Co-directors letter
We asked our co-directors the following; We would like to highlight the news about the mandatory COVID vaccine starting September 1, for all Project Vida employees. We would appreciate it if you and Carol could explain the reasoning behind this important decision to bring understanding to our employees.
It has become necessary for our society to choose between two options. On one side vaccinations against COVID 19 can reduce the number and severity of the illness. On the other hand, we want as much as possible, to allow people to manage their bodies as they see best.
There are arguments on both sides. There are emotions and even threats of violence. There are splits between families and friends. People I love and people whose values and wisdom I count on have decided not to be vaccinated. I cannot agree with their concerns but I still care for them. Until recently I have felt that persuasion and education were best.
However, as the pandemic does not end but continues to devastate, the scientific community teaches us that the vaccine is all we have at the moment to protect and hopefully reduce the tragedy.
At Project Vida, we have woven into our identity the importance of taking seriously the current wisdom about caring for our physical selves. We ask that food eaten at PV or PV functions be as healthy as possible. We encourage exercise, stress reduction, and careful treatment of each other. We have not felt it necessary to create consequences for lapses in these mandates, but the pandemic has brought a more immediate and more dramatic demand for a response.
While we cannot control the decisions of those outside the Project Vida community, we are persuaded that we must ensure the protection of those that work within. Thus, with the advice of our medical staff, we as co-directors and the board have decided we must mandate the vaccine.
If any feel strongly that their work at Project Vida is less helpful to their bodies, they will need to find work elsewhere. We will be sad to see them go.
These have been terrible months, so much suffering. Almost no one can escape being touched by regrets and fears and anger. Even knowing that we will suffer the consequences for generations to come, we yearn to get through this ordeal. It is our hope that the vaccine will enable us to move more smoothly through these months to a time of confidence and wellness.
-Carol Schlesinger
We have all noticed the changes in COVID19 as the Delta Variant has emerged around the country and has been detected in El Paso. Texas hospitals in other metropolitan areas are filling up, and the CDC has recommended that all persons eligible to receive the vaccine do so as soon as possible. Both Carol and I received the vaccine as soon as we were assured we weren’t blocking staff who were actually seeing patients from getting it first.
We have urged staff to get vaccinated. Now we are shifting to requiring vaccination as a condition of employment for those who encounter other staff or patients in any part of their duties.
This is a step that other businesses have taken, but we do not make these decisions lightly or simply copy other agencies.
Project Vida as a whole stands to model healthy behaviors for those we serve. We also stand to care for one another and for our patients and clients. Both these values lead us to this decision. The clear and overwhelming consensus of the health provider community and our own providers is that the vaccine prevents serious illness and death to the vast majority of those who receive it. There is no evidence that the vaccine has any significant side effects beyond those of any other vaccine that is currently required. We need to stand before our community and our patients as those who model what we preach.
We realize that there has been a widespread process of conflicting information spread through social media and other avenues. We also realize that fears and anxieties can lead to a reluctance to act. But we can no longer wait to care for our staff and our community in the face of mounting evidence of the impact of delay.
Project Vida Health Center has ample supplies for those needing vaccinations; there is no charge to receive the vaccine.
Those who have documented medical or religious reasons to avoid vaccines will be able to provide that documentation to the clinic. All others will present evidence of having received the first vaccination by September 1, 2021, and if not receiving the J&J vaccine, of having received the second vaccination by October 1, 2021. The clinic will confirm vaccinations through IMMTRAC, and document the results.
Those not documented to have received the full vaccination will be released from employment for not complying with Project Vida and Project Vida Health Center policies.
-Bill Schlesinger
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Co-directors
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We are getting closer to a new normal
As you will recall, it had been since March 2020 all of our clinics and administration had to decide on closing their doors to the public but not its services. However due to the efforts of vaccinating our staff and the El Paso community we are slowly being able to give our patients the option of continue doing remote consultations or come into the buildings. We are still following guidelines to continue protecting our staff and our patients but are excited to slowly see our staff and patients walking through the halls of the clinic.
Teen Pregnancy Prevention is back in schools
Be You (Project Vida’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention program) is going back to schools! As we get back to our new normal and hopeful that soon it can be normal once again, Be You will be going back into the schools, implementing their curriculum, and continuing their efforts by offering our services. Earlier this year Be You had the challenge of having to momentarily discontinue their implementations in the middle schools, however starting this fall they will be able to implement their curriculum Positive Potential to students in the grade levels, 6th, 7th, 8th. Be You has started implementing Positive Prevention Plus(Triple P), parent Curriculum in Canutillo where they have been successful to have a total of 24 participants thus far.
Teen Wellness Initiative
The Teen Wellness initiative has been working the past three years with our Canutillo Independent School District (CISD), to (mission) has come to the end of their grant this July. The impact that they have done in the community has been impeccable. During the three years that the Teen Wellness Initiative was part of Canutillo, they were able to make an impact by, serving a total of 614 students in the CISD during 2020-2021.
