Conversations & Coffee – All Of Us!

It all began in the Fall of 2019. Conversations & Coffee was off to a great start, hosting in person sessions. With the holidays and the New Year upon us, the plan was to pick up in the Spring of 2020. However, as 2020 rolled in with its own plan, we quickly shifted to Zoom. The concerns were varied as the lock down placed a pause on treatments, hospitalizations and screenings.

The struggle as you know it, was really real. Many cancer patients were afraid to go to their appointments. They expressed their concerns with being exposed to the virus, as the health care professionals themselves, were most likely exposed. The fear of missing appointments and the fear of getting COVID-19 was overwhelming. It was a nightmare.

In the summer of 2020, the sessions included speaking to families who were grieving the loss of a loved one who died of COVID-19. We explored the possibility of a vaccine and the concerns that come along with it. It was a difficult season for everyone.

The participants varied from millennials to seniors. Some sessions would include families who would sit in with their loved one. It was a beautiful, thoughtful and engaging experience. We were all home bound, bonding through this unfamiliar season.

Moving forward to the summer of 2021, Conversations & Coffee hosted an informative session with the All of Us Research Program presented by La Keshia Jones, Engagement Manager and Retention Lead – NYC Consortium at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. It was time to expand our topics to include being a part of something bigger. The pandemic was certainly an experience that served as a major disruptor to assess our overall health. One thing is certain, the health disparities remain disproportionately high within the minority population.

 
Through the All of Us Research Program,  participants will learn how it can offer the important information of their family’s health history and their genetic makeup which is essential in how each individual receive medical care. The DNA will also provide an insight to their ancestry line. The participant will also have the opportunity to meet with a genetic counselor in the event that they identify any risk factors for certain diseases – and the best part of it all – it is free!

Summer 2022 is upon us, and we have hosted a few more sessions with Jekolbi Brown, Director at Pyxis Partners. The main goal is to get as many participants as possible to enroll and spread the word. In the meantime, go grab your favorite cup so you can sip while you click the link to learn more about the All of Us Research Program.