HUSH Magazine 2015 November/December by HUSH Magazine

To Advertise in HUSH Magazine, Contact us at Hush@hush-be-still.com or link to hush-be-still.com/advertise

Americans are living longer, but unhealthy behaviors continue to compromise our health. 1 in 4 adults is a current smoker. 1 in 3 adults is obese. Only 1 in 5 adults meets recommended levels of physical activity. High blood pressure & cholesterol. Fewer than half of adults with high blood pressure and less than a third of adults with high cholesterol have it under control. Small steps can make a big difference. For example: If each American cut back just 100 calories a day for 3 years we would prevent over 57 Million potentially fatal cases of Heart Disease, Cancer and Diabetes. Healthcare workers can: • Screen for risk factors. • Counsel, treat and monitor patients. • Encourage them to take their medicines and make healthier choices. • Connect patients to community resources. Logo: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Magazine

FEATURES

MS Robotics: Taking STEM to Rural, Disadvantaged

Ralph Moore: 8 Swimmer

The A-TEAAM: Mentoring at a Higher Level

From a Crook to the Cross

A Father’s Story of His Ordeal

Fred Thompson’s Cancer Battle

Racism: A National 25 Conversation in MS

FOCUS: Health Trends & 29 Forecast

Community 32 Faith & Health

Premartial Sex: 36 Science Supports Scripture

39 Getting Healthy The Arts

McComb’s Jubilee 45 Performing Arts Center

Marcella Young: 26 3-Time Cancer Battle

HUSH | 3 | 2015 November • December

HUSH Magazine focuses on faith, marriages, families, & communities to:

Magazine

✔✔promote unity among all people

–– believers in Christ in particular –– blurring the cultural and racial lines that tend to oppose us;

Photographers in this issue

✔✔offer real-life stories of people making

a positive difference as encouragement to others to do the same;

Victor Calhoun І Mobile, AL Jay Johnson І Jackson, MS Priscilla Wallace І Summit, MS PW Photography

✔✔spotlight success stories of care and

concern for the development of youth –– the source of the nation’s next generation of leaders.

Grand Slam Communications Picayune, MS

In a nutshell, HUSH Magazine is about people reaching out to people and Impacting People in Positive, Powerful Ways.

Contributing Editor / Writer

HUSH started with plans for three issues in 2015. That number will increase to four in 2016. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of all content. However, we do not guarantee that every article, column or story is free of error. No responsibility can be or is assumed. All Rights Reserved. © Rapha Communications, LLC, P. O. Box 12635, Jackson, MS 39236; 601.506.1847.

Contributing Writers

Ayanna Bloom І Pearl, MS

Denotris Jackson І Clinton, MS Darrell Robinson І Jackson, MS Nikki Marzette-Turner І Oxford, MS Michael Howard І Brandon, MS Guest Columnist

Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Eleanor Reynolds І Mobile, AL

Charlotte Graham І Laurel, MS

Subscribe online at www.hushzine.com for periodic updates about the next magazine issue, as well as other information.

–– James 5:16 NIV

Errol J. Dillon І Flora, MS

BetyLou Pierce І Hattiesburg, MS

Scripture Consultant

Jacqueline Mack І Jackson, MS Christian Education Director

Proofing Consultant

Elise J. Ballard І Clinton, MS

Design Consultant

Editor / Publisher HUSH | 4 | 2015 November • December

Amanda Patterson І Mandilay, Inc. Photography, Graphic / Web Design Linda Buford-Burks І Jackson, MS

Mississippi Robotics

Taking STEM to Rural & Disadvantaged Students

by Darrell Robinson

t’s safe to say that 25 years ago, Ray Holt had no idea that he would be traveling the roads of rural Mississippi to teach kids how to build robots. After spending the first 50 years of his life in California as a student and engineer, Holt moved to Oklahoma to research his father’s Cherokee Indian background and to join the Cherokee Nation. As it turned out, Holt’s journey across the country would lead him to Mississippi to found STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Advancement, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, doing business as Mississippi Robotics (MR).

Holt started the organization after meeting Dr. Dolphus Weary, founder of R.E.A.L. Christian Foundation. R.E.A.L. Christian Foundation is an organization that raises money and funds the 13 rural ministries in Mississippi with which Mississippi Robotics works. “I like working with the rural organizations, and I definitely like the kids,” says Holt. He uses his personal funds and donations ARTICLE to travel to areas such as Mendenhall, D’Lo, PHOTOS ARE Braxton, Prentiss and the Delta to work COURTESY OF with students in grades 3-12. MISSISSIPPI In his program, Holt teaches students how ROBOTICS.

Ray Holt instructs a student on building a robot.

HUSH | 5 | 2015 November • December

to build a Lego NXT robot, complete with wheels, a motor, and a computer. “It usually takes two to four weeks,” said Holt. “They learn to build, and after they learn to build, they learn how to keep it together.” Holt sends every robot through a “drop test.” He drops the robot from 2 feet to make sure that it won’t break, before going on to the next phase. After robots pass the drop test, students then learn how to code and program them. “The moment those robots start up, those are the biggest eyes I’ve ever seen,” Holt says of the students’ reaction to their work. While the engineer builds strong

said Johnson. “It’s causing them to think about college and to consider a career in STEM.” This is especially important to Holt, who feels a greater emphasis needs to be placed on the STEM subjects in Mississippi. “Science and engineering are not being taught and certainly not being taught hands-on. Very few schools (in Mississippi) have labs that are stocked.” “One kid was excited to have a lab in biology this year. I said, ‘I hope you enjoy dissecting your animals.’ He said, ‘No, no; we’ll have time to do homework.’” Holt’s desire is to see each MR participant excel academically, going so far as to ask

“I think personally if all the kids stayed in the program, I could get them into college in engineering.” relationships with the students through the courses he teaches, the mission of Mississippi Robotics runs deeper than simply teaching students to build robots. According to MR board member Dorsey Johnson, the organization is making a profound academic impact in the lives of students. “These are students who normally wouldn’t be part of that (robotics) class,”

students to see their report cards. “To my knowledge, not one student who has gone through our program has dropped out of high school,” he shares enthusiastically. If it were left up to Holt, all of his students would become engineers. “I think personally if all the kids stayed in the program, I could get them into college in engineering,” he said. Charity Jones of Lighthouse Community Development in Simpson County noticed the positive impact of MR on her students. Students are excited about the program, but limited resources means that MR participants have limited hands-on exercises in robot building. The Simpson County Future Engineers, as Jones’ MR participants are called, need more funding to work in smaller teams to complete their robot building. Although teams are larger than ideal, the positive result is that many of the students have developed stronger social, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. Bettie Drummond, with the Jefferson Davis Outreach Ministry, has noticed similar positive results with students in their program.

HUSH | 6 | 2015 November • December

The Robotics students (at left) show off a robot made by the two of them.

Students test their robots for a SUMO Wrestling Robot Competition. The competition is held each May. She says the teamwork “really helps their presentation skills.” Holt’s organization is committed to teaching Christian principles and biblical values to all students in the robotics program. Each of his sessions begins with prayer. Afterwards, he shares some of his background and beliefs with his students. “I make it clear to everybody that I am a Christian engineer. We always have prayer before we start meetings. I relate science to the Bible so that they can know that there is a God.” “A lot of the kids I deal with have never seen an engineer,” says Holt. “So, when I give them my background and tell them I’m a Christian and an engineer and I’m living in Mississippi, they get to know me that way.” In addition to the robotics courses, MR hosts a statewide robotics tournament where groups participating in the program compete against one another, using skills learned in Holt’s classes. The daylong event has students competing in robotics but also has them solving math problems, learning about science experiments and troubleshooting robot failure.

“Kids just love it,” Holt said. “Quite a few of them are starting to accumulate a lot of ribbons.” The next Statewide Robotics Competition is on Nov. 14 at Wilkinson County Christian Academy in Woodville, MS. Students in grades 3-12 are invited.

A student works to build his robot.

You can support and extend the Mississippi Robotics program to benefit more students by contacting the organization online or by mail: Mississippi Robotics . 156 Matt Lee Road . Pinola, MS 39149 . mississippirobotics.org/donate/ HUSH | 7 | 2015 November • December

RALPH MOO

HUSH | 8 | 2015 November â&#x20AC;¢ December

OORE By LBB How does a young African American teenager earn gold medals, respect, and sincere accolades on a swim team of approximately 175 young people, especially when getting on the team was not his idea in the first place? The answer: Plenty of hard work, and great support from his mother, great granddaddy, and his coach.

‘M

y mom got me into swimming,” 17-year-old Ralph J. Moore smiles broadly. “I hated it at first. Now, I just love the sport. At first, I didn’t take swimming seriously. The more seriously I took it, the healthier I started eating and the more sleep I got.” “My mom doesn’t have to force me to go (to swim practice) anymore.” Ralph gives his longtime swim coach, David Orr, credit for being his major mentor in the sport. “He’s been swimming all his life. I have been swimming for him since I was 12, and he’s the only coach who’s really pushed me, really talked to me about where I needed to set my goals. We’ve had a number of talks. He’s a great man. He was the one who pointed me in the right direction.” As for his great-grandfather, longtime civil rights activist Charles Evers, Ralph beams with pride as he notes the forerunner’s accomplishments and the encouragement he gives Ralph to do his best. Perhaps it’s because he is working to be a

forerunner too. On the team of 175, Ralph says African Americans are few in number, “one or two here and there.” He speculates that stereotypes of “black people and swimming” don’t encourage much involvement in the sport at the level that he and a few other African American teens are pursuing. Nevertheless, Ralph’s love for swimming is real, and he pursues it hard, taking the time and making the sacrifices to excel. He sums up his weekday routine this fall as “pool, school, home to eat and sleep, and repeat.” His day starts at 5:30 a.m. at the pool, leaving at 6:45 a.m. to get ready for school. During the summer, his swim practice is 5-7 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This routine may seem too much to some, but Ralph would not have it any other way. His mother, Dr. Tonya Moore, is proud of her son, to say the least. “For me, Ralph’s first big win was in 2012 when he was 14 years old and won Gold in the Boys 13-14 100 Meter Breaststroke at the Mississippi State Long Course Championship Meet,” says Dr. Moore, the Chief Learning Officer at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. “I was extremely happy for him, as his hard work and dedication paid off.” Dr. Moore travels to Ralph’s swim meets and is his staunchest supporter, videotaping most of his swim events. She was concerned at first that Ralph might be overly stressed as he competed. “As a mother, I was most concerned with Ralph managing effectively the highs and lows that come with competition. It can be an emotional roller coaster, even heartbreaking at times. I am very proud of how Ralph manages each experience, especially how he prepares for the next one.” Ralph admits that he has had disappointments in the outcome of a swim meet from time to time, particularly when he is going for a title and loses to someone who seems to swim well naturally, without “putting in the work.” But, he does not dwell on such thinking. “I just say, I’ll go after it again. I can’t give up.” Since joining the Sunkist Swim Team at the Flowood YMCA in 2008, Ralph has traveled to more than 120 swim meets in states including Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina and Louisiana. Swim meets he traveled to over this past summer were

HUSH | 9 | 2015 November • December

in Nashville, TN and Biloxi and Cleveland in Mississippi. His team’s overall win of the Mississippi State Swimming Long Course Championship in Cleveland, Mississippi and his personal first place in the 200-Meter Breast Stroke of the state championship were quite gratifying for one summer’s work. But winning is not unusual for Ralph. He and his relay team are Mississippi’s Record Holder in a number of swim categories, all accurate as of March 2015: Sunkist (15-18) Boys Relay, 200-yard Medley Sunkist Open Boys Relay , 200-yard Medley Sunkist 15-18 Boys Relay, 200 yard Freestyle Sunkist Open Boys Relay, 200 yard Freestyle A repeat Gold Medal Winner in various swim competitions since 2012, Ralph stays focused on his goals and is not easily distracted by the habits of most teens his age. What about hanging out with friends? “I tell them I’m a swimmer. They understand, but at the same time they resent it.” What about a girlfriend?

