Posted by: Heather P | May 13, 2008 1:09 PM

In my experience, very few women know that heart disease is the #1 killer of women in America. We seem to think heart attacks are for men only! This misinformation is important to correct and I commend 21st Century Conversations for bringing light to issues that are important to our community.

Posted by: KATURAH BRYANT | May 13, 2008 9:11 PM

I enjoyed the article and audio. I think it captured the essence of a very interesting show and discussion.
Thank you

Posted by: N'Zinga S. Shani | May 16, 2008 11:00 PM

OneWorld greatly appreciates the remarkable job being done by Melinda Tuhus and the New Haven Independent in getting the word out to the community about our health education programs.

We are grateful for the existence of Public Access Television throughout CT, and we implore the community to get involved and support their PEG access TV stations. There are efforts in some areas to undermine PEG. PLEASE do not allow that to happen. Without PEG Access we could not bring you these very informative programs. The emails and phone calls we get daily tell us that we are making A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE. We ask for the active support of the broader community.

June 9, 2008 will be 12 years since (with the help of volunteers) I started working to inform the community about a number of issues that have made a positive difference to many. In 2004 I was advised to incorporate our efforts and seek broader support for our work. We have done that.

As a result of the efforts of many physicians from Yale School of Medicine, who have been donating their time and expertise, and the efforts of the many community volunteers we were incorporated into the organization now known as OneWorld Progressive Institute, Inc. This heart health program is one of many we present on Citizens TV every Sun. 6PM-7PM, and on 13 other cable systems throughout CT. Visit our web site at www.oneworldpi.org and learn more about us. We also invite you to join us in our work. Thanks to all who joined us on May 8, 2008.

N'Zinga Shani

Posted by: Esther Duncan | May 17, 2008 1:24 AM

Hello Ms. Shani:
Congratulations on another excellent program. Again, because of school I could not join the group; I am pleased to have been able to read about the program in Ms. Tuhus's excellent article. I just found out that a woman I know to be in her early 40's died recently of a heart attack! I thank you and the doctors for working so hard (as volunteers) to keep us informed about such important health issues. My family and I thank you very much.

Posted by: Cynthia Cunningham | May 17, 2008 1:36 AM

We are delighted to read this article about the recent TV health forum on Women, Heart Disease, Stress and Racism. It is simply wonderful that Ms. Shani could find doctors willing to talk about such an important issue. Many health care professionals do not want to talk about how racism severely affects the health of many of us. Most often we are sick and doctors cannot find out what is wrong. The distress caused by active racism is taking a toll. We are grateful that women could come to the TV studio and speak directly with these doctors and learn about handling this destructive force. Thank you all, and a special thanks to N'Zinga Shani for her fierce commitment to keeping the community informed.

Appreciatively Cynthia and Nicholas Cunningham

Posted by: Rita | May 18, 2008 8:31 AM

It is imperative that we continue the discussion around issues that impact us as women, particularly those that focus on establishing and maintaining a health lifestyle - physically and mentally. I am thankful for the work that N'Zinga is doing.

Posted by: jabar parks | May 19, 2008 7:33 AM

The 21st century program and this article have provided a veryimportant public service.Some discussion of solutions to the pervasive racism wouold have added value and made this a more effective news event.

