Divas, MPH

I love to see all my friends and family going back to school. My little cousins who were super excited to show me their new colored pencils this weekend, my sisters entering their senior year at UMD (Go Terps!), my teacher friends with their lesson plans and their cool classroom posters (you guys rock!), and all my homies heading back to pursue Master’s, PhDs and law degrees! I am so proud of them all

Whether it’s in a classroom, online, on-the-job, for a degree or just for fun, we are constantly in the reciprocal cycle of learning and of teaching. Not just at school or at work either — we are all students and we are all teachers, every day, whether we recognize it or not. And as every decision and every behavior effects our health and the health of our families and our communities, we all have a responsibility to educate one another.

As a mom you educate your daughter on her social and mental health every time you talk to her about dating or friends; and as a wife you educate your husband on healthy living each time you cook for him or go on a walk together; even as a daughter, you are educating your mother on her spiritual well-being whenever you pray, go to church, or meditate together. And while you don’t have to have an MPH to Make our People Healthier, you should be well-equipped with the right information to help yourself and your loved ones make healthy decisions!

Here are a a couple of resources that we use to send oursleves ”Back To School” and get educated on how to keep ourselves, our families and our community happy, healthy, and well. Check them out and please share others that you may use!

The Facts on Healthcare Reform: http://www.healthcare.gov

Federal Resources on Women’s Health: http://www.womenshealth.gov

Black Women’s Health: http://www.blackwomenshealth.com

Total Women’s Health: http://www.womenhealthzone.com

Women’s Wellness Blog: http://www.healthyyounow.com

Health, Wellness & Tips for Mom’s: http://mochamanual.com/mochamanual

Be happy. Be healthy. Be an educator!

Miss. Madie

The Boss Network, a women’s empowerment alliance dedicated to highlighting women and creating opportunities for growth through networking beyond events, has just announced their first nationwide tour: The 2010 ”Inspired by Influencers” Tour.

The tour aims to inspire and empower participants, provide networking opportunities with local women of influence, AND support local HIV/AIDS education to women in that city! <– We LOVE this!

So you can only imagine how thrilled we were when BOSS Network Founder, Cameka D. Smith asked if the proceeds from the premier stop on the tour – Washington, DC — could benefit HIV/AIDS outreach work in D.C. through our annual S.O.S. Health Summit.

We are SO excited about the Washington, DC “Influencers“ event and want ALL of our Divas there! Join us, along with the beautiful, empowered, and positive sisters of The BOSS Network for an evening of inspiration.

Register & purchase tickets here!

Be happy. Be healthy. Be BOSSY!

Miss. Madie

This morning I was making the long trek to work and in the midst of commercials on the Big Tigger Morning Show, I turned to an old favorite The Russ Parr Morning Show at the perfect time.  They had just played a clip of Fantasia’s interview of Good Morning America.  To see the interview click here! 

At the conclusion of the clip, callers chimed in on what they thought was wrong with ‘Tasia (she’s my homegirl) and what she should do to come out of the dark place where she now resides.  As I was listening to the radio show, I was reminded that Black women are trained by the climate in which we live to be STRONG and INDEPENDENT and that women who do not fit these two characteristics are looked down upon.  We dare not say we are feeling WEAK and that we need the support of others to push us out of our situations because if we do, we can no longer call ourselves a STRONG BLACK WOMAN.

Well I beg to differ!  I think a STRONG black woman is strong enough to realize when she needs help and seeks it out.  In our community, we are in DEPRESSION DENIAL.  We call being unhappy, extremely tired, feel stuck, etc. everything but DEPRESSION.  Don’t get me wrong I am not saying if you feel unhappy, tired, or stuck for a couple of days or a couple of weeks that you should be automatically diagnosed as DEPRESSED.  What I am saying is that sometimes we become complacent with being in a perpetual state of unhappiness and we don’t recognize it for what it is.  We have to work to eliminate the stigma around seeking out professional help to work through our issues. Just because you go and talk to someone does mean you are WEAK, DEPENDENT, or CRAZY.  To me, it makes you EXTREMELY SMART.  It means you are in touch enough with your emotions and mental health that you understand and recognize when you can no longer do it alone.  Our family and friends don’t always have the answers.  We can and should look to God from whom our help comes but it doesn’t hurt to also see a therapist. 

In the coming months, Divas, MPH and other organizations in the DMV will team up to discuss mental health issues in the Black community and how it plays a critical role in overall total health and wellness. In the meantime, if you or someone you know is showing signs of extreme unhappiness, starts to withdraw from family and friends, and has lost a zeal for life, I encourage you to suggest to them that they seek out professional help.  Sometimes it feels good to talk to someone who is totally unfamiliar with the situation and can provide an unbiased perspective and plan of action for how you should proceed.

When you are overworked, overwhelmed, over ambitious, over committed….it is normal to get consumed by the pressure cooker we call life.  Before you burst like ‘Tasia did, go talk to someone because it is not worth letting the issue(s) overtake your life.  Sometimes you gotta get back to the basics and detox all of the negativity in your life…You Gotta Get Back To Me (You) which is the title of Fantasia’s new album in stores today.  I’m praying for ‘Tasia because I have been a huge fan ever since she hit the Idol Stage.  She can come out of darkness into the light and so can you!

Be Happy. Be Healthy. Be Sane.

~Diva T

So as you all know, the Divas love a good cause, and we love the great city of New Orleans (the music, the history… the foood!) Even more so we love to see the #DMV come together to help, not only our own, but our neighbors near and far! Over the past year Divas, MPH has been involved in a number of service efforts from the S.O.S Health Summit here locally to the #DMVHelpsHaiti campaign abroad.

This Thursday, Be a Diva! and lend a helping hand to our brothers and sisters in one of our favorite cities, by attending this certified [Diva Pick!] event in our city! Your donation to ReNew Orleans — hosted by DMV-local and New Orleans native, Christian Bolden and co-sponsored by a host of DMV movers & shakers — will help support gulf clean-up efforts through the Greater New Orleans Foundation!

We hope to see you among the DC’s best & brightest do-gooders!

Be happy. Be healthy. Be a good neighbor!