Syracuse community invited to Sept. 26 men’s health seminar focused on diabetes

Syracuse University’s College of Human Ecology and its Department of Health and Wellness, in partnership with 100 Black Men of Syracuse Inc. and The Pastors’ Health Council, invite the Syracuse community to participate in a special seminar on diabetes prevention.

As part of the “Take Charge of Your Health” seminar series that offers critical health information free of charge in the Syracuse area, the Sept. 26 program will include information on diabetes prevention, management, health and care, as well as available resources in the community. The seminar will also be an opportunity to focus on male health advocacy.

The featured guest speaker will be Roberto Izquierdo, M.D., professor of medicine and pediatrics at SUNY Upstate Medical University and associate director of the Joslin Diabetes Center. The seminar will be facilitated by Charles Anderson, a Syracuse community member and former common councilor for the City of Syracuse who is the health and wellness chair of 100 Black Men of Syracuse Inc.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent statistics, the number of Americans with diabetes has tripled from 5.6 million in 1980 to 16.8 million in 2006, with data showing that African Americans are disproportionately affected by diabetes.

“There is a compelling need to educate and raise awareness among African American males about the serious risks of diabetes and to help them engage in positive health-seeking behaviors,” says Luvenia Cowart, professor of practice in the Department of Health and Wellness. “Providing a culturally competent health intervention in a venue they find comfortable and accessible can empower them to understand health risks, adopt healthier lifestyles and maintain these changes for themselves and their families over the long term.”

Registration for the event will take place at 8:30 a.m., and the seminar will be conducted 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch will be provided. For additional information, phone (315) 637-0881 or (315) 443-9808.

 This event is a Legacy Project, funded by Bronx Health REACH, a grantee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s REACH U.S. program. Its sponsorship also includes the College of Human Ecology’s Department of Health and Wellness, in partnership with the Genesis Health Project, which is made possible by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and Wegmans Food Markets. The Genesis Project is a multiyear, community-based program working to improve the health of African American and other minority families.

Collaborating partners include the Bethany Baptist Church, Brotherly Love Church of God in Christ, Greater Evangelical Church of God in Christ, Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ, Immanuel Temple Church of God in Christ, Kings Healing Room Church of God in Christ, Living Water Church of God in Christ, New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ, Second Olivet Baptist Church and the Tucker Missionary Baptist Church.

 The Genesis Health Project plans to host diabetes education programs in local inner-city barbershops in spring 2010 as an ongoing effort to engage and empower African American men towards improved health and health advocacy.