November 5, 2023 • 38 mins
Dawn Dai sits down with Jhade Barnes, Chairman of the Los Angeles African American Male 5k Walk/Run to discuss the importance of closing the health equity gap amongst African American men. Brought to you by The African American Male Wellness Agency.
If you're in Los Angeles, come out and get your FREE health screening, Nov. 11th!
For more information, visit: LA.AAWELLNESS.ORG.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, good after noon, good evening.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
You are tuned in to the Vitamin D with Dawn
Dae podcast and I am your host, Dawn Day, here
to get you excited about your life so that you
can live life on purpose and for a purpose.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
If this is your first.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Time tuning in, welcome Vitamin D. It's upon of my name.
My name is Dawn and you get Vitamin D from
the sun. So I'm here a shed light into your life.
And I do this with inspirational insights and conversations with
celebrities and everyday people like you and me, because if
you want to be better and you want to do better,
then you're going to have to be able to see better.
So join me on this journey of living our best
(00:35):
lives and understanding and realizing how you are your greatest
ass at get.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Your vitingy right here with me and get excited about
your life.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
They say health this wealth, Well, what's your account looking like.
We're going to have a conversation today about a matter
that's important near and dear to all of us in
the African American community, and that's the health of our
African American males. Are you taking care of yourself? And
more importantly, do you know your numbers? Did you know
(01:09):
that African American men die twelve years earlier than their
white counterpart?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Why is that?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Well, we're going to discuss that with our special guests,
but first I want to play this video about an
event that's happening Saturday, November eleventh at eight am right
here in Los Angeles is going to work in an
effort of closing the health equity gap.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Take a look, Los Angeles, black men are dying from
preventable diseases.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
You can be part of the solution. Come out to five.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Zero zero one Obama Boulevard on Saturday, November eleventh at
eight am for the African American Male Wellness Walking Run
featuring Honorary Chair tr Main Anchrum of the Los Angeles
Brown This is a free family event with free health screenings,
kids area entertainment, and much more. Visitaawellness dot org and
we'll see you on Saturday, November eleventh, Walking to save
(02:03):
black Man's lives.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
All right, so now let's get ready for this conversation.
Get your radio waves, get your podcast waves, just get
ready for me.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
To welcome our very special guest. We have Jade Barnes.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
He is the chairman of the Los Angeles African American
Wellness five k Walk Run, which is the health and
wellness arm of the African American Mail Well Agency too
the National Center for Urban Solutions. So without further ado,
please help me welcome mister Jay Bondes.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
Good afternoon. It's great to see you. How's it going, Darth.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
You know, what's a great day to be alive?
Speaker 5 (02:45):
Anytime on this side of the earth is a blessing.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
I'm telling you.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
And speaking of which, on being on this side of
the earth, we got something important to talk about African
American males. They are known to die twelve years earlier
in their white counterparts.
Speaker 6 (03:02):
So the African American Male Wealdness Agency is really tasked
on a national level that increase the life expectancy for
Black men specifically and their families.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
It has always been our theory and our model that.
Speaker 6 (03:15):
If we can get the black men healthy, they can
then work longer, they can be more fiscally responsible, they
can take care of their families, their children, and really
be a greater ad to the overall community.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
And we launched this awareness campaign about twenty years.
Speaker 6 (03:32):
Ago where we were spreading the gospel about just knowing
your numbers. Awareness is the key thing. So one note
to add about the nine twelve years earlier, these are
all from preventable diseases. So that means if you just
go to the doctor annually, get a check up. When
you start feeling those pains or those aches, it's not
(03:55):
just sit down, let's sleep it off, get some ginger ail.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
It's like, let's go speak with a physician, actually get.
Speaker 6 (04:00):
Some understanding about what's going on inside of our bodies.
So what we're gonna do is create the most fun
you'll ever have at a doctor's appointment. Next Saturday, on
the eleventh, we are going to have DJs out there.
We've got the Lovely Dawn Day on the Red Carpet
doing live interviews. We've got yoga, we've got sound bass,
we've got meditation, we've got men circles so we can
(04:23):
just talk. What we found is that black men really
need to talk to each other.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
We're not crazy. We're just going through eggs and pains.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
You know, it seems as though we have gotten to
a point when we're kind of used to the ache
and pain because for whatever reasons, there's some type of
fear or stigma when it comes down to seeing the
doctor and I'm raising my hand.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Listen.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
I have been known to be guilty of myself to
not feel something right in my body and say, oh,
I'm gonna sleep it all for or you know, the
whole idea ginger rail.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
And wait till your stomach cel. But here's the thing.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
If you are feeling something in your body, that's your
body communicating with you. And when we talk about having
a successful relationship, any type of relationship, the key is communication.
And it's like, well, if we can't communicate with ourselves,
how can we expect to communicate with anything else in
our lives? Preach you know, so many people are afraid
(05:20):
of knowing. But when you know better, you can do better.
And it's time to do better.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
We do not have a choice at this point.
Speaker 6 (05:27):
We've got to be responsible for ourselves, our bodies, our
health and wellness. You know, historically black folks just don't
trust the medical profession in general with different experiments. You
think about the Skegee and the historical context about the
government really just not taking care of us, are really
looking after our best interests. There's some issues in terms
(05:48):
of just trust and building relationships. We build a rapport
vet those screeners and our community partners. That way, when
they get to you, most likely you'll have a black
face talking to you. But in addition, you know, folks
have talked, embedded and established that there are good medical
practices so that you get the help and care that
you need. And most of the time it's free or
low cost with our community partners.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
So we're going to be amongst family, people that look
like us, that could communicate with us so that.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
We can beat us.
Speaker 5 (06:19):
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
And you know, when we talk about this walk too,
another thing that I thought that was so great is
that this is a family event. You don't have to
worry about going along, because sometimes that can be a
little hard, that can be a little tricky.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
And let's just say, sometimes we're a bit scared. Look,
you don't have to admit it, but it's true.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Sometimes we are apprehensive about going for a checkup, going
to talk to somebody because we feel as though it's
just us. Well, in this case, you can bring your family,
you can bring the kids. There's going to be entertainment,
there's going to be vendors. What else can we expect.
Speaker 6 (06:51):
Listen, think about a fan of reunion style activity where
we're just going to get a little check up while
we're there. So you're bounceizers for kids and maybe with
some sack races, some sprints, some face painting for the kids.
You're gonna have a couple of DJs that'll be rocking out.
Of course, our partners with KJLAH and iHeart Radio and
(07:13):
Vitamin D with Dawn Day. And I'm missing some folks
kb LA passing the Black Pages. If they're black and
they care about us, they're gonna be at this event
and we're gonna have a good old time. So friends, brothers, cousins, uncles, dads,
you know, sons, everybody come out. And women come too,
(07:34):
because we have several vendors that have resources specifically for women.
We know that women specifically in our Black community are
really the backbone that have been the anchor for us
to stay together. So we don't forget about you. We've
got stuff there for you, and we know if you come,
bring the kids, bring a husband, bring the boyfriend, bring
the brother. We've got something for everybody to have a
(07:56):
good old time.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Okay, And so as we mentioned, this is being brought
to us by the African American Male Wellness Agency. Can
you tell us a little bit about the organization and
why it got started.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
Yep.
Speaker 6 (08:09):
So the agency started really in a response to figure
out why black men weren't going to work. We did
a research project and we were finding that black men
weren't going to the work because of health issues. So
part of it was in order to get your check
every week, you had to do a quick physical so
to know those numbers, your blood pressure, checking on those
and once we started implementing that as the agency, they
(08:32):
were showing up, they were getting a check.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
So then we said, hey, let's elevate this.
Speaker 6 (08:37):
You got all these other organizations who don't focus on us,
that do these race for the Cure and five K
for this, So we said, we're going to do something
for black folks that mirrors these efforts. Where we can
bring awareness, we can bring fun that we can bring
entertainment and make sure that we're saving our people. And
we don't only do this, so it's more than a walk.
(08:58):
We have something called a Fire Initiative where we do
cooking with dads and fishing with dads. We also do
financial wellness where we can partner with different financial institutions
help us out when it comes to this day to
day budgeting or I've got this credit card debt, how
am I going to pay this off?
Speaker 5 (09:15):
What's the strategic plan around that?
