Healthy Reform in the Community

Building a Healthy Exchange

The African American Leadership Forum's (AALF) Health and Wellness committee is joining the Minneapolis Urban League and TakeActionMNfor an event to ensure you have "voice and choice" on health care exchanges a critical element of Affordable Care Act

What: Building a Healthy Exchange: A Community Conversation about Health Reform in Minnesota, with special guest Commissioner of Commerce Mike Rothman

When: Sunday, March 25th. Registration starts at 2:30pm, meeting is from 3pm to 5pm

Where: Kagin Commons on the campus of Macalester College, 1600 Grand Ave, St. Paul, 55105

The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund (CICF), and University of Richmond are co-sponsoring the fifth Basic Virginia Victim Assistance Academy from June17-22, 2012 at the University of Richmond. Applications are being accepted through Monday, March 19, 2012.

The Virginia Victim Assistance Academy is a week-long intensive course of study that requires a substantial commitment on the part of all faculty, staff and student participants. The Academy offers a rare opportunity to live, work, study and interact with allied professionals and victim service providers.

The Academy is open to individuals who live or work in Virginia and potential students are required to submit applications to attend the Academy. Successful applicants will be required to attend all sessions of the Academy, and will also be required to complete some work prior to the Academy. This Academy is designed for students with less than three years of experience working with victims.

The Academy registration fee is $150.00 and includes breakfasts, lunches, dinners, refreshment breaks in addition to training materials and lodging.

To be considered for admission, interested individuals should submit applications to DCJS by 11:59 p.m. on March 19, 2012. The application is available online at https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/trainingevents/victims/vvaapp/index.cfm

Community Conference 7/16/2011 : So, How Are The Children?

Join Kwanzaa Community Church for a conference addressing our children’s multi-layered trauma from the experience of the recent tornado in North Minneapolis.

We will examine the healing power of childhood resilience, how it can be enhanced, and how it can lead them toward recovery and restoration.

Date and time:
Saturday, July 16, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Location:
UROC
2001 Plymouth Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55411

(break out sessions at the Minneapolis Urban League)

Cost:
$10 to attend (scholarships available)

Questions?
Email kwanzaachurch@msn.com

Register two ways  :
http://www.kwanzaachurch.org/   (pay in person)

http://sohowarethechildren.eventbrite.com/   (to pay online)

Upcoming WATCH Webinar Training

Improving Your Court’s Response to Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Cases

Join WATCH on Tuesday, July 26^th at 1pm CST (11am PST, 12pm MST, 2pm EST) for its webinar training on Improving Your Court’s Response to Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Cases.

This webinar will provide an overview on how to monitor misdemeanor domestic violence cases in suburban and rural settings including a review of WATCH’s most recent report, Promoting Victim Safety and Offender Accountability: Improving the Response to Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Cases. This webinar will help you create a framework for examining misdemeanor-level cases including creating a research or monitoring project designed to improve your courts.

Topics include:

• partnering with criminal justice and community stakeholders
• reporting case outcomes
• incorporating best practices
• implementing recommendations

COST: $35 for current National Association of Court Monitoring Program members and $50 for non-members. You may pay with a credit card at www.watchmn.org or send a check to the address listed above.


* If paying by check, please include the name of the webinar you are registering for, as well as a phone number, mailing address, and e-mail contact.

QUESTIONS: Contact Anna Light at alight@watchmn.org or (612)341-2747 x7.

Violence Against Women and Girls PSA's Air During MN Sports

A big thanks to Chuck Derry at Gender Violence Institute for the notification.

Anoka County Domestic Violence Council/CBIM in Anoka County has partnered with Fox Sports North, and other state partners, including MNMAN, to develop public service announcements to be played during Minnesota Wild, Timberwolves, and Gopher hockey games in January

Fox Sports North has also developed a Coaching Boys Into Men web page with excellent short video clips and blogs focused on Coaching Boys Into Men. http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/pages/north_supports/

Do your part and help support or gather new ideas to create a on-going dialogue about respect and fair play among kids and adults in your life and community. Use this as a tool, opportunity to reinforce messages of respect for women and girls


*Promo spots will be 1 - 2x during a game, equaling 30 placements for the month.

January 2011 Scheduled Dates (although subject to change)*

Gopher Hockey: Friday and Saturdays only

MN Timberwolves: Monday/Wednesday Games,(Tuesday/Thursday/Friday)*

MN Wild : Tuesday/Thursday, (Saturday/Sunday)*

*check website for specific days on each teams scheduled games

For information contact:

Chuck Derry- Gender Violence Institute
P:320-558-4510 or E:gvi@frontiernet.net

Men's Action Network
MN Men's Action Network
15510 Huber Avenue NW
Clearwater, MN 55320

Did Far Away Go Too Far or Not Enough?

"Marsha should have taken a different approach", at least in some circles whether large or small you can hear a overwhelming murmur that agrees or at least willing to argue the point.

Do you agree with what has been stated? What side do you find yourself on? Is your opinion solely based as a music lover? Is it the content of the video or something else entirely?




Anyone who has heard "Far Away" before release of the video (listen above) when and if polled probably had a specific visual creative direction in their head of what the song's concept would be when released.

Here's what I learned from being a vessel of creative spirit and observation.

Me
"Anything, once written and given up for an audience to share is up for interpretation"


Meaning- What lies in the head of every creative person(myself included) if asked, is a storyline that's interchangeable, accessible yet different to those who partake in it.

What is apparent and understood with our eyes and felt in our hearts unfortunately remains the same, hate and violence, especially in the minority community towards a non-heterosexual continues and we as minorities continue to suffer.

Hopefully, this visual tug at the heart can bring understanding and a necessary urgency to STOP.


Far Away- Marsha Ambrosius

Personally, I am happy that someone else (especially in the Music Entertainment world) is willing to showcase black love in it's various forms (Am I gonna get in trouble?) Who cares!

The effect good and /or bad that we can have as community members, neighbors, friends, loved ones, activists, advocates dealing with choices that we make as individuals has to be told.

Silence has never helped anyone. While you prepare to sit quiet we still are being ignored, underrepresented, hurt, beat, raped, outcast, ridiculed, forgotten and dying.

As you see, read, walk, listen or move around today I urge you to try something different, like Marsha Ambrosius did and SPEAK OUT to save a life!