The MOCHA Center, Inc.
Announcements
Job Announcements at the MOCHA Center
***1/18/2012 Update — The Director of Programs and the Health Educator for Rochester positions were filled. The Buffalo position is being redesigned and will be announced shortly.****
The MOCHA Center is pleased to announce three new positions: Director of Programs – Rochester, Health Educator – Rochester, and Health Educator – Buffalo. This search is open from November 18, 2011 – December 2, 2011 @ 5pm Eastern. Please review the application instructions and job descriptions below. All applications must be submitted by email to jobs@mochacenter.org.
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
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.
Unity Through Diversity Summit – October 13-16, 2011
The MOCHA Center is pleased to join In Our Own Voices and the AIDS Institute New York in sponsoring the Unity Through Diversity (UTD) Summit in October. Please visit the UTD Summit Website. Submit an abstract, register for the Summit and see you in October!!!!
Please read the latest newsletter from In Our Own Voices regarding the UTD Summit below or visit their newsletter site for additional updates.
Unity Through Diversity: Living at the Intersections-
National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People of Color Health Summit
October 13-16, 2011
Albany Marriot Hotel Albany, New York
In Our Own Voices is excited to invite you to take part in our first ever National Health Summit aimed at promoting the health and well being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People of Color (LGBT POC). The Summit will feature presentations, workshops, and panel discussions on the importance of meaningful involvement of LGBT POC and vulnerable sub-populations in our communities in policy development and implementation, physical and mental health issues, and on innovative and/or effective interventions and research that address and educate people about the health and well-being of LGBT POC throughout the nation.
REGISTRATION
If you are interested in attending Unity Through Diversity: Living at the Intersections, in Albany, NY on October 13- 16, 2011 please fill out the Registration Application and return it to In Our Own Voices, Inc no later than October 13, 2011.
Special discounts are available for those who register for the Health Summit before September 13, 2011. Please see the form for further details. By registering for the Health Summit, you will be able to access all of the workshops, panel presentations and other activities throughout the weekend.
| Registration Type | Price | Registration Deadline |
| Early Registration | $200.00 | September 13, 2011 |
| Standard Registration | $275.00 | October 13, 2011 |
| One-day Registration (Friday or Saturday only) | $100.00 | October 13, 2011 |
| On-site Registration | $300.00 | After October 13, 2011 |
| Student Registration | $167.00 | October 13, 2011 |
Registration Guidelines
This Registration Form is for entrance to the Health Summit ONLY. Health Summit attendees are expected to make their own travel and lodging arrangements. Information on travelling to Albany and lodging at the host hotel is available here.
Scholarships Are Available NOW!
If you are interested in attending Unity Through Diversity: Shifting Our Focus, the New York State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender People of Color Health Summit in Albany, New York on a scholarship, please complete and submit the required information by: September 13, 2011. Only completed applications will be processed. All information provided on your scholarship application will be treated with confidentiality.
A complete Scholarship application includes:
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All of the required information on the application;
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The questionnaire is answered fully;
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2 letters of reference ;
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Your current resume;
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An essay of approximately 500 words addressing (1) what you hope to gain from participating in Unity through Diversity(2) how the information gained relates to your current work or education; and (3) why you need financial assistance to attend this Summit.
A limited number of full scholarships are available for New York State residents ONLY who lack the sufficient funds needed to participate. Only one full scholarship will be awarded per agency based on availability. The determination for scholarship awards will be based on financial need, geographic distribution, and the transferability of skills gained through attending the summit to the participants’ respective agencies and communities.
A full scholarship includes: registration to the Summit, lodging at the host hotel, and reimbursement for travel expenses. Scholarships are only available to New York State residents.
Scholarship Recipient Requirements:
Scholarship recipients will be required to volunteer 4 hours of their time to help the Summit coordinators. Volunteers are needed on every day of the Summit to ensure that registration, workshops, and all events are coordinated and run smoothly. As a volunteer, you may be asked to take notes in a particular workshop, help to pass out and collect workshop evaluation forms, aid in processing registration forms, or greet other conference attendees as they arrive. Scholarship recipients who do not volunteer a minimum of four hours will have their scholarship revoked and will need to leave the Summit immediately, in addition to paying any costs incurred at the Summit that were previously covered by the scholarship.
Scholarship recipients will be required to attend ALL workshops and events ON TIME. It is expected that scholarship winners will be present for the entire length of the conference, will attend all available workshops and events. Scholarships recipients who are absent from required workshops and events will have their scholarship revoked and will need to leave the Summit immediately, in addition to paying any costs incurred at the Summit that were previously covered by the scholarship.
Applications must be postmarked or received by September 13, 2011. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Applicants will be notified of decisions on or before September 30, 2011.
To fill out the scholarship application, click here.
