Health, Hope & Hip-Hop

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World Cancer Day

Every Day is World Cancer Day

Recently I attended the BagIt Conference with Michele Nadeem-Baker, a journalist who asked me, “What does World Cancer Day mean to you“? And so I told her, “We live in

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jnj’s healthevoices24 + healthhopehiphopfoundation=🔥💪🏾
Homie: Was the #healthevoices24 conference dope?

Me: Nah

Homie: Really?!

Me: Nah….it was the dopest!!!🔥🔥

Let’s gooooo!!
🌟 Just got back from an amazing experience at the HealtheVoices24 Conference, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson! 🌟

Connecting with passionate advocates and thought leaders in the health community was nothing short of inspiring. 💬✨ The breakout sessions were engaging and forward-thinking, packed with real talk on navigating the complexities of health advocacy. Big ups to J&J for keeping it 100 and remembering we’re patients first, not just advocates. The vibe was on point, and they even had an on-site medic to keep us all good! 🙌🏽💉

Now, let’s get into Open Mic Night—it was straight-up OFF THE CHAIN! 🎤🔥 Advocates showed off their amazing talents, reminding us that we’re so much more than our diseases. The energy was electric, and the drag MC was the hostess with the mostess! 👑💖 We had comedians cracking us up, singers bringing down the house, and even a wild scientific demo on how the brain works with the male private part(skeet skeet) —definitely a night to remember! 😂🧠

Plus, we had the honor of having the CEO in the building! This dude’s been leading for 35 years and is the only CEO not born in America! His presence really added to the significance of the event. 🙏🏽✨

Huge shoutout to Johnson & Johnson for hosting such a transformative experience and for their commitment to elevating voices in health advocacy. 🎉👏 Can’t wait to put everything I’ve learned into action and keep pushing for change! #HealtheVoices24 #HealthAdvocacy #Grateful #JohnsonAndJohnson

🌈💪🏽 Let’s keep the convo going! What were your favorite moments? Drop them below! 👇🏽💬
🎉 I had the pleasure to attend the International Myeloma Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Support Group Summit, and I can’t express how well-executed and enjoyable the event was! 🌟 

From the inspiring welcome by Robin Tuohy to the enlightening keynote lecture on the latest advancements in myeloma treatment by Dr. S. Vincent Rajkumar, every moment was filled with learning and connection. The engaging Q&A sessions with experts like Dr. Joseph Mikhael and Teresa Miceli RN BSN OCN provided valuable insights into navigating the myeloma journey. 

One of the highlights was the Leader Panel Discussion, where veteran leaders Thomas Goode, Malcolm Katz, and Sally Weber shared their best practices for success alongside new leaders Terry Glassman and Adrienne & Chad Moore. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn from their experiences and gain fresh perspectives.

Sylvia Dsouza, MPA, IMF VP of Development, emphasized the importance of engaging and partnering with the IMF to ensure that we can continue to build and strengthen our community. Her vision for the future is inspiring, and I left feeling motivated to get involved and support our collective mission.

I also appreciated the sessions on advocacy led by Emma Hatcher, MPH and Michael A. Riotto, which highlighted the crucial role of patient engagement and advocacy in our communities. The deep dives into personalized clinical trial support and the innovative AI tool, Myelo, which is set to revolutionize patient care, were truly eye-opening.

Beyond the educational aspects, the atmosphere was vibrant and supportive, with opportunities to network and share experiences with fellow myeloma warriors. It was truly a celebration of our community and a powerful reminder of the importance of support in our journeys. 

I’m excited to take what I learned back to my own support group and continue advocating for myeloma patients everywhere! 💙 

#IMF25thAnniversary #MyelomaSupport #Community #Empowerment #PatientAdvocacy
HealtheVoices24  Open 🎤 it’s a wrap!

@jnj
She killed it!!!🫰🏽🫰🏽🫰🏽🔥

#HealtheVoices24

@jnj
She sang the dang thing🔥🔥

@HealtheVoices24

@jnj  @ahotms
Another #HealtheVoices24 Open Mic 🎤 performance! Spoken word dopeness!

@jnj
It’s finally here! P.dot57’s official music video for “Gift of Life” featuring the legendary Freeway and rising star Bluskiii has just dropped, and it’s already making waves. The Health, Hope & Hip-Hop Foundation is thrilled to be partnered with P.dot57 to amplify his advocacy and story through this powerful release.

This song is all about strength, faith, and hope, and now the visual captures that energy even more.

“Gift of Life” isn’t just a song—it’s a movement. The heart of this track is about sharing a powerful story of living through kidney disease while waiting on a transplant, and it’s a message of hope to inspire others. They’re pushing to hit a milestone—50,000 registered organ donors by June, as they celebrate 50 years of saving lives. As we speak, they are already at 30,000, and we need everyone’s help to close the gap!

A massive thank you goes out to the dedicated healthcare workers, friends, and supporters who have been by his side during this journey. This video is a gift to the community, and we hope it inspires many.

Big shout-out to Freeway for always lifting others up, and to Bluskiii for being part of this important musical journey.

The visuals for this video are powerful and reflective thanks to the incredible team behind the production. The essence of the story is captured beautifully, and we couldn’t have asked for a better result.

This one’s for Wilmington, DE! From the Westside to the world, we’re making noise and spreading a message of hope and action.

Make sure you watch, share, and comment. Let’s get 50,000 registered organ donors and save lives.

Watch the video now, and let’s keep the momentum going!

#GiftOfLife #OrganDonation #KidneyTransplant #phillyFreeway #Bluskiii #WilmingtonDE #HipHopeHooray #HealthHopeHipHop #StepItUp
It was a honor for the @healthhopehiphop foundation to chill with greatness at #fatbeats NYC 30th Anniversary! Even more so have #Joseph (DJ Jab) Abajian (Founder of @fatbeats) show us love. Cap looks good on you fam!
The @healthhopehiphop foundation team @bx_mssunshine & @thats.mellymel was in the building @fatbeats 30th Anniversary. We appreciate @mc_craig_g showing the foundation ❤️ and Droppin’ Science! His new album is 🔥
🚨 New Podcast Episode Dropped! 🚨

Clinical trials are key to bringing new therapies and cures to the table, but Brown and Black communities are still left out of this life-saving research way too often. The mistrust runs deep—thanks to past misconduct like Tuskegee—and now we’ve got real barriers keeping folks from getting the care they deserve. It's time to change that narrative.

In this episode, I chop it up with Dr. Joseph Mikhael and Yelak Biru, MSc from the International Myeloma Foundation. These two are putting in the work to connect with underserved communities and bring much-needed diversity to clinical trials. It’s a heavy lift, but it's necessary to build a healthier future.

Tune in and catch the real talk on why clinical trials matter and how we can start breaking down the walls of mistrust.

🎧 Listen up and be part of the change!

Link for the full episode in bio

#HealthcareDisparities #ClinicalTrials #HealthEquity #DiversityInResearch #UnderservedCommunities #InternationalMyelomaFoundation #RealTalk #HealthHopeHipHop
Day 1 of this annual event has started off in grand fashion. It continues to amaze me how people from different backgrounds come together to fellowship as #faMMily

#healthhopehiphop #imsteppinup #multiplemyeloma
So much of your health and your future is in your control.

I’m excited to announce our Step It Up campaign! Please don’t forget to share and follow Health, Hope & Hip-Hop on all platforms so we can move the good health needle!

This September, up your health game! Pick a new daily habit, share your progress, and enter to win an incredible hip-hop getaway for two to the 2024 Rolling Loud Miami (December 13-15, 2024).

* Get Moving
* Limit Sugar
* Drink Water
* Be Mindful

Enter the Step It Up Sweepstakes and rack up more entries by sharing on social media, visiting our website, and posting a photo of you Stepping it Up to our Photo Gallery. Use hashtags #imsteppinup & #healthhopehiphop

At the end of the month, you’ll have a new healthy habit, and you could be a winner. We’ll select the sweepstakes winner in a random drawing on November 1, 2024.
If you love hip-hop, you’re gonna love this prize:

VIP Tickets for Two to Rolling Loud Miami with all the fixins’ including:
* 3 Day VIP + Munchie Pack and T-Shirts for 2
* Hotel Accommodations
* Roundtrip Airfare
* Airport Transportation

What are you waiting for? It’s time to Step it Up.

Link in bio
🩺 Men, it's time to talk about something serious! Prostate cancer is no joke, and those dreaded words, "bend over, it's time for your prostate exam," can be intimidating. But it's crucial to stay informed and take charge of your health. 💪🏽

This episode busts myths about prostate cancer, especially in Black men, and highlights the importance of early detection. 🎧 We dive deep into the emotional and mental challenges of dealing with the disease, offering you the knowledge and support you need.

Join our amazing panel:

Dr. Mack Roach III from UCSF, an expert in urologic tumors

Mark Harris, sharing his journey since his diagnosis in 2013

David Fields, offering a candid look at his experience since 2020

These guys open up about their personal battles, the impact on their lives, and the tough choices they've made. This conversation is enlightening, heartfelt, and empowering—encouraging all men to prioritize their health. 💙

Remember, don’t let pride stand in the way of prevention. Get checked, stay informed, and keep the conversation going!

Listen on all major platforms or click link in bio

#ProstateCancer #EarlyDetection #HealthHopeHipHop #HipHopeHooray
Throughout history, black men have been disproportionately affected by systemic racism and discrimination in healthcare, leading to barriers in accessing quality medical care. This has resulted in disparities in health outcomes, with black men experiencing higher rates of chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. 🏥⚖️

Factors such as limited access to insurance, lack of culturally competent care, implicit biases among healthcare providers, and socioeconomic inequities all contribute to the unequal treatment black men receive in the healthcare system. This perpetuates a cycle of poor health outcomes and exacerbates existing health disparities within the black community. 💔

Addressing these disparities requires a multi-faceted approach, including increasing access to affordable healthcare, promoting diversity and cultural competence in the healthcare workforce, and implementing policies that prioritize health equity for all individuals, regardless of race. It is crucial to advocate for change and work towards creating a more equitable healthcare system that provides equitable care for all. ✊🏾 

#HealthcareInjustice #HealthEquityNow #BlackMenHealthMatters #BreakTheBarriers