One Voice Can Make a Difference

http://nihrecord.od.nih.gov/newsletters/2013/07_05_2013/story4.htm

Deaf Employee Is Heard NIH Mission Statement Is Amended By Rich McManus

At the suggestion of a National Eye Institute employee who is deaf, NIH recently amended its official mission statement.

The one-sentence statement had said, “NIH’s mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.”

But because David Rice, a management analyst at NEI since October 2009, felt that his particular disability was not a burden, he wanted to know if NIH director Dr. Francis Collins would be willing to modify the mission statement so as not to offend people who do not consider their disabilities to be burdensome.

Recently, the phrase “the burdens of” was removed from the statement, which now reads, “NIH’s mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life and reduce illness and disability.”

According to Debra Chew, director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management, this was a lesson in NIH compassion and responsiveness.

“This was a very important event from a diversity perspective,” said Chew, who arrived at NIH last July. “It shows that an individual employee can raise concerns that Dr. Collins will take seriously and address. I think that’s good. NIH has no wish to have a mission statement that offends people…It just goes to show you that we all have different perspectives.”

NEI’s David Rice objected to NIH’s mission statement and took his concerns to NIH leadership, who ended up agreeing with him.

Chew met Rice last fall at a “meet and greet” and mentioned that he had a problem with the mission statement. As she recalls, “He told me, ‘We don’t consider ourselves to be burdens, nor do we consider our disability a burden…Would you ask Dr. Collins to consider a change?’”

Chew broached the issue with Collins, “who was immediately agreeable to a change,” she said. “No one had really looked at [the statement] this way. David really raised a good point.”

Chew took the suggestion to Kim Kirkpatrick, OEODM’s disability program manager, who also chairs NIH’s disability committee. “Once we realized that Dr. Collins was open to a change, we got input from the disability committee on proposed language,” said Chew. Two versions were proposed and the three-word change was adopted.

“This is a symbolic moment for NIH,” said Chew. “It’s really about [Rice’s] courage. He did a great thing for the NIH.”

Rice, who became deaf at age 4, recalls the “grace and integrity” with which his parents dealt with his removal from the school system once he became deaf; they found a school better equipped to handle his needs. “It was the fire that my parents had that led me to want to become an advocate not only for the deaf community but also for all those who have a disability,” he said.

“I know it was not the intent that NIH had [to offend people with disabilities],” Rice continued, “but it could look to some as though, in trying to improve the health and life of American citizens, NIH is only looking for cures to reduce disability because [people with disabilities] are a burden on society. The new mission statement takes out that stigma that we are a burden and conveys the message that NIH’s goal is to reduce illness and disability because it can improve the livelihood of American citizens and not because we are a burden on society.”

Rice said he didn’t think his suggestion had much chance of being taken seriously at first. “To be honest, I did not expect much,” he said. “All I wanted was for them to listen, which they did. Debra told me that she spoke to [NIH principal deputy director] Dr. [Lawrence] Tabak, who wholeheartedly agreed. At that point, once I knew Dr. Tabak was in the picture, I knew that something was going to come of this.

“Let me tell you,” Rice continued, “there was no greater feeling than when Dr. Collins used the new mission statement on Capitol Hill. I take no credit for the new mission statement. All I did was raise questions and concerns. But I felt that my small change made a difference, and that alone is my lifelong goal—making small changes to create big impacts.”

He concluded, “I can only imagine that the change will be a positive one. The biggest reason why NIH was so appealing to me was its ability to be open to change as well as moving forward, a lot quicker than some government agencies do. That is a product of the vision that Dr. Collins has for NIH. But like anyone who has a large responsibility, it is hard to envision everything—that’s where everyone else comes into play. [We can all] make NIH [a] leader in science as well as a great work environment where everyone can feel they are making a small but important impact on the American public.”

Syracuse community builder Brenda Muhammad on the power of storytelling

http://blog.syracuse.com/cny/2013/07/syracuse_community_builder_brenda_muhammad_on_the_power_of_sharing_ones_story.html

Brenda Muhammad of Syracuse is a volunteer and community builder who believes in the power of sharing one's personal story to help others. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

By Jennifer L. Owens | Guest columnist 
on July 05, 2013 at 7:56 AM, updated July 06, 2013 at 8:41 AM

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"Some people are born knowing their purpose," said Brenda Muhammad. "Other people, like me, have no clue why they are here. But if I just keep moving I hope that one day I'll figure it out."

