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THIS IS OUR EDITION FOR
NOVEMBER 27, 2013.
I'M JOANNE WILLIAMS.
WE HAVE A VARIETY OF FITNESS AND
HEALTH THIS WEEK.
DECEMBER 1 IS WORLD AIDS DAY.
WE'LL EXAMINE THE IMPACT OF
H.I.V. ON MILWAUKEE'S
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE, WE'LL EXPLORE
THE BENEFITS OF LINE DANCING.
NOVEMBER IS ALSO DIABETES
AWARENESS MONTH.
DIABETES CAN BE A KILLER IN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND
THE LEADING CAUSE OF BLINDNESS,
KIDNEY FAILURE AND AMPUTATION,
BUT THE DISEASE CAN BE MANAGED.
>> MY FAMILY HAS DIABETES,
STARTED WITH MY MOTHER, SHE WAS
DIAGNOSED BACK IN 1980.
I WAS AWARE OF IT MORE IN THE
1990'S, AND JUST LEARNING THE
HARDSHIP OF WHAT SHE HAS GONE
THROUGH, I WANTED TO PREVENT IT
FOR MYSELF AND FAMILY.
>> BEING MY MOM'S CAREGIVER WAS
AN EYE OPENER.
JUST COMING IN AND TAKING CARE
OF HER, TALKING WITH HER, TAKING
HER BACK-AND-FORTH TO THE
DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS, MAKING
SURE SHE TOOK HER MEDICATION ON
TIME, EATING RIGHT, THAT WAS A
PERSONAL WAKEUP CALL FOR ME TO
WANT TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF
MYSELF.
I REALIZED THAT I NEEDED TO LOSE
WEIGHT AFTER GOING TO MY
PHYSICIAN.
SPEAKING WITH MY DOCTOR AND HIM
LETTING ME KNOW THAT MY WEIGHT
WAS HIGH AND I WAS ALSO
EXPERIENCING HIGH BLOOD
PRESSURE.
IN THE BEGINNING, ME TRYING TO
TAKE THE APPROACH OF LOSING
WEIGHT, IT WAS NOT EASY.
I DID FALL, I DID STRUGGLE.
MY FIRST STEP WAS JUST TO GET
UP, GET OUT, AND WALK.
THOSE WERE ONE OF MY FIRST
THINGS.
I KNEW THAT I WOULD EVENTUALLY
HAVE TO TAKE THE APPROACH ON
FOOD BUT MY FIRST THING WAS
GETTING ACTIVE AND JUST GETTING
MOTIVATED TO GET OUT.
PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, I DID
NOTICE A CHANGE.
I NOTICED A CHANGE JUST FOR THE
SIMPLE FACT OF GETTING OUT AND
MOVING, I STARTED TO DROP
WEIGHT.
AS FAR AS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, THE
THINGS THAT I DO NOW THAT I DID
NOT USED TO DO, I WENT AND
BOUGHT AN EXERCISE BALL, I GET
OUT TO BIKE RIDE MORE.
WHEN I'M COMING HOME, IF WE HAVE
A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME, I
TRY TO GET OUT AND PLAY FOOTBALL
WITH MY HUSBAND AND MY CHILDREN
AND WHEN I'M IN THE AREA, MAYBE
TAKING A WALK WITH MY MOM.
MY EATING HABITS AND PORTION
CONTROL HAS BEEN A GREAT IMPACT
IN MAINTAINING MY WEIGHT LOSS.
WE TRY TO EAT OUT OF SMALLER
PLATES, AND ALSO, JUST STAYING
MOTIVATED WITH MOVING, HAVING
FUN AND EXERCISING.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I DO TO
REWARD MYSELF, I DON'T KEEP
MYSELF FROM EVERYTHING.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO
TO REWARD MYSELF IS I STILL KEEP
IN PORTION CONTROL, BUT WHEN WE
GO OUT TO EAT, I LIKE TO HAVE
FOOD.
I LIKE TO STAY FOCUSED, MEET MY
GOALS.
BEING A BUSY MOM, JUST BY THE
SIMPLE FACT OF EDUCATING MY
GIRLS AND MY HUSBAND, THE MORE
EDUCATED THEY BECAME, THEY MADE
IT A WHOLE LOT EASIER TO
MAINTAIN WEIGHT.
I FEEL WONDERFUL NOW.
BEFORE IN THE PARKS MY MOOD WAS
DOWN, I HAD A LOT OF WEIGHT THAT
I WAS CARRYING AND THAT WAS JUST
AN EXTREMELY HORRIBLE FEELING,
BUT NOW I FEEL MORE MOTIVATED, I
FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF, TO EVEN
NOT JUST STAY AT THIS WEIGHT,
BUT TO CONTINUOUSLY LOSE WEIGHT.