Speaker 6 (09:17):
How do we build our credit so that we can
then purchase a home where we can get more blood
folks and homes that have home ownership and equity versus paying.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
Rent that can fluctuate from time to time.
Speaker 6 (09:28):
So we really try to take a holistic approach when
it comes to health and wellness. Again, if we know better,
we can do better. And our goal is to educate,
provide resources, provide love and a sense of community where
you can live longer. There was one other thing don
that I missed was our best program in my opinion,
(09:49):
It's called Real Men, Real Talk, which is a farbershop
style Black men getting together and we're going to shoot
the funts of the speak and we talk about what's
going on, our stresses, our problems, our headaches. And you've
got thirty forty fifty other men in the room that says, hey, brother,
you ain't crazy. I've been through this. This is how
(10:10):
I navigated. These are some things that I did to
remove the stresses, and really create a sense of communities.
So when those dark times come, you've got a brother,
the call, text, email, jump in a group chat, but
really make sure that you're not alone and.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
That you can make it through whatever adversity that you
may be experiencing during the time.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
So hold on this, real man, real talk is going
to be there on Saturday, November eleven.
Speaker 6 (10:35):
So we'll have the small version and we really partner
with our group called Black Men Build LA to facilitate
our Men's Circle, So very similar setup, but not the
official event so to speak. But we're not egotistical. If
we've got community partners who have similar programming and resources,
we are always looking to partner and collaborate. There's no
(10:55):
sense in reinventing the wheel. We can just come together
and do the same work to say the same people.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
So Black Men Bill LA would.
Speaker 6 (11:03):
Be facilitating that conversation on Saturday instead of us.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Well, I love this because you know when you said
the whole situation of sitting down having a barber talk,
it's like, at some point, I don't know if history
did it. You know, sometimes just life be lifeing, but
just as well as we've forgotten how to communicate with ourselves.
It's like communicate with your brothers and your sisters, communicate
with your community. Because you are not alone. We know
that we can go farther together. We can be stronger
(11:33):
together than we can by ourselves. And if we can
get back to the point of what it means to
stick by each other, to be your brother's keepers, to
be your sister's keepers, to be your kids siblings keeper,
Oh my gosh, how far we can get there. And
as you were talking, you said the screenings. Now, the
(11:54):
screens that will be taking place, we're talking about blood pressure,
glucose cholesterol, HIV, STD STI, and prostate cancer, which we
know prostate cancer is one that takes out men immediately.
That's one of the along with pancreatic cancers that is
very intense when it talks about taking a toll on
the body.
Speaker 6 (12:16):
Absolutely, we'll also have some foot screenings, but to speak
to the prostate, the colorectal cancer, those are all things
that are I mean, the numbers are off the charts
in terms of how biased it is to black folks.
So it's important even at a young age. So I
think the medical professionals say around forty. I'm encouraging black
(12:39):
men around thirty five is when we need to start
having those screenings. And what I can tell you because
I'm of that age, it is no longer that invasive procedure.
Speaker 5 (12:49):
We can take some blood and figure it out versus
having to touch on you.
Speaker 6 (12:53):
And that's one of the things that I really really
want men to know, Like you don't have to get
violated to figure that out. Let's draw some blood, Let's
have some conversation and do some other ways to figure
it out. But like, we can solve this. There's no
reason to die early. But we can work together now
and figure.
Speaker 5 (13:12):
It out and take preventive measures and steps to help
out with that.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
So I'm curious, Jay, because your passion it runs deep.
Speaker 5 (13:19):
You know.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
We first got our conversation on the FM DOL and
then when I saw it come back around, I said, wait,
what's going on? Why are you so passionate about this work?
Speaker 6 (13:30):
Last year alone, I lost two of my brothers, my
frat brothers, to pancreatic cancer, and one at thirty one
in their early sixties.
Speaker 5 (13:41):
Thirty years old, yes.
Speaker 6 (13:42):
Thirty years old, Like yeah, that took me out. So
like this is my guy. We just went on vacation together.
We're down in Mexico kicking it, and pancreatic cancer moved
extremely fast and it is fatal.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
The survival rate is extremely low.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Did he seem as though he was sick?
Speaker 5 (14:04):
No? No. We got back from vacation maybe a month
or two.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
Afterwards, and it's just like, hey, I've been diagnosed. I'm like, well,
what does this mean? So of course I'm going and
googling and looking it up. And the more and more
I read, the more and more my mouth.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
Dropped and was like, this isn't good.
Speaker 6 (14:22):
So, I mean, he made it a long time in
terms of about nine months after diagnosis, but in general,
it is extremely fatal, and you.
Speaker 5 (14:31):
Know, just get Having those continuous.
Speaker 6 (14:34):
Visits and checkings and touch points with your physician will
help identify that as well as other things that may
exist that we aren't keeping an eye on. And everything's
not going to be where you're down and out, where
you're feeling bad or you're sluggish, where there's visible signs
we need to do some blood work, and a lot
of times it's not that much we're talking about the fingerprint,
(14:56):
like we're not giving out pints of blood. When you
get there Saturday, you're going to get a fingerprint and
then you'll get a nice little band aid and we're done.
Like that covers all your screenings, So just keep in
mind like we're not giving up your whole body.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
It's not invasive. The goal is just to get some
quick diagnosis.
Speaker 6 (15:15):
See some key indicators that say hey, we may need
to have further conversations.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
Now.
Speaker 6 (15:20):
We are super blessed to have partners with the company
called Para Suite, as well as a few local physicians
that will be there. So after you get your screening numbers,
you're then able to review them with a black physician
to tell you, hey, maybe we need to change the diet,
maybe we need to increase exercise, maybe we need to
follow up with your primary care provider to check some
levels or do some X rays. But all of this stuff, again,
(15:43):
it's free. It gives you the opportunity to increase your
life expectancy. That is one hundred percent in line with
our goal to save lives of black folks and increase
their life expectancy.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
So I can imagine, you know, sometimes people may not
have insurance and the first thing that they're afraid about
is like, how much is going to cost?
Speaker 1 (16:00):
How much is it going to cost for these screenings?
Speaker 5 (16:02):
Chain again, this is free. Do you understand? Like that
said all year.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
All somebody has to do is pull up on Saturday,
November eleventh at the Rancho Cianca Park right behind Dorsey
High School and find at their numbers.
Speaker 6 (16:20):
Pull up, show up, run up, fly up, however you
want to get up, but be there, be there.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
That all it.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Takes for you is to show up, And you can
only wonder is are you willing to.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Show up for yourself? Show up for your life?
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Because if it's not for you, what about your family,
your legacy. We are so quick to show up to
a job or a paycheck, but what if you can't
show up for yourself to get to the job. Then
the question becomes then watch Because the whole notion that
African American males are dying twelve years earlier then their
(17:00):
white male counterparts, that's something to have a conversation about.
That's something that we need to dig into, explore furthermore
to know that there is a community where you don't
have to worry about feeling like you are alone because
you got people that look like you people who are
concerned just like you, people who have gone through the
same things, just like you. To have a conversation and
(17:23):
how you going to elevate your life. That's amazing, It's
profound and it's something to talk about. And I understand too.
You have quite a few community leaders coming out. You
have an honorary chair. Can you share more?
Speaker 6 (17:40):
Absolutely, we've been blessed with the Walter Payton Man the year.
When it comes to philanthropic effort, it's a Tremaine anchorum
who plays guard for the La Rams.
Speaker 5 (17:51):
He is our honorary chair and really driving and.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
Supporting us with our engagement when it comes to spreading
the words saving black men's lives, make sure that we
know our numbers. He's been instrumental in connecting us with
community partners and resources to really evangelize you know, the
normalcy of health and wellness for black folks. We also
have you know, Heather hut which is our councilwoman in
(18:15):
the tenth district, who's been instrumental in terms of supporting
and helping and make sure we have every resource needed
to make sure that the venue location, all the tent,
tables and chairs are taken care of. Like, she's absolutely phenomenal,
and then I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our
county supervisor, Holly J. Mitchell, who has done the same.
(18:36):
Her and her office have been instrumental. So these are
black women, black men who care about us and putting
their money where their mouth is and showing up for
us when it comes to getting things done, so this.
Speaker 5 (18:50):
Event doesn't happen without them. We also are wonderful sponsors.
Speaker 6 (18:55):
We can touch on them later, but people who care
about us are actually showing up with money, time and
resources to say Black men's lives matter, our health matters,
our families matter, and this event is really here to
make sure that we scream that at the top of
our lungs and have a good old time doing it.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
I love that, and you know it's the organization. The
mission is to increase the life expectancy of African American
male and physical health, mental health, financial health, fatherhood and research.
For somebody that may be new to this and they're
listening to this episode or perhaps e've ben watching us,
what does health equity mean?
Speaker 5 (19:39):
So health equity means that.
Speaker 6 (19:43):
One the availability, the costs and access to care and
resources is essentially even for all races and.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
Other groups in general.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
So making sure that there's no barriers from an education standpoint,
is there a black position that is in your neighborhood?
Can we get you, know you, representation with people who
understand your needs as a black person, and with that,
can they speak to you in terms that you understand?
Medical terms are like I went to college, I read
(20:20):
a lot.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
I still look at reports.
Speaker 6 (20:22):
I'm like, I don't know what the hell is saying
like I need someone to break this down in some
stuff that I understand that says, what's the LDL? Well,
I don't know what the LDL is, but I know
when you say my sugar's high, and I know when
you say my pressures up. I can to understand that commonality.
And when it comes to quality and equity when it
comes to healthcare, communication is one of them, as well
(20:43):
as access and making sure that you have representation.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Representation matters. Support matters because you matter. So are you
willing to show up for yourself better?
Speaker 5 (20:58):
Yet?
Speaker 1 (20:58):
How much do you love yourself?
Speaker 2 (21:00):
You know, we say we're here for a good time,
not a long time. So how are you making this
time count in your life? With the greatest asset, which
is you, because everything and extension of earth is in existence. Well,
if you don't exist, then what's what you say?
Speaker 5 (21:15):
That?
Speaker 2 (21:15):
You love your family, You say that you want this house,
you say you want to travel on this vacation, you
say you want to see the world.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
You say you got these big dreams.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Well, if you aren't taking care of yourself to ignite
those dreams, to live out that life, then what does
it all matter? So this is your time to show
up for yourself. Saturday, November eleventh, from eight am to
twelve pm. Come out so we can support on what
it means to close this health equity gap.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
And it starts with you.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
My brothers, tell a friend, to tell a friend, tell somebody,
it's time to love on ourselves.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
What would you say?
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Have you ever had a health scared day?
Speaker 5 (21:59):
No major scarce, knock on woods?
Speaker 6 (22:06):
You know I tried not to, you know, I try
to stay active. I try to golf, I try to
play tennis. I'm out in the yard, door, physical work,
and you know, try try to do the things to
be responsible.
Speaker 5 (22:17):
Now the health. The biggest health scare for me was alcohol.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
I loved me some alcohol, you know, and could drink drink, drink.
So like last year, December tenth was my last day
of drinking alcohol and making.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
That change because I wasn't myself anymore. I was no
longer the fun.
Speaker 6 (22:35):
Drunk and entertaining and a good time. I'm emotional, I'm angry.
So when I thought about my mental health and mental
wellness and how it was showing up for my fiance
at the time, now, my wife, I wasn't the guy
that she needed to marry or wanted to marry as
a result of my consumption alcohol. So with that, you
have to start making some adult decisions and changing your life.
(22:57):
If I want this woman, if I want this house,
if I want to keep going to work and staying employed, Like, hey,
I got to change my behaviors and hopefully that translates
when it comes to medical, mental, physical, all these things aligned.
We have to make decisions to win and show up
for each other and show up for ourselves most importantly,
if we're no good, we're no good for anyone else.
(23:20):
And really having that self awareness and self care to
make a tough decision. Now, I tell you, it's not
fun going to party still, you know where everybody's taking
shots and having a good time.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
But I am glad that I can be there, I
can be present.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
I remember things now, not blacking out, but really taking
ownership when it comes to that was a big important
step when it comes to health and wellness for.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Me, Thank you for choosing yourself.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
Ject that's the only person I got.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
All the time, we talk about having so many commitments
to other things in our lives, and it's like, wait
a minute. The longest commitment to whomever is going to
be yourself. So why wouldn't you make yourself a priority?
You're hearing how people are falling left and right, and
to know that all it's about is choosing yourself. And yes,
it's going to be uncomfortable, but you asked to grow,
(24:11):
didn't you.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
You didn't want to say the same, did you.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
If you don't like how you're feeling, if you don't
like what you're doing, well, here's an opportunity for you.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
To show up.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
So show up on Saturday, November eleventh, from eight am
to twelve pm right here in Los Angeles, California, the
African American Male Wellness five K walk one will be happy.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
The question is will you? Now you talked.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
About some sponsors who are some of the sponsors of
this year's walk.
Speaker 5 (24:39):
We've been super blessed.
Speaker 6 (24:41):
Our major sponsor is going to be Johnson and Johnson
who has committed to our agency nationwide. We are in
sixteen different cities, so they have a national partnership as
well as genin Tech that helps us out tremendously. Again,
Heather hud Holly Mitchell are A Health Foundation is also
(25:01):
a major sponsor. Probably miss oh Parsuite is another one.
Cover California as well as La Care No. Cover California
is going to be doing something. It's open enrollment season,
so we're gonna have a couple of different open enrollment sessions.
You'll be able to meet with the Chief Medical Officer.
Day Lamar will also be over there facilitating that segment
(25:25):
from from the FM channels and you and Monica, who
is the black woman chief Medical officer over there, will
be over there just telling you.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
About open enrollment.
Speaker 6 (25:36):
The resources with Cover California, We've got so many different
partners that have literally said, hey, this is the cast
that we need to stand behind. And again, none of
this happens without this cost. It's you know, it's an
expense to have an event to have entertainment.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
Listen.
Speaker 6 (25:53):
We probably spend over one hundred thousand dollars to make
this event come to LA and we don't take it
over to you know. So far, we're not going downtown
to La Lot.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
We are in our community next to Dorsey High School.
Speaker 6 (26:06):
Were talking Bray and Obama at the Michelle and Barack
Obama Sports Complex. We are for the people with the people,
and we want to make sure that we win. So
we are here. Companies are behind us, and we're going
to continue to grow. This is just the first phase
of the work that we're doing. I will let the
cat out of the bag a little bit, so it
(26:28):
will no longer be the African American Male Wellness Walk
and Run.
Speaker 5 (26:32):
After this event, it will now.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
Be the Black Wellness Day that is encompassing men, women
and children directly. Now, we did launch a program in
Columbus at Houston where we have a program called Uplift Her,
which is the equivalent of with the Black Male Walking
Run is for men.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
So women get screenings.
Speaker 6 (26:52):
They are very health specifics, tobamograms and all types of
different resources that are specific to women. Having them come
together and be able to you know, work through those things.
Collectively and have a good time. And sometimes they do
the mimosas and maternity conversations and all types of women
(27:12):
nuanced stuff. But next year it's gonna be a wellness
stage for black folks. Overall, we're gonna have a ton
of fun. We're growing our partnerships. There is a major
celebrity that I can't announce it, but any.
Speaker 5 (27:27):
If you watch football, if you watch football.
Speaker 6 (27:30):
And you really really enjoy it, and like people talking
about theme music maybe coming on board to help us
out and evangelize mental health and wellness across the board.
But there's a lot of fun. Pacman Jones that's been
on board with us. They're doing a real memorial talkdown
in Houston. Anthony Hamilton's been a part, Bubba Wallace, Penny Hardaway, Music,
(27:57):
Soul Child across the board. Like when we tell black
folks what we're doing, celebrities, entertainers, they say, Hey, there's
a cause we can get behind. And now the only
thing that's missing is you've got to get behind it.
As people come out and support us, have a good time,
show up, listen. If you can bring three people, that'd
be great. If you go to church, every church in La.
(28:19):
Bring ten men and we're in good shade that really
make an impact. And this will just cascades. So for
contexts Columbus where it started, where headquarters is, they do
about forty thousand black folks out for this event. Wow,
forty forty thousand people in the streets walking through the
community getting health screenings.
Speaker 5 (28:39):
We're lying, dancing, we got the Greeks out.
Speaker 6 (28:42):
I'm a cue, so we're out, We're strolling, we're hopping around.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
You know, it is a good time. So like you know,
I may even break out the three sixty booths this
year in LA just to add add a little something
to it. But listen, think about fun.
Speaker 6 (28:57):
Think about fun like you have the best time at
your face and a reunion, or cousins hung out on
the weekends, you have sleepovers. Think about that when you
come to this event. We'll just get your little check
up in between. And I've literally had my wife enlist
all the church aunties and deaconesses and the most attractive
women that we can find. They are gonna be a volunteer.
(29:19):
So don't try to swerve them. Talking about you went
to a doctor last week last month. We don't play
that because you know, they're gonna grab you. Come on, baby,
we're gonna get your screen right now. And for black women, listen,
I hear the a lot of single black women in
LA hard to find a man. This just might be
the event to show up to since we are focusing
(29:40):
on black men and they at least care enough to
show up about the help.
Speaker 5 (29:44):
So I don't like.
Speaker 6 (29:45):
Bribing people, but I'm telling you, if you want to
do something, this might be the time to find a.
Speaker 5 (29:50):
Good man, real good good.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
A good man. I don't need help.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
Yeah yeah, yeah, good clean man.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Well, I'm telling you if that didn't right there, do
it for you. I don't know will what will?
Speaker 5 (30:07):
I mean?
Speaker 2 (30:07):
It's going to be free. There is no cost. What
we did not talk about? How do we register? Do
we need to go online? Can we just show up?
Do I need to have a group?
Speaker 1 (30:16):
What's going on day?
Speaker 6 (30:17):
There are a few different ways. The easiest way is
to go to LA dot AA Wellness dot org and
you can register there. Registration's free.
Speaker 5 (30:27):
If you want to register as a group, you click
the passion teams.
Speaker 6 (30:29):
A passion team is simply a group of two more
people walking for a call. So whether that's your brothers,
whether that's your family, whether you've lost someone, whether you're
part of a Greek organization, whether you're part of a
social club, whether you want to do a church, you
got a book group, whatever it is, you come out.
Y'all want to look alike, wear save t shirts, wear
the same color, Come hang out, come walk, take some pictures,
(30:54):
get screened, and have a good time.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
But the other thing is the event is still free.
If you show up.
Speaker 6 (31:00):
We're not turning you away, So pull up even if
you don't get a chance to register. But there will
be some giveaways and some free books, some resources, and
people that have told their story and donate the items
that we want to hand out. Great opportunity. When you
register to get those things, we can call you out
or mail you. And then if you care about any
(31:21):
of the other services or programs that we're doing throughout
the year, this is the way we can get in
contact with you. So we're not going to blast and
spam you. You probably get maybe one email a month.
Our goal is not.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
To bombard you with stuff. The things just to make
you aware about the free resources.
Speaker 6 (31:37):
We don't do anything that's ever charged for people, So
everything that we do in the community, and the work
that we do is free to the community, and it
is my job to find sponsors and people to pay
for it so it's free.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
So this event is all about love. This event is
all about love and on yourself. This event is all
about when you know better, you can do better, You
ready to be better. I'm just saying, as you know,
I end the episode each and every time talking about
how you are your greatest asset. Are you ready to
show yourself as such? Because if your health isn't there,
(32:13):
what else matters? That is your top priority. You're talking
about this job, You're talking about your kids, You're talking
about the family, You're talking about this car you want.
You talking about the outfit you want to wear. You're
talking about that vacation you want to go on. But
if you ain't got you, what are we really talking about. Well,
we're talking about closing the health equity gap. We're talking
about the fact that our African American males are twelve
(32:35):
are at twelve years earlier dying than our white male counterparts.
But why is that You said that you want to
find a loved one, a partner.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Would you got to be in good health to do that?
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Now?
Speaker 2 (32:50):
One thing that I really appreciate that you discussed, Jade,
is that you said that this.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
Isn't an opportunity for open enrollment. I feel half the.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
Time, especially if you are of low income or you
just may not know, it can become confusing when it
comes down to sign up for health insurance. It can
become a confusing about what type of physician that you need. Well,
if you pull up, you walk up, you drive up,
you get up, this is an opportunity for you to
speak to somebody that can answer the questions that you have.
(33:17):
So I'm assuming we need some type of identification.
Speaker 5 (33:21):
Just show up. Well, take care all of the people
of resources that we work with.
Speaker 6 (33:27):
Our HIPPOC compliance means they're not going to tell sell
or give away your information. But show up to show
up again, You're a meeting with the chief medical officer
who is a black woman, who will be there live
and in person to answer those questions. Not going on
the website and trying to figure out what do I
click here?
Speaker 5 (33:46):
What do I move here? You got it straight from
the goats mouth.
Speaker 6 (33:51):
She's a boss, she is smart, she is an enjetic,
she shines, and she's here to care about our people.
They're going to have two different information sessions. When you
go to the website, the register, you'll see the full
agenda where you want to be, how you positioning yourself.
But you'll get all your questions answered. And you know
you can get medical insurance and coverage for free the
(34:11):
low costs, but.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
You have to be taken care of and we're here
to do that.
Speaker 6 (34:17):
And I've called upon everybody i can to make sure
that those resources are here for you. So please don't
let me down. Come on out, take advantage of what
we're doing.
Speaker 5 (34:25):
And make sure that you live longer so that we
can win longer.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
Listen, you ready to write this book? Are you coming
on with an album day? I'm telling you, okay, catch up,
pick it up, pick up this information. Make sure you
share and you tell this with somebody else if they matter.
In fact, share with yourself, look over and review, because
you matter. We need you. Outside on Saturday, November eleventh,
(34:53):
right there at Rancho Sienaga Sports Center, Yes, the Michelle
and Barack Obama Sports Complex at five hundred and one
Obama Blok all of our right here in Los Angeles.
They have free health screenings. We're talking about screens that's
going to detect your blood pressure, glue close cholesterol, hi
v ST, d STI, and prostate cancer and so much more.
(35:15):
We need you to go ahead and visit at the
website LA dot AA Wellness dot org if you or
somebody you know.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Wants more information.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
And guess what the honorary cheer is La Rams Guard
Tremaine Ingram. We got community leaders out there, we got
music out there, we got fun, we got entertainment, but
more importantly, we have the education about your health. So
we hope to see you there because you're loving on
yourself and you don't have to be afraid j do
you because you got people that look just like you,
that are trying to get the same answers just like you.
(35:49):
And it's something comforting to know that you can look
to your left, you can look to your right, you
can look forward, and you can look behind and you
see people that look like you. That's your language, and
know you don't have to know everything, and know you
don't have to have everything figured out. You just need
to pull up. You just need to walk up. You
just need to drop up. I just need you to
(36:12):
get up and stand up for yourself. Stand up for
your life, stand up for your family, stand up for
what matters most, and that is you. Why because you
are your greatest assents day. Is there anything else you
want to share with the people?
Speaker 5 (36:27):
One last thing, follow us on Instagrams. That's where all
the hot content comes.
Speaker 6 (36:32):
You get all the updates, all the latest news, all
the latest.
Speaker 5 (36:36):
Information around it.
Speaker 6 (36:38):
Plus you get a chance to see some of the
folks who are going to be there. You'll hear testimonies
about lives that we were impacted. It is very very simple.
AA Wellness walk La. Find us on Instagram AA Wellness
walk La and we'll follow you back as long as
you got good stuff, will like, share, comment, and do
all types of good stuff for you.
Speaker 5 (36:58):
Give. We are we are the people for the people.
Always well Dad.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
I commend the work that you're doing. I'm grateful, I'm
honored to be a.
Speaker 5 (37:08):
Part of it.
Speaker 1 (37:09):
You can you continue to share the word.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
And spread the word and more importantly be the word
because the word is living. And if we don't take
care of our health and then what are we are
we living? And you know here on Vitamin D we
talk about how you are your greatest asset. So if
you'd like to be a guest, I encourage you to
shoot an email at Vitamin D as down daispeaks dot com.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
You can also check us out on all social media
at Vitamin D Dawn Day. What do I say? We
here for a good time, not a long time, so
we gotta.
Speaker 6 (37:38):
Make it count.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
So pull up on me and if you want to
follow me personally, you can find me on all social
media at dawn Dais Speaks. Now, before I head out
of here, you know I always say I'm in the
business of making dreams come true.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
Ad damn She'll like, oh, forget about mine.
Speaker 2 (37:55):
So until next time, always about you.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
You're Gretta, get your vit in Indy, ride with me
and get excited about your life.
Good morning, good after noon, good evening.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
You are tuned in to the Vitamin D with Dawn
Dae podcast and I am your host, Dawn Day, here
to get you excited about your life so that you
can live life on purpose and for a purpose.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
If this is your first.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Time tuning in, welcome Vitamin D. It's upon of my name.
My name is Dawn and you get Vitamin D from
the sun. So I'm here a shed light into your life.
And I do this with inspirational insights and conversations with
celebrities and everyday people like you and me, because if
you want to be better and you want to do better,
then you're going to have to be able to see better.
So join me on this journey of living our best
(00:35):
lives and understanding and realizing how you are your greatest
ass at get.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Your vitingy right here with me and get excited about
your life.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
They say health this wealth, Well, what's your account looking like.
We're going to have a conversation today about a matter
that's important near and dear to all of us in
the African American community, and that's the health of our
African American males. Are you taking care of yourself? And
more importantly, do you know your numbers? Did you know
(01:09):
that African American men die twelve years earlier than their
white counterpart?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Why is that?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Well, we're going to discuss that with our special guests,
but first I want to play this video about an
event that's happening Saturday, November eleventh at eight am right
here in Los Angeles is going to work in an
effort of closing the health equity gap.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Take a look, Los Angeles, black men are dying from
preventable diseases.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
You can be part of the solution. Come out to five.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Zero zero one Obama Boulevard on Saturday, November eleventh at
eight am for the African American Male Wellness Walking Run
featuring Honorary Chair tr Main Anchrum of the Los Angeles
Brown This is a free family event with free health screenings,
kids area entertainment, and much more. Visitaawellness dot org and
we'll see you on Saturday, November eleventh, Walking to save
(02:03):
black Man's lives.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
All right, so now let's get ready for this conversation.
Get your radio waves, get your podcast waves, just get
ready for me.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
To welcome our very special guest. We have Jade Barnes.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
He is the chairman of the Los Angeles African American
Wellness five k Walk Run, which is the health and
wellness arm of the African American Mail Well Agency too
the National Center for Urban Solutions. So without further ado,
please help me welcome mister Jay Bondes.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
Good afternoon. It's great to see you. How's it going, Darth.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
You know, what's a great day to be alive?
Speaker 5 (02:45):
Anytime on this side of the earth is a blessing.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
I'm telling you.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
And speaking of which, on being on this side of
the earth, we got something important to talk about African
American males. They are known to die twelve years earlier
in their white counterparts.
Speaker 6 (03:02):
So the African American Male Wealdness Agency is really tasked
on a national level that increase the life expectancy for
Black men specifically and their families.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
It has always been our theory and our model that.
Speaker 6 (03:15):
If we can get the black men healthy, they can
then work longer, they can be more fiscally responsible, they
can take care of their families, their children, and really
be a greater ad to the overall community.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
And we launched this awareness campaign about twenty years.
Speaker 6 (03:32):
Ago where we were spreading the gospel about just knowing
your numbers. Awareness is the key thing. So one note
to add about the nine twelve years earlier, these are
all from preventable diseases. So that means if you just
go to the doctor annually, get a check up. When
you start feeling those pains or those aches, it's not
(03:55):
just sit down, let's sleep it off, get some ginger ail.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
It's like, let's go speak with a physician, actually get.
Speaker 6 (04:00):
Some understanding about what's going on inside of our bodies.
So what we're gonna do is create the most fun
you'll ever have at a doctor's appointment. Next Saturday, on
the eleventh, we are going to have DJs out there.
We've got the Lovely Dawn Day on the Red Carpet
doing live interviews. We've got yoga, we've got sound bass,
we've got meditation, we've got men circles so we can
(04:23):
just talk. What we found is that black men really
need to talk to each other.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
We're not crazy. We're just going through eggs and pains.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
You know, it seems as though we have gotten to
a point when we're kind of used to the ache
and pain because for whatever reasons, there's some type of
fear or stigma when it comes down to seeing the
doctor and I'm raising my hand.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Listen.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
I have been known to be guilty of myself to
not feel something right in my body and say, oh,
I'm gonna sleep it all for or you know, the
whole idea ginger rail.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
And wait till your stomach cel. But here's the thing.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
If you are feeling something in your body, that's your
body communicating with you. And when we talk about having
a successful relationship, any type of relationship, the key is communication.
And it's like, well, if we can't communicate with ourselves,
how can we expect to communicate with anything else in
our lives? Preach you know, so many people are afraid
(05:20):
of knowing. But when you know better, you can do better.
And it's time to do better.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
We do not have a choice at this point.
Speaker 6 (05:27):
We've got to be responsible for ourselves, our bodies, our
health and wellness. You know, historically black folks just don't
trust the medical profession in general with different experiments. You
think about the Skegee and the historical context about the
government really just not taking care of us, are really
looking after our best interests. There's some issues in terms
(05:48):
of just trust and building relationships. We build a rapport
vet those screeners and our community partners. That way, when
they get to you, most likely you'll have a black
face talking to you. But in addition, you know, folks
have talked, embedded and established that there are good medical
practices so that you get the help and care that
you need. And most of the time it's free or
low cost with our community partners.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
So we're going to be amongst family, people that look
like us, that could communicate with us so that.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
We can beat us.
Speaker 5 (06:19):
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
And you know, when we talk about this walk too,
another thing that I thought that was so great is
that this is a family event. You don't have to
worry about going along, because sometimes that can be a
little hard, that can be a little tricky.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
And let's just say, sometimes we're a bit scared. Look,
you don't have to admit it, but it's true.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Sometimes we are apprehensive about going for a checkup, going
to talk to somebody because we feel as though it's
just us. Well, in this case, you can bring your family,
you can bring the kids. There's going to be entertainment,
there's going to be vendors. What else can we expect.
Speaker 6 (06:51):
Listen, think about a fan of reunion style activity where
we're just going to get a little check up while
we're there. So you're bounceizers for kids and maybe with
some sack races, some sprints, some face painting for the kids.
You're gonna have a couple of DJs that'll be rocking out.
Of course, our partners with KJLAH and iHeart Radio and
(07:13):
Vitamin D with Dawn Day. And I'm missing some folks
kb LA passing the Black Pages. If they're black and
they care about us, they're gonna be at this event
and we're gonna have a good old time. So friends, brothers, cousins, uncles, dads,
you know, sons, everybody come out. And women come too,
(07:34):
because we have several vendors that have resources specifically for women.
We know that women specifically in our Black community are
really the backbone that have been the anchor for us
to stay together. So we don't forget about you. We've
got stuff there for you, and we know if you come,
bring the kids, bring a husband, bring the boyfriend, bring
the brother. We've got something for everybody to have a
(07:56):
good old time.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Okay, And so as we mentioned, this is being brought
to us by the African American Male Wellness Agency. Can
you tell us a little bit about the organization and
why it got started.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
Yep.
Speaker 6 (08:09):
So the agency started really in a response to figure
out why black men weren't going to work. We did
a research project and we were finding that black men
weren't going to the work because of health issues. So
part of it was in order to get your check
every week, you had to do a quick physical so
to know those numbers, your blood pressure, checking on those
and once we started implementing that as the agency, they
(08:32):
were showing up, they were getting a check.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
So then we said, hey, let's elevate this.
Speaker 6 (08:37):
You got all these other organizations who don't focus on us,
that do these race for the Cure and five K
for this, So we said, we're going to do something
for black folks that mirrors these efforts. Where we can
bring awareness, we can bring fun that we can bring
entertainment and make sure that we're saving our people. And
we don't only do this, so it's more than a walk.
(08:58):
We have something called a Fire Initiative where we do
cooking with dads and fishing with dads. We also do
financial wellness where we can partner with different financial institutions
help us out when it comes to this day to
day budgeting or I've got this credit card debt, how
am I going to pay this off?
Speaker 5 (09:15):
What's the strategic plan around that?
Speaker 6 (09:17):
How do we build our credit so that we can
then purchase a home where we can get more blood
folks and homes that have home ownership and equity versus paying.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
Rent that can fluctuate from time to time.
