THE
NorthPhilly
CORNER
A PROJECT OF YOACAP
July 2013 Issue 7 COALITION MEMBERS Alice Baker Della Baker Valerie Bell Douglas Bellamy Lt. Blackmorr Lola Blount Sonia Blount Delores J. Brown Diana Brown Erna L. Bryant Geraldine Bryant Barbara Cooke Norman Doman
COMMUNITY
Sekeya Duncan Laverne Dwight
PHILADELPHIA
ADVISORY
GROUP
Kim Balknight
Elder Yvonne Hughes
Douglas Evans Phyllis Gerald Esther Hodges Irene Hagans Joshua Hawkins Alice Henderson Quentin Hoye Sherry Hunter Carmenta Johnson Jessica Kennedy Elizabeth Lassiter Officer Lukaitis Maggie McCall Ann Miller Pamela Munroe
THE
NORTH
Pearl L Nicholson Aletta Parris-Olday Eugene Parson Ann Proctor Gail Pryor Mildred Rice Carlos Rolland Mary D. Smith Pastor Billy Thompson Tajuana Wall Cassandra Whiters Monica Williams Carol Willis
Why Do You Have Condoms?! I want to thank the staff of YOACAP for helping me through a difficult situation. I was playing with my boyfriend a few months ago, and I reached into his pocket and he had a condom. At first, my reaction was why are you carrying condoms, especially since we don’t use condoms? Before that, every time I would to talk to him about him messing around with someone, he always told me “Naah I would never do that to you!” But why would he have condoms in his pocket if he wasn’t messing around? Should I be upset because I know he was probably messing around or should I be happy that he had condoms to protect himself? Regardless on why he had the condoms, I thought it was time to be tested for STDs, so I called YOACAP and found out where their mobile units were going to be parked, and I went to get tested. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and the lesson I learned more importantly was that I need to get tested every six months even if I use condoms and talk to my partner about STDs. Call YOACAP at (215) 851-1968 to be tested for STD’s.
MOBILE UNIT SCHEDULE (6 pm — 9 pm): Monday Venango & Old York Road 22nd & Lippincott Garnett and Somerset Tuesday 17th & Cumberland 16th & Butler 16th & Ontario
Wednesday 15th & Erie 32nd & Allegheny St. Thursday Park & Pike Sts. Kensington & Somerset
Free resources: Condoms STI testing Job training Computer training Tutoring GED class Afterschool Programs
We Come To You On Your Block During the summer months, YOACAP will be providing workshops for people in zip codes: 19140, 19132, and 19129. We will be coming to your block parties and meetings, or to an event in your neighborhood to provide information directly to your family, friends, and neighbors. Call us @ (215) 851-1968 or email Tajuana@yoacap.org to schedule a presentation. Learn about jobs, education, and other resources as part of the workshop.
Like & Follow YOACAP on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter YOACAP has Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. We use social media to send information free and quick to people who may need it. When we find out that an employer is hiring, we post it. When there is an internship that may benefit people, we post that information as well. We are asking you to follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter @Yoacapphilly. We also want you to like our posts so your friends can have the information, too.
The more resources we can share, the healthier our communities will be.
Join the Nicetown & North Philadelphia Community Advisory Group (CAG) Do you enjoy helping others? Do people in your neighborhood turn to you for advice and assistance? Then you may be a natural CAG member. Since March 2012, YOACAP and residents of Nicetown and North Philadelphia have joined together to help the formerly incarcerated, guide youth and spread info to keep the community safe and STD-free. If you’re interested in joining call 215-851-1968 to attend our upcoming meeting.
Become a Neighborhood Liaison A building that needs to be boarded up? Abandoned cars? A traffic light that’s not working? A raccoon is running around your street? An empty lot filled with trash? What do all these problems have in common? They can be addressed by calling 311 (215-686-8686) from your phone. Philly 311 is a free tool to get connected to various city departments. Our CAG will be holding 311 Neighborhood Liaison trainings the last Wednesday of each month from 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Teaming Up With Drexel & Temple YOACAP has partnered with both Drexel and Temple Universities to form a mutually beneficial relationship. Students from each school volunteer to help the program, while acquiring important experience along the way. The students help complete tasks, perform data entry, and support YOACAP’s after school Sam & Mathew from Temple U. and summer programs. The university students act as activity leaders to teach YOACAP youth new things, such as chess, and computer and business skills. Drexel students have also assisted YOACAP by completing two marketing plans. Special thanks to the many young adults from both universities who are making a difference in our community.
Things to Think About We sometimes can get in awkward situations, if you know what I mean? For example, if you don’t have money, but need to pay a bill, people may do certain things to make ends meet. Our community advisory group understands this. We want our communities to have information and resources to remain healthy. When we have a lot of good information, we are more informed and can make better decisions. All of these things are important to think about so we can remain STD free. Learn how you, your friends, family, and neighbors can stay educated about things to do or ways to get involved like getting your GED, taking college classes, finding a job, and more. Call (215) 851-1986
Dwight Wilson conducts 311 training
We want you to become a NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON for your block. If you have a computer or cellphone with Internet access and want to be directly connected to the City to get your problems addressed, RSVP for the training so you can get the help you need. Call Tajuana at (215) 851-1968 to be included in our next training.
YOACAP TIP: Men, 18 years & older, who want to play semi-pro football, call (215) 851-1968 to get involved.
UPenn’s School of Medicine The University of Pennsylvania has been a partner with YOACAP for many years. Dr. David Metzger, Research Professor at the Department of Psychiatry, and his department has worked with YOACAP since 1999. Dr. Metzger and his staff continue to support the agency by providing their mobile units so we can bring services right into our neighborhoods. They also provide data analysis and software for YOACAP’s staff. We want to send a special shout out to UPenn’s School Of Medicine for their continued support of YOACAP and the Philly CARS Project.
STD Spotlight on Trichomoniasis
Everyone knows about the itch and drip of syphilis, but not everyone is familiar with trich, otherwise known as trichomoniasis (trick-oh-moe-sis) This STI can show symptoms 5 to 28 days after sex, and if it isn’t caught early, it can lead to long term health effects Like other STIs, trich doesn’t always show symptoms. When it does, they are noticeable Trich affects both men and women and is spread during unprotected vaginal sex In women, it may turn up as itching, burning or irritation in the vagina, or a yellow, greenish or gray discharge Men could see a watery, white drips from the penis, feel burning or pain during urination, & need to urinate more often If you or someone you know has signs of this or any other STD, call YOACAP at 215-851-1968
YOACAP WANTS TO GO GREEN! If you would like to receive this newsletter electronically, please email Tajuana at Tajuana@yoacap.org to update your subscription status.
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