A recent report from the Center of Disease Control documents heart and cancer disease as the leading causes of American deaths. Additionally 20% of American teens are obese, 34% of American adults are obese and only 20% of Americans perform aerobic exercises for the recommended 2.5 hours per week. The Office of Minority Health warns that these numbers are worse for America?s urban centers. It was statistics such as these along with the lifestyle changes that they imply that prompted the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce and its Health Committee 5 years ago to launch the National Urban Health Conference which will celebrate its 4th Conference this week April 25-27 under the theme ?Our Health Is Our Wealth.?
The premise of these conferences is that we can manage the changes and choices necessary to achieve healthier lifestyles and healthier communities.? Lifestyle recommendations is just one among several issues that will be addressed at the 4th Annual National Urban Health Conference along with Women?s Health, Adolescent and Family Health, Diabetes Prevention and Treatment, Financial Health and more.
The opening session on Friday, April 25 will feature panel discussions at the New York Academy of Medicine focused on ?Building Healthy Communities.? The registration begins at 8:45AM with the panels starting promptly at 9:30AM.? New York Academy of Medicine is at 1216 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street. A free and open to the public Wellness Open House will be hosted by Emblem Health Neighborhood Care Center from 11:00AM to 3:00PM at 215 West 125th Street.? Free testing, clinic and facility tours, medical health coverage information and more will be available
On Saturday, April 26 the Uptown Youth Conference and Service Fair: Get Connected? is at Minisink Townhouse, 646 Malcolm X Blvd. at 142nd Street from 10:00AM ? 6:00PM and is co-presented by the New York City Mission Society and The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. The Women?s Health Conference on Saturday from 11:30AM ? 3:00PM is hosted by Gran Piatto D?Oro at 1429 Fifth Avenue (btw. 116th and 117th Streets) and will feature two panels on Diabetes Treatment & Prevention plus Women?s Financial Health: Planning for Today and Tomorrow. The Seventh Annual Harlem Celebration of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day is Saturday at St. Nicholas Park, 135th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, from 10:00AM to 3:00PM, will feature Tai Chi, acupuncture, Ki Energy, energy facilitation and Qigong sessions.
On Sunday, April 27th the focus is on Spiritual Health at houses of worship in Harlem at First Corinthian Baptist Church, The Riverside Church and Abyssinian Baptist Church and in Brooklyn at Brooklyn Christian Center and Abundant Life Church. In addition the public is welcome to join the historic and special commemoration of the 192nd anniversary of President Ulysses S. Grant?s birth at the U.S. Grant National Memorial Park featuring Cheryl Wills, author of ?Die Free: A Heroic Family Tale,? which pays homage to the great legacy of her great-great-great grandfather Sandy Wills, a member of the U.S. Colored Soldiers from 1863-1865 during the Civil War.? A special presentation by the Commandant of West Point Academy and a full periodic dress costumed Civil War Reenactment will also take place. U.S. Grant National Memorial Park is at Riverside Drive and 122nd Street.
Throughout the conference special presentations will be made by Gale Brewer, President of the Borough of Manhattan, Roger Hayes, Assistant Commissioner, NYC Department of Health/Mental Health, East & Central Harlem District Public Health Office and C. Virginia Fields, President & CEO the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS.
All the events are free and open to the public and presented by The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce in concert with Emblem Health, New York Academy of Medicine, New York City Mission Society, co-sponsored by Citicare, Health First, Metro Plus and the National Parks Service. Media Partners include Amsterdam News, NY Beacon, Carib News, Christian Times, Daily News, Harlem News Group, Hot97, WBAI, WBLS, WHCR, WLIB and WNYC.
For a full schedule and to register to attend please call?212-862-7200?or visit?www.greaterharlemchamber.com.
The National Urban Health Conference is a signature event of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce?s Healthy Eating -?Healthy Living Initiative created to help Harlem residents and people in communities across the nation to live healthier and more productive lives.?
