Sunday, August 11, 2024, 5 PM to 7 PM. Candid conversation addressing sexual health and HIV within our Black Immigrant communities of Los Angeles County

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Sunday, August 11, 2024 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM PST     Listening Session for African and Caribbean Immigrants Empowering Health - Sexual Health & HIV in Black Immigrant Communities Organized by: Los Angeles County Commission on HIV Black Caucus U.S. Africa Institute Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science Healing with Hope  Are you a member of the Black Immigrant community in Los Angeles County? Your voice matters! We invite you to join us for a candid conversation addressing sexual health and HIV within our Black Immigrant communities of Los Angeles County. Discussion Topics: Addressing the stigma surrounding sexual health and HIV testing within the Black immigrant community Exploring obstacles and challenges in accessing sexual health services and HIV testing Discussing cultural factors that may hinder access to healthcare and testing services within the community Identifying opportunities for capacity-building initiatives to enhance awareness and knowledge about sexual health and HIV Event Details: Date: Sunday, August 11, 2024 Time: 5 PM to 7 PM Incentives: $50 giveaway for participants Free African cuisine Registration: Empowering Health: Sexual Health & HIV in Black Immigrant Communities Tickets, Sun, Aug 11, 2024 at 5:00 PM | Eventbrite Join us for this important discussion to share your experiences, challenges, and suggestions. Let's work together to improve the sexual health and well-being of our community. Your participation is crucial in shaping the future of healthcare services for Black immigrants in Los Angeles County.

A Billion Dollar ($$$$) Industry. Avoid Disaster Scams Wednesday August 21, 2024 from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET

 

Avoid Disaster Scams

Wednesday August 21, 2024 from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET

Please join the Region 2 National Preparedness Division in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for a webinar on how to avoid scams post disaster. Extreme weather and natural disasters can occur without warning, leaving you to make critical decisions when you may feel rushed. Scammers try to take advantage of that environment, preying on people before, during, and after disaster events. This webinar, presented by an attorney from the Federal Trade Commission�s Northeast Regional Office, will help you spot, avoid, and report scams that you may encounter as you prepare for, deal with, and recover from extreme weather and other natural disasters. Who should attend: Whole Community, individuals, families, Community and Faith-based Organizations, State, local, tribal, territorial government and the private sector. Registration: https://fema.cosocloud.com/avoidscams/event/registration.html Make sure to test your Adobe Connect before the meeting.

Royal Chicano Air Force – Art And Activism" on YouTube

 https://youtu.be/BWybYfyfRK4?si=0p5cprYqUiB6wH-Z 

WEBINAR Protecting Our Communities: Tools and Resources for Natural Disaster Preparedness and Response July 29, 2024 • 2:30-4:00 p.m. ET

 

EVENT REGISTRATION:   https://nih.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_AQAx7MJ5RkCHTc8-SJt2vg

English/Spanish interpretation will be available during this meeting.

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodation to participate in this event should contact Kerri Voelker at 919-794-4710 or kerri.voelker@nih.gov.

TTY users should contact NIH Interpreting Services. Requests should be made by July 22, 2024.

For more information about the NIEHS Worker Training Program, please visit https://www.niehs.nih.gov/ careers/hazmat/about_wetp

 

 

 

Scientific Methodology. It starts by observation and asking a question.

The scientific method defined

The scientific method is a procedure that’s been used in science since the 17th century. It consists of systematic observation, experimenting, measuring, testing, formulating, and modifying a hypothesis.

7 steps of the scientific method

The scientific method has seven basic steps. Depending on your profession, the type of question asked, and the science applied, the steps might need to be adjusted, reduced, or expanded upon to meet your needs.

Here are the steps to the scientific method with an example hypothesis provided:

Step #1: Ask the question

Asking a question you want to answer is the first step in the scientific method. The question should be measurable and possible to answer through research and experimentation. It will also begin with how, what, when, where, why, which, or who. Typically, the question is something that can be measured through numerical data providing a numerical result. However, it is also possible to achieve behavioral results, which is common in the field of psychiatry and mental health.

Example: You might be curious whether there is a causal relationship between drawing and relaxation in females. A good question might be: “Does the art of drawing help females feel more relaxed?

Step #2: Conduct research

The next step in the scientific method is conducting research. Your preliminary research will support you in conducting your experiment. Use reputable resources, like academic and scientific journals, to gather background information and data. You might also be able to pull past scientific studies and other experiments to help you with your experimentation.

Example. Based on the above example question, you might review past studies about art therapy with females, drawing used as a mediative technique, and behaviors in females directly influenced by drawing.

Step #3: Develop your hypothesis

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation based on limited evidence that gives you a starting point for further research. Essentially, it’s an educated guess based on your assumptions of what might happen or what the result of your experiment will be. Your hypothesis should be measurable.

Example: As you fine-tune your thoughts, you determine what will likely happen. For example, “If females who feel anxious draw, it will help them relax and reduce their anxiety more than females who feel anxious and take no action to relax.”

Step #4: Test your hypothesis with an experiment

Now that you’ve developed your hypothesis, it’s time to quantifiably test it. You get to decide the best way to test it based on your resources and needs. Regardless, your experiment should be repeatable by others.

Example: You test out the hypothesis: You provide a survey to a group of women and then randomly select a group that reports being stressed regularly after work. You then give a group of them a sketch pad with some sketches they can draw, and you give the other group nothing to draw.

Step #5: Make an observation

You’ll next need to assess and analyze your scientific process. If you change any part of the experimentation process, it’s vital to keep the rest of the variables consistent to maintain data fairness. You also want to fully document your processes and any adaptations you make.