“I don’t have one.” Ralph now has his sights on getting on the swim team at the U.S. Naval Academy, his dream college. Scheduled to graduate from Northwest Rankin High School next Spring, he is working on being among the 1,000 cadets admitted to the academy, from among the typically 15,000 applicants each year. His dream for making the NCSA junior national swim team cuts is close. “I came really close this summer, missing it by .08 seconds at the Cleveland meet (State Championship Meet),” Ralph sighs. He’s not giving up. With high hopes of getting into the U.S. Naval

“As a mother, I was most concerned with Ralph managing effectively the highs and lows that come with competition. It can be an emotional roller coaster, even heartbreaking at times.”

HUSH | 10 | 2015 November • December

Academy, one might inquire about Ralph’s grades and other activities apart from his accomplishments on the swim team. And the answer would be, look at his record: National Honor Society, Honor Roll, Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta Club…and that’s just a start. He has volunteered more than 200 hours as a swim coach at the Reservoir Gators Swim Team, spent time overseas on his church’s mission team in Honduras, and taught youngsters to swim both in groups and individually. “My proudest moment happened this summer during the weekend of the Mississippi Long Course State Championship Meet,” said Dr. Tonya Moore about her son’s concern for others. “I was in the lobby of our hotel when a lady asked me if I was Ralph’s mom. I smiled and said, ‘yes.’ I assumed she was going to compliment Ralph on his swims.” To her surprise, Dr. Moore said the woman told her, “I want you to know we love Ralph. My son loves Ralph. Ralph is so patient with him, and my son is a better swimmer because of it.” Ralph has been coaching the younger swimmer, who has high functioning autism, for about three years. His mom was thrilled to hear the woman brag about her son. “Her unsolicited comments warmed my heart, gave me goose bumps, and made me feel extremely proud,” said Moore.

PHOTOS FROM TOP: Ralph with swim teammates; with his great granddaddy Civil Rights Leader Charles Evers; with his mom (Dr. Tonya Moore) and Evers. HUSH | 11 | 2015 November • December

2014-15 A-TEAAM Evaluation Results ✔✔72% of Ambassadors were observed by teachers and mentors to have increased self-esteem ✔✔51% of the students had increased school attendance over the 9 month program ✔✔95% showed increased knowledge of cultural awareness ✔✔82% increased their knowledge and understanding of Racial Equity ✔✔77% increased positive behavior changes in the area of Respect ✔✔92% increased positive behavioral changes in the area of Initiative PHOTOS ABOVE: Ambassadors signing agreement (upper left); 2014-15 coordinators of the A-TEAAM programs at Canton and Jackson, MS Schools, pictured with JSDF’s Doty and McCullough.

hat began as a pilot program at two middle schools in Jackson and Canton, MS during the 2012-13 school year has evolved into a model initiative in five other cities nationwide. The A-TEAAM (Ambassadors of the Evers Academy for African American Males) is spearheaded by the Juanita Sims Doty (JSD) Foundation in Jackson, in partnership with the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Institute. Dr. Karla McCullough, a marketing executive and business owner, is the foundation’s executive director and serves as co-project director of the A-TEAAM program. The A-TEAAM enlists young African American males during a critical point of their schooling –– sixth grade and equips them with insight, guidance and support to confidently pursue a life and career worthy of those like the late Civil Rights Leader Medgar Evers whose sacrifices have given them unparalleled opportunities. The A-TEAAM’s success caught the attention of a national women’s group, the Top Ladies of Distinction, after one of its former national presidents heard about the program. The national group has implemented the model in its chapters in Washington, DC; Houston, TX; East St. Louis, IL; Inglewood, CA; and Cincinnati, OH. Each chapter started with 10 sixth grade participants and follows the Mississippi-based A-TEAAM curriculum / toolkit. “In replicating the A-TEAAM, the Juanita Sims Doty Foundation (JSDF) and the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Institute (MMEI) intend to maintain the quality and fluidity of the program as it expands over the United

HUSH | 12 | 2015 November • December

States,” says JSDF Chairman of the Board, Juanita S. Doty. She says JSDF provides training and technical assistance for each A-TEAAM program implemented in other locations. A specially designed curriculum with goals and evaluation tools is the centerpiece of the A-TEAAM. The curriculum is used as a blueprint for coordinators and the network of organizations that interact with the sixth grade males. “In every school, we are doing the same thing,” McCullough notes. In Jackson and Canton, MS, JSDF has a strong base of collaborative partners including Mrs. Myrlie Evers and the Medgar Evers Family, the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Institute, and a 22-member network of strong community-based organizations. Key organizations like The Foundation for the Mid South and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation provide additional support with funding and other resources. Other partners include the Jackson Public School and Canton Public School districts, as well as the cities of Canton and Jackson. Both Mayor Arnel Bolden of Canton and Jackson Mayor Tony T. Yarber serve as honorary chairmen of the A-TEAAM. Sixth grade “ambassadors” follow a structured series of activities and events. Their initiation begins with their signing of a promise and pledge, and the presentation of a black tie and A-TEAAM pin, to seal the agreement. The program runs concurrently with the school year and places students in direct contact with mentors already in successful careers, careers that could possibly stimulate interest in the young participants. (continued on next page) HUSH | 13 | 2015 November • December

A-TEAAM Mentoring organizations Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Beta Delta Omega Chapter Upsilon Upsilon Omega Chapter Rho Lambda Omega Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Jackson Alumnae Chapter Madison County Alumnae Chapter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Rho Xi Lambda Chapter Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Jackson Alumni Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Beta Alpha Chapter Epsilon Kappa Kappa Chapter Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Mu Sigma Chapter Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Alpha Delta Zeta Chapter Tau Upsilon Zeta Chapter International Community Ambassadors Network The Links, Incorporated Jackson (MS) Chapter LeFleur’s Bluff Chapter 100 Black Men of Jackson 100 Black Men of Canton Forward Lookers Federated Club Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Jackson MS Chapter National Council of Negro Women Jackson, MS Section Men in Action Eliza Pillars Registered Nurses of MS District IV

LaDarius Thompson, a sixth grader in the 2014-15 program, spoke positively of the mentors and of the rich history to which he was exposed. “I got to learn about black history in a fun way and had the group to talk with about it,” he said, explaining that “You need to know more about where you came from.” He added that the racial healing topic was beneficial to him because he “got to learn why healing is needed.” He learned another important lesson too. “Sometimes I used to stop doing my work because I used to get frustrated about it. Since I’ve been in the program, they have taught me not to give up when I’m frustrated but to keep going,” the A-TEAAM participant said. Another A-TEAAM participant, Joseph Anthony, said the program helped him remain

calm when others try to cause conflict. “When someone used to say something about me, I used to say something back,” Joseph noted. “I don’t do that now.” Students in the A-TEAAM program dress the part for their special sessions, held at school. They wear black ties, dress white shirts and black slacks, and, a belt. On the day that HUSH Magazine visited the program at Powell Middle School in Jackson, A-TEAAM members at the school including Joseph and LaDarius made presentations on topics including black history, racial healing and Medgar Evers’ work to help the community. “This structured initiative is results driven and proven to change lives of vulnerable young minority males,” says Doty. “The JSD Foundation has developed the Blueprint, an operational guide for those interested in replicating the A-TEAAM.” Doty points to evaluation results that confirm the A-TEAAM concept is working. Everyone involved in the program gets a chance to critique its effectiveness through an evaluation, including Ambassadors, mentors, parents and teachers. Key results for 2014-15 are included with this article. “In our first session, one Ambassador asked the question “Is the Future Real?” He now knows that the future is real and that there is connection between the choices he makes today and his future,” says Doty. She points to another ambassador who had kept silent about being bullied for most of his life. “After our session on bullying, he went home to tell his parents,” says Doty. “They The major movers of the A-TEAAM project are (left addressed it with the school officials, and he to right) Dr. Karla McCullough, project co-director, is not being bullied anymore. As long as we continue to see changes in behavior, confidence Mrs. Myrlie Evers, program partner, and Juanita and communication in our boys we know that S. Doty, president of the JSD Foundation and the the project is successful.” project’s founder. (PHOTO BY JAY JOHNSON) HUSH | 14 | 2015 November • December

From A Crook to the Cross: Living A Transformed Life by Denotris Jackson

nce a notorious gangster and drug dealer in the violent, crime and poverty ridden Washington Addition neighborhood in Jackson, Mississippi, Daryl “Big D” Courtney knows firsthand what it’s like to be under the influence of sin. Now a licensed minister and business owner, Courtney wants those who are struggling to know of the power of God to transform their lives. The big man with an even bigger smile shares this message with everyone he meets. He once told a friend, “if you knew some of the things I did in my past, you wouldn’t even want to speak to me again.” Initially believing that he had done too much evil to ever be considered a child of God, ultimately it was his life of crime that led him to surrender his life to the Lord. Upon receiving salvation in the name of Jesus Christ, he also received a passion to encourage others to trust God to change their lives. Courtney now speaks to youth and young adults about how he was lured “to the streets, by his environment and peer pressure at age eleven (11).” He was initiated into the fierce and greatly feared Vice Lords gang, and part of the initiation was to brutally beat someone without mercy or any regard for them. After initiation, he became the “lookout kid” for drug dealers. He also began “hanging out in the streets” – Including drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. Daryl Courtney was the textbook definition of inner city at-risk youth. Growing up in a single family home as the oldest of five children, he recalls never having a positive male role model in his home or close family. He was greatly influenced by the gang members and drug dealers in his neighborhood.