MY ADVICE TO A PERSON THAT'S
TRYING TO PREVENT DIABETES WOULD
BE TO FIRST GET WITH YOUR DOCK
ARE TO, FIND OUT WHAT -- DOCTOR,
FIND OUT WHAT YOUR NUMBERS ARE,
WHERE YOUR NUMBERS SHOULD BE.
REACH OUT AND GET SUPPORT FROM
THOSE MAYBE IN YOUR CHURCH, YOUR
FAMILY, JUST GET HIGHLY EDUCATED
ABOUT DIABETES AND IF YOU FALL,
DON'T STAY DOWN, GET BACK UP
AGAIN.
TO FIND MORE TIPS ON PREVENTING
TYPE 2 DIABETES AND MANAGING
YOUR WEIGHT, VISIT YOUR DIABETES
INFO.ORG.
I'M LATEASHA TURNER, I'M
PREVENTING DIABETES BY LOSING
WEIGHT AND KEEPING IT OFF.
IT'S NOT EASY, BUT IT'S WORTH
IT.
>> CLOSER TO HOME, 540, ESPN
MILWAUKEE SPORTS RADIO
PERSONALITY STEVE HEYWOOD
RECENTLY BECAME A DOUBLE AMPUTEE
AS A RESULT OF THAT DISEASE.
HE SAID, I WANT TO TELL ALL
THOSE OUT THERE WITH DIABETES,
PLEASE CHECK YOUR BLOOD SUGARS,
KEEP THEM UNDER CONTROL, AS BEST
YOU CAN.
AND MAKE THE BEST CHOICES YOU
CAN WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR
HEALTH.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH
THIS KIND OF TRAUMATIC EVENT
LIKE I HAVE.
I MISS MY LEGS, BUT I WILL WALK
AGAIN.
STEVE HAS AGREED TO ALLOW US TO
FOLLOW HIS JOURNEY AND WE'LL
HAVE HIS STORY FOR YOU IN THE
FUTURE.
RIGHT NOW THOUGH WE'RE JOINED BY
DR. ALICIA WALKER, A PHARMACIST
AND VERY WELL VERSED IN
DIABETES.
WELCOME.
>> HI.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.
DIABETES IS SOMETHING THAT SO
MANY PEOPLE HAVE, SOMETIMES WE
THINK IT'S COMMON.
IS IT REALLY COMMON?
>> NO, IT'S NOT THAT COMMON, BUT
IT IS GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER
AS TIME GOES ON.
THEY ESTIMATE, THE AMERICAN
DIABETES ASSOCIATION ESTIMATES
BY 2050, ONE IN THREE AMERICANS
WILL BE SUFFERING FROM DIABETES.
>> ONE IN THREE?
>> YES.
THAT IS QUITE ALARMING, AND
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT NOW
THAT WE, YOU KNOW, TELL OUR
CHILDREN TO WATCH WHAT THEY'RE
EATING, BECAUSE -- THAT WE'RE
WATCHING WHAT WE'RE EATING AS
WELL SO WE'RE MODELING GOOD
BEHAVIOR.
>> IS DIABETES PREVENTABLE?
>> THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT
ARE NOT PREVENTABLE.
YOUR AGE IS NOT, YOUR SEX IS
NOT, THE SEX ISN'T SO MUCH AN
ISSUE AS MUCH AS YOUR RACE.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT CANNOT BE
CHANGED.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE THINGS SUCH
AS YOUR EATING HABITS THAT CAN
BE CHANGED, WHETHER YOU SMOKE OR
NOT THAT CAN BE CHANGED.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN AFFECT
HOW THE DIABETES AFFECTS YOUR
BODY.
>> NOW THE WOMEN WE JUST SAW,
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, THAT MEANS
IT'S IN THEIR FAMILY.
IS IT A HEREDITARY CONDITION?
>> YES, THERE IS A HEREDITARY
COMPONENT TO IT.
MY MOM PASSED ON IN 2010 FROM
DIABETES, SO IT'S NEAR AND DEAR
TO MY HEART.
MY BROTHER SUFFERS FROM IT IT
AND MY SISTERS AN I DO NOT.
BUT THERE IS A HEREDITARY
COMPONENT TO IT.
