MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN SAN FRANCISCO AND CUBA. July 2020

International Committee  For Peace, Justice and Dignity SF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PASSES HISTORIC RESOLUTION  PROMOTING MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION BETWEEN SAN FRANCISCO AND CUBA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - JULY 23, 2020                               CONTACTS Vicki Legion: 415-235-0300; vlegion@ccsf.edu David Paul: 415-994-5033; dpaul4peace@yahoo.com On Tuesday, July 21st, San Francisco became the first major U.S. city to pass a resolution (attached) to promote medical and scientific collaboration with Cuba to combat the COVID-19 global pandemic.  Supervisor Hillary Ronen was lead sponsor with Supervisors Peskin and Walton co-sponsoring.  The resolution calls upon the U.S. government to lift economic sanctions that restrict the evaluation and importation of promising anti-viral treatments that have been developed by Cuba's biotech industry.   "I am proud to have sponsored this important resolution which passed unanimously," Supervisor Ronen remarked.  "Cuba is among the top countries that found effective treatments for Ebola and Swine Flu. Limiting cooperation [with Cuba] makes no sense.  This resolution is part of a wider movement," she continued, " no matter which administration is in power in Washington DC." Vicki Legion, a long-time professor of public health at SF City College and adjunct at San Francisco State University, was enthusiastic about the possibilities for cooperation that the resolution opens up. "It is tragic that frontline medications developed by Cuba are blocked from use in the US by the cruel and unjust blockade of Cuba. Interferon Alfa2B is a leading pharmaceutical developed by Cuba's Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), and is a top medication in the Chinese formulary for treating coronavirus." If restrictions were lifted, Alfa2B could be incorporated into U.S. clinical trials and open the path for approval by the FDA. Nesbit Crutchfield, a Richmond psychologist who has visited Cuba several times, commented on the particular importance of cooperation with Cuba for Black and Brown communities. "I am especially concerned with the disproportionate way in which the pandemic is ravaging communities of color in the Bay Area and around the country.  As a Black man living with many co-morbidities, I and my family would welcome the inclusion of Alpha2B into clinical trials. It is such a shame that Cuba has developed other highly effective medications, such as Heberprot-P that prevents 77% of diabetic amputations, but it is not available in the US because of  the blockade." Similar resolutions have been recently been passed in Richmond and Berkeley as part of the  new Saving Lives Campaign launched in early May. Alicia Jrapko, co-chair of the National Network on Cuba, pointed out the significance of San Francisco's resolution "Given San Francisco's role as a global medical and bio-tech powerhouse, the resolution provides a direction for cooperative medical collaboration with Cuba that can have impact across the whole US." David Paul, a nurse practitioner who has worked at SF General Hospital, noted that the resolution specifically encourages the SF Department of Health to explore collaborations with Cuba. "It is exciting that the resolution passed unanimously" Paul stated. "Now we need to make sure that concrete steps are taken to implement it." ### International Committee for Peace, Justice and Dignity 510-219-0092 | info@TheInternationalCommittee.org | Website

Call for Grant Reviewers for August 2020

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

The Mayor's Office on African American Affairs is recruiting a panel of more than 30 experienced professionals to help evaluate the grant applications that we receive for the FY 2021 program year. The grant is primarily focused on programs that provide direct services to the District's African American community that address at least one of the following areas: 

• Education
• Jobs & Economic Development
• Public Safety
• Civic Engagement
• Health & Wellness
• Youth Engagement
• Arts & Creative Economy

We are looking for a diverse group of volunteer reviewers that have management, evaluation, planning, or implementation experience in any of the aforementioned areas. Reviewers will read, score and evaluate proposals. The grant review period will be conducted during the month of August 2020. The review can be conducted via your own computer through ZoomGrants. Thank you for your interest in serving as a volunteer reviewer and for sharing this announcement with others who may be interested. We are asking you to complete the Volunteer Grant Reviewer Database form and upload your resume.
To apply, please sign up through the Volunteer Grant Reviewer Database. For questions email MOAAA@dc.gov.

Renters Rights during COVID-19. Tips for Small Business and Consumers Facing the Rent Crisis During COVID-19

From negotiating with your landlord to applying for relief, find out ways you can take action as you work to get your business back on it's feet.

