Host Haywood Fennell invites Guests Bob Edwards & Bright Mailosi to discuss Whittier St. Health Center and the services it provides, health in the African American community, Whittier's re-entry program, its kidney disease research and clinical trial for people of African ancestry, & more.
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The Other Page Radio
- Thank you, Phyllis. - Start. Have a great show. - All right. - Thank you. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - Welcome, good afternoon, and welcome to the other page radio brought to you by Triad Veterans League in association with the P&N Media Services. We're here today at WBCALP 102.9 FM Boston. Folks, I'm really, really happy today. You know, I hope you are too. Get your pencils out and it depends out. 'Cause we got some folks here that may have some information and you might want to contact them later on. So we want to advise you now to get your writing stuff out. But before I introduce my guests, I just want to talk about the situation as it relates to our health in the community. So is the challenging thing to deal with stress and all that goes with that and not understand that stress can affect the body's organs and become dysfunctional and you end up having to go to see the doctor and the doctor has the right other, maybe a treatment plan. And a lot of things about health in the African-American community comes out as a direct result of stress, disfunctioning of the organs and how we eat and a whole lot of different things. But we have an institution in our community, a long-standing called Video Street Community Health Center. And I'm here to tell you folks, they're always busy over there. We have two guests, two guests today from Video Street. My good friend, Bobby, was just here and he's here with Mr. Bright, Ms. Zoli. - My Losi. - Okay, okay. It's okay if I just use your first name. - Absolutely, sir. - All right. We've got these two guys here. Welcome, welcome fellas to the station, the program. The other page video brought to you by Triad Veterans League. How's it going for you today? - Very good, looking forward to this video to put in to you. - Well, if you're looking forward since you said it like that, Bobby, gonna let you start it off and tell us what's going on. Tell us what's going on with your program. 'Cause I wanna thank you for your years of dedication to Video Street and to our community. Let me get that in there. But tell us a little bit about, is it re-entry program you're speaking about today? - Yes, I would like to give some information about my department itself, that we work for the men and women of the department and also community relations. And we are very much involved in the number one service that we try to focus on in the re-entry program for the men and woman that's coming out of prison, because many a times they will come out of prison blindfolded and all our responsibilities to make sure to try to open their eyes, to try to be there for them, to try to number one, look after they help. Number two, try to see what we can do to make it a lot easier for them into society, because it's very difficult for you to come out when all you are having it. They are telling you what to do, when to do it and how to do it. Now, once they come to our office to them and really straight, we are looking forward to talking to them to find out what they are, what their needs, trying to hear them talk and also trying to make sure that we take care of the health, behavior health, mental health, and any other services that they present to us that they are in need of. Many of the time is they are seeking, like for example, mental health in which we offer that to them, they are seeking identity identity, or they are seeking transportation how to get around. Some of them is seeking a job that is very, very important and very sick in housing. Every one of these services is what we try to help them. In addition to that, we also work with everyone, and we have what we call, we work directly with mass health, in which if we do not have an insurance, we are going to make sure that you have one. It doesn't really work with the re-enter program, but a lot of these new commerce that it's coming into, the Boston, and a lot of them come to weirder. Matter of fact, just this morning alone, today alone we had over 30 new commerce that we've been working with. And the majority of them is from the Asian community, and we also work with them from South America. And we have what we call a third no one away, and also leave no one behind. I do not know the word no, and that is exactly what all of my workers and employees know, not to say that word no. Once you walk into weirder, you're welcome. You are a family, and we're going to try the best we can to make sure you receive the ultimate services that we have available to you. If we at Weirder cannot do it, we're going to find a way with our partners, and we are not going to have them walk out and just go to the locations or to our partners, we are going to make an appointment. We're going to get a time. We're going to know the name of the individual. Who's they going to be visiting, and who's still going to be talking to to make sure that when they arrive, this is my name is Aksen. I'm looking for this person, you know? And that is a good part of it. We work with all of them, like the Coolish House, the Brook House, and we also visit, to the jail. We go to the Suffolk County House of Corrections. We go to Nashville Street. We go to Dennham. We go to Cambridge. And in turn, they sent us many and released individuals from New York, Philadelphia. It doesn't matter where, they always send them to Weirder. - I told you people, I told you, I told you all when I introduced this man, Bob Edwards, I told you that he was on pretty street. They are not new to this