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Give Kids a Smile MonthThe big idea: Did you know there’s a strong correlation between the health of children’s teeth and their early success in school? The trend starts young, with good dental health during the first five years of life tied to higher reading and math scores in grades 2 through 11, and vice versa, according to Native News Online. The fine print: Driving this correlation is the fact that when dental problems emerge, kids have to miss school — as much as 34 million hours per year — as well as take a hit to their self-esteem. This can lead to lower positive socialization and feelings of shyness or unhappiness, which also impact school performance. The trend is consistent across age, sex, race, and household income. What to do: Tooth cavities and decay is the most common chronic disease children face in the United States. It can impact every aspect of a child’s daily life if not treated, as well as make other conditions worse, such as diabetes, heart disease, malnourishment, and asthma. Luckily, Dr. Jessica A. Rickert, the first female Native American dentist, shared some tips with Native News Online to promote excellent children’s dental health this February, which includes national Give Kids A Smile events.The best practices start before a child is even a year old. They include nursing the baby, cleaning their teeth and visiting the dentist before age one, limiting sugar, and including milk, water, and fluoride in their diet. From the source: “Why not control what we can to ensure excellence in school performance?” Dr. Rickert asks. “Why not control what we can to develop excellent dental health for our children?” More from Native News Online →

Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal

Somali women speak out about domestic abuseThe big idea: “In the Somali community, we are facing a cultural shift,” said Fartun Weli, founder and CEO of Isuroon, a nonprofit providing services to Somali and Afghan women in the Twin Cities. In her 15 years running the group, she has helped hundreds of domestic violence victims — yet calls for help reached a new peak over the past four years, Sahan Journal reports.Meeting the moment: Weli attributes the rise partly to the pandemic, which exacerbated domestic issues, and partly to Somali women’s new willingness to speak out. Divorce and separation were once rarities and considered shameful or unwise, but more women are seeking assistance finding apartments, getting jobs, and taking care of their children. Isuroon helps with all of that, and more. The group will cover a security deposit and first month’s rent, find a lawyer for court cases and divorce, as well as provide food, clothing, medical attention, and language services. It offers refugee assistance, doula care, and youth mentoring, too.“Many of them do not know how to navigate the system, so we help them with whatever assistance they need,” Fartun explained.The stakes: According to Isuroon’s crisis resource coordinators, many of their callers are fleeing physical, financial, and emotional abuse. The conflicts often stem from a husband’s simultaneous lack of support for the family and paternalism that makes it difficult for women to provide instead. Yet finding a way out of abusive marriages is becoming more possible for local Somali and Afghan women. The aid from groups like Isuroon has proved essential, especially in helping young mothers setting out on their own to care for their children and retain custody as they get on their feet, Sahan Journal explains.What’s next: Isuroon opened up a special hotline for domestic violence victims last summer with support from the National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault. The group plans to open an 87-unit family shelter within the next two years to continue addressing the gaps in victim services. You can learn more and support Isuroon’s work here.Sahan Journal has the rest → Plus: Minnesota’s legal battle with St. Paul metal foundry hits pause amid accusations of excessive pollution (Sahan Journal)

Credit: Aryana Noroozi for Black Voice News / CatchLight Local

Community group assembles hygiene kits after L.A. wildfiresThe big idea: Volunteers gathered at a drive hosted by the Why We Give Project to pack hygiene kits for youth impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires on February 11. Black Voice News photojournalist Aryana Noroozi was on the scene and documented the event. The fine print: Why We Give is a BIPOC and female-led organization focused on getting hygiene products into the hands of marginalized youth across the city of Los Angeles. In the aftermath of the devastating wildfires that swept through Altadena and Palisades communities, residents are still displaced and recovering, and local mutual aid groups like Why We Give are stepping up to address their needs.  The stakes: High-profile disasters like the L.A. fires often receive a ton of attention for a short period of time, which then dissipates as the news cycle churns forward. Community support is often the most sustainable source of aid, making the work of groups like Why We Give all the more critical. The organization’s name comes from a commitment to never forgetting this “why” behind community support. That way, momentum will never drop. From the source: “One thing that I was really proud of when [the fires] first happened is that the first people on the ground were mutual aid organizations,” April Foster, founder of the project, told Black Voice News. “You have the momentum when a major event happens, but it’s more so the aftermath, when things die down — that’s when people need our help the most,” she added. See photos from the event →

Highlighting the innovators transforminghealth outcomes in our communities

The story: Queens-based collective Inner Pttrn has evolved from a virtual community of Latinas approaching healing from outside traditional Western frameworks, to a physical space designed around safety and empowerment, and now to a floating collaborator with other spaces. At the center: No matter what form it takes, founder Coreen Ruiz has centered the group’s offerings around accessibility and cultural reconnection, including meditation, reiki, astrological readings, flower essence therapy, and ancestral practices. →Credit: Inner Pttrn

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