His young mother enjoyed the party life, and he was frequently left to his own devices, doing as he pleased. His granny Lela Mae Courtney was not about to give up, though. Courtney remembers his late grandmother as loving, but firm, always wanting the best for him. His mother didn’t attend church on a regular basis like his grandmother and aunts Rosie Moore and Jessie Mae Allen. These were Pentecostal women who took him to church, where he was baptized early in his life. These godly women were constantly praying for young Daryl. Courtney recalls his first encounter with God at age 15, while attending church with his family during a vacation to Benton Harbor, Michigan. He describes it as experiencing the presence of God. As he got older, his aunts would constantly remind him of the dangers of his lifestyle and how he needed to stop his criminal actions and give his life to the Lord. He repeatedly ignored their advice in favor of what he considered to be a profitable life in the streets. By age 13, Courtney was evolving into a true criminal leader and gaining a notorious reputation.

HUSH | 15 | 2015 November • December

He graduated from being the lookout kid to selling crack cocaine and committing robbery. At age 14, he shot his mother’s boyfriend for physically abusing her. Violent and reckless, as he describes his previous life, he became a father at age 15 and again at 17. He still kept a steady stream of girlfriends at all times, caring little about most of them. His lifestyle as a drug dealer with money, power, and influence allowed him to purchase a home for a family member and to give away cars without a second thought. He liked the power. As his reputation grew, so did the violence. Courtney remembers many violent acts that caused others great physical harm, financial loss, and fear for their safety. Turnabout being fair play, Courtney tells of going to California to collaborate with distant relatives on expanding his business opportunities in the Golden State. Shortly after landing in California, he and his family were accosted at gunpoint and robbed of thousands of dollars. Courtney was arrested on multiple occasions for Courtney, with Boys & Girls Club staff Alicia crimes including possession of cocaine with the Martin and Gloria Thompson. intent to distribute, simple and aggravated assault, shooting into an occupied vehicle, kidnapping, and promising athlete. The first to recognize his athletic murder. Although he was arrested and jailed many potential and leadership abilities at Jim Hill High times, he was only sentenced to probation. Because School was Principal Edgar Hardy. of his brutal ways at the time, victims would refuse Principal Hardy was the “Joe Clark“ of Jim Hill, to testify in court, in fear of retribution by him or says Courtney, referring to the nationally known his gang. Their fear, along with paying off unethical principal who reformed a New Jersey high school attorneys and law officers, kept Courtney from and inspired the movie, Lean On Me. serving hard time for his actions. “He put his life on the line by coming into the Nevertheless, Courtney watched many of his neighborhood to get us to come to school. friends and associates take their last breath violently He did this for all of his students, both boys and and fully expected his fate would be the same at a girls.” young age. He had already been shot twice –– at age The Jim Hill principal used the influence of “Big 14 and again at 19, with scars to prove it. Today, the D” to help persuade other students to line up with former gangster attributes his survival to the mercy expectations of the school and patiently encouraged of God and the prayers of his aunts. Courtney not to waste his potential. Although he avoided and disregarded “the law” Opportunities at Jim Hill to participate in for the most part, he couldn’t help but respect police extracurricular activities, make friends, and “be the officers Wesley Murray and Sam Anderson, both life of the party” kept Courtney interested in school products of the Washington Addition neighborhood –– almost through graduation. The attraction of the where he grew up. Unlike Courtney, the officers had streets was strong, causing him to struggle with resisted the temptations of illegal gain to become staying long enough to complete high school and productive citizens. the immediate gratification of money, glamour and The officers constantly told him that his life prestige that came with dealing drugs. “The streets could be different, with positive outcomes. While were calling me!” Courtney describes his situation Courtney was distributing drugs, he also led as a high school senior. He gave in and dropped out another life. He excelled in sports, beginning with of high school. little league baseball. He was passionate about Fortunately, Courtney found himself returning to sports in high school, considered by many to be a HUSH | 16 | 2015 November • December

the books the same year that he dropped out of high school and received his GED in November 1995. The next spring (1996), he enrolled at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. Entering Jackson State, Courtney could only be described as a streetwise hustler, whose mouth was full of gold teeth and who had prominent tattoos on his body. By the time he left JSU, he had been positively influenced by several professors, who recognized great potential in him and influenced him to have the “gold grill” removed from his mouth. While in college, though, Courtney continued a double life, one as a college student and the other as a street hustler. His aunts continued to pray on his behalf over the years. Their prayers were answered early in January 2000. The death of a friend was the impetus. While driving to the friend’s funeral, Courtney reflected on his own life, shedding tears for the first time in five years. “I can’t die like this,” he told friends riding with him. He resolved that the new year and new millennium would bring positive changes, starting with going to church every Sunday. He purchased three new suits to wear to church and told his live-in girlfriend that they would be going to church every Sunday. True to his resolution, Courtney, his girlfriend, and young son attended Greater Bethlehem Temple Church (the church where his aunts attended) on January 2, 2000. The sermon by Bishop Phillip Coleman challenged him to think more deeply about the changes he needed to make in his life. “I began to look at sin as sin, wrong as wrong, and bad choices as bad choices,” Courtney admits. “I looked at selling drugs as selling poison to people. I originally saw it as a way of providing, as a job,” he said, saying that he realized that it was God, not the resolution, that drew him back to church. By the third Sunday of January 2000, Daryl “Big D” Courtney had a drastic change of heart. Once the notorious, vicious gangster and drug dealer, he was now a person ready to fulfill God’s purpose for his life. Wearing a new suit and long braided hair, he sat in his seat and declared two words, “It’s over!” Rising from his seat at the back of the church, he walked to the altar and stood before the Lord. Uncontrollably weeping and crying out to God to save his soul, the faithful God of Heaven did just that by filling his soul with the Holy Ghost. Later that week, Courtney decided to get baptized again

Courtney’s community outreach includes organizations like He Cares, where John Damon (left) serves as CEO. to show his commitment to his new life in Christ. Fast forward to 2015, Daryl Courtney is a licensed minister at Greater Bethlehem Temple Church, Sunday School teacher, youth mentor, and youth missions leader. Also the owner of Blessed Handz Barber Shop, Courtney often speaks to youth groups and assemblies. He encourages young people to make positive choices, resist peer pressure, remain focused on their education, and to follow Christ. Additionally, Courtney is a frequent motivational speaker across the country at schools, correctional facilities, churches, Boys and Girls Clubs, and other social service organizations. His life’s motto is “No Commitment, No Crown!” He shares with youth a formula to help them on their road to success. He calls it the “Triple C Effect,” Courage + Commitment = Change! To have Courtney speak to your group, contact him at tripleceffect@yahoo.com or at minister_dc@ yahoo.com.

HUSH | 17 | 2015 November • December

It’s your time to choose. Don’t wait — act now. UnitedHealthcare® Community Plan connects your family to thousands of doctors, clinics and hospitals.

We’ve got you covered.

Plus you get all of this.

Thousands of doctors, hospitals and clinics across Mississippi and in border states.

Free prepaid reward card for completing various health screenings.

Visit your doctor as often as needed.

Free seasonal, farm-fresh vegetables.

$0 co-pay for doctor visits, specialists and pharmacy.

Free cellphones for qualifying MississippiCAN members.

Dental care.

KidsHealth® website with articles and videos on everything from asthma, diabetes, nutrition, exercise and hundreds of other topics.

Eye exams and glasses.

Care Managers to help you find care for long-term illnesses.

Speak to a nurse day or night with our 24-hour NurseLine.SM

Transportation to doctor appointments.

You have a limited time to join our community. Here’s how to choose UnitedHealthcare Community Plan as your family’s health insurance for MississippiCAN. Review the letter you received from the Mississippi Division of Medicaid about choosing a health insurance company.

To enroll or ask questions, call 1-800-884-3222 and press the * key.

If you would like more information about benefits available through UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, call 1-877-743-8731 or visit UHCCommunityPlan.com/ms.

CST7585_MS15_TwoSidedFlyer.indd 1

Round

Team Creative: Periscope

HUSH | 18 | 2015 November • December Project Details Color(s): CMYK

Dimensions Flat: 8.5x11"

4/14/15 10:31 AM

Family’s faith tested through medical ordeal:

A Father’s Story by: Michael Howard

n Sept. 5, 2013, I experienced a severe headache, stiff neck and felt lightheaded while at work. I recalled having the severe headache and stiff neck about two weeks before as I exercised at home. I rationalized that it was the result of a sprained neck and upper back issues from doing leg lift exercises. After taking pain medication, I felt better about thirty minutes later. When the same symptoms occurred two weeks later, I decided that something was very wrong and made the decision to get into my car, drive to my mother’s home and ask her to accompany me to the emergency room. I didn’t realize at the time how dangerous it was for me to be driving in my condition. However, had I waited to get help, I may not have survived. After running several medical procedures in the ER, the physician told me that I was suffering from a ruptured brain aneurysm, medically known as a subarachnoid hemorrhage. The hospital was not equipped to handle this type of medical problem; so, I was transported to St. Dominic’s Hospital to have surgery. I received excellent care from the doctors and nurses there. I did not find out until after the surgery that doctors had given

me an 80% chance of not surviving the surgery. I am here today, because GOD said yes. Not only did I survive the surgery to the doctors’ amazement, but they were astounded as well at my progress and recovery. A few days after the initial surgery, I went back to surgery to repair a vein in the brain that had begun to bleed. Again, my family prepared for the worst after hearing the doctors’ prognosis. But once again, GOD said yes. I am recovering from that surgery and progressing fairly well. Today, I am still undergoing physical therapy and seeing my doctors for follow-up appointments as I continue to recover. Things look promising overall. When greeting old friends and some people I’ve met for the first time, I often hear, “we were all praying for you.” Those words provided comfort because I know prayer vigils were being conducted on my behalf. I am grateful to have so many people of all walks of life praying with me and for me during my illness. I recall vividly the hospital Chaplain and others coming to my room to pray with me before and after the surgeries. During these times of prayer, I continuously reflected on my father. He was a praying man. If my father

HUSH | 19 | 2015 November • December

The Michael Howard Family always makes time for checkers — a board game that brings laughter, relaxation, and a little friendly competition. Pictured are Michael and wife Rosalyn, with daughters Lauren and Madison. left home in the morning without praying, he would return home and get on his knees and pray. I knew some of those prayers were still working on my behalf, over two years after his death. When I returned to work, my employer, the Mississippi Department of Human Services, was very understanding. I had accumulated lots of sick and personal hours, which allowed me to be off for the approximately six months recovery time. The Family Medical Leave was helpful in protecting my position. As a hard worker dedicated to my job as youth services counselor, the most challenging aspect of returning to work was for me and the youth court to understand that it would take time for me to regain my normal momentum. In time, everything worked out. Now that it has been two years since my own illness, I realize that sickness will come in

a person’s life. It is a part of living. For some people, illnesses are genetically instigated. For others they come as the result of poor lifestyles and habits. One thing many of the doctors and therapists told me is that my progress and success in the battle with my illness were mainly because I was in good shape and had fairly good eating habits prior to the illness. Simply said, the way you live daily can determine your health outcome when sickness occurs. One of my cousins (also my best friend) passed away on September 5, 2015. The irony is that he also suffered a brain aneurysm, and it was on the same day that I had mine two years ago. This fact really made me reflect on how blessed I am and really appreciate the grace and mercy God has bestowed on my life. My wife, my family and I are still amazed by the love and support we received during my

HUSH | 20 | 2015 November • December

time of need. The Church, our neighbors and our friends were great supporters, and it’s good to know we are surrounded by individuals who are not only there when things are good. I kept my faith and I have been reminded over and over that God has been present with me on my journey. Not so much in what GOD has done for me, but how He has used people as instruments, so that He could receive the recognition. To GOD be the Glory! Jerry Bridges, a Christian author who I find inspirational, said it best: “Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.”

