By Tanya Dennis

Mike Jenkins is a serial entrepreneur with a vision to make a lasting impact in Oakland.

Raised in a military family in the Pinole area, Jenkins played basketball at Merritt College before continuing his athletic career at Sacramento State.

His lifelong interest in health and wellness led him to consider a troubling reality: as members of the Black community age, health challenges often increase. Jenkins believes investing in health is an investment in wealth, and he has made it his mission to give Oakland’s youth a stronger foundation for life.

Years ago, Jenkins invested in young people by building Speed Power Strength, a world-class strength-training facility in the Fruitvale neighborhood. For 10 years, the facility served hundreds of children, providing training entirely free of charge. Displaced by gentrification, the program eventually found a new home in Jack London Square.

That move inspired a new name: Oakland Strong, reflecting both the program’s mission and its pride in the city it represents.

“When we found the new home, I needed to put a spotlight on what we were doing– producing the strongest kids in Oakland – so I named our new location Oakland Strong,” Jenkins explained. “We are known nationally and internationally, so when we compete, our city’s name is on our chest.”

Through Olympic weightlifting, governed nationally by USA Weightlifting, the program has developed an extraordinary record. Its athletes have earned 10 national championships, a team national championship, and international titles. Today, two Oakland Strong athletes are Olympic hopefuls.

This past summer, Oakland had three athletes at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs at the same time. One was Olympic figure skating champion Alysa Liu. The other two were Oakland Strong’s Robert Whitlock and Rucker Johnson, there for a weightlifting camp for Olympic hopefuls.

Whitlock, an Oakland Technical High School student, began training at age 10. Now a three-time consecutive national champion, two-time Pan American champion, and Team USA representative, Whitlock also holds an American record while maintaining straight A’s in school.

“If Oakland can’t support these kinds of kids, then what are we doing?” Jenkins asks.

Oakland Strong continues offering free training in Jack London Square to young people ages 8-18. The program welcomes girls as well as boys, with approximately 12 kids currently participating with room for 20.

With limited city support for free youth programs, Jenkins must find other ways to sustain the work.

When Carlyle Chicken Wings opened nearby, he approached the owner with an idea connecting nutrition and community investment. Because Oakland Strong teaches healthy eating alongside athletic training, they developed the Oakland Strong Bowl, a protein-focused meal. Carlyle will contribute $2 from each bowl sold to support the program.

For Jenkins, the mission extends far beyond medals and records. He wants to create generational health by teaching young people habits they can carry into adulthood and share with their families.

The strongest legacy, he believes, is not simply producing champions, but building healthier generations who understand their worth, their potential, and the importance of investing in themselves.

By Ashley Hopkinson, EdSource

This story was originally published by EdSource.

Children born to first-time mothers with limited incomes who received home nursing visits showed increased mental health, stronger social and emotional development and academic gains, according to researchers who analyzed the impact of the Nurse-Family Partnership program, one of the largest home visiting programs in the country.

Researchers also found the program reduces anxiety and improves the parenting skills of mothers. It also has a positive impact on home environments and behavior skills in children, researchers found. Researchers said the benefits of the program “warrant continued and increased investment.”

The Nurse-Family Partnership program utilizes trained registered nurses who work closely with families during pregnancy and up to age 2. The nurses teach them to maintain proper health, develop parenting skills and establish work and family goals.

The research team that conducted the analysis was led by James Heckman, a Nobel Laureate in economics and professor and director of the Center for Economics of Human Development at the University of Chicago. The study was titled “Nurse-Family Partnership: Parental education and early health result in better child outcomes.”

“This study of Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) shows that parenting early in life very much matters, and that voluntary programs that work closely with parents to strengthen parenting skills and provide early health can make a difference,” the study states. Researchers analyzed information on the health and well-being of mothers and children from pregnancy up to age 12. The study includes a sample size of 1,138 participants. The study analyzed outcomes for children who participated in the program, compared to children who were not part of the program but received some services at the same ages.

