As I’ve begun reaching out to my regular patients, I’m finding that most of you are like me—still strictly socially distancing.
Thank you for taking coronavirus seriously and doing your part in stopping its spread. I fully agree with staying home until we see what happens as the state reopens.
I also think that it is important to support the current equal rights movement, and would like to share with you some of the ways that I have found to do so while continuing to social distance.
Changing racial inequality starts at home
What is the best way to combat racism in Marin County, the least diverse county in California? One way is to donate to PLAY Marin, an African American-led nonprofit based in Marin City.
While Marin has been Sheltering-in-Place the last three months, the organization has been supporting local restaurants and delivering over 600 meals a weekend to high-risk communities.
In a world without coronavirus, PLAY Marin organizes playdates with children of similar ages at local parks. Paul and his team lead children and parents in team-building
exercises to help the kids meet one another joyfully, safely, and respectfully.
The organization “envisions Marin as an integrated and unified community where both individuals and families live, work and most importantly, play together. We believe that play is an integral component of forming lasting friendships, developing critical skills and teaching valuable life lessons. This play can take shape in various forms from participation in organized sports to a simple play date.”
Donate to Play Marin
I encourage you to get involved here locally by learning more about PLAY Marin‘s mission in the community and by donating.
During the month of June, I am donating 10% of the profits from herbs and supplement sales to PLAY Marin. You can order herbs and supplements directly through me or online through Full Script.
Purchase from Black-owned Businesses
You can also get involved by buying from black-owned businesses, like Salon B here in San Rafael, which is offering curbside pickup and shipping of orders. Salon B has also has pledged to donate 10% of their sales to PLAY Marin. The salon, located on 4th St. in downtown San Rafael, is reopening for services on July 1st. In the meantime, you can arrange curbside pick up or have products shipped to you.
Salon B carries wonderful products, including their own vegan, cruelty-free line. They also just got stylish Salon BLM T-shirts and mugs in stock. The shirts are perfect whether you’re protesting or social distancing and have worn through your pajamas. Salon B is also donating 10% of profits from product sales to PLAY Marin this month.
Please also follow Salon B and PLAY Marin on Instagram for more information on events in the community and ways you can get involved and support the desegregation of Marin.
You can also get involved by buying from black-owned businesses, like Salon B here in San Rafael, which is offering curbside pickup and shipping of orders. You can purchase from black businesses online and donate to African-American lead organizations.
Salon B is also donating 10% of profits from product sales to PLAY Marin this month. Please also follow Salon B and PLAY Marin on Instagram for more information on events in the community and ways you can get involved and support the desegregation of Marin.
Educate Yourself and Examine Your Bias While Supporting Black Leaders
Another way to support the current equal rights movement while social distancing is to read books and online resources to understand racism and unconscious bias, as well as learn more about black America. This google doc is a comprehensive, but not exhaustive, reading list on the topic. Yale University has also made the content of its course, African American History: From Emancipation to the Present available for free online.
I’d also like to bring your attention to the work of two Bay Area-based black female authors: Joyce Lee and Sonia Renee Taylor. Sonia Renee Taylor is an award-winning author, activist and leader. She founded The Body is Not An Apology 
back in the early 2010s and have recently gained well-deserved attention for her work on intersectional feminism. Her book by the same name is a must-read. The second edition, which includes a new final chapter on practical ways to interrupt systemic oppression, will be released in February 2021. You can pre-order your copy, or purchase the current edition now.
Both women are award-winning poets. Joyce Lee is an Oakland native, who has performed to sold-out audiences around the world. She released Dancing in the Presence of Men, a collection of some of her most recent poems early this year. Please buy their books, and if you can order from black-owned bookstores.
Attend a Car or Online Protest
There have been car-caravan protests throughout the Bay Area, including several in Marin. Are in San Francisco and the East Bay. There is a car caravan protest this Friday, Juneteenth in San Francisco. Please contact the organizers if you are interested in participating. The route is not public. The will be a car protest in Walnut Creek on Saturday, June 27 and another on July 3 at noon in Oakland. As I hear of more, I will post details in Pure Joy Acupuncture’s Instagram stories.
There have also been many national online protests and townhalls. On Friday, June 19th at 11PM PT Conservation Lands Foundation is holding an online town hall to discuss the link between environmental and racial justice. On Saturday, June 20th 10AM ET there will be a digital justice gathering coordinating the by the Mass Poor People’s Assembly. On Wednesday, June 24 at 5PM PT the NAACP is hosting an online town hall with featured speakers providing legal perspective on the global public health crisis, protests, and incidents of hate crimes. Sonia Renee Taylor and Mona Haydar will be hosting a facilitating conversation on Resiliency Through Healing on Thursday, June 25th at 5:30PM EST. RSVP to save your spot.
Protests in Marin
There are also many more events taking place around the Bay Area this month, including several protests in Marin.
If you are comfortable protesting, there is a rally to celebrate Juneteenth at Rocky Graham Park in Marin City, starting at 3PM. On Monday, June 22nd there is a protest starting at Vintage Oaks in Novato at 6PM. There is another on Tuesday, June 23rd at the Tiburon Dog Park at 4PM. On Thursday, June 25 there are two peaceful gatherings scheduled in Marin. From 1:30-4PM there will be a peaceful protest and march in Mill Valley. From 5-7PM, there will be a peaceful gathering to stop racism at the main plaza in central San Rafael (1050 Court Street). All of these events require that people wear masks and social distance.
If that is not in your comfort zone, please consider an online event, car protest, a donation to PLAY Marin, and buying from Black businesses, authors, and artists.
Thank you for continuing to do your part in continuing to slow the spread of coronavirus and advocating for social justice in the world. I am with you.
