Health

The Lenoir Ethnic Health Report and African American Wellness Project

Published

7 years ago

September 12, 2019

Dr. Michael A. Lenoir said he initially founded the African American Wellness Project out of rage.“That rage comes from minorities who have been, and are currently being treated unfairly in the healthcare system,” said Lenoir, a pediatric, allergy specialist and immunologist. “If you look at the statistics, African Americans don’t get the same treatment as Caucasians; they don’t get the respect due them, and they receive inferior service from their healthcare provider.”

In 2000, Lenoir brought together a group of people who had extensive experience in the healthcare field. “I asked this group about how they were marginalized in the health care system and we discovered that there was a disparity of the provision of health care for people of color.”

Lenoir asserted, “Each one had a story where they were treated poorly or with no respect. One member even noted that when she reported to her doctor for a visit, she felt invisible.”
“So my concern was that if this was happening with people of prominent stature and prestige reputations, what was going on with people who didn’t have contacts or influence,” Lenoir said.

“Because of this, we developed the AAWP as a health and communications company, targeting our resources for people of color and the underserved.”
“Our intent is to focus on the African American consumer,” noted Lenoir. “The emphasis will include the importance of lifestyle and health, prevention, screening and early detection. We want African Americans to become more proactive as they navigate the health care system.”

“We also want African Americans and other consumers to be alert and vigilant when they do not receive quality care. We have a network of experts to support you as we work together to make the health care system more sensitive to the needs of our community.”
There are three primary health issues that people of color suffer from; obesity, heart disease and diabetes. High cholesterol is also becoming a major health issue even though it is a nutritional disease. Dr. Lenoir points out that these diseases are the numerator, while the dominator is how you’re treated in the system.

“The foods we eat, the exercises we perform and the medication we take, all determine our health status,” said Lenoir. “You have to first understand what your potential risk factors are, what things you do that affect your lifestyle, the environment, and your genetics…that’s how it all gets started.”

“Secondly, one must recognize the early warning signs of any problems regarding specific diseases, which uniquely affect people of color. Underneath all that is when they have these diseases such as diabetes, cancer and respiratory illnesses, people of people of color are sometimes at a loss as to how these important issues are treated.”

As an example, Lenoir said, Black men rarely go to the doctor out of fear. “The fear of not knowing or wanting to hear what the physician will tell you about your health.”
Lenoir describes the fear and the reaction to it. “You wake up feeling like something is wrong; you have a pain or ache that you’ve never experienced before and there were no warning signs that indicated your body was having a problem,” Lenori said. “That’s when you need to go see a physician before the mystery of your pending illness gets out of hand. The anxiety of getting a dire diagnosis can be avoided by having routine health screenings.”

The AAWP provides information on how African Americans can improve their quality of their life. “It’s important to do as much exercising as possible to keep your body moving,” said Lenoir. “Additionally, maintaining a proper, healthy diet; stress-reduction and keeping close watch on the foods you eat are very important,” he added.
“We provide guidelines, statistical data and ground-prevention information to everyone who visits our website, “said Lenoir. “Although we do not provide those services directly, we help to answer the questions as to where maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be obtained.

With a grant provided by the California Endowment, as well as resources from other health agencies, Dr. Lenoir and his colleagues have set out a mission to reach as many individuals as possible to spread their message. Dr. Lenoir can be heard on KBLX 102.9 each weekday beginning at the 5:30 p.m. drive-time sharing his information on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Lenoir is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area including, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland. He is board certified to practice allergy, immunology and pediatrics services. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Lenoir accepts several types of health insurance for his services. He also speaks fluent Spanish, as well as other languages.

Lenoir’s office is located at 2940 Summit St., 1st Floor, Oakland, CA, 94609. Call 510-834-4897 for an appointment to find out more about his medical services.

By Clifford L. Williams

Posts by By Clifford L. Williams

Related Topics:By Clifford L. Williams Michael A. Lenoir M.D.

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Rep. Kamlager-Dove Introduces Bill to Protect Women in Custody After Reports Detailing Miscarriages and Neglect

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act would expand safeguards beyond the federal prison system to include women detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The proposal follows reports of pregnant women being shackled, denied medical care and suffering miscarriages while in immigration detention.

Published

4 weeks ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) on May 7, reintroduced updated legislation aimed at strengthening protections and healthcare standards for pregnant and postpartum women held in federal custody, including in immigration detention facilities.

The Pregnant Women in Custody Act would expand safeguards beyond the federal prison system to include women detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The proposal follows reports of pregnant women being shackled, denied medical care and suffering miscarriages while in immigration detention.

The legislation builds on a bipartisan version previously passed by the House during the 117th Congress. The updated bill includes new standards for healthcare access, mental health and substance use treatment, high-risk pregnancy care, family unity protections and increased federal oversight.

“Proper pregnancy care is a human right, regardless of your immigration or incarceration status,” Kamlager-Dove said in a statement. “It’s unacceptable that there are virtually no legal safeguards for pregnant women in federal custody.”

The bill would also limit the use of restraints and restrictive housing for pregnant women, improve data collection on maternal health in custody and require additional staff training and enforcement measures.