A family’s participation in the Nurse-Family Partnership program ends when a child turns 2 but the study found long-term benefits. For instance, the study found that young boys who participated in the program scored higher than peers that did not participate in the program on reading and math assessments, as 12-year-olds, the age when they were last assessed. Researchers said this academic achievement could be attributed, in large part, to the program’s impact — seen as early as age 6 — on cognitive skills, such as a child’s ability to understand, reason, learn and remember.

While the study found the program improved cognitive skills for both boys and girls at age 6, it did not find any significant effect on reading and math achievement for 12-year-old girls who participated in the program. Researchers did not directly address reasons for this in the study.

During home visits, nurses help to promote healthy eating, prenatal care and eliminating the use of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs, the study states. After delivery, nurses help to foster strong parenting skills and show new moms how to interact with their children. For example, parents are encouraged to read to their children. Mothers are also given advice on goal setting in areas such as work, school and family planning.

The study divided its analysis into five categories: child health, family environments, child cognition (thinking, learning, understanding), social and emotional development (behaviors and attitudes) and achievement scores on math and reading. For example, The Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, which measures what experts in the field call English receptive language skills. That refers to words young children can identify and understand when they hear them.

Other key findings in the study include:

• Improved birth weight for infant boys. Boys were healthier at the time of delivery. If left untreated, low birth weight is associated with developmental problems that can persist as a child grows.
• Healthier home environments, parenting attitudes and maternal mental health “significantly improved” among participating mothers for boys and girls by age 2. Mothers of young girls specifically experienced less anxiety, more self-control, higher self-esteem and greater emotional stability, the study states. Under the same categories for boys, results show “mixed.”
• Girls showed more improvement in social and emotional skills, the ability to manage and understand emotions. They specifically improved in areas such as warmth and sensitivity.
• By age 6, both boys and girls who participated in the program showed better cognitive skills, such as thinking, reading, memory and learning.
• Long-term benefits of the program were more evident for boys than girls. For example, by age 12 boys outperformed peers who were not a part of the program in reading and math achievement. Study states “much weaker long-term effects” for girls.
• Positive effects overall were associated with the program’s impact on mothers’ health and early investment in young children.

After more than 35 years as a pediatric surgeon, Deborah Burton retired but didn’t give up one of the most rewarding aspects of her career—connecting with young people.

Burton used writing and her imagination to create a young adult sci-fi fantasy mystery novel, Invisible Cages: The Alynthia Quest, under the pen name MD Burton. Her debut novel launched in early October, and Burton said she’s been delighted with the responses so far.

The novel follows Jade Babington who leads a team of resourceful friends as they join an elite organization to crack a spy network and embark on a high-tech adventure to find answers. Her quest is complicated by powers that surge through her body, and to be successful, she needs to understand her family roots, embrace her emerging talents, and step into her legacy, according to a press release.

Through the book, readers are introduced to a range of characters who work in STEM and healthcare careers which Burton hopes will inspire readers to consider pursuing careers in some of those areas.

Burton moved to Dunwoody in 1995 and ran a successful pediatric ear, nose, and throat practice in Marietta. She retired in 2021 but missed the educational moments she shared with her young patients.

“I talk to kids all the time,” said Burton, adding that she likes to share insight into the many career paths in healthcare. “I love to educate and empower.”

She said she worked on the book for five years, researching coding, microchips, and satellites.

“It was a learning journey,” she remarked.

The book explores themes of self-acceptance, girl empowerment through strong female characters, the importance of family, and STEM exposure, states the press release. Set on a fictional health complex, the novel introduces readers to healthcare careers, as well as engineering and computer science.

The author also had to delve into unique aspects of her main character.

“Jade has powers and sees auras,” she explained. “So I spent a good amount of time learning about auras, telepathy and magical realism.”

