“I have a dream …” January 2014 Bridging San Francisco communities through nonprofit services AAACC endeavors to build Western Addition cohesion By Jennie Butler very neighborhood needs a Ethird place where both young and old can grow and connect with the community. In the Western Addition, there is an institution where everyone is given the oppor- tunity to better themselves through art and education. The African American Art and AAACC Executive Director Culture Complex — AAACC — is a Kimberly Hayes — pages 1, 10 social and cultural core for African Americans in the Western Addition and neighboring communities. The complex is a 30,000-square-foot facility with art, dance and produc- tion studios, event rooms, gallery space, and a 203-seat performing arts theatre. Exhibitions from local artists, ongoing special events, and free or low-cost programs for adults and youth are featured regularly. AAACC promotes constructive community change by providing access to Afrocentric visual, interac- Martial arts instructor Jim Larkin with students during a training session. Photo by Jennie Butler. SDA Executive Director tive and performing art. The com- Jessica Lehman — pages 1, 12 plex is home to several respected “We have so much potential,” youth and African American talent Bay Area performing arts organiza- Hayes said about the complex. and cultural expression. tions and resident art associations. “I am working hard to establish AAACC’s after-school programs After London Breed was elected some robust programming here. provide youths with a place that District 5 Supervisor in November I want this place to be bustling is alternative to school and the 2012, Executive Director Kimberly with events, and I want there to be home where they can discover their Hayes currently leads AAACC things going on all the time.” strengths and build relationships toward her vision of a dynamic, with their peers. The programs are artistic, and Afrocentric destination In her capacity as the executive interactive, and participants ben- for not just the surrounding com- director, Hayes plans to bring in munity, but for all of San Francisco. more programming that showcases continued on page 10 5 Keys Executive Director Seniors are active! They labor to solve social issues Steve Good — page 4 Contents SF News Briefs 3 Neighborhood News 7 Community Voices 8-9 MarketPlace 12 Cedric Moore Publisher Gretchen Quandt Editor Joe D'Arcy Designer Ivonne Calderon Designer Writers Lindsay Adams, Jennie Butler, SDA members, many of whom have been actively volunteering for 20 years or more for the organization, which was previously Sam Felsing, Thomas Figg- known as the Senior Action Network. Photo by Breana Rae Flores. Hoblyn, Julie McCoy Photographers By Julie McCoy with Planning for Elders in the organization in addition to a senior Jennie Butler, Leland Fox, Central City — PECC. organization? We’re trying to edu- an Francisco-based Senior and Mike Griffin, Claire Kirschner SDisability Action — SDA — is an SDA’s goals include empow- cate ourselves on the disabled and Columnists organization that works to improve ering, organizing and educating the history of the disability com- London Breed, Midgett, the lives of seniors and people with seniors and people with disabilities munity.” to take action on a variety of issues, Erik Peper, Ph.D. disabilities and to fight for their SDA has a computer lab and rights. It ensures that these groups including housing, healthcare, pub- provides a computer training pro- of people are valued and that their lic transportation and pedestrian gram though which seniors and The Western Edition now voices are heard in the local com- safety. Both groups are underserved publishes quarterly. The next munity. in the local community. people with disabilities can learn issue will be in April 2014. how to do such things as set up View the newspaper online, Located in Suite 400 at 1360 Executive Director Jessica an email account and use email, www.thewesternedition.com Mission St., SDA was formed in Lehman said, “We’re in the process Lehman added. September 2012 when the Senior right now of trying to figure out — Action Network — SAN — merged what does it mean to be a disability continued on page 12 2 JANUARY 2014 | WESTERN EDITION Health and Wellness “There is hope — just do it!” By Erik Peper, Ph.D. which facilitates awareness. 