WHAT: North by Northeast Community Health Center is launching Cuts and Checks, a barbershop blood pressure program.
WHY: Hypertension (high blood pressure) affects nearly half of all African American men and is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke when uncontrolled. Cuts and Checks is a new program supported by Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. The program engages barbers as advocates for community health and addresses high rates of heart attack and stroke among African American men.
WHEN: Saturday April 4, 2015 10-11 am
WHERE: Champions Barbershop, 3827 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 97212
SPEAKERS:
· Sharetta Butcher, Community Health Worker, North by Northeast Community Health Center
· Jamaal Lane, owner of Champions Barbershop
· Michael Lewellen, Vice President, Portland Trail Blazers
· Dr. Lori Morgan, Chief Administrative Officer, Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
· Jason Washington, North by Northeast Community Health Center
Background: North by Northeast Community Health Center is a primary care clinic focused on chronic health conditions affecting the local African American community. Across the US, black men are disproportionately likely to have high blood pressure and to suffer complications such as strokes and heart attacks. Data from Multnomah County’s December 2014 Report Card on Racial and Health Disparities demonstrates that in our own city African Americans suffer from these and other health disparities. Our local headlines and obituaries too often feature the death of a black man taken from our community too young as the result of heart disease. One of the best ways to prevent heart disease and strokes is by identifying high blood pressure and managing it with medications and lifestyle changes. North by Northeast Community Health Center is partnering with Legacy Emanuel Medical Center and will train barbers at four shops to check blood pressure during cuts. The shops will be provided with blood pressure machines and barbers will be able to refer people in need to North by Northeast Community Health Center for follow-up.
