Healthy Reform in the Community

Building a Healthy Exchange

The African American Leadership Forum's (AALF) Health and Wellness committee is joining the Minneapolis Urban League and TakeActionMNfor an event to ensure you have "voice and choice" on health care exchanges a critical element of Affordable Care Act

What: Building a Healthy Exchange: A Community Conversation about Health Reform in Minnesota, with special guest Commissioner of Commerce Mike Rothman

When: Sunday, March 25th. Registration starts at 2:30pm, meeting is from 3pm to 5pm

Where: Kagin Commons on the campus of Macalester College, 1600 Grand Ave, St. Paul, 55105

Your Roots Matter-taken from Girlosophy 1997

LOVE EVERYTHING IN YOUR PAST. YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT.

Roots....

Where do you come from? What do you stand for?

I thought it was important to repeat this passage in writing because depending on where we are in life we can at times, whether intentional or subconsciously forget.

What and who we are as individuals take shape at our foundation (child development, growing years) but every day with our actions, our thoughts and our words we have the unique opportunity to consistently build upon that structure. The trick then becomes not to transform so high that we forget what or who we may be running from.

How can we do that?

We can accomplish this in part by self-monitoring our gut. We need to self-check often on our journey forward by asking the questions:

What am I casting aside by building "me" __________?

Who am I leaving behind on my quest to be better then my former self?

What am I willing to take with me ?

What Must be identified and eliminated? i.e. dead weight

Who can I reach with my history?

Why now?

Roots Matter : By Anetha Paul

They can make you - or break you.
Make peace with them, whatever they are,and be proud of your heritage, because it's unique.
Nothing, not even the most difficult upbringing or so-called disadvantaged background, need be a barrier to all the best things in life- Friendship, Love and Happiness.

So don't reinvent or cover up your past. Your story is as interesting as anyone else's.

Embrace your own beginnings and you'll find you can embrace the beginnings of others.

Whatever culture or tradition you come from, it is a part of your history and lineage. It is a part of you!

Love everything in your past. Your future depends on it.

TRANSGENDER SUPPORT GROUP(MN)

Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition Support Group





The MN Transgender Health Coalition is offering a Bi-monthly support group for all gender variant folks no matter where they are in their transition. The group will be held on 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month from 5:30-7:00pm at 3405 Chicago Avenue, Suite 103 in Minneapolis.
Please note: You do not have to be on hormones or transitioning to benefit from the support group. If you need information, contact 612-823-1152 or mntranshealth@yahoo.com

Topics to include hormone use, safe syringe use, HIV and Hep C, safer sex, medical referrals, weekly check-in, surgery discussions and name/gender change info.

The Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition is committed to improving health care access and the quality of health care received by trans and gender non-conforming people through education, resources, and advocacy. (taken from website)

Quick Note to you & whoever reads these things anymore - CHANGE IS A COMING....WATCH & SEE's MySpace Blog |

To the Mothers and Fathers,

Take care and love yourself !

Hats off to you, if you have a child or children w/ special needs. Look, being a mother of a child with complex special needs is a constant thrill ride with many up but some devastating lows (trust me).

You have a tough job ahead but if you are a parent or a mom-to be then you already know,how precious life really is and the reward man, the rewards are so much higher.

I want to tell you today that you are a amazing parent and I not only applaud you but I love you for doing what so many other can't or unwilling to even try.

Much Love,

Jamila