Summer 2022

In 1971, Touro College welcomed its first class of 35 students in Midtown Manhattan. Dr. Bernard Lander founded the school to focus on higher education for the Jewish community. Over the last five decades, the school has grown to serve a widely diverse population of over 19,000 students across 35 schools in four countries.

From liberal arts to law, health sciences to technology, business, Jewish studies, education—and everything in between—Touro provides educational opportunities and career paths to not only the most talented and motivated students, but also those who have been overlooked and underserved, but who have the drive and potential to succeed.

Meet three of Touro's most outstanding graduates of 2022.

Chukwuma Enubuzor

Originally from Nigeria, Chukwuma lives in Staten

Island, NY and graduated from NYSCAS with a bachelors degree in psychology and a minor in health sciences. He is the recipient of the Departmental Award for Excellence in Psychology. His next goal: continuing his studies with a masters degree in industrialorganizational psychology at Touro Universitys School of Health Sciences.

Nechama Yoyo

A born-and-raised New Yorker, Nechama majored in psychology with a minor in education. She currently works at an elementary and middle school, and she plans to continue her studies with a masters in education while she works on getting her teacher certification. At NYSCAS, she won the Departmental Award for Excellence in Psychology.

www.thepositivecommunity.com

Tyrell Madison

Tyrell is from Brooklyn, New York, but currently lives

in New Jersey. He just completed his associate degree in human services, winning the Departmental Award for Excellence in Human Services. He plans to continue his undergraduate studies, focusing on child and youth services, followed by a masters degree.

Summer Issue 2022 The Positive Community 23

Photo courtesy of Essex County

Graduates from Essex County Tech Schools Accepted into Prestigious Colleges and Universities

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr.

(standing, sixth from left) congratulates students from the Essex County Schools of Technology District (ECST). Graduates from Donald Payne School of Technology, Newark Tech and West Caldwell School of Technology) have been accepted into some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country. The students and the schools they will be attending this fall are (seated from left): Donald Payne School of Technology students Michelle Ofosu-Morrison - Amherst College, Chelsy Bunay - University of Pennsylvania, Kylee Lopez - Colgate University, Samiyah McGrady - Brown University and Alicia Augustin - University of Pennsylvania; West Caldwell School of Technology student Omar Serrano - attending Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology; and Newark Tech students Jasmine Guailasca and Trakeem Chin, both attending the University of Pennsylvania. Not pictured is Newark Tech

student Vanessa Iwuoho - Harvard University.

The ECST offer a full-service educational program meeting the needs of regular education students, special education students, those with Limited English Proficiency and adult learners who attend evening programs. More than 80% of the ECST graduates pursue a post-secondary school education in a two or four-year college.

With the County Executive are (standing from left) Supervisor of Student Related Services Trish Schaffer, Director of Student Related Services Dr. Patricia Clark- Jeter, Business Administrator Bernetta Davis, Essex County Deputy Chief of Staff William Payne, Schools of Technology Superintendnet Dr. James Pedersen, Assistant Superintendent Dicxiana Carbonell, Payne Tech Vice Principal Emily Bonilla, West Caldwell Tech Principal Ayisha Ingram-Robinson, Payne Tech Principal Eric Love, Newark Tech Principal Carmen Morales and Newark Tech Vice Principal Jenabu Williams.

24 The Positive Community Summer Issue 2022 www.thepositivecommunity.com

Photos Courtesy of First Corinthian Baptist Church

reimagining church | the magic of pastor mike

By Glenda Cadogan

The first radical change Rev. Michael A. Walrond Jr. made as senior pastor at First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC) was to eliminate all existing ministries. It was a move that caused some to clutch their pearls in disbelief but thankfully, the pastoral team stood solidly behind him in this unconventional shuffle. The impetus for this bold realignment centered on what Pastor Mike—as he is affectionately known—calls “reimagining church. I firmly believe that ministry should be need-based and not idea-based,” he told The Positive Community. “A lot of people do things just because ‘that’s what churches do.’ But even back then I knew that if we are to stay relevant, we have to serve based on the needs of the community around us. Therefore, we had to shift from old traditions and find new ways of expressing our spirituality.”

