Health Coalition Classes Target African-Americans

That's the idea behind its Critical Mass Health Conductor program, which aims to give African-Americans a way to take back their own health, said Vena Ford, deputy director of programs for the Solano Coalition for Better Health.

"We give them the tools and the foundation and some great ideas on how small changes can make a big impact on their lives," Ford said.

The coalition has scheduled monthly classes on Wednesdays in Vallejo, beginning Feb. 18, and on Saturdays in Fairfield, beginning Feb. 21.

"Harriet Tubman led African-American slaves to freedom, but you have to want to be free to get there," Ford said.

Similarly, people have to want to be healthy in order to become healthy, she said.

The classes focus not just on physical health, but also on overall well-being such as managing stress. "It helps you to think more fluidly," Ford said.

One exercise the group does is measure the exact amount of sugar or fat in a food item and put it in clear plastic bags.

With that visual of how much sugar or fat is going into their bodies, people begin to reconsider their life choices, Ford said.

Those who participate in the training are called "health conductors in training."

"If you look at electricity and you have a conductor, a conductor sort of moves things along," Ford said.

The Solano Coalition for Better Health is hoping these new health conductors will go out and educate their families and their communities as well. The organization hopes to train at least 600 people in the county, who in turn would affect two to three people of their own, Ford said.

"One of the reasons we're targeting African-Americans is because ... we know that our culture sometimes encourages us not to be healthy," she said.

Additionally, African-Americans have some of the poorest health outcomes when compared to other groups, even if their insurance rates are held constant, Ford said.

"We've had some really great success stories in our program," she added.

The Critical Mass Health Conductor program has been in Solano County for about two years. It was established four years ago in Oakland by members of the Bay Area Black United Fund.

Ford, who was trained in Oakland, brought the program here.

The coalition has been around for 21 years and is made up of health providers, county representatives and others who focus on ensuring county residents have adequate access to health care.

For more information or to sign up for the program, contact Kelechi Uwaezuoke at 863-4423 or kuwaezoke@partnershiphp.org.