President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harrisannounced their advisory council to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic with some of the nation’s leading doctors and scientists. At the helm is Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith with her co-chairs Dr. David Kessler and Dr. Vivek Murthy.
“Dealing with the coronavirus pandemic is one of the most important battles our administration will face, and I will be informed by science and by experts,” President-elect Biden said in a press release. “The advisory board will help shape my approach to managing the surge in reported infections; ensuring vaccines are safe, effective, and distributed efficiently, equitably, and free; and protecting at-risk populations.”
Dr. Nunez-Smith comes from Yale University, an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Public Health, and Management at the Yale School of Medicine. Her research focuses on marginalized communities’ health and creating an equitable and accessible healthcare system for all.
“Everyone is affected by this pandemic, yet the burden is disproportionate,” Nunez-Smith said in a statement. “We know communities of color are grieving at high rates and are facing substantial economic impact. The transition advisory board is setting a course for everyone in our country to experience recovery.”
Dr Marcella Nunez-Smith, associate dean for health equity research at Yale School of Medicine is now the co- chair of the COVID task-force. Black Women. My heart is so full! pic.twitter.com/4dgVJc0kA2
According to the Yale press release announcing her appointment, “Munez-Smith is an internist and an expert in healthcare equity, is the founding director of Yale SOM’s Pozen-Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Health Equity Leadership, which trains healthcare practitioners to address disparities in healthcare access and outcomes that affect people of color and other vulnerable populations. She is also the founding director of the Equity Research and Innovation Center at the Yale School of Medicine.”
Her official Yale bio lists Dr. Nunez-Smith as the Deputy Director for Health Equity Research and Workforce Development for the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation, Core Faculty in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program, and Research Faculty at Yale’s Global Health Leadership Institute. She comes from the Virgin Islands, earned a BA from Swarthmore College, an MD from Jefferson Medical College, and an MHS from Yale University.
We’re glad to have you on our nation’s team on this road to recovery! Congratulations, Dr. Nunez-Smith.
ONTARIO, CA— A drive-thru COVID-19 testing site opens today at Ontario International Airport (ONT) just in time for the holiday travel season as airport officials forecast that approximately 280,000 passengers will travel through the Southern California gateway.
Testing is available in parking lot 3 between terminals 2 and 4 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Tests are administered by Covid Clinic, a Southern California-based non-profit which operates testing sites in California and Arizona. ONT is COVID Clinic’s 24th location.
Rapid tests with results available in as few as 20 minutes are among a variety of antigen and antibody tests offered. Rapid test specimens are processed on-site while others are sent to local third-party laboratories with results generally reported in two to four days.
“The availability of COVID-19 testing adds a new level of service and convenience to the Ontario airport experience,” said Mark Thorpe, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority. “It is our hope that on-site testing administered in the comfort of a passenger vehicle will provide peace of mind to our customers, guests and airport employees, as well as any of our neighbors who want to be tested.”
Reservations for testing at ONT, and more detailed test information and pricing, is available here. Patients may be able to receive reimbursement from their health insurance provider for all or a portion of their COVID-19 test.
Thanksgiving holiday travel spanning 11 days from Friday, November 20th through Monday, November 30th is expected to bring more than 100,000 air travelers through ONT, based on current airline schedules, while more than 180,000 are expected to depart and arrive at ONT during the winter holidays from Thursday, December 17th through Sunday, January 3rd. The total number of passengers expected in the coming weeks is 60% of the traveler volume estimated for the period last year.
Surges in COVID-19 infections across the country, government orders to pause restarts and guidance from public health officials to limit family gatherings could cause holiday travel volumes to fluctuate even more, however, as most passengers are purchasing airline tickets within 30 days of departure, Thorpe cautioned.
Nonetheless, as air travel shows signs of gradual resurgence, ONT has recorded six straight months of traffic growth since reaching its low point in April when passenger levels declined by 93%.
Ontario’s recovery ranks first among airports in California and third nationally, having regained roughly 50% of passenger volume compared to a year ago.
International carrier Volaris initiated nonstop service from ONT to its Mexico City base earlier this month.
Delta Air Lines, which resumed daily, nonstop service to its Atlanta hub in July, began twice daily, nonstop flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in October. Southwest Airlines restarted its Chicago Midway International Airport route while United Airlines resumed flying to Houston’s George H.W. Bush Intercontinental Airport in August.
