Washington Informer

Washington, D.C.  – The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has awarded a three-year, $325,000 grant to the Summit Health Institute for Research and Education(SHIRE) for a grassroots health-education initiative serving District residents in Wards 5, 7, and 8.

SHIRE will recruit and train ward residents about the causes and dangers of obesity, the importance of regular physical activity, the risks of consuming processed foods, gardening techniques, and healthful methods of food selection and preparation. The trained cohort of peer educators will actively share their knowledge within their families, neighborhoods, and communities.

"SHIRE is honored by the confidence that the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has placed in our work," said SHIRE Executive Director/CEO Ruth Perot. "In addition to the noticeable impact of peer educators in District communities, we have also seen the lives of peer educators' change as they become role models for others – losing weight, effectively managing diabetes and hypertension, and gaining confidence as spokespersons. Further, their paid work experience has opened doors to their professional and academic advancement."

SHIRE will identify teenagers and adults of all ages to include in the peer education program. After the completion of 40 hours of training, peer educators will engage community members in gardening demonstrations, trips to farmers markets, performances and other interactive word-of-mouth activities pertaining to health maintenance. SHIRE is committed to cultivating the enthusiasm and creativity of ward residents on issues of health so communities will unite to combat the high rates of health-related diseases and mortality in these wards of the nation's capital.

Currently, within these wards' demographics, approximately 35% of children between the ages of ten and seventeen are obese, 29% of infants and toddlers are overweight, and 50 percent of households are afflicted with food insecurity or chronic hunger. SHIRE develops and promotes outreach programs that inspire residents to reverse these negative trends and address the critical health concerns in their communities.

Canary Girardeau, SHIRE senior program associate, attests to community interest in the health initiative. "We observe residents talking and listening to each other," Girardeau said. "Peer educators provide dynamic and provocative presentations. There is give and take, and the resolution of issues is something they arrive at together. It is very powerful, and I am looking forward to the continuation and expansion of the project."

For more information about SHIRE and its programs, visit us at: www.shireinc.org

G. Wayne Clough, secretary, the Smithsonian Institution and Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, present President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of the Republic of Liberia with a gift.

Sirleaf returned home to Liberia on Wednesday, following a most successful visit to the United States of America, where her activities took her to Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and, of course, the nation's capital, Washington, D.C.

Before departing the U.S. for home, Sirleaf was the special guest of honor at a luncheon hosted by the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and Cole. Sponsors of the event included several of Liberia's partners: Chevron Corporation, Exxon Mobil and the Coca-Cola Company.

Yvette Wilson, one of the stars of the TV sitcom, "Moesha," has died following a battle with cervical cancer. She was 48.

Wilson, who played Moesha's friend Andell Wilkerson on the long-running hit show, also had a starring role on the "The Parkers."

At the time of her death on Wednesday, Wilson's cancer was Stage 4.

Wilson's close friend, Jeffrey Pittle said in an interview that she was a good friend and talented actress.

"[She was also] a very funny lady, both onscreen and off," said Pittle. "She will be sorely missed, but I'm sure her talent and humor will live on in her legion of fans. It's a small comfort knowing we can still experience Yvette through the work she left behind."

Justin Combs, son of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, took to Twitter this week to defend his full scholarship to UCLA, which the school confirmed this week. Many in cyberspace are questioning whether the multimillionaire's son should have accepted the $54,000 football scholarship, given the school's economic troubles.

But the 18-year-old said he earned the scholarship.

"Regardless what the circumstances are, I put that work in!!!! PERIOD," he tweeted on May 30. "Regardless of what you do in life every1 is gonna have their own opinion," he tweeted. "Stay focused, keep that tunnel vision & never 4get why u started."

Combs, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound defensive back, reportedly graduated from New York's New Rochelle Iona Prep with a 3.75 GPA, according to the Los Angeles Times.

UCLA defended its decision, saying Combs' award was not siphoned from need-based scholarships to other students.

Athletic scholarships are "entirely funded by Athletic Department ticket sales, corporate partnerships, media contracts and private donations" and "do not rely on state funds," university spokesman Ricardo Vazquez told the Times.

"There is a big separation between financial aid based on need and how that's funded and how athletic scholarships are funded and awarded to students," he added.

