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Ross Speaks, Educates, Challenges and Inspires

HUDSON VALLEY PRESS — “I believe activism is a way to make your life matter,” Loretta Ross passionately affirmed these words as she spoke to an attentive room full of people at SUNY Newburgh’s Kaplan Center Saturday afternoon. The “Meet and Greet Brunch” event, held by the Healthy Black and LatinX coalitions, led by Planned Parenthood Mid-Hudson Valley, attracted an appreciative crowd, many of whom walked away empowered after listening to the numerous messages the iconic activist delivered.

Published

5 years ago

May 8, 2019

HVPress

By Jennifer L. Warren

NEWBURGH – “I believe activism is a way to make your life matter,” Loretta Ross passionately affirmed these words as she spoke to an attentive room full of people at SUNY Newburgh’s Kaplan Center Saturday afternoon. The “Meet and Greet Brunch” event, held by the Healthy Black and LatinX coalitions, led by Planned Parenthood Mid-Hudson Valley, attracted an appreciative crowd, many of whom walked away empowered after listening to the numerous messages the iconic activist delivered.

In addition to teaching groundbreaking courses on a term she helped dub, “Reproductive Justice,” as well as race and culture relations in this country, Ross has been passionately immersed in the activism field for over 50 years, engaging in hard dialogue and sometimes deprogramming tasks with rapists, convicts, clan members and a host of other challenging populations. Herself a survivor of rape, she elected to have her baby, even co-parenting with the rapist.

“I’ve seen a lot of stuff in my life, and it has all prepared me for building power while fighting for justice,” said Ross. “I’m in a time in my life where I get to speak the truth, and we are in some very dangerous times, where we are being ruled by some very angry white men who are really challenging democracy, and we have to stand up for human rights and against bigotry; we just don’t have time to play.”

Interjecting her dialogue with candid honesty and oftentimes humor, Ross pulled her listeners in with her charismatic appeal, at times “playing” around; however, the messages always remained serious and immediate. Outlining the specifics of reproductive justice as the basic rights a woman has when either pregnant or not (whether to have a child or not, facilities and help available and medical needs), she elaborated upon the roadblocks many women face with today’s presidential administration.

“It’s so hard for so many to achieve that basic justice,” said Ross. “So many don’t value that humanity.”

In addition to showing the challenges that confront us in today’s day and age as we try to secure basic rights and freedoms, she also reminded listeners of their own responsibility in effectively walking that line of diplomacy and game-changing activism during the process.

“We need to give up the pursuit of purity politics; we just can’t assume all people of our color are good and all those who are not are bad,” affirmed Ross. “We are also immersed in a ‘call out culture,’” (putting people on the spot with what they have done wrong). Continuing, “Honey, you are not even sure most of the time about what you want each day, as it changes all the time.”

Inciting laughter among the audience, Ross, smiling, took responsibility for this “call-out” misstep as well.

“I’m old enough to remember how we can disagree behind closed doors, but come together when we need to,” said Ross. “I’m learning to teach myself how to do this in order to help the Movement.”

Following her approximately one hour talk, guests had an opportunity to ask questions, directly engaging with Ross. One query was around there ever being a good-needed time to call someone out. Yet another centered upon a common theme of the morning-early afternoon, coming together and how it can be done.

“It’s really about amassing power and making ourselves wiser and stronger; we can’t make people who don’t have empathy understand; however, we can come together to overcome and continue to tell our stories,” smiled Ross. “It’s the only way we can make a difference, and look: as hard as unity can be, it’s absolutely needed….just try disunity.”

And once again, the message of personal responsibility in this quest to change the “oppressive norm” structure, including strategizing for what we ultimately want: justice, rippled throughout her words.

“There are people who will offend you and those who will kill you,” stressed Ross. “Learn to know the difference.”

Fifty plus years later Ross continues to practice what she preaches, “making her life matter.” Saturday, evidence of that potent activist spirit was alive and well in the City of Newburgh.

“I’m walking away with so much from this morning,” said Lana Williams-Scott, Director of Diversity Inclusion & Community Engagement for Planned Parenthood Mid-Hudson Valley, in her farewell remarks. “I have always believed knowledge is power, and I hope you all leave here with more of it today just as I did.”

This article originally appeared in the Hudson Valley Press.

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Richmond Nonprofit YES Nature to Neighborhoods Plans Major Renovation

Richmond nonprofit YES Nature to Neighborhoods is planning a significant renovation of its headquarters at 3029 Macdonald Ave., around 31st street. The nonprofit serving youth and families in Richmond is requesting a design review permit to demolish the one-story, 2,218-square-foot building and a 95-square-foot shed, and to replace them with a new 4,480-square-foot, two-story building.

Published

5 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Rendering of renovation courtesy of City of Richmond documents.

The Richmond Standard

Richmond nonprofit YES Nature to Neighborhoods is planning a significant renovation of its headquarters at 3029 Macdonald Ave., around 31st street.