Denver-based Frontier Airlines announced in recent days that it will add or restart flights to seven popular U.S. destinations to its ONT schedule between February and May in 2021.
Ontario airport continues intensive efforts to keep passengers and guests safe while in the airport and to prevent the spread of the coronavirus by frequently sanitizing restrooms, gate areas and high-touch surfaces with highly effective disinfectant, and utilizing security screening trays treated with powerful antimicrobial technology.
Ontario requires appropriate face covers for all customers, visitors and employees. Passengers are urged to wash hands with soap and water frequently and use the many hand sanitizing stations that have been added throughout ONT terminals. Vending machines including personal protective equipment such as face covers, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are also located in passenger terminals.
“The pandemic has impacted life in every aspect, but we strive every day with our airline partners to take steps to reassure passengers that they can travel safely,” Thorpe said.
With COVID-19 raging across the country, African Americans — disproportionately infected with the virus – are being urged to enroll in health insurance through California’s Obamacare exchange, Covered California.
While tens of thousands of African Americans have benefited from insurance through Covered California at one time or another since 2013, nearly 65,000 uninsured Africans Americans in the state are eligible for financial help through Covered California or Medi-Cal.
“In the midst of this global health crisis and resulting economic recession, we want everyone to be insured, regardless of their race or economic status, and no matter what situation they find themselves in,” Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee said.
Covered California recently launched its open enrollment period, which lasts through Jan. 31, and is encouraging all eligible residents to “Get Covered” and “Stay Covered,” Lee said. “During this holiday season, what better way to show a loved one you than by giving the gift of health,” Lee said.
Long-standing systemic health and social inequities have put many people from racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to a report in the Washington Post, African Americans were 37 percent more likely to die than Whites from COVID-19, after controlling for age, sex and mortality rates over time.
“Health insurance can have a lasting impact,” Lee said. “From day one Covered California has worked hard to connect with the state’s diverse communities. We believe that part of addressing the disparities exposed by the pandemic is by effectively reaching out to enroll all Californians.”
Open enrollment is the one-time of the year when anyone eligible can sign up for health care coverage for 2021. Covered California consumers can check their options and see if they qualify for financial help by using the Shop & Compare tool on the revamped CoveredCA.com.
Eligible consumers who sign up through Covered California can qualify for financial help from the federal government, the state of California, or both. Consumers can visit and find out if they are eligible for either lower cost private plans through Covered California or free coverage through Medi-Cal (which is open year-round). Right now, a record 1.5 million Californians are enrolled in Covered California and are in the process of renewing their coverage, with nearly 90 percent receiving some level of financial assistance.
“Affordability is the number one issue for consumers, and the financial help available through Covered California helps bring the cost of coverage within reach,” Lee said.
In 2021, nearly all Californians (99.8 percent) will be able to choose from two or more carriers and over three-quarter of Californians (77 percent) will have four or more choices.
Consumers will need to sign up by Dec. 15 in order to have their coverage begin on Jan. 1, 2021. Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can:
SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Mobile home parks in San Bernardino and Riverside counties were awarded more than $4 million in grants by the California Public Utilities Commission, which will provide access to technology for residents.
Charter Communications applied for the California Advances Services Fund Infrastructure Grants to bring broadband service to underserved communities.
“Technology helps move communities forward so we are excited that our residents who need Internet access the most will soon be connected,” said Curt Hagman, chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. “No community should be left behind in our county when it comes to technology, which is essential to compete in our world today. Closing the digital divide improves access to emergency services, expands economic opportunities and bridges the economic divide.”
“Now more than ever, we’ve seen how access to the internet allows residents to connect with businesses, schools and loved ones. It’s a necessity,” said Riverside County Board Chair and Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “Bringing the internet to underserved communities will significantly support the basic activities in our residents’ lives. I look forward to more opportunities to broaden this effort and reduce the digital divide.”
The four Inland projects that received grant approval are: Country Meadows Mobile Home Park in Ontario – $2,120,390; Monterey Mobile Home Village in Montclair – $784,322; Villa Montclair Mobile Home Park in Montclair – $543,529; and Soboba Springs Mobile Estates in San Jacinto – $907,817.
