...serving the Hispanic/Latinx/Latine/Latino/Afrodecendientes/IndigenousLatino and Asian-Latino communities.
4TH ANNUAL CINCO DE MAYO VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETING ON FENTANYL, OPIOIDS,SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND MENTAL HEALTH HELD MAY 5TH, 2023.
The purpose of this town hall meeting was to bring together individuals and organizations committed to addressing health disparities that impact our Latino communities. It offers an opportunity for researchers, practitioners, and advocates to share emerging research, best practices, and most important community perspectives that help shape the agenda for the health of our Latino communities with the goal of eliminating health disparities.
GRACIAS:
THEMINNESOTADEPARTMENTOFHUMANSERVICES
THEOPIOIDRESPONSENETWORK(ORN)
HUE-MANPARTNERSHIP
UROC–THEROBERTJ.JONESURBANRESEARCHANDOUTREACHENGAGEMENTCENTER
An ordained minister, Daniel Vega Gonzalez opened the 4th Annual CincodeMayovirtualTownHallMeetingwithameaningful,heartfelt bendicion (blessing) setting the stage for a difficult conversation focusingonesperanza(hope)forthefuture.
Daniel, gracias for the exceptional bendicion, powerful story and inspirationofhope.
Sober and addiction free for 17 years Daniel shared his story from el corazon. Highlighting that the key to his continued success of sobrietyisinhelpingothers. Hepointedoutthe5tripstorehaband the difficult journey to sobriety, paying tribute to those who helped pavetheway.
The doctors, nurses, councilors, mentors, friends, and family who created the chain that gave him the strength to overcome a lifelong road of addition. He was quick to admit his early introduction to substance use hindered his ability to create healthy relationships. Having broken the chain of a functioning addict, Daniel is now enjoying a life of fulfillment and is no longerwalkingthroughlifeinadaze.
“Let’s See the World with Vega’s Travel Agency’ is his newest venture in living life to its fullest andsharingthewondersoftheworldwithothers.
ContactDanielVegaatdan.vega1@hotmail.com
Anjelica, gracias for sharing your powerful story and your journeytosobriety. Itsimpactwillgofarinsavinglives! Stories from El Corazon (from the heart): Anjelica Rosalez courageously shared her story of a lifetime of addition, her long and arduous road to recovery and her life post-survival. Anjelica experienced trauma at an early age. The loss of her mother when Anjelica was one year old coupled with the incarceration of her father set the stage for a life-long battle with addiction and thoughts of suicide. Anjelica shared with me how being sober is creating healthy connections to her Mexican cultural roots, adding to the celebration of her sobriety. MuchlikeDanielVegaGonzalez,Anjelicafindssolace andpurposeinhelpingothers. As a mother to three children, she is especially dedicated to creating awareness among youngpeople.
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CLICKHERETOSEEMORE CLICKHERETOSEEMOREand Spanish versions. It is 21 minutes long and it is so real in regard to what our families are goingthrough.”
“What is Cinco de Mayo?” Behind a backdrop of Cinco de Mayo parade of yesteryear, Dr. Alfonso Morales gave the audience the 101ofthehistoryofthiscelebration. Aself-proclaimedhistorybuff, Dr. Morales shared the background of how the US came to recognize this highly celebrated event. In Minnesota more than 250,000 people of Latino decent make up 6% of the state’s population. The St. Paul Cinco de Mayo Parade has been a tradition for more than 30 years, drawing up to 60,000 visitors to theareaeachspring.
Dr. Morales shared his views on the sensitive subject of addiction and pain management. Giving us a glimpse on how to defuse social media addiction in youth by sharing the importance of creating meaningful connections and prioritizing family relations. Dr.Moralestoucheduponthevalueofcommunicationinthefight forsobriety.
Gracias for the history lesson, Dr. Morales! A special gracias for sharingyourexpertise.
Dr.MoralesisaBoard-CertifiedPainandAddictionspecialistwhoalsopracticesregenerative medicine.Hehasbeenintheprofessionofpainmanagementforalmost20years.
As the Medical Director of ReviveMD, Dr. Morales specializes in Pain Medicine. He is a DiplomateoftheAmericanBoardofPainMedicine,andamemberoftheAmericanAcademy ofPainMedicine,AmericanPainSociety,andInternationalAssociationfortheStudyofPain.
Dr. Morales has been in the profession of pain management and longevity for almost 20 years.Hisdedicationtohispatientsisevidentineverythinghedoes.AsaPainPhysicianwith aPreventativeCaremodel,Dr.Moralesfirmlybelievesthatitisimportanttoteachthepatient about prevention of chronic diseases, and over all well-being. Aging should not be consideredadiseaseinitself,butamanifestationofsymptomsthatcanbecontrolled,and modified appropriately. Understanding “Aging” where it comes from and what every individualcandotohelpmanageorovercomethesesymptoms.Bydoingthis,hehelpshis patients live a happier, more functional, and active lifestyle, empowering patients to take control of their health, longevity and unlimitedly their overall quality of life. Dr. Morales practicespreventivecareandpersonalizedpatientcare.Hebelievesinaproactiveapproach tohealthcare.
