Portfolio
Tynan Power
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Table of Contents page
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Lesléa Newman event • Full press release • Brief event listing • USNF web page • Facebook event • 4-up cards • Flyer
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“Bullied” Film • Full press release • Brief event listing • USNF web page • Facebook event • 4-up cards
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Hot Chocolate Run - USNF Team • Web page #1 • Web page #2 • Facebook posting • Team Sticker
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Boston Pride 2008 • Boston Pride Email Newsletter • Boston Pride press release June 13, 2008 • Boston Pride press release June 14, 2008
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Holly Near concert • Holly Near concert poster • Holly Near 4-ups
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Twitter sample page
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Stand-Alone Press Releases • Pioneer Valley Gay Men’s Chorus Fall Concert • Brown University Student Named Recipient of 1998 Nike Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
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Other Communications Materials Three-part email marketing campaign for RNT Northampton High School “Eat for Education” solicitation letter Rejection Letter for the Diarist Awards PAUF American Language Center brochure Articles • Boston Pride’s Human Rights Road Tour parks in Northampton The Rainbow Times January 2012 • Suicide-prevention conference draws attention to LGBTQ suicide risks” The Rainbow Times November 2011 • AIDS Walk raises money and awareness in Western Mass The Rainbow Times October 2011 • Lambda names Susan Stinson Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist The Rainbow Times August 2011 • Nelson Roman: The indefatigable young man committed to a better Holyoke for “Todos” The Rainbow Times June 2011
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Articles (cont.) • GSA Network in the Works for Massachusetts The Rainbow Times April 2011 • TRT Heroes: Pioneering Heroes for a whole town, Polly Bixby and Karen Grzesik The Rainbow Times March 2011 • Morse Runs for Holyoke Mayor The Rainbow Times February 2011 • Glenn Koetzner: the TRT Hero behind the lens The Rainbow Times November 2010 • High Standards Bay Windows October 2008 • HealthSouth in Ludlow Offers Cutting-Edge Interactive Metronome® Therapy The Healthcare Ledger April 2005 • Award-winning Evercare program expands services in Massachusetts and Connecticut The Healthcare Ledger February 2005 • American International College Unveils New Graduate Nursing Program The Healthcare Ledger December 2004 Websites • Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence • National Teacher Recruitment Clearinghouse & Recruiting New Teachers, Inc. • President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities
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Lesléa Newman Event Full press release Lesléa Newman Brings Moving Presentation about Anti-LGBT Violence and Bullying to the Local Community Northampton, MA (January 11, 2011)—On January 30th, renowned lesbian author and poet, Lesléa Newman, will bring her enlightening and inspiring program “He Continues to Make a Difference: The Story of Matthew Shepard” to the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence. Students at a number of area high schools have already had the opportunity to participate in this program—now, we are bringing it to USNF to share its powerful message with the wider community. Newman’s connection to Matthew Shepard’s tragic story is personal. In 1998, Newman was scheduled to address students at the University of Wyoming during Gay Pride Week. Mere days before her talk, Shepard—a young gay student at the school —was brutally attacked and left to die. The horrific details of that murder left a lasting impression on Newman, one that has been stirred by recent attention to anti-LGBT bullying and a spate of LGBT youth suicides. “He Continues to Make a Difference” is a program that grew out of Newman’s conviction that more must be done to combat anti-LGBT bullying and violence. Starting with a personal account by Newman of those days in 1998 this inspiring program includes thought-provoking poetry from Newman's new collection, October Mourning, complemented by projected photo images. It also provides an opportunity for audience members to think about and commit to steps intended to eliminate LGBT-targeted bullying and violence—for LGBT people of all ages. This unique opportunity to hear from Northampton’s eloquent former poet-laureate will begin at 1pm, and will be followed by a reception. USNF is located at 220 Main St., Northampton, MA. More information is available online at www.uunorthampton.org/ bogblog. Lesléa Newman can be contacted for comment directly at leslea@lesleakids.com.
Brief event listing Renowned lesbian author Lesléa Newman will bring her moving an inspirational presentation “He Continues to Make a Difference: The Matthew Shepard Story” to the Unitarian Society. Newman, a former Northampton poet laureate, will share readings from a new poetry collection entitled October Mourning, photo images and an invitation to take steps towards making the world a safer place for all. Sunday, January 30th, 1pm—Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence (220 Main St., Northampton). Presentation will be followed by a reception. www.uunorthampton.org/bogblog
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Lesléa Newman Event USNF web page http://www.uunorthampton.org/bogblog/186-lesleanewman.html Lesléa Newman Brings Her Moving Presentation about Anti-LGBT Violence and Bullying to the Local Community On January 30th, renowned lesbian author and poet, Lesléa Newman, will bring her enlightening and inspiring program “He Continues to Make a Difference: The Story of Matthew Shepard” to the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence. Students at a number of area high schools have already had the opportunity to participate in this program—now, we are bringing it to USNF to share its powerful message with the wider community. Newman’s connection to Matthew Shepard’s tragic story is personal. In 1998, Newman was scheduled to address students at the University of Wyoming during Gay Pride Week. Mere days before her talk, Shepard—a young gay student at the school —was brutally attacked and left to die. The horrific details of that murder left a lasting impression on Newman, one that has been stirred by recent attention to anti-LGBT bullying and a spate of LGBT youth suicides. “He Continues to Make a Difference” is a program that grew out of Newman’s conviction that more must be done to combat anti-LGBT bullying and violence. Starting with a personal account by Newman of those days in 1998 this inspiring program includes thought-provoking poetry from Newman's new collection, October Mourning, complemented by projected photo images. It also provides an opportunity for audience members to think about and commit to steps intended to eliminate LGBT-targeted bullying and violence—for LGBT people of all ages. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear from Northampton’s eloquent former poet-laureate on January 30th, 2011, at 1pm in the USNF Great Hall. The presentation will be followed by a reception in the Parlor. FREE and open to the public. At the event, we will be accepting donations to the Matthew Shepard Foundation and the Holyoke GLBTQ Task Force (organizer of the Western Mass Youth Pride Prom for GLBTQ youth). No donation is necessary for admission. This event is sponsored by the Unitarian Society's Big Ol' Gay Committee, Social Justice Committee, Adult Education Committee and Coordinating Council. Unitarian Society members are encouraged to bring snacks to share during the reception. For more information about Lesléa Newman and "He Continues to Make a Difference," visit these web pages: • "Acclaimed Author Lesléa Newman Brings Anti-Bullying message to Northampton High," by Tynan Power. The Rainbow Times News. (10/22/10) • The Official Website of Lesléa Newman
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LeslĂŠa Newman Event Facebook Event http://www.facebook.com/events/182296831790828/
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Lesléa Newman Event 4-up cards
FRONT
BACK
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Lesléa Newman Event Flyer
LESLÉA NEWMAN AT THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY
!
!
January 30, 2011 1pm followed by a reception
What hasn’t?
He Continues to Make a Difference The Matthew Shepard Story
Most importantly...
Experience this moving and inspiring presentation by renowned lesbian author, Lesléa Newman.
What has changed since 1998?
what will you do to make the world a safer place for all?
“He Continues to Make a Difference: The Matthew Shepard Story” grew out of the lasting impact of Shepard’s tragic death and Newman’s concern about recent LGBT youth suicides, as well as violence and bullying aimed at LGBT people. Newman, a former Northampton poet laureate, will read from a new poetry collection entitled October Mourning, while using photo images to transport the audience to Wyoming.
U N I TA R I A N S O C I E T Y O F N O R T H A M P T O N A N D F L O R E N C E
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M A I N
S T .
N O R T H A M P T O N ,
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! W W W . U U N O R T H A M P T O N . O R G
M A
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“Bullied” Film Full Press Release Free Screening of “Bullied” Documentary Narrated by Jane Lynch - September 25th Northampton, MA—The Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence is pleased to present a free public screening of “Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case that Made History.” This 2010 documentary by the Southern Poverty Law Center tells the moving story of Jamie Nabozny, a Wisconsin student who suffered relentless harassment and physical abuse. Nabozny fought back in court against his tormentors and the school that should have protected him. The landmark case helped change the understanding of school responsibility in cases of bullying. The compelling documentary, narrated by award-winning actress Jane Lynch, includes dramatized scenes, as well as interviews with Nabozny, now 35, and his mother. “Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case that Made History” is the first in a series of LGBTQ-themed films planned as part of the Big Ol’ Gay (BOG) Film Series. It will be shown Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 12:30, at the Unitarian Society, 220 Main St., Northampton. Lunch will be provided and childcare is available with advance notice. For more information, visit www.uunorthampton.org/bogblog, email bog@uunorthampton.org or call (413) 584-1390. More information about the film can be found on the Southern Poverty Law Center web site www.splcenter.org.
Brief Event Listing Free screening of "Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case that Made History," a documentary by the Southern Poverty Law Center, narrated by Jane Lynch. Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence, Northampton. Sunday, September 25, 2011 12:30pm. Includes lunch. For more information or childcare, email bog@uunorthampton.org or visit www.uunorthampton.org/bogblog.
USNF Website Page http://uunorthampton.org/bogblog/295-bulliedfilm.html “Bullied” Film Screening Free Screening of "Bullied" Documentary Narrated by Jane Lynch - September 25th The Big Ol' Gay Committee kicks off it's first Big Ol' Gay Film Series with a free public screening of "Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case that Made History." This 2010 documentary, narrated by award-winning actress Jane Lynch was produced by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit civil rights organization "dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society." The film tells the moving story of Jamie Nabozny, a Wisconsin student who suffered relentless harassment and physical abuse. Nabozny fought back in court against his tormentors and the school that should have protected him. The landmark case helped change the understanding of school responsibility in cases of bullying. The compelling documentary, narrated by award-winning actress (and Glee star) Jane Lynch, includes dramatized scenes, as well as interviews with Nabozny, now 35, and his mother. "Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case that Made History" will be shown Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 1pm, at the Unitarian Society, 220 Main St., Northampton. Lunch will be provided at 12:30. Childcare is available with advance notice. For more information about the screening, email bog@uunorthampton.org or call (413) 584-1390. More information about the film can be found on the Southern Poverty Law Center web site (www.splcenter.org).
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“Bullied” Film Facebook Event http://www.facebook.com/events/271006366251043/ .
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“Bullied” Film 4-up cards (not actual size)
ONE-SIDE ONLY
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Hot Chocolate Run - USNF Team Web page #1 http://www.uunorthampton.org/bogblog/297-hotchocolaterun2011first.html This is the initial version of this page, which provided information about registering for the event. After registration closed, it was replaced by the second web page (following).
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Hot Chocolate Run - USNF Team Web page #2 http://www.uunorthampton.org/bogblog/353-hotchocolaterun2011.html This second version of the web page replaced the initial one (above). In this version, registration information was removed and gathering information was provided.
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Hot Chocolate Run - USNF Team Web page #2 (cont.)
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Hot Chocolate Run - USNF Team Facebook post with “shared” link Since the Hot Chocolate Run already had a Facebook event created by Safe Passage, my Facebook publicity for the USNF team involved sharing that link along with messages encouraging people to register. The message below is an example of a Facebook post with a “shared” link. This one was posted after our in-house registration had closed, but when there was still time to register directly with Safe Passage. If you haven't registered for the Hot Chocolate Run yet, there's still time! Just register online at http://safepass.org/HCR. Enter "Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence" as your team name and link your fundraising page to the team's.