Perspective from Michael’s Wife Rosalyn Howard, executive director of the Mississippi Nurses Foundation, was at a school nurse meeting at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS when she got the news two years ago that her husband was in critical condition. Although she was calm, she also was “in total disbelief that my Michael could have suffered a brain aneurysm.” “Unfortunately, given the diagnosis and scenario, I thought Michael was going to die,” recalls Rosalyn. “I prayed. I thought about our children, our family and Michael’s state of mind. I also wondered how I would continue to maintain a balanced home and rear our daughters without Michael.” Rosalyn soon discovered how quickly family, friends, their church and neighbors came to their aid when they found out about Michael’s condition, ensuring that the family’s most basic needs were met. “There were small adjustments that needed to be made, but most adjustments were made in our home to ensure Michael was safe when he returned from the hospital,” she said.

Michael Howard, an employee of the MS Department of Human Services, is stationed at the Pearl Municipal Youth Court, where he is a Youth Services Counselor.

With two young daughters, Rosalyn could readily see that the girls were fearful that their dad might die. HUSH | 21 | 2015 November • December

“Even now, they become worried and concerned about Dad when he is sick with a common cold. Also, when any tragic situation or death happens in our family or in our friends’ family, it makes them reflect on their father’s past illness.” Although Michael Howard has recuperated, Rosalyn says that life will be forever changed. “Things will never be totally back to normal, but I think Michael’s endurance to overcome his obstacles has created a new normalcy for our family, given the circumstances. There are still a few challenges for Michael, but we don’t dwell on what happened. We praise God for what didn’t happen.” Looking back, Rosalyn Howard can see the good that came out of this trial in their lives. “It has helped us to appreciate life and not take anything for granted. At any given hour in the day, one’s life can be altered significantly. It has also helped us to trust God even more and have total belief that he is in control of everything.” For families and others currently in the midst of their trials, Rosalyn Howard offers this advice: i Never give up i Allow family, friends and others to help you i Share your thoughts with others i Allow your faith to be your strength

HUSH | 22 | 2015 November • December

Fred Thompson

The Storms of Life Have Raged Wildly; He Keeps Moving Fred Thompson of Madison, MS has battled cancer four times, with the first showdown in 1979. He’s quick to note that the late Dr. Willard Bogan, a specialist in Internal Medicine, made his first diagnosis of colon cancer. “Chemo, radiation and all that stuff — they didn’t do much of that then, at least not around here.” So, he had surgery. “They thought they got everything, which obviously they did.” Cancer-free for 18 years, Thompson had a recurrence of colon cancer in 1997.“I went to doctors around here for a little over a year, complaining of pain in my abdomen. They did all kinds of scans, tests, and scopes and never concluded that I had cancer. But I kept having this pain. About 10 to 15 minutes after I’d eat, I would literally double up in a knot because I was in so much pain.” Thompson finally went to the Mayo Clinic in Texas, where doctors discovered he had colon cancer, this time more aggressive than the first onset of the disease. After an unsuccessful colonoscopy, doctors resorted to a needle biopsy and went into surgery not knowing what they might find. “When they got in there, they found a tumor about the size of a grapefruit that had obviously been there the whole time, just growing and growing HUSH | 23 | 2015 November • December

and growing. Why it did not show up on the scans and stuff, I don’t know. They (doctors) couldn’t explain it either.” A section of Thompson’s colon and “something else” (he couldn’t remember what) were removed. “They went all around (the colon) to get as much as they could get to make sure they got everything.” Just as Thompson’s life settled down some, he noticed sometime during 2011 that his wife Elizabeth’s speech was slurred “very occasionally.” “I asked the folks that she worked with at the State Law Library if they had noticed anything and they said, yes, that they had on occasion noticed a little slurred speech. I said, well, keep a close eye on her, and see if you pick up on anything.” Thompson is convinced that Josie, the family dog, sensed a change in his wife before everybody else. “It’s funny how animals can sense things. My little beagle knew something was wrong when Elizabeth got sick. She knew. She normally would jump up in her lap and play around. She quit doing that. She knew that Elizabeth was uncomfortable, and she wouldn’t jump in her lap as she normally did.” The slurred speech got worse, and Elizabeth Thompson retired from her job to address the unknown

issue she was experiencing. “The slurred speech probably went on for about three months,” said Thompson. “She went to speech therapists with no benefit. Finally a “scan” of her brain revealed a “little white matter in her brain stem.” “They started eliminating everything else and came up with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). She passed away in 2012, just nine months after the diagnosis. The owner of Patton Publishing Company in Jackson for many years, Thompson had retired from the newspaper publishing and printing business years before his wife’s diagnosis. “I basically for eight months did not leave this house probably five times, and that was to go to the grocery store. I’d just take it one day at a time, do what I could do, and not worry about the rest.” Thompson said that his wife’s disease was very aggressive, comparing its progression to being on the top of a mountain and “dropping off” rapidly. He said he just “bolded up and did what I had to do. You just do what you‘ve gotta do. I just thank the Good Lord that He gave me the strength to be able to pick her up and be able to carry her to the bathroom and care for her here at the house where she wanted to be. I had a lot of help from my daughter.” Thompson’s daughter and son reacted to their mother’s illness with “a lot of sorrow and pain, but “We had to make the best of a bad situation.” “We went through a period where she could speak but not clearly. Her progression was real fast, and we bought some equipment so that she could type (messages) with her hands. But finally she lost the function of her hands and her arms. She then was bedridden. Mentally, she was aware. You could ask her questions and we got to the point of saying, ‘blink your eyes once for yes, twice for no.’ And that’s the way we communicated.” After Elizabeth Thompson became bedridden, the family dog would often keep her company. “When I got a

hospital bed put in the bedroom, Josie would go back there and get on my bed and just spend the day back there with Elizabeth.” In late 2012, after Thompson’s wife died, he began having pain in his abdominal area again. “I went in, had a scope done by Dr. Cindy Haden-Wright” (a gastroenterologist). Cancer was found in his duodenum, in the colon just below the stomach. Surgery was required again, “very extensive,” according to Thompson. Again, the cancer was subdued, and he was in remission –– until 2014. “In 2014, I started coughing up a bunch of flem, mostly in the mornings. It got worse and worse. I didn’t think too much about it. I went to one doctor, was diagnosed with bronchitis, and got prescriptions for the same. I took the medicine, and it didn’t do any good. One morning I coughed up something and it had a trace of blood in it, and I thought, ‘this isn’t good.’ So, I made an appointment to see Dr. David Westbrook, with Jackson Pulmonary Associates. They did a scan and found a place on my lung, actually in the bronchial tube that goes into the lung. It had a growth around it.” His doctor found that cancer had grown around the bronchial tube and was keeping his left lung from functioning. This time, doctors did not recommend surgery. Instead, Thompson underwent 36 radiation treatments. Six months after the treatments, tests showed no cancer. Thompson goes back to his doctor in December for a PET scan to determine where he stands. “I’ve been on a lot of prayer lists,” the retired businessman says. “I’m not one that sits on the front row of the church every Sunday, but I do believe God has a plan for us. You have questions of why, of course. That’s not for us to say. ” Thompson says keeping busy has been the key to getting through all of his trials. “Don’t just give up,” he advises. “Some days you don’t feel like it, but you keep on pushing with the attitude that tomorrow will be a better day.”

HUSH | 24 | 2015 November • December

Racism a ‘Demonic Force’ by Linda Buford-Burks The tough conversation about racism rightfully should begin with pastors, proclaimed Dr. Ronnie Floyd to a multiracial audience in Jackson, MS on November 4. The audience gathered during Mission Mississippi’s Annual Racial Reconciliation Celebration, which included a morning summit featuring a panel of 20 pastors from across America. The panel engaged in a “Conversation on Racial Unity in America,” moderated by Floyd, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), and Dr. Jerry Young, president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, INC (NBC USA). In the final analysis, panel members discussed their views about the impact of racism in America and how the two national Baptist conventions representing about 80,000

Dr. Ronnie Floyd, SBC President

‘L

et us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”

‘S

― Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from the Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963

adly and regrettably, after 52 years since that letter was written, this deep fog, filled with racism, subsequent injustices and misunderstanding has not lifted fully.”

–– Dr. Ronnie Floyd, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, November 4, 2015 in Jackson, MS

churches could “resolve the sin of racism” with urgency so that it “will not be forwarded to future generations.” Quoting from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail (see above), Floyd said that the fog of racism in American in the last 18 months has “become like a fire that has received a fresh blowing mighty wind. And rather than the fire coming from heaven from the power of the Holy Spirit on our churches, the fire is raging from the DNA of our hearts.” Dr. Young, representing the largest group of African American Baptists in the nation, expressed relief that a frank conversation on racism was taking place among pastors, and that the national conversation was in Mississippi. “This is a great day in the State of Mississippi,” said Dr. Young, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Jackson, MS. He HUSH | 25 | 2015 November • December

challenged church leaders to admit that the church must “face its faults” with a sense of humility and get to work with a focus on the future. “Jesus has not told the governor, the mayor, the police chief… to solve the issues of racism. You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world,” Dr. Young said of Christians. “The bottom line is that something is wrong in the house.”