game. They are true to this game. The work that they have done in this community over the last 20 years that I know of has been fantastic and it's ever growing. My goodness gracious, we're gonna strip it right over there to Brother Brighton. Let him tell us why he's here today. But right tell us a little bit about this special project, if you will. - Yeah, thank you so much. Much of what Bob has said. And I wanna introduce another subject regarding the research that is happening at Weit here. So saving our diverse population, we have a kidney disease research that is currently going on at Weit here. And this research is interested in people of African ancestry who it turns out that they are more susceptible or they have the likelihood of developing kidney disease and a severe form of kidney disease that using their conversion or, or I should say using their available treatment pathways, they do not benefit significantly from that compared to other people. So what we are doing is that too, is a clinical trial or a study to investigate a new drug on the market that is being designed specifically for people of African ancestry who have kidney disease to delay or to stop the progression of kidney disease or rather moving from mild to a severe form of kidney disease. So for this project, we are looking for individuals of African ancestry who have established kidney disease diagnosis or they were not confirmed, but they are suspected to have kidney disease and they are aged between 10 and 65 and they will be enrolled in the research program receiving a new medication that may prove to be really fundamental in the care of kidney disease for people of African ancestry in the future. All right, we're gonna take a little break right now, we'll be right back with our Whittier Street community health team. By the way, they're number 617-427-1000, 617-427-1000. And don't forget the name, Bob Edwards. - The Oscar Michonne Family Theater Program Company welcomes those seeking to learn about theater and performance. We offer classes that bring out your talent and improve it. Want to get involved in theater production, acting, or singing? Then you can visit our website at bomtc.com. That's T-H-E-O-M-T-C.com. - Folks, I just wanna say to you out there, again, we appreciate you listening to us and following up on the Oscar Michonne Family Theater Program company that also gives me an opportunity to tell you about an Open Theater audition that we're planning to have very soon. And if you're interested, if you can sing, if you have any theater skills, not just for the stage, but also some technicals, 857-204-5312. That is for you to consider using, if you want to be involved in a community-based theater company who has over 25 years of theater performance using the history of the African-American contribution to this country starting in theater, the Harlem Renaissance era. The Harlem Renaissance era was and is an explosion of determination of African-Americans who refused to give up on themselves and not challenge the racism that was going on, that kept us from getting on the stage. And people would put black paint on their faces to portray black people and deny us the opportunity to perform on the stage. Since that time, our history has been a revealing situation in that we know of people such as Paul Langston Hughes, Langston Hughes, I'm sorry. Langston Hughes, Harlem Neil Hurston, Satchmo, so many people have went on that stage and turned it around, Duke Ellington, and moved us forward. So again, if you're interested in theater, eight, five, seven, two, zero, four, five, three, one, two, it is for you. Back to our guest today. Brother Bright, you know you were talking about this experience of clinical trials, if you will. I think you mentioned medication being introduced for people that are prone to have kidney problems. Now, kidney problems, that comes from, you could have that with diabetes, is that right? - Yes, that's correct. - Right, and diabetes, and you can also get it from alcohol abuse, is that right? - That's correct. - Right, and so one of the processes of treating, and tell me if I'm wrong, kidney situation, it's the dialysis, is that right? - Yes, that's right. - Okay, so now, does this mean that the people that would be involved, if they come to Williams Street, could they still be on the dialysis machine? - Yeah. - Do you know? - You make a very good question. So to give you a more comprehensive answer, for people of African ancestry, and by saying that, I don't only mean to say black people, but also Afro-Caribbean people, Latino people, they have some of them, or some of us, have a genetic mutation that happened way back for several reasons, as people were moving from the African continent and being exposed to a certain form of disease called stripping sickness. So that mutation increases the likelihood for people of African ancestry, black Afro-Caribbean and Latino, to developing a specific form of kidney disease. - So you, so correct me if I'm wrong now, because we got, listen, audience, and they need to know this information. - Thank you. - This is a situation talking, when you say what you just said in the last statement, you said that transferring from one place to another place might contribute to a mutation. - So actually, the mutation happened as people were being exposed to a slipping sickness back in the African continent, if you will. But now, why is that mentioning that important, right? - Mentioning that is important, because when you talk about a mutation, it doesn't have to be me being exposed now, but I could get it from an exposure that happened to my parents, maybe a different generation that is no longer with us today. So it could be a genetic issue that is being passed on from one generation to another, but the mutation happened way back. And this is why we are