Category Archives: Intentional Communities

Keba Konte started Red Bay Coffee in his garage. Seven years later, its hard to imagine Oakland without Red Bay, which has five locations including a mobile coffee van and is something of an institution, drawing the Towns coolest and best-dressed, never making coffee culture feel elite or out of reach. This is the very intentional work of Konte, whos set on reframing coffee the high quality, traceable stuff, that is as something everyone can and should enjoy, not just the domain of stuffy cafes in expensive neighborhoods.

And its not just coffee that Konte aims to make more accessible: Before coronavirus restrictions made in-person gathering difficult, he also used his cafe spaces to host panels and workshops for entrepreneurs of color. As Red Bay grows, he wants to see other local businesses coming up, too.

As Konte told me during a conversation last year, hes focused on making all of Red Bays cafe spaces unapologetically welcoming to Black and brown people: By putting Africa on the wall, by not exploiting our farmers with pictures of them smiling with sweat and dirty hands that theyre not directly benefiting from. Africa is, quite literally, on the wall at the Red Bay roastery location on East 10th Street in Fruitvale, where an enormous living outline of the continent houses lush hanging vines. Before the pandemic, friends gathered below this living wall to drink coffee and catch up.

While indoor seating remains paused at the roastery, Red Bays new cafe, at the corner of Oaklands International Boulevard and Fruitvale Avenue, handily solves the problem of seating, and space. Its housed in what was once a bank, a towering three-story building that now features 11,000 square feet equipped to host panel discussions on entrepreneurship for Black and brown business owners, produce videos for Red Bays YouTube channel, and turn out full meals and warm baked goods. Of course, theres also a beautiful, sleek coffee bar, where customers can enjoy an espresso, and during the right season, a yam latte a take on the pumpkin spice latte, only more delicious, in this writers humble opinion.

Painted along the crown of the pillared building in bold white lettering is Red Bays motto: Beautiful Coffee To The People, and these words are something of a guiding light as the business expands. The towering space, crested with dozens of sculpted gold lions heads, would draw attention in any neighborhood. Its particularly notable that in this East Oakland neighborhood, what was once a bank, and was later reincarnated as a check cashing business and a 99 cent store, now houses what Konte reckons is the only specialty coffee shop along the 100-block stretch between here and Lake Merritt. Instead of betting on an Oakland neighborhood where third wave coffee shops are already a dime a dozen, or setting down roots in a downtown San Francisco outpost, Konte chose a space just blocks from Red Bays roastery, and a five minute walk from his own home. Choosing this new location, Konte says, was very intentional. Were trying to make specialty coffee and beautiful experiences more accessible, and make this a space where people in the neighborhood and the community have access to coffee experiences like this.

After last weeks soft opening, Red Bays new location will have its grand opening today, with a mariachi band at noon, the Afro-Brazilian drum troupe SambaFunk! at 3:30 p.m., and, of course, coffee all day. Here, Konte gives Eater readers a look into some of the most significant design decisions in this enormous new space, and talks through his choice to set Red Bays new headquarters in the neighborhood he calls home.

In 2014, the bank building was gutted by a fire, leaving the superstructure but very little else intact. This building has just been a blight since its burned down. And quite frankly, even before it burned down, it was a blight, says Konte. It was not a welcoming space. And this corner really just deserves so much more.

During the cafes opening festivities, Konte is honoring the neighborhoods many identities. The celebration, which started with Chinese lion dancers from the Hung Sing Martial Arts Academy yesterday, and continues today with a mariachi band and an Afro-Brazilian drum troupe, is a nod to the many communities that have built businesses and homes along International Boulevard. Theres no shortage of noise in the neighborhood. From the sideshows in the middle of this intersection, to the loud ass trains, to all the booming car stereos. But we just kind of want to bring some of our own noise, says Konte. So were going to have this series of live music performances. The thing about International Boulevard is that 20-plus years ago, it was East 14th Street. But they changed the name to International Boulevard, and I think thats probably one of the best names they could have given it. Because when you start on this boulevard from the lake, youre going through Chinatown, and then Southeast Asian communities, and then through Latinx communities, and then into the Black neighborhood, all the way into San Fernando, into the whiter neighborhoods. I wanted our opening celebration to reflect those cultures and those nations. The opening celebrations are a representation, says Konte, of the way International Boulevard changes as you move East from the lake, eventually arriving at Red Bays towering new home.

Save for an 18-inch-walled concrete vault that weathered the fire, the guts of the bank building have been completely reimagined and updated. The space was largely designed by Red Bays Chief of Brand Rachel Konte, who is also married to Keba. The open layout is bright, modern, and full of ferns and hanging plants. A long bar with an astounding number of electrical outlets stretches along a wall of huge windows, offering plenty of seating for those who want to stay for a while and enjoy the atmosphere.

As simple as it sounds, were providing a place to sit down, and have a cappuccino in a ceramic cup, says Konte. Weve all been drinking out of paper cups for so long, during the pandemic, that even the smallest things like this are such a pleasure and luxury.

Right now, the pastry case is filled with goods from partnered bakeries, but soon, the new kitchen will be churning out fresh-baked hand pies, and welcoming in visiting chefs to host pop-up events. [Our food program] is still in development. In the meantime, we just really wanted to get the doors opened and launch the coffee program, says Konte. But we are developing African hand pies think empanadas, but a bit more African- and Caribbean-inspired. Vegetarian, savory hand pies, that will be made here and available here hot, and well have those available in our other shops as well.