Dr. Jerry Young, NBC USA President continued on page 48

Marcella Young: She’s survived Cancer 3 Times by Nikki Marzette-Turner

arcella Young has been cancerfree for seven years. Her journey has been long, tough, and filled with twists and turns. Since 1998, she has persevered through three attacks of cancer to her body. In her quest for healing, the side effects of treatment including chemotherapy and radiation caused her to have congestive heart failure, damaged lungs and a damaged esophagus. Nevertheless, she kept faith that God would bring her through. She never gave up. The mother of a 10-year old and 17-yearold was working for an insurance company in 1998, when cancer struck for the first time. She was excited about returning to college to pursue a nursing degree. Then, it happened. She discovered a lump in her right breast, which turned out to be cancerous. She had trouble figuring out why cancer would find its way to her house. She ate healthy, didn’t smoke, and cancer did not run in her family. Go figure! Her first thoughts were that she would not be able to fight the disease. “I remember feeling like someone had just told me I was going to die,” she recalls. Young questioned doctors about how the cancer could have been caused and the recommended treatment. Acknowledging the illness was only step one. The next step was to tell her family and friends. Her mother was tearful, but positive about

HUSH | 26 | 2015 November • December

her chances of recovery. “You are going to be okay,” her mother told her. She decided not to tell her children right away. Since most of her friends at the time were nurses, she felt a special connection. Tears were cried and shared as friends gave encouraging words confirming that they would stand by her through the illness. Counting on her family, friends, and church family, Marcella Young stayed strong. She was not about to try to fight the disease, however, without knowing everything she could about it. “I started doing research first, to see what would be the best treatment for the type of cancer I had. I asked a lot of questions, and I contacted my friends in the medical field. I went online and chatted with other doctors also. I had a friend who was a nurse who advised me, “If they ask you to be in a study program, do it. So my doctor told me about

a study program that was good, adding that getting in was not automatic: my name would have to be chosen. So I prayed for it to happen and I was chosen to be in the study program.” After aggressive treatment, the cancer went into remission. To her dismay, Young faced cancer again in 2005, this time in her left breast. This time, she experienced a double whammy, as she underwent reconstructive surgery on her breasts while taking chemotherapy. One side effect of the chemotherapy was congestive heart failure. Her chemotherapy treatments were stopped and she was hospitalized to address the congestive heart failure. She also had to have extensive work done to her mouth due to the side effects of treatment. Being a person of strong faith, Young started to read scriptures from the Bible. Psalm 103 became her favorite. Writing the scriptures down and reading them out loud everyday

Young chats with son Anthony.

HUSH | 27 | 2015 November • December

was a routine that helped keep her going. The first three verses of Psalms 103 state, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me. Bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases.” Young clung to her chosen scriptures literally for life. “You have to believe in them (scriptures) just as you believe that Tylenol will stop your head from hurting. That’s what faith is all about: believing.” Two years after her cancer was in remission, in 2007, cancer attacked again. This time, the disease invaded her spine and hips. Young is convinced that her dog Tiger, who passed away two years ago, was the first to know of her condition. Her dog suddenly started acting

“Don’t give up or give in to the illness — Fight it with everything you’ve got. Know that you can call on God. He will prevail...”

as never before. “Everyday Tiger would jump on my back and sniff. I thought something was wrong with him. One morning when I couldn’t get out of bed without help, I went in to see a doctor thinking that Tiger had caused a pulled muscle. It was cancer.” While treating the latest onset of cancer with chemotherapy and radiation, Young ended up with a damaged esophagus and impaired lungs. She was placed on supplemental oxygen 24 hours a day for about a year and was bed ridden. Her family was her support system, coaxing her to eat when she didn’t want to and taking care of her everyday needs including getting her in and out of bed, bathing, and getting to doctor appointments. Finally, Young became cancer-free in 2008 and has lived without the disease since then. Her lungs and heart have returned to normal. Her esophagus functions normally as well.

Naturally, God gets the credit.“This experience has taught me that miracles do happen, and anything is possible with God,” she asserts. Throughout the hard times, Young leaned on God to get her through. She also found encouragement that gave her an extra boost of hope. “The best thing that happened while I was going through my treatment was the birth of my grandson. My friend told me to envision taking him to school. That was in 2007. Now, I am taking him to school.” While God continues to do miracles, Young points out that everyone would do well to tune into signs the body gives to let us know that something is out of order. “When your body talks to you, pay attention. Don’t be afraid to ask questions no matter how stupid you may think they are. You have to be proactive.” If you are weathering a storm such as illness, she has advice for you. “Don’t give up or give in to the illness,” Young says. “Fight it with everything you’ve got; Know that if you call on God, He will prevail. “First and Foremost, get yourself some healing scriptures and stand on them and believe in them. This works.”

HUSH | 28 | 2015 November • December

HUSH | 29 | 2015 November â&#x20AC;¢ December

Health: Southerly Trending Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana top the nation in the number of health issues, and also are among states with the highest number of people whose daily physical activities fall short in making a positive impact on their wellbeing. Alabama’s overall numbers are better, but like the other states, too many of its residents have sedentary lifestyles.

With 47.5% of adolescents immunized, Arkansas tops Mississippi in the number of adolescents who get the prescribed vaccinations, according to the 2014 America’s Health Rankings Report. This fact is hidden due to the placement of the Mississippi graphic on the right. However, Louisiana immunizes 74.6% of its youth, compared to Alabama’s 65.5 percent.

HUSH | 30 | 2015 November • December

State of the Nation’s Health Getting / Staying Healthy: Too many don’t do it “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it...” Ephesians 5:29 Exploring the maze of statistics about health, particularly chronic illness, can produce a massive avalanche of data and confusion. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is just one source for searching out information. Various foundations and associations, including the American Medical Association and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, have taken on their own studies, and hence, even more facts and figures. For the purposes of this overview, the infographics on this page are from the CDC. The graphics on the page at the left are from the United Health Foundation’s 2014 report, an annual study that the group has prepared for

more than 25 years. Regardless of the source, what is clear is that too many Americans –– wherever we live in the nation –– need to take better care of our bodies. For parents of small children and teens as well as those persons taking care of chronically ill loved ones at home, the responsibility to do so is greater. An older population projected to double by 2030, with a significant number of chronic illnesses, makes the case even more urgent for taking care of our bodies at every stage of life. Study the numbers on this page, and if you want more, the search engines will get you to more places than you can possibly review in one sitting. If you’re like me, the most persistent challenge is to get up from the computer and get out the door: to walk. –THE EDITOR

Infographics on this page are by the

HUSH | 31 | 2015 November • December

Faith & Health

Faith Community Encourages Sound B by Charlotte Graham

ach year thousands of people throughout the United States die from sickness or disease. Sadly enough, however, in many cases these deaths are not because the individual had an incurable ailment. Their deaths resulted from inadequate or no healthcare. Dr. Angela Lang Chandler, a neurologist in Jackson, MS said generally people are not getting the healthcare they need for two main reasons: fear of the unknown, and the cost of medical treatment. “When people have health issues, there is that fear of what doctors will find,” explained Chandler. “Ignorance is bliss; people would rather not know than know their medical condition.” “Perhaps the biggest factor when it comes to not getting proper healthcare is finances. People are afraid of what medical care will cost. Some don’t have insurance, and even with insurance, some people cannot afford the deductible.” The neurologist adds that people who once paid $20 to $30 deductibles for a doctor’s visit are now faced with deductibles that are twice that amount or more. As a result, they make choices they believe are best for them and their families, often neglecting going to the doctor in order to have enough funds to pay bills or buy groceries. Chandler, on staff at Baptist Neurology Associates (an affiliation of the Baptist Medical Center), wants the public to know that “there are plenty of medical offices and hospitals that are willing to work with people who have financial difficulties. Our clinic is one of them. In the long run, it is cheaper to do preventive care than having to go to an emergency room and spend thousands of dollars there.” While income is arguably the major contributor of health disparities in this country, the United States Center for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) adds that health disparities –– “preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health experienced by socially disadvantaged populations”–– requires the coming together of a diverse array of stakeholders, including federal departments, agencies, offices and nonfederal partners. President Barak Obama made sweeping reforms to the United States’ healthcare system with the signing of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” in 2010. Dubbed by the opposition as “Obamacare,” the law established health insurance exchanges where small businesses, families, and individuals could purchase “guaranteed issue” qualified health insurance plans with affordable premiums. Guaranteed issue insurance plans allow people to enroll regardless of health, age, gender, or other factors like pre-existing conditions that might predict an individual’s use of health services. Still, in order for this or any other health program to be effective, people must know what’s available and the benefits of participating in such programs. Some faith-based organizations and agencies have had health ministries for years to educate members and promote better healthcare. The Catholic Diocese of Jackson, Inc. and the Nashville-based National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. (NBCUSA), are among them. Dr. Jerry Young, pastor of Jackson’s New Hope Baptist Church, is president of the NBCUSA, the nation’s oldest and largest African American religious convention.

HUSH | 32 | 2015 November • December

d Body, Mind, Spirit Founded in 1886, the Convention has an estimated membership of 7.5 million. In 2011, it launched Health Outreach and Prevention Education (H.O.P.E.) to dramatically improve the health and positively impact the total wellbeing of its members. The initiative was incorporated through the Convention’s Congress of Christian Education. Dr. Michael Minor, pastor of Oak Hill Baptist Church in Hernando, MS serves as National Director of the convention’s H.O.P.E. Health and Human Services Partnership. Minor, who has a doctorate degree in higher education and adult education, said 2015 marks the 11th year of conducting health related activities during the Congress. H.O.P.E. has grown from a two-day health fair in 2011 to a four-day health outreach, training, and fair. The health fair started out as a collaboration with health advocacy groups seeking effective ways to reach the African American community. ”Five years ago, we decided to go a step further to add training and a research component,” explains Minor. “We not only wanted to assist our attendees in recognizing the need to live healthy lives; we also wanted to assist them in making the necessary sustainable changes to make healthy lifestyles a reality.” NBCUSA hopes to grow its research efforts to create more opportunities for minority researchers across the country. It also wants to continue expanding its health

ministry training. “This year, we had 12 exhibitors who shared valuable information about health and wellness with our attendees from their exhibit spaces, during our vendors’ roundtable, and in our training class sessions,” said Minor. The congress offers three health ministry courses that empower participants to conduct health ministry and assessment in their home communities. Follow-up reports and updates give the organization insight on how well local communities are progressing. The basis of the H.O.P.E. health ministry is “Trinity Wellness” – mind, body, and spirit. “Together, this triad makes a person whole, Trinity Well,” says Minor. “If any one of these three is weakened, a person is not truly healthy. “For example, if a person is depressed, they are not healthy mentally. This depressed state also leads to physical health problems, as the person might not eat properly. Finally, with the mind and body unhealthy, people may find themselves doubting their faith. In the end, they are unhealthy in all three areas.” H.O.P.E. is built upon promoting health equity and identifying health disparities, where health equity means achieving the highest level of health for all people. “In general, health disparities are defined as significant differences between one population and another. The Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000, which authorizes several Health and Human Services programs, describes these disparities as differences in ‘the overall rate of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality or survival rates.’” Minor notes that several factors contribute to health disparities. Among those affected by disparities are racial and ethnic minorities, residents of rural areas, women, children, the elderly, and the disabled. To help eliminate health disparities and promote health equity, Minor says H.O.P.E. is working to have trained health ambassadors across the country. “We’ll also continue to work with our partners, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer

HUSH | 33 | 2015 November • December

Society, and others, to help us promote health equity in minority communities across the country,” he says. “From our visits to various communities across the country, we’ve seen health disparities in the form of lack of access to affordable healthcare options or healthy food options.” Minor is a local, regional, and national champion of faith-based health and wellness mobilization. He is best known as the “Southern pastor who banned fried chicken in his church.” As he promotes health and wellness across the country, Minor is quick to say “God wants us to be good stewards of our bodies.” Ann Elizabeth Kaiser, Health Ministry Specialist for Catholic Charities, Inc. in the Diocese of Jackson, agrees. She emphasizes that it is good to take a “wholistic” approach when meeting a person’s healthcare needs. Kaiser uses the term wholistic to describe the diocese’s health ministry’s objective of addressing the “disease and sickness of the mind, body and spirit. We want to minister to the whole man,” she stated. The Diocesan Health Ministry Program was once known as Parish Health Ministries and used parish nurses to address the healthcare needs of parishioners. The program is now called Faith Community Nursing. “We follow the scope and practice of Faith Community Nursing, as well as our individual state’s nursing laws,” said Kaiser. Faith Community Nurses (FCN) are licensed, registered nurses “who practice health for self, individuals and the community using nursing knowledge combined with spiritual care. Approximately 15,000 Faith community nurses are located throughout the nation and abroad. “They function in paid and unpaid positions as members of the pastoral team in a variety of religious faiths, cultures, and countries,” Kaiser explains. “The focus of their work is on the intentional care of the spirit, assisting the members of the faith community to maintain and/or regain wholeness in body, mind, and spirit.”

