Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar
Week of Mon August 10th through Sun August 16th, 2020
About the Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar

The purpose of the Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar is to connect the Black Community of CSU Monterey Bay with the local Black Communities of the Greater Monterey Bay Area. The Calendar is edited by Steven Goings, MSW and is entirely voluntary and looking for institutional support. To submit an event for possible inclusion, please send to AfricanQuazar@gmail.com. The plan is to send out the Calendar every Monday at 9 AM for those who wish to receive it. The deadline for Monday submissions is midnight of the previous Thursday.
Steven's Take:

Fall 2020 at CSUMB and the CSU

As regular readers of the Black Folks Calendar know, the purpose of the Black Folks Calendar is to connect the Black Community with CSU Monterey Bay and vice-versa. So as a general rule, we only post things that are particular to the Black Communities of CSUMB and the Greater Bay Area, not things for general audiences. That is unless there are concerns regarding happenings at CSUMB that we think it is urgent for all communities -- including Black communities -- to know about. At this time, chief among these concerns is what to expect this Fall throughout the entire California State University system -- not just CSUMB -- due to COVID-19. I highly encourage and recommend anyone who has friends or family or are themselves either working at or attending a CSU to register for the "Fall 2020 at the CSU" webinar.
(you won't be able to click the link in the flier below)
Supporting the Monterey County Branch NAACP!

The Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar is dedicating the month of August to fundraising for the Monterey County Branch NAACP

Options for Contributing to the Monterey County Branch NAACP

Please donate to one of the following funds. Make your check out to the NAACP Monterey County Branch #1049 and send it to P.O. Box 782, Seaside, CA 93955. In the lower-left area of your check, please indicate which fund you want to donate.
Or
Click on one of the links below to donate via PAYPAL or with credit card.
Know Your Local NAACP

Committees
The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is carried out by Officers, Executive Committee and Standing Committees of the Branch.
Elections for NAACP branches are held every two years in November. This November is an election year for the Monterey County Branch in which new Officers and Executive Committee members will be elected. The Standing Committee Chairs are appointed by the President.

Of course due to COVID-19, there will be special procedures put in place for this years Branch Election. Once the Monterey County Branch in consultation with national leadership determines this year's voting procedures, we will share whatever information they make public in the Monterey Bay Black Folks Calendar.

In the meantime, now is the time to be thinking of running for office or joining a committee. Standing Committees include:

Armed Services and Veteran Affairs
Works closely with agencies responsible for providing services to members of the Armed Forces and Veterans to ensure programs are administered fairly and justly to the minority community.

Criminal Justice
Works closely with the members of the Regional Prison Coordinator; maintain contacts with and report regularly to the Regional Coordinators; build, cultivate and maintain positive relationships between prison officials; solicit community leaders to assist in carrying out programs National Criminal Justice Committee

Education
Seeks to eliminate segregation and other discriminatory practices in public education, study local educational conditions affecting minority groups; investigate the public school system and school zoning; seek to stimulate school attendance; keep informed of school conditions and strive to correct abuses where found; promote parental involvement in education. National NAACP: Education

Finance
The Finance committee shall consist of the President, Treasurer and at least one other member.  Studies the financial needs of the Branch and shall be responsible for drafting an adequate annual budget.

Health
Work to promote, protect and maintain the health of African Americans; assess the health needs of the community; advocate for equal access to health education, care, treatment and research for all Americans; sponsor health-related activities such as health forums, fairs and workshops highlighting issues of importance to people of color and support health initiatives of the organization. 

Labor and Industry
Works to eliminate discriminatory employment practices in industry and government, wage differentials based on race, unequal opportunities for training, promotion and unfair dismissals; securing the enactment of state and federal fair employment practices legislation and working for improved opportunities in vocational and apprenticeship training.

Legal Redress
The Legal Redress Committee shall: (1) investigate all cases reported to it; (2) supervise all litigation in which the branch is interested and; (3) keep the National office and the branch informed on the progress of every case. It shall not give legal advice.

