For the St. Louis American
It was the buzz for the past two weeks: the BET Foundation’s Women’s Health Forum at Harris-Stowe State University on November 19, a major collaboration between the Missouri Black Expo and the foundation to educate the women of St. Louis on leading healthier lives.
By 7:35 a.m. on Saturday, the parking lots of the Emerson Performance Center were filled to capacity. From teens to elders, all were excited to be in the company of African-American women who shared their health concerns and goals.
Before kicking off an intense workout session, the ladies were fed a fiber-packed breakfast, which was much-needed as the workout session had many racing to catch their breath after the first five minutes.
“That workout was intense! I felt the burn after about 10 minutes,” said 26-year-old Karen Stocking. “I’m going to have to get that workout on DVD. I can’t wait to hear the panel discussion.”
This was the response Lynda Dorman, executive director of the BET Foundation, had hoped for when putting together two panels designed to enlighten the ladies of the Lou on how to fight health problems.
After a brief introduction by Dr. Consuelo Wilkins, president of Mound City Medical Forum, the floor was opened for questions. Women scurried to the mics. Denise McField, teacher and athletic trainer for the Normandy School District, voiced her plea to help in reaching her young female students.
“My biggest challenge has been getting my girls to understand the critical importance of leading a healthy life and making healthy food choices,” McField said. “What can I do to get them interested in what I’m saying?”
Fitness expert Jeanette Jenkins – celebrity trainer and spokeswoman for the BET Foundation’s health campaign, who led the morning workout session – offered simple advice.
“You need to speak their language! You need to actually get on their level, talk like the 14-year-olds talk, become a 14-year-old for a second, so that you can relate to them,” Jenkins said.
“It grabs their attention, and they feel less intimidated to talk with you, and they will respond.”
That wasn’t the only sound advice Jenkins offered.
“Many people ask what the difference is between organic foods and conventional foods. Organic foods are basically the ones that God gave us. Conventional foods are those that man has added to and changed in such a way that they become unhealthy for us to consume,” she said.
“Many foods that you see packaged at grocery stores may have a shelf life for three years, and we wonder why our bodies aren’t responding well to them. Check the labels, ladies! If you can’t pronounce what is on the packaging, chances are you probably shouldn’t be eating it.”
One audience member had been experiencing bouts of hot flashes, experienced by many menopausal women. She besieged the panel, “Are there any natural remedies to alleviate hot flashes? I’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work. In fact, while I’m standing here, I’m flashing right now!”
The audience burst into laughter, but her question was serious. Dr. Jacqueline Turner of West End OB-GYN responded, “The most effective way of reducing the symptoms of menopause are decreasing refined carbs and increasing exercise.”
The most gripping moment in the second panel discussion arrived when panelist Denise Stokes gave her personal introduction.
“Growing up, my mother always told me that I could come and talk to her about anything, but certain things, like sex, I didn’t feel comfortable talking to her about,” Stokes said.
“Consequently, at age 13, I had sex for the first time, and out of that first encounter I contracted the HIV virus. Yes, I caught HIV my first time having sex, when I was only 13 years old. Bottom line is, do the math beforehand, because it just may not add up for you at the end.”
Songstress Angela Winbush, a cancer survivor, also shared her story. Many associate her with her former husband, Ron Isley of the Isley Brothers.
“I battled both cancer and depression while going through my divorce. I was in need of help, and the God that I serve is a good God and wasn’t going to let me go. He gave me the strength I needed to realize the important things in my life,” Winbush said.
“When I was first diagnosed with cancer, foolishly my first thought was, ‘Oh, God, I don’t want to lose my hair!’ But I had to be concerned with living, not something as superficial as hair. So, ladies, I encourage you today to be concerned about your own personal well being and, most importantly, know that you do have the strength to walk away from a bad situation.”
The audience was riveted, with tears streaming down many faces.
“We have just been so incredibly blessed by this outpouring of women thirsting for knowledge of health care,” said Dorman of the BET Foundation.
During a healthy lunch, gospel great Karen Clark Sheard, sporting a new slim figure, performed her latest hits, forcing everyone up on their feet. She shared her testimony of battling a deadly blood clot in her lung. The crowd was again moved to tears of joy.
Tom Bailey, president of the Missouri Black EXPO, explained how the forum came to be. After he had made several presentations to Dorman, she learned that St. Louis is in the Top 10 list of cities for obesity. “At that point, she was undeniably convinced that we have a grave need for powerful information on health care catered to the women of St. Louis,” Bailey said.
“The women of St. Louis have definitely taught us something,” Dorman said, reflecting on the success of the event. “We will be back next year, right before the Missouri Black Expo.”
For more information, visit www.ahealthybet.com or call (866) 3-LOSE-IT.
