2008 Projects

Carolina Community Network
2008 Community Grants Recipients

• B.A.P. Caps^TM –Brothers Against Prostate Cancer Awareness Program in Caswell and Northampton Counties—The Black Men’s Health Initiative
  Contact: William Robinson at Blackmhi@aol.com

  Network Partner: The Black Men’s Health Initiative (BMHI) was chartered as a non-profit corporation in South Carolina in March 2005 as a vehicle to educate African American men and men of the African Diaspora about the risks and complications of chronic disease. The (BMHI) is focused on community competent prevention education and innovative interventions that have direct results in lowering risk and improving the health status of Black men. The BMHI couples lightheartedness and humor with a direct and frank approach to unite Black men around health concerns. BMHI has targeted ten (10) states in the Southeast region that include Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas for its signature programs that address prostate cancer, hypertension via nutrition, and physical activity.
  
  Project Description: B.A.P. CapsTM – Brothers Against Prostate Cancer Awareness Program - this barbershop-based initiative will bring prostate health, screening and treatment information to a hard-to-reach segment of the population in Caswell and Northampton counties by offering a free culturally appropriate incentive item (baseball cap) and providing materials in a non-traditional setting. B.A.P. CapsTM will expand the number of Black men that are informed decision-makers with regard to their prostate health and help to reduce cancer amongst African American adults, improve utilization of an innovative intervention, increase community knowledge and potentially increase Black male participation in clinical trials.

• "Breaking Free!" – Breast Cancer Awareness for Black Beauties—Crossworks, Inc.
  Contact: Debra Long at dlongrd@hotmail.com

  Network Partner: Crossworks, Inc. established in 1999 is a 501c3, faith-based nonprofit organization. Its mission is to prevent, reduce, or eliminate chronic diseases and health disparities through nutrition and health education, community outreach, and screening services. Crossworks, Inc. serves individuals of all ages, genders, and racial backgrounds living in Nash Edgecombe, Halifax, Wilson, Northampton, and the surrounding counties in North Carolina. The purpose of Crossworks, Inc. is to provide a comprehensive array of community-based nutrition services designed to alleviate the human suffering of chronic disease, malnutrition, and hunger among people living the service area.
  
  Project Description: This project will educate African American women, ages 25 and older on the importance of regular breast self-exams, having routine clinical exams and mammograms. This project will be based in the community, targeting both individuals and groups, networking through local Nash and Edgecombe county beauty salons and other venues that serve predominantly African American women in an effort to promote breast cancer awareness and prevention. Ten beauty consultants and other lay people will be trained in effective methods of sharing breast health information with their clientele and peers and making proper referrals to local health care providers.

• Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation Health and Demographics Census–Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation
  Contact: Vivette Jeffries-Logan at vivej@embarqmail.com

  Network Partner: The Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation (OBSN) was incorporated January 16, 1985 (NC General Statue 55A), under the name of the Eno-Occaneechi Indian Association, to preserve the Indigenous Heritage in the community and to transfer historical knowledge to the community’s youth. In 1995, the Tribal Council amended the name of the organization to The Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation to reflect historical records more accurately; the OBSN received Federal 501(c)3 status in 1996. Over the last two decades, we have undergone a cultural resurgence, resulting in the renewal of our native language, initiation of the Homeland Preservation Project, and hosting of the 2007 Annual Occaneechi-Saponi Pow Wow on our newly purchased tribal grounds. Due to this resurgence, tribal enrollment continues to grow each day. The Territory of the OBSN includes, but is not limited to: Orange, Alamance and Caswell Counties in North Carolina for the purpose of delivering Federal and State Indian Services, concentrating its delivery of services to the people in the Pleasant Grove, Mebane Oaks, Anderson, and Cedar Grove townships.
  
  Project Description: North Carolina has the largest American Indian population east of the Mississippi River (approximately 110,000). In 2002, NC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survery (BRFSS) over sampled American Indian communities with larger tribal enrollments. Therefore, no baseline data exist for smaller but equally important tribes (e.g. Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation). The OBSN Health Circle, created in December 2007, is currently designing and planning implementation of a Health and Demographics Census of enrolled adult tribal members. This project will assess cancer prevalence, risk factors, and cultural buffers because knowing what diseases affect our community will assist in the restoration of balance to our People (Yesah).

• Roanoke Salem Prostate Cancer Initiative—Roanoke Salem Outreach and Development Corporation
  Contact: Rev. Robert Sessoms at roanoakesalempci@gmail.com

  Network Partner: The Roanoke Salem Prostate Cancer Initiative (RSPCI) is a faith-based organization whose mission is to decrease the number of deaths caused by prostate cancer by educating African American males in Northampton County on prostate cancer. RSPCI will focus on increasing knowledge and awareness on the prevention, treatment, and early detection of prostate cancer by having yearly Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screenings. RSCPI also seeks to improve awareness of the availability of a support group network for those at risk of or with prostate cancer. By utilizing educational activities, workshops and roundtable discussions, and community health fairs, RSPCI targets African American males, age 40 and above or with a family history of prostate cancer, in Northampton County. RSPCI anticipates future educational endeavors in Halifax, Edgecombe and Nash Counties.
  
  Project Description: The RSPCI seeks to significantly decrease the number of deaths of African American males due to prostate cancer in Northampton County. RSPCI will accomplish this by providing monthly workshops, roundtable discussions, support groups and community health fairs, facilitated by qualified area health care professionals and community leaders. It is the goal of RSPCI to increase the education and understanding on the prevention, early detection screening, and treatment to a level that will evoke a change in perceptions and behaviors, causing African American males to actively participate in the prevention, screening for, and treatment of prostate cancer.

• Rural Health Group Lay Health Advisor Program—Rural Health Group
  Contact: Netha Taylor at netha.taylor@rhgnc.org

  Network Partner: The mission of the Rural Health Group, Inc. is "to offer excellent quality primary care and health education to every individual in our community while providing this care in a culturally sensitive, professional and compassionate manner with special emphasis on reaching the underserved." The organization's service area includes Halifax, Northampton and parts of Warren Counties in eastern North Carolina, all of which are considered Tier One (economically deprived) counties. Division conducts outreach programs including Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Avon Foundation Breast Care Awareness, BCCCP breast and cervical cancer screening, Ryan White Program, Health Outreach and Patient Education (HOPE) diabetes and nutrition education programs and most recently, the Lay Health Advisor Program made possible by the Carolina Community Network.
  
  Project Description: The Health Education Division of the Rural Health Group, Inc. will create a comprehensive cancer education and outreach program to increase prostate health education and awareness and clinical screening among African American males by adding a prostate cancer prevention component to an existing health disparities initiative in Halifax, Northampton and Warren Counties. The project will provide prostate cancer education to 1200 African American and Native American males and will target underserved families.

• The African-American Prostate Cancer Support Group Pilot Project for Orange County—Cornucopia House Cancer Support Center
  Contact: Joy Bryde at chsupport@mindspring.com

  Network Partner:Established in 1996 and based in Chapel Hill, NC, Cornucopia House Cancer Support Center (CH) is a community-based, nonprofit organization that offers a supportive atmosphere where anyone touched by cancer can gather to share and receive free support, resources and education to live life to the fullest. CH believes in returning some of the control cancer takes away, and that the support and well being of a cancer patient’s loved ones is vital to their quality of life. CH programs are provided free of charge to people with cancer, their families, and caregivers primarily from the four counties of Orange, Chatham, Durham and Wake. The program’s complement and enhance the services of three hospital-based cancer centers in the Research Triangle region of central NC by serving as an adjunct to traditional medical treatment. Many participants are referred to CH by a member of their hospital-based treatment team, and the supportive effects of CH are magnified by the fact that 50% of the staff are cancer survivors themselves.
  
  Project Description: This project is designed to provide education and support services to African-American men living with prostate cancer in Orange County, NC. Based on current experience in Durham County and through partnerships with African-American community leaders in Orange County, we will design and deliver one or more support groups tailored to the cultural needs of the participants. The support groups will be designed to reduce participant stress and increase understanding of living with prostate cancer. As we implement the Orange County program, we will evaluate the performance of the support groups and assess for any changes that need to be made.

• H.E.A.L. (Helping Everyone to Access Life)—Pleasant Grove Refuge Ministries
  Contact: RevLindaT@aol.com

  Network Partner:The mission of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and its Pleasant Grove Refuge Center Ministries is to improve the lives of people residing in the Halifax, Nash, Franklin and Warren County areas in North Carolina through community based intervention projects while partnering with local, state and federal agencies to reduce or eliminate health disparities. The vision of Pleasant Grove Refuge Center Ministries serves as a middle ground between the church and community. Halifax County and our neighboring communities need a place, which would cater to both the spiritual and physical needs of the community. A sense of "community" promotes unity, strength, accomplishments and opportunities to provide a healthier standard of living of all families.
  
  Project Description: The H.E.A.L. (Helping Everyone Access Life) project was initiated by the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and our Pleasant Grove Refuge Center Ministries to address the major health disparities and improve quality of life. The Body & Soul Project will be used to encourage eating a healthy diet along with an active lifestyle to lower our chances of diseases such as breast, prostate and colorectal cancer. The targeted population is geographically located in a rural, isolated community in need; this project, offers access to health promotion services to the community.