JANUARY 1, 2023

The Newsletter of The Empowerment Network, Inc.,

a St. Louis-based, non-profit prostate advocacy, awareness and educational organization targeting men at age 40+

Inside this edition of SURVIVORS

• In person Prostate Cancer Support Group Meeting January 14th
• A New Year's greeting from the Founder/President's Desk, Mellve Shahid Sr.
• Year in Review from the Executive Director, Robin Wright-Jones
• 15 year "Crystal" Anniversary Celebration
• Prostate Cancer Survivor Robert Jones ringing the bell at TEN Cancer Center
• The Herschel Price "Man of The Year Award" presented to Mellve from St. Louis Men's Group Against Cancer
• End of Year Celebration December 11th at St. Louis' Signature Club
• Teams of TEN Vision Planning for 2023 with photos
• Radio commercials on WFUN 96.3 FM urges listeners to start the new year focused on health
• Make a donation to The Empowerment Network, Inc.

“2022”

The Best Year

of My Life

As I sit here reflecting on a year that’s gone, I can’t help but to think about the last two years and everything going wrong in the world around us; from fighting through the problems caused by a pandemic, losing many of my dear friends to COVID- 19, the shutting down of our Cancer Center to having our support group meetings with no physical contact with our cancer survivors.

How can I forget about losing the employees in my business and coping with working alone for the first time in 35 years? It was a strange feeling overcoming the feelings of isolation that surrounded us with seemingly no end in sight.

Little did I know what God had in store for me as the best year of my life was starting to unfold in the midst of the mounting problems around me. A miracle was brewing from a seed of life planted in me 69 years ago; a seed that was watered and nurtured through time. This seed of timely obligation was manifested right before my eyes to not only show the power of the Creator, but also the miracle of modern medicine and DNA science. A science, aside from its medical use, is a vital forensic tool unique to each individual. It has been used in many cases to determine the biological parent of a child.

This science has taken me to places I dreamed of in my childhood. This science has opened up a world that was lost in time. It has shattered all my expectations of the unknown and brought forward an image of a man that I have always longed to know, as my father and my new family made their appearances in my life this year.

As I reflect on the joy of learning the history of my Dad and my new family, words cannot express the jubilation and the excitement the science of DNA has given me which makes this the best year of my life. God’s blessings and miracles come in many forms and sometimes they come when you least expect it. Out of all the awards and honors bestowed upon me for my work in the cancer community, nothing can top the best coming from the best. “All Praises are Due” to God for giving me the Best Year of My Life.

---Welcome, Dad, to My Life---

Year in Review

2022...

We expanded our brand for the new year and beyond

The Empowerment Network, Inc. (TEN) has had a very successful year! Programmatically, we expanded our brand and presence in the community by flooding the airways of 96.3 FM with 15 and 30 second radio spots, increasing prostate cancer awareness on Fox 2 and KMOV and amplifying our social media reach by partnering with a national marketing agent. These undertakings increased requests for our participation in critical research cohorts that will benefit the prostate cancer patient, survivor and their families. In 2023, we will actively continue this growth movement by broadcasting a new round of radio spots in January.

The Empowerment Network, Inc. is a partner or principal in four cohorts and three committees each designed to reduce racial disparities in medical care. The most recent partnership is a three-year program with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Program. TEN and its partners are charged with developing an actionable program to eliminate medical care disparities in prostate cancer. We continue our association with Washington University’s DEAC (Disparities Elimination Advisory Committee), PECAD (Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities) and PCCP (Prostate Cancer Community Partnership) committees along with two research initiatives each designed to study the cost and financial burden of medical care. TEN also participated in the Society for Medical Decision Making (SMDM) North American Conference in October as a member of their Patient Advisory Committee (PAC).

The beginning of the pandemic led us to present three webinars to our Support Group on the science behind the vaccinations and the importance of receiving them. We invited scientists, physicians and geneticists to present. As a result, TEN experienced no additional survivor deaths from covid. This was also a watershed moment when the focus of our organization moved beyond just prostate cancer to the broader issue of social determinants of health and their impact on the individual and family.

Genetics played a significant role in our Support Group presentations this year. Our Founder and Board President, Mellve Shahid, Sr., was blessed with learning who his father was, resolving a life-long enigma. The power of this realization led us to sponsor three webinars presented by area scientists, researchers and physicians on the science, depth and necessity of DNA testing. Many of our survivors encouraged by this information sought genetic patterns in their own medical histories. This type of response will enable families to preserve their stability by making informed decisions about their healthcare.

In May, we sponsored our first golf outing fundraiser at Top Golf in Chesterfield. A wonderful time was had by all. We will do this again in 2023. Also, In May, our Board of Directors met for a one day retreat to focus on the welfare and future of The Empowerment Network, Inc.

