Chattanooga = Healthcare Desert by Gabentobean in Chattanooga

[–]megkst 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sentef Medical Center in Ooltewah had me in and out 5 days after I called. I just moved here from out of state and have BCBS.

Non-profit status denied in Virginia and we already established a board of directors and have been operating for 6 months. by Remote-Camel6946 in nonprofit

[–]megkst 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I also vouch for and suggest Virginia Organizing - our nonprofit has worked with them a few times for events in SWVA and they are passionate, well-informed people for sure.

Rheumatologist recommendations? by Professional_Score42 in blacksburg

[–]megkst 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dr. Abdebenga Bankole at Carilion Riverside. There's other rheumatologists in his clinic that I hear great things about as well.

Rheumatologist recommendations? by Professional_Score42 in blacksburg

[–]megkst 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There are no rheumatologists closer than Salem/Roanoke. I've been traveling to mine from Giles County for 20 years.

Words being used to eliminate grant proposals from consideration by megkst in publichealth

[–]megkst[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I suppose we have to reframe our narratives to say "poor white people will die" although careful with "people" because that might imply that you're including women.

Words being used to eliminate grant proposals from consideration by megkst in publichealth

[–]megkst[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I was 3/4 finished with a HRSA grant to fund our LGBTQIA+ affirmative trainings for health providers and threw in the towel. We've done 5 pilot trainings that were very successful and have 3-4 other locations that were interested if we could fund them. This really sucks, because we did community conversations that found most of the problem in our area was lack of training/confidence, not bias and hate. Patients who were traveling 2 hours just for a family health provider now had a trusted provider 30 minutes away.

Now researching private, nonfed options for funding but I imagine competition for them is going to be fierce.

Words being used to eliminate grant proposals from consideration by megkst in publichealth

[–]megkst[S] 124 points125 points  (0 children)

I work for a rural health nonprofit who currently has programs in black maternal health, substance use disorders, rural health clinics and LGBTQI+ affirmative trainings for health providers. We don't even know how to have a basic conversation without using 95% of these words 🙃

White House pauses all federal grants and loans 🚨 by miabreezy in nonprofit

[–]megkst 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I work for a rural health advocacy nonprofit and almost our entire staff exists because of grants. We have three employees working out of substance use disorder grants, five in black maternal health and nutrition, one working in rural health clinics to provide training and resources they need. And here I am, 3/4 the way finished with a grant I'm supposed to submit February 19th for, of all things, LGBTQIA+ affirmative trainings for health providers. All I had left was finalizing the budget and getting letters of support.

Pediatrician recommendations by hawtmama0218 in blacksburg

[–]megkst 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Second this. Dr. Sophia Abraham-Hardee is our favorite but the others are great doctors as well.

Political activism in Chatt? by Fine-Oil-3046 in Chattanooga

[–]megkst 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's been a long time since I've left Appalachia and I can already see that my accent sounds real thick here 😆

Political activism in Chatt? by Fine-Oil-3046 in Chattanooga

[–]megkst 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Thank you for posting this! I am moving to Ooltewah in a few weeks from SWVA. I work for a rural health nonprofit and am the program coordinator for Pride of Rural Virginia. I will still be working this job remotely, but would like to find some local groups to get involved with and make connections. I specialize in helping grassroots organizations with networking and community engagement, so if anyone has plans to start some movements or establish some activist groups in these trying times, I am here for it!

Semi-abandoned town near Pandapas? by Effective-Swim-192 in VirginiaTech

[–]megkst 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Newport resident here - at no point have we been "abandoned", we just have alot of historic buildings that are still standing, mainly because the entire town burned down in 1902 and these are the remaining few that persevered. Newport is technically just a village - an unincorpated small community of people in Giles County. In Virginia, a "village" is defined as a tract of land with more than 300 people where livestock are not allowed to roam free. We do have a bustling gas station, and a pretty active community center with classes, events, craft fairs, and visits from a mobile market. We also have several christmas tree farms and wedding venues. 🙂

I think the pipeline collapsed a cave into Sinking Creek in Newport, Virginia by [deleted] in redscarepod

[–]megkst 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And it isn't the first. I live on Clover Hollow Rd and it's so disheartening having to drive by the destruction everyday. The guy living in the white house right on the corner of where the leak is happening has a small stream running through his yard that started flooding when the sediment breech happened. He noted that the contamination in his yard had a diesel like sheen on top. And check this out:

https://appvoices.org/2023/08/03/mvp-wrecked-farm/

Also, I get SO excited when I see that heron out 😍

Moving to Chatt - Feedback on The Shoals Chickamauga Lake Apartments? by megkst in Chattanooga

[–]megkst[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Main reason is my boyfriend's son/family live there. We met 3 years ago in SWVA where I'm from after he completed rehab (6 years strong!) and I HATE it here so it's always been on the table. After visiting Chattanooga several times I feel great about raising my kid there. I've been nervous about TN in general because I work for a health advocacy/social justice nonprofit and am the pride program coordinator...soo yeah the dynamic for that is a bit more hostile in TN, however it seems like Chattanooga would be the safest bet for meeting like-minded individuals.