Daily Archives: July 17, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 14, 2022Press Contact: Jessica Ortiz, [emailprotected]

TEXAS In response to the news that Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are bringing a group of GOP Senators to tour the South Texas border later this week, RAICES issued the following statement:

We are not surprised that Texass Republican senators have devised another political stunt to fuel xenophobia and rally Trump voters ahead of a critical midterm election. Like Governor Abbott, these politicians have no plan to protect the lives of people seeking safety at our border, and would rather support cruel and racist policies that endanger refugees and service providers.

Unlike our Senators who are only visiting the border to score political points, RAICES is here everyday to support immigrants and refugees in need. It is intentional and unfortunate that Cruz and Cornyn will be consciously omitting from their tour the truth of what we are seeing at the Texas-Mexico border: Communities coming together to care for and support each other in the face of immigration policies that have decimated our asylum system, and forced people to make unimaginable choices in their journey to seek safety and refuge in the U.S.

The reality is that the so-called turmoil at the border that these lawmakers have exploited for their own political gain was created and exacerbated by policies like Title 42 and Remain in Mexico. Cruz, Cornyn, and other GOP lawmakers have been fighting ardently to maintain these racist Trump-era policies, including championing Rep. Lankfords current attempt to codify Title 42 into law.

Seeking safety is a human right and RAICES and communities across the border are ready to welcome people seeking asylum to our communities. People seek asylum because their lives, and the lives of their children depend on it. Restoring a fair asylum process will help keep people safe and families together. Thats what we should be focusing on, not meaningless stunts for political attention.

###The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that promotes justice by providing free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families, and refugees. Learn more at Raicestexas.org

Original post:

Texas Senators Not Qualified to Give Tour of Border Communities - RAICES

City of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, NBA Hall of Famer and Hawks Legend Dikembe Mutombo, and Congresswoman Nikema WilliamsJoin Hawks and State Farm for Teams Largest Single-Day Community Initiative

ATLANTA Today the Atlanta Hawks and State Farmgathered 5,000 volunteers at State Farm Arena to pack one million meals as part of the Million Meal Pack. Hawks CEO Steve Koonin, State Farm Senior Vice President Dan Krause, City of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, NBA Hall of Famer and Hawks Legend Dikembe Mutombo as well as Congresswoman Nikema Williams welcomed and thanked the volunteers for donating their time in support of the teams largest single-day community service initiative.

Individuals, families, community groups, schools, churches and businesses gathered on the floor of the award-winning State Farm Arena and packed alongside volunteers from U.S. Hunger and executives from the Hawks and State Farm, reaching a final count of 1,019,232 meals.

The six 90-minute shifts of the event yielded:

We are very grateful for all of todays volunteers and extremely proud of the results from todays Million Meal Pack in partnership with State Farm, said Steve Koonin, CEO of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. We understand that it is a huge undertaking to tackle food insecurity throughout Atlanta, and we believe that this one-day community service initiative will make an incredible impact and also inspire our communities throughout metro Atlanta.

The more-than-one million meals packed will be distributed throughout the metro Atlanta area with the operational support of U.S. Hunger, a hunger relief organization with innovative programs designed to help feed people struggling with food insecurity. Additionally, ten other local organizations will help distribute the meals: Atlanta Community Food Bank, CHRIS 180, City of Refuge, Fountain of Hope, Georgia State University Panthers Pantry, Goodr, Meals On Wheels Atlanta, Mimis Pantry and Second Helpings Atlanta.

The Million Meal Pack event makes a real difference in the lives of Atlanta residents facing food insecurity, said Dan Krause, Southeastern Market Area Senior Vice President at State Farm. Our local State Farm agents and employees were proud to be part of this effort, as State Farm is dedicated to giving back and strengthening communities. Were grateful to all the volunteers and thank State Farm Arena and the Atlanta Hawks for our partnership.

Statistics provided by the Atlanta Community Food Bank show that nearly one in eight Georgians are living with food insecurity, including one in six children.

There is nothing like the energy from 5,000 Atlantans coming together to take care of their community, taking a bold stand in the fight against hunger. After three years of being apart, we're honored to be invited back by the Hawks and State Farm to help pack one million meals for families in need! said Rick Whitted, CEO of U.S. Hunger.

As part of accomplishing various packing milestones throughout the day and after completing a lone volunteer shift, attendees celebrated on State Farm Drive with games, refreshments, music and fun.

Continuing to operate as the world's first TRUE Platinum certified sports and entertainment venue, this event is also marked as the first zero waste Million Meal Pack. As part of this event, State Farm Arena diverted more than 90 percent from landfills that includes all materials generated from load-in to load-out. In an intentional effort, the packaging also uses messaging to encourage recycling within the recipients' communities.

The Hawks and State Farm hosted their first Million Meal Pack in 2019, where more than 5,000 volunteers filled State Farm Arena and prepared more than one million meals. The meals were then distributed to local Atlantans through seven community food bank organizations.

Additionally, both organizations have led efforts in multiple community-focused initiatives to better serve metro Atlanta. In addition to Million Meal Pack, the two organizations have collaborated on high-impact endeavors such as providing free pop-up grocery stores in partnership with Goodr Inc., for elderly and underserved citizens in metro Atlanta and enhancing the Snack Pack Program, which gave over 24,000 snack packs to youth throughout the school year and during summer break.

As part of the 2021-22 regular season, the Hawks Foundation and State Farm presented a check of $122,000 to the Atlanta Community Food Bank as an effort to help combat childhood hunger and fight against food insecurity throughout metro Atlanta.

The Good Neighbor Giveback campaign raised $100 for every point the Hawks scored over 100 in each game during the 2021-22 regular season (originally up to $100,000) and was generously extended from State Farm.To learn more about the work that the Hawks are doing in the community, visitHawks.com/community.

