Susan Lee Mintz is a 63 year old baby-boomer, motivational author, lecturer and fitness guru from Troy, New York who currently resides in Boca Raton, Florida where she encourages and supports people by promoting wellness through diet, exercise, and “healthy choices.” Susan is a member of Jesus People Proclaim International Ministries Church in Boca Raton and is the Executive Director of its Wellness Center and for the JPPIMC “I LOVE MY LIFE HIV/AIDS MINISTRY.” Jesus People Proclaim is the first and only church in Boca Raton that is a registered HIV/AIDS testing facility for Palm Beach County and Susan is certified by the Palm Beach County Health Department to test for HIV/AIDS and counsel people who come in and get tested. Susan had presently written a weekly motivational column for the Boca Raton Newspaper and was a guest speaker at the 2008 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Dinner (NBHAAD) held in West Palm Beach. Susan's abstinence only program has been presented before the Women of Tomorrow Organization at Booker T. Washington Senior High School in Miami and Florida. Susan is a volunteer with the Comprehensive AIDS Program of Palm Beach County, Real AIDS Prevention Program (RAPP), Urban 9 Minority AIDS Network, Palm Beach County Substance Abuse Coalition (PBCSAC), The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention, The American Red Cross and Hospice By The Sea in Boca Raton. Susan's lecture series entitled “YOU DON'T GET AIDS FROM LOVING SOMEBODY” has been presented throughout South Florida as she speaks openly about abstinence and testing in order to stop the spread of this deadly disease. Susan gives her testimony before youth and single ministries, in high schools, churches, synagogues, organizations, and other venues in regard to HIV/AIDS testing, education, and awareness. Susan is an HIV/AIDS advocate for testing and believes that mandatory legislation for testing of all STD's should be put in place. Once a professional dental hygienist, Susan married her elementary-school sweetheart, Jeffrey, at the age of 22. Their marriage was passionate and full of ups and downs with the surprising revelation that Jeffrey was bi-sexual. Her enduring love and unconditional acceptance for Jeffrey during this difficult period never wavered. For 25 years, Susan kept her commitment to their marriage. In June 1992, Jeffrey was diagnosed with AIDS. She rallied with him in the fight for his life. On August 17, 1994 , Jeffrey passed away in the privacy of their home with the help of hospice. Jeffrey's death left Susan searching for comfort and support which she later found through writing, exercise, cooking, and her faith. Susan's proclivity towards nutrition developed into a penchant for cooking. She began cooking up a storm relying upon her humor and motivational attitude while pleasing palates everywhere. Her recipes were healthy, creative, easy-to-prepare and flavorful with off-color and shockingly unique names. She penned these and other recipes into a renowned cookbook titled "Safe Sex Never Tasted So Good" with partial proceeds benefiting non-profit organizations. Cooking enabled Susan to make a positive and immediate impact in the lives of others through nutrition. Susan pursued her cooking with passion and was forced to further challenge her culinary skills when she began weight training. Her discipline motivated many people who she influenced and taught through personal training in the South Florida area. When Susan isn't writing, cooking, or working out, she contributes her time and efforts through her volunteer work and community involvement. At Hospice by the Sea, she serves as an 11th hour volunteer--one who is called when a patient's death is imminent-and educates others about AIDS through the Comprehensive AIDS Program (CAP) of Palm Beach County, Florida. Susan's television appearances include: WPBF Channel 25-West Palm Beach, “Dealing With Menopause Through Weight Training”; WPTV Channel 5 -West Palm Beach-noon news live with Kelly Dunn, “Muscles, Menopause, and The Fabulous Fifties”; WRGB Channel 6 - Albany, New York, Noon News with Sue Nigra-"Bodybuilding For Baby Boomers"; WTEN Channel 10 - Albany, New York, Noon News with Tracy Egan - "Menopause and Muscles"; WNYT