The approved projects will enable broadband access at speeds of up to 940 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 35 Mpbs upload to 661 households. These households currently are unserved with no facilities-based wireline or fixed wireless broadband service providers. The projects are expected to be completed over the next year.
Wake up and wake up now, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” [Romans 13:11]. The final countdown and signs of the seven-year tribulation are rising all around us. The warnings are there. The signs are there. The thunder is growing, the lightning is on the horizon, and the dark clouds are gathering. I tell you, we are living in the most significant and important time in Bible-prophecy history, yet no one is paying attention. Woe, Woe, Woe!
If you consider yourself a follower of Jesus, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” [Luke 21:36]. And if you want to know how close we are in Bible prophecy, then watch Israel and compare it to God’s Word. Israel is the key to the end time prophecy and the City of Jerusalem is the center stage.
Consider the message and understand the vision: [Daniel 9:24]. The final seven year countdown, begins when this world figure known as the Antichrist initiates a peace covenant with Israel. Done [?]: “Israel and the UAE agreed to full normalization of relations in a phone call with President Donald Trump marking the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country in 25 years.” [Moving the United States Embassy in Israel back to Jerusalem and recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel].
“STRIKING ANOTHER HISTORIC AGREEMENT: President Donald J. Trump brokered a peace agreement between Sudan and Israel – the third such agreement between Israel and an Arab-Muslim nation in less than three months. “Today, Israel and Sudan have agreed to make peace and to normalize their relations in another landmark agreement. In the coming weeks, the two countries will begin negotiations on cooperation agreements in agriculture, economy, trade, aviation, migration issues, and other areas of mutual benefit. This historic peace agreement follows similar agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan are the first Arab nations to normalize relations with Israel in over 25 years.”
QUOTE President Donald J. Trump ? “They are choosing a future in which Arabs and Israelis, Muslims, Jews, and Christians can live together, pray together, and dream together, side by side, in harmony, community, and peace.”
Can you hear me now! Bible prophecy is quickly being fulfilled in rapid succession. End time prophecy is being fulfilled one after another. Watch and pray! The final seven year countdown has begun.
Lenny Williams launched his solo career in 1974 with “Pray for the Lion.” In April 2020, a full 46 years later, he’s still making records. His latest studio album, “Fine,” is his 18th. Few recording artists have shared Williams’ consistency and longevity.
Best known for his 1975 hit, “’Cause I Love You,” Williams has been sampled by top artists in the industry. Steve Harvey dedicated a segment in the hit comedy movie, “Kings of Comedy,” to Williams, highlighting the impact of the hit love song.
Today his delivery is as smooth and passionate as it was in the 1970s, and the accomplished R&B and soul singer has no plan to slow down.
Williams discussed the necessary adjustments he has made in order to remain relevant in the music industry his new album, “Fine,” the challenges that Covid-19 posed during the record’s release and his love of boxing.
Lenny Williams remains consistently relevant. (Photo courtesy Lenny Williams)
Percy Crawford interviewed Lenny Williams for Zenger News.
Zenger News: You are very health conscious, and because of that you don’t age one bit. How are you keeping so fit and looking so young?
Lenny Williams: You know, it’s very important to me, because I know that all the statistics and all the research says if you’re healthy you live longer. It helps your mind fight Alzheimer’s and stuff like that. So physical fitness has always been very important in my life.
Zenger: I love the new album “Fine” for many reasons. I love the diversity of the album. I love that you gave us 15 songs. It just hits all the benchmarks for a great album. Did you intentionally make this a diverse album?
Williams: In a way I was trying to create a diverse album because I was working with Levi Seacer. Most of the songs I’ve done on the album, Levi produced. He was the bass player and the guitar player for Prince and the New Power Generation Band. He had played with Sheila E. and people like that. He was able to help me with making the album have a diverse sound. I really enjoyed that.
Percy Crawford interviewed Lenny Williams for Zenger News (Photo courtesy of Percy Crawford)
Zenger: You released this album in April, at the same time the country was shutting down and Covid was being taken very seriously. Did that affect the album and plans you had for the album?
Williams: Yeah, it definitely did affect it, that Covid virus. Because in terms of promotion and things of that nature, I haven’t been able to get out on the road to support the project or things like that. So I had to be like these youngsters in terms of employing some skills of using the Internet and things of that nature. That’s kind of been new territory for me. We’re learning on the job.
