Co-directors letter
We asked our co-director Bill Schlesinger the following; After reading tom fenton’s piece for el paso inc on June 6, Why did you feel so strongly about it that motivated you to write a letter responding to his original piece?
On June 6th, Tom Fenton wrote an editorial piece that talked about three 13 year-old boys who had a federal complaint filed against them for sexual harassment. The complaint said that they failed to use the proper pronoun when referring to one of their classmates who had said wanted to be referred to as them instead of she. Fenton expressed his disagreement with the situation saying that:
“This is absurd on so many levels. You can start with free speech. Do you think “them” could demonstrate any actual damage? Absent some kind of violent crime, no child that young should be facing a federal investigation. You can bet the “them” that brought the case has turned “themself” into the school pariah. And probably “them’s” parents too” Fenton said.
Fenton also went on to discuss the people who he referred to as ‘wokies.’ People who don’t why away from sharing what they think or are feeling. He said that “it apparently has not occurred to wokies that nobody is perfect. “
Click here to read the full piece.
These are some of the points Bill made when he replied to Fenton’s piece:
“Mr. Fenton goes on to characterize those who seek to change perceptions as ‘wokies.’ Using terms such as this does not move towards healing, but provokes and justifies a disregard for seeing and addressing the real underlying issues in favor of picking sides and playing a blame game.”
“It is true that we risk overreaction, but that is a part of a whole, not the primary risk in changing how marginalized people are treated. Mr. Fenton occupies a strong and powerful position in our community. I would ask him to reflect on how to use that position for all of us, that we might find ways to see and hear the complexities we face together and respond in ways that build a sustainable future for everyone. “
This was bill’s answer to our question:
“Generally, I don’t try to respond to all the discussions that are around us. However, I’ve respected Tom Fenton for many years, and feel that the El Paso Inc. performs a valuable service in the business community. It is local, and locally driven. While the issues raised have been nationally recognized, I believe that El Paso has maintained a generally welcoming and inclusive stance without marginalizing anyone. I thought that responding was worth doing in this environment.”
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Best Buy Teen Tech
Come and visit the Best Buy Teen Tech Center at the Administrative building on the first floor. Take advantage of the services they have and learn how to use a Cricut, record a podcast and more. There is a lot for you to do and learn. The center is open for any employee interested.
Fort Bliss Immigration Assistance Program
Since November of 2021, the oral health program at Project Vida Health Center has been providing emergency dental care to children in the Fort Bliss Office of Refugee Resettlement Program (ORR). The ORR helps unaccompanied migrant children who come to the US reunify with family here in the country. They provide medical, dental, daily care, as well as education to these minors.
Caries rates, education levels, and environmental determinants of health vary greatly among the children from the ORR. The children are often from countries and regions with inadequate access to preventative dental care. To accommodate the large volume of patients requiring emergency same-day treatment, Project Vida Health Center has expanded dental services from four to five days per week and is now open Monday thru Friday. At no cost to the children or their families, PVHC has made special arrangements for scheduling, lab processing, referrals and patient follow-up. This ensures that treatment is completed before the child is relocated.
Although they are temporary residents, we see these kids as a valuable part of our community. And with the help of PVHC and the ORR, they can spread Project Vida’s message of quality and care through their smiles from all corners of the country. More information about the Office of Refugee Resettlement can be found at: www.acf.hhs.gov
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The Best Buy Teen Tech Center in the news!
On July 15 and 16 of 2022 the Best Buy Teen Tech Center (BBTTC) hosted the 2022 Teen Summit.
The BBTTC at Family Services of San Antonio, TX joined at Project Vida for this year’s Teen Summit. This year’s summit focus was on robotics.
As an international program, the BBTTC has a wide variety of networking events that help the program with new areas to work at. Currently the BBTTC focuses more on the art side of the technology, which is why this summit was a good opportunity for them.
REACH CAMPAIGN
For the past few months Project Vida has been working along UTEP professor Dr. Paat on a campaign titled We Are El Paso as part of a REACH grant. This campaign focuses on increasing awareness of hate crimes, how to prevent them, and providing resources that can help people who experience them. It also encourages people to be more empathetic and to recognize the diversity that the city of El Paso has.
REMEMBER TO SHARE THE VIDEO ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND Help us spread EMPATHY IN OUR CITY!!
Project Vida Awarded the APEX 2022 Award
The communications team at Project Vida was awarded the APEX 2022 Award of Excellence in Electronic Media - Video Media. This was for the 30 years of Project Vida video.
NEW PROJECT VIDA CLINIC
Plans for Project Vida Health Center’s newest clinic in Near Northeast El Paso are well underway, with design having been completed and a city permit application under review.
In 2021, Project Vida acquired property located on Dyer Street, in the 4300 block near the Cassidy entrance to Fort Bliss. An abandoned nightclub will be demolished to make way for a community health center that will provide medical and behavioral health services to an underserved neighborhood. The project is also a joint venture with Genoa Healthcare® which will operate a retail pharmacy within the clinic open to the public as well as Project Vida patients.
Project Vida’s architectural team, PSRBB Architects, designed a new 4,400 square feet structure that will provide medical, behavioral health care management and health education services. The building will include a waiting room, 2 triage rooms, a laboratory, a vaccination room, 7 exam rooms, 3 counseling and therapy rooms, a break room, a nurse’s station, a reception area, and a health education classroom.
Bids are expected to be solicited in August, with contractor selection and start of construction anticipated for early October. The clinic should be ready to accept new patients by late spring of next year.
The project is funded in part by a capital grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
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