African American Interests

Health Experts, Fashion Designers and Businesses Unite to Promote Black Women’s Heart Health

Author: Public Square Communications
Dateline: Thu, 24 Feb 2005

freeNewsArticles Story Summary: “WASHINGTON, DC /Send2Press Newswire/ -- Heart and Style: Sisters Living Long and Living Well, a one-day heart disease prevention conference and fair aims to combat high risk of heart disease among African American women with a healthy dose of education, fashion and style. Produced by Public Square Communications in partnership with the Office on Women's Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Heart and Style is being held in observance of February's American Heart Month.”



A R T I C L E:

Heart and Style Conference, Fair and Red Dress Fashion Show, February 25-26

WASHINGTON, DC /Send2Press Newswire/ -- Heart and Style: Sisters Living Long and Living Well, a one-day heart disease prevention conference and fair aims to combat high risk of heart disease among African American women with a healthy dose of education, fashion and style. Produced by Public Square Communications in partnership with the Office on Women's Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Heart and Style is being held in observance of February's American Heart Month.




HIGHLIGHTS and VISUALS:

* Red Dress Fashion Show featuring designs from DC and New York-based fashion designers

* Workshops with media personalities and women's health experts including:

Heart and Style Honorary Chairs: Blanche Williams, host of Greatness by Design on XM Satellite Radio and Angela Russell, WJLA/ABC 7 news; "Dr. Ro" Rovenia Brock, Ph.D, nutritionist and author; Dr. Andrea Pennington, author and president of the Pennington Institute for Health and Wellness; Wanda Bamberg Tia, Fitness Expert and producer of the WandaWoman Workout Series; Dr. Kim Singleton, author and psychologist; Angelique Shofar, Yoga Instructor and founder, The Spirit of Wellness; Dr. Wanda Minnis-Dyson, Change for Life Weight Loss; and Terri Carson, Wellness Coach, Warm Spirit, Inc.

* Heart Healthy Food Tasting by Whole Foods Market and Jasper's Restaurant

* Free makeovers by Sephora

* Free health screenings by Black Nurses Association

* Presentation of Mayor's Proclamation by Dr. Gregg Pane, Director of DC Department of Health


WHEN: Friday February 25, 2005, 9:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.

Wear Red Kick-Off Breakfast and Fashion Show Preview



Saturday February 26, 2005 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Heart and Style Conference and Fair featuring the Red Dress Fashion Show



WHERE: Sheraton Four Points Hotel

1201 K St NW, Washington, DC 20005



WHY: Heart disease disproportionately affects ethnic and racial minorities, with disparities in heart disease even more pronounced among African American women. Nationally, African American women are more likely to suffer from heart disease at an earlier age than white women and more likely to die of heart disease than other women. In the District of Columbia, heart disease is the leading cause of death for African American men and women.


More information: www.heartandstylewoman.com

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Copyright © 2005 by Public Square Communications and Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope® - all rights reserved. Information believed accurate but not guaranteed. Sourced on: freeNewsArticles.com.

Story Title: Health Experts, Fashion Designers and Businesses Unite to Promote Black Women's Heart Health
• REFERENCE KEYWORDS/TERMS: , , , , African American Interests, , , .

IMPORTANT NOTICE: some content which is considered "old" or "archival" may reference an event which has already occurred; some content possibly considered "advertorial" may also reference a promotion or time-limited/sensitive offering, and in all of these instances certain material may no longer be valid. For notably stale content, you should directly contact the company/person mentioned in the text (Public Square Communications); this site cannot assist you with information about products/services mentioned in the news article, nor handle any complaints or other issues related to any person/company mentioned or promoted in the above text. Information believed accurate but not guaranteed as of original date of story [Thu, 24 Feb 2005 15:06:00 GMT].

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African American Interests

Bringing African American History into America’s Homes and Schools: How One Entrepreneurial Business Takes on the Challenge

Author: GEEBEE Marketing, Inc.
Dateline: Fri, 28 Jan 2005

freeNewsArticles Story Summary: “HIGHLAND PARK, NJ /Send2Press Newswire/ -- When they first formed GEEBEE Marketing(R), Inc. in 1997, Gayle Brill Mittler and Robert Kersey, former colleagues in a large toy corporation, had one common vision: to create a complete line of games, toys, and puzzles that would bring the vast rich and diverse history of America's nearly 15,000,000 citizens of African American descent into homes and classrooms. ”



A R T I C L E:

Black Heritage Series(tm) Games and Puzzles, and Black History School Challenge Fund

HIGHLAND PARK, NJ /Send2Press Newswire/ -- When they first formed GEEBEE Marketing(R), Inc. in 1997, Gayle Brill Mittler and Robert Kersey, former colleagues in a large toy corporation, had one common vision: to create a complete line of games, toys, and puzzles that would bring the vast rich and diverse history of America's nearly 15,000,000 citizens of African American descent into homes and classrooms.



Photo Caption: Product image of 'Black Heritage Trivia Game.'

