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Episcopal bishop breaks race, gender barriers

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Phoebe Roaf’s life-changing direction culminated when Bishop Elect Phoebe Roaf became the first female and the first African American elected to lead the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee. Her Consecration Service was Saturday, May 4th, at Hope Church.

Published

4 years ago

May 7, 2019

Oakland Post

By Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell, The New Tri-State Defender

“Now, let me get this straight. You are a successful attorney, making a good salary, and you are about to make partner, which will give you even more money,” Phoebe Roaf’s mother said. “But you want to leave all that, go to seminary for three years with no salary, and pay $100,000 because you know it’s got to be paid for. That’s really what you want to do?”

Roaf’s mother was incredulous about Roaf’s next career move.

“My mother was just being a mother,” said Roaf. “But I told her, “Yes, Mom, that’s just what I want to do. It makes me happy. The ministry will make me happy.’ After a while, my mother began to understand and support me in my position.”

Roaf’s life-changing direction culminated when Bishop Elect Phoebe Roaf became the first female and the first African American elected to lead the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee. Her Consecration Service was Saturday, May 4th, at Hope Church.

“This is so exciting because I will be consecrated by my boss. Well, God is my boss, but my earthly boss is the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry,” said Roaf. “You remember, he is the one who preached the sermon at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Bishop Curry is, himself, the first African American to hold the presiding bishop’s office.”

Curry told The New Tri-State Defender that the consecration of Roaf as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocess Of West Tennessee is “a cause for thanksgiving, celebration and hope.”

“To be sure, she and the people of West Tennessee are making history as she is the first woman as well as the first African American to hold such a position. But the real history-making moment is the hope,” Curry said. “She was not elected because she was a woman or African American, though we rightly give thanks for these gifts she brings.

“She was elected because she is a woman committed to Jesus of Nazareth and His way of love. And that way of love is the way to life for us all, black or white, Anglo or Latino, rich or poor, liberal or conservative, gay or straight, old or young. And that is a sign of hope for our country and our world. That’s history!”

At his own installation as the 27th presiding bishop and first African American to lead the 2.5 million-member denomination, Curry urged all Episcopalians to “join the Jesus movement.

He took office in November, 2015 of the predominantly European organization at the Washington National Cathedral in the nation’s capital. He told the more than 2,500 congregants who witnessed the historic moment:

“The Holy Spirit has done evangelism and racial reconciliation before in the Episcopal Church. “God is not finished with this church. God has work for us to do. Jesus has shown us the way and we are the Jesus movement, so my brothers and sisters, walk together, children, don’t you get weary.”

Roaf expressed excitement about “just the great opportunity for ministry” in her new office.

“I just feel so excited and so hopeful about the opportunity to partner with others to present the Episcopal Church to those who would not have, otherwise, considered becoming a part of this denomination,” she said. “The Holy Spirit is blowing through the Episcopal Church in a brand-new way. And I really want people to just look beyond my race and gender and see my heart. I love Jesus Christ. He is my Lord and Savior. And I am ready to serve because I love Him and I love His people.”

The West Tennessee Diocese covers all Episcopalian churches west of the Tennessee River, with more than 8,200 active members.

Roaf succeeds Bishop Don E. Johnson, who has served The Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee as Bishop since 2001.

Roaf was chosen as the Fourth Bishop of West Tennessee in November 2018 by a vote of both clergy and lay delegates to the Annual Diocesan Convention.

Roaf earned a Bachelors degree in U.S. History from Harvard and a Masters degree in Public Affairs from Princeton. She went on to earn a law degree from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, and clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit for two years. She worked in commercial real estate as an associate at a New Orleans law firm before pursuing a call to serve The Episcopal Church as clergy.

“I knew that law was not my true calling,” said Roaf. “It was not my passion. I had to ask myself, ‘What makes me excited and what makes me happy?’ It was ministry. When I was in the altar guild or teaching Sunday School, those were the things that filled me with so much joy and so much energy. I knew I was called to ministry 15 years before I actually went to seminary. Obeying God was the best thing I ever did in my life.”

Roaf attended Virginia Theological Seminary, graduating with a Masters in Divinity in 2008. She currently serves the seminary as Board of Trustees vice-chair. Roaf is the eldest of four, with one sister and two brothers. They will all be at her Consecration on Saturday.

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PRESS ROOM: Walgreens Eases Anxiety for Senior Shoppers with Monthly Seniors Day

NNPA NEWSWIRE — This feeling of concern around socialization increases for the Black senior community 55 and older with nearly 4 in 10 (39%) of these seniors reporting feeling socially isolated, 13 percentage points higher than the total population of 55 and older. In addition, over 4 in 10 (43%) seniors in the Black community reported they are limiting what they do and where they go in fear of catching COVID-19 –16 percentage points higher than the total population of 55 and older.
The post PRESS ROOM: Walgreens Eases Anxiety for Senior Shoppers with Monthly Seniors Day first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 month ago

April 26, 2023

admin

Walgreens COVID-19 Pulse Check finds Seniors are Less Socially Active Now than Before the Pandemic and Seeking Confidence in Socializing

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Today Walgreens unveils The Walgreens COVID-19 Pulse Check^[1], a quantitative study commissioned by the healthcare retailer, which surveyed over 1,000 senior adults 55 and older in the U.S. about their feelings on socializing after the pandemic. As society moves past the impacts of this pandemic, the reality for many of the nation’s 41+ million seniors is that they still feel concerned about getting sick^[2].

The survey reveals that an estimated 17 million (42%) of seniors agreed they are less socially active now than they were before the pandemic. Additionally, an estimated 8.2 million (20%) of seniors feel lonelier now than before the pandemic.

The research also reveals that seniors are missing activities they enjoyed pre-pandemic due to COVID-19 exposure anxiety, which is still prevalent in the senior community:

60% are worried about seeing friends regularly and attending family gatherings
36% miss going on vacation
28% miss going shopping or running errands
19% miss being connected to their local community
15% miss the independence of doing things for themselves, like shopping

This feeling of concern around socialization increases for the Black senior community 55 and older with nearly 4 in 10 (39%) of these seniors reporting feeling socially isolated, 13 percentage points higher than the total population of 55 and older. In addition, over 4 in 10 (43%) seniors in the Black community reported they are limiting what they do and where they go in fear of catching COVID-19 –16 percentage points higher than the total population of 55 and older.

Inspiring Senior Confidence with Shopping Experiences, Savings and Support

When seniors think about their confidence in socializing, The Walgreens COVID-19 Pulse Check found 70% of seniors are more confident socializing when the people they are around are vaccinated against COVID-19 and other viruses like flu, shingles and pneumonia.

To help create inclusive communities and unlock the joy of aging, Walgreens Seniors Day fosters an accessible, safe and supported environment. Patients 55 and older and their caregivers can save 20% off eligible regular-priced merchandise on the first Tuesday of every month or online all week with code SENIOR20 at checkout (Sunday-Saturday of that week).

At checkout, Seniors should let a Walgreens team member know they are shopping with the Seniors Day discount for the savings to apply to their purchase. Those with Medicare Advantage over-the-counter benefits are encouraged to ask team members how to take advantage of their benefit while in store.

Our pharmacy teams are trained to support the senior population through pharmacy services including, Save A Trip Refill,^[3] 90-day prescription fills^[4] and refill reminders^[5] which are designed to make medication management easier, keeping them healthy and avoid hospitalization.

With the Majority of Seniors Feeling More Confident in a Society with Immunizations and Testing, Building a Healthy Post-Pandemic World Where Everyone Feels Included is a Shared Responsibility

No cost at-home COVID-19 tests are available with most insurance plans through May 11, 2023^[6]. Limits apply to the number of tests covered per person per month. Walgreens brand at-home COVID-19 tests provide an affordable option and are available with a deeper discount on Senior Day. Walgreens pharmacy team members are available to help customers use their pharmacy benefits to get over-the-counter test kits through their insurance.

“As a trusted healthcare destination, we’re giving customers another testing option to stay ahead of COVID-19 with our Walgreens brand at-home COVID-19 test, broadening our assortment in stores and online,” said Luke Rauch, Walgreens chief merchandising officer and senior vice president. “In addition to tests, we offer an assortment of Walgreens brand products that offer a great everyday value and are designed to meet our consumers’ needs.”

To help further protect this senior community more at risk from, and concerned about, COVID-19, shingles and pneumonia, Walgreens pharmacy team members are available during Seniors Days and every day to make getting vaccinated simple. This includes the recently approved additional bivalent (updated) COVID-19 dose for those ages 65+ and certain immunocompromised individuals. Customers can schedule a vaccine appointment online, via the myWalgreens app or by calling (800)-WALGREENS, available in both Spanish and English.

Unlocking the Joy of Aging with Essential Products & Doorstep Delivery

With more than 85,000 healthcare service providers, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and nurse practitioners, Walgreens offers customers with more complex health needs easy access to the medications, treatments and products they need to keep safe and well. This includes products from walkers and hearing aids along with our Walgreens brand line of vitamins with a range of products likeCalcium, Iron and Vitamin C. As a trusted name in health and wellness, Walgreens brand health and wellness products are Walgreens pharmacist recommended and backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Making it even easier for seniors to get the products they want and need, Walgreens now offers 24-Hour delivery. Available around the clock, seven days a week from 600+ participating stores across the country, customers can get last-minute needs like groceries, over-the-counter medications, personal care items, household necessities and more. If a customer wants to swing by Walgreens, 30-minute pickup makes it easy to shop their local store via Walgreens.com or the myWalgreens app and have items ready for pickup in-store or curbside in as little as 30 minutes.

To find out more about the work Walgreens is doing to support our senior communities visit Walgeens.com.

About The Study

The Walgreens COVID-19 Pulse Check Study is a quantitative survey of 1,048 adults 55 and older conducted February 17 – 18, 2023 using an online data collection methodology. The survey was fielded by Dynata, a global survey vendor, and was commissioned by Walgreens.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (http://www.walgreens.com) is included in the U.S. Retail Pharmacy and U.S. Healthcare segments of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader with a 170-year heritage of caring for communities. WBA’s purpose is to create more joyful lives through better health. Operating nearly 9,000 retail locations across America, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Walgreens is proud to be a neighborhood health destination serving nearly 10 million customers each day. Walgreens pharmacists play a critical role in the U.S. healthcare system by providing a wide range of pharmacy and healthcare services, including those that drive equitable access to care for the nation’s medically underserved populations. To best meet the needs of customers and patients, Walgreens offers a true omnichannel experience, with fully integrated physical and digital platforms supported by the latest technology to deliver high-quality products and services in communities nationwide.

^[1]All statistics unless otherwise stated are from the Walgreens COVID-19 Pulse Check Study.

^[2]US Census, 2020: Total number of adults over 55. Source: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/2020/2020-census-main.html

^[3] Restrictions apply.

^[4] Restrictions apply.

^[5] Data rates may apply.

^[6] Applies to most fully-insured and self-insured group and individual coverage, until the end of the public health emergency. Covers up to eight (8) rapid antigen test per month. COVID-19 home test kit returns will not be accepted.

The post PRESS ROOM: Walgreens Eases Anxiety for Senior Shoppers with Monthly Seniors Day first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

#NNPA BlackPress

Safe Spaces for Collective Healing: Group Therapy in Black Communities

April 14, 2023 – Join host Al McFarlane and expert contributors, Dr. Bravada Garrett-Akinsanya and Dr. Oliver J. Williams, for an enlightening discussion on the benefits of group therapy in Black communities. Learn how creating safe spaces can promote collective healing and empower your community. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in this important conversation […]
The post Safe Spaces for Collective Healing: Group Therapy in Black Communities first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 month ago

April 25, 2023

admin

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in this important conversation and take steps towards mental wellness.

The Conversation With Al McFarlane (TCWAM), Weekdays at 1 pm CST / 2 pm EST / 11 am PST

We hope you will join us at 1 pm CST / 2 pm EST / 11 am PST as we continue our ongoing conversations about how we can all make a difference in our community.

SUBSCRIBE to TCWAM on Insight News YouTube channel: / @insightnewsmn

The post Safe Spaces for Collective Healing: Group Therapy in Black Communities first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Muscle and Power – Taking the 2023 BMW M2 Coupe for a Spin

Muscle and Power – Taking the 2023 BMW M2 Coupe for a Spin and walkaround. Looking for a car that can deliver the ultimate driving experience? Look no further than the 2023 BMW M2 Coupe. This new model boasts an impressive 3.0-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine, producing an incredible 453 horsepower at […]
The post Muscle and Power – Taking the 2023 BMW M2 Coupe for a Spin first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 month ago

April 25, 2023

Oakland Post

Muscle and Power – Taking the 2023 BMW M2 Coupe for a Spin and walkaround. Looking for a car that can deliver the ultimate driving experience? Look no further than the 2023 BMW M2 Coupe. This new model boasts an impressive 3.0-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine, producing an incredible 453 horsepower at 406 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 time of just a little less than 4 seconds. The car is rear-wheel drive, which enhances the driving experience even further.

The M2 Coupe has a muscular appearance, with flared fenders and a smaller traditional BMW kidney grille. The M colors red and blue are seen throughout the interior, even on the front door panels, adding to the sporty feel of the car. The M sport seats are designed to grip and hold you in place, so you can truly feel the power of the car. The car also has a carbon fiber roof, which reduces weight and improves performance.

When it comes to handling, the M2 Coupe is excellent. The car has excellent steering and handling, which allows it to stay flat in the curves. The car’s M1 and M2 driving modes allow you to customize your steering, suspension, and other suspension enhancements in the car setup. The car even has a Drift analyzer for drift mode, which is a fun feature for those who love to take their driving to the next level.

The car also has an exhaust tone control, which is operated from a button on the center console. This allows you to adjust the exhaust tone to your liking. Additionally, the car has extra chassis bracing in the engine compartment, which improves performance even further.

The M2 Coupe comes equipped with front tires Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S 275/35 ZR19 and rear tires Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S 285/30 ZR 20. These tires are designed for high-performance driving and add to the overall driving experience of the car.

Other impressive features of the car include its M sport differential, which helps improve handling, and its multiple driving modes, allowing you to customize your driving experience. The car even has a drift analyzer for drift mode, a fun feature for those who like to push their driving skills to the limit.

The M2 Coupe also has an impressive audio system, featuring a Harman Kardon Surround Sound Audio System, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The car’s Live Cockpit Pro HUD and Connected Package Pro feature real-time traffic, on-street parking info (select cities), and BMW Remote Services.

Overall, the 2023 BMW M2 Coupe is a car that any driving enthusiast would be proud to own. Its impressive performance specs, M colors, excellent handling, and impressive features make it a true standout in the world of sports cars. If you’re looking for the ultimate driving machine, look no further than the BMW M2 Coupe.

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The post Muscle and Power – Taking the 2023 BMW M2 Coupe for a Spin first appeared on BlackPressUSA.