Joyce Davis – Giving the Bronx Community an Opportunity to be Heard

Bronx Health REACH continues it’s series of individuals that have made a significant contribution to not only the Institute for Family Health's Bronx Health REACH, but have been strong activists for needed change in the Black and Latino communities in the Bronx. A notable member of this group of change agents is Joyce Davis. After a successful thirty year career in marketing and sales for AT&T, Joyce found her passion working with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, and Mount Hope Housing Company. Joyce recently completed her Masters of Divinity from New York Theological Seminary.

Growing up in Harlem as a pastor’s daughter, Joyce Davis was just nine years old when her father passed away while giving a sermon. Her mother would emerge as a strong and lasting influence for resilience. "My mother had been the first lady at my father's church, but when he suddenly passed away she now had four children to raise on her own. She had not been working, and there was no daycare in those days, so she transformed the house my father had purchased into a boarding house, and did all the work needed to be done including loading the coal to heat the house," says Joyce.

Her mother was a living example that by having faith and confidence in yourself, you can move forward to overcome any obstacle. “We decided to move to the Bronx and I went with my mother to see a house. After seeing the house she wanted, my mother and gave the owner $50 as a down payment. As we walked away I asked my mother how she was going to pay make the payments for the house. My mother replied, ‘the Lord will provide,’ and she never missed a payment!”

Even though Joyce had spent a successful sales and marketing career at AT&T, she faced challenges of gender discrimination, and felt it may be time to leave the corporate environment. After thirty years of service Joyce accepted a retirement package, but she was uncertain what would be the next journey in her career. Her sister had written a play, “Mama I Want to Sing” (LINK) and was going to embark on a European tour, and asked Joyce if she would be interested in being the tour manager. Joyce accepted and was able to see Europe and Japan with the touring group.

Joyce joined the Northwest Bronx Community and ClergyCoalition (later becoming the first African-American president), a grassroots social justice organization that organized residents to fight for long-term solutions to problems in their communities. “You could see the Bronx was changing as drug dealers took over corners of the neighborhood, and my neighbors were asking for my help in dealing with these drug dealers. The Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition had organizers in each of those Bronx neighborhoods that had been fighting against the drugs and redlining. We rallied with the people, since we had a lot of clergy, priests and rabbis that would do marches, chanting, ‘No drugs here!”

From working with the Northwest Bronx Community Coalition Joyce found her new path. “I began to understand what building community was about when working with the Northwest Bronx Community Coalition, and it became my passion. I credit them with focusing me away from what had been my corporate environment, and into a place where I now could make a difference, where my voice mattered, people valued my opinion, and I was heard.”

Joyce joined the board of the Mount Hope Housing Company (eventually becoming Executive Director) and began collaborating with other organizations such as the Institute for Family Health to transform spaces for community use. The Institute for Family Health asked if the Mount Hope Housing Company would like to have a family practice in the neighborhood, and since Joyce did not know the Institute for Family Health that well at the time she had stipulations, the most important being: if you want to come into our community, we have to be a part of it. “We wanted to be an equal part of designing the building, hiring the staff, setting the hours the facility would be open, etc., and the Institute for Family Health was awesome in that regard where they asked and received input from the community. When we opened that health care center, the community trusted the Institute, and the Institute trusted us,” says Joyce.

Eventually she left the Mount Hope Housing Company and began to work with other organizations doing similar things building community revitalization. At the time the Institute for Family Health was putting together a grant that would address health disparities in the Bronx, and asked Joyce if she would be interested in working on that project. Joyce accepted and also suggested bringing in Rev. Robert Lewis Foley Sr. from Cosmopolitan Church and Rev. Dr. J. Albert Bush Sr. from Walker Memorial Baptist Church to partner with the Institute for Family Health on this issue. She added, “It was great to see the clergy focusing on health disparities since it was difficult for people to speak about this issue since they did not want to ruffle any feathers. When something from the pulpit is said, everyone listens, so let’s use the pulpit. That is the mission of the church,” she said.

