Sweden’s first female prime minister Magdalena Andersson has added the country’s first-ever trans minister to her new majority female government.
On Tuesday (30 November), on her second day as prime minister, Andersson announced her new government, including Lina Axelsson-Kihlbom as education minister.
Axelsson-Kihlbom, 51, is a former headteacher and lawyer who became known as “Superrektorn” (“Super Principal”) after she appeared on a documentary series in which she managed to turn around a failing school in one of Sweden’s most deprived areas.
The mother-of-two also published a book in 2015 titled Kommer du tycka om mig nu? (Will You Love Me Now?) in which she told the world for the first time that she was trans.
She received an outpouring of love and support from the public after her book was released, and said in an op-ed in 2018: “Trans people have always existed, they will always exist and we no longer feel ashamed. We are the new normal.”
Axelsson-Kihlbom has said she knew she was trans from the age of three, according to Aftonbladet, but didn’t have the language to describe it, leading her to feel completely alone.
She medically transitioned when she was 24 years old, but in an interview on the Swedish talkshow Skavlan, discussed the cruel requirement at the time that she be sterilised in order to gain legal recognition as a woman, a law that was ruled unconstitutional in 2013.
She said: “I had to undergo an operation where the state ensured that none of my unique gene set would ever be reproduced.
“I remember that there were tears but did not know if it was tears of pain or because I was so enormously humiliated.”
According to Bloomberg, one of prime minister Andersson’s priorities is reforming Sweden’s highly-privatised school system, and Axelsson-Kihlbom is the perfect person for the job.
The new trans education minister, who has been a member of Sweden’s School Commission since 2015, said at a press conference after her appointment that she would work to ban private profits being made from schools.
She said: “Society needs to take control over schools. Every student’s right to knowledge must be in focus, and not share price movements or religious beliefs.”
Magdalena Andersson, Sweden’s first female prime minister, had to resign on her first day in office
On Wednesday, Magdalena Andersson was elected Sweden’s first female prime minister, but hours later she resigned following the collapse of her coalition.
In a dispute over budget proposals, the country’s Green Party walked away from the coalition with Andersson’s Social Democratic Party, and so she was forced to step down.
On Monday, she was reappointed as prime minister after a second vote, and will lead the one-party government until an election next September.
A middle school teacher in southern Michigan resigned after he and other educators in his district were told to remove LGBTQ Pride flags they had up in their classrooms.
Teachers were told to take down the flags after Three Rivers Community Schools in Three Rivers, Michigan, received an “external challenge” about the symbols that had “reached the board level,” according to an email obtained by NBC affiliate WOOD of Grand Rapids.
“The rumors kind of floating around was that there’s one or two parents that complained about the flags being in the classroom,” said Russell Ball, the teacher who resigned.https://iframe.nbcnews.com/XERhvF6?_showcaption=true&app=1
Ball, who said he is part of the LGBTQ community, told WOOD that he is “disheartened and saddened.”
“To me, the flag represents love and inclusion for everybody, not just whoever is of the LGBTQIA+ community,” he said. “The students losing that representation throughout the classrooms really hurt. Losing my own representation in the classroom really hurt. It was just something I was not prepared to do.”
The district’s interim superintendent, Nikki Nash, said in a statement that it was “an ongoing situation.”
“We continue to work with the district’s legal firm and board of education to ensure we are providing a safe learning environment for all students,” the statement read.
There’s been a rainbow-colored rumpus at a Catholic school in northeast Baltimore over the weekend.
The Baltimore Brew reports that a 12-year-old student at St. Francis of Assisi School wore a rainbow Pride shirt on dress-down Friday last week. The girl, who was not named in the report at the request of her mom, thought little of it, having worn the top before.
She and her classmates attended a church service at the school during the day. The service was led by Father John J. “Jack” Lombardi.
According to witnesses, the paper says that at Father Lombardi’s direction, the school principal told the homeroom teacher to speak to the girl. The youngster was pulled over at the end of the service and told to remove the shirt in front of everyone.
A photo of the ‘Pride 365’ shirt she was wearing was included in Baltimore Brew’s story. It looks exactly like this one [top] sold by Target. The girl wore it over a long-sleeve top.
“I think it was really awful what happened. The way they asked her to take it off was really embarrassing,” said a 7th grader, Liam Hines, to the newspaper.
After the service, the girl was summoned to the principal’s office and told she’d violated the school’s dress code.
“She said it was because it was a Catholic school,” the student said. “I thought it was a poor excuse.”
