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San Mateo County approves ordinance to promote racial and social equity in public services

racial equity in public services
La equidad racial en servicios públicos es esencial para el desarrollo de una comunidad con mejores oportunidades económicas y sociales, por eso el Condado de San Mateo votó de manera unánime para comprometer a los funcionarios y empleados del condado a impulsar las acciones en pro del bienestar de la población.

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Con la finalidad de “promover la equidad creando las condiciones que permitan a todos los residentes del condado participar plenamente en las oportunidades económicas y sociales, y prosperar”, la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de San Mateo votó de manera unánime para comprometer a los funcionarios y empleados del condado a impulsar las acciones en pro del bienestar de la población.

Las nuevas medidas incluyen la creación de planes de acción de equidad racial y social y un enfoque renovado en el uso de datos para informar cómo, dónde y cuándo se prestan los servicios. 

Además, the ordinance, que tiene fuerza de ley, también exige una Oficina de Justicia Racial y Social para apoyar la implementación y la creación de una fuerza laboral que refleje la diversidad del condado.

“Si queremos ser una institución pública eficaz, debemos implementar políticas y prácticas que creen las condiciones donde todos tengan la oportunidad de alcanzar su máximo potencial”, apuntó Warren Slocum, presidente de la Junta de Supervisores y patrocinador de la ordenanza.

El funcionario subrayó que el condado de San Mateo abordará intencionalmente los problemas de desigualdad dentro de nuestra institución y promoverá una cultura de inclusión y pertenencia.

“El condado está dando ejemplo de buena gobernanza al codificar su compromiso con la equidad en la ley y definir el servicio público y la administración como algo que requiere una perspectiva de equidad”, refirió.

La ordenanza incluye acciones clave como la integración de valores patrimoniales en las descripciones de puestos de liderazgo departamental y liderazgo ejecutivo, la inclusión de declaraciones de impacto sobre el capital en los memorandos de la Junta de Supervisores, y promover una democracia inclusiva a través de estrategias como una representación diversa en las juntas y comisiones del condado y mayores esfuerzos de participación comunitaria.

“La clave de esta ordenanza es codificar el compromiso del condado de incorporar una perspectiva de equidad en las operaciones haciendo que la equidad sea fundamental para el servicio público y la responsabilidad pública”, explicó Shireen Malekafzali, directora de equidad del condado. 

En ese sentido, detalló que, en última instancia, este es uno de los numerosos elementos que permiten a la Junta, al personal y al público tener una comprensión más sólida de las implicaciones de equidad para los presupuestos, políticas, programas y más del Condado.

La ordenanza es necesaria para que el condado enfrente formas duraderas de discriminación racial. Y es que, en todo el país, agencias gubernamentales han desempeñado un papel doloroso y significativo en la creación y el mantenimiento de desigualdades raciales y sociales a través de políticas y prácticas explícitas e implícitas.

Un ejemplo de ello, dijo el condado en un comunicado, son los “convenios restrictivos”, lenguaje escrito en escrituras para evitar que una propiedad sea comprada o vendida a una persona no caucásica, prácticas que contribuyen a la brecha de riqueza actual. Actualmente, las desigualdades persisten.

De las 56 grandes áreas metropolitanas del país, el área de San Francisco-San Mateo-Oakland-Berkeley ocupa el primer lugar en prosperidad económica, pero el puesto 46 en inclusión racial en esa prosperidad, según el Metro Monitor 2023 de la Brookings Institution.

This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the CaliFornia State

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Almost $6 million are approved for housing for agricultural workers in San Mateo

Housing for agricultural workers in San Mateo
Viviendas para trabajadores agrícolas en San Mateo son posibles con una campaña que recibió un impulso de casi $6 millones de dólares, se busca tener viviendas seguras y asequibles para los residentes.  Foto: Manuel Ortiz

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Una campaña para construir viviendas seguras y asequibles para los trabajadores agrícolas costeros recibió este martes un impulso de casi $6 millones.