Team Sticker For a team event, an organizer might choose to create custom t-shirts. Since people are often particular about what they wear to run, especially in the winter, I opted for custom stickers that could be worn on any item of clothing.
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Boston Pride Email Newsletter
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NEWSLETTER - Vol. 3 No. 6 - June 2008 HAPPY PRIDE 2008!
Dear friends, We are closing in on our best Pride ever! Events kicked off Friday with the flag raising at City Hall and hundreds turned out for Pride Day at Faneuil Hall. But there's plenty of more Pride to go around this week and it all culminates on Saturday, June 14th, with one of the biggest parades Boston Pride has ever put on. There are already 120 groups and over 5,000 people registered for the parade and festival. But it's not over till it's over - Pride Week will draw to a close Sunday, June 15th, with our two signature block parties followed by the Boston Pride Closing Party at Roxy! Don't miss this amazing week of events! Check the calendar for details - and read on for more Boston Pride news! The Boston Pride Committee
In this issue 1. Our Green Rainbow 2. Meet Our Entertainers Here 3. ...Then Meet Them Live in the VIP Area 4. Add Your Face to Our Facebook! 5. Keep the Party Going - Sunday, June 15th 6. Komen for the Cure and Boston Pride Team Up for Your Health! 7. A Word to Our Sponsors 8. Pride Idol TONIGHT! 9. It's Not Too Late to Lend Your Hand (and Heart)! 10. Pride Meetings 11. About Boston Pride
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Email Newsletter (cont.) Boston Pride
1. Our Green Rainbow In response to the community’s selection of this year’s Pride Theme “Sustaining Our Community, Conserving Our World,” Boston Pride is launching its first ever “Green Initiative.” The “Green Initiative” consists of a series of programs and events aimed at making the Boston Pride Celebration more environmentally friendly, at raising awareness of community-wide health issues, and at promoting cohesiveness of the various parts of our Community. A complete listing of activities will be released prior to Pride Week, so stay tuned for more info at www.BostonPride.org/ Green, and email us at green@bostonpride.org to participate or suggest additional ideas and programs!
2. Meet Our Entertainers Here This year, we have a fantastic lineup of performers!
Kimberley Locke—You may know Kimberley from American Idol season two, but we're betting what you'll remember after June 14th is her performance at Boston Pride! Kimberley's musical life began at a young age, but she thought she was putting it aside to pursue law school—until she landed a once-in-a-lifetime chance to appear on American Idol. She landed a recording contract with Curb Records and her first album, "One Love," soon followed in 2004. Her song "8th World Wonder" entered the Billboard chart in the number one slot. Her second album, "Based on a True Story," was released in 2007. Be sure to catch the pop- and R&B-influenced tunes of this talented singer and songwriter! 17
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Email Newsletter (cont.) Boston Pride
Kat DeLuna—20-year-old Kat DeLuna hit the top of the charts with her single "Whine Up," featuring Elephant Man, before her first album was even released. Born in the Bronx and raised in the Dominican Republic and New Jersey, Kat trained as an opera singer as a child and learned to appreciate a variety of music styles. At 14, as a student at the New Jersey School of the Performing Arts, she started an all-girl group named Coquette. Today, the bilingual singer brings the diverse threads of her musical and cultural background together in music that blends hip-hop, R&B, merengue, pop, Latin, jazz, electronic and dance styles.
All The Kings Men—For the past six years, local drag-king troupe All The Kings Men (ATKM) has been wowing audiences in Boston and New England with their uproarious blend of lip-synching, choreography and improv comedy. ATKM won the Boston Phoenix's Reader's Choice "Best Kept Secret" Award in 2004, and Curve Magazine named them one of the ten nationwide winners of the "2006 Best Lesbian Theatre Award."
Rizi Timane—Rizi Timane is a gospel singer who hails not from the South, but from the North...of Nigeria, that is. Born into the zuru tribe of Northern Nigeria, Rizi went to military school (because it was free, she explains) then moved to London, where she earned an MBA. After working as an art buyer, she ended up returning to her love of performing. Now, she has two albums to her name, the latest being "Just the Way You Are." Her website expands on the title: "Lets stop the hatred, fight the ignorance and spread the truth. God loves you just the way you are."
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Email Newsletter (cont.) Boston Pride
Lori Michaels—The multi-talented, out lesbian Lori Michaels has a debut CD, "Living My Life Out Loud," due to be released, and a hit song and dance club show, "Me & The Girls," in which she is both star and choreographer. She's also the founder and president of Reach Out, Inc., a non-profit organization that, according to its website, "educates and promotes awareness about the perils of illegal drugs, alcohol abuse, tobacco, crime, violence, prejudice, and life threatening diseases." No wonder GO! magazine called Lori a "Renaissance woman!"
Brendan Velasquez—Brendan Velazquez started producing his own blend of electronica, rock, and pop at the ripe young age of 16. Now, at 19, he has his first CD due to be released this summer. He's not just a man of music, though; he also has a message. After losing his father to AIDS in 2006, he is determined to educate youth about the importance of safer sex practices. To learn more about our entertainers, check out our entertainment page.
3. ...Then Meet Them Live in the VIP Area Join us for a VIP meet-and-greet at the first-ever Festival Beer Garden from 3 pm to 6 pm! A $5 entry fee and proper ID (21+ only) will get you in—the stars in your eyes might make you stay! Meet our Celebrity Marshal, Leslie Jordan, and all your favorite performing artists from our main stage.
4. Add Your Face to Our Facebook! Boston Pride has entered the Facebook Age! If you use Facebook as an online social utility, you can now connect with others attending Boston Pride by adding us as a friend. Check our profile for old and new friends and share your hopes for Pride 2008 on our Wall. After Pride, tell us what you thought and share memories with other Pride-goers. You can also post your photos and tag them with "Boston Pride" so others can find them—and maybe even spot themselves! (Be sure to check other photos in our gallery to see if you see yourself!)
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Email Newsletter (cont.) Boston Pride 5. Keep the Party Going with Pride's Signature Block Parties (Sunday, June 15th)
JP Block Party This year the JP Block Party invites you to PARTY ON THE PAVEMENT AT PERKINS! Perkins Street will be transformed into a mini "big dig" area, with tool belt dancers, construction signs, safety vests, cones, flashing warning lights, and much, much more. DJ Kristin Korpos will be spinning your favorite tunes high above the crowd on a scissor lift stage. And new this year is the smoke and alcohol-free zone for our friends who want a chill out with a soda, water or energy drink. The Block Party will also offer Pride merchandise, clothes from dykesinthecity (DITC), body art, and $1 chair massages by a licensed massage therapist. While you're there, you can also visit the MSPCA pet adoption booth and the Susan G Komen for a Cure booth to get info on their fight to find a cure for breast cancer. You can find the JP Block Party at the corner of Perkins and Centre Street, in Jamaica Plain, on Sunday, June 15th from 1-7pm. $10 admission benefits Boston Pride.
Stuart Street Block Party This year don't miss the 8th annual Stuart Street Block Party! All-time favorite and international superstar Tracy Young is back by popular demand. She will be spinning hot dance music! Local and upcoming DJ Ranny will be opening the event at noon. Hot dancers and drink specials‌ what else to conclude Boston Pride?! New this year, a smoke and alcohol-free zone will be available at the event! We will also be providing bike racks at the entrance, so be green and bike with Pride! This Stuart Street Block Party is on Stuart between Arlington Street and Berkeley Street, but this year we're doing something different...The one and only entrance is on Berkeley Street! Doors open at noon. $10 admission benefits Boston Pride. 20
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Email Newsletter (cont.) Boston Pride 6. Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Boston Pride Team Up for Your Health!
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Massachusetts Affiliate, is proud to be a partner of Boston Pride. The partnership is working together during Pride Week and throughout the year to promote LGBT awareness, dignity, and understanding around breast health. According to statistics from Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the risk of breast cancer is higher among lesbian women who are less likely to have gone through childbirth and may not obtain regular medical care. Since reproductive issues are a primary reason many female-bodied people seek medical care, those who don't have reproductive concerns may not see a health-care provider routinely—and they may not receive timely advice and care for other issues, such as breast health, as a result. Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Boston Pride suggest: • all people with breasts—no matter what their gender-identity—find a health-care provider who is sensitive to their health issues • see that provider regularly • follow the provider's advice concerning breast exams and mammograms. To learn more, visit the Susan G. Komen booth at the Boston Pride Festival, and the JP Block Party! For more information about the Susan G. Komen Foundation, please visit komenmass.org.
7. A Word to Our Sponsors With a big and fabulous Pride celebration like ours, it may seem like Pride is an irrepressible force of nature that comes each June. The reality is that Boston Pride couldn't happen without our dedicated volunteers and the incredible support of our sponsors. Please join us in taking a moment to thank our sponsors for helping us make Boston Pride the amazing event that it is!
Note: Sponsor list continued onto next page (not included).
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Boston Pride Press Release #1 Boston Pride Events for Friday, June 13th (Boston, MA – June 12, 2008) The Boston Pride Committee is pleased to announce the following events which will be held on Friday, June 13th. Meet author Rich Merritt—At 1 p.m., Merritt will be signing his book, "Code of Conduct," a work of fiction about gays in the military, informed by Merritt's own experiences as a Marine. The book signing will be at Borders Downtown, located at 10-24 School Street, Boston, MA. Dyke March—At 6 p.m., gather at the Boston Common Gazebo for this annual event that aims to to provide a dynamic and welcoming space for participants of all sexualities, genders, races, ages, ethnicities, sizes, economic backgrounds, and physical abilities. Official Dyke March Afterparty—Follow up the Dyke March with the official afterparty at the Ballroom Blitz. The party will include music by DJ Kris Kono and a book signing by author Lynn Gravbelle. Doors open at 9pm at the Holiday Inn, 30 Washington St, Somerville, MA. Proceeds will benefit the Dyke March. Pride Blackout Party—Get the adrenaline pumping Friday night with DJ Hector Fonseca at the Pride Blackout Party, an official Boston Pride at Night event. Doors open at 10 p.m. at Machine Nightclub, 1254 Boylston Street, Boston, MA. For more information about Boston Pride events, visit www.bostonpride.org. Boston Pride 2008 will take place June 6 through June 15.
Press Release #2 Boston Pride Events for Saturday, June 14th (Boston, MA – June 13, 2008) The Boston Pride Committee is pleased to announce the following events which will be held on Saturday, June 14th. Boston Pride Parade—The parade will kick off at 12 noon, rain or shine, from Tremont St. and end at City Hall Plaza. Everyone planning to march should bring water and sunscreen. Don't let those mid-70's temperatures fool you —those UV rays are intense! Line-up information for parade contingents is ready on the Boston Pride Web site at www.bostonpride.org. Boston Pride Festival—After the parade, stick around from noon to 6 pm at City Hall Plaza, where the parade ends and the celebration begins. Highlights of the festival will include entertainment by American Idol finalist Kimberley Locke, pop singer Kat DeLuna, drag kings ATKM (All the Kings Men), Lori Michaels, Brendan Velasquez and gospel singer Rizi Timane. Bring the kids and enjoy carnival games, face painting and more in the family area. If you're over 21, check out the Beer Garden; bring your i.d. and $5 to get in. Esme Block Party—Women wanting to show their pride can check out the Esme Women's Block Party and rock out with DJ Lynda Lowell. The Women's Block Party will be held from 2-7 pm at Boylston Place, across from the Boston Common. Boston Pride at Night Main Event Party—Keep the celebration going into the night at Roxy with Junior Vasquez. Doors will open at 10 pm. Check it out at 279 Tremont Street, Boston. For more information about Boston Pride events, visit www.bostonpride.org. Boston Pride 2008 will take place June 6 through June 15.
