Exposing the social norms, policies and systems that contribute to health inequities in Black America. Our mission is to report the facts and offer solutions to eliminate race-based disparities and achieve health equity. The conversation is led by Pastor George F Nicholas the Senior pastor of Lincoln Memorial United Methodist Church and Chairman of the Buffalo Center for Health Equity.
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Ep. 7 This Indigenous Peoples' Day, we are exploring an important perspective from the Seneca Nation on the ongoing struggles for justice and equitable treatment, issues deeply rooted in historical injustices.
Pastor George sits down with Samantha Nephew to discuss Native American affairs in Western New York, including the recent dispute between New York State and the Seneca Nation over casino revenue sharing.
Samantha is an active member of the Seneca Nation of Indians (Deer Clan) serving as an advocate for health equity in Western New York. Instagram @healthcareeducation
Generational Trauma: Its Legacy and Impact
The episode opens by addressing the generational trauma that deeply affects Indigenous communities.
Samantha Nephew shares a powerful story of her great-grandmother, a Deer Clan member who was forced into a residential school. 🏫 She was punished for speaking her native language, underscoring how colonial systems sought to erase Indigenous identities.
This trauma echoes through generations, showing up in mental health challenges and struggles to preserve culture. The importance of truth-telling for healing is emphasized throughout the episode, reminding us that confronting the past is crucial for moving toward reconciliation. 💬
🎰 Governance Disputes: The Seneca Nation vs. New York State
The podcast also dives into the financial disputes between the Seneca Nation and New York State, specifically around the gaming compact that has fueled ongoing tension:
The Issue: New York demanded revenue payments from the Seneca Nation’s casinos, which led to a financial freeze of the Seneca Nation’s bank accounts in early 2022. This action was seen by many as a modern form of colonial domination. 🏦
The Impact: The freeze disrupted the livelihoods of many Seneca Nation members and deepened mistrust. Pastor G from the podcast reflects, “No matter what you make out of that, it’ll never be a fair and equitable exchange for what was done to native people.”
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Rejecting Generational Trauma and Reimagining Black Neighborhoods for Economic Self-Sufficiency
Season 2 · Episode 32
Friday, February 23, 2024 • Duration 49:04
Ep. 32 Pastor George Nicholas and Dr. Henry Taylor discuss their plan to transform Buffalo's Black east side. This episode explores the concept of a neighborly community built on principles of solidarity, community governance, shared ownership, cooperative economics, and community wealth.
We must own and control the land on which we are building our community." - Dr. Henry Lewis Taylor
Dr. Henry Taylor is a University at Buffalo faculty expert on urban issues and social, racial and economic justice. He directs the Center for Urban Studies at UB.
With an unwavering commitment to systemic transformation, Dr. Taylor elucidates the principles of creating a prosperous and equitable community framework. He ardently speaks on the imperative of governing at the neighborhood level, advocating for shared ownership, and establishing community wealth over individual wealth.
This episode is a beacon for those seeking actionable insight into catalyzing positive change within Black communities.
GET ACTIVE!
Register for the Event: How to Change the Black Eastside Monday, Feb 26th 6pm at Jacobs School of Medicine, 955 Main Street, Buffalo, NY
Read the Report Changing the Black East Side: Pilot Initiative Will Tackle Social Determinants of Health - Community Health Equity Research Institute - University at Buffalo
End Gun Violence Event: Thursday, February 29 10am-1pm Erie County Medical Center Smith Auditorium 462 Grider St., Buffalo, NY
Key Episode Takeaways:
Shared Community Governance: Dr. Taylor emphasizes the significance of collective action and self-determination within neighborhoods through elected local bodies that represent community interests.
Comprehensive Planning: Effective transformation necessitates identifying issues and systematically addressing them in unity, ensuring all community members are involved in decision-making.
Ownership of Land: Securing control over the land on which communities are built is paramount to fortifying neighborhoods against exploitative market dynamics and gentrification.
Economic Self-Sufficiency: The development of cooperative businesses and social enterprises enables communities to retain economic resources and foster community wealth.
Health Equity and Infrastructure: The fixture of existing housing conditions is a pathway to addressing health disparities endemic within the black community on Buffalo's East Side.
Chapters:
0:00:00 Intro: The challenges of liberating black communities.
0:00:43 Need for black communities to take action and read Dr. Henry Lewis Taylor's report.
0:03:28 Dr. Henry Lewis Taylor discusses the condition of black communities and paths to improvement.
0:04:28 Historical pattern of Black people living in undesirable neighborhoods
0:06:00 Dr. Taylor challenges the narrative that white people don't want to live next to black communities
0:08:20 Community built on solidarity, self-governance, and shared ownership.
0:14:53 Pastor George highlights the existence of homeowner associations in wealthy neighborhoods.
0:16:09 The American way perpetuates disparities and mass incarceration.
0:20:03 The importance of cooperative ownership and community wealth.
0:22:39 The focus on fixing existing rental housing and community control.
0:23:55 The impact of dilapidated housing on health and the need for comprehensive planning.
0:29:30 The undervaluation of land in Black communities and market dynamics.
0:33:58 Job training for community members is essential for neighborhood improvements.
0:36:17 Utilizing creative tools like payments in lieu of taxes to lower costs.
0:38:24 Median household income for black Americans is lower than other racialized groups.
0:39:00 Community conversation on February 26 to discuss the comprehensive plan.
0:41:16 Demonstrating proof of concept and seeking broad support for the plan.
0:43:29 Rejecting the notion that black people cannot control their own destiny.
0:46:16 Invitation to join the conversation at the Jacob School of Medicine.
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Big Tobacco: Profit over People. A Raw Discussion with Stan Martin
Episode 23
Saturday, March 11, 2023 • Duration 21:33
Ep. 23 Stan Martin joins Pastor George to address the leading cause of death among Black American adults. There is a concerted plan to destroy us. We need to be diligent about supporting policy that support us. Tobacco is responsible for deaths needs to held responsible. Big tobacco places profit over people. WE must place public health over Tobacco.
Big Tobacco is the villain, and we cannot allow them to divide us. It’s time for it to stop. It is our intention to bring truth and awareness where there is division…provide healing. Expose the actors outside of our community that try to manipulate the hearts and minds of our leaders. "Stop carrying the water” that provides sickness.
Stan Martin, MM is the Buffalo Office Director for Cicatelli Associates Inc.
He possesses over 20 years of experience in program planning, coordination and implementation of community initiatives focused on tobacco
control, chronic disease prevention, healthy eating, nutrition, optimal adolescent health, and vaccine hesitancy in historic oppressed populations.
Stats and facts
In the last 12 months 40000 have be lost as a result in cigarette smoking
Menthol cigarettes, more flavorful, more addictive... marketed to the African American community.
Kills more ppl than car accidents, suicide, and AIDS combined. Cancer related deaths are preventable.
New legislation
New York Governor Hochul Proposal to Ban the Sale of All Flavored tobacco Products, Including Menthol, https://www.health.ny.gov/press/releases/2023/2023-02-09_flavored_tobacco_products.htm
Both sides of the issue
Con
Sale and distribution of menthol would criminalize smokers and increase negative encounters with ppl and community.
Black market for menthol cigarette
Pro
African Americans are more vulnerable to health-related diseases connected to smoking menthol and other flavored tobacco product…this legislation will set a boundaries, restricting the ability of big tobacco from targeting the next generation.
Resources
Referencing paraphrased quote… If you are not gonna target youth, you will be out of business…https://www.lakecountyil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2809/Tobaccos-Target---YOU-PDF?bidId=
NYS smoker quit line- 1 866 NY quits, https://www.nysmokefree.com/
About the Guest
Stan Martin Project Director / Senior Trainer Ciatelli Associates,
smartin@caiglobal.org
Throughout his decade of service with CAI, he has held several key leadership positions, which promote health and wellness, facilitation of youth-community led initiatives including HOPE Buffalo, REACH Buffalo & Advancing Tobacco Free Communities.
Mr. Martin has expertise in building the capacity of community stakeholders to address the social determinants of health, utilization of Community Based Participatory Research, Collective Impact and Population-Based Health strategies that promote systemic and policy change at every level of the socio-ecological model, which lead to the transformation of social norms.
