AACEO First Friday Breakfast

L-R: TPC Consultant Cheryl Saunders, Dee Bailey, National Grid President Rudy Wynter, Jessica Bailey, and the National Grid team

The monthly meeting of the African American Clergy and Elected Officials (AACEO) held at Antioch Baptist Church brings together community stakeholders involved with improving the lives of NYC residents.

National Grid President Rudy Wynter was the special guest speaker at the First Friday Breakfast on November 4, 2022. With just days to go before the general election, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, joined by NY Attorney General Letitia James and NY Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, led an enthusiastic get-out-to-vote charge.

Reverends Reginald Backus and Conrad Tillard presented a touching remembrance tribute to the late Rev. Calvin O. Butts III. Then, after the breakfast meeting, AACEO members filed onto buses led by a police escort to attend the funeral services of the beloved pastor of Harlem's Abyssinian Baptist Church.

L-R: NYC Mayor, Eric Adams, National Grid President Rudy Wynter, and Rev. Dr. Robert Waterman

L-R: Dee Bailey, NYC Mayor, Eric Adams, and Rev. Dr. Robert Waterman L-R: National Grid President Rudy Wynter, NY Attorney General Letitia James.

Health

ideas for wellness

The General Baptist Convention of NJ Honors Our Veterans

Deeply felt gratitude, pride, and honor for their service took place at Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Newark as the General Baptist Convention of NJ celebrated veterans. A resource panel provided information and answered questions concerning healthcare and benefits, Veterans Administration (VA) and private health services, housing, health and life insurance issues, education, training, transportation, and community support. VA representatives helped veterans use an onsite mobile claim clinic to file claims, check on claim status, and answer Money buiness, finance + work Saving lives The Mount Sinai Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit questions. State and federal officials; veteran service organizations such as the American Legion, the VFW, the NAACP; By Jean Nash Wells and civic groups along with many other sponsors shared information on policy issues and other services.

Education

the art + science of learning

As men age, the cells in the prostate gland can become cancerous. Every year in the United States, more than 30,000 men die from prostate cancer, second only to skin cancer. About one in eight men in America will develop the condition at some point in their lives, and about one in 40 will die from it. Age is the greatest risk factor for prostate cancer. While only one in 10,000 men under age 40 will be diagnosed, that number leaps to one in 14 for those ages 60 to 69. About 60 percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65, and 97 percent occur in men 50 years of age and older.

All of these facts are reasons for concern, but Black men must be particularly vigilant. Black men have a 70 percent higher rate of developing high-risk prostate cancer, and are more than twice as likely to die from it. Prostate cancer usually has no noticeable symptoms. The first sign of disease is often found during a routine screening exam. This is why screening is important. L-R: James Harris and Vincent Bryant

But there is good news; with early detection, prostate cancer can be treated successfully and thanks to billionaire businessman and philanthropist Robert F. Smith, the lives of more Black men in New York City can be saved. The Mount Sinai Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit, a state-of-the-art mobile facility equipped with advanced scanning and trained staff, enables early detection of prostate cancer for at-risk Black men. The mobile

NJDMAVA Veteran Service Officer DeAndre Gurley

Black men have a 70 percent higher rate of developing high-risk prostate cancer, and are more than twice as likely to die from it.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supervisory Veteran Service Rep. LaShanda Carter

KAHLIL CARMICHAEL THE FITNESS DOCTOR

Kahlil Carmichael MAPCC, MDIV, CPT is the pastor of Live Well Church, in Somerset, New Jersey. He is a fitness specialist at The Fitness Doctor, a fitness and wellness consulting company; and the author of 50 Tips for a Better You. He is a contributor to Guideposts magazine. His first publication, Living Longer Living Better, is available now. Go to www.livewellchurch.org for more information.

Mission Not Impossible

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We often think it impossible to live whole, productive lives–living well in all aspects: spirit, mind, and body. Even if we have tried and failed, We must not give up. It is not impossible. This mission is entirely possible and attainable.

Encourage wellness in the mind and spirit by exhibiting gratefulness. Being grateful and taking a positive position rather than a negative one can encourage, lighten, and give us joy. This joy can be shared with others and will hopefully encourage those around us. We can pass on gratefulness, joy, and positivity in our attitude, speech, and actions. This leads to feeling better in the body. It promotes a healthier lifestyle, boosts the immune system, fights stress and pain, and supports longevity. Wellness in the mind and spirit floods the body with what it needs to be well!

