Over the river and through the woods to read another posting from CorneliusOnpoint we go! The clock is ticking and this forum is in a mad dash to get it all posted before we break for the holiday. It fast and furious from the keyboard with updates, late breaking news and so much more. It's COP 24/7 keeping it funky fresh and More!
The ADH, CPG and COP 24/7 Spin Down
Can you say "Winning!" Just yesterday we had scheduled a post concerning the mash up concerning a proposed purchase by the local Community Planning Group which voted to utilize a periodical created by The Living Affected Corporation through it's The HIV Plus program. Earlier this week, the groups decision appeared to be deterred through additional "red tape," but by Thursday at 12:00 noon it seems that there was an about face decision was circulated from Section Chief, Tina L. noting that the purchase of the books would take place as originally scheduled. COP 24/7 entered the frey after listening to the(12/9) proceedings and expressed our dismay at the then action. In the e-mail follow up from Long she cites that their had been a review of the recommendation. In full disclosure, COP 24/7 is reprinting her entire response.
The response is adequate but begs the question if their were questions about " appropriate conflict and procurement provisions" at play then why wasn't that angle brought to the table for discussion before their was a vote? Furthermore, why wasn't this mentioned during the abrupt notification to The Living Affected Corporation which was already ramping up production? All of this could have most likely been avoided if all due diligence concerning this purchase had been done prior to the meeting. In the aftermath of this hiccup, dare we suggest that there be a clear and concise understanding of relationship of ADH and the CPG to thwart any future debacles from possible decisions. COP 24/7 is proud to have led the charge in speaking to power and seeking resolutions. This forum has always encouraged and promoted that "you" can be apart of the change that you wish to see. Don't under estimate the power of "one." The book "Our Lives, Our Stories," will be available in early 2012 and will be utilized by area agencies and programs providing HIV/AIDS prevention work. The LA Corp program, The HIV Plus Club allowed HIV/AIDS infected women to create a safe zone to interact and discuss their lives within a social context. The women shared their stories of living and loving after their diagnosis. The book also contains a resource guide with contact information to local providers, health care experts and community resources. Additional copies will be made available for purchase. To secure a copy contact: infor@lacorponline.org or call 1.877.902.7HIV
A COP 24/7 Special
Melissa Harris-Perry must be busy. A professor of political science at Tulane University, a columnist for The Nation, and frequent guest and host on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow show, she has spent the last few months giving interviews—on everything from her take on the new movie The Help to her politics—in conjunction with the release of her new book Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America.
In the last several weeks, Sister Citizen has been raved about by Feministing; Executive Editor Samhita Mukhopadhyay called it “a much needed intervention to the ways that black women are talked about in the mainstream media”, and The Root, who recently ranked Harris-Perry #15 on their list of influential African Americans. In a review in the Washington Post, Gwen Ifill commented on Harris-Perry’s use of “a social scientist’s rigor” in covering “an important new front in America’s continuing battles over black and white.”
The heart of Sister Citizen is Harris-Perry’s “Crooked Room” thesis, which states that black women are so defined by stereotypes that it is extremely difficult them to orient themselves in political discourse. She specifically treats the stereotypes of the promiscuous Jezebel, the nurturing Mammy, and the angry Sapphire, who is characterized as irrationally irate. Harris-Perry balances these against the myth of the strong black woman, which, she argues, can be empowering, but also limiting in its own way.
For a description of the unique blend of literature and social science methodologies Harris-Perry employs in Sister Citizen, read this Q&A with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and from an earlier post on the Yale Press Log, an explanation of how Harris-Perry decided a pure political science approach could not fully capture her theme. Instead of focusing only on charts and numbers, she complements her social science research with interviews with black women and texts such as Their Eyes Were Watching God in order to delve into the weighty emotional effects of the crooked room in which today’s Sister Citizen finds herself.
Read a free excerpt from the book, discussing the “Crooked Room” and why it can be so hard to stand up straight when your surroundings are tilted by your own perceptions and those of others.
The ADH, CPG and COP 24/7 Spin Down
Can you say "Winning!" Just yesterday we had scheduled a post concerning the mash up concerning a proposed purchase by the local Community Planning Group which voted to utilize a periodical created by The Living Affected Corporation through it's The HIV Plus program. Earlier this week, the groups decision appeared to be deterred through additional "red tape," but by Thursday at 12:00 noon it seems that there was an about face decision was circulated from Section Chief, Tina L. noting that the purchase of the books would take place as originally scheduled. COP 24/7 entered the frey after listening to the(12/9) proceedings and expressed our dismay at the then action. In the e-mail follow up from Long she cites that their had been a review of the recommendation. In full disclosure, COP 24/7 is reprinting her entire response.
