The Tell A Friend – Get Covered campaign is a national collaboration coordinated by state health exchanges, led by Covered California, along with partners including Enroll America, with a goal of sharing the hows and whys of how to get covered by the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. They are targeting young people with a new video that spoofs the Snoop Dogg (Snoop Lion) song "Drop it Like It's Hot" and encourages them to sign up 'cause it's hot.

Iman Crosson stars as President Barack Obama in the video. If you don't know Crosson's work, check it out on social media, especially YouTube. He has been churning out creative, thought provoking videos for a minute now. Look for the user Alphacat and enjoy.

Once again Americans are being entertained into doing what should be done anyway. Oh, well. It is what it is. Just get covered, people.

- vb

-Special Incentives Offered to Those Who Join in the Month of August-

Do you remember the case of Metro-Dade Fire Captain Brian Beckmann and the racist remarks he posted on his Facebook page in April 2012 regarding the shooting death of Trayvon Martin? Well, he is appealing his demotion to firefighter at a hearing 9 AM, Monday, January 14, 2013, Stephen P. Clark Building, 111 NW 1st Street, Suite 183, Miami, FL 33128.

Here's a reminder of what Beckmann posted:

“Listening to Prosecutor Corey blow herself and her staff for five minutes before pre-passing judgment on George Zimmerman. The state seeks reelection again, truth aside. I and my coworkers could rewrite the book on whether our urban youths are victims of racist profiling or products of their failed, shitbag, ignorant, pathetic, welfare dependent excuses for parents, but like Mrs. Corey, we speak only the truth. They’re just misunderstood little church going angels and the ghetto hoodie look doesn’t have anything to do with why people wonder if they’re about to get jacked by a thug.”

If Beckmann is returned to his previous rank, it will signal the level of disrespect of blacks by the fire department in Miami-Dade County. Racial incidents within that department have been reported in the past. At some point the black community must stop conveniently developing amnesia regarding civil rights violations.

This upcoming hearing has been relatively quiet, another issue we need to deal with - communication - and the ability to galvanize and mobilize quickly regarding issues of civil rights and racism. 

Do you feel Beckmann will treat blacks fairly? Should he be rewarded by being returned to fire captain rank, left at his current rank or fired? What say YOU? 

The International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC) will convene black midwives and other midwives of color at their biennial national conference on October 19-21, 2012 in Sunny Isles, Florida to focus on improving birth outcomes and reducing health disparities of women and infants. The 8^th Black Midwives and Healers Conference, Returning Power to Birth: Reclaiming Our Culture will provide opportunities for healthcare providers to build skills for cultural competency create and broaden advocacy networks to spur change, and eliminate health disparities in Black communities across the U.S.

Dutton

Thomas

Miami, FL - The Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation will host the 2012 Healthy, Wealth & Wise Mini-Expo and Black Men's Round Table on Saturday, July 28, 2012 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Caleb Center, 5400 NW 22nd Avenue in Miami. NBA Hall of Famer, Isiah Thomas; actor and producer, Charles S. Dutton (Rock); Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Daryl Traywick; and Miami Police homicide detective and cast member of "48 Hours," Detective Ervans Ford, are among the speakers. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson will bring greetings. 

 "The goal of the Healthy, Wealth & Wise Mini-Expo and Black Men's Round Table is to bring together national and local experts to educate and uplift underserved men and boys," said Desmond Meade, chair, Black Men's Roundtable. "We will have mini-expo with important information related to health and wellness for black men and their families and also have some honest discussions about issues that impact black men."

Roundtable discussion topics include: Brother Can We Talk: Defining Manhood and it's Relation to Criminal Justice and Domestic Violence; You're Worth the Dollar and Your Vote: Jobs, Wealth, and Civic Participation; and Speaking from the Heart: Improving his Health Physically, Spiritually, and Mentally.