The supervisors of the the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors votaron 5-0 para asignar 5 millones 999 mil 360 dólares para la compra e instalación de 47 casas prefabricadas destinadas a trabajadores agrícolas y sus familias, incluidos 19 hogares para desplazados después del tiroteo masivo del 23 de enero de 2023. 

Housing for agricultural workers in San Mateo
Las viviendas para trabajadores agrícolas en San Mateo estarán ubicadas en cinco acres, aproximadamente a una milla del centro de Half Moon Bay, justo al sur de la autopista 1. Crédito: Condado de San Mateo.

“Toda familia merece un lugar seguro y saludable para vivir”, precisó el supervisor Ray Mueller, cuyo Distrito 3 abarca la mayor parte de las tierras agrícolas del condado.

“Debemos absolutamente crear oportunidades para que los trabajadores agrícolas vivan en el condado de San Mateo, así como invertir recursos en estabilizar la economía agrícola que proporciona empleos agrícolas”, destacó el funcionario.

Los supervisores adjudicaron el contrato de construcción a Bigfoot Homes, con sede en Santa Cruz. Las autoridades competentes siguen revisando los permisos necesarios para el proyecto, incluido un permiso de desarrollo costero y permisos de construcción, señaló el condado en un comunicado.

“Es un día brillante en el condado de San Mateo para ver cómo este proyecto avanza”, refirió Mueller en la reunión de la Junta de hoy. 

Un informe encargado por el condado en 2016 encontró la necesidad de “mejorar la calidad, la disponibilidad y la asequibilidad de la vivienda” para los trabajadores agrícolas, tema que apremió tras el tiroteo masivo que se cobró la vida de siete trabajadores agrícolas en dos granjas de Half Moon Bay.

Desde el tiroteo, la ciudad de Half Moon Bay identificó una parcela de propiedad municipal en 880 Stone Pine Road para viviendas para trabajadores agrícolas. El condado, junto con la ciudad y numerosos socios, está trabajando para crear un nuevo vecindario para los trabajadores agrícolas y sus familias.

Al menos 28 unidades se centrarán en la propiedad de hogares de trabajadores agrícolas con la ayuda del Programa de Subsidios de Vivienda para Trabajadores Agrícolas Joe Serna Jr. de California.

Las casas prefabricadas brindan la oportunidad de costos de construcción iniciales más bajos y una construcción más rápida con la ventaja adicional de brindar un camino hacia la propiedad de vivienda para personas y familias de ingresos extremadamente bajos.

 

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Record number of assault weapons reached during anonymous buyback in San Mateo County

 

 

Record number of assault weapons reached during anonymous buyback in San Mateo County
During the anonymous buyback in San Mateo County, A record number of assault weapons were collected and all available funds were paid to participants.

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Despite Saturday's rainy weather, the anonymous gun buyback San Mateo County It was a resounding success, collecting a record number of assault weapons and paying out all available funds to participants.

Authorities said in a statement that a total of 297 firearms were handed over, including a record number of 24 assault weapons, four ghost pistols and one machine gun. The collected firearms will be processed for destruction.

Residents were paid between $50 and $200 depending on the firearm, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said, adding that all available funds for the event were spent, an unprecedented occurrence since San Mateo County began hosting gun buybacks in 2018.

“Participation in Saturday’s anonymous gun buyback speaks to the importance of events like this that provide community members with an avenue to remove unwanted firearms from their homes, ultimately creating a safer San Mateo County,” said Sheriff Christina Corpus. 

He added that this action taken by residents "helps prevent tragic accidents involving unsafe firearms and is another step to ensure that these firearms do not end up in the wrong hands."

The Sheriff's Office and its partners plan to host another gun buyback in 2024 at a date to be determined. 

The four-hour event on Saturday in South San Francisco included the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, San Mateo County, San Mateo County Citizens Gun Buyback, Colma Police Department, Daly City Police Department, San Bruno Police Department and South San Francisco Police Department.

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More green areas are urgently needed in schools and public spaces in Los Angeles

 green areas in Los Angeles schools
Green areas in Los Angeles schools are necessary for the comprehensive development of children and youth. 18% of young people do not have easy access to a park, a playground or any other safe place for recreation, with the most vulnerable communities facing inequality due to a lack of green spaces.

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The lack of shade in the city of Los Angeles has become a real problem for its residents, who suffer the ravages of rising temperatures every year, especially those who live in low-income areas. Experts are therefore urging the creation of more green areas, especially in schools and public spaces.

According to the most recent Los Angeles County Health Survey, 18 percent of youth do not have easy access to a park, playground or other safe place for recreation, with the most vulnerable communities facing inequality due to lack of green space.

Research has shown that greening schoolyards has a direct impact on children's safety, health and ability to learn, but most schools need more green space or shade, experts said during a briefing by Ethnic Media Services.

Marci Raney, program director for the Office of Wellness at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, former associate professor of kinesiology at Occidental College in Los Angeles and an exercise physiologist and playground safety inspector, said 30 percent tree canopy coverage is recommended to mitigate rising global temperatures.  

However, the California Schoolyard Canopy Equity Study released by Green School Yards America shows that 2.6 million students across the state interact daily in schoolyards, so having green spaces available is essential. 

He also explained that these environmental conditions have contributed to higher rates of asthma, chronic absenteeism, physical inactivity, heat exhaustion and cognitive challenges.

“It is important that schoolyards become a place to improve life. Removing asphalt and planting trees can effectively counteract aspects of climate change and the urban heat island effect; schoolyards alone have the power to improve the overall health and well-being of everyone,” Raney added.

Rocio Rivas, LAUSD District 2 School Board member and chair of the Los Angeles Unified School Board’s Green Schools and Climate Resilience Committee, explained that this is the first time the district has had a committee focused solely on making schools greener and making the school district more climate resilient.  

“It's a holistic effort to transform our schools and make them greener, we are healthier or the students are healthier, smarter, they feel safe, connected in the communities that surround these schools and it also has very profound effects,” Rivas said.

She also explained that a comprehensive plan is being developed to improve energy efficiency in schools, which includes replacing windows and updating systems and facilities. This will not only create a more comfortable learning environment, but will also reduce energy costs and free up resources for the curricular integration of critical needs.  

Christos Chrysiliou, director of eco-sustainability for the Los Angeles Unified School District, said that for him the most important thing is to take care of children, because they are the future, so combining both things is the real drive.

He also said that $500 million has been invested in playground projects, in what they call the Community-Based Seed Project. As well as that project, there are different types of projects that are currently being worked on, although there is much more to do and more funding is needed to continue the work.

“Now understanding the crisis, we wanted to make sure we have more accountability and take more action by developing an office that focuses on specific resolutions and looking at how we can be more energy efficient, be able to save our natural resources, clean our schools; we focused on those areas and have developed internal program initiatives and partnerships,” Chrysiliou added.

Tori Kjer is executive director of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, a nonprofit formed to address hurricane risks and ensure everyone has equitable access to parks, open space, and greening everywhere.

She explained that in Los Angeles, they have prioritized work in low-income communities of color, planning, designing and building parks, but they also focused on green schoolyards and do advocacy to ensure policies and funding are in place to support this work. 

“We have been talking about green schools for 20 years, and I must say that there has been a lot of work since the Coalition started and the district is really showing itself to be an enthusiastic partner, which we deeply appreciate,” Kjer said.

 

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San José begins construction of new temporary housing for homeless people

San José begins construction of new temporary housing for homeless people
The city of San José has begun construction of a new version of temporary housing for homeless people.

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The city of San Jose has begun construction on a new version of temporary housing for homeless residents.

This project, which will have 150 beds, will be located on land leased to the city by the Sobrato Organization for one dollar a year.

Mayor Matt Mahan, Councilmember Arjun Batra and DignityMoves will break ground on the Via Del Oro Interim Housing Community, which leverages underutilized private land for interim housing for the first time in San Jose. 

