LIFESTYLES
‘TIS THE SEASON…
FOR MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT 2015!
By Lacky Barnes, M.Ed.
The season is coming where you
get to decide if you will keep your
same 2014 Medicare Advantage
Prescription Drug Plan or StandAlone Prescription Drug. All
Americans on Medicare are allowed to
make insurance changes during their
Annual Enrollment period which runs
from October 15th thru December 7th
of each year.
Whether it is a PPO Plan (Preferred
Provider Organization) or an
HMO Plan (Health Maintenance
Organization) you may need a policy
check-up to make sure you are in
the best plan to fit your 2015 health
insurance needs. Keep in mind,
HMO policy’s have a lot of RULE’s
surrounding which doctors and
hospitals you may use. With HMO’s
THIS IS YOUR LIFE
By Del Mattioli
TO BE YOUNG, ANGRY AND BLACK
Forty years ago prayer was taken out of the public
schools, negatively impacting the educational landscape
for students everywhere – especially African American
youths. In African American families, prayer has been an
integral and permeating source of faith, hope and stability
during challenging times. During slavery…while fighting
for civil rights — prayer was peaceful and powerful.
Our schools have become more infected with gun violence, covert racism/
discrimination and apathy towards learning. In the absence of prayer, African
American youths are increasingly becoming angry and resorting to destructive
behaviors.
According to the US Department of Education the majority of public school
attendees are African American and the lowest graduation rates are among
African Americans. Why? Is this intentional? Is it getting better or worse?
The African American youth suffers from “spotlight anxiety”, “stereotype
threat” and “No Child Left Behind.” The spotlight is always on, the stereotype
threat is consistent and the ‘No child Left Behind’ allows educators to ignore
unprepared youth and to pass them. Is this beneficial to us? The “stereotype
threat” in the schools threatens our African American youth when it comes to
learning and test taking. (Claude Steele)
It is extremely painful to witness our youth experiencing built-up anger. Anger
has three components: physical reactions, perceptions of what is causing
the anger and behavioral anger. Everyone experiences anger. It is a universal
human emotion that motivates us to stand up for ourselves and correct
injustices. Anger crosses the line when it becomes harmful to negatively
impact the ability to function well in daily living, hurts others, relationships,
h