October 10, 2000 - A South Carolina woman will be using her knowledge about health, nutrition and disease prevention in an innovative training initiative that addresses health disparities among Africa American women in rural South Carolina.
The Women’s Division announced Regina L. Nesmith of Nesmith, South Carolina, as the 2001 Theressa Hoover Community Service and Global Citizen awardee at the annual Women’s Division board of directors meeting in Stamford, Conn., on October 9, 2000. The money that Ms. Nesmith receives from the award will fund her South Carolina project.
The decade-old award in the form of a grant "is for study, exploration, learning, research and/or observation in a subject area of the recipient’s choosing and in harmony with the current interests of the Women’s Division."
"Living in a rural county in South Carolina, resources are very limited, especially in the area of health care," says Ms. Nesmith. "Since the church is the only local resource that many communities have in rural areas, I would like to provide ‘train the trainer workshops’ so churches can develop health initiatives within their local congregations."
Ms. Nesmith will target African American women, since statistics show health disparities in the African American population in South Carolina. Her project will address breast and cervical cancer awareness; parenting education; HIV/AIDS prevention; nutrition education; money management and consumer education; hypertension screening; diabetes awareness; prostate cancer; and obesity and weight management. Her plan is to educate trainers to disseminate information; hold women’s empowerment luncheons and workshops; and set up other programs to address health issues.
Ms. Nesmith presently is employed with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control in Williamsburg County, South Carolina. As a health educator, she works in areas of nutrition and community development.
Ms. Nesmith is pursuing a Masters of Science degree in Nutrition Science. She received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Education from South Carolina State College, and an Associate in General Studies degree from Community College in Philadelphia. She has completed courses at Coastal Carolina University, Penn State, and Williamsburg Technical College.
Raised in Sayers Memorial United Methodist Church in West Philadelphia, Pa., she is now a member of Bethesda United Methodist Church in South Carolina, where she serves in United Methodist Women, the church choir, as the mission outreach coordinator, as a youth advisor, and as a certified lay speaker.
The award Ms. Nesmith received is made annually to honor Theressa Hoover for her years of service to the Woman’s Division/Women’s Division (1948-90), The United Methodist Church, and the ecumenical world. The Women’s Division established the award in perpetuity, in the amount of $100,000 with only the interest used for grants. The Award is designated for women of all races and nationalities, ages 21-35. Ms. Nesmith is African-American and 35 years old.
The Women’s Division represents United Methodist Women, a one-million member organization whose purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice. Members raise more than $20 million a year for programs and projects related to women, children and youth in the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world.
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