Blacks, Hispanics Reluctance in taking H1N1 Antivirus Causes Concern

TYLER—A press conference has been set for Monday morning at 11:00 to unveil a new campaign aimed at East Texas African Americans and Hispanics. The event is being hosted by the Northeast Texas Public Health District, the Texas Department of State Health Services, The Minority Advertising Association and the Tyler Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce. The conference will be held at the Metro chamber center at 2000 W. Gentry Parkway.

Though they are not citing figures, health officials are concerned that many in the African American and Hispanic communities are not taking the free inoculations. “There is a lot of misinformation and just plain assumptions about the shots out there that are just plain wrong and inaccurate,” according to William Oliver, Deputy Regional Director of State Health Services. “This effort is a collaboration of several groups who are determined to address these misnomers and help keep people safe from this dangerous virus.”

The Minority Advertising Association is a new company, founded by Tyler ministers and businessmen Darryl Bowdre and Melton Timmons. Mainly serving as media buyers and consultants, they became involved when as community leaders they discovered that many in the Black and Hispanic communities were not taking advantage of the H1N1 antivirus. They quickly put together a consortium of Hispanic and African American newspapers, internet magazines and radio stations.

Participating in the campaign are LaLengua, a newspaper based in Lufkin serving more than 14 counties, KOFY-1060 (Tyler-Longview- Marshall), The Cherokee County Informer (Rusk), The Ebony News Journal.com, KSML (Lufkin), KGLD (Tyler), The Smith County Herald (Tyler) PulseTyler Magazine and the Ebony News Journal.

“MinorityAd approached us early on with their concerns and quite frankly we agreed with them,” Oliver explained. “Our own director, Dr. Paul McGaha got right on it. He contacted the Northeast Texas Public Health District and before long, all parties were at the same table having the same discussion. This campaign is the outcome and we are glad to partner with these community based organizations.”

“It would not have been possible without Dr. McGaha and George Roberts leadership,” said Darryl Bowdre, General Partner of MinorityAd. “And of course, there was attorney Sharon Roberts who also serves as a board member to the Northeast Texas Public Health District. Sharon was of immeasurable value to this process. Her legal skills really helped to put this together. I see why she’s on the board. She’s another valuable resource.”

Bowdre also credits the skills and concern of State Representative Leo Berman as an integral part of the planning process. “Without Leo this campaign would have been dead in the water. He went to bat for not only his constituents, but for East Texas in general. He is a true public servant who went the second mile.”

“We at the Northeast Texas Public Health District are excited about sponsoring this campaign,” said CEO George Roberts. “January 10-16 is National Influenza Vaccination Week. “That makes this an excellent time to unveil our partnership with the state and with the Minority Advertising Association.”

John Tyler High School Welcomes National Opera Singer

TYLER—Opera sensation Angela Brown  visited John Tyler High School Friday, January 8, at 10:30 a.m. She  met and greeted John Tyler choral students in the orchestra room.   This was not a performance.  John Tyler High School is located at 1120 NNW Loop 323, Tyler.

     Thank you to the efforts of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra for making this event possible.  The East Texas Symphony Orchestra welcomes Miss Brown for its next concert, January 9, 2010.  Miss Brown’s highly successful Metropolitan Opera debut in 2004 sparked a media excitement.   According to the press, "the future of opera has arrived," and Miss Brown has features on the front page of The New York Times and in Oprah Magazine, Essence Magazine, Ebony Magazine, Classical Singer, Reader's Digest, and Psychology Today.

     Miss Brown's previous solo appearances include: Metropolitan Opera; National Opera of Paris; Bilbao Opera, Spain; Teatro La Fenice; Opera Company of Philadelphia; Cincinnati Opera; Opera Pacific; Florentine Opera; Indianapolis Opera; Michigan Opera Theatre; Dayton Opera; Florida Grand Opera; The Philadelphia Orchestra; Auckland Philharmonia; Latvian National Symphony; Festival of St. Denis, France; Indianapolis Symphony; Cincinnati Pops; Brevard Festival Orchestra; Roanoke Symphony; El Paso Symphony; Knoxville Symphony; Chautauqua Institution; the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.   Miss Brown has performed in recital throughout the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Africa.

     Shimmering, mesmerizing, soaring—these are just a few of the adjectives lavished on the voice of Angela M. Brown. An operatic sensation who has commanded standing ovations from the world's most famous stages, Brown came to opera almost as an afterthought. "I never wanted to be what I would have described as a screechy soprano," she said. Fortunately for opera fans worldwide, she changed her mind, becoming one of the most acclaimed Verdi sopranos to grace the world of opera.

     Her singing voice first drew notice at the Baptist church where her grandfather was minister. As early as the age of five she was stirring the congregation with renditions of gospel classics such as "You Can't Beat God's Giving."

     Miss Brown received her Bachelor of Music degree in voice from Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, where she studied with Ginger Beazley. She attended the Indiana University School of Music as a student in the studio of Virginia Zeani.

A Community in Crisis:

Health District Seeks Funding, Community Help to Fight Obesity

(Part 2 of an ongoing series)

Fast food, lack of exercise named as culprits

     TYLER-Tyler's African American community mirrors health trends of African Americans across the United States, and the Northeast Texas Public Health District wants to address the problems head on. On November 17, the health district will host a public called meeting to address the problem of obesity and diabetes. The meeting will be held at the Glass Recreation Center, 501 W. 31st St., and will begin at 5:30 pm.

     "We want to inform the community and engage them in this important discussion," says Dr. Ben Bridges. "There is an inlaying epidemic of obesity in the Black population. We need their input and advice on how to address and correct this problem," he said. According to Bridges, in the general U.S. population and in Northeast Texas the problem of overweight and obesity has tripled in the last 40 years from twenty-five percent overweight and ten percent obesity to sixty-five percent overweight, and of these almost half or thirty-five percent of the entire population is now obese. Studies indicate that the Black population is generally ten percent higher than the general population and that sixty-five to seventy percent of Black women are now obese. Prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents, although lower, is still higher in Blacks. A recent study taken at the city's two public high schools show that the rates of obesity at John Tyler is thirty percent and twenty percent at Robert E. Lee.

     "Most of the epidemic is due to poor diet," Bridges says. "The overabundance of fast food restaurants certainly is one of the main culprits, but it also is due to the lack of exercise," he says. Bridges claims that sixty percent of the population has little or no leisure time exercise. Less than ten percent of Texas 12 graders in Texas public schools are considered physically fit. It is estimated that by 2025 (15 years) that forty-five percent of all Americans will be obese and thirty-five percent of Americans will have diabetes.

     "By forming coalitions with community groups and organizations, the Northeast Texas Public Health District wants to make inroads into addressing this challenge. We also want the conversation to eventually involve our area's food suppliers in specific programs that address the problems," Dr. Bridges explained. He also talks of a special program that the district wants to implement in the community, but stresses the only way it will work is for the community to take ownership of the problem. "There are questions that only the members of this community can answer to," says Bridges. "Questions such as what they think will work and how, as well as other advise that medical professionals have perhaps not considered need to be responded to."