Joyce believes the work to end health disparities has improved, but much needs to be done. “Many years ago there used to be a sign indicating a colored door and white door, now even though there is no physical sign on the door, people still get that selective treatment. The hope is that someday people can walk into a medical center or hospital and be treated like a human being, and get the care they need to get healthy. At the end of the day, people in the community want to be heard. They want a safe community with decent housing, jobs, education and health care.”

Plans for Bronx Delta Playground Project Takes Shape

Current condition of the Bronx Delta Playground.

This post is written by Emily Oppenheimer, Program Coordinator for the Partnership for a Healthier Bronx.

Currently, the Bronx Delta School playground is a bare and empty blacktop, in poor condition, without any play structures. The school is located in the Throgg’s Neck Community of the Bronx. The current outdoor space does not entice the 800 plus elementary and middle school students to engage in active play or movement.

Good news, changes are happening at the schoolyard! In February 2016, students began to design play yard renovations, led by Trust for Public Land (TPL). As part of that process, students took a fieldtrip to CS 300 to learn firsthand about a similar Bronx playground project with TPL.
Despite cold temperatures and impending snow, the students ran, jumped, climbed, threw balls, tumbled and explored with glee around the newly renovated CS 300 play yard. Through the TPL process, students select a playground theme; CS300 students chose the sky, “so that when you run, you can feel like you’re flying.” Mr. Dubois, a science teacher whose class is participating in the design process explained, “This really is an amazing project, these students will leave their legacy.”

While visiting CS300, students were immediately engaged with the colors, shapes, structures, plants and art. The energetic transformation to active play was palpable when compared to the passive standing I typically observe at Bronx Delta School’s current playground.  The playground visit gave the students ideas to influence their own playground designs for the Bronx Delta School.

Trust for Public Land engages the entire community in the process. This week I joined Joan Keener of TPL at the PTA Meeting. Joan shared the two student-created playground designs, developed by the four co-located schools and the Phipps Beacon Program. It was fun to hear parent thoughts and perspectives. Overall, there was a lot of excitement, especially given that most families live in the community, and the playground hours will be extended with these renovations.

The updated space will include a track, basketball courts, a kickball space, garden and a jungle gym. These larger scale renovations, led by TPL are funded by the Bronx Borough President through Resolution A Funding and Councilmember Vacca’s Office. Resolution A funding through the Borough President’s Office or City Council can be requested by schools and community groups to initiate large-scale improvement projects, like playgrounds. The TPL designs will be ready in late April, and construction is projected to start summer 2017.

Parents reviewing the two playground designs.

In the meantime, the school received funding from Bronx Health REACH for an Active Design Project to paint the playground and plant vertical gardens. On Saturday, April 16, we’ll be painting stencils on the playground.

World Water Day

Photo: WorldWays Social Marketing, taken at St. James Recreation Center, Bronx, NY 

This post comes from our public health intern, Sandra Nakandakari Higa.

Today, Tuesday, March 22nd, is World Water Day, and to mark it, we are sharing a sneak peak of the upcoming campaign to promote water as the healthiest, free beverage in New York City. The campaign is a city-wide collaboration of the Partnership for a Healthier NYC, of which Bronx Health REACH is the Bronx borough lead.

We have often heard that we should aim to drink eight cups of water per day, however, the Institute of Medicine actually recommends about 13 cups per day for men and 9 cups for women. Drinking the right amount of water each day can help keep digestion going, maintain a healthy weight, improve mood, prevent headaches, and may even protect against some types of cancer. Moreover, drinking water may keep you from consuming sugary drinks like sodas and juices.

For those of us living in New York City, there are even more benefits. New York City is one of only five U.S. cities with a source of water so clean that it needs very little filtration. According to Emily Lloyd, New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner, “The New York City water supply system provides New Yorkers with not only one of the highest quality tap water, but it also happens to be about 1000 times less expensive than bottled water.”