Licensed registered nurses can become FCNs through training by International Parish Nurse Resource Center (IPNRC) partners like Catholic Charities, Inc. Kaiser notes that If they want certification, active FCNs can become certified through a portfolio process administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Kaiser and other FCNs in the Diocese of Jackson have received training from the IPNRC and are working to share what they have learned with any congregation interested in starting a health ministry. “Our services are not just limited to Catholics,” she says. “We help other denominations as well. We train nurses throughout the diocese and state. Faith Community Nurses feel that this is more than a program: it is a calling. They have a desire to speak out and address the issue of health disparities.” The FCN program is funded through the St. Dominic Health Services Foundation in Jackson. Kaiser says the program places a lot of focus on reaching people who are at high risk of sickness and disease. Nurses work as advocates, as a referral source, and as educators for those who are at-risk. Among those they serve are the poor, single moms, homeless, mentally ill, unemployed, children, and the elderly. “We try to empower these vulnerable individuals and encourage them to take part in their own healthcare,” said Kaiser. “We try to define that balance of mind, body and spirit. “ The health ministry specialist says that each faith community has different needs. What may be an issue in one group may not necessarily be an issue in another group. That’s why the Faith Community Nursing Program is so unique. Kaiser meets with nurses in other parishes or congregations to identify their needs and then provides training to help them address those needs. She teaches a 38-hour foundation course approved by the IPNRC.

HUSH | 34 | 2015 November • December

“The International Parish Nurse Resource Center is tremendous,” said Kaiser. “It is a great health ministry resource.” Individuals interested in learning more about the Faith Community Nursing Program may contact Kaiser at 601.213.6378 or email her at annelizabeth.kaiser@ catholiccharitiesjackson.org. Programs like those sponsored by Catholic Charities and the National Baptist Convention, USA, INC. are commendable, says Dr. Chandler, who believes that faith communities should be concerned about both the physical and spiritual aspect of man. “I think it is very important to take just as much care of your physical body as you do your spiritual self,” she says. “For me personally, my compassion and passion are a gift from God. Being a physician is not something I am doing by myself. “God gives us, as doctors and nurses, the knowledge to minister to the sick. He also gives us freewill. Faith is important, but I don’t think people should disregard physicians and nurses,” she maintains. “We have doctors to help us when we are ill. Even the Bible mentions that there were healers. In fact, Jesus took a healer along with him. The disciple, Luke, was a doctor.” Dr. Chandler believes that people benefit most when the medical community, faith community, and others work together to end health disparities and save lives.

About Dr. Angela Chandler In 1995, Angela Chandler started medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical School with plans of becoming a pediatrician. By the start of her third year (1997), she had lost both grandmothers. Then, while on her neurology rotation as a third year student, her father had a stroke on Christmas Eve. He was only 58 years old. Her mother made the decision to remove his life support on New Years’ Day (1998). Her father’s death was literally a life-altering event in more ways than one. She considered her father’s death due to a stroke to be “such a needless tragedy.” “I made a decision to learn all I could about neurology to try to prevent any other daughter from losing her father so early,” she said. Dr. Chandler finished medical school in 1999 and completed her neurology residency in 2003. She has been in practice since then. On staff at Baptist Neurological Associates, the neurologist now sees about 200 patients a month. She provides insight and guidance to patients about the symptoms they are experiencing and ultimately refers some of them for surgery where indicated. “This is my 12th year in practice,” says Dr. Chandler. “What these patients have in common is they want an explanation of, and a name for what’s wrong with them, and they want reassurance that it’s not ‘all in their head.’ We cure the things we can and offer supportive and symptomatic treatment for the things we can’t.”

Dr. Chandler chats with Megan Poole, a medical student who was job shadowing the neurologist on the day of this photo. HUSH | 35 | 2015 November • December

Scripture, science agree:

Sex before marriage is a problem

‘T

he Lord says wait, but so does Texas is based on a mission of “aligning and science,” says Dr. Freda Bush, a disseminating scientific data that promotes Jackson, MS OBGYN and President optimal health and wellness.” The information of Medical Institute for Sexual disseminated makes a solid case for people to Health in Austin, TX. wait until marriage to have sex. Today, when young people ages 15-25 make “There are nearly 20 million new cases of up only one fourth of STDs every year. the US population but At least half of are half of the nearly all STDs are in 20 million people in the age group of America who contract 15-25 years old. sexually transmitted These are not diseases (STDs) each my numbers, year, Dr. Bush believes it is time for these facts not the Medical Institute’s numbers,” says to go on record in communities, including in the Bush. “These are from the CDC (Centers for church. Why? To help reverse the statistics and Disease Control). Additionally, the latest Youth help young people live healthier lives. Risk Behavior Survey of high school students Dr. Bush already has been able to bring reported that 47 percent of young people many of her concerns before millions in high school say they have never had sex. nationally throughNew several radio broadcasts on Therefore, the among sad part to me is the other 53 Nearly 20 Million Infections Occur Each Year – Half Focus on the Family, the international ministry percent who are sexually active and are at great the Nation’s Youth started by James and Shirley Dobson in 1977. risk for getting hurt.” CDC estimates that there are more than 19.7 million new STIs in the United States each year. While most of these STIs will Dr. harm, Bush currently serves onserious the health Focus on the atreated lot ofearly. sex going on, and they’re not cause some have the potential to cause problems, especially if not“There’s diagnosed and Young people (ages 15-24) are particularly affected, accounting for half (50 percent) of all new STIs, although they represent Family’s Physicians Resource Council. getting a lot of diseases that could interfere just 25 percent of the sexually experienced population. Dr. Bush’s work at the Medical Institute in with their reproductive health for a lifetime,” cautions Dr. Bush. In her own medical practice, the 49% Estimated number of new OB-GYN has had pregnant sexually transmitted infections patients who did not know - United States, 2008 who fathered their children. “Many have had multiple 63% Ages 25+ relationships. That cannot Ages 15-24 be healthy. I’m talking 13% about young ladies whose 70% 45% self-esteem is so low that 20% 8% they do not understand that your affirmation of who you are doesn’t come by Hepatitis B HIV* Syphilis HSV-2 Gonorrhea Trichomoniasis Chlamydia HPV someone else telling you Total: 19,000 41,400 55,400 776,000 820,000 1,090,000 2,860,000 14,100,000 that you are cute, sexy and so forth. It’s really about Young people (15-24) TOTAL: 19,738,800 represent 50% of all new STIs what you think of yourself.” Are you under 25? Dr. *HIV incidence not calculated by age in this analysis Bush can provide ample Bars are for illustration only; not to scale, due to wide range in numbers of infections scientific data to discourage you from making a major While the consequences of untreated STIs are often worse for young women, the new analysis reveals that the annual HUSH | 36 | 2015 November • December number of new infections is roughly equal among young women and young men (49 percent of incident STIs occurs among young men, vs. 51 percent among young women).

decision like having sex before marriage, data to encourage you to focus on building healthy relationships. “We know the younger you start those (sexual) behaviors, the more likely you are to have multiple partners, increasing your risk for STDs,” the physician points out. “The tendency is to become focused on sex and not on the sexual partner. This is because the part of the brain where the ‘executive function’ lies — where you determine what you will or won’t do, where you weigh consequences, risk vs benefits –– is not fully mature until about age twenty-five. Sex is a powerful brain experience with the release of hormones that stimulate excitement and pleasure which can trump the immature judgment.” So, how do parents fit into the picture? “I think parents need to be parents and not abdicate their responsibilities. I have had women bring their girls in for me to do ‘the talk.’ Studies show parents are the most important influence on their children. Young people still want to know what their parents think and desire for them.” “At this point, I feel this is where the Lord has me,” says Dr. Bush about her work with the Medical Institute. The busy professional has stopped delivering babies, but sees about 25 patients a day for two and a half days a week, performs surgery on a separate day and is on a standing call for Medical Institute. Additionally, she is a clinical instructor in the OB-GYN and Family Medicine departments at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The longtime physician travels once a month to Medical Institute for work onsite and attends quarterly board meetings in Austin as well. Dr.

Bush has co-authored two books with Medical Institute’s founder Joe S. McIlhaney, MD. The books, Hooked, and Girls Uncovered, outline facts parents and young people need to know. “We target youth, but have educational training sessions for parents and educators who teach youth. We can’t just target the youth; so, we try to educate parents,” she says. The sessions provide medically accurate information to help people determine whether premarital sex is ‘worth the risks.’ Parents are encouraged to buy and read the books. Dr. Bush believes that changing attitudes over the decades have usurped long honored principles. “The core principles have changed because our attitudes have changed. We have a basic imprint in our minds, hearts and bodies to receive, give and take, and these are based on relationships. Everybody wants to love and be loved. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is the way we go about achieving it.” The status of relationships impacts physical, emotional, and mental health. “How we handle stress, and Lord knows Black folks have a lot of reasons for stress, impacts what we do even in our behavior and in our relationships. I do know stress also has a lot to do with hypertension, heart disease, and obesity (some of us eat to comfort ourselves). “Years ago our society had a whole set of rules and regulations by which young men could court young women,” says Bush. “And then from the courtship, it was expected that there would be a marriage, and after the marriage, it was expected that there would be children. That was the way it was.” She speaks supportively about the courtships decades ago that were purposely

HUSH | 37 | 2015 November • December

monitored. “My daddy sat in the dining room when somebody came around to court us, while pretending to read the newspaper. If we decided to walk out on the front porch to sit on the swing, then he moved into the living room. And the first thing they (parents) wanted to know back then was, ‘Who yo people? Who yo momma?’ Nowadays, the guy pulls into the driveway, honks the horn, and the girl runs out. Excuse me! That would not have worked for James or Rosa McKissic.” “The whole set of protective behaviors have changed. There was a courtship before there was a marriage, and there was marriage before sex. Of course, it didn’t follow that 100% even then, but it (premarital sex) was not the norm. Now, they just call sex ‘having fun.’ That’s the way things have changed.”

Dr. Bush places HSV (herpes) among the list of STDs for which there is no cure. “We can give an antiviral medication that can help lessen symptoms and frequency of outbreaks, but there is nothing that will get rid of it unless your immune system gets rid of it. You’re possibly going to have ‘flare-ups’ for the rest of your life. It is so very common that the CDC doesn’t even know how many people have herpes.” HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is another widespread STD. It causes genital warts and, in some cases, also causes cervical cancer. “Again, we don’t have a cure for viruses. Your body’s immune system can kick it out, but it may not. We do have a vaccine that can eliminate or reduce your risk of getting it, should you be exposed. But the point is that herpes (HSV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis (HBV) and HPV, are sexually The Health Impact While young people are ‘having fun,’ Bush transmitted viruses that can cause long term problems including death. notes that many of them don’t realize that “We vaccinate babies with hepatitis vaccine pregnancy is not the only possible consequence CDC’s of sex because if you get it, it can cause cancer ofestimates the of having premarital sex. liver. Nobody talks about HBV being sexually “Sex does more than just provide transmitted.” She does note that the Annual disease new in reproduction. It also transfers fluids, and (Incidence) also can be contracted other ways besides in those fluids there can also be sexually sexual intercourse. 20 million transmitted disease, particularly if you have Without established boundaries and multiple partners. Before the 1960s, there were - United States, 2008 CDC standards, many of today’s relationships the two major STDs (gonorrhea and syphilis) are wrecked –– physically, emotionally and and both were treatedFACT with penicillin. Now, spiritually. more than 25 STDs SHEET exist, and the viral ones “I guarantee you that a significant number have no known cure. of relationship issues are sexually related. Nervousness, depression, anxiety — all are 1,2 CDC’s estimates of sexually In February CDC published twothe analyses provide an affected by2013, relationships and needthat to love transmitted infections: in-depth look at the severe human and economic burden of sexually and be loved,” contends transmitted infections (STIs) in Bush. the United States. Annual new infections She says that values that have existed for (Incidence) CDC’s new estimates show that there are about 20 million new infection generations and based oncosting scripture have healthcare been system in the United States each year, the American 20 million ignored, causing many young people to find nearly $16 billion in direct medical costs alone. themselves living unfulfilled lives. - United States, 2008 America’s youth shoulder a substantial burden of these infections. “Those basic thatSTIs have true foramong CDC estimates that morals half of all new in thebeen country occur Total infections young men women. In addition, an overall estimate antiquity —and self control, delayCDC of published immediate (Prevalence) of the number of prevalent STIs in the nation. Prevalence is the total gratification, judgment, respect, responsibility, number of new and existing infections at a given time. CDC’s new data 110 million —suggest all help toare achieve in110 life,” Dr.total Bush thatus there more than million STIs among men and SOURCE: Centers - United States, 2008 maintains. “They will help you to look for a women across the nation. for Disease Control, healthy relationship thatcommon can lastSTIs: forchlamydia, the restgonorrhea, of CDC’s analyses included eight Total medical costs http://www.cdc.gov/ your life — for someone who will be there for hepatitis B virus (HBV), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), human std/stats/sti-estimatesimmunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, $16 billion you.” fact-sheet-feb-2013. and trichomoniasis. Get more information about the Medical pdf - United States (in 2010 dollars) Institute’s work at www.medinstitute.org.

Incidence, Prevalence, and Cost of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the United States

HUSH | 38 | 2015 November • December

How CDC developed its new estimates: CDC’s new estimates were developed using the best available

GETTING/ Staying HEALTHY:

What Does it Take?

HUSH | 39 | 2015 November â&#x20AC;¢ December

Photos by Victor Calhoun, Mobile, AL

Pharmacist uses background to help patients make healthier choices By Eleanor Reynolds re you really in charge of your health? If you are like most people, you probably would respond by saying, “Well, my doctor says...” But, is what the doctor telling you to do the best decision for your health? That is the question Mobile, Alabama pharmacist, Dr. Donald Ponquinette, unabashedly asks his patients to answer for themselves. Through personal and family health challenges over the years, Dr. Ponquinette concludes that the person best suited for making the right health decisions is

you, the patient. The sudden death of his brother, while Dr. Ponquinette was in his third year of college, was a painful eye opener. “We didn’t know our family history. My brother was a smoker. He was not overweight. But at age 42, he died of a massive coronary. It shocked us. Following his death, my 39 year-old brother had a stress test on a regular doctor’s visit. His stress test showed coronary blockage.” Not quite aware of the adverse impact certain foods could have on his body, Dr. Ponquinette feasted on fast food and was

HUSH | 40 | 2015 November • December

Dr. Don consults with one of his patients.

diagnosed with an ulcer while in his 20’s. “That ulcer made me slow down. I started coming home to cook, eating better, and exercising by playing lots of basketball.” Years later when Dr. Ponquinette launched his own pharmacy business, he became an admitted workaholic. He stopped taking care of his body, and ended up not feeling like his normal energetic self. His brother, surprised years before by his own stress test showing coronary blockage, repeatedly called to urge Dr. Ponquinette to get the same test. “He kept stressing to me, ‘get your heart checked’.” Dr. Don, as some affectionately call him, finally took his brother’s advice and got the stress test. “The doctor checked me, turned the machine off, and scheduled me for a heart catheter. I had no signs or symptoms. I did the catheterization. They discovered a little blockage. I too was a cigarette smoker.” In this case, Dr. Ponquinette had a well rounded physician who viewed obtaining good health as a lifestyle issue. “The Doctor said, ‘Change your lifestyle.’ I agreed. I threw the cigarettes away. I stopped eating junk food from the drive-thru. I knew how to cook. So, I started cooking at home again, eating better. I bought a wok. I increased the amount of vegetables in my diet. I would broil, grill, and take vitamins. I also stayed active playing basketball –– that and walking in the pharmacy. It made me feel better.” Three to four years later, Dr. Ponquinette was having some chest pains.

“I went back to the doctor for the stress test. Back to the cardiologist. They ordered another catheterization.” But, this time Dr. Don said there wasn’t even a spot of trouble in the test. “No Bump. My lifestyle changed everything. I was clear. Turns out the chest pain was just gas.” By taking charge of his health, Dr. Ponquinette got his life back on track. He was listening to his body, working with a doctor willing to encourage a holistic approach to wellness, exercising, and eating closer to the earth: fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. “Bottom line, we don’t have a healthcare system. We have a ‘diseasecare’ system,” the pharmacist noted. “People need to listen to that still voice inside. Listen to your body to hear what your body is telling you about you. You want to catch whatever is going on as early as possible. That’s why I always promote Me and My Health. No one knows your body as much as you do.” Years went by. Pain hit again. This time it was a herniated disk in his back that almost left Dr. Don paralyzed. Locked legs made it almost impossible to get out of bed for work. After learning surgery was only a 50/50 chance for complete health, he turned to the help of a chiropractor. That therapy worked where the medicines were not relieving all of his back pain. Dr. Don started reading about Eastern and European approaches to healthcare. “They are living longer than us due to a diet of fresh whole foods and a meditative lifestyle,” says Dr. Don.

HUSH | 41 | 2015 November • December

“If we blend the two, we can have a better, healthier life.” Dr. Ponquinette’s health and wellness journey dramatically changed his medical focus. His medical training, coupled with personal and family health challenges, gave him a strong foundation for educating patients about the benefits of a well rounded approach to taking charge of their healing. From a medical standpoint, he is a doctor of Pharmacy, certified disease manager with a specialty in diabetes, independent student of global health and wellness, and has served residents of his community through his pharmacy for 42 years. These days, he is a full-time health education consultant, seeing 20 to 30 patients a day. “When I talk with people about their medicines, I am always listening to what they say between the lines. I want to know where that person is in their health journey. What medicines are they taking for what issue. We have to approach healing from a wholistic approach to get to the cause of the disease.” Dr. Don points out that Allopathy is a limited approach to healing, one that “only addresses the tip of the manifestation. It does not get to the root of the problem. If you get more healthy nutrients into the body, the body can heal itself. It goes back to the beginning because we are all made in the image and likeness of God... whole, perfect, and complete.” However, Ponquinette concedes that not everybody is open minded about natural approaches to wellness or natural products. “Over time, consciously or unconsciously we’ve become separated from that concept. Our grandparents actually ate food that had nutrients. Today the food doesn’t have those nutrients because the soil content is depleted of the nutrients.” Dr. Ponquinette also says food product content and ordering sizes are quite different today –– unhealthy too. “Now, everything is bigger, faster, and the shelf life is longer. The processed manufactured foods are for profitability and causing problems. Those food products have substances that are foreign to the body. Once

eaten, the body doesn’t know what to do with it. The body tries to handle it. But that gets the body out of balance.” To reset the body’s internal balance requires providing it with as much natural healthy nutrition as possible, according to the pharmacist. “We need to eat food that decays,” Dr. Don adds, and that means “all natural nutraceuticals,” an idea he promotes through his Me and My Health Wellness Center. The Me and My Health is a health education consultation service created “to empower and inspire people to get involved with their own health care.” Dr. Don’s quest is to find out what a person’s body is saying and feeling in order to determine the best wellness plan uniquely developed for each individual. But, ultimately, it is up to patients to take ownership of their health. “The metabolic status of your body paints the inner picture. Together we design and set up a program which helps you to think, eat, and move. If you can change your thinking, you can change your life. It’s a process. It is not a quick fix.” In light of America’s poor dietary habits, one health issue Dr. Ponquinette stays passionately concerned about is the growing number of Diabetes cases in America. The statistics are staggering. According to the Center For Disease Control, Diabetes remains the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. It costs the nation $245 billion a year. A little more than 29 million Americans, or 9.3% of the population, have diabetes. About 1.25 million American children and adults have Type 1 diabetes and experts say if health trends do not change by 2020, more than half of America’s population will be diagnosed with diabetes or be in a pre-diabetic state. “All these illnesses from Diabetes –– blindness, kidney failure, amputations –– they don’t have to happen. If we do a few lifestyle changes like I did with my heart, I can bet my last dollar if you eat better, move, and think, you can forget those complications and be on your way to a healthy you,” Dr. Ponquinette assures.