The community will sit on two acres of land leased from the city for $1 a year thanks to the vision and generosity of John and Sue Sobrato, philanthropists who have invested heavily in Silicon Valley.

Through the Sobrato Family Foundation, they point out that more than 20 percent of Silicon Valley's population lives in poverty and, although there is great wealth in the Valley, the disparity between rich and poor is dramatic and growing.

Once completed, the site will add 150 beds to the city's temporary housing supply. 

According to a recent memo from Mayor Mahan and Councilmembers Batra, Jimenez, Foley and Cohen, no camping areas will be established within a two-block radius of the new Via del Oro interim housing community and at two specific sites in the area that have long-standing encampments associated with safety concerns.

Plans for Via del Oro call for 75 two-bed mobile “cabins” powered by solar energy and designed to last 10 to 15 years. There will also be shared kitchens and laundry facilities, outdoor seating and a parking lot for 46 cars.

“We are talking about small cabins that can be locked and cost around $75,000 (each),” Sobrato told San Jose Spotlight in 2023. “(The project) will include additional buildings on the site to provide the services that residents need, whether it’s job training or (help with) substance abuse, those services will be available.”

According to the local outlet, the city is also expecting $3 million in rebates from San Francisco-based homeless services provider and developer Dignity Moves, Gensler Architects and Swinerton Construction to complete the project. 

But even with generous five-year lease and construction discounts, the project is expected to cost the city $18 million to build and then relocate. That’s about $75,000 per bed, which deputy city homeless director Omar Passons said is cheaper than the Guadalupe site and the Mabury Bridge Housing Community, as well as the expected $162,000 per bed cost of widening Rue Ferrari.

With information from San Jose Spotlight.

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Lend yourself a hand: Celebrate May as National Masturbation Month

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Lend yourself a hand: Celebrate May as National Masturbation Month
May is National Masturbation Month, a great opportunity to make time for yourself, get to know your body, and prioritize your sexual pleasure.

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Mayo es el Mes Nacional de la Masturbación, un tema que, para muchos, aún es tabú. Sin embargo, esta puede ser una gran oportunidad para hacer tiempo para ti, conocer tu cuerpo y priorizar tu placer sexual, aprendiendo de excelente manera lo que te gusta o no sin ponerte en riesgo de embarazo o enfermedades de transmisión sexual, una de las mejores maneras de aprender sobre tu sexualidad. 

El Mes Internacional de la Masturbación, que se celebra en mayo, surge como una iniciativa para promover la educación sexual positiva y destigmatizar un aspecto fundamental de la sexualidad humana. 

Originado en 1995 como una respuesta al despido de la sexóloga Joycelyn Elders por su declaración a favor de la inclusión de la masturbación en los programas de educación sexual, este mes busca fomentar la autoexploración sexual saludable y liberar a las personas de la vergüenza y el tabú que rodea a este tema.

De acuerdo con una encuesta de 2023, en promedio, las mujeres se masturban 49 veces al año y los hombres 154, lo que significa que los hombres se masturban 68 por ciento más que las mujeres (tres veces más). En tanto, 5 por ciento de las personas se masturba casi todos los días. 

La mayoría de las mujeres que se masturban (91.5 por ciento) todavía lo hacen, incluso si están casadas o tienen una relación, mientras que 67 por ciento de los hombres heterosexuales en una relación todavía se masturban. 

Sin embargo, 72 por ciento de las mujeres y 84 por ciento de los hombres de entre 25 y 29 años se masturban, es decir, más que cualquier otro grupo de edad.

En promedio, hombres y mujeres pasan casi el mismo tiempo masturbándose. Las mujeres tardan 13 minutos en masturbarse y los hombres 14 minutos.

Dicho esto, hay algunos registros de masturbación bastante salvajes:

El récord mundial de orgasmos en masturbación es de 134 orgasmos en una hora. Lo sostiene una mujer en California. Masanobu Sato tiene el récord de la sesión de masturbación más prolongada: 9 horas y 58 minutos.

