Featured

Schools & Givens, From HIV Clients to Advocates,

Published

10 years ago

March 25, 2014

When Anita Schools was diagnosed with HIV in 1998, she was proactive about learning more about the virus and getting treatment. Now as a program coordinator with Sister Care, a support program for HIV positive women, she is showing other women the support they need to continue their lives.

Sister Care provides early medical intervention, on-site and referrals to HIV specialist clinics, information, and support meetings for diagnosed women and their families.

It is organizations like ‘Sister Care’ that give women hope and help them in their recovery, said Schools.

“A lot of women are stressed out with family and relationships and need support,” Schools said. “[Sister Care] helps them to clear their minds, as they come to the meetings to talk about everything that has been bothering them.”

Before serving as program coordinator, Schools was a client at Sister Care. She says the organization helped her become comfortable sharing her HIV status with her family and taught her how to live with the virus, something extremely important for newly diagnosed patients.

“When people don’t know anything about HIV and then they get their diagnosis that they’re HIV positive, the first thing they think is they’re going to die,” she added.

Schools also speaks at local high schools in the East Bay, continuing to raise awareness of the disease and ways in which it’s contracted.

Schools holds monthly support meetings with Jacynthia Givens, another former ‘Sister Care client who now works as an HIC advocate. Givens was diagnosed with HIV in 2000 and has committed her life to fighting against the stigma that is often associated with the virus.

Meetings are held every 3^rd and 4^th Thursday, noon to 2 p.m., at 405 14^th St., #300. For more information, contact Anita Schools at (510) 200-3229

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

21 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

5 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

5 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.