“my experience with the Canutillo district has been very enriching… Students and parents received this curriculum… in such a good way, their engagement and dedication were outstanding. This partnership with Project Vida and Canutillo districts were able to have a positive impact on the community. Look forward to [continuing to provide] services and resources to the community of Canutillo!”
Dental Clinic and Vista College partner
As Project Vida continuously offers opportunities for its employees and the El Paso community to amplify their skills, recently our Dental clinics and Vista college have partnered together to allow upcoming dental assistants students to help them complete their graduation requirements while allowing them to get hands-on experience by receiving real-time feedback from experienced professionals.
El Paso Giving Day 2021
El Paso Giving Day is back! Get ready, October 21, Project Vida will be part of El Paso Giving Day once more. We want to thank everyone for their support and collaboration last year. Because of you, we exceeded our $10,000 goal raising $10,835.30. With this amount, we were able to support some of our programs for us to continue impacting our community of El Paso. This could not have been accomplished without you. This year we have a new challenge. We have increased our goal and will increase our efforts. Stay posted to learn more about this year’s campaign and how you can help reach the new goal.
Bueno para Comer
Don’t know what to cook? Click below to learn the recipe for these delicious Swiss enchiladas without cream.
Rescue Grant Directions
As the organization continues to grow and bring new employment opportunities, it has recently received a new Rescue grant. This grant will allow new employment opportunities for Medical, Dental, Behavioral Health, and Outreach/Wellness. This grant will allow the organization to continue and increase its efforts of COVID vaccination capacity and also in the efforts of building renovating its mobile medical unit.
Micro-Enterprise Technical Assistance Program (MTAP)
MTAP helps low- and moderate-income (LMI) owners of micro-businesses to increase business capacity and profits, retain jobs and create new jobs. However, during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, survival and keeping their doors open was utmost in all small and micro-business owners’ minds.
With nearly $6 million in funding through the City of El Paso’s federal CARES Act grant, MTAP helped over 200 small and micro-businesses survive COVID-19 lockdowns and economic devastation. The “Relief and Recovery” program offered up to $25,000 to eligible small and micro-business applicants. “Go Digital” helped 10 business to obtain their online store for free. . “Build Safe” helped qualifying businesses make changes to help reduce transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
MTAP staff helped 43 small and micro-businesses obtain Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) forgivable loans. Staff also helped 94 businesses submit income tax returns, most of which resulted in refunds for owners.
Las Flautas H&H
Las Flautas H&H is a business that was opened 15 years ago in the City of El Paso. Mrs. Hilda Rios with 20 years of experience in Mexican food preparation decided to open her own business in 2006. Mrs. Rios started by selling Flautas and later decided to amplify her menu and have a variety of Mexican dishes to attract more clients. Technical Assistant, Maria Huitron from Project Vida Economic Development department contacted business owner Mrs. Rios to assist her in growing her business. Technical assistance was given to her in creating a business plan, created financial projections for her business, and gave her advice on how to continue to grow her own business, and how to promote her business on various social media sites. Mrs. Rios also applied for a business loan through Lift Fund and applied for the Dream Makers Loan. After 2 weeks of applying for the Dream Makers Loan Mrs. Rios received a call from Lift Fund to inform her that her application had been approved for $20,000. Mrs. Rios is very excited to receive this loan amount so that she can buy new equipment, material and hire a new employee to continue to grow her business.
Furniture Outlet
Joel Castillo Ayala from Furniture Outlet is very thankful to Project Vida as he has received various services from the Economic Development department. Mr. Castillo Ayala received. technical assistance to start his own business. The client received assistance with creating his Individual taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) number to be able to pay his business taxes by the end of the year. The client was also assisted in applying for the Assumed Name Certificate. Mr. Castillo Ayala was able to open his own business once he obtained his Employment Identification Number (EIN) and obtained his Assumed Name Certificate. The client currently runs a warehouse where he has his merchandise and his business keeps growing successfully. Mr. Castillo Ayala is very thankful to the Project Vida Economic Development department for receiving all of the assistance to open his business. He has received essential knowledge from the business workshops such as Marketing, Accounting, Administration, Merchandising, and Social Media. Technical Assistant, Tania Bustillos also assisted the client in doing his business plan and doing his financial projections. The client was able to apply for the Payroll Protection Program business loan and was approved for $6,258 dollars to buy equipment and merchandise. The client said that without the assistance of Project Vida Business Development, he would not have been able to open his business in such a short time.
Early Childhood
July, canopies were installed in the Early Childhood Center’s playground to protect children from the brutal summer sun. Now the children can enjoy more of the outdoor activities in the summer. The total of $50,000, will now give the Early Childhood Center the opportunity to invest in furnishing and to continue the efforts in making this a place safe, happy, and enjoyable for the kids. Many thanks to an Anonymous Donor for the new playground and the support of the Donor’s representative, HRJ Consulting.
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