Bay Area Reporter - April 16, 2009
Cynthia Laird, c.laird@ebar.com

Director Brian Basinger said the agency had to move due to its "500 percent" increase in applications for financial assistance.

"We were getting clobbered," he said, noting that the alliance had previously shared an office with another nonprofit. "We needed more room."

The weekly drop-in clinic day has also changed. It is now every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Previously, the alliance had to hold its drop-in clinic on Fridays, which was not an ideal time, Basinger said, coming at the end of the workweek. Basinger said the new mid-week clinic gives the alliance time for follow-up with clients.

Additionally, the new office is close to the alliance's HIV employment program, the Aha Cafe, located on the UC Hastings law school campus.

Basinger pointed out that while the office location has moved, services remain the same and include housing referrals, back rent and deposit assistance, tenant's rights counseling, hotel emergency and transitional housing, and job training.

In other news, the alliance will hold the first qualifying competition for its 2010 Desperate Divas calendar. The benefit takes place Saturday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at the Bar on Church, 198 Church Street.

For more information about the alliance, call (415) 552-3242.

New drop-off location for old HIV meds

Moms Pharmacy in the Castro has partnered with the Recycled AIDS Medicine Program and will become a drop-off point for unused HIV medications. Both RAMP and the pharmacy, which opened last year in the Castro, confirmed the news, and there will be an opening event Saturday, April 18 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of 18th and Castro streets. Moms is located at 4071 18th Street.

RAMP collects unused HIV medications for distribution overseas to people in developing countries. Moms will accept those medications for RAMP weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For additional RAMP drop-off locations, visit www.rampusa.org.

Stonewall 40 meeting Sat.

The Stonewall-Gay Liberation Front organizing committee will hold its first meeting Saturday, April 18 at 1 p.m. at 631 O'Farrell Street (in the community room). Members are planning for the group's participation in this year's San Francisco Pride festivities to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, considered to be the birth of the modern gay rights movement.

Peter Fiske, Tommi Avicolli Mecca, and Mark Barnes are co-chairing the committee. They are looking for Stonewall veterans, GLF veterans, and pre-Stonewall folks in San Francisco (such as those involved with the Compton's Cafeteria riot in August 1966). Additionally, the group seeks those who were involved with the Daughters of Bilitis, the Mattachine Society, the Society of Individual Rights, the Tavern Guild, and the early bike clubs like the California Motorcycle Club.

For more information, e-mail mailto:sf_stonewall_glf_40@yahoogroups.com.

JFCS budgeting classes

Jewish Family and Children's Services is offering two free classes to help individuals and families address financial concerns during the economic downturn.

The first, "Financial Literacy for Kids" actually is for adults only and takes place Tuesday, April 21 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The workshop will help parents learn to talk to their children about difficult financial messages in age-appropriate ways. It will also offer practical tips for teaching children about money. Lisa Caper, LCSW, director of JFCS' Dream House, will lead the session. The workshop takes place at 1710 Scott Street. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to sign up, contact lisac@jfcs.org or (415) 359-2442.

The second, "Right Sizing Your Lifestyle," takes place Wednesday, April 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The workshop will teach participants how to adapt their lifestyles creatively to meet new financial realities. People will learn techniques for developing effective budgeting strategies, managing credit cards, and identifying lifestyle changes they can make that will still enable them to lead fulfilling, enjoyable lives. Scott Haessly, JFCS' financial case manager; and Eric Singer, financial aid center director, will lead the course, which takes place at 2150 Post Street. To pre-register or for more information, contact scotth@jfcs.org or (415) 449-1243.

'Dating and Sex' workshop

Just in time for the upcoming Pride season, the UCSF AIDS Health Project's Reach program will present a free Men Connecting workshop called "Dating and Sex" on Friday, April 24 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the AHP Services Center, 1930 Market Street in San Francisco.

In the workshop, participants will look at dating and sex to help them come up with a plan to enhance their overall health and well-being. The workshop is for gay and bisexual men regardless of HIV status. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required; people should call (415) 476-6448, ext. 1. For more information about AHP, visit www.ucsf-ahp.org.

Pet loss workshop

A workshop for people who have lost or are anticipating the loss of a pet will take place Saturday, April 25 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, 101 Gold Mine Drive in San Francisco.

Organizer Lois Roach said that participants will spend meditative and reflective time creating a memorial for their pet, such as a niche, scrapbook, poem, song, letter, or other work of art. People are encouraged to bring their own mementoes to use in the creation of their memorial tributes. The workshop will be led by Roach, a certified pet bereavement counselor and chatroom moderator with the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement; Betty Carmack, pet loss counselor, researcher and author; and the Reverend Deacon Diana Wheeler, an early childhood director and spiritual director at the church.

A $20 donation is requested; scholarships are available. Attendance is limited and pre-registration is required. To register, contact Wheeler at Diana@saintaidan.org or (415) 285-9540, ext. 5.

HRC launches student scholarship program

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation has launched its Generation Equality Scholarships for LGBT and allied college students who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the fight for queer equality. The three $2,000 scholarships to be awarded are part of HRC Foundation's Youth and Campus Outreach Program.

Priority will be given to applicants who: self-identify as LGBT or ally; have applied to or are enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education; have demonstrated a commitment or contribution to the LGBT community; are in good academic standing; and have demonstrated need for financial assistance.

The deadline to apply for the 2009-2010 academic year is June 1. Finalists will be asked to submit additional materials. Scholarship recipients will be announced in July.

To apply, visit www.hrc.org/geneqscholarship.

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