Go here to see the original:

Hawks and State Farm Rally 5,000 Volunteers To Pack more than One Million Meals to Fight Food Insecurity in Metro Atlanta - NBA.com

Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Indy Parks, and the Parks Alliance of Indianapolis today unveiled the refurbishments at the outdoor basketball court at Brookside Park on the citys near eastside, highlighted by a vibrant mural painted on the main court capturing the vibrancy and energy of surrounding neighborhoods.

The mural, created by PS&E Art Director Joel Dale and executed by Indiana artist Carl Leck, represents a partnership between the three organizations to upgrade the courts used by more than 30,000 children and adults each year. The project is part of the NBA Cares program celebrating the NBAs 75th Anniversary Season with the goal of creating Live, Learn, and Play Centers in NBA markets across the country. Moreover, it reflects PS&Es commitment to Intentional Generosity In Intentional Geography, an effort the company launched in 2020 to redirect resources into Indianapolis most vulnerable zip codes.

So many of the important lessons our kids learn are learned right here on the basketball court, and we know there is no more important and lasting investment we make than to give the children of this neighborhood a safe and exciting place to play and grow, said Rick Fuson, PS&E Chief Executive Officer.

We are so grateful to the City of Indianapolis and the NBA for working with us on this important project, and we look forward to seeing this court come alive with local children and residents for years to come.

The court mural was designed to reflect the intersection of basketball and culture that has helped shape the character of Indianapolis neighborhoods for decades. It takes the standard brand elements of the Pacers and Fever and elevates them, turning up the dial on the colors to capture the energy and pride shared by the citys residents. The goal is to evoke the feeling people across Indianapolis, young and old, get when playing our game.

Few things unite Indianapolis residents quite like the game of basketball, said Mayor Joe Hogsett. Thanks to partnership between Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Indy Parks, countless current and future residents will be able to enjoy this enhanced court at Brookside Park. This project not only marks our continued mission of improving City facilities, but also highlights the Pacers commitment to the Indianapolis community, unifies the sports and cultural scenes across our city, and increases the pride and passion of neighbors.

This is the second investment PS&E has made at Brookside Park in the past 5 years. In 2018, the Pacers Foundation and Indianapolis Power & Light (AES) refurbished the indoor court at the Brookside Community Center at the park. This was the first indoor gymnasium renovation in a broader effort to renovate community courts across the city, a push that began in 2013.

Knowing that parks are special places for so many children and their families, we are thrilled to continue our work with Pacers Sports & Entertainment to invest in our citys parks and park spaces, said Phyllis Boyd, Indy Parks Director.

Together, we will continue to explore opportunities to enhance these spaces while connecting the people we serve to programs, outdoor activities, and engaging experiences.

"The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis is committed to connecting resources to needs on behalf of Indy's parks and public spaces for the people who use them," said Lori Hazlett, President & CEO of The Parks Alliance. "Since 2013, our team has been proud to partner with Pacers Sports & Entertainment to align their community initiatives with opportunities that invest in one of Indy Parks most utilized amenities - basketball courts. Today we celebrate nearly 10 years of this partnership that has resulted in 19 new courts in 13 Indy Parks."

About Pacers Sports & Entertainment:

Pacers Sports & Entertainment is an integrated sports and entertainment company including the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Pacers Gaming, Pacers Foundation, Inc., and operations of Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Its team of inspired and dedicated employees has a shared purpose of winning through a commitment to excellence, serving the local community and entertaining fans and guests.

About Indy Parks and Recreation:

With over a century of history advancing the value of parks and welcoming all residents and visitors, Indy Parks connects communities by providing places and experiences that inspire healthy living, social engagement, and a love of nature. Annually, the parks department serves 8 million people and offers 213 parks, 11,258 acres of greenspace, 153 miles of trails, 131 playgrounds, 19 aquatic centers, 155 sports fields, more than 2,000 programs, and so much more.

About the Parks Alliance of Indianapolis:

The Parks Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and proud partner of the Central Indiana Community Foundation. For more than 30 years, The Parks Alliance has worked alongside Indy Parks & Recreation to identify needs and opportunities to develop and maintain Indys parks, trails, greenways, and public spaces. Since 1991, The Park Alliance has secured and administered nearly $100 million on behalf of Indy Parks and the people that use them. The Parks Alliance board and staff have established a strong track record of stewarding philanthropy to demonstrate its critical value in making Indy a great place to live, work, play, and visit.

Read this article:

PS&E Partners with Local Park Organizations to Leave Lasting Legacy - NBA.com

PARK RIVER, N.D. A speaker at an event hosted by Park River Bible Camp near Park River, North Dakota, backed out after backlash from surrounding communities about the speakers gender and sexuality.

Pastor Drew Stever a queer, transgender pastor at Hope Lutheran Church in Hollywood, California, an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America-affiliated church was scheduled to speak at Park River Bible Camps Youth Fest on July 10, but decided not to after people in surrounding communities expressed their disapproval to camp leadership and on social media.

He cited concerns for his and his familys safety for his decision to back out.

Camp is supposed to be a place where you can go and just be, and we didnt feel like we could be at camp and be in the town fully present, fully comfortable and fully feeling like our safety was a priority, said Stever.

Youth Fest, taking place July 10-15, is a new event for the ELCA camp, and was created for seventh- through 12th-grade students as an alternative event for the ELCAs National Youth Gathering, which was canceled due to COVID-19. Each day of the event had a speaker scheduled to give a talk about that days theme and be present for activities at the camp. Stevers talk would have been about goodness and kindness.

Rebecca Kjelland, executive director of Park River Bible Camp, said all speakers at the event were chosen intentionally and the group contained an Indigenous speaker, Black speaker and disabled speaker along with Stever, who represented the LGBTQ community.

We wanted to make sure that all voices were heard, that they all were people that would be a part of the table table meaning table of the church that were all a part of, said Kjelland.

She started hearing backlash about Stevers gender and sexuality, as well as about one of his tweets from three years ago that mentioned sex toys.