In 2004 when Pastor Mike took the helm, the FCBC congregation numbered 300. The historic, Harlem– based church now boasts membership of 11,000; an

www.thepositivecommunity.com

international streaming audience doubles that size. The saying is that numbers never lie, so it is clear that Pastor Mike’s formula had some magic in it. Not only has the congregation grown exponentially over the past 18 years, but FCBC has also created cutting-edge community programming through its affiliated Community Development Corporation (CDC).

The re-imagined FCBC looks like a place where in Pastor Mike’s words, “There are no come as you are Sundays; it’s come as you are every Sunday.” Among the other avant-garde moves he instituted in his first year at FCBC were: eliminating the pulpit, opting instead for a chair and table; trading his pastoral robe for jeans and a shirt; and hiring a church-based therapist. These actions put him in the headline news and the “big league” of churches, but at the same time crossed some religious conservatives. Pastor Mike was undeterred. His

cont’d on next page

Summer Issue 2022 The Positive Community 29

Worship and Praise at First Corinthian Baptist Church

methods were working and without much community outreach, people flooded into the pews at the 89-yearold church.

In a post-pandemic world, it begs the question: Where is the Black Church heading? We posed that question to the firebrand minister, who in his freshman year at Morehouse College ditched his dream of becoming a lawyer, walked to the pulpit, and never looked back. “I think we have to be intentional in the way we reimagine church,” he said. “Looking into the future, the model seems to me like a hybrid of some virtual and some in-person services.” Agreeing that Black Church membership was in decline even before the pandemic, Pastor Mike stressed the need for “intentional relevance. The reason we are still growing at FCBC is because we are committed to being relevant,” he said. “You will never become irrelevant if you put the needs of the community first. One of my mentors always told me, ‘You treat the needs of the people as holy.’ So, for our future and survival as an institution, the Black Church needs these two things: a hybrid church experience, and being intentional about the needs of the community

around us and not just those who come into the building.”

This drive to serve was not born out of the pandemic experience, but something stitched into the fabric of FCBC more than 10 years ago when the church created the transformative Dream Center and subsequently the H.O.P.E Center (Healing On Purpose and Evolving)—two important organizations serving the Harlem community. At its inception in 2012, the Dream Center (located

at 205 West 119th Street) provided creative, cutting-edge programing in areas like cinematography and screenwriting to 10-12-year-olds from the fledgling Wadley Elementary School—programs not necessarily found in the regular curriculum at the time, but providing young people with creative alternative paths to their future. The Dream Center evolved and now primarily focuses on arts enrichment, leadership development, and economic

30 The Positive Community Summer Issue 2022 www.thepositivecommunity.com

Rev. Walrond with his wife, the Rev. LaKeesha Walrond, who serves as president of The New York Theological Seminary.

“The reason we arestill growing at FCBC

is because we arecommitted to beingrelevant.”

Formerly the Regent Theater, the building—designated as a Landmark Conservatory has been completely renovated. In 2006, Pastor Walrond successfully executed a $500,000 Vision Campaign that restored and renewed FCBC’s interior. With a vision of making the arts more accessible to the Harlem community, FCBC launched “The Sanctuary,” which is dedicated to producing and presenting theatrical, musical and visual art that reflects the community in which it serves. In 2017, FCBC completed a $1,000,000 upgrade to the sound and lighting system that enhances the worship and arts experience.

empowerment. Its counterpart, the H.O.P.E Center (located at 228C 116th Street), focuses on mental health and wellness and is the first of its kind in Harlem. Speaking to its origin, Pastor Mike said he noticed, increasingly, people approached his pastoral staff with issues beyond their capacity to handle. “We were referring them to outside institutions until we grew tired of that and hired a therapist,” he said. “Four years later, we opened the H.O.P.E. Center

with four practitioners providing free mental health [services] to the community.”

Described by those who know him as a man of passion and compassion, Pastor Mike finds his joy in service. “It’s because I love people,” he remarked adding, “and that makes it so much easier.” His work is also complemented by the fact that his wife of 29 years, Rev. Dr. LaKeesha N. Walrond, serves as president of New York Theological Seminary and worked alongside him for 13 years as the executive pastor at FCBC. Their two children, Michael Waldron III and Jasmyn are also part of the church family.

“I am constantly thinking of the needs of people and how we can do the work we have been called to do as a church,” he said. And that’s the magic of Pastor Mike.

“I think we have tobe intentional in theway we reimaginechurch.”

www.thepositivecommunity.com

Summer Issue 2022 The Positive Community 31

Health ideas for wellness

The Change Harlem Needs: Why the Expansion of Equitable Health Care Matters

BY ROGER MILLINER

From the Apollo Theater to streets named after icons

of Black history, few places in New York are home to as many landmarks that embody the presence of its community. While Black and Latinx New Yorkers have made up the cultural fabric of Harlem for generations, residents have also borne the brunt of deeply rooted inequities embedded in the City’s economy, housing, education, and health care systems only amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harlem emerged as one of Manhattan’s hardest-hit neighborhoods by COVID-19. Since the pandemic began, 84,000 people have tested positive for the virus, at least 1,666 Harlemites (residents of Northern Manhattan) have died, and countless family members grieve the passing of their loved ones. In contrast, many others have lost their jobs. On top of this, there is mounting worry about the orthopox virus (monkeypox) outbreak, rising crime rates, and inflation.

One way to confront these inequities is to increase access to high-quality, comprehensive health care for all Harlem residents. A right, not a privilege that emphasizes proactive treatment to create more accessible, equitable, and holistic care for everyone.

Health Equity Builds a Legacy For Black Families

It is the birthplace of iconic art and culture, but Harlem’s most important legacy should be caring for its residents. Harlem—especially Black and Hispanic communities—deserves more and better. Health care can no longer be defined by what happens in an exam room; it is about creating several proactive touch points along the way that address the needs of diverse people.

A child should not miss school for a chronic toothache because of inadequate dental care. At the same time, Black mothers in New York must receive the preventive care required to carry their child to birth safely instead of dying from pregnancy-related causes at eight times the rate of their white peers, a maternal mortality rate that is alarmingly higher than even the nationwide statistic.

To stand in solidarity with underserved Harlemites, MetroPlusHealth, New York City’s five-star health plan with over 670,000 members, will open its new flagship location next to the Apollo Theater on Monday, August 29, 2022, to provide critical services to the community. To meet Harlem’s needs, MetroPlusHealth will take a localized and comprehensive approach to connecting with residents. While offering holistic services such

32 The Positive Community Summer Issue 2022 www.thepositivecommunity.com

as free, 24/7 telehealth visits for physical and mental health, access to a nutritionist/dietician at no cost, medically tailored meals, no-cost insurance for refugees residing in Northern Manhattan, and wellness incentives that enable members to collect rewards when they are proactive about their health. Expanding access to robust health coverage while lowering rates to an affordable range across the age spectrum is vital to ensure the health and prosperity of Black and Hispanic families.

Answering the Call for Change

As New York grapples with a sixth COVID wave and hospitalizations are on the rise, people are still wary about accessing health services, which means many everyday medical needs are being neglected. New Yorkers with chronic health conditions must treat their illnesses and prevent complications before they escalate into something life-threatening. This is where the local efforts of coverage providers can help fill the gaps to reach residents where they live and work. Community-focused strategies begin with hiring healthcare leaders who look and speak like the communities they serve. This means providing a customer service team that speaks over 40 languages and reflects the broad diaspora of those seeking coverage.

Providers need to be well-versed in the diverse medical needs of Black and Latinx New Yorkers, including high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. Community members should be empowered to take control of their health through wellness initiatives in trusted spaces, from blood pressure screenings at barbershops to hearing a trusted pastor raise awareness and promote health equity.

Started in Harlem. Staying in Harlem

For New Yorkers and by New Yorkers, MetroPlusHealth's new location in Harlem reflects its commitment to keeping everything local—both its health care approach and investment in the community. As many small businesses in Harlem were forced to lay off staff or close during the pandemic, economic hardships were felt by Black and Latinx families. With the opening of its Harlem location, MetroPlusHealth is committed to hiring a diverse staff to help bridge the gap toward providing equitable care.

An investment in high-value preventative care to improve the health and lives of Harlem residents will ensure that the cultural epicenter of New York economically recovers while continuing to be a vibrant destination to live, work, and visit.

Roger Milliner is the Chief Growth Officer at MetroPlusHealth.

www.thepositivecommunity.com

Summer Issue 2022 The Positive Community 33