not just looking at black people, but also everyone who is of African ancestry, including Afro-Caribbean and Latino. - Right, so I don't want to confuse our audience. - Yeah. - But hereditary is a part of that. - That's correct. - Thank you. - We could put it that way for easy understanding. - Right, right, we want to make sure, because if you look at the African diaspora, which was the transporting of people from freedom to capture, chained and put in the bottom of ships, et cetera, and going through those stressful situations and stuff like that, affecting DNA as well. The scattering of the people went to Brazil and went to the Caribbean and different places that we call septic countries, but they are related because of the diaspora experience you know, a lot of people that are in Brazil, their source, their ancestors came from Africa. And with the rates of our women producing people of different skin colors, and speaking the language of their captures, instead of speaking the language that was original, we can hook that up and find the kindred factor that deals with this hereditary situation that you're dealing with with the kidneys, is that right? - Oh man, yeah, you have just literally explained the better what being of African ancestry means, and it could not be explained better than that, so thank you so much for that. - Right, right, we want to make sure that we understand that we got cousins (laughs) and different places, but they might have different places, but they still, some kind of stuff. I just want to give back to you, Bob, and again, I think you're so very much coming in today because this re-entry service that you present, it's so, it's, you know, people need to come over the wheel just for lessons that say that they're involved in re-entry, because I remember, Bob, when we were down the street from where we are now to meet in the big building, right? - That's right. - And so, the president used to have these meetings, these weekly meetings, and talking about how do we help the people that are getting ready to come out of jail, and I'm telling you, some of those brothers, when they got to be in the environment of with you, in the service providers, and learning, and being in coverage, and that's the key thing that we need to do, Bob, is what you're doing. It's teaching people how to feel worthy and not feel worthless. - That's right, because what we have, many of the men and women have spent over 15, 10 years, 15. We have hired a man that's 17, 20 years, and some of them just walk into the wheel here, and he said, "I just do not know what I'm doing here. "This place has changed so much." And what people say to them, "Okay, and don't worry about it. "We will work with you to bring you up-to-date on everything." But first, let us try to do it one step at a time, and see how we can do to get your-- - I know, guys, I know people that have benefited greatly, greatly from getting the kind of encouragement that you guys have been giving off for years. You know, there's no dismal picture. If you put something in the pot, and you want to eat, you got to work with it. You know, you give them the ingredients to build themselves spiritually. See, I think that it's important that people understand the spiritual connection. You don't get spiritual connection, and I'm not trying to downgrade the church, but you don't get spiritual connection from the church. You get spiritually connected when you're in an environment where people really take a personal interest in you. - That's right. - Those guys that I know, Bob and Brother Bright, that went to this program that the president was building, they began to work, get jobs, working in the field, out in the street meeting people that had some of the same issues that they had at one time. And what they got was a taste of reality by seeing these men and women out there in the field working and telling them their story, which was not to talk about it, but just to do it. What do you need? And now, you're telling us that this morning, there were 30 people, 30 individuals coming to footy a street to be served. - There were all newcomers, and as you know, at this moment, a lot of the shelters are closed down, and there are a lot of them are sleeping like on the street and things like that. And one of the other thing that we have been doing is trying to see what we can do and speak to some of the other consulars, to give some of them what our ideas of what we think can help these individuals. And we have what we call an incentive program, also where they can come in in the morning, and we will give them a lunch in, or we'll give them breakfast. And we also have television, we have nurses, we have a different kind of program that we would educate them. We have also where we work directly with Boston and legal services, where we can help them with the issue with immigration. We work directly with different hospital, that if it's something that we cannot be done here at the city's head center, where we can recommend them where to go. You know, as I mentioned to you before, we do not know the word now, and we do not know the word. We cannot, or we cannot know the word, you know. - An opportunity to get this information, I'm gonna give you this number again, folks at 617-427-1000, I believe, for Williams Street. We're here at WBCALP, 102.9 FM Boston. Boston's community radio station brought to you by Triad Veteran's League in association with being in media station. - Little frog in boiling water and it'll jump right out. But put a frog in cool water and slowly heat it up. That frog will boil. As veterans, we tell ourselves the lie, that we can handle anything. We let the water boil. You are not a frog. If you or a veteran you know needs support, don't wait. Reach out. Find resources at va.gov/reach. That's va.gov/reach. Brought to you