Health

‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Still a Social Activist

Published

9 years ago

July 23, 2015

Oakland Post

Jussie Smollett (AP Images/Invision)

By Freddie Allen
NNPA Senior Washington Correspondent

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Before he was Jamal Lyon, the sensitive, talented gay son of drug dealer-turned-music mogul on the hit television show, “Empire,” Jussie Smollett, was a social activist.

Smollett, 31, said that the root of his activism, his ability to speak openly and honestly about sex was always his mother, because she set the tone for who he was, what he was and what he believed in.

“My voice has always been linked to this fight before anybody new anything about my voice,” said Smollett, adding that you don’t need a television show or a hit record to make a change in the world your community.

Smollett continued: “The work doesn’t start with ‘Empire.’ My mother didn’t give us a choice of whether or not we wanted to be activists or not, that was built into us.”

His father, Joel, emigrated from Russia and Poland. His mother, Janet, is mixture of African, Native American and European. In addition to Jussie and Jurnee, an actress, the couple had four other kids: Jake, Jocqui, Jojo and Jazz

All six Smollett children appeared together in the ABC TV program, “On Our Own,” which was broadcast 1994-1995. The Smollett siblings played a family reared by the oldest brother after both parents had died in a car accident.

Jurnee starred in “The Great Debaters,” “Eve’s Bayou,” and appeared in episodes of the Cosby show.

Jussie, a native of Santa Rosa, Calif., currently serves on the board of the Black AIDS Institute (BAI), a Los Angeles-based think tank focused solely on ending the AIDS epidemic in the Black community.

Smollett recently sat on a panel on HIV/AIDS and the role of the Black family in fighting the epidemic at the Essence Festival in New Orleans. Smollett was joined by Otis Harris, a 28-year-old gay man living with HIV from Dallas; Harris’ mother, LaTongia Harris-Amadee, and Leo Moore, a clinical scholar with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation at the University of California at Los Angeles. Award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien moderated the panel.

According to national surveys by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 66 percent of Black Americans say HIV rarely, if ever, comes in family discussions– including 30 percent who have never talked about HIV with anyone in their family.

According to the Black AIDS Institute, more than 60 percent of parents of Black children said that “they are ‘very concerned’ that their son or daughter will get HIV,” compared to about 20 percent of White parents.

“Families in general play such an important part in the fight against HIV and AIDS because families,” said Smollett. “It’s not just Black families but the family as a whole – the village. It takes that village to get rid of the stigma to get rid of the shame so that people feel like they have someone to talk to.”

In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), launched a national campaign that identified stigma and complacency as two critical challenges to ending the AIDS epidemic in the United States.

Declining awareness and concern about HIV among the American public may lead some to underestimate the continued need or action to fight the epidemic, a fact sheet on the campaign said.

“Young people who have grown up without seeing the epidemic’s devastating effects may be particularly vulnerable,” the fact sheet said. “For example, a study among young black gay and bisexual men in 20 major cities found that among those who thought they were at low risk of infection, nearly one in five was, in fact, already infected with HIV.”

The fact sheet noted that in 2011 the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that not only are people reporting that they’re reading and seeing information about HIV in the U.S. 30 percent less than they were in 2004, but less people also named HIV, “as the nation’s most urgent health problem.”

According to the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW), HIV-related stigma can result in the loss of income, loss of marriage and childbearing options and the loss of hope and feelings of worthlessness.

“We live in a nation that we’re about shaming,” said Smollett. “Cultural shaming, religion shaming, sexuality shaming and gender shaming, there’s so much shame. It’s time for people to step up and say, ‘enough is enough.’”

Smollett added: “We have to remember that Black lives matter. We also have to remember that we can not pick and choose when Black lives matter.”

Phill Wilson, the president and CEO of BAI, agreed.

“If we’re serious about the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement, we need to talk about all the things that are important for us to live longer healthier lives,” he said,

And that dialogue must include decreasing the number of new HIV infections, getting people into treatment that need it and ending the AIDS epidemic, said Wilson.

