this award.”

Baugh received a B.A. in economics from Hartwick College and her J.D. from Vermont Law School, where she was the first African-American woman to graduate from the law school. She is also the first African-American graduate of the school to serve on its board of trustees. She has served as corporation trial counsel for the City of East Orange, associate attorney with Medvin & Elberg, and managing partner with Stephens & Baugh LLC.

Active in numerous professional and service organizations, Baugh is a past president of the Garden State Bar Association and past president of the Girl Scout Council of Greater Essex & Hudson Counties, which gave her its 2008 Distinguished Service Award. She currently sits on the New Jersey Supreme Court Disciplinary Review Board, and chairs the Essex-Newark Legal Services Board and the Essex County College Foundation Board.

Media Contact: Janet Donohue 973-353-5553 E-mail: jdonohue@andromeda.rutgers.edu

IMAGE CREDIT: Vermont Law School | 164 Chelsea Street, PO Box 96 | South Royalton, VT 05068 | 802-831-1000

Nikki R. Jackson Named To Maricopa Community Colleges' Top HR Position

Tempe, AZ – Acting on the recommendation of Chancellor Rufus Glasper, the Maricopa Community Colleges' Governing Board approved the hiring of Nikki R. Jackson, J.D. to become the district's Vice Chancellor for Human Resources. Ms. Jackson now serves as the Personnel Cabinet Secretary to the Governor of Kentucky. The Board's action occurred at its December 14 meeting.

Ms. Jackson is the youngest Cabinet Secretary and first African-American woman to head the Cabinet in Kentucky's history.

She has 14 years of human resources experience, including private sector positions with Norton Healthcare, Philip Morris USA, Georgia-Pacific Corporation and ADP.

"The Maricopa Community Colleges are an organization in the midst of significant change, and we need a transformative human resources leader to help us achieve our goals. Nikki Jackson is that kind of leader," Dr. Glasper said. "I believe she can play an important role in helping us become more efficient and effective, ultimately resulting in helping our students become more successful."

Ms. Jackson earned her Bachelor's Degree from Hampton University and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Miami School of Law. She earned certification in collective bargaining from Cornell University's School of Industrial Relations, and began her career as a labor and employment lawyer in Florida. As Kentucky's Personnel Cabinet Secretary, she spearheaded the transformation of human resources within state government. She created the Center for Strategic Innovation, an in-house consulting "firm" focused on creating efficiencies, re-engineering antiquated work practices and promoting innovation in all cabinet services.

She also has forged public-private partnerships including the University of Kentucky's Institute for Workplace Innovation; an initiative called, "When Work Works," designed to promote Kentucky employers in the global marketplace; and The Leadership Institute, a year-long program that helps improve the managerial skills of cabinet leaders.

Ms. Jackson is expected to begin work for the District Feb. 1, 2011.

Ms. Jackson has been a keynote speaker, nationally and regionally, on the subject of transformative human resources. She has written several articles on transformative and strategic human relations. Because of her success in changing Kentucky's HR practice, she was invited to Korea to discuss strategic human resources at the Korean Institute for Public Finance. She has received a number of awards in Kentucky for her leadership and was named one of two delegates representing Kentucky at the American Conversation on Women and Leadership last month.

2010 Dec 15 For Immediate Release Contact: Tom Gariepy (480) 731-8248 tom.gariepy@domail.maricopa.edu

Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities Among Parkinson's Patients VIDEO

In this five-minute video, Dr. Lisa Shulman, professor of neurology and co-director of the Maryland Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, discusses a study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine which showed that African American patients and patients with lower socioeconomic status have more advanced disease and greater disability when they seek treatment from Parkinson's disease specialists.

Researchers who participated in this study found that race, education and income were significant and independent factors in determining a patient's level of disability. The disparities in health care are associated with greater disease severity and earlier loss of independence. This study was published in the December 13, 2010, online edition of Archives of Neurology.

RELATED: UNIV. OF MARYLAND RESEARCHERS FIND RACIAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITIES FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND SIMILAR CONDITIONS

VIDEO and TEXT CREDIT: UMMCVideos

UNIV. OF MARYLAND RESEARCHERS FIND RACIAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITIES FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND SIMILAR CONDITIONS

Study Published in Archives of Neurology.

Baltimore, MD – Dec. 13, 2010. African American patients and those with lower socioeconomic status have more advanced disease and greater disability when they seek treatment from Parkinson’s disease specialists, according to a study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The researchers found that race, education and income were each significant and independent factors in determining a patient’s level of disability. The disparities in health care are associated with greater disease severity and earlier loss of independence. The study is published in the December 13, 2010, online edition of Archives of Neurology.