5. Imagine as he exhaled standing, sitting, and talking to − Practicing during the day feeling heaviness and other students. As he stated: “I hat I was able to self-heal stress management skills. warmth in his arms and hadn’t realized how my collaps- myself. I didn't need any- “T feet. ing posture was effecting my self- one else to do it for me.” − Sharing subjective experi- ences in small groups, which 6. Talk to his body by say- image until I began practicing a “I was surprised that I actual- reduces social isolation, nor- ing, “My skin is cool, more powerful posture. In class ly succeeded and had some really malizes experiences and clear, and regenerative; I I made myself sit with my butt great results.” encourages hope. Usually, a am worthy.” pushed back against the back of “How much control I really few students will report rapid the chair instead of letting myself Most of the time, just to stop had over being able to change benefits such as aborting a slide forwarding into a slouch. was extremely difficult. The stu- several of my habits, when I headache, being able to fall dent had to stop focusing on the “Just like the urge to itch previously thought that it was asleep, or reducing menstrual task in front of him and to put all I had to stay conscious of my impossible.” cramps, which helps moti- vate other students to con- of his energy into regaining his posture constantly. At work, at “That I actually have con- tinue their practices, such composure. This is very challeng- school, even at home on the trol.” as writing a reflective paper ing because people are normally couch, couch I practiced expand- … Students who have prac- that integrates and provides captured by whatever they are ing body posture. The more I ticed stress management at SFSU. a reflexive perspective. The doing at that moment. was aware of my posture the bet- important step is to identify Having low energy, being The student stated: “Breaking ter my posture became, and the the trigger that initiated the tired, depressed, having pain, this chain behavior was by far more time I spent in power pose illness producing pattern and insomnia, itching skin, psoriasis, the hardest things I’ve ever done. the more natural it began to feel. then do something different nervously pulling out hair, hyper- It didn’t matter what situation The more natural it felt the more such as transforming internal powerful I felt.” tension and other are symptoms dialogue or modifying body I found myself in, my practice that affect our lives. The cause posture. This interrupts and took precedence. The level of self- After three weeks, the stu- of the disorder often does not diverts the cascading steps control I had to maintain was far dent’s skin had cleared, and it has have an identifiable biological that contributed to the symp- beyond my norm. I remember stayed this way for the last year. cause. Currently, 74% of patients taking an exam. I was struggling toms [Peper, et. al., 2003]. There are many diseases and who visit their healthcare provid- to recall the answer to the last This process is illustrated ailments that require the use of ers have undiagnosed medical essay question. in the Biofeedback journal arti- medication for appropriate treat- conditions. Most of the symp- cle “There Is Hope: Autogenic “All I wanted to do was finish ment, but when stress is a fac- toms are a culmination of stress, Biofeedback Training for the the exam and go home. I knew tor in any diagnosis, or when a anxiety, and depression. In many Treatment of Psoriasis.” The arti- that I knew it, it was coming to cases, healthcare professionals diagnosis cannot be found, it is cle reported the detailed process me; I began to write … Yet in that treat these patients ineffectively important for stress management by which a 23-year-student who same moment, I felt my right with medications instead of offer- to be offered as a viable option for had psoriasis over the last five elbow start to tingle [the location ing stress management options. patients to consider. As shown by years whose skin totally cleared. of one of the psoriasis plagues], For example, if patients with the student with psoriasis, learn- Psoriasis causes red, flaky skin and my left hand started to drift insomnia visit their physicians, ing stress management skills and and is currently the most com- towards it. Immediately I had they are most likely prescribed then actually practicing them can mon autoimmune disease affect- to switch my focus. Despite my a sleep-inducing medication — play a huge factor in the health ing approximately 2% of the US desire to finish I dropped my pen. which if taken nightly for few of an individual. Do it and there population. Many people afflict- I paused to breathe and focused years can increase the death rate is hope. ed with this disease use steroids, by more than 25%. If, on the topical creams, special shampoos, other hand, the healthcare pro- fessional takes time to talk to and prescription medication. the patient, explores the factors Unfortunately, the disease can underneath the insomnia and only be suppressed, not cured; teaches sleep hygiene methods, many people with psoriasis feel 50s% fewer prescriptions are writ- damaged and have a difficult time ten.