Repeat the experiment a few times to test the validity and reliability of the test. Validity means the test measures what it’s supposed to measure, and reliability means results are consistent and can be reproduced under the same conditions.

Example: In reviewing the data, you realize what you had thought would happen didn’t happen consistently across the board. You discover that the difficulty level of the drawing impacted the females’ ability to relax. It appears the more difficult the drawing, the less the stress levels decrease. Therefore, you adjust your hypothesis to indicate that females’ stress levels decrease with drawing activities based on the females’ perception of the level of difficulty of the drawing.

Step #6: Examine your results and draw a conclusion

You’ve made it through the challenging first steps, and now it’s time to analyze the data from your experiments and test and examine it to determine if it supports your hypothesis. You’ll then draw a conclusion as to whether the results support your hypothesis.

If the results do not support your hypothesis, you can develop a new hypothesis and repeat steps 1 through 5. If the results do support your hypothesis, it’s time to put the information and insights together to present your findings to others.

Example: You determine that a female’s stress level is reduced when drawing. However, the perceived difficulty level of the drawing influences the level of stress reduction. An easier drawing provokes more significant stress reduction compared to drawings that are perceived to be difficult by the subject.

Step #7: Share your findings

Finally, your hard work pays off. It’s time to present your findings to others. You will base how you present your findings on the type of experiment and its purpose. If you are a scientist or professional researcher, you might choose to present your findings in an academic or scientific publication. If your work is for a school project, you might present your findings in a presentation, a written report, or on a poster or display board.

Example: You develop a formal report and share your findings.

Test it out for yourself

Scientist or not, you now have the basics to develop your own hypothesis and conduct research to draw conclusions. If you have some burning questions you’d like to get to the bottom of, have some fun and give the scientific method a whirl. It will give you some practice for the future when you’re asked to do so for work.

Climate Change and Impacts. Business as Usual? Africa Economic Symposium (AES) 2024 – 2nd Edition Recap.

 

 

Welcome to our Newsletter! The Policy Center for the New South recently hosted the 2nd edition of the Africa Economic Symposium (AES) on July 11-12, 2024. The event, themed “Fostering Africa's Economic Transformation through Innovative Financing,” brought together a distinguished assembly of economists, policymakers, and academics from across the continent and beyond. The aim was to discuss the macroeconomic management challenges and structural issues shaping Africa's economic future.     Opening Remarks and Key Themes   The symposium’s opening sessions underscored Africa’s complex macroeconomic landscape, highlighting the pressing need for innovative fiscal strategies amid tightening monetary policies and persistent inflation. The discussions emphasized the necessity of addressing financial resource gaps to meet the continent's development needs, such as rising social demands, infrastructure, energy transition, and technological advancement. Effective governance reforms, robust public finance measures, and the mobilization of private savings were identified as critical components for unlocking financial resources.    Session 1: Monetary Policy Challenges: Is Inflation Over?   Experts debated the efficacy of African central banks’ monetary policies in balancing economic growth with inflation control. Despite decreasing inflation rates in many African countries, inflation remains above pre-pandemic levels, affecting vulnerable populations. Discussions explored the implications of high interest rates, the expected economic landing for African nations, and the coordination between monetary and prudential policies to ensure financial stability.     Session 2: Addressing Fiscal Discipline   The session focused on the challenges posed by rising public debt in Africa. With public debt-to-GDP ratios projected to increase significantly, panelists discussed strategies for maintaining fiscal discipline while addressing development objectives. Emphasis was placed on medium-term budget planning, the potential of sovereign wealth funds, and fiscal rules to stabilize budgets and mitigate economic shocks.     Session 3: Navigating Financial Resource Limitations Amidst Growing Economic Development Needs   This session addressed the critical financial resource gaps in Africa and the necessity for mobilizing both domestic and international financial resources. Key topics included enhancing governance frameworks to ensure transparent and efficient allocation of resources, supporting investments in renewable energy, infrastructure, and human capital, and exploring policies to maximize the impact of financial resources.     Parallel Session 4: Innovative Financing Mechanisms for Green Transition    Panelists discussed the need for innovative financing mechanisms to achieve Africa’s green transition by 2030, requiring substantial investments. The session explored private capital mobilization through green bonds and impact investing, public resource maximization, and the role of technology in improving transparency and incentives.     Parallel Session 5: The Role of Development Finance in Addressing Social Challenges    The session examined the relationship between development finance and social progress in Africa, focusing on poverty alleviation, gender equality, and inclusive growth. Strategies for leveraging development finance to enhance education and healthcare systems, particularly in underserved communities, were explored.     Session 6: Unlocking Domestic Financing Potential    Discussions centered on strengthening Africa’s banking sector and local financial markets to mobilize private savings and support productive investments. Public finance reforms, monitoring tax fraud and illicit financial flows, and leveraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) were highlighted as key strategies for unlocking domestic financial potential.     Session 7: The Role of International Financing in Africa’s Development    Panelists addressed the pressing financial needs of Africa in the context of climate change, debt levels, and the need for substantial investments in climate adaptation and mitigation projects. The role of international financial institutions, debt restructuring mechanisms, and the African Development Bank in supporting Africa’s development goals were key topics of discussion.     Closing Reflections    Over two days, AES 2024 facilitated a rich exchange of ideas and strategies to position Africa as a new engine of global growth. The presentation of the Annual Economic Report on Africa provided a comprehensive overview of the continent’s economic dynamics. The symposium underscored the importance of innovative financing and governance reforms in fostering Africa’s economic transformation and addressing its development challenges.