Absolutely not was that going to be the conversation this week or when he was going to be speaking for the half-an-hour time slot that I gave every speaker, she said. It is unfortunate that that was blasted on social media.

A local church also published a statement against the camps event. In the June 26 bulletin of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Grafton, a message was posted warning parents not to send their children to the event because the event would have left-leaning speakers promoting things contrary to the Catholic Faith, specifically a transgender speaker.

Unfortunately, this camp can no longer be trusted to promote genuine Christian morality, read the message.

Father Jeff Eppler, pastor at the parish, said the list of speakers was brought to his attention by a number of parishioners.

Contributed / St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church

I knew from the past that we had some parishioners sending kids to the camp, and that what the camp was promoting was contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church, so as a pastor, I had a responsibility to let people know this is whats going on, said Eppler.

Kjelland says it was disappointing that leaders at St. Johns the Evangelist Catholic Church did not reach out to have a discussion with her about the event or the speakers before publishing the notice.

I am not someone where it has to be where we agree at the end of the conversation, but at least then they have all the information from myself or one of my board members, she said.

People also took to Facebook, posting comments on Park River Bible Camps posts, speculating the political views of the speakers at Youth Fest, accusing the camp of indoctrinating children and calling for Kjelland to be fired, said Kjelland.

In a July 7 statement, Kjelland reiterated the camps stance on LGBTQ individuals, saying the organization does not see identifying as part of the LGBTQ community as a sin. This is in line with ELCA policy.

One of Park River Bible Camps messages, and one that has been the same for the last 22 years she has worked at the camp, said Kjelland, is that all are welcome at the camp. This message is even on a sign for the camp posted at the junction of Highway 17 and Highway 32, which has the name of the camp, and beneath it, All Are Welcome.

If we cannot welcome all people into this camp, then we need to change our sign, which makes me very sad, because for years, we have welcomed all people onto this site, said Kjelland.

Stever says it is disappointing to have to make the decision to not speak at Youth Fest.

Its mostly the kids that Im sad for. I think the camp was trying to be really intentional about having a really diverse slate of leaders and speakers and to allow for that broadening of worldviews, not just for the kids, but other adults who would be at camp too, said Stever. I think theyre still going to get some of that, but its going to be smaller than what it was intended to be.

Read more:

Speaker at Park River Bible Camp backs out after backlash from surrounding communities - Grand Forks Herald

ANN ARBOR, MI Over 15,000 absentee ballots have been issued in Ann Arbor already for the Aug. 2 primary and roughly a quarter have been filled out and returned so far.

Competing for a share of the votes in the 4th Ward are three City Council candidates, including Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Nelson and two challengers: Dharma Akmon and Mozhgan Savabieasfahani.

Nelson is seeking a second four-year term and discussed some of the big issues facing the city in a recent candidate forum with her opponents.

No independents or Republicans have filed to challenge the Democratic primary winner.

The candidates also shared their views in the Vote411.org voter guide, which MLive/The Ann Arbor News has partnered with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide.

Continue reading to see what they had to say about their goals, qualifications, growth and density in Ann Arbor, and more.

Ann Arbor's new ward boundaries for 2022, showing Ward 1 on the north side, Ward 2 northeast, Ward 3 southeast, Ward 4 southwest and Ward 5 on the west side.City of Ann Arbor

Note: All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidates and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except for necessary cut if a reply exceeded character limitations. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties.

Number of years as resident:

Akmon: 20

Nelson: 18

Savabieasfahani: 20

What in your education and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this position?

Akmon:

I am currently an elected trustee of the Ann Arbor District Library Board, where I have served two terms as Treasurer and am now serving as Vice President. I have overseen the development and implementation of a new strategic plan and managed a $17 million annual budget. My education and leadership experience also position me well for this role. I have a PhD in Information from UM, where I gained the analytical skills needed to make data- and evidence-informed policy decisions. I am currently a research scientist at UMs Institute for Social Research, where I lead two units encompassing over 30 staff. I have established myself as a collaborative, compassionate, problem-solving leader who uses rapport-building communication to mediate conflict and work through disagreement.

Nelson:

A little over twenty years ago, I trained as a lawyer-- this education does inform how I analyze policy at the local level. I am also a certified teacher-- I currently teach in a licensed preschool that has maintained in-person instruction these last two school years. That experience has given me significant perspective on the special challenges of health and safety during this pandemic. My experience serving on Council these last three years - - engaging with residents and working to solve community and neighborhood problems -- is really what makes me the most qualified candidate for this position. I understand that as elected representatives we are meant to be a bridge between residents and City Hall. I have significant experience advocating for residents. Council members are the point of contact for people who identify problems in our community and want solutions. In the last three years, I have made an effort to listen and learn from our community and advocate for Ward 4.

Savabieasfahani:

I am an environmental toxicologist and a human rights activist. It is clear to me that business as usual is the road to our destruction on this earth. We must make drastic changes in our ways of thinking and acting if we dont like it like this. And I know many dont. As an environmental toxicologist, I am horrified that we now live on top of the largest dioxane contamination in the word. I am disgusted to hear fake concerns of our city officials about the environment, when what the City has insisted on doing for 60 years has brought us to the current devastation of our environment and water resources.I am sick of fluff talk and business as usual by the Mayor and his slate. And no doubt those they have endorsed will join their toxic bandwagon. We need to force our City Government to act in the interest of the public and environment. That is not what they have been doing. I have witnessed it since I arrived here in 2001. We need structural changes. I will push for that.

What are your goals should you be elected and how will you work to accomplish them with current resources?

Akmon:

If elected, I would like to develop a plan that responds to our housing crisis. Specifically, I intend to work with fellow councilmembers, staff, and the community to create a new comprehensive land use plan that responds to population growth projections, our status as the 8th most economically segregated city in the country, and our A2ZERO carbon neutrality goals in ways that build our community and enhance livability. I would also like to make significant progress on ensuring that people can safely and easily get to where they need to go, no matter the mode of transit. Our roads are in severe need of repair and must be fixed. As we do so, we must use evidence-based design to enhance mobility for all and increase public safety so that children can safely get to school, people who dont have a drivers license or cant afford a car can get to work, and seniors and people with disabilities can move around independently.

