Daily Archives: June 21, 2021

By Karen Ocamb | LOS ANGELES Like so many others in California, lesbian feminist Ivy Bottini had high expectations for the federal government to finally intervene in the growing AIDS crisis after the first congressional committee hearing on the mysterious new disease, chaired by Rep. Henry Waxman, (D-CA) on April 13, 1982.

There was very little press coverage of the hearing held at the Los Angeles Gay Community Services Center on Highland Avenue in Hollywood. But years later, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health recalled a quote reported by the Washington Blade:

I want to be especially blunt about the political aspects of Kaposis sarcoma (KS), Waxman said.This horrible disease afflicts members of one of the nations most stigmatized and discriminated-against minorities.There is no doubt in my mind that if the same disease had appeared among Americans of Norwegian descent, or among tennis players, rather than among gay males, the responses of the government and the medical community would have been different.

The gay San Francisco newspaper The Sentinel published a very short brief on April 16 entitled House Holds Cancer Hearings about the gay cancer. The paper quoted an unnamed subcommittee staffer saying the CDC, which is coordinating research on the baffling outbreak, should not have to nickel and dime for funds. The brief appeared next to a column written by gay nurse Bobbi Campbell, who wrote about going to The Shanti Project to get emotional support for his KS.

Bottinis take-away from the Waxman hearing was that no one really knew how AIDS was transmitted. She was upset. Her friend Ken Schnorr had died just before the hearing and Bottini had to explain to Kens distraught mother that he had not been abused at the hospital the purple bruises on his body were KS lesions.

After weeks of governmental inaction, Bottini called Dr. Joel Weisman, Schnorrs gay doctor, to update the community at a town hall in Fiesta Hall in West Hollywoods Plummer Park. Weisman had sent gay patients to Dr. Michael Gottlieb and was one of the co-authors on the first CDC public report about AIDS on June 5, 1981.

Bottini later recalled how gay men often thanked her for saving their lives at that packed town hall. Bottini subsequently founded AIDS Network LA, to serve as a clearing house for collecting and disseminating information. But not everyone bought the science-based premise that AIDS was transmitted through bodily fluids including Bottinis friend Morris Kight, prompting a deep three-year rift.

Nonetheless, groups offering gay men advice on how to have safe sex started emerging, as did peer groups forming for emotional, spiritual and healthcare support. The Bay Area Physicians for Human Rights, Houstons Citizens for Human Equality and the new Gay Mens Health Crisis in New York City published pamphlets and newsletters.

Panic and denial were wafting in tandem through gay Los Angeles, too. In Oct. 1982, friends Nancy Cole Sawaya (an ally), Matt Redman, Ervin Munro, and Max Drew convened an emergency informational meeting at the Los Angeles Gay Community Services Center on Gay Related Immunodeficiency Disease (GRID, soon to be called AIDS) delivered by a representative from San Franciscos Kaposis Sarcoma Foundation.

My friends and I were in New York in 1981, hearing stories among friends coming down with this mysterious disease. We realized that back home in L.A. there was no hotline, no medical care, and no one to turn to for emotional support, Redman told The Advocates Chris Bull on July 17, 2001 for astory on the 20th anniversary of AIDS. For some reason I wasnt really scared. It was so early on that no one could predict what would happen.

That quickly changed when the friends realized there was no level of governmental help forthcoming. They set up a hotline in a closet space at the Center, found 12 volunteers and asked Weisman to train them on how to answer questions, reading off a one-page fact sheet. The idea was to reduce fear and eventually give out referrals to doctors and others willing to help.

The four also reached out to friends to raise money, netting $7,000 at a tony Christmas benefit to fund a new organization called AIDS Project Los Angeles. They set up a Board of Directors with Weisman and longtime checkbook activist attorney Diane Abbitt as Board co-chairs. They gaveled their first Board meeting to order on January 14, 1983 with five clients. The following month, APLA produced and distributed a brochure about AIDS in both English and Spanish.

Four months later, in May, APLA and other activists organized the first candlelight march in Los Angeles at the Federal Building in Westwood and in four other cities. The LA event was attended by more than 5,000 people demanding federal action. The KS/AIDS Foundation in San Francisco was led by people with AIDS carrying a banner that read Fighting For Our Lives. When the banner was unfurled at the National Lesbian and Gay Health Conference that June by activists presenting The Denver Principles, the crowd cried, with a 10-minute ovation.

If the word empowerment hadnt yet been a part of the health care lexicon, it was about to be, HIV/AIDS activist Mark S. King wrote in POZ. The group took turns reading a document to the conference they had just created themselves, during hours sitting in a hospitality suite of the hotel. It was their Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence rolled into one. It would be known asThe Denver Principles, and it began like this:

We condemn attempts to label us as victims, which implies defeat, and we are only occasionally patients, which implies passivity, helplessness, and dependence upon the care of others. We are people with AIDS.

While The Denver Principles were injecting self-empowerment into the growing movement of people with AIDS, the Reagan administration was infecting America through mass media association of homosexuality, AIDS and old myths of sexual perversion. Ronald Reagan was keenly aware of his anti-gay evangelical base, appointing Gary Bauer as a domestic policy advisor. Bauer was a close associate of James Dobson, president of the powerful Religious Right group Focus on the Family.

Reagan also picked anti-abortion crusader C. Everett Koop as Surgeon General which turned into a mini-scandal when Koop agreed that sexually explicit AIDS education and gay-positive materials should be federally funded for schools. You cannot be an efficient health officer with integrity if you let other things get in the way of health messages, Koop told the Village Voice. Koop was slammed by the Moral Majoritys Rev. Jerry Falwell and other anti-gay evangelicals.

But perhaps one most egregious examples of the Reagan administrations homophobic callousness towards people with AIDS came from the persistent laughter emanating from the podium of White House Deputy Press Secretary Larry Speakes.

On Oct. 15, 1982, less than four weeks after Reps. Henry Waxman and Phillip Burton introduced a bill to allocate funds to the CDC for surveillance and the NIH for AIDS research, reporter Lester Kinsolving asked Speakes about the new disease called A.I.D.S..

Kinsolving: Larry, does the President have any reaction to the announcement the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, that AIDS is now an epidemic and have over 600 cases?

SPEAKES: Whats AIDS?

Kinsolving: Over a third of them have died. Its known as gay plague. (Laughter.) No, it is. I mean its a pretty serious thing that one in every three people that get this have died. And I wondered if the President is aware of it?

SPEAKES: I dont have it. Do you? (Laughter.)

Kinsolving: You dont have it. Well, Im relieved to hear that, Larry. (Laughter.) Im delighted.

SPEAKES: Do you?

Kinsolving: No, I dont.In other words, the White House looks on this as a great joke?

SPEAKES: No, I dont know anything about it, Lester. What

Kinsolving: Does the President, does anybody in the White House know about this epidemic, Larry?

SPEAKES: I dont think so. I dont think theres been any

Kinsolving: Nobody knows?

SPEAKES: There has been no personal experience here, Lester.

The exchange goes on like that. For another two years.On World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, 2015, Vanity Fairdebuted a 7:43 documentary directed and produced by Scott Calonicoabout that 1982 exchange between Kinsolving and Speakes. But Calonico also found audio of similar exchanges in 1983 and 1984 for his film, When AIDS Was Funny.

Karen Ocamb is the Director of Media Relations for Public Justice,a national nonprofit legal organization that advocates and litigates in the public interest. The former News Editor of the Los Angeles Blade, Ocamb is a longtime chronicler of the lives of the LGBTQ community in Southern California.

This is Part 4 of a series of 5 articles on AIDS @40.

Excerpt from:

AIDS @40: The White House laughs as gays try to save themselves - Los Angeles Blade

Juneteenth, the 19th day of June that celebrates the end of slavery, is now a national holiday, after President Joe Biden signed bill S. 475 into law Thursday.

This means federal employees will observe Juneteenth on Friday as June 19th falls on a Saturday this year. Even though Mayor Bill de Blasio recognized Juneteenth as a city holiday last year, city employees do not have a paid day off on Friday this year and students will have to wait until next June to celebrate the day. Companies are also starting to incorporate Juneteenth as a holiday in their calendars

Across the city, a long list of celebrations and events are being held on Saturday the 19th,which marks the 156th anniversary of the day that Black Texans were informed of their freedom, more than two and a half years after emancipation.

The city's parades, musical performances, and educational events are thus billed as opportunities to both celebrate Black joy and excellence, and as moments for all New Yorkers to reflect on the ongoing effort to fight racism here and across the country.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of Juneteenth events happening this weekend:

Official Juneteenth NYC in Prospect Park

Friday, June 18th Sunday, June 20th

Join for community service on Friday at 5:00 p.m., a cookout on the Long Meadow on Saturday at noon, and skate night at the LeFrak Center at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Some events require paid tickets.

RSVP here.

12th Annual Juneteenth NYC Festival

Friday, June 18thSunday, June 20th

A mix of virtual and in-person events are taking place at Herbert Von King Park and Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration. There's an online health and wellness event on Saturday; a festival with music, dance, poetry, skits, vendors, and more on Saturday, at Herbert Von King Park; and a presentation from young people who have gone through a social entrepreneurial program .

Free, register here.

Drums in the Garden: a Juneteenth Celebration of Black Joy and Freedom

People's Garden, 1237-1241 Greene Avenue

Saturday, June 19th

5:00 p..m. 9:00 p.m.

Live drummers, dancing, and an artist cypher are on the bill for the People's Garden's 2nd annual Juneteenth celebration.

