May 28, 2017. 9AM. Mental Health No longer a Taboo.

NO LONGER A TABOO II

Immigrant Community Services

in partnership with

Help Africa and Montgomery County’s African Affairs Advisory Group

Presents

A Community DiAlOgue on mental Health

Saturday, May 27^th 2017

9:00am – 12:00pm

Silver Spring Civic Center

1 Veterans Pl,

Silver Spring, MD 20910

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Fenton Room

Breakfast                                                                                                                                                             9:00 am - 9:30 am

Welcome and Opening Remarks:                                                                                                             9:30 am - 9:35 am

Mrs. Harriet Shangarai, Chairwoman AAAG                                                            

Mr. Daniel Koroma, Montgomery County Government

Introduction of Panelists: Ms. Josephine Garnem                                                                          9:35 am - 9:40 am

Moderator, Head of Health Committee, AAAG, Founder ICS

         

Session I (Fenton Room)

Panel Discussion                                                                                                                                           9:40 am - 10:30 am

Dr. Akua Asare, MD, DC Commission on African Affairs

Scientific breakdown of mental disorders—genetic, social, biological (10mins)

Carol Bangura, M.S.Ed., DrPH(c) & Mrs. Sombo Pujeh, MPH, Doctoral Candidate in Public Health

Findings - Mental Health Service Seeking Attitudes among Immigrants (10mins)

Dr. Odelya Gertel Kraybill, Ph.D., LCPC – Expressive Trauma Integration

Immigration, Stress & Therapy – Coping Mechanisms (10mins)

Dr. Rachel Singer, PhD, Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change

The Importance of Early Intervention & Cultural Competent Intervention (10mins)

              

Q & A Session

Break                                                                                                                                10:30 am - 10:40am

Session II

Breakout Activities

Youth-Centric (facilitated by Dr. Odelya, Mrs. Sombo Pujeh & Nadia)                           10:40 am - 11:30 am

Spectrogram – You’re Not Alone (Collesville Room)                          

What Every Parent Needs to Know (Dr. Rachel Singer, Dr. Akua Asare)               10:40 am - 11:30 am

Let’s Talk About It (Fenton Room)                                                                                          

Everyone Regroups (Fenton Room)

Pastoring & The Faith-based Perspective (Rev. Kennedy Odzafi, & Imam)                                11:35 am - 11: 45 am

 (5mins each)

Special Guest Speaker                                                                                                                           11:40 am - 11:50 am

                                   

Vote of Thanks & Closing Remarks                                                                                            11:50 am – 12:00 pm

Ms. Harriet Shangarai

Special thanks to community members who came and participated, and to our panelists and speakers:

Silver Spring Civic Center Management & Staff, CUPF Program,

 African Diaspora communities, Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change, SOAR, Expressive Trauma Integration, Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships, DC Mayor’s Commission on African Affairs, The Owiredu Foundation for The Arts

                             

Center for Anxiety & Behavioral Change

414 Hungerford Drive, Suite 252 •

Rockville, MD 20850 •

Ph: 301-610-7850

Water Security. Event. Monday, June 5, 2017. Sharing Water. Water World Forum

Dear Global Water Challenge Colleagues: This note is to encourage your participation in Sharing Water — an event convening influential voices from government, civil society and business to explore issues and solutions to the world’s water challenges. The event, scheduled for June 5, 2017 starting at 8:30 am, is co-hosted by World Wildlife Fund and The Coca-Cola Company and will also serve as part of the regional planning process of the 8th World Water Forum. The event will host a strong list of speakers, including a Q&A session and reflections from Dayne Walling, former Mayor of Flint. More details on the sessions and speakers can be found below and attached. Please RSVP as soon as possible to secure your spot as space is limited at the venue. The event is free to attend.

Click here to download agenda

EPA requires BNSF Railway Company to begin work at abandoned uranium mines

For Immediate Release:  May 22, 2017

 EPA requires BNSF Railway Company to begin work at abandoned uranium mines

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an agreement with BNSF Railway Company to begin cleanup at the Haystack Mines Site, a group of three abandoned uranium mines near Prewitt, New Mexico and the Baca/Prewitt chapter, on Navajo Nation. 
The mines site operated from 1952 to 1981 and produced 400,000 tons of uranium ore.  Today, the 174-acre area is being used for livestock grazing and includes one residence with some additional homes nearby. The work is expected to begin in July and last for four months.
Under the agreement, BNSF Railway Company will conduct the following actions:

• Through biological and cultural assessments of the property, ensure cultural resources and sensitive species are not impacted
• Fence the property and post warning signs
• Outreach to the local community
• Provide temporary alternative housing to impacted residents if necessary
• Construct access roads
• Excavate contaminated soil

During the Cold War, 30 million tons of uranium ore were mined on or adjacent to the Navajo Nation, leaving more than 500 abandoned mines.  EPA has entered into settlement agreements valued at $1.7 billion to reduce the highest risks to the Navajo people.  Since 2008, EPA has conducted preliminary investigations at all the mines, remediated 48 contaminated structures, provided safe drinking water to 3,013 families in partnership with the Indian Health Service, and performed cleanup or stabilization work at nine mines.  In total, funds are available to begin the cleanup process at over 200 abandoned uranium mines, representing 40% of the abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo Nation. This work is a closely coordinated effort between federal agencies and the Navajo Nation to address the legacy of uranium contamination. 
For more information about EPA activities in the Southwest, please visit: www.epa.gov/region9 or www.epa.gov/region6

Media Contact:   Margot Perez-Sullivan, perezsullivan.margot@epa.gov