Healthy Choices Healthy Living
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“When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.”
- Ancient Ayurvedic Proverb
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Mission
We are on a Mission to EDUCATE, ENERGIZE, and AWAKEN THE HEALER within us,and passionately encourage us to become responsible advocates of our health and well-being – to make healthier choices in order to appropriate healthy and abundant living. It is our inheritance!
Facts
It is a fact that African American communities are disproportionately served; that the lifestyle disparity between African American communities and other communities is great. According to CDC.gov, African Americans ages 35 to 64 years are 50% more likely to have high blood pressure than whites. Also, ages 18 to 49 year old are two times as likely to die from heart disease than whites. In general, African Americans are more likely to die at early ages from all causes. (CDC.gov)
“Health is much more dependent on our habits and nutrition than on medicine.”
- John Lubbock
The Beginning…
Facing some health challenges of my own, while spending time in Jamaica, land of my birth, my second daughter, Tamara, caringly and lovingly introduced me to the book, Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC in 2011. As I plowed into the book and began to research some of the challenges I was experiencing, deep within I experienced the Spirit in a profound way. From the voice within, I heard…
“People need to KNOW that EVERYTHING they need for their health and well-being is already provided.”
My assignment became clear. I had a mission to educate and bring awareness.
I accepted the mission, and set out to equip myself accordingly. Straightway, I attended classes at Open Center, New York; took classes in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to study and become certified as a Health and Nutrition Coach.
- Pastor Joy
What People Are Saying…
GYMNASIUM OF THE MIND – June & July 2023
With Apostle Courtney Richards, Senior Pastor, Glory Mission in London
“AWESOME PRESENTATION, APOSTLE RICHARDS. THANK YOU FOR LENDING YOUR TIME TO HCHL!”
Berena Hughes
I thoroughly enjoy every moment of my mind being stimulated; the learning and the motivation…Oh so
empowering! His confidence in his presentation was magnetic… sharing that the way we think creates
our world was so liberating.
Rev. Dr. Slater
“Great insights. Much food for thought!”
Marilyn King-George
Conference - October 1, 2022
“It was a very rich conference, as usual.”
Brenda Alexander
This is TRULY WONDERFUL information, Pastor Joy! I have enjoyed EVERY moment- KUDOS to ALL of You
Dedicated and Motivated Medical practitioners. “Verily our people suffer for lack of information.”
Courtney Noel
“The Gymnasium of the Mind workshop - I love the antidote shared to (1) seek and destroy all false
information pertaining to my life, and (2) plant seeds of truth and repeat until it takes root. It would have
been great if Apostle Richards had more time to give a full presentation.”
Prof. Sharon James
EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS – July 23, 2022
“Walking in the under grove, watching and listening to the little creatures is so refreshing and tranquil.
Nature walks, my favorite. We gain so much knowledge about herbs: their medicinal properties and
purposes. It is phenomenal and we need to have these walks more often.”
Monique Richards
VIRTUAL CLERGY CONVERSATION – June 11, 2022
Hosted By Rev. Faye Braz, Rev. Dr. Glenmore Bembry & Bishop Kennard Davis
“HCHL, Thank you for hosting a session that encouraged us to STOP and care for ourselves.”
Rev. Faithlyn Morrison
FIRESIDE CHAT: MATTERS OF THE MIND - May 27, 2022
With Eva Spears-Smith and host Yvette Frith Raymond
“Matters Of The Mind with Eva Spears-Smith was a delight for me as I am being trained now in mental
health as a retired faith leader. The integration of the Body, Mind and Spirit are all crucial now to help
people embrace healthy lifestyles around mental health: critical now as people need help to cope with
stress.”
Rev. Dr. Glenmore Bembry, Jr, Founder of Life Quakes Coaching Consulting Ministries.
CHANGE YOUR BRAIN…CHANGE YOUR LIFE - March 19, 2022
With Dr. Eric Kaplan, Board Certified Functional Neurologist
Change Your Brain… Change Your Life was a “WOW!” It left attendees onsite and online wanting to –
“CHANGE THEIR BRAIN.” Why? They were awakened to the magic and neuroplasticity of the brain: its
ability to be re-wired and be changed. We learnt how to use safe, gentle, and effective non-invasive
techniques to enhance and keep our brain and energies functioning optimally and promote better quality
of life. Thanks. Dr. Kaplan!
Marilyn King-George
“Dr Kaplan’s informative, interactive session highlighted some areas of our routine where adjustments to
our behaviors can make a difference in our brain function. Overall, Dr. Kaplan’s message emphasized that
brain function can be optimized with an approach that considers each person’s physical, social,
emotional, and psychological needs. A natural holistic approach.”