Muhammad is always moving. There is no other way to end up with the sizable list of volunteer activities and educational pursuits that she is juggling at any one time. This juggling is what earned her the 2013 Unsung Heroes Award during Syracuse University's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration earlier this year.

How Muhammad has remained 'unsung' for this long is a mystery. She has twice served as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer coordinating Women Build at Syracuse Habitat for Humanity, is a key player in the nonprofit FORCE (Focusing Our Resources for Community Enlightenment), and participates in the Black Syracuse Project to capture community stories.

She describes her life as a journey to discover her true purpose. Along her path, she has channeled her interests and community engagement activities to become a connection-maker. She sees value in sharing the things that she learns with her community.

This makes her well-suited for her role in FORCE, a nonprofit that combats neighborhood deterioration by inspiring residents to pool their resources to improve their condition. She sees opportunity to further the work of FORCE by sharing the oral history collection techniques she learned through the Black Syracuse Project training. 

Muhammad believes that sharing our stories with each other strengthens connections and promotes healing.

"We need to know about hard times, and we need to know about success stories," said Muhammad. "When you tell that story others can relate to you. They learn that there is hope."

Muhammad believes that there is a desire to be known and acknowledged that is hard-wired within us. She is drawn to oral history and storytelling as a way to give others the opportunity to satisfy this basic need.

"Sometimes telling your story is part of a healing process," she said. "Somebody has to hear me. What if no one knew you were alive?"

Telling the story is good for the storyteller, but it is also a tool for improving the lives of those who hear your story. "People can relate to your story," said Muhammad. "Sometimes you think that you are alone in something, but then you find out about connections."

The more connections that Muhammad and others facilitate through the Black Syracuse Project's initiatives, the more opportunity there will be for community members to identify opportunities to work together toward neighborhood improvement.

Muhammad is not one to remain still. She keeps moving, always looking for the next opportunity to expand her skills and serve her community. She is currently pursuing a Certificate of Advanced Study in Cultural Heritage Preservation at the Syracuse University School of Information Studies, as well as studies at SUNY Empire State College. She hopes to intern for the Black Syracuse Project in the near future to continue making the connections that she believes make a difference.

Despite her energy and palpable enthusiasm, even she sometimes wonders about the limits of any one person.

"I had a motto, and I haven't said it in a long time," Muhammad says wistfully. "I don't know if that's because I stopped believing it or I'm just too tired to think it. I used to always say, 'I shall not be conquered.' I thought I could do anything. But right about now I'm a little close to that conquered."

Despite these moments of doubt, she is propelled forward by the support of her friends and family. They know that she can make a difference and encourage her to explore new paths in her quest to find her life's purpose.

"My friends are amazing. They don't discourage me from trying anything," said Muhammad. "Sometimes I wish they would!"

In the end, Muhammad believes each of us has something we are meant to give to others. It can be both a burden and our life's greatest joy to figure out what that is; to tirelessly make connections, to tell our stories past and present, and to keep on moving.

To learn more about the Black Syracuse Project and listen to oral history recordings captured by through the project, visit www.blacksyracuse.org

Training Opportunity: Lessons from New Zealand

Putting the “How-to” in Resilience:

Lessons from New Zealand

Join us on Thursday, July 11 from 3-5 pm at George Mason University, Arlington campus  for an interactive discussion with Dr. John Vargo, co-leader of the Resilient Organizations program at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. 

For the past eight years, Resilient Organizations has asked: What is it that makes some organizations able not only to survive, but thrive in the face of adversity?  The program has transformed research into resilience tools including:

·         Resilience Benchmark Tool allowing organizations to perform a self-analysis of resilience strengths and weaknesses and support a business case for internal resilience initiatives.

·         Resilience Quick Assessment Tool providing high and low performance benchmarks for 13 resilience indicators.

·         Resilience Thumbprint Survey creating a 5 minute snapshot survey that covers key resilience indicators, especially targeted for small and medium sized enterprises. 

Please join us for an informative session and an international perspective!

