The I N
F O C U S
FREE
F O R
P E O P L E
O V E R
5 0
More than 200,000 readers throughout Greater Washington
VOL.35, NO.5
Honoring a woman of purpose PHOTO COURTESY OF IFY ANNE NWABUKWU
By Diane York When Ify Nwabukwu came to the U.S. from Nigeria at age 25, her dream was to become a physician. She studied at several colleges, finally graduating with a degree in nursing from Howard University in Washington, D.C. But her real career developed as the founder and leader of an organization that has boosted the health of thousands of African women new to this country. In fact, the impact she has had at the nonprofit she created may have far outreached what she might have accomplished as a doctor. For her work, AARP awarded Nwabukwu a “Purpose Prize” in 2022. The $50,000 annual prize goes to five individuals over 50 who have solved a challenging social problem.
MAY 2023
I N S I D E …
LEISURE & TRAVEL
Make time for an adventure in vast, beautiful Alaska; plus, check out the powwows of Native tribes across the region this summer page 31
Launched by mother’s journey While Nwabukwu was working as a nurse, she got married and eventually found herself juggling four young children and a full-time career. Her mother, living in Nigeria, came to the U.S. to help with the children on a temporary basis. When her mother arrived, she found a lump in her breast. At first, she dismissed it as nothing more than a cyst. But as a nurse, Nwabukwu was concerned. Finding medical help for her mother — a non-resident with no insurance — was a challenge. The lump turned out to be a cancerous tumor. Luckily, Nwabukwu had a close friend, a trauma surgeon, who performed a mastectomy. She called on other connections within the medical community for additional care. Because she knew the system, Nwabukwu was able to save her mother and give her another 17 years of life. However, Nwabukwu realized that her mother could have died had she not had
Registered nurse Ify Nwabukwu founded a nonprofit to help immigrants navigate the U.S. medical system. Since 2004, her group has worked with 30,000 women, providing translators, information, rides and moral support during cancer treatment. She was awarded a 2022 AARP Purpose Prize for her work.
help in navigating the U.S. medical system. That realization, plus the death from cancer of another African immigrant she knew, inspired Nwabukwu to take action to help other African women with cancer.
grants not only face a language barrier. They also have a cultural taboo against discussing their medical troubles with others. This leads them to hide afflictions. She began to seek out other African immigrant women, encouraging them to be
Overcoming a taboo Nwabukwu explains that African immi-
See WOMAN OF PURPOSE, page 23
arn Mo Le
Info re
Sc a n t o
Find Compassion, Care & Respect at Harmony PE AC E O F M I N D, T H AT ’ S T H E à n È 0 I R « x z ç ِژ INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE
ARTS & STYLE
Old Town Alexandria’s corner jewelry shop still sparkles; plus, little known WWII stories, and Bob Levey on the good old brands page 37
FITNESS & HEALTH 6 k New drugs for weight loss k Multivitamin marketing myths LIVING BOLDLY 24 k Newsletter for D.C. residents LAW & MONEY 26 k Earn higher, and safer, interest k Social Security work rules ADVERTISER DIRECTORY
46
PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE