ORLANDO ­Her reasons for being tremendously involved with two local benevolent organizations while trying to balance a career and mentor her 19 year­-old daughter are quite simple: intuition and common sense.

It was Fifth Third Bank Orlando Magic Maker Monica May's intuition that led her to become extensively involved with the programs Common Sense Childbirth Inc., and consider Your Image, a non­-profit organization she founded herself. And it's common sense that drives her today.

"I know there is a simple way to life," explains May. "If there is an opportunity to help put together a road map for young people, I want to be a part of that."

But May has been more than just a part of children's lives. In her work with Common Sense Childbirth, Inc., May helps to inspire a change in maternal child healthcare. The program empowers mothers (especially young and indigent) to bring healthy babies to term. The model was created by May's close friend, Jennie Joseph, a midwife who specializes in providing prenatal healthcare and nurturing to populations that
typically don't get the proper treatment in traditional health settings.

From tampabay.com. In Print: Monday, February 23, 2009.

WINTER GARDEN - This Central Florida office feels more like a home than a maternity ward, with portraits of glowing mothers-to-be proudly displayed on the walls leading to the "suites." The Van Gogh room has a nighttime feel, with a dark blue couch near a star-designed quilted bed and the Starry Night painting hanging above.

And then there is the birthing stool oddly found in the mix, looking more like a misplaced item in a bedroom.

2009 is off to a great start and I am writing to personally wish you all the very best for this upcoming year. I am excited to announce the launch of my Campaign for Healthier Babies and to invite you to come sail the high seas with us in October - yes, we are going on a CRUISE to The Bahamas! This will be our first annual 'fun'draising cruise and I am looking forward to some much needed down time with my family and yours. Come hang out with us, bring your friends, co-workers and relatives and let's have some fun! Imagine this - cruising can help us raise funds for Commonsense Childbirth, our non-profit program, which provides prenatal care, education and support for uninsured and low income women at The Birth Place. We maintain an 'open door' policy at our Easy Access clinics - no woman will be turned away if she needs help with her pregnancy. More and more women are struggling to find a way to pay for maternity care or are having trouble securing Medicaid. We often see women who are more than 30 weeks advanced in their pregnancy, still waiting for their application to go through and unable to find a practitioner to help them. We also set up Easy Access Clinics in Sanford, Orange City and Daytona last year. Our motto is ''every woman wants a healthy baby and every woman deserves one" the need is great and it is getting worse. We know our program is making a difference - of 245 women who attended our Easy Access clinic at The Birth Place in 2008 only 2% had a premature baby. The average for Orange County is 15% and is even higher for African American women. They say it costs around $37,000 - $50,000 in medical care per preterm baby; this means that we saved the State more than $1 million by helping the other 13% carry their babies to full term. (If you've ever been a patient, you know how hard we work to make sure you can reach us around the clock if you need help). Our recent study proved that my midwifery model, The JJ Way™, is making an impact - I like my babies cute and chunky! Your financial support enables us to continue to offer prenatal care and classes to the most vulnerable women and babies in our community. There are many ways to help us please check the Campaign page. Thank you for caring! Call Kaevon at 407 654 9900 or e-mail her at worldtravelst@aol.com - $50 deposit is due by Februaury 1st to secure your spot. Check out the attachments for more details. See you soon... Jennie

Eartha Kitt Succumbs To Colon Cancer
30-Dec-2008

(BlackDoctor.org) -- Singer, dancer, actress Eartha Kitt, who rose from the South Carolina cotton fields to become an international symbol of elegance and sensuality, has died. Kitt, who was recently treated at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, died on Christmas Day in Connecticut of colon cancer at 81.

The Obama-Biden Plan

On health care reform, the American people are too often offered two extremes -- government-run health care with higher taxes or letting the insurance companies operate without rules. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe both of these extremes are wrong, and that’s why they’ve proposed a plan that strengthens employer coverage, makes insurance companies accountable and ensures patient choice of doctor and care without government interference.

The Obama-Biden plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing health care system, and uses existing providers, doctors, and plans. Under the Obama-Biden plan, patients will be able to make health care decisions with their doctors, instead of being blocked by insurance company bureaucrats.

PushNews from The Big Push for Midwives Campaign

CONTACT: Steff Hedenkamp, (816) 506-4630, RedQuill@kc.rr.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 10, 2008

Midwives Group Applauds American Medical Association’s Statement on Racism
Calls on AMA to Extend Its Apologies to African American Midwives

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 10, 2008)—Breaking 40 years of silence, the American Medical Association (AMA) issued an apology today for its role in ignoring and perpetuating racial disparities in medicine, from discriminatory practices that excluded African American physicians from membership, to the disproportionately poor health outcomes among racial and ethnic minorities.

Gabrielle Finley | Sentinel Staff Writer | April 23, 2008
Read the original article at the Orlando Sentinel

Programs help at-risk moms-to-be, to give children a better chance.

SANFORD - Shanette Lee thought hope was around the corner.

Her life had not been easy. Brushes with the law landed her in prison for a few years.

Then a relationship in New Jersey went sour, causing Lee, 29 and three months pregnant, to head to relatives in Sanford. But things got worse, and Lee ended up at a homeless shelter, rationing the prenatal vitamins she got back in New Jersey.

Global Impact of HIV/AIDS on Women

Of the estimated 39.5 million people living with HIV in 2006, 17.7 million (45%) were women. Women are most severely affected by AIDS in places where heterosexual contact is the dominant mode of transmission. According to the WHO, most women become infected through their partner’s high-risk behavior, which they have little or no control over. Women who are financially dependent on male partners are at a disadvantage in negotiating condom use.

For more information on the global impact of HIV/AIDS on women see the AIDS Epidemic Update, December 2006

Enjoy this podcast as renowned midwife Shafia Monroe taks to Angeique Shofar about midwives and doulas in the African tradition.

http://angeliqueshofar.podbean.com/ 

Health Masters Club is spearheading a Breast Cancer Prevention collaborative effort with interested community stakeholders. Nubian Health Network is invited to join this effort and host a discussion about this October's planned events.

Central Florida is making a stand for women's wellness! I congratulate and offer my full support to the new Healthy Breasts 2020 team under Dr. Moody's competent guidance. We have been promoting preventive health for women at The Birth Place for many years and just recently opened our new Pregnancy and Women's Wellness center at 1130 E. Plant St. Winter Garden, Florida 34787.  We have been providing our clients with breast and full-body thermogramsand have now added women's health screens as well. Please contact our office at (407) 656- 6938 to schedule your thermogram. Check out Healthy Breasts 2020 site and also Dr. Moody's excellent Health Masters program for children.          Jennie