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Holly Near Concert Poster
Credit: Irene Yo
ung
with JOHN BUCCHINO
and SPECIAL GUEST
Holly’s Photo
LAURA LOVE
HOLLY NEAR
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011 TWO SHOWS: 2pm and 8pm
For ticket information: www.uunorthampton.org
$22 in advance $25 at the door
Presented by
Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence 220 Main St. Northampton, MA
Productions
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Holly Near Concert 4-up cards
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Twitter Samples
Promotional Tweets Rate and vote for best religious books of the year -- I Speak for Myself is in the running! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ 2011/12/15/best-religious-books-of-2_n_1151549.html#s546000&title=I_Speak_For "Muslims Remember 9/11" this evening 6:30 N'ton- opportunity for Muslims to reflect on the tragedy and its anniversary. facebook.com/event.php?eid=‌ New book "Progressive Muslim Identities" available on Amazon now! Includes my essay re: parenting post-9/11. amazon.com/Progressive-Mu‌
Example of live Tweeting at an event Poignant description of queer immigrant intersection by Ernesto Dominguez recipient of #cc12 youth leadership award MD Gov O'Malley takes stage at #cc12 "I decided to create the man that I deserve to be." Wilson Cruz #cc12 "We work so hard on the work sometimes we forget to talk about the love." Wilson Cruz #cc12 The essence of love doesn't change because the gender of love is problematic to some - Viola Johnson #CC12 what a great acceptance speech! Retweet from Tera N. Jade Greene Tell the census to count LGBT people--text "count" to 69866. #cc12 Note: There are no tweets in the publicity sets for USNF events. Ideally, Twitter would be used to promote those events, as well. Currently, USNF is in the process of developing policy regarding the use of Twitter and other social media. As a result, there are no Twitter accounts set up for USNF or any of its committees, at this time.
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Press Release Pioneer Valley Gay Men’s Chorus Fall Concert “Seize the Day” with the Pioneer Valley Gay Men’s Chorus on November 19 Northampton, MA—On Saturday, November 19th, the Pioneer Valley Gay Men’s Chorus (PVGMC) will “seize the day” with a spirited concert at the Unitarian Society in Northampton. The theme “Seize the Day!” is borrowed from a song in the movie Newsies, a popular tune in PVGMC’s varied repertoire. The concert—the first of the 2011-2012 season—will showcase the versatility of the Chorus by offering attendees a musical kaleidoscope. Selections will range from Hollywood and Broadway musicals through pop hits and folk songs. The concert will include both well-known and original arrangements composed specifically for the Chorus. Since the early 1980s, performances by the Chorus have presented gay men in a joyful and positive light. Their weekly rehearsals simultaneously provided a warm, accepting environment for gay men to create music. “Music communicates much more than the words contained in its lyrics,” said PVGMC musical director, Lawrence McFarland. “PVGMC chooses choral pieces that link lyrics with luscious harmony, visceral rhythms, and dynamic changes that reach deep within each listener,” said McFarland. “Whether humorous, high-spirited, or heartbreaking, messages encased in a musical veneer become more intense and memorable.” Many of these messages, whether through tongue-in-cheek comedy or more direct calls to action, help to promote an end to discrimination against and within the GLBTQ community. PVGMC has helped to overcome barriers often experienced by members of the GLBTQ community through its own concerts around the region, through shared billing with other community choruses (including the renowned Young at Heart Chorus), and through special engagements at churches and other places of worship, as well as for community groups. “Seize the Day!” concert tickets are available for a suggested donation of $12 per person, with a special price of $8 for seniors and students. Chaperoned children under 12 may attend at no cost. In addition, the Pioneer Valley Gay Men’s Chorus will support the important work of the Northampton Survival Center by offering a $1 discount to anyone who brings a donation of non-perishable food to the event. Tickets are available at Serio’s Market, through chorus members or at the door. Event details: “Seize the Day!” concert by the Pioneer Valley Gay Men’s Chorus concert, Saturday , November 19, 2011, at 7:30 pm, at the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence (220 Main St., Northampton). Tickets: $12 adults, $8 seniors & students, no charge for children under 12; $1 discount for non-perishable food donations to the Northampton Survival Center. For more information about the concert or the Pioneer Valley Gay Men’s Chorus, visit www.pvgmc.org.
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Press Release President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities Brown University Student Named Recipient of 1998 Nike Scholarship for Students with Disabilities (Washington, DC -- December 10, 1998) The President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, in cooperation with NIKE, INC., has named Brown University student Eli Abarbanel-Wolff the winner of the first NIKE Scholarship for an undergraduate with a disability who is pursuing a degree in a sports or recreation field. "Eli’s pursuit and praiseworthy efforts towards providing sports and recreation opportunities to children and individuals with special needs are a shining example of what positive impact one individual can make in the lives of others," said Douglas A. Stamm, NIKE’s Director of Global Community Affairs. Abarbanel-Wolff, a resident of Washington, DC, is studying organizational management. His numerous related activities include an internship with the United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association and assisting his university’s Center for Public Service in developing athletic programs for people with disabilities. He is a member of the player pool for the United States National Soccer Team for athletes with stroke, head injury and cerebral palsy, and participated in the soccer division of the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta. Eligibility criteria for the $2,500 scholarship include American citizenship and undergraduate enrollment at a four-year, accredited college or university in the United States. Applicants must be people with disabilities who are majoring in sports or recreation management, sports marketing, sports medicine or sports/recreation retail. "Education is, for many Americans with disabilities, an important pathway to work. We are proud to recognize the generosity of NIKE to the President’s Committee’s 1998 Recognition Program," said President’s Committee Chairman Tony Coelho. NIKE, INC. has made a three-year commitment to the President’s Committee’s scholarship program. The winner of the annual NIKE Scholarship is selected by a panel comprised of President’s Committee members. The President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities is a small federal agency based in Washington, DC. The Committee’s mission is to communicate, coordinate and promote public and private efforts to enhance the employment of people with disabilities. The Committee provides information, training and technical assistance to America’s business leaders, organized labor, rehabilitation and service providers, advocacy organizations, families and individuals with disabilities. It also operates the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a toll-free information service on workplace accommodations and the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additional information about the President’s Committee is available on the Internet at www.pcepd.gov.
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Recruiting New Teachers, Inc. Three-part email marketing campaign First email The National Pathways to Teaching Careers Conference 2000 is coming up March 23-25, 2000 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts! Join RNT and conference sponsors DeWitt Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund, the Ford Foundation, and the National Education Association as we explore this year’s theme of “Finding and Keeping High Quality Teachers – New Possibilities.” The 2000 conference will focus on a number of important issues. We’ll take a look at what works, discovering strategies for successful teacher recruitment and retention. We’ll hear about recruitment incentives being used by school districts across the country and we’ll learn how technology is changing the way districts recruit teachers in the Information Age. We’ll highlight successful statewide recruitment efforts and we’ll consider what the future holds for teacher supply and demand. We’ll discuss teacher retention initiatives and the important role principals play in recruiting and keeping skilled teachers. We’ll also talk about ensuring teacher quality through accountability, testing and standards. If you are interested in receiving a conference brochure or would like to register, contact us by email or call Lisa Cella at (617) 489-6000. For updated information about the conference and additional registration information, visit our website at http://www.rnt.org. Register before December 31, 1999 to pay the reduced early bird registration rate!
Second email Register now for the National Pathways to Teaching Careers Conference, March 23-25, 2000 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts! Take part in this important conference as we focus on the critical issues of “Finding and Keeping High Quality Teachers—New Possibilities.” Visit our website at http://www.rnt.org for updated information on the conference and for registration information. You may also register or request a conference brochure by sending email to Lisa Cella at lcella@rnt.org or by calling (617) 489-6000. Registration must be received by February 28, 2000 in order to avoid the late registration rate.
Third email Time is running out to pre-register for the National Pathways to Teaching Careers Conference, March 23-25, 2000 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts! This important conference will explore critical issues of “Finding and Keeping High Quality Teachers – New Possibilities.” Presentations will examine current trends in teacher recruitment and successful recruitment programs used by states and school districts across the country. We’ll also explore important methods of identifying and retaining skilled teachers. These and many more issues will be covered in this exciting conference, so take a moment to register now! Visit our website at http://www.rnt.org for updated information on the conference and for registration information. You may also register by sending email to Lisa Cella at lcella@rnt.org or by calling (617) 489-6000. Registration must be received by February 28, 2000 in order to avoid the late registration rate!
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Northampton High School PTO Letter to Potential Donors
PTO
NORTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL
380 Elm Street • Northampton, MA 01060
February 29, 2008 Hi, I am a regular customer at your restaurant-and a member of the Northampton High School PTO. This year, the PTO is inviting area restaurants to participate in a one-day PTO Restaurant Night fundraiser by donating 10% of meal prices on Wednesday, April 2, to the Northampton High School PTO. This donation would only apply to those customers who mention Northampton High School or present one of our flyers when dining. As a customer who has enjoyed your restaurant many times, and thoroughly supports your business, I see this as a great way to encourage people to visit your restaurant in mid-week and an opportunity to introduce new patrons to your wonderful food. Because we want to be able to include your restaurant’s name on our flyers, we hope you’ll consider this. Our deadline for mailing the flyers out is quickly approaching, so I’ll be contacting you in the next day or so to ask what you’ve decided. I hope you’ll take this opportunity to help our local high school-and share what you do so well with new or returning customers on April 2nd. Thank you for giving this request your consideration! I look forward to being able to see your name on our flyers soon! Sincerely,
! Yes! I want to participate in the NHS PTO fundraiser by contributing 10% of meal prices on April 2, 2008, for those customers who mention NHS or bring in a PTO Restaurant Event flyer.
! No, I do not want to participate in this NHS PTO fundraiser.
