Author: Alfredo Casuso

GATHERINGS
Recommendations for Staying Safe from Covid-19 During the Holidays

During holiday season, you may be wondering if it is safe to gather and celebrate with loved ones. Here are guidelines for protecting yourself and others from COVID-19.

The safest gathering is one that is a small, stable group that meets outdoors for a short duration and uses face coverings, distance and other safety measures.

Any activity outside of your household increases chances of exposure to the virus. Be selective and space out which public activities you choose. If gathering with your small, stable group is most important, consider forgoing or delaying other activities such as a haircut or indoor dining to reduce your overall exposures and protect your group.

If you gather in person, keep it safe, small, short, and stable

OUTSIDE IS SAFER Gather outside and follow safety guidelines
The risk of COVID-19 transmission is highest in indoor spaces without enough ventilation. That’s why gathering inside is not allowed, except as permitted under the state’s health order. Outdoor spaces that are covered are okay, as long as 75% of the space is open to the outdoors. People may go inside to use restrooms, as long as restrooms are sanitized often and attendees only go one at a time.

SMALL: Limit gatherings to no more than 3 households
When people from different households are together at the same time in the same space, the risk of spreading COVID-19 goes up. That’s why gatherings of more than 3 different households are not allowed.

SHORT: Limit gatherings to no more than 2 hours
The longer people gather together, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spreading. That’s why gathering for longer than 2 hours is not allowed, under the state’s health order.

STABLE: Do not participate in multiple gatherings with many different households

If anyone in your household develops COVID-19 symptoms after attending a gathering:

• Get tested for COVID-19
• Notify the other attendees as soon as possible regarding the potentialexposure
• Stay home as much as possible for14 days after the gathering or untilhousehold member tests negative
• Avoid being around people whohave higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19

Considerations before hosting or attending:

• Are there many or increasing cases of COVID-19 in areas where attendees live?
• Have all attendees been taking precautions against COVID-19?
• Will all attendees wear face coverings and keep physical distance at the gathering?Do not attend if:
  • Anyone in your household has COVID-19-like symptoms
  • You are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 due to age or medical conditionsHosts should let guests know safety guidelines must be followed before the event so everyone is aware.

The more people come into contact with others outside their household, the higher the risk of spreading COVID-19. That’s why participating in multiple gatherings with different households is strongly discouraged. If you attend several gatherings over the holidays, keep it to the same group of people.

Safety recommendations

• Maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from people not in your household at all times, whether you’re sitting or standing. More distance is safer.
• Wear face coverings at all times, including when talking to others. You can remove face covering briefly to eat, drink, or take medication as long as you stay at least 6 feet away from everyone outside your own household. More distance is safer.
• Remain outside as much as possible. If you go inside, open windows and doors to increase ventilation.
• Wash hands with soap and water often. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Serve shared food safely. If it is not possible to use single-serve disposable containers, food andbeverages must be served by a person who washes or sanitizes their hands frequently and wears a face covering. If you are dropping off home-prepared food or drink gifts, be sure to wear a mask and disinfect or wash your hands thoroughly.
• Avoid singing, chanting, and shouting. If you cannot avoid these activities, keep your face covering on, your volume low, and at least a 6-foot distance from others. More distance and being outdoors are safer.

Link to full PDF

Media Contact: DP&A, Inc. / David Perry / news@davidperry.com / (415) 676-7007

LYRIC’s Toni Newman Calls Joe Biden & Kamala Harris Victory “Historic and Heartening”

8 November 2020 – San Francisco, CA: Following today’s announcement of a victory for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Toni Newman, Interim Executive Director for San Francisco’s esteemed nonprofit LYRIC (www.lyric.org) called the election “historic and heartening.”

 “The Trump administration has been a constant assault on the lives, livelihoods and loves of the LGBTQ+ communities and an existential threat to the future of our LGBTQ+ youth,”  said Newman. “The fight is far from over, but today we can all breathe a little easier and hold our queer heads a little higher. Today is a moment both historic and heartening as opposed to the last four years that have been histrionic and disheartening.”

