30 T H Anniversary Edition 2011 Aetna African American History Calendar
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
anniversary edition anniversary 30th Aetna African American History Calendar History American African Aetna 2011 a difference for African Americans African for difference a H ealthful Blessings ealthful Faith-based health initiatives making making initiatives health Faith-based RESOURCES SPECIAL THANKS Photography • African Americans Reach & Teach Ministry Raymond Arroyo, Aetna Inc., Hartford, Connecticut Lou Jones Studio http://www.aarth.org Joseph Black, Aetna Inc., Hartford, Connecticut Boston, Massachusetts • American Conference on Diversity Melvin Butler, Not One More Life, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia http://www.americanconferenceondiversity.org Miguel Centeno, Aetna Inc., Hartford, Connecticut Lou Jones, Photographer • Anti-Defamation League Jane Condron, Aetna Inc., Hartford, Connecticut http://www.adl.org Cary Goodman, The Balm In Gilead, Inc., Richmond, Virginia Photography Assistants • The Balm In Gilead, Inc. Floyd Green, Aetna Inc., Hartford, Connecticut Mike DeStefano http://www.balmingilead.org Ayisha R. Jeffries, African American Islamic Institute, New York, New York Matt Kalinowski • Berean Community and Family Life Center William Kramer, Aetna Inc., Blue Bell, Pennsylvania Keith McWilliams http://www.bereancommunity.org Regina R. Lewis, APR, The Potter’s House/T.D. Jakes Ministries, Dallas, Texas Leah Raymond • National Black Church Initiative Maria Mendez, Aetna Inc., Dallas, Texas Andrew Zimnicki http://www.natlblackchurch.com Shenequal Robertson, The American Diabetes Association, Dallas, Texas • Not One More Life, Inc. Dawn Romberg, Aetna Inc., Hartford, Connecticut Printer http://www.notonemorelife.org Sheeted Shah, Hindu American Foundation, Kensington, Maryland Allied Printing, Manchester, Connecticut • Our Health Ministry Earnestine Walker, The American Diabetes Association, Alexandria, Virginia http://www.ourhealthministry.com TO ORDER CALENDARS • The Partnership for African American Churches CREDITS Additional calendars are available for $4 each. http://www.paac2.org/ Produced by Aetna Inc. To order please send a check, payable to Aetna, to: Hartford, Connecticut Aetna African American History Calendar PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS Peggy Garrity, Project Manager Corporate Communications, RW3H • Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn, New York 151 Farmington Avenue • Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Washington, D.C. Project Assistants Hartford, CT 06156 • Berean Baptist Church, Brooklyn, New York Myrna Blum • Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois Sharon Valechko Phone: 860-273-0509 • Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut Fax: 860-273-6675 • Sandy Springs, Georgia Creative Development • Seattle, Washington Pita Group • Conyers, Georgia Rocky Hill, Connecticut • Logan Fire Department, Logan, West Virginia • Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation Lisa Santoro, Creative Director and Designer Chicago, Illinois Kim Pita, Writer • Masjid An-Nur, Lithonia, Georgia • The Potter’s House, Dallas, Texas • Richmond, Virginia 00.00.924.1 A © 2010 Aetna Inc. CHRISTIANITY Having Faith in Health For 30 years, Aetna has celebrated African American history through the publication of its African American History Calendar. Over the last decade, we have explored in our calendars diverse health care topics aligning with our own corporate mission and purpose. We continue on that journey, and praise the lives and work of African American leaders across the country. We are pleased to honor individuals and organizations as they move health and wellness messages to the JUDAISM forefront. They are doing this important work by addressing one of the most powerful audiences in the world – the faith community. This calendar celebrates remarkable individuals who have dedicated their lives to inspiring and empowering others to spend time taking care of their minds, bodies and spirit. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism…while the religious beliefs among the individuals profiled vary, there is one common desire — to eliminate health disparities in the African American community. They each recognize the influence faith leaders have in making that change happen. ISLAM We have traveled to large and small churches, a mosque, a fire department, and a college campus to learn how having belief and faith can make a world of difference in the health of so many. Aetna is pleased to present its 30th annual African American History Calendar, celebrating the healthful blessings that have the power to inspire us all. BUDDHISM HINDUISM INSPIRE Faith Diverse Efforts Yield Real Results in Health Equality By Rev. Dr. Fred Lucas African American faith leaders across the country power; volunteers; facilities and