Saturday June 24 @ 3 pm . Phil Lawrence Band and The Familiar Strangers at Occidental Center for the Arts Amphitheater.
Enjoy a double dose of entertaining Americana music in our outdoor amphitheater! Don’t miss the return of these popular Sonoma County artists as they bring world-class music to our West County entertainment hub. Tickets $30 Advance/$35 at the door/ $25 OCA members at www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org.
Please bring your own seat cushion or low backed chair. Doors open at 2:30 PM. Fine refreshments including beer and wine for sale, art gallery open for viewing. Limited reserved seating for disabled patrons , please email tina@occidentalcenterforthearts.org. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental,CA. 95465. 707-874-9392
The Napa Valley College Pride Learning Community promotes student success in college and life through an immersive communal experience in academics and college life. This two-semester program includes a cohort of students who work together with experienced faculty and college counselors with a focus on LGBTQ+ studies. These courses prepare students for transfer to a 4-year college or university or for entry to the workforce.
Careers this learning community can prepare you for include:
Business
Hospitality and Tourism
Health Occupations
Criminal Justice and Social Work
Teaching and Education
Any Career That Includes Working With People
Being part of this learning community will offer you special field trips, activities, and experiences beyond a regular college class. You will meet new people and make new friends!
If you are looking for an exciting way to earn valuable college credit while having what can be a life-changing experience, a learning community is for you!
HOW IS A LEARNING COMMUNITY DIFFERENT FROM JUST TAKING CLASSES?
As a student in a learning community, you will get much more than just the content of a class. You will experience all of the classes together with the same set of students who have similar interests and goals. You will get the opportunity to participate in one or two extra-curricular activities a month. These might include field trips, talking with guest speakers, doing group community projects, or watching movies and documentaries together with facilitated discussions.
As a member of this learning community, you will also have direct access to a college counselor to help you with education planning and preparing you for transfer to a 4-year college or university or graduation into the workforce.
WHAT KIND OF STUDENT SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THIS LEARNING COMMUNITY?
The Pride Learning Community is open to all LGBTQ+ students and allies interested in the LGBTQ+ community. If you are a student looking for more of a college experience than just coming and going to class, this is the program for you. Learning communities can offer you many more opportunities to learn, experience, and have fun while in college.
DOES IT COST MORE TO BE PART OF THIS LEARNING COMMUNITY?
No. Classes that are part of the Pride Learning Community cost the same as any other credit class. Napa Valley College is investing in your success and is funding the extra-curricular activities associated with the Learning Community. All you need to do is participate!
DID YOU KNOW?
Napa Valley College is one of only three community colleges in California with an LGBT Education two-year degree?
Our LGBT Education Program offers three different certificate programs:
LGBT Education For Educators certificate – 9 units
LGBT Education for Health Care Professionals certificate – 9 units
LGBT Studies Certificate – 21 units
All three are impressive additions to your college transcript.
Learning communities are proven to increase student success in achieving academic goals. Whether you are interested in taking just a couple of classes or wanting to earn a certificate or degree, a learning community is an exciting immersive way to learn and succeed!
WHAT CLASSES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS LEARNING COMMUNITY?
The program spans one full school year starting with the fall semester.
FALL
LGBT-120 Introduction To LGBT Studies – 3 Units (class transfers to UC and CSU and meets the social science requirement for graduation)
COUN-100 College Success – 3 Units
SPRING
LGBT-121 21st Century Issues In The LGBT Community – 3 Units (class transfers to UC and CSU and meets the social science requirement for graduation)
COUN-105 Planning For Transfer Success – 1.5 Units
COUN-111 Career Decision-Making – 1.5 units
HOW DO I SIGN-UP FOR THE PRIDE LEARNING COMMUNITY?
All you need to do is register for the LGBT-120 and linked COUN-100 class in the fall.
OUR TEAM
Greg Miraglia has been teaching college classes since 1986. He leads the LGBT Education program at Napa Valley College and is an LGBTQ+ advocate. He is passionate about education and teaching. Greg created the LGBT education program at Napa Valley College in 2012. . He is the vice-president of the board of directors for the Matthew Shepard Foundation also hosts an LGBTQ+ radio program on PBS station KRCB radio. He lives with his husband in Santa Rosa and loves the culinary arts and travel.
