Urban Views Weekly January 27, 2016

Jan. 27, 2016 Scholar of the Week - Amilia Bryan

VCU Hosts MLK Day Black Lives Matter Symposium

2 Urban Views Weekly | January 27, 2016 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

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FUNdraising Good Times

Secrets to an empowered fundraising team

Civic Beat

This is the fifth in a series focused on the prerequisites for fundraising success.

Last week’s column focused on building a fundraising team. This week, we provide suggestions for creating an empowered fundraising team. The key word is empowered. Here’s the best definition of an empowered fundraising team that we have heard, “allowing good people to do what they are best at.” That’s from Dr. Ned Doffoney, former president of Fresno City College. Using this philosophy, his team raised the first $1 million of a $4 million campaign goal.

Here are a few suggestions. First, let your fundraising chair set the agenda for your fundraising leadership team meetings. Your chair is your leader. You don’t want staff crafting an agenda and passing it off to the chair right before the meeting. That is a red flag. An empowered team uses information provided by leadership as an input. The team’s goal is to figure out how to secure the resources and funding the organization needs.

We suggest an agenda that begins with

the commitments each person made at the last meeting. All team members should be prepared to report out on their commitments and to provide an update on their area of responsibility. Each should report quantitatively: how much was raised since the last meeting? How many new prospects were identified? How many solicitations resulted in a gift or a decline? Each should also report qualitatively: What is working? Where are the challenges? What does he or she need from fellow team members or staff?

Here are some general qualities to strive for as you build a fundraising team: A sense of urgency. Commitment. Expertise. Connections. Transparency. Knowledge. Flexibility. Focus. Planning.

You want to create a culture of accountability where members feel they are accountable to their team members and the organization as a whole. They understand and have bought into the organization’s fundraising goals as individuals and collectively as a team. They come up with

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Bon Secours Heart InstituteForest Ave. & Glenside Dr.

January 28, 20166:30pm-8:30pm

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Continued to pg 8

Cover Photo: Travis Ellison

3 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com Urban Views Weekly | January 27, 2016

When Amilia Bryan first came to the United States from Jamaica in 2009, she originally did not intend to stay. With a more advanced education system in the U.S., Amilia said not many people get the chance to go to college in Jamaica. Her family ended up staying in the U.S., and she took ESL classes for three years. Now, as a senior in high school, she currently has a 4.4 GPA and plans to continue her education in college.

“I see firsthand how hard life gets when one does not have education beyond high school,” Amilia wrote in an essay. “It is hard to get a great job that one loves and pays good money.” Her mother graduated high school, but was unable to finish college. Her father was able to go to college, and now works as a mechanical engineer where he is able to travel and visit different countries. Comparing her parents, Amilia said she sees how education beyond high school can be beneficial.

When she goes to college, Amilia wants to major in forensic science or biology. Her top choices for college are Spelman College in Atlanta, Howard University in D.C. and George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. While she is open to working in any type of job for the government, she is most interested in crime investigation. “I did an internship during the summer at the Richmond Police Department, and they gave me a lot of information,” Amilia said. “I got to see different things that were a major influence in my career.” Some options she will look into after college include jobs with the FBI, CIA, U.S. Marshals, NCIS or attending the Police Training Academy. She also plans to obtain her Master’s Degree. “I chose this career

path, because I mainly believe that one’s security is important,” she said. “I want a job where I will always be active, where I will be able to travel, where I will learn skills that not many people know how to do, and most of all: a job that helps people.”

Amilia currently stays active in school as a member of ROTC. Within ROTC she has done Color Guard, and was a Command Sergeant Major in JROTC. “I shouldn’t be afraid to take initiative,” Amilia said about what she has learned in ROTC.

“It’s better to try than not try at all.” Another activity that teaches her to take initiative and also to be more social is volunteering, one of her favorite things to do. She volunteers with her church’s food pantry and also CARITAS, an organization that provides food and toiletries to the homeless. Her other favorite activity is reading. She particularly enjoys reading books about Black culture and how women are portrayed in the Black community.

