The MOCHA Center, Inc.
Executive Director is Inteviewed by The Empty Closet
Bruce E. Smail, Executive Director of The MOCHA Center, was interviewed by Susan Jordan of The Empty Closet. Please take a moment to read the article. We appreciate the work of Susan and The Empty Closet in its efforts to keep the LGBTQ community informed about the latest news.
Executive Director Sets New Hours in Buffalo
Effective Friday, October 14, 2011, the Executive Director of the MOCHA Center will have new office hours:
Buffalo: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays. The Buffalo office is located at 1092 Main Street.
Rochester: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm on Monday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The Rochester Office is located at 107 Liberty Pole Way.
To schedule an appointment in either city, contact Bruce Smail at bsmail@mochacenter.org. You may also reach him in Rochester at (585) 420-1400 x17 or in Buffalo at (716) 852-1142 x 20.
A Dialogue on Living with HIV
The MOCHA Center’s Youth Drop-in Center will host “A Dialogue on Living with HIV” on Thursday, October 6, 2011 from 4:30 – 5:30pm. Bruce E. Smail, the Executive Director of the MOCHA Center, will share his story and lead a discussion on the challenges and opportunities of living with HIV. This event is limited to our LGBTQ youth of color aged 13-24. The event will take place at the MOCHA Center, 107 Liberty Pole Way, Rochester.
The MOCHA Center Reaches Out to People Living with HIV/AIDS
In October, the MOCHA Center will launch two support groups for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). As a person living with HIV since 2003, I am pleased to offer two groups in Rochester as a way to support PLWHA. The MOCHA Center was founded on the support and care for men of color living with HIV/AIDS.
The challenges of a new diagnosis or finding support in communities are challenges we all face being positive. The weekly support groups will come together for 90 minutes and provide opportunities for dialogue, sharing experiences, group support, and access to helpful resources in the community.
The Support Group for Newly Diagnosed targets men of color who are living with HIV for 2 years or less. The Support Group for People Living with HIV/AIDS targets men of color who are living with HIV/AIDS longer than 2 years.
Because these are confidential support groups, please contact me directly at bsmail@mochacenter.org or (585) 420-1400 x17 for more information or to join the support group.
I look forward to reaching men of color living with HIV/AIDS through this initiative. I have found that as we share our stories and dialogue about our experiences, it improves our acceptance and our ability to value our lives. On my seventh year anniversary, I wrote a blog about living with HIV. I share my story as a way to reach out to various communities about HIV. I hope you will take a moment to read the story and realize that we all have our own stories and paths in becoming HIV positive.
Bruce E. Smail – Executive Director
A Proud Community Partner of the 19th Annual IMAGE OUT
Leave It On The Floor
The MOCHA Center is a proud community partner of the 19th Annual IMAGE OUT – The Rochester Lesbian & Gay Film & Video Festival. Please support the festival from October 7-16, 2011. Visit their website at www.imageout.org.
Each community partner serves as a host to a film. Please join the MOCHA Center for the showing of Leave It on the Floor on October 8, 2011 – 1:30pm – Dryden Theatre.
More Information and trailer for the film - Leave It On the Floor.
Leave It On the Floor Press Kit
Leave It On the Floor tells the story of Brad, our hero, who is thrown out of his dysfunctional home by his mother, Deondra. He steals his mother’s car and travels into Los Angeles where, through a chance encounter, Brad, a little like Alice in Wonderland, stumbles into a noisy raucous, chaotic event and meets the ragtag members of the struggling House of Eminence. Initially only looking for a place to sleep(and perhaps someone to sleep with), Brad ends up engaging with the colorful members of the house led by the indomitable house mother Queef Latina, herself an aging ball-legend and the fierce protectrice of her family. Laughter, tears, sex sirens, and butch queens up in pumps ensue and remarkably, Brad ends up finding an extraordinary home and loving, caring family in this, the strangest of places.