Signature of owner or representative
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Diarist Awards Rejection Letter
Hello, As you know, one of your journal entries was a finalist in the Diarist Awards for this quarter. We regret to inform you that your entry did not win the award for its category this time around. (To view the Diarist Award winners for this quarter, please visit http://www.diarist.net/awards/winners.shtml.) We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you again on being a finalist. Being a Diarist Awards finalist means that one (or more) of your readers felt that your entry was among the best online this quarter -- and the Diarist Awards panel agreed. We hope that you will continue to display the Quarter 4 2004 icon with pride, as it symbolizes the recognition of your accomplishment as an online journalist. Best wishes for your continued success,
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Brochure Pan American University Foundation
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Brochure (cont.) Pan American University Foundation
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Article: Boston Pride Human Rights Committee The Rainbow Times January 2012 http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/2012/01/31/boston-prides-human-rights-road-tour-parks-in-northampton-2/
Boston Pride’s Human Rights Road Tour parks in Northampton Last month, Boston Pride’s new Human Rights & Education Committee made a stop in Northampton on its statewide Community Forum Road Tour. The forum, held at the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence, drew LGBT people from around – and beyond – the Pioneer Valley. Attendees came to hear about the new committee and its mission, as well as to talk to representatives of one of the country’s largest LGBT Pride organizations about human rights issues. Each year, Boston Pride organizes a Pride Week that includes a variety of events, including the parade and festival for which the organization is best known. Yet Boston Pride is more than the parade; in fact, even the parade is more than a parade. “It’s not just a parade. It’s a march – and it’s important,” said Linda DeMarco, Board President of Boston Pride. Boston Pride is active year-round producing events and collaborating with other organizations. The Human Rights and Education Committee is one manifestation of a 365-day focus. “This is a committee that can do things throughout the year,” said Steve Auger, a member of the Committee. According to the Boston Pride website, the Committee’s purpose is to advocate for social justice by “disseminating news, promoting dialogue, and mobilizing people to take action on issues of local, national and global significance.” To that end, the committee took to the road to get feedback from LGBT communities around the state. Its first Community Forum was held in November. The Northampton forum, co-sponsored by the LGBT Coalition and the Unitarian Society’s Big Ol’ Gay Committee, was the first to take place in Western Massachusetts. “What can the Human Rights & Education Committee do for the community?” asked Steve Auger. Attendees had no shortage of answers. Many ideas generated by attendees focused on using Boston’s Pride Week to reach a broader audience. The crowds and media coverage drawn by Boston Pride make it an ideal opportunity to spotlight human rights issues. One way to do that would be to hold an LGBT-focused human-rights conference in conjunction with Pride Week. William Urich, chair of Human Rights for InterPride (the International Association of LGBTI Pride Organizers), said Pride events in the U.S. differ from many in Europe and South America. In those places, he explained, “you don’t have a pride event without a human-rights conference.” “The single more important thing any pride can do is educate,” said Urich. The Committee members expressed interest in putting together such a conference, possibly in collaboration with other community organization. They said it would not happen in time for Boston Pride 2012, but they would consider it for the future. Another suggestion proposed having a politically-themed play to offer both entertainment and education. The Committee has a wide array of human rights issues to tackle, yet prioritizing them is complicated. One attendee of the Northampton forum talked about how different intersections of identity may result in different human-rights priorities. “If someone stares at me,” she explained, “is it because I’m black? Is it because they think I’m a lesbian?” For her, as a gay African-American single mother, she explained that racial equality might be her first concern, while for a white lesbian, sexual orientation might take priority. One specific issue raised in the forum was the need for a change in federal asylum policy. Currently, asylum may be granted to people who fear serious persecution, such as a threat to their life. Some would like to see asylum granted to people who face forced heterosexual marriage, which may amount to rape. At the same time, one attendee felt strongly that people need to move away from thinking of human rights as an international issue. “Human rights are not just an international issue. It is something that happens here. It is something that happens in our own backyards.” “We’ve fallen into a little bit of complacency, especially in Massachusetts,” said Andrea Egitto. “I have no problem walking downtown holding my wife’s hand, but even here in Northampton there are kids afraid to come out.” In the coming months, the Human Rights & Education Committee will continue its road tour with forums in the South Shore and in the Boston area. The Committee is seeking new members from across the state. For more information about Boston Pride’s Human Rights and Education Committee, visit www.bostonpride.org/humanrights. 33
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Article: Suicide Prevention Conference The Rainbow Times November 2011 http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/2011/12/13/suicide-prevention-conference-draws-attention-to-lgbtq-suicide-risks/ Suicide-prevention conference draws attention to LGBTQ suicide risks It is generally accepted that suicide rates in the LGBTQ community are especially high. Yet, there are no official statistics to back that up, according to Dr. Ann Haas, a medical sociologist with the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. However, she says, that doesn’t mean it’s not true. “It’s important to understand there is no official set of data,” Haas told an audience of professionals gathered for a conference on suicide prevention held at The Log Cabin Banquet and Meetinghouse in Holyoke last month. ‘We just don’t have any information about suicide rates.” She explained that the lack of data is a result of U.S. death certificates’ not including sexual orientation or gender-identity information. In some cases, it might not even be possible to get accurate information from survivors. Young people, for example, might not have come out. What is known about LGBTQ suicide risk comes from other kinds of statistics. Haas cited a 2009 study that showed that men in same-sex domestic partnerships were eight times more likely to die from suicide than men in heterosexual marriages, and twice as likely as men who had never been married or partnered. She called these results “startling.” Another study of lesbians and gay men revealed that gay men were four times more likely than straight men to have attempted suicide; lesbians were twice as likely as heterosexual women to have made an attempt. Lesbian and gay male youth report three times more attempts — and those attempts are four times more likely to be considered “medically serious” — than their straight peers. Statistics for transgender people are even more rare, and more startling. Haas provided data from the 2009 National Transgender Discrimination Survey, which showed that 41 percent of transgender people reported making a suicide attempt, but it’s not clear when those attempts took place. “The lack of age-related data on lifetime attempts is a problem,” Haas said, explaining that it’s not clear if the risk is higher in youth than in adults and, if so, by how much. “We certainly pay more attention to LGBT youth than we do to LGBT adults,” she said. “As a result, in the popular mind, this seems like a youth problem.” One thing is clear about youth risk in general: “Youth attempt suicide more,” said Haas, “but they don’t succeed more.” “A suicide attempt is a risk factor but not a strong predictor of completed suicide,” Haas continued. Fewer than 10 percent of people admitted to the hospital after a suicide attempt actually die from suicide in the next 10 years. Haas also noted that it is significant that there is an increased risk of depression and other mental disorders, including substance abuse, among LGBT people. These, in turn, become risk factors for suicide. In the NESARC survey in 2010, there was a clear correlation between increased rates of mental disorders and a combination of lesbian, gay or bisexual identity, behavior and attraction. Men who reported only same-sex behavior or attraction, but not identity, had higher rates of mental disorders than men with only heterosexual experiences and attraction. On the other hand, women who reported same-sex behavior or attraction, but not lesbian identity, had lower rates of mental disorders than their counterparts who reported only heterosexual activity or attraction. The NESARC survey and the National Transgender Discrimination Survey were significant, according to Haas, because they underscore the dangers of lumping different demographic groups together, as can happen in research on LGBT populations. “We don’t have consistent definitions of terms,” Haas noted. She explained that behavior is often used as the defining criteria because it is the criteria used in the health care model of risk, as with data regarding men who have sex with men, where identity is less relevant. “Identity may be the strongest predictor [of suicide risk], especially with regard to mental disorders,” Haas said. Bullying, also, can lead to risk factors of suicide such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse. Yet, according to Haas, bullying alone does not appear to statistically increase risk of suicide in a significant way. Another major factor Haas cited was access to health insurance, with 22 percent of LGBT people lacking health insurance versus half that number among heterosexual, cisgender individuals. “If you look at health insurance access and the evidence for increased risk of mental disorders [among LGBT people], that’s a very troubling combination.” 34
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Article: Suicide Prevention Conference (cont.) Haas recommended a number of steps to aid in prevention, starting with improving the knowledgebase by gathering more information about deaths. “We’ve got to find out what LGBT people are dying from,” Haas said. Haas also recommended increased funding for LGBT suicide research and promoting awareness and understanding of LGBT suicide risk. Gathered that day were hundreds from the health care community, benefiting from the information she presented, but Haas stressed that the information needed to reach LGBT people. “We need to be sure that we’re speaking to the LGBT communities.” She noted that one obstacle to working with the LGB community is the distrust caused by previous inclusion of homosexuality in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders. “It’s been years since sexual orientation was removed [from the DSM],” said Haas, “but this lives on in the LGB community.”
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Article: AIDS Walk 2011 The Rainbow Times October 2011 http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/2011/10/05/aids-walk-raises-money-and-awareness-in-western-mass/ AIDS Walk Raises Money and Awareness in Western Mass On Saturday, Sept. 10, over 400 people gathered in Springfield’s Forest Park to raise money and awareness for the AIDS Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Inc. (AFWM). The AIDS Walk/5K Run and Festival began with registration at 10 a.m. and continued through the afternoon. A clear blue sky and easing of summer heat made it a good day for a run or walk, with many groups and families pushing strollers following a bit behind the runners on the same path. Craig Balderston led the race, finishing in 21:51. Melissa Madison, a first-time participant accompanied by her mother and her two children, was the first woman across the finish line, in 23:37. While the overall number of registrants was the same as last year, AIDS Foundation Executive Director Jessica Crevier noticed a shift. “We had a much larger number of runners this year, which is exciting,” she said. The AIDS Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to assisting people living with HIV and AIDS in Hampden and Hampshire counties. Founded in 1993, the organization is striving to help an increased number of people dealing with financial challenges. “In previous years, AFWM has tended to receive substantially fewer grant [applications] over the summer months. However, this summer has seen more applications than are expected in even our busiest seasons. Further, we are receiving a large number of requests from new applicants. People who have never needed assistance before are reaching out for help to make ends meet,” Crevier explained. According to the Foundation, 100 percent of the money raised by the AIDS Walk is given back to the community. That mainly takes place in two ways: individual grants and educational programming. Individual grants provide financial assistance of up to $500 at a time to individuals in need. Since 1993, the AIDS Foundation has provided grants totaling over $750,000. “AFWM grants can help them catch up with their rent or secure new housing,” said Crevier. “We assist with purchasing appliances, keeping utilities turned on, paying medical expenses, and other necessities for maintaining a good quality of life. As people continue to struggle financially and community services are cut, more and more people require the leg-up that the foundation can provide.” Another way the AIDS Foundation gives back to the community is through educational programs. One such program is the AIDS kNOw More Project (AKMP), for students in middle school through college who are committed to educating themselves about HIV/AIDS — then sharing that knowledge with peers. Participants and their advisers receive peer education training from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The group meets twice a month from 6 to 8 p.m. at the AIDS Foundation office in Springfield and members participate each year in the AIDS Walk. Another project of the AIDS Foundation is the “Living Positive” group for men living with HIV/AIDS. The group meets on the second Wednesday of every month, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at The Research Institute in Springfield. After the AIDS Walk, participants were treated to hot dogs and burgers, while listening to live music by the John Brandoli Band. Two vendors offered massages, while others, such as Walgreens, offered free reusable bags and other promotional items. A number of LGBTQ support and advocacy organizations were represented, including the LGBT Coalition of Western Massachusetts and Out Now. “This was the first year that we actively sought out community vendors,” Crevier said. “It is important that people can come together and network with local organizations and businesses, and perhaps learn about some services that they might not otherwise have access to. We hope to expand upon our vendors row in coming years, and reach out to additional businesses and organizations, as well as local artisans and practitioners.” With the annual AIDS Walk/5K Run and Festival behind them, the AIDS Foundation will soon gear up for their biggest fundraiser, a 15-year-old gala recently renamed “Viva!” — a celebration of life. Doors will open for “Viva!” at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 27, 2012, at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke. Featuring live entertainment, live and silent auctions, and delicious food, the event brings out the community — to have a good time and help the AIDS Foundation in its critically important work. “Our area has the second fastest growing rate of infection in the state,” Crevier said, “and it is our responsibility as community members to respond to this epidemic.” To find out more about the AIDS Foundation of Western Massachusetts, visit aidsfoundationwm.org. 36
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Article: Susan Stinson The Rainbow Times August 2011 http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/2011/12/12/lambda-names-susan-stinson-outstanding-mid-career-novelist/ Lambda names Susan Stinson Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist This year, when Susan Stinson traveled to New York for the 23rd Annual Lambda Literary Foundation awards ceremony, she looked forward to seeing prizes go to books she reviewed-and came home with one of the Foundation’s most prestigious awards. The Outstanding Mid-Career Novelists’ Prize-at $5000-is the largest award granted by the Foundation. The Prize goes to writers who have written at least three novels, or two novels and substantial additional literary work, such as poetry or essays. The Foundation’s Executive Director, Tony Valenzuela, calls the award “Lambda’s bullhorn at a rally.” Stinson, Writer-in-Residence at Northampton’s Forbes Library, won for her books Fat Girl Dances with Rocks, Martha Moody, Venus of Chalk and Belly Songs. In addition, the Foundation considered her recently completed novel, Spider in a Tree, about 18th century preacher Jonathan Edwards. “My newest book has no queer content,” Stinson said. “Having Lambda recognize my career to this point is very affirming. When I’m taking those risks in my own writing, it’s such a beautiful leap of faith-and Lambda is willing to stretch with me.” Stinson is no stranger to leaps of faith. Born in Texas, she was raised in Boulder, Colorado, then moved to Boston after college. “Boston was culturally hard,” she admits. Yet, there in the Boston area, she thrived. Stinson had always thought of herself as a writer, but her writing took off within the community of women she met through the Cambridge Women’s Center. “I came out of a lesbian feminist tradition. There was a network, bookstores, presses. All my books have been published by small feminist presses. That network doesn’t exist (anymore).” Initially, she looked at her experience and wondered, “What do I have to write about?” She gave herself a task. “Describe my body without using words that are pejorative,” she explains. “It was incredibly hard…so emotionally charged.” That exercise led Stinson to a personal truth: her body, her queerness, and her writing are tightly bound together. Over the years, she has appreciated the camaraderie of other fat lesbian writers and fat positive community-something she says she’s felt to some degree in western Massachusetts. Stinson’s novel, Venus of Chalk (Firebrand Press, 2004), offers the reader a fat lesbian protagonist who grapples with a changing understanding of gender. “She’s from that culture, as I am. She refers to Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival. She’s struggling. She’s trying to understand new ways of looking at gender and asking how to be true to herself.” With Venus of Chalk, Stinson ventured into territory outside the lesbian feminism that she had embraced when she came out. “People thought I was trying to appeal to a different audience,” Stinson says, shaking her head. “I could not have the life that I have, if I hadn’t been in that world and had access to that [feminist] knowledge base. I want to honor that, not erase it or forget it.” Stinson’s new novel, Spider in a Tree, has offered her new opportunities to challenge herself and grow. Writing about Jonathan Edwards, a prominent 18th century theologian who lived and preached in Northampton, required truly understanding his beliefs. Raised Methodist, Stinson already had some insight into his faith. “I have respect for what Christianity means to people I love,” Stinson says. Although information about Edwards abounds in Massachusetts, in 2007, Stinson attended a conference about Edwards held in Budapest. “When I was in Budapest, I heard a really brilliant theologian talking about Jonathan Edwards’ understanding of the trinity. He explained God as a father-figure/creator who is love, Jesus as the beloved-love needs an object-and the Holy Spirit as the love between them.” “The Great Awakening swept through the colonies and framed the national identity,” Stinson says, adding that preachers like Edwards “were rock stars.”
