People good afternoon in midweek.
From congressional offices to the locality where it should begin, Wednesday is volunteer afternoon with high school youths. The gist and juice along the way is that the Gang of 8 has the veto-proof 60 votes for the Immigration Reform Immigration on the senate side. With Paul Ryan signing on - on the house side, the thing looks likely. Africans, the train left the station on election day 2012. Ask the Gang of Eight.
The proverbial monkey could not have worked proactively worked and the proverbial African bamboos want to reactively have any particular provision after the crucial fact: Immigration Reform is happening because Latinos and Asians organized with articulated and coordinated focus on immigration during the 2012 election. Labor Unions, Chamber of Commerce influenced the negotiations and the outputs reflect the interests. That is how America works!
Now, a point to laugh. African governments watch to see if Africa immigrants are anything to reckon with. You may come across some of the delegations who laugh about....how African immigrants are "Yahoo-ites" who want to change governments in African countries but they spend more time "stealing" their bosses computers and work hours to argue and post idle nonsense on the Internet. One chimed in: They say the want dual citizenship and voting rights, what have they done with their rights in the US? Show me a program like the Hispanics and Jews. The volunteers started laughing; they are mostly second generation and students in high school.
Now, let's get to the point of the email.
The Office of Minority Health, State and County officials have made reservations for May 14 Leadership Exchange program with County Executive Leggett who is also the co-chair of Maryland Council for New Americans aka Immigrants.
Please, make your reservation by Friday.
If you are a group representative, you can indicate the number of persons.
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,
Hats off to you making a difference; each one counts and make the day. There were at least 8 Health programs last weekend in the Washington/Maryland area. I just heard from an alumni about one of theirs who is stricken with cancer and looking at $25,000 plus bill already incurred as Ms Pauline Ngosohna stated, no insurance. Calling around, even to state representatives, it highlights the crux of the matter. There are more than 20 known cases in one month.
The message is the same: This does not need to happen. With targeted community programs, individuals should not be economically strangled with stress that may even kill before the disease. Another factor, an African immigrant may not qualify for free care but there are some programs that help African immigrants regardless of status. The larger Jewish, Hispanic and Asian communities have health programs; it is not based on countries.
Yes, groups should provide immediate support where they can. But it is also very constructive to think long term for free, public supported programs that serve the African community. Afflicted persons and affected care givers should be able to have access to culturally relevant/sensitive and developmentally appropriate services while maintaining the dignity and privacy of the afflicted. That was the advocacy today.
Realistically, this is not a task tribes, alumni and national groups can wholly shoulder. We have to real. For how may people would $20,000 be raised? What of housing and food - if needed - but the person does not qualify for government programs or welfare? What of dependent children if the stricken is the sole bread winner? Dear people, the complexities of health woes compel us to think straighter - or logically.
With dire health woes, no insurance, if you take that call and you do not loose your appetite, you deserve a medal. If we tabulate the stricken and fallen, it is clearly beyond individual and group capacities. The talk has been talked, analyzed, dissected; it is time for service now: a continuum of care from prevention, diagnosis, treatment, to psycho-social support. This much community surveys have confirmed: time for action. Last evening, Constantine David, a former diplomat and leader in the Benin community made it clear: People want daily service.
First, the data on morbidity (presence of a disease in a target community/population) is unknown in the African population. This is a point to be "vocally impressed" from local to national US Health and Human Services. The Affordable Health Act (Obama Care) calls for the collection of ethno-demographic data. If the public health sector does not know the rate at which diseases occur in the Africans community, it would be difficult to prioritize intervention. If data can be collected for health, ditto for educational and economic programs. Data people step up.
On March 21, 2012 a historic HHS Discussion was held on the Health and Social Service Challenges in the Continental African community. All three elected officials and committee members were present, including the current president of Montgomery County Council.
Guess what people? Those who came know what happened. I provided the information, which I had by the deadline. The African American Program and Adventist Health Care spoke for the African community. Both groups asked for more funding because they serve Africans. They were justified - they came prepared with power point, charts, and supporters.
Give credit where it is due. It was a good idea for the Office of Minority Health to give $200,000 to Adventist Health Care to build capacities in the African community and..... they include teaching Africans how to cook healthily to prevent diseases. At least that was presented during the HHS Discussion.You heard me correctly and there is a dinning club.
The feedback we got is this: officials want to see the visible community (people) backing a program. Budgets are influenced more by community support. If people are not visible where and when they matter, we can speak to ourselves in our various corners until hell freezes over, it may not matter. The bigger Latino, Asian, Jews have united fronts. They become a national models.
People, our volunteer, advocacy effort (not a dime goes to my benefit, I do not apply for grants) is focused on the window of opportunity. Whether the opportunity is timely or wisely used is beyond our ability to determine. For example, after the HHS Discussion, request was made for African service providers, notably mental health.
The next step, May 14. This is not just for health. Leadership is needed in all areas of community development. Poverty/economics/employment are linked to health. Civic leadership is vital in promoting any development. The credibility of those do not need anything is valued.
That is why those only looking for a particular interest, or instant gratification - the quick fix, without concern on the overall community development may be mistaken about how the system works in the US. Community development is interwoven - health, economics, children programs, faith-based consideration, cultural heritage programs, etc receive public support because they reflect a functional community.
Do this, too, for young orphans. It is hard not to be defeated when a 19 year old African calls to say she is dropping out of college to take care of her 8 year sister. Their mother died two years ago. This was a jolt. It is going to 6:30pm, the young volunteers have done their part speaking to policy makers.
From health to economics, civics to advocacy, children to elderly programs, cultural programs to international liaisons, you can make your reservation and make a difference.
Best,
MsJoe
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