After School Care

(Posted By Grant)

I am a father of an 8 year old boy. I found out 2 weeks ago his after school care program is moving and his school will not service the new location.

Do any of you have suggestions for after school programs in the city? Is there a nanny share service or agency that will transport children from school to after school? I work full time and single so I do not have a partner that can transport him during the day and my schedule is not flexible.

He currently goes to public school at Alvarado.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Budget Cuts

I just read an article in the SF Chronicle about the Governor's sweeping cuts to HIV/AIDS services, healthy families, and the child welfare department - not to mention the potential loss of 100 state parks and other cuts.

The impacts of these budget cuts will be felt by our families for years to come. No matter the make-up of your family, the effects will be real and hurtful to your or someone you love.

I am not an expert on the budget. I only know what my gut tells me - and that is that our budget is being balanced on the backs of those least able to take its weight. Is this the legacy we wish to leave for our children?

There are no easy solutions and money does not grow on trees. I inderstand that; but it still angers and worries me - as a parent, as a Queer person, as a community member. I wish I had solutions. The only solution I do know is to try to raise our child as a compassionate person who thinks as well of others as she does of herself.

(posted by Shelli)

Your Help Needed in Alameda on Monday

Dear OFC Friends,

LGBTQ families of the Alameda Unified School District need your help! On Tuesday May 12th the AUSD held a public hearing on the proposed supplemental adoption of Safe Schools Curriculum Addressing Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

Although many from our community came out in support of the inclusive curriculum, we were outnumbered by those opposed. Because there were 175 speakers requesting to speak, a continuation hearing has been scheduled for MONDAY May 18th at Kofman Auditorium at 6:30pm. For more information on the safe schools curriculum please go tohttp://www.mikemcmahon.info/LGBTCurriculum.htm

How Can You Help?

1. Write an email letter of support to the Board of Education. For a list of email addresses go to www.alameda.k12.ca.us

2. Join the C.A.R.E community. A website in support of the curriculum called Alameda Community Alliance Resource for Education (CARE) www.alamedacare.org

3. Attend Monday May 18th 5:00pm a peaceful vigil in front of Kofman Auditorium 2200 Central Ave at Oak Street in Alameda. Wear bright tee shirts, pick a color of the rainbow and wear your rainbow ribbons! Bring your signs with positive messages!

4. Attend Monday May 18th 6:30 pm the Board of Education public hearing held in Kofman Auditorium. The PRESENCE of supporters in large numbers is critical.

Help keep ALL of our children safe!

Sincerely,

Lisa Orduno-Arcia
Community Program Director
Our Family Coalition

A family place to eat on Tuesdays

-From Kevin

Family Night Reinvigorated!

"Come join Supervisor Bevan Dufty and his daughter Sidney and Kevin Wakelin and his daughter Hana at the Castro's Squat & Gobble restaurant for Family Night! This tradition is being reinvigorated so that we can keep in touch with other gay moms, dads and their kids. The only information you need to know is to join us every Tuesday evening at 600pm at Squatt & Gobble located at Market/16th Street. Please spread the word amongst all your LGBT mom's and dads. We look forward to seeing you all there, starting this Tuesday May 12, 2009 at 600pm. For more info please email kevin@VITALITY-sf.com

Handling gifts that don't reflect our values

How do you handle a situation in which a casual acquaintance (who is not aware of your views regarding appropriate toys for your child) gives a gift that conflicts with your ideas regarding an appropriate toy for your child(ren)? A neighbor recently gave my twins a set of toy guns for a gift. We don’t allow toy weapons of any kind so I quietly re-packaged the gift and donated it. Fortunately, the boys are still young enough that they forgot about the gift and never noticed its absence. I’m curious if any other parents have experienced a similar situation and how did you handle it? Did you say something to the casual acquaintance or did you just let it go? Did you let the kid(s) keep it?

Thanks,

Kendall