Brandon Ball – Urban Health Fellow

Student Reflection, 7/29/14

“A challenge in my community that I would like to address is the [current] removal of the Black Male Youth Academy from my high school. The first step I will take in solving this issue is talking to my principal about this situation to try to understand why this is happening.”

– Brandon Ball

* * *

The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, in a 2009 report stated, the death rate for African Americans was higher than Whites for heart diseases, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and homicide.

In response to the health crises impacting communities of color, SJLI with funding from The California Wellness Foundation has developed a five-week, hands-on internship and training fellowship. A Fellow wrote the preceding journal entry during his Urban Health Fellowship training.