MY MOM HAD AN AMPUTATION BASED
UPON THE DIABETES, SO SHE LIVED
WITH THE DISEASE FOR OVER 20
YEARS, AND SO WE DON'T WANT
PEOPLE TO THINK THAT IT'S
SOMETHING TO BE AFRAID OF, IT'S
SOMETHING TO DEAL WITH.
SO THAT YOU MAKE IT A PART OF
YOUR LIFESTYLE CHANGES, AND WHAT
YOU DO ONCE YOU'RE DIAGNOSED.
>> IS IT SOMETHING THAT OCCURS
ONLY WHEN YOU BECOME AN ADULT?
>> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE
DIAGNOSED AS CHILDREN, AND
THAT'S WHAT THEY CONSIDER TYPE 1
DIABETES, AND THERE'S REALLY
NOTHING THOSE CHILDREN CAN DO,
IT'S JUST THAT THEIR PANCREAS IS
NOT PUTTING OUT ENOUGH INSULIN
FOR THEM.
AS YOU GET OLDER, YOUR EATING
HABITS AFFECT MORE OF THE ON SET
OF DIABETES, SO THAT'S WHEN
YOU'RE LOOKING AT TYPE 2
DIABETES.
>> TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
EATING HABITS.
WHAT SHOULD WE BE EATING TO KEEP
OURSELVES SAFE FROM THIS
CONDITION?
>> WELL, THE BIGGEST THING IS I
WAS SO HAPPY WHEN THE FIRST LADY
CAME OUT AND TALKED ABOUT HALF
OF OUR PLATES BEING FILLED WITH
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
AS A MOM, IT MADE ME HAPPY,
BECAUSE I SAID HEY THAT'S LESS
COOKING I HAVE TO DO.
I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
GETTING ALL THE SIDES TOGETHER
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES AS HALF YOUR MEAL,
THAT'S HALF YOUR BATTLE.
IT'S NOT A HIGH CALORIE COUNT
TYPE OF THING YOU'RE LOOKING AT
DOING.
YOU WANT TO WATCH WHAT YOU'RE
DOING IN TERMS OF EATING HIGH
CALORIE THINGS AND MAKING SURE
YOU'RE EATING THINGS THAT YOU
CAN BURN OFF.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SAY IN
MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I CAN'T FIND
FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AS
CONVENIENTLY AS IN SOME OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHAT CAN FOLKS IN THAT SITUATION
DO, WHAT CAN THEY EAT?
>> THE BIGGEST THING IS TRYING
TO SEEK IT OUT NONETHELESS.
TRYING TO MAKE YOURSELF -- AVAIL
YOURSELF AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE OF
GROCERY STORES AND THINGS LIKE
THAT, THAT HAVE THOSE TYPE OF
FEEDS, AND THEN TRY AND STOCK UP
ACCORDINGLY.
IF YOU CANNOT DO THAT, THEN YOU
HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE EQUATION, WHICH IS TRYING
TO EXERCISE, WHICH WE SHOULD ALL
BE DOING ANYWAY, IN ORDER TO
STRENGTHEN OUR HEART, BUT YOU
WANT TO TRY AND WORK THOSE
CALORIES OFF OF THE FOODS THAT
YOU ARE EATING, AND AS BEST YOU
CAN, REALLY SEEK OUT THOSE
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
>> AND THE EXERCISE IS CRITICAL.
KIDS AREN'T EXERCISING AS MUCH
AS THEY USED TO.
HOW MUCH EXERCISE SHOULD WE GET
TO MAKE SURE WE'LL STAY SAFE
FROM DIABETES?
>> IT'S BEST TO EXERCISE MOST
DAYS OF THE WEEK, SO THEY
USUALLY SAY FOUR DAYS OF THE
WEEK, 30 MINUTES IS BEST.
>> AND WALKING WILL DO IT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WALKING WILL DO IT.
MY KIDS KEEP BUGGING ME FOR A
DOG, AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT
LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY
DON'T FEEL NECESSARILY SAFE JUST
TAKING A WALK IN, WE HAVE TO BE
MINDFUL OF THAT.
THEY MAY BE A GOOD CANDIDATE TO
HAVE A DOG BECAUSE THAT CAN
PROVIDE YOU PROTECTION IF YOU
DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE JUST
WALKING.
YOU CAN ALSO -- A LOT OF HOMES
IN MILWAUKEE ARE -- HAVE STAIRS
TO THEM, SO JUST RUNNING UP AND
DOWN THE STAIRS CAN HEPBURN OFF
CALORIES AS WELL.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT I
AS A MEMBER OF THE CREAM CITY
MEDICAL SOCIETY, WE ARE
ADVOCATES FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS,
IN PARTICULAR, THAT ARE DEALING
WITH DIABETES, SO WE LIKE TO,
YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
AVAILING OURSELVES OF THOSE
DOCTORS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES.