RSVP here.

Juneteenth: A Black Parade

Saturday, June 19th

11:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.

Families are encouraged to gather at 95 Prospect Park SW for a parade, along with music, painting and other activities for children, and tournament-style games.

RSVP here.

Honoring Juneteenth at the Brooklyn Museum

Saturday, June 19th

11 a.m., and 7:00 8:00 p.m.

In the morning, hear local community leaders speak before the Good Company Bike Club leads a daylong Freedom Ride tour of historic Brooklyn locations and landmarks relevant to the Black community. At night, the museum is hosting live music, food vendors, and mindfulness at sunset. All events are free.

RSVP here.

A Juneteenth Freedom Fest Block Party In Harlem

Saturday, June 19th

12 p.m.6 p.m.

Music, live performances, food, vendors, games, face painting, bounce houses, and more will fill 129th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues in Harlem. The festival's partners include NYC's Community Affairs Unit, NYCHA, and Harlem Children's Zone for a family-friendly event.

Free, register here.

Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth

Saturday, June 19th

12 p.m.1:30 p.m.

A 90-minute musical performance, with cast members from shows including Girl from the North Country, The Lion King, Moulin Rouge,The Phantom of the Opera,Tina: The Tina Turner Musical,and Thoughts of a Colored Man, and special appearances from Lillias White and Ben Vereen, will be held in Times Square on Broadway between 43rd and 44th Streets.

Free, more details here.

Juneteenth In the Park

Saturday, June 19th

12 p.m.7 p.m.

Guided meditation, live music, performances, and more will be held at the 135th Street lawn in St. Nicholas Park.Free, more details here.

Black Joy Is Revolutionary

Saturday, June 19th

Riverbank State Park

12 p.m.10 p.m.

Music, vendors, and more are promised at The Strategy for Black Lives' event; they say, "[W]e will be unapologetically Black; providing the community a vibe free of cost! This is our way of giving back and promoting Black excellence and joy. Come one, come all, for an experience you wont forget!"

Free, more details here.

A Juneteenth Celebration With Joe's Pub

Astor Place

Saturday, June 19th

4:30 p.m.

See free musical performances by Celisse, ChBuford and mal sounds, and theJuneteenth Legacy Project.

More info here.

I Dream a Dream That Dreams Back at Me:A Juneteenth Celebration

Lincoln Center

7 p.m.

A site-specific work, conceived and curated by poet Carl Hanock Rux, with music by Vernon Reid and Nona Hendryxand lyrics by Lynn Nottage, will move across Lincoln Center's campus. According to the press release, "The performers wear paper dress creations crafted by designer Dianne Smith while standing in the Paul Milstein Pool, symbolizing the river journey taken by abolitionist Harriet Tubman while leading enslaved Americans to freedom." Tickets have been distributed already, but there is a stand-by line.

Stand-by details here.

Open Call: Troy Anthony

The Shed

Saturday, June 19th

8:00 p.m.

The Revival: It Is Our Duty, is a musical event "performed through ritual to activate individual and collective liberation in celebration of Juneteenth." Tickets are free; the event will also stream live online.

RSVP here.

Juneteenth Family Day at Pelham Bay Park

Saturday, June 19th

12:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.

Free activities include face painting, yoga, zumba, live performances, poetry, and more.

RSVP here.

Juneteenth Walk/Run Barbecue at High Bridge Park

Saturday, June 19th

12:00 pm. 6:00 p.m.

Join for a solidarity run/walk 5K through Highbridge, Jackie Robinson, Saint. Nicholas, and Morningside Parks from The Heights to Harlem.

Register here.

Juneteenth Day of Love at Joyce Kilmer Park

Saturday, June 19th

12:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.

The group No Voice Unheard is organizing guest speakers and families to come together to commemorate youth lost to gun, gang, and street violence.

RSVP here.

Juneteenth Celebration at Alice Austen House

Saturday, June 19th

1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.

Poets Pamela Sneed and andriniki mattis, musical group OJ in The Yams, and singer-songwriter Chanese Elif, will all perform in a free show outdoors, with social distancing guidelines in place.

RSVP here.

Juneteenth Freedom Festival at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden

Saturday, June 19th

11:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.

More than 50 Staten Island-based organizations are coming together for a free outdoor festival that will include historical reenactments of the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, musical performances, health and wellness screenings, personal empowerment workshops, and more.

Register here.

Juneteenth In Queens 2021 at Roy Wilkins Park

Saturday, June 19th

10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.

Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman, who introduced the bill that led to Juneteenth being recognized as a state holiday, is hosting a full day of events in the park.

Register here.

Juneteenth Celebration in St. Alban's Park

Saturday, June 19th

12:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

The all-day event will feature a DJ, an open mic, a luxury car show, and a variety of vendors.

Original post:

A Guide To New York City's Juneteenth Events And Celebrations - Gothamist

Morgan DeBaun, CEO and founder of Blavity.

Morgan DeBaun has changed the world for Black millennials. In 2014 as a 24-year-old visionary, she saw the need for a platform and a media brand that would share authentic stories and news about underrepresented voices in America, and their achievements. She wanted this generation of young people of color to stay informed about the issues they care about, to be able to see and share examples of amazing people doing important things in the Black community and provide more opportunities to showcase humanity. DeBauns recognition of this need turned into Blavity Inc., the leading digital media company for Black culture and millennials.

At first, Blavity was a small venture as DeBaun was still working another full-time job in the tech industry. I kept my full-time job at Intuit but was spending all my nights and weekends working on Blavity. We started with a curated video newsletter and eventually built a website, which was only the beginning. What ultimately spurred me to leave Intuit and commit to Blavity full time was the lack of coverage from Black media companies after Michael Browns death. explained DeBaun. There was a huge gap of information between what I saw happening on the ground in St. Louis and what I saw in the mainstream media. I wanted to make a positive impact on our community and build a brand that could help the voices of our generation push progress forward and tell our stories. Our momentum began in 2014 with a single Black news site that has now grown into a digital media ecosystem with a monthly reach of over 100 million people, and 100 corporate partners a year.

DeBauns mission was to provide resources to Black millennials and since Blavitys launch, the media platform has not only established itself as a leader in news and digital products but also as a valuable resource for Black entrepreneurs and small business owners. The unique business model combines an unapologetically Black media and tech company with branded digital content distribution and a social impact organization all focused on engaging Black Millennial and Gen-Z audiences. Additionally, Blavity has created space for Black thought leaders, innovators, and the Black community at large to see themselves reflected in the media and feel empowered to make change.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 08: Blavity CEO Morgan DeBaun attends AfroTech 2019 at Oakland ... [+] Marriott City Center on November 08, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for AfroTech)

We host a series of conferences and summits aimed at equipping Black founders with resources and a network of advisors, which have served over 15,000 individuals in the past year. We have championed Black small business owners through our Blavity Inc. news coverage and our creation of events for entrepreneurs to learn new skills, including AfroTech and Summit21. With every story, every activation, and every event, we have always made it our first priority to create something that supports our community in leveraging new opportunities for a better future, DeBaun shared. Our corporate mission is to advance Black happiness. We think about happiness in a variety of ways. One of which is economic freedom and self-empowerment, and being able to own your own destiny, own your own voice, own your own narrative. So for me, the stories that I'm the proudest of are when we are the first to cover a small business owner, a local hero, or anyone making important change. When we stand up as a community of their peers and say We are with you, we're rocking with you, you don't need anyone else to tell you you're incredible, you don't need mainstream validation that you made it. We see you, we've got you, and we are going to sell out your business/services. We often make stories go viral, because people are using Blavity as the first source of information, which is how we were designed. That is why we built this company.

Under the Blavity umbrella, DeBaun created AfroTech, the largest Black tech conference connecting a global community of 20,000+ Black tech innovators through a series of digital and in-person events filled with dynamic programming on emerging trends, networking opportunities with industry leaders and conversations with top tech recruiters. This year our AfroTech conference is a multi-day experience bringing together leaders in entertainment and tech including the virtual AfroTech World and a series of in-person events in various locations. The digital experience includes multiprogramming stages, an Expo Hall with 100+ corporate sponsors and recruiters, networking events and activations. We will also have AfroTech Music and AfroTech Executive. AT Music brings together leaders in the entertainment and tech industries for a music and networking experience that focuses on growing our black tech community. AT Executive brings together corporate executives, venture capitalists, angel investors, startup founders and tech moguls for two days of programming and networking. We have seen entrepreneurs meet through AfroTech and later launch a business together, people meet recruiters and get hired for a job that changed the trajectory of their life, mentees meet their mentors, small business owners meet future investors, and products find their distributors. The connections that are made at this conference and the community that is created is truly one of a kind, she explained.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 08: Tina Knowles and Morgan DeBaun backstage during the Blavity Inc.'s ... [+] Summit21 Influencer Conference for black women on June 08, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for Blavity Inc.)

She also created Summit21, the tentpole annual event for Blavitys premier womens lifestyle brand, 21Ninety. According to DeBaun, 21Ninety was born from the belief that it takes 21 days to form a habit and 90 days to create a lifestyle, so the brand focuses on advising and inspiring their audience and followers to live their best lives. The two-day virtual experience will be offered free of charge this year, focusing on empowering entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners to work smarter, not harder, to master the elusive work/life balance for which were all striving while achieving their personal and professional goals. Speakers this year include Tyra Banks, Sarah Jakes Roberts, celebrity publicist Erica Tucker, entrepreneur Olori Swank and personal development coach Alena Conley, Danielle Cadet from Netflix, Ronne Brown, and Blake Gifford.