The pride and joy of the new space is, unsurprisingly, the coffee bar. Until now, Red Bay locations have all been built to fit the constrictions of tight or unconventional spaces. Theres a coffee van, a small storage container fashioned into a coffee box, and the roastery location, set in a large warehouse. This space, as Konte puts it, has all the needed elbow room. That means space for a long, beautiful coffee counter. The centerpiece of the bar is a sparkling Sanremo, an Italian-made machine programed differently for each of the cafes three different espressos. Espresso is a science and an art. So were trying to sort of narrow the variables, Konte says. With this machine, the baristas are able to dial in that espresso experience, and produce something thats lovely.

When building out the long counter, Keba and Rachel were presented with three options: wood, stone, or concrete. They decided to go a different direction entirely. Inspired by the design of cafes in Copenhagen, they chose a linoleum. It has just an unbelievable array of colors, Konte says. It is soft to the touch, and an environmentally friendly material. Wood gets kind of sticky. Stone and concrete is always so cold, and so hard.

On the plum-colored linoleum coffee bar is a pourover coffee station, which Konte built himself. I hand built it out of rebar and recycled wood. It did turn out pretty nice.

The cafes second and third floor are reserved for Red Bays many behind-the-scenes and post-covid projects. As Red Bay continues to expand, six rooms of offices will handle administrative tasks. This new space will also allow for Red Bay to take its expansion online. I think the space is very, very photogenic. And so well be shooting our own how-to videos, and filming things in the kitchen, says Konte. When capacity restrictions are lifted further and indoor gathering is deemed safer, Konte says there will be more in person events, including latte art throw-downs.

The cafes third floor remains something of a mystery, with Konte hesitant to say exactly what will soon occupy the 4000-square-foot space. He says Red Bay is in the final weeks of working out what he describes as a significant partnership, that will move into the space and act as a support for entrepreneurs and fledgling businesses that are in need of a jumpstart.

Thats always been part of what Red Bay is: being a model of entrepreneurialism. And we will have various engagements and workshops around fundraising for startups and entrepreneurs in various stages of business. We will bring in various partners that help entrepreneurs, to either raise capital or build their business plans.

Of course, plenty of the people walking into this new space arent looking to start a new business, or win a latte art competition they just want coffee. Theyll be well served, and Konte hopes theyll stay a while, to bask in the light that pours in through the cafes enormous two-story windows. Were just bathed in light, I mean we basically are getting light all day, he says. I believe people are going to travel far and wide to come and enjoy a coffee experience, or tea, or juice or some African hand pies. This neighborhood wants more and deserves more than weve been getting. Were not dumbing down the concept because were not in San Francisco or in Jack London Square. We believe that people in the hood, in the community, want and deserve nice things. And were here to bring it.

Red Bay Coffees opening festivities begin today, Monday, April 12, with a mariachi band at 12 p.m., and an Afro-Brazilian drum troupe at 3:30 p.m. Regular hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week.

Read the original here:

Red Bay Coffees Massive New Oakland Space Brings Coffee to the People - Eater SF

I am John P. Nickum and seeking election for the position of Bridge City, City Council, Place 3 in the May 1st election with early voting beginning April 19th 27th.

I was blessed to be raised in Bridge City and graduated from Bridge City High School in 1993. I am the son of Bill and Ellen Nickum, who have been actively serving in the community since 1965. Having been reared in a home where the emphasis and importance of giving back to your community were instilled in the family.

I have lived in Bridge City for most of my life and the community has become a part of me. During the years that I did not live in Bridge City, I attended Lamar University and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, where I obtained a business degree in Healthcare Administration. I immediately began utilizing my education after graduation from UTMB, by beginning my professional career with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas as part of the Grants and Research Administration Department. During my tenure at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, I was fortunate to acquire a tremendous amount of knowledge while negotiating both the grants and the contracts between the doctors' at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center who were attempting to perform the new forms of cancer research, the Federal Drug Administration, the State of Texas and countless pharmaceutical companies all of which strived to conduct ongoing cancer research. It was during this portion of my professional career that significantly impacted my perspective involving the perceived barriers to progress and sustainable solutions. I understood that with a common goal and understanding of the beneficial purpose between all parties involved, a viable and amicable solution could be found to any problem.

The opportunity was presented to me to come back to this area and begin a new career as a life specialist with State Farm and later to being appointed as an agent in Vidor, Texas. In my present position as an agent with State Farm and having been a small business owner for over 20 years. I have had to acquire the skill to productively interact with State Farm clients, my employees, and local governmental entities in difficult situations to ultimately achieve an amicable solution for all parties involved.

My interest began in city government while pursuing a Master's in Business Administration through Lamar University in Beaumont. It was through this interest that I began to increase my awareness through my involvement with the Vidor's Chamber of Commerce, Fresh Start Program and Rotary intervention programs in the community. Having had the opportunity to gain the hands-on-experience of working with various local governmental entities, I began to notice the common issues that plaque most local communities. My desire to serve increased with my awareness after continuously noticing reoccurring obstacles that plagued most local cities within Orange County. I saw strategic channels for growth, ways to help increase the local tax base and the potential opportunity to relieve some of the burden from the tax payers. Solutions can be found by working together for a common understood purpose and cause.

I have always had a passion for serving others and currently serve on a state disaster relief chainsaw team for the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief ministry and serve as a credential chainsaw trainer for the Southern Baptist Texas Convention. During the storms this past year, Laura and Delta, we began cutting trees off of homes in my hometown the morning Laura hit Bridge City. We continued to cut trees off of homes in the surrounding cities in the area. I have helped and continue to help people in need by mudding out and repair homes through a mission program organized through my church at Calvary Baptist Church in Beaumont.

There are many citizens that I do know, some that I have had to the opportunity to meet recently and those that I will be fortunate to meet in the near future. My wife, Christy and I have been married nine years and have three children, Coleman, Nate and Abigail. Coleman will be graduating in May from Baylor University with an Environmental Science degree. Nate will be graduating from Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School in May and will be attending Texas Christian University in the fall. Our youngest daughter, Abigail, is currently a junior at Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School and currently plans to attend Auburn University.

I would like to ask you for your support, through taking action and voting for a candidate who is passionate about serving others in the community. I will be intentional about my commitment to be proactive in my approach to make our Bridge City community one of growth and prosperity. I would appreciate your support and look forward to meeting you in the near future.

Read more from the original source:

John Nickum seeks BC City Council seat - The Record Newspapers - TheRecordLive.com

Richmond Kickers midfielder Mumbi Kwesele split his college career between Barry University and Humboldt State University before his soccer journey took him overseas. Before I got to Richmond, I spent a year in the Basque Country of Spain playing for Real Unin Club de Irun, Kwesele told BGN. I wasnt surprised at the level of quality I played with and against each week overseas but I quickly figured out that the game was also incredibly physical too.

Most people associate the Spanish with beautiful possession soccer but some of the ugliest and scrappiest games Ive ever played in happened there; ultimately, the majority of teams were more concerned with the result of the game than with the way it looked and that provided a lot of opportunities for me to grow tactically in different positions. Off the field, I think I was humbled every single day because as a foreigner, I was constantly facing some kind of adversity whether that was learning Spanish or familiarizing myself with the different cultural customs of both the country and region.

Last February, the Seattle native was able to return to the United States and sign with Richmond. He made six appearances, three starts, for the Kickers in 2020 and registered an assist. Mumbi explained, I think I showed bits and pieces of what I am capable of in 2020 in multiple positions. Injuries were a major hurdle for me last season and if Im going to have a bigger impact, I need to be healthy.

Now, Kwesele is back with the Kickers for the 2021 USL League One season. Im really happy to be back in Richmond this year because we have a really great group of people who are all on the same page when it comes to the vision of what our club can be, he said. I feel like this club is the right place for me with the kind of culture weve created and my continued development as a player and person.

I expect to contribute when Im called on to do so, I just need to be available and ready. I expect this team to take the season one game at a time with the confidence and quality to beat any team on any day.

Kwesele and the Kickers will get their first chance to get a win this season tomorrow when they travel to face New England Revolution II in their season opener. Kickoff is set for 5 PM Eastern and the match will be live on ESPN+.

While blazing his own path in the soccer landscape, Mumbi is also looking to help the next generation find their footing. The Rising Point is an organization I founded with my brother, Mutanda in 2016 with a mission to develop quality people and build community, particularly focusing on underserved communities that are oftentimes unable to access club soccer, he said. For me, one of the most significant aspects of this project is the way my older brother has made an intentional effort to go to neighborhoods where the children we work with have similar upbringings as we did.

As the children of African immigrants, my brother and I are aware of the political, social, and economic barriers that stand in the way of our advancement as individuals and as people. Historically, these kids that look like us have not had real opportunities to excel and this is the result of the resources they are provided with (or not provided with), not because of a lack of ambition or talent. The Rising Point is a project that aims to fill that gap and help these children grow to be more aware, intentional, and responsible both on and off the field.

Recently, Mumbi also launched the ELEVATE Training Program. ELEVATE has a similar mission and ideology as The Rising Point and is a personal project I have been working on while I am distant from my brother due to our current work situations, he said. The biggest strength that my brother and I can possibly have is our unity so we will be collaborating again very soon.

As you can tell, family is very important to Kwesele. Since I was young, my entire family has been incredibly supportive of my soccer journey, he said. My brother, Mutanda and I have a special bond because we have both tried to go the distance and excel at the highest levels of the game possible. He has been my coach and mentor for as long as I can remember and I dont know if I would be where I am today without him.

Ive been lucky to be able to follow the example of such a dedicated, hard-working, and humble individual like him. I think that every young person needs someone like him to guide, support, and love them every step of their journey.

Kwesele is also appreciative of the support he and the club receive from Elliot Barr, who co-hosts the River City 93 and Can I Kick It? podcasts along with Chenier Durand II. Discussing what it means to him to see a podcast of two Black men covering the Kickers in a media landscape that desperately needs more diversity, Mumbi said, It makes me incredibly proud to see Elliot and River City 93 doing a brilliant job of covering our club and being a reference point for the soccer community both here in Richmond and abroad. Its true, there needs to be more diversity in media in this sport; this is not a new sentiment or challenge to both our sport and society.

The fact that we need to continue to speak this out loud says a lot about how far we have to go. For many individuals and organizations, this means drastically rethinking and restructuring the way things have been done in the past in order to provide more pathways forward for diverse voices and perspectives in media, coaching positions, and front offices.

View original post here:

Mumbi Kwesele has found a true soccer home with the Richmond Kickers - Beautiful Game Network

Attendees at a vigil for the Atlanta shooting victims held in Hing Hay Park in March hold their hands up in solidarity. Photo by Auriza Ugalino.

As the nation is struggling to recover from a tumultuous year of the coronavirus, a summer of social unrest, and a contentious election the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is gearing up for yet another battle.

While gearing up for yet another battle. While the nefarious adversary is a familiar foe, the rules of engagement have led to a more deathly development.

Amid the rise in anti-Asian rhetoric that has led to a spike in racially based assaults against the AAPI community nationwide, a recent unconscionable act of violence has left eight people dead in Atlanta, GA (among those six Asian women).

Shot dead by a white male.

In response, local officials around the country vow to take action by implementing new safety procedures and increasing the amount of police patrol in predominantly AAPI enclaves, However, this only heightens the anxiety since more police presence rarely means that the community is a safer place.

