DAVENPORT, Iowa (November 24, 2014) - The Dick Fallow Endowment for Social Justice has announced that its first year grant award will go to the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa. The grant will be used to expand CWJ's Jobs with Dignity Campaign to the Quad City Area.

CWJ's Jobs with Dignity Campaign will build on existing relationships with labor and community leaders in the Quad Cities Area to offer education and organizing support for low-wage, immigrant, and young workers. CWJ's vision for worker justice includes:

1. Having a union

2. Being paid a livable wage

3. Being paid on time and receiving a paystub

4. Secure, predictable work schedules

5. Workplaces free of discrimination and racism

Since it was first established in Johnson County in 2012, CWJ has become a dynamic organization involving over 250 low-wage workers and members of 30 affiliated community organizations. Through education, direct action, and legal strategies, CWJ has successfully assisted low-wage workers in recovering thousands of dollars in unpaid wages, spurred policy makers to propose improved wage payment laws and reverse discriminatory policing practices, and built a strong base of worker members who now possess impressive organizing and leadership experience.

CWJ's leadership structure requires that low-wage worker members make up majorities in all of its organizational decision-making bodies, reflecting the group's core belief that low-wage workers themselves must lead any successful effort to address the root causes of poverty and oppression. For more information on past and current efforts of CWJ, please visit their website at http://www.cwjiowa.org/home/

About Dick Fallow Endowment for Social Justice

The Dick Fallow Endowment for Social Justice was established in 2013 to carry on the life work of Richard E. Fallow who fought for Labor and Economic Justice; Environmental Sustainability; and Democracy and Human Rights.  Each year the Endowment will issue a grant in one of these three categories. The Endowment is administered by the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend and managed by Progressive Action for the Common Good - 563-676-7580.

World AIDS Day is held on December 1 each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died of AIDS. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day. The first one was held in 1988.
Today, many scientific advances have been made in HIV treatment and laws have been passed that protect people living with HIV from discrimination and criminalization. However, HIV is one of the most destructive pandemics in history.
On World AIDS Day, Scott County Health Department encourages everyone to:
• Learn the facts about HIV.
• Use your knowledge about HIV and AIDS in order take care of your own health and the health of others.
• Know your HIV status; it is an important first step in the battle against HIV.
In recognition of Worlds AIDS Day, Scott County Health Department will be providing expanded clinic hours for HIV testing on December 1, from 8:30am to 3:30pm. Testing will be provided on a walk in basis. Please visit our web site for additional information and testing criteria. www.scottcountyiowa.com/health.

Physician Shares Tips for Giving Your Body What It Needs
to Fight Illness

It's a sad statistical fact: The holidays, from Christmas to New Year's, are a treacherous time when it comes to our health.

"There's a spike in heart attacks and other cardiac issues," says Dr. John Young, a physician specializing in the treatment of chronic illnesses through biochemical, physiological and nutraceutical technologies, and the author of "Beyond Treatment: Discover how to build a cellular foundation to achieve optimal health," www.YoungHealth.com.

"The incidence of pneumonia cases spikes - in both cold and warm climates. And deaths from natural causes spike. In fact, more people die of natural causes on Christmas Day than any other day of the year!"

While those numbers are well-documented, the cause(s) are not.

"Stress plays a role, particularly if your immune system is weakened," Dr. Young says. "If you look at how most of us eat from Halloween through New Year's, it's easy to see how the immune system takes a beating and otherwise healthy people become more susceptible to illness during the holidays."

It's basic biochemistry, he says.

"We eat a lot more refined sugar, for instance, which is a carbohydrate that's been stripped of all the vitamins, minerals and proteins that make up a complete carbohydrate," he says. "Our bodies can't use that, so the cells in our digestive organs work overtime, burning up a lot of energy, vitamins and minerals to digest it, and they get nothing back. So, eventually, they grow weak."

So - can we have a little sugar, and good health, too? Dr. Young says we can.

"The occasional slice of pumpkin pie is fine as long as you're also feeding your cells with the nutrients they need - the minerals, vitamins, good quality protein, amino acids, essential fatty acids - to stay healthy."
He offers these tips for staying healthy through the holidays and throughout the year.

•  Get your vitamin D!
Vitamin D is actually a hormone, not a vitamin, and one of our best sources for it is sunshine. Unfortunately, many people work indoors all day, so they get little sun exposure. When they do go outside, they wear long sleeves and sunblock to protect against skin cancer. And, of course, in the wintertime, people in cold climes tend to stay inside. As a result, many of us are vitamin D deficient, and should be taking supplements.

"Vitamin D is crucial to many physiological systems, including our immune defenses," Dr. Young says. "It helps fight bacterial and viral infections, including the flu. It supports our cardiovascular system; optimal vitamin D levels can reduce hypertension, heart attacks and stroke.

"If I feel I'm coming down with a cold, I'll take 40,000 units of vitamin D at bedtime," he says. "The next morning, I usually feel like a new person."

•  Eat your protein - 1 gram for every 2.2 pounds of body weight daily.
In this country, we think a healthy diet means eating a lot of fruits and vegetables. We've forgotten protein, Dr. Young says.

"Our immune system is made up of proteins - our bones are 40 percent protein," he says. "We need protein."