The cause of these racial and socioeconomic disparities is unclear, but possible explanations include problems with access to health care, reduced physician referral rate or patient reluctance to seek care from a movement disorders specialist. The study focused on a sample of more than 1,000 patients who were seen at the University of Maryland Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center for parkinsonism (slow movements, tremor and rigidity, difficulty initiating movement, and problems with gait and balance), mostly due to Parkinson’s disease, but also caused by other conditions, including stroke, head trauma and medication side effects.

“Through our evaluation over a five-year period, we found that African Americans and people with lower socioeconomic status had greater disease severity and disability than whites when they first came to our clinic. Very large differences in Parkinson’s disease symptom severity and functional status were seen between blacks and whites, between high and low income groups and between groups with greater and lesser educational attainment,” says Lisa Shulman, M.D., lead author and professor of neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “In the future, we will need to see if greater understanding and correction of these disparities could improve outcomes for these patients,” adds Dr. Shulman, who is also co-director of the Maryland Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

The analysis revealed that African American patients were less likely to receive medications for their parkinsonian symptoms overall and less likely to receive newer medications, which are generally more expensive. But the researchers acknowledge that the relatively small number of African Americans in the study (66) may limit their ability to detect differences and that more study is needed.

“The University of Maryland School of Medicine faculty has been at the forefront of tackling issues surrounding health disparities, which is a very complex subject. This study into parkinsonism shows how these disparities can affect all types of medical conditions and why it is important to identify them so we can make sure all patients receive the best care possible,” says E. Albert Reece, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., vice president for medical affairs at the University of Maryland and dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

The researchers believe this is one of the first studies to show health disparities in disease severity and disability in parkinsonism.

“Future studies need to evaluate patient attitudes and their beliefs about Parkinson’s symptoms and treatment. It is possible that some patients may believe slowness and tremor are just part of aging or that they have to reach a certain threshold of severity before seeking treatment. On the other hand, it may be that physicians, either consciously or unconsciously, are less likely to refer African Americans and patients of lower socioeconomic status to a Parkinson’s specialist,” notes William Weiner, M.D., co-investigator and director of the Maryland Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center.

Dr. Weiner is professor and chairman of neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. With Parkinson’s disease, early medical treatment can have a profound effect on how well a patient functions as the disease progresses. “If treatment for parkinsonism is very delayed, you can’t turn back the clock,” explains Dr. Shulman.

Dr. Weiner says, “The results of this study show we need to learn more about the causes of parkinsonism and find ways to overcome these disparities, which clearly are affecting the quality of life of patients who are from different backgrounds and means. The differences in function between patients with different education levels may suggest that patients with more education are perhaps more likely to request a referral to a specialist. Conversely, it is possible that physicians are more likely to refer more highly educated patients to a specialist.”

The research team, which included physicians and staff from the University of Maryland Department of Neurology, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, evaluated patients who came to the Maryland Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center over a five-year period. Study participants completed questionnaires about their age, race, household income and education as well as how long they had been diagnosed with parkinsonism. They also did self-evaluations on a modified version of the Older Americans Resource and Services Disability Scale, a measurement of the difficulty in performance on 14 daily activities ranging from getting out of bed and getting dressed to cooking meals, using the telephone, handling money and taking medications. Because symptoms of parkinsonism fluctuate, the study participants rated their symptoms twice, describing their best and worst levels of functioning.

The patient assessment included a medical history and neurological examination by a Parkinson’s disease specialist. The researchers also used a standard Parkinson’s disease scale, the United Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, to assess the severity of symptoms in all patients. ###

For patient inquiries, call 1-800-492-5538

University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL: Monday, December 13, 2010, 4 p.m. ET Contact: Sharon Boston sboston@umm.edu Ellen Beth Levitt eblevitt@umm.edu 410-328-8919

Madam C. J. Walker's Legacy: A Women in Business Lecture Series

2011 Women in Business Lecture Series Program: January

Named in honor of Madam C. J. Walker, the first self-made female millionaire in US history, Walker's Legacy: A Women in Business Lecture Series is a quarterly series designed to enhance leadership skills, create networking and learning opportunities and bring exposure to emerging trends in business for women. The program is an initiative of the NMC Consulting Group, held in conjunction with the DC Office of Women's Policy & Initiatives and the DC Commission for Women. 2011 marks the second year of the Walker’s Legacy program which was founded in 2010 to address economic development needs of women in Washington, DC and beyond.