Beenie Man's Respect for Gays and Lesbians

The controversy of internationally recognized Reggae artist, Beenie Man's anti-gay songs, which he penned twenty years ago, continues to follow him everywhere he is scheduled to perform. Today, he has developed a newfound respect for gays and lesbians. A few days ago, at a concert in the Rototam Sunsplash (www.rototomsunsplash.com) in Spain, expressed to concert-goers in a video message:

"I respect each and every human being, regardless of which race or creed, regardless of which religious belief and regardless of which sexual preference you have, including gay and lesbian people."

In recent years, Beenie has been the subject of several protests from gay communities on an international scale. Between the years 2004 to 2010, several demonstrations all over the world, prevented him from performing and led him to cancel his concerts. Today, Beenie understands the severity behind the degrading lyrics from his past songs. He reflected on the poor decisions he has made as a young artist publicly at his most recent performance. He said to his audience:

"Do not fight against me for some of the songs I sung 20 years ago. There is no one in this world who is the same person they were 20 years ago, I know I'm not. I was a kid when I came from Waterhouse in one community. I never knew what the world was like and what the world was all about. Now, I know that there are people in the world that live differently from the way I do. I know I still have to respect and love human beings."

 The National Coalition for Community Schools applauds the D.C. City Council for passing the landmark Community Schools Incentives Act and for the Council's continued support for meaningful and equitable education reform in Washington D.C.

The $1 million in funding, which the Council recently approved, will provide $200,000 to five schools to incorporate health, youth development, social services, and academic support through community partnerships into their schools.

Research has shown that children who come to school hungry and preoccupied with out-of-school problems struggle to learn in the classroom. Community schools are a proven strategy that can help more students overcomes these factors, come to school ready to learn, and graduate college and career-ready.

Many school systems and their communities are adopting this approach including Chicago, Cincinnati, Portland (OR), and they are seeing improved attendance, graduation, better health and reduced discipline rates.

"The Coalition applauds the tireless efforts of DC VOICE that led to the passage of this legislation," said Martin Blank, president of the Institute of Educational Leadership and director of the Coalition for Community Schools. "DC VOICE's community action research and community organizing work demonstrates how grassroots organizations can be instrumental in moving policymakers to take action to support community schools."

The dictionary defines advocacy as "pleading the cause of another, siding with, vindicating, recommending publicly." Are you advocating for the African-American community?

Many in the African-American community already give generously to food pantries or share their meals with those who have none. But we need to go beyond giving a can of food—we need to call, write a letter, or even visit our members of Congress.

The reality is that all the food distributed by church pantries, food banks, and other charities amounts to just 6 cents for every dollar the government spends on national nutrition programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps).

African-Americans need to advocate, especially since hunger and poverty disproportionately affect our community. Thirty-three percent of African-American households with children struggle to put food on the table, compared to about 20 percent of all U.S. households with children. Of this number, a devastating 40 percent of all African-American children live in poverty, compared to 22 percent of U.S. children overall.

On Friday, June 1, the Prince George's County Economic Development Commission, along with County Executive Rushern L. Baker, FSC First, and the Prince George's Chamber of Commerce, celebrated the success and achievements of Prince George's County businesses, legislators and individuals that support the economic development of the community.

In doing so, several individuals were cited for their contributions during the 2012 Excellence in Business Awards Gala, which was jointly sponsored by the Prince George's County EDC, FSC First, and tPrince George's Chamber of Commerce.

2012 Excellence in Business Awards Gala "It is a great opportunity to honor the achievements, talents and contributions of all the awardees to this wonderful county," said EDC President/CEO Gwen McCall.

Baker, who presented his State of the Economy Address, reminded attendees that Prince George's County is definitely the destination for business.

All  of the award winners and nominees are congratulated for their dedication to economic growth and development, their passionate community involvement and the resources they provide to the residents and business community of Prince George's County.

The 2012 Excellence in Business Award Winners include: 

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR:

Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon - Steve Nearman

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD:

Men Aiming Higher

GREEN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

The Washington Redskins

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR:

DeAnna "Ms. Cookie" Mayo, My Sweet Tooth, LLC

BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR:

Clare Hines, The net.America Corporation

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

Helix Enterprises

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:

K. Neal International Trucks, Inc.

BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR:

Stephen Neal - K. Neal International Trucks

EMERGING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: