By Russ George
Wednesday, June 12, members of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley heard a presentation from Dr. Lulu Blacksmith, EdD, founder of Companeros en Salud/Partners in Health, NFP.
DCFV vice president of Program, Chuck Nelson, introduced our guest speaker, stating, “Lulu Blacksmith, EdD, serves as managing director of Community Engagement and Legislative Affairs for Elgin Community College.
From 2002 to 2008, Dr. Blacksmith served as the director of community relations and District press secretary for the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Between 1987 and 2002, she served as manager of community outreach at Mercy Medical Center in Aurora.
Over the years, Dr. Blacksmith has served Kane County as a volunteer in many capacities. Her interest in helping others stems from her life experience as an immigrant. She founded Companeros en Salud/Partners in Health, NFP, in 1999 to provide the Hispanic community and other diverse groups with the means to access resources and services for their health and well-being. In 2000, she founded Language Access to Healthcare, a free community-based health care interpreting service to increase access to health care. She advocates and works to raise awareness of health disparities and the importance of higher education.
Dr. Blacksmith is active in several groups, including Companeros en Salud/Partners in Health, NFP, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency on Planning (CMAP), the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, Business and Economic Revival Council, Elgin Human Services Council, the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, The Conservation Foundation, and R.I.S.E. (Racial, Inclusion, Support and Equity) of South Elgin.
Dr. Blacksmith earned her doctor of education degree in leadership in Higher Education and Organizational Change from Benedictine University, a master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University, her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with an emphasis on Multicultural Studies from DePaul University and an associate degree in Applied Sciences from Waubonsee Community College.
Dr. Blacksmith’ presentation was on her arrival to the United States of America, at the age of 16 and didn’t speak any English. She discussed how difficult it was to navigate in this country without speaking English, and wasn’t aware that legally she had access to additional education. She worked a variety of jobs and ultimately landed at Mercy Center Hospital, in Aurora. She discovered that many patients didn’t speak English, and therefore, they often saw doctors who didn’t speak Spanish.
Sometimes parents used their children or custodians at the hospital to translate for them. So a group of 17 persons (including Dr. Blacksmith) founded Companeros en Salud/Partners in Health. They published a bi-lingual directory, that gave information on seeking help for diabetes, mental health, transportation issues, health care and child care. The group holds a Health Festival every year. They have Spanish speakers, as well as other translators available. They do health screenings for blood sugar levels, and at least two or three individuals each year have high readings, and are referred for medical treatment.
Companeros in Salud/Partners in Health are all volunteers and rely on donations, as they are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group. In 2004, the group received a grant for over one million dollars, which allowed them to develop the Diabetic Wellness Center at Mercy Center Hospital. The group later received an additional $75,000 grant, allowing them to create a Language Access Pool at Provena-Mercy Hospital, which had translators for more than 20 languages.
Dr. Blacksmith in closing, stated that their group is always looking for volunteers to assist at the Health Festival.
•A shout out of thanks to Dr. Kinsley Jin, from Aunt Martha’s, for becoming a member of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley. Dr.Jin was attending our monthly membership meeting as a guest, to hear Dr. Lulu Blacksmith, EdD, give a presentation.
•Saturday, June 15, the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley held its June “Meet and Greet”, at Jake’s Bagels & Deli, 220 N. Broadway, in downtown Aurora, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Media chairperson, Ann McBride, who organizes the monthly event, was thrilled with the amount of individuals who visited with Club members, and picked up literature on our Club and diabetes.
•Next month’s “Meet and Greet”, will be Friday, July 12, at the Breakfast Club, 360 S. Randall Road, in North Aurora, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.. The Breakfast Club will donate 35% of its Friday, July 12, sales to the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, to aid in the Club’s fight against diabetes. Why not stop for a bite to eat, meet some of our members, and pick up information on diabetes and prediabetes.
•The members of the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley are looking forward to their second annual “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” Diabetes Awareness Event, Saturday, Aug. 3, at Northwestern Medicine Field, Kirk Road, in Geneva, when the Kane County Cougars take on the Sioux City Explorers. Gates open at 5 p.m., first pitch at 6:30 p.m., fireworks to follow the game!
Why not join us for a fun-filled evening? Section 109 tickets $10 per person. Contact Jenny McCain for tickets at 630-204-1197.
•The Diabetes Club of Fox Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a true grassroots organization, where all money raised through dues, donations, and fundraising is used locally for the Club’s fight against diabetes. Tax deductible donations can be made on our website: diabeteshelpnearme.com or mail your tax deductible donation to: Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, P.O. Box 88, North Aurora, IL 60542.
•Why not join our fight against diabetes? The Diabetes Club of Fox Valley is offering membership in the Club through September 30 for $25., to give individuals interested in joining our fight against diabetes an opportunity to look us over, while participating in Club activities throughout the Summer months. Yearly $50 individual membership dues begin October 1, 2024. Corporate dues are $150 per year, which includes a sponsorship listing on our website: www.diabeteshelpnearme.com.
Have questions on the Diabetes Club of Fox Valley, please call, text or send an E-mail with your name and address to president, Russ George, 630-205-9065, or send Email: Diabetesclubfv@gmail.com.
•Please continue to keep informed on our Club’s upcoming events, by following us in The Voice, on Facebook, and on our website: diabeteshelpnearme.com.