The water promotion campaign is scheduled to launch in May 2016. It will include advertising on bus shelters and distribution of informational material by street teams at various locations and events in the Bronx including Boogie on the Boulevard, which begins in May and goes on throughout the summer.

Walker Memorial Baptist and Thessalonia Baptist Church Raise Over $1000 for the American Heart Association

Members of both Walker Memorial Baptist and Thessalonia Baptist Church participated in the fashion show.

On Saturday, March 12, Walker Memorial Baptist Church and Thessalonia Baptist Church, both long time members of the Bronx Health REACH Faith-based Outreach Initiative, in partnership with the American Heart Association held a Heart and Health Awareness brunch to spotlight the issue of women and heart disease. This year's event had more than one hundred people in attendance to hear two speakers and view a fashion show, raising over $1,000 for the American Heart Association.

Bronx Health REACH's Charmaine Ruddock gave a presentation about #Not 62-The Campaign for A Healthy Bronx, and what needs to be done to improve the ranking of the Bronx. Paula Rice, volunteer with the American Heart Association shared her 'heart stopping' experience with cardio vascular disease. Ms. Rice had suffered a heart attack three years ago at the age of sixty. After Ms. Rice spoke another woman shared her experience of recovering from a stroke she had suffered a few years ago.

Gada Dickerson from Thessalonia Baptist Church spoke about how even though heart disease affects both men and women, a woman having a heart attack symptoms may not be so obvious and may differ from those of men. Gada also spoke about the importance of exercising every day, even doing something as simple as walking. The American Heart Association recommends 10,000 steps per day which one can track of by wearing a pedometer.

A special feature of the day was the on site health screenings and distribution of health literature by Lincoln Hospital. Joyce Davis, Head of the Deacon Board of Walker Memorial Baptist Church served as the master of ceremonies. The fashion show featured members of both Walker Memorial Baptist Church and Thessalonia Baptist Church.

Pictured from left to right are Bronx Health REACH's Charmaine Ruddock; Paula Rice, volunteer with the American Heart Association; and Joyce Davis, Head of the Deacon Board of Walker Memorial Baptist Church.

Kick Butts Day in the Bronx!

Image: Province of British Columbia via Flickr

Today is Kick Butts Day, and we are featuring a guest blog post from Guillermo Flores, Bronx community engagement coordinator at NYC Smoke-Free.

Hello there!  Today, we’re celebrating Kick Butts Day in the Bronx!

My name is Guillermo Flores and I am the Bronx community engagement coordinator at NYC Smoke-Free, a program of Public Health Solutions made possible with the support of the New York State Department of Health’s Tobacco Control Program.  At NYC Smoke-Free, we work to protect the health of New Yorkers through tobacco control policy, advocacy, and education. Formerly the NYC Coalition for a Smoke-Free City, NYC Smoke-Free partners with community members, legislators, and health advocates to support local efforts to end the devastating epidemic of  tobacco use throughout New York City. We believe every New Yorker has the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air where they live, work and play.

Kick Butts Day is an international day of activism sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco. There are over 1,600 tobacco retailers that populate our Bronx communities. This growing number of tobacco outlets in our neighborhoods re-normalizes tobacco use. And in far too many communities, youth are more likely to find tobacco on their neighborhood blocks than parks, schools, libraries, or toy stores.  We work with key stakeholders to bring awareness to this issue, to protect our youth from the over exposure to tobacco in their neighborhoods, and to find ways of stopping the proliferation of tobacco supply and use in the Bronx and New York City.

These initiatives as well as Smoke Free Housing, Tobacco Free Outdoor Air Policies, and other evidence based tobacco control policies are part of the New York State Tobacco Control Program. This program plays a crucial role in saving the lives of New Yorkers and preventing such chronic health conditions as heart disease, cancer and respiratory illness.  New York’s comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation program prevent  youth from starting to smoke, helps adult smokers quit, and serves as a counter to the tobacco industry’s aggressive marketing and negative influence.  For more information, please visit our website.