by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the Ad Council. - Are you a veteran, or do you know a veteran who is struggling with housing due to COVID-19? Veteran Zinc can help provide support services, including assistance with rent, deposits, utilities, as well as emergency housing, including hotel stays to eligible struggling veterans. If you or someone you know is in need of services, please call 1-800-482-2565, or go online to www.veteransinc.org. - Back here on the other page, Veterans Program folks, I just want to again acknowledge the leadership and the teamwork involved when you go to Wydia Street, because they do work with veterans. They have a strong program for working with veterans. I can't think of the late Beth Williams, Elizabeth Williams who was a part of that veterans project called Beyond the Uniform, and her and President Federica M. Williams embraced the program to help the veterans and they continue in to do that. We need all the support for veterans that we can get, and that's not just for housing. You know Bob, of course housing is important, but the mental attitude of wanting to be better, to not let the past hold you back. You know I think that's one of the most encouraging things that I find about Wydia Street is how they help people make their adjustments and not feel less than. And feel as though they can make a contribution, and they are making a contribution. You know a lot of them coming out, don't go back. A lot of them come out, don't go back because of what they encounter when they get involved, and you know you just told people, you said look, when you come out we get you a mass health card. So why do you need a mass health card? Why don't you need a mass health card? Why don't you need this? Why don't you need that? Now you reshaping the thinking process. You're making the people understand Bob that this is what you need if you want to stay out here. Nobody's coming to save us. Wydia Street is helping you to save yourself. That's always happening. And I'm encouraged myself when I see that kind of activity going on, and building, building the health safety for the entire community. And that is not an easy job. Because you've got a lot of politicians that are just that, politicians. They're not involved, and I'm not trying to put you in the spot. This is for me to them. Understand that I wrote a paper today, Bob, Brother Bright, I had to make a comment on the closing of Connie Hospital. And I said about the Haitian people. Haiti was a country that fought the French for their own freedom. Revolution. Haitian Revolution made them a free people. The first people to be free. Black, African descent in the Western Hemisphere. This place called Haiti is a beautiful place. I've never been there, but I've seen pictures about the Bob. And I know the history of how Americans went down there and used the land and used the labor to enrich themselves, but not the entire population that was in Haiti. And it's gone on for years and years and years to its poverty everywhere, violence everywhere. People trying to get out, can't get out, living in trauma and drama. Playing them to this country called America, coming through the South Mexico area, coming that way. And as people say, no, you can't come in. Well, your country, mean in America, was involved in putting us in a situation where we could not live in safety, grow our country, and become the country that we thought we were going to become during the revolution. If you've taken everything away from these people, they come and pull to this country because we made them pull. And then you take those small businesses and companies that went down there in some of those countries and had fruit and got wealthy, real wealthy, put in governments that was for them and not for the people. And they come up and say, we need a place to stay. We need a place to live. Because you made it happen that we are now in progress. You made that happen. You have established a history of leaving us out. You took our governments and you twisted our economy so that we wouldn't have anything. When you look at some of those companies that are now international companies that fund some of these politicians that don't want us into the country, you just can't say no until you really understand the dynamics of why the people are here, my point. They recently decided to close Connie Hospital. Connie Hospital had 85 mental health beds. Had they been thinking about the people that are here now from these countries that have lived through the trauma and the trauma and their inability to cope with the mental stress, they could open that hospital up for that, to take care of the mental health strains that these people are bringing and walking around in our community without getting any kind of treatment. What do our elected officials do? Nothing. The only one that spoke us that I'm told was Nick Collins. If we don't save ourselves, nobody will. They are not us, we are not them. We must learn who we are so that we can be about the business of creating a safe of people. That's all I'm saying. That was my point. They should not have closed the Connie Hospital. It's too much mental health stresses in our community, and it's growing because we're not taking care of our people. And then you look at an organization, a health organization like Witya Street, and the work that they are doing reminds me of David slaying the Philistine with a slingshot and one stone. They didn't give up. They don't give up. You're talking today about kidneys. You're talking today about cancer. You're talking about affiliations, all based on the needs of care and share. It's the other page, Radio. My name's Abel Fennell, I guess today, Bob. Hey, what's my good friend? I saw I took up so much time, brother Mike. I just, I was bright. I just had to get that in there. But