Monthly Archives: September 2023

The advent of artificial intelligence is an extraordinary, fascinating and challenging time for the learning and development industry. In order for a business to be sustainable, empowered employees must continually grow their technical hard and soft skills.

As AI dismantles the hierarchical structure and places accessibility, opportunities, scrutiny and decisions throughout the organization, the role of L&D must expand its toolkit to promote and advance leadership skills at all organizational levels as a foundation for integrating soft and hard skills and enabling employee empowerment. Traditional hierarchical structures will no longer meet organizational needs and will provide a gap through which artificial intelligence may embody negatives such as unethical, biased and discriminatory results.

Throughout all this, chief learning officers play an especially critical L&D role in developing the new organizational environment and culture to thrive in the new era of digital transformative AI. However, AI ethicality and humanism will depend on solid leadership attributes at every level throughout the organization.

The modern workplaces emphasis on soft skills will drive the empowerment of individuals within the organization. Recognizing the critical role of soft skills brings us to the theory of servant leadership as the foundation for individual empowerment to develop and flourish. Lets look at the new focus and changes L&D can bring through servant leadership, teamwork, soft and hard skills and individual empowerment while embracing AI for its highest positive advantage and value. But first, a brief examination of the era of AI.

The Era of AI

The presence of AI has created a whole new world for the organization and for L&D within the organization. According to Cohen and Feigenbaum (2014), the theory of AI has been in development for many years, with its roots in 1956. McGettigen (2016) defines AI as machines with more than human-like intellectual capacities and a combination of computing technologies converging to enable rational decision-making in complex situations and contexts. Engineers have now created a device that can simulate human intelligence through the emergence of big data, cloud computing, artificial neural networks and machine learning. By integrating these technologies, these machines can perceive, recognize, learn, react and solve problems as AI. Personally, I believe intelligent technologies, as described here, will revolutionize future workplaces, are emerging as the next disruptive innovation, and are recognized by many as the fourth industrial revolution as described by Zhai, et al., (2021).

AI can only work through processes from a vast amount of existing data. To operationalize AI, the first step is using big data, the second is applying analytics, and the third is prediction. Machine learning and deep learning are the prerequisites for developing AI applications, indicating the need for active leadership and scrutiny of data at all levels throughout the organization. Many of the risks presented by AI are understood to be the creation of social problems generated by biased data and algorithms that can sometimes cause harm. From this knowledge view, L&D must play a leadership role in operationalizing data scrutiny with servant leadership, teamwork, soft and hard skills and individual empowerment throughout the organization to minimize, if not eliminate, the inherent risks of AI. L&D may find the tools for this level of expansive and in-depth scrutiny in Servant Leadership, the formation of teams and the promotion and activation of individual empowerment.

Servant leadership For agility and empowerment

Servant leadership was first introduced by Robert Greenleaf (2002), first published in the 1970s. Keep in mind that the title of servant leadership is used here merely to distinguish a type of leadership with characteristics in opposition to the hierarchical, authoritarian style of leadership used in many of todays organizations. The identified essential characteristics of Servant Leadership, as introduced by Greenleaf, are love, humility, altruism, vision, trust, empowerment (of others), service, acceptance, compassion, concern for others, courage, dependability, self-discipline, empathy, honesty, integrity, justice, prudence, self-sacrifice, trustworthiness and wisdom.

The title of CEO is not a prerequisite for becoming or performing as a servant leader. A manager can be a servant leader to direct reports, team members can act as servant leaders to their peers, and flourish within small task forces, committees, departments or divisions. With an emphasis on vision, they can empowers teams, divisions, and the entire organization around clear goals.

Servant leaders can create an organizations culture as a winning strategy, creating a climate of inclusion, utilizing the critical principles of listening, action-oriented integrity, connecting, being open, serving and empowering others. As noted, servant leadership operates on the foundation of soft skills, tantamount to creating an environment and culture of equanimity, engagement and empowerment throughout the organization. It is clear that in this new AI era, employees at all levels must become knowledgeable and supported in understanding personal leadership attributes and capability through the L&D introduction of servant leadership skills, modeling and training for a comprehensive approach to ensuring safeguards against any possible harmful risks which may be inherent in AI. In addition to the emphasis on servant leadership, in the era of AI, increased emphasis must also be placed on cultivating collaborative teamwork, actualizing employee participation with soft and hard skills, and employee empowerment with a focus.