In what other ways can we encourage wellness in the body? The first step should be a visit to your doctor. If you haven’t had a physical in 2022, call and schedule it. During a physical, your primary care doctor can evaluate your health and monitor trends in your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc. By reviewing your condition annually, your doctor can tell you if your levels are trending higher or lower than they should. You can then take the appropriate steps to improve. Many persons in the beginning stages of diabetes, hypertension, or other chronic conditions still feel very well. Don’t wait until you are sick to go to the doctor. Preventative maintenance has untold value.

You must also eat well, concentrating on whole, unprocessed foods. We are bombarded with rich and sugary foods at this time of the year, but try to strive for balance and keep your daily calorie allotment in mind. If you have a heavier lunch, have soup and salad for dinner. When you can, try to limit empty carbs and sugar. Eating a clean, healthy diet along with increasing exercise will put you well on your way. Eating well may reverse diabetes, lower bad cholesterol, and eliminate high blood pressure.

Check with your doctor and begin to incorporate exercise. No need to join a gym just yet—buy some barbells and start at home with arm curls, split squats, lunges, leg raises, planks, and stretches. Try my workout and modify it based on your needs: https://youtu.be/E625Kq64XmQ. Start slowly and build in intensity. Walking is one of the best aerobic exercises you can do. It is low impact and can strengthen your bones, muscles, and cardiovascular system.

Gift yourself with wellness—it’s possible and attainable!

Live well and prosper.

Fitness training is available through the Live Well Church FITCARE program, offered at the Fitness Doctor Studio in Somerset, New Jersey. Please call Karen Beasley at 732-912-4435 to schedule a free assessment.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this column is of a general nature. You should consult your physician or health care professional before beginning any exercise program or changing your dietary regimen.

5 ways to enjoy holiday eating with GERD

You don’t have to miss out on delicious holiday food–you just need to know how to tweak.

If you live with GERD (gastroesophageal refl ux disease), you know how unpleasant it can be; eating the wrong foods at the wrong times or in the wrong quantities can cause you hours of misery and guarantee a sleepless night.

Fortunately, says Smruti Mohanty, MD, Director of Gastroenterology at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, “it’s absolutely possible for people with GERD to enjoy holiday eating.” Though there are some foods you really should try to avoid—such as especially rich, deep fried or fat-laden foods—in many cases, moderation is key. Here, Dr. Mohanty o ers 5 ways to help make sure your holiday meals are a source of comfort and joy. 1. Beware of refl ux triggers. Chocolate, peppermint, alcohol and co ee are a few examples of foods and drinks that increase acid secretion. Instead of fully ca einated co ee, consider chamomile or ginger tea, both of which are known to quell acid refl ux. If you’re having an alcoholic drink, don’t smoke at the same time.

2. Eat mindfully. Animated conversation around the holiday table can defl ect your attention from how fast and how much you’re eating, and overeating or eating too quickly can cause refl ux. Also, be sure to pace yourself with sips of water between bites.

3. Take an antacid at least 30 minutes before a meal. Proton pump inhibitors like

Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid reduce the production of stomach acid, so even if eating does trigger refl ux, it’s likely to be less painful if you’re proactive with medications.

4. Wear loose clothing. “Tight clothing, such as tight jeans or belts, can exert pressure on the stomach,” says Dr. Mohanty. “This causes stomach acid to move up into the esophagus, resulting in acid refl ux.”

5. Don’t eat before bedtime. “Lying down on a full stomach can trigger refl ux,” says Dr. Mohanty, “so try to plan your meal at least two to three hours before bedtime.”

To learn more about GERD, call 973-926-3535 or visit rwjbh.org/newarkbeth

23465861 NBI Positive Community Editorial Nov 2022 - Holiday Eating_8.25x6_m2.indd 1 12/14/22 4:46 PM

Health plans as low as $10 a month

9 in 10 get

financial help!