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Black Mamas: A Call For Safe and Equitable Maternal Health with Danise Wilson
Episode 22
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 • Duration 31:05
Ep. 22 The need for Black maternal health care has never been more pressing. According to the CDC, in New York City alone, Black women are nine times more likely to die of a pregnancy-related cause than white women, and their rate of infant mortality is more than three times higher.
In this episode Pastor George Nicholas is joined by Danise Wilson, Executive Director of the Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center to discuss how Doula services can help and how you can attend a free conference offering tons of resources for Black Mamas.
Danise, had a heart attack days after giving birth and she continues to have health problems years later because she was not heard.
More than a hot topic, this crisis impacts black moms and babies we must be intentional in our efforts in mitigate the negative outcomes.
ABOUT THE GUEST
Danise Wilson, MPH Executive Director of the Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center. Erie Niagara AHEC is dedicated to creating a diverse healthcare workforce and well-informed community. Our educational programs address community health issues such as maternal health, opioid use, and health literacy.
Learn more at https://www.erieniagaraahec.org/
RESOURCES
J. Marion Sims, American Physician/Surgeon
A fresh look at the historical record
What are the benefits of having a doula?
A doula is a professional labor assistant who provides physical and emotional support to you and your partner during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.
Are you a Medicaid-eligible Black or Brown mother in Erie county? Would you like doula services to help you through your prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum journey at no charge? Please contact mackley@erieniagaraahec.org
Erie Niagara AHEC Mother-Doula Program Enrollment Form
EVENT: Black Mama: A Call for Safe & Equitable Maternal Health
February 22 in Buffalo, NY
This free mini conference will focus on Black maternal health with an emphasis on post-partum care.
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”He’s My Brother, Not an Inmate”: How to Help a Loved One Re-enter Society After Incarceration
Season 1 · Episode 21
Friday, February 3, 2023 • Duration 31:30
Ep. 21 The Buffalo Center for Health Equity partners with the Future Hope Apprenticeship and Recovery Program to support people who were incarcerated and help them cope with the many difficult aspects of successful reintegration into the community.
Our mission is to provide valuable job opportunities in the construction trade, along with life-skills, education and job readiness training for a sustainable future.
Key training areas include: carpentry, painting, drywall, taping, and roofing.
Resources:
www.futurehopeapprenticeship.org
www.buffalohealthequity.org
Future Hope Apprentice was established in order to provide re-entry assistance for ex-offenders on a permanent basis. The primary clients are male and female youth offenders and ex-offenders who are in the process of reintegration into their communities. Graduates from a full year of the FHAP will be fully qualified for formal apprenticeship programs in the building trade unions, leading to union membership and permanent jobs.
Reverend Emanuel Hutcherson, leads the staff and volunteers of FHAP which includes psychologists, licensed substance abuse counselors, government and service agencies in the State of Massachusetts. This is a project that is both inspired and run by the community it serves.
Reverend Emanuel L. Hutcherson is a native from upstate Buffalo New York.
He is the Executive Director of Prison Prevention Ministry / Founder of
Future Hope Apprenticeship & Recovery Program Inc. and D.Y.S. mentor program.
He’s a formal Chaplain for Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department house of Correction. He completed his leadership ministerial education at Greater Love Tabernacle Church and Gordon Cornwell Theological Seminary.
He strives for reconciliation between returning citizens and today’s society, by integrating values health wellness, recovery, mentoring, spirituality with economic development.
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Rev. Heber Brown: How the Black Church Can Solve Food Insecurities
Friday, September 16, 2022 • Duration 34:39
Episode 20 The 2022 Igniting Hope Podcast featured speaker Reverend Dr. Heber Brown, III is empowering the black community to take control of their food security.
In this episode, you will learn:
1. How did African Americans gain control of the food supply chain in the past, and how can this knowledge be used to create a more equitable food system in the present?