Simply mandating policies is not enough prevention, implementation and accountability are essential. Laws alone will never inspire a genuinely just society. Only addressing the deeper issues that plague our community and hearts can do that.

And while this senseless act of violence is egregious and appalling, should any of us truly be surprised by the escalation of violence while accounting for our own indifference to Americas longstanding history of perpetually finding a scapegoat for all our fears and failures?

In this pivotal moment of transition, as traditional ways of living are being challenged, deep-seated fears have emerged of loss of status and privilege. Radical ideologies spewed by white supremacists and politicians alike act as a guiding light to those who have underachieved in life as to where to direct blame for their anger and insecurities inviolent and irrational ways.

As witnessed during the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which was one of the first ethnic based immigration laws of our county, and the WWII Japanese Internment Camps, in which multitudes of American citizens were incarcerated solely based on their heritage, the AAPI community has been all too familiar with being the targets of these unwarranted notions.

The recent ICE raids and historical criminalization of immigrant poverty further reaffirms these racist principles.

Take Texas representative Chip Roys statement in the wake of the Atlanta shooting, for instance. By exploiting a U.S. House Judiciary Committee hearing on rising anti-Asian violence to instead voice his frustration with Black Lives Matter protest for equality, rather than showing concern and respect to those AAPIs who have been harmed, he illustrates just how much this disillusion rhetoric continues to divide us. And by reawakening shameful and outdated lynching speech to drive home his points, he further exposes just how far into our politics this hate has infiltrated. Or could it be that this deep-rooted hate has always existed and just now becoming more visible?

And though it is clear that a majority of the recent attacks against the AAPI community have been racially motivated, we cannot ignore that this deep tragedy has highlighted the deep complexities of intersectional hate and oppression that across establish lines of race, gender, sexual orientation and class resulting in the continuous marginalization of women, gender non-conforming, LGBTQQA+, and immigrants of our community.

The fact that during the Cherokee County Sheriffs Department press briefing, spokesperson Captain Jay Baker would rationalize the shooters actions as a case of having a bad day or giving credibility to the theory that somehow this has something to do with a sexual addiction and that he was eliminating temptation is not only disrespectful, hurtful, and ignorant it demonstrates just how callous the criminal justice system is towards underserved immigrant communities in particular, Asian women.

By centering the voice of the shooter, Captain Jay Baker breathed life into a narrative that somehow the victims were at fault. That they could have potentially been illegal sex workers who did not deserve to live, let alone be protected. And essentially perpetuates a culture that fetishizes Asian women as hyper-sexual beings.

These harmful sexualized myths have been constructed to justify the violence social control used to maintain racially gendered hierarchies in which Asian women have paradoxically been vilified AND prized.

Yet as some excuse, Representative Roy and Captain Bakers comments as unintentional or misguided, or even dismissed them as harmful banter, I beg to differ. Because nothing is more intentional than hate. And nothing can be more harmful than our deliberate disregard for their self serving willful ignorance.

And though it is obvious that hateful rhetoric from both white supremacist and figures like Chip Roy and Jay Baker are dangerous, they alone are not the problem. Our communities historical indifference to discrimination that has not directly impacted us has allowed this hate to fester and mutate to attack shifting realities and created the conditions in which the marginalized are left even more vulnerable. For that, we all have blood on our hands.

For too long we have stood by silently, ashamed of the status quo, yet too afraid to challenge it. And are refusing refusal to stand up to discrimination makes cowards of us all.

As a cisgender heterosexual man who has been privileged and benefits from a patriarchal society, I recognize our failures in supporting the work and needs of families in our community who have been the target of some of the most vicious attacks. My response has to be better. Our response has to be better. Because as long as we were able to separate ourselves from others in our community and view them as lesser than, the easier it is for a conscience to bear the brutality of a current reality. And that is a cop out.

A day after the Atlanta shooting, I was reminded that I should call to check on my best friend my sister. Shes tiny in stature but what she lacks in size she makes up for in her resiliency and fighting spirit. So the anguish and despair I heard in her voice broke my heart. As an Asian-American, who knows what she was going through that day? Heck, I didnt even know what I was going through.

During a later call, in an attempt to cheer her up, I made some jokes. However, I could tell she was only laughing to appease me. When the awkwardness subsided and I gave into the fact that Im just not good at this crap, I asked her what I could do to make her feel better. Thats what you do for people you love, right? Her answer was simple, yet prolific.

Check in more and ask questions.

Wow. With just one sentence, she inspired change.

Within these prison walls where I am a current occupant of cell C137L, my fellow colleagues and I across all ethnicities, gender, classes and orientations have agreed to begin initiating discussions among our peers in the how we can improve the ways we show up for our community, and we will be having constructive dialogue allow for true partnership equitable changes for all. That begins by challenging toxic masculinity, having tough meaningful conversations, and learning from those most impacted by asking questions and listening intently.

Now THAT is what you do for the people you love.

And though grief is sometimes a wound that never heals we cannot allow our grief to paralyze us. Because each recent incident of tragedy represents a discerning revelation about who we are as a people just as the moments of resistance against them will reveal something about who we aspire to be.

Felix Sitthivong #354579 is an organizer and advisor for the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Awareness Group (APICAG). He served as chapter president at Clallam Bay Corrections Center between 2015 to 2019 before being transferred and uprooted due to allegations of organizing a food/work strike to protest the discrimination of prisoners within the Washington State Department of Corrections. He is credited with designing an Asian American Studies course, helping to found and co-create an Anti-Domestic Violence program and subsequent Intersectional Feminism 101 class. He has also organized and hosted multiple immigration, social justice, and youth outreach forums all available through the APICAG. He is currently serving 65 years at the Washington State Reformatory Unit in Monroe Washington for charges including murder, attempted murder, and first-degree assault. His earliest release date is August 31, 2073.