HUSH | 42 | 2015 November • December

Herbal supplements can boost immune system

by BetyLou Pierce, Guest Columnist

ow that cold and flu season is upon us, people are asking what they can do to build their immune system instead of getting the flu shot. The immune system is a complex system of cells and organs that enables us to fight off the foreign proteins that can make us ill. Studies have shown that 85% of our immune system is located in the intestines. That’s how important it is to keep the intestines in good balance. Eating a plant-based diet and taking a probiotic are important. A wide range of nutrients support immune function and deficiencies. Stress can lower our immune system and increase our susceptibility to pathogens. Many herbal supplements have been shown to increase immunity, including garlic, green tea, ginger, echinacea, eucalyptus, oregano and St. John’s Wort, to name a few. ✔✔Garlic has antibacterial and antivirus properties. Some people take garlic year round to prevent colds, flu, ear infections, and so forth. It stimulates the production of white blood cells, boosting the immune system. ✔✔Elderberry will stimulate the immune system and prevent viral infections. ✔✔Echinacea will decrease the severity of PHOTO by Grand Slam Communications symptoms and also decrease chances of getting a cold. ✔✔Eucalyptus inhibits the effects of the bacteria BetyLou Pierce has helped people live healthier that causes respiratory tract infections, sinus by providing guidance for their lifestyle changes, including herbal supplementation, congestion, coughs, colds, and sore throat. for over 20 years. Originally from Mobile, AL, she owned Naturally Yours Health Foods and Boost your immune system also by Eats of Eden Café for more than 16 years. She ✯✯eating plenty of fruits and vegetables now enjoys “retirement” with her family in ✯✯taking Omega 3 Hattiesburg, MS where she works at Vitamin ✯✯drinking water with fresh lemon (your Plus. body weight divided by 2 = ounces of water to drink per day) ✯✯exercising daily ✯✯getting plenty of rest We’re all unique, and our immune systems respond differently to different nutrients. We must all strive to make healthy lifestyle choices. HUSH | 43 | 2015 November • December

Echinacea plant, illustrated by BetyLou Pierce

Your help is needed! Christian Volunteers Needed for Torch Talk Volunteers are needed for a special prison ministry serving incarcerated male youth. Kairos Torch has been approved for the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl, MS for young men ages 13-19. Kairos Torch is an introductory weekend experience where Christian volunteers help establish and facilitate talks, snacks and meals, singing, and Lite ‘n Lively activities that take the youth from knowing that each person is a special creation of God, to acknowledging that every individual has at some point worn a mask hindering him or her from truly becoming the person God intended. The mask might be Anger, Laughter, King of the Hill, I Don’t Need Anyone, Victim, or even Religious. Time is spent having individuals create personal masks, sharing them with one another and releasing those masks (along with a list of people or situations to forgive) during a Forgiveness Service. Following the initial weekend, the Christian team mentors the Torch participants weekly in a one-on-one

group setting for 6 months. The Kairos Torch ministry is designed to help break the cycle of incarceration and see youth return to their communities as productive citizens. For more information, contact Kairos representative Danny Brunt, 601-942-0652, danny.brunt@ iveymechanical.com.

Need Help, too?

As space permits, HUSH Magazine will be delighted to publicize your need for volunteers or other support in a worthwhile cause. The name and purpose of your organization, date and location of the event/activity, brief info about your need for volunteers or other support, a summary of the event/activity’s purpose, name and phone/email contact for the organization. Just email us at hush@hush-be-still.com. The editor/publisher reserves the right to publish only family/community-friendly notices that help address family/community issues.

Magazine

Published by

HUSH | 44 | 2015 November • December

Keeping the Arts First

PHOTOS FOR THIS ARTICLE ARE BY PW PHOTOGRAPHY HUSH | 45 | 2015 November â&#x20AC;¢ December

This photo features students in JPAC’s Performance of the Musical Production, Aida

Little School Makes Big Noise By Ayanna Bloom

Not many people know about the Jubilee Performing Arts Center in McComb Mississippi. The K-12 school can be described as a “well kept secret” bursting at its seams with the rising popularity of its students. Jubilee, or JPAC for short, is dedicated to helping its students perfect their talents in the arts, providing them a jumpstart on a promising arts career. Dr. Terrance Alexander, Executive Director of JPAC, started the school in 2009 with only three students. He saw a need for a sustained focus on the arts, where paperwork and testing had a complementary role in the teaching environment. “I simply wanted something different after working in a public school setting for several years. The fact is the arts were dying as the emphasis on testing and accountability became more prominent,” Alexander bemoaned. “I

could not sit idly by and watch young artists fade into the background.” The school quickly grew from three to 170 racially diverse, K-12, students, who enroll at JPAC to learn and/or hone their skills in various facets of the arts, including creative writing, visual arts, music, and dance. While students fine tune their skills in their arts area, they accumulate the academic credits needed to graduate from high school. JPAC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) as well as the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS). Entering the halls of the historic Kramer Roof building in downtown McComb, JPAC students learn in an environment where superstars like Elvis Presley and Billie Holiday once performed. “The building has served as the perfect space for artisans throughout the years. It only makes sense that the next generation of

HUSH | 46 | 2015 November • December

Senior Javonne Davis, a musical theatre major, also performed at the school’s December 2014 Christmas show.

JPAC students perform at the school’s December 2014 Christmas show. upcoming artists would now call this home,” says Elliot Johnson, Dean of Music. Renown musical artists like Erica Campbell, CeCe Winans, and others have accepted the school’s invitation to come to McComb to share their music and professional experiences with students. “I am always absolutely blown away when I meet celebrities at school. It never gets old,” says 10th grade dance major Nina Varnado about the opportunities at the school. “We are honored to have such accomplished artists, actors and musicians in our midst at any given point.” One of her favorite days at the school was “when Nelsan Ellis of the HBO series True Blood spent the entire day with us. That experience was priceless.” “We try to bring in a grammy award winner each year, , says Deondra Ellezy, assistant executive director of JPAC. “The students are all excited about meeting the different artists, of course.” The school is probably most well known for its chamber choir, the McComb Jubilee Singers.

Made up of students ages 9-18, the group has traveled across America sharing the gift of song with audiences from Harlem to Atlanta. Most of the choir’s performances are at the invitation of churches. “I love singing. Watching people sing along with us is my favorite part of performing,” says nine-year-old choir student Quin Alexander. The choir is not the only way the school gets noticed. “We’ve had students to be featured in movies, including Javonne Davis in Life at these Speeds and several, including Davis, have been accepted at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York. The well known arts conservatory also has a Los Angeles location. JPAC students Patrick Artigues and Keith Brister currently attend AMDA, with Brister attending in October. “This journey has definitely been a God thing,” says Dr. Alexander about the school’s success. “Habakkuk 2:2 speaks of writing the vision and making it plain, and that is exactly what we did. We met God with expectation, and He granted us the grace to grow into a reputable and successful organization.” JPAC is currently gearing up for a Christmas cantata at the school, scheduled for December 10-11 and will host grammy award winner Karen Clark Sheard, a member of The Clark Sisters, in February. Email: jubileepac@yahoo.com

HUSH | 47 | 2015 November • December

Pastors on the 20-member panel, ‘A Conversation on Racial Unity in America,’ included (from left), Kevin L. Smith, Louisville, KY; Pastor Emeritus Paul Kim, Cambridge, MA; moderators Floyd and Young; Pastor Gene Henderson, Brandon, MS; and Pastor A. B. Vines, Sr., San Diego, CA.

Racism a ‘Demonic Force’

continued from page 25 Young said that the work of MA, NJ, NY, SC, OK, TN and “It’s difficult for someone in the church includes fostering MS. my shoes to relate to the pain a better education for children A number of the comments that’s been experienced by so “on the front end” so that they by pastors addressed policy many of the folks sitting with don’t end up costing taxpayers and legal issues that sustain an us today, but relationships can untold dollars as prisoners ongoing attitude of racism in help bridge that gap.” incarcerated for offenses. the country. Noting that most “Our biggest failure is that “It costs too much money to churches are not multiracial, we want to preach from the keep incarcerating people,” Dr. several comments focused pulpit,” said Pastor Felix Young stated. on the persistent lack of Cabrera, of Iglesia Bautista “It is pastors and churches understanding among races. Central in Oklahoma City, that must become the voice “Relationships are critical OK. “But how many elders, of hope for the future,” said to this,” said Dr. R. Marshall deacons, leaders or staff in our Floyd. “We must pray for Blalock, pastor of First Baptist churches are from different the next Great Awakening. Church in Charleston, SC. ethnic groups, from every Pray that it may be your city” where God will begin” the changes to drive out racism. “The issue of racism is from Satan and the demonic forces of hell, because racism is completely opposite of the message of Jesus Christ, the message of reconciliation,” Dr. Floyd maintained. The SBC president said that he came to Jackson, MS to “notify Satan and his demonic forces that, ‘Enough is enough…The power of God is greater than the sin of racism.” Pastors on panel at the morning summit of the Mission Mississippi event Panelists who spoke during discussions on racism included (from left) Pastor Felix included church leaders from Cabrera, OK; Pastor K. Marshall Williams, Sr., PA; and, Pastor Ed Litton, AL. AL, CA, FL, GA, IA, KY, KS, HUSH | 48 | 2015 November • December

different tribe, from every different tongue?” He said that churches that face and deal with these questions will be on the right road more effective ministry. Pastor Claybon Lea, Jr. of Fairfield and Suisun City, CA expressed a need for churches to stand unified against injustices in the country including the high incarceration rate of African Americans for offenses “that would be considered misdemeanors for their white counterparts.” “We’ve got to be appalled that there are more African Americans in prison today than there were in slavery in the 1800s and that the majority of them are not in prison because of rape or for violent crimes,” said Lea. “They’re in there for what would be misdemeanors for their white counterparts.” Dr. Paul Kim, consultant

to the Asian Advisory Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention and Pastor Emeritus at Antioch Baptist Church in Cambridge, MA, noted the importance of pastors taking the conversation started in Mississippi to their locations throughout the nation. “This is a national conversation, but we need to take it to our local congregations,” Dr. Kim said, cautioning that today’s generation of pastors must address the issue of racism or it will continue into the next. The morning summit ended with an agreement that Dr. Floyd and Dr. Young, heads of the largest white and black Baptist conventions, would appoint a steering committee to work together with them in defining the work that the two groups will accomplish. “Rise up, Jackson. Rise up, Churches. Rise up, Pastors.

Rise up, Mission Mississippi… The need, the urgency has never been greater to be a living demonstration that racism” will not prevail, Dr. Floyd urged. “Each pastor must be the prophetic voice against racism. It is the pastors and the churches that must become the voice of hope for today and the future.”

This Christmas, Let Us Remember The Reason for The Season! – HUSH Magazine HUSH | 49 | 2015 November • December

Next Issue:

January 2016 Continuing Look at Health...

including the value of exercise, alternative medicine, and other techniques for improving one’s health.

...And there’s much more.

Be sure to visit our website, www.hush-be-still.com, for updates and more. You can email us your thoughts or questions at hush@hush-be-still.com!

Partnering with You to Improve Your Business George Brooks 601-957-0130 George.Brooks@tbs.toshiba.com

HUSH | 50 | 2015 November • December