2. What is the connection between the African American church and food security?
3. How can a focus on the spiritual aspects of food justice help to create a more sustainable and equitable food system?
Reverend Dr. Heber Brown, III is a pastor and founder of the Black Church Food Security Network. He travels around the country advocating for food security within the African American community. He visited Buffalo, New York and was disturbed by the lack of access to healthy food for many within the city. He attributes this to a lack of control and agency within the community when it comes to food. He believes that the African American community must begin to look to the black church as a key source of empowerment when it comes to food. The black church has a
In this episode, Pastor George and Rev. Brown tackle the following issues
How do we break the cycle/How do we care for ourselves
Face the reality that we do not have control of our own food environment…we cannot feed
ourselves
Ask where do we have control? One of those places is the Black church. We can begin to control
our food environment in the place where we already have some control agency and resource.
How did we get here…we did not ask for an abundance of liquor stores, fast food in our
community…we didn’t put them there…we don’t own anything
How we can shift the current trajectory
Create spaces for deep study and analysis to see how we got here
Determine the ways that we are complicit to sustaining the current arrangement
Explore to see examples of better and different to reimagine spaces
Adapting a new mindset
Understand that there is a connection to disease and what we put in our bodies
Stop lamenting about what’s above our head and focus on the things that are at the top!
Tap into more than just the social political aspect of food insecurity…tap into a source a stream
and power greater than to break the ties of bondage
Allow God to release in us what he has already to deposited in you
Resources:
Where Have All the Prophets Gone: Reclaiming Prophetic Preaching in America by
Marvin McMickle
The Practice of Prophetic Imagination: Preaching an Emancipating Word by Walter Brueggemann
Exodus 4:2 Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.
Women with the issue of blood
Mark 5:34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, healed of your disease.”
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Mother of Buffalo Mass Shooting Victim Speaks Out and Fights Back
Season 1 · Episode 19
Monday, August 1, 2022 • Duration 38:38
Episode 19 Zaneta Everhart's son Zaire Goodman was shot by a domestic terrorist on May 14th 2022 during the White Supremacist attack at the Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, New York. He survived, but has a bullet wound that went through his neck and out his back. Everhart has become an advocate for gun violence prevention since the shooting. She believes that the root causes of gun violence, such as poverty and lack of education, need to be addressed in order to prevent future shootings.
"I've always felt that I was a servant of the community and for the community, but now I know that service has been elevated, and I'm here to do the work, because what happened to Zaire is a unique situation." - Zeneta Everhart
In this heartfelt episode we discuss
1. How easy it is for people to access guns in America
2. Staggering statistics showing how gun violence disproportionately affects Black men
3. The connection between gun violence and social economic factors
4. What policy changes can impact the root causes of gun violence
Zeneta Everhart is the Director of Diversity & Inclusion for New York Senator Tim Kennedy's office; where her focus is on ensuring equity through legislation, community building, and the equitable distribution of resources.
She is a passionate advocate for policy change to address the root causes of gun violence and help keep communities safe.
After Zaire Goodman survived the Tops Markets massacre, he and his mother, Zeneta Everhart, started a book drive to gather children's books about racism and diversity.
Zeneta & Zaire's Book Club collected close to 10,000 books donated from around the country. The books will be held at Villa Maria College and distributed to schools and community centers.
Resources:
Zeneta & Zaire's Book Club Wish List https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2QT7QPH0XGSS6
Book referenced by Pastor George -
"The 2nd Amendment: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America by Caroyn Anderson
Movie
Michael Moore's documentary "Bowling for Columbine"
Other episodes you'll enjoy
Black Mamas: A Call For Safe and Equitable Maternal Health with Danise Wilson
Buffalo Massacre: Politically or Racially Motivated? with Dr. Henry Taylor
Food Apartheid on Buffalo’s Eastside with Rita Hubbard-Robinson
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Why Inclusion in Medical Science is Critical for Black Communities
Sunday, July 24, 2022 • Duration 39:18
Episode 18 If you're interested in health equity, the Igniting Hope Conference is for you. Learn about the work of Dr. Jamal Williams and how to take effective action to improve health outcomes and increase inclusion in medical research.
In this episode you will learn:
1. How exclusion from medical research can impact treatment and resources for chronic diseases among black Americans
2. The importance of inclusivity in medical research in order to create accurate conclusions
3. How Igniting Hope Conference served as a catalyst for one young black scholar to get involved in medical research.
"I think we really have to get activated in science and medicine. And we can't stand on the sidelines any longer and point to historical situations where we were abused, or we were taken advantage of."
Dr. Jamal Williams is a postdoctoral fellow in neurogenetics at UCLA. He earned his PhD in neuroscience from the University at Buffalo, where he became interested in science as a way to address the issues of health disparities he observed growing up in Buffalo's Eastside. Dr. Williams has spoken about the importance of inclusion in science and medicine, both in terms of research subjects and researchers themselves, in order to address the disparities in health outcomes between black and white Americans.
This is Dr. Jamal Williams's story...
I'm Dr. Jamal Williams, and I'm a scholar who was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. I attended public school here and then went on to earn my PhD in public health from the University of Buffalo. Today, I work at UCLA in Los Angeles, but I'll never forget the impact that the Igniting Hope Conference had on my journey. The conference was created to bring awareness to health disparities within the African American community, and it did just that. I was blown away by the passion and commitment of the speakers to tackling these issues head on. After attending the conference, I reflected on how I could use my own career to make a difference. I realized that I could use my skills in science to help dispel myths about mental health disorders and to work towards.
Key Takeaways:
People of African descent have the most genetically diverse genome of anybody else in the world. They are still vastly underrepresented in genetic screening and medical research.
In 2022, non-European representation in genome wide association studies only makes up about 2.5%. Europeans make up only about 16% of the world's population. There are 16 billion people in Africa, 13 billion in India, and 14 billion in China.
Dr Williams is concerned about the poor performance of African American children in math and science in Buffalo Public Schools. He believes that students need to work twice as hard to achieve the same level of achievement as their white counterparts.
Resources:
Register for the Free 2022 Igniting Hope Conference August 12th and 13th at www.BuffaloHealthEquity.org
Learn more about Dr. Jamal Williams and his podcast Reclaim the Bench podcast, highlighting unsung heroes in science and medicine at www.jamalbwilliams.com
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Good Grief Healing with Troia Butcher
Friday, July 8, 2022 • Duration 35:36
Episode 17 Have you ever just stopped on the street to feel the wind on your face or the sun on your skin? These simple mindfulness practices are often overlooked but can really be beneficial to people who are dealing with trauma and grief.
In this episode Pastor George is joined by grief coach Troia Butcher who came from Pennsylvania to Buffalo, NY to help the community find a practical path from
loss to recovery, enabling them to become whole in order to fulfill their purpose.
ABOUT THE GUEST
Troia has spent a lifetime committed to the service of others. An 8-year veteran of the U.S. Army and an Ordained Minister, Troia brings an empathetic approach to grief and loss. She is a certified Grief Counselor, as well as a certified Life Coach. Currently, Troia is pursuing a master’s degree in Thanatology (study of death, dying, and grief). She
holds an M.S. in Project Management and a B.S. in Criminology.
Troia has used her life experiences and her education to develop a unique approach to
empowering others through their grief and loss journey.
Contact Information
hello@gghealing.org
www.gghealing.org
Join Pastor George and other community members at the annual Igniting Hope Conference: Breaking Barriers, Maintaining Resilience and Reconstructing a Community of Care.
August 13th 8am - 3pm at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Science on the University at Buffalo Campus.
Register for this free event at www.BuffaloHealthEquity.org
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The Miseducation of Juneteenth with Ras Jomo, Buffalo NY
Friday, June 24, 2022 • Duration 38:10
Episode 16 The 47th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Buffalo, NY has been welcoming people from all over the country to celebrate long before June 19th was recognized as a National Holiday. Ras Jomo, the Executive Vice President for Juneteenth Festival, says, “I think there’s a whole lot of room, opportunity, and solidarity for Buffalo to show the world again why we’re a leading city in this country and in this time.”
This year's festival may be the most important one yet because it comes a month after 10 innocent people lost their lives in a racially motivated mass shooting at the Tops on Jefferson Avenue.
Juneteenth is the celebration of the end of slavery in the United States, and yet here we are still fighting for our freedom to live in peace as Black people in America.
"Our liberation does not pose a threat to your existence" - Pastor George
Hosted by Pastor George, chair of the Buffalo Center for Health Equity
www.BuffaloHealthEquity.org
Produced by JazzCast Pros www.JazzCastPros.com
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