Smollett said that even though Black people have been oppressed since we were enslaved and shipped to this continent, we still helped build this nation and this world.

“We can not sit idly by while our children, our fathers and mothers, our sisters and our brothers, our nieces and nephews, and our uncles and our aunts are dying and are being left to feel ashamed for who they are,” said Smollett.

Smollett said that ending the AIDS epidemic is not about gender or sexuality or race it’s about taking responsibility for you and yours, which is the human race.

“Everybody wants somebody to oppress, let’s not be that way,” said Smollett. “Lets spread love. Let’s make sure that everybody knows that they have someplace to go in life, so that they don’t feel alone.”

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California’s Aging Services Offer Valuable Resources for Older Adults

As we grow older, our needs and priorities change. In California, a wide range of services is available to help you maintain your independence, stay connected, and lead a fulfilling life. Whether you’re looking for support with daily tasks, health care guidance, or planning for the future, California’s aging services are here to help.

Published

3 days ago

October 2, 2024

Oakland Post

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Aging in Place

Many of you may prefer to stay in your own home as you get older. California offers programs that can assist with home repairs, transportation, and in-home care. Additionally, health and social care programs, including day centers with activities like arts and exercise, help you stay independent.

Nutrition Services

You can enjoy home-delivered meals or gather for group meals at local centers. For those with limited income, there are options to get fresh produce and other food benefits through the CalFresh Expansion program.

Health Insurance Guidance

Confused about health insurance options? The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) provides guidance on Medicare and long-term care insurance.

Support for Caregivers

If you are caring for an older adult, there are programs like Caregiver Resource Centers (CRCs) and the Family Caregiver Support Program offering respite, counseling, and assistance with paperwork. CRCs also provide action plans for families dealing with dementia.

Legal Assistance

Facing issues like consumer fraud, elder abuse, or age discrimination? Legal Services are available to help with Social Security, health insurance, pensions, and more.

Employment Opportunities

Looking for a job? Free training and job placement services are available for older Californians.

Emergency Preparedness

Planning for emergencies is especially important as we age. California offers resources to help you prepare for natural disasters, power outages, and other emergencies. Creating a personal emergency plan, keeping an emergency kit ready, and staying informed about local resources can make all the difference.

All these services and more are coordinated through local Area Agencies on Aging. Find yours by calling the California Aging and Adult Information Line at 800-510-2020 or visiting aging.ca.gov.

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Bay Area

Oakland Environmental Justice Advocates Want a Seat at the Table to Fight For Healthy Neighborhoods

The proposed widening of the turning basin at the Port of Oakland is intended to accommodate 1,300-foot “megaships” carrying shipping containers and cargo into the harbor instead of the already large 1,300-foot ships that are currently coming in daily to the Port. The Port claims that the widening will decrease in-harbor transit time, transit emissions, and transportation costs, while increasing safety.

Published

3 days ago

October 1, 2024

Oakland Post

“It’s a matter of economics,” Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll said in a statement in 2019. “By loading more cargo on bigger ships, the shipping lines can actually reduce the number of vessels they deploy.” However, legal organizations argue activity from the Port emissions represent some of the largest share of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions in the west part of the city, specifically from drayage trucks, cargo handling equipment, ships and more.

By Magaly Muñoz

The Port claims that the widening will decrease in-harbor transit time, transit emissions, and transportation costs, while increasing safety.

However, legal organizations argue activity from the Port emissions represent some of the largest share of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions in the west part of the city, specifically from drayage trucks, cargo handling equipment, ships and more.

Increased traffic congestion from more trucks coming and going to load more cargo will also add to the pollution breathed in by people in neighborhoods surrounded by major interstate highways.

EarthJustice and concerned residents are urging the Port to prioritize zero-emission equipment over increasing truck traffic that is harming the local environment and residents.

“Our position is not that the Port shouldn’t operate as a business, but that it shouldn’t do that at the expense of the West Oakland community, particularly when it comes to public health and air quality concerns, and this sort of project, expanding the turning basin, seems like it will,” EarthJustice attorneys said.

