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Save the Date: Annual Toy Drive, Saturday, December 13

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The holiday season is here! As part of an annual holiday tradition, the Ztwins and Seattle Medium Newspaper group invite you to participate in it’s annual Toy Drive. Toys collected will be distributed  to families in need in the local area prior to the Christmas holiday.

Join us by bringing a new unwrapped toy to the Toy Drive on Saturday, December 13. We will be collecting toys from 9am to 5pm at 2600 S. Jackson Street in Seattle. Tell a friend, spread the word and spread holiday cheer.

We hope to see you there!

National News

President Obama Sings Powerful Rendition of “Amazing Grace” During Charleston Eulogy

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President Obama traveled to Charleston, South Carolina today to deliver the eulogy for one of the nine victims of last week’s shooting, Senator Reverend Clementa Pinckney. The speech was passionate and filled with strong emotion.  While honoring the life of Senator Pinckney, President Obama said  “what a life Senator Pinckney lived, what an example he set, what a model for his faith.”

President Obama also took this time to talk about ‘grace.’ He stated:

“Blinded by hatred, the alleged killer could not see the grace surrounding Rev. Pinckney and that bible study group. The light of love that showed as they opened the church doors and invited a stranger to join in their prayer circle. The alleged killer could have never anticipated the way the families of the fallen would respond when they saw him in court in the midst of unspeakable grief with words of forgiveness, he couldn’t imagine that…”

At the end of the eulogy, President Obama sung ‘Amazing Grace’. After the song he named all of the victims: Rev. Clementa Pinckney, Cynthia Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lee Lance, Rev. Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Rev. Daniel L. Simmons, Sr., Sharonda Coleman-Singleton and Myra Thompson. President Obama said they all “found that grace [and] through the example of their lives, they now pass it on to us.”

Community News

Stay Hydrated, Stay Cool: City of Seattle Announces Shelter Locations Ahead of Heat Wave

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The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Watch for Seattle and surrounding areas from Friday afternoon through late Saturday night. The City of Seattle is providing information and public spaces that may be used by residents to stay cool in the high temperatures.

Protect Your Pets
Drink plenty of water. Have a beverage with you at all times, and sip or drink frequently. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol and large amounts of sugar because they can actually de-hydrate your body. 

Protect Your Pets
Pets are especially vulnerable in high heat and the Seattle Animal Shelter recommends the following:

  • Never leave your animal chained or penned up directly in sunlight. Provide a shady area for retreat, such as a dog house, porch or shady tree, and always provide cool water.
  • If you leave animals indoors, open screened windows, keep a fan running, provide plenty of water, and if possible, leave them in a cool location.
  • Never leave dogs or cats unattended in a closed, locked car. Animals do not perspire like humans; they cool themselves by panting and seats in vehicles get hot under animals’ feet and prevent them from perspiring through their paws.
  • If you must travel with your pet, carry water. If a trip requires you leave your pet in the car at any point, think about saving that for another day. It’s not worth the risk.
  • Avoid overexerting your animal in hot weather. Exercise is fine when taken in moderation, but obesity, old age, underlying disease and previous bouts of heat stroke can predispose an animal to the condition.
  • For birds, take caution and place the bird’s cage away from direct sunlight during the intense heat of the afternoon. Provide water and fruits and vegetables with high moisture content.

Libraries
The following Seattle Public Library locations are equipped with air conditioning, and serve as cooling centers when the area experiences extreme heat. Please call the individual location before you go for open hours and to verify that the air conditioning is working.

  • Central Library (1000 4th Ave) – 206-386-4636
  • Ballard (5614 22nd Ave NW) – 206-684-4089
  • Beacon Hill (2821 Beacon Ave S) – 206-684-4711
  • Broadview (12755 Greenwood Ave N) – 206-684-7519
  • Capitol Hill (425 Harvard Ave E) – 206-684-4715
  • Delridge (5423 Delridge Way SW) – 206-733-9125
  • Douglass-Truth (2300 E Yesler Way) – 206-684-4704
  • Greenwood (8016 Greenwood Ave N) – 206-684-4086
  • High Point (3411 SW Raymond St) – 206-684-7454
  • International District / Chinatown (713 8th Ave S) – 206-386-1300
  • Lake City (12501 28th Ave NE) – 206-684-7518
  • Madrona-Sally Goldmark (1134 33rd Ave) – 206-684-4705
  • Magnolia (2801 34th Ave W) – 206-386-4225
  • NewHolly (7058 32nd Ave S) – 206-386-1905
  • Northgate (10548 5th Ave NE) – 206-386-1980
  • Rainier Beach (9125 Rainier Ave S) – 206-386-1906
  • South Park (8604 8th Ave S) – 206-615-1688
  • Wallingford (1501 N 45th St) – 206-684-4088

Seattle Center (View the campus map PDF ) – 206-684-7200

  • Seattle Center Armory (Open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
  • International Fountain
  • Fountain of Creation (Dupen Fountain)

Senior Centers

The following senior centers have air conditioning or are relatively cool and are open to the public:

  • Greenwood Senior Center (525 N. 8th Street)
  • International Drop-In Center (7301 Beacon Ave S.)
  • Pike Market Senior Center and Food Bank (85 Pike St, #200)
  • Ballard NW Senior Center (5429 32nd Ave NW)
  • Southeast Seattle Senior Center (4655 South Holly St)
  • The Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon St)
  • South Park Senior Center (8201 10th Ave S)
  • Wallingford Community Senior Center (4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Suite 140)
  • The Central (500 30th Ave S)
  • Asian Counseling and Referral Service Senior Center (3639 Martin Luther King Way S.)
  • Sunshine Garden Chinese Senior Community Center (611 S. Lane St.) housed in the Chinese Information and Service Center

Pools and Water Areas

Four-day-a-week Wading Pools (both are open noon to 6:45 p.m.):

  • Hiawatha Community Center, 2700 California Ave. SW, Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat
  • Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way SW, Mon/Tues/Sat/Sun

Three-day-a-week Wading Pools (all are open from noon to 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted):

  • Bitter Lake, 13035 Linden Ave. N, Wed/Thu/Fri
  • Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Ave., noon to 6:45 p.m., Fri/Sat/Sun
  • Dahl Playfield, 7700 25th Ave. NE, Tues/Wed/Thurs
  • East Queen Anne, 160 Howe St., Sun/Mon/Tue
  • E.C. Hughes, 2805 SW Holden St., Wed/Thu/Fri
  • Soundview, 1590 NW 90th St., Sat/Sun/Mon
  • South Park, 8319 8th Ave. S, Mon/Tue/Wed
  • Wallingford, 4219Wallingford Ave. N, Wed/Thu/Fri

Daily Wading Pools (all are open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted):

  • Green Lake, N 73rd and E Green Lake Dr. N
  • Lincoln Park, 8600 Fauntleroy Ave. SW
  • Magnuson, eastern end of NE 65th St., noon to 6:30 p.m.
  • Van Asselt, 2820 S Myrtle St.
  • Volunteer Park, 1400 E Galer St.

Daily Water Spray Parks (all are open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted):

  • Ballard Commons, 5701 22nd Ave. NW
  • Beacon Mountain at Jefferson Park, 3901 Beacon Ave. S
  • John C. Little, 6961 37th Ave. S
  • Lower Judkins, 2150 S Norman St.
  • Georgetown Playfield, 750 S Homer St.
  • Highland Park, 1100 SW Cloverdale
  • Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave. N
  • Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E
  • Northacres Park, 12800 1st Ave. NE
  • Pratt Park, 1800 S Main St.

Lifeguarded Beaches  (noon to 7 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays)

  • Matthews, 9300 51st Ave. NE
  • Madison, 1900 43rd Ave. E
  • Mt. Baker, 2301 Lake Washington Blvd. S
  • Seward, 5902 Lake Washington Blvd. S
  • West Green Lake, 7312 W Green Lake Dr.
  • East Green Lake, 7201 E Green Lake Dr. N
  • Magnuson, park entrance at NE 65th and Sand Point Way NE
  • Madrona, 853 Lake Washington Blvd.
  • Pritchard Beach, 8400 55th Ave. S

Outdoor Pools

  • “Pop” Mounger Pool, 2535 32nd Ave. W, daily, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., call 206-684-4708 for public swim times
  • Colman Pool, 8603 Fauntleroy Way SW, daily, noon to 7 p.m., call 206-684-7494 for public swim times

Additional Resources

Events

Join Us for the Annual Black Press Breakfast: Saluting 50 Women Trailblazers

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We’re excited to join the Seattle Medium Newspaper in Saluting 50 Women Trailblazers and Role Models  for Equal and Civil Rights this month at the Annual Black Press Breakfast on March 20, 2015 and in a special supplement in the Medium, to be published on March 18, 2015.

The keynote speaker at this year’s Black Press Breakfast will be Loretta Smith, Multnomah County Commissioner. Chief Carmen Best of the Seattle Police Department will also be honored with the Newsmaker of the year award.

If you or your organization would like to join us at this year’s Breakfast please visit www.blackpressbreakfast.eventbrite.com to RSVP your table or call (206) 323-3070, Ext. 0 for advertising/sponsorship opportunities in the Seattle Medium’s special supplement.

Please check out the Seattle Medium weekly to learn more about our honorees and get special updates.

Community Service Education

Delta Research and Educational Foundation Seeks Teachers To Become Educational Change Agents

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The Delta Research and Educational Foundation, in collaboration with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., seeks certified professionals currently teaching students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through 6th grade in urban school districts to become educational change agents. The nationwide search is a key component of the Delta Teacher Efficacy Campaign (DTEC), a three-year, ground-breaking effort to enhance teachers’ confidence in their ability to inspire and lead predominantly at-risk, urban students to academic success.

“Education is a heart matter. Teachers have to connect with the students before they can teach,” said Dr. Johni Cruse Craig, DTEC Project Director.