DeBaun also acts as an advisor to influential global brands and companies including Disney, American Airlines, CES, Pantora Bridal and Rosen Skincare, and often partners Blavity with big brands to help them authentically reach Black audiences. Recently Blavity collaborated with Sephora on a campaign to celebrate Black beauty & radiance, with Mastercard to co-host virtual activations to explore how to confront a financial system that has systematically disadvantaged and excluded Black communities and has proliferated the racial wealth and opportunity gap, with Hulu to share stories to continue the fight against racial inequality and with Amazon on a partnership to highlight careers in tech.

With no plans of slowing down Blavitys growth, DeBaun has exciting plans for the future. We are excited to continue to do what we do best: create community, tell stories, and drive Black economic empowerment. In 2020, we launched our own streaming site, Lunchtable, which features hours of live-streamed content per day, and hired a Head of Content Distribution and Partnerships to expand our production and storytelling capabilities, she shared. Our nonprofit, Blavity.org launched in May with the mission to drive Black economic advancement forward through entrepreneurial fellowship programs featuring grants, education & mentorship and I am so excited to continue to grow those programs and that organization. We are just getting started!

See the original post:

How The Vision Of This Female Founder Has Created Unrivaled Access For Black Voices In Media - Forbes

The woman told police she and the man got into an argument and he began choking her. At that time, their young son fired shots at his father

ST. LOUIS A 13-year-old boy is suspected of shooting his father while the man was choking the boy's mother, a police source confirmed with 5 On Your Side.

Officers responded shortly after 1 a.m. to the 5100 block of Page Boulevard, which is in the Academy/Sherman Park neighborhood in the city. Officers arrived to find a 47-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to her torso and a 50-year-old man who had been shot in the area of his legs and buttocks.

The woman told police that she and the man got into an argument that escalated into him strangling her.

While that was happening, she said their 13-year-old son got a gun and fired several shots at his father, hitting him and also inadvertently injuring his mother.

Police initially took the teen into custody. A source tells 5 On Your Side, the boy has since been released to another family member.

The man and woman were taken to the hospital for treatment. The man was in critical condition. Police did not have an update on the womans condition but said her vital signs were stable.

Thats sad man. Whats a 13-year-old doing with a gun?" asked neighbor Perry Green. "Where did he get the gun?

Greens lived on the north side street for more than 40 years.

In the past three years, we have had any problems on this block of Page. Now, about three years ago somebody drove by and shot up my house and several other homes. Lately, its just been quite on our block, Green said.

The investigation is ongoing.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EXPERTS WEIGH IN:

Local domestic violence experts dissect this complicated situation that has many layers.

They said abuse gradually gets worse over time.

Heidi Suguitan is the Adolescent Clinical Manager at Safe Connections.

"In domestic violence, choking would be one of the most lethal methods of violence used," she said. "I think about the powerlessness that a teen would feel witnessing someone who takes care of them not being able to take care of them and being harmed. This is a youth whos witnessing a crime."

It's something the boy may have witnessed for quite a while, meaning their very own reactions could mimic behaviors.

She explains there was a 2019 study that found 20% of teen boys incarcerated for homicide was because of domestic violence and killing their mother's abuser.

The cycle of abuse lingers beyond the victim. It stings the entire family.

"Thats going to be the next thing after choking, punching, its going to go to gun violence," Bran-Dee Jelks, Program Director with Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation said.

In this case, it was the child who did the shooting.

"He reacted in response that his mother was being choked. When they see violence, they are going to react with violence." Jelks said.

Agencies hope something like this can be prevented. Many are available to provide resources, support, and a path to a way forward.

Talayna Williams is the Case Manager at Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation.

"There are so many people out here that are willing to uplift you, support you, love you and bring you further than you thought you could," she said.

Safe Connections has a 24-hour helpline: 314 531-2003.

To call Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation for group empowerment sessions, financial stability classes or personal development, you can call 314-328-4348.

5 On Your Side's Christine Byers contributed to this report.

Resources for crime victims:

If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.

Better Family Life is a nonprofit community development organization working to stabilize inner-city neighborhoods. One aspect of its mission is a gun violence de-escalation program.

To learn more, call 314-381-8200 or visit https://www.betterfamilylife.org/

Life Outside of Violence helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence.

To learn more, call 314-327-6697 or email: ProjectLOV@WUSTL.edu

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has an anti-crime program called Safety Net for Youth Initiative, which is a joint partnership between and Saint Louis Public Schools to provide services to at-risk youth.

Cure Violence is an international organization that has recently launched in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to deescalate violent situations within their own communities. To learn more, visit https://cvg.org/

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Teenage boy accused of shooting parents while his father was choking his mother - KSDK.com

Due to the extreme positions of both parties, some people will lead us to believe that decentralized technology and regulation are mutually exclusive.Although this narrative has become common, a more evolved view is Decentralization and supervision are inevitable, So the best results will be produced with the unity of regulators and innovators. But what will this cooperation look like?

At the Stellar Development Foundation, our view is that regulators and innovators will (and should) influence each other, which means that both parties should be prepared to compromise. Lets start with some honest self-reflection: the intrinsic qualities of blockchain or cryptocurrency should not be completely unregulated, but on the other hand, the technology should not be banned or unfair just because it is new or different Local supervision.

Distributed ledger technology is a paradigm shift. Traditional finance is vertical and intermediate, while decentralized finance (DeFi) is flat and peer-to-peer (P2P). The problem we are facing now is that financial supervision is almost unanimously based on the premise of supervisory intermediary-the absence of intermediary means that there is no judicial linkage. It is precisely because of the lack of clear jurisdiction that regulators are nervous about the future of decentralization. Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Accepted This concern is clearly reflected in its recent draft guidelines on virtual assets and VASP:

In addition, the full maturity of these protocols that support P2P transactions may herald a future without financial intermediaries, which may challenge the validity of the FATFs recommendations.

However, as we have before famousWhen it comes to the draft FATF guidelines, concerns about losing market share or shrinking regulatory domains do not form the basis for sound decision-making.

related: Draft FATF guidelines for DeFi compliance

Often, the fear of a paradigm shift will lead to a regulatory crackdown. De-risking is a typical example. As regulators promulgate more and more stringent anti-money laundering regulations, companies have responded by cutting off services to less profitable customers. As a result, regulatory and business interests are served, but more and more individuals, especially the global poor and the companies that serve them, find themselves shut out of the financial system. FATF recently recognition Its role in perpetuating this harmful problem. However, those who are forced to withdraw from the financial system due to regulation are those who are most empowered by blockchain technology by reducing reliance on intermediaries. At the Stellar Development Foundation, we have witnessed this firsthand through cooperation with partners such as Leaf Global and Tala, which provide blockchain-based financial services to the working poor and immigrants fleeing disasters or persecution in their home countries.

Despite these benefits, the national response to blockchain has been mixed.Favorite country India, Turkey with Nigeria See fear, others like Singapore, Switzerland, Bermuda, Ukraine right now Savior Recognize the opportunity and develop a new regulatory framework that includes the decentralized nature of the blockchain. They are reaping rewards. These countries are becoming global blockchain technology centers.

Innovators and entrepreneurs are attracted by their established and stable regulatory environment. Although the United States and the European Union are increasingly calling for regulatory crackdowns on cryptocurrencies, the countries listed above have gone further.

The United States and other advanced economies, especially Western advanced economies, are rapidly approaching an inflection point. The future decision is no longer whether to supervise, but how to supervise. Fortunately, policymakers do not have to make decisions in a vacuum, and it is best to learn from the two groups of countries mentioned above-those that try to keep cryptocurrency away and those that welcome it. Without exception, those who actively adjust regulators to adapt to the technology are more successful than those that try to ban it. However, although it is not too late for the United States to follow successful examples, it must definitely choose to do so.

Self-custodial wallet rules proposed by the Financial Crime Enforcement Network (FinCEN) provide A useful case study of this choice. From the very beginning, FinCENs proposal opposed decentralization and personal empowerment. Although it will not explicitly prohibit self-hosted wallets, many people think it will be in practice. However, the blockchain community responded forcefully, posting a record number of comments in a short period of time. One of the themes that emerged in these comments was that, due to the inherent transparency of the public blockchain, FinCEN already had access to most of the information sought by the proposal. To its credit, FinCEN seems to have listened to opinions and will seek further contact with those who know the technology best.

Although we will have to wait to see the end of the story, FinCEN now seems to be participating in a method of working with the industry, which is conceived by the rulemaking process-but not always in practice. Compromise is not easy, but it will produce the best results.

related: Authorities are seeking to close the gap in uncustodial wallets

The mission of regulators is to protect markets, not to ensure that they will never change. Policy makers should accept that decentralization is a new and different paradigm, and it deserves to have its own regulatory approach. So far, the industrys resistance has not been the idea of being regulated, but being forced into an inappropriate regulatory framework. Nevertheless, regulators and innovators can find a middle ground, but only if both sides maintain an open mind.

Likewise, the blockchain community must better explain why and how the technology is different, educate decision makers about the actual risks, while highlighting real examples of its benefits. In addition, we should accept appropriately tailored supervision.

