Everything Under The Sun: Changing Detroit's Wellness Trajectory

Monday, April 18, 2016

Changing Detroit's Wellness Trajectory

Darcia Dubose Cheeks and husband, Clifford Cheeks, received a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Clifford Cheeks and his wife, Darcia Dubose Cheeks, have been committed to healthy practices for quite some time. They have a business, Cheeks Colon Care, LLC, which provides colon-hydro therapy in the city of Detroit and surrounding communities. But, even so, the couple were aware that they could do so much more to bring healthy practices to area families. So, they started THE WELLNESS ADVOCATES OF DETROIT, with the mission of teaching yoga therapy, peer wellness groups, and youth leadership development to their urban community. The organization was a way to initiate changes in lifestyle that would change individual and community health trajectory.

Mr. Cheeks believes that "wellness is achieved when individuals commit to lifestyle change." The Wellness Advocates has a variety of services and packages available to the community. Yoga therapy is provided free or for a donated fee. There is also reflexology, foot detoxification, colon-hydro therapy, and six different wellness packages, for which fees are charged, for clients of all different ages.

In addition, wellness programs are divided into adult groups and youth groups. Adult groups are comprehensive, with various aspects of wellness being explored, along with gardening, exercise, and referrals for further treatment.

Youth groups take into account the risks to which African-American youth are exposed in an urban environment. It incorporates mentoring and the steps towards change in the Teaming Model. Youth receive a comprehensive assessment that goes beyond the physical, into leadership, social skills, academic skills, and employability.

Then follows 12 sessions over four weeks, addressing community service, leadership development, conflict resolution, employment skills, social skills, wellness, and elimination of self-defeating behaviors. Youth, in turn, must remain in good academic standing, stay in school, and stay out of legal difficulties. After completion of the sessions, there is a six-month follow-up, with any needed outside referrals being provided.

The Wellness Advocates Of Detroit works hard to provide African-American youth with the skills to lead a better life.

True to the organization's plan from the beginning, The Wellness Advocates also held a Wellness Conference For Men And Women this past October at the Detroit Yacht Club.