When calculating your protein intake, consider: an egg has about 8 grams, and 8 ounces of fish, chicken, beef or pork have about 30 grams.

Dr. Young does not give any of his patients more than 100 grams of protein a day.

•  Get a good night's sleep, exercise, and manage your stress.
Yup, some doctors' orders never change. Rest, exercise and finding effective, healthy ways to cope with stress are simple ways to pamper your cells.

"One of the many cellular benefits of exercise is that it increases the oxygen in our bloodstream. Every cell in our body requires oxygen, so consider exercise another means of feeding your cells."

It's also important to manage stress during the holidays. With unchecked stress, our body releases large amounts of cortisol which, among other things, suppresses the immune system.

"Take time out to meditate, listen to music, or take a walk in the woods," Dr. Young says. "It feels good - and it's good for you!"

About John Young, M.D.

Dr. John Young, (www.YoungHealth.com), is a medical doctor with more than 15 years' experience working in emergency rooms and pediatric burn units. He's the medical director of Young Foundational Health Center, specializing in treating patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes by addressing the physiological issues and not just the symptoms. He's also medical director of Young Health Products, which incorporate the latest biochemical, physiological and Nobel Prize-winning protocols for optimal cellular nutrition. Dr. Young is the author of "Beyond Treatment." He takes questions via a call-in conference call every Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time. Call (760) 569-7676, access code 772967.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- November 24, 2014

WASHINGTON - Holiday cheer and merrymaking may be everywhere this time of year, but for thousands grieving the loss of a loved one, the holiday season can be an emotional minefield. And there's no road map for easy navigation.

Coping with grief over the death of a loved one during the holidays can be difficult. Memories of holiday traditions shared with a loved one who died may be painful. Somehow, mourners must navigate an emotional roller coaster ride during the holidays that can be bittersweet with nostalgia and happy memories, and also feel painfully cruel and isolating.

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a national nonprofit organization offering comfort and care to families of our fallen military troops, offers the following tips to help anyone who is grieving the death of a loved one during the holiday season.

Take charge of your holiday season. Anticipating the holiday, especially if it's the first one without a cherished family member, can be worse than the actual holiday. Take charge of your holiday plans, and map out how you will spend your time. This can help relieve anxiety.

Make plans. Plan to spend the holidays where you feel nurtured, emotionally safe, and comfortable. Having a plan will help you navigate the holiday season and its activities. But remember to plan for flexibility, as you may not know how your emotions will respond, especially if it is your first or second holiday season after the death of a loved one.

Find sustenance for the soul. Your church, synagogue, mosque or other faith community may offer services, resources, and support networks for the bereaved. You may want to look for a support group for people who are grieving and have suffered a similar loss. Families who have lost a loved one serving in the military may find comfort by connecting with other survivors through the TAPS online community, peer support groups, peer mentoring or care groups.

Don't be afraid to change your holiday traditions. Some traditions may be a comfort, while others can cause pain. Consider which traditions to keep, and which ones to forego this year. Do not feel like you have to do something because you have always done it that way.

Include your lost loved one in gift-giving. Give a gift on behalf of your loved one to someone else. Consider making a donation to a charity in memory of your loved one.

Create a tribute. Light a candle, display a favorite photograph, or set a place at the dinner table to represent the missing loved one. Consider writing a letter to your loved one about the holidays and your special memories with that person.

Be gentle with yourself. Realize that familiar traditions, sights, smells and even tastes, may be comforting, or may jolt your emotions. This is the time of year when you need to be careful with your emotions and listen to yourself.

Attend holiday functions if you can. Consider attending holiday parties and events, especially if you'll be able to spend time with supportive family members and friends. Make an escape plan in case the event is more than you can handle. If you think a holiday gathering might be more than you can bear, it is ok to stay home.

Don't pretend you haven't experienced a loss. Imagining that nothing has happened does not make the pain of losing a loved one go away, nor does it make the holidays easier to endure. Even though holiday memories may be painful, they can be comforting. It is ok to talk with others about what you have lost and what the holidays mean to you.

Pay attention to your health. It's often difficult for people who have experienced a recent loss to sleep. Make sure you get regular rest and drink lots of water. Do not over-indulge in sweets or alcohol. If you feel overwhelmed, talk with your medical care provider.

Take stock of both joy and sadness. Give yourself permission to feel joy as well as sadness. Don't feel like you have to "be a certain way" because of your loss, or because it is the holidays. Just be yourself.

Express your feelings. Bottling up your feelings may add to distress, not lessen it. To express your feelings, use your creativity to write a poem, talk with a supportive friend, create a painting, or pen a journal entry.

Share your holiday season with someone else. There are many lonely people who might like to experience the holiday season alongside someone else. Consider volunteering with a local charity or soup kitchen, inviting a neighbor for a special holiday meal or including others in your holiday activities.

For more tips on dealing with grief during the holidays, go to the TAPS website at www.taps.org and look for our holiday survival guide. TAPS will hold a special online chat for grieving military families on November 19 at 9pm Eastern Time with bereavement expert Darcie Sims to discuss handling the holidays. Sign up online through the TAPS online community at www.taps.org.

About TAPS
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America's fallen military heroes and has offered support to more than 50,000 surviving family members of our fallen military and their caregivers since 1994. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).