Nelson:

I look forward to continuing my work on tenant rights issues in collaboration with the newly formed Renters Commission. I am committed to addressing the huge disparity in power between landlords and tenants, adopting policies (like Just Cause for Eviction) that exist in other communities. I will continue to push for more transparency and accountability in our decisionmaking, which will be especially relevant as we pursue revisions to the Citys Comprehensive Land Use plan. I support investments in multi-modal infrastructure that are targeted to meet the community needs identified by residents. Existing resources are targeted very differently when we conduct meaningful public engagement and listen to residents. Many of the things I accomplished these last three years were not goals that I could have predicted in 2018, because they were brought to me by community members. I believe this is how our democracy should work. My agenda is primarily driven by residents.

Savabieasfahani:

We need an immediate cleanup of the Gelman dioxane contamination. Look at New York they are actively cleaning up their similar water contamination problem. Lets follow their example. We dont have to re-invent the wheel. Start throwing money at a real cleanup not at fatcat developers. City Council must abandon its obviously fake squeals of concern for the environment, their bogus moaning and groaning about global warming, and instead start protecting our environment for real. Clean up our water and stop massive environmental destruction that only serves market needs. Also-- Workers in Ann Arbor need at least $15 an hour. At least. We must fight and get it. Countless cities have done it already. Why hasnt our City Council ever debated it or acted on it? I will push against local, State and Federal laws that try to illegalize the $15 minimum wage. We need to start now. This blabber-mouth do-nothing City Council has delayed way too long.

What would you like to see happen with growth and density in Ann Arbor in the next ten years?

Akmon:

Ann Arbor has the good fortune of being an economic and higher education hub. As well, its vibrant downtown, impressive cultural amenities, and high overall livability position it as a highly desirable place to live. Growth is here; without adequate housing, the cost of living will continue to increase, pushing people out of our city. Id like us to respond to these realities by adopting policies that make our community more inclusive, equitable, and accessible to people from all walks of life. This includes transit oriented development that concentrates, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use communities on transit corridors; changing zoning laws that currently prohibit multi-family structures such as duplexes; and leveraging our affordable housing millage to subsidize housing and create new affordable units on city-owned properties. Density done well will deliver benefits that improve our quality of life, increase the walkability of our neighborhoods, and deliver city services at lower cost.

Nelson:

A community conversation about goals and strategies is overdue. In the near term I would like to see that happen through revisions to our Comprehensive Land Use plan. In the next ten years, I expect to see quite a lot of growth on transit corridors like South State Street and Stadium Boulevard. The redevelopment of Briarwood Mall is likely to happen as well. I would like intentional, serious planning that identifies what we want to see and requires that of the developers who want to build here. For example, if we say that growth and density will support more amenities and walkable retail for the benefit of neighborhoods, we should expect to see that happen. We saw in Ward 4 how density on Packard added a good supply of housing, but the local neighborhood ended up losing all of the walkable retail that previously existed. What happened on Packard should help us make better decisions in planning similar corridors -- like Stadium Boulevard -- that are adjacent to neighborhoods.

Savabieasfahani:

I have been hearing about growth and diversity here for more than 20 years. What a shame that diversity and equity is taking a nose dive as our City Council yells itself blue in the face telling us how they supposedly care about diversity and equity. The Councils big fat lies have left us more segregated than ever, while filthy rich developers are cashing in beyond their wildest dreams. You tell me why the University of Michigan gets a free pass from City Council, even though they never kept their promise to achieve 10% Black enrollment. Never. You know that City Council could make the Universitys life miserable until they finally get to 10% Black enrollment. I say do it! City Council must pressure the University until they get to 10% Black enrollment. Dont let the Mayor ooze his phony-baloney love for Black people when he does nothing to get them a spot at the U of M.Demand the $10 black enrolment and push to get it. That is fighting for real diversity and real equity.

How do you plan to communicate with the residents in your ward?

Akmon:

I am a skilled communicator who listens and makes herself available to people. I will bring these skills to the Ann Arbor City council, where I will be committed to listening to residents and increasing engagement with those that feel our city isnt responsive to their needs. I will have open and continuous communication with residents and seek out opportunities to connect with Ward 4 residents by going where they gather. Finally, if elected, I will have regular coffee hours and send electronic newsletters to increase engagement with residents and to transparently communicate City policy and programs to them.

Nelson:

I have worked hard these last three years to engage with Ward 4 residents and help them connect with the City. Since my election, I have maintained a website with regular updates that I organize by topic. Anyone can sign up to receive an emailed newsletter from me a few days before every Council meeting; my newsletter summarizes our meeting agenda. I publish voting charts after every meeting so that residents can see how issues were decided and by whom. Before every Council meeting, I host coffee hours at Ward 4 cafes, local parks, or via ZOOM. Anyone is welcome to attend. I believe that this local level of government can and should be where our democracy is strongest-- residents should be able to easily track the work of their elected representatives. At this local level, we should be most accountable to the residents we serve. I have invested considerable time in making myself and the work of City Council accessible to the whole of our community.

Savabieasfahani:

Social media. I communicate with my students globally via telephone and social media. Every one of my constituents will be able to reach me every day on the phone and on social media. I have spoken with thousands of my constituents already. In Ward 4, I already see my constituents during my walks around the ward. So, in conclusion: I will push for the $15 minimum wage, all the public housing we need, and a real Gelman clean-up. Without pressure and a push-back on how we currently do business, nothing will change. We have to have the courage to push back. The purposely vague language which candidates use worries me. I hear no understanding of the need to drastically change institutions and laws that have enslaved us to this point Look, we still have no $15 minimum wage, and virtually no public housing. We need those things now.