After all, the legitimacy of the technology accepted by regulators is likely to be the last obstacle on the road to mass adoption.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed here are only those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

Seth Hertling He is the head of policy and government relations for the Stellar Development Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the development and growth of Stellar. Stellar is an open source network that connects the worlds financial infrastructure. Seth started his career as a securities regulator and most recently served as an executive director and assistant general counsel for public policy and regulatory affairs at FS Investments, a leading alternative asset management company. Seth holds an MBA in Finance from Wright State University and a JD from Ohio State University.

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How smart supervision can improve the future of blockchain - QNT

This article provides a guide to setting up a Black Asian Minority Ethnic shared governance council and outlines the benefits for patients and staff

The Black, Asian and minority ethnic shared-governance council at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has encouraged personal and professional development of staff from these ethnic groups through involvement in both projects that raise awareness of their positive contributions and culturally sensitive decisions around patient care. In this article, we explain the differences between such a shared-governance council and a Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff network. We describe, step-by-step, how we set up the council in 2018 and the training and structures needed. We provide examples of opportunities for collaborative work in which the council has been involved, with feedback from staff, and identify common challenges faced and potential solutions.

Citation: Chivinge A et al (2021) Setting up a Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) shared-governance council in an acute hospital trust. Nursing Times [online]; 117: 7, 18-22.

Authors: Aquiline Chivinge is clinical lead shared governance and leadership, Onyi Enwezor is shared governance educator, Sue Haines and Joanne Cooper are assistant director of nursing, all at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) is one of the biggest and busiest acute hospitals in England, employing more than 17,000 people. The trust, based over three main sites, provides care to more than 2.5 million residents of Nottingham and its surrounding communities, and specialist services cover a further 4 million people from neighbouring counties.

The trust started using a shared-governance model of leadership in 2012, with the first shared-governance unit practice council established on an acute medical admissions ward (Dinning et al, 2014). Shared governance is a model of leadership that brings responsibility for decision making to frontline clinical staff (Porter-OGrady, 2004); its core principles are equity, accountability, partnership and ownership (Swihart and Hess, 2018).

There are several models of shared-governance councils (SGCs) but, in response to staff consultation, NUH opted for the councillor model, supplemented with specialist and themed councils. This model consists of councils that focus on clinical practice, quality assurance, management, research, advocacy, and staff development and education (Swihart and Hess, 2018). One of the themed councils set up to support this model is NUHs Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) SGC, which has averaged 15 members since it began in April 2018.

The approach of shared governance can be used to develop sustainable culture change and an inclusive approach to talent development (Haines, 2013). Jones et al (2015) noted that different generations need to be managed differently to get the best out of them, and shared governance is a potential model for this. NUH defines shared governance as, staff having collective ownership to develop and improve practice, to ensure patients receive caring, safe and confident care (Taylor, 2016).

In 2018, the trusts shared-governance leadership council conducted a review and identified that there was limited representation of nurses and midwives of BAME groups in the existing 50 unit practice councils; specific action was taken to increase the diversity of involvement and representation. An analysis of NUHs 2017-2018 workforce race equality standard (WRES) data and staff survey responses showed limited involvement and negative experiences of nurses and midwives of these ethnicities in the trust, which was in line with the national picture (NHS Equality and Diversity Council, 2019; Picker Institute, 2018). As a result of these findings, a trust-wide BAME SGC was launched as a proactive voice for change, empowerment and engagement of frontline staff from BAME backgrounds. Its members identified that the core mission was to unite, empower and inspire.

There are distinct differences between a BAME staff network and a BAME SGC. The latter is a themed council empowering frontline staff to have the confidence to voice, and be involved in, decisions affecting patient care and staff wellbeing; NHS England note that their staff network focuses on encouraging, promoting and embedding key equality, diversity and inclusion drivers to influence levels of engagement and satisfaction in the workplace.

When the SGC was formed at NUH, a staff network for staff from BAME backgrounds existed, but was limited by a lack of staff engagement and relevant representation. After the success of the SGC, the network was relaunched in May 2020. Table1 shows the main differences between the two.

The proposal for a BAME SGC was sponsored by the chief nursing officer. It was formed with the help of an assistant director of nursing and shared-governance educators. All SGC members received specialist training in shared governance and the process started with 12 to 15 staff volunteers.

Efforts were made to represent all divisions so everyone could benefit from projects or work done by the SGC. This was done by highlighting to staff that representing their clinical areas would give them the opportunity to have a voice in decision making about the clinical care they provide to patients and, at the same time, potentially could improve job satisfaction.

The first few meetings were spent advertising the SGC and establishing a strategy, terms of reference and group conduct rules; the roles of chair, vice chair and secretary were also decided on. The people to hold these positions were nominated and confirmed through voting. SGC members agreed on the terms of reference, including meeting time and frequency, and venue booking. Once this had been arranged, staff could request shared-governance time on the e-roster. At NUH, staff have six hours per month for projects, including time to attend leadership councils.

This process happened in a culture in which some senior staff already knew about shared-governance leadership and its impact on staff morale, job satisfaction, patient experience and clinical outcomes. The chief executive team, including the chief nursing officer, were already supporting the shared-governance approach.

From the outset, the BAME SGC had the assistant director of nursing as a member to help guide and support it through professional issues, such as career development, mentoring and coaching.

The training was overseen by a shared-governance clinical educator and included quality, service improvement and redesign. To help with the strategy of diversifying interview panels, SGC members were given extra training in recruitment and retention processes. All new council members are expected to attend training together as this helps to establish team dynamics.

SGC members meet once a month to:

Meetings are chaired with agendas, while minutes and formal monthly reporting are sent to the shared-governance shared area where they are selected by shared-governance team for discussion at the leadership council chaired by the chief nursing officer. The nominated secretary provides administration support and meeting notes are circulated to the SGC members.

Everyone on the shared-governance or leadership council gets the opportunity to discuss current challenges and successes in an informal, relaxed environment.

Additional important messages and learning are summarised and communicated via the chief nurse of the trusts newsletter and video blog.

The first few meetings focused on listening to staff and feedback from patients; after this, the SGC agreed to prioritise the following areas of action

There were several ways in which the SGC had a positive impact on patients, including:

The SGC feeds back to the trust board on issues affecting patients.

Box 1. Supporting patients from minority ethnic groups who experience hair loss

In April 2018, soon after the Black, Asian and minority ethnic shared-governance council began, it started working with different multidisciplinary teams to improve patient and staff experiences. A year later, the council chair was successful in getting a National Institute for Health Research 70@70 Senior Nurse Research Leader three-year fellowship.

Through this work and reaching out to the community, a connection was made with Sistas Against Cancer, a local group that highlighted issues for patients who experience hair loss and are from minority ethnic groups. The fact that some patients did not have access to the products they needed, or those that were appropriate for them, was presented to the trusts board with the support of the divisional nurse for cancer and associated specialties. The collaboration resulted in a new approach, which began with a survey of the current service. A patient hair-loss information leaflet with a hair-care page for people of colour and white minority ethnic groups was produced along with a factsheet providing details of hairdressers, wig providers and support organisations to help patients and suppliers. The project is ongoing.

Box 2. Award-winning memory menu

In 2019, the dietetics department worked closely with Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) patient groups and the Black, Asian and minority ethnic shared-governance council (SGC) to incorporate patient views about the dishes they love to eat when they are not at their best. The SGC used social media and feedback sheets at NUH sites to collect feedback from a diverse patient population, including different ethnicities and religions in the communities covered, adding hundreds of suggestions into the mix.

NUH serves 1,800 meals each day to patients on wards using fresh, local ingredients. Chris Neale, assistant head of facilities, said: What we have been doing here is really unique so much so that we have received national award recognition. The engagement weve had has been fantastic and its enabled the team to come up with some diverse ideas the SGC added 342 dish suggestions alone and we will use this information to develop more ideas in the future. Were also developing a menu for the childrens hospital based on feedback from children and young people, which will be called the Robins Menu.

Trish Cargill, chair of NUHs Patient Partnership Group, said: The memory menu is a fantastic initiative, which helps patients and the people of Nottingham let us know what food they would like to see on our menus. It is great to see social media being used so effectively to help [us] engage and update our menus.

The SGC has given training opportunities to some staff who might not have accessed it due to work roles. Being a member of the BAME SGC has also led to opportunities to present work at conferences, local events and meetings, regionally at the Royal College of Nursings East Midlands Region Black History Month conference and nationally at the 5th Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Conference 2020 in London. These opportunities:

Box 3. Empowerment through involvement with the SGC

My name is Onyi Enwezor. I qualified as a nurse and midwife from the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and, in 2003, I moved to the UK. I joined Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) two years later as a band 5 staff nurse. In 2011, I obtained a BSc (Hons) degree in Healthcare Studies (Nursing) from the University of Nottingham and I progressed to a deputy sister role. Having worked for the same trust for 15 years and only moving up a band, I felt disempowered when I saw students I mentored become my bosses. There was a lot of nepotism and I felt I was just a tick box for interviews. I was at the point of giving up when the Black, Asian and minority ethnic shared-governance council (BAME SGC) was formed. Before becoming a council member, I was very shy and terrified of public speaking. Shared governance has really empowered me as an individual to be able to speak up to improve staff experience, and put myself forward to carry out improvement projects.

As the vice-chair of the council, I was also expected to present at leadership councils and conferences. Initially, it was nerve-wracking due to cultural differences: in Nigeria, looking a senior nurse in the eye is disrespectful. I was determined to overcome this setback and have done so with encouragement from the chief nurse and the SGC chair and colleagues.