Es habitual que las personas se masturben y varios factores afectan la frecuencia. A menos que te estés lastimando, la masturbación no presenta riesgos reales para la salud. 

Además, la masturbación tiene beneficios como: mayor confianza y sueño; alivio del estrés; riesgo reducido de cáncer de próstata; alivio de calambres menstruales; puede ayudar a los hombres a durar más en la cama; puede aumentar la felicidad al liberar dopamina y oxitocina; puede aumentar el estrógeno, lo que lleva a una piel y un cabello más sanos; puede aumentar la libido; puede mejorar la función cognitiva y puede enseñarte sobre tu sexualidad y lo que te excita.

Sin embargo, la masturbación excesiva puede causar problemas como: desensibilización, problemas con tu pareja y problemas con el trabajo y las relaciones.

También es normal no masturbarse con frecuencia o nunca. Casi 1 de cada 3 mujeres y 1 de cada 10 hombres han sido víctimas de violencia física o sexual, y el trauma sexual puede hacer que alguien evite la actividad sexual. 

Además, algunas mujeres creen que se supone que deben ser menos sexuales que los hombres, y a ello se suma el estigma sexual y vergüenza. Asimismo, algunos hombres optan por no masturbarse para mejorar su testosterona.  

La mayoría de los hombres empiezan a masturbarse entre los 12 y 13 años, mientras que la mayoría de las mujeres empiezan entre los 13 y 14 años. El 20 por ciento de las mujeres dicen que no empezaron a masturbarse hasta los veinte años. En tanto, la mayoría de las personas se masturban menos a medida que envejecen. 

Masturbación en el matrimonio

La masturbación satisface necesidades sexuales diferentes a las del sexo en pareja, por lo que no sorprende que las personas casadas se masturben con tanta frecuencia como cualquier otra persona. 

Las investigaciones sugieren que la masturbación complementa el sexo de las mujeres. Esto significa que las mujeres se masturban cuando están satisfechas con su vida sexual. Las mujeres felizmente casadas tienen más probabilidades de masturbarse que las mujeres insatisfechas con sus relaciones. 

El 91.5 por ciento de las mujeres que se masturban todavía lo hacen cuando tienen pareja o cónyuge. Hasta 76 por ciento de las mujeres casadas se masturban. 

Para los hombres, la masturbación suele ser compensatoria, lo que significa que los hombres se masturban más cuando tienen menos relaciones sexuales. 

67 por ciento de los hombres heterosexuales en una relación se masturban al menos una vez por semana; y los hombres que tienen más relaciones sexuales en pareja tienen menos probabilidades de masturbarse, lo que no significa necesariamente que un hombre que se masturba no esté contento con su vida sexual; en cambio, es probable que se masturbe más si no está satisfecho con ello.

Pero, ¿por qué la gente se masturba?

La mayoría de las personas se masturban por placer, pero también existen muchas otras razones, en su mayoría, hombres y mujeres se masturban por los mismos motivos: placer, excitación, alivio del estrés, etcétera.

Los hombres, sin embargo, son mucho más propensos que las mujeres a masturbarse si quieren más sexo (31.6 por ciento frente a 19.8 por ciento. También es más probable que se masturben por fantasías sexuales que no pueden realizar en la vida real. 

Las mujeres (12.5 por ciento) tienen más probabilidades que los hombres (7.4 por ciento) de masturbarse para explorar su sexualidad.

Los factores psicológicos también influyen en la masturbación. El TDAH puede provocar un aumento del deseo sexual y de la frecuencia de la masturbación.

La masturbación libera dopamina; Esto puede hacer que quieras masturbarte incluso si no estás excitado. Algunas afecciones, como el trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo (TOC), el trastorno bipolar o la enfermedad de Pick, hacen que las personas sean más propensas a tener conductas sexuales compulsivas, incluida la masturbación.