Gail Rulloda is a loving wife, mother of two beautiful kids, and a life-long learner of the world. Gail has found joy working, co-learning, co-creating with students in the early intervention, K-12, and higher education settings. She loves to learn through experiences, courageous conversations, and through food! She believes this work of social justice and equity needs to be worked not just within the institution but outside of it in her home, in her relationships, her kids, and with people she meets. She is grounded in love and often goes back to it when she is going through difficult times. Gail seeks to resist perpetuating trauma and hurt through healing, learning, and finding joy.
Faye Smyle has been teaching at Napa Valley College for 23 years, and is the program coordinator for Child & Family Studies and Education. Overall this is her 33rd year of teaching at the community college level. While in Connecticut she also taught infant, toddler, preschooler and kindergarten children. Teaching is truly a part of her soul. In addition to her love of teaching, Faye enjoys gardening, traveling, eating wonderful food, watching movies and being with her friends and family.
WE ARE WAKE UP SONOMAOUR MISSION IS TO:Promote equality of human and civil rights within our community, through research, education about threats to those rights, and to champion community-based solutions. We see THESE BUSINESSES in direct conflict with our mission.Stand with us, boycott LeFever/Mattson owned businesses!
(If you don’t see the image above with list of LeFever Mattson businesses, be sure to show remote content in this e-mail.)
Think about where your money is going—you would be supporting the following:Large property and land purchases in Sonoma which are being left to decay and become blight in the community affecting tourism, and jobs.A major business presence in the community with anti-LGBTQ and other hate policies (book banning, wanting “traditional family values” in public schools, etc.) – Consider the homophobic FB posts from Stacy Mattson on her Facebook Page – Consider the taking down of the Pride Flag Consider LeFever/Mattson ties to National political hate groups as designated by the Southern Poverty Law CenterBuying of local properties and elevated prices and selling them back to one of their own LLC’s. This destabilizes the local economy and property values. The regular Sonoma resident suffers – the community suffers.Buying up once thriving businesses and in some cases letting them go fallow, which contributes to a suppressed local economy.Stand together as a community that says no to the big money takeover of Sonoma Valley that is taking place RIGHT NOW!
NO HATE SPEECHDO NOT OBSTRUCT THE SIDEWALKSTAY ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREETDO NOT SEEK CONFRONTIVE INTERACTION WITH PEOPLE ENGAGING IN PIZZA AND PINOTGIVE INFORMATION IF ASKED CALMLY AND RESPECTFULLY
Since May 2022, 30,344 cases of mpox (formerly monkeypox) have been reported in the United States, of which nearly 20% were reported in California. While the rate of mpox has declined precipitously since its peak in August 2022, mpox transmission has continued in California, and other states have recently reported a resurgence of mpox cases.
The majority of mpox infections in 2022 were transmitted sexually through intimate contact. Infections have disproportionately affected gay, bisexual, same-gender-loving, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Approximately 40% of mpox cases have also been among people with HIV in California. See list of persons at higher risk for mpox infection here.
This letter is a call to action to Californian health care providers to remain vigilant in mpox prevention, recognition, and testing, especially during the upcoming 2023 spring and summer season as people gather for festivals and events, including LGBTQ Pride Month in June.
PREVENTION When combined with other prevention measures, vaccination is the most effective way to reduce transmission of mpox virus and prevent disease, hospitalization and death. Estimates of JYNNEOS® vaccine effectiveness against disease range from 66-86% for 2 doses of vaccine and 36-75% for one dose. Preliminary evidence suggests that vaccine effectiveness against severe disease, hospitalization and death may be higher. For the most effective protection, people should get two doses of JYNNEOS® vaccine at least 28 days apart (JYNNEOS Vaccine Effectiveness, CDC). Even if it is significantly past the recommended 28-day interval, CDC recommends administration of the second dose as soon as possible. Boosters are not recommended at this time (JYNNEOS Vaccine, CDC)(Mpox Vaccination Basics, CDC).
In California, only 39% of the population at risk has received the two-dose series, with certain groups such as Black/African American and Latinx persons having even lower vaccination rates. This leaves a significant proportion of people in California less protected against mpox infection (JYNNEOS Vaccination Coverage, CDC) exacerbating existing inequities. People with HIV, particularly those with a low CD4 cell count or those not receiving antiretroviral therapy, are at higher risk for severe mpox and even death.