Dear CPG members,
Because “Our Lives, Our Experience” contains copyrighted material, it will not be possible for the ADH to produce these materials without permission of the copyright holders. Consequently, the ADH leadership has reviewed the appropriate conflict and procurement provisions of state law and concluded that the purchase of these books as recommended by the CPG would not be a violation of state law. We have also discussed this issue with our CDC Project Officer and are not aware at this time of any federal laws or guidelines that would prohibit this purchase. Although we may receive additional input from CDC at a later date, the ADH leadership has decided to move forward with the purchase, based on the strong recommendation of the CPG.
Tina
Tina Long, MS, CHES
Section Chief | HIV/STD/Hep C Section
Arkansas Department of Health
4815 West Markham, Slot 33
Little Rock, AR 72205
O: 501-661-2155
The response is adequate but begs the question if their were questions about " appropriate conflict and procurement provisions" at play then why wasn't that angle brought to the table for discussion before their was a vote? Furthermore, why wasn't this mentioned during the abrupt notification to The Living Affected Corporation which was already ramping up production? All of this could have most likely been avoided if all due diligence concerning this purchase had been done prior to the meeting. In the aftermath of this hiccup, dare we suggest that there be a clear and concise understanding of relationship of ADH and the CPG to thwart any future debacles from possible decisions. COP 24/7 is proud to have led the charge in speaking to power and seeking resolutions. This forum has always encouraged and promoted that "you" can be apart of the change that you wish to see. Don't under estimate the power of "one." The book "Our Lives, Our Stories," will be available in early 2012 and will be utilized by area agencies and programs providing HIV/AIDS prevention work. The LA Corp program, The HIV Plus Club allowed HIV/AIDS infected women to create a safe zone to interact and discuss their lives within a social context. The women shared their stories of living and loving after their diagnosis. The book also contains a resource guide with contact information to local providers, health care experts and community resources. Additional copies will be made available for purchase. To secure a copy contact: infor@lacorponline.org or call 1.877.902.7HIV
A COP 24/7 Special
Free “Crooked Room” Excerpt from Melissa Harris-Perry’s Sister Citizen
Melissa Harris-Perry must be busy. A professor of political science at Tulane University, a columnist for The Nation, and frequent guest and host on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow show, she has spent the last few months giving interviews—on everything from her take on the new movie The Help to her politics—in conjunction with the release of her new book Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America.In the last several weeks, Sister Citizen has been raved about by Feministing; Executive Editor Samhita Mukhopadhyay called it “a much needed intervention to the ways that black women are talked about in the mainstream media”, and The Root, who recently ranked Harris-Perry #15 on their list of influential African Americans. In a review in the Washington Post, Gwen Ifill commented on Harris-Perry’s use of “a social scientist’s rigor” in covering “an important new front in America’s continuing battles over black and white.”
The heart of Sister Citizen is Harris-Perry’s “Crooked Room” thesis, which states that black women are so defined by stereotypes that it is extremely difficult them to orient themselves in political discourse. She specifically treats the stereotypes of the promiscuous Jezebel, the nurturing Mammy, and the angry Sapphire, who is characterized as irrationally irate. Harris-Perry balances these against the myth of the strong black woman, which, she argues, can be empowering, but also limiting in its own way.
For a description of the unique blend of literature and social science methodologies Harris-Perry employs in Sister Citizen, read this Q&A with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and from an earlier post on the Yale Press Log, an explanation of how Harris-Perry decided a pure political science approach could not fully capture her theme. Instead of focusing only on charts and numbers, she complements her social science research with interviews with black women and texts such as Their Eyes Were Watching God in order to delve into the weighty emotional effects of the crooked room in which today’s Sister Citizen finds herself.
Read a free excerpt from the book, discussing the “Crooked Room” and why it can be so hard to stand up straight when your surroundings are tilted by your own perceptions and those of others.
1 comment:
Dear COP/24/7
I think this is a win/win situation for everybody. I believe this is a golden opportunity for LACorp and supporting staff to increase public's trust and remove any suspicions regarding the operation of the organization by fully disclosing the financial operations of the organization. It is my hope that they take advantage of this opportunity. In the best interest of transparency and removeal of all doubt about the motive of this purchase, can you put forth a request to LACorp to release financial documents to you for public viewing or make them available on the website? First, this would erase any motives about the purchase of the book and secondly, create a paper trail of all financial proceedings to follow. I believe LACorp has a responsibility to its serving public to demonstrate that fundings received via state and federal funds in the name of HIV/AIDS are appropriately applied. As you have also implied in some of your previous postings; you expect the same disclosure of other similar organizations. This is a friendly request before other avenues are pursued.
This comment is in regards to the book purchase and controversy surrounding the issue. I did not see a comment box relating to the article; so I am posting it here.
Concerned Public Citizen
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