On Sunday, to show support for the student, several of her classmates and other members of the congregation turned up to Father Lombardi’s church service wearing rainbow facemasks.
Baltimore Brew attended with photographer J.M Giordano to capture the dignified show of solidarity. Some congregants carried rainbow bags and others wore rainbow T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan, “I am a child of God.”
One of the church’s own officiants, Lauren Voos, also wore a Pride mask. Voos led part of the call-and-response section of the mass and pointedly slipped in a reference to the incident.
“For marginalized populations and gender identities. . .” she said, and the congregation answered extra loudly: “Lord, hear our prayer.”
Afterward, Lombardi declined to comment on the matter, telling the Brew’s reporter as he left the church, “I’m going to remain peaceful today.”
Instead, yesterday, the Archdiocese of Baltimore issued a statement.
Christian Kendzierski, executive director of communications for the Archdiocese, said: “The attire contained imagery and language with a message that could be determined to oppose teachings of the Catholic Church. St. Francis of Assisi is a Catholic parish. and school that upholds the tenets and teachings of the Catholic faith.”
Kendzierski disputed that the shirt removal was at the priest’s request, saying, “It was the school administration that initiated the request.”
The mother of the student concerned says she’s made a complaint to the Archdiocese’s superintendent of Catholic Schools and awaits a response.
Kendzierski says the church believes in treating people with respect and is “working on plans to bring together the community to discuss this in an open, honest and listening way.”
Yesterday, a leading voice within the Catholic church weighed in on the matter. Father James Martin is a New York Times best-selling author, and one of the leading advocates for LGBTQ acceptance within the Catholic church. In 2017, In 2017, Pope Francis appointed Martin as a consultant to the Vatican’s press office.
On his Facebook page, Martin said, “As I see it, wearing a Pride shirt is not against any church teaching. Pride shirts and rainbow images are one way for members of a group that has been harassed, persecuted and marginalized (and that is still the target of physical violence) to see themselves as beloved children of God.”
He added, “Church authorities also have to be particularly attentive to the real-life effects of such stigmatizing words and gestures … not only on the mental health of LGBTQ youth, but also on their families and friends, as well as the community.”
Botswana’s Court of Appeal on Monday upheld a 2019 ruling that decriminalised gay sex, a decision hailed by gay community as establishing the southern African country as a “true democracy”.
Monday’s decision in effect struck off two sections of the penal code that had outlawed homosexuality. Before the 2019 High Court ruling, which was praised by international organisations and activists, engaging in gay sex in Botswana was punishable by up to seven years in prison.
The state had argued on appeal that the penal code outlawed gay sex and there was no evidence that people’s attitude towards homosexuality had changed.
Celebrate kindness with your library this holiday season! We all need community, now more than ever, and we’re offering several opportunities to share the love at each of our branches.
Interested? Find out how you can get involved below!
Donate food. Sonoma County Library partners with local organizations to help alleviate hunger in our community. Drop off canned goods and other food items in a donation barrel at any library branch.
Share what you are thankful for. Help make our Gratitude Trees grow by adding a leaf of your own! Trees are located at your local library and available all through the month of November.
Send a Gratitude Postcard. Visit a Sonoma County Library branch from November 5 until January 5 to pick up a Gratitude Postcard and write your message to the first responder of your choice. Mail it or drop in the library’s delivery box and we’ll send to a local first responder.
Spread cheer to seniors through the mail. The Sonoma County Library’s Send Our Seniors Mail program encourages kindness and support for elders in our community. Create cards, artwork, and letters of encouragement for seniors who might need a little extra happiness during the holidays.
Thank you for being a member of the Sonoma County Library community. Visit us online or in person at one of our branches. Be sure to check out open jobs at Sonoma County Library here.
Proyectos comunitarios con la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma
¡Celebre la comunidad con su biblioteca durante esta temporada de fiestas! Dependemos de nuestra comunidad ahora más que nunca, y estamos ofreciendo varios proyectos comunitarios en nuestras sucursales.
¿Le interesa? ¡Descubra abajo cómo puede involucrarse!
Donaciones de comida. La Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma está colaborándose con organizaciones locales para aliviar el hambre en nuestra comunidad. Done comidas en lata y otras comidas no perecederas en el barril de donaciones de su biblioteca local.
Comparta sus agradecimientos. ¡Añada una hoja de agredecimiento a los Árboles de Gratitud para que crezcan! Encuentre un árbol en su biblioteca local durante todo el mes de noviembre.
