#NNPA BlackPress

Congresswoman Kelly Completes Naloxone Training, Seeks to Raise Awareness of Training for Lifesaving Opioid-Reversal Drug

CHICAGO DEFENDER — In the 115th Congress, Congresswoman Kelly was a co-sponsor of the Opioid Minority Health Report to Congress Act, which required an annual opioid epidemic impact report from the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities. The data from such a report would assist Congress in further targeting programs and resources to the most struggling communities. The legislation was originally offered by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-09).

Published

7 years ago

August 23, 2019

Oakland Post

April Williams-Luster, Elise Miller and Kyle Bergfors examine a Narcan kit after a training session on how to administer the opioid overdose reversal spray at the Matteson office of Congresswoman Robin Kelly. The training session was conducted by Lindsay Wilson, health promotions coordinator with the Kankakee County Health Department.

By The Chicago Defender

Matteson, IL – Today, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, and her staff completed training to administer naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug.

“Too many of our neighbors have already been lost to addiction; it’s clear that naloxone saves lives when it’s available in our communities and people are properly trained,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly. “This training — as important as CPR training — took less than an hour so you could learn it on your lunch break. I would strongly encourage anyone and everyone to consider completing this important and lifesaving training, which is often offered free-of-charge by local public health departments and health advocacy organizations.”

The training was conducted by Lindsay Wilson, Health Promotions Coordinator with the Kankakee County Health Department.

“I hope that by completing this training, I can increase awareness about naloxone, especially in rural and African American communities, where prescribing and dispensing rates are lower,” added Congresswoman Kelly.

According to the CDC, at least 26,500 opioid overdoses were reversed in the U.S. by laypersons using naloxone from 1996-2014. With greater awareness about the opioid epidemic and naloxone, the number of lives saved has certainly grown in recent years. However, there are still challenges to accessing naloxone in many communities. The CDC found that rural counties were three times more likely to be considered a ‘low-dispensing’ county when compared to urban counties.

“While the opioid epidemic has impacted all communities, much of the media attention and Congressional action has been forced on the epidemic’s impact in white, rural communities. This attention has been key to driving calls for reform, change and resources. However, we cannot ignore the many other communities being impacted by this epidemic. Opioid abuse has been a challenge in African American and urban communities for decades. I hope that by personally completing this lifesaving training, as the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust Chair, that I can bring greater attention to this crisis and its underreported impact in African American communities.”

In the 115th Congress, Congresswoman Kelly was a co-sponsor of the Opioid Minority Health Report to Congress Act, which required an annual opioid epidemic impact report from the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities. The data from such a report would assist Congress in further targeting programs and resources to the most struggling communities. The legislation was originally offered by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-09).

In addition to her role as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, Congresswoman Robin Kelly is also a member of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee and the Committee on Oversight and Reform (COR), which has been examining the causes and responses to the opioid epidemic. She is an original co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency Act (H.R. 2596), authored by COR Chairman Cummings, and the Respond NOW Act (H.R. 2922), authored by Congresswoman Anne Kuster (NH-01).

This article originally appeared in the Chicago Defender.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Titusville residents fight blight during ‘Demolition Day’

Don't Miss

The Changing Demographics of Mass Incarceration

Oakland Post

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

Smooth Ride! Car Suspension & Comfort Tested #shorts

Smooth suspension meets surprisingly spacious legroom. Experience true comfort on any road!

Published

2 weeks ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Car suspension test demonstrating a smooth ride, comfort features, and handling on various terrains.

Experience the difference smooth suspension makes on rough streets. Check out the surprisingly good second-row legroom – test it yourself for true comfort.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/l9Z571za5Gc

#AutoNetwork

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

61 years since Selma, Houston leaders say the bridge remains to be crossed

61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Houston leaders discuss the ongoing struggle for civil rights 61 years after Selma, emphasizing the need for continued action.

It has been 61 years since the Selma marches. But political leaders in Houston say that the issues protesters were marching for still plague the lives of Black Americans.

Visit Our Website

Home – updated

Read more stories by our team
https://defendernetwork.com/category/news/opinion/

Sign-up for the Top 5 newsletter

Defender Newsletters

Donate/ Support Our Work

Contribute to the Defender Network

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

2 weeks ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.