“This lecture series is an excellent opportunity for professional women to gain valuable insight from those who have been successful in their careers,” says Director of the Office on Women's Policy and Initiatives, Niambi Jarvis.

January 19, 2011: "Passion. Persistence. Profit. A Road to Someplace Better”
Featuring Lillian Lincoln Lambert

Madam C. J. Walker

A captivating speaker she speaks about the power of persistence, resilience, courage and morality in surmounting hurdles that prevent people from reaching their full potential. As the first African American woman to receive an MBA from Harvard Business School and having become a barrier-breaking entrepreneur in the mid 1970's, she draws upon her experiences to show how to use obstacles and barriers as stepping stones to higher levels of achievement and success. Understanding the power of storytelling, she uses her personal story to inspire audiences to dream big, act bold and pave their own paths.

As a business coach, she works with businesses and individuals to help them go beyond their preconceived limitations and achieve their goals and aspirations. Her education gives her the theoretical knowledge and when combined with on the job experience she brings a unique expertise that shows companies how to be successful.

In March 2010, Enterprising Magazine inducted Lambert into the Hall of Fame where she was subsequently featured on the cover of their April 2010 edition. Lillian is also the recipient of numerous other awards, including Harvard Business School's African American Alumni Association's Bert King Award; MBA of the Year, Harvard Business School African American Alumni Association; Small Business Person of the Year, State of Maryland; Entrepreneur of the Year, Black MBA Association; Top 50 Women-Owned Businesses, Washington Business Journal; and Finalist, Entrepreneur of the Year.

January 19, 2011 Historic Sumner Museum 1201 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036

Office on Women’s Policy and Initiatives 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 223 Washington, DC 20004 (202) 724-1516

HUD TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS THAT 22 BANKS AND MORTGAGE LENDERS DISCRIMINATE AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATINO LOAN SEEKERS

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it is launching multiple investigations into the practices of certain mortgage lenders to determine if their home loan policies illegally deny qualified African American and Latino borrowers access to credit.

The investigations are in response to 22 complaints the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) filed with HUD alleging that the loan activities of the mortgage originators showed that their home lending practices deny FHA- insured loans to African Americans and Latinos with credit scores as high as 640. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) guidelines allow mortgages to borrowers with credit scores above 580, provided the borrowers have down payments equaling 3.5 percent of the loan amount, or above 500, provided the borrowers have down payments equaling 10 percent of the loan amount.

“FHA is an important vehicle for Americans who want to purchase or refinance a home. We thank NCRC for bringing these complaints to HUD. For lenders to deny responsible home seekers this source of credit, without regard for their capacity to repay the loans, would raise serious fair housing concerns and, if proven, undermine our nation’s recovery efforts,” said HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity John Trasviña. “HUD will take appropriate action against any lender found to be engaging in discriminatory practices.”

Prior to the recent downturn in the economy, FHA-insured mortgages comprised less than three percent of new home loans. Since the economic crisis, FHA and the Government-Sponsored Enterprises have insured or guaranteed nearly 95 percent of new mortgage loans being originated. By the end of 2008, almost half of new home purchase loans and one quarter of new refinance loans were FHA or Veterans Administration (VA) insured.

According to NCRC, an association of more than 600 community-based organizations that promote access to basic banking services, their fair lending “testers” evaluated the practices of national lenders, financial services corporations, and other regional and local FHA-approved lenders. In the complaints filed on December 7, NCRC states that lenders were chosen according to their market share and volume of FHA loans, as well as through discussions with community leaders.

Under the Fair Housing Act, HUD impartially investigates allegations of housing discrimination and, during every phase of investigations, attempts to settle complaints through conciliation efforts.

FHA was created in 1934 and currently insures more than 6.5 million single family loans. 80 percent of loans insured by FHA in 2010 were to first-time homebuyers and more than 30 percent of home purchase loans were to minority homebuyers.

FHEO and its partners in the Fair Housing Assistance Program investigate more than 10,000 housing discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 (voice), 800-927-9275 (TTY). ###

HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.gov and espanol.gov.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410 Telephone: (202) 708-1112 TTY: (202) 708-1455

Anniversary of Ralph J. Bunche receiving Nobel Peace Prize

U.S. diplomat Ralph Bunche, a key member of the United Nations (UN) for more than two decades, and winner of the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for his successful negotiation of a truce between Arabs and Jews in Palestine the previous year, died on December 9, 1971, in New York City.

