Tag Archives: DC

TOOOooo HOT!!!!! Keep COOL!

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“The D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) has issued a Heat Alert for today based on National Weather Service forecasts of a 95° high this afternoon, with a projected heat index of 97°. The forecast also calls for a high of 100° tomorrow, with heat index approaching 105°. D.C. residents should prepare for this heat wave to last for three days.”

D.C. residents should remember the following during this period:

Stay indoors as much as possible.

Turn on the air-conditioner or fan.

DO NOT leave children or pets in vehicles.

Drink plenty of water.

Wear light-colored, lightweight and loose-fitting clothes.

D.C. Rec Center pools may be used to cool off.

Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outside (SPF 15-30 is best).

Limit exposure to the sun (the sun is most powerful between 10 am and 3 pm).

Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Visit one of the District’s “Cooling Centers” located throughout the city, if you do not have access to a cool-temperature location.

For “Cooling Centers” locations or to report a problem, call the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center at (202) 727-1000. For information about water for the homeless, contact United Planning Organization at (202) 399-7093. In an effort to offer relief from the sweltering heat today, DPR will extend hours at all outdoor pools 7pm and indoor pools to 6pm. The following outdoor swimming pools will be open extended hours from 11am to 9pm, Monday August 10th:

1. Anacostia
2. Banneker
3. Benning Park
 4. Douglas
5. East Potomac
6. Ft. Dupont
7. Ft. Lincoln
8. Ft. Stanton
9. Harry Thomas
10. Kelly Miller
11. Kenilworth
12. Oxon Run
13. Rosedale
14. Volta Park
So. . . I am out-of-town back in Utah visiting with my family and there has been in a crazy cold-front!! It was 60 degrees last night! I know I know. . STAY INDOORS PEOPLE! I will be back in town tomorrow night and I am trying to brace myself for the heat! I used to be a competitive swimmer so I must say that Terrance Howard was lookin real nice and cool in the movie Pride. . . Chill at the pool if you can tomorrow!!

I ♥ the DC Youth of Today!

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For anyone that knows me in DC they know that at any given time I have about 20-30 kids that “I follow” or in other words try and make myself available for them.
They have made me a little bit tougher, a little bit stronger and always make me smile! I am also VERY protective of all of the young people I see in DC especially since it is summer and the youth are out and about. Adults (I pretend to be somewhere between a young person and an adult) seem to be quick-to-judge in this area.
My motto is to “Encourage instead of Discourage.”
Some may call me soft because of my motto, but for the youth that know me they know that I DO NOT mess around. I am “real life.” I will give of my time and offer my skills to help in anyway I can but I refuse to accept most excuses (life happens). Most of the youth in DC have no idea of the nights I don’t sleep, and the amount of money I have spent on eye drops from dry eye just thinking about ways I can make a tangible difference on no budget.
I will continue to ask “what does that phrase mean?” (As I do to anyone younger than me)
To all my youth: thank you for being the reason that I keep on keepin’ on!
Check out some of the amazing DC Youth Organizations AND check out:
Youth Service America
where you can find hundreds of opportunities in your area to volunteer!!!
Check out the YSA blog: “Volunteers Provided an Extreme Recess for DC Youth” here
Get involved if you are not OR Start your THANG- as my friends say- “Dats wats up!”!
(Click on the image to link to their site)

The Real World DC. . and NWtoSE Real Life 2009 DC Style

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The cast from MTV’s “The Real World” arrived a couple weeks ago or a week ago in DC. I think it is about time MTV picked DC, but I am not quite sure if they can handle NWtoSEs “Real World 2009″ meaning “Can The Real World handle The Real DC?”

I am not sure when the producers plan to discuss with the cast the state of HIV/AIDS in the District (with 3% of DC infected with HIV/AIDS I pray sooner than later), or the dire meltdown of public education in the District, #1 for Teen Pregnancy in the nation, the poverty level, or just any public health issues in general.

BUT I know it will be on the horizon because of their partnerships not only with the Kaiser Family Foundation (thank you MTV!), their website “It’s Your Sex Life”. On this awesome website you can learn all about STDs, HIV/AIDS, and their most recent TV show “16 and Pregnant.”

If the cast would like to come on a Condom Distribution day I would gladly arrange the experience with the Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association, Department of Health, Metro TeenAids, various other stakeholders and of course. . . I will even wear my condom costume!