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Article: Susan Stinson (cont.) As willing as Stinson is to step outside her comfort zone, not everyone is willing to follow her there. Spider in a Tree has yet to find a publisher, despite Stinson’s many laurels. “Everyone knows I’m a lesbian. For a Christian publisher, my previous work could be a problem,” Stinson says. “That problem is part of what’s so compelling. Creating a wholeness, writing this … I don’t want to have to be reduced to just one aspect of my life.” That is what makes winning the Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Award particularly poignant to Stinson. In giving her the prestigious award, the Lambda Literary Foundation signaled their approval of Stinson’s past work and her current projects, acknowledging and affirming her as an outstanding queer author, no matter where her inspiration leads her-and her readersnext. To find out more about Susan Stinson, visit her website at www.susanstinson.net. Information about other Lambda Literary award winners can be found at www.lambdaliterary.org.
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Article: Profile of Nelson Roman The Rainbow Times June 2011 http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/2011/12/12/nelson-roman-the-indefatigable-young-man-committed-to-a-betterholyoke-for-%E2%80%9Ctodos%E2%80%9D/ Nelson Roman: Committed to a Better Holyoke for “Todos” Nelson Roman knows personally how important safe space is for LGBT youth—and how just one or two people can make a profound difference. He describes hiding from boys who bullied him and called him “faggot” in middle school gym class, before he was out as gay. “One time, they went down to the shower, and my gym teacher left the room. Five or six boys beat me up and kicked me out of the locker room, butt-naked,” he recalls. “I just remember feeling so low.” It was another student who first came to his aid. “Kevin Gardner-I’ll never forget his name-started fighting off the other guys. Then I remember the gym teacher, Mr. Gorman, running down the hall, picking up all of the boys by their shirts. He asked what happened and covered me. Mr. Gorman gave me a hug and said “Hey man, it is all right. You are okay and you are safe.” That’s what sticks with him. “All it takes is just one person to be able to stand up and say ‘it is okay, you are loved and you are safe,’” Roman says. Today, the 23-year-old Roman leads Holyoke For All-Holyoke Para Todos, formerly called the Holyoke LGBT Task Force. For the past five years, the group has organized the annual Western Mass Youth Pride Prom. This year, more than 700 young people attended the event designed to be safe and affirming for everyone, regardless of identity. “To me, the proudest moment has been taking the Holyoke For All-Holyoke Para Todos group that used to be just a task force-granted, an amazing group in its concept and origin-and becoming a real, big, fledgling 5O1(c)3 pending nonprofit group,” Roman says. “We are doing amazing work. Our youth groups are starting. Our community groups are starting. Stretching beyond the prom and doing actual community work is exciting to me.” Among the group’s upcoming events is a new Snowfall Ball for adults on December 9th, and a Latina/Latino Gay Pride event that is in the works. One reason he is so passionate is that Roman has sharply tuned his attention to the intersections of race and class in the LGBTQ community. It is one of the two “fronts” he feels the LGBTQ community most needs to address. “They [young poor LGBTQ people of color] are having a really different experience coming out,” Roman says. “There is really no place for them to go.” “It is actually our ambition to really get out there, really work for the LGBT community of Holyoke, which really, really needs it,” he added. According to 2009 data, the poverty level in Holyoke is triple that of the state average, with approximately half of all children living in poverty. The city’s population is almost equally Hispanic and white, with 5% of the population from other racial or ethnic backgrounds. “It is a tale of two cities,” Roman says of his work in Holyoke. “We have the LGBTQ individuals who live in [Holyoke neighborhood] the Highlands or that own homes in Northampton, who are great individuals and very much tied to the whole Northampton [LGBTQ] movement. They are very out there, and they are affluent.” Then there’s the flip side. “The LGBTQ community that is down in the flats are people of color who really don’t know about that life,” Roman says. “They are accustomed to having a support network of individuals [in the community] who are Latinos and Latinas.” “I can’t tell you, just since we have changed our name [to be bilingual] the number of LGBTQ Latinas and Latinos who have been coming out.” The two different groups share the same priorities. “They are looking for where to really get together and start planning some amazing things [for our own community] that are right here, local. I think that is what our group brings,” Roman says. “It’s that dynamic group force of the young, old, black, white, Latino, Latina, and really reaching to bridge those communities together.” The other “front” Roman wants to focus on is transgender rights and inclusion. “I feel like a lot of the time, the L, G and B communities forget the T community. That T is sometimes left out completely, or we just do not acknowledge our brothers and sisters out there who are really on the front line of the movement,” Roman says. “They need our support. They need our force 150% behind them.” 39
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Article: Nelson Roman (cont.) Roman counts among his inspirations José Sarria, founder of the International Court System, a 46-year-old network of Imperial Courts that is the second largest GLBT organization in the world. Roman credits the Imperial Court system of Connecticut for teaching him leadership skills he uses in his work today. Sarria, called “Mama José” by many, was the first openly gay candidate for San Francisco city supervisor, 16 years before Harvey Milk broke the pink ceiling to win that position. “This little 76 year-old pioneer drag queen was really raising awareness and attention, through beatings, through hate crimes, and on a national front,” Roman says with clear admiration. “I truly and honestly refer to him a lot, and because he is Latino, I can really relate to him.” Roman thinks Sarria and the Court culture help remind the LGBTQ community of its campy roots. “The community sometimes forgets we-gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual-are a very vocal, outgoing, fun and campy culture.” Roman also looks to Alex Morse, the 21-year-old gay candidate for Holyoke mayor, as a role model. A strong supporter, Roman served as Morse’s volunteer campaign manager-adding that role to his full-plate of Holyoke For All-Holyoke Para Todos leadership and a full-time job in social services-until a professional was hired for the position. “Alex Morse and the people who started the [Holyoke For All-Holyoke Para Todos] group here in Holyoke are definitely my inspiration,” Roman says. “They are definitely the source that I go to a lot when I’m thinking about why the group was created, why did we start and where do we go from here.” Roman’s passion for his work is contagious-which is good for his projects and for Holyoke. “We are going to need everyone city-wide to really come together to make the [Latina/Latino Gay Pride] event really be successful,” he says. With a charming, eloquent and passionate leader like Roman at the helm there is little question that success—for the man and his mission—lies ahead.
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Article: GSA Network The Rainbow Times April 2011 http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/2011/12/15/gsa-network-in-the-works-for-massachusetts/ GSA Network in the Works for Massachusetts Over forty people gathered in Cambridge this March to begin charting a course towards a state-wide gay straight alliance (GSA) network. On March 18th, Carolyn Laub, Executive Director of a California-based organization aptly called GSA Network, presented to an audience that included GSA members and advisors, state politicians, representatives of the Departments of Public Health (DPH) and Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and members of the Massachusetts Commission on GLBT Youth (MCGLBTY). The Commission invited Laub and Danielle Askini of the GSA Network to present and lead a workshop aimed at creating a GSA network in Massachusetts. “I’ve wanted to get [Laub] out here for years,” said Arthur Lipkin, Chair of MCGLBTY. Lipkin was certain that Laub’s experience and know-how would help GSAs in Massachusetts organize their own network. On March 19th, the group reconvened to explore the need for a GSA network in Massachusetts. Attendees seemed to wholeheartedly agree that there is a need for a network. Currently, there is no official means for Massachusetts GSAs to share information or resources. Some GSA members and advisors communicate with other groups informally online. However, as one attendee noted that many schools block social networking and email sites, which make informal networking more difficult for students who live in rural communities with limited internet access. Another challenge attendees noted is a tendency for Boston-based groups to act as if Massachusetts ends “at 495”-the Interstate beltway around Boston. Outreach and coordination with central and western Massachusetts may not happen without an official network. As if to underscore this challenge, there was a noticeable lack of participation by students and advisors from western Massachusetts. While any number of factors may have played a role, one was surely transportation. Due to rigorous school safety requirements for transporting students, organizing a trip to Cambridge is a time-intensive and expensive proposition for schools outside the reach of Boston’s Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). A GSA network could organize and pay for things like transportation, Laub pointed out. The next step, Lipkin stressed, is up to the GSAs. Striving to avoid a top-down approach, the Commission wants to create the space and learning opportunities-such as bringing in consultants like Laub and Askini-for Massachusetts GSAs to work together to create a network that will serve their unique needs. All agreed that youth involvement and leadership will be a crucial component in the future network. At the end of the day, almost all participants expressed enthusiasm for the work at hand. The Commission invites all GSA members and advisors to get involved in planning the next steps. According to a March 23rd report by MCGLBTY, a task force is being formed. All interested parties are invited to attend the next meeting on April 6th, at 4pm. The meeting will be held at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (75 Pleasant Street) in Malden, MA. For more information and to be added to the GSA Network Task Force contact list, email Alison.Bourke@state.ma.us.