Need health insurance? New Jersey residents are getting quality, affordable health coverage through Get Covered New Jersey, the state’s Official Health Insurance Marketplace. Established by Governor Murphy, Get Covered New Jersey is offering increased plan choices, and more savings than ever. Nine out of 10 people enrolling qualify for financial help to lower their costs, and many pay $10 a month or less for health insurance! Plans include free preventive care, coverage for prescriptions, emergency services and more.

Open Enrollment is here! Enroll by December 31st for coverage starting January 1st.

Find your plan at

GetCovered.NJ.gov

Culture

music, art + literature

survival!By James Frazier Newark News & Story Collaborative Health ideas for wellness Black Theater Companies Pivot, Present | In-person Theatre is Back

Frustrated with the lack of diversity in American theater, Ricardo Mohamed Khan and L. Kenneth Richardson conceptualized the Crossroads Theatre Company. Since its founding in 1978, Crossroads has produced over 100 works, many of them premiere productions by African and African American artists, including The Colored Museum and Spunk by George C. Wolfe, Jitney by August Wilson, Sheila’s Day by South African writer Duma, Ndlovu and many more. Crossroads received the 1999 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in the United States in recognition of its 22year history of artistic accomplishment and excellence.

“My father’s heritage is East Indian; my mother is African-American and so they were bringing together two cultures,” said Kahn. “That’s ethically as well as geographically. Growing up, there was never a sense that we were solely identified by being Black kids in Camden, New Jersey. Yes, we were Black in Camden, but our roots are global. What I’ve always wanted to tell people through Crossroads is that it’s about our roots. As Black people in this country we should not forget or even allow people to think this is all of who we are.” He continued, “There’s much more! The sense of a connecting, having a theater like Crossroads that connects to many different communities in this country and around the world is in order for us to redefine who we are on a larger level.”

Across the Hudson River, one of the pioneering institutions integrating artists of color and women into the mainstream American theater, Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theater (NFT), faces major changes. Founded in 1970, NFT began as an outgrowth of a theatre program called Mobilization for Youth. The theatre’s first season opened in the basement of St. Augustine’s

Money Church on Henry Street. Many performers benefited from early successes on NFT’s stage—the late Chadbuiness, finance + work wick Boseman, Debbie Allen, Morgan Freeman, Phylicia Rashad, Denzel Washington, LaTanya Richardson Honorees and special guests standing L-R: Evangelist Herlene Jones, Mother Clementine Covington, Brother Wali Muslim, Rev. Al Sharpton, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree, Pastor Michael Jordan, Seated L-R: Minister Dyanna Aldridge and Mother Barbara Gibson Education Ricardo Kahn Crossroads Theatre Company Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Issa Rae, and many more. Woodie King Jr. retired from leadership of the illustrious theater at the end of June. “During the first part of the pandemic, March 2020, the art + science of learning I had been thinking about retiring,” King revealed. “Then the pandemic increased in time. The offices closed down. Then people needed to have shots. I said, ‘Wait a minute, I don’t want to go back to work. I’m 83 years old. So, what should I do?’ I thought, I needed a young person to run it. And that person was Elizabeth Van Dyke, our artistic director. She’s experienced and understands how to communicate with this generation. And getting that younger person to run it and work with me over the last year and five months, solidified it for me.” As millions of people quarantined last year, theaters around the world temporarily closed their doors and we were forced to stay at home without live enL-R: Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree, tertainment. For the first time, the theater found the and Mayor Ras J. Baraka need to compete with social media and streaming platforms. NFT embraced change, deciding to shift theater to the digital space with pre-recorded and live

L-R: Newark Council Member-At-Large Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree, and former City Council President Mildred Crump

Min. Abdul Haqq Muhammad from Mosque 25, Representative of the Honorable Minister Louise Farrahkhan Rev. Al Sharpton gave closing speech Newark Forward With Faith

The Newark Interfaith Alliance, the Mayor’s Office of Clergy Affairs, and the Newark Municipal Council held the Ninth Annual Newark Interfaith Prayer Breakfast on October 13, 2022. The breakfast brought faith leaders of all denominations together to honor community members who uplift others through their works. Hosted by Newark Council Member-At-Large Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree, Keynote Speaker Rev. Al Sharpton and Mayor Ras J. Baraka addressed the audience. Rev. Lorraine Stancil and Corey Fulmore served as psalmists.