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About Us
The Action Team
The Action team works to comprehensively "Mobilize Communities for Action" by serving as a catalyst for change to increase the level of awareness of prostate cancer and its disproportionate burden on minority men and their families in North Carolina. Through the sharing of experiences and development of strategies for replicating effective models to reach at risk men and their families with the information and resources necessary to protect themselves and their families we reduce the potentially devastating impact that this silent killer can have on our communities.
Team members focus on:
- Educating minority men and their families about prostate cancer
- Ensuring access to care for minority men who need to be screened for prostate cancer
- Advocating for state, local and federal funds for minority prostate cancer research
- Building a network of organizations, agencies and leaders to make prostate cancer a state and national priority
It is our deepest commitment to work with our partners to exchange ideas and develop appropriate models for improving the health of men in our communities.
History
In the mid 1980's, key African American leaders in North Carolina met with representatives of the American Cancer Society to discuss the disproportionate number of African American males who were being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Through this dialogue, the Minority Prostate Cancer Awareness Action Team was formed. Since then, the Minority Prostate Cancer Awareness Action Team has worked towards the following goals:
- Educating minority men and their families about prostate cancer.
- Ensuring access to care for minority men who need to be screened for prostate cancer.
- Advocating for state, local and federal funds for minority prostate cancer research.
- Building a network of organizations, agencies and leaders to make prostate cancer a state and national priority.
The Action Team was originally led by Joe Sanders and encompassed several programmatic components including media presentations, a speaker’s bureau and a barbershop campaign. Everett Ward was elected to serve as chairman in 1994, expanding both its membership and programs. During the time, the Action Team became autonomous while maintaining a collaborative relationship with the American Cancer Society (ACS). Ray Perry served as chair from 1998-2004. During this time the Action Team was granted status as a (501-(c)(3)) tax exempt non-profit organization.
Today Dr. James Smith continues the Action Team’s strong legacy of committed leadership, carrying on our dedicated work to eliminate the disparate impact of prostate cancer on minority populations.
Goals
The Action Team's focus is to completely eliminate the prostate cancer health disparity that exists for African-American men in North Carolina. As a member of the Prostate Cancer Coalition of North Carolina (PCCNC) we work with other PCCNC members to collaboratively reduce the death rate from prostate cancer in North Carolina by 50% within 5 years.
Partners
The NC Minority Prostate Cancer Action Awareness Team has formal partnerships with the following organizations:
- American Cancer Society
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
- National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer
- NC Comprehensive Cancer Control Program
- NC Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities
- Old North State Medical Society
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
- Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
- North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development
- The Links, Inc.
- Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
Contact us for more info
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