BOSTON, MA – November 1, 2024 - The Boston Public Library (BPL) today announced the continuation of "Navigating Diabetes Through Food and Community." It is a two-week program with sessions held online or in person at the Roxbury Branch of the BPL. The series is presented in partnership with Stop & Shop Nutrition Partners and is funded by Point32Health Foundation.
Patrons are invited to join one or many sessions where they will learn from professionals who value scientific research and the important role community plays when treating diabetes. Sessions will cover a range of topics including community building, healthy cooking demonstrations, and more. According to the CDC, 38.4 million Americans, 11.6% of the population, have diabetes, and 97.6 million Americans over the age of 18 are living with prediabetes. Whether patrons have been diagnosed with diabetes, prediabetes, or live with someone with these diagnoses, all are welcome. Registration is required for each session.
Session details are outlined here, and session leader bios are included below:
An Empowered Approach to Diabetes Education and Your Health | November 5, 6:30-8:00pm, Online
- Dr. Lucy Lomas will speak about the value of community and the power of knowledge when living with diabetes, joined by Nutritionist Christine Sinclair, MA, MS, RD, LDN.
Find your Flavor with Spices and Learn Blood Sugar Friendly Approaches | November 7, 6:30-8pm, Online
- April Dodd, Milk Street’s Associate Director of Education, will demonstrate and discuss spice techniques in this online cooking demonstration where you will learn when to choose ground or whole spices, how to choose and store spices to keep them fresh, and our never-fail approach to blending spice.
Ask A Nutritionist – Open House at the Nutrition Lab | November 9, 1:30-3:30pm, Roxbury
- Nutritionist Christine Sinclair from the Stop and Shop Health and Wellness Center is available to answer your questions on food choices and diabetes.
Taking Care of You: Diabetes Self-Care | November 12, 6:30-7:45pm, Online
- Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes, MS, RD, CDCES, LDN, NASM-CPT, will lead an inspiring lecture where she speaks about the importance of taking care of yourself and the art of diabetes self-care, followed by free nutrition resources from Stop & Shop’s registered dietitian Christine Sinclair, MA, MS, RD, LDN.
Navigating Diabetes: Understanding Nutrition Labels | November 13, 6:30-7:30pm, Online
- Nutritionist Christine Sinclair, MA, MS, RD, LDN will explain what food labels mean and which information listed is important to focus on, so that you can make healthy choices for yourself and loved ones.
Navigating Diabetes: A Deep Dive Into Hemoglobin A1C | November 14, 6:30-7:45pm, Online
- Emily Trussler, Senior Clinical Dietitian for Dialysis & Renal Transplant at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, will take us through a deep dive into learning and understanding the meaning of hemoglobin A1C, an indicator of your diabetes status. Emily will discuss why A1C is important, and how we can manage it.
Delicious Eating for Diabetes | November 18, 6:00-7:30pm, Roxbury
- Nutritionist Christine Sinclair, MA, MS, RD, LDN will give a talk about the importance of nutrition when treating diabetes. Chef Cynthia Haynes has teamed up with Christine to demonstrate diabetic friendly foods to inspire attendees when cooking at home.
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Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes, MS, RD, CDCES, LDN, NASM-CPT is a mother, wife, co-author, health writer, recipe developer, health speaker, diabetes and fitness expert, and holistic plant-based women’s health registered dietitian. She is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, National Academy of Sports Medicine Women’s Fitness Specialist Certified Personal Trainer and holds her Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management. Sue-Ellen is also currently the National Media Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Nominating Committee Co-Chair for Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chair-elect for Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine Dietetics Practice Group and an active member of Boston Organization of Nutritionist and Dietitians of Color.
Cynthia Haynes is a graduate of the acclaimed Le Cordon Bleu School of Culinary Arts and the University of Massachusetts - Boston. She also studied with the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and has provided behind-the-scenes production for events such as the Boston Wine Expo at the Seaport World Trade Center, and the New England Food and Service Trade Show. Cynthia has given back to the community as a selfless volunteer by preparing breakfast and lunch at a nonprofit shelter—the Women’s Lunch Place in Boston, MA. Currently she is working with The Cambridge Adult Literacy Program to help adults read and speak English and other adults in need of obtaining a GED or high school diploma.
Lucy Lomas MD is an OB GYN physician with over 10 years of clinical experience. She is a community leader and a health and wellness expert. Lucy serves as the director of community health and wellness for the New England Medical Association, a network of black physicians. She is also leading a wellness initiative to bring a wellness center to Roxbury that prioritizes the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of patients and healthcare workers.
Christine Sinclair leads health and wellness programs and initiatives for Stop & Shop in the Grove Hall and Boston areas. As a registered dietitian nutritionist, she is an advocate for cultural integration and community nutrition and has a passion for addressing chronic conditions through a food as medicine approach. She enjoys offering cooking demonstrations, developing and delivering nutrition programs and partnering with customers on creating a plan for healthful eating for life all while encouraging them to reach other life goals through a healthy lifestyle lens.
ABOUT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library is a pioneer of public library service in America. It was the first large, free municipal library in the United States; the first public library to lend books; the first to have a branch library; and the first to have a children’s room.
The Boston Public Library of today is a robust system that includes the Central Library in Copley Square, 25 neighborhood branches, the Norman B. Leventhal Map and Education Center, the Kirstein Business Library and Innovation Center, and an archival center, offering public access to world-class special collections of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and prints, along with rich digital content and online services.
The Boston Public Library serves nearly 4 million visitors per year and millions more online. All of its programs and exhibitions are free to all and open to the public. The Boston Public Library is a department of the City of Boston, under the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu. To learn more, visit bpl.org.