>> IF PEOPLE WANT MORE
INFORMATION, HOW DO THEY GET IN
TOUCH WITH THE CREAM CITY
MEDICAL SOCIETY.
>> IT'S
WWW.CREAMCITYMEDICALSOCIETY.COM.
>> THANKS FOR COMING IN AND
TALKING WITH US.
LET'S HOPE PEOPLE TAKE YOUR
ADVICE.
>> THANK YOU INVESTMENT.
>>
>> BE IT A WEDDING RECEPTION, OR
A GATHERING.
OR DOING THE DUGY WITH FIRST
LADY MICHELLE OBAMA, LINE
DANCING IS IN.
IT'S FUN AND YOU DON'T NEED A
PARTNER.
LINE DANCING IS EXACTLY WHAT THE
NAME IMPLIES -- PEOPLE DANCING
IN A LINE.
THE POPULARITY IS GROWING AROUND
THE COUNTRY, AND IN MILWAUKEE.
CLASSES ARE POPPING UP AROUND
THE CITY.
AT JEAN'S LANES AND LOUNGE ON
MILWAUKEE'S NORTH SIDE, EVERY
SATURDAY AFTERNOON, YOU'LL FIND
PEOPLE HAVING FUN AND GETTING
THE MUCH-NEEDED EXERCISE LINE
DANCING.
THIS CLASS IS RUN BY CERTIFIED
FITNESS INSTRUCTOR DESIREE
MORTON, ALSO KNOWN AS BUTTERFLY.
SHE CONSIDERS WHAT SHE TEACHES
URBAN LINE DANCING, BECAUSE OF
THE MUSIC SHE USES.
YOU CAN LINE DANCE TO
PRACTICALLY ANY MUSIC.
SHE SAID IT'S NOT HARD, BUT IT'S
NOT AS EASY AS IT LOOKS.
>> LINE DANCING IS NOT HARD HAT
ALL.
ANYONE THAT'S ABLE TO HAVE
MOBILITY IS ABLE TO DO LINE
DANCING, YOU CAN BRING IT DOWN
TO LOW IMPACT AS WELL AS HIGH
IMPACT.
IT'S ALL UP TO THE PERSON'S
MOBILITY.
>> JUST GET A LITTLE WORKOUT.
I NEED TO WORK THE POUNDS OFF,
BUT MAINLY, IT'S A LOT OF FUN.
KEEP MY BONES LOOSE.
>> IT'S A FUN WAY TO EXERCISE.
I BELONG TO A PRETTY EXCLUSIVE
CLUB HERE IN MILWAUKEE, AND THEY
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THIS FUN, SO
I COME HERE AND DO THIS.
>> AGE DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER.
>> WE HAVE ALL AGE GROUPS, WE
HAVE FROM ANYWHERE FROM 21 YEARS
OF AGE ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL SOME
OF THE LADIES ARE 75 YEARS OF
AGE.
WE HAVE A VARIETY OF AGES.
>> JUST A LOT OF FUN AND I
BELIEVE THAT YOU NEED TO BE
ACTIVE IN EXERCISE AND THIS IS A
GOOD WAY TO MEET PEOPLE AND HAVE
A LOT OF FUN.
>> IT'S NOT -- I DON'T KNOW, I
THINK INTIMIDATING IN THE GYM.
THIS IS A LOT MORE FUN AND A LOT
MORE RELAXING FOR ME.
>> I DO LINE DANCING BECAUSE
IT'S GOOD EXERCISE, IT'S FUN,
IT'S A GOOD WAY TO GET TOGETHER
WITH A BUNCH OF GIRLS AND SPEND
YOUR SATURDAY AFTERNOON WORKING
OUT AND STILL HAVING FUN.
>> THERE ARE PROS AND MAYBE SOME
CONS OF PARTICIPATING IN LINE
DANCING.
>> PROS OF IT IS THAT YOU'RE
DANCING AND IT'S A FORM OF
EXERCISE, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW
THAT YOU'RE EXERCISING AND THE
BAD THING ABOUT IS IT'S
ADDICTIVE, BUT IT'S ADDICTIVE IN
A GOOD WAY.
>> YOU CAN BURN FROM
600 CALORIES TO 1100 CALORIES.
IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH -- HOW
INTENSE YOU MAKE THE DANCE MOVES
IN PARTICULAR.
