Faith Leaders, Medical Experts and Health Ministries Come Together in 3-Day Conference to the Address Health Issues and Socio-Economic Disparities in Inner City and Rural Areas across the USA

Inner city communities are in turmoil…a perfect storm brewing that requires a thoughtful strategic approach to complex questions. Low income families and individuals have long struggled with high rates of preventable and treatable diseases for years.  Poverty and food desserts are tremendous contributing factors to health outcomes in both urban and rural America. Community churches are key to turning around a neighborhood by playing a major role in promoting health and wellness among parishioners, along with having the profound ability to influence socio-economic, as well as physical and mental health issues.

Dr. Pernessa Seele, community activist, founder and CEO of The Balm in Gilead, Inc., announces the Healthy Churches 2020 Conference, November 4-6, 2015, at the Hilton Charlotte University Place in Charlotte, NC.  This 3-day national event brings together faith leaders, health directors, doctors, nurses and members of congregational-based health ministries to find answers to today’s complex questions and provide the information needed to help ease the troubling issues in our inner cities and third-world like rural areas.   Healthy Churches 2020 will offer education sessions and workshops on disease prevention, care and treatment in order to strengthen the knowledge and skills of people involved in faith-based health activities such as health ministries, annual church health fairs, community kitchens, faith-based clinics and other community health programs. This year’s host is former NBA star Earl “the Pearl” Monroe. 2015 Conference Chairpersons are world-renown medical experts James R.Gavin III, MD, PhD and Bishop Horace E. Smith, MD.   Organizers expect 350 – 400 attendees from across the country.

Named one of TIME magazine’s “Most Influential Persons in the World,” Dr. Pernessa Seele is an esteemed voice of authority who has worked with three U.S. presidential administrations on critical health issues domestically and abroad.  Dr. Seele is available for interviews to talk about the health problems in our inner cities and rural communities, what needs to be done, and how the Healthy Churches 2020 conference seeks to address them.

“African Americans are on life support when it comes to our health,” Dr. Seele states. “We must engage our faith institutions in promoting healthy behavior change; seeking medical attention and adherence to treatment. According to a recent Pew Research Poll, over 80% of African Americans are affiliated with a religion.  Engagement with local churches is the most effective way of reaching these people and create change in their lives.”

For over 26 years the Balm In Gilead has been working with faith institutions to address the health challenges of African Americans. “Oftentimes, the scientific facts about health issues cannot be understood by the people who they are intended for.  The Balm In Gilead develops a sustainable infrastructure within our congregations to become that community center for health promotion and disease prevention. We are killing our children with bad eating habits and lack of exercise.  Something needs to change!”

Healthy Churches 2020 is endorsed by multiple faith denominations and institutions: The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, The Conference of National Black Churches, The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Howard University School of Divinity, The National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology of Virginia Union University, Shaw University Divinity School, Virginia Council of Churches, Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society of the AMEZ Church and the Women’s Missionary Society of the CME Church.

The Balm In Gilead has been at the forefront of educational and training programs specifically designed to meet the unique needs of African American and African congregations that strive to become community centers for health education and disease prevention.

Healthy Churches 2020 is based on the goals and concepts of Healthy People 2020, federal government program. Conference sponsors have included: AARP, CVS Health and the National Council of Churches.  For information, registration and the list of speakers and presenters, visit healthychurches2020.org or call 888-225-6243. Follow the conference on Facebook: HealthyChurches2020, Twitter @HC2020 and Instagram @TheBalmInGilead.

ABOUT DR. PERNESSA SEELE: Even amid her litany of past accomplishments and honors as detailed below, Dr. Pernessa Seele remains a formidable force.  Her work has been endorsed by Elton John, Whoopi Goldberg, Shaquille O’Neal and many others. As founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead is a 501(c) (3), a not-for-profit non-governmental organization (NGO) now in its 25^th year of operation, Seele continues to work diligently to prevent diseases and to improve the health of individuals by building the capacity of faith and other communities to address life-threatening issues, including HCV, HIV/AIDS, obesity, cervical cancer and sexual violence, in areas of health education and service program design, implementation and evaluation. She is known for her extraordinary vision and ability to create national and global partnerships among leaders of various cultures and religious doctrines in areas of health promotion and disease prevention.

Seele is the recipient of numerous citations and honors. In addition to her 2006 TIME magazine cover feature among the “World’s Most Influential People”, Ebony Magazine selected Dr. Seele as one of their Power 150; Essence Magazine has honored her with numerous features. In its 35th Anniversary issue, she was named one of the 35 Most Beautiful And Remarkable Women In The World; In May 2010, Dr. Seele was selected as 21 Leaders of the 21^st Century of Women E-News in New York City. She is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a life-time member of The National Council of Negro Women. She received a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science from Clark Atlanta University in 1976 & 1979 respectively, and a Doctorate of Humane Letters from the College of New Rochelle, NY in 2007. She is a native of Lincolnville, SC.