Envíe una tarjeta postal de gratitud. Puede recoger una tarjeta postal de gratitud en su biblioteca local a partir del 5 de noviembre hasta el 5 de enero para escribir un mensaje al personal de emergencia de su elección. Envíela o entréguela en el buzón de la biblioteca y la enviaremos al personal de emergencia local.
Reparta la alegría con los adultos mayores a través del correo postal. El programa de Envíos de Correos Postales para Adultos Mayores de la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma promueve la simpatía y apoya los ancianos de nuestra comunidad. Envíe cartas hechas a mano, dibujos y cartas de apoyo a los adultos mayores quiénes les gustarán esta alegría extra durante la temporada de fiestas.
Gracias por ser miembro de la comunidad de Bibliotecas del Condado de Sonoma. Visítenos en línea o en persona en una de nuestras sucursales. Asegúrese de consultar los trabajos disponible en la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma aquí.
A violent mob sexually assaulted, beat, threatened, and humiliated a 27-year-old intersex person on November 15, in Yaoundé, Cameroon’s capital. The perpetrators filmed the attack, which lasted for several hours, in two horrific videos which circulated on social media.
According to medical reports issued by a health facility in Yaoundé, the victim Sara (not her real name) suffered multiple hematomas all over her body. Sara’s doctor said that she needed monitoring for 15 to 18 days due to the severity of her injuries.
Police arrested a man in connection with the attack, but released him 48 hours later. On November 16, Cameroonian Foundation for AIDS (CAMFAIDS), a human rights organization advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people, filed a complaint with the police on behalf of Sara as a victim of assault, battery, and inhuman and degrading treatment. CAMFAIDS is providing support to Sara, including for medical and psychological assistance.
Two CAMFAIDS members said Sara is shocked and severely traumatized and attempted suicide on November 19. “We found her unconscious in the bathroom beside a bottle of bleach. We called the doctor. She is under observation,” said a CAMFAID activist.
In August, Human Rights Watch documented another brutal mob attack against two transgender women, Shakiro and Patricia, in Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital. The attack occurred just weeks after a court had ordered the women’s release from prison pending their appeal of a five-year sentence on arbitrary “homosexuality” charges.
Authorities have yet to make a public statement on Sara’s attack. Their silence over this high-profile incident of senseless violence against an LGBTI victim risks sending a message of tolerance for such abuse and highlights the government’s failure to protect LGBTI Cameroonians. Police should urgently respond to CAMFAID’s complaint, investigate the attack against Sara, and bring those responsible to justice. They should also ensure the safety of LGBTI activists who are doing crucial work in a climate of intimidation and violence.
Israel’s openly gay deputy foreign minister this week dismissed the idea that his country’s government promotes LGBTQ rights in order to divert attention away from its policies towards the Palestinians.
“I would never, ever, put myself in a position that I would be the face of ‘pinkwashing’ as part of my role because I’m confident that there’s no such thing in Israel,” Idan Roll told the Washington Blade on Wednesday during an interview at the Riggs Hotel in downtown D.C.
Roll, 37, spoke with the Blade at the end of a 4-day trip to D.C., which took place less than six months after eight political parties formed a coalition government that ousted long-time Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Knesset earlier this month passed Israel’s first national budget in three years. Roll, who is the youngest person in the Israeli government, noted to the Blade it earmarks $30 million (NIS 90 million) to LGBTQ organizations across the country.
Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz in August announced Israel had lifted restrictions on blood donations from men who have sex with men. The Israeli Supreme Court in July ruled same-sex couples and single men must be allowed to have a child via surrogate.
A group of teenagers on Nov. 12 attacked a group of LGBTQ young people near Jerusalem’s main bus station as they were traveling to a transgender rights conference in Tel Aviv. Neil Patrick Harris is among the actors who expressed their support for the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival amid calls from BDS (boycott, economic divestment and sanctions) Movement supporters to boycott it over Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians.
Roll acknowledged Israel does not extend civil marriage to same-sex couples, but he also pointed out to the Blade the country does not “have civil marriage for straight people either” because marriage in the Jewish state is a religious institution. Roll noted he is among the openly LGBTQ people in the Israeli government and they “live a full, fulfilling life.”
“Are we perfect?” he asked rhetorically. “No. Are we one of the best places for gay people to live in the world? Definitely so, and I feel safe. And I feel welcomed. And I feel empowered and I feel like the best of it is ahead.”