La masturbación es saludable, pero es importante no dejarse llevar. Esto es lo que dicen los expertos sobre la frecuencia:

El hombre promedio debería masturbarse 21 veces al mes para reducir el riesgo de cáncer de próstata en un 31 por ciento. La mujer, en promedio debe masturbarse al menos una vez a la semana y alrededor de su ciclo menstrual.

Alternativamente, algunos hombres retienen el semen para aumentar su testosterona. Muchos siguen la siguiente antigua ecuación taoísta de la masturbación:

(Edad – 7)/4 = X días entre eyaculaciones.

Esto significa, por ejemplo, que un joven de 17 años debería masturbarse aproximadamente cada 2.5 días.

La masturbación es común tanto para hombres como para mujeres, aunque a la mayoría de las personas les incomoda admitirlo. A pesar del tabú, es una actividad sexual sana y normal para adolescentes y adultos.

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Medi-Cal Serves Homeless Californians

Medi-Cal Serves Homeless Californians
Medi-Cal's efforts seek to support homeless Californians by addressing the community's essential needs with medical services that go beyond medical consultations, such as housing transition, rental and bail assistance, post-hospital recovery housing, day care, and street medicine, among others.

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Medi-Cal's efforts seek to support homeless Californians by addressing the community's essential needs with medical services that go beyond medical consultations, such as housing transition, rental and bail assistance, post-hospital recovery housing, day care, and street medicine, among others.

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is committed to community-based housing and home-based services that provide social services to people at risk of homelessness. This multi-year initiative serves one in three, or nearly 15 million, Californians.

During a briefing held by Ethnic Media Services (EMS), DHCS leaders say they are using Medi-Cal to help Californians experiencing homelessness and housing instability lead healthier lives.

Glenn Tsang, homeless and housing policy advisor for the California Department of Health Care Services, talked about the importance of addressing issues around homelessness, as it is really troubling to have to make difficult decisions like buying food or paying rent.

“I want to start with our enhanced care management and community supports, that’s what we’re going to focus on, covering the issues that concern the community through street medicine; these services really constitute a strategy to support the frontline response that offers connection to emergency shelters and others,” said Gleen Tsang.

The administration of housing and outreach programs specifically is a new benefit that was launched in phases since January 1, 2022; this has been implemented in phases by target population, with homeless people being one of those populations of the new benefit.

Tsang explained that health plans are also encouraged and supported to collect data on racial and ethnic groups, with the goal of building a broader network of providers to serve these members and thus build a relationship of trust, connection and access points with the most vulnerable groups.

“Let’s say we have a member or an individual who is homeless and is diabetic, how can we reasonably expect them to store their insulin medications and take care of their medications? That’s an example I go back to again and again to really frame how these community supports are set up,” Tsang added.

For the homeless population, she said, one of the services available is housing transition, which guides people through the process of identifying stable housing and provides assistance with housing search requests to provide support during the process.   

Another of these supports is for people who are discharged from the hospital and are experiencing homelessness; having another housing option is better for their recovery compared to an unstable living environment, so a request was submitted to federal partners at the Centers for Medicare and Medi-Cal Services to cover 6 months of rent for members who are making very critical and impactful transitions from emergency department settings, but which may serve as a pathway into homelessness.  

Another important topic is medicine and street care services, which seek to provide medical services within everyone's reach, so that people will not have to travel long distances to receive care, providing more health opportunities to vulnerable communities. 

Amber Middleton, director of the HOPE program at the Shasta Community Health Center in Redding, California, said they have a program that has a mobile medical component where they park at different sites and support those who are homeless.

“I'm a social worker by training and education, the whole approach is really to go to the population and not wait for things to get so bad that they have to seek services in an emergency, so I think this is a great example of breaking down barriers,” Amber Middleton said.