Bunche was born in Detroit, Michigan, on August 7, 1904. He attended the southern branch of the University of California—which later became UCLA—graduating summa cum laude, as class valedictorian in 1927. He earned his master’s degree in government at Harvard University in 1928 and then became an instructor at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Bunche established Howard’s first department of political science in 1929. In 1934, he was the first African American awarded a PhD from Harvard. He earned his doctorate in government and international relations while he was teaching at Howard.

Later, he collaborated with Swedish sociologist Gunnar Myrdal on the monumental study of U.S. race relations published as An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy (1944). The study is famous for presenting the theory that poverty breeds poverty.

Ralph J. Bunche in his graduation robes, 1927.

During World War II, Bunche worked for the Office of Strategic Services and the State Department. Toward the end of the war, he played an important role in preliminary planning for the United Nations, the organization that he served for the rest of his career. In 1947, UN Secretary General Trygve Lie appointed Bunche as his personal representative to the UN Special Commission on Palestine. He also served as an aide to Count Folke Bernadotte, the chief UN mediator between the Arabs and Jews in the 1948-49 Israeli-Arab War. After Bernadotte was assassinated on September 17, 1948, Bunche became acting mediator.

His successful negotiation of armistice agreements between the new state of Israel and the neighboring Arab states of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950.

Bunche later oversaw UN peacekeeping missions to the Suez Canal in 1956, the Congo in 1960, and Cyprus in 1964. He also set up the UN Observation Mission to Yemen in 1963-64 and supervised the ceasefire that followed the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War.

Bunche served as a board member for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for twenty-two years; he also received that organization’s Spingarn Medal for outstanding achievement. After attracting some criticism for seeming to neglect the civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s, Bunche began to speak out more directly on U.S. racial discrimination.

In the last decade of his life, he became an increasingly vocal supporter of the civil rights movement in the United States, participating in the 1965 civil rights marches in Selma and Montgomery, Alabama.

TEXT CREDIT: memory.loc.gov/

IMAGE CREDIT: UCLA Newsroom Media Contacts: Letisia Marquez, 310-206-3986 lmarquez@support.ucla.edu

Nabb Center Presents 'African-American Churches of the Eastern Shore'

Nabb Center Presents 'African-American Churches of the Eastern Shore' December 8.

SALISBURY, MD---Author and local historian Linda Duyer speaks on “African-American Churches of the Eastern Shore” 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 8.

Her talk is at the gallery of the Edward H. Nabb Research Center For Delmarva History and Culture in Salisbury University’s East Campus Complex, 190 Wayne St.

As an author and independent researcher of Eastern Shore African-American history, Duyer has striven to find ways to increase awareness of the region’s extensive and significant African-American heritage.

One of her interests is the history of African-American churches on the Shore. While many church structures thrive over the years with active community congregations, some cease functioning as institutions of worship for a variety of reasons.

Duyer’s presentation includes examples of church structures that either have simply disappeared from the rural landscapes of which they were an integral part or have ceased serving as a place of worship and are abandoned or used for another purpose. She also speaks on churches that are architecturally and historically significant that have been torn down and replaced with new structures.

Sponsored by the Nabb Research Center, admission is free and the public is invited. For more information call 410-543-6312 or visit the center’s Web site at nabbhistory.salisbury.edu. Salisbury University 1101 Camden Ave. Salisbury, MD 21801 410-543-6000

Photo Title: [African American men, women and children outside of church] Date Created/Published: [1899 or 1900] Part of: Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt), 1868-1963. Du Bois albums of photographs of African Americans in Georgia exhibited at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900

Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-103393 (b&w film copy neg.) Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.

Building a community: African American male students and employees bond at TCC VIDEO

A group of TCC students, who are African American men, celebrated the end of a successful semester with a luncheon Saturday at TCC's Northeast Campus. The students have mentors who are African American men employed at TCC. The mentors provide encouragement, support and guidance in an effort to increase the number of African American men who graduate from TCC.

TEXT and VIDEO CREDIT: tulsacc

RESOURCE: Tulsa Community College

Sellout: The Politics of Racial Betrayal

Upcoming WSU Spring Semester Lectures.

(Worcester, Mass.) -- The Diversity Lecture Series will feature two speakers and the Courageous Conversations lecture returns to Worcester State University this spring semester.

