The Boston Marathon...

Post written by CHC member Daniel Broome

Daniel serves at the American Cancer Society at Stroger Hospital as a Patient Navigator

 

The Bombing of Boston that took place on Monday, April 15^th 2013, at the site of the Marathon finish line was a terrible and heart-wrenching event.  Many of us with friends or family in Boston were relieved to hear the confirmed safety of our loved ones. We also felt the loss of the three victims whose lives were lost in what is usually a monumental celebration of health and determination, the Boston Marathon.

Photo Credit: New York Times

Despite the two explosions, the three fatalities, and the nearly two hundred injured, we still celebrate the champions from Monday. According to the Boston Athletic Association:

17,580 people completed the marathon.

686 people between the ages of 60-69,

27 people between the ages of 70-79,

1 man over the age of 80,

And everyone in a wheelchair and in a hand-cycle completed the 2013 Boston Marathon.

Though much of the coverage of the bombing highlights the explosions and the damage done, today the stories that are being told are of the bystanders who responded immediately to assist and aid the wounded. 

It is unfortunate to see such evil being done to innocent people, but it is inspiring to see what good people are capable of doing when they work together.

 

Photo Credit: The Gaudian

Times like this remind us how public health is involved in every aspect of our lives. It is an overarching umbrella whose mission is to consider the well-being of all people and all that could threaten that well-being. As members of Chicago Health Corps and its sister AmeriCorps program, the Healthy Communities Corps, we are all united by a common altruism, a common spirit and a shared belief that helping people become healthier will make a positive difference in peoples’ lives. In the midst of this tragedy, we stand alongside and honor the runners, their families and all those who rushed to help and celebrate their great endurance, their great achievements, and their great bravery during the Boston Marathon.

We hope to see a record number of participants in the 2014 Boston Marathon!



Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

Post written by CHC member Jenny Carson

Jenny serves at the American Cancer Society Colorectal Cancer Screening Navigator and Health Educator 

In addition to daily service at their host sites, several Chicago Health Corps members have the privilege of mentoring young girls interested in science, technology, engineering and math(STEM) through a local Chicago non-profit, Girls 4 Science.  Girls 4 Science is Chicago’s only all girls' science initiative, partnering with Chicago’s City Colleges on Saturdays to inspire young girls ages 10-18.  As a mentor in the Girls 4 Science program, I have learned first-hand just how important it is to promote STEM among urban youth and get young girls excited about STEM careers. In addition to the efforts of Girls 4 Science, this past March’s National Women’s History Month was dedicated to honoring the contributions of women in STEM fields, inspiring young girls to join the STEM workforce.

Members of the Chicago Health Corps at the Girls 4 Science 

Women History Month Recognition Reception.

Women’s National History Month 2013

Women’s National History Month began in 1978, as more than 100 women gathered in Santa Rosa, California to celebrate women and the contributions they have made in world history.The movement grew, and in 1988, the U.S. Congress officially designated March as Women’s History month.

source: google image search

This past March, we recognized the accomplishments of extraordinary women such as Patricia Era Bath (1942), whose invention of the Laserphaco Probe was an important milestone in laser cataract surgery; Rita R. Colwell (1934), the first woman director of the National Science Foundation; Susan A. Gerbi (1944), a molecular cell biologist whose research was significant in understanding the role of hormones in certain cancers; and Flossie Wong-Staal (1946), a virologist and molecular biologist whose work made it possible to develop HIV screening tests.

“Among the initiatives of this administration to advance gender equality, are efforts to bring more women into science and health care professions. Women who hold STEM degrees and jobs earn 30 percent more on average than women in non-STEM jobs”.– Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

Currently in the United States, only 25% of the STEM workforce is women. However, the future of women in STEM looks bright and is growing! According to the White House Council on Women and Girls, a record number of women are entering the STEM workforce, the number of female faculty at major science research universities is at an all-time high, and more girls in the United States are reporting they seek a career in science than boys their age. A brilliant example of women entering the STEM workforce are our very own Chicago Health Corps service members. Many of the wonderful women in the corps are pursuing careers as doctors, nurses, physician assistants, public health officials, and many other promising careers promoting the future health of our country. 

To learn more about Women’s History month:

• Visit The National Women’s History Project Website
• The Center for Disease Control’s celebration of Women’s History Month and CDC Women Making a Difference
• The White House Council on Women and Girls
• Check out a local organization mentoring the future workforce of women in STEM careers: Girls 4 Science.

March 10^thwas National Women and HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

• Look into the groundbreaking work of the Chicago Women’s AIDS Project
• Learn about the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s Change My Story project

“It’s not the food in your life, it’s the life in your food”- B’Gabs

Post written by CHC Member Thu Nguyen

Thu serves at Respiratory Health Association as an asthma educator

Obesity, in an energy balance perspective, is a result of more energy in than out. Excessive energy in + little energy out = weight gain. The challenge here is that it is so easy to consume energy, and so much more difficult to expend energy. It takes me 15 minutes to chow down on a burger that is around 500 calories. Consequently, I would have to spend at least an hour in the gym to expend that much energy. Therefore, it is pertinent that we make healthy choices when it comes to the food we put in our body. We want to make sure the calories we consume come from foods that are packed with nutrients, vitamins, and fiber that will offer us satiety, and not foods that offer empty calories.

Photo of my burger

Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions with healthy food. Many people think eating healthy is a punishment because they associate healthy food as bland or tasteless. However, after our hard work at Experimental Station last week, some Chicago Health Corps members visited B’Gabs Goodies Raw Vegan Deli for lunch. B’Gabs offer high quality, soy and gluten-free vegan food. It was my first time trying a vegan hamburger, and I was very pleased. B’Gabs lives up to their philosophy by showing that healthy food is indeed flavorful and tasteful. My burger wasn’t a typical burger, but it tasted as delicious as a typical burger. If you’ve never tried vegan food, you are missing out! I guarantee you will physiologically get more for your money!  Whether you choose to eat vegan or not, just remember healthy food does taste good. Visit http://www.eatingwell.com/ for healthy and delicious recipes you can make at home!

Visit B’Gabs Goodies Raw Vegan Deli: http://bgabsgoodies.com/