The nonprofit serving youth and families in Richmond is requesting a design review permit to demolish the one-story, 2,218-square-foot building and a 95-square-foot shed, and to replace them with a new 4,480-square-foot, two-story building.

The new building would consist of office and meetings spaces with a 345-square-foot addition to the existing garage on the property, according to city documents. The nonprofit will host youth, adult, and family programming on and off the site.

The nonprofit also proposes to repair sidewalks, replace planters and a fence, add lighting, and provide interior open space, among other improvements.

The city’s Design Review Board was set to review the plans at its meeting this evening on April 10. For more info, go to https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/68830/3_PLN23-316-3029-MacDonald-Ave_DRB20240410—Apr-10

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Families Flock to New Farmers Market in Marina Bay

The City of Richmond’s first farmers market in Marina Bay kicked off Sunday, April 7 with a large swell of community members coming out to enjoy the occasion. The long-anticipated market set up shop in the parking lot off Regatta Boulevard and Melville Square in Richmond and featured music and dancing, arts and crafts, chess, multiple vendors and some fresh produce from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Published

5 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

The crowd at the new Marina Bay farmers’ market. Photo by Kathy Chouteau.

By Kathy Chouteau
The Richmond Standard

The City of Richmond’s first farmers market in Marina Bay kicked off Sunday, April 7 with a large swell of community members coming out to enjoy the occasion.

The long-anticipated market set up shop in the parking lot off Regatta Boulevard and Melville Square in Richmond and featured music and dancing, arts and crafts, chess, multiple vendors and some fresh produce from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Numerous families turned out for the event, many with their children and family dogs.

The market will continue on Sundays and is operated by the Richmond Certified Farmers Market Association. For more information or to become a vendor, go to https://cirichmondca-newsletter.app.transform.civicplus.com/forms/39634

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For Cervical Cancer Month, Medical Community Focused on Education

January was Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Physicians, advocates and others in the medical community commemorated the month by raising awareness about a form of cancer they say is highly preventable and treatable. Cervical cancer is caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV) and it develops slowly over time but can be prevented with proper care in girls as young as 13 years old.

Published

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A Mayo Clinic article published last month stated that Black women are more likely to be diagnosed and die of cervical cancer, compared to White women in the U.S. 2,000 Black women are diagnosed every year with cervical cancer and 40% die as a result.

By Magaly Muñoz

January was Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

Physicians, advocates and others in the medical community commemorated the month by raising awareness about a form of cancer they say is highly preventable and treatable.

Cervical cancer is caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV) and it develops slowly over time but can be prevented with proper care in girls as young as 13 years old.

Sonia Ordonez, an OBGYN and gynecology surgeon at Kaiser Permanente, stated that as soon as people with cervixes reach the maturity reproductive age, they should start taking preventative measures like getting the HPV vaccine. The vaccine involves a series of two-doses for people aged 9 through 14 or three-doses for people 15 through 45 years old.

“I see a lot of young women who can’t remember or may not have gotten [the vaccine] when they were younger, or maybe got one, but we can give them the series of vaccines and restart at any point in time,” Ordonez said.

She said that cervical cancer is not the only cancer caused by HPV. Strains of the virus can also lead to throat, anal and penile cancers.

Screening is also an effective way to check for cervical cancer and should be done every three years after someone turns 21, doctors recommend. It is best to start as early as possible to catch occurrences early.

Ordonez said that this cancer is also more likely found in people of color and has led to more deaths overall.

A Mayo Clinic article published last month stated that Black women are more likely to be diagnosed and die of cervical cancer, compared to White women in the U.S.

2,000 Black women are diagnosed every year with cervical cancer and 40% die as a result.

“This disparity is not due to genetic differences among White, Black or Hispanic women, but rather related to systemic racism, access to healthcare and socioeconomic factors,” Dr. Olivia Cardenas-Trowers, a Mayo Clinic urogynecologist, said in the article.

Ordonez stated that immigrant women are also highly susceptible to the cancer, as many Latin American countries may not have accessibility to screenings or lack of insurance makes it harder for them to get tested.

Hispanic women are 40% more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 30% more likely to die from it, as compared to non-Hispanic White women, according to the Office of Minority Health.

Family medicine physician, Joy Anyanwu, stated that the pandemic contributed to hesitancy about getting cervical cancer screenings among some women. Other factors are people’s aversion to vaccines, parents not wanting to believe that their children are or will become sexually active, and doubt about the overall effectiveness of the vaccine.

“The vaccine is very safe — over 97% effective in preventing cervical cancer,” Anyanwu said. “Even if you aren’t having sex, the earlier you start would actually help.”

Anyanwu said she understands that parents might not want to ask questions about their children’s reproductive health, but it’s a mindset that can be a barrier to having important conversation about prevention or care.

To keep families their families and communties healthy, the doctor emphasized that people should prioritize keeping up with their vaccine series and going to screenings every year.