Posted by: Waltrina Mullins | May 19, 2008 7:39 AM

Women, Heart Disease & Stress is a very relevant article and forum that should be continued. Accolades to N'Zinga Shani for featuring this inforomative program via the airwaves. Concerning the message of the hour, I too believe stress is a major factor in contributing to hypertension and heart disease among African American females. Black women often take on much emotional and societal weight, being superwoman--serving as mom, wife, at-home social worker, significant other, financial support, caregiver and more. Daily, we find ourselves combatting stereotypes far too often perpetuated by media and society. Emphasis on race contributes as well. Dark skinned and light skinned blacks are pitted against one another through biased advertising (i.e., examine closely what is deemed beautiful in our day-to-day cosmetic commercials), an unwarranted legacy handed down via the shackles of slavery. Economic conditions resulting in disparities in medical treatment afforded Black women (and other women of color)also serve as a contributing factor. The more knowledgeable we are about hypertension and heart disease, the more we can gird ourselves up to fight against these medical ills. The subject is one to be taken seriously. As for me, I am immersing myself in taking time out for me... to begin and end my day with prayer, to carve out time for exercise, to zero in on embracing the "fruits of the spirit" when tackling trying situtations, saying no to chocolate cake and "yes" to more fruits and veggies during times when I eat between meals... For health sake, we must jump on this bandwagon!

Posted by: Debbie Edmond | May 19, 2008 12:38 PM

Women, Heart Disease, Stress and Racism! Thank you to N'Zinga Shani, OneWorld, Inc., doctors Lampert and Lewis, Ms. Tuhus (for her insightful reporting) and the New Haven Independent. This is TRULY outstanding community service. Ms. Shani, PLEASE follow up on this program with a part 2 of this program; one that gives us some effective tools to deal with racism and stress in the workplace. Employers should take note of the information in this program. The type of stress black women have to endure is often at the root of our health problems. Thank you all.

Posted by: Rose B. Coggins | May 19, 2008 5:47 PM

N'Zinga Shani knows and presents exciting topics that are vitale for the health and welfare of all people. This show's presenters were very knowledgeable about women and heart disease and I truly thank both of them for sharing the information. Our society is in dire need of more stimulating and useful conversations on health, especially among the youth. N'Zinga, please continue your efforts to partner with our community to improve health of individuals everywhere.

Posted by: Lisa Rao | May 19, 2008 7:32 PM

I feel fortunate that I am one of the New Haven County citizens with access to 21st Century Conversations programs. Ms. N'Zinga Shani and her featured guests continue to challenge our knowledge, empower us with insightful educational information and to guide us to more healthful lifestyle choices. Many thanks to all who contribute to this excellent programming.

Posted by: Karen Greene | May 20, 2008 10:52 AM

Thanks to OneWorld Progressive Institute for this excellent education program. It is a challenge these days to find information that is not being influenced by advertising. Ms. Shani and her team are providing a great service to the entire community. What could be easier for us than to be able to access this information? The doctors who help her, the New Haven Independent and the journalist, Ms. Tuhus, are all to be highly commended for their contributions. N'Zinga Shani's dedicated and hard work cannot be over appreciated. Thank you all for your remarkable and continuing efforts; we are all the better for your gifts.

Posted by: Laura Hall | May 20, 2008 5:06 PM

Yet another important and often overlooked topic -the undeniable link between living in a society that still has not come to grips with the endemic, insidious impact of racism on all aspects of life for people of color. Thank you Ms. Shani for continuing to highlight issues that are important to all of us. A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. The well-being of all citizens of this country is vital to the progress of our nation as a whole. As a woman of color, the hypervigilence that Sister Katurah Bryant referred to resonates in my life and in my experiences. There is no doubt in my mind that the survival mechanism that is always "on" with people of color impacts our health. Again, thank you for a exploring this important topic.

Posted by: Loretta Gray | May 20, 2008 6:51 PM

I enjoyed reading this article. I have to say that until reading this article that I didn't know that stress now could eventually turn into heart disease later. Thank you

Posted by: Valita Luckett | May 21, 2008 11:23 AM

N'Zinga Shani is to be commended for her diligence in continuing to spotlight and magnify chronic health issues in our communities and society at large through her 21st Century Conversations program and community activism. She is steadfast and committed in her endeavors to educate, communicate, and create awareness of current and imminent health risks, which is an invaluable and immeasurable service.