Participants:

• Salandra Benton - FCBCP Convener and State Field Director, Florida AFL-CIO
• Desmond Meade, Chair, Black Men's Roundtable
• Congresswoman Frederica Wilson
• Charles S. Dutton
• Isaiah Thomas
• Marcus Bright
• Chief Jimmy Brown
• State Rep. Dwight Bullard
• William DC Clark
• Detective Ervans Ford
• Atty. Larry Handfield
• Atty. Don Horn
• Atty. Kionne McGhee
• Aaron McKinney
• Kevin McNeir
• Garris Nickle aka C.R.O.M.E
• Judge Daryl Traywick
• Atty. Rod Vereen

For ticket, vendor and sponsor information call (321) 285-6297 or email [email protected].

Cryptolepine will help combat infection in AIDS, chemotherapy and organ transplant patients.

Ablordeppey

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Seth Ablordeppey, a Florida A&M University (FAMU) professor in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, has received a United States patent (No. 8,158,646) for extensive modifications to the drug Cryptolepine.  Preliminary tests indicate the drug will be effective at treating infections commonly found in HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, and organ transplant patients. In addition, it has fewer side effects than several currently used drugs. 

“This research has been in the works for more than a decade and I am grateful to FAMU for providing the environment and opportunity for this discovery,” said Ablordeppey. “With the discovery of these new agents we hope to deal one more blow to the opportunistic infections that continue to wreak havoc in our communities.”

Cryptolepine is a series of compounds derived from a native plant of Ghana, West Africa. According to the Center for Disease Control, opportunistic infections that attack weakened immune systems have become increasing problematic in the United States. When compared to drugs currently on the market, the high potency and fewer side affects associated with Cryptolepine could ultimately combat this problem.

“I am so very proud of Dr. Ablordeppey and the contribution he has made to FAMU’s patent portfolio. Because of his work, FAMU now has a diverse portfolio of pharmaceutical compounds that treat various diseases that disproportionately affect African Americans,” said Tanaga Boozer, director for FAMU Office of Technology Transfer, Licensing and Commercialization. “His patent demonstrates the talent and commitment among FAMU researchers to develop novel drugs, methods, and medical devices that address health disparities in underrepresented populations.”

This is Ablordeppey’s second patent in two years. In 2010, he received a patent for developing the “Haloperidol Analog,” a method for treating mammals suffering from psychosis.

For more information, contact Seth Ablordeppey at (850) 599-3834. To learn more about licensing technologies available at FAMU, contact Tanaga Boozer at (850) 412-7232.

Continuing their commitment to improving neonatal health care, the Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade (HSCMD) will host four days of Perinatal Loss Professional Development Seminars.  Sessions will provide physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors and hospital chaplains working in the field of maternal and infant health with tools to help families bereaving the death of a baby.  The free classes will take place May 16-19, 2012, at Homewood Suites: 5500 Blue Lagoon Drive (N.W. 11 Street), second floor, Miami, FL 33126.  In addition to earning Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, required for medical professionals by Florida health care oversight boards, attendees will gain skills in talking to parents, starting support groups and meeting the needs of caregivers working with grieving families.

 The seminars will be conducted by staff from Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, Inc. (Share).  Share is a national organization serving those whose lives are touched by the death of a baby through pregnancy loss, stillbirth or in the first few months of life.  

 The Compassionate Caregiving seminar will be Wednesday, May 16, 9 a.m. – noon, and focus on developing health care staff skills.  The three-day Sharing and Caring: A Perinatal Loss Seminar will focus on effectively starting family support groups, and be held Wednesday, May 16, 1 – 4:30 p.m., and Thursday and Friday, May 17 and 18, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on both days. The final seminar, Perinatal Loss: Strategies for Health Care Professionals, will be Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m. – noon, and explore grief models to help physicians care for families experiencing a loss.

All workshops are free, but seating is limited and registration is mandatory. For more information and to register, visit hscmd.org, call (305) 541-0210 or email [email protected].