There are three community supports that are specific to housing: housing transition and navigation, housing deposits, and housing services, and then there is a person who is really focused on being a housing expert, 

The Shasta Community Health Center Health Department has a Consumer Advisory Board and is comprised of individuals who are currently in shelter or have been in one in their lifetime, that group meets twice a month to inform the Hope department of any type of changes in practice as a way to continue to infuse the direct needs of the population being served.

Brian Zunner-Keating, director of the UCLA Homeless Healthcare Collaborative, explained the Homeless Healthcare Collaborative program, which began in January 2022 to promote health equity by bringing high-quality healthcare to the streets of Los Angeles County.

Since its inception, more than nine thousand clinical evaluations have been provided to almost five thousand people. It started with two teams and has now been expanded to five teams and other similar ones.

In this way, they are seeking to bring doctors and even prescription drugs directly to people suffering on the streets, in camps, shelters and other vulnerable places, making it a very useful tool for those who cannot attend a physical clinic.  

“We can’t usually just walk up to someone we meet, it works much better to make a real human connection and say something simple like: Hi,” added Brian Zunner-Keating.

She said that they have a very diverse team that speaks multiple languages and comes from different ethnic backgrounds, in this way they can make health care more accessible, ensuring that team members are culturally and linguistically sensitive to the communities they visit.

Experts say that changes in medical services are improving, taking into account the most vulnerable population and those with fewer opportunities to be informed about health services, so continuing with projects aimed at homeless people will be a key piece to guarantee access to health care for all Californians.

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San Mateo County Commemorates Mental Health Month with Series of Free Events

San Mateo County Commemorates Mental Health Month with Series of Free Events
Under the theme “Healing Through Connection,” San Mateo County commemorates Mental Health Month during May, where, with the help of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS), they invite residents to a series of free events and to learn about ways to cope with stress, anxiety and loneliness, among other topics.

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Under the theme “Healing Through Connection,” San Mateo County commemorates Mental Health Month during May, where, with the help of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS), they invite residents to a series of free events and to learn about ways to cope with stress, anxiety and loneliness, among other topics.

“Now more than ever, it’s important that we find ways to connect with each other,” said Jei Africa, director of BHRS. “This May, we encourage everyone to connect with others at one of our free public events, connect to resources, and connect with your community by participating.”

In January of this year, San Mateo County supervisors declared loneliness a public health crisis and pledged to promote social connection in local communities. 

According to County Health's 2023 Community Health Needs Assessment, 45 percent of respondents reported experiencing difficulties with loneliness and isolation.

The events, which the Diversity Office has joined, include Magic Sensitibo, Magic Matapang! Suicide Prevention Training; a workshop that under the theme “Be Sensitive, Be Brave for Suicide Prevention,” seeks to teach how to act as eyes and ears in the face of suicidal distress and connect people who need help with the appropriate services. 

This workshop will be held on Thursday, May 9, from 5 to 7 pm, online so you can register by giving click here.

This event is joined by “Healing Connections Open Mic,” a community-based event that seeks to promote mental and spiritual well-being through creative performing arts, such as poetry, spoken word, dance, or music. 

Anyone interested in attending or performing at this event must complete the interest form. This will take place on May 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Assembly Hall of the Central Park Recreation Center at 50 E. 5th Ave., San Mateo.

“Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors” will be a keynote address given by an Alzheimer’s Association speaker who will share tips and strategies for caregivers to respond to common behaviors of people living with dementia, such as agitation, confusion, and more. 

The event will take place on Tuesday, May 28, from 1 to 2 p.m., at the Menlo Park Library, located at 800 Alma St. in Menlo Park. Pre-register online or by phone at 800-272-3900.

To know all the events, click here.

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East Palo Alto celebrates Mexican and Latin culture in style

East Palo Alto celebrates May 5
East Palo Alto celebrates May 5: The Cinco de Mayo Latino Festival comes to the community, seeking to exalt the culture of Mexico and other Latin American countries.

This Saturday, Por la Libre, the traveling community radio station of Peninsula 360 Press, broadcast from East Palo Alto, a city in San Mateo County, where the Cinco de Mayo Latino Festival will be held this Sunday, seeking to exalt the culture of Mexico and other Latin American countries.