Posted by: Lyn Hinds | May 21, 2008 11:27 AM

Hi N'Zinga,

I just read the article and listened to the comments on your recent TV show on -Women, Heart Disease etc., and indeed, as usual, its an excellent programme. I do not know what role racism plays in heart disease; however, the other things brought out by both Katurah and Tene Lewis I agree with totally. I do think that your programme is a great one; the community is indeed very fortunate to have such an opportunity to interact with and address questions to medical doctors / Psychologists and nurses on matters relating to their health. Health care is so very costly, and getting good information can be so challenging, it is great that people in your area have such access. Focusing on prevention must continue to be emphasized. Thank you.

Posted by: Rosemarie Robinson | May 21, 2008 10:44 PM

OneWorld Progressive Institute has again provided the community with another excellent health education program. People in the New Haven area are indeed fortunate to have physicians who are so committed to helping this small organization, and volunteers who are so willing to work for the greater good. Congratulations to N'Zinga Shani and her team. The need for women to understand how to reduce our risks for heart disease cannot be over emphasized. I know from experience that the type of effort it takes to get the community's attention and response is truly taxing. Ms. Shani's commitment is clearly steadfast; however, so much more could be done if she gets more help from the broader community. What she is doing is truly remarkable. Hats off to the volunteers and to the wonderful physicians at Yale who help her. Thanks also to the New Haven Independent. It really takes a village to get things done. I am praying for you Ms. Shani, so that you will have the energy to keep up the great work you are doing for the entire community. Thank you.

Rose

Posted by: Andre Massiah | May 22, 2008 7:56 PM

N'Zinga,
One World Progressive Institute continues to provide excellent health information to the community. One evening I was flipping channels and found your program which focused on foods that make us healthy. It was so interesting and informative that I missed a good part of my basketball game. I learned a lot in a short time. Since then, you have featured many health killer programs and I would welcome one based on cancer. Thanks for you service and dedication to the community.

Posted by: Susan Robinson | May 23, 2008 12:47 PM

I thank and congratulate N'Zinga and CTV for continuing to inform the community about issues of concern and accomplishing this task through professional and interpersonal dialog.

Posted by: Sylvia Ffrench | May 23, 2008 5:02 PM

Hello N'Zinga

This is a beautiful article. I am so glad that women in the New Haven community were able to go to the TV studio and speak directly with these wonderful doctors. What a generous gift to the community? It is also good that we can click onto this web site and listen to some of the questions and answers; this is the beauty of this new technology. I am glad that although I am so far away I have been able to share in this educational experience. Thank you for your work in presenting these programs. May God continue to bless your efforts and keep you healthy and strong. You are a real blessing to the community. Those doctors and these web site people are also to be commended for their contributions. I thank everyone. God bless!

Posted by: Lavonne Beckford | May 25, 2008 11:42 PM

ublic Access television is truly a blessing in our communities. When public access is used in this remarkable and beneficial way, why wouldn't everyone want to support it? Women, Heart Disease, Stress -- & Racism! Wow! This is telling it like it is. Thank you N'Zinga Shani; thank you doctors Rachel Lampert and Tene Lewis; thank you Melinda Tuhus and the New Haven Independent. Please continue to bring us more such valuable programs. The programs presented by OneWorld and Ms. Shani show what is possible when people are committed, determined and get the support they need. I am certain this lady works very hard, but what remarkable results. Please keep it up; my family and I are benefiting from the OneWorld programs. Thank you.

Posted by: Yolette Bryant | May 26, 2008 12:27 AM

As a working woman, a wife and mother, I want to thank OneWorld Progressive Institute for this excellent education program about heart disease and stress. It is truly a gift to the community that Ms. Shani and her OneWorld group are presenting the community with such good health information. Disparities in outcomes can be reduced if we become actively involved in our own care. The fact that women were able to go to the TV studio and ask questions of the doctors is outstanding! The Yale doctors are to be commended for being there. It is also a double service that this information is being presented for Women's Health Month by multicultural women. Ms. Shani is providing a great service to the community; it seems that OneWorld practices what it preaches; "21st Century Conversations" are filled with people from diverse backgrounds. Thanks to everyone who help with these remarkable programs. Mrs. Y. Bryant

Posted by: Connie | May 27, 2008 8:47 AM

Thank you for presenting this important information on women's health issues. I only regret that I did not know about the program at the time it was presented. I hope you are able to secure funding to continue and expand upon these issues. I would like to see our youth included in this type of education so they can make the necessary lifestyle choices to prevent or reduce their risk factors. "21st Century Converstations" is an asset to our community!