>> AND YOU DON'T NEED ANY
SPECIAL GEAR TO DO IT.
>> WE ASK THE PARTICIPANTS TO
WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHING.
SOME PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE
DANCING IN HEELS, SOME ARE
COMFORTABLE DANCING IN FLATS OR
TENNIS SHOES.
SO IT'S UP TO THE PERSON, WHAT
THEY'RE NORMALLY HEY CUSTOMED TO
DANCING IN.
THIS ACTIVITY IS ACTUALLY LOW
IMPACT, SO IT DOESN'T HARM YOUR
JOINTS, IF YOU HAVE ANY TYPE OF
ARTHRITIS OR SUFFER FROM ANY
TYPE OF MOBILITY PROBLEMS, YOU
CAN BASICALLY ANYONE CAN DANCE
THE LINE DANCE TO MUSIC.
WE HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE
EXCITED ABOUT DOING IT AS WELL
AS OLDER ADULTS THAT ARE
PARTICIPATING IN LINE DANCING.
>> SHE IS HAPPY WITH THE
POPULARITY OF THE CLASS.
IT STARTED WITH 10 PEOPLE AND
NOW IT'S WELL OVER 50.
>> I DO THE LINE DANCE CLASS
WITH BUTTERFLY, BECAUSE IT'S A
GREAT WAY TO WORKOUT, USE IT AS
AN AEROBIC TOOL, BUT ALSO WHEN I
GO OUT TO PARTIES, DINNERS, I
CAN GET ON A DANCE FLOOR AND
HAVE FUN WITH A GROUP.
IT'S AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO STAY FIT AND HAVE FUN.
>> PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LOSING
WEIGHT, JUST REALLY HAVING A
GOOD TIME.
THEY LOOK FORWARD TO THE CLASS.
WHEN WE DON'T HAVE CLASS FOR A
PARTICULAR REASON, IT'S A SAD
DAY.
SO I JUST TRY TO MAKE SURE I
KEEP CLASSES FLOWING.
>> DECEMBER 1 IS WORLD AIDS DAY.
THE NUMBERS ARE STILL ALARMING.
IN SOME SECTIONS OF MILWAUKEE'S
BLACK COMMUNITIES, THE INFECTION
RATE IS ALMOST 10 TIMES THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE.
ACCEPTANCE JOURNEYS IS A PROGRAM
AIMED AT REDUCING THOSE NUMBERS.
EVERETT MARSHBURN HAS THAT
STORY.
>> IT'S GREAT TO MEET YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> IT WASN'T EASY.
>> LAWRENCE HARRIS AND
EEMANUWAYL KEDEM ARE CELEBRATING
EEMANUWAYL KEDEM'S 17th
17th ANNIVERSARY OF BEING
SOBER.
BOTH ARE IN RECOVERY.
AS A YOUNG MAN, LAWRENCE HAD A
GOOD PAYING JOB UNTIL DRUGS TOOK
OVER HIS LIFE.
>> I WAS HOMELESS AT THE AGE OF
29 YEARS OLD.
ALL I HAD WAS A CAR.
IT'S A LONG STORY ABOUT HOW I
ENDED UP THAT WAY, BUT I ENDED
UP IN MY CAR, AND I TALKED TO
GOD THAT NIGHT, AND I SAID LORD,
IF YOU LET ME GET UP OUT OF THIS
CAR AND GET ME SOMEWHERE TO
STAY, GIVE ME A KEY TO ANYWHERE
TO STAY, I'LL NEVER GET HIGH
AGAIN.
>> LAWRENCE WILL CELEBRATE HIS
24th YEAR OF SOBRIETY IN
JANUARY OF 2013.
HE'S MARRIED, AND WORKS IN
H.I.V. SERVICES.
EEMANUWAYL KEDEM'S DESCENT INTO
SUBSTANCE ABUSE WAS MA
COMBINATION OF HIS MOTHER'S
DEATH WHEN HE WAS 11, AND HIS
INABILITY TO COPE WITH HIS
SEXUALITY.
>> AND IT WAS THE INITIAL
EMOTION THAT I EXPERIENCED AS A
YOUNG PERSON, BUT TOO AFRAID AND
FEARFUL TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS
MYSELF TO WHAT MY FEELINGS WERE
FOR FEAR.
THAT I WOULD BE PUNISHED OR
RIDICULED OR TALKED ABOUT OR
WHAT HAVE YOU.
>> WHEN KEDEM GOT SERIOUS ABOUT
RECOVERY, HE MET LAWRENCE IN A
GROUP MEETING AND HAVE BEEN GOOD
FRIENDS EVER SINCE.