Zenger: Things are definitely different in terms of ways to get your music out now, as opposed to when you first came around. You use Instagram effectively and wisely. How have you learned to navigate the Internet and use it to your benefit?
Williams: I’m just feeling my way through it. I’m using my wife to help out. She’s pretty adept at it. I have a daughter that is a computer scientist so she helps some. I also have a grandson and he’s pretty good with it. Kids just kind of grow up with it, you know. He’s 17, so he helps me. We are just finding our way through it. We’re using the services of people we know that are referred to us. We don’t get into the negative aspect of it. We don’t even respond to any negativity. We haven’t had much negativity come our way, though.
Zenger: There was a time I never thought cassette tapes would be obsolete. Obviously I never thought CDs would be obsolete. Yet here we are. What are your thoughts on music being streamed now and the streaming platforms being able to get your music out so quickly?
Williams: It’s really interesting. We have been—when you say straddling the fence, that’s kind of how we’ve been doing it. I got some CDs made because of people in my age group. They still like their CDs. And then the younger crowd, or the crowd that’s kind of in the middle, they like going to Spotify and those various outlets and download it or stream it or whatever. We’re just adapting to the times. If you don’t get with it, you just get run over. We just have to do what’s happening. Progress just moves and you have to move with it or just get left behind. We are just adapting and going with the flow.
Zenger: Do you have a favorite track on this “Fine” album?
Williams: I really like the song “Fine.” I really like the song “Southern Girl.” I really like the song “All Night” that I did with my friend “DOA,” Derek Allen. He is quite a producer. I did two songs with him. He just got through producing Kem’s new album. I’m really excited about those songs. You gotta listen to it. It’s hard to pick just one, but right now we are just concentrating on “Southern Girl.” That’s our single right now. Actually, this week it came in at #45 on the media-based charts, so we are really excited about that.
Zenger: “Southern Girl” is my favorite. I love that Southern soul sound. And “Say So” is another amazing song. But you are right, the entire album can be played with no skips.
Williams: It’s interesting to hear you say you like “Say So,” because that was our first single. We thought that we would successfully be able to have a hit with that. I think it would have been a gigantic single, but unfortunately it came out right with the Covid virus. We were moving up the charts and then they had the blackout day and certain things happened that stalled it. And radio is a difficult beast to conquer right now in this era, especially if you are an older artist. Just trying to navigate radio is a tremendous undertaking. But I’m not quitting. We are just going to keep on keeping on.
Zenger: Is there anyone you wanted to collaborate with that you have not had the opportunity to work with yet?
Williams: I definitely haven’t conquered all of my musical goals yet, so yeah, there are all sorts of people I would like to collaborate with or work with. Kanye—although him and Twister sampled me, I never worked with Kanye directly or been in the studio with him. I would definitely like to do that. Dr. Dre is somebody I would like to go in the studio with. David Foster, the great producer from Canada. I’d really love to go in the studio with him. There are just so many people. I wouldn’t mind doing a collaboration with Beyoncé. I think that would be nice. There’s all kinds of things I would like to do musically.
Zenger: “’Cause I Love You” has 56 million views on YouTube on a single search. To make a song released in 1975, and to still have it viewed so much and revered so much, that has to be an amazing feeling of timelessness.
Williams: Most definitely! It’s just amazing to sit here and think, I could just sit in my little music room back in the day, me and my friend, Michael Bennett. To sit at the piano and write that song. We actually did it twice. We did it on my first album after I left, Tower of Power. We did it on the Motown album, and it didn’t have the talking in it, and it was a little more up-tempo. It wasn’t fast but it wasn’t as slow as it is now. We went on the road singing it for about a year. Then we slowed it down and put the talking in it. And then I had left Motown and went to ABC Records and we put it out and, boom! It hit and it’s just amazing. I go do shows and I see people my age and their kids, their kids’ kids and their great-great grandkids and all of them know the words. It’s just mind-boggling and it’s humbling for sure.
Lenny Williams, right, is pictured with former professional boxer Zab Judah, left. (Photo courtesy of Lenny Williams)
Zenger: To capture that many generations is amazing. Also, with attention spans being so short now, for a seven-minute song to still be relevant is impressive.