In addition, to providing insight to STEM and healthcare careers, Burton hopes the books help her teen female readers dealing with insecurities to better understand and appreciate what makes them unique and the power they possess. She also hopes it will build self-confidence.

“You have to accept who you are,” she said. “Whatever your differences are, everybody’s got them, embrace them.”

Burton said she originally planned the book to be a seven-part series but on the advice of her edit changed it to four parts.

“I know what my end goal is,” said Burton noting that she’s included Easter eggs in the first book to entice readers throughout the reading process and has a completed outline for the other books in the series. After completing an audiobook of Invisible Cages: The Alynthia Quest by the end of the year, Burton plans to start writing the next book in 2027.

On Nov. 15, a book signing is scheduled at the Politan Row food hall in Dunwoody.

The self-published book is available in eBook, paperback, and hardback formats, on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers.

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Based on reporting by The Champion Newspaper.

Because many people falsely assume liver disease is strictly caused by heavy alcohol use, life-threatening conditions like MASLD frequently go undiagnosed until major damage occurs. When excess fat builds up in the liver, unchecked inflammation […]

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Based on reporting by The Black Chronicle.

Illinois lawmakers are pledging support for a Chicago-area veterans advocate seeking stronger protections and accountability for service members who experience sexual assault, as new Pentagon data shows declines in estimated assaults but advocates warn that fear of reporting remains a serious concern.

State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-8th), U.S. Reps. Danny K. Davis (D-7th) and Jonathan Jackson (D-1st), and Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller (6th) have expressed support for Dr. Renee Dickerson, an Air Force veteran, sexual assault survivor and founder and CEO of Victory Place, NFP.

Dickerson is a co-national organizer of the Million Women Veterans March on Washington, which she said is scheduled for October 27, 2027. The effort, known as “Dishonored Valor,” is being organized by National Women Veterans United, the International Association of Military Women of Color and Victory Place. Its policy priorities include military sexual trauma prevention, justice and accountability, mental health care, housing, economic equity and institutional transparency.

Ford and Miller were among veterans and supporters who attended a recent Victory Place fundraiser at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Alsip. Miller, whose father served in Vietnam, chairs the Cook County Board’s Veterans Committee.

“Sexual assault in the military is not a problem of the past. It is still happening to women and men who volunteered to serve our country,” Ford said. “Too many survivors carry that trauma home with them without the care and justice they deserve.”

Ford said he plans to help convene veterans, behavioral health professionals, educators and community partners in Illinois before the Washington march to identify state policies that could complement federal reforms.

“Those who served deserve to be safe while serving and supported when they come home,” Ford said.

Davis said he is committed to working with Dickerson’s group. He also urged voters concerned about federal policy to participate in the November 3 election.

“If people want change in this country, if they want progressive thought and progressive ideas to be actualized, then every chance that they get to put the more progressive people in decision-making places, that is the most effective way to do it,” Davis said.

Dickerson’s campaign comes as the military continues to confront sexual assault and questions about whether survivors trust the reporting system.

The Pentagon’s Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military estimated that 20,492 active-duty service members experienced unwanted sexual contact, down from 29,061 in fiscal 2023. The estimated rate among active-duty women fell from 6.8% to 4.3%, while the rate among men declined from 1.3% to 1.0%. The Pentagon also estimated that 33% of affected service members reported an assault to military authorities, up from 25% in 2023.

Protect Our Defenders, a national advocacy organization focused on military sexual assault and harassment, cautioned that the lower estimates should not end scrutiny of the system. The organization said it continues to hear concerns from service members about fear of reporting and access to survivor protections and has criticized changes to prevention and response programs.

One case cited by the organization involves Army Maj. Blaine McGraw, an obstetrician-gynecologist facing a general court-martial at Fort Hood, Texas. According to the Army, McGraw pleaded not guilty in August to nine charges encompassing 272 specifications involving 93 alleged victims. The allegations include sexual assault and abusive sexual contact, indecent recording, assault consummated by battery and other offenses. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. His trial is scheduled to begin March 30, 2027.

