Community Education

On Saturday September 22nd, Angel Foundation sponsored what is believed to be the nation’s first-ever breast health education conference for deaf women. The event took place at Allina Commons and speakers included Darolyn Gray, Margie Sborov, MOHPA physicians Dr. Khoyratty and Dr. Bellairs, Dr. Day from the Piper Breast Center, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and psychotherapist Sandy Tazelaar, Clinical Nutrition Manager Mindy Weis from Abbott Northwestern Hospital, and Certified Lymphedema Therapist from Fairview Southdale, Laurie Arbes. Guest speaker Bernice Singleton, a deaf breast cancer survivor who authored a book regarding her cancer journey, flew in from California for a post-lunch presentation. More than 70 deaf women (and several deaf men) attended the event, and a panel of four deaf people (including one man) shared their mammography stories as they described “How I Found My Lump.” Many ASL interpreters participated including several for one-on-one attention to deaf –blind attendees. Angel Foundation has been working with local deaf breast cancer survivor and advocate, Anita Buel for many months. Our Executive Director, Darolyn Gray, now serves as an advisor to the Deaf Community Health Worker Project founded by Anita.

We are grateful to Sue Fredrickson at Allina Commons for her extra efforts on our behalf, and to the management of Allina Commons for donating the space in-kind. We thank our event sponors Celgene and AstraZeneca, and our vendor participants: Julie Langley from Salon Ave, Just Cause Jewerly, AfterImage Mastectomy Boutique, Roseville Bakery, Edible Creations for donating hand dipped strawberries, and Custom Chocolates. The staff of Wildside Catering did a wonderful job in providing a delicious buffet breakfast and lunch. Clay Studio Manager Connie Gunderson from the Bloomington Center for the Arts provided the materials and expertise for the afternoon’s jewelry making project. The event was an outstanding success, and Angel Foundation looks forward to continued outreach to this underserved population.

Extra special thanks to Anita Buel and to Marilee McGraw from AstraZeneca for their efforts on the planning committee and for volunteering throughout the event, to Tim Buel for helping with on-site organization the night before and day of the event, and to ASL interpreter Bonnie Reiss who coordinated the interpreters for the day. The ASL interpreters were exceptional! Thank you to our Friday evening volunteers Mary Edwards, Anna Brown-Rabbers, Mary Jo Duncan, Edith Koranda, Bonnie Reiss’s family, Marilee’s family, and to Saturday’s volunteers Diane Holte, Bertha Scofield, Barb Schmidt, Edith Koranda, Carole Virnig, Brenda Holte, Diane Lyles, Judy Brambrink, Chris Thiers, Marijane Ninneman, Denise Anderson, Mary Dykstra, Susan Mahler, Paula Mathews. Thank you Marilee McGraw for generously providing the door prizes!