Our poet of public health has left the stage: In Memoriam
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Our poet of public health has left the stage: In Memoriam Antronette “Toni” Yancey, MD, MPH, Professor of Public Health at the University of California at Los Angeles, died on April 23, 2013, at age 55. Notice of her death has generated an impressive outpouring of tributes and obituaries that chronicle her amazing life and contributions, seemingly exhausting the list of superlatives that can be applied in trying to capture her larger-than-life presence and impact. Privileged to have been considered by Toni as one of her mentors, I have been and continue to be strongly influenced by her work and her example. Toni Yancey will be long remembered and most celebrated as the founder of Instant Recess®, a movement to infuse physical activity into daily routines in just about any setting by instituting short bouts of physical activity that can be done by people of all ages, sizes, levels of fitness, and incomes, as well as by people with different social cultural perspectives. She was a flag bearer and catalyst for the movement to reverse the social norms that favor physical inactivity over activity. Her goal was to help the average person become more comfortable with being physically active on a regular basis and more supportive of the structural changes needed to put physical activity back into daily life. Physical activity is the cause with which Toni is identified, but much more than just physical activity promotion contributed to her success. She introduced Instant Recess in many meetings and other settings on her own initiative, and not always with prior permission. People recognized that the person at the front of the room was willing to take the risk of appearing unorthodox and were nonetheless drawn in to participate in the activity that Toni had spontaneously initiated. If you watched them waving their arms and moving their feet, you could see that they were reflecting on what they were doing, usually looking uncomfortable while doing it, but getting the message and starting to enjoy it all the same. Some might have been revising their definitions of leadership based on Toni’s bold example. Toni had superb academic credentials: an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Northwestern University, a medical degree and psychiatric residency from Duke University, preventive medicine residency and Master of Public Health degree from UCLA, and board certification from and fellowship in the American College of Preventive Medicine. She was a dedicated and effective teacher and mentor and leaves an impressive legacy in those she educated and inspired. Her practice credentials included positions in the health and human services sector of New York City; as Director of Public Health in Richmond, Virginia; and later as Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Division of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. She valued her “street credentials”—characteristics such as being black, a woman, and a lesbian—that grounded her understanding of inequities and enabled her to be a particularly passionate and effective spokesperson on behalf of equity for women, people of color, gays, and other underserved and socially disadvantaged communities. Toni related to people across the spectrum and could recruit them to her causes, including people in communities where she might play ball, the many well-known professional athletes in her social and professional network, and even First Lady Michelle Obama, whom she was proud to count among the supporters of Instant Recess. I was not at all surprised to see a photo of Toni with former President Bill Clinton holding a copy of her book, Instant Recess: Building a Fit Nation 10 Minutes at a Time. Toni was no stranger to the value of celebrity, having been a college basketball star and a fashion model in her early years. Her many facets also included being a published poet and spoken word artist. Her poetry revealed a deep understanding of critical societal issues; she expressed her insights in creative ways that have enriched our public health discourse for more than a decade. Her poem “Ain’ like there’s hunger,” first printed in AJPM in 2003 and reprinted at the end of this obituary, is still timely. Toni was comfortable with herself and clear in her mission, not superconfident as she perhaps appeared, but definitely not shy or faint of heart. As an academic, she knew that she was going against the grain by challenging the very elitism and lack of commitment to real-world relevance that prevent many academics from having an impact on the issues they are trying to address. Many who were at first reluctant or unable to embrace who she was and what she stood for changed their minds once she crossed that unseen threshold of legitimacy. When she did, and they did—cross that threshold—she welcomed their support. Toni’s accomplishments during what turned out to be the final chapter of her remarkable life increased the momentum of her efforts to the point that they now seem unstoppable. One of her final achievements was obtaining a $20 million REACH grant from the CDC to dramatically expand Instant Recess across the nation. Despite her illness, she prepared colleagues to lead six regional centers that will ensure a powerful legacy in support of her life mission. After her diagnosis of lung cancer, her message took on an almost surreal poignancy—how could this happen to a never-smoker and a 6'2"-tall icon of physical activity promotion and fitness.
Transcript of Our poet of public health has left the stage: In Memoriam
Our poet of public health has left the stage: In Memoriam
Antronette “Toni” Yancey, MD, MPH, Professor of Public Health at the University of California at Los Angeles, died on April 23, 2013, at age 55. Notice of her death has generated an impressive outpouring of tributes and obituaries that chronicle her amazing life and contributions, seemingly exhausting the list of superlatives that can be applied in trying to capture her larger-than-life presence and impact. Privileged to have been considered by Toni as one of her mentors, I have been and continue to be strongly influenced by her work and her example.
Toni Yancey will be long remembered and most celebrated as the founder of Instant Recess®, a movement to infuse physical activity into daily routines in just about any setting by instituting short bouts of physical activity that can be done by people of all ages, sizes, levels of fitness, and incomes, as well as by people with different social cultural perspectives. She was a flag bearer and catalyst for the movement to reverse the social norms that favor physical inactivity over activity. Her goal was to help the average person become more comfortable with being physically active on a regular basis and more supportive of the structural changes needed to put physical activity back into daily life. Physical activity is the cause with which Toni is identified, but much more than just physical activity promotion contributed to her success. She introduced Instant Recess in many meetings and other settings on her own initiative, and not always with prior permission. People recognized that the person at the front of the room was willing to take the risk of appearing unorthodox and were nonetheless drawn in to participate in the activity that Toni had spontaneously initiated. If you watched them waving their arms and moving their feet, you could see that they were reflecting on what they were doing, usually looking uncomfortable while doing it, but getting the message and starting to enjoy it all the same. Some might have been revising their definitions of leadership based on Toni’s bold example.