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Article: Profile of Polly Bixby and Karen Grzesik The Rainbow Times March 2011 http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/2011/03/03/trt-heroes-pioneering-heroes-for-a-whole-town-polly-bixby-and-karengrzesik/ TRT Heroes: Pioneering Heroes for a whole town, Polly Bixby and Karen Grzesik Polly Bixby and Karen Grzesik didn’t set out to become pioneers in the Massachusetts schools. When the two gym teachers helped establish one of the state’s first Gay Straight Alliances, they followed the lead of determined students at Ralph C. Mahar Regional School. Yet they brought convictions born of their own experiences with homophobia to their roles as GSA advisors. When the two women first met, neither was out as a lesbian. “In the 70’s,” Grzesik says, “You didn’t ‘come out.’” Especially in Orange, Massachusetts, an industrial town north of the Quabbin Reservoir. When Bixby realized she was a lesbian, she was married to a man and had two children. She already knew Grzesik as a colleague and her children’s teacher. They eventually fell in love. Today, they’ve been together almost 30 years. The early days weren’t easy, though. They were ‘outed’ at work by a local man who saw them together and spread rumors, according to Bixby. “The faculty was good about it,” Bixby recalls, “One day, the vice principal came up to me, put his arm around me and said ‘We love you anyway.’” The school often treated them like any married couple, putting them on “early bird” duty together instead of on separate days. A turning point came when they began taking graduate classes in the social justice program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In one memorable class, they heard a powerful message that has stayed with them. “You’re either part of the solution, or part of the problem,” Bixby recalls. “If someone name calls you or calls someone else a name, you have to confront them. If you don’t, you’re part of the problem.” Bixby started treating slurs and insults as opportunities to challenge homophobia. Then an even greater opportunity came in the early 90’s. “The kids came to me and wanted to start a GSA,” she says. She agreed to help. While GSA advisors today often receive a stipend, Bixby and Grzesik received no compensation for the time they devoted to the GSA. For the students, two key events served as catalysts. A girl from Athol had been badly beaten at a bus stop because she was perceived to be a lesbian. At the same time, Mahar students participating in a regional student council advisory meeting in Boston were talking about the need for safe space for gays and lesbians in schools. Bixby is careful to note that at the time public discussion centered around gay and lesbian students; bisexuality was starting to be part of the conversation and transgender came later. The students chose to call their new GSA “Save Our Students” or “SOS.” “Back then, we couldn’t even use the words. It was like [gay] was a dirty word,” Bixby recalls. “GSAs were all called something else. In North Adams, they were ‘A Bunch of Grapes.’ Even though the group was officially called ‘SOS,’” Bixby says she always made sure to use the word “gay.” Bixby and Grzesik weren’t alone in their efforts. Teachers in the high school and the middle school helped and the support of the administration, under Dr. Francis Zak, was crucial. Parents got involved, as well. “People weren’t complacent,” Bixby says. “Now they are complacent.” “Things can take generations to change,” Bixby says. “But then you have to be vigilant.” Thirty to forty students would show up for the GSA meetings. Sometimes, what they needed most was just to tell their stories. Once, the students performed a skit on the steps of the state house as part of a spirit contest. They won a rainbow flag, which was kept in the school office and brought out for special events. “Dr. Zak instructed the custodial staff to put up three flag poles,” Grzesik recalls. Thereafter, the rainbow flag flew alongside the American flag and the state flag. After a new building was constructed for the school, the flag poles were removed. Today, all three flags hang in the school library. 42
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Article: Bixby and Grzesik (cont.) In 2007, the two women received an unforeseen honor. The school’s two gyms were named after them, in a ceremony honoring the retired teachers’ contributions to Mahar over careers that spanned more than 30 years each. “We were in the right place at the right time,” Bixby says of the honor. “If it was 10 years later or 10 years earlier, it wouldn’t have been our names on that building.” “It’s such an honor to have a facility like that named after you,” Grzesik says. “You know, that was my life down there [at the school]. It’s nice that this town has grown to be that accepting.” Many of their friendships are based more on common interests, they say, and less on shared identity. “I don’t believe gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people or heterosexuals should live in isolation. We live in the world together,” Bixby says. Both women name Pat Griffin, a professor emerita in the Social Justice Education program at the University of Massachusetts, as a role model and inspiration. “She gave me courage,” Bixby says, “and she inspired me with the message that this is important.” The two also say they are each other’s inspiration. “Polly has given me the strength to deal with things I couldn’t have dealt with alone,” Grzesik says. “Karen has been a major supporter,” Bixby adds. Over time, their support for each other has nurtured a whole town. “I treat being lesbian as normal,” Bixby says. Her message for people who don’t see it that way is simple: “Get over it.” “It’s easy for me to say that, at 70. I’ve built a reputation,” she says. “But we have to be careful not to put that [gay] 14 or 15year-old in danger.” “Sometimes,” she says, “they’re not ready to hold hands.” “Then,” Grzesik adds, “we have to hold their hands.”
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Article: Alex Morse The Rainbow Times February 2011 http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/2011/12/12/morse-runs-for-holyoke-mayor/ Morse Runs for Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse has a vision for Holyoke-and it begins with “a leader…for a change.” Morse, a 21 year old senior at Brown University and a Holyoke native, believes he can bring that change to the city. On a freezing day at the end of January, he stood on City Hall steps to kick-off his campaign. Joined by a small crowd that braved fresh snow to be there, he shared his comprehensive vision for the city of Holyoke. With the election ten months away, he is currently the only challenger to Mayor Elaine Pluta. “Now what we have is the same thing, year after year,” Morse says. Despite his youth, Morse has already racked up more than 10 years of experience as a leader. As a high school student, he founded of the Gay Straight Alliance at Holyoke High School. He subsequently founded the Holyoke GLBTQ Task Force, recently renamed Holyoke For All – “Holyoke Para Todos,” which is in its 5th year of organizing the Western Mass Youth Pride Prom. Though Morse acknowledges that his LGBT community experience informs how he leads, his civic engagement has not been limited to LGBT-specific causes. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Holyoke Community Land Trust, the Latino Scholarship Association, the Friends of the Holyoke Public Library, and the Holyoke Public Library Capital Campaign Steering Committee. He is also a member of the Holyoke Youth Task Force, the Holyoke Family Literacy Coalition, the Department of Mental Health Citizen Advisory Board, and Holyoke Unites (an organization combating Holyoke’s high dropout rate). Impressively, he has maintained his involvement in local issues at the same time he has pursued a rigorous program in Urban Studies at one of the country’s most prestigious universities, Brown University, two hours away. To make it work, he attends classes in Providence, but spends the rest of his time in Holyoke. “Last year, I stayed overnight in Providence three nights a week,” he explains. “This year, I’m not staying in Providence at all.” His dedication to his own education reveals a deep-seated value. Education is a key component of his platform. Dropout prevention and recovery, for example, are at the top of his priority list. With its 45% drop out rate, Holyoke seems to Morse to be suffering from the impact lack of education can have on economics, public safety and pride in the city. “It all comes down to education,” Morse says. Growing up in a working class family, Morse had personal insight into how much difference education can make. Morse reveals that both his parents dropped out of high school (only one has a GED) and they worked hard to feed four children and provide a home for them. Today, Morse says his family’s economic status is improved from what it once was, thanks to their diligent hard work over many years. As a student at Brown, his experience of class sets Morse apart from many of his peers at the elite school. Yet there are few better places to have studied urban renewal than in Providence, Rhode Island. A city which was once far from being a vacation destination, Providence has experienced a remarkable turnaround in recent years. One component of that change has been a renewed celebration of arts. The river art installation WaterFire, in particular, has changed a run-down area of town in which people feared to walk alone at night to one bustling with people. The event regularly draws tens of thousands to the Providence riverfront on summer weekends. Similarly, Morse feels that an arts and entertainment district could breathe new life into Holyoke. “Now, when you go into Holyoke at night, it’s deserted. It used to be that people could go to the theater, and there was a hotel next door, and restaurants. The historic Victory Theater is being renovated,” Morse says. “It’s an opportunity to build on.” In Providence, Morse had the opportunity to work closely with then-Mayor David Cicilline, now serving as a Democratic Representative in Congress. Cicilline, like Morse, is openly gay. Morse says Cicilline gave him good advice on being gay without making it the central issue of a campaign. Morse seems to have taken that advice to heart. He is proud to acknowledge the work he’s done for the LGBT community in Holyoke, yet it’s not a specific bullet point that he addresses in his platform, nor is there anything about his presentation that draws attention to his sexual orientation. A discrete HRC equality bumper sticker on his car and perhaps his style sense are all that might cue in the astute observer that he’s gay. “Being gay is only part of who I am,” he says. Still, as Mayor, he would want to use that position to address LGBT rights.
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Article: Alex Morse (cont.) “We don’t have an anti-discrimination ordinance, here,” he says. “I’ve already been in touch the LGBT coalition of mayors. In fact, his vision of how to lead the city goes far beyond identity politics-unless that identity is “Holyoker.” Morse would like Holyoke to reclaim its once golden promise. The first planned city in America and once home to more millionaires per capita than any other city, Holyoke was once so vibrant that Belle Skinner (1866-1928) is reported to have said “There are only three cities in the world: Holyoke, Paris and New York.” Morse would like to see the day when Holyoke natives are that proud of their city once again-and he believes that with his effective leadership Holyoke can regain that early glory, even without the 19th century millionaires. “I have a vision,” he says, “where everyone can be proud to call Holyoke home.”