Inner city communities are in turmoil…a perfect storm brewing that requires a thoughtful strategic approach to complex questions. Low income families and individuals have long struggled with high rates of preventable and treatable diseases for years.  Poverty and food desserts are tremendous contributing factors to health outcomes in both urban and rural America. Community churches are key to turning around a neighborhood by playing a major role in promoting health and wellness among parishioners, along with having the profound ability to influence socio-economic, as well as physical and mental health issues.

Dr. Pernessa Seele, community activist, founder and CEO of The Balm in Gilead, Inc., announces the Healthy Churches 2020 Conference, November 4-6, 2015, at the Hilton Charlotte University Place in Charlotte, NC.  This 3-day national event brings together faith leaders, health directors, doctors, nurses and members of congregational-based health ministries to find answers to today’s complex questions and provide the information needed to help ease the troubling issues in our inner cities and third-world like rural areas.   Healthy Churches 2020 will offer education sessions and workshops on disease prevention, care and treatment in order to strengthen the knowledge and skills of people involved in faith-based health activities such as health ministries, annual church health fairs, community kitchens, faith-based clinics and other community health programs. This year’s host is former NBA star Earl “the Pearl” Monroe. 2015 Conference Chairpersons are world-renown medical experts James R.Gavin III, MD, PhD and Bishop Horace E. Smith, MD.   Organizers expect 350 – 400 attendees from across the country.

Named one of TIME magazine’s “Most Influential Persons in the World,” Dr. Pernessa Seele is an esteemed voice of authority who has worked with three U.S. presidential administrations on critical health issues domestically and abroad.  Dr. Seele is available for interviews to talk about the health problems in our inner cities and rural communities, what needs to be done, and how the Healthy Churches 2020 conference seeks to address them.

“African Americans are on life support when it comes to our health,” Dr. Seele states. “We must engage our faith institutions in promoting healthy behavior change; seeking medical attention and adherence to treatment. According to a recent Pew Research Poll, over 80% of African Americans are affiliated with a religion.  Engagement with local churches is the most effective way of reaching these people and create change in their lives.”

For over 26 years the Balm In Gilead has been working with faith institutions to address the health challenges of African Americans. “Oftentimes, the scientific facts about health issues cannot be understood by the people who they are intended for.  The Balm In Gilead develops a sustainable infrastructure within our congregations to become that community center for health promotion and disease prevention. We are killing our children with bad eating habits and lack of exercise.  Something needs to change!”

Healthy Churches 2020 is endorsed by multiple faith denominations and institutions: The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, The Conference of National Black Churches, The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Howard University School of Divinity, The National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology of Virginia Union University, Shaw University Divinity School, Virginia Council of Churches, Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society of the AMEZ Church and the Women’s Missionary Society of the CME Church.

The Balm In Gilead has been at the forefront of educational and training programs specifically designed to meet the unique needs of African American and African congregations that strive to become community centers for health education and disease prevention.

Healthy Churches 2020 is based on the goals and concepts of Healthy People 2020, federal government program. Conference sponsors have included: AARP, CVS Health and the National Council of Churches.  For information, registration and the list of speakers and presenters, visit healthychurches2020.org or call 888-225-6243. Follow the conference on Facebook: HealthyChurches2020, Twitter @HC2020 and Instagram @TheBalmInGilead.

ABOUT DR. PERNESSA SEELE: Even amid her litany of past accomplishments and honors as detailed below, Dr. Pernessa Seele remains a formidable force.  Her work has been endorsed by Elton John, Whoopi Goldberg, Shaquille O’Neal and many others. As founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead is a 501(c) (3), a not-for-profit non-governmental organization (NGO) now in its 25^th year of operation, Seele continues to work diligently to prevent diseases and to improve the health of individuals by building the capacity of faith and other communities to address life-threatening issues, including HCV, HIV/AIDS, obesity, cervical cancer and sexual violence, in areas of health education and service program design, implementation and evaluation. She is known for her extraordinary vision and ability to create national and global partnerships among leaders of various cultures and religious doctrines in areas of health promotion and disease prevention.

Seele is the recipient of numerous citations and honors. In addition to her 2006 TIME magazine cover feature among the “World’s Most Influential People”, Ebony Magazine selected Dr. Seele as one of their Power 150; Essence Magazine has honored her with numerous features. In its 35th Anniversary issue, she was named one of the 35 Most Beautiful And Remarkable Women In The World; In May 2010, Dr. Seele was selected as 21 Leaders of the 21^st Century of Women E-News in New York City. She is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a life-time member of The National Council of Negro Women. She received a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science from Clark Atlanta University in 1976 & 1979 respectively, and a Doctorate of Humane Letters from the College of New Rochelle, NY in 2007. She is a native of Lincolnville, SC.