KANSAS CITY, MO. April 18, 2012. The 100 Black Men of Greater Kansas City invite professionals and organizations to be a part of a unique networking experience Friday evening, May 4, 2012, at the Uptown Theater, 37^th & Broadway, KCMO at the Classic Black Soul Festival. Networking with the 100. Doors Open at 5:30p. The program begins at 6pm with open mic announcements and exhibits. The guest host is Darron Story from the Greater KC Chamber of Commerce. Guests may RSVP on kcsoul.com/network by Monday, April 23^rd for FREE Entry before 7p.

This networking event is specifically designed to assist area professionals and recent college graduates in making “life changing” connections. After all, it’s the right relationships that lead to true success. The LIVE format helps forge these relationships. In addition to a standard business card exchange expected at networking events, the event features a unique EXECUTIVESpeed Networking session at the event. African-American Directors to CEOs at some of the country’s top businesses and brands are participating from companies like Hallmark, Sprint, AT&T and AMC Theatres to name a few.

Participants may ask for career advice, a resume preview, seek industry insights or maybe even pitch an idea. It’s mutually beneficial, since executives may also come across contacts that could be a resource to them personally or professionally.

In addition to Executive Speed networking, the event includes a Panel—“View From the Top” a panel discussing entrepreneur, corporate, and personal career success featuring Chris Evans, chair of MBEIC of the MidAmerica Minority Supplier Development Council, Carlose Estes, Financial Professional with Prudential Insurance and Melissa Amaya, Manager, INROADS Midwest Region, Inc.

Brian Foster, 100 Black Men of Greater KC Chapter president, states “This event is just one of our efforts to support community Economic Empowerment, one of our organization’s core pillars. Moreover, in a society where racial stereotypes plague the community, and skew perceptions, this event relays to the community at-large that African-Americans are in positive, leadership positions, building businesses and communities worldwide.”

The networking event is the official kick-off for the Classic Black Soul Festival at the Uptown Theater, a complete one-night celebration featuring African-American arts, entertainment, networking and more. It’s the complete business and pleasure experience designed for the city’s urban professionals. For complete event details and RSVP visit kcsoul.com/network.

The 100 Black Men is a national organization of men focused on improving the quality of life within our communities and enhancing educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans. 100blackmenkc.com

The Classic Black Soul Festival is produced by H.G.E. Marketing, part of H.G.E.’s First Fridays Kansas City 10^th Year Celebration. The event is sponsored by KCSoul.com—The Source for KC Urban Events and Information.

Many health problems can be caused by stress, including:

Stress alone is not the culprit. How we respond to and manage the stressors in our lives is critical to understanding where to begin. Stress in itself is not a bad thing. The questions for you to answer are: 1) Do you now when it’s happening to you? and 2) Do you know what’s causing it?

Excessive and prolonged stress can cause the body to produce too much cortisol which can play a role in craving “comfort” foods, overeating, feeling fatigued, and storing excess body fat (www.cortisol.com). Cortisol assists you in regulating blood pressure, cardiovascular functions, and your body’s use of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Cortisol is also involved in glucose metabolism, insulin release for blood sugar maintenance, and inflammatory response. Let me share a few facts with you regarding cortisol and its ill effects of too much (and for prolonged periods):

• increased abdominal fat, which is proven to be more harmful than fat deposited in other areas of the body
• too much abdominal fat has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, the development of metabolic syndrome, higher levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL)
• higher levels of blood glucose, which leads to insulin resistance (diabetes)
• and high blood pressure (hypertension)

Once you identify your stressors, then you can better manage them. I am fond of ways that allow you to let it all go; for me that is running and writing poetry. Exercise of some kind is always a good choice; walking, running, yoga, tai chi and breathing (yes, there are breathing exercises). Exercise is the physical release; there may also be a need for a psychological release. This can be done by writing, talking about your feelings, doing something you enjoy or just focus on now.
Dance or sing, just do you. When you feel yourself being stressed, ask yourself this, “What will it matter 10 yrs from now?” Life is about balance and we must keep all things in perspective. Find that place and/or that thing that allows you to be free of all that life throws at you. Whatever you choose to do, if you keep it healthy and positive, you could be stressed… less!

About the Author
Jeffrey J. Davis, local Health & Wellness Coach, is a graduate of Wellspring School of Allied Health with certifications as a Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist.
Contact Info:
1BeyondResurrection@gmail.com

By

Jeffrey J. Davis, CPT, CES

Sugar, as defined by Wikipedia, is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor. Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar caneand sugar beet. It and the other sugars are present in natural and refined forms in many foods. There are two types of sugars, monosaccharides (a single sugar unit) and disaccharides (two sugar units). Monosaccharides include glucose (blood sugar), fructose (fruit sugar) and galactose. Disaccharides include sucrose (common sugar), lactose (milk sugar) and maltose.