Channel 13 in Albany, New York in a segment on "Menopause and Bodybuilding for Baby Boomers"; Channel 23- Adelphia Cable for Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida in the "Around Our Town" show hosted By Sid Snyder; WSVN Channel 7 in Miami, Florida for the show "Deco Drive;" "The Today Show" in Sydney, Australia; WXEL Public Television in West Palm Beach, Florida on the South Florida Today Show "Recovery After a Loved One's Loss" and "Healthy Cooking"; WPBT Public Television in Miami, Florida for Bill Moyer's Special - "On Our Own Terms" and "How Volunteering For Hospice Helped During The Recovery Process"; WPLG Channel 10 in Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida on "New Years Resolutions" - Sticking To An Exercise Program and "The Benefits of Weight Training During Menopause." Her radio interviews and guest appearances include: WRMB - Moody Bible Radio–Boynton Beach, Florida-talk show host Dana Shelton; The True Christian Club of Boynton Beach Community High School; Jesus People Proclaim International Ministries Church, Boca Raton, Florida-youth ministry and congregation; WFTL-1400 Talk Radio; "The Sunday Morning Magazine Show" with Peg Browning on The Gator Radio Network, and The Coast Radio Morning Show with Terri Griffin. These interviews included questions concerning her marriage and AIDS. Daily newspapers and monthly magazines have printed articles about Susan including those appearing in: The Jewish Star Times, Natural Awakenings, The Boca Raton News, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, The Happy Times Newspaper, and Vital Signs Magazine (South Florida's #1 Resource Guide to Nurses and Health Care Professionals) in a question and answer column titled "The Benefits of Bodybuilding During Menopause." She also wrote a column in the Boca Raton News titled "With a Hospice Heart," and serves as a contributing writer and columnist for Natural MuscleMagazine, Michael Body Scenes Magazine, and The Boca Del Mar Newsletter. Susan has spoken at the following Bookstores in South Florida about her lecture series entitled "You Don't Get AIDS From Loving Somebody." Borders Books and Music, Barnes and Noble Bookstores, and Liberties Books in Mizner Park and Ft. Lauderdale . Her speaking engagements for non-profit organizations in South Florida include: Hadassah, ORT, City of Hope , Women's Clubs, Condominium Associations, Civic Groups, BocaCares, Professional Women's Organizations, Hospice By The Sea, The Comprehensive AIDS Program of Palm Beach County and the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center (JCC). Susan has been featured as a guest lecturer and keynote speaker at the following events: North Broward Regional Medical Center-Health Fair, Expos, and Seminars; Women Health Fairs and Seminars at the Boca Raton Community Hospital, West Boca Community Hospital, CAP, and the JCC. The Comprehensive AIDS Program has featured Susan as a keynote speaker for its annual Walk For Life in West Palm Beach , Florida and at numerous fundraisers where she signs her cookbook, "Safe Sex Never Tasted So Good." Hospice by the Sea in Boca Raton has her on its Speakers' Bureau. Susan represents Hospice at health fairs, educational seminars, local hospitals, and at events like the Boca Expo, The Delray Affair, workshops, and vending booths at local malls. Susan was a workshop leader for the Jewish Family Services of Boca Raton with the emphasis on community awareness about AIDS and HIV issues. The event was held at West Boca Community Hospital . She conducted a workshop entitled "The Only Thing Stable About My Life Is The Instability" for the Jewish Family Services of Palm Beach County. Susan conducts monthly workshops based on her lecture series and Hospice issues. Susan has authored the following cookbooks, "Safe Sex Never Tasted So Good " © 1990," "Naughty Minds and Healthy Bodies" © 1998, and "Make No Brittle Bones About It" © 2001. Other works include two human-interest books titled "And I Held Their Hands" Part 1 - "Committed To Love" - Susan's Story © 1999 and Part 2 - "With A Hospice Heart" - twenty-four stories about hope, faith, and courage © 2000. Susan is currently working on her sixth book entitled "Firsts - A Widow's Journey Through Four Seasons ©." |