As high school comes to a close, college will teach Amilia how to be independent and self-aware, will build her up mentally and “is the ticket that I need in order to survive in society.” She also said college will help her validate whether the path that she has chosen is right for her. “Back in Jamaica, I would have never thought about going to college or wanting to work on a federal level,” Amilia said. “But God put me on a different path to come to America and take advantage of the opportunities of going to college.” While she plans to continue her education, her number one goal is ultimately to be happy and at peace with herself.

Scholar of the Week By Janeal Downs

Amilia Bryan of John Marshall High School

GPA: 4.4

College of Interest: Spelman College, Howard University and George Mason University

Major Community Service: Her church, CARITAS

Strong Interests: Government, Criminal Investigation

Favorite Activities: Reading and Community Service

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Let’s talk about Flint, Michigan! The population of Flint is 56.6% Black or African American and 35.7% white (non-Hispanic or Latino). The median income for Flint is $24,834 and 41.6% of the population live below the poverty line as compared to 14.8% nationwide (US Census, 2013). Flint, Michigan is in crisis right now, not due to the serious economic conditions, lack of employment and under-employment it faces, but a far more critical concern faces the city. The residents of Flint have been poisoned by the water that they have been using, drinking and bathing in for almost 2 years when the state decided to save money by switching Flint’s water supply from Lake Huron (which they were paying the City of Detroit for), to the Flint River, that is known by the people of Flint, to be notoriously filthy. In a cost-cutting measure, those responsible for promoting and overseeing the public health and safety of the residents of the state of Michigan intentionally ignored the immediate concerns of the residents of Flint, who made it known that the water looked bad, tasted bad and smelled bad. The blatant disregard, the apathetic underwhelming response, and the ardent insistence that the water of Flint was safe to drink (for almost 2 years) was an Executive decree that rests squarely on the shoulders of Michigan’s Governor Rick Snyder.

What has happened to the residents of Flint, Michigan is criminal. The corrosive properties of the toxic water from the Flint River caused the lead pipes throughout the city’s water system to leak that lead into the water that Flint residents were assured was safe to drink. There is no level of lead that is deemed safe for human consumption. The effects of lead poisoning are irreversible and cause a multitude of extremely serious health issues, including brain damage. The effects of ingesting even small amounts of lead have

devastating consequences, especially for children and pregnant women. The majority of the people of Flint are Black and poor. Their concerns about the water they were using were ignored and pushed aside as insignificant. Many residents were, patronizingly, told by government officials that what they were experiencing was false and without merit.

“We” have everything under control and the water, “we” assure you, is safe. Basically, “we” are in charge and you don’t know what you are talking about! You must be imagining that the water is smelly, dirty and tastes bad. You all just need to trust that “we” know what “we” are doing, and “we” have your best interests in mind. All of which has now been proven to be an absolute LIE.

This is not the first time that Black people have been duped by those claiming to have our “best interests” in mind. We immediately recall the Tuskegee Experiment when the U.S. Public Health Service conducted an experiment on African American men where they

“allowed” the natural progression of the syphilis disease to go untreated. The men involved in the clinical study from 1932 to 1972 were duped into participating under the auspices of receiving free health care from the United States government. The 40-year study, once exposed, prompted extreme changes in the ethical standards for medical experimentation and research conducted on human beings. The study victimized the men involved, but also their wives and children.

The Flint water crisis has the same questionable ethics, the same disregard for a marginalized population and the same type of institutionalized racism and classism that persists throughout the history of the United States of America. The “naysayers” continue to tell us that what we KNOW to be TRUE is false and that what we can SEE as false is TRUE? We SEE what has happened in Flint! If Flint were Bloomfield Hills, Michigan or Oakland County Michigan, this man-made water crisis would never have happened because the privileged have power that “others” do not. This case MUST be prosecuted. A crime has been committed whose consequences are yet to be fully uncovered.

Up Next Week: The Snow Job!

ViewPointsBy Dr. T

Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D.Founder and Artistic DirectorThe Conciliation Project andAssociate ProfessorVirginia Commonwealth UniversityDrT@Margins2theCenter.comwww.theconciliationproject.org

The Naysayers…don’t tell the truth

TanyaFree.com/Urban Views Weekly Poll

Studies reveal that the majority of children awaiting adoption in foster care are non-White. There are many who question whether Black children adopted by white parents may be deprived of cultural identity.