Get the tips >

Tips for Small Business and Consumers Facing the Rent Crisis During COVID-19

by Kylie Ora Lobell
Freelance writer

With the COVID-19 pandemic causing shutdowns throughout the country, the U.S. is facing a rent crisis. In May 2020, nearly half of commercial retail rents went unpaid, and 7.5 million businesses are at risk of closing their doors permanently.

In terms of consumers, 31% of the 13.4 million renters in the U.S. did not pay their rent at the beginning of April. By May 6, about 20% of renters had not yet paid their monthly rent. Many people may not be able to afford such expenses due to a job loss.

If you need crisis help with rent right now, you have many options. By being transparent with your landlord about issues you're facing and working out some sort of deal, you may be able to stay afloat during these tumultuous times.

Here are some tips to help you weather the storm.

Read Your Lease

If you're a business owner facing a rent crisis, carefully read your lease, says Andrew Latham, managing editor of SuperMoney.

"Don't get your hopes up, but some contracts include a clause that suspends rent obligations if the government forces you to close your business or there is a catastrophic emergency," he says.

Talk With Your Landlord

It would be best if you did not ignore your landlord because you're dealing with the rent crisis. Instead, be open about your issues.

"Keeping transparent and honest communication with your landlord will improve your chances of negotiating a successful resolution," Latham says.

Negotiate Rent

Whether you're renting your home or commercial space, don't just stop paying rent altogether. According to realtor and independent contractor Franklin Mendez, if you do that, your landlord could evict you or pursue legal action.

Instead, speak with your landlord about working out a payment plan or getting a discount on rent. If you're a business owner with assets like equipment or appliances, you could pledge that instead of actual rent, says John Howard, CEO at Coupon Lawn.

When figuring out how to negotiate the rent with a landlord, Howard says you should be kind and friendly, remind them how long you've been a loyal tenant, and say that you still want to do business with them.

"Offer to sign a formal contract stating the facts you have negotiated or suggest a violation fee if you will not be able to pay the bill on the agreed date and time," Howard says.

Be sure to talk to your landlord when negotiating as opposed to their administrative staff. "Negotiate directly with your landlord whenever possible, but keep a written record of any agreement you make," Latham says.

Apply for Government Relief

The government has stepped in to help with the rent crisis, offering the Paycheck Protection Program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance, and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (check your state website).

"A lot of this is free money as the government continues to approve trillions of dollars in funding for businesses," Mendez says.

Additionally, local governments are protecting renters from eviction during the rent crisis. For example, in Los Angeles, landlords cannot evict renters who can't pay because of COVID-19, and tenants have 12 months after the local emergency period expired on May 15 to pay back their rent.

Getting Back on Your Feet

As cities reopen and the economy makes a comeback, the national rent crisis will begin to improve. For now, you can rest assured that help is out there if you need it, and you can use this as a lesson for the future.

"We should all learn from this financial crisis," Howard says. "Nothing is permanent, and the world keeps on changing. We should all consider plans for the worst-case scenarios and save money for emergency funds."

Have more questions about Renters Rights? LEARN MORE

Workshops: August 5-6, 2020 Building Community Capacity around Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers.

You’re Invited!

USDA’s Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement, in collaboration with the Regional Rural Development Centers, is inviting you to join a multi-day virtual workshop on Building Community Capacity around Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers. This event is designed for community organizers and planners that work on this important topic on a state or community level, such as:

·         Community Planners/Organizers

·         Cooperative Extension Service Professionals

·         Elected/Appointed County and City Officials

·         National/State Forestry Associations

·         2501 Recipients Working with Landowners

·         Land Trust and Conservatory Organizations

The workshop will take place over a series of dates/times to facilitate online learning.  

·         Session 1: August 5^th @ 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. CT/9 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET

·         Session 2: August 6^th @ 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. CT/9 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET

Special Topics Include: Heir's Property, Farm Stress, Value Chain Partnership Strategy, Innovations in Marketing and Equity, Justice and Access

Participants will:

·         Learn about resources and strategies to meet emergent needs and challenges of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers:

·         Examine up-to-date information on USDA programs

·         Engage in peer-to-peer connections among participants

·         Learn methods to access public data to assess needs

·         Develop stakeholder engagement strategy to build partnerships and accomplish shared goals 

Come join the conversation as we help create a better tomorrow! 

To learn more about the workshop and register, please click here.