Man Court, Part 1: What Gets in the Way of African-American Men's Good Health?

In this episode of The Wellness Spotlight, we shared the challenges Men of Color face prioritizing their health and how to overcome them. My panelists have made great strides toward optimal health and want to share tips with you! 

Our Panelists:
Darryl Christopher Madison is a Special Education Teacher with the Department of Education. He is a teacher at the Bay School in Far Rockaway, NY. He has been with the DOE for 6 years now. When he is not teaching, he is running a non-profit organization called No Limits For Youth. His organization teaches the game of chess to children and adults across the city. Darryl is also a special event and portrait photographer based out of New York City. He is happily married to the host of tonight’s program. They have been together for 31 years, and happily married for 24 years.

 A native of Queens, New York, DeWayne E. McKnight resides in Queens Village for twenty-years with his lovely wife Margaret, and from this lovely union they have two children Candice and Aaron.
He is a Navy veteran who served and worked with the Security Task Force for U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in Iceland and Israel. DeWayne has been a faithful Civil Servant for over twenty-six (26) years for the City of New York. In his tenure, he has achieved many positions within City government. Currently, he currently works for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, as the Deputy Director for Finance Administration and Planning for the Division of Finance. Continuing to build community service, DeWayne serves as the Program Coordinator for a nonprofit human services agency, by the name of HeartShare Saint Vincent’s. His motto in life is: “Don’t ever give up! Because giving up is too easy.”

For the past 20 years Anthony Kearse has worked as an Outsourcing Manager where his job has been managing the daily operations of Mail Centers, Shipping and Receiving Departments and Copy Centers of corporations in various industries ranging from legal to financial to retail.
Anthony has been married for 25 years, has 5 children and 4 grandchildren. He is
committed to marriage and family. He also has a passion for helping other married couples succeed. Anthony and his wife have been facilitators for Family Life Marriage Group Series.
Currently they are facilitators for their church’s Connect Group ministry.  Anthony also has a passion for building men and is a member of ICB – International Christian Brotherhood where he has been a team leader and a facilitator for men’s small groups.
Anthony serves on the board of Love, Hopes Anchor. He is most actively involved with their Trim Talk Initiative that seeks to educate and strengthen men in homeless shelters through
workshops that prepare them for business success and life skills in addition to providing food,clothing and grooming materials.

In 2007, William Tyson Jr. retired from a career in Law Enforcement at Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.  In addition to spending more time with his family, William also took this free time to improve his overall health and to “improve his odds to be around for his family”.  Over the past 13  years, he has turned his life around and dedicated himself to helping others increase their odds…
He has acted as:
1) Life Coach for Diabetes – Montefiore-Albert Einstein
2) A Shape Up New York Fitness Trainer
3) Fitness Trainer at SNAP and Greater Allen Cathedral

As with any journey, he has had obstacles but has persevered and succeeded in reducing his A1C levels, lowering and regulating his high blood pressure, and has adopted a vegetarian lifestyle.  In this past year alone, William has lost nearly 90 pounds with the advisement of Elizabeth Madison, exercise, and discipline .