The GLBT Historical Society will open its new exhibit, "API Family Wall of Pride" with a reception Friday, January 19, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at its museum, 4127 18th Street in the LGBTQ Castro neighborhood.
Curated in collaboration with Asian and Pacific Islander Family Pride, the exhibition invites visitors to dive into stories from parents and families who, through their courage and faith, reclaimed the strong family ties and proud sense of interdependence so characteristic of API families, an announcement stated.
The exhibit showcases stories of pride and acceptance from a diverse array of families, the historical society noted. The Wall of Pride honors parents and families who unconditionally love their children regardless of social stigma.
The reception will include remarks and refreshments. The historical society no longer requires proof of COVID vaccination to enter the museum, but masks are encouraged and will be made available to guests at check-in.
Tickets for the event are free for historical society members and $10 for non-members. To reserve a ticket, click here.
Oakland LGBTQ center seeks board members
The Oakland LGBTQ Community Center has openings on its board of directors and interested people can apply.
According to an item in its newsletter, the center's leadership team is recruiting "outstanding, committed individuals" to serve on the center's all-volunteer board.
Those interested should email a cover letter and resume to center co-founder and board President Jeff Myers at [email protected]
Scholarship deadline approaches for AIDS 2024
Applications for scholarships for AIDS 2024 are due soon, organizers said. The International AIDS Society's 25th conference takes place in Munich, Germany and virtually July 22-26.
People who will be at least 18 years old on July 20 and working, volunteering, or studying in the area of HIV are eligible to apply for a scholarship, an IAS news release stated.
The scholarship program offers support to people from around the world to attend the pre-conference and AIDS 2024 in person or virtually. The program is intended for individuals who would otherwise not have the financial means to attend, the release stated.
The deadline to apply is Tuesday, January 23.
For more information about this and other types of financial support, including a limited number of media scholarships, click here.
Jack London park's young writers contest opens
Jack London State Historic Park in Sonoma County has announced that science fiction is the theme of this year's ninth annual young writers contest, which is now open.
The announcement was made January 12, the 148th birthday of the park's namesake.
London is most famous for writing adventure stories but he also dabbled in science fiction, a news release stated. With stories like "Before Adam," "Star Rover," and "The Scarlet Plague," London explored themes like multiple dimensions, time travel, and post-apocalyptic societies.
Students entering this year's contest are instructed to write a short story involving a mysterious portal into a parallel universe.
The contest encourages middle school students (grades six-eight) to exercise their writing skills by creating an original 1,500-2,000-word story inspired by the works of Jack London.
The prizes are $200 for first place, $150 for second place, and $100 for third place. The contest is judged blindly by a panel of volunteers (not employees of Jack London Park Partners, the nonprofit that manages the park).
"Even 148 years after his birth, Jack London still has much in common with the young writers of today — imagination, curiosity, creativity," stated Matt Leffert, executive director of Jack London State Historic Park.
The contest closes at 11:59 p.m. on March 31, and winners will be announced by May 1.
Complete contest rules and the entry form are available here. Links to the 2023 winning entries are also available there.
East Bay park district marks 90 years
The East Bay Regional Park District is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Over the decades, the park district has grown to be the largest regional park district of its kind in the nation, with 73 regional parks available for hiking, biking, swimming, horseback riding, boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, and nature discovery, a news release stated.
The park district manages over 125,000 acres of parklands, 55 miles of shoreline, and more than 1,300 miles of trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
"Join us in celebrating the park district's 90 years of milestones and history of environmental conservation and positive experiences in nature," stated park district general manager Sabrina Landreth. "We invite the public to enjoy their regional parks and shorelines and celebrate with us throughout the year at events and programs commemorating our 90 years of service to the community."
The East Bay Regional Park District's story began in the late 1920s when thousands of acres of watershed land in the East Bay Hills suddenly became available for development. Civic leaders came together with a vision: preserve the land forever, and balance environmental conservation with public enjoyment, the release noted.
To aid the cause, they enlisted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and the National Park Service's chief naturalist Ansel Hall to survey the watershed lands for potential park use. The resulting 1930 Olmsted-Hall report titled "Report on Proposed Park Reservations for East Bay Cities" brought national credibility to the effort and is largely considered the founding document of the East Bay Regional Park District.
Four years later, in the heart of the Great Depression, civic leaders placed a measure on the ballot to establish the park district and tax themselves for land preservation. The measure passed on November 6, 1934, by a resounding 71% — even during trying times and economic instability. On June 4, 1936, the district purchased land from the East Bay Municipal Utility District to create its first three parks — Upper Wildcat Canyon (Tilden), Temescal, and Roundtop (Sibley).
Events and programs celebrating the park district's 90th anniversary include a community birthday celebration Saturday, May 11, and monthly naturalist-led "Explore Your Parks" adventure programs, among others. Additional events and programs will be announced throughout the year.
For more information about the park district's 90th anniversary, including events and activities, visit www.ebparks.org/celebrating-90-years.
Never miss a story! Keep up to date on the latest news, arts, politics, entertainment, and nightlife. Sign up for the Bay Area Reporter's free weekday email newsletter. You'll receive our newsletters and special offers from our community partners.
Support California's largest LGBTQ newsroom. Your one-time, monthly, or annual contribution advocates for LGBTQ communities. Amplify a trusted voice providing news, information, and cultural coverage to all members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay -- Donate today!