Where: George Mason University, Arlington, VA, Hazel Hall, Room 215

When: July 11^th, 3-5 pm

Campus Directions: http://cip.gmu.edu/index.php/component/k2/item/171

RSVP:

Ms. Manal Farooq

Research Assistant                                                                                       

Office:  703-993-8591                                                                                                                   

E-mail: mfarooq7@masonlive.gmu.edu                                                                              

Dr. Mark Troutman

Associate Director

Office: 703-993-4720

Email: mtroutma@gmu.edu

Tuskegee Airman is buried in custom casket detailed by his sons

http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20130630/NEWS/306300003/Tuskegee-Airman-buried-custom-casket-detailed-by-his-sons

Retired Lt. Col. Harold J. Trabue, 86, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on June 24 in a custom casket designed and crafted by his sons. (Photos courtesy of Ulysses Centaur)

One airman received more than just his military honors as he was laid to rest June 24 at Arlington National Cemetery, Va.

Retired Lt. Col. Harold J. Trabue, 86, was buried in a custom casket designed and crafted by his sons, Mark Trabue and Ulysses Centaur.

ZOOM

Retired Lt. Col. Harold J. Trabue, 86, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery June 24 in a custom casket designed and crafted by his sons. (Photo courtesy of Ulysses Centaur)

“We were thinking of a lot of ways we could commemorate our father, and how we decorated the casket, we just felt like this reflected our emotions about him and his death,” Centaur said.

A national member of the Tuskegee Airmen, Lt. Col. Trabue died Feb. 23 in Arizona. He was part of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing and later retired from the Air Force in 1971. He acquired a Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters during his career.

For the brothers, who both own auto-body shops that detail and customize cars, it was the first time they had decorated a casket.

“We figured with our skills, and the way we wanted to honor him, that was enough inspiration to do this,” he said.

Centaur explained it didn’t take more than two days to design the stripped-down, blue metal casket. He and his brother used computer-designed graphics for the detail before they polished it up. The casket included a picture of their father from his time in the Air Force, three aircraft and other Air Force emblems.

For now, the brothers will go on with their day jobs enhancing cars — Centaur in Charlotte, N.C., and Trabue in Phoenix. They painted the casket in Phoenix and had it flown to Arlington.

But Centaur said they could do this in their spare time and are even willing to paint caskets for other service members in other military branches.

“With the turnaround time, we can do this, and with how expensive regular caskets are, we can devote part of our shops to making these,” Centaur said. “It would sure be nice if we could help others send their loved ones off in style.”

Healthy You and A Healthy Community: Eliminating The Parasites That You Almost Certainly Have

http://www.realfarmacy.com/eliminating-the-parasites-that-you-almost-certainly-have/

Eliminating The Parasites That You Almost Certainly Have
by Thomas Corriher

Parasites have far surpassed epidemic levels in the United States, with most sources estimating that a massive 85% of Americans have parasitic infections.  Because of this, we recommend a parasite cleanse every six months, care in choosing restaurants, and cleaning up after exposure to animals.

Unfortunately, most conventional doctors are not trained in the treatment of parasites.  It is only when parasites are visually seen that American doctors will suspect them, which requires a horrific case.  There are many symptoms of parasites that people express in daily life, believing that these are completely normal.  While sickness has become normal in the modern lifestyle, it does not have to be.  The amount of damage that can be caused by parasites is virtually limitless, because many are small enough to travel anywhere in the body through the bloodstream.  They exist by robbing the body of nutrients.  Parasites are the root cause of Lupus, with all other symptoms being secondary to the parasitic infection.  Therefore, Lupus cannot be cured without a parasite cleanse.  Of course, Lupus is said to be just another “incurable disease” and an “autoimmune disorder”, according to the conventional doctors.

Identifying The Different Parasites

• Roundworms - Living in the stomach and intestines, these worms enter through undercooked and contaminated food.  Remember that the manure which is used in farming may be contaminated with worms.  Always wash your hands after dealing with pets, or their feces.
• Heartworms - It is extremely rare for these to occur in humans.  In the few cases which have been seen, they usually occur as a single worm in the lungs, rather than the heart.  They cannot be spread through from one animal (or human) to another, but must be spread through mosquitoes.
• Tapeworms - Enter the body through undercooked beef, fish or pork.  They live in the lower intestinal tract.  Use gloves and wash thoroughly after preparing meat for consumption.
• Pinworms - Living in the intestinal tracts and lungs, these small white worms come out at night to lay eggs around the anus. The eggs hatch and the worms reenter through the anus.  If the human scratches during this time, the eggs lay under the fingernails, spreading to wherever the person touches.  It is believed that they are small and lightweight enough to become airborne, leading people to inhale them.  This is how they can live inside the lungs.  Perhaps smoking does have a benefit, after all.
• Hookworms and Threadworms - These can be found in contaminated drinking water, or they can enter directly through the feet.  They are tiny in size, and can enter through the soles of the feet, even without any open wounds.  Always wear shoes when walking outside.  These worms are unique because they have a lifespan of several years, and the eggs can incubate for up to 10 years.
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Symptoms of Parasite Infection