Posted by: Wendy Battles | May 27, 2008 12:52 PM

N'Zinga,

Great article and information on a topic that needs lots of awareness. It's fascinating how all these factors work together - awareness, stress, racism, and many others, to impact heart health in our community. I'm sorry i couldn't come and be part of the conversation live and I missed the replay on CTV but I hope to attend future sessions.

Also, here'a a free resource that viewers may be interested in - The Take Your Health To Heart Challenge. As a health coach, and with a focus on women and heart disease, I'm inspiring 1 million women to take the Challenge and get serious about their heart health. There are very specific ideas, information and motivation to help women in get into action including free classes by phone this summer. Check it out at www.TakeYourHealthToHeart.com.

I look forward to the next event.

Wendy Battles

Posted by: Ewa Florkiewicz | May 27, 2008 10:41 PM

I think programs such as this health forum on Women, Heart Disease and Stress are extremely important and beneficial to the entire community. It is most unfortunate that we can now only see this valuable program once per week; these are the types of programs that should be available to the community multiple times each week; they are that important. The community can never have too many opportunities to have informed discussions about health literacy, education, financial well-being and all of the other helpful topics that "21st Century Conversations" provide. Being able to come to the CTV studio to interact with trained and dedicated professionals is a very special gift to all of us. Hats off to N'Zinga Shani, OneWorld, Inc., and everyone who makes these programs possible.
Ewa and family.

Posted by: John Henry Hanna Jr. | May 28, 2008 6:08 PM

N'Zinga Shani continues to be a postive force in the community by providing a forum for thoughtful dialogue about issues which impact on our well being. Knowledge will always be power. Thanks for being such a good shepard. Our community is made stronger because of your continuous effort to keep us informed.

John Hanna

Posted by: Lorraine | May 28, 2008 7:20 PM

Great article on some very important issues. It is very beneficial to have programs like 21st Century Conversations" to educate and help make people aware of issues like women's health. Being more knowledgeable helps us to make better choices or helps us understand why it might be important to change our life style. Keep up the good work informing the public and getting your message across.

Posted by: TrishA | May 29, 2008 2:12 PM

This was a wonderful article about a wonderful information program for men, women and children. Let's keep these types of educational vehicles going so that all of society will benefit. everyone

Posted by: Richard T. Spears, MS, MA | May 29, 2008 5:29 PM

I find the information here about African American women and heart disease alarming considering there is so much education out there that is not being targeted toward communities of color. We have to break down this information to reach urban communities where there is a high concentration of women of color. We can not depend on the health care system to reach this segment of the community. I appluad your work and efforts reach out and impact this issue.

Posted by: N'Zinga S. Shani | May 30, 2008 1:49 AM

OneWorld Responds to Viewers' Comments

We at OneWorld, Inc. are grateful to all those who have taken the time to read Melinda Tuhus' excellent article on our May Women's Health Forum, and have expressed their appreciation of our work. We have been doing these programs for 12 years. It is through sheer tenacity and the belief that these programs do serve a public good that we continue to present them. Getting feedback from the community is a tonic for our souls. Thank you all for writing.

The last four years have been extremely challenging in getting the programs on the air. We need more community support, and technical help.
In her comments Ms. Mullins noted that dark & light-skinned blacks have been pitted against each other through advertising and the legacy of slavery; others have passionately requested that we do a follow-up to this program. Mr. Parks said the program would have been more effective if we talked about solutions to racism.