The conventional wisdom has long been that the worst that can be said about sugars of any kind is that they cause tooth decay and represent “empty calories” that we eat in excess because they taste so good. Our excessive consumption of sugar is the primary reason that the numbers of obese and diabetic Americans have skyrocketed in the past 30 years. Sugar is also the likely dietary cause of several other chronic ailments widely considered to be diseases of Western lifestyles — heart disease, hypertension and many common cancers among them. (NY Times, 2011, “Is Sugar Toxic?”)

Refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup don’t come with any protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants or fiber, and so they either displace other more nutritious elements of our diet or are eaten over and above what we need to sustain our weight, and this is why we get fatter!

Glucose is a major source for energy production in bodily functions and muscle exertion. So it can’t be bad, right? Unfortunately, diabetes is caused when the body is unable to effectively process this glucose. A common misnomer or urban legend, is that a sweet tooth will lead you to diabetes; not true. Insulin is released by the body to control blood sugar levels by facilitating cell absorption. When the cells cannot absorb the glucose for use, sugar levels rise. Now you have a problem! The cells have become insulin resistant.

Simple sugars, like those in honey and fruit, are easily digested and are not bad for you. The other sugars, like table sugar and starches, require a bit more work from the human body to digest and absorb. The good news, blood sugar levels can be managed with proper diet, exercise and portion control. Stay healthy and eat smart. Lay off the sweet stuff.

Volume 2, Issue 1 January 2012

Resolutions, New Year, New You!

By

Jeffrey J. Davis, CPT, CES

HAPPY NEW YEAR! At the start of every year, resolutions are made and the slate is wiped clean. Whatever you didn’t like over the course of the past year is gone; forget about it. Learn from the lessons of the past so that you don’t repeat them and move on.

The most common resolution every year is weight loss. You won’t lose weight nibbling on small amounts of food; although portion control is important. In fact, your body will just think its starving and hang onto those extra pounds! Rather, to lose weight effectively and permanently, you need to eat; and eat smart. Here are 11 of the best foods for easy weight loss (provided by www.realage.com):

1. Yogurt -This creamy, tangy snack is loaded with calcium — and studies show that calcium may curtail weight gain by hindering the absorption of fat in the small intestine. 
2. Eggs – according to a study, eggs beat out carbs (donuts, bagels, etc.) when it came to helping feel full longer and helping beat back snack attacks later in the day.
3. Pistachios – like all nuts, pistachios offer lots of hunger-curbing protein and fiber.
4. Grapefruit – one study in particular revealed that eating half a grapefruit before each meal helped dieters shed more pounds than people who skipped the tart appetizer.
5. Avocado – researcher’s suspect that the unsaturated fat in avocados may ratchet up body levels of the hunger-halting hormone called leptin — a hormone that lets your brain know that you’re full, so you stop eating.
6. Mushrooms – replace the meat in your favorite recipes with mushrooms. You’ll automatically cut about 420 calories out of a meal.
7. Olive oil – contains a hunger-busting monounsaturated fat called oleic acid — which triggers a complicated process in the gut that ultimately tells your brain you’re full and makes you want to stop eating.
8. Whole grains – research shows this one move can help whittle your middle. We’re talking brown rice, quinoa, steel-cut oats, whole-grain cereal, and 100% whole-wheat bread and pasta. 
9. Red pepper – contain capsaicin — the heat-inducing compound in red peppers that, according to research, tamps down appetite and curbs food intake later in the day.
10. Fava beans – a lean protein source bursting with flavonoids.
11. Rice with veggies – Adding veggies to rice at lunchtime appears to slow stomach emptying, according to research. The end result, you feel full longer.

We eat to sustain life. Americans love to super-size it and we love our foods. You don’t have to stop eating foods you enjoy; just make better choices. In 2012, let’s learn how to eat smart together; and learning will ultimately promote behavior change resulting in a healthier lifestyle.

About the Author

Jeff is a local Health & Wellness Coach. He is a graduate of Wellspring School of Allied Health with certifications as a Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist.

Kansas City, MO, Dec. 13th, 2011, The 100 Black Men of Greater Kansas City (100 BMGKC) hosted their 5th Anniversary Gala Event, honoring our chapter’s founders, community and civic leaders, members and mentees. Highlights of the evening are as follows:

• Recognized 100 BMGKC’s 8 founding members (Jeffrey J. Davis, Barrett Hatches, Keith Jones, Hank King, Larry Lester, Phil Spencer, Mal Warrick, and Anthony Williams)
• Inducted 7 new members (Ira Boydston, Chris Carroll, Will Dowdell, Keion Jackson, Terrell Jolly, Dolon Silimon, and Murray Woodard)
• Introduced 100 BMGKC mentee membership
• 100 BMGKC mentee remarks from Messrs. Perry Davis and Tyron Bridgewater