Feeling empowered, I was keen to support others, so I worked hard to develop the skills needed to become a shared-governance clinical educator. This role allows me to coach, mentor, talent manage and talent spot colleagues, and encourage them to develop their own career pathway. I have learned to pay very close attention not only to the story being told, but also to how it is told tone of the voice, body language and have become an active listener. I have gone from the nurse who would not look at the chief nurse to being the first deputy chair vice-chair, then chair of the SGC and, in October 2020, I received a British Empire Medal from the Queen.

Feedback from staff involved in the SGC includes:

[The] BAME SGC has given me an identity and purpose.

[The] BAME SGC has given me a voice I never knew I had.

Since joining the [SGC], my confidence to apply for opportunities has grown and I am now able to network with other staff from other divisions and departments.

We now believe our voices are being heard by the organisation, as minor incremental changes are occurring in the right direction.

There has also been recognition for the staff involved in the SGC who won the NUH Honours Award 2018 in the equality, diversity and inclusion category, as well as those who were shortlisted for the NUH Team Awards 2019 in the respect and inclusion for everyone category.

The NHS is actively recruiting from overseas; having international nurses involved in the BAME SGC helps these new recruits settle into their new working environment with a sense of belonging and contribution, while gaining autonomy and job satisfaction, as well as professional development.

The BAME SGC is part of an ongoing culture change and is providing a foundation for improvements via different workstreams. It promotes culture change by:

As previously identified, setting up a BAME SGC was supported by the existing organisational commitment to the four structural changes described by Swihart and Hess (2018). Table 2 shows some considerations and suggested solutions for an organisation setting up a BAME SGC based on our experience.

Support from the chief nursing officer and senior nurses is crucial it helps bring on board the trust chief executive and trust board of directors and creates senior management buy-in. Everyone has to know from the start that shared governance is not a project but a culture change and so will be part of the trusts long-term strategy. It is also important to:

Challenges may arise when setting up a BAME SGC. On the basis of our experience, Table3 lists some, with possible solutions.

In this article we have described the principle of shared governance and how we used it to put in place a BAME SGC. Although there were challenges, in just a few years, the SGC has produced demonstrable positive impacts for staff, the patient experience and the trust. The experiences of NUH may differ from those of other trusts and local situations must be taken into account, but we hope the basic steps and fundamental considerations outlined here prove useful to others when discussing how to make these changes in their organisation.

Dinning A et al (2014) Knowing Why We Do What We Do: Establishing A Unit Practice Council to Improve Evidence Based Nursing Practice in Acute Medicine using Appreciative Inquiry. Foundation of Nursing Studies.

Haines S (2013) Applying talent management to nursing. Nursing Times; 109: 47, 12-15.

Jones K et al (2015) Mind the Gap: Exploring the Needs of Early Career Nurses and Midwives in the Workplace. Health Education England.

NHS Equality and Diversity Council (2019) NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard: 2018 Data Analysis Report for NHS Trusts. NHS.

Picker Institute (2018) National NHS Staff Survey in England. PI.

Porter-OGrady T (2004) Overview: shared governance: is it a model for nurses to gain control over their practice? The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing; 9: 1.

Swihart D, Hess RG (2018) Shared Governance: A Practical Approach to Transforming Interprofessional Healthcare. HCPro.

Taylor K (2016) Using shared governance to empower nurses. Nursing Times; 112: 1/2, 20-23.

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Setting up a Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) shared-governance council in an acute hospital trust - Nursing Times

INTERVIEWUsha Kakade, Businesswoman and Philanthropist

An entrepreneur and philanthropist, Usha Kakade, as part of our Leaders of the City initiative, speaks on her journey, and the future. She feels that we have received a lot from society and it is our rightful duty to give it back to the society.

For businesswoman and philanthropist Usha Kakade, the road to success has not been easy but she did it with her never-give-it-up attitude and hard work. Amid all these, she thought to give it back to the society that helped her shape as the entrepreneurial woman that she has become today.

As a true leader of the city, and of course the society at large, she shares her thoughts with fellow citizens in this free-wheeling chat.

What is your inspiration behind starting to contribute to society?I started my business 15 years back, when very few women were working in the construction business arena. Being a successful businesswoman comes with a lot of struggles and hard work. But, I never gave up! Being a successful businesswoman, I always felt that we have received a lot from society and it is our rightful duty to give it back to society. This thought inspired me to get into philanthropy. I was into social service for many years and to bring more visibility to my work and to have more sustainable social work, I started my NGO, Gravittus Foundation.

What has been your experience of the COVID pandemic in the last one-and-half years?We all are aware of the current pandemic situation and how its affected the entire world. According to me, this pandemic situation really taught us the importance of health. We should not take our health habits lightly and should work on it continuously. On the social front, its my duty to help the needy in this pandemic. The second wave of COVID-19 has seen several patients finding it difficult to get beds in hospitals. In this critical situation, I tried my best towards getting hospital beds for deprived sections of society. Through Gravittus Foundation, we took initiative to distribute essential grocery packets to the needy people and importantly to the most neglected Transgender community. When I came across the fact that people are unable to see their loved ones for the last time, it was an extremely disturbing moment. I wanted to ensure that people get to see their loved ones. On this background, special body bags were made and we donated these body bags to Sassoon General Hospitals in Pune; so that the face is visible to the loved ones. This little effort goes a long way in preserving the last sight of those who left us because of COVID-19.

How do you balance between being an entrepreneur, a philanthropist and a mother?Being an entrepreneur, it is challenging as I had started as a young energetic chairperson whose mission was to conquer the world and I know that employees would look at me with high expectations. While I was adjusting to the corporate world, I was also trying to balance the changing demands of my personal and family life. No matter where you stand in the business world, you are always a woman first and the first responsibility is always your family. And, the support I received from my family which contributed to my growth in the business arena. My children are my strength and being a mother I always ensure their well-being first. All this gives me positive energy to balance all the responsibilities in a successful manner.

How has been your experience while working for underprivileged children and women through your organisation?Through my Gravittus Foundation, we implemented various social projects. Gravittus Foundation in the year 2014-15 implemented a one-year-long Dental Check-up project. Under this project, Gravittus Foundation completed dental check-ups of 72,823 children from 311 Pune Municipal Corporation schools. Gravittus Foundation in the years 2015 to 2017, conducted Eye Project in all schools of corporation with eye check-up, and further treatment of eye and providing spectacles also took place. All these services provided free of cost to the underprivileged children. Thus, this project is giving eyesight to those who cannot afford the treatment. Under the Eye Project, eye screening of a total 78,298 students from 307 PMC schools is completed. Spectacles were provided and eye surgeries were performed successfully. Gravittus Foundation organised a programme, called Changemakers. Changemakers is a programme that leads to developing the ability of self-defence in young college-going girls. Gravittus Foundation conducted this activity for 2,000 girls from 174 colleges for this programme. Working with all these children and women from underprivileged sections of society is very important and also very challenging at times. But, the joy I saw on the childrens face after a successful eye surgery is beyond words.

Photos by Rahul Deshmukh

What is your idea of women empowerment?When I set foot in the real estate industry 15 years ago, there were hardly any women working in the sector. But, I am a firm believer in women power. I believe every woman has a good quality within her, which needs to be identified and developed. It takes a village to raise a child, it takes a woman to raise the whole nation. I am all for women empowerment; because for me, its all about one woman empowering the other woman. I always say, respect each other and support each other.

What improvement would you like to see in Punes infrastructure?We all are aware of the current pandemic situation due to COVID-19 and how its affected all the business sector worldwide, real estate also suffered in many ways being a Pune-based real estate company, still we are very much optimistic about the bounce back of business growth in coming months. Pune is known for education and IT hubs, millions of people are working hard and making this city as one of the finest city for people living, recent survey also shows that this is one of the most admirable city for living and growth in all respect due to its climate, discipline, ease of doing business, connectivity and ample opportunity of everyday progress. Pune has reputable MIDC where many national/international manufacturing companies and there are many best IT parks, where worlds Fortune 500 IT and financial companies along with local companies are operating, these infrastructure are continuously creating various opportunity for people to live here and attract millions of people to come this city for their better livelihoods. Real estate demand will always be here because of industries, financial, education and IT hubs so rather than any worries it would be really great that we could think how we can offer innovative, unique and customised solutions to our real estate customers for their ultimate satisfaction and value for money purchasing.

Your expectations from state and central governments for the betterment of women and children.I think the state and central governments should work hand in hand for the betterment of women and children. Also, strong networking of NGOs and government sectors is also beneficial for this betterment.

What are your future plans?As per future plans of my social initiatives are concerned, two projects are in line. My organisation, Gravittus Foundation, in association with UNICEF, organised a Roundtable Conference on the Rights of the Child for Entertainment Industry People in October 2019. In todays world, global trends like digital technologies, environmental change, mass migration and urbanization are changing childhood fast. On this background, we organized this conference to generate awareness on CRC (Convention on the Rights of the Child). This whole year, in partnership with UNICEF, we will be generating this awareness in public through social media platforms of celebrities, as they have massive fan following. As in this year, we are completely focusing on creating awareness related to COVID-Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) and Vaccination. We have recently started counseling cells in our PCMC identified schools in association with Mpower, a mental health initiative of Aditya Birla Education Trust. Mental, psychological, behavioral problems of children will be assessed and will be resolved through the process of one to one counselling of children.