Read the rest here:

What you do for the people you love - The International Examiner

JOHNSTON Jonathan Whitfield, a pastor at Corinthian Baptist Church in Des Moines, recalled the ice cream truck that would come to neighborhoods with all manner of sweet treats for children. He said it was especially great for families who otherwise may have had a difficult time getting to the store.

Thats the same spirit, Whitfield said, behind an effort to encourage and help Central Iowa minorities to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Somebody might have thought that maybe if I just be intentional about bringing the ice cream to the neighborhood, Ill be able to bring all of those who might want it out of their homes and they will come to the truck, Whitfield said. I think thats what were talking about here with these efforts were just being intentional about bringing what is needed to our community.

A coalition of Central Iowa medical providers, religious entities and nonprofit organizations is working to inform minority communities about the vaccine and to establish large-scale clinics in the communities.

Whitfield and Dr. Yogesh Shah, chief medical officer at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines, discussed the efforts Wednesday during Gov. Kim Reynolds news conference on the states pandemic response.

Whitfield said stigma, misinformation, language or cultural differences and mistrust due to historical discrimination contribute to some people being hesitant to seek or accept medical help like vaccines.

These barriers are real, and we have to face these realities. These barriers are as thick as any wall you can imagine because of the historical data that exists in minority communities relative to experiences with our systems, Whitfield said.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT

Shah said the partnership between Broadlawns and dozens of other community religious and nonprofit partners, including United Way, Urban Dreams and the Polk County public health department, already has yielded the distribution of 16,500 masks and 11,500 bottles of hand sanitizer to minority communities. Shah said a vaccination clinic scheduled for this weekend in Central Iowa filled 1,000 appointments in 48 hours.

Studies after studies have showed that our ZIP code is more important than our genetic code for health outcomes, Shah said. We need to expand access to our care where people are: in their homes and in their community.

Reynolds praised the effort and said the state stands ready to assist.

Together their unique ability to connect health care and community services with faith communities and trusted leaders of color is what makes this type of outreach work, and its something we hope that we can emulate and do statewide, she said.

Only 1 percent of doses administered in Iowa so far have been to Black individuals, according to state public health data; but 4 percent of Iowas population is Black, according to census data. And 1.7 percent of doses have gone to Hispanic or Latino individuals, while 6.3 percent of the states population is Hispanic or Latino.

Reynolds said those numbers are not likely completely accurate because individuals self-report race and ethnicity when receiving the vaccine, and said nearly 20 percent have reported unknown. However, Reynolds also said the numbers show the state has work to do to reach minority communities, and insisted ensuring equity in distribution and administration of the vaccine is a priority.

Comments: (563) 333-2659; erin.murphy@lee.net

Read the original post:

Coalition working to boost vaccine participation in Iowa minority communities - The Gazette

Update, March 29: Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the bill into law.

A bill providing COVID-19 liability protections for assisted living communities and other long-term care settings in Florida is on its way to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature.

Friday, the Florida House of Representatives passed SB 72, Civil Liability for Damages Related to COVID-19. The vote followed state Senate passage of the bill a week prior. Protections will be effective immediately upon the governors expected signature and are retroactive. The measure does not apply to civil actions filed before the bills effective date.

We are so grateful to the Florida Legislature for recognizing the importance of protecting senior living communities who were operating in good faith during the pandemic, said Gail Matillo, president of the Florida Senior Living Association. Our members worked harder than ever before to protect their residents and staff members. Protecting them from frivolous lawsuits has been our top legislative priority this year.

The legislation creates a two-pronged system to limit COVID-19 liability claims one for business entities, including independent living communities, and another for healthcare providers, including assisted living communities, memory care communities and continuing care retirement communities.

Theres tremendous work being done across the country among the states to seek reasonable liability protections for assisted living communities, and we applaud our state partner, the Florida Senior Living Association, for their considerable efforts to ensure protections for their operators, Argentum President and CEO James Balda said. We encourage Gov. DeSantis to approve this legislation and support those whove cared for the most vulnerable during this pandemic.

LeadingAge Florida President and CEO Steve Bahmer said it was difficult to remember now how little was known about the virus a year ago and how many lifesaving decisions had to be made with little time and ever-changing information.

There are now more than 1,500 pages of orders, directives and FAQs, which, in some cases, changed as many as six times in three weeks, Bahmer said. In spite of the unprecedented challenges, our long-term care heroes fought courageously, under extraordinarily difficult circumstances, to protect Floridas seniors from the coronavirus. Today, we applaud the legislature for protecting them.

Liability protections for COVID-19-related claims against a healthcare provider mainly relate to claims arising from the diagnosis or treatment of a person with coronavirus, the provision of a novel or experimental treatment, transmission of the virus, and the delay or cancellation of a surgery or medical procedure.

The bill requires plaintiffs to provide sufficient detail that a provider was grossly negligent or engaged in intentional misconduct that caused death or harm. The bill also provides immunity for claims related to supplies or personnel not readily available or not available at a reasonable cost to comply with COVID-19 standards.

The bill limits the time for which an action can be filed based on the type of action. A COVID claim that accrued before the effective date of the bill must begin within one year of that effective date.

This is an important step toward protecting senior living communities who were working hard to follow guidance that often changed daily, all while trying to keep their residents and staff safe from the virus, said Jason Hand, FSLA vice president of public policy and legal affairs.

For claims against someone other than a healthcare provider, the bill establishes preliminary requirements before a case is allowed to proceed. The bill requires an affidavit signed by a physician attesting that the claim is a result of a provider acting grossly negligent or with intentional misconduct.

Plaintiffs also would be required to prove that the provider did not make a good faith effort to substantially comply with public health standards or guidance in effect at the time of the action.