Awards presentations:

• 100 BMGKC Mentee of the Year – Dontae Carter
• 100 BMGKC Mentor of the Year – Roland Hemmings
• Community Leadership: Tyrone Flowers (Mentoring), Daima Scott (Education), Chief Darryl Forte (Civic)
• Keynote address: author Robert Jackson (member, 100 Black Men of Indianapolis)

At the end of the program, guests were invited to tour the Kaufman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City’s new state-of-the-art facility, and venue for the gala:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/21/arts/music/kauffman-center-for-the-performing-arts-in-kansas-city-mo.html

The coup-de-grace was the event being featured on a local newscast:

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/local_news/100-black-men-of-kansas-city-holds-fifth-annual-gala-at-the-kauffman-center-for-the-performing-arts

Running isn’t for everyone. I do believe, though, everyone should find that one thing that they enjoy and is a positive release from the stress and drama that comes with living. We all need that quiet place where we can be free and the mind can be clear. This is one key to wellness and a key to happiness.

Since running isn’t for everyone, what is the alternative? Walking! As simple as it may seem, walking is very beneficial when done consistently and with sufficient duration. There are several benefits to walking daily (http://www.rodale.com/benefits-walking?page=0%2C7):

• It deflects diabetes. New research links brisk walking to a significant risk reduction for developing Type II Diabetes.
• It soups up your sex life. Sex and exercise go hand-in-hand.
• It saves you on gym costs. In this economy, people are cutting excesses, and that includes trips to the health club. In an American Heart Association survey, a quarter of the 1,000 people questioned had cut their gym memberships sometime in the previous six months. But no matter where you live, there’s a place you can pound the pavement or trek a trail, and 150 minutes of moderate-intensity walking a week can help manage stress and prevent heart disease. Moderate walking equals an average of about 100 steps per minute.
• It can get you off meds. Using data from the National Walkers’ Health Study, including more than 32,000 women and 8,000 men, researchers found that those who took the longest weekly walks, not necessarily accumulated the most mileage per week, were more likely to use less medication.
• It can help fade fibromyalgia pain. This chronic condition affects more than 4 percent of the population, and often involves pain, fatigue, and brain fog. A small study found that in women 32 to 70 years old, those who walked 60 minutes, performed light exercises, and stretched three times a week for 18 weeks reported significant improvements in walking and mental capacity, and were less tired and depressed.
• It helps you beat breast cancer. Women who walk regularly after being diagnosed with breast cancer have a 45 percent greater chance of survival than those who are inactive, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
• Strolling reduces stroke risk. Walking briskly for just 30 minutes, five days a week can significantly lower your risk of suffering a stroke, according to University of South Carolina researchers.
• It can save your mind. Italian researchers enlisted 749 people suffering from memory problems in a study and measured their walking and other moderate activities, such as yard work. At the four-year follow-up, they found that those who expended the most energy walking had a 27 percent lower risk of developing dementia than the people who expended the least. This could be the result of physical activity’s role in increasing blood flow to the brain.

Now you see how much walking can improve your life? Daily activity beats non-activity any day of the week. This is a clear example of less is more and as the old saying goes, “a rolling stone gathers no moss”. Let’s get moving and keep going daily. When you look back years from now, you will be glad you did.

      Who doesn’t love to shop? I know I do. As a self –proclaimed fashionista, I love to buy clothes for all types of seasons, events and especially for vacation. I love all types of materials; from cotton to silk and from leather to lace. I was recently at the mall in search of the perfect dress for the upcoming 100 Black Men’s 5^th Anniversary Gala & Fundraiser @ The Kauffman Center for Performing Arts. I excitedly told my son, that with the great new partnership with Men’s Wearhouse, they wouldn’t have to buy or rent a tuxedo for the event. He looked at me, frowned and said, “Can’t I just wear a cardigan?” After the initial shock and horror, I asked him did he understand what a black tie event was. I found myself explaining the proper dress attire for a variety of events.

     This is when I knew that somewhere along the way, we as parents have failed our youth. How many of us are taking our children to cultural events that require them to wear something other than jeans and a t-shirt or sweatshirt? How many of us are teaching our sons how to tie a necktie? How many of us are explaining to our sons and daughters what to wear to a job interview? How many of us are teaching our children that the first impression is a lasting impression? With that being said, you only get one chance to make a first impression. Are we just shaking our heads at our young men who are “sagging’, or are we saying to him, “Young man, pull those pants up!”

      I took this as a lesson for myself and would like to spread the word. Our children are fashionably challenged, we need to step up and step in to help them. I challenge each one of you today to take just a few moments and give a young person a short lesson on what the appropriate attire is for different social events. As Smokey the Bear’s fur coat would say, “Only you can stop atrocious attire!!”