Health + Wellness

By Isaac Peterson Contributing Writer Tolá Oyewole is a self-described hard worker: “I am a hard worker almost to a fault,” she says. Over the years, many Twin Cities-area organizations and companies have benefited from Oyewole’s hard work. Currently she serves as the foundation and corporate giving director at Cargill. As such, she is the […]

An unidentified young Black male resident of Frogtown told photographer Wing Young Huie, “It’s not just Black people. I know some Asians, and they got the mentality to kill somebody. It’s like everybody got their own little ‘hood.” Studying history or even modern world news portrays this ‘hood, my ‘hood, your ‘hood as the propensity […]

Most skin diseases occur in people of all nationalities, regardless of their skin color. Certain problems encountered in the skin are more common in people with different hues of skin, and sometimes a disorder seems more prominent because it affects skin color. Variations in skin color Skin color is determined by cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes […]

Why does it seem like such a challenge to enjoy our natural abundance of strands growing on top of our heads? Doesn’t it seem odd how we can perpetuate the division amongst Black women down to the very follicle? It’s nearly impossible to make collective cosmetic changes without society and others forcing their social issues […]

A  new collaboration between St. Mary’s Health Clinics and Risen Christ Catholic School (RCCS) in Minneapolis aims to reduce the risk of childhood obesity and Type II diabetes in low-income children of color. Funded by a Healthy Behaviors Grant from the Greater Twin Cities United Way, the creative E3 (Eat, Exercise, Educate) Program promotes physical […]

New year. New you. Do you remember telling yourself in December, “This year, I will exercise more, I will lose weight, I will eat healthier?” Did your New Year’s Resolution sound similar? You started out with an energetic burst! You kicked your healthy living lifestyle into full gear by cutting back on sweets, eating more […]

By Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD Dr. Crutchfield, my brother tells me his doctor told him that he should not drink grapefruit juice while on a new cholesterol medication. Why is that? Grapefruit juice is a natural, delicious, nutritious drink that has positive health benefits. Some estimates say that as many as 20 percent of […]

By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer Cherise Rachel Vincent isn’t merely a presence in the room. She commands it. A lithe 5’5”, fluidly articulate with a pleasant yet frank demeanor, she arrests attention with understated authority. Which comes in handy for her professional capacity as a public face at Be The Match. Specifically, she is associate […]

Growing up in Waterloo, Iowa was my world view. Early on I knew there was something drastically different going on in my house than in some of the other homes of my family and friends. It took me a while to get it. While there were 11 of us kids, I promise you I heard […]

The MayDay Parade and Festival, Powderhorn and Phillips neighborhoods’ beloved community institution, will celebrate its 40th Anniversary this year. Public workshops for this year’s parade will begin Saturday, April 5, and run through the first of May. Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend these parade-building days, free of charge. In the Heart of the […]

In her book, HER Corner Office: A guide to help women find a place and a voice in corporate America, author Trudy Bourgeois offers time-tested career development advice to women at any stage in their career. Below are excerpts from the book, which highlights skill sets that every employer looks for when hiring: What will […]

Dear Doctor: My skin is red and itchy. How do I know if I am having an allergic skin reaction? An allergic skin reaction is a common skin rash that occurs when your skin comes into contact with a substance you have an allergy to. It is often called “allergic contact skin dermatitis.” There are other types […]

Enroll now or wait until October to get health insurance   By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Open enrollment for health coverage through MNsure ends March 31. According to officials, enrollment has increased 54 percent — about 56,000 new applications since December 31 — and its call center staffing has increased, with an average hold time […]

By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer There is no more effective means of communicating than the media, particularly the visual media and especially television, since every home has at least one set. How far, after all, do you think the present celebration of Black History Month would’ve got without the media? Its inception came back in […]

A St. Paul reverend calls on the faithful to tackle worldly problems   By Charles Hallman Staff Writer The Black church must be more vocal on current local and national issues, says a local cleric. During a February 16 joint celebration service at St. James A.M.E. Church in St. Paul, Rev. Dr. James Wilson of […]

Introducing a new column that will appear regularly in the MSR   Recently I was asked why would I want to write a column titled “Every Day is a Do Over.” I responded that I wish someone had told me sooner in this life that I could do better tomorrow. Yes, I have to be […]

Early care can reduce risk of developing disabling foot problem By Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD Dear Doctor: My aunt told me she has a painful bunion. What is that? Abunion is large bump that forms at the base of the big toe where the bone of the big toe attaches to the bones of […]

Upcoming health conference to address specific concerns of Black women   By Brandi D. Phillips  Contributing Writer Happy, healthy, family, friends, community, intergenerational, motivational: These are a few words used to describe the upcoming March 19 conference sponsored by Neighborhood HealthSource and many others. The conference is titled “Loving Yourself, Staying Well,” and those simple […]

Dark skin is not immunity, so be aware of the risks   We’ve just completed February, African American History Month. Among much else, it can serve as a fitting reminder about a myth that has persisted for too long: African Americans (and those with darker skin tones) can’t get skin cancer. In fact, among the […]

Black History Month has come and gone once again. I hope that folks learned something useful and constructive during this period. Oftentimes, I believe as Black people we forget that everything we do today is making Black history. Sadly, we think about what would be in the history books 50 years from now based on […]