Membership
The Membership Committee shall: (1) work throughout the year to maintain and increase the membership of the Association; (2) be responsible for planning and organizing the annual membership campaign; and (3) be responsible on a continuous basis for soliciting new members and for securing renewals.

Political Action
The Political Action Committee shall: (1) seek to increase registration and voting; (2) work for the enactment of municipal, state and federal legislation designed to improve the educational, political and economic status of minority groups; (3) seek the repeal of racially discriminatory legislation; (4) work to secure equal enforcement of the law and; (5) keep the national office and the branch informed of all proposed legislation which affects minority groups. The committee shall be non-partisan and shall not endorse candidates for public office.

Press and Publicity
The mission is to keep the community informed and aware of the organization’s mission, goals, accomplishments, events and to make people aware of the benefits of becoming a member of the organization. 

Religious Affairs
The mission is to enlist the support of religious leaders to promote an educational program to give moral and ethical interpretation to the civil rights struggle. To work with religious groups on the membership, fundraising and political empowerment activities.
Candidate's
Corner

Ian Oglesby Running for a Second Term as Seaside Mayor

"It’s official! I have taken my second oath to serve as Mayor if elected by the voters Nov 3, 2020.

I am proud to have served the residents of Seaside as Mayor for the past two years and on the council 10 out of the last 12. I humbly ask for your support, endorsement
and your vote for Mayor of Seaside.

"Notwithstanding the current COVID-19 crisis, Seaside has made significant progress on so many issues I have championed, such as economic development, i.e., Campus Town and Ascent mixed-uses projects – together adding over 1,600 housing units for all income levels, especially workforce and low-income, two hotels, 200K sf. of office dining and retail space. We have re-imagined our community safety model by updating our Use of Force policies, adopting the “8 Can't-Wait” violence reduction strategies, and funded one fulltime Family and Community Support Practitioner and two part-time technicians - to respond to emergency calls when a police officer is not required; created focused housing policies that have resulted in more affordable housing choices including ADU’s being built, increased services and resources to those without proper shelter, started over $10M of streets, potholes, and sidewalk repairs.

"There is more work to be done, using equity as our guide; we must adequately fund and direct community resources to those programs and services that build healthier communities for all.
So all residents can thrive!"

-- Mayor Ian Oglesby
Vicky's Take

Victoria Lee is the Health Chair of the Monterey County Branch NAACP

Part II of Covid-19 and African Americans

Your Immune System and your Resilience!

How to Boost Your Immunity

Basic things we can all do:

  • Vitamin C daily if you have the flu 1000ML with each meal
  • With flu symptoms 50 ML of Zinc a day
  • A good Multivitamin daily
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet everyday or frozen if you can’t get fresh produce
  • Cut out sugar, it interferes with your immune function
  • Drink plenty of clean water, often

Super Charge During A Flu

  • Fruit and Veggie smoothie with a plant based protein powder, almond, soy, or rice milk. Twice a day if you can. 
  • Soups and broths Chicken, vegetable, or bone broth. 
  • Hot Tea. Ginger and lemon is best for nausea, inflammation, fights respiratory problems, helps blood circulation, and relieves stress. Chai is great for the heart, reduces blood sugar, aids digestion, and helps with weight loss. Turmeric is a healing tonic that boosts the immune system and lowers cholesterol along with many other benefits. For sweetness add honey. Honey is best if pollinated by bees in the area you live in, a great way to prevent seasonal allergies.
  • Essential Oils Yes, I said essential oils, the best ones are the oils that are cold pressed and digestible. During a flu attack a combination of immune boosting oils will give great relief, taken in a capsule every four hours. Frankincense in an oil diffuser helps to create a sense of well-being. As does Lavender oil soothes feelings of anxiety, promoting relaxation.
  • Sleep Get lots of rest.

‘If you had the chance to change your fate, would you?” - Princess Merida

The mind is a powerful gift that sets us apart from animals. With control over our thoughts we can choose to turn off bad news, live a healthier life by staying clean (washing our hands often), exercise, eat better, protect ourselves and others by social distancing, masking up too (during Covid-19) and, spend time in nature on a regular basis. 