Williams: It actually was longer than that. Frank Wilson my producer said, “We gotta leave some of this out,” (laughing). So, that’s kind of interesting. Everybody talks about the passion that’s in that song. And they say, “That girl must have really hurt you,” and I say, “Well, part of it is autobiographical and part of it is just seeing and listening and talking to friends when they have difficulties in a relationship.” And then another thing that happened is, the day I recorded it Andraé Crouch and Sandra Crouch, his twin sister, came to the studio. And I’m singing this song and here is the greatest gospel singers of that era just looking down my throat as I’m singing, so you know I had to dig deep. I had to try and impress Andraé. Get him to waive his hand, say hallelujah or something. So, that contributed to a lot of that passion in that song.
Zenger: I was always a huge Lenny Williams fan. Then I’m watching your TV One’s “Unsung” and discover you are a huge boxing fan, and that put you over the top for me. What made you gravitate to the sport and become a fan?
Williams: Yeah! I love boxing. When we came from Arkansas to California we moved to Oakland. We lived right in the back of the church. Right across the street from the church was the boxing gym, and right down the street from the church was the radio station. So my three loves, the church, boxing and radio, were all right there. As a kid I can just leave home and walk to each one of them. It was real interesting. When I was a teenager, I was in Boys’ Camp. At the gym one day this guy was up in the ring, and he’s just standing there. Everybody was in the gym, but nobody would get in the ring to box him. And I had never boxed before, but I had seen it. I been around it, watching the fights with my dad, and going over to the gym and watching it. I had grown up around it. I was like, “I could outbox him.” I don’t know what made me say that. I got in there and I was slipping punches. It was like it was a natural thing. And I beat the guy. Everybody was like, “Ah, you can box?” I had never been in a ring before. I just used to watch it for hours and hours. I guess by watching it I just absorbed it. I just became a big boxing fan and would go to the gym all the time, hit the bag and jump rope, and try to watch all the fights. As a matter of fact, I was working in San Francisco with a youth group and talking to the principal we noticed that most of the boys at lunch time would go to the park and smoke weed. So, we instituted a boxing program at the school. We would have the kids come down and teach them techniques and stuff. Devin Haney was actually one of the kids who we influenced back in the day.
Zenger: That’s awesome. Do you have a favorite fighter, past or present?
Williams: Floyd Mayweather without a doubt is my favorite current fighter, or fighter from this generation. I would say one of the greatest fighters of all time that I grew up watching is Sugar Ray Robinson. I got to be pretty good friends with Muhammad Ali. I met a lot of fighters. I actually got the chance to shake the hand of around 10 to 12 heavyweight champions. But right now I think Floyd Mayweather. A lot of people get surprised when I say that, but it’s called prizefighting and he’s won the biggest prizes. You definitely have to say that Floyd is the king of the hill for sure.
Zenger: I remember a picture surfaced with you and Sam Watson, and I wanted to reach out to Sam to get an interview with you. I’m glad I was able to find you and get it. This has been an honor.
Williams: Sam is my good, good friend. Al Haymon also. I used to work for Al back when he was doing music shows, back in the day. We were promoting music shows back in the ’70s and ’80s before he got into boxing. I love boxing. It’s my favorite sport. I try to sit around here and throw left hooks and jab a little bit. I got a heavy bag out there and a speed bag and I try to work on it every day.
With one million COVID-19 cases confirmed in California to date, a new travel advisory just issued, and health officials concerned about the surge we are experiencing, NOW IS THE TIME to help educate Californians about specific ways they can pitch in and do their part to slow the spread, starting with your own African American community.
There is an urgent need to educate the public about what they CAN AND SHOULD DO to protect their families and their communities. We respectfully urge you in the news media to help inform on this front.
Chet P. Hewitt, President and CEO of the Sierra Health Foundation, is available to provide perspective regarding the following guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) which can help members of our community plan safer gatherings and help loved ones reduce potential harm. Please share these guidelines for small gatherings and tips for a healthier holiday season with your readers to help educate and inform your community.
Here are some specific tips to share and that Chet can also speak to:
Check your county’s status to find out what types of activities and gatherings are permitted in your county based on the current spread of the virus.
Wear a mask in public settings, like on public and mass transportation, shopping and in stores, and anywhere you will be around people who do not live with you.
Wear a mask not only with people you do not know, but with anyone you don’t live with including close friends and family. While we feel safe and can easily let our guard down around loved ones, the risk of transmission is still there.
