Category Archives: Uncategorized

In Like a Lamb: Out Like a Lion

Posted on by

Yes, this is a flipped version of the quote meteorologists use to describe March. Prior to Spring Break MSPS club activities were invisible. The statement reflects how MSPS clubs impacted the Notre Dame and Michiana communities after the break. I had the pleasure of witnessing the multiple talents of our students in the 2015 Luau sponsored by the Hawai`I Club. More than 200 students from the surrounding universities/colleges and cities were immersed in Hawaiian culture ranging from performances to cuisine. It was a pleasurable escape from the sunny yet blistery day.

The following week Shades of Ebony held their Women’s Week Celebration in conjunction with the Gender Relations Center. The week was filled with panel discussions, events including local middle and high school students and their annual dinner.  Dr. Eleanor Walker (`84), Haley Scott DeMaria (`95), and Amanda Peña (`15) shared their experiences as women pursuing their Notre Dame degrees.  They acknowledged the foresight of Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C. to make Notre Dame a co-educational institution and enriched the experiences of those who attended.

The Latino Student Alliance continued the global excursion with the 2015 Latin Expressions Raíces: return to our roots. The audience viewed the Latino Diaspora through the lens of the hosts, who were role playing as prospective students on a campus visit. The audience was engaged and joined the performers on the stage during the closing song. Congratulations to Erik Mendoza and Nidia Ruelas 2015 Julian Samora Scholarship recipients, who were selected after a rigorous interview process and review of their involvement in the Notre Dame and Latino communities. The Hispanic Alumni Board announced the winners at Latin X.

The Black Cultural Arts Council ended the month with their signature fashion show, “Risqué.” Sheldon Day, Marquis Dickerson and Mario Berkley navigated the audience through the world fashion that challenged the senses. The audience rocked to the music and were delighted by spring fashions and entertained by the re-visioning of the infamous Tom Cruise scene from Risky Business. The Black Alumni of Notre Dame presented eight of the fourteen Frazier Thompson Scholarships at the event. Congratulations to the 2015- 2015 recipients:  Derek Bland, Chizo Ekechukwu, Patricia Ekwueme, Kereknaan Fiannaan, Ashley Henry, Ray`Von Jones, Anna Kiely, Lena Madison, Alexandra Rice, Francesca Simon, Trenton Templeton, Amber Thomas, Aaron Vernon, and Steven Waller. These students met the academic requirements and have been actively involved in the African American and Notre Dame communities.

The 29th Annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet highlighted the achievements of MSPS constituents who have made a significant impact on the Notre Dame community. We would like to acknowledge the winners also:  Irish Clover Award – Hermana Abera; Student Leadership Awards – Demetrius Murphy, Ally Kwun, Reagan Li, Deandra Cadet; John W. Gardner Student Leadership Award – Christina Guiterrez;  Mike Russo Spirit Award – Lauren Vidal; Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C. Award – Matthew Wong; and Rev. A Leonard Collins , C.S.C. Award –Juan Rangel.  The last three are the highest Student Affairs Awards given to undergraduate students. Kudos to all the winners and numerous nominees. It was an honor to see these students recognized in the presence of faculty, administrators and their peers.

April has several major events occurring to keep the campus engaged. April 11 – Wabruda’s Black Man’s Think Tank – Finding Your Passion, FASO – 2015 Fiestang KAPAMILYA of the same family, April 17 – Shades’ Skating Party, and  April 18 – Voices of Faith Spring Concert; PFresh Show. Please support these clubs by coming and bring a friend or two.

Lastly, Welcome the Spring Weather. Look forward to seeing you at these events and on campus.

Peace,

Ms. Iris  

3 Facts about Black Women and Depression

Featured

Posted on by


black-women-depression

Depression is a massive health concern among African-Americans — particularly women — but mental health is rarely discussed in the African American community. Since mental health is such a taboo subject in the African-American community, we are the least likely group to be treated or to seek treatment for depression. We are also less likely than other groups to even acknowledge it as a serious problem because of the shame and embarrassment that it can cause.

Statistics report that:

  • Adult blacks are 20 percent more likely to report serious psychological distress than adult whites.
  • Adult blacks living below poverty are two to three times more likely to report serious psychological distress than those living above poverty.
  • Adult blacks are more likely to have feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness than are adult whites.
  • And while blacks are less likely than whites to die from suicide as teenagers, black teenagers are more likely to attempt suicide than are white teenagers (8.2 percent v. 6.3 percent)

In 2010, African American women reported feeling sad more than 1.6 times more than Non-Hispanic White women. Two of the criteria for major depression are a loss of interest or pleasure in things that used to be enjoyable and loss of energy. As a result,  African American women are 1.7 times more likely than White women to report that everything is an effort all of the time. So, African American women are more sad, experience less pleasure and expend great energy just to get thru the day. What a horrible way to live! The quality of life has to improve for African American women.