Roll told the Blade the idea of “pinkwashing” comes from the fact “that not everyone is as informed as others about life in Israel.”
“That’s something that’s a task this new government and our ministry has, to better convey the Israeli story, and it’s a wonderful and complex and diverse story,” he said.
Roll also stressed he “would love for people to stop pinning one thing against the other.”
“Us doing tremendous work for LGBTQ equality does not get eliminated or erased or cancelled just because we have to also manage a very intricate conflict, which is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” he said. “Promoting progressive values is still something that is worth mentioning, and we are working towards bettering the lives of the Palestinians on a humanitarian and economic level. Things are not as black and white as they are portrayed.”
Roll lives in Tel Aviv with his husband, Harel Skaat, an Israeli pop star who he married in Utah in March, and their two children who they had via surrogates in the U.S.
The lawyer and former model who is a member of the centrist Yesh Atid party founded Pride Front, a group that encourages LGBTQ Israelis to become involved with the country’s political process. Roll told the Blade he decided to run for office after he and his husband started their family.
“It was quite a struggle,” he said, noting their second child was born via surrogate in Oklahoma. “And then it struck me that I have to practice what I preach. I have to not only just encourage others to take political action and move forward, but also I had to take the lead.”
Roll in 2019 won a seat in the Israeli Knesset. Lapid appointed Roll as deputy foreign minister after the new government took office.
“I’m a very young member of this government … and I am an openly gay member of this government,” said Roll. “I am very grateful of the life that I have been able to create for myself in Israel.”
“That’s a story that I feel like I can portray very authentically and I think that’s a story that needs to be told outside of Israel,” he added. “I’m also very proud to be part of the new face of a new government that is doing things differently and in a way I think now allows people of all different ethnicities and colors and agendas to find someone they can relate to in this government.”
U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) and other members of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus are among those who met with Roll when he was in D.C. Roll also sat down with Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, American Israel Public Affairs Committee members and Jewish students at George Washington University.
“We have a new government, and the new government is really different in many great ways,” Roll told the Blade. “It’s the most diverse government in our history and in a way it is the most diverse reflection of a very diverse society.”
He said one of the reasons he traveled to D.C. was “to reach out and to open a dialogue.” Roll also stressed Israel “has always been a bipartisan issue.
“It’s crucial to keep it that way and we intend to do that,” he said. “The U.S. is the most cherished and important ally we have and you need to cultivate relationships.”
Eight cities in the United States scored a zero out of 100 on the 10th annual Municipal Equality Index, which evaluates cities and towns based on the level of LGBTQ inclusion found in their local laws, policies and services.
LGBTQ advocacy groups Human Rights Campaign and Equality Federation evaluated 506 municipalities — including the country’s 50 state capitals and 200 largest cities — on 49 criteria for the index. The criteria included nondiscrimination protections, policies for municipal employees and city leadership.
This year’s zero-point earners span from South Carolina to Wyoming, and they all came in at zero on last year’s index, too. But on the flip side, 22 percent of cities earned a perfect score, up from 8 percent in 2012, the report’s inaugural year.
“If you’re scoring a zero, it’s because you’re making that choice. There are definitely some low-hanging fruit ways to get off of that zero place,” said Cathryn Oakley, the founding author of the index and the state legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign. “That is a statement on their end about how they’re willing to engage in these issues.”
Here are the eight cities that scored a failing grade on this year’s Municipal Equality Index:
Florence, Alabama
Located in the northwest corner of Alabama, Florence sits on the Tennessee River, has a population of about 40,000 and is home to the University of North Alabama. The city made headlines in 2017, when several members of white nationalist groups, some dressed in Ku Klux Klan robes, staged a protest during northwest Alabama’s first Pride parade.
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Jonesboro, with a population of nearly 80,000, is Arkansas’ fifth largest city. It sits in the northeastern part of the state and is home to Arkansas State University. Earlier this year, a Pride Month book display — which included the children’s book “The GayBCs” — ignited a backlash at a public library in the city, The Jonesboro Sun reported.
Southaven, Mississippi
Southaven sits on the border of Mississippi and its northern neighbor, Tennessee, and is just 13 miles from Memphis. The city, which has about 55,000 residents, made news in 2019 after a same-sex couple said they were kicked out of a local Baptist churchbecause the women wouldn’t end their “forbidden” marriage and “repent.”
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Located just outside Tulsa in the northeastern part of the state, Broken Arrow is the fourth largest city in Oklahoma, with a population of about 113,000. Oklahoma is the only state to have two cities earn zero points on this year’s Municipal Equality Index.
