August 2, 2022
Dear Community,
We were delighted to discover that there are TWO observance days in August that serve as reminders of the importance for self-care. August 15 is National Relaxation Day and August 27 is National Just Because Day. Relaxation can look different for everyone. Some take to the kitchen, others read, while others find solace in nature. The Pride Center team is as diverse in our self-care as we are in our identities.
Amongst our many relaxation recreation activities are:
- Baking 12 chocolate cakes in a row (feel free to judge)
- Listening to Renaissance Act 1
- Watching a show that we've been avoiding social media for (no spoilers, please) & comfort watching our favorite shows
- Chopping vegetables while listening to our favorite songs while accidentally using the broccoli as a microphone (not planned at all)
- Talking a stroll on a sunny or foggy day (you do you, babes)
- Napping
- hanging out with a fur friend
- Sitting on the couch with a book or podcast
- Taking a hot bath
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| Feel like you're short on time? We invite you to reference this great list of suggestions for self care with any amount of time!
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| "National Just Because day" is just that...think of something that you'd like to do, do it and say, "just because". Do you have an outfit that makes you feel your fiercest? Consider wearing it at home or out in the world. Just because! We don't need a special occasion as an excuse. We are the special occasion. Is there a treat that you've been thinking about? Treat yourself! Just because! Is there a restaurant that you adore? Get some self-care take out...Just because!
Audre Lorde says it best, as usual,
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation,
and that is an act of political warfare.”
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Exciting Pride Center updates
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LGBTQ Workplace Inclusion: Everything You Wanted to Know But Too Afraid to Ask
Interested in making sure your Human Resources practices are LGBTQ+ inclusive? Want to know how to make sure you’re fostering a safe space for all? The Pride Center is proud to collaborate with Jennifer Brust on August 17th from 5:30-7:30pm PST via Zoom. Join Jennifer Brust, CEO of Sparta Business Solutions, as she breaks down ways to support LGBTQ+ employees and organizations. In building upon the Pride Center’s Community SOGIE 101 and Resource Roadmaps, we invite you to learn about updated HR policies, procedures, and resources. This is the safe space for YOU to learn everything you wanted to know but were too afraid to ask.
One lucky workshop attendee will also receive a special prize facial and digital skin analysis from LG Waxing & Esthetics/ Moderne Beauty Studios in San Jose. Must be present to win!
Register in advance at: tinyurl.com/LGBTQWorkInclusion
Please be advised that this workshop may be recorded for internal distribution purposes. Specifically, the main workshop content will be recorded and the Q&A section WILL NOT. If you do not wish to be recorded but would still like to submit an anonymous question to the presenter, please contact Jennifer Brust (she/her) at jennifer@spartahrbiz.com.
About the workshop presenter: With 15+ years of experience as an HR expert, Jennifer has committed her life’s work to help small businesses grow by giving them the tools to focus on the work they love and to delegate the rest. Jennifer holds a PHRca and B.A. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Business and prides herself as a forever student, consistently staying up to date with emerging HR trends and updates. The blend of her formal education and in-the-field experience has made her a sought-after industry expert with an exceptional track record including hiring and training over 1,700 Independent Contractors nationwide – in only three months.
Through the combination of her custom-tailor HR Consulting and her original online software, Jennifer provides small business owners with the support they need to stay up-to-date on compliance rules; file required paperwork; maintain records of mandatory training; provide useful guides; virtually onboard team members, provide exit interviews, and to actually enjoy the process of ethically scaling their small business.
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Are you looking for a way to support the San Mateo County Pride Center? Do you want to promote visibility in a stylish way? Do you want to support the work of an artist of Color?
You're in luck! In June, we collaborated with the amazing Kristel Bugayong (she/her) to create 5 new designs for our online store! They come in T-shirts, Tank tops and hoodies.
We invite you to wear your Pride throughout the year, proudly announce your advocacy & allyship & look amazing while doing it! There are several new items offered including muscle shirts. As a reminder, t-shirts are an amazing way to signal safety and promote visibility among community members.
