REACH conference

Today we met up at the Long Beach Hyatt hotel where I got to see US grantees and other health partnerships coming together to discuss health disparities in the nation and what they can do to help or prevent them. This was such a great experience for me, especially when I'm going to medical field. It's so touching to see different organizations from different places working together to bring forth the health disparities among African American, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Latino populations.

The conference started off with an opening ceremony from the Kutturan Chamoru Performers, the group did really well. Their dance was unique, I loved how the girls were singing while they danced, they had soft lovely voices. Jay played the guitar and the multi-talented Joey also played the guitar and was the leadsinger of the group along with another lady with a beautiful voice.

Our first speaker was Wayne H. Giles who's currently the Director of the Division of Adult and Community Health and Centers for Disease Control and Preventions. After his presentation, we had a little stretch break/lift off where everyone gets up and participates in this little exercise activity to get our blood flowing throughout our body. Our next guest speaker was Camera Phyllis Jones and she is a family physician focuses on how racism impacts the nation's health. Her presentation was great and I love how she has stories to make us better understand things like for example her garden story. The way she explained the garden of roses being like a population of people and the soil is like the the resources that people have, just hearing her stories and example made me understand the problem and how better resource equals healthier life.

After Dr. Jones speech there were different sessions that we can choose from and I decided to go to the Unnatural Causes Viewing. We watched a video called Unnatural Causes-Place Matters and I learned that a place determines what social matters your involved with. Here are some notes that I took down while watching the movie:

• Health disparities in Richmond and Washinton
• Eating lots of fastfood can lead to removal of gallbladder
• Living in disadvantage community increases the risk of heart disease
• Anything that has to do with improving quality of life is a Health Policy
• WHERE you live impacts your health

This video really opened up my eyes and I got to thinking that it is true, wherever you live does in fact affect your health. My grandparents came back to the states from the islands a couple of months ago because my grandpa needed a new pacemaker, but when they arrived they looked very healthy and walking around without any help. Right now my grandma can't walk and my grandpa doesn't look so well either, they'll be leaving in December back to the islands after my grandpa's last check up. So after watching this video, it got me thinking about my grandparents and understand that maybe they're getting sicker everyday because they probably miss home and the food here aren't so healthy for them. And maybe the healthy food back home aren't as expensive as they are here they eat less healthy food.