Read more Ann Arbor-area election coverage.

MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:

Heres your Ann Arbor-area voter guide for the August 2022 primary

Idea for $15 Ann Arbor minimum wage becomes an election issue

Ann Arbor mayoral candidates share views on challenges facing city

Meet the 2 candidates in Ann Arbors 5th Ward council race

Overreaching or transformational? Debate over Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti transit tax heats up

Read more here:

Meet the 3 candidates in Ann Arbors 4th Ward council race - MLive.com

The first of three community conversations was held Tuesday, July 12, at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg. These conversations will allow attendees to provide feedback on priorities for redeveloping the historic Gas Plant District.

BY SKYLA LUCKEY, Staff Writer

ST. PETERSBURG Skyrocketing rent prices and years of unfulfilled promises by city officials have caused mixed opinions from St. Pete residents about economic security and what will come of the historic Gas Plant site that Tropicana Field, surrounded by a giant parking lot, sits atop.

About 200 residents plus city officials, including Mayor Ken Welch and Deputy Mayor Stephanie Owens, gathered for the first of three historic Gas Plant District redevelopment community conversations at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg Tuesday evening.

The 86 acres were once home to the Gas Plant district founded in 1890 as Coopers Quarters. As the second oldest Black neighborhood in St. Pete, the name was eventually changed to match the two large gas cylinders at the location.

Mayor Ken Welch announced on June 29 that he was issuing a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Gas Plant District redevelopment site because the environment has changed since the initial RFP was issued in July of 2020. Although he was impressed by the efforts of the two finalists in the old RFP process Sugar Hill Community Partners and Midtown Development he believed it needed some updating.

The mayor cited the need for more affordable and workforce housing and less office space along with the need for intentional equity and equitable development highlighted by the citys Disparity Studyand theStructural Racism report, which were completed after the issuance of the initial RFP.

City employees, Habitat for Humanity officials, and Green Book of Tampa Bay CEO Hillary Van Dyke shared presentations about business opportunities, affordable housing, and potential community events at the future redevelopment site at Tuesday evenings discussion. Community members shared their input, too.

About 200 residents plus city officials, including Mayor Ken Welch and Deputy Mayor Stephanie Owens, gathered for the first of three Gas Plant District redevelopment community conversations at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg on Tuesday, July 12.

These presentations may have felt like dj vu to some residents. During the 1970s and early 1980s, city officials promoted economic stability to Gas Plant residents that lived, worked, and played there.

The citys plan to provide jobs and infrastructure to the area took a 180-degree turn when the final plan outlined a Major League Baseball stadium. The stadium resulted in demolishing Black-owned businesses, homes, churches, and schools, dislocating many Black families and erasing part of the citys history.

Forty-three years later, the City of St. Pete has the chance to rectify an untenable wrong. Welch, who took office in January, told The Weekly Challenger Tuesday evening that there is a general concern by folks being displaced by progress.

Weve seen it happen before, and were seeing it now due to a number of factors: folks coming down from other parts of the country who have cash to spend for properties, and corporations doing the same, Welch said. So I understand, but what we have to do is be intentional by supporting home ownership with things like affordable housing.

Welch pointed south on 34th Street toward Skyway Lofts, an affordable housing complex, showing that the city has already begun moving to support low-income residents. He said the city plans to continue that with inclusivity for the redevelopment of the Tropicana site.

Attendees sat at tables with a moderator as they discussed concerns and shared what they would like to see from the redevelopment. The moderator at each table recorded residents input for the city to review.

Tampa Bay Rays President Brian Auld attended Tuesday nights meeting.

Some residents want to see opportunities for the youth, jobs that provide wages making St. Pete affordable to live in, and better public transportation. A few said they wanted the stadium gone, while others said they wanted it to stay, such as Leon Jackson, the last surviving member of the Courageous 12. Jackson said he grew up in the Gas Plant area.

Brian Caper, the City of St. Petersburgs economic development manager, presented a slideshow of baseball stadium sites smaller than 86 acres, such as the Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field, which seems to bring communities together on non-game days with fun family events outside the stadium and sometimes in.

Do you see how the stadium just blends in with the housing developments and businesses around the stadium, Caper asked as he displayed pictures of Major League Baseball stadiums not sitting in a sea of parking spaces.

Community activist, Carla Bristol, said shes not skeptical about the positive changes city leaders are discussing.

I have the compassion of knowing that the person who is leading and in the drivers seat (Welch) has actually been impacted by this [Gas Plant demolition], Bristol said. So, he and his family are part of this displacement that we are trying to address.

Mayor Welchs grandfathers business and family home were razed to build the stadium.

The city has two more community conversations scheduled if you want to attend. Click here for more information on the upcoming meetings and to follow the citys redevelopment timeline.

Welch said he would have a developer chosen by the end of December.

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Community gives input on Tropicana Field redevelopment in first community conversation - Weekly Challenger

Shayla Oulette Stonechild, Jenn Harper (Source, left: matriarchmovement.ca; right: cheekbonebeauty.com)

Jenn Harper and Shayla Oulette Stonechild are two of the most notable Indigenous women in Canada, showing all how powerful it can be to do business with community in mind. The pair received the 2022 Indspire Awards in the business and commerce, and youth categories respectively.

CBC Life reached out to the laureates for their perspectives on their journeys and achievements. The following interviews, which were conducted separately, have been edited and condensed.

How would you describe what you offer through your work the actual product, service, art etc., but also more than that, what's at the heart of why you offer it?

Harper: We're a colour cosmetics brand and so, tangibly, we offer beauty products. Our mission is to make beauty more mindful and sustainable, and our vision is to help every Indigenous youth see and feel their enormous value in the world while building a truly circular business with sustainability as a focus.

Oulette Stonechild: [I'm a content creator and] founder and host of Matriarch Movement, a non-profit, online platform and podcast.

[At] the heart of what I do is building strong, respectful and reciprocal relationships that are focused on healing inter- and multigenerationally.

