Hi Family,
The attack on the male of color is different. So it needs a different approach. I am not dealing with that in this note.
This is for the Women…
Women, we are not exempt !!!!!
Louisiana finished 50th in a national ranking of how states—as well as the District of Columbia—address women's health issues. Only Mississippi was lower in the study, which was released by National Women's Law Center and Oregon Health and Science University. The study looked at issues, such as access to health care services, preventive screenings for breast cancer, obesity and overall health. One disturbing figure, women in Louisiana have an average life expectancy of 76.9 years, nearly two years less than the national average. Vermont ranked first.
Today, the House failed to gather enough votes to override the President’s Veto of the SCHIP bill, which provided uninsured children health care. What has failed to be publicized is that the reasons behind his veto were due to the fact that it was laden with tax increases. With proper education and negotiation, we can get more things done….
We need to work on this…..
I know that for the past year or so I have been remiss in keeping on this group about our civic/social responsibilities as it relates to various issues that affect Louisianans. That is all history…..
Recently I became a National Partner for WIPP, Women Impacting Public Policy (close to 600,000 members, www.wipp.com) and I sit on the Health Care and Telecommunications Impact Committees. If you have concerns, ideas, please send them to me. I will help get them on someone’s agenda….But if we don’t start talking to each other and sharing, a whole generation of people of color will be lost.
Now I know that it is hard to keep up with all the issues or to take the time to write a letter to a congressperson. But what is not that hard to do is to remind a woman close to you to get a check up. This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but women suffer in many other areas, including an often overlooked mental health. Please take the time this month to at least encourage a woman to get SOMETHING checked.
GEAUX SAINTS!!!!!
Tanya Anne Callaway Crews
The Louisiana Network Board of Directors Emeritus