Speaker 6 (09:28):
So we really try to take a holistic approach when
it comes to health and wellness. Again, if we know better,
we can do better. And our goal is to educate,
provide resources, provide love and a sense of community where
you can live longer. There was one other thing don
that I missed was our best program in my opinion,
(09:49):
It's called Real Men, Real Talk, which is a farbershop
style Black men getting together and we're going to shoot
the funts of the speak and we talk about what's
going on, our stresses, our problems, our headaches. And you've
got thirty forty fifty other men in the room that says, hey, brother,
you ain't crazy. I've been through this. This is how
(10:10):
I navigated. These are some things that I did to
remove the stresses, and really create a sense of communities.
So when those dark times come, you've got a brother,
the call, text, email, jump in a group chat, but
really make sure that you're not alone and.
Speaker 5 (10:24):
That you can make it through whatever adversity that you
may be experiencing during the time.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
So hold on this, real man, real talk is going
to be there on Saturday, November eleven.
Speaker 6 (10:35):
So we'll have the small version and we really partner
with our group called Black Men Build LA to facilitate
our Men's Circle, So very similar setup, but not the
official event so to speak. But we're not egotistical. If
we've got community partners who have similar programming and resources,
we are always looking to partner and collaborate. There's no
(10:55):
sense in reinventing the wheel. We can just come together
and do the same work to say the same people.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
So Black Men Bill LA would.
Speaker 6 (11:03):
Be facilitating that conversation on Saturday instead of us.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Well, I love this because you know when you said
the whole situation of sitting down having a barber talk,
it's like, at some point, I don't know if history
did it. You know, sometimes just life be lifeing, but
just as well as we've forgotten how to communicate with ourselves.
It's like communicate with your brothers and your sisters, communicate
with your community. Because you are not alone. We know
that we can go farther together. We can be stronger
(11:33):
together than we can by ourselves. And if we can
get back to the point of what it means to
stick by each other, to be your brother's keepers, to
be your sister's keepers, to be your kids siblings keeper,
Oh my gosh, how far we can get there. And
as you were talking, you said the screenings. Now, the
(11:54):
screens that will be taking place, we're talking about blood pressure,
glucose cholesterol, HIV, STD STI, and prostate cancer, which we
know prostate cancer is one that takes out men immediately.
That's one of the along with pancreatic cancers that is
very intense when it talks about taking a toll on
the body.
Speaker 6 (12:16):
Absolutely, we'll also have some foot screenings, but to speak
to the prostate, the colorectal cancer, those are all things
that are I mean, the numbers are off the charts
in terms of how biased it is to black folks.
So it's important even at a young age. So I
think the medical professionals say around forty. I'm encouraging black
(12:39):
men around thirty five is when we need to start
having those screenings. And what I can tell you because
I'm of that age, it is no longer that invasive procedure.
Speaker 5 (12:49):
We can take some blood and figure it out versus
having to touch on you.
Speaker 6 (12:53):
And that's one of the things that I really really
want men to know, Like you don't have to get
violated to figure that out. Let's draw some blood, Let's
have some conversation and do some other ways to figure
it out. But like, we can solve this. There's no
reason to die early. But we can work together now
and figure.
Speaker 5 (13:12):
It out and take preventive measures and steps to help
out with that.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
So I'm curious, Jay, because your passion it runs deep.
Speaker 5 (13:19):
You know.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
We first got our conversation on the FM DOL and
then when I saw it come back around, I said, wait,
what's going on? Why are you so passionate about this work?
Speaker 6 (13:30):
Last year alone, I lost two of my brothers, my
frat brothers, to pancreatic cancer, and one at thirty one
in their early sixties.
Speaker 5 (13:41):
Thirty years old, yes.
Speaker 6 (13:42):
Thirty years old, Like yeah, that took me out. So
like this is my guy. We just went on vacation together.
We're down in Mexico kicking it, and pancreatic cancer moved
extremely fast and it is fatal.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
The survival rate is extremely low.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Did he seem as though he was sick?
Speaker 5 (14:04):
No? No. We got back from vacation maybe a month
or two.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
Afterwards, and it's just like, hey, I've been diagnosed. I'm like, well,
what does this mean? So of course I'm going and
googling and looking it up. And the more and more
I read, the more and more my mouth.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
Dropped and was like, this isn't good.
Speaker 6 (14:22):
So, I mean, he made it a long time in
terms of about nine months after diagnosis, but in general,
it is extremely fatal, and you.
Speaker 5 (14:31):
Know, just get Having those continuous.
Speaker 6 (14:34):
Visits and checkings and touch points with your physician will
help identify that as well as other things that may
exist that we aren't keeping an eye on. And everything's
not going to be where you're down and out, where
you're feeling bad or you're sluggish, where there's visible signs
we need to do some blood work, and a lot
of times it's not that much we're talking about the fingerprint,
(14:56):
like we're not giving out pints of blood. When you
get there Saturday, you're going to get a fingerprint and
then you'll get a nice little band aid and we're done.
Like that covers all your screenings, So just keep in
mind like we're not giving up your whole body.
Speaker 5 (15:10):
It's not invasive. The goal is just to get some
quick diagnosis.
Speaker 6 (15:15):
See some key indicators that say hey, we may need
to have further conversations.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
Now.
Speaker 6 (15:20):
We are super blessed to have partners with the company
called Para Suite, as well as a few local physicians
that will be there. So after you get your screening numbers,
you're then able to review them with a black physician
to tell you, hey, maybe we need to change the diet,
maybe we need to increase exercise, maybe we need to
follow up with your primary care provider to check some
levels or do some X rays. But all of this stuff, again,
(15:43):
it's free. It gives you the opportunity to increase your
life expectancy. That is one hundred percent in line with
our goal to save lives of black folks and increase
their life expectancy.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
So I can imagine, you know, sometimes people may not
have insurance and the first thing that they're afraid about
is like, how much is going to cost?
Speaker 1 (16:00):
How much is it going to cost for these screenings?
Speaker 5 (16:02):
Chain again, this is free. Do you understand? Like that
said all year.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
All somebody has to do is pull up on Saturday,
November eleventh at the Rancho Cianca Park right behind Dorsey
High School and find at their numbers.
Speaker 6 (16:20):
Pull up, show up, run up, fly up, however you
want to get up, but be there, be there.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
That all it.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Takes for you is to show up, And you can
only wonder is are you willing to.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Show up for yourself? Show up for your life?
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Because if it's not for you, what about your family,
your legacy. We are so quick to show up to
a job or a paycheck, but what if you can't
show up for yourself to get to the job. Then
the question becomes then watch Because the whole notion that
African American males are dying twelve years earlier then their
(17:00):
white male counterparts, that's something to have a conversation about.
That's something that we need to dig into, explore furthermore
to know that there is a community where you don't
have to worry about feeling like you are alone because
you got people that look like you people who are
concerned just like you, people who have gone through the
same things, just like you. To have a conversation and
(17:23):
how you going to elevate your life. That's amazing, It's
profound and it's something to talk about. And I understand too.
You have quite a few community leaders coming out. You
have an honorary chair. Can you share more?
Speaker 6 (17:40):
Absolutely, we've been blessed with the Walter Payton Man the year.
When it comes to philanthropic effort, it's a Tremaine anchorum
who plays guard for the La Rams.
Speaker 5 (17:51):
He is our honorary chair and really driving and.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
Supporting us with our engagement when it comes to spreading
the words saving black men's lives, make sure that we
know our numbers. He's been instrumental in connecting us with
community partners and resources to really evangelize you know, the
normalcy of health and wellness for black folks. We also
have you know, Heather hut which is our councilwoman in
(18:15):
the tenth district, who's been instrumental in terms of supporting
and helping and make sure we have every resource needed
to make sure that the venue location, all the tent,
tables and chairs are taken care of. Like, she's absolutely phenomenal,
and then I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our
county supervisor, Holly J. Mitchell, who has done the same.
(18:36):
Her and her office have been instrumental. So these are
black women, black men who care about us and putting
their money where their mouth is and showing up for
us when it comes to getting things done, so this.
Speaker 5 (18:50):
Event doesn't happen without them. We also are wonderful sponsors.
Speaker 6 (18:55):
We can touch on them later, but people who care
about us are actually showing up with money, time and
resources to say Black men's lives matter, our health matters,
our families matter, and this event is really here to
make sure that we scream that at the top of
our lungs and have a good old time doing it.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
I love that, and you know it's the organization. The
mission is to increase the life expectancy of African American
male and physical health, mental health, financial health, fatherhood and research.