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Article: Profile of Glenn Koetzner The Rainbow Times November 2010 http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/2011/12/12/glenn-koetzner-the-trt-hero-behind-the-lens/ Glenn Koetzner: the TRT Hero behind the Lens Glenn Koetzner doesn’t consider himself a hero-but to the LGBTQ community whose struggle for rights he has documented for years, he certainly is one. “I am an ally by definition, but most often I feel like I’m part of some wondrous family,” Koetzner says, “one large, loving, dysfunctional and diverse family.” A freelance photographer based in Sharon, Connecticut, Koetzner’s lens captures the struggles and celebrations of the LGBT community. “For years I have been dedicated to documenting the march to equality in the LGBT community,” Koetzner says, “I have always believed that positive exposure, as often as possible, is one key to acceptance. I feel that, whenever I cover an event and my photos are shown in some public forum, I’m saying to everybody ‘these are my friends, your neighbors, your equals. We all belong here.’” Koetzner moves among his subjects with ease, his camera always at hand. His work, though, goes far behind his amazing photography. “I am proud to be on the CT Transadvocacy Board of Directors, and the Love Makes a Family PAC Board. It was an incredible experience to be involved with LMF when marriage equality passed in CT,” Koetzner says. “And I am proud to volunteer every year for the Transgender Lives Conference.” What motivates Koetzner’s seemingly boundless energy for activism and documentation? A desire, he says, for “pure and unadulterated equality.” “It’s something that everybody is owed and due. I cannot accept a society where my friends don’t have the same rights I do. It is sad that we have to fight for it, but I’m here to add my voice to the fight.” Koetzner has his own heroes in that fight. “Anne Stanback and Carol Buckheit from Love Makes a Family fought every day for same-sex marriage rights and won. Matt Blinstrubas and Gannon Long were community organizers on steroids-I loved them for their energy, commitment and successes! Jerimarie Liesegang and Diana Lombardi from CTAC have been working every day since I met them on transgender rights and education. Robin McHaelan started and runs True Colors. Kamora Herrington and Hillary Weiss are just amazing with the kids there,” Koetzner says. “All the people at HGLHC from Linda Esterbrook to Jamie Bassell and her ever-present bag of condoms; Tony Ferraiolo and Dru Levasseur who started The Jim Collins Foundation; Gricel Ocasio and Nicole Lashomb who started and run The Rainbow Times, an LGBT newspaper; Cid and Bear White who put on the best celebration ever with NoHo Pride; Sally Tamarkin whose seemingly boundless energy pulls together the coalition that is ctEquality; the people at CWEALF and Planned Parenthood … All these people, in one way or another, make it their job to fight for equality.” “Most importantly,” Koetzner says, “I have to mention my wife. For all she does for me and for our family, and for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to the fight for equality, she is my hero.” Along his journey as an ally, Koetzner has clearly crossed paths with many of the dedicated change-makers in the LGBT community. While many have left a lasting impression, a couple stand out. “I’ve met both Kate Bornstein and Donna Rose and thought they were the most amazingly inspirational people,” Koetzner says. “Kate’s book Hello Cruel World should be required high school reading.” “Everybody I meet who has had the courage to come out or transition and live their life the way they were meant to live influences me and makes me want to stand up and be counted with them in the march to equality.” Right now, much of Koetzner attention is on passing anti-discrimination legislation based on gender identity and expression in Connecticut. Beyond that, he says, there are many issues that still need time and attention. “HIV/AIDS awareness, research and education; passing an inclusive ENDA; repeal of DADT; repealing DOMA; violence against gay, lesbian and transgender people; LGBT suicide,” he says, listing areas of concern. “I know we need to create an atmosphere where it is easier for kids to come out. We need to train educators to recognize and deal with bullying in the schools. We need to stand up to bullying and hate-speech with every opportunity-not just [LGBTQ] community members, but allies too. Maybe even more importantly allies.”
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Article: Glenn Koetzner (cont.) Koetzner believes consistent and persistent efforts will make a difference. “I think we just have to keep being there,” Koetzner says, “taking a seat at the table. Legislate equality whenever we can. Teach diversity in schools and not give an inch to bullying in any form, anywhere. Twenty years from now it will be a different society altogether, I’m sure.” Koetzner has some final advice for anyone who cares about LGBT issues. “First, revel in the diversity and don’t buy the binary. Then volunteer. There are so many great LGBT organizations working to fill so many different needs that if you can’t find something to give your time and energy to then you’re just not looking hard enough.” Glenn Koetzner’s photos can be found on the pages of The Rainbow Times (www.therainbowtimesnews.com) and on his website at www.crazydogphotos.com.
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Article: Standards of Care play Bay Windows October 2008 http://www.baywindows.com/high-standards-81216 High Standards Standards of Care, a new work by transgender playwright Tobias K. Davis, comes to the stage in Northampton this week. This is Davis's first play since his award-winning The Naked I: Monologues from Beyond the Binary, which earned the moniker "the trans Vagina Monologues." Claire Avitabile, who was the assistant director of The Naked I, will bring her 20% Theatre Company from Minneapolis to produce Standards of Care. In this new work, Davis turns the typical love triangle on pointed end with the hilarious and moving story of Nancy, Jason and David. In some ways, Nancy is a typical mother who is not coping well as her 16-year-old, "Jessica," comes out as "Jason." However, Nancy isn't just a typical mom; she's also a gender therapist who treats transgender patients every day. What's more, she's falling head over heels for one of her patients, an FTM named David who is in therapy with her only to obtain the letter necessary for him to get "bottom" (or genital) surgery. Meanwhile, David is volunteering at an LGBT youth center where he meets Jason, but has no idea Nancy is Jason's mother. While the unwitting entanglement of the characters provides lots of laughs, the story goes deeper than the surface humor. The play reveals how complicated family dynamics can become for transgender people, even when they aren't outright rejected. It also explores the transgender community's relationship to healthcare, especially around the controversial Standards of Care authored by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (formerly HBIGDA). The Standards of Care provide a guide for healthcare providers to use when caring for transgender people, and, obviously, inspired the name of Davis's play. According to Davis, the relationship between the characters of Nancy and her FTM patient, David, is unusual. Most people obtain therapy because they need or want a therapeutic relationship and Davis says that's not the case for David. "David doesn't need therapy. He doesn't need a therapeutic relationship. He's there because of this hoop he has to go through," Davis explains. Davis says the play also shows how even liberal-minded parents who are accepting of LGBT people in general may have difficulty being accepting when their child comes out. He calls it the "Oh my God, not my kid" response. "When you have a child, you have an idea of who you want the kid to be, who you think the kid will be, and then it doesn't match up," Davis says. He adds that this reaction doesn't only happen around gender or sexuality issues, but can happen even when parents think their child wants to be an art major, but the child decides to study engineering. Davis thinks that parental reaction is one of the elements that makes the story more universal and helps the audience members find sympathy for the characters even if they've never had any experience with transgender issues before watching the play. Claire Avitabile, who directed the show's world-premier in Minneapolis in June, also feels the story is accessible to people regardless of their familiarity with transgender issues. "It was incredible," Avitabile recalls of the Minneapolis production, "after every performance, the company was dedicated to offering a post-show discussion - which we are also going to do in Northampton - so people would stay afterwards and all the actors would come up with me on stage. We would just sit there and answer questions and ask the audience, 'What was your initial reaction?' Every single time without fail, it was unbelievably positive. ... Thank-yous for doing the show and thank-yous for writing the show. People who had no prior experience with anything related to transgender came to the show and felt that it was very entertaining and very human." It shows growth in Davis's writing, as well. "With this play, I really wanted to create characters that actually talk to each other," he says. His previous works were based on monologues. Davis also explores a different view of transgender lives. While the monologues of The Naked I focused on self-identification and introspection around gender and sex, Standards of Care goes beyond identity to the stories of transgender lives in context. Davis is thrilled that Avitabile and 20% Theatre - which was rated the #1 regional lesbian theater in the country by Curve Magazine in 2007 - are coming to Massachusetts to bring those stories to life on local stages. "When you write a script, it's your baby. Then you revise it and it's your annoying toddler that you can't stand. Then you take it to kindergarten and you have to say goodbye to your baby and hope they're going to take care of it," he says. 20% Theatre did just that, according to Davis, when they presented Standards of Care in Minneapolis to packed houses for a six-show run. 48
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Article: Standards of Care play (cont.) "Claire [Avitabile] is brilliant in every way," he says. "She created parallels I didn't even see and she cast the play incredibly well." Four members of the original five-person cast will be reunited for the Northampton production, while one local actor takes up a small part. The show will enjoy a three-night run in Western Massachusetts. On Oct. 2-3, Standards of Care will be at the Mendenhall Center at Smith College; on Oct. 4 it will be at the Student Union Ballroom of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
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Article: Interactive Metronome® Therapy The Healthcare Ledger April 2005 HealthSouth in Ludlow Offers Cutting-Edge Interactive Metronome® Therapy Using a cutting-edge technology, combined with traditional physical therapy, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Massachusetts is helping stroke victims make positive strides. Developed in 1992, Interactive Metronome® therapy, or IM, was only released to health-care professionals after much research in 1999. It was initially intended to treat learning and developmental disorders, such as ADHD, autistic spectrum disorders, language disorders and learning disabilities. Research found that it had much broader potential; it is now being used to treat neurological and motor problems, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and amputation. HealthSouth has been using IM for the past several months to treat stroke victims, although they have the capacity to treat other neurological and motor disorders, as well. What It Does IM helps the brain with motor planning and sequencing. It works much like a musical metronome to improving a patient’s sensory-motor synchronization, or “timing.” It is used with traditional physical therapy to improve gait, coordination, attention and mental processing. On the biological level, according to the Interactive Metronome® Web site, it works by “helping the brain repair itself through a process known as “neuroplasticity.’” The Web site also cites a recent study that suggested that Interactive Metronome works by augmenting the speed of neuro-network signals from one area of the brain to another along the neuroaxis, especially in the cerebellum, prefrontal cortex, cingulate gyrus and basil ganglia. How It Works Before starting someone on IM, HealthSouth gives a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation that includes physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech. Then the patient begins a custom-designed plan of treatment. Although the IM software comes with pre-set programs, they can be modified for the needs of the patient. “We can alter it and do exactly what she needs,” says Michelle Downs, one of HealthSouth’s 4 certified IM practitioners, as she sets up the program for patient Elaine Hodgson. “The only thing we can’t change is the tempo.” A typical IM plan might include sessions as short as 15 minutes or as long as an hour, with return visits two to three times a week. The total number of sessions varies according to the patient’s needs and may be only a few or as many as 20. The IM computer program delivers a tone through headphones to the patient. The patient must move in time with the sound, doing one of 14 repeated exercises. These exercises range from movements as simple as clapping hands together to more complicated moves, such as clapping one hand to the right thigh and then stepping forward with the left foot. “Even those of us with full use of all of our limbs would find that difficult,” says Downs. She should know. The certification process involves a self-study program, which includes going through all of the IM exercises repeatedly. While doing the IM exercises, the patient wears a partial wrap-around glove that contains a button sensor which transmits a signal to the computer when the patient claps it. A black floor sensor, approximately 12 inches by 6 inches, transmits a signal when the patient steps on it. The computer instantly calculates the time between the tone and the patient’s response. The goal is to respond within 15 milliseconds. The computer screen shows the number of milliseconds between tone and response so the patient knows immediately how close he or she was. After a patient has completed the entire program, another comprehensive evaluation is done to measure improvement. Offering hope For Elaine Hodgman, IM is both challenging and rewarding. Hodgman, who had a stroke in July 2004, has been through the gamut of treatments that HealthSouth offers, starting as an in-patient and gradually progressing to out-patient status. She struggles through some of the IM exercises, but has made notable progress in only 6 sessions. She has 6 more to go to complete the planned 12-session course. “What is really amazing to me,” Hodgman says, “is that it can give reports and graphs right away. You don’t have to wait. It tells you you’re aiming for that number and getting that much closer—or not getting closer.” 50
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Article: IM (cont.) Despite the fact that IM requires only small movements and most sessions last less than an hour, the sustained concentration it requires can be exhausting. “I’m very tired right now,” Hodgman says at the end of a session. But she’s come a long way. “In the beginning, I had to hold her hand while she did the exercises. Now she does them completely on her own,” reports Downs. Downs says she’s seen IM help traditional physical therapy in significant ways. She describes one patient who struggled with physical therapy that required her to put her hand on a bar while walking. She simply didn’t have any sense of where her hand was. IM was able to help her develop an awareness of where her body parts were, so that she could use them more effectively in physical therapy. “It’s not a cure-all,” says Downs. “But it’s a great treatment.” To learn more about Interactive Metronome®, visit www.interactivemetronome.com.
