Hope & Wellness 's Podcast

The proposed 2018 federal budget will affect families across the country that receives assistance to purchase food. In some states like Louisiana, over 20% of the state resident rely on SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, to purchase food. These residents also support the economy of small and large grocery stores that accept SNAP benefits. On this Memorial Day weekend, we discuss the history of this day of service and sacrifice. For many this is the weekend to break open the grill, we discuss food safety and tips to keep friends and family food safe.

Graduation ceremonies are a time of celebration for the graduate and their families In 2017, they have also been a time for civil protests. After the celebration, career counseling and mentors are critical to helping new hires successfully navigate challenging workplace environments, personalities, and politics. Our co-host, Mr. Antoine Brooks, MBA, shares his experiences on becoming a systems engineer and then a project director in a major defense corporation in Bethesda, Md. And we discuss possible changes to the Affordable Care Act, a program that provides health insurance for over 30 million Americans.

Early detection of major depression in adolescents remains a challenge. Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble created the AAKOMA Project, African-American Knowledge Optimized for Mindfully-Healthy Adolescents, to help African-American , Black and racially diverse youth and families successfully recognize the signs and symptoms of depression and access mental health care. Partnering with community members and faith-based institutions, Dr. Breland-Noble and members of the AAKOMA Project works to effectively educate, encourage and enlighten communities in North Carolina, Washington, D.C, Virginia, and Maryland that, on average, are reluctant to seek out professional mental health care services. Dr. Breland-Noble joins us to discuss depression, coping skills and the early findings from the AAKKOMA Project.

Mass incarceration disproportionately affects LGBTQ, low income, and urban communities. This has resulted in an explosion of women incarcerated and unable to gain their release due to the predatory practices of the money bail system. In honor of mothers, women, and caregivers, organizations around the country are working to release women from jail by Mother's Day, May 14, 2017. Mary Hooks, co-director of the Southerners of the New Ground and the founder of the Mama's Bail Out Day campaign, joins us later in the show to discuss how national and local organizations are working to free women from modern-day bondage.

Finding the right mental health therapist can be a daunting task. Quinn Gee,M.S., a mental health therapist and the owner of Magnolia Mental Health in Washington, D.C., joins us to offer some tips on finding the right therapist for your unique needs. Magnolia Mental Health provides services to most adults but specializes in the care of transgender persons. We talk about the special needs of the transgender community and the importance of therapy for therapists.

The recent, and now withdrawn, Pepsi commercial, brings attention to another fact of unsavory soda marketing practices: increasing healthcare disparities in underserved neighborhoods. African American and Hispanic youth are disproportionately targeted by soft drink companies with ads promoting nutritionally poor, sugar-filled drinks conveniently located in neighborhood corner stores. One 12 oz drink contains more than the recommended daily amount of added sugar for adults per the American Heart Association recommendations. We discuss the recent commercial and the disparate marketing budgets of soft drink companies versus public health organizations.

The Statue of Liberty is a world renowned landmark welcoming visitors from around the world to the US. In 2017, however, changes in immigration laws and new deportation priorities now place millions of people in the US in a state of uncertainty. Immigration attorney Sara Bazzi discusses the current immigration climate and the challenges facing undocumented immigrants seeking asylum in 2017.

Each year in the DC area, vulnerable children and adults are reported missing. The reasons for this phenomena vary and are complex. Recent local and national media attention highlighted the fact that each day, missing person reports are filed with the Metropolitan Police Department. Mayor Muriel Bowser has outlined an agenda to address this problem and councilmember Trayon White convened a community forum to discuss solutions to this disturbing trend. We discuss local groups and individuals that have updated the community before the national spotlight, some of the possible causes and solutions that each of us can implement.

At the age of 15, Yasmine Arrington founded ScholarChips, an organization that provides scholarships for college-bound students with a current or formerly incarcerated parent. The organization has awarded over $100,000 to local students in the suburban DC area while also offering support services. Ms. Arrington currently serves on the Commission on Re-Entry and Returning Citizen Affairs in Washington, DC while also serving as the MIss DC Plus America . We discuss the promising future of ScholarChips and local millenial leader, Yasmine Arrington

The kidneys are two detoxification powerhouses in the human body. March is National Kidney Month and a great time to understand how your kidneys work in sickness and health. Dr. Rodrick Stevenson, a general, and transplant surgeon. shares his expertise on kidney disease, kidney failure, and kidney organ transplantation in the US. African Americans, in particular, are at increased risk of developing kidney disease which, in most cases, asymptomatic in the beginning stages. As more and more kidney dialysis centers dot the landscape in inner city communities, we discuss preventive methods to keep your kidneys and other healthy and free of disease.