Today, the company's Black Heritage Series(tm) line includes three games and two puzzle assortments. The products are manufactured for GEEBEE Marketing, Inc. by the Pressman Toy Corporation of New Brunswick, New Jersey. The line is distributed by retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores, K-mart, Walgreen's, as well as gift and book stores across the country, online retailers and others. Its success has earned GEEBEE Marketing recognition as a leading marketer of ethnic products.

The company's games include: 1. My First Matching game, for ages 3-6 years, teaches about African American culture, 2. I Can Do Anything(tm) career path game, for ages 4-8 years, a board game that details the many different career opportunities available today, and 3. The Black Heritage Trivia game, for ages 8 through adult, with over 1200 questions on African American history and culture. The puzzle assortments include: Madame CJ Walker 24 piece puzzle, Elijah McCoy 24 piece puzzle, Buffalo Soldiers 100 piece puzzle, and Harriet Tubman 100 piece puzzle.

This year the Black Heritage Series will be featured in promotional main traffic areas during February in over 350 Wal-Mart Stores across the country.

"As an African American child growing up in America, I had to learn about my heritage by myself. Today I can help children grow up aware of the contributions African Americans have made to the development of our great country," said Robert Kersey, creator of the Black Heritage Trivia game.

"The Black Heritage Series is gaining a market share. The interest in black heritage is growing beyond just black families," reported Al Johnson, former manager of the Wal-Mart store in Princeton, New Jersey.

"It actually took us several years to convince retailers of the large potential market waiting for products like ours," said Gayle Brill Mittler, one of the founders of GEEBEE Marketing, Inc. "Today retailers more readily recognize the importance of the African American and other minority markets."

Brill Mittler did not stop her efforts to expand education of African American history with the success of their Black Heritage Series. In 2003, she founded The Black History School Challenge Fund, a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation. It is based in Highland Park, NJ. The Fund's initial mission was to introduce the Black History School Challenge Contest in schools as a means of gaining inclusion of African American history in public schools, at minimal cost (to the schools), and in a timely manner.

The Black History School Challenge Fund is comprised of educators, business people, and community leaders who are interested in ensuring the study of African American history throughout the school year. Ms. Rochelle Gray, a teacher in Piscataway, New Jersey schools created the Black History School Challenge Contest. The contest is based on the Black Heritage Trivia game's 1200 questions. Ms. Gray adapted the game for usage in in-school competitions. Members of the Fund procured corporate donations to award United States Savings Bond prizes to individual or team winners. Most of the funds donated to date have come from Pressman Toy Corporation and GEEBEE Marketing, Inc.

The first Black History School Challenge Contest was run in the Alexander Hamilton Middle School in Elizabeth, NJ in 2003. Students were divided into teams. Teams competed against each other in a "Brain Bowl" format. Their enthusiasm was overwhelming.

"I wished I'd taped the final game between the two 8th grade teams. It was absolutely wonderful and exciting. The two teams were so pumped up. They had banners and posters while rooting for their teams. You'd have thought it was an athletic event," said Ms. Gray.

After word of the successful event held in Elizabeth spread, the Fund was approached by several other school districts. Some of the contests have been run amongst 5th graders (Conerly Road School in Franklin, NJ), high school students (Project Grad students in Newark NJ), and 8th graders (Alexander Hamilton Middle School in Elizabeth NJ). The Fund now has a waiting list of schools hoping to participate in the program.

"Word is certainly spreading," said Gayle Brill Mittler. "We've been contacted by schools in New York and Virginia who want to participate in the program. This is exactly what we had hoped would happen. The goal is to bring African American history into the mainstream. To have all of our children learn it as a part of American history, not just in February, but all year-round."

Contact: Gayle Brill Mittler of GEEBEE Marketing, Inc. (732) 777-6033.

###


Copyright © 2005 by GEEBEE Marketing, Inc. and Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope® - all rights reserved. Information believed accurate but not guaranteed. Sourced on: freeNewsArticles.com.

Story Title: Bringing African American History into America's Homes and Schools: How One Entrepreneurial Business Takes on the Challenge
• REFERENCE KEYWORDS/TERMS: , , , , African American Interests, , , .

IMPORTANT NOTICE: some content which is considered "old" or "archival" may reference an event which has already occurred; some content possibly considered "advertorial" may also reference a promotion or time-limited/sensitive offering, and in all of these instances certain material may no longer be valid. For notably stale content, you should directly contact the company/person mentioned in the text (GEEBEE Marketing, Inc.); this site cannot assist you with information about products/services mentioned in the news article, nor handle any complaints or other issues related to any person/company mentioned or promoted in the above text. Information believed accurate but not guaranteed as of original date of story [Fri, 28 Jan 2005 17:38:00 GMT].

USE THIS CONTENT FOR FREE: To use this content in your newspaper, broadcast outlet, news portal, blog/ezine or similar, free of cost, CLICK HERE to learn how.