COLOR ME HEALTHY FORUM ADDRESSES TRAUMA, HOMICIDE AND GRIEF

IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY

(Buffalo, NY February 20, 2019) – The Community Health Center of Buffalo, in collaboration with the Near East and West Side Task Force, is presenting the second in a series of panel discussions focusing on the issue of mental health in the African-American community. The second of these forums is being held on Wednesday, February 20 at the Catholic Health System Regional Training Center, 144 Genesee Street, Buffalo, NY14203 from 5:30 pm (dinner and registration) and 6-7 pm (program with Q&A). Parking is free. The program will focus on the topic of homicide, trauma and grief in the African-American community.

The program is being moderated by Karl Shallowhorn, Education Program Coordinator at the Community Health Center of Buffalo. Panelists include Lenny Lane, President of F.AT.H.E.R.S., Karrien Williams, Associate Minister, New Jerusalem Revival Center, Rev. Alan Core, Funeral Director and owner of Alan. R. Core Funeral Home, and Alyssa Sullivan, Program Director, Horizon Health Services.

African Americans experience homicide violence at a rate that is on average 12 times greater than American Indians and Latinos, 15 times greater than whites, and 16 times greater than Asians and Pacific Islanders.

“The road to closure for families experiencing grief from the homicide of a loved one rests in the apprehension of the person responsible.  In 2018, Buffalo’s homicide rates reached a 3 year high yet our solving rate remains below the national average.  Community Health Center of Buffalo hosts an annual celebration of lives lost called ‘The Tree of Life’ to help families enduring the tragedy of homicide get through the difficult holiday season.” Karla Thomas, Director of Outreach and Marketing, Community Health Center of Buffalo

“Alexander and Ho in particular, researchers, talk about this whole concept of cultural trauma. That in particular, in marginalized and disenfranchised populations of color, because of race, those particular populations chronically experience cultural trauma just because of race-based structural inequality.” Tanya L. Sharpe, MSW, Ph.D., University of Maryland School of Social Work

About the Community Health Center of Buffalo: The Community Health Center (CHCB) is a federally qualified health center that operates out of four sites in Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Lockport and Niagara Falls. Since 1999, CHCB has been providing comprehensive healthcare to those who are on Medicaid and Medicare as well as those who lack health insurance. CHCB serves a diverse population of patients including those in the African-American, Latino, and refugee communities of Erie and Niagara County.

About the Near and East West Side Task Force: The Near East and West Side Task Force Inc. (NEWS TF) is a collaboration of two community-based organizations: The Western New York Hispanics and Friends Civic Association: Child and Families Task Force and The Near East Side Community Health Task Force. The mission of the Near East and West Side Task Force is to be

a collaborative group of community partners, who, through advocacy, promote the well-being and self-sufficiency racial and ethnic communities in Buffalo.