We respect these perspectives, but those issues would be for another type of forum; we are about health literacy and about empowering ourselves and changing the space we are in. While all of the things mentioned are true, we cannot continue to wait on anyone else for our salvation, and we cannot be diverted from the job at hand. The answer lies with us. WE MUST be more proactive; it is in our own best interest to help ourselves to better health & good information.

We would love to do a follow-up program, but the challenges we face in doing so are daunting, and we have commitments to other projects. This is why we need more community involvement. As a community we can do great things if we can work together to get them done. We have everything we need to make things better. With information and action we can change our lives and health for the better. We also do informative programs on education in our schools.

We at OneWorld are particularly appreciative of Ms. Florkiewicz's comments. She said the fact that "people in the community are able to go to CTV studio and interact with trained professionals is a special gift." It is. These days no one gets to talk to a physician for two hours; however, on "21st Century Conversations" that is exactly what we provide. These Yale doctors work all day and they come to CTV and give us more than two hours of their time and expertise; they answer detailed questions. It costs the people who come NOTHING! Yet, getting people to come is one of the most difficult tasks. We sent out hundreds of fliers to employers and community agencies; we sent announcement & invitations to 16 churches; we sent emails to dozens of individuals; yet most parishioners never heard of the program!

Complaining about disparities will do nothing to reduce them! We need to be more proactive, and more committed. We need to respond when opportunities afford themselves. We need to take actions that reduce risk factors to disease; we need to become more involved in solutions. Together we CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

The Index-Home page at www.oneworldpi.org always provides information on our monthly programs. The programs are FREE! For NH, the next LIVE forum will be on June 19, 8PM on CTV Ch. 26. Our informative programs air 6PM Sun. Knowledge really is POWER! Do NOT be a victim. Become involved; prevent diabetes & high blood pressure. Quit smoking! Learn about maintaining health & well-being. Become involved with our educational efforts. Again, we thank the New Haven Independent for its support, and we thank all who posted comments. Anyone can order a copy of our programs on VHS or DVD. Visit our web site to see how to place an order. Peace

Posted by: Toni Harp | May 30, 2008 12:37 PM

I commend N'Zinga Shani for taking on health issues so important to the community. Stress is such an undervalued factor. Thank you for bringing this important matter to our attention.

Posted by: A.G.Clarke, M.D. | May 31, 2008 10:10 PM

I just received the program information, therefore my comment will be brief. I believe it is important to empower the community and patients with information via different means and this program also gives the community a voice.
Thank You Dr Astrid G. Clarke

Posted by: Susan | June 5, 2008 8:36 AM

One World---thanks for really tuning in to our community and giving your viewers such practical every day advice for living. You provide a wonderful, readily accessible service to New Haven and beyond!
---Susan Yolen

Posted by: Ivy Alexander | June 6, 2008 12:00 PM

Congratulations N'Zinga on another fantastic public television show sharing important and accurate health information with our community. I am proud to continue to be invovled with OneWorld!
Ivy Alexander

Posted by: Manny Young | June 9, 2008 1:39 PM

N'Zinga your program is very informative and very well done. Keep up the good work.

Not enough people appreciate the real benefits of Public Access Television; however, programs such a this one "21st Century Conversations" demonstrate the enormous benefit to the community of public access stations and their programs. In network programs, no one gets to provide one solid hour of reliable educational information free of commercials, or of people trying to tell you what to think. We do understand that the commercials make the real programs possible. However, in public access people's commitment and volunteerism make these excellent programs possible so the community can learn free of cost. I applaud OneWorld Progressive Institute and its many volunteers for all of their outstanding work, and I applaud the doctors who help them to inform the broader community. For people living in Fairfield, Bpt and other areas covered by Sound View Community Media, "21st Century Conversations" is available to viewers on Channel 78 every Sunday at 8PM; it is also available on-demand. Public Access is an asset to your community; be sure to watch your public access stations for truly beneficial programs.

Manny Young