Saturday, June 30, 2007

Black Woman’s Health and Healing Conference and Festival 2006 Oakland YWCA - Oakland, Ca September 29 – October 1, 2006

Black Woman’s Health and Healing Conference and Festival 2006 Oakland YWCA - Oakland, Ca September 29 – October 1, 2006

What does the high incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease in the Black community have to do with who runs and gets elected to office? What does drinking at least eight glasses of water a day have to do with domestic violence, child abuse, and street crime in the Black community? Intrigued? Good, because during National Women’s Health and Fitness Week. the Black Women’s Health and Healing Conference & Festival 2006 will be making the connection between the choices we make about food, exercise and relationships, and our ability and willingness to take control of our lives and our community.

Oakland, CA (PRWEB) August 29, 2006

What does the high incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease in the Black community have to do with who runs and gets elected to office? What does drinking at least eight glasses of water a day have to do with domestic violence, child abuse, and street crime in the Black community? Intrigued? Good, because during National Women’s Health and Fitness Week. the Black Women’s Health and Healing Conference & Festival 2006 will be making the connection between the choices we make about food, exercise and relationships, and our ability and willingness to take control of our lives and our community.

Presented by the Muhsana Center for Health and Healing, the co-organizers decided to put on this conference because “everyday they experience and see a disconnect between the health information presented to communities of color and how (if ever) the information is used. Despite extensive information available, African Americans are still dying and falling ill in disproportionate numbers.

In Oakland and Alameda County:

 African Americans had a rate of 1,192.8 deaths per 100,000, twice the rate for Asians or Latinos (580.9 and 582.4, respectively) and 40% higher than the rate for the White population (851.8).  African Americans bear the greatest burden of chronic diseases for almost all chronic disease indicators examined except for breast cancer incidence and mortality, where the White population has the highest rates.  African Americans comprise the highest rate of hospitalizations for mental disorders, which include anxiety, depression and phobias  African Americans have the worst birth outcomes: they have the highest rates of infant mortality and low birth weight.  African Americans and residents of East Oakland, and parts of North and West Oakland, have the highest rates of all-cause mortality in Oakland.

Featured speakers for this dynamic and life changing event will include motivational speaker Dr. Jewel Diamond Taylor, author of Too Blessed to Be Stressed, Dr. Phil Valentine and Dr. Nalani ND and to lead the 2-day Young Women’s Forum; Niambi Jaha-Echols, author of Project Butterfly and one of Essence magazines 25 women to watch. 20 other local and national women will present over 29 topics relevant to African American women’s health, including Maria Dowd, creator of the popular African American Women on Tour and Ruth King, author of Healing Rage.

The weekend will feature a combination of informative workshops, music, physical exercise workout sessions, healthy food prep classes, diagnostic testing, on-site massage, chiropractic and acupuncture, local entertainment, art and a 2-day young women’s forum discussing health issues especially for young women 13-25 years of age.

The first Black Women’s Health and Healing Conference was held in Richmond, California in September of 2004. Participants described the conference as “… one of the happiest experiences or moments in my life”…” phenomenal”… “an unforgettable experience”…” that truly transformed my life”

This event is open to the public. Early bird registration begins June 28, 2006 and a limited number of full and partial scholarships will be available!

To date, funders and sponsors include The California Endowment, Family Independence Initiative, United Way of the Bay Area, The California Wellness Foundation, Naked Juice and the Port of Oakland.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to take advantage of the early registration dates. The full conference schedule and registration information can be accessed on website.

FOR MORE INFO CALL: (510) 295-2553 or (510) 835-0349.

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