Western: Elders meeting, AIDS walk, mile walk

Gerontology society to meet

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The Southern Gerontological Society will hold its 38th annual meeting, “New Horizons in Aging: Advances in Research & Practice,” from April 6-8 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Asheville Biltmore, 115 Hendersonville Rd.

A lunch and learn, “LGBTQ and Older Adults,” has been planned for April 7 and it is open to the public. Organizers are working to provide a meeting place for the LGBTQ community and promote discussion about the unique needs of older LGBTQ adults. Experts in research, policy and practice will discuss key issues in the older LGBTQ community from an intersectional perspective, exploring the complex role of sexual and gender identity, race/ethnicity and region on the aging experience.

More detailed information is available online, including accommodations booking at the hotel.

info: southerngerontologicalsociety.org.

AIDS walk registration open

HICKORY, N.C. — AIDS Leadership Foothills-Area Alliance (ALFA) has announced that its 8th Annual AIDS Walk & High Heel Dash will be held on April 8, 9 a.m., beginning located at First United Methodist Church, 311 3rd Ave. NE.

The new form replaces the Hike for Hope +5K in order to broaden the organization’s outreach capabilities and provide a more inclusive event. The two-mile walk ends with a community celebration and High Heel Dash at Taft Broome Park, 115 7th Ave. SW.

Registration for the walk is $25. The dash is free to participants. Lunch, provided by John Boy, is available for a small fee.

All funds raised benefit ALFA’s HIV/AIDS prevention, detection and medical case management in the local community.

In other news, Jerry Yelton has joined ALFA as its new community outreach coordinator. He is a communications graduate from Appalachian State University. Yelton enjoys advocating for causes he believes are important and worthwhile, including LGBTQ rights, HIV/AIDS advocacy, reproductive justice, immigration reform and the rights of all minorities.

info/registration: alfainfo.org.

Mile walkers sought

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The 8th Annual Walk a Mile Asheville, The People’s March Against Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence, has been slated for May 6, 10 a.m., at Roger McGuire Green/Pack Place Park in the downtown area and is now accepting participant registrations.

This event consists of participants walking a mile, in the shoes of another, through the streets of downtown Asheville. It is a symbolic gesture of responsibility and solidarity, as well as a great way to raise awareness about a very serious issue in a fun, family-friendly environment.

Walk a Mile Asheville has been voted in the top three fundraising events by the “Best of WNC” four years in a row and is the top fundraiser for Our Voice, Buncombe County’s Sexual Assault Services agency. Our Voice provides counseling, advocacy and education for those it serves.

The organization is looking for volunteers. Email gsouther@unca.edu to learn more.

Registration is available online. Early-bird cost is $25 (with T-shirt), $15/high school or college students ages 13 and older (no T-shirt) and sponsor registration/free (with T-shirt and discount code). Extra T-shirts are $20 each and will be available for pick up on the event day.

info: ourvoicenc.org.

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Share your news with us
Does your organization or special interest group have events or great information to share with our readers? If so, be sure to send in your information to specialassignments@goqnotes.com. In the upcoming months, we’ll feature one of you in our news notes section in each issue. Are you a part of a Meetup, Yahoo or Google group and do you do something that’s really newsworthy? Do you provide a service for the community or hold fundraisers for worthy causes? Do you educate the public about LGBT issues or concerns? Of course, this is only a sampling of things we are interested in. It’s the aim of these pieces to inform, enlighten and educate our readers about what we’re doing here in the Carolinas to champion LGBT rights, as well as offer resources for those who may be interested in what your group is doing.

About the author: Lainey Millen is QNotes' associate editor, special assignments writer, N.C. News columnist and production director. She can be reached at specialassignments@goqnotes.com and 704-531-9988, x205.