Also, summer weather in the Bay Area doesn't realllllly happen until the Fall. Is there a better time to have a muscle shirt ready?
Please click this link (tinyurl.com/smcpc-merch) or click the button below to access our store:
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Thank you for your patience as we all endure this pandemic together. We only took our time to get it right. Click here or the button below to read about our timeline and the upgrades we’ve made to our beloved community center. We can’t wait to welcome you back home.
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We released a statement in response to Monkey Pox. We hope that this statement provides comfort while sharing factual information. We FIRMLY believe that the most strategic way to fight disease and stigma is with accurate information.
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Are you interested in being an ongoing supporter of the San Mateo County Pride Center? Consider becoming a monthly donor!
Monthly contributions can be made starting as little as $5 and up to whatever you can comfortably afford. If you are able to donate on an ongoing basis, even $5 adds up to a total of $60 per year! Every dollar helps support our beloved LGBTQ+ community by providing essential programs and services such peer support groups and name and gender change support.
If you are interested in becoming a monthly donor, please click this link.
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For the latest updates follow us on social media:
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PENINSULA FAMILY SERVICE UPDATES
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Please stay tuned for updates about upcoming workshops, events and programs from our partners at Peninsula Family Service!
If you have any questions regarding Older Adult Programming, please contact PFS' Older Adult Program Coordinator, Eddie Peréz (he/him) at eperez@peninsulafamilyservice.org.
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| Youth Advisory Board (YAB)
As a member of the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) with Outlet and the San Mateo County Pride Center you will help plan, organize and implement positive changes and support for LGBTQIA+ youth in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Youth Advisory Board members help the LGBTQIA+ community by addressing needs they see around them, getting their friends and peers involved, sharing information about upcoming events with friends, peers and teachers at school, as well as bringing input and suggestions from community members to help shape the direction of the Youth Program!
Please apply here by August 19th if you are interested in joining YAB. Questions? Contact Ishani@acs-teens.org
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| SAVE THE DATE: OUT TO EAT 2022
Our partners at Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS) & Outlet are hosting their annual fundraiser. This is a great event that supports LGBTQ+ Youth!
WHEN:
Thursday, October 27th, 2022 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
WHERE:
Oshman Family JCC (Freidenrich Conference Room on the 4th floor)
3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA
For ticketing, contact and general information about this event, please click the button below
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Trans Talks: Thursday, August 18
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The Pride Center and Stanford LGBTQ+ Health Program co-host Trans Talks, a free, monthly workshop series that centers the health and wellness of our Transgender and Non-Binary community members. All are welcome to attend. Community members are invited to ask questions on their health and wellness. Every month, a different professional from Stanford's LGBTQ+ Health Program will share information, lead a discussion and answer your questions. This is a free workshop open to all community members.
This month's workshop is scheduled to take place on Thursday, August 18th from 6:30-7:30 PM PST on Zoom. Topic to be announced! Please use this link to register. For updates on this workshop, please click this link. If you are unable to attend the workshop, a recording will be available.
If you are interested in seeing recordings of previous Trans Talks, please use this link: tinyurl.com/transtalks-recordings. Please note: all recordings utilize closed captioning.
Previous workshops have included:
Gender Affirming Surgery 101, Safer Sex & Gender Affirming Voice Therapy
If you have questions, need support or would like to suggest a topic please contact
Sawye (she/her) at raygani@stanford.edu
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A note about case management services:
At this moment, we are not hosting case management during a dedicated drop in time period. We previously held those drop in hours every Wednesday. We are offering case management services on a case to case basis. If you would like to receive case management services, please complete the clinical services intake form by clicking the button below.
You may also choose to fill out this form on behalf of the person requesting clinical services. Feel free to reach out to us via email clinical@sanmateopride.org or phone at (650) 591-0133 ext. 146.
