Episode 14 With Phyllis West

In this episode, you meet Phyllis West, MSW, MPH, Ph.D, who is a Professor at Governors State University and a soldier for health. Born on 16th Street
(also known as a Holy City) on the west side of Chicago, Phyllis was the first person in her family to attend college. She has been living a plant based life for close to a decade and has explored veganism. She stresses the importance of nutrition and getting enough sleep. She has spent a number of years educating communities of color around healthy living through a weekly Sunday potluck where those gather to support each other in their desire to live a healthy life. Phyllis refers to herself as a Scholar-Activist, who consults with organizations around reducing gun violence. Additionally, she trains physicians on responsible medicine. For several years, Phyllis has escorted groups of students from Governors State University on highly successful Public Health Brigades to Ghana, Panama and Nicaragua. After intense preparation with the students, Phyllis, a faculty co-leader and the Health Brigade participants serve community members in the previously mentioned countries by building latrines, upgrading plumbing systems, setting up legal issues clinics and helping to build Bio-Digesters in Ghana. Phyllis touts the beauty, sophisticated engineering systems and the bio-diversity of Ghana and all of West Africa.
Also, Phyllis shares her experience of spending time in the slave dungeons of Elmina and experiencing receiving instructions directly from the ancestors. The students experience tremendous growth through gaining a new sense of purpose, confidence and an appreciation of the host country. White students in the program learn how to be an ally by standing down and learning about the role that their ancestors played in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Phyllis and her faculty co-leader facilitate an reflection period for the students every evening; many revelations come forth.
She stresses that the physical requirements associated with participation in the Health Brigades prompted the development of a multilayered and interdisciplinary pre-departure orientation. It is here that the students engage in numerous team building exercises, learn about the country’s public health, governmental and cultural landscape. The students are also encouraged to go to the gym and build up their physical stamina. Students must raise the money to participate in the Health Brigade. A fully paid Global Scholarship has been established for one person who is a first generation college attendee and has never traveled before. A Global Scholarship for emerging leaders is on the horizon. To be accepted into the Health Brigade, student must complete a formal application, along with an interview. Participants range from ages 18-55 and represent a variety of college majors. As a result, the team is diverse and rich due to each student’s subject concentration and interests. Phyllis’ plans for the future include her developing a Rites of Passage program for previously incarcerated men to prepare them for the journey of traveling to Africa, understanding the direct relationship between incarceration and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, along with participating in the healing of their communities. Phyllis wants African American women age 50+ to not feel they are too old to seek out mentors, to work on self from the inside out, to travel and DREAM!