physical space; media are “walking on water” and performing modern-day ministries; and “bully pulpits” to develop the body, miracles of healing. They are doing this by creating mind, and soul. ministries and programs that encourage people of faith to move beyond stained glass windows, elaborate Many of today’s African American faith leaders are still domes, and prayer halls to serve the larger community. preaching to communities in crisis. Death rates among the 41 million African Americans in our country are Today, it is more important than ever for African at least twice as high as those of non-Hispanic whites. American congregations and faith-based organizations This community suffers greatly from cancers (especially to address health care gaps in their local communities. prostate, breast, and stomach); and experiences high incidence of heart disease, stroke, asthma, influenza We are encouraged by the individuals and groups and pneumonia, diabetes, and infant mortality. featured in this calendar. They are using their faith practices to improve the health and wellness of their HIV/AIDS stats are even more alarming. African members. They are seeing positive results through their Americans, who are 13.5 percent of the population, diverse efforts. This is a small sampling of the many account for 49 percent of all cases. Approximately faith-filled visionaries working in some of America’s 24 percent of African Americans rely on public health most challenged, yet promising neighborhoods. insurance.1 Almost 20 percent of African Americans are uninsured.2 In so many ways, health equality is The work of these faith-based groups is part of African a key part of economic progress. American tradition. From the period of slavery to the present, African American places of worship have been There is so much more that can and should be done. Public-/private-sector partnerships are important. Truly, this year’s Aetna African American History the hub of the African American community. They The individuals and groups featured in this calendar More and more nonprofit organizations are obtaining Calendar is a source of education, inspiration have responded to social, political, economic, are beginning to address these health gaps. They do so large-scale, outside funding not available to religious and hope! educational and cultural needs. with diet, exercise, and nutrition education; healthful groups. We are seeing new doors opening for faith- meal options for church gatherings; and aerobics, based groups led by well-trained and semiprofessional Over decades, the African American faith community liturgical dance, basketball leagues, and marching bands. clergy and laity. Together with professional staff and Rev. Dr. Fred Lucas is senior pastor at Brooklyn Community Church; president/CEO of Faith Center For Community Development, Inc. has made major contributions. It has helped create They also offer substance-abuse programs, culturally dedicated volunteers, we all can make a real difference in in Brooklyn, New York; and an adjunct faculty member at New York hospitals, nursing homes and orphanages specifically and biblically sensitive health literacy materials, health the communities where we live and work, and preach Theological Seminary. for the African American community. Historically ministries and fairs, preventive services, and early and pray. black colleges and universities have been formed, detection. These ministries of healing provide on-site 1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Office of and continue to do important work. And this faith reviews, screening and training, along with medical Minority Health, African American Minority Health Profile, 2010, community has provided financial support; political institutions serving at-risk neighborhoods. www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov. 2Ibid. 2011 Aetna African American History Calendar www.aetnaafricanamericanhistorycalendar.com Rev. Anthony Evans President, National Black Church Initiative Washington, D.C. “Faith plays a central role in the lives of African Americans,” said Rev. Anthony Evans, president of the National Black Church Initiative (NBCI). “It is the one constant. Delivering messages in places of worship is how we can get into every single target population.” NBCI is a group made up of 34,000 African American and Latino places of worship from across the country. All faith denominations are represented. The group is working to eliminate racial gaps in health care. It has the resources and the power to deliver health and wellness information nationwide. “Doctors have scientifi c authority. We have moral authority,” said Rev. Evans. “We have developed an effi cient way to deal with the health emergencies that are happening in our communities.” NBCI was founded in 1996 in Washington, D.C., in response to the capital city’s drug problems. Today, it has fi ve regional health commands,