On 4 December 2009, Praxis held its 4th Annual World AIDS Day Event at the Wilson Major Morris Community Center.  It was an evening full of sharing- through spoken word, music, and dance.

Staff and residents displayed overwhelming talent and we were lucky enough to get it all on tape.

To view the latest videos, check out the Media section of our website.  And thank you to all who volunteered their time and resources to make the night so memorable.

In what might be our last tip from guest blogger Ian (who is going back to the UK in February), the Brooklyn Public Library is offering free CPR training.

On Wednesday 10 February 2010 and Wednesday 31 March 2010, the FDNY will be holding free CPR training at the Brooklyn Public Library. These classes are not for certification, but could help save lives.

To reserve a spot in the training, please call (718) 230-2477.

Praxis resident and guest blogger Ian has passed along some information regarding upcoming free workshops at the Brooklyn Public Library.

On Saturday, 23 January from 1:30-4:00pm, Sexually Transmitted Infections will be the subject at this interactive workshop.  The workshop will discuss risky behaviors, signs and symptoms, treatment, and risk reduction techniques.

Part two of this workshop takes place on 30 January from 1:30-4:00pm.  It’s entitled Communications and Sexuality.  This workshop will focus on how to talk about sex with partners, family, friends, doctors, etc.

Both workshops are free to the public and take place in the Trustees’ Room at the Central Library located at 10 Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn.

Thanks to Ian for the info!

Recently, the city of New York’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene printed about 70,000 copies of the Take Charge Take Care guide which offers information on how to prepare drugs carefully and how to care for veins in order to avoid infection.

Many bloggers and politicians are up in arms over this booklet, saying it’s ‘a step-by-step instruction on how to inject poison’.

However, countless studies have proven again and again that harm reduction not only saves lives but it also prevents the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C.  Simply ignoring those who inject drugs does not mean the issue goes away.  If anything, remaining in the dark about safety leads to higher infection rates.  That is a fact.

Assistant Commissioner Daliah Heller says instructions on how to perform injections were included in the information because there’s “a less harmful way to inject.”

The illustrated guidebook offers information on HIV testing and the dangers of sharing needles.

It’s amazing how much outrage can be found over 70,000 copies of a booklet distributed in New York City in which the goal is to save lives.

In these difficult economic times, all non profits could use a boost.

Chase is offering the opportunity for people to vote for their non profit of choice to receive money.

All you have to do is log into facebook, click this link, and vote for Praxis.

http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/

One quick click could make a real difference.

Please join us as we commemorate World AIDS Day on Friday, 4th December 2009.  Not only will there be a free dinner served, but there will be live entertainment including music, dance, and spoken word.  Special guest entertainer, R&B singer Ron Anthony will be performing fresh off his appearance on the Tyra Banks Show.

This free event will take place at The Wilson Major Community Center located at 459 West 152nd Street, between Amsterdam and St. Nicholas Avenue.  For more information please contact new CAB Liaison James Dean at (917) 522-8473 or if you would like to volunteer, please contact Floyd Cuevas at (212) 678-0427.

Praxis would like to extend an invitation to our residents for a Thanksgiving Day dinner.

The Prince Hall Masonic Temple located at 454 West 155th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue  has been gracious enough to host this event from 02:00pm – 04:00pm.  This location can be best accessed via the C train to 155th Street.

Clients wishing to attend the dinner can sign up at their site.

If you would like to volunteer at the dinner, please contact us through our website form.

Happy Thanksgiving!

14% of young veterans are unemployed.  That means in New York City, an estimated 17,300 veterans are unemployed. Unemployment among New York City veterans increased by an estimated 4,700 over the last year.

The number of military veterans who are homeless in the New York City metropolitan area is nearly 10,000 according to Senator Charles Schumer.

Add to that, support programs for homeless veterans face funding shortages.

Veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq are falling into homelessness sooner than those from other wars.  Many of these men and women also face physical disability as well as mental trauma.  It can be a huge uphill climb adjusting to life outside the military with no support or possibility of employment.

Last week we celebrated Veteran’s Day.  Senator Schumer took that day to announce his backing of new legislation entitled “Homes for Heroes”.  This three-point plan aims to overhaul homeless programs for vets by increasing funding for homeless veteran services, not only including emergency housing, but also permanent housing for low-income veterans.

The bill authorizes a $200 million assistance program for community and nonprofit organizations to purchase, build or rehabilitate housing for low-income veterans. The legislation would expand the highly successful HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, authorizing 20,000 vouchers annually through fiscal year 2013, and making the program permanent.

Schumer will also push for $75 million in new funding for veteran’s homelessness programs that is included in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill. This funding will authorize 10,000 new vouchers to provide rental assistance coupled with supportive services or homeless veterans.

Hopefully Schumer’s words will turn into action as these veterans need our help.  We’ll keep you posted the progress of this funding.

On Thursday, 22 October from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in the 2nd floor meeting room of the Brooklyn Central Public Library, Turningpoint will be offering free confidential HIV testing.

Also occurring that evening, guest artists will also be sharing their work on sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a worldwide week-long highlighting HIV awareness and the Congo.

Special thanks to guest blogger Ian for passing along this information.

On Saturday, 19 September at 4pm in the 2nd Floor Meeting Room of the Brooklyn Public Library, there will be a discussion on how food sensitivities can lead to chronic disease entitled ‘Proper Nutrition And Its Role In Chronic Disease’.

And on Saturday, 26 September at 4pm ‘Truths and Myths About Cleansing And The Detoxification Process’ discussing the science behind detoxification will be presented in the 2nd Floor Meeting Room.

Both sessions are free to the public.

Thanks to blog contributor Ian for the tip!