Please encourage all patients at risk of mpox exposure, infection, or severe disease to complete the two-dose JYNNEOS® series. Any person requesting vaccination should receive it without having to attest to, or disclose any specific behaviors. Providers should particularly counsel patients with HIV, those taking HIV pre-/post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP) or doxy-PEP, or those with a history of sexually transmitted infections to be vaccinated.
The following can be used when referring patients to schedule a JYNNEOS® vaccine appointment: CDPH vaccine webpage and the MyTurn Appointment Booker. Vaccine administrative documentation should be done through California Immunization Registry (CAIR).
MPOX IDENTIFICATION AND TESTING As 2023 spring and summer season gatherings approach, we encourage you to maintain a high level of suspicion and a low threshold for testing individuals with signs and symptoms consistent with mpox.
Identification
Consider mpox on the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with diffuse or localized rashes, including in patients who were previously infected with mpox or vaccinated against mpox. Mpox may present with a variety of skin lesions and can be confused with syphilis, herpes, molluscum contagiosum, shingles, chickenpox, scabies, allergic skin rashes, drug eruptions, and other skin conditions. Novel presentations of mpox should be considered (Descriptive Case Series, BMJ).
For more information on identifying patients with mpox, see the April 4, 2023 Updates on Identification, Laboratory Testing, Management and Treatment, and Vaccination for Mpox Virus Infection in California and the May 15, 2023 CDC HAN on Potential Risk for New Mpox Cases.
Over the weekend, Santa Rosa Community College was vandalized by an anti-lgbtq+ and white supremacist hate group. This was a targeted attack on the LGBTQ+ community as reported in The Press Democrat’s article, linked here. The flyers posted by this group directly attacked Pride month, and they targeted SRJC’s Queer Resource Center (QRC) by tearing down and stealing our flags (Philadelphia pride flag + Transgender flag) and posting a flyer directly covering a rainbow flag in an Intercultural Center window.
The hate speech that was posted on our campus was also posted at other local organizations who visibly support the local LGBTQ+ community, like Brew, True till Death Tattoo, Shady Oak Barrel House and The Astro motel. Flyers contained a QR code which led to a video proclaiming, “Happy Straight Month” and advocating for “Straight Pride.”
This act of hate is unacceptable in our community and on our campus.
The QRC students, staff, and faculty are experiencing this local harm within the larger context of anti-trans policy and sentiment sweeping the nation. There have been more than 400 anti-LGBTQ+ laws proposed this year alone; additionally, the largest gay rights organization in the world, The Human Rights Campaign, recently declared a state of emergency warning for LGBTQ+ people living in the US.
The QRC and the LGBTQ PAC stand in solidarity with queer and trans students, and we offer the following resources and opportunities to get engaged:
Reach out directly to the QRC to be connected to our resources, programming, support, and student discord.
Stand in solidarity with the Sonoma County Library as they host family-friendly drag story hours.
From the Sonoma County Library:
Drag King VERA will visit four library branches to read children’s stories.
We’d like to rally a big group of LGBTQIA+ folks and our allies to hang out outside the library about 30 mins before each event to show our support and create a safe, rainbowy welcome to all attending.
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.
Join the Sonoma County Library for eventsthroughout the month of June, from constellation art to our first-ever Lectura Fest. All events are free and you don’t need a library card to attend; registration is required for select events. See some of our June events below!
All Ages Join us at the Central Santa Rosa Library on Saturday, June 10, from 10:30 am to 2:00 pmfor the first annual Lectura Fest, a celebration of reading, music, and culture! Enjoy performances by Chiquy Boom and Los Cenzontles, plus activities for the whole family—and more!Afro-Peruvian Cajón Drumming WorkshopJoin us to learn the history and tradition of the Afro-Peruvian Cajón drum! Presented by Juan de Dios Soto, musical director of Jaranon y Bochinche dance Performance Company and the director and founder of the Tradición Peruana Cultural Center. At two library locations: Guerneville and Roseland.KidsMexican Amate PaintingCreate a colorful painting inspired by the people of Xalitla, Mexico’s amate bark paintings. Get creative at four library locations: Petaluma, Windsor, Rohnert Park-Cotati, and Sonoma Valley.
For grades K-6.Tweens Paint a Glow RockChoose from various paints and tools to decorate your very own glow-in-the-dark rock. Join the fun at seven library locations: Petaluma, Sonoma Valley, Roseland, Sebastopol, Central Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park-Cotati, and Guerneville. For tweens in grades 4-6. Advance registration required.LEGO MazesBuild a custom LEGO maze for your HexBug, or marble, and race to the finish line. Available at four library locations: Cloverdale, Rincon Valley, Northwest Santa Rosa, and Healdsburg. For tweens in grades 4-6. Advance registration required.