Keep your distance – Stay six feet apart from individuals outside your household, especially from older family members and those with chronic health conditions.
Do not gather indoors with other households if your county prohibits it. Indoor gathering is prohibited in purple tier counties.
If you are in a county where indoor gathering is permitted, when indoors, keep windows and doors open so fresh air circulates and continue to practice safe behaviors like wearing a mask, washing your hands, and using all the space you can indoors; spread things out.
Avoid sharing utensils or drinks with anyone.
Commit to keeping gatherings short (under two hours), whether inside or outside. The longer the duration, the higher the risk of spreading COVID-19.
People at higher risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 (such as older adults and people with chronic medical conditions) are strongly urged not to attend any gatherings, especially indoor gatherings. If you gather with older people or those with chronic conditions, make sure they wear a surgical or N95 mask.
It is safest to celebrate the holidays with the people who already live with you, but if you invite others, invite no more than two other households to your gathering.
Minimize mixing – Participating in multiple gatherings with different households or groups is strongly discouraged. Keep the households that you interact with stable over time. By spending time with the same people, risk of transmission is reduced.
Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading the virus. Incoming travelers from out of state and Californians returning to the state should self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival before mixing indoors and with others.
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
After a rare diagnosis, Aubrey Glencamp began the fight of his life — and won.
October was dedicated to breast-cancer awareness. Pink symbolizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This potentially deadly form of cancer claims more than 42,000 lives a year. Usually detected in women, there are rare cases when the disease is discovered in men.
Aubrey Glencamp is one of them.
According to research, only 1 in every 833 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. After a double mastectomy and chemo in 2016, Glencamp, who was diagnosed at 33, is now cancer-free. He credits early detection as the key to beating the disease.
(In fact, mammograms are one of the best forms of prevention and early detection of breast cancer. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes.)
Glencamp, who lives in Northern Florida, hopes his experience serves as a reminder that no one is exempt from breast cancer. He encourages other men to share their story, rather than suffer in silence. Helping to remove the stigma that breast cancer is a “woman’s disease,” is a part of his mission.
His story is one of inspiration and determination — he even had a miracle baby along the way.
Zenger: How are you doing today?
Aubrey Glencamp: I’m feeling fine. I’m still taking the medication Tamoxifen. I have some side effects, usually weight gain. I’m not having the hot flashes I first had. Next year, I should be done it.
Zenger: Has Covid affected your recovery?
Glencamp: No! Since I’m four years out, it hasn’t really affected it, but at the same time, I’m still careful and try not to congregate because I’m at high risk.
Zenger: In 2016, your wife actually discovered the lump in your chest. You were dieting and working out a lot, so at first you were not concerned because you thought it was some sort of fatty tissue. When did it become real and how?
Glencamp: In February 2016, I was laying a certain way and she happened to touch that exact spot. “What is this bump on your chest?” she asked. I had no idea. It didn’t even register to me. I went to the doctor that same week and got checked. Even my doctor was thinking it was fatty tissue. We weren’t thinking breast cancer. He didn’t think it was anything to really worry about and told me to continue living my life.
I was getting ready to do a Fitness Bootcamp at the time. He said: “Continue to do what you’re doing. Don’t worry about it.” Probably four weeks later, I went for my first appointment, which happened to be a mammogram.
Zenger: Aside from the lump that your wife discovered, you didn’t feel sick or any other symptoms, correct?
Glencamp: No. I had no other symptoms. Some guys will get some kind of blood or discharge, or inverted nipple. I didn’t have anything like that. At that time, I didn’t even feel it.
According to research, only 1 in every 833 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. Glencamp credits early detection as the key to beating the disease
(Photo courtesy of Aubrey Glencamp)
Zenger: After you were diagnosed and did your research, I’m sure you discovered that a male being diagnosed with breast cancer was super-rare.
Glencamp: It’s pretty rare. As far as percentages are concerned, it’s a 1% net, depending on where you do your research.
Zenger: What was the most difficult part of your cancer ordeal?
Glencamp: It may have been just getting over the stigma. Here you are as a male being diagnosed with breast cancer. And there wasn’t a lot of information out there. So, prior to me being connected with The Men’s Breast Cancer Coalition, I had no idea of any male that had breast cancer, other than Richard Roundtree. (Roundtree is the actor who played private eye John Shaft in the 1971 film “Shaft.”)
