March for Peace and Non-Violence - Hosted by Marin Academy High School

March for Peace and Non- Violence

You Are Invited!
December 2, 2009

Where: We will start on the lawn in front of the San Rafael Library (5th and E St.), march through downtown San Rafael, then gather at the Cold Stone Plaza.

When: 12:15pm (Meet at 5th and E St., San Rafael)
12:30pm (Gather at Cold Stone Plaza)
12:45pm (Send the Marchers to San Francisco)

On October 2, 2009, the World's first International March for Peace and Non-Violence began. Currently 25 marchers are traveling across six contents asking for the elimination of nuclear weapons and an end to war. As the march makes its way across the world many honorary marches are taking place.

On Wednesday, December 2, the World March for Peace and Non-Violence will be coming through the Bay Area. Marin Academy will have the honor of hosting three of the marchers, and in conjunction with their efforts, the Marin Academy Peace and Justice Coalition will be sponsoring its own march in support of Peace and Non-Violence. Our march will be led by the International Marchers and our honored special guest, Takashi Tanemori, a survivor of the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb. From the San Rafael Library, we will march through downtown San Rafael to the Cold Stone Plaza for a culminating event, sending the World Marchers off on their continued journey. For more information on the March, go to www.worldmarchusa.net.

We encourage you to join us and we will be honored if you can participate. The more voices for peace and non-violence in any form, the bigger the impact we will have.

Thank You So Much!
Marin Academy Peace and Justice Coalition
For more information contact Mark at mstefanski@ma.org.

LGBT CENTERS RECEIVE INNOVATIVE GRANTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS

The Johnson Family Foundation has announced that The Pacific Center for Human Growth in Berkeley, CA, and the Long Island GLBT Community Center in Bay Shore, NY have each been awarded a $150,000 grant over 3 years dedicated to increasing the variety and quality of mental health services provided by LGBT community centers and strengthening the overall organizational capacity of these institutions during a critical phase in their development.

CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers is proud to be a partner in this new mental health initiative and will be working with both centers to implement yearly organizational technical assistance plans through additional funding made available from the Foundation. “CenterLink is thrilled to be part of this truly innovative program and we look forward to working with each center as they become model programs in the delivery of mental health services for the LGBT community,” said Terry Stone, Executive Director.

The grants were awarded to support specific capacity building projects of already existing mental health programs, and are the first year of a three year project during which additional LGBT centers will be eligible to apply for funding in 2010 and 2011. CenterLink reports there are currently over 180 LGBT centers in 48 states in the U.S. which serve over 40,000 people weekly through a diverse range of programs and services.

“This grant will enable our organization to improve efficiency, reach more people and provide more services relevant to our local community’s needs today. Our daily goal is to help people live confidently throughout the course of their lives and this grant will directly support those who come to us for help,’’ said the Pacific Center for Human Growth’s Executive Director, Leslie Ewing.

“The goal to provide LGBT centers the capacity to move to next level in the delivery of such services seems to be now reachable,” explains David Kilmnick, the Long Island GLBT Center’s Executive Director. ‘‘The Center’s capacity to serve clients is expected to double... [and] at the end of the three year grant period, The Center will be positioned to take its next steps toward opening the first GLBT mental health clinic on Long Island.’’

CenterLink applauds the commitment of the Johnson Family Foundation and looks forward to working with them and the centers to build a stronger, healthier LGBT community through innovative, sustainable, and effective programming at LGBT centers everywhere.

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Founded in 1994, CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers is the only national organization working to expand the organizational and advocacy capacity of LGBT community centers through direct technical assistance, leadership skills development and resource coordination. CenterLink believes LGBT centers represent the backbone of the LGBT movement, serving over 40,000 people weekly. For more information on CenterLink and its members, visit www.lgbtcenters.org.

The Johnson Family Foundation is a progressive family foundation. JFF operates national grantmaking programs in the areas of environmental health and LGBT issues, as well as place-based grantmaking programs in the State of Vermont; New York City and Long Island, NY; the City of Pittsburgh, PA; and the town of Telluride, CO. JFF made grants totaling approximately $3.6 million in 2008. Find out more by visiting www.jffnd.org.

Equality California Institute Receives $444,000 Grant from CA Department of Mental Health

Historic Grant to Assess and Improve Mental Health Services for
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) individuals

Los Angeles - The California LGBT Health and Human Services Network of Equality California Institute (EQCAI) has been awarded a two-year, $444,000 grant by the California Department of Mental Health. This historic grant will fund a first ever statewide assessment of the mental health needs of LGBT communities.

"The impact of discrimination on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is immense, often leading to mental health issues like depression, substance abuse and even suicide," said Geoff Kors, Executive Director of EQCAI. "Never before has the state invested in research of this scope for the LGBT community. This is an important step toward ensuring equal access to culturally appropriate mental health services that can help the LGBT community overcome these challenges."

The study will collect statewide data on the harm caused by discrimination, examining such issues as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, substance abuse and suicide. It will identify the best ways to prevent and treat mental health issues in the LGBT community. The project will be guided by a statewide work group drawn from within the LGBT community, and it will work collaboratively within the multicultural and multilingual populations in California.

"This grant will literally change the face of mental health services in California and be a model for the rest of the nation," said Daniel Gould, EQCAI's Health and Human Services Network Coordinator. "The work we do will guide LGBT organizations, practitioners and policy makers in designing and implementing effective programs and policies that better address our community's mental health needs."

The California LGBT Health and Human Services Network is a coalition of organizations that directly serve the LGBT communities of California. These organizations deal with a myriad of issues including safe schools, teenage suicide prevention and elder housing. To learn more about EQCAI's Health and Human Services Network, please visit http://www.eqcai.org/health/about.

Equality California Institute educates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and the public at large about issues impacting the LGBT community and our allies. Established in 2000, EQCAI organizes and empowers individuals, communities and allied groups to work proactively for fairness, equality and justice. EQCAI coordinates the LGBT Health and Human Services Network, a statewide health coalition. www.eqcai.org

http://www.eqca.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=kuLRJ9MRKrH&b=4869041&ct=7608481

An Evening with Marc Adams

Present
An Evening with Marc Adams

Monday, November 23, 2009
7:00 p.m.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation Sanctuary
547 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa

Founder of HeartStrong uncovers restorative therapy & faith-based anti-GLBT bullying at religious educational institutions.

Marc Adams, Lambda Literary Award finalist and Silver Pen Award recipient for his autobiography, The Preachers Son, will share his life’s story as well as discuss HeartStrong, Inc., the non-profit organization he co-founded more than a decade ago. HeartStrong has provided hope and help to GLBT students who have endured faith-based anti-GLBT bullying in religious schools around the world since 1996.

“It can be a very serious situation for a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person who finds themselves in one of these schools,” Adams warns. “Parents enroll their kids in these schools without even considering what might happen. Sometimes they enroll their kids in these schools because of their homosexuality.”

“This is a great opportunity to hear firsthand what it is li8ke to grow up gay in such a destructive environment,” Adams says. “As serious as the subject matter is, most people who attend these forums laugh, cry and laugh again as I share about how I found freedom and how HeartStrong has helped so many others on their own journeys to self acceptance.”

We hope you will be able to join us for this very special evening with Marc.

The educational forum schedule is located on the websites below:
http://www.meetmarcadams.com
http://www.exgay.com
http://www.heartstrong.org