This powerful story offers insight into he r journey with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)\, a rare\, incura ble\, kidney disease that primarily affects Black people. Don't miss this opportunity to engage in important conversations about health\, self-advoc acy\, and the experiences of Black women. Learn more about the book and th e author below and register to let us know you are coming.
\nWe look forward to seeing you there!
\nThis program is brought to you by th e DC Public Library Foundation and the Anacostia Community Museum. Free co pies of Transplant: A Memoir to attendees in need courtesy of the DC Public Library Foundation.
\nTransplant: A Memoir is the story of my almost 40-year rolle r coaster ride with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)\, a rare\, i ncurable\, kidney disease that primarily affects Black people and often le ads to kidney failure. The book recounts how I\, a tough &ldquo\;South Phi lly girl&rdquo\; from a poor\, but striving\, Black\, family\, handled my disease including the rage and disappointment I experienced when my initia l kidney transplant failed\, five eye-opening years of dialysis\, the hope and health I found with a second transplant from an "altruistic" donor\, and marriage to a loving\, supportive man.
\nThe memoir ends shortly after my second transplant in 2009. In an epilogue\, I discuss the devast ating impact FSGS\, and kidney disease generally\, continues to have on th e Black community\, current efforts to develop innovative approaches for t reating the disease\, living well with a transplant and while on immunosup pression medication\, the importance of self-advocacy and self-care especi ally for Black women\, and how my life\, family relationships\, and health continue to unfold.
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Bernardine (Dine) Watson is a nonfiction wri
ter and poet who lives in Washington. She has written on social policy iss
ues for many major foundations\, nonprofit organizations and for the Washi
ngton Post Health and Science section and She the People blog. Her poetry
has been published in many journals and anthologies\, including Beltway Po
etry Quarterly\, Bourgeon/Mid Atlantic Review\, and Gargoyle Magazine. In
2023\, two of her poems\, Hey 19 and The Scalding were nominated for the P
ushcart Prize Dine is a member of the 2015 class of the DC Commission on A
rts and Humanities Poet in Progress Program and the 2017 and 2018 classes
of the Hurston Wright Foundation&rsquo\;s Summer Writers&rsquo\; Workshop
for Poetry. Her memoir: Transplant won the 2023 Washington Writers&rsquo\;
Publishing House prize for nonfiction. Transplant also appears on Nationa
l Public Radio&rsquo\;s 2023 list of Books We Love. Dine was selected by P
oets and Writers as one of their &ldquo\;5 over 50&rdquo\; debut authors f
or 2023 and will be featured in the magazine&rsquo\;s upcoming November/De
cember issue.
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Natasha Dupee was
appointed Executive Director of the Mayor&rsquo\;s Office on Women&rsquo\
;s Policy and Initiatives in April 2023. A fifth-generation native W
ashingtonian\, she is committed to creating and defending policies that in
crease access to a quality life. In 2022\, Director Dupee joined MOWPI as
Associate Director\, overseeing the office&rsquo\;s policy\, economic empo
werment\, and stakeholder engagement portfolio. She has led the 5th
and 6th annual National Maternal and Infant Health Summits as well as the
#BeTheMovement Women&rsquo\;s Policy Bootcamp on the topics of leadership\
, advocacy\, and civic engagement. Director Dupee&rsquo\;s focus on shifti
ng economic power manifested in hosting the first #ObviouslyDC Ladies Nigh
t and InnovateHERs convening to increase women entrepreneurs&rsquo\; acces
s to capital. Additional signature programming includes the Washington Wom
en of Excellence Awards\, Women's Equality Day\, WorkSmart Wage Negotiatio
n Workshops and Financially Fit DC Women. She also serves as Chair of a DC
Advisory Neighborhood Commission within Ward 7. A Stephen Joel Trachtenbe
rg Scholar\, Director Dupee is a double alumna of the George Washington Un
iversity with a bachelor&rsquo\;s in women&rsquo\;s studies and a master&r
squo\;s in public health policy. She additionally holds a master&rsquo\;s
in secondary education from the University of Missouri-St Louis.