WEBINARS ON BUSINESS SET NEXT WEEK
The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce presents the webinar “Adjusting Your Anchors: Regaining Stability and Control in the Age of COVID-19,” at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at 1 p.m.
That same day at 2 p.m., the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce presents the webinar “Maintaining the Strength and Value of your Business in Times of Crisis.”
For more information and to register for any of these programs, visit the North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s online calendar here.
CHAMBER’S BREWING UP BUSINESS VIRTUAL EVENT
The North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce will hold its next virtual Brewing Up Business event on Thursday, May 7, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Spotlight member will be Spectrum Reach., and participants will be invited to give their 30-second commercial/elevator speech and learn ways to support each other during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
This event is free for chamber members and registered guests, But registration is required. Register here to receive the link and password for the event.
For information email lisa.howe@lgbtchamber.com.
OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS OFFERING DAY SERVICES
The Dallas Office of Homeless Solutions begins offering day services today (Wednesday, April 22) for those experiencing homelessness. City staff began relocating people experiencing homelessness from the Dallas Central Library to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center rear parking lot yesterday.
Day operations at KBHCC will be offered from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. and will include distribution of meals, onsite case managers to enter clients into the homeless management information system and providing case management services to address their housing and planning needs.
OHS will also continue their operations of a temporary, overnight shelter at KBHCC due to social distancing regulations being enforced at local area shelters. The KBHCC shelter opens at 5 p.m., and overnight operations conclude at 7 a.m. daily.
RESOURCE CENTER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS SET VIRTUAL MIXER
Resource Center’s Young Professionals Advisory Council group will hold a virtual mixer Thursday, April 23, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. This event is free, but registration is required here. Zoom information will be provided via email the day prior and the day of the event.
Participants are encouraged to order food and beverages from Stock & Barrel. Mention “Resource Center” when placing your order on Thursday to receive a 10 percent discount. Call 214-888-0150 to order. Curbside take out is from 5-9 p.m. Check out Stock & Barrel menu, updated daily on Instagram @stockbarreltx. Per TABC regulations a food item must be purchased when ordering alcohol to-go.
YPAC is for young professionals 45 and under who are passionate about providing opportunities for life skills, leadership development, peer support and educational advancement to LGBTQ youth in the Dallas area. Visit www.myresourcecenter.org/ypac to become a member.
DALLAS BY THE NUMBERS – MONDAY
Dallas County reported no new deaths this morning (Monday, April 20). The total county deaths stand at 60. There were 84 new cases reported bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 2,512.
CLAY JENKINS ON OPENING THE ECONOMY
County Judge Clay Jenkins said local, state and federal officials can work together to protect public health and carefully open the economy. But he said in North Texas, we’ll rely on science.
“We must be fully committed to following the science so we minimize the risk of a second wave of COVID-19 that could force us backwards,” Jenkins said in a press release. “We must listen to our constituents including those voices too often ignored but critical to this response.”
Those constituents, he said, include communities of color “who are bearing a disproportionate share of the pain of this pandemic.”
He said county judges in North Texas have been meeting weekly via telephone with healthcare experts discussing ways to safely open the economy. They’ve agreed that the first loosening of the rules will be on some elective surgeries and “retail to go.” Restaurants, bar and theaters “are not businesses we contemplate being in the first group of businesses to be opened.”
After watching the loosening of rules for two weeks, Jenkins said, they will consider allowing the next set of businesses to re-open.
STATE PARKS BEGIN RE-OPENING TODAY
Texas State Parks began re-opening for day-use only today (April 20) as part of a broader effort to begin reopening the state of Texas, according to an email from Carter Smith, executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Per Gov. Greg Abbott’s direction, the email notes, new restrictions in effect include requiring visitors to wear face coverings and maintain a six-foot distance from individuals outside of their party, and prohibiting the gathering of groups larger than five.
“As we navigate through these challenging times, it is essential that outdoor experiences and opportunities are available for Texas families. We have been diligently working with our partners in local communities across the state to help safeguard our state park visitors, volunteers and staff when they return to Texas State Parks,” Smith said.“During the temporary closure, our state parks team has been cleaning and sanitizing park facilities, addressing routine maintenance projects, and ensuring requisite safety protocols are in place to ensure visitors have the best possible experience.”
Due to limited staffing, weather conditions and continuing construction projects, some state parks will not be open at the current time. Park visitors should check the Texas State Parks Alert Map regularly for the latest information about the status of individual parks. The resumption of overnight camping will be announced to the public once a date has been determined.
For the latest information, please check the TPWD website.
DALLAS VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRA. HOSTS VIRTUAL LEGAL CLINIC
The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, a joint initiative of the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, and some local Dallas law firms have partnered to hold virtual clinics on April 23, April 30 and May 7.
Clinics are as follows:
- Thursday April 23: Virtual Clinic with DVAP and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, 11-3 p.m.
- Thursday, April 30: Virtual Clinic with DVAP and Hunton Andrews Kurth, 8-8 p.m.
- Thursday, May 7: Virtual Clinic with DVAP and Hunton Andrews Kurth, 8-8 p.m.
Dallas County residents who would like to apply for free legal assistance should fill out the form found online here. Once the form has been completed, expect an attorney’s call on the respective date. Participants should watch for a call from an unknown number that should be labeled “No Caller ID” or something similar.
For legal assistance any time, contact the DBA’s Lawyer Referral Service here.
For more information, log on here. For media inquiries about these clinics, contact DVAP Director Michelle Alden at aldenm@lanwt.org.
HERITAGE OF PRIDE ANNOUNCES CANCELLATION OF NYC PRIDE 2020 IN-PERSON EVENTS
Heritage of Pride, in partnership with the City of New York, has announced that the NYC Pride 2020 roster of events, originally scheduled for June 14-28, will not take place as planned, due to the collective concern for the overall safety of the community.
Maryanne Roberto Fine, NYC Pride co-chair, said, “We understand that we need to re-imagine NYC Pride events and have already begun to do just that.”
Aside from the changes in event programming, NYC Pride will continue to focus on initiatives like Pride Gives Back. This grant program was created to support LGBTQ organizations from some of the most marginalized communities to develop needed programming. The success of WorldPride | Stonewall 50 made it possible to increase the total number of grants awarded this year. NYC Pride is honored to be able to help sustain these organizations during this time of financial uncertainty and unprecedented challenges.
As a founding member of InterPride, the board and membership of Heritage of Pride have agreed to participate in the virtual Global Pride event on Saturday, June 27. Additionally, NYC Pride will continue to evaluate the situation and work toward creative ways to celebrate pride.
For more information or if there are any questions, please contact media@nycpride.org.