Even in my family, no one had breast cancer. I didn’t have any reference as to what to expect. And most things were geared toward women.
Zenger: Were you able to maintain some of your normal way of living?
Glencamp: It definitely changed. Prior to that, I was doing half-marathons, Spartan Races, 5K’s, 10K’s, you name it. Even leading up to my surgeries, I had a race every weekend, because I didn’t know when I was going to be able to race again. Once surgery happened, I actually had a double mastectomy. I had both removed just in case. And my levels went down. My bones were a lot sorer. Just going through chemo and trying to get back in that lifestyle. I haven’t been as active as I was prior to the diagnosis. That part of my life has changed.
Zenger: And there was a fear that you wouldn’t be able to produce children.
Glencamp: Yeah! They said once you start chemo, there’s no telling if chemo is going to make you sterile or what chemo is going to do to you. They were trying to get us to go to a fertility clinic, but by the time we got work figured out and made all the doctor’s appointments, I just never got a chance to go. And then God blessed us two days before my surgery with the news that my wife was pregnant. My daughter is definitely our miracle baby.
Zenger: Does she know that she is a miracle baby and why?
Glencamp: She’s only three, so it’s still early. She sees the scars, but as far as me having cancer, she has no idea.
Zenger: What does it mean to you to be a survivor?
Glencamp: It means a lot. The reason why I share my story is because I wanted other men to know that it was OK, that there are other guys out there supporting them. I’m working on a blog to let them know what to expect — and that there is life afterwards. You always have that thought that something could come back. I was Stage 2 HER2 positive, so it was aggressive, and by the time I had surgery, it had reached my lymph nodes. So, I’m constantly worried if something may come back, but while I’m here, I definitely want to share my story and hopefully save a life or two for somebody that may not have checked. They may start checking and be able to find something through early detection.
(Photo courtesy of Aubrey Glencamp)
“The reason why I share my story is because I wanted other men to know that it was OK, that there are other guys out there supporting them,” Glencamp said.
Zenger: I also read you mentioned not realizing what women went through in terms of how uncomfortable a mammogram is. I’m sure that was a teachable moment, as well.
Glencamp: It’s not a fun process. Now when I go for check-ups, it’s more of the physical feeling around trying to make sure there are no bumps. That process was definitely different and just going through that procedure shed the light on what women have to go through, and that pressure and how uncomfortable it can be.
Zenger: What advice would you give anyone diagnosed with breast cancer?
Glencamp: Have faith and a great support system around you. The biggest thing for me and something I have always shared was, don’t treat us any different. If someone is going through cancer, don’t cry around me. I’m going through this, if I’m smiling and putting on a brave face, then I want you to, as well.
What you do in private is completely up to you, but while I’m smiling and joking, I want you to do the same thing or stay away from me (laughing). I would say, just have a positive outlook. Know that you can, while you’re here, do the best that you can to enjoy life to its fullest.
Zenger: You are a true inspiration, brother. Always stay in the fight, and I appreciate you sharing your story with me.
Glencamp: Thank you. I appreciate it.
(Edited by Fern Siegel and Allison Elyse Gualtieri)
By Black Men for Educational Equity | Special to California Black Media Partners
The school to prison pipeline starts as early as preschool for our youngest Black learners.
According to the U.S. Department of Education (2016-2017), Black children face issues with preschool access and exclusion, and are prone to receive harsher discipline than non-Black students who display the same behavior.
Statistics show that Black children are 15% of the K-12th?grade student population; however, they are 36% of students suspended at least once. Too many Black early learners are bounced around between multiple preschools or childcare programs like urban nomads.
During the height of the George Floyd protests, a group of?African American men with professional experience in education, policy, research and social work formed?Black?Men for Educational Equity (BMEE) to address implicit bias in early education. Over the last five months, BMEE examined the disparities and inequalities that exist in the system for young Black children and have created a plan of action for addressing these systemic issues.
To combat this problem, BMEE is calling on the California Legislature to ensure that Black preschoolers are not excluded from important educational components and success through implicit bias and structural racism.?Having access to quality preschool, fair treatment in the classroom, and equal opportunity for success are all crucial components in helping our Black preschool students succeed now, and for generations to come.
Too often, the three “B’s” predict a preschooler’s risk of expulsion: “big, Black and boy.” Black children are expelled at twice the rate of white children, particularly if they are bigger or taller than their peers. Research reveals this is less about the physical characteristics of the child and more about what is going on in the teacher’s mind, than what the child is doing.?Although there is great need in California for preschool and childcare services, preschool is not compulsory.?
Preschools in California currently can exclude students prior to even attempting to teach them based on subjective behavioral expectations. These unfounded behavioral expectations are often fraught with implicit bias and hidden from research as providers are not required to track or report reasons for exclusion, expulsion, or suspension.?It is tantamount to expulsion without any process or notice of rights, and contrary to long term public policy.?
Young Black children, particularly Black boys, are too often victims of an education system that fails them and stifles their potential to succeed. When Black children are held to different standards for learning and behavior and even worse, higher standards are seen for them in preschool, it furthers the systematic racial divide.
“It is important early education staff shift from destructive approaches to discipline and towards research-informed best practices,” commented Dr. Judy D. White, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools. “The Research is clear that when teachers are supported with resources and evidence-based training, preschool can help young children build crucial social-emotional and pre academic skills. A child’s ability to successfully navigate social and emotional learning at a young age is a major factor in educational success.? Exclusionary discipline such as suspension isolates the children most in need of social-emotional development, and results in poor educational outcomes. We want all preschoolers to experience an inclusive and welcoming learning environment.”
While legislators have made efforts to address preschool accountability, such as?AB 752 by Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) which proposes?a series of interventions and referrals before expelling a child,?there remains a hole the size of Mount Everest in California’s early learning accountability and teacher training system.?? ?
California should establish developmentally appropriate policies and structures to provide support to preschool providers by clarifying definitions for suspension and expulsion in preschool and providing due process.? Due process should come before any sort of expulsion to help ensure?disciplinary?practices are not abused. It is long past time for California to take measurable action to eliminate exclusionary practices that contribute to the preschool to prison pipeline.
Preschool providers should collect and track data on rates of expulsion and suspension in early learning and preschool settings. At a minimum, four dominant categories should disaggregate the data.?They are:?sex, race, ethnicity, and disability status.?Information could be housed locally and by the state. Preschool providers should also be required to provide due process before kicking a student out.
“California’s early learning and care system continues to suffer from historic and structural racism and sexism,” according to Dr. Mary Ann Dewan,?Santa Clara County Superintendent of schools.?”Policies and procedures such as?incentivizing?providers to expel children who are deemed ‘problematic’, paying a higher reimbursement for part-day preschool than full-day preschool and directing CalWORKS recipients to lower-quality childcare programs serves to perpetuate the inequities caused by structural racism and sexism.? Now that we know better, it’s time to do better.”
“BMEE is here to shake up the system and not maintain the status quo,” said Khaim Morton, owner KRM Strategies and BMEE Member. KRM strategies specializes in the advancement and application of comprehensive legislation and government affairs strategies. “All Black children deserve an opportunity to succeed. Research shows that implicit bias demonizes Black children before they get to kindergarten. BMEE’s vision is to remove stigmas that Black preschoolers are subjected to and support policy solutions.”
About the Authors
BMEE is a group of?African American men with professional experience in education, policy, research and social work.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) will celebrate the Thanksgiving Break November 23–27, 2020. Students are not expected to participate in distance learning but may have homework or other assignments that are due when they return to online instruction on Monday, November 30, 2020.
Middle College High School students follow the San Bernardino Valley College schedule.
Due to the holiday closure, Grab and Go meals will only be available on Monday, November 23, 2020, from 8 to 11 a.m. at 10 meal distribution sites. Families will be able to pick up seven days’ worth of breakfast and lunch per child. Children do not need to be present when picking up meals. Snacks and dinner will not be provided during the Thanksgiving Break. Only the following sites will be open for Grab and Go meals on November 23: Cajon High School, Del Vallejo Leadership & STEAM Academy, Golden Valley Middle School, Indian Springs High School, King Middle School, Muscoy Elementary School, Pacific High School, Richardson PREP HI Middle School, San Bernardino High School, and San Gorgonio High School.
Absolutely no food will be distributed the remainder of that week. Regular meal distribution will resume on Monday, November 30, 2020.
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