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Article: Evercare The Healthcare Ledger February 2005 Award-Winning Evercare Program Expands Services in Massachusetts and Connecticut The award-winning Evercare health care program is expanding to serve community-based patients in Massachusetts. It has also recently expanded into Connecticut. Serving thousands—and growing Evercare began in 1987 as the brainchild of two nurse practitioners in Minnesota. Started as a small Medicare pilot program for treating the elderly and chronically ill, Evercare quickly grew into a nationally acclaimed program. Part of the United Healthcare Insurance Company since 2001, Evercare now serves over 70,000 elderly and chronically ill people nationwide. Evercare currently has an estimated 6000 enrollees in Massachusetts. The Evercare Senior Care Options (SCO) program has been working with MassHealth to provide services for the elderly and chronically ill in nursing home settings. Now, Evercare is beginning to work with community-based health providers in Massachusetts, in order to bring much-needed services to those living in the community. In addition to serving most areas of Massachusetts, Evercare has recently expanded into Connecticut. Evercare now serves Hartford, New Haven and Fairfield counties. Evercare shows less is not more when it comes to staff Evercare’s mission is to optimize “the health and well-being of aging vulnerable and chronically ill individuals.” This mission is put into action through team work. In the Evercare Choice program, a primary care team is formed by the Evercare nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant, and the primary care physician. This team works together for the health and well-being of the patient, and to preserve the independence of patients in community settings. While it might seem that adding another team member (in the form of a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant) would make the health care process slower and more costly, this has not proven to be the case for Evercare. A study published in the October 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatric Society showed Evercare cut preventable hospitalizations in half. This cut health-care costs, while allowing elderly patients to avoid the minefield of potential problems that can go along with hospitalization. How does it work? Evercare nurse practitioners, trained in geriatric care, focus on early detection and prevention of health problems. When these problems do occur, nurse practitioners can expedite accurate diagnosis. Because nurse practitioners work in the nursing home setting, treatment can often take place in familiar surroundings, rather than requiring trips to the hospital. Evercare nurse practitioners can also facilitate ongoing implementation of treatment plans. Physicians also benefit directly from the nurse practitioner’s role. Because the nurse practitioner can provide direct care and oversee the day-to-day implementation of a treatment plan, the physician is able to spend less time attending to routine matters and more time where his or her expertise is most needed. The same study revealed that Evercare can significantly reduce costs. Each nurse practitioner used reduces costs by an estimates $103,000 a year. Communication is the key to each health care team’s success. In November 2001, another study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society looked into how Evercare nurse practitioners spent their time. 35% of their time was spent in direct patient care, while another 26% was spent in indirect care that included communicating with nursing home staff, physicians and family members. This vital communication supports the physician as primary caregiver, while also keeping the family informed about the care the patient is receiving. This high standard of communication is key to preventing unnecessary hospitalizations and achieving high satisfaction rates—Evercare reports over 90% satisfaction rates among physicians, patients and families. Evercare in the community. Evercare case managers working in community settings focus on preserving the patient’s independence, for as long as possible while maintaining his or her health. Case managers work with the primary care physician as well as specialists to coordinate needed health care services. They also make contact with organizations that serve the elderly population to help patients gain access to community-based services.
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Article: Evercare (cont.) Access to information means better health care Evercare nurse practitioners have 24-hour access to the information they need to facilitate patient care. Evercare patient information is entered into the Everlink database. After accessing a patient’s information, nurse practitioners can convey crucial information about a patient’s condition and history to physicians and specialists. Having this information easily accessible to the whole healthcare team allows treatment decisions to be made swiftly and accurately, avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations and doctor’s visits. A variety of services In addition to the Evercare Choice program, Evercare offers a variety of other health-care-related services. Evercare Connections® offers care advocacy services to families. These services help family members find and provide care for their loved ones. Evercare Collaborative Solutions is a fee-for-service nurse practitioner program that provides assistance to physicians and nursing homes. For more information For more information about Evercare, visit www.evercareonline.com or call toll-free: (800) 393-0939, in Massachusetts, or (888)-697-9058, in Connecticut.
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Article: AIC Nursing Program The Healthcare Ledger December 2004 American International College Unveils New Graduate Nursing Program The American International College (AIC) in Springfield will open a graduate level nursing program in January. The program, which was unveiled Friday November 5th , will lead to a Master’s of Science in Nursing degree. It will be the only graduate nursing program Springfield. Easing not one—but two—nursing shortages The AIC hopes the new 36-credit graduate nursing program will help ease the critical nursing shortage. In 2000, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated 1.89 million nurses were available to fill 2 million positions—a 6% shortage. This shortage is expected to double by 2010. The American Nursing Association (ANA) says the nursing shortage is partly due to the increase in the median age of nurses. Retirements leave vacancies, while new nurses are not joining the profession fast enough to fill them. According to the ANA, young people are not choosing careers in nursing because of low pay and the availability of other career options. Anne Glanovsky, Director of the nursing program at AIC, doesn’t feel that’s an accurate explanation for the nursing shortage today. “If that’s true, why are we seeing so much interest in our nursing program?” she asks. The AIC’s bachelor of science in Nursing program, with 250 to 270 students enrolled each year, has been popular since it opened in 1978. Glanovsky points out that people are not always coming straight out of high school into nursing school. Many undergraduate nursing students are coming from jobs in health care or other fields, returning to school and starting their nursing careers at non-traditional ages. As Glanovsky sees it, the bigger problem is that nursing programs can’t keep up with demand. “There simply aren’t enough faculty,” she says. She hopes AIC’s new graduate program in nursing will be able to help ease two shortages—the need for nurses educated for specialized work, including administration, and the need for more nursing faculty. “That’s really our main focus: administration and education,” Glanovsky says. Although AIC will not offer a Ph.D. in nursing, the M.S. is sometimes all that’s needed to teach. Several nursing instructors at AIC hold M.S. degrees. However, ideally, nursing instructors should hold a Ph.D. “We will definitely encourage students interested in teaching to continue their education,” Glanovsky says. Meeting the needs of working nurses Retaining nurses is also a problem. According to the ANA, 20% of nurses are no longer working in the profession. Glanovsky says that the largest factor in this flight from nursing is not professional, but personal. “Nurses leave because of other responsibilities all the time,” Glanovky says. For example, she explains, “it’s difficult to juggle nursing and a family.” With these challenges in mind, AIC has designed a graduate nursing program that works for the working nurse. The program will offer courses in the late afternoon and evenings, in order to accommodate the scheduling needs of professional nurses. Putting in the time to complete a graduate degree may help some nurses find more time for themselves and their families by opening the door to jobs with better scheduling options, such as administration or teaching. Those who seek work in hospitals and other health care facilities will be greeted by a very promising job market: in February, the U.S. Department of Labor ranked registered nursing as the occupation with the top job growth from now through 2012. Financing a nursing graduate degree How do working nurses find the money to pursue higher education? In a profession not known for high salaries, it’s a question many nurses may ask. Graduate education is certainly not cheap. However, help is available. 54
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Article: AIC (cont.) The Healthcare Ledger December 2004 In 2002, President Bush signed into law the Nurse Reinvestment Act, which provides for scholarships, loan cancellation options for nurses working in high need areas and other help for prospective nurses. Another way to get funding, Glanovsky says, is through private scholarships available from companies such as Johnson & Johnson. For working nurses, Glanovsky points out that many employers will offer tuition assistance for their nurses’ continued education. “There is funding available,” Glanovsky says. Applications now being accepted Glanovsky says the college has received a number of inquiries into the program since it was unveiled December 5th. A number of students in the AIC’s undergraduate nursing program have expressed interest in the graduate program, as well. The AIC is currently accepting applications for the program’s January opening. To obtain more information, contact the AIC Office of Admissions at (800) 242-3142 or online at www.aic.edu.
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Website Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence www.uunorthampton.org My responsibilities include providing input into the design, working with team on site organization, working with staff and volunteers to determine needs, creating pages/modules, drafting and editing content, training, updating content, creating and monitoring calendars, setting up email accounts and email aliases, trouble-shooting email and website issues, and analyzing site traffic. Specific pages that demonstrate my work: • BOG Blog section www.uunorthampton.org/bogblog • Planning Events and Using Our Building http://www.uunorthampton.org/planning-events-and-using-our-building.html • Sermons http://www.uunorthampton.org/worship/sermons.html This page contains content I did not write, however I created the page structure based on the needs of the minister and lay-leaders. • News item submission form http://www.uunorthampton.org/community-life/news-item-submission.html
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Websites National Teacher Recruitment Clearinghouse (NTRC) and Recruiting New Teachers (RNT) NTRC site: originally at www.recruitingteachers.org (currently unavailable) RNT site: http://web.archive.org/web/20000815093143/http://www.rnt.org/ My work at RNT included web content and site development for the www.rnt.org site, among other things. However, my oneyear contract position as Web Publishing Associate was created specifically to work on the new National Teacher Recruitment Clearinghouse (NTRC) funded by the U.S. Department of Education. NTRC had its own website at www.recruitingteachers.org, which included a national job bank search portal for educators and paraprofessionals. My work included significant research to develop the job bank database, input into website design and site organization, adaptation of print publications (such as those seen on the Publications page of the RNT site at http://web.archive.org/web/ 20000816194549/http://www.rnt.org/publications/index.html) for use on the website, and developing original web content. Since the site is no longer available online, I’ve included some sample pages from the NTRC site on the following pages. These include: • NTRC home page • NTRC For People of Color page • NTRC How to Find and Keep Teachers page (adapted from a print publication; see note)
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Web page National Teacher Recruitment Clearinghouse
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Web page National Teacher Recruitment Clearinghouse - For People of Color
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Web page National Teacher Recruitment Clearinghouse - How to Find and Keep Teachers
Note: This is an example of an unusually long web page, which is normally not advisable. In this case, the author of the book from which this text was adapted felt strongly that it should remain together as one page. Headings were used to break up the text and visual differentiation of the text, such as through color variation and bullet points, were used to keep the material engaging. The length was managed with the use of bracketed links back to the top of the page.
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Web page NTRC - How to Find and Keep Teachers (cont.)
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Web page NTRC - How to Find and Keep Teachers (cont.)
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Web page NTRC - How to Find and Keep Teachers (cont.)
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Website President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities http://web.archive.org/web/19990508163925/http://www50.pcepd.gov/pcepd/ My responsibilities include working with staff to determine needs, creating pages, drafting and editing content, updating content, trouble-shooting website issues. This site (originally at www.pcepd.gov) is no longer active. One of my more significant projects—a web adaptation of the print publication Work/Life—does not appear to be archived at archive.org. Specific pages that demonstrate my work: • Small Business and Self Employment for People with Disabilities http://web.archive.org/web/19991115101440/http://www50.pcepd.gov/pcepd/projects/promotin.htm This page discusses the Blue Ribbon Panel on Self-Employment, Small Business and Disability (conference) and the Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities (PTFEAD), both projects with which I was involved. • What’s New http://web.archive.org/web/19991003225926/http://www50.pcepd.gov/pcepd/current/current.htm • Think Ability Education Kit http://web.archive.org/web/20000118205837/http://www50.pcepd.gov/pcepd/pubs/ek99/index.htm
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