Advancing the DREAM

Advancing the DREAM - What it means to me	To advance the dream I have to become more involved in learning about the injustice in healthcare. I must incorporate the knowledge I gain to change my life. What I learn I must pass on to my family, friends and neighbors.
My Action Pledge to Advance the DREAM?	I will challenge my immediate family to eat healthier, get more exercise, and visit their physicians for a wellness check.

General Information

Organization	You Do Matter Steam Team
Professional Title	Team Member
Why I am a Force for Health® Member...	Because I am a happy senior citizen that is working towards living not only a long life ,but also a healthy one.
My inspiration	I am inspired by my mother. She was an old school mother always keeping her babies safe and healthy. She instilled confidence in all of us. Her motto was: You can do it baby (No matter what the it was).
What would you like people to know about your community?	Jacksonville is the most populous city in Florida, and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968. With an area of 875 miles. It is the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars football team. It has stunning beaches, thrilling attractions and natural beauty.

Some of the factors that have been challenging for me have been...	Being a senior citizen with a compromised immune system the fear of contracting COVID-19, has limited my ability to travel and or venture out into the community to walk or go to exercise at the YMCA.
Some of the strength of my community health factors are:	The University of Florida has provided a research study in Jacksonville. The researchers want see if a health promotion program called Health-Smart for Seniors can help seniors (age 60 or older) more easily get low-cost or free healthy food, eat healthier, increase their friendships and other social relationships, be more physically active, feel better emotionally, and, if needed, reduce their weight and blood pressure.
Some of the challenges in my community regarding certain health factors are:	There are neighborhoods in low income areas that have food deserts.
I believe I can help improve my community's health by...	Working with (ICARE) Interfaith Coalition for Action Reconciliation and Empowerment a non-profit organization in Jacksonville to eliminate food deserts .