**Updated! New Partners Attending! Monday June 29th 10am-2pm National HIV/AIDS Testing Day Continues in DC

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Join me, NWtoSE aka JanaB as I go get tested at the
Chairman Vincent Gray and Council member David Catania for
HIV Testing Day @
The Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Monday, June 29, 2009
10 am-2pm

for your FREE HIV/AIDS Test.

UPDATED Partners will be attending!
The Women’s Collective and the Carl Vogel Center
free and confidential HIV tests

Children’s National Medical Center
HIV/AIDS educational materials and will be raffling off prizes

American Lung Association/ DC Tobacco Free Families
free nicotine replacement kits available

Community Education Group
educational materials and other giveaways

La Clinica Del Pueblo
Spanish language materials available

Prevention Works
giving away safer sex kits Plus many more!

For more information please see this flier and contact
Tanchica Terry @ 202.724.8170 or tterry@dccouncil.us
or contact me NWtoSE

See How President Obama took the Test!

From NWtoSE the Black and Latino Communites are severely being affected by HIV/AIDS: National Day of Testing Series

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Every 9½ minutes someone in the US is infected with HIV. Act Against AIDS. Get the facts: NineAndaHalfMinutes.org
Every 9½ minutes another person in the United States becomes infected with HIV.
www.nineandahalfminutes.org
Actua Contra el Sida
en espanol http://www.cdc.gov/nineandahalfminutes/spanish.html

Check out this YouTube video and GET THE FACTs
Click here for English and
Click here for Spanish/en espanol

HIV/AIDS is disproportionately affecting minority populations AND the District of Columbia:
US:

  • HIV has a devastating toll on African Americans, who account for almost half of new HIV diagnoses (49% in 2006)
  • Latinos account for 20% of new HIV diagnoses (18% in 2006)http://cdc.gov/Features/HIVtesting/

DC:

  • At the end of 2007, a total of 15,120 people were living with HIV/AIDS in the District, accounting for about 3% of all District residents.

Remember these numbers are people that have been tested and have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control. The numbers ARE HIGHER.

  • District residents age 40-49 are the most significantly impacted by HIV/AIDS with over 7% of residents in this age group living with HIV/AIDS.
  • Blacks continue to be the most severely impacted with over 4% of black residents infected with HIV followed by Hispanics (1.9%) and whites (1.4%).
  • Black males have the highest burden of disease with 6.5 % of all black males in the District living with HIV/AIDS.


This high rate is due to Men having sex with men (MSM). We [the DC community] need to BEGIN to stop stigmatizing this dire state that too many DC men are dealing with. . . and too many ALONE.
More data can be accessed through the DC Department of Health HIV/AIDS administration 2008 Epidemiology Update here

KNOW your status get tested! If you live in DC come out on Monday and get tested at this event click here for details. If you are outside of DC or can’t make it out on Monday go to hivtest.org to find the closest testing site and more education about HIV/AIDS!

Unifest 2009 SE, DC Block Party Style

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My good friend and I headed to Anacostia on Saturday by the “Big Chair” to listen to my “Youth of Today,” who I should clarify are actually young adults- ages 19-20 perform at the Unifest events!

Topshelf Starz DC was in the house and as usual really got the crowd going!
I was really impressed with the HUGE turnout from the event and I was saddened that I was not there in my condom costume. I didn’t make it too far down the street where the health screenings were taking place, but I know I would have been a really great addition to the event ha ha!

In fact this just this article just came out in The Post on June 2nd:
Amid Criticism, DC Plans Big Efforts to Spread the Word on Aids

Unifest 2009 SE, DC Block Party Style

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My good friend and I headed to Anacostia on Saturday by the “Big Chair” to listen to my “Youth of Today,” who I should clarify are actually young adults- ages 19-20 perform at the Unifest events!

Topshelf Starz DC was in the house and as usual really got the crowd going!
I was really impressed with the HUGE turnout from the event and I was saddened that I was not there in my condom costume. I didn’t make it too far down the street where the health screenings were taking place, but I know I would have been a really great addition to the event ha ha!

In fact this just this article just came out in The Post on June 2nd:
Amid Criticism, DC Plans Big Efforts to Spread the Word on Aids