Since we’re funded by the CDC Office of Smoking & Health (OSH) to link people & information we find much of our work is naturally helping the 50 state departments of health OSH also funds connect with people and information on LGBT tobacco & health. Of course states like California or N
ew York usually have their own resources, this means we are often traveling less beaten paths. This work is frankly some of our most exciting and fulfilling because this is where there’s huge gains to be made. Plus, after 7 years working alongside the state reps as CDC grantees, we know there are many allies in these health departments pushing hard to address LGBT health disparities and we’re more than happy to help.
Right now I’m on a jet flying out to visit Nebraska and boy have they got a full schedule for me on the trip. So, instead of the usual “we went there” report, I thought this time why not take a closer look on what happens on these state trips? So hope you’ll stay tuned over the next few days as I start a little Nebraska travelogue.
Agenda Day 1:
- Fly west! Lose an hour, forget today’s actually Patriots day in Massachusetts, where everyone is given a holiday to watch the marathon, oops.
- Arrive around 4 pm. Airport pickup (swank!) by a Nebraska superstar, Athena Ramos. (you’ll know why later)
- 4:30 – meet the tobacco outreach team to say hi
- Evening free to prepare – because the next 2 days have 6 meetings, one daylong conference & 4 different presentations! Gulp.
Until now my strongest memories of Nebraska are that gas stations swarmed with locusts and a long ago grand roadside 4th of July celebration in the wheat fields. The odds have to be against the locusts being out again now, right? Please.
OK, off I go. Hope folk stay tuned for the whole travelogue.
Best,
Dr. Traveling Scout
Update – Oh no, Twitter is full of reports there were explosions at the marathon… oh please please let everyone be ok.
LGBT HealthLink, The Network for Health Equity 