Happy summer, Juneteenth & Pride!
We will be sharing Juneteenth content on our Instagram the week of June 19th and Pride-related posts during the week of June 26th, so stay tuned!
For those unfamiliar with Juneteenth's history and traditions, we love Juneteenth.Com
"Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.
Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas, a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing."
Image Description: Two signs are staked in the lawn of our home office. One has a heart shaped rainbow surrounding the words "Hate Has No Home Here" and the other is the progress and intersex-inclusive pride flag.
Upcoming:
Anderson Family Wellness Day
Image Description: The right hand corner of this white banner image contains streaks of the colors yellow, blue and green. The top left has the Parkside Christian Church logo, a small white plant growing on a green circle. The other font reads "Anderson Family Wellness Day" in black font.
Join us at the Anderson Family Wellness Day, Saturday, June 10th at Parkside Christian Church, 9 AM - 2 PM!
Plan to see multiple community resources indoors and out with free health screenings included. They'll have something for everyone to encourage a healthier you!
All ages are welcome to attend this free event.
Survivor Cards will have a booth set up with mental health resources, a card writing station and info on upcoming events!
Have an hour or two to spare?
We are looking for folks who can cover our table in exchange for a paid lunch!
Must be 16+ and we can sign off on volunteer hours!
Tools to Take Care: A Free, Community Self-Care Event
Image Description: A light yellow background has two little groups of dark yellow stars. There are two people doing yoga and meditating with their eyes closed. One has dark skin and short black hair. They are wearing a light yellow tank top and dark yellow yoga pants. The other has light skin, orange hair in a bun and a black tank top and light yellow yoga pants.
Back by popular demand, join Survivor Cards in collaboration with Touch Education for this free, community self-care event where we will learn about yoga, stress and its impact on the body, and self-care strategies, while giving back to local survivors of trauma!
Published author, Matthew Howe, LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist) will guide us through an exploration of our body awareness and shed light on where and how stress affects the body.
Yoga Instructor and LMT, Nicole Howe will lead us in gentle and supportive yoga movement to empower you in your healing process. All experience levels including no experience are welcome!
Afterwards, we will write letters for Survivor Cards' ongoing card drive for survivors of trauma.
There will be a table available with mental health resources, volunteer sign-up and information on upcoming community events!
This event will be capped at 30 attendees, so please RSVP ASAP to reserve your place, as they're filling up fast!
All materials will be provided.
Please consider wearing comfortable clothing.
Ongoing:
Survivor Card Drive Benefitting HUSH No More!
Image Description: A light purple background has black text. There is a teal rectangle overlapping a dark purple rectangle, which contains the deadline date and address to send cards to. The HUSH NO MORE logo is on a white square, with black behind white bold letters spelling HUSH and NO MORE! is written in dark purple. The Survivor Cards logo is also present, with an open white envelope, teal heart seal and "Survivor Cards" written on paper popping out. Join us in this month of June in collecting 200 Survivor Cards for HUSH NO MORE! "Based out of Columbia, South Carolina, HUSH No More is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2019 to provide a platform for Survivors to share their experience with “HUSH Topics” and to receive support from other Survivors and Victim Advocates. They also provide training that raises awareness and prevention in their community. HUSH Topics are those topics that individuals, families, and organizations have a hard time discussing, such as sexual assault, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, sex trafficking, sexual harassment, etc." They serve folks of all genders, ages and backgrounds. Visit their website at www.hushnomore.org to learn more! Deadline is June 30th. Drop off or mail completed cards to Survivor Cards 1004 Brooke Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45230 with individual envelopes open!
Recent:
Forest Hills Foundation for Education 5K
Image Description: A family writes Survivor Cards at our booth at the Forest Hills 5K. They are all wearing black 5K shirts with white and green font and numbered race bibs. The two children are writing cards and applying stickers to them. The child closest to the camera, on the right is wearing a silicone bracelet and pink hat, with their hair worn long. Their mother smiles from behind them at the camera. The child on the left has their hair in a pony tail and a pink heart face painted on their cheek. Their father stands behind them and smiles down at them.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by to see us at our booth at the the Forest Hills Foundation for Education 5K!
We talked to so many people about mental health and trauma, distributed resources, collected cards and volunteer sign-ups!
With your help, we created 20 cards, despite the heat and humidity!
Diversity Book Fairies of Cincinnati
Image Description: The background is at a park with grass and dirt. There are trees. In the foreground is a green and brown Free Little Library full of books. A persons arms can be seen holding books in their hands. The book closest to the camera that can be seen clearly is "Bodies are Cool" by Tyler Feder. On the cover are people with diverse bodies, some are thin, some are fat, some have body hair, some don't, some have prosthetics, or glasses, or vitiligo.
We'd like to introduce you to a new local initiative, perfect for folks who are looking for a way to combine their love of reading, volunteerism and being outdoors!
Diversity Book Fairies of Cincinnati's mission is to get diverse & banned books into the hands of children and families around the Cincinnati area.
Their vision is for everyone who lives in Cincinnati to get the chance to see themselves represented in stories, improve literacy rates, & get diverse books into the hands of those most underserved!
We are happy to announce that we donated $100 worth of K-12 books on consent, boundaries and healthy relationships to their initiative, to distribute across Cincinnati.
If you'd like to learn more about what they're up to, visit their Facebook page!