For the last year, I was focused on Indigenous representation. [Now], I hope to focus more on the Matriarch Movement and making wellness more accessible to the ones that need it most, which are BIPOC communities.

Q. What's different about your approach within the industry and how things are done conventionally?

Harper: I often say that the world didn't and doesn't need another lipstick brand. We're a company focused on more than just product and sales; we care about the planet and we think about things from a circular and ongoing perspective, with a goal of setting up the next generation for success.

Oulette Stonechild: I think most Indigenous people are coming into any industry with a slightly different approach. Our lived experiences, the teachings we come from, our healing journeys, the languages we speak, the land that we are related to and responsible for, are all interwoven and affect our work, short and long term.

There is no way to decolonize an inherently colonial system or industry. However, there are ways to advocate and create change within it. There are ways to "Indigenize" a space that has left out our voices for centuries.

With taking up space comes a lot of responsibility, external pressure and expectations to live up to. And so I have to remind myself that this idea of perfectionism is not rooted in Nehiyaw culture. We have to hold space for our own people to make mistakes and to be human.

Q. What was the inspiration for your unique approach?

Harper: The inspiration for the brand first came from a dream I had where there were little Indigenous girls laughing and playing with lip gloss. The inspiration for our purpose and approach came from my own journey. The generational trauma that impacted my journey and that of my siblings is something that shaped my life, and I want to show what it can be like on the other side of that how we can heal and grow.

Oulette Stonechild: [It was] connecting more to my Cree culture and learning more of the language, concepts and teachings that are interwoven within it. Lately, I have been coming back to the word "wahkohtowin," which means "kinship" [and] reflects on an individual's responsibilities and relationship to the systems [they're] a part of realizing we have a set of obligations, accountability and responsibility to one's role within our own communities.

My spirit name connects me to that role, to my purpose and to my responsibility here on earth.

Q. When it comes to your process and your goals, what drives you personally?

Harper: I just try to do my best and be better every day. Fitness, nutrition, getting enough rest, connecting with nature all of those things make me happier and make me feel good, to be my best. I try to be my best self because that is how I can help the most people.

Oulette Stonechild: [It's] what makes me feel the most alive and what allows me the opportunity to connect to other people through gratitude, healing and joy.

Q. What's next for you and what are you excited about working on now?

Harper: There are a few exciting projects we have in the works at Cheekbone Beauty. As we continue our sustainability journey, we're making some big changes to our packaging, working on some exciting new products, and continuing to work with our community to make and inspire change.

Oulette Stonechild: I became the first Indigenous global yoga ambassador with Lululemon I just signed a contract for the next three years. So I am looking forward to working with a company I've worked with on and off with for the last four years.

One of the first people I ever told the vision for Matriarch Movement [to], I am now working with in a bigger capacity. It shows you the power of connection to other people and to speaking your visions and dreams into existence. You never know who is listening.

Currently, the team at Matriarch Movement and I have been working on a virtual Indigenous wellness series highlighting seven Indigenous wellness advocates across Canada. I look forward to seeing that vision come to life with the help of others within my community.

Stream the 2022 Indspire Awards on CBC Gem.

Continued here:

Two Indigenous women at the forefront of beauty and wellness share their intentional approach to business - CBC.ca

Dallas-based national multifamily investor, S2 Capital has added 14 properties to its portfolio that spans both Dallas-Fort Worth and Houstontotaling 4,455 units with a total of 11 properties based here in North Texas.

According to Real Capital Analytics, S2 Capital is now the No. 1 most active buyer of multifamily in Dallas-Fort Worth in the past five years with its latest acquisition.

Each of the 14 properties was built between 1979 and 1987, and S2 has already begun planning renovations for the exterior and interior of each asset. In an attempt to offer current and prospective residents an enhanced community experience, some of the exterior renovations will include enhanced pools, fitness centers, leasing offices, clubhouses, and fresh paint and siding. Similarly, it plans to give each interior a facelift with new flooring, countertops, kitchen and shower tile, light fixtures, hardware, and appliances.

Scott Everett, founder and CEO ofS2, told D CEO: We believe DFW is now the best multifamily investment market in the country. You have to be bullish about a market with record in-migration, a business-friendly climate, household income growth, manageable inventory levels, and strong housing demand. We are very excited about the future of Dallas.

Hillwood Communities Partners with BB Living on Single-Family Rental Homes in Argyle

Developer Hillwood Communities has partnered up with a build-to-rent market leader, BB Living, to develop a single-family rental neighborhood at the Harvest community in Northlake and Argyle.

With construction underway, Hillwood Communities and BB Living plan to deliver 191 homes in the new developmenteach ranging from three to four bedrooms and between 1,800 and 2,500 square feet. BB Living has designed floor plans for the new Harvest homes, and pre-leasing will begin in July 2022.

Located just north of State Highway 114, at I-35W and FM 407, amenities to the properties will include on-site management as well as the existing amenities and award-winning lifestyle program of the Harvest community; known as an agrihood, Harvest is a tight-knit community where the residents can enjoy a commercial farm, gardens, an 11-acre lake, four pools, playgrounds, miles of parks and trails, event venues, workout facilities, a dog park, and a multitude of events and activities put on each year by an on-site lifestyle team.

Single-family for lease homes are in high demand, said Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Communities and the developer of Harvest. This new product not only allows families who dont want home ownership a chance to live in a great community like Harvest, they are a perfect solution for buyers in transition and relocation buyers new to the area. We teamed with BB Living for this new venture because they build a first-class product and experience that feels like an extension of our master plan.

BB Living was one of the first to develop purpose-built, single-family, build-to-rent communities, with its first community being built from the ground up in 2012. Following its success in Phoenix, BB Living partnered with Toll Brothers to expand the concept nationwide. In total, BB Living has completed over 5,000 homes across ten markets.

Weve been doing this for a decade now and have learned a lot of lessons, said Branden Lombardi, president of BB Living. Our residents want a sense of community, and Harvest is very intentional about delivering that. Renting was not always viewed as a good option, but we are changing that perception by delivering unique neighborhoods in great communities, resort-style amenities, superior locations, and a focus on the resident experience.

Carolina Beverage Provided Distribution Space by Hillwood at AllianceTexas

In other Hillwood news: Carolina Beverage Group has committed to a new distribution center lease at AllianceTexas.

As a longtime corporate resident with a manufacturing facility already located within AllianceTexas since 2014, this new project marks an expansion of operations for Carolina Beverage Group as it increases its square footage within the new Alliance Center North 9.

Carolina Beverage Group has been an outstanding and highly valued corporate resident of AllianceTexas for nearly a decade, said senior vice president of Hillwood, Reid Goetz, in a statement.

The industrial development strategy of building for future needs, aligns well with supporting Carolina Beverage Groups growth, Goetz said.

Construction of the spec facility, Alliance Center North 9, began in December 2021 and will now serve as a state-of-the-art distribution center for Carolina Beverage Group in support of their bottling and filling facility, according to the release.

Located at the southeast corner or North Beach Street and Litsey Road in Denton County, Alliance Center North 9 features a convenient location with direct access to Interstate 35W, the I-35W Interchange, and various AllianceTexas amenities such as the Alliance FedEx Ground Hub, two UPS Ground Sort Hubs, the FedEx Express Southwest Regional Air Hub and Amazon Air Regional Hub, and BNSFs Alliance Intermodal Facility.

More logistical amenities to the facility include 36-foot minimum clear height, 60-foot loading bays, two large truck courts, and various trailer parking spaces.

AllianceTexas has given us access to world-class amenities focused on furthering our growth and we are excited to expand into our new space at Alliance Center North 9, said Brian Demos, president and CEO of Carolina Beverage Group. We are now able to continue tapping into those amenities while seamlessly serving our growing footprint across the country.

Newmark To Represent 33-Asset Industrial Portfolio in Midlands Permian Basin

Newmark is marketing a new industrial offering, Energy Related Properties (ERP). Located in Midlands Permian Basin, this 33-asset industrial portfolio sits on one of the largest oil fields in the world.

Sitting on 160.7 acres of land, the portfolio includes 33 single and multi-tenant net leased assets that add up to 662,714 square feet. According to a press release, the properties are currently 91% leased and have maintained an average occupancy of 90% for the last five years.

The sale opportunity is being represented by Newmarks capital markets group headed by vice chairman Matt Berres.

This is an extremely rare opportunity to acquire a masterfully curated portfolio of the best assets in the Permian Basin and a significant market share position, said Berres. Global oil markets are exceptionally tight given current geopolitical tensions and possible disruption to supplies. In line with the wider increased energy production of the Permian Basin, this portfolio stands to benefit significantly from these market dynamics.

Transwesterns Industrial Market Report Shows Availability at 9-Year High

According to Transwesterns most recent Dallas-Fort Worth Industrial Market Report, the Dallas-Fort Worth industrial market posted 8.6 million square feet of positive net absorption in quarter two of 2022. absorption over the last 12 months was 36.1 million square feet.

The market report for this quarter revealed an acceleration of rent growth in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In fact, industrial rent growth rose to 13 percent this quarter, and flex rent growth increased 9% from last year, according to the report.

Speculative construction set another record with developers delivering nearly 13 million square feet of new inventory this quarter; and speculative construction reached a record high of 67 million square feet.

Additionally, the area vacancy rate remained flat at 5.5 percent. although, with unprecedented levels of construction, Transwestern estimated that industrial vacancy could reach 9 percent in the coming 12 months with the surplus of new inventory coming to the market and many companies eyeing possible recession.

Get weekly updates on breaking commercial real estate news and relevant industry reports.

Excerpt from:

Dallas-Based S2 Capital Surpasses Blackstone As Most Active Buyer of Multifamily in DFW - D Magazine

As it is throughout the continuum of medical training, personal well-being is a key in making a successful transition from medical student to intern.

You have a lot more responsibility as a resident, said Sonja Raaum, MD, an assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Utah. It is more important to be intentional about wellness as a resident because if you are not intentional, its very easy to have those responsibilities impact your well-being.

The AMAsFacilitating Effective Transitions Along the Medical Education Continuumhandbook looks at the needs of the next generation of physicians across the continuum of medical educationfrom the beginning of medical school through residency. It is the latest publication from theAMA Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium.

One chapter in the text examines how to make a successful transition from medical school to residency and the role well-being plays in that process. The chapter breaks down resident well-being into eight key domains. Dr. Raaum, who co-wrote the chapter, gave her take on the importance of the domains and how residents can navigate them. Download the handbook now.

One aspect of each domain Dr. Raaum wanted to highlight is that well-being isnt a singular pursuit. New interns should rely on their larger support system in their pursuit of well-being.

Being aware of your peer support system is huge. You also have your program support that offers more direct, professional support in terms of your skills and career development. And then looking to your institution for support around systems that can allow you to meet your work hours and empower you with the right set of circumstances, she said.

Emotional well-being

What is it: An awareness of and response to feelings.

Dr. Raaums take: Its really important to recognize the high-acuity situations you are in in residency where emotions run high, she said. Having some ability to navigate your own emotional wellness is going to allow you to be present and be able to grow in those situations.

Learn more about what helps and what hurts medical resident well-being.

Occupational well-being

What is it: An exploration of career options, encouragement to pursue opportunities, and satisfaction and purpose in work.

Dr. Raaums take: Figuring out where you want your career to go and what you need to be able to do it. In internship this can be difficult, she said. You go from being a med student with a lot of structure to residency where you have the structure of what you need to accomplish day to day, but you dont necessarily have the structure and direction to pursue larger career goals.

As an intern, being aware of what brings you happiness in this arena can keep you well in your day-to-day role.

