Back in business! (Yom HaShoah, Ramadan, In the Half Room + Resource Round-Up 4/9)

Counselor Corner  /  News & Events a string of balloons glows in the morning sunlight, spelling out "let's ROAR"

We did it! I was so excited to see smiling eyes and hear the sounds of children laughing and playing in the building again. Everyone has grown so much! and it was so lovely to finally MEET our newest and youngest students. I hope you and yours are feeling as happy and relieved as I am 😊 (We also have a new Handbook for In-Person Learning, check it out here.)

This week marks the Holocaust Days of Remembrance (as well as Genocide Awareness month), in which we pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirm our commitment to counter antisemitism, racism and other forms of intolerance. If you would like to learn more, here are the DDSD slides and a link to the library’s page. On Monday, Ramadan begins, an important holiday in the lives of many of our students. If you’re interested in learning more about Ramadan, you can see some of what we are learning here or watch this PBS video.

This week’s story is In the Half Room, by local artist and author, Carson Ellis. I just really love this story – I’m not sure if it is the wild premise, the Goodnight, Moon rhythms, the illustrations, or the surprise(?) ending. What would be in your Half Room?

Resource Round-Up 4/9

  • Change to David Douglas meal distribution.  Students will still take home meals on their hybrid days.  Meals will now be served (grab and go) between 8 am and 8:30 am.  On Friday, meals will be distributed at bus stops and schools during the lunch hour.  See Nutrition Services website for more information.
  • Public Charge Rule is Blocked. As of March 9, 2021, the discriminatory, expanded Public Charge rule is permanently BLOCKED, and is no longer in effect anywhere in the United States. Now, immigrants can safely get public benefits that support their health, nutrition, and housing without fear of impact on their immigration status. Seek public benefits/public charge legal advice from Legal Aid/Oregon Law Center’s Public Benefits Hotline at 1-800-520-5292. Stay informed about changes to Public Charge by checking Oregon Immigration Resource and Protecting Immigrant Families .  Flyer: English.  Spanish.
  • Vaccine timeline:  All Oregonians >16 will now be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines on April 19th.
  • Get Vaccinated Oregon Does Not Accept Landline Phone #s.  The GVO tool no longer accepts landline phone numbers as a method of contact. There are approximately 200 people in the GVO who registered with a landline as their primary contact with no other way to contact them. Anyone who registered for the GVO with a landline will be contacted for support with vaccine access. Anyone whose preferred method of contact is a landline can continue to call 211 for support in accessing vaccine (or toll free, 1-866-698-6155 or TTY dial 711 and 1-866-698-6155).
  • BIPOC /LBGTQ2S Birdwalk with Wild Diversity. April 17th. Register here.
  • Job Opportunities
  • Updated Public Charge information in English and Spanish.  
  • New Vaccine Eligibility starts April 5th Frontline workers and people who live in multigenerational houses. Click here to see the definitions of both.
  • Oregon State Provost Lecture Series will host Ibram X. Kendi on April 14th. Click here to register.
  • Raising Voices: A Health Equity Webinar Series is hosting an event entitled: Transgender Competence and Quality Care: Understanding the Dynamics of Intersectionality on April 13th. Click here to register.
  • BRYCS April Newsletter. Click here to see.
  • Vaccines for People Who Are Homebound
    • Homebound individuals who would would like to get vaccinated and are not already connected to services (like County or DHS Aging & Disability services), please call 503-988-8939.
  • OHA has a COVID-19 Vaccine Community Dialogue Session for the Mandarin-speaking community on April 15th. See PDF. 
  • Lutheran Community Services NW has posted a position for a temporary full time immigration assistant in Vancouver who speaks Russian. It is full time work starting as early as April 15 and ending on September 30th unless more funding becomes available. If you know anyone that is interested in this kind of work, please refer them to our job openings page on our website. http://lcsnw.org/careers Job number #682. Click here for job description.
  • Who We Are is coming back next week, Monday April 12th, with a movie screening of Day One and discussion with 3 wonderful community members about their experiences. RSVP is extremely appreciated!