AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY
SAVING BLACK MEN'S LIVES YOUNGSTOWN, OH I COLUMBUS, OH I TOLEDO, OH I CLEVELAND, OH
The African American Male Wellness Agency (AAMWA) marked an important milestone on August 12th, hosting its 20th Walk to Save Black Men’s Lives in Columbus. More than 30,000 men and women attended the event at Livingston Park. The Walk has quickly become an institution in Ohio’s capital city, after starting with just a few hundred attendees in 2004. Several national and local dignitaries attended the 20th Walk including hip-hop legend Master P, grammy-nominated recording artist Eric Roberson, former NFL player Ryan Mundy, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Franklin County Commissioners, and Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin. “Thank you to everyone who laced up their shoes for the African American Male Wellness Walk,” said Mayor Ginther. “We remain committed to helping combat preventable diseases in Black men.” Thousands of men learned life-changing information at this year’s event. 580 men were newly diagnosed with hypertension, 27 men received a new diagnosis of high cholesterol, and 42 men discovered they had diabetes. These individuals are now equipped with information that can enable them to live longer lives.
AAWELLNESS.ORG
Mayor Andrew Ginther speaks with an attendee of the 2023 Columbus Walk.
OCTOBER 2023
2 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY
Ahead of his 37th birthday, Columbusresident Greg decided it was time to prioritize his health. He came out to The Walk and learned that he had borderline high cholesterol, which he says is hereditary. “I was totally shocked,” Greg said. He said he did not know if he would make it to the Walk’s 7 a.m. start, but is glad he made the trip. “I did not know that when I went, I would find something out. You never know.”
Columbus resident Aaron brought his whole family to The Walk in Columbus. He says this walk was his first since the COVID pandemic. He received a free screening. Aaron told us he loved the entertainment and the family atmosphere which included elements for his wife and 5-year-old son. “I could not have asked for anything more. I can’t wait until next year,” Aaron said of his experience.
51.6% of Black Men were made aware for the first time they are at high risk for heart attack, stroke, and PAD because of their unknown & untreated AARON AND HIS SON
diagnosis of high blood pressure!
Columbus DJ City News says his health has become a priority to him over the past couple of years after he had to have a heart ablation. He says he hasn’t always put his body first. “I guess it’s a certain mentality of black men,” City said. He said he was scared of hospitals and did not always want to find out what was happening inside him. With this new outlook on life after a serious medical episode, City News says this walk meant “a whole lot” to him. “I don’t lie to my doctor anymore. I know my numbers now,” he said.
AAWELLNESS.ORG
GREG
CITY NEWS
OCTOBER 2023
3 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY
MEDIA IMPRESSIONS 2,366,204
DIGITAL VIDEO COMPLETIONS 483,474
AIRED TV SPOTS 695
Hip Hop legend Master P attends the Columbus Walk to Save Black Men’s Lives
Grammy-nominated musician Eric Roberson receives a screening at the Walk
AAWELLNESS.ORG
OCTOBER 2023
4 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY Demographics of Columbus Screening Participants
AGE N/A 8.4%
INSURANCE
<18 18-24 1.4% 5.2%
Combination 2.8% No Insurance 7.5%
25-29 8.5%
65+ 8.6%
N/A 6%
Medicare 8.3%
Medicaid 11.5%
50-64 29.9%
Private 64.1%
30-49 38.1%
EDUCATION N/A 9.3%
INCOME (IN THOUSANDS) <$20 2.5%
<High school 1.2%
$20-$49.99 11.2%
High School 25.3% >College 16.5% N/A 44%
$50-$74.99 18.3%
Some College 14.3%
>$75 24%
College 33.3%
AAWELLNESS.ORG
OCTOBER 2023
5 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY
B L O O D P E R C E
P R E S S U R E
I N
C O L U M B U S
50 40 30
N T
20
A G
10
E
0
Tested for Hypertension Stage II
Tested for Hypertension Stage I
Tested for Elevated Blood Pressure
D I A B E T E S P
I N
Tested for Normal Blood Pressure
No Answer
C O L U M B U S
75
E R C
50
E N T A
25
G E
0
Tested for Elevated Levels of Glucose
C H O L E S T E R O L P
Tested for Normal Levels of Glucose
Tested for Mildly Elevated Levels of Glucose
I N
No Answer
C O L U M B U S
80
E R C E N
60 40
T A
20
G E
0
Tested for High Cholesterol
Tested for Borderline High Cholesterol
AAWELLNESS.ORG
Tested for Normal Cholesterol
OCTOBER 2023
No Answer
6 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY
Before celebrating its 20th Walk in Columbus, the African American Male Wellness Agency marked ten years of saving black men’s lives in Youngstown, Ohio. The city’s 5K Walk and Run was held on Saturday, August 5th at the Covelli Center. The Mahoning Valley has embraced the event with approximately 2,500 people attending. More than 220 people received free health screenings and learned about their bodies. Several individuals learned vital information including 69 people who received a new diagnosis of high blood pressure. “
I am so grateful for the Youngstown, Warren, and Mahoning communities coming together because we are worth it,” said Revered Lewis Macklin, honorary chair of the 2023 Youngstown Walk. Rev. Macklin has been a part of the walk in Youngstown for several years and believes the mission is now just beginning. “I feel the energy in the tenth year, said Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown. “I think it is so important for everyone to come out. I looked around at who attended this year and I was excited.”