go in on and tell me, Bob, what's up, what we got up now? Hey, I just wanted to also let it be known about a national recovery that in this September is what we call national recovery month. Oh, really? Yes, and we are having an event of September 18. It takes a village to find the opioid crisis. The recovery journey isn't just for person with the substance abuse or with mental health, but it also includes those who cares about them. So, you know, we are encouraging everyone to please protect in this event that we are having on the 18th. The registry has sent her 12.9 to treatment straight, and it's from 12.9 to 2 p.m., lunch will be served. In addition, we also have a program that we work directly with Reverend Hodgson, and we call it the Blueprint. The Blueprint is a program that we train you in roofing, carpentry, drywall, taping, and painting. And during that period of time that they are training you, you receive a stipend money in which to help you. And when the graduation, they have to find your jobs. You know, this program, just last month, we had three individuals from Haiti that graduated, and they are presently working. We had an individual from Venezuela that got a job, and we had three African-American individuals that also graduated, and they are working, presently working. So we just want to know that a failure is for everyone. It doesn't matter where you're from, who you are, where you came from. It doesn't matter to us. However, the partners speak six different languages, so that to make sure that once you come to us, you know, it doesn't matter, you know, if you don't speak English, it doesn't matter to us. We are going to serve you, and we will be there for you. In reference to, excuse me, reference to the cancer, I just wanted to say in addition to one of the cancer between the African-American and Latino is the prostate cancer, the colon cancer. You know, and we do have programs. We also have different, and like the last Friday of every month, we have different programs that we just recently had center, and we can always give us a call and let us know what is the topic for those programs. We have what we call the support group also. The support group is for mainly the re-entry program, because once you come out, you're looking for someone to support you. You're not looking for someone to keep you back. So we have them to look forward and never to look back. So I got in a rugby bar, I really got in a rugby bar. Because you're giving us so much information, and I'm so happy to hear you deliver that information. In the September of the 18th event, I'm definitely going to be there just to encourage people and people who can see me. You know, because what I do is I'm in the healing business. You know, and I work very hard for my recovery. I pray a lot, you know, not just for myself, but for other people. And I know that I have benefited from other people's prayers, so I got to pray to stay, you know. And knowing that on the 18th of September between the hours of 2 and 4, my friend Emmanuel Hutchinson. And I remember, Bob, you told me that he was going to be coming, you know, at one of your other events. But I've been knowing that brother quite a long time, man. And the church that he belongs to. And I know the spirit, here we go with that word again, brother Bright, the spirit is in that group. It's in your process, Bob. And I know that it's going to be successful. Because remember, when we were down in the other buildings, where the state was down there with the licenses, the registry, and all of that, it started off with like one seed. But what people have to understand is that a seed is not a seed. A seed is an orchard, and it multiplies, and it grows. And because of the truth that's involved in what you guys started, look where we are today. We're talking about going into jails and prisons and caring the word. You can be somebody. All you got to do, get with the program. Now, brother Bright, your presentation so far has encouraged me to ask you to come back at some point in time to give us the update on how it's going and how we here at the other page, radio can help you get more people involved. Because like I said earlier, when we opened the program, we talked about stress, being a contributing factor to our health. And I know that a lot of people that go on that dialysis machine, they are stressed beyond, and they didn't even know it. And so I'm hoping that somebody here today is listening to what we're talking about, about your project, and if not themselves, maybe a relative could benefit from coming over to see you. Yeah, you make a very good point there. I just want to pick on something you said earlier regarding diabetes and kidney disease, to say that's very true, that diabetes causes kidney disease. And when you have that, your primary care provider knows how to manage you, which is to manage diabetes, and also to manage your kidney disease. But when you have the mutation that we are talking about here, so far there aren't many treatment options, and you could be part of a process of developing that option. So my question is, are you black? Are you Afro-Caribbean? Are you Latino? And are you experiencing a kidney problem? Or could you be at the risk of developing a kidney problem? It doesn't have to be you alone. Is it your relative? Is it your cousin? Is it your anyone who you are close to that you know? They are of African ancestry, and they have a kidney disease. They are aged between the ages of 10 to 65. You could qualify for this study. And you can come to the wheat year street of the centre at 1290 at Fremont Street, or you can also reach me directly on a cell, 617-989-3267. Set it number again, 617-989-3267. And we can have an opportunity to discuss more about the study that is going on, so that we indeed together wake hand-in-hand in fighting