Pretha Wilson
Conference – October 8 & 9, 2021
Greetings! Last weekend Center of Joy Ministry held its annual plant-based conference Awaken Our
Healer, and it was a wonderful experience for me! It was my third conference with HCHL, and it was
informative, uplifting, reassuring and most of all, motivating! As I am moving toward a plant-based
lifestyle, last week’s conference spotlighted the amazing resources within the HCLC community; each
presenter was “on point” with the information they provided in their areas of expertise, and each left me
with a feeling of empowerment – believing that I can improve my quality of life by embracing and
committing to healthier choices for healthier living! Thank you, Center of Joy Ministry, for the HCHL
conferences – I will always, always support you in this endeavor, and I am looking forward to the next
event! Blessings to you always!
Berena Hughes
Conference – October 10, 2020
“I highly recommend these sessions, because I guarantee you will gain some valuable information for you
and your family, as we have. Remember Health is Wealth. Thank you HCHL.”
Marjorie Burnett, Public School Teacher
“I salute and acknowledge the marvelous and much needed services that HCHL are giving to. enhance
the quality of life in our community.”
Rev. Dr. Lureen Slater
“I always enjoy HCHL's workshops.” Thank You!
Prof. Sharon James
Conference 2019
“Going to the conference has made me see healthy choice in a wide new light. When I left, one thing that impacted me the most was the difference between conventionally grown foods and organic foods, and how to identify them in the supermarket, and the fruit and vegetable stores. I also left knowing that it is better for me to eat an orange or an apple than to drink ready-made “fruit juice.”
One demonstration that caught my attention was the ice-cream that we made at the conference. I learnt that you can use healthy products to make food or drinks that you like. ‘Thanks, Healthy Choices for a day full of awesome learning and much fun.”
Genesis Walker, 12 years
Conference 2018
“It was Oct. 2018 when I attended the Healthy Choices…Healthy Living (HCHL) Conference. The atmosphere when I arrived was charged with excitement and great anticipation- evident by the participants’ interactions at their assigned tables.
Each presenter delivered valuable information, unpacking biological stats and evidence correlating aspects of healthy nutrition choice to healthy living; conversely, poor health choices that result in adverse health conditions.
I was truly impressed with the fiber rich, delectable tasting foods served for lunch. Some were new to me, while others familiar, but prepared differently. Altogether the cuisine was flavorful, appetizing and satisfying.
I not only left the conference impressed, but enlightened and empowered with some healthy choices to implement moving forward. The experience was so impactful that I became contagious - like the woman at the well, in John 4, “Come and See.” - to the point of infecting friends and family with my ‘takeaways’ of healthy choice highlights and concepts. Some are now more health conscious than before. Thanks to the HCHL Conference that has served to activate my ‘healthy choice factor.’ It is now… my daily embrace!”
Sonya Nurse, Retired Hospital Worker & Teacher, Brooklyn, NY
Conference 2017
“I learnt that, “We Are What We Eat,” that was a BIG eye-opener for me. WOW! And when I learnt about the Food politics, what’s in our foods, and why we have sub-par foods in our community, my passion rose. I left the conference knowing that now we must demand our stores to have better food choices in our communities: communities of color. And… I left committed to: Eat right! Check Labels! And share with others what I learnt!”
Monique Richards, Hospital Worker, Brooklyn, NY
Conference 2016
“Excellent Event! I learnt so much about my GUT. It was truly an eye-opener for me. And... The Back Massage was a real treat. I need more! The community needs more informative, straight-to-the-heart of the matter conferences like Healthy Choices…Healthy Living. Rev. Thank you for bringing this caliber of information to us.”
Coral Barnett, Brooklyn, NY
Conference 2015
“What an event!! As a healthcare advocate who organizes and co-sponsors events like this one; this one was TOPS! From the way the room was set-up. The presenters were down to earth and that makes the presentation more meaningful. Information was clear. The presentation of the display on the table eye catching, the practical demo was something to stay with you for a life time. Zumba just put another layer of craftsmanship on an event well organized, with much planning going into it. The audience was alive, ready and reactive. And the question and answer section, was great.
Who would think that on a Friday evening you would have such a turnout to a health care event - and all stayed until the end? We need to find a way to bring the information we received to the rest of Brooklyn and then beyond. Blessing and praise go out to Rev Marline and her team… “
Jennifer Clarke-Craig, Health Care Advocate, Healthcare Education Project/ 1199 SEIU/ GNYHA
Conference 2014
“Healthy Choices…Healthy Living, in my opinion was a success because of the wealth of knowledge and information presented to the attending participants. Zumba was a refreshing, energized jump start to the forum. It cleared your mind and spirit to ingest all the healthy presentations. I particularly liked the segment for the children in which they were given a perspective of how to make healthy choices with what they put into their bodies, how to read labels, and why it is important for them to make these choices while they are young. The forum on healthy relationship was also educational and it gave insights into how relationships varies based on individual maturation and the infiltration of God's love which enables a relationship to withstand diversities in daily living. Overall it was engaging, informative, energizing and most important a learning experience for all ages!”
Islyn Dillon, RN, MSW, Queens, New York