Smail Speaks on Rochester Radio Talk Show
Bruce E. Smail, the Executive Director of the MOCHA Center, will be interviewed on the “What’s Going On? — with Nate Brown and Kevin Allen” show on Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 8:00 am (ET). Once a month, Rochester youth interview guests in the community. You can listen in on 1280 AM or 107.3 FM in Rochester. You can also visit the link below and listen in live via the internet (Look to the top left corner for the link for the live internet broadcast). Join me on Sunday as I talk about the MOCHA Center, HIV/AIDS, and other issues!!!!
1280 WHTK & FM 107.3 – Rochester’s Sports Talk
The MOCHA Center Introduces its new ED, Board of Directors & Staff
The MOCHA Center issued a press release on 9/12/2011 regarding the Welcome Events. View Press Release
The MOCHA Center, a nonprofit organization providing health and wellness programs and services for communities of color with an emphasis on LGBTQ communities, will introduce its new Executive Director, Board of Directors, and staff to the communities of Buffalo and Rochester this month. With over 15 years of service, and operations in Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, and New York City, the MOCHA Center reaches local, regional, state, and national constituencies.
The Open House is one of the many ways that the MOCHA Center is reaching out to local communities and creating opportunities for everyone to have a voice in the MOCHA Center. The improvement of health and wellness amongst people of color and LGBTQ communities is a collective responsibility. LGBTQ, people of color, and people living with HIV/AIDS are active members of all organizations, businesses, places of worship, and our community. Collectively we must address the health disparities in this country as well as in this community.
The event is an opportunity to meet the new Executive Director, Board of Directors and staff; learn more about the programs and services of the MOCHA Center; explore opportunities to connect with the MOCHA Center, and to share your perspectives about the MOCHA Center. The event is free and open to the public. Both Open Houses will be held at the MOCHA Center in Buffalo (September 22) and Rochester (September 29) from 5:00pm – 7:00pm. Please click on links below for more details and register for the event.
More Information & Registration – Buffalo Open House – September 22, 2011 – 5:00pm – 7:00pm
More information & Registration – Rochester Open House – September 29, 2011 – 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Memorial Service & Candlelight Vigil for Tashan “Twin Mizrahi” Stanley
Tashan "Twin MIzrahi" Stanley
On behalf of the Board of Directors, Staff, Volunteers, and entire MOCHA Center Family, we mourn the loss of one of our MOCHA family members. On Sunday, August 21st, Tashan “Twin Mizrahi” Stanley passed away at his home in Rochester. He served as a youth leader and member of MOCHA Center’s core group which provides programming advise to the MOCHA Center. Our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Tashan — we share the pain and the harshness of his untimely death.
Tashan touched many people in this community and many hearts are heavy. As we try to move forward, I hope that you can join our youth who have planned a memorial service and candlelight vigil to honor Twin Mizrahi.
Please stop by the MOCHA Center before Friday (or definitely before the service) to sign the poster tribute to Twin Mizrahi. We will also pay tribute to Tashan “Twin Mizrahi” Stanley on Friday, August 26, 2011. The Memorial Service (4:00 – 7:30 pm) & Candlelight Vigil (7:30-9:00 pm) will be held at the MOCHA Center which is located at 107 Liberty Pole Way, Rochester, NY 14604. For more information contact the MOCHA Center at (585) 420-1400.
I hope the Rochester community joins us as we celebrate and honor the life of one of our MOCHA Family members!!! Rest in Peace Tashan “Twin Mizrahi” Stanley. May your light, energy, and life continue through all of us.
Bruce E. Smail – Executive Director
Unity Through Diversity Summit Releases its Program Bulletin
The Unity Through Diversity Summit just released its Program Bulletin for the October 2011 Summit. Check out the great workshops and register for the conference. Please click on the link below.
MOCHA Center – Buffalo Celebrates MOCHA Weekend
The MOCHA Center, Inc. is pleased to announce that MOCHA Center Buffalo is sponsoring and co-sponsoring events for MOCHA Weekend 2011. Please come out and support the MOCHA Center.