kidney disease. We're trying to provide information to save your life or make your life better, folks. And when I answer these numbers and you are home, it doesn't have to be for you if you don't have kidney threats. It could be for somebody you know. And you should take down this information about reentry as well. Bob, do you have a direct number that they can call? Oh, yes, my direct number 617-989-3028. Could you say it again, Bob? 617-989-3028. So you can call those numbers, folks, because it's a lot of things that can't be prevented if you go the right way. Here's an organization, a health organization that's been meeting the challenges for quite some time now. And I'm very happy to be affiliated with them. And I know I'm speaking for a lot of different people, Bob and Brother Bright, when I say that. A lot of people have benefited from the treatment and the compassion that's been shown to the community. And it hasn't always been that way in the growth process because people were challenging the president and what she was trying to do. And she rode with the punches, you know, like Joe Lewis set them up for you to knock them out. You know, and she knocked out a lot of resistance and people have come in, you know, and Bob just told you that we've got a multiplicity of languages that are spoken there. So don't think because you maybe speak Arabic or someone of the kind of language that we can't fill that in. You can talk to us. And a lot of health institutions do not have that. And when you can tell a person how you could feel in your native language, that reduces a lot of the tension that makes your person wanting to talk about what is going on because they can go to places that have been around a while and they're not close to these sensitive like, "What do you see this?" And they don't get the treatment that they're supposed to get. I'm telling you, I got to get up early in the morning when I go over there, if I'm driving my car, because that parking lot is filled. It's always a lot of people coming there getting served. Let's stay macho, we got pharmacies in the community now, we got drop off and pick ups. Just call. That number say, "I got to schedule a appointment today and I don't have a ride." You got a ride. You got the memorabilia machine that goes around in the community. You was working there with COVID-19 all over the town, helping people. I went in there and got my test and it was long lines there, Bob. That's right. Long lines there. I'm talking about Whittier Street. I'm talking about strong leadership, getting people to understand that we deserve good health care. You know Bob, you know Brother Bright, when you get good health care and you know a place where you can get it, you're not as worried as you are when you're not sure about going to one of those other places without calling the name. Will I have to wait all day? No. I see people come in, sit there and there's somebody who come from say, "Call their name, BAM." They're out of there. They've been taken care of. They got a new appointment. You go to some of these places, you might be there for four hours before you see the doctor. I went to a place where I called the name and it was so filled up with people that wasn't even ill, they just needed a place to stay overnight. I thanked the nurse and said, "I'll go to Whittier because I'm there." So folks, when you think about Whittier, you think about an institution that cares about you? Bob, how long you been there now? Ten years. Oh, so you can get a vacation. I just wanted to mention in addition to the services, we also have a food pantry and that is for everyone in general. You know, it doesn't matter, you know, if you're a patient or not a patient, you can just please feel free to come and we would give you something. I'm telling you, man, that lady is like an angel with a bunch of other angels around her. She's always moving, brother bright. She's always doing things in the community that we didn't even think about. She's thinking about. And that's what we've got to have in our community because it's changing right before our very eyes. And if you don't have a centralized place for your healthcare where people are going to take care of you, look, today you're talking about kidney program, introducing a new kind of medication. I'm hoping that people will come as a direct result of what you say on this program because we need that kind of information. We need to know that there's some people that's got some medications that might help us or help somebody we know. We need to know that when we come in out of prison, we don't have to wait until we get on the actual sidewalk. We got people that's coming into the prison and telling them about what kind of services who do you is involved in. That takes a lot of stress on people when they know that they can go someplace and start the journey to really recover. We need to be mindful that on September the 18th, between the hours and 2 and 4 p.m., Emmanuel Hudson is going to be presenting a program. And the program is a successful program. You just got to be willing to spend the time and don't go in there playing and thinking everybody's going to take care of you like you some kid. Because I've been working in mental health. I know how people kind of shirk and try to push off their responsibility, but they don't play with you. So if you're going to play, you better go to the playground. This is the other page, Radio brought to you by Triad Veterans League WBCALP 102.9 FM will be right back. Are you a veteran or do you know a veteran who is struggling with housing due to COVID-19? Veteran Zinc can help provide support services including assistance with rent, deposits, utilities as well as emergency housing including hotel stays to eligible struggling veterans. If you or someone you know is in need of services, please