mandrake society radio

Building bridges with Dallas NAACP on HIV education and prevention

mandrakesociety@gmail.com (JW Richard) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:36:22 +0000

On last Tuesday, January 5th, Venton Jones, president of the DFW Pride Movement-an organization promoting health and education among Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people, was invited to speak at the Dallas NAACP membership meeting at the request of its president, Dr. Juanita Wallace, to discuss current HIV/AIDS statistics in Dallas and proactive solutions to educating more of the African-American community at large.

For ten minutes, Mr. Jones shared statistics on the rate of new cases of HIV infection in Dallas County and the age groups being most affected.”Houston was once the number city for new cases of HIV infection and Dallas has now surpassed that city,” Also, according to the 2007 statistics used by Mr. Jones published by the Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services, African-Americans make up 46% of the new diagnoses and the age groups with the most new cases of HIV infection are in youth ages 13-24 years old.

After the meeting, Mr. Jones shared how this opportunity to share came about. “Jesse (Garcia, President of LULAC 4871) invited Dr. Wallace to a LULAC meeting that I attended. After my presentation on DFW Pride Movement, Dr. Wallace and I talked further and she invited me to share at the first NAACP meeting of 2010.” Dr. Wallace also replied, “Part of my responsibility is to empower our community by providing resources through presenters and other information. Without health, one has nothing. So preventive measures are what we lack in our community.”

As visible and effective bridges to combat this epidemic are also lacking in Dallas between the Black LGBT organizations and civil rights organizations such as the NAACP, this meeting was a solid first step to discuss what is impacting all of the African-American community in Dallas. Dr. Wallace did mention that Mr. Jones will be invited back for a future meeting and given more time for Q & A.

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Dallas rocker, Jevette, rocking the radio for her birthday

mandrakesociety@gmail.com (JW Richard) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:40:44 +0000

This just in from one of this site’s Facebook fans, Stacy Crockett. This is going down Monday, January 11.

Come help me celebrate Sonya Jevette’s Birthday!!!!! She will be on the air with BikerFM.com’s Shelley Brooks @ 9PM and then at Backbeat Cafe @ The Mosaic Lofts in downtown Dallas at 11PM. Every year Sonya plays for her birthday and this year she will be gracing the stage in the listening room. Not only is it her birthday but she has been working on some new material so lets come out and show her lots of love and support.

[a note from JW: if you want to check out more ladies and guys of color into rock and punk music, join me at the Afro-Punk Queers Ning group]

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Sign up for Tour de Change in Dallas

mandrakesociety@gmail.com (JW Richard) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:14:09 +0000

More news on the Creating Change conference. If you and some friends really enjoy some beer, then you should sign up the Creating Change conference’s Tour de Change. On Saturday, January 23 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm, teams of up to 10 (plus 2 designated drivers) will travel to 5 Oak Lawn bars. At each bar, each team will be given four (4) tickets valid for payment of four pitchers of beer. More details and the registration form for teams are at the Tour de Change website. Drink up and help raise funds for the conference. Remember, the Creating Change conference itself will be held February 3rd through 7th at the Sheraton Dallas, downtown Dallas.

Interested general volunteers should sign up here, and interested vendors and exhibitors can go here for more information.

[UPDATE: This event was canceled on Jan 19th. Sorry for any inconvenience.]

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Vendor & Exhibitor opportunities available at Creating Change conference this February in Dallas

mandrakesociety@gmail.com (JW Richard) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:49:37 +0000

Just a few days more before at least 2,000 visitors, along with over 600 locals, descend upon downtown Dallas, TX, for the 22nd National Conference for LGBT Equality: Creating Change happens at the Sheration Dallas, February 3 – 7, 2010. There are still opportunities available for vendors and exhibitors during the conference, according to host committee co-chair, Marlene Browning, who sends these details:

Exhibit space will be made available in a prominent location of the Sheraton Dallas, offering vendors and exhibitors an opportunity to share their work, research, goods or services with conference attendees. This is an excellent opportunity for you to engage attendees of the conference with your own information and materials, further your organizing efforts, or to sell wares in an open and progressive environment.

Exhibit space will be open and available from Thursday, February 4 through Sunday, February 7. The cost of reserving a table at this year’s conference is $350 per 6 foot table for non-profit groups. The for profit groups rate is $500 per 6 foot table.

Exhibitor fee includes two interchangeable exhibitor badges not to be used as registration badges. If exhibitors wish to attend the sessions it is advised that separate registrations be purchased. Exhibitors are responsible for ordering and paying for electrical and/or audiovisual services for exhibit tables. Exhibitors are also responsible for any box delivery fee charges by the hotel.

We hope that you will take advantage of this excellent opportunity and will register an exhibit. If you have any questions or needs, please feel free to contact Marta Alvarado at 202-639-6333, or at malvarado@thetaskforce.org.

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Blog feature on Dallas writer, Michael Counter, Jr.

mandrakesociety@gmail.com (JW Richard) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:56:39 +0000

Writer, Saeed Jones, posted a blog interview with Michael Counter, Jr. I first became familiar with Michael’s writing on the Dallas South News website. Being a veteran of the United States Air Force & current member of the Department of Defense Civilian Sector, his written perspective at Dallas South of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in the U.S. military is not to be missed.

Enjoy his interview at Saeed Jones’ blog, for southern boys who considered poetry.

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