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Just a reminder that the Name and Gender Market workshop will be taking a break in August. Upcoming dates for this workshop are September 28, October 26 & November 30 (December date TBA)
This is a free workshop, registration is required! Please see button below to RSVP.
Please reach out to Alex (he/him) at Alex.Golding@sanmatepride.org or
650-465-6795 for support.
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| | Just a reminder: we offer some financial aide for the legal process and free gender affirming supplies. For more information about this, please see this link: bit.ly/ngc-aid-request
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All groups have moved to Zoom video. Please contact Devon (He/Him) at Devon.Dye@sanmateopride.org to access links for our peer support groups.
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Please note: age range of children of parents has expanded from 0-5 to 0-17!
Peer support group is for LGBTQ+ folks age 18+ who are parents of kid(s) 0-17 years old to support each other, share parenting wisdom, and build community. This group is open to anyone who is a parent or caregiver of young children, with all family formations and ways of being or becoming a parent welcome!
This group will meet twice a month from 7-8:30PM PST on the first and third Tuesdays.
This group is currently meeting via Zoom. Pre-registration is required; please register in advance at: tinyurl.com/smcpc-parentsgroup
If you’re interested in joining this group but the above times don’t work for you, please contact Devon Dye (He/Him) at Devon.Dye@sanmateopride.org
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| | Upcoming dates are September 7, October 5, November 2 & December 7
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The Trans Peer Support Group (18+) meets monthly on the first Monday from 6-7:30PM. This is a free group & registration is required: tinyurl.com/smcpc-transgroup1
Upcoming date meeting date is 8/29
Please note: the Pride Center will be offline Monday, 9/5 in observance of Labor Day. To accommodate this, the Trans Group will meet a second time in August on 8/29.
* As a gentle reminder, we have clinical support available to community members who feel like they would benefit from more support than this social group has available. We will work with you to ensure that these services are accessible.
We also have free gender affirming supplies available. To access these supplies, please contact Alex.Golding@sanmateopride.org or Francisco.Sapp@sanmateopride.org.
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| | | Queer Women’s Group (18+)
Join the Queer Women’s Group’s next meeting on Friday, August 26th from 6-7:30pm PST on Zoom! This group is a place where all women identifying folks 18+ are welcome. Come to meet new people and build community together!
This group meets monthly on the 4th Friday. Upcoming meeting dates are 9/23 & 10/28. November and December dates are TBD.
Pre-registration is required. Register for your unique Zoom access link here: tinyurl.com/smcpc-queerwomensgroup
For questions or support, please contact Devon Dye (He/Him) at Devon.Dye@sanmateopride.org
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| LGBTQ Book Club (18+) from 4:30-6:00 PM
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The book club is a partnership with the San Mateo County Public Library System, Peninsula Family Service and San Mateo County Pride Center. It’s open to all members of the community, including allies and friends.The book club is a partnership with the San Mateo County Public Library System and San Mateo County Pride Center. It’s open to all members of the community, including allies and friends.
Community members who are invited to attend even if they haven't read the book.
Come participate in the discussion!
Please consider utilizing the SMCL to access an e-book, hard copy or audiobook of the books.
Registration is required: tinyurl.com/smcpc-bookclub (upcoming books listed here)
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As we continue to navigate around COVID-19
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- Just a reminder that the Pride Center is currently not open to the public & is available for clinical services and private events. For more information about scheduling to be onsite at the Pride Center, please contact Francisco.Sapp@sanmateopride.org.
- Just a reminder that you only have to register for each peer support group once! The meeting information you receive will remain the same.
- The Pride Center will be offline on Monday, 9/5 in observance of Labor Day.
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Stay safe and take care!
In community,
Marilyn (she/her)
Marketing and Community Engagement Lead
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Do you enjoy/benefit from our programs and services? Are you able to/Would you like to support our essential work? We welcome and appreciate donations of any amount, big or small.
It all matters. Yes, we really mean that.
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The San Mateo County Pride Center is a program of StarVista in collaboration with Outlet of Adolescent Counseling Services, and Peninsula Family Service.
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