Manuel Ortiz spoke with Hector Calvario from the group Los de Cali.

At just 16 years old, Hector says the group started in Redwood City at Sequoia High School, where they got together to listen to music. What started out as a fun thing has now become a small band that plays at public and private events.

Hector was born in Palo Alto, but his parents are from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and although he has not yet visited the land where his parents were born, he plans to visit it soon.

The group plays rock music in Spanish and English, from classics from the 50s to current ones.

Tomorrow, Sunday, May 5, Los de Cali will play at the Latin Festival in East Palo Alto, a celebration that, with music, colors and lots of food, seeks to celebrate Mexicanness, as well as Latin culture.

For Hector, the celebration of May 5 represents “the nation of Mexico, something very important for culture, music and everything.”

Edie Insunsa, also from Los de Cali, said he is from Baja California, but his parents are from Sinaloa, Mexico. He came to the United States when he was 11 years old and, for him, May 5 is a day to unite cultures, both Mexican and American, as it celebrates roots through music, food and dance.

But why is May 5th celebrated in the United States?

According to American historian John Mraz, although May 5 refers to the Battle of Puebla, fought between the French and Mexican armies in 1862, where Mexico emerged victorious, it was American beer companies that took advantage of the date in the 1980s to sell their product, especially to the Latino community.

Ruben Abrica, a councilman for East Palo Alto and former mayor of the same city, who has been involved for many years in community activities, said that, in particular, in East Palo Alto, it will be 40 years since the celebration of Cinco de Mayo, coinciding with the time when the community sought to be autonomous and independent from San Mateo County.

Abrica pointed out that, in those years, the Latino community, especially the Mexican one, represented 15 percent of the population, and there were conflicts, because being a minority there were complaints that Spanish was not spoken, and they felt bad about it. “We were a minority.”

From there arose the Latin Committee and the Bilingual Parents Committee, who were very active in the schools. 

In 1985, the first Latin Festival was held in a big way, with the aim of uniting the community. This was achieved.

And, although many companies tried to sponsor the event, it remained a community-owned event.

Listen to all the information in For the Free

You may be interested in: Cinco de Mayo Latino Festival Unites Latino Community in East Palo Alto

“The Truce”: an intimate portrait that takes us from the shadows of monotony to the light of life

Camilasbooks brings us a very peculiar recommendation, since the novel La tregua by Mario Benedetti captivated her and stayed in her heart.
Camilasbooks brings us a very peculiar recommendation, since the novel La tregua by Mario Benedetti captivated her and stayed in her heart.

This Saturday, Camilasbooks brings us a rather peculiar recommendation, because this is a novel that, like many others, captivated her and stayed in her heart after reading it; because, despite the years, it has not ceased to amaze her. We are talking about “La Tregua” (The Truce) by the Uruguayan writer and poet Mario Benedetti.

This story, told through diary entries, tells the tale of Martín Santomé, a widower with three grown children, whose life has become routine, going from home to work and vice versa. But in this lonely life, we learn a little more about the protagonist and the changes he experiences as he anxiously counts down to his retirement.

However, one day a woman named Laura Avellaneda appears, who begins to work at the place where Santomé is employed and who generates a radical change in the protagonist.

And Santomé's life, which until then had been routine and grey, begins to acquire colour with Laura Avellaneda, leading him to passions and freedoms that take him out of his monotony.

Through Benedetti's pen, which is so poetic, we can embark on a story of passions, sadness, loneliness and reflections, leading us to experience many intense emotions. 

Diary entries, says Camilasbooks, are a special form of storytelling, as the connection with the protagonist is more intimate.

“You will laugh, you will fall in love, but you will also suffer, and that is what captivates you about this novel,” says Camilasbooks.

So, don't miss Camilasbooks' recommendation this week.

 

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You may be interested in: “The Last Days of Clayton & Co,” a look at the dead in Camilasbooks’ recommendation

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