The Force for Health® Network has spent the past year working with select Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Chapters across the Southwest and western region, for a new, custom-built, national health, civics and STEAM-based program call Advance the Dream, and are now opening it up for everybody.
Our objectives include:
Recently, there has been uptick of younger (35 – 49 yrs) African Americans getting sick from diseases that are more prevalent in older age group (50-64 yrs), which is worth concern and call to action now. Yes, individual decisions play a large role, but so do the Social Determinants of Health, so it will take a highly coordinated and collaborative approach to educate our citizens and civic leaders to this alarming trend to start reversing this rate back down as quickly as possible.
African Americans are at highest risk for the top 5 health conditions that cause sickness and even death, starting with babies…
As babies – Infant mortality rates are 2.5 times higher than all other races, regardless of income ( https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2019-08-01/black-babies-at-highest-risk-of-infant-mortality
Stroke – Risk of having a first stroke is nearly twice as high for African Americans as for white Caucasians, and African Americans have the highest rate of death due to stroke (source: https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm)
Diabetes – African American have the second highest diabetes rates, behind Native Americans and Pacific Islanders
Heart Disease – More than twice as likely to die from heart disease than other whites and hispanics
Cancer – African Americans are have highest incident rates of lung and prostate cancer, along with the highest death rates, adding breast cancer death rates, as wellcauses
Good Morning my name is Jeremiah. I am 11 yrs old and I attend University View Academy. It is my pleasure to serve as your
You DO Matter STEAM2 TEAM member, Lance Moham, welcomes State Senator Patrick Jefferson to their group called You DO Matter, to talk about his role
My Force for Health Hero of the Week is Dwan Richardson and here are my reasons why.
My name is Micah and I attended the 2020 You DO Matter Virtual STEAM² Camp and learned about different type of tools and technologies that
wear a mask when ever you go somewhere to protect yourself and others.
My Force for Health Hero of the Week is Dr. Robert Gillio and here is why
Dr. Tymwa Dixon, MD is a Family Medicine Specialist in Shreveport, LA and has over 23 years of experience in the medical field. He graduated from LA STATE UNIV SCH OF MED IN SHREVEPORT medical school in 1997. He is affiliated with medical facilities Willis-Knighton Medical Center and WK Bossier Health Center.
My force for health hero for the week is Dewayne Fountain because he works on the front line as an NREMPT
This video series challenge features student produced videos, working alongside national mentors and thought leaders.
The goals of the program will be:
