As part of this movement, Mr. Vereen will be speaking at the Chicago American Diabetes Association (ADA) Expo to share his personal diabetes story, including the steps he has taken to get his blood sugar under control. Additionally, Expo attendees will have the opportunity to view two important communication tools at the onsite S.T.A.N.D. booth – the S.T.A.N.D. Summit Report and the "Take the Wheel" national Public Service Announcement (PSA), which are both designed to help change the dialogue around diabetes in the United States and stress the importance of better blood sugar control NOW. ADA Expo attendees will also have the opportunity to set their personal goals and pledge to Start Taking Action Now for Diabetes at www.STANDforDiabetes.org
Mr. Vereen giving a speech on Saturday on the Main Stage at the American Diabetes Association EXPO going on at Navy Pier/Festival Hall B. The speech "Taking Care of Your Diabetes" happens at 11:40am. He will also be signing autographs in the exhibit hall throughout the day.
The EXPO is FREE and includes health screenings, cooking demonstrations, product and service exhibitors, as well as leading experts talking about diabetes management and prevention. Get the latest information on preventing and managing diabetes and its deadly complications to help keep you and your family healthy. Visit www.diabetes.org for more information.
Meet Ben Vereen
Saturday, April 16
11:40 AM
American Diabetes Association EXPO Chicago
Navy Pier, Festival Hall B
600 E. Grand Ave.
Expo Line up:
Choose from more than 15 different workshops:
Main Stage - Learn the latest in diabetes management and research with educational workshops happening every 45 minutes of the show!
Healthy Lifestyle Stage - Get Fit, Get Healthy and Get Active. Enjoy choosing from different types of cooking and physical activity workshops throughout the day.
Por Tu Familia Stage – Enjoy bi-lingual workshops addressing diabetes management to cooking demonstrations.
10:10 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.
Physical Fitness Demonstration
The Body Beautiful by Allegra
Allegra Feamster
Healthy Lifestyle Stage
Diabetes Basics
Dr. William Faber, MD, MHCN &
Dr. Farah Hasan, MD
Advocate Health Care
Advocate Medical Group
Main Stage
Poder sober la diabetes y sus complicaciones (Power over diabetes & its complications)
Dr. Roberto Segura, MD &
Dr. Edgardo Rodríguez, DPM
Chicago Peripheral Nerve Center
(10:45 am)
Por Tu Familia Stage
10:55 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.
Cooking Demonstration
Lara Rondinelli Hamilton, RD, LDN, CDE & Jennifer Bucko-Lamplough, Chef
Healthy Lifestyle Stage
Facts vs. Myths About Diabetes
Dr. Nick Emanuele, MD
Main Stage
Diabetes y la salud oral (Diabetes and oral health)
Dr. Miguel Angel Uribe
(11:20 am)
Por Tu Familia Stage
11:40 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
Physical Fitness Demonstration
The Body Beautiful by Allegra
Allegra Feamster
Healthy Lifestyle Stage
Taking Care of Your Diabetes
Ben Vereen
Main Stage
Activivdad fisica (Physical activity demonstration)
Yolanda Vazquez, Chicago Dept. of Public Health
(11:55 am)
Por Tu Familia Stage
12:25 p.m. - 1:05 p.m.
Cooking Demonstration
Chef Paul Guerrero
Wildfire
Healthy Lifestyle Stage
Frontiers in Diabetes Research
Lou Philipson, MD, PhD
University of Chicago
Kovler Diabetes Center
Main Stage
Alimentacion saludable y demonstration de cocinar (Healthy cooking demo)
Gloris Xynos, MS, RD, LDN &
Rosa Pedroza
Por Tu Familia Stage
1:10 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.
Physical Fitness Demonstration
Sean Armstead, Personal Trainer and Physical Fitness Expert
Healthy Lifestyle Stage
Medicare Coverage of Diabetic Supplies
Nina Gregory, LPN, Clinical Education Consultant and Stacie McMichel, Provider Outreach & Education Consultant
Main Stage
Medicamentos para la diabetes (Diabetes Medications)
Nydia Muniz, R. Ph.
(1:00 pm)
Por Tu Familia Stage
1:55 p.m. - 2:35 p.m.