AAWELLNESS.ORG
OCTOBER 2023
7 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY
58.9% of Black Men were made aware for the first time they are at high risk for heart attack, stroke,
Guy Burney has spent much of his life working to make Youngstown a better place. He serves as the coordinator of the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence. Burney says the Walk to Save Black Men’s Lives is a major asset for the community, “it brings you information, it brings awareness, but not only that, it gets you the numbers so you know where your health stands.”
and PAD because of their
Guy Burney
unknown & untreated diagnosis of high blood Youngstown City Councilman Julius Oliver says events like the Youngstown Walk can help to break the stigma of African American men seeking medical care. “As black men, we have a tendency not to go to the doctor’s and get ourselves checked out,” Oliver said.
pressure!
Julius Oliver
The Councilman went on to say events like The Walk are very important because they enable men to discover possible issues with their health so they can live longer lives.
MEDIA IMPRESSIONS 521,366
AAWELLNESS.ORG
DIGITAL VIDEO COMPLETIONS 316,799
OCTOBER 2023
AIRED TV SPOTS 138
8 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY Demographics of Youngstown Screening Participants
AGE N/A 6%
<18 0.9%
INSURANCE N/A 15.4%
18-24 12%
25-29 6.8%
65+ 24.8%
Combination 6% No Insurance 3.4%
Private 49.6%
Medicare 11.1%
30-49 26.5% Medicaid 14.5%
50-64 23.1%
EDUCATION N/A 12%
INCOME (IN THOUSANDS)
<High school 2.6%
<$20 3.4% $20-$49.99 13.7%
>College 12.8%
High School 31.6%
$50-$74.99 17.1%
N/A 53%
College 24.8%
>$75 12.8%
Some College 16.2%
AAWELLNESS.ORG
OCTOBER 2023
9 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY
B L O O D P E
P R E S S U R E
I N
Y O U N G S T O W N
60
R C E
40
N T A
20
G E
0
Tested for Hypertension Stage II
Tested for Hypertension Stage I
D I A B E T E S P
Tested for Elevated Blood Pressure
I N
Tested for Normal Blood Pressure
No Answer
Y O U N G S T O W N
60
E R C
40
E N T A
20
G E
0
Tested for Elevated Levels of Glucose
Tested for Mildly Elevated Levels of Glucose
B L O O D G L U C O S E I N D I V I D U A L S W I T H P
Tested for Normal Levels of Glucose
L E V E L S K N O W N
No Answer
A M O N G D I A B E T E S
40
E R C E N
30 20
T A
10
G E
0
Tested for Elevated Levels of Glucose
Tested for Mildly Elevated Levels of Glucose
AAWELLNESS.ORG
Tested for Normal Levels of Glucose
OCTOBER 2023
No Answer
10 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY
The African American Male Wellness Agency celebrated another milestone event in Northwest Ohio, holding its 10th 5K Walk and Run in Toledo on August 19th. Approximately one thousand individuals came out to the Warren A.M.E. church. There were 140 men and women who learned about their bodies by receiving free health screenings. 42 individuals learned they had high blood pressure at the Toledo Walk. The event also led to 5 people learning
AAWELLNESS.ORG
they had glucose levels in the diabetes range. Honorary Chair and Ohio State basketball legend Dennis Hopson served as the honorary chair for this year’s walk. Health disparities are a critical issue for the former NBA player. Hopson says the issue stems from the fact that “a lot of black males are afraid to go to the doctor. Hopson calls on all men to take charge of their health and make their bodies a priority, “if you have a problem - you need to see somebody about it.”
OCTOBER 2023
11 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY
56.7% of Black Men were made aware for the first time they are
Retired Toledo Public Safety Director Bryan Byrd says the issue of health disparities has been very important to him for a long time, “we’re dying much faster than our counterparts. We need to do something about that.”
at high risk for heart attack, stroke, and PAD because of their unknown & untreated diagnosis of high blood pressure!
