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Janssen Launches Health Equity Campaign in Partnership with Award-Winning Radio Host D.L. Hughley to Raise Awareness About Multiple Myeloma Among Black Communities

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That’s My Word™ campaign issues national call to action for earlier diagnosis and treatment to address the disproportionate impact of multiple myeloma among at-risk communities

HORSHAM, Pa. /PRNewswire/ — The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today the launch of That’s My Word to raise awareness of and help to drive better health outcomes for multiple myeloma among at-risk populations. A national campaign bringing together trusted voices among Black communities, including those at risk of multiple myeloma, care partners, healthcare professionals, advocacy groups and award-winning radio host and comedian D.L. Hughley, That’s My Word™ aims to be a source of both information and hope by sharing resources specifically for Black patients and their care partners about this rare blood cancer.

Janssen Launches Health Equity Campaign in Partnership with Award-Winning Radio Host D.L. Hughley to Raise Awareness About Multiple Myeloma Among Black Communities

Delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation, as well as unequal access to newer and more advanced medicines, are part of the challenging reality that creates significant health disparities in multiple myeloma.1

  • Each year, approximately 35,000 people are diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the United States, and more than 20 percent of all cases occur in Black people, with cases on the rise.2,3
  • Multiple myeloma is often diagnosed in people over the age of 60 years, but Black people are typically diagnosed 5-10 years earlier.2,4
  • While Black patients are less likely to have more aggressive disease, they are twice as likely to die from multiple myeloma because it is often undetected until it has progressed to more advanced stages.1,3
  • Yet, studies show that with early diagnosis, early treatment initiation, and equal access to care, Black patients can achieve better outcomes.5

Comedian and award-winning radio host D.L. Hughley is partnering with Janssen to empower Black communities with information and encourage better self-advocacy for their health. Hughley’s personal experience with cancer, including his father and sister, motivated him to take his own health seriously many years ago.

“Cancer has touched so many of us, but we need greater awareness of diseases that are disproportionately affecting and killing Black people, like multiple myeloma,” said D.L. Hughley. “I am so inspired by people who are living with this disease and who have become actively involved in their health decisions, caregivers who have experienced incredible loss yet push on, and healthcare professionals who are helping to address the complex relationship that our community has with the healthcare system. I am honored to work in partnership with the Black community through That’s My Word™ to raise awareness of critical information and encourage action in a way that can potentially save lives.”

Janssen continues to partner with the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF), which is equally passionate in combating healthcare disparities in multiple myeloma. Together, Janssen and the IMF are encouraging people to make Multiple Myeloma Promises, or pledges, to commit to learning more about multiple myeloma and be proactive with their health to help catch it early and treat it, which hopefully will lead to better health outcomes. Janssen will donate one dollar to the IMF, up to $50,000, for each promise made through the campaign at @thatsmywordMM on Facebook and Instagram.

“Multiple myeloma is too often still diagnosed late or remains undiagnosed altogether in Black communities. While it’s important for patients to be vocal about what they are experiencing, it is equally important that healthcare providers listen to their patients to recognize the signs and symptoms that support prompt and accurate diagnosis,” said Joseph Mikhael, MD, Chief Medical Officer, International Myeloma Foundation and Professor, Translational Genomics Research Institute, City of Hope Cancer Center.3,4 “Through initiatives such as That’s My Word™, we share a commitment to reaching underserved patient communities that can help result in better education and better outcomes.”

As a leader in the treatment of multiple myeloma, Janssen believes all patients should be treated equally with comprehensive cancer care as part of its commitment to eradicate racial and social injustice as a public health threat, and Our Race to Health Equity.

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“We launched That’s My Word™ to change the trajectory of multiple myeloma in Black communities, because we know the impact of health disparities is exacerbated for people who are living with this incurable blood cancer,” said Tyrone Brewer, President, Oncology, Janssen Biotech, Inc. “We are grateful for the partnerships we’ve built within the community because no entity can do this alone. We will continue to work toward a future in which improved outcomes are the reality for all patients, as part of our mission to reimagine care so that patients can redefine living.”

To get involved, follow the conversation on social media using the hashtags #ThatsMyWordMM and #MMPromise.

About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
At Janssen, we’re creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We’re the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular, Metabolism, & Retina; Immunology; Infectious Diseases & Vaccines; Neuroscience; Oncology; and Pulmonary Hypertension. 

Learn more at www.janssen.com. Follow us at @JanssenUS. Janssen Biotech, Inc. is part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

  1. American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures for African American/Black People. American Cancer Society 2022-2024. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/cancer-facts-and-figures-for-african-americans/2022-2024-cff-aa.pdf. Accessed January 2023.
  2. What is Multiple Myeloma. International Myeloma Foundation 2022. https://www.myeloma.org/what-is-multiple-myeloma. Accessed January 2023.
  3. Disparities in African Americans. International Myeloma Foundation 2022. https://www.myeloma.org/IMF-Diversity-Equity-Inclusion-Policy/disparities-african-americans. Accessed January 2023.
  4. Multiple Myeloma in African Americans. The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. https://themmrf.org/2019/08/multiple-myeloma-in-african-americans/. Published January 2020. Accessed January 2023.
  5. Dong J, Hari P. Black patients with multiple myeloma have better survival than white patients when treated equally: a matched cohort study. Blood Cancer Journal. 2022.

