November is Men’s Health Awareness Month. The Flint Registry and Greater Flint Health Coalition hosted a Men’s Health Dialogue with community leaders and experts. Watch the replay above to hear about a holistic approach to men’s health, including mental and physical, as well as preventative and proactive steps to take toward a healthier, happier, and longer life.
The panel of local experts and leaders, included Shon Hart, founder of Involved Dad; Dr. Kizy of Karmanos Cancer Institute of Flint; Jim Ananich and Ken Lemons of GFHC; George Conway of Re-Image Collective Counseling; and Leon El-Alamin of the MADE Institute.
The Flint Registry, Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, and their partners are community-engaged to connect and support Flint and beyond.
Learn more about our panelists:
Leon El-Alamin is a lifelong resident of Flint, Michigan. He is seeking to obtain his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at U of M Flint. Since 2010, he has worked as an organizer in the Flint and Genesee County Metropolitan area, mentor, businessman, and stakeholder for the socio-economic development and overall well-being of the Flint community.
Mr. El-Alamin’s focus is on at-risk youth and returning citizens who come back into the community from incarceration. As individuals entered the penal system, they were conditioned to believe that prison time would allow them to pay their debt to society. Upon their return to Flint and Genesee County, they face the stark reality that they have not paid their debt to society: society has systematically structured them out. Society has created barriers that negatively impact their ability to pursue higher education: to secure employment, acquire housing, and many other necessary opportunities to sustain their lives. Mr. El-Alamin. has a deep desire to break down barriers such as institutional racism and other socioeconomic inequalities that affect the health and overall development of inner-city communities. Some of his affiliations and accomplishments include being the CEO and Founder of MA.D.E Institute. Community Outreach Coordinator for The Flint Coalition, Author, and a Flint and Genesee Chamber of Commerce Spark Award recipient.
Jim Ananich has seen some stuff. From being the leader of Michigan’s Senate Democratic Caucus as the Flint Water Crisis ripped through his hometown to serve in that role while the state navigated a global pandemic, Jim has always used a people-first philosophy to push policies and responses that keep people safe, stronger, and healthier.
Growing up in Flint taught Jim the value of hard work and the importance of a community that stands up for each other, which led him to pursue a career of service. After graduating from Michigan State University’s James Madison College, he worked in Washington D.C. for Congressman Dale Kildee, taught at Carman Ainsworth High School, and was elected to the Flint City Council and the State Legislature. His two full terms leading the Senate Democratic Caucus is the most of any Caucus leader in Michigan’s term-limit era. In this position – and even before – he found success advancing bipartisan legislation that helped workers through economic downtimes, families have access to healthy foods and clean water and better resources for local communities to invest in services and infrastructure.
This belief in the power of decision-makers to use their positions to benefit their communities has led Jim to his current role as President and CEO of the Greater Flint Health Coalition, on which he has served as a board member since 2011. He has lived in this community his entire life and even lives with his wife, Andrea, son, Jacob, and dog, Lucky, in the same neighborhood where he grew up.
George Conway began his career working with disadvantaged and at-risk youth as a general education paraprofessional at a local urban Kindergarten-8th school in the City of Flint, Michigan. Shortly after that, he was re-positioned to the special education department and began servicing students with moderate to severe mental, emotional, and behavioral impairments. Ultimately, Mr. Conway was promoted to Student Family Liaison, a position designed to identify and alleviate concerns and barriers between the school, students, and their families that prevented students from achieving academic success.
During that time, Mr. Conway pursued and completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan-Flint and his Master’s Degree in Social Work from Eastern Michigan University (concentration in family and children’s services). Upon leaving, Mr. Conway secured employment as a Licensing Specialist for a private foster care organization partnered with the Michigan Department of Human Services.
Mr. Conway then matriculated to the Michigan Department of Corrections as an Institutional Prison Chaplain for Inmates before returning to education as a School Social Worker (Oak Park School District) and, finally, the Flint Community School District.
Shon Hart is a premier keynote speaker, trainer, and leading authority on fatherhood and personal improvement. He energizes, motivates, and empowers diverse audiences to take action and control. When he’s done with his audiences, they are ready to meet the challenges of the world around them and unearth treasures that lay beneath. Shon is a dynamic personality and a highly sought-after inspirational resource for schools, businesses, non-profit organizations, and professional circles.
A graduate and former Michigan State University football player, Shon learned how to compete and excel at a very high level. He has a keen way of turning what he touches into gold. His straight-from-the-heart passion and high energy motivate audiences to step beyond their limitations, step into their greatness, and dominate their lanes. Shon is the author of “From Average 2 Elite,” “Man 2 Man,” and “Dreaming With A Purpose.” He uses these materials to inspire and empower individuals at universities, high schools, businesses, and various treatment and holistic facilities.
As a surgical oncologist, Dr. Scott Kizy specializes in the surgical care of cancer patients. He works as part of a multidisciplinary care team devoted to treating and curing cancer. As an oncology provider, Dr. Kizy values long-lasting relationships with patients and their families. He feels it is an honor to be a part of a patient’s journey during this challenging time. Additionally, Dr. Kizy is passionate about delivering high-quality, evidence-based, multidisciplinary cancer care to all patients. He pledges to care for all patients like his own family. During his career, Dr. Kizy’s primary research interests focused on understanding the biology of cancer cachexia. He has also studied the effects of gut bacteria on surgical outcomes and health. Lastly, he has experience studying cancer and surgery outcomes utilizing large datasets.
Ken Lemons is a passionate and caring leader with over 12 years of experience in business and non-profit leadership. He is experienced in non-profit management, program design and implementation, consulting, business development, and operations management. He cares deeply about improving systems through a public health lens to make life better for people, especially those disproportionately impacted by trauma. Ken now serves as a Project Manager of Mental Health and Substance Use Initiatives for the Greater Flint Health Coalition, focusing on jail-based programming, engaging the faith-based community, and the continual expansion of Peer Recovery Coaching in community settings throughout Genesee County.