Singing from a place where soulful tunes generate, Grammy Award-nominated neo-soul artist Angie Stone is stunning the world with a new tune, one that’s just as captivating, demanding and empowering as before. Stone is the face of the Fearless African-Americans Connected and Empowered diabetes campaign (F.A.C.E.) launched in 2007. Utalized to help bring awareness to this vast epidemic in the African-American community, F.A.C.E. is also meant to encourage, promote and stand fearlessly in the face of what Stone says many people feel is a death sentence.
After being diagnosed nine years ago, Stone says her initial reaction was shock.
“I was scared, hurt, disappointed, angry. Who knew so young in my life I was going to have to face diabetes,” Stone said during a phone interview with the Recorder. “I see people die every day from this, and when they do, you sit back and think wow that could be me.”
But not once did Stone ever let her diagnosis defeat her, instead, much like the lyrics in her songs that exude strength, she set out on a journey with F.A.C.E. This grassroots campaign movement supported by Eli Lilly and Co. and a multitude of key stakeholders inclusive of other corporate partners and advocacy groups is in place to conquer the attitude and the spirit of African-Americans that are living with diabetes.
In its attempt to change the mindsets and behavior patterns of those diagnosed with diabetes, Eli Lilly’s Dionne Maffett, manager of corporate social responsibility, says with 10 percent of Indiana’s African-American population being diagnosed with diabetes despite the medical advancements Lilly felt enthralled to make a measurable difference.
“It was important to have a conversation with community leaders to really understand what the needs are in diabetes management. As a result we were able to come up with these insights to drive towards a practical program that provides practical solutions for patients and their families that are affected by diabetes,” Maffett said.
In the United States more than 3 million African-Americans are diagnosed with diabetes and are 1.6 times more likely than Caucasians to have diabetes. With this information widely known, F.A.C.E. and spokeswoman Stone are committed to facing diabetes head on and helping the community stand fearlessly empowered and equipped with the proper knowledge to live and lead healthy lives.
“I took on the responsibility because I know to whom much is given much is required. I think that when God brings something before you, you have to allow him to use you as an instrument,” Stone said. “I don’t think he would have taken me through being a diabetic if I wasn’t going to become a living testimony for people that are suffering with this disease.”
Not afraid to share her story, during the F.A.C.E. campaign tour’s multiple stops in several cities including Chicago and Atlanta, Stone gives others a glimpse of what she has experienced and continues to face as an African-American living with diabetes. Stone notes this gives others hope.
“People applaud you for trying to communicate with the community. I think they realize it’s not something to be embarrassed about,” Stone said. “I’m stepping out and being a leader if not for anyone else, for my fans. There are a lot of people who wouldn’t normally face the disease who now feel as though it is OK because if she can do it so can I.”
With a goal to have awareness brought to the forefront and a shift in attitude changes, Maffett says the outreach has been tremendous with more than 40 different organizations participating and more than 600 attendees at the last F.A.C.E. event. Maffett reiterates that Stone has been the perfect fit for this venture.
“She is very passionate about sharing her story and empowering African-Americans in the community to take and face their diabetes fearlessly,” Maffett said. “She knows first hand the consequences of being diagnosed with diabetes. So people can relate in the African-American community to her story.”
For more information about F.A.C.E. visit www.face-diabetes.com.