FSLA worked with lawmakers on the bills, educating them on issues specific to senior living communities. Hand previously testified before Senate and House committees aboutassisted living communities needing protections. Such communities were not licensed, designed, staffed or trained to house residents with communicable diseases. For the past year, however, they were asked to ignore that rule to keep hospital surge numbers down.

Read the rest here:

Florida measure will give operators new COVID-19 liability protections - News - McKnight's Senior Living

In Long Beach, a lifeguard tower that was painted in rainbow colors for LGBTQ-plus pride was burned down last week. Now a city once praised by the Human Rights Campaign for its LGBTQ-friendly laws and policies is grappling with the implications. The incident was also the first time in several decades that a lifeguard tower was burned in the city. KCRW speaks with Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia.

KCRW: Whats the latest with the investigation? Do we know how this happened, and was it intentional?

Robert Garcia: The investigation itself is ongoing. And so we won't know the complete results of that for some time, but I think that what we do know is pretty clear. We have not had a lifeguard station burn down in over 70 years, we've gone all the way back to the 1950s. And the one lifeguard station that has burned down in these in the last few decades is the one that was painted for pride in rainbow colors in just the last year. And so these things are hard to burn down. And so it's been pretty clear to us what happened, and the community is upset as am I.

Who is behind the rainbow tower? Give us a little history of how it became painted and the gay pride aspect of it.

The tower itself was actually painted by the lifeguards. LGBTQ-plus lifeguards themselves took the initiative. And to support each other and to support the community, they went out and painted the tower. Last year, it was amazing to see when it was done. It's a very popular place for the community and for tourists and folks taking pictures. And so it's something that's, for us, a point of pride. Long Beach is a very kind of pro gay, progressive community. And so we loved it, and they're probably more upset than anybody else.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia speaking at a Unity Rally on March 24, 2021. Photo by Detrick Manning, Office of Mayor Robert Garcia.

What was your personal reaction when you heard about it?

I was both upset and sad. I mean, obviously, as a gay person myself, but also as mayor, it's really unfortunate that someone or some folks would be so hateful, and burn something down that way that represents a symbol in the city.

But it's a reminder that as forward thinking and inclusive as a community is and the state is, a lot of people are not supportive of the LGBTQ-plus community or about equality.

The story received some national attention. Are you concerned that it could negatively affect Long Beach's image as friendly to the LGBTQ-plus community?

I'm not because I think that folks know that the city is very forward thinking. We have one of the largest LGBTQ-plus populations in the state. We're constantly ahead of the game when it comes to inclusivity laws and have been for many, many years.

In fact, I think what's more important is the reaction that communities had. And I think that's been covered as well. And the community has completely come together and renounced what happened.

And we're already replacing the tower. It will be repainted and redone and rebuilt. And we're going to redo it even bigger and better than before. So I think, if anything, I think it shows the strength of the city and our support for diversity and inclusivity.

Are you doing anything differently in terms of community outreach or policing? Do you think this is maybe a one-off incident? Or maybe this could be a pattern?

Our lifeguards and our police are obviously taking some additional note, and kind of looking at it a little bit more, but we have not had a history of this type of activity in the city. Again, it's been 70-plus years since we know of that this has happened to a lifeguard tower. So we're pretty optimistic that this is a one-off kind of hate incident. But we're still vigilant and most importantly, people are themselves more aware and are taking a look, and I think when the new one comes on board, we're absolutely going to pay a little closer attention. And I think the lifeguards are going to as well.

KCRWs Press Play: Long Beach mayor on rapidly vaccinating residents, from health care workers to teachers and food workers

Go here to see the original:

'We're going to redo it even bigger and better': Long Beach mayor on burned LGBTQ lifeguard tower - KCRW

During a year of escalating racism and violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, Sam Hyun, MBA/MPP22, has been a tireless advocate for AAPIs in Massachusetts and beyond. Hyun is currently chair of the Massachusetts Asian American Commission and a vocal activist in person and on social media through campaigns like #HateIsAVirus, using his role to bring AAPIs together and push for legislation to better define hate crimes and fight discrimination.

We co-sponsored an AAPI Town Hall on March 25 led by community organizers and organizations. We are trying to get to the table with Massachusetts legislators, speaker of the house, the governor, to get key stakeholders into the community into those conversation with us. Were making sure we are delivering results that our community needed for a long time, such as the passage of legislation.

State Rep. Tackey Chan has sponsored a bill on data disaggregation, which is important because the Asian American community is not a monolith. Disaggregating data is so critical because of the disparate needs and situations of the different sub-ethnic groups of our community. State Rep. Tram Nguyen has sponsored a bill on hate crimes. We must more clearly define what hate crimes are, because when you speak to prosecutors and law enforcement, they have a hard time defining it.

Read the commission's "Statement Against Violence and Xenophobia Faced by Asian Communities."

Its been heavy. Im trying to weigh all the voices within our community and make sure everyone feels seen and safe and valued, while understanding that everyones at a different place. How do we make sure we move forward collectively without leaving anybody behind? Navigating that and capturing everybodys perspectives and feelings is so hard but so necessary if were being intentional about including the entire community.

Hyun with the South Korean Consul General

Given that four of the murder victims in the Atlanta shootings were ethnically Korean, he wanted to understand what is going on here in this country with systemic racism. What can be done? What is being done? I just walked him through the complexities of it. We also discussed how to work together to make sure we are supporting the Korean American community hereits very important to the consulate.

