HealthRIGHT 360 and Lyon-Martin Health Services Welcome New Partnership
HealthRIGHT 360 recently announced that a proposed merger with Lyon-Martin Health Services is moving forward, following unanimous votes by the boards of both organizations in support of the partnership. Discussions have been ongoing since an announcement was made and published in the Bay Times outlining a vision for joining the two community health organizations. Since then, the alliance has been widely hailed as a positive step for both organizations, providing a pathway to sustainability for Lyon-Martin, which will maintain its name and identity, while presenting clients and patients with new opportunities for broader access to specialized medical care and behavioral treatment.
HealthRIGHT 360 CEO Dr. Vitka Eisen will lead the merged organization. “I am thrilled to welcome a shared future for HealthRIGHT 360 and Lyon-Martin Health Services,” said Dr. Eisen. “This partnership will benefit our clients who want the specialized services for women and LGBTQ individuals that Lyon-Martin offers, and we look forward to providing expanded behavioral health treatment options for the Lyon- Martin community.”
Lyon-Martin Board Chair Dr. Marj Plumb has been a leader in this effort to craft a long-term solution. After the board meeting Dr. Plumb said, “Last night’s unanimous vote is a reflection of the thorough due diligence conducted by both organizations, the openness and transparency of our discussions, as well as the simple fact that this merger just makes good sense. We are excited to usher in a stable, bright future for Lyon-Martin.”
HealthRIGHT 360 is completing construction on a new medical clinic in Los Angeles, and the specialized approach to care that Lyon-Martin has developed over the last 35 years will inform and expand the ability to provide culturally competent care at this new Sixth Street location. HealthRIGHT 360 currently provides the only residential recovery program for transgender individuals in California.
Completion of the merger is expected by the end of the year. Lyon-Martin Health Services will remain at its current location, where it will operate as “Lyon-Martin Health Services, a Program of HealthRIGHT 360.”
MCC-CP-USA-CCOP Collaborate on Pre-Pride Self-Defense Seminar
The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), Community Patrol USA (CP-USA) and Castro Community On Patrol (CCOP) will once again collaborate to present a community Self-Defense seminar on Saturday, June 21, from 12:30pm to 5pm at the Metropolitan Community Church, 150 Eureka Street in the heart of the Castro.
“Safety awareness is vital,” said Ken Craig, a Grand Master ranked martial artist who will lead the seminar and who also serves as Chief of CP-USA. Craig is also one of the original founders and serves as Deputy Chief of CCOP. Their motto states, “Safety is a Community Effort.”
“With a huge influx of visitors to the City and the Castro neighborhood during this fun weekend, a little more awareness can go a long, long way to ensuring that Pride Weekend is the fun and memorable couple of days it should be—for all of the right reasons.”
The seminar is fun, low impact and suitable for absolutely anyone. It will provide some simple thought process and ideas to help people recognize and avoid potential trouble, de-escalate and walk away from sticky situations and, in a worst-case scenario, hopefully provide a few simple techniques that anyone can use to help them escape trouble, said Craig.
The seminar will be held in the MCC sanctuary with a recommended minimum donation of $25. However, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. As the sanctuary is limited in space, attendee spaces will also be limited, so pre-registering directly with MCC through their web site, mccsf.org, is strongly recommended.
Story by Dennis McMillan
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