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Pune Times Mirror Leaders of the City is an initiative where infl uential and inspiring leaders of Pune share their insights on the happenings around, and how to take a giant leap forward to make the city more vibrant in the near future. The city, balancing its centuries-old heritage and tech-driven generation at the same time, has no dearth of visionaries, who can lead us to a better time overcoming present crises. In a series of talks, the leaders policymakers, dedicated administrators and philanthropists are coming up with their ideas for better living for thousands of citizens. This unique initiative is supported by Food Heal and Lokmanya Multipurpose Co-op. Society Ltd.

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Its all about one woman empowering the other... respect each other and support each other: Usha Kakad - Pune Mirror

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Women and minoritiesare more likely to say that mentoring is an essential aspect of their careers. Mentorship is critical for both groups, as they are more likely to experienceimpostor syndromein the officea nagging feeling that they don't belong. However, just as diversity within an enterprise fuels innovation (and thus, drives growth), diverse mentors can provide women and minorities with unique viewpoints to the organization that help both groups advance professionally.

It also encourages these groups to form relationships and network with others who may not inherently understand their challenges, which can ultimately change the mentor's perspective. An example of this would be a Black female professional who purposefully seeks out the mentorship of a White male executive in their organization.

Sara Connellis an author and the founder of Thought Leader Academy, a personalized online coaching program for women entrepreneurs.Sarah Pendrickis an author and the founder of GirlTalk Network- a brand focused on female empowerment. Below, both women discuss diversity of thought, how to form a diverse support system in the workplace, and how having diverse mentors is critical for women.

Christine Michel Carter:Is it no longer essential to seek out mentors who "look like you?"

Sara Connell:It's been proven in research that it's crucially important to seek out mentors who "look like us," but this isn't limited to physical appearance. Finding a mentor with a similar background who has achieved what you want to achieve- with a career that "looks like yours"- can prove that a woman can do it too. Finding a mentor who is seven steps ahead of you in your personal or professional goals can also help a woman make long-term career plans.

Sarah Pendrick:The purpose of mentorship is to support you in your growth and provide guidance both personally and professionally and towards what you envision as success. I believe that the most successful, open-minded, and aligned people are ones who have the opportunity to see the world from different perspectives and experiences. One of the best ways to do this is by meeting, experiencing, and being guided by people from different backgrounds and walks of life. If you can master the gift of understanding and communicate with any person to where they feel heard, you can negotiate, partner, and find understanding in any situation.

Carter:Can women find mentors in industries outside of their own?

Connell:It's incredibly valuable to work with mentors who come from a background we've never experienced or accomplished great things in another industry or via a different path. Diversity expands our minds and opens us up to new possibilities. For greatest success, identify and implement the best practices in your industry and niche (through the guidance of a mentor similar to you) and bring in the best practices from other industries. This combination can make the difference between someone staying in the middle of the pack and breaking out as a leader and innovator.

Pendrick:Mentorship in the workplace is critical, especially to women. 60% of men are in management positions and are most likely to mentor other men for their future position. While I believe that it is important for women to have a mentor that we see as ourselves so that we can know "we can do it too," it is also important for anyone who does not look or come from the same background as us to step into mentorship so that we can begin to reach common ground, share in experiences and become stronger in everything that we do because of this.

Carter:How can women find diverse mentors who align with their personal values?

Connell:In mentorship, I find value alignment more important than background or industry. Ask yourself: "who is doing something I want to do in a way that inspires me in a way that aligns with my values?" If your goal is to make $10 million next year, there may be people doing that in various ways. But look for someone who's doing it in a way that inspires you. This could be an innovative thought leader who is also a great mother or partner, someone who is kind to people, treats their staff and team well, or provides tremendous value for the investment the people investing in her products and programs. Identify the values of your ideal mentor, and they will show up.

Carter:How does diverse mentorship affect the development of a woman's personal brand?

Pendrick:Starting a personal brand is not only about sharing a piece of you that people can relate to or learn from. It's also about learning from other people outside of your comfort zone so that you can build a more dynamic, empathic, and powerful personal brand that attracts and invites a wide variety of people into your mission. In my bookBeautifully Brave, I share tangible and practical tips and science-based processes that people can do daily to stand in their power and build a personal brand and connect to people on a different level. It takes confidence and energy to create a personal brand, and your level of self-care and openness to things outside of what you know will only support you in taking you to the level that you dream about while being a part of changing the world around you.

Carter:How do women find diverse mentors amidst and after the global pandemic?

Connell:Research shows our income, confidence, and success will reflect the five people with whom we spend the most time. Even in our post-pandemic world, we can find support groups, mentors, and inspiring peers who can help stretch us to achieve our goals. For example, when we went virtual as a company last year, we looked for ways to create connection, support, and intimacy online. Since I coach writers and thought leaders, we hosted write-ins, online happy hours, scavenger hunts, mindset retreats, and business networking masterminds.

Search online for your ideal support group, and you'll have more choices than you can count. Look for people that make the journey fun.

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How Women Can Form A Diverse Support System In The Workplace - Forbes

Jammu: In this months episode of Awaam ki Awaaz radio programme, aired today on all local & primary channels of All India Radio (AIR) stations in the UT, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha acknowledged the tireless contribution of corona warriors and frontline workers and termed them as the embodiment of determination and dedication.

With their hard work, they have laid the foundation stone for the future of Jammu and Kashmir. Today, Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a new dawn and is moving ahead as an equal society. The credit goes to these warriors who dedicated themselves to the cause, he added.

Noting that it was only due to peoples collective efforts the Covid situation in the UT is inching towards normalcy, the Lt Governor cautioned that with utmost sensitivity and responsibility, we all have to follow Covid protocol to keep the dreaded infection at bay.

The Lt Governor said that in the coming days, we have only one objective to accelerate the economic development of J&K and make it multi-dimensional. He added that working within the tenets of Financial Prudence, Transparency, and Accountability, the J&K government is moving ahead the agenda of all-round development in the region. He further said that the recent announcement of Rs. 12,600 Crore District Capex Budget is historic and is more than double the last years Budget of Rs 5134 crores. The Budget has been made by peoples representatives keeping in mind the needs of common man.

Jammu and Kashmir is full of self-confidence, I hear the echo of self-power among the people, he added.

Coming down heavily on the recent issue of unwarranted rumours being spread by a few with vested interests, the Lt Governor said that certain elements cannot digest the speedy execution of development works and effective management of Covid-19. We need to reject all such rumours and focus on playing a constructive role. For the past several decades, such people deliberately misled our young generation for personal gains and deprived them of development dividends. So I humbly request all of you not to pay heed to such rumours, he added.

On the problem of power outage/cuts in Jammu region, the Lt Governor assured the people that those responsible for their inconvenience shall be made accountable. He further said that we had prepared for winter in Kashmir and its results were visible. For Jammu also, we had made arrangements for providing power to maximum number of people in summer but it was thwarted by some unwanted elements. The inquiry committee will identify such people and take strict action.

He informed that for the last 11 months the administration has been making sincere endeavours to explore the options and to provide as much electricity generated in last 74 years to the people of the UT, in the next 4 years. For this, projects worth Rs. 52,821 Crore have already been approved. He thanked the Honble Prime Minister for providing necessary interventions and financial assistance for strengthening the infrastructure of transmission, distribution of electricity in the UT. 115 projects of transmission, distribution have been completed by working at a fast pace, and the remaining 48 projects will be completed by March 2022 next year, he informed

Expressing his gratitude, the Lt Governor highlighted the contributions of several Corona warriors who, among others, have put their lives at risk for the service of the people.

The Lt Governor quoted the example of dedicated ASHA worker, Ms. Trishla Devi of Kaulpur Village of Samba, who visits around 20 families everyday and checks for covid symptoms and takes the needy to hospital. For last two months, she has been making sure that everyone remains healthy, gets vaccinated, and follows Covid protocol regularly. The Lt Governor directed the concerned authorities to take action on the suggestion of Trishla Devi for holding a monthly medical camp in remote areas of the district. He saluted the grit of all other ASHA workers like Trishla Devi who are a bridge between rural population and the Primary Health Centres.

He also acknowledged the great strides J&K has achieved in Vaccine coverage and how people are discussing J&K model of Vaccination and want to replicate the same in other parts of the country. He said that this is only because of the dedication and toil of our hardworking health workers.

Sh. Zafar Ali, Ms. Meeta and Ms. Najmina of Kullan Primary Health Center in Ganderbal district together have vaccinated more than 12,000 people. For above-45 age group, 100% first dose vaccination has been done in this district. In our second district Shopian, the team of Mohammad Isaq, Riyaz Ahmed, and Sister Afruza in the district hospital has vaccinated 12 to 15 thousand people in the last two months.

The Lt Governor also mentioned about Ms. Nasreen of Purmandal, Samba who is providing vaccine doses to people in far-flung areas.

The pictures from border villages of Gurez have shown us how Ms. Shamshada Bano, Dr. Abu Bakr, Abbas Sheikh and Sarwar are vaccinating people by traversing miles through the snow. Our Corona Warriors in Bandipora- Dr. Jehangir, Ms. Shamima Begum, Ms. Nilofar Jan, and their companions had reached Weyan by walking 18 kms, and due to their hard work, it became the first village in the country to achieve 100% vaccination coverage.

The Lt Governor appreciated the tireless work and service spirit of all health workers Jammu district due to which 100% vaccination has been achieved in the district.

Mentioning the suggestion given by Anganwari worker, Ms. Kiran Bala of R.S Pura regarding supplementary nutrition for the children and transforming Anganwadi Centers as meeting places for the women & Counseling Centers, the Lt Governor assured her that administration will take a proper decision after considering her suggestions.