Harvard Law professor and author Randall Kennedy will deliver the lecture, “Sellout: The Politics of Racial Betrayal,” Tuesday, February 22 at 11:30 a.m. in the Student Center Blue Lounge as part of the WSU Diversity Lecture Series. Known for his fearlessness in tackling sensitive racial issues, Kennedy brings the divisive issues that plague black America to the forefront of mass culture. In this extraordinary talk, Randall Kennedy tackles this highly charged issue head-on. Exploring the actions that trigger cries of selling out -- marrying a white person, acting and thinking "white," living in a white neighborhood -- he shows us the negative consequences of living under the specter of race anxiety, and offers original solutions to overcome the feelings of fear, anger, and mistrust that often surround the issue.

Randall Kennedy

Jim Keady, theologian, activist, educator, will deliver the lecture “Behind the Swoosh: Sweatshops and Social Justice,” Wednesday, March 30, at 11:30 a.m. in the Student Center Blue Lounge as part of the WSU Diversity Lecture Series. Keady is a founding director of Educating for Justice, Inc. In his multimedia presentation, Keady will detail the month he spent in an Indonesian factory workers' slum living on $1.25 a day, a typical wage paid to Nike's subcontracted workers.

Along with personal accounts, he will include the latest information on Nike's labor and environmental practices and the women, men and sometimes children, who are the foundation of global manufacturing.

Both lectures are free and open to the public. The series is sponsored by the student Center/Student Activities Office, Disability Services, Third World Alliance, WSU Pride Alliance and People’s United Bank.

Best Selling author Randall Robinson will be featured in the fourth annual Courageous Conversations lecture at WSU. He is the author of An Unbroken Agony and the national bestsellers The Debt, The Reckoning, and Defending the Spirit. He is also founder and past president of TransAfrica, the African-American organization he established to promote enlightened, constructive U.S. policies toward Africa and the Caribbean. In 1984, Robinson established the Free South Africa Movement, which pushed successfully for the imposition of sanctions against apartheid South Africa; and in 1994, his public advocacy, including a 27-day hunger strike, led to the UN multinational operation that restored Haiti's first democratically elected government to power. Mr. Robinson lives with his wife and daughter in St. Kitts.

Noted authors Cornel West, Angela Davis and Kweisi Mfume have lectured at WSU in years past as part of the series sponsored by Third World Alliance, the President’s Office, Affirmative Action and Compliance, Multicultural Affairs, Alumni Office, Center for Human Rights, Latino Educational Institute and Public Relations. ###

For Immediate Release Contact: Lea Ann Scales Assistant Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing Phone: 508-929-8018 December 6, 2010. Photo Sources: Randall Kennedy - Photo © C.J. Gunther/SIPA - RandomHouse.com;

Dr. Bernard Harris FBI Director’s 2010 Community Leadership Award

Former Astronaut to Be Awarded Prestigious FBI Director’s 2010 Community Leadership Award.

Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Houston Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Richard C. Powers announced Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr., astronaut and president of The Harris Foundation, will be awarded the prestigious FBI Director’s 2010 Community Leadership Award. SAC Powers made the announcement and recognized Dr. Harris in front of Houston area students participating in the “Dare to Dream” program, sponsored by The Harris Foundation, at the James D. Burrus Elementary School earlier today.

Established in 1990, the Director’s Community Leadership Award is presented each year by FBI field offices to individuals and organizations that have made a positive impact within their local community through their achievements in crime prevention, drug deterrence, or other programs which promote public safety and well-being.

Dr. Harris is being awarded the honor for his lifelong achievements, as well as his work as founder and president of The Harris Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports math/science education and crime prevention programs for America’s youth.

Despite humble beginnings, the young Bernard Harris pursued his dream of being a physician, and later a NASA astronaut. Dr. Harris graduated from Sam Houston High School in San Antonio in 1974. He holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Houston, a Master of Medical Science from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston Clear Lake and a Doctorate of Medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine.

He completed a residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic, a National Research Council fellowship in endocrinology at the NASA Ames Research Center, and trained as a flight surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Harris worked at NASA for 10 years, where he conducted research in musculoskeletal physiology and disuse osteoporosis. As payload commander on Space Shuttle Discovery STS-63 in 1995, he served on the first flight of the joint Russian-American space program, becoming the first African-American to walk in space. A veteran astronaut for over 19 years, he has logged more than 438 hours and traveled over 7.2 million miles in space.