The #HateIsAVirus campaign came about a year ago as a response to the anti-Asian racism in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We try to amplify the voices and leadership of community organizers that have been doing anti-racism work for decades, and mobilize the rest of the community to get behind those leaders and those initiatives to make sure that we are maximizing our impact. These organizations are working on mutual aid, violence prevention, intervention and bystander training, and really making sure were dealing with all the needs within our community. We actually launched a community action fund with a goal is of raising $1 million for vetted and trusted organizations.

I think Heller, to really live up to its name and ethos of being a school predicated on social justice and social impact, needs to fully understand and capture the value of Asian and Asian American students. That includes teaching and training students to understand the nuances and complexities of different communities. As I said before, the Asian American community is not a monolith. When youre looking at it from a public policy standpoint, if you dont have the right frame of mind, its going to be impossibleif not harmfulto craft policy pertaining AAPIs.

At this moment, I would love for everyone at Heller to really sit and hear the Asian and Asian American members of our community. Often, we are an afterthought. We are an integral part of the fabric of the Heller family and we all deserve better. I truly do believe that Heller is committed to ensuring that all members of the Heller family are valued and loved, and that we will continue to create change at our school and in the world.

Go here to see the original:

Leading and Advocating for the Massachusetts Asian American Community in a Time of Crisis - Brandeis University

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Senator Alex Padilla pledged help Tuesday for struggling families in Kern County.

Its been a tough year to put it mildly, said Californias newest senator about the impacts of the pandemic across the state and Kern County. During a virtual phone call Tuesday with leaders from the non-profit Community Action Partnership of Kern, Padilla promised that the resources of the Untied States government are dedicated to families in need.

The good news is both hope and help are on the way, he said as he touted the recent $1.9 trillion dollar signed into law known as the American Rescue Act of 2021. In addition to sending stimulus payments of $1,400 to individuals making less than $75,000 per year, the bill also will help young families and children across the nation, according to Padilla.

The legislation, per Padilla, will allow many parents to reduce their tax bill by claiming a child tax credit. Parents earning less than $75,000 on a single return can claim a tax credit of $300 per month, or $3,600 per year per child less than six years old. For every child younger than 17, but older than six years old, that credit stands at $250 per month per child.

The intent of the American Rescue Plan aligns with CAPKs purpose. We are committed to serving all communities as they work to become more equitable and prosperous places to live, said Jeremy Tobias, CEO of the non-profit Community Action Partnership of Kern. He notes the poverty line stands at an income of $26,500 per year for a family of four.

In a county where roughly 29% of children younger than 18, and 31% of kids aged 0-5 live in poverty, Tobias said the American rescue plan will help.

This is a monumental step in addressing childhood poverty and the overall war on poverty, he stated.

Valley Congressmembers David Valadao and Kevin McCarthy have argued the legislation does not focus enough on COVID-related relief and is too expensive.

When asked to respond, Padilla said it was very intentional to be comprehensive and inclusive in this COVID relief package for the sake of our public health and economic recovery.

Padillas office said $2.5 billion from the legislation will go toward the Central valley, including roughly $314 million to Kern:

Kern County government: $174,588,634

Arvin: $4,112,972

Bakersfield: $96,290,745

California City: $2,672,463

Delano: $14,198,941

Maricopa: $224,368

McFarland: $2,918,665

Ridgecrest: $5,453,533

Shafter: $3,840,041

Taft: $1,745,251

Tehachapi: $2,449,036

Wasco: $5,404,029

Total: $313,898,679

See the original post:

Padilla: Help is on the way for struggling families in Kern County - KGET 17

For the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan, diversity, equity and inclusion are more than just words. In January, GSSEM made an intentional decision to hire its first Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, making it the first Girl Scout Council in Michigan and one of only a handful throughout the United States to do what numerous colleges and universities and businesses have already done.

There is a recognition that, while our council is doing phenomenal work, we need to be more intentional and ensure that all girls have access to our programs, says Monica Woodson, Chief Executive Officer with GSSEM. We are a complex council in terms of our geography. We have suburban and rural areas and girls living in communities that cant readily access us. We also recognize that the makeup of our council is racially and ethnically diverse. We want to make sure our work is reflective of the girls we serve.

GSSEM serves more than 22,000 girls in eight counties Genesee, Lapeer, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Sanilac and Wayne in a 5,500-mile radius. Each of these counties are racially and ethnically diverse and the girls that GSSEM has yet to reach represent all parts of the socioeconomic spectrum.

Since joining the organization In January as Chief DEI Officer, Justin Williams has been making visits to GSSEMs service area to learn about the girls and adult volunteers and how the council can be more impactful, inclusive and supportive of its current and future membership.

Justin Williams, GSSEM's Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, has been working for the organization since January.Photo by David Lewinsky

I am truly an outsider to Girl Scouts and had no connection to this organization, says Williams, who was the Associate Director of Admissions and Diversity with Wayne State University Law School prior to joining GSSEM. Most of this for me has been like drinking water from a firehose. Im learning about Girl Scouts generally and our council specifically. My role is to create a welcoming, inclusive space for girls to become leaders and offer them a safe and judgement-free environment where they can teach, learn and grow. I want to build on the existing culture, strengthen our presence in key communities and offer all of our girls the opportunity to learn about and from each other.

These efforts are already underway. Woodson says it is important to her and GSSEM board members to begin working on areas that can be addressed immediately including increased recruitment efforts in communities where GSSEM doesnt have the robust engagement that they know is possible; ensuring that all materials are culturally appropriate and translated into languages spoken throughout the councils service area; and uniforms better reflect the diversity of each girl.

We want girls to have access but also feel like they are genuinely a part of this movement, Woodson says. This is one movement and one council.

However, this does not mean taking a one size fits all approach.

Representation matters. When we say Girl Scouts is for every girl we need to live that, Woodson says. We want to make sure that were creating an inclusive environment.

There have been conversations with members of greater Detroits Muslim community who have told Woodson that they want more Girl Scout troops in Dearborn, southwest Detroit and Detroit, areas where their girls live. They have asked the question: Given the cultural diversity between certain communities, what is GSSEM doing to ensure all girls have the same Girl Scout experience?

In response, Woodson says she makes a point of highlighting the girl-led focus of the program, while recognizing that each and every event, camp, and activity is available to all girls, they also have the opportunity to tailor an experience that fits their unique needs.

In addition to the troops most people think of when visualizing Girl Scouts, GSSEM has established troops at area homeless shelters and within organizations like the Michigan School for the Deaf. Woodson says they tend to go about this work without much fanfare out of sensitivity to the girls and their families. Woodson adds that for these girls, especially those living in homeless shelters, the opportunity to have an authentic Girl Scout experience creates a sense of normalcy and may be the one constant they can hold on to.

Cathy St. James, who leads a troop at the Michigan School for the Deaf, says GSSEM has always been very welcoming to her girls who have the same opportunities to participate as girls who are not hearing-impaired. When there is a need for additional accommodations, she says GSSEM has come through.

We went to camp and said that we needed interpreters and they said, What? I told them that I couldnt watch the girls and interpret, says St. James, who also works for the Michigan School for the Deaf. I gave them the number to Mott Community College which has an interpreter program so (GSSEM) didnt have to pay for that and we had interpreters at camp.

This is an example of meeting girls where they are, Woodson says. Williams says it is also an example of the importance of cultivating and retaining volunteers who girls can easily identify with so that they have visual proof that Girl Scouts is accessible to them. Williams says he doesnt think there are many girls out there who dont want to grow as leaders in all areas of their lives. He says what discourages them is the absence of people who look like them. He cites cities like Flint and Pontiac with significant minority communities and notes that representation matters.

It starts with cultivating a diverse group of volunteers to lead the work. You dont have to be a mom to start a troop. You dont have to have daughter whos involved in GSSEM, and men in any community are encouraged to get involved, Williams says. We want diverse volunteers of all stripes to join the Girl Scouting movement, which presents both a leadership platform and a development tool. Theres a lot of value in the experiences that our volunteers bring, and we need the communities we serve to support girls. Making our council great starts with a commitment from our volunteers.

Its Who We Are

The foundation for the work Williams was hired to do was the result of GSSEMs forward-thinking board members and their commitment to the DEI lens Woodson wants her entire organization to work through.

I think theres been a shift. 2020 was a wakeup call on a lot of levels, Woodson says. When you think of the social and racial unrest, we as a country are at an inflection point where you have to make a concerted effort to indoctrinate DEI into your DNA. If you dont, youre missing the mark.

Monica Woodson, CEO of GSSEM, discusses the importance of the diversity, equity and inclusion work the Council is focusing on.Photo by David Lewinsky

Originally, Woodson thought her board members would wait until 2022 to take the deep dive into DEI. She says she was not too surprised when they told her to move ahead this year with incorporating this component into GSSEMs overall mission, despite an ongoing pandemic and potential revenue losses.

I am of the belief that in times of trial you can innovate and step outside of the box, Woodson says. I knew that we could have taken a safer route to bringing this position on board, but that would have meant an entire year where we were not able to engage with girls who need us in their communities.

Williams says GSSEM is an example of an organization thats thinking about issues of race, equality and access in a way that it may not have in the past. He says this thought process has continued to grow and become more mainstream because it is an expectation among shareholders, stakeholders, board members and the general public.

One thing I learned from the season of discontent last year is that companies have to do this because communities are expecting it. They want us to engage in this work in meaningful and intentional ways. So, Im not surprised that the opportunity existed to do this work with GSSEM.

In a report, titled Race to Lead Revisited: Obstacles and Opportunities in Addressing the Nonprofit Racial Leadership Gap, the authors say that, Just as the sustained protests in the United States and around the world in the wake of the unjust killings at the hands of police officers of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks and far too many Black people, have focused our collective attention on systemic issues and racial disparities, nonprofits and philanthropy in particular must also use a structural analysis when examining the racialized gaps. Now is the time to move from talk to change.

Frances Kunreuther and Sean Thomas-Breitfeld, Co-Directors of the Building Movement Project, and authors of the report, also say that 74 percent of a group of 5,000 people who work in the nonprofit sector reported that their organization has undertaken work on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and there is an effort throughout the sector to better understand and reflect on race and racism.

This is reflected in the makeup of GSSEMs staff as well as its ongoing emphasis in reaching out to girls of all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and recruiting volunteers who look like them. Of the just under 100 fulltime employees with GSSEM, 55 identify as white and 45 percent identify as persons of color.

We work hard to make sure girls know they are represented so that when they look at our staff they can see themselves, Woodson says.

Williams says there will be challenges to the work because of deeply entrenched beliefs about the world held by people who are the opposite side of the DEI spectrum.

We understand that in the world we live in, not everybody is going to stay with us through this journey, he says. But what GSSEM, our region and our girls gain are the opportunity costs of being the inclusive Council we strive to be, and providing that safe space where all girls are supported and celebrated as they build leadership skills through Girl Scouts.

For those industry leaders who choose not to make DEI a priority, Woodson says its not her job to try and change their minds.

I dont think anyone should be shamed or bullied into it, she says. You have to have an awareness and a genuine desire to walk this path. Time will tell how companies and organizations are going to be impacted if they dont incorporate this into their work. DEI does not have an end date and the conversations around it will continue.

This is the second article in a series of monthly features about the leadership and life skills girls are learning as members of Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan. It is made possible with funding from theGirl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan.

Follow this link:

Facing the Future: Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan Elevates Diversity and Equity - Concentrate