• Repeated diarrhea or constipation
• Chronic, unexplained nausea, often accompanied by vomiting
• Fatigue and weakness
• Intestinal cramping
• Unexplained dizziness
• Foul-smelling gas
• Indigestion
• Bloating
• Multiple food allergies
• Loss of appetite
• Itching around the anus, especially at night
• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty maintaining a healthy weight (over or underweight)
• Itching on the soles of the feet, often accompanied by a rash
• Coughing blood (severe cases)
• Palpitations (Hookworms)
• Anemia
• Facial swelling around the eyes (roundworms)
• Wheezing and coughing, followed by vomiting, stomach pain and bloating (suggesting roundworms or threadworms)

Treatment Options

If a conventional doctor believes that you have parasites, he will prescribe you an anti-parasitic pharmaceutical.  These pharmaceuticals are always toxic, for it is their toxicity that kills parasites.  Thus, swelling of the lymph nodes, hands and feet are common, whilst vision problems, lack of coordination, and convulsions can also occur.  Diarrhea is typical with these drugs.

These are the most commonly used natural substances for eliminating parasitic infections:

• Black Walnut Hulls
• Wormwood (from the Artemisia shrub)
• Common Cloves (from the clove tree)
• Pumpkin Seeds, or Pumpkin Seed Oil Capsules
• Garlic
• Neem (Do not take neem if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, because it can work as a contraceptive.)
• Thyme leaf and seed
• Marshmallow root
• Diatomaceous Earth
• Blends of the above ingredients, with marketing names like ‘Para-Clear’.

We would not recommend choosing one of the corporate formulas, since they are usually overpriced and formulated with low concentrations.  Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to examine each formula, and evaluate them.

Diatomaceous earth is the best natural anti-parasitic medication.  It is actually an all-natural pesticide which does not harm humans or pets.  It is believed to kill insects, worms and parasites by dehydrating them.  When used on ants, it usually takes around 20 minutes before they are all dead.  One tablespoon of diatomaceaous earth taken by an adult once a day for seven days is believed to be extremely effective at killing all parasites.  If this is going to be given to children, bear in mind that height is a better indicator of the size of their G.I. tract than their weight.  Thus, a child who is 4 feet tall should take 2 teaspoons, and a child who is 2 feet tall should take 1 teaspoon.  If you take this route, we advise you to only buy food grade.  Industrial diatomaceous earth is used for swimming pool filters, but it has been chemically treated, and this type is not safe to eat.  Try to avoid rubbing it onto your hands, as it can have a drying effect upon the skin.  Diatomaceous earth contains heavy metals as part of its mineral content, but it also contains the natural antidote, selenium, which allows otherwise accumulative heavy metals to be flushed from the body.  Therefore, it is not really a health concern despite the presence of aluminum and lead.  We recommend taking selenium supplements for a week after discontinuing this treatment to ensure that the body thoroughly flushes all of the heavy metals.  Our research indicates that diatomaceous earth is the best overall parasite treatment for humans, because it should likewise kill all microscopic blood-born parasites as well.  When using it, be sure to drink plenty of fluids, because it will dehydrate a person considerably.

Wormwood and black walnut hulls are known to kill adult worms, whilst cloves kill worm eggs.  Some people use this trio for treating parasites, instead of diatomaceous earth.  It is recommended that you take 500 mg. of wormwood and black walnut hulls, whilst taking 1/2 teaspoon of cloves daily for around 14 days.  All other herbs mentioned are used in addition to these two core protocols.

As parasites die, they release toxins through their excrement, and from rotting.  The most common parasites, the worm type, attempt to escape by burrowing deeper into the intestines, which can cause sharp pains and cramps.  Even when dead, the body is still burdened with the task of flushing them out.  This whole process can initially make the person feel sicker than before he started the cleanse, but this is only temporary, and it is a sign that the cleanse is working.  While fatigue and grogginess are also to be expected, normal life may be continued, and diarrhea should not occur.  Ensure that you are eating a good, wholesome diet throughout the cleanse to ensure that your immune system is at its strongest.  After the cleanse, you should feel better, have more energy, and experience sickness less often.

Source: The Health Wyze Report