ANCA SURGEON GENERAL COUNCIL
Elevating Our Brotherhood
A commitment to physical fitness, overall wellness, and holistic health across the state.
Our Commitment
The ANCA Surgeon General Council continues to keep our commitment to elevating the physical fitness, overall wellness, and holistic health of our Brotherhood.
As we continue to move into this year, we remain deeply committed to ensuring that Brothers across the state have access to meaningful resources that support their mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Whether through educational materials, wellness programming, or opportunities for collective engagement, we aim to empower every brother to prioritize his health with the same dedication that he brings to serving his family, his community and Alpha.
Committee Activities
- Wellness Framework: Outlining physical, mental, emotional, and professional well-being pillars tailored to ANCA.
- Wellness Toolkit: Resources on fitness, stress management, sleep hygiene, and burnout prevention.
- Guidelines: Highlighting evidence-based practices for maintaining our health.
Our Affirmations
Our collective commitment to closing the health gaps that affect our communities. We stand together in accountability.
Build Awareness
We affirm to help brothers build awareness by encouraging them to see their doctors before starting any challenge, new exercise plan, or diet change. Our message is simple: get checked first. Knowing your numbers is an act of strength.
Work Together
Affirm that each brother has established a Health & Wellness accountability partner to support his journey. Together, we make wellness a shared responsibility and a collective priority.
Annual Visits
We affirm that every brother will see a doctor each year to complete his annual physical. This annual checkup is not just a medical visit, it is a commitment to ourselves, our families, and our brotherhood.
Regular Exercise
We affirm that each brother will engage in regular physical fitness activities as part of his commitment to long-term health, consulting with his doctor before beginning any new exercise routine.
Eat Healthy
We affirm that each brother will work to incorporate healthy eating into his overall diet. By choosing nourishing foods and making mindful decisions, we strengthen our bodies and support our long-term well-being.
Physical Fitness & Activities
Brothers, we invite you to join in by getting active and making your health a priority. Across the state, you’ll find a variety of events designed to get you moving, strengthen your body, and support your overall wellness journey.
The 2026 Fitness Challenge
Join ANCA in our statewide fitness challenge by downloading the Better Together app and tracking your progression. There will be prizes for the brothers who show the most progress logged in the app throughout the challenge.
The challenge officially begins May 1st, 2026.
Healthy Eating
Choosing to eat healthy is one of the most life-changing commitments we can make. The food we put into our bodies affects our energy, our mood, our strength, and our long-term health. Healthy eating isn’t about perfection; it’s about giving ourselves the fuel we need to live strong, productive, and fulfilling lives.
Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke are some of the leading causes of death among men in our communities. But many of these conditions are preventable. Lowering sodium can help prevent a heart attack. Choosing whole grains and lean proteins can help control blood sugar. These small, consistent choices can mean catching a problem early or avoiding a medical emergency.
Health Screening & Diagnosis
Black men face higher risks for conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, prostate cancer, and heart disease. Not because we are weaker, but because these conditions often go undetected until they become serious. Early detection saves lives.
Screenings are not just medical appointments, they are acts of strength, responsibility, and self-care. National Minority Health Month highlights the disparities that Black men continue to face—higher rates of chronic illness and delayed diagnoses—but it also highlights our power. By getting screened, asking questions, and taking control of our health, we push back against these disparities and build a stronger future for ourselves and the generations coming behind us.
PROTECT YOUR PEACE
Mental Health Matters
Brothers, taking time to care for your mental health is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Too often, we carry the weight of our families, our communities, and our responsibilities without ever pausing to check in with ourselves. We push through stress, bury our emotions, and keep moving because that’s what we were taught strength looks like. But real strength includes knowing when to slow down, when to breathe, and when to seek support.
Black men face unique pressures, systemic barriers, unspoken expectations, and the constant demand to be strong no matter what. Taking time for your mental health allows you to release what you’ve been carrying, understand what you’re feeling, and find healthier ways to cope.
Untreated stress and depression can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, substance misuse, and crisis-level situations. But when you talk to someone, seek counseling, meditate, journal, or simply rest, you give your mind and body a chance to reset.
Brothers, you deserve peace. You deserve rest. You deserve joy. You deserve to feel whole. Taking time for your mental health is not selfish, it is an investment in your future and in the people who love you. Let’s break the silence, break the stigma, and support one another in choosing wellness.
Committee Members
Dedicated to executing the wellness framework across the state.
- Bro. Dr. Gentzen Hall
- Bro. Steven Riley
- Bro. Dr. Antwan Lofton
- Bro. Nathaniel Jones
- Bro. Dr. Roger McDougal
- Bro. Marcus Hawley
- Bro. Christoper Carter
- Bro. Rodney Jones
- Bro. Dr. Lamont Sparrow
- Bro. Dr. John Holt
- Bro. James Goode
Contact the Council
Have questions regarding the wellness toolkit, fitness challenge, or general inquiries? Reach out to the Surgeon General Council directly using the form below.