According to California law, drayage trucks at ports began implementing zero-emission technology this year, with full implementation by 2035.

The Port of Oakland has acquired several battery electric trucks and are working toward cleaner equipment, but officials acknowledge that it will take time and resources.

Less than 10 miles from the Port, another project, the addition of new terminals at the Oakland International Airport, is causing distress to activists and workers.

An estimated 174 people per 10,000 living directly around the airport visited the emergency department for asthma, according to CalEnviroScreen.

Emissions from passenger flights at OAK are equivalent to the yearly emissions from 1,200,000 cars, according to Airport Tracker.

Advocates argue that airlines are failing to meet climate goals, meaning expansions should come to a halt until technological solutions are available for greener air traffic at current demand.

Among the most negatively impacted people from the airport are those working there day and night.

Juana, a cabin cleaner at OAK, told The Post that she contracted asthma soon after starting her job, and due to low wages and no health insurance, she cannot pay for her needed medication.

“Working there is a negative exposure to your life, to your health, to everything,” Juana said.

As a cabin cleaner, she and three other workers have to sanitize and clean the inside of the airplane cabins as soon as passengers deboard the aircraft. The work can be back-breaking and often they are exposed directly to the pollution of the plane since they are made to stand in the terminal waiting for the craft to arrive.

Juana explained that her employer does not give workers ample time off to rest and recover from the harmful effects of working at the airport. She said when people brought concerns about the conditions, they were met with hostility and told to walk out if they didn’t like being there.

Not many have walked out, Juana admitted.

Juana said the airport and third-party companies, like her employer, are aware that people in the community are desperate for jobs and are essentially exploiting them with difficult work and little pay.

She is worried that the terminal expansion will double the work for her and her colleagues, with no increase in pay, and more exposure to the troubling health conditions the job leaves people with. Additionally, since OAK is not required to offer health insurance to workers, their current health problems will only be exacerbated with time.

Collaboration with the Port

Environmental justice activists agree that while all their needs have not been met, and there is a long way to go before they do, they do have the ear of some Port Commissioners.

Michael Colbruno, a Board member since 2013, considers himself an environmentalist, which activists say is not quite an environmental justice advocate, but close enough.

Colbruno has opened up the dialogue and access to the decision makers by organizing an informal meeting he conducts to gather community input on Port projects.

These meetings have resulted in more funding from grants, better awareness of what environmental concerns might arise from future agenda items, and the Port’s participation in the Green Marine Program. The program helps its participants improve their environmental performance beyond regulations and targets key environmental issues related to biodiversity protection and air, water, and soil quality.

Colbruno acknowledged that there are problems with some of the projects the Port is working on, but the city has to find a way to keep growing so that they do not lose out on economic opportunities.

“The goal, then, is to try to do [projects] as cleanly and sustainably as possible, and to put the pieces in place that make it have the least environmental impact for the community. You can’t have that kind of a project with zero environmental impact. It’s impossible,” Colbruno said.

While activists appreciate the opportunity to talk with Colbruno, they are demanding a long-overdue seat at the Port of Oakland Commissioner table for someone like Gordon, who has dealt with the harsh realities of living in these frontline communities impacted by the polluted environment.

Activists intend to push for more representation from the mayor as more Board seats open up in the coming years.

“I think that’s a valuable thing, having somebody that really understands firsthand experience…someone that has proper expertise,” Fleck said.

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Activism

Access Better Health with Medically Tailored Meals – Transforming Health Through Nutrition for Medi-Cal Patients

Medically Tailored Meals are one of 14 new services offered through Medi-Cal that provide members with access to new and improved services to get well-rounded care that goes beyond the doctor’s office or hospital.

Published

2 weeks ago

September 19, 2024

Oakland Post

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Launched in 2018, the Medically Tailored Meals pilot program was designed to help Medi-Cal patients with congestive heart failure by reducing hospital readmissions and emergency department visits by providing tailored meals meeting specific dietary needs.

