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Sherri Shepherd, Charlie Wilson, Dick Gregory,
Norm Nixon To Join Dr. Bill J. Releford for the
2nd Annual African American Men's
Health & Empowerment Summit
On Saturday, February 27, 2010
Diabetic Amputation Prevention (DAP) Foundation and KJLH Radio Host 2nd Annual African American Men's Health & Empowerment Summit Featuring Free Screenings, Workshops, Entertainment and More in Effort to Heighten Health Awareness Among African American Men
Los Angeles - In a continuing campaign to raise health awareness issues amongst Black men within the African American community, Dr. Bill J. Releford, the founder of The Diabetic Amputation Prevention (DAP) Foundation, in conjunction with KJLH Radio and the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, are hosting the 2nd Annual African American Men's Health & Empowerment Summit on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
"The View's" Sherri Shepherd and KJLH Radio's Adai Lamar will serve as event co-hosts. Health activist Dick Gregory will provide the keynote speech. Norm Nixon serves as national spokesperson for the event with Charlie Wilson, Rosie Greer and Olden Polynice acting as event co-chairs. The summit will take place from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm and feature workshops, vendors, give-aways and more. The Convention Center is located at 1201 S. Figueroa in Los Angeles, with the Summit taking place in the Concourse Hall. Admission is free. The Annual African American Men's Health & Empowerment Summit is yet another in Dr. Releford's ongoing efforts to bring into focus the serious elements that contribute to the perpetuating health care disparities in African American men. With over 1500 men participating in health screenings for diabetes and hypertension at his recent Los Angeles Initiative of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, the Summit will extend that effort, expanding the focus to cancer, dental, vision, HIV/AIDS prevention, health care disparities, education and employment issues.
 "As we celebrate the historic victory of President Barack Obama, we must remind ourselves that if current conditions prevail, we will continue to lose thousands of Baracks to a host of preventable medical maladies. The Annual African American Men's Health & Empowerment Summit is designed specifically for men," explains Dr. Releford. "We want them all to come out on Saturday and participate in this free event. The statistics are not good for us, but by increasing an awareness of the issues, we can make things better. The Summit will offer much needed educational opportunities for early detection and intervention."
About the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program
Founded by Dr. Bill J. Releford, D.P.M. the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program seeks to empower African American men to better understand cardiovascular diseases and how to manage and prevent its complications. The program has a three prong strategy to its success: SCREEN, EDUCATE and REFER to the appropriate health care provider. The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program has effectively addressed the health concerns of African American men in nearly 230 black owned barbershops around the country since December 2007. For additional go to http://www.BlackBarbershop.org.
About Dr. Bill Releford
Dr. Bill Releford began private practice in 1990 and started the Diabetic Foot Institute, a facility dedicated exclusively to the reduction of diabetes-related amputations in high-risk populations. Most patients were oblivious to the standard of care that should be expected during the occurrence of a diabetic foot complication or the unfortunate recommendation for lower-extremity amputation. Dr. Releford's personal and professional mission is to create innovative ways to decrease diabetes-related amputations. "Five Colors To Better Health" is his new book dedicated to a clear understanding of how eating a variety of colors can reduce your risk of diabetes and high blood pressure as well as other chronic diseases. Visit with him at http://www.5ColorsADay.com.
About the Diabetic Amputation Prevention (DAP) Foundation
The DAP Foundation's mission is to help decrease the diabetes-related amputation rate among high risk populations around the world and address the escalating number of individuals with undetected cardiovascular disease. The DAP Foundation's African American Men's Outreach Program seeks to partner with community groups and organizations to reduce the incidence of health conditions that adversely affect African American males by utilizing education, prevention and early detection through screening activities. DAP's efforts have already been successfully duplicated in other metropolitan areas, such as Oakland, Chicago, Harlem, St. Louis, Kansas City, Atlanta and New Orleans.
Dr. Releford has also just recently returned from Haiti and has launched the Haiti Limb Preservation Project to assist in preventing amputations on the survivors of the earthquake. "As a podiatric surgeon, specializing for the past 20 years in limb preservation and preventing amputations, it was hard to continue to watch the devastation in Haiti without getting involved," cites Dr. Releford. "This is at the core mission of the Diabetic Amputation Prevention Foundation (DAP), which is to decrease amputations in high risk populations around the world." The DAP Foundation has projects in Ghana, Uganda, Gabon, Fiji, as well as Brazil. Review the compelling video footage of Dr. Releford's Haiti travels at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgYFi5AAzYw&feature=player_embedded .
The 2nd Annual African American Men's Health & Empowerment Summit is funded in part by the DAP Foundation and a grant received from Congresswoman Maxine Waters. For more information log on at http://blackbarbershop.org/summitblast.htm.
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