The 180 volunteer teachers selected to participate will attend The Teacher Efficacy Academy (TEA), a nine-module course offering the opportunity to reflect, purposely on their own self-efficacy.

Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m., Sunday, March 8, 2015.

“DTEC has two important goals. One is to unveil a teacher’s own ability and confidence to reach all children no matter their life circumstance. Our companion goal is to motivate students to learn and to achieve by building their own self-confidence,” Cruse Craig stated.

When successfully completed, DTEC leaders expect the teachers to have a better understanding of the correlation between teacher efficacy and student achievement. Teachers successfully completing the course will receive a certificate stating that they have completed 50 hours of professional development credit, learn instructional strategies on literacy and math, along with receiving a First Book grant to help expand their classroom libraries.

TEA is a part of the three-pronged nationwide strategy designed to unite educators and community stakeholders working to improve student academic outcomes and graduation rates. DTEC, underwritten by a matching grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also includes a community advocacy component that targets 40 cities. Beginning in the fall 2015, DTEC’s community-based partners will host Town Hall Advocacy Sessions to increase the number of people engaged in active dialogue surrounding teacher efficacy.

DTEC’s third prong is the publication of scholarly research intended to increase the body of qualitative and quantitative literature devoted to teacher efficacy. The collective work will be published in the 2016 edition of The Foundation’s scholarly journal, PHILLIS: The Journal for Research on African American Women.

To apply, visit www.deltafoundation.net. Or, contact Dr. Johni Cruise Craig, DTEC Project Director at jccraig@deltafoundation.net or call 202-347-1337.

Business Employment

Bethesda Lutheran Now Hiring In Greater Portland Area

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Bethesda Lutheran Communities, a leading provider of person-centered and community-based support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is now accepting applications for its Direct Support Professional (DSP) positions in the Portland, Oregon area. They are looking for candidates that bring the right attitude and who are warm-hearted, compassionate and interested in helping others. No prior experience is needed.

Bethesda has been a service provider throughout greater Portland since 2007 when they acquired Good Shepherd Communities and currently operates in more than 300 program sites in 14 states across the country. Thousands of people are supported through Bethesda’s residential, employment and community life programs. More than 2,400 of Bethesda’s 3,100 employees are DSPs who are critical to providing Bethesda’s industry-leading services.

For more information or to apply for Bethesda’s DSP positions, please click here.

Health

December 1 is World Aids Day: Take Charge, Get Tested

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Photo courtesy of CDC.

December 1 is known across the globe as World Aids Day – a time to honor our loved ones with HIV and/or AIDS and also a great time to get tested and take the time to learn about HIV.

First it’s important to know that anyone can get HIV.

Check out Margot’s powerful story below (courtesy of the CDC).  She is a mother of 3 that learned about her HIV status at 38 while she was pregnant with her third child. HIV does not discriminate. Anyone can get HIV but knowing is half the battle.

The Facts

African Americans have the most severe burden of HIV of all racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Compared with other races and ethnicities, African Americans account for a higher proportion of new HIV infections, those living with HIV, and those ever diagnosed with AIDS. In 2010, African Americans made up only 12% of the US population, but had 44% of all new HIV infections.

The Good News

More and more African Americans are taking a stand against the spread of HIV. We are doing more to look out for ourselves. We are taking steps to stay healthy.

The Truth About Unprotected Sex

If you’ve had unprotected sex (anal, vaginal, or oral sex without a condom) you may be at risk. The fact is, unprotected sex is still the #1 way that HIV is transmitted.

Reasons To Get An HIV Test

Many people are afraid to get an HIV test because they are afraid of learning they have HIV. But more people now understand that it is better to take the test and know the result.

There are three good reasons for you to take charge and get an HIV test.

  1. Finding out early can help you live a longer, healthier life.
    If you’re HIV-positive, it means that the virus is inside you — even though you may not feel sick. And that’s why it is good to find out early. There are treatments now that are available to you that can keep you healthy. You can find support, so that you stay connected to care.
  2. If you know, you can look out for yourself — and the people you love.
    The earlier you know, the more you can do. Knowing early allows you to help yourself. And it may help you to be there for the people you love. Also, studies have shown that when people find out they have HIV, they are more likely to take steps to protect their health and that of their partners.
  3. It’s easy. It’s free, fast, and confidential.
    Many clinics and testing locations in your area offer free HIV tests. You can even get confidential or anonymous HIV tests. Use theTake Charge. Take the Test.™ site locator or call 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) to find out where you can get a free HIV test in your area.
Sports

Michael Vick Dog Fighting Scandal [Vintage GameTime Sports Talk, 2009]

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In this vintage video clip from 2009 the GameTime Sports Talk hosts (JB and KB) talk about the Michael Vick dog fighting scandal and his segway back into the NFL.

GameTime Sports Talk is the realest sports talk show in the Northwest and worldwide via ztwins.com. The show airs weekdays (M-F) from 1-3PM PST on radio stations KYIZ 1620AM and KZIZ 1560AM in the Seattle/Tacoma. It also can be heard live online right here at www.ztwins.com. This clip was from a show in May, 2009.