February 2024 E-Newsletter | |
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Welcome to Our New Board Members!
Eden I&R/211 Alameda County is thrilled to welcome Kofi D. Agyeman, M.D., and Khaleel Frederick to our Board of Directors.
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Kofi D. Agyeman, M.D., a practicing physician in Southern California, brings to Eden I&R a wealth of experience from his comprehensive training in orthopaedic surgery across various county and public hospitals nationwide. This background has instilled in him a deep understanding of healthcare disparities and the importance of accessible medical services, closely aligning with Eden I&R's mission to connect underserved communities in Alameda County with vital health, housing, and human services. Dr. Agyeman's dedication to improving health outcomes through his medical expertise supports Eden I&R's vision of fostering a community empowered with information and resources for health, happiness, hope, and improved livelihoods. | |
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Khaleel Frederick is currently a student pursuing his degree in accounting at Cal State University East Bay. A resident of Hayward, Khaleel has experience working in crisis response and in strategic decision-making. Khaleel’s philosophy is, “As an employee, student, volunteer, and friend, I try my best to help those to see a different angle on their issues that they may not have initially realized with the hopes to give them clarity and a starting point.”
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If you are interested in board service, please contact Eden I&R’s Executive Director, Alison DeJung, at adejung@edenir.org. You can learn more about the role here. | |
Happy Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, Tet, or Spring Festival, is an annual celebration held across many Asian cultures to celebrate the start of a new and prosperous year on the lunar calendar. This year's Lunar New Year began on Feb. 10th, and it is the year of the wood dragon.
For many Asian cultures, the Year of the Wood Dragon represents authority, prosperity, and good fortune. Wood symbolizes humanity's aspiration to achieve, progress, grow, and expand. To celebrate the Lunar New Year, there are many events scheduled throughout the Bay Area that you can check out by clicking below.
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Free Tax Preparation
Tax help is available this spring! The United Way Bay Area has information to help community members find no-cost IRS-certified tax preparation assistance for low- and moderate-income taxpayers. Call 211 or visit here for locations, hours, and other information.
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Honoring Black History Month
Each February, we celebrate Black History Month by honoring the achievements of African Americans and recognizing their central role in U.S. history. The 2024 theme is African Americans and the Arts. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History states, "This theme is infused with African, Caribbean, and Black American lived experiences. In the fields of visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary, and other forms of cultural expression, the African American influence has been paramount."
From art exhibits to performances, there are plenty of upcoming events for all ages to celebrate throughout Alameda County.
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PSPS Care Coordination
We partnered with the city of San Leandro's communications team to produce a series of videos on 211 Alameda County's services, and this month, we want to highlight our video on Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events featuring our Care Coordinator, Nicole Blunt. Severe weather, such as high winds, can cause trees or debris to damage equipment. If there is dry vegetation, this could lead to a wildfire. That's why PG&E may need to turn the power off to keep people safe. This temporary outage is called a PSPS.
People with Access and Functional Needs can call 211 Alameda County to plan and prepare for PSPS events. After the recent storms throughout California, 211 Alameda was pulled into action when PG&E activated its Emergency Operations Center, and our 211 team provided mutual assistance for Santa Cruz County, making calls to members of the access and functional needs community without power.
Call 211 or text "PSPS" to 211-211 to connect to PSPS resources, including transportation, lodging, and food resource replacement, or get screened for direct assistance.
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Important Election Information
Are you ready for the Presidential Primary Election on March 5th? Visit http://acvote.org to register, update, or check your registration status, find out what’s on the ballot, and make a plan to vote!
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Celebrating 211 Day
Sunday, Feb. 11th, was National 211 Day! Though we are grateful for our team every day, it's a special day when we can express our thanks for the extremely hard work of our 211 call center staff. In moments of need, 211 Alameda County is a lifeline, answering over 69,660 calls and texts in 2023.
To support our work, please continue to share 211 information with your family, friends, and neighbors. You may also make a gift at edenir.org/donate.
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In Case You Missed It: 211 at Supper and Support Event
Eden I&R/211 Alameda County's Senior Housing Manager, Pam Glassoff, was interviewed by KTVU Fox 2 about 211's housing services at Alameda Free Library's new "Supper and Support" event! "Supper and Support" is a recurring program held every 3rd Sunday from 1-3 pm at the library. This initiative aims to create a welcoming space for community members to come together, enjoy a warm meal, and establish connections with local resources.
Learn more about "Supper and Support" here and check out the quick clip of Pam's interview here.
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A woman experiencing homelessness called 211 from Oakland, looking for permanent housing resources. The caller is a survivor of domestic violence and didn’t want emergency shelter because she said her abuser would find her once she was out on the streets again. 211 staff provided several referrals, including debt management resources (Housing and Economic Rights Advocates and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation), rent payment assistance (CalWORKs), domestic violence support (Building Futures with Women and Children, Shalom Bayit), and housing support (Sister to Sister 2, Bay Area Community Services).
Read more 211 call examples.
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211 By the Numbers - January 2024 | |
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Average Call Length:
8:08 minutes
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Average Wait Time:
0:51 seconds
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Services Database:
55 agency record updates
210 program record updates
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Housing Database:
168 units added
2,068 records updated
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Website page views:
43,227
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Website Sessions/visitors:
14,325
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AHIP (AIDS Housing Information Project) | |
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AHIP (AIDS Housing Information Project) offers housing and human services resource referrals to People Living with HIV/AIDS via a designated phone line and through one-on-one, in-person assistance at clinics and AIDS Service Organizations.
Last month, AHIP provided 510 housing referrals and 195 referrals to services.* Year to date, AHIP has provided assistance to 310 unduplicated clients.
*In last month's Jan. e-newsletter, we mistakenly reported that AHIP provided 28 referrals to services. The correct number was 356 referrals to services.
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"I want to thank everybody at 211 for helping me so much. When you get to be my age of 81, you really appreciate people more.
I really appreciate 211."
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Thank You to Our Partners | |
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Partner Spotlight - Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County
February is National Senior Independence Month, and we are honored to highlight the Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County. Their mission is to strengthen and improve the network of support for older people in Alameda County, especially those disproportionately impacted or at risk because of fragile health, cognitive impairment, disability, language, culture, race, financial status, age, sex, or gender.
Learn more about their work by visiting their website.
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Eden I&R is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, and your donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
We envision a community empowered with information and connected to resources so that all people obtain health, happiness, hope, and improved livelihoods.
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