BEAT STAGE 3

C. Diane Nathaniel

As a Stage 3 Colon Cancer Survivor/Thriver, Diane participates in cancer advocacy as a Survivor/Patient Advocate/Speaker. She is an Ambassador Constituent Team LEADER with American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the legislative arm of American Cancer Society representing the 8th Congressional District governed by Congressman Hakeem Jefferies.  In this role, she meets with members of Congress, is engaged in policy development and advocates for quality, accessible and affordable healthcare especially for those affected by cancer and beyond. 

 Diane is a professional Inspirational Speaker on Cancer Health with A-Speakers International Speakers Bureau.  She is the Co-Founder of a non-profit organization “Beat Stage 3, Inc.” founded with her best friend Helen L. Collen.  Beat Stage 3, Inc. is dedicated to raising community awareness about cancer health, screening, and prevention.  BS3 promotes image consciousness and renewed self-love for those who have suffered the ravages of cancer treatments, highlight, and implement health, beauty, and fashion makeovers to influence positive lifestyle changes and improve self-confidence that often disappears during and after treatment. Most importantly promoting self-advocacy about one’s health and wellness, reducing poor health outcomes and eliminating disparities through advocacy and health literacy.

 Having a personal experience with this illness has afforded Diane the opportunity to join with a research team of doctors and scientists from S.U.N.Y. Downstate and S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook Medical Center researching the disparities of GI Cancer in African Americans.  BS3 (Diane) is the Community Liaison.  Under the umbrella of “Beat Stage 3, Inc.”, “C.A.P.E Events” (Cancer Awareness Protects Everyone) was created; innovative conversations with the community and medical partners discussing the importance of cancer prevention and screening in a stress-free environment.  Diane volunteers by speaking/tabling at various health fairs and community events in NYC and other states. Diane felt so strongly about serving her community that she is enrolled Medical School at S.U.N.Y Downstate Health Sciences University where she earned an Advanced Certificate in Public Health May 2020.

 During the Pandemic, Diane started an online talk show “HER Talks Today” (Health Empowerment Reimagined) on Facebook Live @hertalkstoday which airs monthly. The show highlights a different health issue each month and includes patient stories from everyday people who share their experiences with the health topic.  The panel is rounded out with a medical expert who educates the viewers and answers their questions.  The goal of this show is to provide the community with information that reduces poor health outcomes, builds health equity and reduces health disparities.

 Diane participated in the “Three Campus Community Conversations: Achieving Health Equity Through Eliminating Disparities in a 21st Century Pandemic” representing Downstate University as a community partner. This was a collaboration between, SUNY Downstate, Syracuse University and SUNY Albany University, January 2021.

 Diane has represented Downstate as a participant in the “Annual AACR Scientist Survivor Disparities Program” 2018. 

 Diane was invited back by the AACR to lead a talk for the “Undergrad Student Caucus Poster Competition Program” (USCPC) at the Annual AACR meeting in 2019 sharing her story and encouraging students to continue the fight for research and why it is important for the future of Survivors/Thrivers like herself.

 Diane was a guest panelist on the AACR Advocacy Webinar June 2020.  She created an “Advocacy Toolkit” which has been published on the AACR’s website and is being used to aid individuals who would like to start their advocacy journey and those who are ready to head to “The Hill” to effect change.

 Diane was a guest panelist for “The Future of Cancer Care Policy Forum” presented by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, November 2020.

 In March 2020, Diane was invited to be a part of the 1st Meyer Cancer Center Community Advisory Council for Weill Cornell Medicine.  The goals of this board are to engage in community outreach through programs that build health literacy and health equity.  To promote screening and prevention education, works diligently to eliminate disparities and advocates for change in policies that create barriers for marginalized populations.  Most importantly, to achieve quality, accessible and affordable healthcare.

 August 2021, Diane was appointed to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s 1st Black Volunteer Caucus.  Diane is serving on the Education and Training Committee.

 Diane is currently employed by the New York City Department of Education as an Elementary School Counselor at Public School 11 in Brooklyn NY for the last 13 years.

 Diane is a Founding board member for BELA, Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy Charter School for girls EST. June, 2016.  Diane became Board Chair in August 2020.  BELA is located in Brooklyn, NY in the Bedford Stuyvesant area in District 16.  BELA held commencement for its first graduating class of 50 young women in June 2021.  BELA is proud to celebrate 100 percent of their young women being accepted to college and 98 percent accepted to 4-year colleges and universities.

Diane is married, a mother of 3 children Jazmyn 26, Jaelyn 24, and Joshua 19 who she refers to as her 3 Heartbeats. Diane says her advocacy work is for her family and others who are, have been and will be affected in the future.