>> WE ACCEPT PEOPLE WHERE THEY
ARE, AND I WAS -- I WAS HERE
BEFORE KEDEM, I WAS A
PREDECESSOR OF KEDEM, HE CAME
AROUND, I WAS CHAIRING MEETINGS
AND DOING WHAT I DO AND HE CAME
AROUND, HE CLUNG AROUND US AND
WE'VE JUST BEEN AROUND EACH
OTHER EVER SINCE.
>> IT WAS ALWAYS A VERY PLEASANT
SPIRIT.
AND I GRAVITATED TOWARDS THAT,
AND IT WASN'T *** OR YOU
KNOW, LUSTFUL OR ANYTHING LIKE
THAT, BECAUSE HE MADE THE
POSSIBILITY THAT MEN COULD
ACTUALLY BE CONSIDERABLE, KIND,
AND UNDERSTANDING.
>> THE STORY OF THEIR FRIENDSHIP
IS PART OF ACCEPTANCE JOURNEYS,
A CAMPAIGN BY DIVERSE AND
RESILIENT, TO HELPLESS --
HELP LESSEN THE H.I.V. RATE
AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN IN
MILWAUKEE.
>> PARTICULARLY IN THE BLACK
COMMUNITY, HOMOPHOBIA AND
RESENTMENT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO
COME OUT OR TO HAVE THE SUPPORT
IS ONE OF THOSE KEY CONCERNS.
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE
OUT THERE WHO CAST OUT MEMBERS
OF OUR COMMUNITY ONCE THEY TALK
ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE
BISEXUAL OR GAY, SO WE SEE A LOT
OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY
WHO NEED SOMEONE TO GIVE THEM
SOME FORM OF ACCEPTANCE,
ACCEPTANCE JOURNEYS IS ABOUT
SHARING KEY INFORMATION ABOUT
HOW YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH
SOMEONE WHO'S GAY, TRANSGENDER
OR BISEXUAL.
>> WE'VE INTERVIEWED OVER 100
PEOPLE IN THE CITY AND GOTTEN
SOME BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL
STORIES AND PICTURES AS WELL,
AND PEOPLE ARE REALLY MOVED BY
THESE STORIES AS WELL.
WE'VE GOT BILLBOARDS AROUND
TOWN, THEY SAY THE FIRST TOKEN
IS WHOSE LIFE CAN YOU CHANGE
WITH LOVE, SO WE HAD TWO
BILLBOARDS THAT STARTED WITH
THAT AND WE MOVED ON TO A COUPLE
OTHER MESSAGES, I LOVE MY
DAUGHTER JUST AS SHE IS.
THE ROOT OF THE PROJECT IS
DERIVED FROM THE CENTER FOR
DISEASE CONTROL'S RESEARCH.
THEY FOUND IN 2009 THE
HEIGHTENED RATES OF H.I.V. FOR
YOUNG GAY MEN IS INCREASING
STEADILY AND IT WAS VERY, VERY
DIRE TO THE CITY, SO THEY WANTED
TO FIND OUT WHY THIS IS
HAPPENING.
SO THEY DID SOME RESEARCH, AND
THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHETHER IT
WAS BECAUSE OUTREACH METHODS HAD
CHANGED OR MAYBE TESTING METHODS
HAD CHANGED, BUT THEY FOUND THAT
NONE OF THAT WAS TRUE, IT WASN'T
BECAUSE OF THOSE REASONS, IT WAS
BECAUSE OF ANTI-GAY STIGMA AND
H.I.V. STIGMAS.
>> THAT STIGMA IS SOMETHING THAT
LAWRENCE AND KEDEM KNOW
FIRSTHAND.
>> I WAS TALKED ABOUT, I WAS,
YOU KNOW, OSTRACIZED, I WAS, YOU
KNOW, RIDICULED, AND IT WAS REAL
DIFFICULT BECAUSE I HAD ALL
THESE EMOTIONS AND I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO WITH THEM.
>> OUTREACH ON THE STREETS, I
MET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE
ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE AND I'VE
SEEN HOW THEY WAS GETTING JUDGED
OR I USED TO MEET PEOPLE AND I
HAD TO TAKE THEM TO GET SOME
HOUSING OR FOOD PANTRY OR
WHATEVER THEIR NEEDS MIGHT BE
AND I COULD SEE HOW PEOPLE WOULD
TREAT THEM AT A CHURCH, SEE THEM
AT AN AODA FACILITY THAT YOU'RE
TAKING THEM TO AND THEY SEE THEY
HAVE ALTERNATE WAY, THEY HAVE
RELUCTANCE TO TALK TO THE PERSON
OR EVEN RELUCTANCE TO EVEN GIVE
THEM ACCESS TO WHATEVER THEY MAY
HAVE TO OFFER.