ContactDr.AlfonsoMoralesatamorales@revivemdmsp.com
WebSite:https://revivemdmsp.com/
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“What is NARCAN” Dr. Hector (as he is affectionally called) gave our audience members the nitty gritty of Narcan.
Dr. Hector, muchas gracias for your continued support, guidance,andexpertassistance. Mostofall,graciasfor elamor!
Dr. Colón-Rivera is a distinguished quadruple boardcertifiedadolescent,adult,andaddictionpsychiatristof the Pennsylvania medical community. He has broad experience in community-based programs, emphasizingthosethathelpincreaseaccesstosevere mentalillnessandsubstanceusedisordertreatments.
He is the Medical Director of the Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, Inc Behavioral Health Program(APM),anon-profitorganizationdedicatedto improvingHispaniccommunities'qualityoflifethrough direct behavior and substance use disorder services in thePhiladelphiaregion.
APM has functions related to education, health, human services, and community, foster homes, & economic development. Dr. Colon Rivera is also an attending physician at the WesternPsychiatricInstituteandClinicandUPMCthroughtheirtelemedicineservices.
Dr.HectorgrewupbetweenSanJuanandVieques,PR.Hismother,aspecialeducationteacher oftentookhimtoworkwithher,wherehewasexposedtofamiliesdealingwithmentalillness. This early exposure instilled in him a deep understanding of social factors, such as poverty, lack of education, poor accessibility to health care, as well as reduced social and family support contributing to mental illness. Following medical school in PR and psychiatric residency training at Boston University, he completed his addiction psychiatry fellowship at Yale where he focused on working with Children and Adolescents with substance use disorders.
FollowDr.Hectoron@https://twitter.com/colonriveraMD Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/colonriveramd YoucanalsoreachouttoDr.Hectorathectorcolonriveramd@gmail.com
The Land Recognition Declaration was delivered by Shirley Cain,whowasinstrumentalincoordinatingthe1stHopefor Our Community conference sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. It seemed fitting that Shirley delivered this important statement and introduced the 2019 conference keynote speaker, Dr. Hector ColonRivera of the Opioid Response Network (ORN). Dr. ColonRivera continues to support the Minnesota Latino Opioids/Substance Use Disorder/Mental Health championship.
Thank you, Shirley, for a beautiful introduction, sharing the indigenous blessings. Special thanks for the excellent encapsulation of Dr. Hector Colon-Rivera's work in Minnesota. As wellaspayingtributetotheteambehindthescenes.
Shirley M. Cain is a tribal member of the Red Lake Nation and a licensed attorney. Her Anishinabe name is Mushkosee Equay (Sweet Grass Woman). He grew up in the Red Lake Nation. She attended Good Counsel Academy, in Mankato, MN with the Sisters of Notre DameSchool,aprogressiveorderthatpracticedpositiveself-empowerment.Heeventually emigratedtoMinneapolis-St.Paul'sareawithmostofhisfamily.Sheisalicensedattorney in the state of Minnesota and has represented numerous children, parents, and tribes in ICWA cases. She has worked as an attorney in private practice, housing attorney, tribal court chief judge, special judge, teacher, tribal administrator, and native advocate throughout her career. She also participated in a Native Equity Pilot Project, a substanceexposed baby task force for Native women, helped amend the Minnesota Indian Family PreservationAct,andhelpeddraftcommentariesfortheBureauofIndianAffairsGuidelines. She was Project Director for an urban native child welfare program. She provided grant administration, child welfare grant supervision/monitoring, and behavioral grants while workingattheMinnesotaDepartmentofHumanServices.
Shirley Cain is currently a Lead Technical Expert at JBS International, Inc., which aims to achievesolutionsthatempowerpeopleandcommunitiesandimprovelives,whilecreating positive and sustainable changes in systems. Shirley provides technical assistance and helpsprovidetrainingneedsfortribalandconsortiabeneficiariesacrossIndia.
ContactShirleyCainatscain@jbsinternational.com
NarcanToolkitforSchoolspresentationbyBethReillywasdeliveredina bilingual format with the Spanish translation being delivered by ConversacionesdeSaludvirtualassistant,PaulinaLopez-Valencia. The presentationfocusedonvaluabledataandinformationtoeducateand createawarenessinsubstanceuse. ACALLTOACTIONwasannounced in support of Naloxone Bill #HF2398, encouraging our audience to contacttheirlegislatorrequestingsupportofthislifesavingbill.
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Beforecoming Children’s Hos schoolnurse, attheheighto schools with Narcan policy, establishing a school based health clinic within the district, and creating partnerships between school, community,andcounty.
YoucancontactBethReillyatbeth.reilly@co.dakota.mn.us
Robert Hanson is a Spanish teacher at Two Rivers High School (formerly Henry Sibley HS) in Dakota County for morethanthirtyyears. MaestroHansonisfounderand directorofthestudentgroupAnglosLatinosMotivadosa Superarse(ALMAS).
