Yolanda Adams has touched the lives of many with her angelic voice and inspirational songs. Now, the Grammy Award-winning artist, whose latest album, Becoming, was released in the spring, has been called to a new assignment–using her voice to spread awareness. Adams has teamed up with pharmaceutical giant Novartis for its Believe in Healthy BP tour. The tour focuses on high blood pressure and provides free blood pressure screenings, educational materials, and an interactive exhibit that features an oversized simulated blood vessel that people can walk through. Adams, 50, spoke to Black Enterprise about why the health and lifestyle tour, now in its second year, is more important than any other tour she’s done. She also told us a little about her new business venture.
What inspired you to collaborate with the Believe in Healthy BP Tour?
A couple of years ago my mom died of colon cancer. She had great insurance. She had wealthy kids. She had everything. But the one thing that stopped her was fear. She feared that something was wrong but didn’t go to the doctor until it was too late. I did not want my mom’s legacy as a great mom, a great teacher, and a great humanitarian to go by the wayside, so we decided to begin a campaign.
Why are you concentrating on black communities?
The African American community is most affected by high blood pressure, which leads to other diseases. Forty percent of African Americans have high blood pressure–and most don’t even know it. This is why we go into communities that need to be served and provide free screenings.
Forty percent is a high number. What makes African Americans so vulnerable?
A lot of people don’t have the finances to make sure they’re living an optimal life; they can’t afford to go to a physician or a clinic and get a blood pressure screening. Free health screenings always help the African American community. Sometimes the condition is hereditary, in other cases it’s how we prepare our food–we really haven’t been able to establish why African Americans seem to be more vulnerable. But people can take steps to control it, such as early detection, walking 10 minutes a day, and adding two extra glasses of water to your daily diet.
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What do you want people to ultimately take away from the tour?
I want them to know that a healthy blood pressure reflects a healthy lifestyle. People come up to us and say, ‘You saved my grandfather’s life’. Those stories hit home because its like, ‘Yes we did our job today.’
In addition to helping people feel good on the inside, you’re making sure they look good on the outside with your new fashion line.
Yes, the Yolanda Adams Collection. It’s for the businesswoman. It’s for the churchwoman. It’s for everyday women of various builds who want to look good going from a boardroom to a brunch. I’m very hands-on with the designers. I told them what kind of collars I wanted, what kind of jackets. And we’re going to do a couture collection later on.
Where does your entrepreneurial spirit come from?
My father. He was a coach and history teacher, and he always found ways to supplement his income. I remember him selling water filters to friends and family. When he started working for Amway he was so excited and told me to do what I love. He believed in the Amway products so much that all the products we used in the house were from Amway. The way he conducted his business is the basis for how I live. He taught me how to balance a checkbook when I was no older than 11.