August 10, 2021 – Southern Oregon Coast Pride, Queers & Allies (Q&A) of Coos County
Laura Erceg, Organizer (Southern Oregon Coast Pride, Q&A of Coos County, laura.erceg@gmail.com or socpcooscounty@gmail.com) – Presenting activities and supports for LGBTQIA+ adults and youth on the south coast.
Q&A of Coos County was founded in 2015 to create safe spaces and build a multi-generational community of support for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13-24 and their allies in Coos County through bold advocacy, creative outreach, and fun activities. Recently expanded to include support for job readiness, gender affirming health care.
Strong partnerships with Coos Health & Wellness and community partners.
Weekly social gatherings, offline supports through Q&A Elders (adult mentors).
New grant supports a Gender Affirmation Closet (ensuring rural youth have access to items that affirm their gender, available to any youth under 25 in Coos County, items include makeup/clothing gift cards, travel funds related to gender affirmation appointments, name change fees, and more – see the request form for more details: https://forms.gle/KzaZ3Qs1RNSaBYAAA – once a request is received, a Q&A Elder will reach out via the individual’s preferred contact to coordinate purchase and delivery). This grant also supports a new youth internship program.
Resources for LGBTQIA+ youth will be listed on the new Q&A web site coming soon, send information you would like to see listed to daphne.sprinkle@gmail.com.
Curry County partnerships are invited! Please contact Laura at the email(s) above to discuss opportunities.
Meetings are held every 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Thursday (5:30-7:30pm, virtually via Zoon until further notice) and 4th Thursday (outdoor field trip). Please contact Laura at the email above prior to a youth’s first meeting so she can discuss guidelines and expectations.
Southern Oregon Coast Pride exists to conduct events that foster hope and provide support for LGTBQIA+ youth and adults, educate about LGBTQIA+ issues and resources, and collaborate with allied individuals and community groups.
Built upon prior events to launch 2019 “Pride in the Park” (North Bend) – over 150 attendees. On hold for 2020, then June 2021 online events included an author event, Safe Zone training, book group, drag queen story time, suicide prevention session.
Why is Pride important? Small towns and rural communities create unique challenges for LGBTQIA+ people. Experiences of discrimination can hinder our efforts to belong, to be safe, and to create success. We have limited access to resources and support that is available in larger, urban areas. Too often, many of us feel as though we have to leave our local communities to find the opportunities and affirmation we seek.
October 2021 (National Coming Out Month) – looking at ways to bring people together in person and virtually (as COVID permits).
Monthly LGBTQIA+ book club – all virtual. All are welcome. Updates are posted to the SOC Pride Facebook page.
SOC Pride planning committee meets every Monday (5pm, virtually via Zoom). Contact socpcooscounty@gmail.com for information on upcoming events and how to get involved.
Additional contact: jamarruff@gmail.com
Click the link for SOC Pride and LGBTQIA+ Terminology information flyers. Printed copied are available upon request.
Community updates
Welcome new participants
Sam Roberts (Oasis Advocacy and Shelter, Gold Beach, ) – now open on a limited service basis. Emergency shelter is still closed at this time but Oasis can assist with restraining orders, DHS cases, rental assistance, etc for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or trafficking.
Cheri Forster (Intensive Care Coordinator for Curry County with Allcare Health, cheri.forster@allcarehealth.com) – welcome Cheri!
Employment
Teri Moore (WorkSource Coos, 971-707-1802 or Teri.L.Moore@Oregon.Gov) – Office is now open M-F 8:30am-5:00pm. Job seeking services are open to anyone in the community. STEP Program/supportive services for job searches are available for residents receiving SNAP benefits. Services are available virtually or via phone as well. Contact Teri for details on appointment requirements.
Unemployment extensions/PUA end September 4. If you are working with people who are using these services please send them to WorkSource.
Maria Walker (WorkSource Curry, 541-469-9836) – Appointments recommended.
Annabel Taylor (Recruit HIPPO – South Coast Business’ In School Youth Program through WorkSource Oregon, www.recruithippo.com) – Works with in-school youth to help with work experience credit requirements, internships, industry tours, etc. to lead them to a career after high school. In partnership with AYA and Recruit HIPPO, ePuerto has opened a sports complex in Pony Village mall (flyer here), free August 16-20 for youth up to age 24, youth development/child care/sports coaching internships will be available soon!
