community

You know, just the other day I heard this one man say, That “all colored people were the same” I got upset for a minute, until my mind got in it, and smiled a little smirk Well, we do like our colors, just look at the brothers, and the sisters keep that hair laid.

Chicken and greens are alright, when you need a bite, with some hot sauce you can’t miss We can dance better than most, would rather make a joke than a toast and party deep into the night

Our rides must be sharp, prefer our music with no harp, and the old school is loved by all Our families don’t always depict the Cosbys, but we are close knit…If you touch one of ours “Oh, it’s gone be some s---”

We all have a connection, be it far from perfection, we hold on to each other like glue, and if push comes to shove, we mean it with love...

Poetic Reflections

‘All the Same’

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Something is starting to happen in Detroit

By V. Lonnie Peek Jr.

Upon reflecting on an ar-

Arvis Perry

when we say “I got you” So, go on and say what you want, whisper under your breath Go ahead, make your claim, you see I don’t mind you saying “we’re all the same” Just remember this…You can’t pick through us like fruit, you can’t dilute the truth,

Because when it’s all said and done, we all are the same, yeah…even you, because Mother Earth is our home, and we’re all a part of the same root.

© 2010 Arvis Perry

‘Journalism That Mat- ters’ comes to Detroit

“Journalism That Matters

Detroit (JTM) – Create or Die: Forging communities that ini- tiate, incubate and innovate” will stop in Detroit June 3-6, St. Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Con- gress St.

This focused, three-day

gathering of results-driven, action-oriented participants will discover, assess, shape and create forward-looking enterprises focused on key el- ements of community — diver- sity, shared values, tolerance, participation and developing youth.

JTM especially invites

persons of color — journal- ists, entrepreneurs, program-

mers, technologists, blog- gers, videographers, venture capitalists, artists, funders, educators and all who have an interest — to explore how voices often unheard or mis- represented can reshape the future of journalism.

The program will include an

afternoon orientation, buffet dinner and an agenda-setting evening program. Share/work Friday and Saturday using circle-round and break-out “unconference” collaboration; wrap up and commit to next steps on Sunday morning.

For general information, e-

mail jtm@journalismthatmat- ters.org.

ticle that I read in one of the daily papers recently, it made me begin to connect some dots. The article was titled ‘The Detroit That Could Be.” It basically was an editorial that highlighted some of the potential developments in the city or those that are already in progress. Initiatives like, the Riverwalk, new schools new police headquarters, new downtown sports arena, light rail up Woodward Ave, bike trails, urban farming, second bridge over to Canada and Cobo Hall expansion. These ideas that are being advanced, big and small, all have some serious implications for the progress of our city.

Then there are two big

developments in the health industry that could be mind- boggling. The new DMC part- nership with Vanguard Health Systems is designed to pump at least $850 million of capital improvement into the Detroit Medical Center. Also Vanguard is assuming $639 million in debt and pension contribution as part of the deal. Couple this with the recent announcement of Henry Ford Health Systems that they plan to invest at least $500 million into the land around their flagship hospital for further expansion and de- velopment.

Also there is public ac-

knowledge that many of the Detroit area foundations have come together to collectively develop a variety of initiatives that they will be a part of a plan that is designed to improve the quality of life for Detroiters.

So as the city struggles

with a $300 million budget deficit, there is hope. With the emergency financial manager at DPS making cuts, closing schools and finding out where the waste is, up under all of this “doom and gloom” some- thing is starting to happen to our city.

Multimillion dollar corpo- rations don’t invest out of the

April 21-27, 2010

By Paul Bridgewater

During warm weather

months, health fairs top the list of free events in our com- munity that provide food, fel- lowship, and introductions to individuals and organizations that support positive health behavior changes. When it comes to healthy aging, you really can’t ask for more.

On Friday, April 23, the

V. Lonnie Peek Jr.

goodness of their hearts. New sports areas and new bridges are not discussed just be- cause. These are folks who see opportunities of the future that you invest in now. The rule on Wall Street: “Buy low, sell high.” Detroit might be at a low point but that does not mean it will stay there. The smart money gets in now in order to make future profits. The smart foundations come up with projects and plans to donate toward, so that they can say to their benefactors, this is what your money did to help turn Detroit around.

Now as it relates to hous-

ing, some of our Black broth- ers and sisters are running out to the suburbs. But I have noticed in my neighborhood a steady influx of folks whose skin is not touched with an ebony hue. While others run, they come in to get excellent houses for good prices, be- cause they realize that prop- erty values will once again go up, bringing great value to their investment. They see where Detroit is heading.

So those of us who have

stuck with the city, just hold on and be a part of the new face of the Detroit. Because believe me, Detroit is on the way back. Others are looking beyond what they see now and vision what Detroit can be.

APRIL IS NATIONAL ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH

largest health expo in Wayne County will be held in the Am- bassador Room of Cobo Con- ference Center from 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It’s the annual “Free Health Expo for the Un- insured,” and participants can find out about health coverage programs offered by Wayne County, City of Detroit and State of Michigan. Free health screenings for diabetes, dental care, and HIV-AIDS will also be available. For information, call Wayne County Health Choice at 313-833-3438.

Health screenings are also

a part of the 2010 Caregiving Conferences, sponsored by a number of organizations, in- cluding Neighborhood Legal Services Michigan and The Senior Alliance (Area Agency on Aging 1-C). The caregiv- ing conferences provide free and helpful information for families and individuals caring for others – a one-stop oppor- tunity for guidance in every- thing from home health care to support groups for caregiv- ers. The times and locations vary within Wayne County, so call 734-246-2280 for details. The dates are: Wednesday, April 21; Saturday, April 24; Monday, May 3; and Monday, May 10.

Coming up on Tuesday,

June 1, the Healthier Black Elders Center (HBEC) will hold its 8th Annual HBEC Health Reception at a new lo- cation: New Providence Con- ference Center. This year’s format will use a mini-medical school model where partici- pants learn about health chal- lenges, health promotion, and the importance of research to improve health-related quality of life.

The event will also intro-

duce the public to Carmen R. Green, M.D., a University of Michigan Health System physician who was recently named HBEC director. Dr. Green is an anesthesiologist and pain medicine physician.

Page D-7

Health fairs, expos

Paul Bridgewater

For nearly a decade, she has been exploring why racial and ethnic minorities, women, and the elderly have less access to quality pain management. She’s committed to under- standing what influences the quality of acute, chronic, and cancer pain care. By studying the pain complaints of minor- ity persons and those who are vulnerable and underserved, Dr. Green and other research- ers in the Department of An- esthesiology at U-M’s Medical School hope to highlight some of the reasons for disparities in pain management and ulti- mately improve pain care.

The HBEC Health Recep-

tion is free for those 55 years of age and older. The keynote speakers are Vernice Davis Anthony, president and CEO, Greater Detroit Area Health Council, and Jerry Johnson, MD, chief, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Penn- sylvania Health System. Both are among this country’s lead- ing health professionals, and as African-American health professionals, their perspec- tives are particularly valued. Pre-registration is required,; call (313) 577-1000.

And, we often provide a

mini-health fair on the air when you listen to “The Senior Solution” radio show (10 a.m., Saturday mornings, on 107.5 FM, WGPR). It’s the place on the FM dial where you have a chance to hear from experi- enced professionals like Dr. Carmen R. Green at U-M who are advocating for older adults and working hard to eliminate the disparities in our health care system.

Paul Bridgewater is presi-

dent and CEO, Detroit Area Agency on Aging; (313) 446-

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