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Mary's House for Older Adults continues to be committed to structures that empower Black Lives, because for us, BLACK LIVES MATTER;
always and all ways.
BLACK LIVES MATTER:
Welcoming President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris
Pictured (L-R): President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris.
On January 20, 2021, I watched with the rest of the Nation the Inauguration Ceremony of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Together, in their first 100 days, they have righted some of the hateful regulations of the previous administration. They have also publicly added the word EQUITY to their lexicon on human rights in spite of the Horatio Alger cultural view that - "Anyone can pull themselves up by their bootstraps if they work hard enough." But this is a myth. President Biden has used the word equity in many of his Executive Orders. Furthermore, VP Harris stated in a video that "Equality suggests, 'Oh, everyone should get the same amount.' The problem with that, not everybody's starting out from the same place."
This is a historical inauguration on many levels, the least of all being the swearing in of the first Black woman as Vice President of the United States. We at Mary's House for Older Adults celebrated by wearing pearls in honor of this momentous occasion.
 Pictured (L-R): Andrea Macko, Donna Payne Hardy, Wallace Corbett, Joy Silver and Atma Wiseman, Dr. Imani Woody, Terry Spence Edwards, Terri Batson, Cathy Batson, Gail Northern, Cee Ford and her Mom, Bishop A. Abrams and Dr. Diana Williams.
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BLACK LGBTQ/SGL Elder Series with Louis Hicks
We are honored to have Louis Hicks address our Black Lives Matter Forum. He has been a staunch supporter of Mary's House for Older Adults for more than 10 years! His patience and consistent presence as one of MHFOA's early volunteers, is invaluable in every Committee and Operation he serves, as evidenced of the photo above, with him and long-time member Tyrone Washington (deceased). A prolific writer, Louis' most recent article, A Letter to My Nephew is a must read.
If you would like to share your thoughts in the VOICES ON BLACK LGBTQ/SGL ELDERS FORUM , please contact us at [email protected].
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Join Mary's House for Older Adults for its Series of discussions: Freedom Is Not a Secret: It Is a Practice.
Freedom is a noun that means one has the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Freedom given can be taken. Freedom is an on-going act against white and male supremacy. As we know, white supremacy is not new and has gone truly public and acceptable if the insurgency that happened at the Capitol building and across the country are any indications.
Join us February 24, 2021 at 4 PM for the first of this series as it welcomes National Treasures and Agents of Change, Ms. Mandy Carter and Dr. Imani Woody. They will create a brave and provocative space to have conversation and spark dialogue that highlights their 101+ years of agitation, activism, advocacy and Getting It Done! Click Here to Register
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Black Lives Matter and Respectability Politics
Join in a lively conversation with national Black LGBTQ/SGL leaders on the impact of Respectability Politics used by Black folks - Black LGBTQ/SGL folks in particular. Facilitated by Dr. Imani Woody, this is the second in the Freedom Is Not a Secret: It Is a Practice Series. Guests Kylar Broadus, Esq., Dr. Nii-Quarterlai Quartey and Ms. Donna Payne-Hardy will discuss the hard truths about how the assimilation into the dominant culture makes life at our intersectionality better or worse in terms of prejudices and systemic discrimination.
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HOUSING VOUCHERS AVAILABLE FOR LGBTQ/SGL DC RESIDENTS !
After intense advocacy for more than three years, MHFOA was instrumental in 15 housing vouchers becoming available for homeless LGBTQ/SGL Older Adults 62 years of age or older. The vouchers from DCHA will be distributed by the Office of LGBTQ Affairs.
A new partnership, The DC Elders HOPE (Housing Older People Efficiently) Project, between the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL), and MHFOA will assist in the elimination of homelessness and isolation experienced by Elder LGBTQ/SGL adults in our City. Interested? Please contact Dr. Imani at [email protected].
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Two Upcoming Health and Wellness Programs
to Nourish Your Soul- Registration is Open!
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See Me at the Smithsonian
Access Smithsonian and Mary's House for Older Adults, Inc. are working together to present virtual programs. See Me at the Smithsonian, is an interactive program for adults with dementia, their care partners, and others, hosted on Zoom and accessible by phone. This program will include featured artwork that focuses on the themes of LGBTQ/SGL experiences. See below for more details and to register.
To register for this Smithsonian programs, or with any questions, please email [email protected].
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CORONAVIRUS: GET VACCINATED!
Having a problem registering for the vaccine? Reach out to your Office on Aging and/or a Village in your state (
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Fierceness! Reaches Next Stage
Michelle Parkerson, Mary's House for Older Adults' Media Chair, is directing Fierceness Served! The ENIKAlley Coffeehouse.
This documentary tells the story of a group of Black LGBT artists/activists that emerged during the 1980s; a time of phenomenal creativity and political ferment in Washington DC's Black Lesbian and Gay circles. Your support is needed to preserve this local legacy.
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Reach Out and Touch: The Struggle is Real
Mary's House for Older Adults continues to be contacted for food and other resources. We have referred Elders to receive information on online services and activities. MHFOA has been able to continue to provide groceries to elder families. MHFOA still has masks for those who are in need. Your donation of food, water and gift cards allow us to continue this work. Please contact Ms. Arie Gray at [email protected] for how you can contribute.
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Aging with Pride: IDEA (Innovations in Dementia Empowerment and Action)
The University of Washington has a free program for individuals with memory loss and their care partners. Either the person with memory loss or their care partner must be LGBTQ. The program includes nine sessions with a trained coach and focuses on problem solving, improving communication, and low impact exercise. The sessions are virtual, using easy video chatting. The pair is compensated for completing phone interviews.
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