CHANGE YOUR DESTINY

“I'm going to be 67 this year. I had 5 first cousins who all passed away by the time they were 52 — which means my genes are a swamp. At 52 I crossed the finish line of a marathon, and I don't say that to impress you, but to impress upon you that your diet and lifestyle can completely change your destiny.”

— Marty Davey, RD

On the eve of Black History Month, last week our team presented a day-long seminar to an incredible group of community health workers (CHWs) who were trained by Columbia’s Center for Community Health. Thanks to funding from the West Harlem Development Corporation, our 7-hour program included nutrition education with Marty (quoted above), an engaging cooking demo with Chef Brandy Cochrane, enlightening group discussions, and a delicious plant based lunch by Plant Candy that got a five-star rating.

As a new member of PPMNY’s team, I was very excited to attend my first in-person event and experience our nutrition education alongside the participants. As the room started to fill, I noticed that all of the attendees were women — primarily Black women — underscoring the important role we play in not only managing our own health, but also the powerful influence we have over the health of our families, communities, and the world at large.

Though PPMNY's work benefits communities of all backgrounds, we have an intentional focus on reducing health disparities for Black and Hispanic residents who tend to experience worse health outcomes due to social and environmental factors tied to systemic racism. Many of the participating women came from neighborhoods disproportionately burdened by diet-related diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. It was amazing to engage with an audience who were not deterred by this daunting task but rather were enthusiastic, willing to learn, and motivated by the opportunity to empower others.

Near the end of the seminar, I was in awe watching the women brainstorm ideas on immediate next steps, share contact information, and build community amongst each other as they prepared to take these resources back to the people they serve.

As countercultural as a whole food, plant-based lifestyle seems to be, PPMNY's message rings true in the ears and hearts of Black communities. We hope you'll consider joining us at two more Black History Month events planned this month — one in-person in Harlem and another online!

In health,
Eman Faris, Community Empowerment Coordinator