LYRIC is the San Francisco Bay Area’s leading organization offering expertise in youth workforce development, healthcare navigation, individual counseling, and group-based community building to marginalized low-income LGBTQQ+ youth.  In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, LYRIC has continued its vital work for LGBTQQ youth in our community.

Newman is the former Interim Director for Employment Services at the San Francisco LGBT Center and a consultant for the Transgender Strategy Center. Toni is a graduate of Wake Forest University and current candidate for her Juris of Doctorate (JD). Toni served as the Executive Director for St. James Infirmary and the Director of Development for Maitri Compassionate Care, and previously served as the Interim Director of Development & Communications at To Help Everyone Health and Wellness Centers and as a Strategic Fundraiser, Volunteer Recruiter, and Legislative Aide for Equality California. Additionally, Toni is a best selling author, noted for her memoir I Rise – The Transformation of Toni Newman released in 2011, which is based on the poem I Rise by Wake Forest University Reynolds Professor, Dr. Maya Angelou. 

LYRIC’s mission is to build community and inspire positive social change through education enhancement, career trainings, health promotion, and leadership development with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth, their families, and allies of all races, classes, genders, and abilities. For more information and to make a donation, go to www.lyric.org  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Saturday, November 7, 2020

Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications, mayorspressoffice@sfgov.org

*** STATEMENT ***

MAYOR LONDON BREED ON THE ELECTION OF JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS

San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today issued the following statement following the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the next President and Vice President of the United States.

“Joe Biden ran on the simple but powerful idea that we should strive to be a united country, not a divided one. As president, he has promised to represent everyone, not just those who voted for him, and he will put the needs of the American people first. I am so proud that this country chose leadership, decency, and compassion in our next President. 

With this election, we also made history by choosing Kamala Harris as our Vice-President. For the first time, millions and millions of Americans chose a black woman to help lead this country. The pride I feel as a black woman is hard to put into words. Kamala Harris is a friend and mentor, but most importantly, she is an inspiration to so many of us all across this country. While Kamala’s path to Washington has been her own unique journey, she is just as sure bringing the hopes and dreams of so many little girls with her. I only wish my grandmother, a daughter of slaves and sharecroppers, a woman who raised me to believe that we can all work to make the world a better place, were still alive to see this day. 

These results have shown us how close these elections are, and how much every single vote matters. All across this country, more people than in any other election in our history took to the cast their vote to fight for our democracy. We overcame decades of sinister efforts to suppress the vote. We overcame the cynicism that too often dissuades people from voting because they think their voice doesn’t matter. With this election, we have shown not only that our voices matter, but they have the power to change the course of history. 

We’ve got a lot of work to do, and we have hard days ahead of us, but tomorrow will be a little lighter and the days to come will be a whole lot brighter. Today, I have real hope for the future of our country.”

media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Dezart Performs Presents Special Free Virtual Series:

Creating for the Stage: Discussions with the People that Make Shows Happen

Every Wednesday November 11 – December 2 at 5:30pm (PST)
www.dezartperforms.org 

6 November 2020 – Palm Springs, CA: In pre-COVID times, theatres talked about “taking it on the road.” For Dezart Performs for the remainder of 2020, they’re taking it online. Every Wednesday from November 11 through December 2 at 5:30pm (PST), the award-winning Palm Springs ensemble presents a special free virtual series, Creating for the Stage: Discussions with the People that Make Shows Happen. Featuring actors, designers, creatives, playwrights and directors from their sold out 2019-20 season, the free online series is optimistic proof of the group’s mission this year: Still Here … and Dreaming.  To access the weekly series, go to www.dezartperforms.org

“Theatre is above all a discussion and until we can have discussions face to face, we’ll have them screen to screen,” said Dezart Performs Founding Artistic Director Michael Shaw. “These conversations were incredibly emotional for everyone concerned, and also a lot of fun and a real peek behind the fourth wall with the people who truly make shows happen.”