What’s your take? Should race play a factor in adoption?Check out the story and respond to this week’s poll at TanyaFree.com and the Urban Views Weekly FACEBOOK Page. Listen to the Tanya Free and Friends Talk Show Wednesdays @ 2pm on WCLM1450AM streaming LIVE @ TanyaFree.com and BlackTalkRadioNetwork.com. You can now watch us LIVE at TanyaFree.com and ustream.tv

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Phased retirement – a catchall term that describes a variety of part-time and reduced-hour work arrangements before leaving an employer for good – is gaining steam. But before you sign on, it’s important to understand how

“phasing out” may affect your long-term finances.

Washington is leading the way. The federal government authorized the move for its own employees several years ago and began accepting applications in late 2014 from workers aged 55 and up with a desire to switch to half-time employment in exchange for receiving half their salary and annuity.

For employees with a long-term view, phased retirement can offer significant benefits, but it requires due diligence and planning. Among the advantages, phased retirement means that there doesn’t need to be a hard stop on a successful career. In fact, a 2014 study by Merrill Lynch, in partnership with Age Wave, said that 72 percent of pre-retirees over the age of 50 report that their ideal retirement will include working “often in new, more flexible and fulfilling ways.” The study also noted that 47 percent of current retirees were already working or planning to work during their retirement years.

If your company is talking about phased retirement or may do so in the future, here are some key questions to consider:

What exactly do you want to phase into? For some workers, retirement really will mean a classic vision of

travel and leisure leading into old age. But for others, the picture may be different. Some retirees will want to work and some retirees will have to work. Such decisions will summon a host of personal finance and tax issues based on your personal situation – read heavily and consult qualified experts before you make a decision.

What options will my employer offer over time? While the federal government is in the lead with phased retirement, most private employers are moving at a slower pace. This gives you time to plan. For example, in a 2013 benefits study, the Society for Human Resource Management noted that only 6 percent of employers had a formal phased retirement program that provided a reduced schedule and/or responsibilities prior to full retirement. Watch how your employer’s plan evolves and ask questions.

Phased or not, do you have a retirement plan in place? The decision to make a full or transitional exit from one’s employer should come after years of saving and investing both at home and at work. Years before deciding how you want to leave your career, talk to qualified retirement experts about your personal financial circumstances and what you want to do in the next phase of your life. If it’s a new career, volunteer work or full retirement, develop a plan first.

Have you talked to your senior colleagues? There’s nothing like direct advice from individuals closer to retirement to help you with your own set of pros and cons. Even if there’s no phased retirement program at your organization

right now, it’s still worth talking about retirement preparation with senior colleagues willing to share what they’re doing. Also, start your own retirement planning in earnest with qualified retirement and tax experts.

How will phased retirement affect your overall benefits? If you’re working at a lower salary level at the end of your career, ask how that might affect your future retirement benefits. Make a list of all the benefits and perks you now receive as a current full-time employee and investigate how every single one could be affected by phased retirement. And if you leave the company permanently before qualifying for Medicare, know how you’ll pay for health insurance. This is a particularly important issue to discuss with a qualified financial or tax advisor.

Bottom line: Phased retirement can offer the opportunity to adjust to full-time retirement or set up a new career once you finally leave your current employer. However, before you leap, fully investigate how such a transition will affect your overall finances and future retirement benefits.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

The DealBy Nathaniel Sillin

Making Phased Retirement Work for You

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6 Urban Views Weekly | January 27, 2016

Activist, Police and the Public discuss racism, police brutality and education

More than just hashtags and mantras, Black Lives Matter has become a movement among the African American community. With the beginning of 2016, Dr. Martin Luther King day was celebrated by many across the country. As a part of MLK Celebration Week 2016, Virginia Commonwealth University held a Black Lives Matter Symposium the Wednesday following MLK Day. “I think liberation for me has a lot to do with the right to self-determination, that a black child, regardless of where they are born, what circumstances they are born into, have the ability to determine where they go and what opportunities are available to them,” panelist Bree Newsome said once the discussion began. Newsome, a founding member of the grassroots organization Tribe, recently gained attention online and in the news when she scaled the 30-foot flagpole holding up the confederate flag in front of the South Carolina Statehouse, and removed it. She was one of five panelists to speak to a crowd of about 300 people at the symposium.