Moore, Oklahoma
Moore, a city of about 63,000 residents, is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, which sits in the middle of the state. Moore made national news back in 2017 after Ralph Shortey, a “family values” Republican who had served in the Oklahoma Senate, was found with a 17-year-old male in a local motel (Shortey was eventually sentenced to 15 years in prison on child sex-trafficking charges).
Clemson, South Carolina
Home to Clemson University, this small South Carolina city, with a population of 17,700, sits in the northwest part of the state near the borders of both Georgia and North Carolina. While the city of Clemson scored a zero out of 100 on this year’s Municipal Equality Index, the university scored a 3 out of 5 on the LGBTQ nonprofit Campus Pride’s annual index. The university also opened Lavender Place, an LGBTQ “living-learning community,” in August.
Pierre, South Dakota
With a population of roughly 14,100, Pierre is the second-least populous state capital in the country, following Montpelier, Vermont. Home to the state’s legislature, the city hosts many of the state’s protests concerning LGBTQ issues. In January, Pierre made national headlines when a group of LGBTQ advocates protested against a proposed law that would ban people from changing the sex designation on their birth certificates. A South Dakota House committee later rejected the bill in February.
Rocks Springs, Wyoming
Rock Springs is a city in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, with a population of about 23,500. Despite scoring a zero out of 100 on this and last year’s Municipal Equality Index, a Rock Springs church made history after hosting what it called the state’s first LGBTQ pride worship service in 2019, the Casper Star-Tribune reported.
History buffs rejoice! We have added several new resources to the Sonoma County Library Digital Collections site, including a historical photo map viewer and an updated Local History Index. Find out more about these collections below!
The Historic Photo Map Viewergraphically provides the location for nearly 35,000 photos taken within Sonoma County, and is a great way to discover new images in our collection. The tool also allows a view of locations over time, from 1942 (for selected areas) through 2018!
The Local History Index is a tool for researching Sonoma County people, places, organizations, and events referenced in books, journals, and newspapers found primarily in the Sonoma County History and Genealogy Library. The index records—created over several decades by volunteers—include links to the library’s catalog for location and other information.
Dig into the annual final reports from the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury (CGJ)and its predecessor, the Sonoma County Grand Jury (GJ). This independent institution oversees all aspects of county, special districts and city governments in the County to ensure that the best interests of its citizens are being served.
The Sonoma Historian(originally published as The Journal) is the official publication of the Sonoma County Historical Society. This quarterly publication contains articles, book reviews, and announcements of events pertaining to the history of Sonoma County, as well as news of the society. All issues through the current year are available here.
The Sonoma County Commission on AIDS was formed in 1988 to act as a link between services, clients, and businesses. The commission is committed to assisting the community of Sonoma County to develop and implement an efficient HIV strategy plan that addresses prevention, treatment, and care, and assures the preservation of human rights. This collection consists of meeting agendas, minutes, announcements, and other material from the first ten years of the commission. Start Researching Now
Thank you for being a member of the Sonoma County Library community. Visit us online or in person at one of our branches. Be sure to check out open jobs at Sonoma County Library here.
Descubre la historia del Condado de Sonoma con nuestras colecciones digitales
¿Eres un aficionado a la historia? Hemos agregado varios recursos nuevos al sitio de Colecciones Digitales de la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma, incluido un visor de mapas fotográficos históricos y un Índice de Historia Local actualizado. ¡Descubre más sobre estas colecciones a continuación!
El Historic Photo Map Viewerproporciona gráficamente la ubicación de casi 35,000 fotos tomadas dentro del Condado de Sonoma, y es una excelente manera de descubrir nuevas imágenes en nuestra colección. ¡La herramienta también permite una vista de las ubicaciones a lo largo del tiempo, desde 1942 (para áreas seleccionadas) hasta 2018!
El Local History Index es una herramienta para investigar a las personas, lugares, organizaciones y eventos del Condado de Sonoma a los que se hace referencia en libros, revistas y periódicos que se encuentran principalmente en la Biblioteca de Historia y Genealogía del Condado de Sonoma. Los registros del índice, creados durante varias décadas por voluntarios, incluyen enlaces al catálogo de la biblioteca para la ubicación y otra información.
Lee los informes finales anuales del Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury (CGJ) y su predecesor, el Sonoma County Grand Jury (GJ). Esta institución independiente supervisa todos los aspectos del condado, los distritos especiales y los gobiernos de la ciudad en el Condado para garantizar que se atele a los mejores intereses de sus ciudadanos.
