Black and brown Minnesotans get worse sleep than white people. Researchers at the University of Minnesota say it’s hurting their health.
Sahan Journal spoke with several researchers who have studied sleep disparities among communities of color, and its association with ongoing health issues such as obesity, cancer, hypertension and even death. “Sleep has an impact on a whole host of health outcomes from physical to mental [health]," says Dr. Rachel Widome, an associate professor of epidemiology and community health at the University of Minnesota. Over a decade of research has revealed a truth: Black and brown Americans are much more likely to sleep poorly than white Americans. Read to learn more about the research on sleep disparities →
From almost trash to chef cuisine: Detroit’s Upcycling Kitchen ramps up free meal program
Beer brewers' leftover grains. Whey from cheese manufacturers. Think about the food items that can't be sold but are still safe to eat, or the fact that 40% of America's food supply gets wasted each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is why organizations like Make Food Not Waste (MFNW), a local nonprofit environmental group that serves 4,000 meals a week to Detroiters experiencing homelessness, opened their doors in 2021. “Our primary goal is to make sure that the food is eaten by people,” Danielle Todd, MFNW founder and executive director, told Outlier Media.
On average, MFNW saves about 15,000 pounds of food from landfills each month.
Ernestine Dillard, known as ‘The Voice Who Helped Heal The Nation,’ dies
A dedicated mother, grandmother, wife, nurse, and renowned singer, Ernestine Dillard transitioned into the afterlife this past February. She was 81.
In 1995, Mrs. Dillard performed "God Bless America" in front of 11,000 mourners and a nationally televised audience during the Oklahoma City Memorial Service for the victims of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City. At the time, The Oklahoma Eagle reported that the singer's "‘God Bless America’ medley left many in tears.”
“Whether people heard her sing once or a million times, she had an incredible impact on them,” said Charity Marcus, Mrs. Dillard’s granddaughter.Read to learn more about the life and times of Ernestine Dillard →
Meet the Game Changers
Highlighting the innovators transforming health outcomes in our communities
Author Marisa Renee Lee described collective grief and how the erasure of Black history prevents necessary healing in a recent episode of Our Body Politic. 🎧 Listen here →