The discussion, which lasted from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the VCU Student Common’s Ballroom, was led by a panel including Newsome, Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham; Richmond Peace Education Center executive director, Dr. Adria Scharf; VCU student Angelique Scott; and VCU counseling psychology professor and former chair of the VCU Department of African American Studies, Dr. Shawn Utsey. VCU political science professor and author, Dr. Ravi Perry was the moderator and one of his first questions was the panelists’ thoughts on Black Lives Matter

not endorsing presidential candidates. “I think it’s wise for Black Lives Matter to not particularly endorse a candidate, regardless of who gets elected, somebody’s going to be president,” Newsome said. She encouraged the audience to not pledge their loyalties to a person, but to the issues they want fixed. Scott, who is also the founder and president of Black Art Student Empowerment (BASE) at VCU, spoke on the importance of the community voting not only in the presidential elections, but local elections as well. “When Obama first ran for presidency, we were just excited to get a Black man in office so you had that vote,” Scott said. “But now people need to know what you’re voting for and seeing how those votes affect us.”

Moving away from the elections, the panelists got into the motivation of the movement: police brutality against people of color. Chief Durham reported that in

2014, 16,000 people were murdered in the country with 10,000 being African American. In 2015, he said 1,014 people were shot by police according to FBI preliminary numbers. “It’s kind of like we’re the opposition, saying blue lives matter … because law enforcement officers are being killed in the line of duty also,” Durham said. “So the question that always comes to me across the country in law

enforcement is, do black lives really matter?” Durham asked the audience and panelists if there was never another case of an officer shooting a Black man or person of color, if the Black Lives Movement would still be relevant. He referred to a recent instance when a 12-year-old girl was killed and there was not support from the Black Lives Matter movement at her funeral, and how Richmond doesn’t have a big issue with police brutality. Newsome countered Durham’s statement by saying the situations were not similar,

Left to right: Bree Newsome , Chief Alfred Durham, Dr. Adria Scharf, Angelique Scott, Dr. Shawn Utsey

7 www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

Activist, Police and the Public discuss racism, police brutality and education

By Janeal Downs

continues on page 8

and that while Black people killing other Black people tend to go to jail, police officers killing people do not. “I, personally, think it’s insulting to police to equate the way that police interact with civilians with the way that civilians interact with each other, because if we can’t expect police to conduct themselves with any more control than an average civilian, then what is the function of police?” Newsome said in response.

From a war on drugs, to a war on crime and then the war on terror, Durham said officers

have been indoctrinated and “have to go from being warriors to guardians.” With a lack of psychological evaluations of former soldiers becoming citizens, bad cops and the lack of diversity such as with the Ferguson, Mo. police force, he admitted there is a problem within the system. “There is not a police chief in this United States that will look to hire bad cops. There are processes you go through, but no matter what, we are human beings,” Durham said. “Some people slip through the cracks. You tell me another occupation where we investigate, where we suspend, where we terminate, where we indict and we lock up people? The police departments do that.”

During the panel discussion, audience members were encouraged to walk up to a mic and ask the panelists questions. VCU

senior Attalah Shabazz was one person to speak and rejected Durham’s comparison of

black-on-black crime to police brutality. “The Richmond Police Department does not reflect the fact that there is still a system of issues going on nationwide,” Shabazz said. The fact that you guys have lower rates in police killing citizens, whatever the situation, it doesn’t take away from the fact that this is an epidemic.” Earlier in the discussion, panelists were asked to comment on the presence of

LGBTQ people of color being both on the front lines of the movement and also being targets of police brutality. “As a queer woman who is always, since I could join the movement have been out there fighting, it’s so interesting that you really deflected that whole thing and went on,” Shabazz said. “You did not talk about it at all and you used language that shows that—that is just not a focus of your police department from using the word of ‘transgenders,’ of turning that from an adjective to a noun.” Shabazz said Durham’s words showed the erasure of LGBTQ people of color and also women in the movement because the conversation became focused on straight Black men. In response, Durham spoke of a new LGBT liaison in his department.

