Second Annual Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Walk It Out Health Fair
Making healthy strides
Making healthy strides
| Organizers of the AKA Walk It Out include Enid Glenn (l-r), GHC’ s Emily Curtis, Frances Huntley-Cooper, Stephanie Bradley Wilson and State Farm’s Larry Sain. |
By Jonathan Gramling
The cornerstone of President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform proposals is an emphasis
on primary and preventative medicine to bring down costs and expand coverage to every
American. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA) is on the rising wave of this movement to
promote a healthier America. One of its primary missions is to reduce the incidence of obesity
— and the detrimental illnesses that result from it — in the African American community.
In 2007, the local chapter began implementing this initiative by sponsoring member walks at
local malls. “We have to accept in the African American community that this generation starts
off younger in weighing more pounds than my generation and previous generations,” said
Frances Huntley-Cooper, the Madison chapter’s president. “That’s going to impact the longevity
of our youth and our families. I always like to say that I can look at my family as a role model
where my grandmother lived to be almost 104 years old. My mother is petite. They are
following what we are supposed to be following, which is three meals per day with no snacks
and exercise. Because of our lifestyles, I think many of us have strayed away from the
traditional expectations. We’re educated and we know better. But whether you are smoking,
drinking or whatever, it’s really hard to stay on track. Our job with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is
we can’t be a service to the community if we aren’t healthy ourselves. We need to be here to work with the community, help our sisters and the community by
being healthy. We’re here to be role models and to start to challenge ourselves, our youth and adults in the community as well.”
In 2008, under the leadership of AKA member Stephanie Bradley Wilson, the AKAs held their first ‘Walk It Out’ at Brittingham Park. Approximately 70
people turned out for a social walk that raised people’s heart rates as well as their awareness of healthy lifestyles.
Larry Sain, a local State Farm agent, was a sponsor of that first walk. It fit in perfectly with what he and State Farm were trying to do with their “50 Million
Pound Challenge.” “Probably two-thirds of our society is overweight,” Sain emphasized. “So many things happen when you are overweight. Your body
deteriorates faster. Heart disease, high blood pressure and strokes are more prevalent. You feel better about yourself when you are healthier. And we’re not talking
about big things. We’re just trying to make people aware and give them some helpful hints. We just bring it to your attention and then anything you can do in
that direction will make it much better for you in the long run.”
Once again, the AKAs are hosting Walk It Out on July 25 at Warner Park. This year, through a partnership with Group Health Cooperative, they’ve expanded
it to include a complementary medicine health fair in the Warner Park Community Center after the two-mile walk has been completed. “As a not-for-profit
member-owned cooperative, it is part of our mission to identify and partner with organizations to address community needs,” said Group Health Cooperative’s
Emily Curtis. “So when we became aware that obesity was part of the national platform for the Alpha Kappa Alphas, we really wanted to partner and see if we
could become involved to expand their walk into something that incorporated complementary medicine as well as other types of fitness. So we feel very
fortunate to be included and to have had the opportunity to partner with such worthwhile organizations. We hope it is well attended and we can participate for
years to come.”
Complementary medicines are preventative health measures that individuals can implement in their daily lives to reduce weight and improve their health.
Group Health Cooperative will be providing the professional complementary medicine practitioners who will give demonstrations and help people sample the
preventative measures that they can take.
“Being able to do an exercise like Tai Chi is considered to be moderate exercise,” Bradley Wilson said. “Having exposure to the mindful meditation is
important, learning how to work with your mind and being able to calm your body. Stress is really a big thing that people have to learn how to control. We’re
doing yoga and I really like yoga. It’s another great way of stretching muscles that maybe you didn’t even know existed. You can develop your core in a way that
is going to be better for your overall fitness.”
Enid Glenn, AKA vice-president, urged the community to turn out for the event. “We’re hoping for a wonderful, sun shiny day,” Glenn emphasized. “We plan
to have at least 100 people come out. It’s going to be a fun-filled day. There will be lots of different activities. We’re hoping that people will come early and stay
late.”
For more information about the AKA Walk It Out Health Fair, visit www.aka-kpo.com/events-1.
being healthy. We’re here to be role models and to start to challenge ourselves, our youth and adults in the community as well.”
In 2008, under the leadership of AKA member Stephanie Bradley Wilson, the AKAs held their first ‘Walk It Out’ at Brittingham Park. Approximately 70
people turned out for a social walk that raised people’s heart rates as well as their awareness of healthy lifestyles.
Larry Sain, a local State Farm agent, was a sponsor of that first walk. It fit in perfectly with what he and State Farm were trying to do with their “50 Million
Pound Challenge.” “Probably two-thirds of our society is overweight,” Sain emphasized. “So many things happen when you are overweight. Your body
deteriorates faster. Heart disease, high blood pressure and strokes are more prevalent. You feel better about yourself when you are healthier. And we’re not talking
about big things. We’re just trying to make people aware and give them some helpful hints. We just bring it to your attention and then anything you can do in
that direction will make it much better for you in the long run.”
Once again, the AKAs are hosting Walk It Out on July 25 at Warner Park. This year, through a partnership with Group Health Cooperative, they’ve expanded
it to include a complementary medicine health fair in the Warner Park Community Center after the two-mile walk has been completed. “As a not-for-profit
member-owned cooperative, it is part of our mission to identify and partner with organizations to address community needs,” said Group Health Cooperative’s
Emily Curtis. “So when we became aware that obesity was part of the national platform for the Alpha Kappa Alphas, we really wanted to partner and see if we
could become involved to expand their walk into something that incorporated complementary medicine as well as other types of fitness. So we feel very
fortunate to be included and to have had the opportunity to partner with such worthwhile organizations. We hope it is well attended and we can participate for
years to come.”
Complementary medicines are preventative health measures that individuals can implement in their daily lives to reduce weight and improve their health.
Group Health Cooperative will be providing the professional complementary medicine practitioners who will give demonstrations and help people sample the
preventative measures that they can take.
“Being able to do an exercise like Tai Chi is considered to be moderate exercise,” Bradley Wilson said. “Having exposure to the mindful meditation is
important, learning how to work with your mind and being able to calm your body. Stress is really a big thing that people have to learn how to control. We’re
doing yoga and I really like yoga. It’s another great way of stretching muscles that maybe you didn’t even know existed. You can develop your core in a way that
is going to be better for your overall fitness.”
Enid Glenn, AKA vice-president, urged the community to turn out for the event. “We’re hoping for a wonderful, sun shiny day,” Glenn emphasized. “We plan
to have at least 100 people come out. It’s going to be a fun-filled day. There will be lots of different activities. We’re hoping that people will come early and stay
late.”
For more information about the AKA Walk It Out Health Fair, visit www.aka-kpo.com/events-1.