Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans Annual Report, 2005

Annual report for the Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans.

Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans Annual Report, 2004

Annual report for the Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans.

Iowa Commission on the Status of African Americans Agency Performance Plan, 2007

Agency Performance Plan

Department of Human Rights – Division on the Status of African Americans Performance Plan, FY 2009

Agency Performance Plan, Department of Human Rights – Division on the Status of African Americans

Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans, Strategic Plan, 2003

This report outlines the strategic plan for Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans, goals and mission.

The State Data Center of Iowa and the Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans in Iowa: 2008

To recall and celebrate the positive contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week beginning on Feb. 12, 1926. In 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month. This report gives data information about African-Americans in Iowa.

Iowa Commission on the Status of African Americans Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2008

This publication of our 2008 Annual Report. This past year was beset with challenges and disappointments, but we were still able to forge ahead and register some significant accomplishments along the way. Our vision to organize our collective genius in a systematic way is beginning to take shape, and these efforts are reflected in this report. From various developments, like the making of a documentary and film of the Alexander Clark, Sr. story, to the partnership between the division and principal leadership in the faith community around the OCBI’s “Ten Point Plan”, one can envision the proverbial Black “phoenix” rising, renewed from the ashes of banal ideologies and practices. We will seize this opportunity, in conjunction with all of Iowa, to work together around the entire state, to produce a plan that reflects our collective interests, passions, and needs as we help create the Governor and Lt Governor’s vision of “One Iowa with One Unlimited Future.”

Iowa Commission on the Status of African Americans Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2006

A Public Intellectual recently suggested that I read the book Life Out Of Context by the very productive writer Walter Mosley. In this book, Mosley began to summarize a speech that was given by Harry Belafonte. Belafonte made a comparison between a particular Olympic relay race and the Civil Rights Movement. In the race, an experienced runner stumbled a little while passing the baton, and the race was lost. For Belafonte, this momentary slip was a metaphor for the failure of the Civil Rights Movement to “pass the baton” to the younger generation as “it moved past its original phase and into the latter part of the century.” Regardless of your views of the strengths and weaknesses of the Civil Rights Movement, I think all of us would agree that the current issues facing Black Iowa today--e.g., the need for economic development, increased educational achievement and more political involvement in our communities--demand our immediate attention and action. This urgency requires that we cross generational, class, and territorial boundaries within the state to collaborate among ourselves and with others to deal constructively with these issues. We cannot afford to have another “momentary slip.” Serving as the Administrator for ICSAA allows me to serve Black Iowa in a significant way, and Kimberly Cheeks and I in this Division look forward to the work ahead over the next several months and years. Working closely with Walter Reed, Director of the Department of Human Rights, along with so many others across this state, we are keenly aware that we are provided with a great opportunity to positively impact the quality of life for African-Americans in Iowa.

Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans Department of Human Rights Strategic Plan, 2004

The Commission on the Status of African-Americans, formerly known as the Commission on the Status of Blacks, was created by statute in 1988. The nine members of the commission are appointed by the Governor and represent each region of the State where there is a significant African-American population. Meetings are open to the public. The commission sets policy for and provides direction to the Division of the Status of African-Americans within the Department of Human Rights. The division administrator is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate.

Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans Department of Human Rights Strategic Plan, August 1999

The Commission on the Status of African-Americans, formerly known as the Commission on the Status of Blacks, was created by statute in 1988. The nine members of the commission are appointed by the Governor and represent each region of the State where there is a significant African-American population. Meetings are open to the public. The commission sets policy for and provides direction to the Division of the Status of African-Americans within the Department of Human Rights. The division administrator is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate.

Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans Department of Human Rights Strategic Plan, August 2000

The Commission on the Status of African-Americans, formerly known as the Commission on the Status of Blacks, was created by statute in 1988. The nine members of the commission are appointed by the Governor and represent each region of the State where there is a significant African-American population. Meetings are open to the public. The commission sets policy for and provides direction to the Division of the Status of African-Americans within the Department of Human Rights. The division administrator is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate.

Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans Department of Human Rights Strategic Plan, August 2001

The Commission on the Status of African-Americans, formerly known as the Commission on the Status of Blacks, was created by statute in 1988. The nine members of the commission are appointed by the Governor and represent each region of the State where there is a significant African-American population. Meetings are open to the public. The commission sets policy for and provides direction to the Division of the Status of African-Americans within the Department of Human Rights. The division administrator is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate.

Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans Department of Human Rights Strategic Plan, August 2002

The Commission on the Status of African-Americans, formerly known as the Commission on the Status of Blacks, was created by statute in 1988. The nine members of the commission are appointed by the Governor and represent each region of the State where there is a significant African-American population. Meetings are open to the public. The commission sets policy for and provides direction to the Division of the Status of African-Americans within the Department of Human Rights. The division administrator is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate.

Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans Department of Human Rights Strategic Plan, August 2003

The Commission on the Status of African-Americans, formerly known as the Commission on the Status of Blacks, was created by statute in 1988. The nine members of the commission are appointed by the Governor and represent each region of the State where there is a significant African-American population. Meetings are open to the public. The commission sets policy for and provides direction to the Division of the Status of African-Americans within the Department of Human Rights. The division administrator is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate.

Low adiponectin is associated with increased ambulatory pulse pressure and activation of the renin-angiotensin system in subjects of African descent

Purpose: Adiponectin, arterial stiffness, as well components of the renin-angiotensin system are associated with cardiovascular risk. This study was aimed to investigate whether plasma adiponectin was directly linked with pulse pressure (PP), as a marker for arterial stiffness, and the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Methods and materials: A family-based study in subjects of African descent enriched with hypertensive patients was carried out in the Seychelles. Fasting plasma adiponectin was determined by ELISA, plasma renin activity according to the antibody-trapping principle and plasma aldosterone by radioimmunoassay. Daytime ambulatory blood pressure (BP) was measured using Diasys Integra devices. PP was calculated as the difference between systolic and diastolic BP. The association of adiponectin with PP, plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone were analyzed using generalized estimating equations with a gaussian family link and an exchangeable correlation structure to account for familial aggregation. Results: Data from 335 subjects from 73 families (152 men, 183 women) were available. Men and women had mean (SD) age of 45.4 ± 11.1 and 47.3 ± 12.4 years, BMI of 26.3 ± 4.4 and 27.8 ± 5.1 kg/m2, daytime systolic/diastolic BP of 132.6 ± 15.4 / 86.1 ± 10.9 and 130 ± 17.6 / 83.4 ± 11.1 mmHg, and daytime PP of 46.5 ± 9.9 and 46.7 ± 10.7 mmHg, respectively. Plasma adiponectin was 4.4± 3.04 ng/ml in men and 7.39 ± 5.44 ng/ml in women (P <0.001). After adjustment for age, sex and BMI, log-transformed adiponectin was negatively associated with daytime PP (-0.009 ± 0.003, P = 0.004), plasma renin activity (-0.248 ± 0.080, P = 0.002) and plasma aldosterone (-0.004 ± 0.002, P = 0.014). Conclusion: Low adiponectin is associated with increased ambulatory PP and RAS activation in subjects of African descent. Our data are consistent with the observation that angiotensin II receptor blockers increase adiponectin in humans.