Natasha Garrison (SCBEC Career Ambassador, ngarrison@scbec.org, 541-435-9046) – Assists with employment and certification. Goal is to scale up workforce as much as possible. South Coast Business contact: Worksource@scbec.org, 800-822-3525. Click the links for flyers about a Flagging Certification Class and Community Health Worker Class coming up soon!
Zach Richards (SNAP Coordinator, Zachary.A.Richard@dhsoha.state.or.us) – job training, job retention services are available, community partnerships are welcome – contact Zach.
COVID support/updates:
Erlette Upshaw (Coos Elderly Services, erletteu@cooselderly.org) – Funds available for Coos County residents in isolation/quarantine. Supports rent/mortgage payments, utilities, and food. Contact CES at 541-756-1202. Also, backpack giveaway with COVID information/PPE supplies and school supplies on August 28 (9am-12pm) – flyer here. Child(ren) must be present to receive a backpack.
Curry Homeless Coalition has similar funds available – contact Beth Barker-Hidalgo at BBH@curryhomelesscoalition.onmicrosoft.com.
Finding housing for quaratine/isolation especially during tourist season is especially challenging.
Linda Morton Hunter (APD/Gold Beach) – As of 8/10 Brookings Harbor Community Helpers food bank is temporarily closed. Working with community partners on alternate plans to make food available. APD office in Gold Beach is storing PPE for community partners – go through public health to request. APD offices are open at this time but phone/email contact is strongly encouraged.
Julie Griffin (Coast Community Health, Julieg@coastcommunityhealth.org) – drive through COVID testing and vaccines are available at Bandon/Port Orford clinics. COVID Testing: 1:20–4:30pm, COVID Vaccines: 8:20–11:40am. Coast Community Health will not turn anyone away and we will help any way we can.
Connie Hunter (Connie.Hunter@outlook.com):
From the desk of Commissioner Boice. Posted with his support. “We are in a serious COVID – now apparently the new Delta Variant Surge. This reality has put us all in a very delicate and difficult situation. I’m asking everyone to please review this update from our friends at Douglas County that follows – It is well written and an excellent Nationwide update. Our Hospital, Care Organizations, Medical Centers and Brookings St. Timothy’s are all exhausted. They need our help. I believe we are back to where we were in the highest 3 months of 2020. Consider – It’s not just about ‘you-me-I’’ – it is about everyone of all ages. Please observe, consider the following, and respectfully do your part. Vaccines – I completely understand Vaccine Hesitancy, but the risks clearly from contracting COVID are far greater. Test – If you’re uncertain – please arrange immediately to be tested. Hygiene focus – Don’t touch your face and wash multiple times daily, etc. Masks – Put the face coverings back on anytime you leave your home. Stay home – if it isn’t very important to venture out. Social distancing – Go back to solid 6 ft. individual spacing. Group gatherings – Commit to avoiding large groups. Most vulnerable – be aware of those we care about that have the greatest risk.”
St Tim’s is providing testing (12-3pm, M-Sat) and vaccines (1-3pm Wed/Sat).
If you are interested in growing Access to Healthcare, please join our Curry CHIP workgroup. Help us address barriers to care, gaps in care and improving delivery of services. We are looking to Curry Health Network’s Community Needs Assessment’s efforts toward behavioral health.
General resources/updates:
Susan Smith (Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation Family Services Program Manager): Tolowa Dee-ni” Days will be 9/11/2021 at the Howonquet Community Center in Smith River.
Ariana Ryzebol (VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator, based in North Bend, serving the South Coast) – Out of the Darkness walk will be held 9/25/2021. Sponsorship and team signup forms are available here. Happening in Coos County, and all south coast residents are invited to sponsor, walk, volunteer.
Ashley Taylor (Victim Services, Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, Ashley.taylor@tolowa.com) – opening back up again with outreach services to Tribal affiliated domestic violence and sexual assault situations, expanded to serve elders and children for Coos and Curry Counties. Housing assistance, court advocacy, legal service assistance also available. Now offering employee/workplace awareness presentations (via zoom or in person).
Erlette – Veteran’s Stand Down is scheduled for 9/17 at Pony Village Mall.
David Ross (Waterfall Community Health Center) – mobile clinic RV will be in Charleston next Wednesday 8/18 providing primary care and vaccine services. The mobile clinic will be in Lakeside the following Wednesday 8/25. Also now has a community garden, looking for volunteers. Contact dross@wfall.org for more information.
Double Up Food Bucks available at all Curry County farmers markets.
South Coast Social Services Connect meetings will continue virtually through year-end, but we are looking to host smaller in-person regional networking meetings as COVID permits.