Throughout the country governors, mayors, and even the president are issuing proclamations recognizing May as National Mental Health Awareness Month. But raising awareness about mental health and connecting people to service needs to happen year round. For me, as the Communications Specialist at NAMI North Carolina (The National Alliance on Mental Illness), it’s one of the most […]
community
Intervention or Prevention?
In my eyes as a Public Health MD, there is a fundamental difference between prevention and intervention. I practice prevention if I proactively address an outcome that has been experienced by some, and I make a concerted effort to trace that condition up stream and work to find opportunities for change, especially for those most […]
Environmental Exposures and their Impact on the Health of Women of Color
People of all income levels, employment categories, races, ethnicities, and locations in the United States are exposed to environmental toxins and toxicants. Such exposure is thought by many to occur primarily through the intake to food, water and air, but what some fail to realize is that the clothes they wear, detergent they use, housing […]
Reflections from the Black Women’s Health Conference
On June 13, 2014, I had the opportunity to attend Tulane University’s 2nd Biennial Black Women’s Health Conference (BWH) in New Orleans, Louisiana, representing the Every Woman Southeast Coalition (EWSE), and connecting with one of our coalition members in Louisiana. The full conference agenda can be accessed here and click here to view the recorded […]
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Cape
With age comes responsibility. With leadership comes responsibility. With parenthood comes responsibility. Responsibility is important and is something most women take very seriously. But too much of it sometimes can create a life full of “to do” lists, guilt, fatigue and crankiness. Personally, I have an internal barometer that starts to clang when I’ve had […]
A Lesson in Advocacy – My experience at March of Dimes Lobby Day
Recently, my fellow graduate interns and I had the opportunity to participate in the March of Dimes 2014 Lobby Day at the North Carolina Statehouse. As volunteers, our mission was to visit lawmakers in their offices and garner support for funding of the You Quit Two Quit program, an evidence-based program that focuses on tobacco […]
Exams, Papers, and… Baby? The Joys of Motherhood While Pursuing Your Degree
Mother’s Day has traditionally been known as a day to celebrate and honor mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. Most of us feel as though we need or, better yet, deserve at least one day to set aside our daily duties and enjoy some quality pampering. There are so […]