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.
What to Know About the New XBB.1.5 Variant (Time)
"A new variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading in the U.S., raising concerns about a potential wave of infections and reinfections to start the new year.
The variant, called XBB.1.5, is a descendent of Omicron and a close relative of the XBB variant, which spread widely in Singapore and India this past fall. A December study in the journal Cell demonstrated that XBB is better at evading immune defenses gained from vaccination and prior infection, compared to other variants. This raises the risk of reinfection, a World Health Organization group warned in October—though the group said at the time that XBB does not appear to cause significantly more severe disease than previous strains." Read more here.
Migrants who came to NYC in an earlier wave describe their lives now (NYT)
Dozens have said their main priority was to work and send money home. Even without work authorization, many are finding gigs in construction and restaurants. — The New York Times
FYI - there is a paywall
Video shows border agents, police arresting migrants sleeping outside church shelter in El Paso ahead of Biden's visit (NBC News)
"In the week before President Joe Biden’s trip to El Paso, Texas, Customs and Border Protection officers, as well as El Paso city police, began arresting migrants sleeping in the streets outside a Catholic church shelter and bus station, according to new video obtained by NBC News.
In the videos, border agents can be seen patrolling the streets on Tuesday night, driving up in vans with flashing lights and rustling tents where families were sleeping. Immigration advocates say the proximity of the arrests to a church shelter may violate the Department of Homeland Security’s policies." Read more here.
What New Yorkers need to know as thousands of NYC nurses begin strike (Gothamist)
"Thousands of nurses at New York City hospitals went on strike Monday morning. The labor action has already begun to disrupt health care services at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and Mount Sinai Hospital in Harlem, where about 7,100 members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) could join the picket line.
The nurses are striking as they negotiate for higher pay and increased staffing in their first new contracts since the COVID-19 pandemic began. NYSNA members have reached contract agreements with several other hospitals across the five boroughs in recent days, narrowly avoiding similar strikes." Read more 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.
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:
Radio Segment: Food Insecurity Among Veterans From The Brian Lehrer Show: Dennis Garvey, vice president of logistics at The Food Bank for New York City, discusses his experience in active service, and shares what the Food Bank is doing to help vets in the area who are struggling to buy food.
How the Midterm Elections Will Impact Food and Agriculture, Lisa Held, Civil Eats, Nov 3 2022
Building Resilient Organizations: Toward Joy and Durable Power in a Time of Crisis, Maurice Mitchell, Convergence Magazine, Nov 29 2022
Exploring the ethical complexity of food charity, Maddy Power, LSE British Politics and Policy, Nov 28 2022
Wasted food, hungry Americans – is donating surplus produce a solution? Victoria Namkung, The Guardian, Nov 17 2022
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!