As always, TEN recognized June-Men’s Health Month and September-National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. In June, Dr. Frederick Echols addressed our press conference invitees on the impact of the pandemic on community health and the need to be vigilant about personal health. Board President Shahid was recognized with resolutions by the St. Louis County Council Chair Rita Days and the City of Moline Acres Mayor Michelle DeShay on his continued efforts in the community.

In August, President Shahid participated in the annual radio-thon sponsored by St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer on Big 550 KTRS.

In September, we participated in the ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk in Tower Grove Park. We won the award for the largest registered team, 119 participants, and we were recognized for raising the most money. This was one of the few times TEN members were together this year. In early Spring, we decided to hold our Support Group meetings outdoors. Our first one was in Home Heights Park in St. John, MO. It was well-received and we will continue doing this in Spring 2023.

In October, TEN was informed that our President would receive the prestigious Man of the Year Award from the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer. He is the first African-American to receive the Herschel Price Award. It was presented to him at their annual dinner in November at the Ritz-Carlton.

In December, we closed our year with a festive award celebration at the Signature Club in Overland. Survivors, staff and volunteers were recognized for their support of TEN.

Plans for our 15 Year Crystal Anniversary are moving forward. We will celebrate it on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at Orlando Gardens in Maryland Heights, MO.

“Our Crystal-Clear Anniversary”

The traditional 15^th anniversary gift is crystal, an enduring material that symbolizes the lightness, clarity and durability of your love. The modern gift is a timepiece representing the many hours and minutes dedicated to someone or something. Crystals are arranged in a highly ordered repeating pattern called systems. The Empowerment Network, Inc. has a repeating pattern of helping men impacted by prostate cancer through endless love and support.

The Empowerment Network, Inc. (TEN) has been blessed to serve the St. Louis region since 2008. In September 2023, we will celebrate 15 years of making dreams the reality of “Saving Lives”. We have 15 years of crystal-clear evidence and a population of cancer survivors to support it.

Crystal clear means we embraced the science, the research, the medicine, the treatment and the genetics of prostate cancer leading to longer lives for our survivors. Crystal clear means our approach and messaging is completely transparent, simple and easy to understand. We are crystal clear that getting tested for prostate cancer “Saves Lives” and families.

Ringing the Bell of Hope

Prostate cancer survivor Robert Jones recently had the heartfelt resolve to ring the Bell of Hope, that symbolizes he has successfully reached a medical milestone and is cancer free.

St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer 

is a 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable organization whose purposes include raising funds that are directed to specific cancer-related organizations that focus on research, prevention, and care activities in the St. Louis community.

Past recipient funds are channeled through various organizations and earmarked for specific programs in the thirty plus charities that benefit the St Louis cancer community.

Since 1969, this independent organization has raised millions of dollars for groups such as The Children’s Miracle Network, American Cancer Society, Missouri Baptist Cancer Center, Camp Rainbow, BJC Healthcare, Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center and The Cancer Support Community. 

-Source: www.mensgroupagainstcancer.org

16 Year Prostate Cancer Survivor Receives First Grover Stewart Sr. Award

Pictured above, from left: Hurnietha Shahid, Aqeutta Stewart, Odell Stukes Jr., Mellve Shahid Sr., Paula Jones, Robin Wright-Jones



The 1st Annual Grover Stewart Sr. Award recipient is prostate cancer survivor Odell Stukes Jr. This award is named after a very great man, My Father, who died from this insidious disease. Brother Odell received this award at TEN's End of Year celebration" December 11^th at the Signature Club. Well deserved!!

In response to receiving the award, Odell said he was grateful and shocked to be honored in such as way.

“First, I want to say greetings to all my Brothers of THE EMPOWERMENT NETWORK. Special thanks to Mellve Shahid and the Board of Directors and fellow survivors,” he said. “I am honored and grateful to have received this award. I was shocked when my name was called.

“I have belonged to a lot of organizations in my lifetime, and I never received such a prestigious award like this one,” Odell continued. “I’m a 16-year prostate cancer survivor. I Thank GOD and JESUS for the healing. Also, I’m thankful for my Brother James Horn, who brought me to the organization. Brother Horn is no longer with us. I never have forgotten him; he is always with me. 

I am grateful to have received the first annual GROVER STEWART SERVICE AWARD. To GOD be the Glory. GOD BLESS The Empowerment Network.”

TEN Volunteer of the Year

Congratulation to Deloris Gladden as our Volunteer of the Year for her dedication and important contribution to The Empowerment Network.

Top Individual Funder for the ZERO Run/Walk in September

TEN Board Member, Dr. John Dowbroski, MD, PhD Radiation Oncologist, SLUCare Physicians Group, receives a hearty "thank you" and award from Mellve and Robin for being the "Top Individual Funder for ZERO Run/Walk STL 2022."