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Dear Center Community,
My name is Ibeth May (they/them), I am the Youth Queer Leadership Council (YQLC) Coordinator at The Center, and I am excited to be this week’s guest author. We are about to launch our 2023 Youth Queer Leadership Council this week and I am happy to share about the work we do to help build the next generation of LGBTQ leaders.
Established in 2021, YQLC is designed to increase the well-being of LGBTQ2S+ Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) who are youth who identify as LGBTQ2S+ and their allies in San Diego through community building and resource sharing.
The goal of YQLC is to provide access and opportunity to BIPOC youth, through three cohorts based on age: 12-13, 14-18, and 18-24, designed to build their leadership skills and empower them in a safe space.
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This past year, we supported inspiring youth leaders in their chosen passion projects, including giving back to community and educational initiatives on how to advocate for causes that impact them. YQLC held a community panel focused on environmental and food justice, collaborating with other local youth-serving organizations. Youth leaders also hosted an event at The Center where they distributed backpacks filled with school supplies to youth and families in their communities. In order to promote leadership, YQLC held a Civic & Community Engagement forum to learn about voter registration and how to lobby and advocate for change in the community. Youth leaders in YQLC have inspired their peers through their aspirations to gain knowledge and give back to their communities.
We are still accepting applicants for our middle school (12-13) cohort until Monday, February 6th, so if you know of a middle school youth that could benefit from this program, please visit our website and fill out the form by February 6 to be included in the 2023 YQLC cohort.
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In Community,
Ibeth May (They/Them)
Youth Queer Leadership Council Coordinator
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STATEMENT FROM THE CENTER
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Happy Lunar New Year from all of us at The Center! We wish you happiness and prosperity in the new year.
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CELEBRATING A CENTER ANNIVERSARY
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Congratulations to Mardi Campbell (she/her) for her 10 years of service with The San Diego LGBT Community Center! Mardi is the Public Health Administrative Assistant at The Center and has been out stationed at the County of San Diego Public Health Department during her tenure at The Center. Mardi supports The Center’s mission of enhancing and sustaining the health and well-being of our communities by supporting STI surveillance and disease intervention in the regional field office of the Public Health Department.
In addition to processing thousands of STI labs each year, Mardi helps to improve the health of our communities and the prevention of STIs by working alongside the County Clinical Disease Investigators to facilitate STI reporting, disease intervention, and STI/HIV partner services to assist with diagnosis and treatment. Mardi is a critical part of The Center family and we are grateful for her dedication and commitment to our community. Thank you, Mardi!
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Dust off those dancing shoes! The Center is excited to bring back the Red Hot Dance, on Saturday, February 11 from 6-9pm!
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This dance is for all queer women. In bringing this event back, we want to use the most inclusive language possible, and our team landed on “queer women.” We are reclaiming “queer” for the entire LGBTQ+ community and when we say “women” we mean all women! Red Hot is open to all lesbians, transgender women, cisgender women, nonbinary folks, womxn, womyn, queer women, dykes, bisexual women, pansexual women, or any combination. Language is never perfect, but if you feel that you might belong at Red Hot, you do!
We welcome back DJ Laura Jane and highlight women-owned businesses with our drinks this year! Our dance floor will be accessible, and we will have plenty of seating as well. The event is a $5 suggested donation at the door and includes one drink ticket and snacks.
For more information about this event, please email women@thecentersd.org. We can't wait to see you there!
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We want to hear from you? The Center’s weekly E-News is chance for us to share the latest events, programs, services, and offerings at The Center and to connect with YOU, our community members. As we move into 2023, we want your feedback! Take a quick 5-minute survey to share your thoughts and feedback with us about our E-News. Thank you for being a subscriber! Please send us your thoughts by January 31.
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THE CENTER'S FREE FOOD RESOURCES
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At The Center, we believe that food is a human right and we want to be sure everyone in our community has access to nutritious food. Our programs include:
Both Food Banks have a walk-up or drive-up option for safety. If you, or someone you know needs access to food, know that The Center is here for you. Please reach out to Sarah (she/her) at 619.692.2077 x 214 or smerkbenitez@thecentersd.org.
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YOUR CENTER IS OPEN FOR YOU!
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The Center continues Phase 3 of reopening and, in addition to our virtual offerings, our in-person services are expanding at 3909 Centre Street, Monday through Friday, from 10am-7pm. For more information, visit our website, The Center's Facebook page, or call us at 619.692.2077.
Masks are required indoors and clients are required to be vaccinated. Flexibility for the mask requirement will be allowed for special health circumstances.
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FREE & CONFIDENTIAL
HIV/HCV AND STI SCREENINGS
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It's time for self-care with our free, confidential HIV/HCV testing and STI screenings in a compassionate and sex-positive environment with connections to health care and resources. Make your appointment today - call us at 619.692.2077 or email bethegeneration@thecentersd.org to make an appointment. Monday-Friday 11am-6pm by appointment. Walk-ins will be accepted based on availability.
Please note that we do not offer MPOX testing as part of our testing services, please call 211 for testing assistance. Testing and screening clients are required to be vaccinated and masked while in the building, but exceptions can be made on an individual basis. Please reach out to us to ensure we can accommodate your needs!