Gracias Maestro, the dominoes effect from your work with youth and parents can be felt not only across our great state of Minnesota, but in the home countries of ourfamilies! Graciasforjoiningusinthisimportantweb show.
Maestro Hanson is a multi-award recipient of the Minnesota Teacher of The Year and has earned numerous awards, and recognition, for his groundbreakingteachingstrategiesofconnectingyouth with academics through community service activities. Including engaging families in their child’s education journey. Among his greatest achievements, has been hisabilitytoboostthegraduationrateattheschool.
ALMASstudentgrouprecentlycelebratedits20thanniversary. Thestudentgroupfocuseson healthpromotionwithintheLatinocommunity. Notonlyaretheyhealthadvocates,butthey are also peer mentors. In 2005 ALMAS partnered with Jovenes De Salud, mentoring youth from other schools including Harding and Johnson High Schools. Students created award winningoriginalPSAstoreduceteentobaccouse,whichwasfeaturedinCDC’sBestPractices. ALMAS continue their tobacco awareness work. Most recently creating a PSA video on the harmsofvaping. In2019ALMAStooktotheSt.PaulparadestreetsofCincodeMayobrining awareness on opioids through an original PSA chant ‘Amor no Drogas’ (Love not Drugs).
ALMASalsoparticipatedatthe1stLatinobasedconferenceonopioidsawarenesssponsored bytheMinnesotaDepartmentofHumanServices,lendingtheiryouthperspectivevoicetothis growingepidemic.
Wait,there’smore…marriedtohischildhoodsweetheart,Delén(whoisthedirectorofALMAS dancers) he is the father of two young men (one in college the other ready to graduate HS). MaestroHansonalsoannouncesTwoRiverssoccergamesinbothEnglishandSpanish. YoucancontactRobertHansonatroberthanson663@yahoo.com
Conversaciones de Slaud welcomes our newest community partner, Hue-Man Partnership. Hue-Man brings together a community of advocates in the fight against substance use disorders.
EstimadoClarence,graciasforincludingConversacionesdeSalud in your team of partners addressing health disparities in our underservedcommunities.
Robert“Clarence“Jones,M.Ed.,CHW,CPH,istheExecutiveDirector oftheHue-ManPartnershipandtheformerDirectorofCommunity EngagementataFederallyQualifiedHealthCenter(FQHC)insouth Minneapolis. He serves as the community partner for the FAITH program at Mayo Clinic. A Grassroots Representative for the Oral Health Progress and Equity Network (OPEN). He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Saint Catherine University in the School of PublicHealth.
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He served as a CTSI Executive Leadership team member at the University of Minnesota. He alsoservedasaformermemberofthePublicHealthDisparitiesResearchBoard(PHDR)and
CEARCH at the U of M. He was A past board member of the Minnesota Urban Area Health Education Center (AHEC), the Mayor’s Representative, Co-Chair for the Public Health Advisory Committee (PHAC) for the City of Minneapolis, and a National Community RepresentativefortheNationalChildren’sStudy(NCS).
Clarence has had extensive experience collecting data and collaborating with organizational leadership, community partners, and members to promote community wellnessandaccesstohealthservices.Hehascreated,planned,andorchestratedstrategic health events with the community and faith-based partnerships. He is the radio host of CommunityHealthDialogueOnKMOJFM89.9inMinneapolis,aswellasthepodcastHealth ChatterwithDr.StanShanedling.
He created the Clippers and Curls Project, a collaborative partnership that utilized doctors, nurses, and Community Health Workers on a 37’ medical mobile unit. Hue-MAN provided health screenings along with heart health information to barbers, beauticians, and communitymemberswithinbarbershops.
He is a founding member of Hue-MAN Partnership, a community collaboration of organizations that promotes “Healthy Men, Healthy Families, and Healthy Communities. Hue-MANisahealthcare,community,andprofessionalorganizationseekingtoaddressthe healthcarecrisesamongyoungandmiddle-agedmen,primarilymenofcolor.
TheHue-Manpartnershiphasbeenworkingtogethersince2011.YearlyLunchandLearnsare held where academic, governmental, research, and community members discuss chronic illnesses and issues impacting the community. A conversation summary is disseminated backtothecommunityforfurtherdiscussionandaction.Inaddition,yearlyhealthfairsare held in south Minneapolis to provide healthcare screening and access to community members. Hue-MAN also sponsors other organizations providing healthcare services or recognition to the community. Since its inception, Hue-MAN has provided more than 200,000 health screenings with a coalition utilizing health professionals, CHWs, and other communityorganizations.
He has received many local and national awards for his community activities and was the 2016recipientoftheUniversityofMinnesota’sSchoolofPublicHealth“AgencyoftheYear.”
YoucancontactClarenceJonesatclarencejones7428@gmail.com
ReverendVictorAMartinez