Cooking Demonstration
Chef Ryan Hutmacher
Centered Chef
Healthy Lifestyle Stage
Neuropathy, PAD and Foot Care
Lynette Mahoney, DPM
Main Stage
Diabetes y la salud mental (Diabetes and mental health)
Dr. Amparo Castillo, MD, MPH
(1:30 pm)
Por Tu Familia Stage
2:40 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.
Physical Fitness Demonstration
Sean Armstead, Personal Trainer and Physical Fitness Expert
Healthy Lifestyle Stage
Insulin: Myths & Realities
Joanne Henderson-Collins
Main Stage
Ben Vereen Bio
---------------------------Few entertainers today are as accomplished or versatile as Ben Vereen. His legendary performances transcend time and have become woven into the fabric of this country's artistic legacy, but his first love and passion is and always will be the stage.
On Broadway, Ben Vereen has appeared in the Tony Award-winning productions of Pippin, Wicked, I'm Not Rappaport, Fosse, Jesus Christ Superstar and A Christmas Carol, and he has toured the country in Sweet Charity and Hair. He also headlined with Chita Rivera in Chicago, the first Broadway production to play Las Vegas. For more than 35 years, Ben has been performing one-man concerts in the United States and around the world. Currently, he is on tour with his show "Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen", a Tribute to Broadway, Sinatra and to Sammy Davis Jr.
Ben's acting credits continue to give us memorable roles. In 2006, while filming Idlewild with the award winning group Outkast, he served as the acting coach for both Andre 3000 and Big Boy. In addition, Ben has coached singing sensation Usher both as an entertainer and an actor. Ben's acting roles include the unforgettable Chicken George in Roots and the title role in Louis Armstrong – Chicago Style. Additional credits include Intruders They Are Among Us, The Jesse Owens Story, Ellis Island, Faerie Tale Theatre's Puss N' Boots with Gregory Hines, Zoobilee Zoo, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, OZ, Touched By An Angel, Second Noah, New York Undercover, The Nanny, Star Trek - The Next Generation, The Jamie Fox Show, The Promised Land, and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as well as recurring roles on Silk Stalkings, Webster, J.J. Starbuck and Booker. His own network specials include Ben Vereen: His Roots and film appearances include Sweet Charity, All That Jazz and Why Do Fools Fall in Love.
With his strong sense of social consciousness, Ben has become a respected speaker among audiences of all ages. His topics include overcoming adversity, arts in education, Black history, recovery through physical and occupational therapy, and the importance of continuing education. Ben has also been involved with many organizations, including Ballet Florida, the American Red Cross, the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association. In 1989, he spearheaded his own organization, "Celebrities for a Drug Free America," which raised more than $300,000 for drug rehabilitation centers, educational programs and inner city community-based projects.
Most recently, Ben appeared in the Hallmark movie An Accidental Friendship, for which he was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. He also guest starred on Tyler Perry's comedic TV series House of Payne and Grey's Anatomy, for which he won the Prism Award. In January and February of 2010, Ben starred in the world premiere of Fetch Clay, Make Man directed by Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys) at the McCarter Theater which will open on Broadway in the next year. Currently Ben has a recurring role on "How I Met Your Mother" and early this year, Ben released his first CD titled "Ben Vereen Steppin' Out Live."
Notable Entertainment Awards Include:
- 2009: NAACP Image Award nomination, Accidental Friendship
- 2008: Prism Award, Grey's Anatomy
- 2004: Nominated for Career Achievement Award by the Le Prix International Film Star Awards Organization
- 2004: Lifeline Celebration Achievement Award by the Community Mental Health Council
- 1992: Emmy nomination, Intruders They Are Among Us
- 1983: Golden Globe Award nomination, Ellis Island
- 1978: Entertainer of the Year, Rising Star, and Song and Dance Star Awards – American Guild of Variety Artists
(AGVA) (first performer to win these three awards in one year)
- 1978: Seven Emmy Awards, Ben Vereen: His Roots
- 1976: Golden Globe Award nomination, Funny Lady
- 1973: Tony Award & Drama Desk Award, Pippin S.