Referring to the letter of Ms Kausar Jabeen of Pulwama, the Lt Governor said that Sister Kausar has been constantly doing all the work like vaccination, patient care, testing for the past one year, at a local government facility, but despite her noble service she sometimes has to face anger of some patients or their family members. She has also highlighted how she faced a social boycott in her neighborhood owing to a misconception that by working among corona patients in the hospital, she had become a super spreader of the infection.

On this, the Lt Governor urged all the citizens to acknowledge the selfless efforts of health workers and doctors, who are nothing short of the worldly manifestations of our God. They deserve our respect our gratitude, he noted.

Responding to her request of cutting short the long working hours, the Lt Governor said that instructions have been issued to the CMOs to recruit additional staff in all the districts to reduce load on healthcare workers. Its process has also started and very soon a large number of trained manpower will be available in the health sector.

The Lt Governor also mentioned about the Ambulance driver, Sh Mukesh Singh of Hiranagar who suggested for periodic auditing of 108 ambulances so that the First Aid infrastructure is properly maintained and necessary additions to it are also done.

Praising the philanthropic work during the crisis of Corona epidemic, the Lt Governor observed that those who have helped people with the spirit of service to mankind deserve all the praise.

He mentioned about Sh. Raghav Vaidya, a resident of Katra, and his associates who arranged food for more than 200 needy people during the lockdown; Sh Rais Ahmed and his wife Nida Rehman, residents of Srinagar, who arranged 800 meals per day for the Covid positive patients, their attendants and the security staff of the hospitals and are still delivering home cooked food to the needy; Sh Tariq Ahmed of Srinagar who had converted the houseboat as a Floating Ambulance, in which along with First Aid, PPE Kits, he had also installed a Loud-Speaker to inform people about the Corona Protocol; Inspector Sohan Singh of Gadigarh, Jammu, who provided reading material to 5,000 poor children; Dr Shivani, Medical Officer of CHC Lakhanpur, who is serving the patients despite being pregnant for 8 months saying she feels fortunate to have served the country at such a time. Dr. Shivani and our other friends are working on the great ideals of imparting service to the motherland, he added.

The Lt Governor also mentioned about the invaluable contribution of banking personnel, courier delivery agents, sweepers, telemedicine staff, testing and sampling staff, chemists, farmers, and people associated with essential services- vegetables, fruits and milk vendors who have worked in the background and made an incomparable contribution in normalizing the covid situation.

Recalling last months Awaam ki Awaaz episode, when he spoke about families who lost their loved ones untimely, the Lt Governor said that the Saksham scheme has been launched by the UT administration for them and such families will be looked after with full responsibility. He added that Honble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has also started a separate scheme named PM Cares for Children for the help and empowerment of the children affected by Corona, which will benefit the families of our UT.

He also informed that the system of providing ration to the poor and orphans in Jammu and Kashmir is going on continuously, so that no family remains hungry. The neglected poor and deprived sections are the focal point of our priority. When the benefits of all the schemes reach the last person standing in the last queue, only then we will be satisfied that the administration is working properly, he added.

The Lt Governor emphasized that the UT Government has worked by making healthcare of the people a topmost priority and it was possible only with the cooperation of Honble Prime Minister and the Central Government. We were able to control Corona better than other parts of the country because the administration as well as all the citizens, cooperated and the Team JammuKashmir worked relentlessly on the ground. Not only was the number of oxygen beds increased, but the capacity of 15,000 LMP Oxygen has been enhanced more than three times to 53,000 LPM, which will be added upto 90 thousand LPM in the coming days, observed the Lt Governor

Effective administrative system has brought Jammu and Kashmir to the new threshold of robust health infrastructure. But some shortcomings have also been found in health facilities, which will be corrected at the earliest by a new methodology and effective policy. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude towards my doctors. Many doctors have served the people with hard work and dedication. But I understand, there are some doctors who probably need to take inspiration from their colleagues, the Lt Governor added.

Congratulating the farmers for the meaningful changes that have been made in the infrastructure of agriculture and horticulture, the Lt Governor said that a new era is being ushered in this sector.

On the suggestions of Sh. Adnan Ali Khan, a resident of Pinjura village in Shopian, who is selling 15 varieties of apple through online mode, the Lt Governor directed Agriculture Department to promote naturally degradable packaging under a policy and impart training to all the farmers of Jammu and Kashmir in using Bio-degradable packaging. The Lt Governor informed that to make a permanent and efficient system for other youth like Adnan, the government will provide financial help to at least 50,000 aspiring boys and girls this year so that they can become entrepreneurs. The administration has also decided to established a youth club in every panchayat through which they would be connected with creative works, he said.

Responding to the suggestions of Sh. Subash Raina of Bhaderwah regarding sharing of best practices in Horticulture sector, Lt Governor said that despite Corona, the administration has been working diligently in the field of agriculture and horticulture. Investments are being made in a systematic manner in Jammu and Kashmir for High-Density Plantation, Food Processing, Cold Storage and many schemes are being launched for the farmers. In this month only, Liquid Nano Urea has been started by IFFCO for the farmer brothers of the Union Territory, so that there is more produce and the land also remains fertile.

The Lt Governor said that taking cognizance of the adorable video of complaint by Mahira, a little girl from Srinagar for the respected Prime Minister; the School Education Department has made a new policy for the children.

He also remembered 4 year old girl Adha Shakeel who became an unfortunate victim of man-animal Conflict. While paying tributes to her, the Lt Governor said that by destroying forests for development, we are creating difficulties for the coming generation. Along with the Wildlife Department, it is our collective responsibility to handle man-animal Conflict effectively. Feeling the pain, anguish of Adhas family, I urge you all to strike a balance between nature and progress, the Lt Governor said during Awaam ki Awaz.

On the suggestions of an engineering student Shivam Gupta from Poonch regarding disruption in studies, reducing stress, adding co-curriculum activities to online mode, and regarding Optic Fibre Connectivity in villages of J&K and training of teachers for online education suggested by Isha Kavatra, a Guardian from kathua, the Lt Governor said that last year on 28th November, the Administrative council has passed J&K Communication and Connectivity Infrastructure Policy (JKCCIP) under which the mobile and broadband connectivity would be strengthened in whole of J&K.

We are also paying close attention to the business, industry, and tourism sectors affected by Corona and decisions would be taken for their convenience. Work will also be done on a war footing to promote the art and culture of Jammu and Kashmir, said the Lt Governor.

Due to the pandemic, the pace of the new industrial scheme had also stopped. Now efforts will be intensified to take it on the ground in the coming days. In the infrastructure sector, the work of Z-Mode Escape Tunnel has just been completed, which will provide a lot of convenience to the people of Sonamarg. Soon an 8-km long Banihal-Qazigund tunnel will also be commissioned, providing all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Jammu.

Today the Jammu and Kashmir administration has completely transitioned to e-Office, thereby ending the practice of hundreds of years old Durbar Move. Now both the Jammu and Srinagar secretariats can function normally for twelve months. This will save the government Rs 200 crore per year, which will be used for the welfare of the deprived sections, said the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor also extended his greetings for the International Day of Yoga. He said that yoga is a science, which has been adopted equally in all religions.

The Lt Governor mentioned about Smt. Swarn Rekha Lata, a yoga teacher from Kendriya Vidyalaya Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, who taught yoga through virtual medium to 3500 students during the lockdown.

Quoting her, the Lt Governor said that many people who were suffering from mental stress have benefited from Yoga. She suggested that yoga should also be included in the school syllabus on the lines of physical education, and books, magazines of the Ministry of AYUSH should also be made available regularly to the students in the school library.

The Lt Governor said that India has a long tradition of yoga, religion, spirituality and there has been a desire for development, progress, and expansion in every person. Our creative, historical, and scientific vision works to awaken our consciousness in times of challenges. During the last 11 months, with the cooperation of all of you, we have not only overcome difficulties, but have also had new achievements by overcoming many obstacles.

The Lt Governor informed that Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council is also running online yoga sessions for the people. Apart from this, following all the Corona protocols, the Sports Council is providing the facility of online coaching to the young players in other sports disciplines as well, which is commendable.

Condemning the disturbing act of the stone pelting on a medical team in Bandipora, the Lt Governor appealed to people to respect all Corona Warriors and get themselves vaccinated as responsible citizens of the society. He added that the most effective and safe way to prevent getting infected by the deadly virus is vaccination and Covid Appropriate Behavior. By June 30, we have set a target of 100% vaccination in Jammu and Kashmir and I sincerely hope that you will fully help our health workers in this giving a befitting reply to the elements spreading Vaccine Hesitancy, concluded the Lt Governor.

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Jammu Kashmir full of self-confidence, I hear the echo of self-power among my people, says the LG - India Education Diary

Social media has people convinced that to be popular or loved online, one has to become someone else to attract the attention each person so desperately craves. Time has shown individuals will go to great, excessive lengths to building and retaining their digital audience. From harmless imitations of popular celebrities to drastic measures of undergoing plastic surgery to improve their overall look, both men and women tend to suffer from distorted views of themselves and others on social media. The most popular platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and now TikTok can negatively impact ones own self-image as someone is inundated with pictures and videos of individuals across the world supposedly living better lives than their own.