The Sonoma Historian(originalmente publicado como The Journal) es la publicación oficial de Sonoma County Historical Society. Esta publicación trimestral contiene artículos, reseñas de libros y anuncios de eventos relacionados con la historia del Condado de Sonoma, así como noticias de la sociedad. Todos los números a lo largo del año en curso están disponibles aquí.
Sonoma County Commission on AIDS se formó en 1988 para actuar como enlace entre los servicios, los clientes y las empresas. La comisión se compromete a ayudar a la comunidad del condado de Sonoma a desarrollar e implementar un plan estratégico eficiente contra el HIV que aborde la prevención, el tratamiento y la atención, y garantice la preservación de los derechos humanos. Esta colección consiste en agendas de reuniones, actas, anuncios y otro material de los primeros diez años de la comisión.Comienza a investigar ahora
Gracias por ser miembro de la comunidad de Bibliotecas del Condado de Sonoma. Visítenos en línea o en persona en una de nuestras sucursales. Asegúrese de consultar los trabajos disponible en la Biblioteca del Condado de Sonoma aquí.
¿Preguntas? Por favor llame a su biblioteca local o haga clic para mandar un mensaje.
HOLIDAY MEAL FREE TO ALLThursday, Dec 2 from 11am – 1pm
Your invited to join us to celebrate our annual holiday meal! This year we will be serving YOU. Traditional holiday menu, with vegetarian options too! More info below.
Due to COVID restrictions we ask that you do not bring any food to the meal. All of the food is provided and served by the SASC Board of Directors. RSVP required as we are limited in space. Details are on the webpage when you register!
Helping Other People “HOP” Day! Are you a senior needing a hand with a basic project around your home? Great news, the Sebastopol Area Senior Center and local Service Clubs have partnered to help you! First HOP Day in Sebastopol: Saturday, January 15, 2022!
What you need to know:This application is open to seniors aged 60 or betterAll recipients MUST be vaccinated and wear masks indoors when volunteers are present.Applications are accepted year-round; service days are once per quarterBy submitting this application, we cannot guarantee we can complete the project, but we will try our best!Please note there are some projects we cannot complete including anything that requires a permit.
Here are some sample projects we can complete for you:changing light bulbschanging simple fixtures around your homeremoving cobwebs or debrishelping with basic yard workany project you can’t do around the house, tell us what it is and we can try to helpPartnered Agencies: Sebastopol Area Senior Center, Gravenstein Lions Club, Rotary Club of Sebastopol, Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise, Kiwanis Club, Soroptimist, Active 20/30 Club, VFW Gold Ridge Post, Sebastopol Grange, Masons La Fayette Lodge #126
Application Process: 1. Senior completes application 2. The Senior Center funnels applications to the Service Clubs 3. Applications are reviewed, approved by the Service Clubs. 4. Applicants are notified.
Open Tuesday – Friday 11am – 1pm for Lunch$10 for members; $12 for non membersProof of vaccination required.Masks required unless you are sitting down and eating
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED!This program is in its 14th year. We now have over 1,400 people who have used our program since we started, with over 40,000 rides to date! You only accept the rides you want. Most volunteers drive twice a month. If you would like to find out more, please contact::Scotty King | Manager of Special Services Volunteer Driver Program & LGTB+ Liaison SASC – 707-829-2440 [email protected]
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Take part in an Alzheimer’s Prevention Study! The goal of this study is to identify people who may be ‘at risk’ for cognitive decline based a blood test showing a build up of amyloid and tau, the two markers of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain. All costs for all testing/exams/MRIs are covered by the sponsor. No cost to the individual or their insurance company.
Eligibility requirements: Age range 55-80Has a normal cognitive exam on a screening (can be done on a computer)Has a positive blood test as noted aboveHas a negative MRI for other risk factors, such a strokes. People who can not get MRIs for any reason are excluded as it is used both for screening and for safety assessments during the studyNo other serious illnessesHas study partner who can help assess any cognitive changes (spouse, friend, adult children, etc.)The study will last about three years.
Exclusion:Dementia or cognitive impairmentAbnormal liver function tests on initial screening. The study involves an IV infusion, once a month, for nine months. There is a placebo arm to the study. After the initial nine months, there is tracking for any cognitive decline or side effects for up to three years, using on-line visits about every six months, including the study partner’s assessment of the individual.
To find out more information or to sign up, email: Lauren Weber ~ [email protected]