The program’s success in improving health outcomes and reducing costly emergency room visits encouraged the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to expand the Medically Tailored Meals program to all 58 counties through Medi-Cal transformation and a new set of services called Community Supports.

Medically Tailored Meals: Overview

Malnutrition and poor nutrition can lead to severe health outcomes, especially among Medi-Cal patients with chronic health conditions. Medically Tailored Meals aim to improve health outcomes, reduce hospital readmissions, and enhance patient satisfaction by providing essential nutrition.

Key Features:

Post-Discharge Delivery: Meals are delivered to patients’ homes immediately following discharge from a hospital or nursing home.
Customized Nutrition: Meals are tailored to meet the dietary needs of those with chronic diseases, designed by registered dietitians (RD) or certified nutrition professionals based on evidence-based guidelines.
Comprehensive Services: Includes medically tailored groceries, healthy food vouchers, and food pharmacies.
Educational Support: Behavioral, cooking, and nutrition education is included when paired with direct food assistance.

Key Benefits:

Address Food Insecurity: Mitigates poor health outcomes linked to food insecurity.
Support Complex Care Needs: Tailored to individuals with chronic conditions.
Improve Health Outcomes: Studies show improvements in diabetes control, fall prevention, and medication adherence.

Patient Testimonial:

“My diabetes has gotten better with the meals. I’ve kept my weight down, and I feel much better now than I have in a long time. I’m one of the people this program is meant for.” — Brett

Eligibility:

Eligible Populations: Eligible Medi-Cal members include those with chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, congestive heart failure, stroke, chronic lung disorders, HIV, cancer, gestational diabetes, and chronic mental or behavioral health disorders. Also, those being discharged from a hospital or skilled nursing facility or at high risk of hospitalization or nursing facility placement are also eligible.

Service Limitations: Up to two meals per day for up to 12 weeks, extendable if medically necessary. Meals eligible for reimbursement by alternate programs are not covered.

Cost Savings and Improved Health Outcomes:

Health Outcomes: Research indicates a 22% to 58% decrease in emergency department visits and a 27% to 63% decrease in inpatient admissions among Medically Tailored Meals recipients, translating to significant health care cost savings.

Project Open Hand: A Success Story

Project Open Hand has been a leader in providing Medically Tailored Meals, significantly impacting the lives of Bay Area Medi-Cal patients with chronic illnesses. Since its inception, Project Open Hand has delivered nutritious meals to individuals with diabetes, HIV, and other serious health conditions, demonstrating remarkable health improvements and cost savings.

Key Achievements:

Improved Health Outcomes: Project Open Hand’s research found a 50% increase in medication adherence among recipients of Medically Tailored Meals.
Reduced Hospitalizations: Their program showed a 63% reduction in hospitalizations for patients with diabetes and HIV.
Enhanced Quality of Life: Patients reported better health and increased energy levels.

Project Open Hand ensures that each meal is prepared using fresh, wholesome ingredients tailored to meet the specific dietary needs of its clients. By partnering with Medi-Cal managed care plans, Project Open Hand continues to provide life-saving nutrition to those who need it most.

Join Us in Our Mission

You can experience the profound impact of Medically Tailored Meals by joining the Medi-Cal Community Supports services initiative. Your involvement can make a difference in promoting your health through nutrition.

Learn More

For more information about Medically Tailored Meals and how to get involved, call the state’s Medi-Cal Health Care options at 800-430-4263 or contact your local managed care plan.

In Alameda County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:

Alameda Alliance for Health: 510-747-4567
Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613
In Contra Costa County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:
* Contra Costa Health Plan: 877-661-6230
Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613

In Marin County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:

Partnership Health Plan of California: 800-863-4155
* Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613

In Solano County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:

* Partnership Health Plan of California: 800-863-4155
Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613

Your health and well-being are your health care provider’s top priority. Medically Tailored Meals are designed to enhance quality of life by advancing health care through the power of nutrition. Experience the benefits today and take the first step toward a healthier you.