Registered dietitians are the main ingredient of any plan to prevent and manage diseases like obesity, hypertension, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, safely. Guest Cordialis Msora-Kasago is a registered dietitian, founder of the African Pot Nutrition and on a mission to help more eat more of the good stuff- vegetables, fruit,nuts,and seeds. With nutrition facts and individualized meal plans from the African Pot Nutrition, eating a plant -based diet is a joy, not a chore. Listen in and enjoy!

Dr. Booker T. Whatley, a professor at Tuskegee University, designed an innovative small farm plan that is now known as community sponsored agriculture( CSA). CSA's benefit the families of farmers and the local community by providing healthy food, job growth and preservation of heirloom vegetables and fruit. Eating ten servings per day of fresh vegetables and fruit is linked to longer life expectancy and a decreased risk of chronic health diseases and some cancers. Tune in as we discuss ways to increase your intake of fruit and vegetables, eat local food and support local farms.

Each year, CSA members support and invest in local farms. During the growing season, they reap the benefits of their investment- a weekly box of fresh vegetables and fruit. Now what? Mi Ae Lipe is the author of Bounty From the Box-The CSA Farm Cookbook, a recipe packed anthology that supports CSA members, with nutrition facts, food histories and culinary techniques for vegetables and fruit from around the globe. Written for CSA members, Bounty From The Box is a great resource for everyone ready to eat more vegetables and fruit.

The heroin and prescription drug abuse epidemic continue to impact the lives of families throughout the country. No longer confined to inner cities, the heroin epidemic, specifically, now impacts suburban and rural communities throughout the country. The public health response is proactive and forward thinking from a medical perspective. A stark difference is visible in the public outcry, public health concern, and political response to the current heroin epidemic vs the crack epidemic seen in the 1980's.Simplistic slogans and calls for mass incarceration are now replaced with funding and a focus on rehabilitation and education. Integral to this public health response is the Affordable Care Act: a lifeline that requires private insurance plans to cover substance abuse services and expands access to substance abuse services to millions of Americans.

The pharmacological benefits of medical marijuana include anti-inflammatory, bronchodilation and analgesic benefits. Physicians throughout the US care prescribe medical marijuana to help patients manage epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, PTSD, and, in small studies, Alzheimer's Disease,For many patients with acute and chronic pain, medical marijuana helps ease acute and chronic pain. Dr. Patricia Frye of Takoma Park Alternative Care discusses the health benefits of medical marijuana, in children and adults, as more states initiate Medical Cannabis Programs.

Hate, crimes, speech and harassment are on the rise. Starting as a Facebook group, Swamp Revolt, quickly organized and mobilized in response to increasing levels of intolerance. Swamp Revolt, a community organization based in the suburban DC area, conducted training sessions on active bystander training for over 1500 people on Inauguration Day 2017. Over 60 intervention trainers educated local community members on the best practices for assisting victims of hate speech and harassment respectfully, peacefully, safely and nonviolently. Tameka Bell, a community organizer, and social justice activist, joins us in the studio to discuss Swamp Revolt, bystander training, and next steps for newly minted activists.

The recent inauguration signals a change in not just an administration, new laws, and regulation but the very fabric of a country woven from threads from all over the world. Protests during the inauguration ceremony and the recent Women's March illustrated the concerns that many have with the change in administration. Bystander intervention programs are now available on college campuses, community and religious organizations to train everyday citizens to step up and help de-escalate volatile confrontations. What will the new administration bring in 2017 and how will the American public respond. We discuss this and more on the Hope and Wellness Show.

From Texas to Colorado, special education headlines the news. According to the Council of Education Statistics, approximately "13% of all public school students receive special education services." Attorney Ashley Van Cleef , a former special education teacher and now special education attorney, joins us to discuss the challenges facing many children receiving special education services. The current Supreme Court case of Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District is a groundbreaking case that will rule on the current adequacy of special educational services We discuss the benefits and limitations of FAPE, IDEA mediation, arbitration and IEP's for children and families. In some cases, special education attorney can ensure that school districts remain compliant with current education law.

New Year's resolutions are sooo 2016. In 2017, this year, focus on forming new habits instead of creating lofty resolutions which, by the way, are mostly kicked to the curb by February. Forming new habits can look intimidating, but small steps forward pave the way to change. We discuss what the Year of More looks like in 2017,-more movement, more water, more growth- and the small steps that may lead to major, positive life changes.

"Tis the season for family, food, happiness, sadness and economic reality checks. The memory of beloved family members and friends no longer here can make this time of year challenging. And for some, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) makes this time of year difficult. Understanding and embracing what really matters, healthy relationships with supportive friends and family, can make this time of year less stressful. As we look forward to 2017, we wish everyone peace, justice, hope and good health.