Diane’s favorite quote: “Positive expectations set the atmosphere for miracles.”  -Pastor A.R. Bernard

To learn more about C. Diane Nathaniel please click on the links below.

ACS Policy Forum Keynote address

AACR Published Advocacy Toolkit

AACR Conference Keynote (Audio with slides)

Diane’s Beat Stage 3 Journey in Photographs

HELEN L. COLLEN

After speaking with her oldest and dearest friend of 50 years, C. Diane Nathaniel, regarding Diane's courageous fight against Stage 3 colorectal cancer, Helen anguished about how she could 'help' her friend. What could a mere artist do to create change in a loved one's life afflicted with such devastation? Together Diane and Helen came up with a solution-BEAT STAGE 3. After hearing Diane anguish over the ravaging physical effects of chemotherapy it became apparent that there was a sense of loss of physical self-a loss that definitely affected self-esteem and self-confidence. Yet, there was no solid path back to beauty-inner or outer. Diane also realized on her journey back to health that less people were aware of how to prevent or test. The disease and its treatments had taken such a toll on Diane and it was time to give back what was lost. Finally it was time to apply the artistic knowledge and know how that Helen had worked so hard to perfect over the years.

New York Brooklynite Helen L. Collen began her costume design career in 1993 in the halls of the State University of New York at Purchase College. Accelerating through their highly coveted four year design program in three years Helen graduated with a BFA in Costume Design from the school's world renowned  program-The Professional Conservatory of Theatrical/Film Design Technology in 1996. In 1999 she was nominated for and received the Vivian Robinson Audelco Award (also known as the ‘Judy Dearing Costume Design Recognition Award for Excellence in Black Theatre’) for her costume designs featured in the production of'The Trial Of One Short Sighted Black Woman VS. Mammy Louise and Safreeta Mae' directed by Paul Harrison Carter. Since then Helen has been nominated for a total of  7 Audelco Awards for costume design. Aside from successfully creating visual imaging for varied theatrical characters, Helen is fully credited as an I.A.T.S.E union member in film/theatre/tv wardrobe supervisor and also worked as a touring rep for wardrobe and as a VIP host for LiveNation. She traveled as wardrobe supervisor with Dancing With The Stars’ first tour in 2008 and has worked with such legendary talents as Wynton Marsalis, Nona Hendryx, David Letterman, John Mellencamp, Kem, Sting, Babyface, Mint Condition, John Amos, Ginuwine, Tyra Banks,  Tony Danza, James Taylor, The Eagles, Def Leppard, Cameo, Kanye West, Robin Thicke, Michael McDonald, Lucia Arnez, Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe, The Roots, Bill T. Jones, Wendell Pierce, Marvin Hamlish and the  NSO Pops, Rain Pryor, Debbie Allen, Brian McKnight, the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, CBS’ The Late Show, Jennifer Hudson, and Earth, Wind and Fire to name a few.

As a guest stylist for Jeff Garner’s Prophetik fashion line, she has organized and created looks for shows in London, Shanghai, Scotland, Los Angeles and Vancouver.

In 2003 photography became much more than a hobby and began to surface as another viable creative outlet. Helen changed careers and became a professional fine art photographer. She has photographed in over 13 countries from Prague to New Zealand and has amassed hundreds of subjects and landscapes. Her work graces album covers, magazine articles, advertisements, marketing and artist promo, profiles and tour books and is included in coffee table and biography books.

Helen has had 3 main photography exhibits-1 in Los Angeles, 2 in New York; exhibited in a virtual online exhibit for Relational Space Gallery; debuted ‘Soul Stirrers’ an augmented reality exhibit in Brooklyn, NY with her artistic partner Julia ‘Kito’ Kirtley-all of which were dedicated to her deceased grandmother Hattie Simmons who raised her from birth and her biological mother Joyce-Ann Simmons. Helen’s mother was a heavy smoker and on Sept 17, 2016 Joyce-Ann passed away from dual Stage 4 lung and colorectal cancers. 

Today Helen’s expanded artistry includes digital motion art and graphic design including film/video creation, graphic design and animated content for social media and musician clients. She also hosts a celebrated weekly radio show, ‘The SHOUT OUT-Music Appreciation 101 on Amazon’s AMP radio. Her show was included in that platform’s ‘Weekly Staff Picks’. Aside from being on several beta testing teams for artistic graphic design platforms Helen is also an ambassador for the augmented reality app ARTIVIVE.

Helen’s favorite quote: “To each is given a bag of tools, a shapeless mass, a book of rules. And each must make ere life is flown-a stumbling block or stepping stone.” -Robert Frost