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Jeffco Judge Pat Stephens-Moss, Breast Cancer Survivor, Backed By Her ‘Sistahs-In-Law’

By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson The Birmingham Times For a decade, Jefferson County Judge Patricia Stephens Moss has supported the Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies (BBBB) Sistah Strut, held annually at Birmingham’s Legion Field. While her support has strengthened, she now participates as one of the “Pink Sisters,” a breast cancer survivor who knows firsthand what women face […]
The post Jeffco Judge Pat Stephens-Moss, Breast Cancer Survivor, Backed By Her ‘Sistahs-In-Law’ first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 years ago

December 5, 2023

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Judge Patricia Stephens-Moss backed by an army of supporters during the Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies Sistah Strut outside Birmingham’s Legion Field. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

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By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson

The Birmingham Times

For a decade, Jefferson County Judge Patricia Stephens Moss has supported the Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies (BBBB) Sistah Strut, held annually at Birmingham’s Legion Field. While her support has strengthened, she now participates as one of the “Pink Sisters,” a breast cancer survivor who knows firsthand what women face in this personal health crisis.

“I had no idea I’d be one of her Pink Sisters,” Stephens Moss said in a recent interview with The Birmingham Times.

On Saturday, September 30, Stephens Moss not only continued her support but also brought a team of others, including police officers, judges, and judicial assistants—known as the “Sistahs in Law.”

“This is more than a walk, it’s a movement,” Stephens Moss said on Saturday. “… And I’m thankful to be a part of the movement. I’m thankful that others who work in the legal field and others came out today.”

In addition to bringing her team the judge brought some life-saving advice, too.

“Always have your yearly mammograms. I couldn’t feel the lump, so if it hadn’t been for the mammogram and if it hadn’t been for the early detection, I might not be here today,” she said.

Sistah Strut is just one of many events heralding the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is marked in countries around the world every October to help increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection, and treatment, as well as palliative care of this disease.

The Fight Begins

In 2016, Stephens Moss married the Rev. Ira Moss, pastor of New Mount Zion in Tuskegee, Alabama, who she met in 2014 after being set up by a mutual friend at football game of her alma mater, Auburn University. Their union has produced a blended family of five children, 10 grandchildren, and three bonus grands.

Fast forward three years from their wedding date, in 2019, and an unexpected diagnosis—Stephens Moss learned she had breast cancer after a routine mammogram at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center.

“I had to go back [for a follow-up visit], and [during the exam] the tech would go back to that same spot, so I got suspicious. Later, I was told that I needed a biopsy. I went in on a Monday and they called me on Friday. That’s when I learned I had breast cancer,” she said. “I’m gonna tell you that I think the lights went out for a few minutes. [The doctor] thought I was panicking, but in my mind, I was thinking, ‘Tell me what to do to get rid of it.’”

Shortly after learning about the diagnosis, Stephens Moss called a couple of breast cancer survivors and asked about their oncologists, doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating cancer. That’s when she chose her team at the Kirklin Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital, which included oncologist Erica Stringer-Reasor, M.D., a recent recipient of the Dean’s Excellence Award in Diversity Enhancement and last year’s Ambassador of Hope for Sistah Strut.

“There are all types of breast cancer, and mine was a very aggressive form—HER2 positive,” Stephens Moss said of her illness, described by the Mayo Clinic website as “a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). This protein promotes the growth of cancer cells.”

She added, “I was told I needed chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, and radiation. My chemo started on Halloween of 2019. I started chemo, and there were four different drugs put into my body on a Wednesday every three weeks. It would literally take all day. That went on from October 2019 to February 2020.”

Despite the challenges, there were some beautiful memories, Stephens Moss recalled.

“On Feb. 15, 2020, my son flew in from Arizona with his daughter and wife as I was finishing up my chemo treatment at Kirklin Clinic, and they were there when I rang the bell. Ringing the bell marks an opportunity to celebrate for cancer patients after they complete their treatment,” she said.

Click to view slideshow.

Strong and Steady Support

There was one constant throughout Stephens Moss’s fight: “My husband was with me every single visit to the doctor,” she said.

“Chemo was on Wednesday every three weeks, and it took all day. I wouldn’t schedule anything on Thursday and Friday, I’d rest Saturday, and we’d drive to church in Tuskegee on Sunday.”

While Stephens Moss’s husband would lead services, he gave her “no duties at church other than to sit and look pretty,” she said. “I said to my husband, ‘You didn’t sign up for this.’ And he said to me, ‘God just gave you to me, so I know He’s not gonna take you away from me now.’”

With her husband’s support, Stephens Moss persevered, even though the road to recovery still presented a few twists and turns and some hurdles to overcome.

One Day at a Time

Stephens Moss is an alum of Auburn University and Miles College School of Law, graduating from the latter honored as cum laude, a Latin phrase that indicates the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. Before taking the bench, she was a prosecuting attorney for the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office and held a general practice law firm. She was elected to the 10th Judicial Circuit Court, Domestic Relations, 10 years ago.

While undergoing treatment, Stephens Moss continued serving on the bench, even on days when she didn’t feel her best.

“Actually, I [was] in my office one Monday and my judicial assistant walked in and saw me lying on the floor. She flipped the light on, moved some cases, and told me I was going home,” the judge recalled.

“A lot of times after treatment, melons, [watermelons, cantaloupe, and honeydew], were the only thing I could keep down,” said Stephens Moss. “The fifth day [after chemo], I could eat regularly, but not a lot of greasy foods. I ate a lot of veggies—greens, including collard, cabbage, and turnip—and a lot of baked foods. It was easier on the palate because you get to the point where there’s a metallic taste in your mouth all the time because your taste buds are off.”

Through all of her recovery, the judge managed to keep her docket going the entire time. “A lot of attorneys feel there weren’t any hiccups,” she said.

Stephens Moss also had to have 30 radiation treatments Monday through Friday, which she had to do alone because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I would leave work, get radiation treatment, and come back to work. I did that for six weeks,” she recalled.

Another challenge manifested as she underwent treatment: “Toward the last two weeks, the radiation started to burn my skin,” Stephens Moss recalled. “I endured the broken skin and open wounds because I wanted to finish the radiation. I put cream on it, and I had a T-shirt on underneath so my clothes wouldn’t rub it.”

“For that one, I had to ring the bell by myself because of [the pandemic],” she said.

The Last Leg of the Journey

One of the most interesting things about her breast cancer fight was the timing of her diagnosis and treatment. Her surgery was March 13, 2020, just prior to the COVID-19 shutdown.

“After the surgery, you go home [the next day] with drains, which are inserted so fluid can drain out of your body where they made the incision. I kept those drains for two to three weeks,” Stephens Moss said.

One of the biggest lessons she learned had nothing to do with breast cancer: “[I began] allowing people to support me. It was difficult at first for me to accept, but eventually I did.”

“I had a friend who started a list for people to bring me meals,” said Stephens Moss. “That same friend offered for people to come to my house to help clean, and I jokingly told her, “[You’re] taking me too fast. Let’s take one step at a time, starting with the meals.’ I was thankful for the friends who helped with the meals, but I would not allow the cleaning.”

Although she remained strong for most of her treatment, Stephens Moss remembered one emotional moment when she learned of additional treatment.

“My doctor told me I had to continue infusions until December of that year, [2019]. When she told me I had to continue those infusions, it was the only time I broke down and cried,” Stephens Moss said. “It was disappointing to know I had to continue. But [my doctor] assured me that those infusions were necessary because they were a barrier to make sure the cancer didn’t come back.”

To find out more about Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies or to donate, visit https://brendasbrownbosombuddies.org.

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

The post Jeffco Judge Pat Stephens-Moss, Breast Cancer Survivor, Backed By Her ‘Sistahs-In-Law’ first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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LIHEAP Funds Released After Weeks of Delay as States and the District Rush to Protect Households from the Cold

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The federal government has released $3.6 billion in home heating assistance after a delay that left states preparing for the start of winter without the program’s annual funding.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 1, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal government has released $3.6 billion in home heating assistance after a delay that left states preparing for the start of winter without the program’s annual funding. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, helps eligible households pay heating and cooling bills. The release follows a shutdown that stretched 43 days and pushed agencies across the country to warn families of possible disruptions.

State officials in Minnesota, Kansas, New York, and Pennsylvania had already issued alerts that the delay could slow the processing of applications or force families to wait until December for help. In Pennsylvania, more than 300,000 households depend on the program each year. Minnesota officials noted that older adults, young children, and people with disabilities face the highest risk as temperatures fall.

The delay also raised concerns among advocates who track household debt tied to rising utility costs. National Energy Assistance Directors Association Executive Director Mark Wolfe said the funds were “essential and long overdue” and added that high arrearages and increased energy prices have strained families seeking help.

Some states faced additional pressure when other services were affected by the shutdown. According to data reviewed by national energy advocates, roughly 68 percent of LIHEAP households also receive nutrition assistance, and the freeze in multiple programs increased the financial burden on low-income residents. Wolfe said families were placed in “an even more precarious situation than usual” as the shutdown stretched into November.

In Maryland, lawmakers urged the Trump administration to release funds after the state recorded its first cold-related death of the season. The Maryland Department of Health reported that a man in his 30s was found outdoors in Frederick County when temperatures dropped. Last winter, the state documented 75 cold-related deaths, the highest number in five years. Rep Kweisi Mfume joined more than 100 House members calling for immediate federal action and said LIHEAP “is not a luxury” for the 100,000 Maryland households that rely on it. He added that seniors and veterans would be placed at risk if the program remained stalled.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore used $10.1 million in state funds to keep benefits moving, but noted that states cannot routinely replace federal dollars. His administration said families that rely on medical equipment requiring electricity are particularly vulnerable.

The District of Columbia has already mapped out its FY26 LIHEAP structure in documents filed with the federal government. The District’s plan shows that heating assistance, cooling assistance, weatherization, and year-round crisis assistance operate from October 1 through September 30. The District allocates 50 percent of its LIHEAP funds to heating assistance, 10 percent to cooling, 13 percent to year-round crisis assistance, 15 percent to weatherization, and 10 percent to administrative costs. Two percent is used for services that help residents reduce energy needs, including education on reading utility bills and identifying energy waste.

The District’s plan lists a minimum LIHEAP benefit of $200 and a maximum of $1,800 for both heating and cooling assistance. Crisis benefits are provided separately and may reach up to $500 when needed to resolve an emergency. The plan states that a household is considered in crisis if it has been disconnected from energy service, if heating oil is at 5 percent or less of capacity, or if the household has at least $200 owed after the regular benefit is applied.

The District’s filing notes that LIHEAP staff conduct outreach through community meetings, senior housing sites, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, social media, posters, and mass mailings. The plan confirms that LIHEAP applicants can apply in person, by mail, by email, or through a mobile-friendly online application and that physically disabled residents may request in-home visits.

As agencies nationwide begin distributing the newly released funds, states continue working through large volumes of applications. Wolfe said LIHEAP administrators “have been notified that the award letters have gone out and the states can begin to draw down the funds.”

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Seven Steps to Help Your Child Build Meaningful Connections

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Swinging side by side with a friend on the playground. Sharing chalk over bright, colorful sidewalk drawings. Hiding behind a tree during a spirited game of hide-and-seek. These simple moments between children may seem small, but they matter more than we think

Published

2 weeks ago

December 1, 2025

Oakland Post

By Niyoka McCoy, Ed.D., Chief Learning Officer, Stride/K12

Swinging side by side with a friend on the playground. Sharing chalk over bright, colorful sidewalk drawings. Hiding behind a tree during a spirited game of hide-and-seek. These simple moments between children may seem small, but they matter more than we think: They lay the foundation for some of life’s most important skills.

Through everyday play, young children begin learning essential social and emotional skills like sharing, resolving conflicts, showing empathy, and managing their emotions. These social skills help shape emotional growth and set kids up for long-term success. Socialization in early childhood isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential for development.

Yet today, many young children who haven’t yet started school aren’t getting enough consistent, meaningful interaction with peers. Research shows that there’s a decline in active free play and peer socialization when compared to previous generations.

There are many reasons for this. Children who are home with a parent during the day may spend most of their time with adults, limiting opportunities for peer play. Those in daycare or preschool may have restricted free play, and large classrooms can reduce supervision and social coaching. Some children live in rural areas, are homebound due to illness, have full schedules, or rely on screens to fill their playtime. And for some families, finding other families with young children to connect with isn’t easy.

While these challenges can feel significant, opportunities for connection still exist in every community. Families can take simple steps to help children build friendships, create a sense of belonging, and strengthen social skills. Here are some ideas to get started:

Storytime sessions at libraries or local bookstores
Community offerings such as parent-child workshops, art, music, gymnastics, swimming, or sports programs
Weekly events at children’s museums, which may include art projects, music workshops, or science experiments
Outdoor exploration, where kids can play with peers
Local parenting groups that organize playdates and group activities
Volunteer opportunities where children can participate, such as pet adoption events or packing meals at a food bank
Classes for kids at local businesses, including hardware, grocery, or craft stores

Some of these community activities are free or low-cost and give kids the chance to build friendships and practice social skills. Parents can also model positive social behavior by interacting with other parents and encouraging their children to play with their peers.

These may seem like small moments of connection, but they can have a powerful impact. Every time your child shares a toy, plays make-believe with peers, or races a friend down the slide, they’re not just playing—they’re learning the skills that build confidence, empathy, and lasting friendships. And it’s good for you, too. Creating intentional opportunities for play also helps you strengthen your own network of parents who can support one another as your children grow together.

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Seven Steps to Help Your Child Build Meaningful Connections

Published

2 weeks ago

December 1, 2025

Oakland Post

By Niyoka McCoy, Ed.D., Chief Learning Officer, Stride/K12

Storytime sessions at libraries or local bookstores
Community offerings such as parent-child workshops, art, music, gymnastics, swimming, or sports programs
Weekly events at children’s museums, which may include art projects, music workshops, or science experiments
Outdoor exploration, where kids can play with peers
Local parenting groups that organize playdates and group activities
Volunteer opportunities where children can participate, such as pet adoption events or packing meals at a food bank
Classes for kids at local businesses, including hardware, grocery, or craft stores