Bronx Borough President’s State of the Borough Address Outlines Plans to Improve the Health of the Bronx

Photo by leesean via Flickr

“Part of the reason this (Legionnaires’' disease) outbreak hit us so hard is because of the existing public health disparities in our Borough. For six consecutive years, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation named us the least healthy county in New York State—62 of 62. That was somber news. But we acted. And we are seeing real progress. We’re funding improved parks, ensuring access to healthier foods in every community, getting people exercising and more. Today, we’re improving health outcomes in The Bronx. More than 100 bodegas received awards for participating in the “Shop Healthy” initiative, which incentivizes small businesses to provide nutritious food options. These efforts, combined with our #NOT62 social media campaign, are making The Bronx a healthier place. In October, the same organization that rated us last in the state awarded us their prestigious ‘Culture of Health’Prize in recognition of our significant efforts. But we can and must do more.” - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.

The excerpt above is from the February 18, 2016 "State of the Borough" address Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. gave at Cardinal Hayes High School. In it he provided a summary of the positive changes happening in the Bronx over the past six years including more than 23,000 new housing units, new job growth, and $28 million to fund various park projects that proves the Bronx Borough president is making health a priority for all Bronx residents.

Bronx HealthREACH commends Ruben Diaz Jr. for pointing to the efforts that many are implementing to reduce health disparities in the Bronx. As we work with our community partners such SoBRO, The Bodega Association, TransportationAlternatives Bronx Activist Committee, and Casita Maria on our Healthy Restaurant Initiative, Healthy Bodega Training, increased bike lanes and safe streets we know we are improving the health ranking of the Bronx. Last November Bronx Health REACH held the #Not62-The Campaign for a Healthy Bronx! Clergy/Legislators meeting with clergy/lay leaders and Bronx elected officials to discuss and determine action steps needed to improve the health and well-being of all Bronx residents. Many in attendance were not aware of the Bronx ranking 62 out of 62 counties. In anticipation of the 2016 report to be released in March, Bronx Health REACH is planning an April 2nd town hall event open to the public to disseminate the information and to encourage the community to get more involved in efforts to improve the lives of all who live, work, play and pray in the Bronx.

Whether it is the five Institute for Family Health centers in the Bronx offering top-quality, patient-centered services to people of all ages, regardless of their financial situation, or the work Bronx Health REACH is doing with schools and bodegas and other healthy living initiatives with our partners, we are committed to improving the health and well being of all Bronx residents.

You can view/read his full speech here.

Healthy Water Campaign Begins in May

A photoshoot on Thursday, March 3 captured New York public school students from PS 294 and others engaging in various activities while enjoying a drink of fresh water.

The photoshoot is part of the Partnership for a Healthier NYC of which Bronx Health REACH is the Bronx borough lead development of a city-wide campaign to increase water consumption in New York City.

Residents in the South Bronx have some of the highest rates of diet related diseases including overweight and obesity, diabetes and heart disease compared to residents in the rest of New York City.

When people don’t drink enough water, they are more likely to drink soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages, which have been linked to weight gain and obesity. The campaign is scheduled to run from May to September 2016 and includes advertising on bus shelters and distribution of flyers and other promotional material by street teams at various Bronx summer events such as Boogie on the Boulevard.

Rev. Dr. J. Albert Bush – A Strong Voice for the Bronx Community and Beyond

Bronx Health REACH  will be featuring individuals that have made a significant contribution to not only the Institute for Family Health's Bronx Health REACH, but have been strong activists for needed change in the Black and Latino communities in the Bronx as well as elsewhere. A notable member of this group of change agents is the Rev. Dr. J. Albert Bush, Sr. pastor of Walker Memorial Church in the Bronx. Rev. Bush is a 1983 graduate of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina where he earned a Master of Divinity degree, and later earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Drew University Theological Seminary in New Jersey. 2016 marks his 34th Pastoral Anniversary at Walker Memorial Church.