The demand for teamwork

Another one of the significant and dynamic shifts in an organizational structure during the pandemic has been the shift to a super team organization as a basic structure. There have been many shifts in organizational structures through the years, but they have remained in a somewhat basic hierarchical architecture. The super teams design is the first example of a focused, non-hierarchical shift from the age-old hierarchical structure. The formation of teams and teamwork within departments in organizations has been recognized since the 1980s as one of the avenues to obtain employee commitment, involvement and participation in innovation and production for sustainable organizational responsibility.

The era of the pandemic and post-pandemic workplace modifications provided an impetus for exploring and considering new types of work communication, organizational structure, and workflow, with the advent of AI increasing this emphasis. Some companies have moved the team concept to a new and higher level of company structure based on super teams. This genre of organization moves away from the traditional hierarchy of divisions, departments or managers. The change embraces a new structure of teams dedicated to organizational functions and projects with a rotating team leader who reports directly to the organizations CEO. Each team and team member assumes equal direction, responsibility, and accountability for the team results of the function or project. An overview of the super team organizational structure follows with the definition, benefits and characteristics.

Rajesh Padmanabhan (2021), CEO of Talavvy Labs, states, A super team is defined by a mix of functional experts and generalists, strategists, executors, supporters and finishers as: a basket of cross-functional capabilities, with a common purpose and goal. We is more important than I in such self-directed work teams, and technology is a common denominator.

To elaborate further, Padmanabhan states that the conversation has now reached the point where AI in particular, and technology in general, is no longer just an enabling solution but is a transformative potential for what is needed as a makeover of the very architecture of work itself.

The benefits of a team-based organization include creating and implementing solutions that stem from in-depth collaboration among highly skilled, dedicated individuals. Unlike the traditional format that relies on one director, team members focus on the organizational goals and their specific function or project related to that goal. A clearly defined focus leads to open communication and innovation, resulting in better solutions and better business strategies. The distinguishing factors of high-performance work teams are their ability to function at a high level for extended periods, most efficiently and effectively possible. Teams of this type come in many shapes and sizes, and no team model suits every business.

The L&D challenge is to promote digital agility and adaptability as a rule. Be proactive in the leadership for formation of teams, banishing hierarchies and following work rules only. Major characteristics of team-based organizations include trust, empowerment, goal setting, autonomy, team accountability and shared leadership. Examples of foundational characteristics of a high-performance super team are: diversity, clear goals and expectations, effective communication, trust, ownership of functions and projects, empowerment of team members and vision. Teams demonstrate the results from integration of soft and hard skills.

The integration of soft and hard skills

Just as the advent of AI has impacted the role of leadership by opening the window of equanimity throughout the organization, AI has also eliminated the great divide between the application of soft and hard skills within the workplace.

AI has opened the window to review how soft and hard skills are interdependent, integrated and needed for positive, successful growth. The new landscape of growth and opportunity brings us to a new era of integrating soft and hard skills, creating overriding durable skills leadership, communication, listening, creativity, collaboration, self-empowerment and adaptability all identified in our recognition of servant leadership characteristics. Soft and hard skills are needed equally and interchangeably in our AI environment.

Conclusion

In a world perceived by many as disrupted by AI, there is an opportunity for expansion of the role of the CLO beyond the traditional scope of L&D to becoming a servant leader model and advocate for recognition and development of leadership capability and empowerment throughout the organization in every role and at every level throughout the organization.

The challenge for the CLO and L&D is to weave servant leadership and AI into a cohesive cultural fabric throughout the organization. CLOs and L&D can not achieve digital agility and adaptability throughout the organization without an explicit acceptance and transparency demonstrated in employee value through fostering servant leadership, innovation, collaborative teamwork and integration of soft and hard skills to prepare the workforce to effectively navigate and participate in the new reality of digital transformation, and any future iterations, utilizing servant leadership skills and empowerment for all.

