The purpose of Beyond October is to talk about issues as it relates to YOUR specific experience with Cancer. Living with Cancer takes tons of strength and a woman’s experience with cancer is not only a physical journey, it’s a spiritual journey as well. Cancer is a disease that has various effects on Women and will touch each person, each family, each community, and each heart differently.

The panel will consist of women with a broad range of experiences as indicated:

Sherlean Lee, Sister Network (breast cancer survivor)

Jennie Joseph, Midwife (gynecologic perspective)

Kia Riddick-Taylor, (ovarian cancer survivor)

Lucille O’Neal, LO & Associates, Inc. (caretaker supporter)

Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Florida (partner)

American Cancer Society (partner)

Denise Mose, DYM Beauty (Facilitator)

Thank you so very much for helping CeCe Cole Ministries International, Inc. break the silence…Cancer is Beyond October it’s 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at womenofvision@cececole.org

You are invited to attend the viewing of "Bringin' in Da Spirit" by Rhonda Haynes, narrated by Phylicia Rashad, a documentary presenting the history, challenges and triumphs of African-American midwives in America. The film will be moderated by Jennie Joseph, midwife and executive director of Commonsense Childbirth, Inc.

A presentation and panel discussion on Black Infant Health will follow the documentary.

Documentary Viewing and Panel Discussion
Friday, November 7th – 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tallahassee Community College
Economic & Workforce Development Center, Room 105
444 Appleyard Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32304

Refreshments provided by Capital Area Healthy Start. CEUs will be provided to nurses.

For more information contact Peggy Reinhardt at (850) 606-8110 or Peggy_Reinhardt@doh.state.fl.us or Thometta Cozart at (850) 245-4444, ext. 2035 or Thometta_Cozart@doh.state.fl.us.

November is Prematurity Awareness Month!

Contact: Liz Poston 386-481-2990

On June 18th, the Bethune-Cookman University School of Nursing will join with midwife Jennie Joseph to bring her campaign for healthy babies to Volusia County. The community education event will address growing concerns about black infant health in the state of Florida, specifically the high infant mortality rates in the black community.

The event will include a viewing of "Bringin' in Da Spirit," a documentary chronicling the history of African-American midwives and their contribution to the health of communities across the nation narrated by actress Phylicia Rashad. The film will be followed by a presentation and discussion of the state of black infant health in Central Florida.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place on Wednesday, June 18 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Bethune-Cookman University School of Nursing, Lucille O’Neal Lecture Hall, 739 W. International Speedway Boulevard, Daytona Beach. Individuals interested in attending the event can call 407-654-9900 for more information.

A worthy cause - did you know that African American women receiving prenatal care at The Birth Place birthing center in 2007 had no premature or low-birth weight babies? The average baby weighed 7lbs 7ozs and was born around the 39th week of pregnancy. Nationally Black women have twice as many babies born too soon, too small and too sick to survive their first year of life as White babies. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE THIS WORK. Read on...

Dear Friends and Supporters:

The Mission of My Sister My Friend Inc. is to positively impact the building and restoring of lives through mentoring, supporting community programs and empowering men, women and children. The members of this organization represent eleven different organizations; however, it is with such support of yours that My Sister – My Friend, Inc. will help individuals that otherwise feel they have no one else to turn to in times of despair.

Breakfast Symposium

'Saving Our Babies - The JJ Way' has called together leaders in the government, health, social service and faith communities for a breakfast symposium to be held on Friday April 11, 2008. The keynote speaker for this event, Dr. Charles Mahan, is Dean and Professor Emeritus at the College of Public Health and The Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies at the University of South Florida. Hosted by Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, the meeting will focus on sharing the facts and shaping solutions in a collaborative effort to end this runaway racial disparity. "Our combined strengths and efforts will prevail as we move forward with an agenda to improve the health of all members of our community, particularly our most vulnerable and needy populations, with this sincere effort to prevent infant deaths" states Joseph.

• Download the full press release

Continue reading...

The Orlando Zeta chapter kindly threw a wonderful baby shower for our Moms in June 2007. Everyone had a great time. Many thanks to the Zeta sorority for their kind support and their mission to prevent prematurity.

You can see plenty more photos from this wonderful event in the photo gallery over on The Birth Place site.

NEW!The Birth Place to Host December Baby Shower

The Birth Place birthing center is set to host it's second annual Christmas Baby Shower, December 15, 2007 at Pine Hills Community Center. We welcome your donations of new, unisex baby clothing and items, diapers and of course cash! With your help we can provide our local Moms a helping hand to welcome their new baby into the family. For more information call 407 656 6938 or email jennie@commonsensechildbirth.org. Thank you!