>> AS A MINORITY, ESPECIALLY FOR
YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN GAY MEN,
THEY ARE ALMOST DOUBLY
STIGMATIZED, LIKE WHEN YOU'RE A
MINORITY, YOU HAVE ALL OF THAT
STRESS ON YOU, SO THAT STRESS
ALONG WITH BEING -- MAYBE H.I.V.
POSITIVE OR EVEN JUST GAY AND
THAT POINT CAN HEIGHTEN ALL OF
THESE STRESSES UPON YOU.
SO YOU HAVE ALL THIS STUFF ON
YOUR SHOULDERS, SO WHEN SOMEONE
ISN'T ACCEPTING OF YOU AND
LOVING OF YOU, THE IMPACT OF THE
COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT AND LOVE
YOU IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, AND
THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO WITH THE PROJECT, IS TO SHOW
PEOPLE THAT LOVE IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING AND YOU SHOULD
LOVE ONE ANOTHER FOR WHO YOU ARE
UNCONDITIONALLY.
>> IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS IMPACTS
OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY,
PARTICULARLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN
COMMUNITY AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN
WOMEN ARE BEING IMPACTED BY
THOSE MEN WHO ARE ON THE DOWN
LOW, WHO DON'T IDENTIFY WITH
BEING GAY OR BISEXUAL.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR WHOLE
COMMUNITY ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE
OF H.I.V. INFECTION, BECAUSE
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS HERE,
IT'S SOMETHING WE MUST DEAL
WITH, AND IT IS A GROWING
CONCERN.
>> WE'RE JOINED NOW BY CHRIS
ALLEN, PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR
DIVERSE AND RESILIENT.
>> DIVERSE AND RESILIENT IS A
NONPROFIT PUBLIC HEALTH
ORGANIZATION FOR LGBT PEOPLE IN
THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
SO WE HAVE PROGRAMMING THAT
SEEKS TO ADDRESS DIFFERENT
HEALTH DISPARITIES WITHIN THE
LGBT COMMUNITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE PROGRAMS THAT I
WORK ON ARE H.I.V. PREVENTION
PROGRAMMING, FOR YOUNG
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, GAY AND
BISEXUAL MEN, WHERE IN
MILWAUKEE, THE RATES ARE
EXTREMELY HIGH AMONG THAT
COMMUNITY.
>> WHY IS THAT?
WHY IS MILWAUKEE AHEAD OF SOME
OTHER COMMUNITIES?
>> WELL, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT
ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE HIGHER
RATES OF H.I.V. WITHIN MILWAUKEE
ARE HOUSING INSTABILITY AMONG
YOUNG GAY AND BISEXUAL BLACK
MEN, THE LACK OF SEX EDUCATION,
THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AROUND WHAT
CAN LEAD TO H.I.V. AND HOW IT
CAN BE CONVENIENTED, HOW IT CAN
BE -- PREVENTED AND HOW IT CAN
BE TREATED AND THERE'S H.I.V.
STIGMA, THERE'S LACK OF SUPPORT
AROUND BEING YOUNG AND GAY AND A
LOT OF STIGMA AROUND H.I.V. AND
SO THE STIGMA LEADS TO A FAIR
DISCLOSURE.
>> NOW, YEARS AGO WHEN H.I.V.
WAS FIRST DISCOVERED, I PUT THAT
IN QUOTES, THERE WAS A LOT OF
STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH IT, BUT
HASN'T THAT BEEN REDUCED OVER
THE YEARS?
I MEAN, H.I.V. AND AIDS SEEMS
SORT OF COMMON NOWADAYS?
IT'S JUST ANOTHER DISEASE.
>> YEAH.
I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD
NECESSARILY SAY THAT IT'S BEEN
REDUCED.
I THINK THE STIGMA HAS CHANGED.
I THINK THAT WHEN H.I.V. WAS
NEW, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE AFRAID
OF IT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT IT WAS, THEY KNEW PEOPLE
WERE DYING FROM IT, THERE WASN'T
A LOT OF WAYS THAT PEOPLE COULD
GET TREATMENT FOR IT.
