African American Men's Health and Empowerment Summit

Sherri Shepherd, Dick Gregory and Norm Nixon set to Participate

The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Programs is excited to announce that Sherri Shepherd, co-host of ABC's Emmy nominated The View, will be co-moderating its first annual African American Men's Health and Empowerment Summit on February 28. The first of its kind, the summit will also feature comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory, this year's honorary guest speaker, and Norm Nixon, former Los Angeles Lakers and National Black Barbershop spokesperson. The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, sponsored by the Abbott Fund, its exclusive, national corporate partner, is a unique and innovative grassroots approach to health education and testing.

"I am honored to be part of the first ever Black Barbershop African American Men's Health and Empowerment Summit," said Sherri Shepherd. "It is critical that we all take responsibility for adopting healthier lifestyles and fight to ensure our health system works for everyone regardless of gender, income or race. I look forward to hearing what the amazing panelists have to offer and working to find solutions together."

Other guest speakers include California State Assemblyman Mike Davis, Assemblyman Curren D. Price, Assemblyman Merv Dymally, Eddie Jackson, PhD., president, Medgar Evers College and Founder of the Men's Initiative in New York, and Carol Adams, PhD., director, Department of Health and Human Services, State of Illinois. Partnering organizations will provide opportunities for free health screenings.

Panel discussions will cover a wide spectrum of health and social issues affecting African American men including health care disparities, smoking and other addictive substances, diabetes, HIV, and prostate cancer.

The First Annual African American Men's Health and Empowerment Summit will take place on Saturday, February 28, 2009, from 8:00 a.m.--3:00 p.m., at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The Summit is free and open to the public. Entertainment and a continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. To register, call 1-800-447-6388, or visit www.blackbarbershop.org.

"The Abbott Fund is proud to support this pioneering summit, which empowers people to improve the health care of African American men," said Cindy Schwab, vice president, the Abbott Fund. "This program is the type of innovative community partnership that reflects the Abbott Fund's mission--to help build healthier and more vital communities."

About Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program

The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, founded by Dr. Bill J. Releford, seeks to empower African American men to better understand cardiovascular diseases through education, testing and prevention.

The Black Barbershop Health Outreach program screens African American men for diabetes and high blood pressure in local barbershops throughout the country and provides needed education about healthy lifestyle alternatives.

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