Toni had superb academic credentials: an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Northwestern University, a medical degree and psychiatric residency from Duke University, preventive medicine residency and Master of Public Health degree from UCLA, and board certification from and fellowship in the American College of Preventive Medicine. She was a dedicated and effective teacher and mentor and leaves an impressive legacy in those she educated and inspired. Her practice credentials included positions in the health and human services sector of New York City; as Director of Public Health in Richmond, Virginia; and later as Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Division of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
She valued her “street credentials”—characteristics such as being black, a woman, and a lesbian—that grounded her understanding of inequities and enabled her to be a particularly passionate and effective spokesperson on behalf of equity for women, people of color, gays, and other underserved and socially disadvantaged communities. Toni related to people across the spectrum and could recruit them to her causes, including people in communities where she might play ball, the many well-known professional athletes in her social and professional network, and even First Lady Michelle Obama, whom she was proud to count among the supporters of Instant Recess. I was not at all surprised to see a photo of Toni with former President Bill Clinton holding a copy of her book, Instant Recess: Building a Fit Nation 10 Minutes at a Time. Toni was no stranger to the value of celebrity, having been a college basketball star and a fashion model in her early years. Her many facets also included being a published poet and spoken word artist. Her poetry revealed a deep understanding of critical societal issues; she expressed her insights in creative ways that have enriched our public health discourse for more than a decade. Her poem “Ain’ like there’s hunger,” first printed in AJPM in 2003 and reprinted at the end of this obituary, is still timely.
Toni was comfortable with herself and clear in her mission, not superconfident as she perhaps appeared, but definitely not shy or faint of heart. As an academic, she knew that she was going against the grain by challenging the very elitism and lack of commitment to real-world relevance that prevent many academics from having an impact on the issues they are trying to address. Many who were at first reluctant or unable to embrace who she was and what she stood for changed their minds once she crossed that unseen threshold of legitimacy. When she did, and they did—cross that threshold—she welcomed their support.
Toni’s accomplishments during what turned out to be the final chapter of her remarkable life increased the momentum of her efforts to the point that they now seem unstoppable. One of her final achievements was obtaining a $20 million REACH grant from the CDC to dramatically expand Instant Recess across the nation. Despite her illness, she prepared colleagues to lead six regional centers that will ensure a powerful legacy in support of her life mission. After her diagnosis of lung cancer, her message took on an almost surreal poignancy—how could this happen to a never-smoker and a 6'2"-tall icon of physical activity promotion and fitness.
Intentional as Toni was about making a difference, and in her deep wisdom and pragmatism as a public health strategist, she saw opportunity even in her misfortune. I can best explain this by sharing the quotation below. I had seen her at the CDC “Weight of the Nation” conference in Washington DC in May of 2012. Toni had been undergoing chemotherapy but had made the trip from LA to receive CDC’s Pioneering Innovation Award for Instant Recess. I wrote to her about how inspiring it was to see her there and how radiant she looked in spite of what she was going through. She replied:
I've been doing a lot of deep thinking on the meaning of this journey, spending a lot more time with family and friends, and giving others a chance to shine and carry the message. As my other great mentor (Les Breslow who passed away a month ago at 97) always told me, ‘it's not what you can do, Toni, it’s what you can inspire others to do!’ I doubt I could add another single label that would provide my work the street cred of cancer survivor. Of course, I’m still trying to work it all out, and don’t have all the answers. I’m just happy and grateful every day to wake up feeling well and energetic and engaged in my mission, after those 3 weeks of hell.
Toni’s legacy reminds us that there will never be a time when we can roll over, accept the status quo, and stop taking risks on behalf of what we believe in. Toni dared us—dared us all. Her mighty voice will be missed.
—Shiriki Kumanyika
Ain’ like there’s hunger
Sweet tooth Salt tooth Chocolate tooth Jonesin' for fries, Triple deck Mac, Coke and pork rinds But no walkin' tooth Swimmin' tooth Stretchin' tooth Dancin' tooth Weight liftin' tooth After all, Ain' like there's hunger
Mind numbin’ early gig Second gig even worse Kids in between Gotta be fed Read to Homework checked Ears inspected Dark park? Cold out? After all, Ain' like there's hunger
Sittin' all day Tryin' to look nice 'Do costin' thirty, fo'ty Dollas a week Heels and huggin' skirt And these fifty extra pounds
I'm carryin' around Stairs ′re a joke! Walkin' at lunch? Humidity wreck my hair After all, Ain' like there's hunger
TV and radio ads For the Mickey Ds KFCs Taco Bells Krispy Kremes And Winchells Seein' me, my kinda folks Hearin' me, my kinda folks Golden arches Right ′round the corner Open late Open early Open twenty-fo/seven! And then there's hunger…
CEOs Makin' all this money Makin' us fat and old And sick and dead Fat bankrolls Phat money “Blood” money 'S what it really is Expanding bottom lines Expanding our be-hinds
And waistlines 'Cause after all Ain' like There's real hunger
So if bein' a nation Of couch potatoes Or “mouse” potatoes Is really that bad Why don't they Make it easy? Perk me up Since I'm usually down Where I work On the “company's” clock Yeah, how ′bout a little recess? Like when we were Kids in school I might take a stroll On “their” time! Or find some jammin' tunes For my little group Packin' some extra pounds Been awhile since we got down “Shiftin' and movin' And swingin' and groovin'” Get that natural high flowin' Now that might make me hungry
For more. T____