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Hatha Yoga Stretch and Meditation begins Monday, January 23 at The Center! Join us in a safe space to experience the art of Mindfulness and Breath while practicing yoga. Everyone is welcome! Yoga mats are available, or bring your own. This yoga group will meet every Monday from 3-4pm, and is led by Jacqueline Penhos (she/her/ella).
Masks are required indoors and clients are required to be vaccinated. Flexibility for the mask requirement will be allowed for special health circumstances.
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Join the San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition on Saturday, February 11, 2023, from 3-5:30 pm for The Black LGBTQ+ Human Book Experience, which is an adaptation of the Human Library created in Copenhagen in the spring of 2000. This experience will focus on Black LGBTQ+ Human Books to create safer spaces for intersectional conversations with the readers. As a hands-on learning platform, this adaption will challenge pre-existing stigma and stereotypes as we move to educate, enlighten, and empower community as well as eradicate racism, transphobia, homophobia and misogyny in our virtual library. Learn more and participate in our spoken word poetry slam.
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NEED HELP WITH YOUR ENERGY BILL?
SDG&E recognizes that this can be a challenging time for many customers and may be able to help if you are having trouble paying your bill. You may be eligible for programs and services that can provide immediate financial assistance and help you avoid interruptions in your service. Flexible payment arrangements are available to help you pay down past due balances. Learn more at sdge.com/Payment-Arrangements. Check out these energy assistance programs:
- California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program: Save 30% or more every month on your bill. Find out if you qualify at sdge.com/CARE.
- Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program: If you don’t qualify for CARE and your household has 3 or more people, you may qualify for FERA. You could receive an 18% discount on your electric bill. Visit sdge.com/FERA to learn more.
- Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program: You may qualify to receive free energy-saving improvements for your home, such as new appliances, lighting, insulation and more. Find details at sdge.com/ESA.
- Arrearage Management Plan (AMP): If you have outstanding bills and you are a CARE or FERA customer, you may be eligible for debt forgiveness. See if you qualify at sdge.com/AMP.
- Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): This program offers up to $1,000 towards your energy bill. This Federal assistance program also provides support for energy-related home improvements. Learn more at sdge.com/LIHEAP.
Even if you made a recent payment or set up a flexible payment plan with SDG&E, there may still be assistance programs available to help you. For a complete list of available offerings, visit sdge.com/assistance.
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If you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, please take a few moments to complete this #Out4MentalHealth survey and share it with your networks. It supports LGBTQIA+ community members in identifying system strengths and barriers based on our own lived experiences. Your responses will be utilized to help create a statewide mental health policy agenda.
Share your experiences accessing mental health care by taking the Mental Health Advocacy Priorities Survey: bit.ly/O4MHPP2022
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IS IT US YOU ARE LOOKING FOR?
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The San Diego LGBT Community Center is one of the most rewarding places to work, renowned for dynamic and creative teamwork, professionalism, and unparalleled heart and dedication. Employees experience a collaborative and caring environment where community building, compassion, and respect are uniquely combined with an insistent striving toward excellence and best practices. Check out the job listings here and apply today!
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STAY HEALTHY: UPDATES & RESOURCES
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Get the latest and most up-to-date information our website at thecentersd.org/mpox/. To sign up for the County's MPOX text message alert system and receive real-time information about MPOX, text COSD MONKEYPOX to 468-311.
January 23, 2023 Update:
- MPOX vaccine eligibility has expanded in San Diego County. MPOX is now available to anyone who may be at risk. Visit our website for more information about the MPOX vaccine. MPOX vaccination appointments are available at myturn.ca.gov for those without health insurance or healthcare provider.
- To get notifications of vaccine availability, please sign up to the MPOX alert system by texting COSD MONKEYPOX to 468-311.
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RECURSOS Y ACTUALIZACIONES SOBRE MPOX (VIRUELA DE MONO)
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Obtenga la información más reciente y actualizada directamente del condado de San Diego. El sistema de alerta de mensajes de texto MPOX del condado envía información en tiempo real sobre MPOX a través de mensajes de texto a los residentes del condado de San Diego. Para inscribirse, envíe un mensaje de texto con COSD MONKEYPOX al 468-311. Visite nuestro sitio web en thecentersd.org/mpox/ para obtener la información más reciente.
23 de enero, 2023:
- La eligibilidad para la vacuna contra MPOX se ha ampliado en el condado de San Diego. La vacuna MPOX ahora está disponible para cualquier persona que pueda estar en riesgo. Visita nuestro sitio web para más información sobre la vacuna contra MPOX. Las citas de vacunación MPOX están disponibles en myturn.ca.gov para personas sin seguro médico o sin proveedor de atención médica.
- Para recibir notificaciones sobre la disponibilidad de vacunas, regístrese en el sistema de alerta MPOX enviando un mensaje de texto con COSD MONKEYPOX al 468-311.
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Read the latest about COVID-19 including travel, vaccines, treatment, prevention and more. Resources to help you and yours stay healthy include:
Updates from The Center for Disease Control (CDC) including risks, vaccines, symptoms, and more.
Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of four free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here's what you need to know about your order:
- Limit of one order per residential address
- One order includes four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests (COVID.gov/tests has more details about at-home tests, including extended shelf life and updated expiration dates)
- Orders will ship free starting the week of December 19, 2022
Visit sandiegocounty.gov to schedule your vaccine and booster appointment today! Find a location and schedule appointments on My Turn.
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