For somebody that may be new to this and they're
listening to this episode or perhaps e've ben watching us,
what does health equity mean?
Speaker 5 (19:39):
So health equity means that.
Speaker 6 (19:43):
One the availability, the costs and access to care and
resources is essentially even for all races and.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
Other groups in general.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
So making sure that there's no barriers from an education standpoint,
is there a black position that is in your neighborhood?
Can we get you, know you, representation with people who
understand your needs as a black person, and with that,
can they speak to you in terms that you understand?
Medical terms are like I went to college, I read
(20:20):
a lot.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
I still look at reports.
Speaker 6 (20:22):
I'm like, I don't know what the hell is saying
like I need someone to break this down in some
stuff that I understand that says, what's the LDL? Well,
I don't know what the LDL is, but I know
when you say my sugar's high, and I know when
you say my pressures up. I can to understand that commonality.
And when it comes to quality and equity when it
comes to healthcare, communication is one of them, as well
(20:43):
as access and making sure that you have representation.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Representation matters. Support matters because you matter. So are you
willing to show up for yourself better?
Speaker 5 (20:58):
Yet?
Speaker 1 (20:58):
How much do you love yourself?
Speaker 2 (21:00):
You know, we say we're here for a good time,
not a long time. So how are you making this
time count in your life? With the greatest asset, which
is you, because everything and extension of earth is in existence. Well,
if you don't exist, then what's what you say?
Speaker 5 (21:15):
That?
Speaker 2 (21:15):
You love your family, You say that you want this house,
you say you want to travel on this vacation, you
say you want to see the world.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
You say you got these big dreams.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Well, if you aren't taking care of yourself to ignite
those dreams, to live out that life, then what does
it all matter? So this is your time to show
up for yourself. Saturday, November eleventh, from eight am to
twelve pm. Come out so we can support on what
it means to close this health equity gap.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
And it starts with you.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
My brothers, tell a friend, to tell a friend, tell somebody,
it's time to love on ourselves.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
What would you say?
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Have you ever had a health scared day?
Speaker 5 (21:59):
No major scarce, knock on woods?
Speaker 6 (22:06):
You know I tried not to, you know, I try
to stay active. I try to golf, I try to
play tennis. I'm out in the yard, door, physical work,
and you know, try try to do the things to
be responsible.
Speaker 5 (22:17):
Now the health. The biggest health scare for me was alcohol.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
I loved me some alcohol, you know, and could drink drink, drink.
So like last year, December tenth was my last day
of drinking alcohol and making.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
That change because I wasn't myself anymore. I was no
longer the fun.
Speaker 6 (22:35):
Drunk and entertaining and a good time. I'm emotional, I'm angry.
So when I thought about my mental health and mental
wellness and how it was showing up for my fiance
at the time, now, my wife, I wasn't the guy
that she needed to marry or wanted to marry as
a result of my consumption alcohol. So with that, you
have to start making some adult decisions and changing your life.
(22:57):
If I want this woman, if I want this house,
if I want to keep going to work and staying employed, Like, hey,
I got to change my behaviors and hopefully that translates
when it comes to medical, mental, physical, all these things aligned.
We have to make decisions to win and show up
for each other and show up for ourselves most importantly,
if we're no good, we're no good for anyone else.
(23:20):
And really having that self awareness and self care to
make a tough decision. Now, I tell you, it's not
fun going to party still, you know where everybody's taking
shots and having a good time.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
But I am glad that I can be there, I
can be present.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
I remember things now, not blacking out, but really taking
ownership when it comes to that was a big important
step when it comes to health and wellness for.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Me, Thank you for choosing yourself.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
Ject that's the only person I got.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
All the time, we talk about having so many commitments
to other things in our lives, and it's like, wait
a minute. The longest commitment to whomever is going to
be yourself. So why wouldn't you make yourself a priority?
You're hearing how people are falling left and right, and
to know that all it's about is choosing yourself. And yes,
it's going to be uncomfortable, but you asked to grow,
(24:11):
didn't you.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
You didn't want to say the same, did you.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
If you don't like how you're feeling, if you don't
like what you're doing, well, here's an opportunity for you.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
To show up.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
So show up on Saturday, November eleventh, from eight am
to twelve pm right here in Los Angeles, California, the
African American Male Wellness five K walk one will be happy.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
The question is will you? Now you talked.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
About some sponsors who are some of the sponsors of
this year's walk.
Speaker 5 (24:39):
We've been super blessed.
Speaker 6 (24:41):
Our major sponsor is going to be Johnson and Johnson
who has committed to our agency nationwide. We are in
sixteen different cities, so they have a national partnership as
well as genin Tech that helps us out tremendously. Again,
Heather hud Holly Mitchell are A Health Foundation is also
(25:01):
a major sponsor. Probably miss oh Parsuite is another one.
Cover California as well as La Care No. Cover California
is going to be doing something. It's open enrollment season,
so we're gonna have a couple of different open enrollment sessions.
You'll be able to meet with the Chief Medical Officer.
Day Lamar will also be over there facilitating that segment
(25:25):
from from the FM channels and you and Monica, who
is the black woman chief Medical officer over there, will
be over there just telling you.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
About open enrollment.
Speaker 6 (25:36):
The resources with Cover California, We've got so many different
partners that have literally said, hey, this is the cast
that we need to stand behind. And again, none of
this happens without this cost. It's you know, it's an
expense to have an event to have entertainment.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
Listen.
Speaker 6 (25:53):
We probably spend over one hundred thousand dollars to make
this event come to LA and we don't take it
over to you know. So far, we're not going downtown
to La Lot.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
We are in our community next to Dorsey High School.
Speaker 6 (26:06):
Were talking Bray and Obama at the Michelle and Barack
Obama Sports Complex. We are for the people with the people,
and we want to make sure that we win. So
we are here. Companies are behind us, and we're going
to continue to grow. This is just the first phase
of the work that we're doing. I will let the
cat out of the bag a little bit, so it
(26:28):
will no longer be the African American Male Wellness Walk
and Run.
Speaker 5 (26:32):
After this event, it will now.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
Be the Black Wellness Day that is encompassing men, women
and children directly. Now, we did launch a program in
Columbus at Houston where we have a program called Uplift Her,
which is the equivalent of with the Black Male Walking
Run is for men.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
So women get screenings.
Speaker 6 (26:52):
They are very health specifics, tobamograms and all types of
different resources that are specific to women. Having them come
together and be able to you know, work through those things.
Collectively and have a good time. And sometimes they do
the mimosas and maternity conversations and all types of women
(27:12):
nuanced stuff. But next year it's gonna be a wellness
stage for black folks. Overall, we're gonna have a ton
of fun. We're growing our partnerships. There is a major
celebrity that I can't announce it, but any.
Speaker 5 (27:27):
If you watch football, if you watch football.
Speaker 6 (27:30):
And you really really enjoy it, and like people talking
about theme music maybe coming on board to help us
out and evangelize mental health and wellness across the board.
But there's a lot of fun. Pacman Jones that's been
on board with us. They're doing a real memorial talkdown
in Houston. Anthony Hamilton's been a part, Bubba Wallace, Penny Hardaway, Music,
(27:57):
Soul Child across the board. Like when we tell black
folks what we're doing, celebrities, entertainers, they say, Hey, there's
a cause we can get behind. And now the only
thing that's missing is you've got to get behind it.
As people come out and support us, have a good time,
show up, listen. If you can bring three people, that'd
be great. If you go to church, every church in La.
(28:19):
Bring ten men and we're in good shade that really
make an impact. And this will just cascades. So for
contexts Columbus where it started, where headquarters is, they do
about forty thousand black folks out for this event. Wow,
forty forty thousand people in the streets walking through the
community getting health screenings.
Speaker 5 (28:39):
We're lying, dancing, we got the Greeks out.
Speaker 6 (28:42):
I'm a cue, so we're out, We're strolling, we're hopping around.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
You know, it is a good time. So like you know,
I may even break out the three sixty booths this
year in LA just to add add a little something
to it. But listen, think about fun.
