What Is the MOCHA Project?

 
The Mocha Center Website 
Is Currently Under New Construction...




MOCHA encourages LGBT New Yorkers to be counted!
The New York State LGBT Health and Human Services Network is seeking information from LGBT New Yorkers about our health concerns.  The information we provide will help document the needs that often go unaddressed, but more importantly, this information will help us fight for policy and funding changes to support equitable and LGBT-friendly service provision.  
Join us by going to http://www.nylgbtsurvey.org and completing a short survey.
Be part of history: tell state government and the health and human service providers in New York state what is important to us – to you.
This survey is open to all LGBT New Yorkers ages 18 and over and we encourage you all to participate. 
Enter for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card with your completed survey! 
Information provided for the raffle will be confidential and not linked to your survey responses.
For more information or to receive paper surveys (in English or Spanish), e-mail Somjen Frazer consulting@somjenfrazer.com
This survey is a project of the Empire State Pride Agenda, the NYS LGBT Health and Human Services Network, and Somjen Frazer Consulting.
 





DROP IN CENTER NOW OPEN!



The Teen Drop In Centers are now open in both Rochester and Buffalo. Each has been designed to provide a

safe place for GLBT teens to rap, listen to music, learn from the internet, talk with peers, talk with staff,

or just hang out and learn more about themselves...learn how to 'empower' themselves!



You can play cards, learn how to keep yourself safe, practice your vogue, or just hang out in a safe environment

where everybody understands your issues.



The staff in Rochester and Buffalo work hard to know what your issues and aspirations are. They encourage you to

be your best and learn or sharpen skills.



For more information - please call the location your are interested in learning about:



Rochester: (585) 420-1400



Buffalo: (716) 852-1142

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WHAT IS THE MOCHA PROJECT:

The MOCHA Project (Men of Color Health Awareness) is a peer driven initiative which has been in existence since December 1996. MOCHA provides HIV/AIDS education/outreach, and community development for men of color who are identified as gay, bi-sexual or men who have sex with men (MSM) or young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Currently, several funding sources support MOCHA Project's programs to provide education, prevention & intervention to youth who are MSM's of color and may be at risk for contracting the HIV virus.

HISTORY:

In the mid-1990's, Gary English, a young gay black man who worked as an Americorp worker at the Rochester Center for Independent Living (RCIL), expressed concern and dismay over the lack of attention to and services for gay black men in the community as it related to HIV/AIDS. He felt that this group had needs, issues and concerns that were specific to their life experiences and other social and economic factors, which included racism, homophobia, sexism, as well as issues regarding church and family, It was generally felt that people who have had similar experiences could best relate to and understand the layers of oppression and other marginalizing lift events. He also stressed the importance of people being able to go to service providers (regardless of the service) where they saw others like themselves, in a warm and supportive environment. This is particularly an issue because of society's ongoing general fear and misunderstanding about HIV and AIDS.

Similar services had been provided to men of color who have sex with men, for years downstate in the New York City area. No such individualized services existed in the Western and Upstate New York areas. Mr. English started corresponding and meeting with those providers who had such services within New York State. In his discussions with individuals and agency representatives, he was informed of grants that could be applied for, through the NYS Department of Health, AIDS Institute, to meet the needs of this specific group. After many months of research a grant was written.

Several months later the grant was approved and the MOCHA Project was created. The Rochester Center for Independent Living allowed Mr. English to use the center's resources as an incubator to develop the program. The program started out providing services and activities around HIV/AIDS outreach and education. The program has grown over the years and now includes case management, support groups and other direct services.

MISSION STATEMENT:

The mission of MOCHA is to strengthen communities of color and their families, as they define them, by providing supportive environments. We recognize that social environments impact healthy behaviors. We seek to promote health and wellness through advocacy, education, prevention, service and community development specializing in LGBTQ programming.

VISION:

To be the premier provider of Human Services to people of color.

VALUES:

We commit to these values to guide our decisions and our behaviors:

 1.) Responsibility and Respect - We are responsible and respectful to ourselves, to each other and to all of our stakeholders.

 2.) Effective and Efficient - We are effective and efficient in our delivery of services and in the performance of all job related duties and responsibilities.

 3.) Accountability - We are accountable to team members, consumers, and stakeholders and to the vision, mission, and values of MOCHA.  

 4.) Communication - We model direct and purposeful communication among team members, consumers and stakeholders.

 5.) Highest Quality - Our team of professionals provides the highest quality services to our consumers and stakeholders.

You can use the word REACH to remember our values of:

• Responsibility and Respect,
• Effectiveness and Efficiency,
• Accountability,
• Communication and
• High Quality Standards.