SOURCE The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

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Why Watts is a historically important district of LA

The Watts district of Los Angeles is a historically significant neighborhood that has undergone many changes over the years.

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Watts
By Jengod at English Wikipedia

The Watts district of Los Angeles is a historically significant neighborhood that has undergone many changes over the years. The area is known for its rich cultural heritage, landmarks, and the 1965 Watts riots, which had a significant impact on the community.

The Watts district was originally a rural area that was home to farms and ranches. In the early 1900s, the area began to develop as a residential neighborhood, and by the 1920s, it was a thriving community. One of the most notable landmarks in the area is the Watts Towers, a series of 17 interconnected sculptures that were created by Italian immigrant Simon Rodia between 1921 and 1954. The towers, which are made of steel, concrete, and mosaic tiles, are now a National Historic Landmark and a popular tourist attraction.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Watts district underwent significant demographic changes. Many African American families moved into the area, and the population grew rapidly. However, the community was plagued by poverty, unemployment, and crime, and tensions between the police and residents began to escalate.

On August 11, 1965, a traffic stop in Watts led to a confrontation between police and residents. The incident sparked six days of rioting that resulted in 34 deaths, over 1,000 injuries, and millions of dollars in property damage. The riots had a profound impact on the community, and many residents felt that they had been marginalized and ignored by the rest of Los Angeles.

In the years following the riots, the Watts district underwent significant changes. The community received funding for new housing developments, job training programs, and other social services. The Watts Towers were also restored and became a symbol of the community’s resilience.

Today, the Watts district is a vibrant community that is home to a diverse population. The area has undergone significant redevelopment in recent years, with new businesses, restaurants, and cultural institutions opening up. The Watts Towers remain a beloved landmark and a testament to the community’s creativity and resilience.

In conclusion, the Watts district of Los Angeles is a historically significant neighborhood that has undergone many changes over the years. From its early days as a rural area to its status as a thriving residential community to the aftermath of the 1965 riots, the area has a rich and complex history. Despite the challenges that the community has faced, it has remained resilient and continues to evolve and grow today.

https://stmdailynews.com/category/stm-blog/blog/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watts%2C_Los_Angeles

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What is Worlds Consumer Rights Day?

World Consumer Rights Day is a global event that aims to raise awareness about consumer rights and needs.

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World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated on March 15 every year to raise awareness about consumer rights and to promote the protection of consumers’ interests worldwide. The day represents an opportunity to highlight the importance of consumer rights and to demand that companies and governments take measures to ensure that consumers are treated fairly and equitably.

The origins of World Consumer Rights Day can be traced back to 1962 when President John F. Kennedy first declared the four basic consumer rights: the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose, and the right to be heard. In 1983, the United Nations adopted the Guidelines for Consumer Protection, which further reinforced these four basic rights and provided guidance for governments and businesses to ensure that consumers are protected.

Since then, World Consumer Rights Day has been celebrated annually by consumer organizations around the world to raise awareness about consumer rights, to advocate for stronger consumer protection laws, and to hold businesses accountable for their actions. Each year, the day has a different theme, focusing on a specific aspect of consumer rights, such as food safety, financial services, or online privacy.

https://nationaltoday.com/world-consumer-rights-day/

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Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen Opens Scholarship Programs in Arizona

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happy african american man holding sheets of paper in front of laptop
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

ARCHER RAGSDALE ARIZONA CHAPTER OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR  TWO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS FOR COLLEGE-BOUND HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

(PHOENIX, AZ) – The Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter (ARAC), the local chapter named in honor of two Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military aviators in the U.S. Armed Forces, is currently accepting applications for two scholarship programs for college-bound graduating high school seniors. 

The William A. Campbell Memorial Scholarship, named after Col. Campbell, a former professor of Air Science at Tuskegee Institute, is awarding up to two $1,500 scholarships to eligible students. To qualify, applicants must be a high school senior with a minimum overall GPA of 2.7, plan to attend a college or university and major in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) discipline, and submit a 500-word essay on how the Tuskegee Airmen legacy served as an inspiration for them. Applications must be received by May 31. For more information, contact Col. Richard “Dick” Toliver, United States Air Force (ret.), at [email protected]

The Ashby-Herring Scholarship is named in honor of ARAC members and original Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col Robert “Bob” Ashby and Lt. Col Asa Herring. ARAC awards two$1,500 scholarships to deserving graduating college-bound high school students. To qualify, applicants must be a graduating high school senior from Arizona with plans to attend a two- or four-year college or university; of African American descent; have a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher; and demonstrate financial need. The application deadline for the Ashby-Herring Scholarship is May 1.  For more information, email [email protected]  

“The scholarship opportunities reflect ARAC’s continued commitment to helping support the education goals of our young people in a substantive financial way,” said Diana Gregory, coordinator of the ARAC Scholarship Committee. “We are proud to offer these scholarships to facilitate the pursuit of higher education and encourage eligible graduating high school seniors to submit their applications as soon as possible.”

Link: https://www.azfoundation.org/scholarship-seekers/

https://stmdailynews.com/category/the-bridge/

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