Agenda - 05-18-2004-7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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Behind legislation -received nationally to mixed reviews -was "shuung a spotlight on subgroups that aren't doing well in school ". "Futures for Kids" is another program he felt held promise for helping youngsters succeed in school for the long term. Ms. Gunn explained the mission of the Institute of Minority Economic Development. They are asixteen-year-old non-profit agency focused on the underdeveloped and underutilized sectors of the state's economic sector. They operate a women's business center in Durham and they conduct research, provide technical assistance, and extend market and financing opportunities in the promotion of the promotion of underutilized businesses. She was especially concerned about the unemployment rates for African-Americans in North Carolina in general, recognizing that the loss of,jobs to foreign labor has played a large role, Nevertheless, she saw tremendous opportunities in Orange County for jobs in the construction trades, particularly with the University receiving large dollar amounts for improvements and additions an campus, Ms. Gunn also predicted that with overall population growth there would be expanded opportunities for those who provide basic goods and services, She felt that Black consumer spending would continue to rise. "I will give you the statistics for OI tinge County fw• 1990-1999 in the African-An:el•icml conunullity buying power, hl 1990, it was $1.6 million. hl 1999, it was over $3 million and that was 4 yews ago, There are opportunities here!" Panel II -Health Care Barbara Pullen-Smith, Director, NC Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities Dr. Rosemary Summers, Director, Orange County Public Health Department Walter Faribault, Retired Health Provider and Local Historian Dr. Anissa Vines, Associate Director, University of North Carolina, ECHO Program: Ethnicity, Culture & Health Outcomes Facilitator: Moses Carey, Member, Orange County Commissioner and Member, Orange County Board of Health Before introducing the panelists, Commissioner Carey underscored the importance of healthcare to the overall quality of one's life and achievement of personal goals,. "If you are sick, ,you're not going to be able to concentrate on your work a.r nlllch as you shozlld. You're not going to be as productive. Ifyou're sick, you're not going to be able to study in school to reach your fill! educational aclrievwnellt level. It is incumbent upon us to focus on this issue of7realthcare because it is the foundation of just about enelything else we do if we m°e going to be successful in improving tlae quality of osu• lives. " Dr. Vines provided a definition of inequality ftom the National Institutes of Health: "Disparities are differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality and burden of disease