Supporters of the measure said the legislation is intended to address long-standing concerns about maternal healthcare and safety in detention settings, particularly for Black women and low-income women who are disproportionately impacted by incarceration and health disparities.

“Pregnant women in custody should never be subjected to dangerous and inhumane treatment that threatens their health, dignity, or the well-being of their babies,” said Patrice Willoughby, chief of policy and legislative affairs for the NAACP and a longtime public policy and government affairs strategist, in a statement.

A 2021 report estimated there are about 58,000 admissions of pregnant women into U.S. jails and prisons each year. Kamlager’s statement also cited a recent investigation by NBC News and Bloomberg Law that identified allegations of severe mistreatment or medical neglect involving at least 54 pregnant women or families in county jails between 2017 and 2024.

Federal policy under the Department of Homeland Security restricts the detention of pregnant, postpartum and nursing immigrants except in extreme cases. However, the agency reported that ICE deported 363 pregnant, postpartum or nursing women between January 2025 and February 2026, including 16 recorded miscarriages during that period.

The bill is cosponsored by several House Democrats and backed by organizations including the NAACP and the Vera Institute of Justice.

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Bay Area

How Is AI Affecting California? The State Wants You to Share Your Story

The program marks the first time the state has opened the platform to all Californians. State officials said the effort is designed to give residents a direct role in discussions about how AI should be regulated and used as the technology rapidly expands across industries.

Published

4 weeks ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced May 7 that California is expanding its Engaged California digital democracy initiative statewide, inviting residents to help shape future state policies on artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on jobs and the economy.

“We’ve got to be clear-eyed about this moment: AI is moving fast, bringing enormous opportunity, but also real risks,” Newsom said in a statement. “Californians deserve a seat at the table as we shape what’s to come.”

The initiative will roll out in two phases. Beginning immediately, Californians can sign up online to share how AI is affecting their work and communities and provide ideas for possible government action. Later this summer, a smaller group reflecting the state’s workforce demographics will participate in live discussions focused on developing policy recommendations.

State officials said the goal is to identify areas of agreement among Californians and provide policymakers with public feedback as the state develops future AI regulations and workforce strategies.

Engaged California is modeled after digital democracy programs used in Taiwan and is intended to encourage structured public discussion rather than social media-style debate. Officials described the effort as a form of “deliberative democracy” aimed at helping residents engage directly in state decision-making.

“The more Californians are engaged in the democratic process, the better able we’ll be to confront the challenges we face together,” said Nick Maduros, California Secretary of Government Operations, in a statement.

The statewide launch builds on two earlier pilot programs. One pilot gathered public input following the Los Angeles firestorms to help guide recovery efforts, while another collected ideas from state employees about improving government operations.

California has positioned itself as a national leader in AI policy and development. Since 2023, the Newsom administration has introduced initiatives focused on responsible AI use in government, cybersecurity protections, workforce training and regulations targeting risks such as deepfakes and AI-generated robocalls.

The state has also partnered with companies in Silicon Valley — including NVIDIA, Google, Adobe, IBM and Microsoft — to expand AI education and workforce training programs across California schools and universities.

Oakland Post

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Activism

California Launches Free Diaper Program for Newborns Statewide

The initiative, called Golden State Start, will provide 400 free diapers to every newborn delivered at participating California hospitals beginning this summer. The state is partnering with Baby2Baby, a California-based nonprofit that distributes essential items to children in need nationwide.

Published

4 weeks ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that California will launch a first-in-the-nation program providing free diapers to families with newborns, part of a broader effort to lower costs for parents and improve infant health outcomes.

The initiative, called Golden State Start, will provide 400 free diapers to every newborn delivered at participating California hospitals beginning this summer. The state is partnering with Baby2Baby, a California-based nonprofit that distributes essential items to children in need nationwide.

State officials said hospitals participating in the program will give families the diapers when they are discharged after birth, helping parents leave with an immediate supply of newborn essentials.

“Every baby born in California deserves a healthy start in life,” Newsom said in a statement. He said the program is part of California’s broader affordability efforts, which also include free school meals, universal preschool for four-year-olds and expanded after-school programs.

The announcement comes ahead of Mother’s Day and is tied to the administration’s broader CalRx initiative, which aims to reduce costs for essential products and medications. State officials said California is also exploring ways to lower diaper prices by challenging high costs from major brands.

The first year of the program will prioritize hospitals serving large numbers of Medi-Cal patients, with plans to expand to additional hospitals and birthing centers over time. Officials said the effort is intended to reduce financial pressure on low-income families and improve infant and maternal health by ensuring parents have access to clean diapers.

“California families deserve to feel supported during one of life’s more exciting, yet vulnerable transitions,” First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom said in a statement. She said the program would allow parents to focus on caring for their newborns instead of worrying about basic supplies.

According to Baby2Baby, one in two families in the United States struggles to afford diapers. The organization has distributed more than half a billion items to children over the past 15 years through partnerships with shelters, hospitals, foster care programs and schools.

State officials said Baby2Baby will oversee diaper purchasing, warehousing and distribution through its existing hospital and community partnerships across California.