The Focus Sept 2014
The Official Magazine of Focused Radio
September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month
The Silence is Broken artwork by Hertz Nazaire
Focus Points Instagram Helps Get the Word Out pg 4 The Word is Out pg 6 Beauty and the Beast pg 9 Taking it Back pg 15 Choose Life pg 16
Editor in Chief: TommyP Story Editor: Miyohn Baskin Photo Credits: Facebook Instagram NuFocus Media G. Warner Photography advertise your business or event! Send details to info@focusedradiobobw.com
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Message From the Editor It’s September and anyone that knows me, is aware that this month is very special to me. One of my many purposes for existing here is, I believe, to assist in advancing the research for and spreading awareness about Sickle Cell Anemia. This month has been named Sickle Cell Awareness month for some time now, however I am pumped to do my part in “Getting the Word Out.” This month we were able to not only be a part of a huge movement in collecting blood donations from urban communities, we were able to bring some of the top leaders in the state of Virginia that have been doing work for this great cause in one room to educate us on this silent killer. We are thankful for all those who have joined in to support the mission and has taken the challenge to donate blood. Because of your generous gift of donating blood, we are in better shape to not only save lives, but specifically have blood products on the shelf specifically for Sickle Cell patients needing it for blood transfusions. Something that I know from having sons with Sickle Cell, is not always the case. As always thanks for listening to Focused Radio and reading The Focus magazine. We appreciate you #StayingFocusedMyFriends
TommyP
Helps to Get the Word Out About Sickle Cel Challenge Technology does it again! Social Media played a huge role in getting donors out to take the Sickle Cell Awareness challenge of donating blood in September. Virginia Blood Services and Faith 4 A Cure achieved it’s goal of over 900 units of blood collected to have available for those living with Sickle Cell Anemia needing transfusions
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Is
Looks Project Impact plus amplify celebrates 1 year of community development and activism
THE Word is Out! It all started with a question; “What’s really being done for Sickle-Cell Anemia?” Before you knew it, the leaders of the fight in Virginia against this disease were in a room sharing the answer with a group determined to find a cure!
Dr Wally
VCU CoHD Medical Di
Dr Chelsea Sheppard Virginia Blood Services Medical Dir
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Dr India Sisler Interim Chief VCU Med Center Peds
y Smith
D irector
Mr George Carter Dir. Sickle Cell Organizations of VA
by TommyP In the words spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back….And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.” On January 20, 2014, as I reflected on these great words of Dr. King I knew it was time to take action, build a team, forge ahead and shout from the mountain top, “This time there is no turning back!” My dream is my purpose in life. With sons living with sickle cell and one that passed away from this disease, I know that my purpose is to be an advocate for awareness. NuFocus Group partnered up with Virginia Blood Services (VBS) and thus set out to fulfill what was deemed later as “unprecedented” results in the black community through the selfless act of donating blood. The word it out! After months of building relationships and forming partnerships the Sickle Cell Initiative went statewide! During the process, I was privileged to attend World Sickle Cell Day in Washington, D.C., meet world-renowned physicians treating Sickle Cell patients, and participate in numerous functions that allowed me to tell my story – my dream – my purpose! One of the highlights of September was the Sickle Cell In-Service hosted by VBS. This was an awesome turn out and some of the real unsung heroes in this fight against Sickle Cell were in attendance - Dr Wally Smith and Dr. India Sisler from VCU Medical Center, Dr. The Focus Sep2014 8
Chelsea Sheppard from VBS, and Mr. George Carter with the Sickle Cell Association of Virginia. These heroes have dedicated their life to Sickle Cell patients. I applaud the great work they do every day! September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month. My focus in September was to build on the foundation that was created through this initiative. The results are in! Over 900 people presented to give blood, 38% were new blood donors and 19% are type specific for patients living with Sickle Cell Disease. One small bit of information, 89% of blood donors are Caucasians or other ethnicities while 11% are African American. My target was to increase the percentage of black people donating blood. Out of the 900 presenting donors at these specific blood drives, 58% of the donors were/are black. Set your sights on your targets and hit them! Lastly, I want to thank everyone that helped us achieve these unprecedented results! The folks at VBS, NuFocus Group, Faith 4 A Cure, Dream Makers Academy, Be The Match, Goodwill, and most of all my two sons, Tommy and Narik, who live with this disease and walked with me FOCUSED!
We truly appreciate
Beauty London Baskin
Model, VSU WuWu
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Those Making it Happen
Beast Ryan Robinson Advocate, Special Projects Coordinator
Zumba/Exercise Classes Mon, Tues, Thurs - 7pm to 8pm FIrst class free, each additional $5.00 or you can purchase a bargain card at $50 for 12 classes and $30 for 7 classes Middle School Afterschool Program 3:00pm - 6:30pm Monday through Friday Rent The CAFE Building- for small parties, dinners, celebrations, classes, workshops and etc. Rental includes tables, chairs and use of the patio call for rental rates Classes and workshops Coming Soon Yoga Personal Safety Nutrition Dates To Remember: Pancake Breakfast November 1, 2014 8am - 12pm All you can eat pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee $5.00 Fall Fling Community Vendors will be set up advertising and selling various goods such as homemade jewelry, crafts, Baked Goods and etc. Free raffle and free giveaways all day
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Lobster Pot pie by Chef Tami
6 tablespoons butter 11/2 cup chopped onions 1/2 cup chopped celery 1/2 cup chopped fennel Salt Freshly ground white pepper 6 tablespoons flour 3/4 cup dry white wine 3 cups seafood or vegetable stock 1 Tablespoon lobster base (for additional flavor) 1 cup milk (I prefer to use heavy cream for richer, thicker mixture) 2 cups diced potatoes, blanched 1 cup diced carrots, blanched 1/2 cup sweet peas (originally calls for 1 cup of peas,... butahraaaaaah I don’t like peas!) 1 cup diced baked ham (you can omit the ham and bump up your lobster meat portion) 1 pound lobster meat, cooked and diced 1/2 cup to 1 cup water 1 egg slightly beaten with 2 Tbsp water (eggwash for the crust) 1/2 recipe basic savory crust (recipe included), rolled out to the size of the pan BASIC SAVORY PIE CRUST: 3 1/4 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups cold lard or solid vegetable shortening (I know it sounds bad,.. but I DO PREFER lard) 4 to 5 tablespoons ice water
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a rectangular glass baking dish. In a large saute pan, melt the butter. Add the onions and celery and saute for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the flour and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes for a blond roux. Stir in the wine and stock and bring the liquid up to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and continue to cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the sauce starts to thicken. Stir in the milk and continue to cook for 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat. Stir in the potatoes, carrots, peas, ham and lobster. Season with salt and pepper. Mix the filling thoroughly. If the filling is too thick, add a little water to thin out the filling. Pour the filling into the prepared pan. Place the crust on top of the filling. Carefully tuck the overlapping crust into the pan, forming a thick edge. Crimp the edges of the pan and place on a baking sheet. Using a sharp knife and make several slits in the top of the crust. Brush the egg wash over the crust. Place the dish in the oven and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and crispy. Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes before serving. BASIC SAVORY PIE CRUST: Combine the flour and salt in a bowl. Add the lard and work it in with your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, working it in with your hands. Add only as much as you need to make a smooth ball of dough. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place it on a lightly floured surface. For 2 crusts, cut the dough in two and put the second half back in the refrigerator. For each crust, roll the dough out on the floured surface into a square about 14 inches in diameter and 1/8-inch thick. Gently fold the square of dough in half and then in half again so that you can lift it without tearing it, and
unfold into a square baking pan. Fill and proceed as directed in the recipe.
Take the Challenge Donate Blood
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UVA MEDICAL CENTER PROVIDES CHARITY CARE FOR LYNCHBURG WOMAN, THE FIRST KNOWN AMERICAN PATIENT DIAGNOSED WITH SICKLE CELL ANEMIA
By MiYohn Baskin
O
ver a hundred years ago, in nearby Campbell County, Virginia a young woman experiencing severe abdominal pain sought treatment from the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville. Ellen Anthony, believed to be the descendent of slaves was born around 1885 in the wooded hills near Lynchburg. She had been sickly almost all of her life. Anthony was a poor housemaid and cook when able to work. In 1907, She was accepted as a patient in the charity ward at the University Medical Center, marking the first of many hospital admissions. During Anthony’s fourth visit to UVA, she was treated for 284 consecutive days. University Medical Center Admission records site Ellen Anthony as being treated for Crescentic Anemia, named for the peculiar crescent shaped blood cells observed by physi-
cians. In July 1910, a third year medical student Benjamin E. Washburn, who had cared for Ellen Anthony submitted an article to the journal “Virginia Medical Semi Monthly” giving an account of his patient’s illness. Because of Virginia’s racially segregated society in the late 19th and early 20th century, little information is available about Ellen Anthony’s family. Neither birth nor death records can be found to determine the age at which she died. It is believed that her father and siblings all died at an early age as well. Dr. Benjamin Washburn’s article in contrast with a similar article submitted previously by Dr. James Herrick to another medical journal indicates that Ellen Anthony is the first patient from the United States diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia. Dr. Herrick’s patient, Walter Noel, a medical student from the island of Granada, is the first patient recorded in medical history.
Choose Life A
ward winning sultry R&B artist Keisha Cole was the latest in an ever growing number of women of all ages, races and socio-economic backgrounds who chose to kick off the heels, slap on the Vaseline and take it to the street. This strategy instead of a more respectable and safer one was the choice she made. Keisha chose “death” instead of life. No, neither she nor the women who she found in the home of her recently acquired romantic interest died in the altercation. However, someone can and too often has died in similar altercations. And Keisha did in fact “die” a little bit more that night. The question we pose and that is often posed is, why? Why would a women, especially one who has enjoyed the significant success that Keisha has and who clearly has so much promise in front of her make such an horrific choice and not simply walk away. Why? We don’t have the length of time and space in this publication to fully address this question. Suffice it to say that there is something seriously missing in Keisha’ personal sense of significance, acceptance and security. These three pillars of human stability make up our emotional, psychological and in some ways our physical center from which we make life choices, and through which we determine ourselves to be of value or not.
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Each month we will talk about varying topics that run the gambit, but we will always seek to underscore and point you back to these three pillars. They are our measure, and they are our source of strength and resolve. The difference between Keisha and the millions of women who did choose to walk away and end the relationship is that Keisha, at least in this particular moment forgot the true and unconditional support and source for REAL significance, acceptance and security. He is Jehovah our God!
“I have set before you this day the choice between life and death”(Duet) , Choose Life!
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