At NOWINCLUDED, we believe that true health solutions are built on a foundation of understanding and respect for the communities we serve. That’s why we prioritize meeting people where they are, engaging in open dialogue, and learning directly from their lived experiences. Our recent presence at the Soul Food Festival in Dallas was a testament to this commitment.
The conversations we had were both insightful and moving, revealing the diverse ways individuals navigate health challenges and the importance of cultural context in healthcare. Here’s a glimpse into the powerful stories we heard:
Sedona: Empowering the Next Generation in Healthcare
Sedona, a future medical professional, embodies the spirit of change we strive to foster. Her passion for adolescent medicine stems from a deep understanding of the unique health needs of young people. “I’m really interested in that age group specifically,” she shared, “I think it’s such a critical time period in their life as they’re becoming more they’re taking more of an active engagement into their own healthcare decisions.” Sedona’s commitment to empowering youth to make informed choices aligns with our organization’s focus on preventative medicine and health education.
Sedona’s decision to stop by our table was driven by a shared vision. “It really seems to focus a lot on preventative medicine,” she observed, noting the synergy with her own emphasis on “community health and making sure that, like, everybody has access to the resources and the health care that they need.” Her perspective highlights the crucial link between individual health and community well-being.
When asked about her personal definition of “medicine,” Sedona’s response was particularly insightful. “I think, I think my medicine would be just like communication… and maybe education as well. So kind of like sharing the correct information and making sure that everybody has the right information to make their own healthcare decisions.” In an era of misinformation, her focus on accurate resources resonates deeply with NOWINCLUDED’s mission.
Michael: A Personal Journey of Healing and Heritage
Michael shared a deeply personal story, connecting his own health journey with the legacy of his family. He described his motivation to pursue a healthy lifestyle, driven by witnessing the health struggles of his relatives. “A lot of you know, grandpa, grand aunts, they dealt with a lot of problems. One of the main ones is knee problems.”
His reflections on the influence of diet and lifestyle choices were particularly striking: “There was some, it was a post, maybe Instagram, Twitter, where it said, kind of like, some of the illnesses and diseases or medical history that runs in a family is sometimes based off what you eat, and it’s like, just don’t eat what they were eating, and you might not get what they got.” This perspective highlights the potential for breaking negative health patterns and empowering future generations.
Michael’s commitment to supporting his mother’s health journey further emphasized the importance of family and community care. “Helping her now has, you know, been wonderful and a wonderful experience, because I get to learn for myself as well as learn for her.” He advocated for a proactive approach to health, emphasizing the power of informed decisions and healthy habits.
Chardonnay: The Caregiver's Perspective and the Power of Communication
Chardonnay’s conversation centered on her experience as a caregiver for her mother, who has diabetes and lupus. She emphasized the importance of proactive care and clear communication with healthcare providers. “For me, actually, almost everything I do is for her,” she shared, revealing the deep motivation behind her health consciousness.
Chardonnay described using herself as an “experiment,” trying different approaches like sea moss and black seed oil to find what works.
Chardonnay’s emphasis on proactive self-care was a powerful reminder of the need for women to prioritize their health and seek support when needed. “Make sure that you get some vitamin C, make sure you get some vitamin D. Make sure that you’re taking your medicine, but not too much. Keep up on your things. And then for me, as far as making it easy for her to do things, I walk, and it took a while for me to really fully understand the power of walking, so I’m trying to get her [my mom] to do the same thing.”
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