This Week's Resources
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NYS COVID and MonkeyPox Updates (Plus Info about the Flu and RSV)
A lot of the news around mandates, vaccines and restrictions have been a little confusing so I will list some resources below that might help.
PIX11 COVID Updates - kind of NYC-centric but state information is sometimes included. Link here.
NYS Department of Health COVID website - It's a one stop shop with an info summary at the top. Link here.
Walgreens COVID Index - there's concerns about the accuracy of some COVID trackers but Wallgreens released one based on their tests. Link here.
NYS Vaccine Website - Immunocompromised and high-risk folks are eligible for more boosters. Check here to see the requirements.
Antiviral treatments are accessible to eligible people who are COVID-positive. Visit this link to learn more about eligibility and how to get access to antivirals like Paxlovid
NYC Department of Health Monkeypox Webpage - lots of information and resources about the virus with pictures of the rash included. Find the link here.
NYC Monkeypox vaccine Scheduling Website - Link Here
COVID vs Flu vs RSV info - I found a good article from the Washington post that gives information about three viruses that have been spiking this winter. Read the article here.
The Time Magazine article on the new variant (XBB.1.5) - Link Here
Hudson Link Employer Toolkit
Our friends at Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison put together an employer toolkit for hiring formerly incarcerated people. Thank you to Sean Pica, Eldredge Blalock, Elisabeth Santiago, and the rest of the team at Hudson Link for this important resource. The toolkit can be found here. If you have any questions about hiring formerly incarcerated people, please contact Elisabeth Santiago from Hudson Link's Alumni Services at esantiago@hudsonlink.org.
New York nonprofits say they’re suffering the worst staffing shortage in years (NYNMedia)
"Organizations blame the shortfall on post-COVID-19 upheaval, a wage rise in Starbucks-type jobs and not enough public funding to offer higher salaries." Read more here.
Real Talk: Discretionary awards and the pitfalls to watch out for (NYNMedia)
"A detailed analysis of New York City's discretionary awards made in Fiscal Year 2018 found roughly 1,000 were made to 550 nonprofits of which 70% got no other support from the city and almost half had budgets under $1 million. So although the awards are tiny – the median is $78,000 and more than one-third are less than $50,000 – they matter a lot to many of the groups that get them. Since the mayor, borough presidents, and two thirds of the city Council members are new, there will likely be very significant changes in which nonprofits get – and which do not get – discretionary awards this year. In fact, thousands of nonprofits are scrambling to meet the Feb. 22 application deadline hoping to keep, or get, an award. Here are some things they should keep in mind." Read more here.
NYC ending COVID-19 vaccination mandate for city employees (Associated Press)
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City is ending its COVID-19 vaccination mandate for municipal employees including police officers, firefighters and teachers, Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday.
The vaccine mandate, which led to the firing of hundreds of city workers who declined to get the shots, will end on Friday, the Democratic mayor said in a news release.
Adams said that with more than 96% of city employees and more than 80% of city residents having received their initial vaccine series, “this is the right moment for this decision.” Read more here (via Bronx Times).
Kitchen Manager/Chef Needed at St. Michael's Saturday Kitchen Program
Our friends at St. Michael's Church in the Upper West Side are looking for a new Kitchen Manager for their Saturday Kitchen food access program. If you want more information, know any good candidates, or have any suggestions please contact the Rev. Kate Flexer, Rector, at kflexer@saintmichaelschurch.org. The job description can be found here.
Community Food Funders Newslink
Community Food Funders has opened up their newsletter to a wider audience (so not just food funders). "Each month, CFF compiles a newsletter with news, articles, reports, and events for those in our region interested in an equitable and sustainable food system." Highlights on this month's newsletter include:
CUNY Urban Food Policy Forum - Targeting Ultra-Processed Food to Improve Nutritional Health: The Value and Limits of a Framing - Jan 26, 2023, 3:30pm, Virtual - A panel discussion to assess the potential and limits of the concept of ultra-processed food to inform food policy and advocacy. Recent research suggests that ultra-processed food – industrially prepared food high in fats, sugar, salt, additives and preservatives – makes a major contribution to the global and local rise in premature deaths and preventable illnesses caused by unhealthy diets. In this forum, researchers and activists discuss the utility of the ultra-processed food frame for guiding more effective food policies to improve nutritional health and health equity.
2023 Farm Fresh Food Grants - The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, through a grant from the NoVo Foundation, is pleased to offer the Hudson Valley Farm Fresh Food grant program for 2023-2025. This grant program is designed to distribute multi-year grant funds in amounts up to $20,000 a year for 3 years to nonprofit organizations in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Ulster counties. The focus of the program is to fund programs and organizations that work to increase access to local, farm fresh food for individuals who are considered food insecure. Applications must be submitted by March 1, 2023.
Dyson Foundation Mini-Grant Program - The Dyson Foundation’s mini-grant program funds capacity-building projects that improve a nonprofit’s administrative, governance, or programmatic functions. Mini-grants enable nonprofit board, staff, and volunteer leaders to develop new skills through specific consultant-led capacity-building activities, or through conferences, seminars, and other relevant training opportunities. Mini-grants are available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and libraries in the Mid-Hudson Valley. Grants are available on a rolling basis.
I will continue to include highlights from each month's newsletter on our weekly resource round-ups but if you would like to subscribe yourself, the link is here. The link to last month's newsletter is here and their archive is here.
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That's all for this week -- thanks for all you do!