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5OCTOBER2013BODYOFCHRISTNEWSGodisourrefugeandstrengthaverypresenthelpintrouble.Psalms461Iranacrossastorywithaslide-showrecentlythatreallycaughtmyattention.Itwasaverydisturbingpresentationaboutthemostdanger-ouscitiesinAmerica.Iamnotsurewhatthepointwasinthispresenta-tionbutIunderstandsomeimplica-tionsofthereportasfarasourhealthisconcerned.Thearticlementionedthefollowingcitiesfrom10thto1stmostdangerouslikeacountdownasfollows10.Cleveland9.Baltimore8.NewHavenConnecticut7.BirminghamAlabama6.StocktonCalifornia5.MemphisTennessee4.St.Louis3.Oakland2.Detroit1.FlintMichiganWemighttakeissuewiththenamesofthecityonthislistespeciallywithnewsoutofChicagoof13innocentpeoplebeingshotatacityparkonSeptember19forwhatseemslikeaninexplicablereasons.AtanyratewecanjusttakealookattherationaleastowhytheseandothercitiescanbeconsidereddangerousItisknownthatafterfallingfor5consecutiveyearsthenumberofviolentcrimesnationwidesurgedin2012by1.2.Violentcrimesincludethefollowingmurdermanslaughterraperobberyandaggravatedassault.Besidesviolentcrimeothercriteriacanbeusedtoevaluateacitieslifeenvironmentandqualityoflifesuchaspovertyratemedianincomeunem-ploymentrateandthepercentageofadultswithahighschooldiploma.OnethingisclearinAmericatodaywefacesomedauntingchallengesinourcitiesintermsofsafetyandthewellbeingofourpopulation.SadtosaythatAfricanAmericansaresuf-feringthemostinviewoftheviolenceeconomicturmoilandpoverty.Lifeinthehoodcanbehard.IcansaythatbecauseIgrewupinthehoodrighthereinDenver.NoteverythingintheinnercityisbadasIremembertheloveandfellowshipwithfriendsandfamily.Itwashome.ThearticleIreadaboutconcern-ingthemostdangerouscitiesinournationdidnotreallytouchonhealthissues.HoweverIcantellyouthatinregardstohealthourlargeurbanareasandeveninthesuburbsandruralareasforAfricanAmericansandotherminoritiesandthepoorisahaz-ardousplace.Wemaydieandsufferfromaviolentattackorwemaysufferandsuccumbtoapreventabledisease.Youmayneverreadoftenaboutthefactthatintheinnercitytoomanyofusdiebeforeourtimeorsufferforyearswithchronicpreventableillness.Youwouldbeshockedanddismayedifyouobservedpeopleintheinnercityhospitalsandclinicssufferinganddyingatarelativelyyoungagefromheartattacksstrokesanddiabetesnottomentionotherafflictions.Wecanseeinthecitiessituationssuchaslackofhealthinsuranceseverepovertymentalillnesssub-stanceabusebeingavictimofvio-lenceandbeingdisabled.Therearepeopletherewhohavehiddendiseasethatwilleventuallymanifestitselfbyacatastrophicillness.WearetalkingabouthypertensiondiabetesandHIVinfectiontonameafew.Thoseofuswholiveinarelativelypeacefulcom-munitysuchastheDenverMetroareaorjustinthestateofColoradohavenoideaabouttheunhealthyenviron-mentsomepeopleliveinrighthereinAmerica.WhatIwouldliketoasknowisinthefaceofalltheviolencepovertyillnessandsufferingwhatshouldweandwhatcanwebedoingShouldwejustshakeourheadsaswehearaboutanotheractofviolenceorshrugourshoulderswhenwehearaboutthehealthdisparitiesinourcommunityIhavebeenthinkinglongandhardaboutthisandIwouldliketogivesomethoughtsaboutinterventioninthefuture.Prayforourcommunities.DangerousCitiesDr.ConnerByByronE.ConnerM.D.IwouldliketoasknowisinthefaceofalltheviolencepovertyillnessandsufferingwhatshouldweandwhatcanwebedoingShouldwejustshakeourheadsaswehearaboutanotheractofviolenceorshrugourshoulderswhenwehearaboutthehealthdisparitiesinourcommunityHEALTHLOCALEVENTsDrawingNeartoHimOCT1112DrawingNearToHimGatheringFriandSat15150E.MontviewAuroraSessionlFri7-9pmComplimentaryContinentalBreakfastSat830-930am.Sessionll101210am-12pm.Sessionlll10122-4pmBuildingBridgesOCT1213BuildingBridgesthroughJusticeandPeaceComejoinPresbyterianWomenforFunShoppingFoodFellowshipandEmpowermentSat12th9am-4pmisourCraftFairBakeGoodsandaChililunchforonly7.00.ArtsCraftsjewelryclothingHomeDecorBooks.Sun10amserviceElderSheilaLouderfromtheChurchWideCoordinatingCommitteePresbyterianChurchUSA.PeoplesPresbyterianChurch2780YorkSt.Denver80205303-297-9017RecognitionBreakfastOCT1823rdAnnualCommunityServicesRecognitionBreakfastFriday8amCommunityCollegeofAuroraCentreTechCampusStudentCentreRotunda16000TechPkwyS100AuroraCO80011.PresentationbyKarenSusman.HowtoStayPassionateFrom9-5.RSVPbyTuesdayOct15toTerryCampbellCaronataaccsauroragmail.com