Taking on Kidney Disease
MISSION STATEMENT
To advocate, educate, enlighten, empower, and consult communities and individuals in urban cities at-risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other health-related conditions. We collaborate and engage with community stakeholders and gatekeepers to increase health education awareness and promotion in urban communities at-risk for chronic kidney disease.
VISION STATEMENT
To be a vital resource for kidney disease awareness and education for individuals and communities at risk for chronic kidney disease. We look forward to doing our part to create a world without health disparities and free of health information ignorance.
OUR HISTORY
Chronic kidney disease is a devastating disease that affects millions of individuals in urban communities across the United States. African Americans are three times more likely to develop kidney disease than Caucasians. In addition, there is a lack of chronic kidney disease awareness and promotion in the African American community.
As a result of the lack of awareness and promotion in urban communities, African Americans constitute more than 32% of all patients in the U.S. receiving dialysis for kidney failure, but only represent 13% of the overall U.S. population. Due to the overwhelming statistics, In September of 2014, our executive director, Steven L. Belcher, RN, MSN, MS, saw a need to create an organization that would advocate, educate, enlighten, empower, and consult communities and individuals at risk for chronic kidney disease and other health-related issues.
Since our inception, Urban Kidney Alliance has helped numerous patients suffering from kidney dialysis with transportation, utility, medication, and nutritional assistance. In addition, Urban Kidney Alliance has collaborated with major sponsors to deliver community outreach education programs in Baltimore City. Urban Kidney Alliance is poised to engage and collaborate with community stakeholders and gatekeepers to increase and raise chronic kidney disease awareness and promotion in urban communities in the Baltimore region and beyond.
UKD IN ACTION
MONUMENTAL HIGHLIGHTS
Urban kidney Alliance, Inc. is a grassroots Maryland based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted and committed to chronic kidney disease education and awareness in the Baltimore Metropolitan region. Founder and Executive Director Steven L. Belcher, RN, BSN, MS, has served the renal dialysis community for 30 years, and is committed to educating, enlightening and bringing awareness to individuals and communities at risk for chronic kidney disease and healthcare disparities.
- February 4, 2016 – Steve L. Belcher, RN, MSN, MS gave Kidney Disease Awareness Presentation for Weyland Baptist Church Board of Directors in Baltimore, MD.
- January 8, 2016– Steve L. Belcher, RN, MSN, MS, gave mini-workshop presentation on Kidney Disease Awareness at Z-HAP Fridays in Baltimore, Md.
- November 18, 2015 – 2nd appearance on WEAA.org “Urban Health Beat” with Marilynn Harris-Davis Topic of discussion: Kidney Disease.
- October 28, 2015 – Appearance on WEAA.org radio show “Urban Health Beat” with Marilynn Harris-Davis. Topic of discussion Kidney Disease.
- January 7, 2015 – Urban Kidney Alliance, Inc. received $1,000.00 donation for kidney disease awareness from Davita Partners Healthcare “Way of Giving” program.
- January 2015 – Receipient of Community Care Certificate of appreciation from WEAA.ORG 88.9 FM radio.
- January 2015 – Community Care radio interview with Sandi Mallory – Director of Public Service and community affairs.
- September 2014– Urban Kidney Alliance, Inc. Formation.
Urban Community Health Promotion Outreach
Programs
1. Newly Diagnosed Patient Consultation
2. Kidney Disease Education Workshop (KDEWS)
3. Kidney disease (Are you at-risk presentation)
4. Chronic Kidney Disease: The New Silent Killer in African American Communities (Presentation)
5. Kidney Disease Education Workshop (Mini-Workshop Presentation)
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