Borough President Eric Adams used a personal health battle to raise health awareness at the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce Industry’s brunch on June 8.
The annual gathering organized to build economic development in Caribbean American communities here and abroad was destination for Adams to highlight the high rates of diabetes in minority communities. He triumphed over his own personal victory with diabetes, referencing a north star to representing an issue each ethnic community struggles with.
“All groups have their north star,” said Adams. “Our health is our north star.”
Adams talked about his struggle with almost losing his eyesight, as well as the diabetes affecting many of his family members.
“If you have participated in adultery with your eating habits, and you’re just married to that fried chicken and that roti — it is what it is,” said Adams.
“If you don’t mind injecting yourself twice a day, if you don’t mind going from two pills, to three pills, to insulin, to amputation, to dialysis, to death — if that’s what you want to do, that’s fine.”
The Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. was founded in 1985 in New York to provide assistance to small business owners. The organization in conjunction with the Office of the Borough President organizes an annual brunch to promote networking and encourage community building and small business creation. The organization also manages marketplaces such as The Flatbush Caton Market, a location for local vendors to grow their businesses.
Adams also turned to discussing economic power, and the diversity in the spread of wealth.
“We have to be part of the resources — these are your tax dollars. It must go back to people who like the diversity of this city, and it should,” said Adams. “Green should not be going to one ethnic group, it should be spread out towards all ethnic groups.”