call 1-800-482-2565 or go online to www.veteransinc.org. Put a frog in boiling water and it will jump right out. But put a frog in cool water and slowly heat it up. That frog will boil. As veterans, we tell ourselves the lie that we can handle anything. We let the water boil. You are not a frog. If you or a veteran you know needs support, don't wait. Reach out. Find resources at v8.gov/reach. Brought to you by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the Ad Council. Folks you know I got to say how grateful I am to have people in my life. I mean you know in the last 30 years God has presented me with so many opportunities, so many people you know and I'm really grateful I want to just talk a little bit about the United States commemorative stamp series project that Triad Veterans League is leading. It is a national and scope strategy to get some images from the calendar that we created to teach people about the contributions of the African American from the American Revolution up to the American World War II with the Tuskegee airman two pitches in that exhibit of the Tuskegee airman. This project came about because I wanted to teach people about the contributions of African Americans in the United States military because it is so underreported. And we had this art exhibit created by Generatius Incorporated, we commissioned them, we paid for that. And we took this exhibit to Worcester was one of the places in USA's Congressman James McGovern saw that he was within Governor Charlie Baker and some other notables from Worcester. And he said I think that this should be a commemorative stamp. And we didn't jump on it right away you know maybe a year or two went by and we created a calendar from these images. And so what we did after we created the calendar we created a veterans reading brigade because kids don't learn if they can't read. And we thought that teaching them about the contributions of the African American veterans since the American Revolution when they didn't even want to give us uniforms, much less guns. And we fought the free America with the American Revolution. We fought in the silver wall, we fought all over the world for other people's freedoms and we still are not free. So what this commemorated stamp series is all about is that we're going to take the signatures that we collect along with the support letters. And we are going to send them to the United States Postal Service, the department that deals with commemorated stamp applications and the first of the year. We have a couple of events come in, we have the support of the William Joiner Institute and the William Monroe Trotter Institute at UMass Boston where I graduated from. And so you're going to be hearing about that on this radio program, on our television program where you can see the images and talk to some of the people that we're involved in. And we're going to thank Whittier Street President for making the contributions, she's always doing something to help the veterans. And I wanted to get that in there to let you know that Whittier Street is community-based and it cares about the community. She made a donation when I requested a donation, and during that time I was the chairman of the General Avid O. Gordon's statue committee, we were able to get a statue put up on August the 1st, 2023. I have since resigned that position because I'm now working with the commemorated stamp and also I'm preparing our theater company for the year 2024 and 25 performance season. But none of these things could I have done by myself and they'll tell you that you can't get to a good place by yourself. Whittier Street brothers, you guys stand for a whole lot. And I want to thank you for coming in today and say, you know you got to come back. Bobby got to hear more about the progress that you're making with our men and women. Don't forget the women now. Oh, I just want to make a correction. Go ahead. The event that is going to be held on September 18th, it's a sponsored by the behavioral health department of Whittier Street Head Center and the event for the blueprint is sponsored by Reverend Hodgson. And so I just wanted to make sure. You're including them? Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's good. And also, you know, everyone is welcome and please, as I mentioned before, it's not only for those with substance abuse, but also those, not all the parents, the sisters, the brothers, those who cares about men and women that is under the influence because we never know the more it's promised to know one. That's right. Well, you know, it's been real good. Brother Bright, you want to say a few more words for me? Yeah, absolutely. I just want to emphasize that if you are of African ancestry and that is Black, Afro-Calibian and Latino and you are experiencing kidney problems or you are at least of developing kidney problems. It doesn't have to be you. It could be someone you know, your cousin, your relation, and you are aged between the age of 10 and 65. You could qualify for a life-changing clinical research on 617-989-327. And we are going to have a talk and you are going to make an informed decision and potentially participate in this study. Thank you. Go on, oh, it's such a wonderful time. Folks, I just again want to say that we do need those singers and we do need those people that are interested in being in our theatre program's website, t-h-e-o-m-t-c.com. t-h-e-o-m-t-c.com because we are looking to make a difference in how you think about who you are. This has been a great show. Tri-Vetterman League salutes all the veterans. We thank Whittier Street for coming out today, Brother Bright and Brother Bob and sharing the information and don't forget, 617-427-1000 is the general information number for Whittier Street. Thank you so much. Have a good day and God bless you. Thank you. Thank you. [music]