Fact: Depression is treatable.

Even with the large disparities in depression, the CDC finds that just 7.6 percent of African-Americans sought treatment for depression compared to 13.6 percent of the general population in 2011. Thus, African American women are suffering in silence and refusing to seek treatment. Psychotherapy is an option, but so are acupuncture, meditation, medication and dietary changes. There are various options to treat depression, and it may take more than one tactic to alleviate the symptoms.

Fact: You do not have to live with it.

Depression is an illness just like asthma. Would you go to work each day without your inhaler? No, you would utilize the resources that you have to maintain your health. So, why is seeing a counselor or getting prescribed anti-depressant medication any different?

Fact: There are African American mental health professionals and physicians that can assist you in your community.

Check your local listings for counselors, psychologists and social workers. Check the yellow pages, local psychological associations and websites in your area. Search the Association of Black Psychologists website and find your local chapter. Begin there to find African American psychologists that treat depression or other mood disorders.

‘YOUTH OF COLOR’ VOTING STILL CRITICAL IN COMPETITIVE POLITICAL RACES

Posted on by

‘Youth of Color’ Voting Still Critical in Competitive Political Races

Story tools

Comments

AAAResize

Print

Share and Email

New America Media, News Report, Khalil Abdullah, Posted: Oct 08, 2014
Youth voter turnout in North Carolina, including a sizeable segment of ethnic voters, will play a critical role in determining whether Democratic incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan retains her seat against Republican challenger, state House Speaker Thom Tillis, according to data on the voting patterns of youth of color.

“The issue of the youth vote in North Carolina is related to but not identical to issues of race and ethnicity, but North Carolina’s young voters, ages 18 to 30 years old, are more diverse than its older voters. So who votes in this November’s election will be important to the outcome,” said Peter Levine, the director of the Center for Information & Research on Civic and Learning Engagement (CIRCLE), a nonpartisan institute based at Tufts University in Massachusetts.

In addition to North Carolina, states where the youth vote could affect the outcome in November’s competitive political races include Alaska, Colorado, and Louisiana, according to an analysis CIRCLE released in August. CIRCLE’s data on African American, Asian American, and Hispanic youth show the complexities at play in ways that may challenge common assumptions about what motivates youth to become civically engaged or affiliate with a political party.

For example, the data show “a significant percentage of African American men more often identify as conservatives, given the choice of ‘are you a liberal, moderate, or conservative,’” Levine said, as opposed to African American women, who more often tend to self-identify as liberal. Gender differences are not only apparent in choice of political party, but in how they view their personal involvement.

Though young women of color have typically higher rates of civic engagement than men as measured by volunteerism, they are “still less likely to see themselves as political leaders,” Levine said, adding that this view is fairly consistent with women across all ethnic groups.

The contrasts between different groups of youth can be striking. Data from 2010 shows that nearly 40 percent of young Latinos are “civically alienated” in terms of voter registration and voter turnout, falling behind African American and white youth. Yet, young Latina women were among the strongest supporters of President Obama in 2012.

Asian American youth were the next largest group to be “civically alienated” (just over 30 percent), but they led all groups in terms of donations to political causes (17 percent).

The data illuminates the tension between the idealistic goal of broadening youth participation in politics and the need of political parties to win at the ballot box by devising ways to decrease support for their opponents. That is certainly the case in North Carolina where the youth vote surged in the 2008 presidential election but ebbed in the 2010 midterm election, resulting in a Republican-dominated legislature that has sought to impose limits on youth voting.

“The swing in the electorate from election to election is a fascinating story in North Carolina,” Levine said, “but it is really a story of youth engagement and participation in voting. North Carolina shows that the youth vote does matter in competitive races.”

Levine said the youth vote may be critical in Louisiana as well. African American youth comprise about 40 percent of the state’s approximately 300,000 voting-age citizens overall, though only about one-third of the voters. “That’s still a significant bloc of voters,” Levine said. Should they vote en masse for embattled Democrat Sen. Mary Landrieu, it could yield the margin of victory to propel her to another six-year term.

Louisiana underscores the stakes for Democrats in this midterm election as to whether their party can retain control of the U.S. Senate when the House of Representatives already has a Republican majority that can impede President Obama’s legislative agenda.

Levine’s observations are that the younger voters tend to be more liberal on social issues, like supporting gay rights or immigration reform, but that political operatives from either party shouldn’t take the youth vote for granted. “Youth of color voters have diverse interests, and as young people, their votes are often unpredictable,” he said.