The Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) is launching its “Fifth Annual Father’s Day Rally Against Prostate Cancer” with an ambitious goal of reaching one million persons. This will be the largest and most visible prostate cancer education and awareness effort ever undertaken with a focus on Black America. The Rally will be held on Sunday, June 16, 2013 in partnership with churches nationwide during their regular church services. Prostate cancer survivors within each congregation along with family members of those who have lost loved ones to the disease will be recognized and join hands in prayer for healing.

In 2012, The Rally reached approximately 200,000 persons based on the total membership of the churches that participated. This year, PHEN will augment the Rally with prostate cancer educational symposiums in selected cities on the Saturday before Father’s Day (June 15th). The symposiums will be hosted by a church partner within each city serving as a magnet site. PHEN industry partners, members of its national survivor network, and local health providers will play integral roles in these educational activities.

“PHEN’s Annual Father’s Day Rally has proven to be an effective education and awareness outreach initiative for African American families who are the ones most impacted by prostate cancer. Because of these urgent needs, it is imperative that we build on our success and increase outreach efforts this year,” said PHEN founder and President Thomas A. Farrington.

Church partnerships which have been developed and nurtured across all denominations are the key to PHEN’s Father’s Day Rally success. “Congregations within the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church have actively participated in the Father’s Day Rally since its inception, and we look forward to participating in the Rally’s expansion in size and scope this year,” states Rev. Natalie Mitchem, Executive Director of the AME Connectional Health Commission. The AME Church has a membership of approximately 3 million persons within the United States and around the world.

Black men die at a rate 2.5 times higher than men of all other ethnic and racial groups in the United States. This disparity led the US Senate, in July 2012, to pass a resolution recognizing prostate cancer to be of epidemic proportions among African American men. However, there has been significant confusion among the public caused by the ongoing debate about PSA screening and over-treatment. Simultaneously, a number of new prostate cancer treatments have been approved and there is a flurry of clinical trial activity that will undoubtedly lead to more treatment breakthroughs along with new procedures for detecting and managing prostate cancer.

“We recognize the enormous challenge in achieving our Rally’s goal this year, however, Black America must become knowledgeable about new developments and fully engaged in order to eliminate the current epidemic, and not be overlooked and risk a worsening condition. The Rally’s success is a significant opportunity for forward progress.” states Farrington.

All churches nationwide are invited to partner with PHEN by participating in the “Fifth Annual Father’s Day Rally Against Prostate Cancer.” Church registration is now open. To register and for additional information visit: http://www.prostatehealthed.org/churchregister2013.php.

Prostate cancer survivors play a crucial role in the success of the Rally by mobilizing their churches and communities around this effort. PHEN is appealing to all prostate cancer survivors, and their family members, to join in to support and help lead the Rally in meeting its one million person goal. All are invited to join the PHEN Survivor Network.

About PHEN                                                                                                                            

PHEN was founded in 2003 by Thomas A. Farrington, a prostate cancer survivor and author, with a mission to eliminate the African American prostate cancer disparity. PHEN’s ongoing initiatives include: Monthly support group meetings and webcasts, an “Annual Disparity Summit” on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, an “Annual Father’s Day Rally Against Prostate Cancer” in partnership with churches nationwide, Monthly E-newsletters on prostate cancer treatments and Clinical Trials, and a PHEN online Educational Television Series.

For additional information, contact:

Michelle Miller

michelle@prostatehealthed.org

617- 481- 4020

http://www.prostatehealthed.org/

The Center for Church and Prison, Inc. invites you to its first public forum of 2013, Mass Incarceration of Mothers and Women in United States Prison System. Presenters and panelists will discuss the ever increasing number of incarcerated women and its effect on family. Dr. Erika Kate, Andrea Good-James, and Rev. Clovis Turner are scheduled to speak. Tuesday January 8, 6pm-7:50pm at the Mattapan Library located at 1350 Blue Hill Ave.

2012 Community Kwanzaa Celebration
Theme: Embracing our Afrika at Home and Abroad
Schedule of Community Kwanzaa Celebrations

Each day is represented by one of the NGUZO SABA (7 Principles)

 
Wednesday, December 26 2012
UMOJA – Unity
@ Smith Leadership Academy Charter School: 23 Leonard St., Dorchester/Fields Corner
7:00pm
Sponsors: Smith Leadership Academy Charter School, Jah-Jah Drummers, Young Adults (NAACP)

Thursday, December 27 2012
KUJICHAGULIA – Self-Determination
@ St. Catherine/Drexel Church: 517 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester
7:00pm
Sponsors: State Rep. Gloria Fox/MASS. Black & Latino Caucus, Young Professionals Network (YPN-ULEM)

Friday, December 28 2012
UJIMA – Collective Work & Responsibility
@ Roxbury Boys & Girls Club: 115 Warren St., Roxbury
7:00pm
Sponsors: OrigiNation Inc., Louis Brown Peace Institute, Osiris Group

Saturday, December 29 2012
UJAMAA – Cooperative Economics
@ Muhammad’s Mosque #11: 10 Washington St., Dorchester/Grove Hall
7:00pm
Sponsors: Nation of Islam, Pyramid Builders

Sunday, December 30 2012
NIA – Purpose
@ Blue Hill Boys & Girls Club: 15 Talbot Ave., Dorchester
7:00pm
Sponsors: Stajez Dance Co., Assoc. of Black Social Workers, Askia Academy

Monday, December 31 2012
KUUMBA (KARAMU – FEAST NIGHT) – Creativity
@ Roxbury Community College Student Center Dining Complex (2nd Fl.): 1234 Columbus Ave., Roxbury
7:00pm
Sponsors: Roxbury Community College Student Gov’t. Assoc., RCC Alumni Assoc.

Tuesday, January 1 2013
IMANI – Faith
@ Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists: 300 Walnut Ave., Roxbury
4:00pm
Sponsors: The Black Community Information Center, Inc.

AN ALL-AFRIKAN EVENT/PEOPLE OF COLOR SPACE!
SPONSORED BY THE COMMUNITY KWANZAA COMMITTEE c/o THE BLACK COMMUNITY INFORMATION CENTER
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.BLACKINFONOW.ORG OR CALL BCIC AT 617-427-2522

Caddy up as the Urban League of Eastern MA hosts the 2012 Boston Open Golf Tournament this Sunday at William J. Devine Golf Course in Franklin Park. Open to both professionals and amateurs, proceeds from the tournament will go toward local youth-oriented nonprofits. Visit http://cityofbostongolf.com (PDF) for more information and to register.

Madison Park Development Corporation and community partners present the 11^th annual National Night Out Against Crime in Our Neighborhood, Celebrating Our Community/Police Partnership.  The much-anticipated event will take place Friday, August 10, 2012 from 3PM to 8PM at the Edna Bynoe Playground located on Orchard Park Street in Roxbury. Food, music, games, family activities, and community leadership awards will all be part of the day. Event organizer Stanley Dominique of MPDC says, “This is the 11^th year we are helping to make National Night Out happen – it is a summer event that the entire neighborhood looks forward to each summer.  We expect a large group of children, youth and families coming together, finding strength in solidarity and … having fun.” For more information about National Night Out, please contact Stanley Dominique 617.849.6236 or sdominique@madison-park.org.

Festival season is in full swing with the Dominican Parade and Festival this Sunday. Starting noon time at Centre St. in Jamaica Plain, revelers will march, dance, and play their way down to Franklin Park. At the park, more live music, fun activities and vendors will await for the arrival of thousands of Dominicans and locales. For more information call 617. 401.6288.

The Puerto Rican Festival Parade returns Sunday, July 29. The festivities start at noon at the intersection of Malcolm X Blvd and Washington St and continue into Franklin Park. Food, music, vendors and entertainment. For more information call 617.216.4560.

New to the area? Then join dozens of fellow transplants tonight at the Professionals of Color Business & Social Networking Group New to Boston event. This informal gathering will take place at Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen, located at 604 Columbus Ave. from 6pm-8pm. Tip: arrive early to get half off appetizers.

This April the John P. Holland School will be celebrating Real Men Read Day. They are in need of 20 men to participate in Real Men Read Day, scheduled for Thursday, April 12, 2012 from 8:00 – 11:00AM. If you would like to help shape the lives of our students in a positive way please respond to Miss Jean-Baptiste at cbaptiste@cityyear.org.

The day starts off with breakfast with other participants and welcome from the school administrators. Roughly half an hour will be dedicated to sharing with a class your profession and a children’s book you love to read. Read more after the break on the program and the school.

Real Men Read is a program that grew out of the Chicago Public School system, which brings men into classrooms to read to students. Real Men Read has a four-fold purpose:

1. To show students who real men are, and that real men do in fact read and that real men value education.
2. To encourage and improve literacy skills of our students.
3. To provide mentoring opportunities for men with students.
4. To demonstrate the importance of student achievement and community partnerships.

The Holland School is a diverse elementary school located in Dorchester. We service over 700 students from across the city of Boston. Here at the Holland we are constantly working to strengthen the whole child.

Who can be a MENtor?
Men of all walks of life can be mentors. Doctors, janitors, bankers, firemen, educators, and postmen are all readers. We believe that you are a REAL MAN who can impact the lives of our students in a positive way.
As a member of our community you know that the success of our students directly impacts the success of our community. Therefore, we must work together to ensure that the children of Boston and of our community are successful.

The Black Community Information Center will hold a press conference on Thursday March 22, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.
at Boston Police Headquarters, One Schroeder Place, Roxbury. For More Information Contact BCIC at 617-427-2522.