Find out how to get time off for professional development during residency.

Intellectual well-being

What is it: Keeping yourself stimulated in the intellectual realm extends beyond work-related learning. The AMA handbook highlights that involves engagement in mentally stimulating and creative activities in academics, community involvement, hobbies, and cultural involvement. It could involve reading for pleasure or going to a concert.

Dr. Raaums take: Its important to hold onto the things that bring you intellectual wellness and recognize that those things are going to keep you whole, she said. We are human. It helps us interact with our patients as well, in bringing a kind of depth to our patient encounters.

Physical well-being

What is it: Maintaining a level of physical health that permits you to make the most of your day.

Dr. Raaums take: This domain is about being aware and proactive, but also recognizing that its not all or nothing, she said. A lot of people were incredibly active before residency, and while they dont necessarily do all the triathlons and stuff anymore keeping up some kind of routine can be important.Discover three keys to help residents get the exercise they need.

Environmental well-being

What is it: Respecting the relationship between the community, yourself and the environment. It can be accomplished by creating a work environment that is respectful toward team members that builds rapport with the staff as well as the patients.

Dr. Raaums take: Starting to understand how you navigate the environments you encounter can allow you to recreate the circumstances that keep you well.

Financial well-being

What is it: Successful management of financial expenses, debt and savings.

Dr. Raaums take: Figure out your debt situation and, if you do, its important to have a plan and figuring out something that works for you for repayment, she said.

You need to have some relationship with your finances. You cant just push them off to the side, but you also cant put all the pressure on the resident to make every single key life decision during training. It would be really lovely if every institution could help every resident with navigating these big changes.

Learn more about three key tips that help residents maintain financial well-being.

Social well-being

What is it: Building supportive relationships with communities, individuals and groups.

Dr. Raaums take: The way to attempt it is approaching with some intention and eyes wide open in terms of what you can expect, and also thinking about it as who is closest to you and how do you want to be intentional and maintain those relationships and recognize that you cant hold those all at the same level.

Get insight on how medical residents can make the most of their time off.

Spiritual well-being

What is it: Being in harmony with your inner self so that you may be resilient and better equipped for lifes challenges.

Dr. Raaums take: You see a lot of suffering as an intern, she said. Sometimes we dont recognize there are skills that can help us navigate that better. Oftentimes for people, that is true spiritual wellness. Focus on your core values to navigate and recognize the amazing things we encounter in our work, and balance it all.

Read the rest here:

New interns should master these 8 domains of well-being - American Medical Association

First published JUL 14, 2022 Updated Jul 15, 2022

Vic Crockford

Vic Crockford is chief executive of Community Housing Aotearoa, a peak body for New Zealands community housing sector.

Housing

Over the past five years, $1 billion has been spent on emergency housing grants. While the families accessing these grants have been kept off the streets, the lack of affordable housing remains a serious issue.

"Ka mua, ka muri" is a whakatauki that many will know means "walking backwards into the future" -and it conveys that idea of looking to the past to inform the future.

Following news that over $1 billion has been spent on Emergency Housing Special Needs Grants in the past five years,it is clear the future is looking bleak for many families if we dont find better solutions to New Zealands ongoing housing crisis.

Not only is it an increasingly expensive challenge, but there is also the social cost:4500 children are among the 8000 families currently living in insecure emergency accommodation - many of these placesin converted motels.

So as the whakatauki says, if were going to leave a better housing sector for the next generation, the answers might actually be found in the past.

Where have we come from?

At Community Housing Aotearoa, we dont have to look too far for these answers. Many of our community housing provider members have been working on addressing housing need for decades, with Dwell Housing Trust in Wellington celebrating 40 years just last year.

Dwell provides social housing for people on the Housing Register, affordable below-market rentals, and has a shared home ownership programme.

The Trust houses over 200 people, is currently building 19 new homes and has the capacity to develop a further 124over the next three years if the right mix of funding and finance can be locked in with certainty.

Dwell CEO Alison Cadman reflected on her recent appointment to the NZ Order of Merit with the comment that community housing providers embody the pioneering, exploring innovative spirit. Born at the start of our housing crisis in the early 1980s -in direct response to the needs of local communities seeing significant gentrification and out of a knowledge that a third sector was required to provide the range of options that households needed -community housing providers have shown they are tenacious in their commitment to the people they serve.

What they have also demonstrated over 40 years is that they are skilled at creating intentional communities and weathering the bust and bubble nature of the housing market, as well as navigating political and planning cycles, while providing thousands of quality, affordable and secure homes.

Where are we going?

As we pass the $1 billion mark for emergency housing grants, we should really see this as a wake-up call to put as much emphasis as we can on the policies and practices that will see organisations like Dwell play an ever bigger role.

There are a range of ways we could make this happen including the provision of government securities to guarantee lower cost finance for community based housing providers, ensuring the RMA reforms provide for permanently affordable homes in amongst all the new supply they are intended to create through inclusionary housing and by ensuring that the Progressive Home Ownership fund is locked in for the long-term.

Overall, what we need are the policy settings to be long-term and the capital investment to be at the scale needed to really stimulate the growth of the sector.

In addition to the policy levers is the importance of building and maintaining strong, enduring relationships. In a crisis as significant as ours, solutions are more likely to stick, and be good for communities, through genuine collaboration between all parties.

Given the ability of the community housing sector to deliver tailored, targeted housing solutions in really cost-effective ways, which can undoubtedly alleviate the pressure on a social housing system groaning under an avalanche of need, we know it is a critical part of the equation.

This collaboration is not a nice to have, it is key to ensuring the wellbeing of our society.

It is about the generation of young people growing up in temporary accommodation, without that ability to put down roots in a community, which we all know is so vital to a childs development.

We need to work together -because our kids deserve it.

This is the second in of a series of Partnership Content articles with Community Housing Aotearoa. Read part one here.

Read more here:

To solve our housing crisis, lets learn from whats already working - Newsroom