In the Community

May 7, 2007

Final Tavis Smiley "Road to Health" Event Convenes in Oakland May 11-12

Kaiser Permanente is the national presenting sponsor for Tavis Smiley's Road to Health Health, Fitness and Wellness Expo, a two-day educational event that combines positive messages about food, fitness and lifestyle decisions with fun activities and personalities.

The final stop for the Road to Health expo is the Oakland (Calif.) Convention Center, less than a mile from Kaiser Permanente's national headquarters. Oakland, Calif. Tens of thousands of adults and children are expected to attend the event May 11-12. Previous Road to Health events were held in Baltimore, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.

The Road to Health expo, which is free to the public, offers a variety of activities and information for young people such as cooking, nutrition and fitness demonstrations, makeovers and holistic medicine pavilions, medical screenings and referrals, live discussions, indoor and outdoor exercise activities and motivational speakers.

The Road to Health is designed to convey four themes:

• Reduce your risk: Healthy bodies need to be kept safe. Drugs, violence, accidents, and diseases caused by unsafe sex are the leading killers of African-Americans and Latinos in America. Respect your body and respect others.
• Strike a balance: Healthy bodies maintain a balance of nutrients and eliminate toxins. Eating different fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains, and drinking plenty of water, helps your body maintain this balance.
• Optimize the flow: Healthy bodies need free-flowing passages for air, blood, water and nutrients. Exercising and eating right are key factors in keeping these passageways open.
• Create a lifestyle: Healthy bodies are made, not born. Commit to your health by increasing your physical activity, eating healthier foods and getting plenty of rest.

Because ethnic and racial minorities face the greatest health challenges in America today, Kaiser Permanente is actively supporting the Road to Health programs that promote prevention and wellness for the people and communities that KP serves.

Smiley, 42, is a leading commentator, public radio host and author on the topic of the plight facing urban African-American youth. He was an aide to the late Tom Bradley, the first African-American mayor of Los Angeles.

Other Road to Health features include a Cardio Zone, in which students can rock-climb, box, skateboard and play basketball, golf, soccer and tennis. They can also meet with celebrity stylists, walk with Olympians, watch live performances and participate in workshops. The 30-minute workshops cover a variety of topics, including understanding the health risks associated with specific ethnic backgrounds, boosting body image and self-confidence, reducing stress, making healthy food choices and steering clear of illegal drugs. The expo will also include a career café featuring information about new and interesting jobs in health, fitness and wellness.

Among the free health screenings offered are blood pressure, blood sugar/glucose, bone density, cholesterol, lung function, kidney disease, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and dental and eye exams. Information also will be provided about chronic health problems such as diabetes, obesity, asthma and heart disease.

Smiley has hosted programs on the Black Entertainment Network and National Public Radio. He currently hosts Tavis Smiley, a late-night talk show televised on the Public Broadcasting Service network. He also hosts a similar, weekly, two-hour version on Public Radio International radio stations. He has written eight books, including Doing What's Right: How to Fight for What You Believe – And Make a Difference.