One of those people we tend to imagine living their best life online would be social media influencer Sommer Ray. Ray, who is partnered with Notorious, a digital agency and design studio, has cut her teeth on these social media platforms for well over a decade now. With 26 million followers on Instagram, roughly ~2 million on YouTube, and over 10 million of TikTok, she has become one of the popular and dominant social media celebrities that so many look up to, especially women and young girls. Yet, many know her for her looks, but few know her for her mind. The elite digital influencer has achieved mind-boggling success online, but now her next challenge is figuring out how she can evolve from being a simple Internet personality that everyone adores to a multi-faceted fitness mogul that can help her fans be their best version of themselves.

In a world where everyone wants to be like Sommer, Ray wants to remind her audience that true life satisfaction comes from being yourself. Ray reminisces on her journey of who she was before she had any social media accounts, how she's achieved her success today (hint: be herself!), and what shell need to do turn her enormous digital identity into a physical, long-lasting, prestigious brand akin to Jillian Michaels, Jennifer Lopez, and Jessica Simpson.

Sommer Ray standing next to a punching bag.

Frederick Daso: How has the discipline you've gained from your fitness background growing up shaped your approach to creating content on social media?

Sommer Ray: I started competing in bikini bodybuilding at sixteen, so I learned a lot about self-discipline and hard work ethic from a very young age. These days, I create my everyday content because it requires a commitment to grow and maintain a fun and engaging audience on social media.

Daso: When did you land your first brand deal? Was it while you were still in high school? How has your view on which brands to align with evolved since you started taking social media seriously as a career?

Ray: My first brand deal was when I was sixteen, and it was with a brand called Myokore, and I still work with them. This was before anyone knew you could make money on Instagram, and Myokore came to me and wanted to pay me to post content that I thought was the future for social media. My family didn't understand how I was making money, which was funny.

Daso: What's one thing that you wish more people knew about you that is overshadowed by your reputation as an "Instagram Model?"

Ray: I wish people knew more about me more as a person and knew my heart and views on life rather than just focusing on my body/looks. I'm trying to share more of the things I love with my followers and relate to them on a new level. I'm a huge animal lover and grew up on a ranch in Colorado, so I'm not usually what people expect based on my Instagram.

Daso: What was growing up on a ranch in Colorado like? What were some of your favorite memories from living on the ranch that shaped who you've become today?

Ray: Growing up on a ranch was my favorite thing, and I wouldn't trade that for anything. I just hung out with my siblings all the time, and we were also homeschooled, so all we did was go outside, rode horses, and were always playing outdoors. We didn't even have cable, so I wasn't ever influenced by anything in the outside world, and I now have a crazy appreciation for nature and animals. It shaped me into the person I am today, and I have crazy morals and stuff because of how I was brought up. Human values and morals come from how each person grew up, and I was raised in a fantastic home.

Daso: What are your favorite animals and why? Is there anything about those animals that influence who you want to become in the future?

Ray: I have many animals. I have six snakes, three dogs, one cat, a tarantula, two frogs, and three beta fish. My favorite animal in the whole world is an animal I can't even have, which is a cheetah. I love all jungle cats, but cheetahs are my favorite. They are literally my spirit animal, and I think they are so majestic and powerful, which is exactly what I want to be, and they are very respected in the animal kingdom. That's why I love them so much!

Ray holding a medicine ball in the gym.

Daso: Recently, you've mentioned that you want to be more of an inspiration to women. In an age of OnlyFans (OF), how do you portray yourself as an alternative version of female empowerment, fitness, and health?

Ray: I think there is nothing wrong with people making money on OF; for me, I want my brand to grow into an immense empire and do not want the stigma connected to the platform to stop me from having that. I want girls to feel empowered to build their own companies and see me as a businesswoman beyond just a fitness model/influencer. I also started and grew the #beyou movement with my shop because I want all people to be confident in who they are.

Daso: Digging a little deeper here, what is explicitly the stigma associated with OF preventing you from participating on the platform? How would this stigma detract from the brand you are trying to build beyond social media?

Ray: The stigma associated with the platform is that people think of porn or X-rated content, and that's okay for people to do that, but it doesn't work for me and the plans I have for my future. I have big plans for my brand and am looking for it to exist for a long time, and I wouldn't want the stigma connected to Only Fans to stop any opportunities I may have. It's also a fast cash grab where I could quickly make a lot of money, but I'm working to have an empire that I'm building that puts me there with Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, and other similar women.

Daso: What is your overall philosophy in how you live your life? In the age of social media, everyone wants to be like someone else, and no one wants to be themselves. How are you trying to encourage your followers to be comfortable in their skin on social media and in real life?

Ray: My most significant philosophy in living my life is sticking to my "Be You" movement. I have always stayed true to myself, and we live in a world where people are constantly copying each other and stealing from each other, and I think it is fantastic to be inspired by someone, but not to copy or steal. We all need to find out who we are and be comfortable in that. People are always striving to be perfect, and perfection is not fun, and it's not interesting. We can all just be ourselves and be more exciting, and you are the only you in the world; why try to be like anyone else.

Daso: How does being active on social media either enhance or detract from that philosophy? How do you think you can leverage social media to showcase more of your true self rather than the focus being on what you look like?

Ray: I have a love/hate relationship with social media, and it is hard to balance it because everyone gets on there and compares themselves to someone else's highlight reel, so that is something that I am working on. I am trying to be more open and showing my true self rather than focusing on what I look like. I always try to present myself naturally on social media. I don't use Photoshop at all. I don't want girls to have false expectations of me, and I try to stay true to myself as much as I can.

Daso: Where does your stance against plastic surgery come from? Has that stance been hard to maintain living in LA in particular?

Ray: I am just a lover of natural beauty and love when people look at themselves uniquely. When people get plastic surgery, they take away the parts that make them the most unique, which is the most beautiful thing. It has been hard living in LA because so many companies have wanted to give me surgery/treatments in exchange for posts. I know that other girls will come here and take that bait and alter themselves because it feels like it's what everyone is doing, and that doesn't have to be the case.

Ray sits on the bench press.

Daso: You're one of the first people I've heard with a prominent state of your stance against plastic surgery. As much as social media has fueled the rise of young women going under the knife, how will you use your platform to encourage ladies to embrace their natural beauty?

Ray: I don't ever want to criticize anyone for having plastic surgery. Everyone has the right to do whatever they want, but I don't think we should encourage women and young girls to get plastic surgery. These days on TikTok and other social media, everyone is posting their nose jobs or their boobs, butt, and lips (BBL), and I think it is unsafe. Above all, I believe it is dangerous to go under the knife and put your life at risk for something that is surface level, and I want girls to think about it in general before deciding to go under the knife for something that may not be worth it in the end. I also believe that natural and beautiful bodies will come back in style, and the trend of having all this fake stuff will go away and I think we should all embrace being natural and not follow the trend.

Daso: When creating new brands or releasing new products under your name, what's your thought process around making sure your new intellectual property reflects your personality while still resonating with your target audience?

Ray: I think I am a pioneer for the social media space, so I like to reflect my approach to content creation in own brands that I build. I want to disrupt the industry by bringing something completely new and different to the table. My goal is to grow into a mogul and expand into other industries like beauty and fashion and do it while remaining committed to only putting out things that I love 100%.

Daso: What are some up-and-coming brands you're developing that everyone should be on the lookout for in the future?

Ray: One of the exciting things coming this year is my first ever Sommer's Camp event! This will be an experience that mixes my love of fitness and wellness with nightlife and fun summer activities. I have been working closely with Notorious. Together, we are guiding a one-of-a-kind experience that has never been done this way before.

Separate from that, I just launched ingestible skincare gummy with my new beauty brand called Imaras Beauty. Our "Glow" gummy is a PETA-certified and vegan gummy meant to plump, restore and hydrate your skin. This is my first big jump into the beauty industry, and I'm so excited for everyone to try it!

Daso: How did you get involved with Notorious? How are you leveraging them to evolve your brand to be known as a body-positive fitness mogul?

Ray: I met the team at Notorious through some friends, and I thought they had a great vibe, so we moved into a working relationship. We have been collaborating on projects since, and it has been enjoyable. It's great to partner with them because I know that I can be myself and have a good time with them. They have also been able to make all of my visions a reality. No matter what I come up with, the Notorious team works with me to bring it to life. For Sommer's Camp, we focus on making fitness "fun" because that is how I think it should be. My goal for my brand is to make fitness a lifestyle rather than something you do, and they are helping me do that.

Daso: In our previous discussion, you mentioned how you want to start creating content on Twitch to allow you to connect even closer with your fans. What type of content do you have lined up, and how will such content enable people to view you for who you are rather than what you look like?

Ray: A viral trend on Twitch right now is just chatting with fans while streaming. On social media, I don't get to have that personal relationship with my fans, so I want to build a community of people who want to get to know me and take advantage of being able to create a more personal connection with them on Twitch.

Daso: Your live event, "Sommer's Camp" in Palm Springs, is shaping up to be one first major in-person gatherings since the pandemic started. Beyond having a massive audience, how will you leverage the event as a platform for body positivity and female empowerment?

Ray: I hope that Sommer's Camp allows me to connect more personally with my female supporters. I want them to get to know me in a more chill and fun setting. My goal is for them to understand there is more to me than they think. I want to spend the weekend with them doing the things I love and believe they will love too.

Daso: How will you determine which brands to partner with for Sommer's Camp that reflect or enhance your ethos around female empowerment and body positivity?

Ray: All the brands that I will be working with for the event are brands that I have worked with in the past and have a good relationship with. For me, it is about bringing brands that I trust and know I can count on. It is also important that the brands that I partner with for my first major event have supported me through the years.

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In A World Where Everyone Pretends To Be Someone Else, Sommer Ray Says To Be Yourself - Forbes