Dickerson said her advocacy is rooted in her own experience with military sexual trauma. She said the superior who raped her was never charged, an experience that has fueled her work with veterans and their families dealing with trauma.

Through Victory Place and the Million Women Veterans March, Dickerson said she intends to press for policy changes and greater accountability for survivors who believe military systems failed them.

“I am proud to stand with Dr. Dickerson and the Million Women Veterans March,” Ford said.

Based on reporting by Chicago Crusader.

The Jalen Hurts saga hurts

The disturbing reports surrounding Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Houston-born Jalen Hurts, raise a troubling question: How much is a Black athlete’s life worth when winning is on the line? According to reports, the Eagles knew Hurts had a blood clot after he was hospitalized until 4 a.m. before the team’s Week 5 game against Jacksonville in London. Nevertheless, he played the entire game and endured international flights before doctors discovered the clot had progressed to deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli. He was placed on blood thinners and injured reserve (out for the season). Sports medicine physician Jesse Morse warned that migrating clots could cause a fatal pulmonary blockage, heart attack, or stroke. Pulmonologist Matthew Gordon acknowledged that blood clots can be catastrophic or fatal. Beyond the medical questions, this episode reflects a disturbing American tradition: Treating Black bodies as expendable commodities. From slavery to exploitative labor practices and generations of dangerous sports, Black people have repeatedly been expected to sacrifice their well-being for others’ profits. The NFL’s predominantly Black workforce is literally “fieldhands” making their wealthy “owners” wealthier, giving serious plantation vibes. What’s crazy is, Hurts could have died. And if he had, the Eagles would have simply put another Black body to work and kept it moving.

Blind by choice

Recently, a Black woman conservative social media influencer was physically removed from a Ken Paxton voter event. And as she fought back tears, after being “dog-walked” out of the building, she kept asking, “Why?” She told her followers that she has been a faithful supporter of Donald Trump and the entire Republican ticket. She said she not only voted for Trump and crew, but also organized and volunteered for them on various campaigns. Before she got to the event, she went live on social media, bubbling with excitement about supporting Paxton, which is crazy, because no one is excited about supporting Paxton. But her MAGA-fest was abruptly ended as her live-stream followers saw her suddenly teary-eyed, being led out of the event space. “And there’s no one I can talk to about this,” she asked her exit escort, dumbfounded. She then shared with her MAGA followers, “Someone just came up to me and said Ken Paxton’s campaign manager wanted me to leave… I drove two hours to get here, and I have done nothing but support everyone on the Republican side. And this is how I get treated? I cannot believe the disrespect that I was just given.” Blackfolk in the comments section couldn’t believe that soul sister couldn’t understand what was happening. But you, if she’s been willing to play blind and support one of the most anti-Black regimes in history, and organize for a party that has gone out of its way to disrespect every ounce of Black existence, then I can understand why she couldn’t see their disrespect of her Blackness. But since she’s already given her soul to anti-Blackness, you best believe she’s still voting for Paxton. In fact, she literally said so.

Mecklenburg racist police competitions

It’s old news by now that several Charlotte-Mecklenburg cops sent text messages to each other, degrading Black people with the N-word and racist jokes, celebrating their open competition to see which racist-ass officer could pull over, harass, and even inflict the most bodily harm on Black motorists. Their Klan-ish fun and games had zero to do with Black people breaking the law. It was just white cops making a sport out of terrorizing Black people, using the authority of the state and their literal license to kill to torture Black people emotionally and physically. And they used Flock cameras to help them with their fun and games. But what’s older news is the fact that these are the very actions Blackfolk have been pointing out from cops for centuries. These six cops got caught via text messages. But police in every city and state routinely take this same approach to law enforcement.

Based on reporting by Houston Defender.