Another speaker, VCU student Jackie Washington gave suggestions to Durham for new police programs, the presence of PTSD in the African American community due to slavery and racism and, also, the concept of the Black extended family. “Some people asked me, why are you so upset that Trayvon Martin was murdered? You didn’t even know him, that’s not your brother, it happened all the way in another state. But it’s like I do know him, he

is literally, literally my brother,” Washington said. People were also able to ask questions via Twitter. One such question was how white people and other people of color could support the Black Lives Matter movement. Dr. Scharf addressed the white people in the room and suggested they ask themselves “what forms of privilege, power and domination are you, are we

Photos: Travis Ellison

Left to right: Bree Newsome , Chief Alfred Durham, Dr. Adria Scharf, Angelique Scott, Dr. Shawn Utsey


From Black Lives Matter pg 7

From Fundraiser pg 2

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“A Certification Program for Presidents and Others”

Presiding with Passion is a program developed by the Virginia State Association of Parliamentarians (VSAP) to provide a development/certification program for presiding officers of non-profit organizations (sororities, fraternities, social clubs, service groups, church officers, etc.) It is designed to provide “hands on” training in presiding, based on Robert Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR).

It is a free initiative and the initial program will be limited to 12 persons. There will be two three-four hour sessions. In order to participate, you must commit to both sessions. Tentative Dates of the Program: March 12, (10-2) March 26, 2016, (10-2), held in Richmond.

Virginia State Association of Parliamentarians (VSAP)

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Email: [email protected] [email protected] for applications.

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alternatives – in advance – to make sure that goals can be achieved even if the original plan looks like it might run into

challenges.

All members should be resourceful. But resourcefulness isn’t always monetary. Resources include their professional skills as well as connections: people they know who can help make things happen. You want a team where thoughts and ideas are freely exchanged and valued; creativity is appreciated; and the team itself is empowered to make decisions, set goals and policy.

Bringing representatives of your staff, board members and volunteers together to create a fundraising leadership team is a risk. Take another risk and be open, transparent, accountable, and let your team members set goals and direction.

Copyright 2016– Mel and Pearl Shaw For more fundraising and nonprofit management suggestions visit www.saadandshaw.com. When you are ready to work with fundraising counsel call us at (901) 522-8727.

willing to relinquish in order to actually live in a just society.” She also went back to Durham’s comparison of war to protecting civilians. “Dr. King spoke about the particular threats of racism and militarism, a triple threat to our society and Dr. King said, at the time, ‘every bomb dropped in Vietnam explodes in Harlem,’” Scharf said. “We spent a trillion dollars on the wars in Iraq and in my opinion, every bomb we dropped in Iraq exploded in the city of Richmond, every penny we spent was a penny that we did not spend repairing the roofs of the schools in the city of Richmond.”

Throughout the night, racism and police brutality were obviously big topics, but so was education. Dr. Utsey said conversations and discussions like the symposium, continue to happen as history repeats itself. “We must be willing to die for our liberation. If we’re not willing to die, we’re just having polite conversation,” Dr. Utsey said. His closing remarks connected

the movement to education. While the movement is “Black Lives Matter,” to him, it appears as if there is a war for the minds of Black people and the movement “perhaps begins with Black minds matter.” He said that the most violence committed against Black people was not at the hands of the police, “but in the classroom where the minds of our children begin to become disfigured.”

The two-hour discussion offered time at the end for guests to speak with the panelists. Flyers with suggested readings and websites to visit in order to follow and learn more about the Black Lives Movement, and the history before it, were also passed out to guests. Before the event which honored both Dr. Martin Luther King and the Black Lives Movement ended, Dr. Perry led the audience in reciting, “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.”

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More than 12,000 women are diagnosed annually with cervical cancer and 4,000 women die each year. However, innovations in diagnostics and prevention could help reduce that number, while also giving women a better understanding of their health.

· The basics: Women 21-65 years old should have a Pap smear every three years according to new health guidelines, along with a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test in some cases -- not annually as most women were taught. The Pap smear detects changes in cervical cells caused by persistent HPV infections, and the HPV test improves detection. After an abnormal result, doctors may perform a colposcopy exam by applying a solution to the cervix and watching for areas that turn white (acetowhitening), which can indicate abnormal cells. Certain women may need more frequent screening or treatment to remove pre-cancerous areas.

