GrassROOTS Community Foundation And The New York Liberty To Raise Awareness About Girls' Health

April 5, 2012 - PRLog -- Contact:
Jenea Robinson
215.625.7988
jenea@skaibluemedia.com

NEWARK, NJ April 5, 2012 –Co-founder of the GrassROOTS Community Foundation (GCF) and lead MC of the Grammy Award Winning band the Roots, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, will join forces with the WNBA’s New York Liberty and MSG Sports at Madison Square Garden to raise funds for women’s and girls’ health on April 26th.

Power Forward is a charity concert that will bring together business professionals, Essex County city officials, activists, philanthropists, and residents for a lively night of music and advocacy. Attendees can look forward to dynamic performances from Black Thought along with up and coming artists Maya Azucena, Paul Lowe Jr. and Nneka Best.

This event is the result of a strategic partnership between GCF and The New York Liberty who share a common goal of spreading awareness about women’s health and empowerment. Power Forward specifically addresses the importance of using sports to increase physical activity and reducing obesity among impoverished women and girls.

In a county where 80% of adults have less than basic literacy, GCF’s Health, Education, and Literacy (H.E.A.L.) program, educates both parents and children in Newark, Orange and East Orange about the joys and benefits of yoga and cooking together.

“Research shows that 47% of children are overweight or obese in Newark compared to the national average of 36%,” says Janice Johnson Dias, Ph.D. Sociologist, Co-founder and President of GCF. Because of these alarming numbers, GCF founders felt compelled to galvanize and motivate residents to do something about their health.

Trotter says, “We are relying on local hip-hop artists, community members, leaders, and friends in New Jersey to come together and show that they care about what happens to our women and girls.”

Hosting this year’s event is renowned actress Regina Hall, who is best known for her roles in Think Like a Man, the Scary Movie series, and Love and Basketball. Hall has a personal connection to this cause and feels it’s vital for communities of color and impoverished people to live longer and healthier lives.

“These issues are real to me. I have been working with my mother to lower her blood pressure and to get off statins. She is eating better and feels better. My niece is next on my plan to save my family. I care about these issues because they affect everyone I care about,” says Hall.

The Power Forward event starts at 8pm. Tickets to The New York Liberty basketball games and a subscription to Essence Magazine are included with the purchase of event tickets. To purchase tickets, please visit www.powerforward.eventbrite.com. Proceeds from this event will benefit the H.E.A.L. program.

GrassROOTS Community Foundation
GrassROOTS Community Foundation (GCF) is a collaborative effort of Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, co-founder and lead MC of the Grammy Award Winning group, the Roots, and sociologist, Dr. Janice Johnson Dias. The foundation is committed to contributing to the health and well-being of vulnerable populations and disadvantaged communities. Merging the talents of socially conscious artists with those of a rigorous scientific research and creative team, GCF invests their energy into developing the capacity of community based organizations that offer educational and recreational services to disadvantaged women and girls. For more information, please visit www.grass-rootsfoundation.org .

H.E.A.L. Program
H.E.A.L. is a family program that teaches parents and children about the joys and health benefits of yoga and cooking together. The program welcomes parents with children (K-3rd grade) to practice Ancient Kemetic yoga to experience the benefits of increased focus, agility and higher energy: keys to educational and professional achievement.  For more information on the program, please visit http://www.grass-rootsfoundation.org/heal/heal.html.

The New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team currently based in Newark, New Jersey, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league. The New York Liberty is owned by Madison Square Garden and is led by head coach John Whisenant.