Teens Constellation ArtPaint the night sky, map out a constellation, and thread LED bulbs directly into your canvas to light up your creation. At three library locations: Rincon Valley, Windsor, and Cloverdale. For teens in grades 7-12. Advance registration required.Looking for more? Explore the full calendar! Explore the CalendarA Reminder from Your Library: Upcoming Holiday Closure All library branches will be closed Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day. We look forward to seeing you when we reopen on Tuesday, May 30!Thank you for being a member of the Sonoma County Library community. Visit us online or in person at one of our branches. Be sure to check out open jobs at Sonoma County Library here. Questions? Please call your local library branch or click here to send us a message.
Eventos de junio
Únase a la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma para eventosdurante todo el mes de junio, desde arte de constelaciones hasta nuestro primer Lectura Fest. Todos los eventos son gratuitos y no necesita una tarjeta de la biblioteca para asistir; es necesario registrarse para eventos selectos. ¡Vea algunos de nuestros eventos de junio a continuación!
Todos edades Acompáñenos en la biblioteca Central de Santa Rosa el sábado 10 de junio de las 10:30 am a las 2:00 pm para el primer evento anual de Lectura Fest, una celebración de lectura, música y cultura. Disfruta el concierto de Chiqui Boom y Los Cenzontles, y actividades para toda la familia, ¡y más! Taller de Tambor Cajón Afroperuano¡Acompáñenos a conocer la historia y tradición del tambor cajón afroperuano! Presentado por Juan de Dios Soto, director musical de la Compañía de danza de Jaranon y Bochinche y director y fundador del Centro Cultural llamado Tradición Peruana. Se llevará a cabo en dos ubicaciones de la biblioteca: Guerneville y Roseland. NiñosPintura Amate de MéxicoCrea un cuadro de colores inspirado por la gente de Xalitla, las pinturas de corteza de amate de México. Expresa tu creatividad en cuatro ubicaciones de la biblioteca: Petaluma, Windsor, Rohnert Park-Cotati y Sonoma Valley.
Para grados K-6.Preadolescentes Pinta una roca luminosaEscoge entre varias pinturas y herramientas para decorar tu propia roca que brilla en la oscuridad. Únase a la diversión en siete bibliotecas: Petaluma, Sonoma Valley, Roseland, Sebastopol, Central Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park-Cotati y Guerneville.
Para preadolescentes en grados 4-6. Se requiere inscripción previa.Laberintos de LEGO Construye un laberinto de LEGOs para tu HexBug o canica y corre hasta la línea de meta. Esto se llevará a cabo en cuatro bibliotecas: Cloverdale, Rincon Valley, Northwest Santa Rosa y Healdsburg. Para preadolescentes en grados 4-6. Se requiere inscripción previa.
Adolescentes Arte de constelaciones Pinta el cielo nocturno, dibuja una constelación e inserta luces de LED directamente en su lienzo para iluminar su creación. El evento será en tres bibliotecas: Rincon Valley, Windsor y Cloverdale.
Para adolescentes en grados 7-12. Se requiere inscripción previa.¡
The Sonoma County Library programing includes: Drag Story Hours, LGBTQI Teen Groups and activities, Here + Queer the Sonoma County LGBTQI Archives.
At Wednesday’s library commission meeting, more than a dozen vocal detractors made public comments, displayed signs, and stated that they intend to protest at our libraries, on story days and at other times. Here is a link to the recording of that meeting.
U.S. Mail – Written comments may be submitted via U.S. mail to ATTN: Commission Comments, 6135 State Farm Drive, Rohnert Park, CA 94928. It is advised you consider normal delays in mail delivery when sending your written comment via U.S. mail.
Orally, Live – Oral comments may be given during their monthly meeting.
A group called “Sonoma County Parents Stand Up for Kids” plans to “peacefully protest” at the Petaluma Regional Library this Saturday (June 10) at 10 am.
The Library has requested that “If you want to take part in a peaceful, thoughtful and non-violent response to this group, that you model respectful civil behavior and discourse. Disruptive or violent behavior is unacceptable, and we appreciate your commitment to this value.”
