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Join Positive Images LGBTQIA+ Center, LandPaths and North Bay LGBTQI Families for a Social Saturday: Intergenerational Gathering on July 8th from 10am-3pm at ! (Grove of Old Trees is on Google Maps but if you’d like to Caravan at 10, please meet at the Occidental Community Center)

All LGBTQIA+ youth, families, adults, and elders are welcome at Social Saturdays, which are a recurring series of monthly events taking place throughout Sonoma County where we are seeking to bring together members of our community across generations, particularly gender expansive youth, teens, and adults. 

At our July gathering, our guest facilitator Miranda (she/they) will lead us on a guided hike and then guide us through activities based on the nature that surrounds us!

Please bring with you a packed lunch, a blanket (or something else to sit on), and some water to hydrate yourself. There is no bathroom on site so plan to use the bathroom at the Occidental Community Center or somewhere in town. 

For this event please RSVP by filling out this form 🙂 
We’re excited to see you then!

We’re excited to see you then!

Image Description: An image graphic with “Social Saturday” with various trees in the center. The logos of the sponsoring organizations appear at the top of the graphic. Image 1 is in English, Image 2 is in Spanish.

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Acompañe a Positive Images LGBTQIA + Center y North Bay LGBTQI Families para un sábado social: ¡Reunión intergeneracional el 8 de Julio de 10a-3p en Grove of Old Trees! Las direcciones de llegar al parque están en Google Maps. Si les gustaría llegar juntos con nosotros, por favor lleguen al Centro Comunal de Occidental a las 10a. 

Todes les jóvenes, familias, adultes y ancianes LGBTQIA + son bienvenides en esta reunión, que es parte de una serie recurrente de eventos mensuales que se llevan a cabo en todo el condado de Sonoma, donde buscamos reunir a miembros de nuestra comunidad a través de generaciones, particularmente jóvenes, adolescentes y adultes con género expansivo.

En nuestra reunión de Julio, nuestre facilitador invitade será Miranda (Ella/Elle).  Elle nos va guiar en una caminata y después nos enseñara unas actividades sobre la naturaleza que vemos. 

Por favor traigan su comida empacada, una cobija (o algo para sentarse), y agua para mantenerse hidratado. No hay baño en el parque sino que lo usan en el centro comunal de Occidental o en el pueblo Occidental antes de llegar.

Para esta reunión por favor rellene la forma aqui! Estamos emocionades de verles ahí!

[Descripción de la imagen: Un gráfico de imagen con “Sábado Social” Descripción de la imagen: Un gráfico de imagen con “Sábado Social” y varios árboles en el centro de la imagen. Los logotipos de las organizaciones patrocinadoras aparecen en la parte superior del gráfico.  [La imagen 1 está en inglés, la imagen 2 está en español.]

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.

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.