AND NOW WITH ADVANCES IN
MEDICATION, PEOPLE CAN LIVE LONG
HEALTHY LIVES WITH H.I.V. AS
LONG AS THEY'RE IN CARE AND
TREATMENT, WHICH IS THE KEY, AND
SO WHILE THERE'S NOT AS MUCH
STIGMA AROUND IT AS FAR AS, YOU
KNOW, THE FEAR OF DEATH, WHERE
THERE IS STILL STIGMA AROUND
THAT, BUT JUST -- THERE'S NOT A
LOT OF INFORMATION AROUND IT.
IN THE 1980'S AND EARLY 1990'S,
A LOT OF PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT IT,
IT WAS ON THE NEWS A LOT, THERE
WERE DIFFERENT PUBLIC
ORGANIZATIONS -- NOT PUBLIC, BUT
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE TRYING
TO BRING AWARENESS ABOUT IT, AND
SO SOME OF THAT HAS DIED DOWN
NOW, AND THERE'S LESS EDUCATION,
LESS INFORMATION.
AND SO WHILE THERE'S NOT AS MUCH
IN THE NEWS ABOUT PEOPLE DYING
FROM IT, THERE'S STILL FEAR
THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THIS IS, I DON'T KNOW HOW I
CAN CATCH IT, IF SOMEONE HAS
H.I.V., I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE
GOING TO GIVE IT TO ME, AND SO
IT'S JUST THAT LACK OF
INFORMATION.
>> IS IT MOSTLY YOUNGER PEOPLE
WHO DON'T HAVE THIS INFORMATION?
OR IS IT STILL SPREADING AMONG
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THEIR 40'S,
50'S, AND AMONG WOMEN?
THAT WAS A BIG RISE NOT LONG
AGO.
>> I THINK THERE'S LACK OF
INFORMATION AMONG A LOT OF
GROUPS, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT
IS PRIMARILY AMONG A LOT OF
YOUNGER PEOPLE.
THE YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT I WORK
WITH AND HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF
SEEING IN MY PROGRAMS, THEY
WEREN'T AROUND WHEN H.I.V. WAS
FIRST DIAGNOSED IN THE LATE
1980'S, EARLY 1990'S, SO THEY
DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE A LOT OF WHAT SOME OF THE
OLDER GENERATION HAS SEEN AND SO
WHAT THEY HEAR ABOUT IT ISN'T
THE SAME MESSAGING, AND SO THEY
DO HAVE SOMEWHAT LESS
INFORMATION THAN SOMEONE NO
MIGHT HAVE BEEN AROUND WHEN IT
WAS NEW.
>> NOW, WHEN YOU TRY AND EDUCATE
YOUNG ARE HE PEOPLE ABOUT IT, --
YOUNGER PEOPLE ABOUT IT, DO YOU
TRY TO SCARE THEM, SAYING THIS
IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD FEAR OR
DO YOU TRY TO TEACH THEM THAT
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE
TO LEARN TO AVOID AND IF YOU ARE
INFECTED, YOU HAVE TO GET
TREATED?
>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT
QUESTION, BECAUSE THE SCARE
TACTICS IS WHAT CAN ACTUALLY
HAD -- TO THE STIGMA OF H.I.V.
-- ADD TO THE STIGMA OF H.I.V.
AND THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT IT
AND EDUCATE PEOPLE ISN'T IT
SCARE THEM AND SAY YOU HAVE TO
BE AFRAID OF THIS BUT TO GIVE
THEM THE SKILLS AND THE
KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED SO THEY CAN
AVOID GETTING IT AND IF THEY DO
GET H.I.V., GIVING THEM THE
INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED SO
THAT THEY CAN PREVENT PASSING IT
ON TO SOMEONE ELSE.
>> EVERYBODY USES THE INTERNET
FOR INFORMATION, AND EDUCATION
NOWADAYS.
HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE
ABOUT IT AND PARTICULARLY YOUR
PROGRAM?
>> YEAH.
YOU CAN FIND MORE OUT ABOUT MY
PROGRAMMING BY VISITING OUR WEB
SITE, DIVERSE AND RESILIENT.ORG.
OTHERWISE, THE CDC HAS A LOT OF
REALLY GOOD INFORMATION ON THEIR
WEB SITE, CDC.GOV AND AIDS.GOV,
YOU CAN FIND OUT A LOT OF
INFORMATION THERE.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH FOR COMING
AND TALKING TO US TODAY AND THIS
IS ONE OF THOSE SUBJECTS THAT
THE MORE INFORMATION YOU HAVE,
THE SAFER YOU CAN STAY.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR SPEAKING
WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HAND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR
THIS WEEK.
FOR "BLACK NOUVEAU," I'M JOANNE
WILLIAMS.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING.