GATEWAY TO WELLNESS: Healthy Meals, Mind & Motion

African-Americans continue to have a higher rate of chronic medical diseases than other ethic groups. Some causes for this disparity that affect our health may be attributed to genetic make-up and other social determinates, such as food choices, housing and transportation. Many of us may lack the resources needed to address these issues to decrease our risk of developing diseases. However, we must take ownership of the responsibility for addressing our own health needs and be motivated to make changes toward achieving healthier habits and life-styles.

The goal of this symposium is to empower you with the tools to help yourself. We will address healthy nutrition, managing stressors, and physical movement through engaging activities and presentations.

Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Teenagers & The Community

The lack of good nutritional habits, denial that we have stressors in our lives, and the lack of physical movement, will continue to contribute to the development of chronic diseases. This program will offer tips and techniques

to make better choices and motivate you to do what you already know. At the end of the day, we hope that you will leave with inspiration to make a difference in living a healthy life.

Generation Z- Health in the Digital Era. Workshop topics will explore how to be healthy in mind, body and spirit.

Research shows that eating a variety of foods with nutritional value is necessary to maintain a healthy body and mind. Making informed food choices that contribute to healthy life-long eating habits will be the focus of this informative discussion with nutritional specialists. Topics will include tips for planning and preparing balanced and nutritious meals; grocery shopping and decoding facts on food labels; choosing healthy alternatives for saturated fats, salt, and sugar; and bridging the relationship between diet quality and mental health, with physical activity.

Stress is reducing the life expectancy of Americans with African Americans having the highest mortality rate in the country. One of our goals today is to identify and manage stressors through an interactive dialogue with healthcare experts. In addition, one in five Americans are living with some type of mental health condition. More than half of these individuals develop mental health conditions before the age of fourteen. There are no specific tests for mental health illnesses. However, recognizing some common warning signs in adults, adolescents and children can be the first steps to finding treatment options and improving the quality of life for all affected.

We require motion to sustain life. Exercise is important not only for improving our health but also for preventing and reducing the risk of illness. Whether it’s the gentle stretches of yoga, slow focused motion of Tai Chi, static chair exercises or high impact aerobics, they all can improve our quality of life.

Charma D. Dudley, Ph.D. FPPR

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Donnesha Slider, MD 

Board-Certified Adult, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, South Hills Integrated Psychiatric Services, P.C.

Lisa Pietrusza, CRNP

Central Wellness Center 

Monté A. Robinson, LPC, NCC

Individual and Family Counselor, Nuin Center

Steven Evans, MD.,

Immediate Past President, GMS