In Our Community

February 12, 2021

**Pee Dee S.H.A.P.E. Initiative Seeks Members And Partners

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is announcing the launch of the Pee Dee Sexual Health Awareness, (STI) Prevention, and Education (S.H.A.P.E.) initiative. This initiative joins sister S.H.A.P.E. efforts in the Upstate, Lowcountry, and Midlands and is actively seeking members and partners interested in helping end the epidemic of STD/HIV in the Pee Dee, which disproportionately impact African Americans and communities of color in South Carolina.

The work of each S.H.A.P.E. effort in SC is unique to the community it serves. The Pee Dee S.H.A.P.E. initiative will bring together community-based organizations, healthcare providers, faith-based organizations, individuals, and other stakeholders so that they can share resources and best practices to reduce rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including syphilis, viral hepatitis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV/AIDS among groups of people most at risk.
“We are very excited to be launching S.H.A.P.E. in the Pee Dee,” said DHEC Pee Dee community systems director Suzette McClellan. “We’ve seen S.H.A.P.E. in other regions of the state provide a voice to people living with HIV while providing action and structure for anyone interested in ending the STD/HIV epidemic. We look forward to growing this initiative in our Pee Dee communities.”

S.H.A.P.E. efforts are guided by a mission, vision, values, and initiative goals designed to reduce risk and rates of sexually transmitted infections and to reduce sexual health disparities within and across specific populations. The partnerships and collaborations that form the basis of the Pee Dee S.H.A.P.E. initiative are integral to its success and anyone interested in participating is encouraged to join.

“The more people we have the better,” said McClellan. “There is a lot of work to be done and we can’t do it alone. Working with healthcare providers, non-profit organizations, and people living with HIV or other sexually transmitted infections is fundamental to achieving our goals.”

A virtual meet and greet for Pee Dee SHAPE Initiative will take place on February 16th from 11:30 am-12:45 pm. Call (843) 687-6985 to receive a registration link. Find out more about the Pee Dee S.H.A.P.E.

**Domestic Violence Victims Program

“I am no longer a victim. I am a survivor.”

Origin SC’s 16-week program serves individuals who have experienced violence in the home. Treatment is both evidence-based and trauma-informed.

Our experience has shown that by increasing self-esteem and empowering victims of domestic violence to become self-sufficient, they are able to maintain independence in a violence-free lifestyle. Contact us at 843.628.3000 to schedule an appointment.

**Unlearning Systemic Racism Townhall

Please mark your calendars and make plans to join a virtual town hall meeting hosted by the Y’s African American CEOs to continue our discussion on the critical topic of unlearning systemic racism.

We’ll build on the meaningful conversations we had during our first town hall last July when a long list of esteemed and passionate speakers helped us explore the devastating impact of racism in our communities.

When we gather again from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (CST) Feb. 24, we’ll dive deeper into a conversation about health equity, hear young changemaker perspectives on the topic of systemic racism, and much more.

All Y staff and volunteers are invited to participate, and the event is also open to the public. A speakers list and agenda will be available in the coming weeks, but early registration is available now. Feb 24, 2021 11:00 AM in Central Ti

**Brown v. Board: Cheryl Brown Henderson And The Legacy Of The 1954 Supreme Court Case

Brown v. Board: Cheryl Brown Henderson and the Legacy of the 1954 Supreme Court Case at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18. Join the National Trust for Historic Preservation for the first webinar in this series featuring Cheryl Brown Henderson, the founding president of the Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research and one of the authors of the recently released "Recovering Untold Stories: An Enduring Legacy of the Brown v. Board of Education Decision." The series aims to broaden our understanding of Brown v. Board of Education through a series that will highlight the people, places, and stories from each of the states involved in the landmark case.