Top priority in repairing the immune system is to clear the body of impurities with the right food like fish, beets, broccoli, kale, peanut butter, almonds, mangoes, blueberries and dark chocolate according to UC Davis Health.

Clearing the mind of stress, anxiety, and outside chatter through meditation. Relaxing the mind, then the body. Visualize good health now. Be present, while enjoying a stronger, healthier you.
In the Spotlight

Paul Richmond
Paul Richmond is an internationally recognized visual artist and activist whose career has included exhibitions in galleries and museums throughout the United States as well as publication in numerous art journals and anthologies. His work is collected by individuals around the globe. In his role as the Associate Art Director for Dreamspinner Press and their young adult imprint, Harmony Ink Press, he has created over four hundred novel cover illustrations. He is a co-founder of the You Will Rise Project, an organization that empowers those who have experienced bullying to speak out creatively through art. He lives with his husband Dennis in Monterey, California. He works and teaches at Open Ground Studios in Seaside, California and is represented by Not Sheep Gallery in Columbus, Ohio.

Paul’s paintings are an investigation of identity, vulnerability, and human nature. Reality and abstraction compete within the figurative foundation of each piece to make the subjects’ inner struggles more tangible. He often draws upon personal history to approach universal themes. The expressive application of pigment reduces the literalness of the depiction, engaging with an exploration of color, form, shape, and pattern as windows into the psyche. By deconstructing and rebuilding the figure, his paintings invite understandings that reach beyond the immediate surface and reveal the complexity of the individual.

Below are photos of paintings taken (with Paul's permission) from his Facebook page. The woman on the top right is CSUMB Associate Director of Service Learning Andrea Monroe.

#FACEYOURART... #BLACKLIVESMATTER
Truth Be Told w/ Dirrick Williams

Several new videos from the studios of Dirrick Williams:

A video commentary by Dirrrick L. Williams

At the individual level, regardless of race, creed, ethnicity, or color, what prevents us from engaging in progressive, compassionate, problem-solving dialogue regarding racism in America? An interview with Ann Jealous and Caroline Haskell (co-authors of Combined Destinies: Whites Sharing Grief about Racism), Dr. Brian Corpening (Chief Diversity Officer, CSUMB) and Dr. PK Diffenbaugh (Superintendent, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District)

Consider reading and signing Dirrick's petition:

A proposal for accountability regarding race relations in America.
NAACP Launches Website Ahead of 2020 Virtual March on Washington
On Aug 5, 2020, the NAACP officially launched a new special website (2020march.com) for the 2020 Virtual March on Washington, which is being organized in partnership with National Action Network and a coalition of civil rights partners—along with Martin Luther King, III and the families of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. The website will provide thousands of supporters with a schedule of events, as well as tools to organize and register voters and volunteer ahead of the November elections. The virtual march — which will advance a bold National Black agenda — will take place on August 28 and 27, 2020 in partnership with the National Action Network, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, the National Urban League, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and The Leadership Conference.
Useful Links:


  • Here is something the Monterey County Branch NAACP is working on. You can send your entries directly to lbogene@yahoo.com

  • Check out the list and add your bio and photo to it.

  • We all know the so-called criminal justice system treats our folks much more harshly than others, sometimes just having community members show up at court can make a difference in how things turn out.

  • Check it out or add your favorite to the list

  • With so few African Americans working in our K-12 and higher education systems, our kids have too few opportunities to see professionals and role models who look like them. We are looking for Black community members and professionals who can be called on to be occasional guest speakers in local classrooms.

Black Voices and Photo Portrait Project
  • Local photographer Nic Coury has launched this Black Portrait Project and looking for subjects. If interested in posing for a professional picture message him on Facebook or send me (africanquazar@gmail.com) your contact info for me to forward.

  • Just the basic public contact and position info

  • Click on this google document to share your thoughts about what is needed in the Black community. We will prioritize them for further action.

  • Check out the current list of churches, update existing entries or add new ones.
Monterey Bay Black Folks Weekly Event Calendar 
Submit to AfricanQuazar@gmail.com