My chapter is having a Literary Cafe on May 10th. We're working on firming up a location. When I get that info, I'll update this post & of course make a post in Events.
This isn't the first time it's been done, but it's a signature event for the Arts & Letters Committee. This year's book is
"It's the Little Things: Everyday Interactions that Annoy, Anger & Divide the Races" by Lena Williams. I've mentioned it in passing on Chit Chat, just to see what kind of response I'd get, but I'm making a formal announcement of the event here (gotta pub for the committee
).
In addition to the book discussion, there will be spoken word and art displays as well. The book is an interesting read and has opened my eyes to some things even though I'm only halfway through it.
Another project my chapter and 6 other chapters nation wide (one from each region) are working on is an Alzheimer's Initiative. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has partnered with the
Alzheimer's Association for a three year pilot program to get the word out to Minority comminities, particularly African Americans, about Alzheimer's disease, a form of dimentia. Focus points include learning how to recognize if a loved one has Alzheimer's and the resources available for suffers and their families. I'm the Coordinator of the Initiative for my chapter and I must say it's been very educational and emotional experience for me. My maternal grandmother had Alzheimer's and we suspect my maternal grandfather was in the early stages before he passed.
I know statistics can be biased, but I find this one to be true based on my personal experiences. We had the Multicultural Outreach Coordinator come speak at our March meeting. When she asked who had a relative with Alzimer's or knew someone who had a relative with Alzheimer's, almost every had of the 200 Sorors present went up (highly unlikely we all had the same person in mind). The Alzheimer's Association reports that African Americans are anywhere from 14% to 100% more likely to get Alzheimer's disease than non-Hispanic whites. Also, Hispanics have two and a half times the risk of getting the disease as whites, according to a study conducted by Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons. Although it's not known exactly why, the "generic" risk factors of diet & genetics have not been excluded.
What Atlanta Alumnae has on slate for this initiative is Memory Screening during our annual health fair on April 26th @ Greenbrial Mall. We will be participating in the Alzimer's Association's Memory Walk on October 11th and are encouraging others to do the same.
Consider this a personal invitation from me to any GCer in ATL or the surrounding areas to attend these events.