He says your zip code helps to determine your health. As a firefighter, Byrd said that predominantly AfricanAmerican zip codes would experience more medical emergency calls. He says the data proves events like The Walk are Bryan Byrd needed in the community.
MEDIA IMPRESSIONS 121,775
AAWELLNESS.ORG
DIGITAL VIDEO COMPLETIONS 28,289
OCTOBER 2023
AIRED TV SPOTS 125
12 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY Demographics of Toledo Screening Participants
AGE N/A 4.1%
18-24 6.8%
INSURANCE
25-29 2.7%
N/A 6.8%
No Insurance 4.1%
Combination
65+ 23% Medicare 17.6% Private 52.7%
30-49 40.5%
Medicaid 17.6%
50-64 23%
EDUCATION
N/A 20.3%
INCOME (IN THOUSANDS) >$75 10.8%
High School 21.6%
<20 2.7%
$50-$74.99 18.9% >College 12.2%
N/A 55.4% Some College 20.3% $20-$49.99 12.2% College 25.7%
AAWELLNESS.ORG
OCTOBER 2023
13 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY
B L O O D P E R C E
P R E S S U R E
I N
T O L E D O
50 40 30
N T
20
A G
10
E
0
Tested for Hypertension Stage II
Tested for Hypertension Stage I
Tested for Elevated Blood Pressure
D I A B E T E S P
I N
Tested for Normal Blood Pressure
No Answer
T O L E D O
75
E R C
50
E N T A
25
G E
0
Tested for Elevated Levels of Glucose
Tested for Mildly Elevated Levels of Glucose
C H O L E S T E R O L P
Tested for Normal Levels of Glucose
I N
No Answer
T O L E D O
75
E R C
50
E N T A
25
G E
0
Tested for High Cholesterol
Tested for Borderline High Cholesterol
AAWELLNESS.ORG
Tested for Normal Cholesterol
OCTOBER 2023
No Answer
14 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY
The African American Male Wellness Agency held its fourth walk in Ohio this year in Cleveland on August 19th. The city’s 5K Walk and Run was held at Wade Oval. Approximately 600 people attended this year’s event and 63 people received free health screenings. More than one-third of those individuals (22) received a new diagnosis of high blood pressure. An additional two men learned they had diabetes. This information will allow these men and women to take charge of their health.
The Cleveland Walk’s honorary chair, Dr. Greg Hall, has extensive experience treating African Americans and is the former chair of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health. Dr. Hall believes learning your numbers is a critical way of taking control of your health. He spoke about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, telling attendees that “prevention is better than treatment. “
AAWELLNESS.ORG
OCTOBER 2023
15 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY
47.8% of Black Men were made aware for the first time they are at high risk for heart attack, stroke, and PAD because of their unknown & untreated diagnosis of high blood pressure! MEDIA IMPRESSIONS 557,544
DIGITAL VIDEO COMPLETIONS 321,967
AAWELLNESS.ORG
AIRED TV SPOTS 33
OCTOBER 2023
16 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY Demographics of Cleveland Screening Participants
AGE N/A 2.2%
INSURANCE No Insurance 4.3%
18-24 6.5%
Medicare 8.7%
25-29 6.5%
N/A
65+ 23.9% Medicaid 13%
30-49 32.6% Private 71.7%
50-64 28.3%
EDUCATION N/A 6.5%
INCOME (IN THOUSANDS) <20 2.2%
High School 15.2%
$20-$49.99 8.7%
$50-$74.99 17.4%
>College 34.8%
Some College 17.4% N/A 54.3%
>$75 17.4%
College 26.1%
AAWELLNESS.ORG
OCTOBER 2023
17 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY
B L O O D P E
P R E S S U R E
I N
C L E V E L A N D
60
R C E
40
N T A
20
G E
0
Tested for Hypertension Stage II
Tested for Hypertension Stage I
D I A B E T E S P
Tested for Elevated Blood Pressure
I N
Tested for Normal Blood Pressure
No Answer
C L E V E L A N D
60
E R C
40
E N T A
20
G E
0
Tested for Elevated Levels of Glucose
C H O L E S T E R O L P
Tested for Normal Levels of Glucose
Tested for Mildly Elevated Levels of Glucose
I N
No Answer
C L E V E L A N D
50
E R
40
C E N T A G E
30 20 10 0
Tested for High Cholesterol
Tested for Borderline High Cholesterol
AAWELLNESS.ORG
Tested for Normal Cholesterol
OCTOBER 2023
No Answer