Dr. Harris founded The Harris Foundation in 1998. The mission of the Houston non-profit organization is to invest in community-based initiatives to support education, health and wealth. The Harris Foundation supports programs that empower individuals, in particular minorities and others who are economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams. One such program is the “Dare to Dream” program. Dare to Dream is an elementary school-based program which targets at-risk children and encourages crime prevention and the exploration of careers in science and technology. The Houston office of the FBI is a Dare to Dream partner. As part of Dare to Dream’s adopt-a-school mission, the FBI regularly provides special agent guest speakers to meet with and interact with at-risk students at many Houston area schools. In keeping with The Harris Foundation’s mission of promoting science and technology, before today’s ceremony the Houston FBI’s Evidence Response Team provided a hands-on forensic science workshop to over 100 Dare to Dream students from five Houston area schools.

“Dr. Harris and the Harris Foundation have inspired many of Houston’s at-risk young people to study hard, stay out of trouble, and follow their dreams,” said SAC Powers. “The Houston office of the FBI is proud to partner with Dr. Harris and his foundation in their proactive approach to reducing crime and encouraging lifelong success. What better example for our children can we provide than a man who has pursued his dreams and accomplished what most of us only dream about. I am proud to announce Dr. Harris as this year’s recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. When he receives his award from FBI Director Mueller in front of nominees from all over the United States, it will serve as an indicator to everyone present that Houston, Texas is the home of successful, generous, innovative citizens who care greatly about their community.”

Dr. Harris will travel to Washington, D.C. to receive the award, along with other recipients from around the nation, from FBI Director Robert Mueller in a ceremony at FBI Headquarters on March 25, 2011.

For Immediate Release December 2, 2010 FBI Houston Contact: Special Agent Shauna Dunlap (713) 936-7638

WVU professor hopes research will clarify difference between cooperating with police and "snitching"

“Snitch” used to mean someone who gave the police information about a crime in exchange for a lesser charge for their own illegal activity.

This is not the case anymore. Now, in some communities, a snitch is anyone who talks to the police at all, about anything. This means if witnesses report a crime, they’re deemed a snitch in the eyes of their community.

Rachael Woldoff, a sociology professor at West Virginia University, said the change in the “snitch” label began to spread in 2004.

She has been working to understand how people have broadened their notion of the “snitch” to include all people who witness crime and cooperate with police. As part of this effort, she and co-author Karen Weiss wrote the article, “Stop Snitchin’: Exploring Definitions of The Snitch and Implications for Urban Black Communities” that appeared in the Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture.

The article discusses hip-hop culture and the popularity of “Snitches Get Stitches” t-shirts, as well as rap and hip-hop artists’ musical message that communication with the police is wrong, no matter what the circumstance.

Dr. Rachael Woldoff

The article examines the snitching phenomena around the nation, especially in African-American communities. Woldoff also said the snitching ideology ties into other cultures, such as fraternities, the military and even police forces. She said there is a high need for loyalty and trust in these institutions, and snitching is taken very seriously.

Polls consistently show that African Americans report more distrust of police than whites. One reason may be that they are critical of police performance and the criminal justice system in general, which is perceived to be unfair and unethical.

“Many African Americans don’t talk to the police because they don’t trust that they’ll be protected,” Woldoff said. “They are especially sensitized to issues like excessive force, corruption, racial profiling, and illegal detainment.”

She cites several high-profile instances leading to increased distrust including the Rodney King beating, Los Angeles riots, and stories about police confrontations with African Americans that result in injury, death, and harassment.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2009, black, non-Hispanic males were incarcerated at a rate more than six times higher than white, non- Hispanic males and 2.6 times higher than Hispanic males.

“This is another reason that African-American communities have developed the broader definition of the snitch,” she said. “Retaliation for snitching in prison can be brutal: perpetrators are often murdered.”

Woldoff hopes that her work can help change this trend. She pointed to two grassroots campaigns designed to address the problem: “Snitch, You Bet I Told,” and “Keep Talking.” Both information campaigns are aimed at building better relationships between communities and the police.

This article underscores the importance of support for communication campaigns to curb negative messages about police cooperation.

“There are good reasons for African Americans feelings of distrust toward the police, but when people fail to report crimes they see, police cannot make arrests and crime flourishes in their neighborhoods,” said Woldoff.

In addition to this article, Woldoff also has a book coming out in 2011 with Cornell University Press. It will examine the factors that trigger white flight and black flight in modern urban neighborhoods and explore the potential for cross-racial neighbor relationships between elderly whites and younger black families who reside in the same community. -WVU- jh 12/2/10

CONTACT: Rebecca Herod, Marketing and Communications Coordinator
304-293-7405, ext. 5251, Rebecca.Herod@mail.wvu.edu