· Computer-aided detection: Historically, colposcopy has been a very subjective exam, and accurately identifying biopsy sites is a challenging task. DySIS colposcopy, a clinically-proven, FDA-cleared device, adds Dynamic Spectral Imaging to objectively quantify acetowhitening, and displays the results in a color-coded map.

“Its ability to help me to select biopsy sites has resulted in me finding an increased number of significant pathologies,” says Dr. John Patterson of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare of DySISmap.

· Reduced anxiety: Receiving news from your doctor that your Pap smear result is abnormal is frightening for any woman. However, the new computer-enhanced imaging offers more clarity for both the clinician and the patient.

“It was really good to be able to see the screen and feel a little more in control and understand what was happening,” says Heather Holyoak, a medical student who had three colposcopy procedures and a biopsy over the past three years. “For me, it wasn’t remotely painful or uncomfortable, and it could be something that puts your mind at ease.”

· Prevention: Two FDA-approved vaccines are highly effective in preventing infections of high-risk HPV types that cause the majority of cervical cancers. The HPV vaccine is recommended to be given to pre-teen girls and boys at 11-12 years old before they are sexually active, but can be given up to age 26 for women and 21 for men.

For more information on screening, diagnosis and prevention, visit cancer.org/cancer/cervicalcancer and www.DySISMedical.com.

Cervical cancer is completely preventable and the best prevention is being regularly tested to detect abnormalities early. With these new tools, cervical cancer can be eradicated in our lifetime.

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month: What to Know about Cancer Screening

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Losing weight is a challenging process, requiring self-discipline and dedication.When you need help dieting, a weight loss clinic may be the answer.

Obesity is a common problem in our country. For many Americans, it is a threat to their health. Extra weight will shorten your lifespan and create a myriad of physical problems.Trained professionals can educate you on good nutrition, keep you motivated and set a realistic weight loss goal. They will answer your questions and provide accountability.Each clinic has its own approach. Selecting the right program will help you reach your weight loss goals.

So many diets create glamorous advertisements using famous people, but that doesn’t mean their plan is the best one for you. Here are some ideas to help you find the best weight loss clinic to meet your needs.

Research and Visit

First off, research local weight loss clinics. Visit their website because it will give you a good idea about price points and programs. Do you have to purchase special meals? Are meetings and appointments required? Make sure these commitments are convenient for you. Think of

other information you may need. Many clinics provide online courses, while others hold public weigh-ins. Decide what is comfortable for you.

Once you narrow down your choices, visit each facility. Observe the way staff members talk to clients. All employees should be courteous and competent to everyone, not just potential or new customers.

If you have questions, bring a notebook and pencil to take notes.

Plans and Referrals

Although each clinic will seem as though it has the only plan that works, you must determine if it is the best program for you. Read what others write about the various diet programs.

It will help you to know what others have experienced. Always remember, however, that what works for one person might not work for another. Keep your personal requirements in mind.

It should be possible to speak with existing clients about their experiences. Ask the clinic staff for referrals. Clinics with good reputations will be happy to provide you with such a list. Previous clients are often willing to talk about their own experiences, negative and positive. You can also find out if they kept the weight off.

A good weight loss clinic will have a follow-up system to assist you in maintaining a healthy life. They should be able to give you their success rate.

Clinics offer different levels of support, such as motivation and nutritional assistance. They might also have stress management techniques that can stop you from eating your troubles away.

Do not register with anyone until you check them out with the Better Business Bureau and online reviewers. Understand each clinic’s cancellation policy.

If possible, ask for a trial membership. Many weight loss clinics allow trial periods. It offers you an opportunity to try their system without making a financial commitment.

Use your time at the clinic wisely. Create good nutrition and exercise habits. You are not only there to lose weight, you are developing a healthy, lifelong lifestyle.

In the end, a good weight loss clinic can go a long way toward helping you succeed. It is easy to stick with a plan when you have the assistance and support of caring staff.

Whether you need to lose a small or large amount of weight, it is important to find a safe, effective way to achieve your goals.

How to Choose a Good Weight Loss Clinic

How to Guide

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Urban Views Weekly January 27, 2016