Event Safety
Image Description: The foreground shows two people's backs who are attending pride. The person on the left is wearing a rainbow headband in their short dark brown hair and they have an asexual pride flag on their back. The person on the right has a white shirt on with rainbow feather wings. They have a pink ribbon tied around their head, with short dirty blonde hair. The ribbon is attached to some sort of crown. They are both looking on at a pride parade.
It's been a tough couple of years for the LGBTQIA+ and Black communities. An increase of hate crimes, violence, shootings and protestors at events has made it difficult for us to enjoy what is supposed to be a safe space.
Here are some tips to keeping safe and practicing self-care as you celebrate this month!
Stay hydrated and bring snacks. No outside food or drink allowed? Eat a meal ahead of time and go ahead and buy the $3 water. Alcohol does not count as water!
Wear sunscreen and reapply often.
Go with a buddy or group, or at least have someone you can check in with. This can also help with social and crowd anxiety.
Practice drug safety and harm reduction! Fentanyl is lethal. Visit Harm Reduction Ohio to get free Narcan and The SOAR Initiative for free Fentanyl test strips. You can also get Narcan at most pharmacies for free or reduced cost if you ask a pharmacist. Both items are legal in the state of Ohio to carry.
Warning: Don't leave Narcan in your hot car, it needs to be on your person to be used and extreme heat can make it less effective. It also only works for 30 minutes before the effects reverse, so you MUST seek medical attention for the person who overdosed.
Understand active shooter danger and safety tips. Note your surroundings. You don't need to constantly look around, but glance and note where exits, windows, fire escape routes and open businesses or bathrooms are. Are there walls? Tables?
Experts recommend the "run, hide, fight" protocol in that order and priority. If you can't escape, find a place to hide. If you can't hide, look for potential self-defense weapons; chairs, scissors, fire extinguishers, anything heavy and able to strike. Be loud and assertive. Work in a group if possible.
Have a plan for when you leave. Establish a meeting point with your buds, get a head count and have transportation set up.
Plan to drink? Have a designated driver or take an Uber.
Lastly, if the idea of going to a large pride event is making you uncomfortable or anxious, consider hosting a small event with some friends! You don't have to go to a corporate or large event to have a good time.
Personally, I don't bode well with lots of sunlight, crowds and noise, so I'm having a smaller get-together at my house! Consider a low-key BBQ or pride party.
Mental Health & Self-Care During Pride
Image Description: Two hands are seen, one hand is gently holding the other. There is a rainbow shining in through an unseen window and it casts its reflection onto the hands. Under the hands is a wooden table. Pride month is a time of joy for many, but can also leave folks feeling judged, speculated or under pressure by those inside and outside the community. Please know that you and your well-being come first this month and every month of the year. You are important, valid and loved this day and every day, whether you're in the closet or out, comfortable in your skin or on your way. We love this article by Kirtika Katira on Cultivating Self-Care and Emotional Well-Being in the LGBTQ+ Community! We'd also love to share our favorite hotlines for the LGBTQIA+ community: Trans Lifeline which is ran by trans people for trans people and operates 24/7 - US 877-565-8860 and CAN 877-330-6366. They will not send emergency services or law enforcement without your expressed consent. Trevor Project - 24/7 hotline, text line and online chat for LGBTQIA+ youth, whether they are struggling with issues such as coming out, identity, depression or suicide. Please note: Trevor Project crisis counselors are required by policy to send emergency services when imminent harm is determined.
Text "START" to 678-678
Call 1-866-488-7386
Visit this link to connect with their online chat
You, Your Psych Meds & The Sun
Image Description: A young woman wearing a green striped bikini pulls her sun hat over her eyes. The sun is bright behind her. She smiles, but squints her eyes.
Summer is officially here, which means barbeques, beaches, Pride festivities, and lots and lots of sunlight and heat!
Did you know that certain medications, especially many psychiatric medications can increase your photosensitivity (aka increase your sensitivity to the sun)?
There are two kinds of photosensitivity: photoallergy and phototoxicity.
From the FDA, "Photoallergy is an allergic reaction of the skin and may not occur until several days after sun exposure. Phototoxicity, which is more common, is an irritation of the skin and can occur within a few hours of sun exposure. Both types of photosensitivity occur after exposure to ultraviolet light – either natural sunlight or artificial light, such as a tanning booth."
Some symptoms of too much sun exposure can include: sunburn, nausea, headaches and migraines, irritability, redness, itching, inflammation, brown or blue-gray discoloration of the skin that has been exposed, extreme thirst, and feeling warm from the inside out.
In addition, repeat exposure to too much UV can increase your likelihood to develop skin cancer or have future allergic reactions, so be sure to check your medication for sun-interactions.
How can you prevent these reactions?
Stay hydrated.
When outside, seek shade, especially between 10 AM - 4 PM.
Keep in mind that the sun's rays are stronger when reflected off water and sand.
Wear long sleeved shirts, pants, sunglasses and broad-brimmed hats.
Use a broad sunscreen regularly and reapply when needed!
Lastly, talk to your prescribing doctor if you have any questions about medications you are on and their potential interactions with the sun.
As always, thank you for reading and being here!
If you'd like to receive these monthly communications straight to your email, simply visit our website, scroll to the bottom and enter your e-mail address!
Have a safe & wonderful month of June!
If you'd like to get in touch, please email us at survivorcards@gmail.com
-Alyson Wick, Founder of Survivor Cards, Hot Girls Walking and Diversity Book Fairies of Cincinnati
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