Growing up in South Carolina as the second of nine children, Rev. Dr. J. Albert Bush was the first in his family to graduate from college. Adopting a liberationist approach to theology, Rev. Bush started to see and understand how God could use poor people as an instrument to make change in their community.

Answering the call to serve at Walker Memorial Church in 1982 provided a wake-up call for him. Walker Memorial Church had been at 116th Street in Harlem, and moved to the Bronx prior to his arrival. “The Bronx at the time had no housing, no industry, just burned out buildings and depression all around. Many of the people in the congregation saw my arrival as a ticket back to Harlem,” says Rev. Bush. Believing that his time in the Bronx would only be two years, Rev. Bush found himself asking God, “Why did you send me here? Do I belong here?”

Out of his quest he discovered that Walker Memorial Church did not need to return to Harlem. He could learn to love and care for the people of this community and lead them so that they could take responsibility for the change that needed to come. Looking back Rev. Bush admits that was a painful decision, but is convinced that it was the right one at the time. “God was making plans for me to do something, and when I embraced that concept, I led my congregation to become involved in the renewal and rebuilding of this community,” says Rev. Bush.

That renewal and rebuilding has included the Grand Concourse Academy Charter School. “We purchased the empty lot next door twelve years ago and built Grand Concourse Academy Charter School without any federal, state, or grant money. The school was built with all the financial support coming from members of Walker Memorial Church,” says Rev. Bush.

Rev. Bush has also been a long time member of the Bronx Health REACH Coalition where he provides Walker Memorial Church as the meeting place of the Faith Based Outreach workgroup and the quarterly Coalition meetings. He has seen the damage health disparities has done to the community. “This community unfortunately has some of the highest breast cancer rates, highest heart disease rates, and highest amputation rates from diabetes. The thing that surprised me most was the lack of awareness in the community itself. People did not know they were unhealthy,” says Rev. Bush

He believes that healthcare should be more affordable, and more accessible. “You are talking to a man that was once paying $2,500 a month for health insurance over four years to cover his family. That is crazy! One needs a full time job just to pay for health care and that is senseless. It seems that we are comfortable in America keeping and maintaining an underclass,” says Rev. Bush. Rev. Bush adds, “I have experienced a great deal of what the people I seek to help have experienced. I was born in poverty, raised in poverty, and knows what it is like to not have health insurance. I feel every American should have the same level of healthcare that every Senator and Congressman receive. If we can grant it to them, they can return the favor.”

One thing Rev. Bush would change to make health care more equitable would be the elimination of the two class system where those with insurance can see anyone faster than those without insurance that have limited options. “I know of people that have died in the emergency room that had been waiting up to fourteen hours to be seen by a doctor, but people with same problem that have health insurance, they can be seen by someone lickety-split,” says Rev. Bush.

Rev. Bush still continues his work assisting those that have been displaced by disasters in places such as Mississippi and Georgetown, South Carolina. “I am the lead for our denomination (National Baptist Convention) for the disaster response team to any man-made and natural disasters. I have fifteen men on the ground in Mississippi providing relief to those affected by the tornadoes. I have thirty-seven men in Georgetown, South Carolina who are working in partnership with the American Red Cross, FEMA, and other disaster relief agencies, as well as congregations, to aid and assist the people of South Carolina with emergency supplies, such as food, water, and clothing, helping people rebuild homes damaged by the floods,” says Rev. Bush. Currently Rev. Bush is working with officials in Flint, Michigan trying to resolve the man-made disaster of poisoned water.

And the relief efforts are not limited to the United States. In response to the Ebola crisis in Liberia, Rev. Bush Sent aid project through his missionary organization, So Send I You to Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia. “We have sent food relief to Liberia by shipping two ninety foot containers to Liberia with $90,000 worth of food. We also have a daycare center in South Africa in the poorest section of Soweto, and a food kitchen in Swaziland that feeds seventy-five orphan children that have lost both parents to AIDS. We are also building a church and library in South Africa,” says Rev. Bush.