Last month we had our annual summer fundraiser! Our goal was to raise $17,000 and we just hit our goal! We couldn’t do this work without you and we are so grateful to every person who donated and/or showed up to support us! It’s never too late to join the Convoy!

We have some exciting news y’all! The laundry trailer for our WashUp Program is ALMOST FINISHED! We are so excited to add this to our program offerings. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for another update!

We got to cater our first wedding ever this past weekend! The wedding was beautiful and we are so blessed to have been a part of the bride and groom’s special day! It went so well y’all. Congratulations to Leia and Patrick! Keep us in mind to cater your next event!

We’re always looking for more volunteers y’all! There are so many things you can do while volunteering with us, like helping with meal services, catering drop offs, running the shower trailer, cleaning, laundry, and even helping out with maintenance around the property! There’s a job for everyone and there’s always more work to be done!

Mary, one of our MSW interns, is graduating this month! She did such great work with FedUp's Thrive therapy program! We want to congratulate her and wish her the best in her career as a social worker! You'll be missed!

Intersectionality occurs when a person has two or more identities that are marginalized, oppressed, or underrepresented, such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. The term intersectionality can be traced back to Sojourner Truth’s time. Sojourner Truth’s iconic “Ain’t I a Woman” speech was groundbreaking in the awareness of the intersectionality between race and gender. To understand intersectionality, you can think about it like chemistry! If we understand the individual elements, or identities, then we can better understand how those elements come together to form compounds, or intersectionalities. It’s important for us to understand marginalized identities such as those of Black people, women, people with disabilities, and more. These identities come together to create unique experiences that often fall through the cracks. We can all work to create diversity and inclusion initiatives that are rooted in intersectionality and aim to develop strategies that uplift the most disadvantaged groups. 

Learn more: https://www.decidediversity.com/intersectionalityawarenessmonth#:~:text=August%20is%20Intersectionality%20Awareness%20Month&text=The%20word%20Intersectionality%20was%20coined,been%20around%20for%20a%20while

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples offers a moment to reflect on the incredible diversity of over 5,000 cultures and an estimated 7,000 languages. Indigenous communities bring unique perspectives and generations of knowledge to addressing many of the challenges facing our planet today.

Despite their rich histories and contributions, Indigenous peoples often remain among the world's most marginalized communities. There's a collective responsibility to foster a more inclusive global society where Indigenous peoples can achieve their aspirations and contribute their expertise. Their input is invaluable in shaping a safer, healthier, more inclusive, and more sustainable world for all.

On this commemorative day, the United States extends best wishes to Indigenous peoples across the world. It's a time to recognize and celebrate their vibrant cultures, languages, and legacies. The continued and lasting contributions of Indigenous peoples to the wellbeing of our planet deserve deep appreciation.

This day serves as a reminder of the importance of Indigenous voices and the need to work together for a more equitable future. It's an opportunity for everyone to learn more about Indigenous cultures and consider how to support and amplify Indigenous perspectives in their communities.

Learn more: 

https://www.state.gov/international-day-of-the-worlds-indigenous-peoples/#:~:text=We%20recognize%20and%20celebrate%20the,the%20wellbeing%20of%20our%20planet. 

https://www.unesco.org/en/international-day-worlds-indigenous-peoples 

https://mindforward.org/2023/08/09/august-9-is-international-day-of-the-worlds-indigenous-people/

August 28th marks the 61st anniversary of the March on Washington, also known as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, when about 250,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. This march aimed to draw attention to the inequalities that Black Americans still faced an entire century after emancipation. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, which would go down as one of the famous orations in history, was delivered at this protest. This protest was successful in pressuring the Kennedy administration to sign into law two federal civil rights bills, which we know today as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Learn more:

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/march-on-washington 

https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/march-washington-jobs-and-freedom#:~:text=The%20march%20was%20successful%20in,I%20Have%20a%20Dream%E2%80%9D%20speech.

International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose and remember those who have died without stigma. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, overdose is the leading cause of death in adults ages 18–45. Overdose can happen anywhere at any time. Let’s remember those we have lost, those who are still here, and recognize the people who are doing the work to prevent overdose fatalities.

How can I help?

• Talk to your workplace about keeping naloxone nasal spray in your first aid kit and train employees in emergency response.
• Learn to spot the signs of an opioid overdose.
• Hear and share stories to spread awareness.

If you or anyone you know is in need of resources, visit the links below for more info. 

Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit: https://store.samhsa.gov/product/overdose-prevention-response-toolkit/pep23-03-00-001 

Resources:

https://www.overdoseday.com/campaign-resources/ 

https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/overdose-awareness-day