Speaker 6 (28:57):
Think about fun like you have the best time at
your face and a reunion, or cousins hung out on
the weekends, you have sleepovers. Think about that when you
come to this event. We'll just get your little check
up in between. And I've literally had my wife enlist
all the church aunties and deaconesses and the most attractive
women that we can find. They are gonna be a volunteer.
(29:19):
So don't try to swerve them. Talking about you went
to a doctor last week last month. We don't play
that because you know, they're gonna grab you. Come on, baby,
we're gonna get your screen right now. And for black women, listen,
I hear the a lot of single black women in
LA hard to find a man. This just might be
the event to show up to since we are focusing
(29:40):
on black men and they at least care enough to
show up about the help.
Speaker 5 (29:44):
So I don't like.
Speaker 6 (29:45):
Bribing people, but I'm telling you, if you want to
do something, this might be the time to find a.
Speaker 5 (29:50):
Good man, real good good.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
A good man. I don't need help.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
Yeah yeah, yeah, good clean man.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Well, I'm telling you if that didn't right there, do
it for you. I don't know will what will?
Speaker 5 (30:07):
I mean?
Speaker 2 (30:07):
It's going to be free. There is no cost. What
we did not talk about? How do we register? Do
we need to go online? Can we just show up?
Do I need to have a group?
Speaker 1 (30:16):
What's going on day?
Speaker 6 (30:17):
There are a few different ways. The easiest way is
to go to LA dot AA Wellness dot org and
you can register there. Registration's free.
Speaker 5 (30:27):
If you want to register as a group, you click
the passion teams.
Speaker 6 (30:29):
A passion team is simply a group of two more
people walking for a call. So whether that's your brothers,
whether that's your family, whether you've lost someone, whether you're
part of a Greek organization, whether you're part of a
social club, whether you want to do a church, you
got a book group, whatever it is, you come out.
Y'all want to look alike, wear save t shirts, wear
the same color, Come hang out, come walk, take some pictures,
(30:54):
get screened, and have a good time.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
But the other thing is the event is still free.
If you show up.
Speaker 6 (31:00):
We're not turning you away, So pull up even if
you don't get a chance to register. But there will
be some giveaways and some free books, some resources, and
people that have told their story and donate the items
that we want to hand out. Great opportunity. When you
register to get those things, we can call you out
or mail you. And then if you care about any
(31:21):
of the other services or programs that we're doing throughout
the year, this is the way we can get in
contact with you. So we're not going to blast and
spam you. You probably get maybe one email a month.
Our goal is not.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
To bombard you with stuff. The things just to make
you aware about the free resources.
Speaker 6 (31:37):
We don't do anything that's ever charged for people, So
everything that we do in the community, and the work
that we do is free to the community, and it
is my job to find sponsors and people to pay
for it so it's free.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
So this event is all about love. This event is
all about love and on yourself. This event is all
about when you know better, you can do better, You
ready to be better. I'm just saying, as you know,
I end the episode each and every time talking about
how you are your greatest asset. Are you ready to
show yourself as such? Because if your health isn't there,
(32:13):
what else matters? That is your top priority. You're talking
about this job, You're talking about your kids, You're talking
about the family, You're talking about this car you want.
You talking about the outfit you want to wear. You're
talking about that vacation you want to go on. But
if you ain't got you, what are we really talking about. Well,
we're talking about closing the health equity gap. We're talking
about the fact that our African American males are twelve
(32:35):
are at twelve years earlier dying than our white male counterparts.
But why is that You said that you want to
find a loved one, a partner.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Would you got to be in good health to do that?
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Now?
Speaker 2 (32:50):
One thing that I really appreciate that you discussed, Jade,
is that you said that this.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
Isn't an opportunity for open enrollment. I feel half the.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
Time, especially if you are of low income or you
just may not know, it can become confusing when it
comes down to sign up for health insurance. It can
become a confusing about what type of physician that you need. Well,
if you pull up, you walk up, you drive up,
you get up, this is an opportunity for you to
speak to somebody that can answer the questions that you have.
(33:17):
So I'm assuming we need some type of identification.
Speaker 5 (33:21):
Just show up. Well, take care all of the people
of resources that we work with.
Speaker 6 (33:27):
Our HIPPOC compliance means they're not going to tell sell
or give away your information. But show up to show
up again, You're a meeting with the chief medical officer
who is a black woman, who will be there live
and in person to answer those questions. Not going on
the website and trying to figure out what do I
click here?
Speaker 5 (33:46):
What do I move here? You got it straight from
the goats mouth.
Speaker 6 (33:51):
She's a boss, she is smart, she is an enjetic,
she shines, and she's here to care about our people.
They're going to have two different information sessions. When you
go to the website, the register, you'll see the full
agenda where you want to be, how you positioning yourself.
But you'll get all your questions answered. And you know
you can get medical insurance and coverage for free the
(34:11):
low costs, but.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
You have to be taken care of and we're here
to do that.
Speaker 6 (34:17):
And I've called upon everybody i can to make sure
that those resources are here for you. So please don't
let me down. Come on out, take advantage of what
we're doing.
Speaker 5 (34:25):
And make sure that you live longer so that we
can win longer.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
Listen, you ready to write this book? Are you coming
on with an album day? I'm telling you, okay, catch up,
pick it up, pick up this information. Make sure you
share and you tell this with somebody else if they matter.
In fact, share with yourself, look over and review, because
you matter. We need you. Outside on Saturday, November eleventh,
(34:53):
right there at Rancho Sienaga Sports Center, Yes, the Michelle
and Barack Obama Sports Complex at five hundred and one
Obama Blok all of our right here in Los Angeles.
They have free health screenings. We're talking about screens that's
going to detect your blood pressure, glue close cholesterol, hi
v ST, d STI, and prostate cancer and so much more.
(35:15):
We need you to go ahead and visit at the
website LA dot AA Wellness dot org if you or
somebody you know.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Wants more information.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
And guess what the honorary cheer is La Rams Guard
Tremaine Ingram. We got community leaders out there, we got
music out there, we got fun, we got entertainment, but
more importantly, we have the education about your health. So
we hope to see you there because you're loving on
yourself and you don't have to be afraid j do
you because you got people that look just like you,
that are trying to get the same answers just like you.
(35:49):
And it's something comforting to know that you can look
to your left, you can look to your right, you
can look forward, and you can look behind and you
see people that look like you. That's your language, and
know you don't have to know everything, and know you
don't have to have everything figured out. You just need
to pull up. You just need to walk up. You
just need to drop up. I just need you to
(36:12):
get up and stand up for yourself. Stand up for
your life, stand up for your family, stand up for
what matters most, and that is you. Why because you
are your greatest assents day. Is there anything else you
want to share with the people?
Speaker 5 (36:27):
One last thing, follow us on Instagrams. That's where all
the hot content comes.
Speaker 6 (36:32):
You get all the updates, all the latest news, all
the latest.
Speaker 5 (36:36):
Information around it.
Speaker 6 (36:38):
Plus you get a chance to see some of the
folks who are going to be there. You'll hear testimonies
about lives that we were impacted. It is very very simple.
AA Wellness walk La. Find us on Instagram AA Wellness
walk La and we'll follow you back as long as
you got good stuff, will like, share, comment, and do
all types of good stuff for you.
Speaker 5 (36:58):
Give. We are we are the people for the people.
Always well Dad.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
I commend the work that you're doing. I'm grateful, I'm
honored to be a.
Speaker 5 (37:08):
Part of it.
Speaker 1 (37:09):
You can you continue to share the word.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
And spread the word and more importantly be the word
because the word is living. And if we don't take
care of our health and then what are we are
we living? And you know here on Vitamin D we
talk about how you are your greatest asset. So if
you'd like to be a guest, I encourage you to
shoot an email at Vitamin D as down daispeaks dot com.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
You can also check us out on all social media
at Vitamin D Dawn Day. What do I say? We
here for a good time, not a long time, so
we gotta.
Speaker 6 (37:38):
Make it count.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
So pull up on me and if you want to
follow me personally, you can find me on all social
media at dawn Dais Speaks. Now, before I head out
of here, you know I always say I'm in the
business of making dreams come true.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
Ad damn She'll like, oh, forget about mine.
Speaker 2 (37:55):
So until next time, always about you.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
You're Gretta, get your vit in Indy, ride with me
and get excited about your life.
Host
Dawn Dai
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