Details of the series are as follows:

Wednesday, November 11 – 5:30pm: Meet the Playwright and Director with Daniel’s Husband playwright Michael McKeever and director Darin Anthony.

Wednesday, November 18 – 5:30pm: Meet the Cast Members with Hand to God actors Eddie Vona, Yo Younger and Danny Gomez.

Wednesday, November 25 – 5:30pm: Meet the Director and Cast Members with SWEAT actors Desireé Clarke and Cortez Johnson and director Michael Shaw.

Wednesday, December 2 – 5:30pm: Meet the Design Team with Hand to God set designer Tom Valach, lighting designer Derrick McDaniel and props master Cecilia Orosco.

The series is moderated by local author and former TV host David Perry.

Dezart Performs, one of the Coachella Valley’s preeminent theatre companies, recognizes that the performing arts enrich the life and culture of a community, promote greater understanding and provoke insightful discussion. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theatre company, its mission is to provide an artistic home for bold and cutting–edge plays, creating an atmosphere of artistic growth for actors, writers, and directors who uniquely contribute to the diverse theatrical environment in the Coachella Valley.

For more information go online at www.dezartperforms.org, or call (760) 322-0179.

MEDIA ADVISORY / ONSITE COVERAGE REQUEST:
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 – 10:30AM

Media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

WHO:
California Governor Gavin Newsom;
Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis;
U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee;
U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier;
San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed; 
California State Senator Scott Wiener;
California Assemblyman David Chiu and 
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf

WHAT: To Text & Phone Bank at Manny’s in San Francisco

WHEN: Tuesday, November 3: 10:30am

WHERE: Manny’s Outdoor Socially Distant “Victory Booths”

3092 16^th Street at Valencia, San Francisco.

WEB: www.welcometomannys.com

WHY: California Governor Gavin Newsom has chosen to spend the morning of Election Day text and phone banking voters from the socially-distant outdoor Victory Booths at Manny’s (3029 16^th Street at Valencia, San Francisco) joined by special guests Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier, San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed, California State Senator Scott Wiener, California Assemblyman David Chiu and  Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.

Manny’s has built the country’s first and only outdoor socially distanced set of booths where community members have been coming to phone bank, text bank, and write over 25,000 letters to swing state voters for several weeks. 

“We are so honored to have a Governor Gavin Newsom and a Democratic Dream Team of elected officials spend some time at Manny’s on Election Day – a day which will be central to the future of our democracy,” said Manny Yekutiel, 31, who founded and runs the eponymous community engagement space and café dubbed “the New Hampshire of California” (KCBS Radio) for its hosting of myriad political events including hosting 17 Democratic presidential candidates.

“Manny’s was created to be a space for political discourse, activism and advocacy for social justice,” says Yekutiel, who expects to announce some “significant VIP on Election Day” for the effort. “Until we can once again gather for political action inside Manny’s we’re inviting people to gather outside, socially distant but politically active, at 16^th and Valencia.”

Since opening its doors on Election Night 2018, Manny’s has become an epicenter of community involvement, dialogue and civic engagement having served over 50,000 people, staged over 500 events, donated space to more than 150 area nonprofits and charities, and hosted 17 presidential candidates in his first year alone. Also, in addition to receiving much media and public attention, Manny’s was recognized for his above-and-beyond achievements by the California State Senate as “Small Business of the Year.” 

Manny’s is a people powered, community focused meeting and learning place in the heart of San Francisco that combines a restaurant, political bookshop, and civic events space. Manny’s goal: to create a central and affordable place to become a better informed and more involved citizen. Manny’s offers its events space to nonprofits, activists and civic organizations to spread their message and do their work as well as hosting its own civic and arts related programming. Manny’s kitchen is run by the non-profit, Farming Hope, which hires formerly homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals and trains them in the food skills needed to work in the restaurant industry.