References

1. Bhattacharjee, M. (2021). How do Superteams function? Retrieved from https://www.hrkatha.com

2. Cohen, P. R., & Feigenbaum, E. A. (2014). The handbook of artificial intelligence. London: Butterworth-Heinemann.

3. Greenleaf, R. K. (2002). Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power & greatness, Mahwah, NJ: Paulist.

4. McGettigen, T. (2016). Artificial Intelligence: Is Watson the real thing? (2016). Available in SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2826047 or https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2826047

5. Padmanabhan, R. (2021) Super teams. Retrieved from https://www.excoleadership.com/teams/rajesh-padmanabhan/6. Zhai, X., Chu, X., Chai, C. S., Jong, M. S. Y., Istenic, A., Spector, M., Liu, J-B., Yuan, J., & Li, Y. (2021). A review of artificial intelligence (AI) in Education from 2010 to 2020. Hindawi Complexity, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8812542

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Servant leadership and AI: Agility and empowerment for the CLO - Chief Learning Officer

PRESS RELEASE

Published September 16, 2023

Renowned author Samantha Bluhm announces the release of her highly anticipated book, "You Were Born For More," a compelling memoir that delves into the complexities of family dysfunction, personal growth, and breaking free from the chains of the past. Bluhm's insightful narrative takes readers on a journey through her own experiences, offering profound lessons and empowering strategies for those seeking to transcend their past and embrace a life of purpose and self-worth.

In "You Were Born For More," Bluhm shares her poignant and sometimes heart-wrenching experiences of growing up in a home marked by anger, emotional turmoil, and dysfunction. With raw honesty, she paints a vivid picture of a father whose volatile emotions would erupt into explosive rage, and the scars these experiences left on her own self-esteem and relationships.

The book highlights pivotal moments in Bluhm's life, detailing her struggles to find her voice and break free from the cycle of family dysfunction. Through candid stories and introspective reflections, she explores the impact of her upbringing on her self-perception, relationships, and decision-making. The book is not only a personal account but a guiding light for readers who have faced similar challenges.

Samantha Bluhm's journey from a place of survival to one of empowerment and purpose forms the heart of "You Were Born For More." As she shares her own transformation, she also offers readers a roadmap for change, encouraging them to embrace their own worthiness and rewrite their life stories.

Bluhm's writing is marked by its authenticity and vulnerability, drawing readers into her world and allowing them to connect with their own experiences. She weaves a narrative that combines personal anecdotes, psychological insights, and actionable strategies, making "You Were Born For More" a powerful resource for anyone seeking personal growth and transformation.

"I wrote this book to inspire others who may have grown up in dysfunctional families, to let them know that they are not alone and that they have the power to break free from the limitations of their past," says Samantha Bluhm. "By sharing my journey, I hope to offer readers the tools they need to reclaim their sense of self-worth and create a life that is authentic, joyful, and fulfilling."

"You Were Born For More" is a must-read for individuals on a quest for self-discovery, healing, and personal transformation. Bluhm's unique blend of storytelling and practical guidance offers a beacon of hope for those ready to embark on a journey of empowerment.

Media Contact Company Name: Samantha Bluhm Contact Person: Samantha Bluhm Email: Send Email Country: United States Website: http://www.PowerfulPerspective.org

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New Book You Were Born for More Offers a Transformative ... - Digital Journal

After a second consecutive year of increases in new student enrollment, thousands of fresh faces experienced #LifeAtCentral last week as they attended classes, explored registered student organizations, met with mentors and much more. After events such as IMPACT, Leadership Safari, MainStage and Get Acquainted Day, the newest CMU Chippewas are sharing their experiences with faculty, staff and classmates and enriching the university on campus and online.

Jennifer DeHaemers, vice president of student recruitment and enrollment, said CMUs new student enrollment growth came despite increased competition from peer institutions, including some that lowered their academic criteria this year, and despite Michigans population declines, including among high school graduates.

Included in this years new student enrollment, both on campus and online, are 2,044 new First Time In Any College (freshman or first-year) students, 921 new transfer students and 1,238 graduate students. More than 88% of both the new first-year and new transfer students come from Michigan.

Among them, about 17% of first-year students and about 23% of transfer students are first-generation students, the first in their families to attend a college. And they are high academic achievers the average GPA among first-year students is 3.51.

CMU's newest students also come from around the world. This year, CMU has its largest number of international students, both undergraduate and graduate, in a decade: 1,734 students representing 70 countries.

DeHaemers said online enrollment will grow again slightly later in the fall as students enroll for the second fall session of Innovation and Online programs. Final, official numbers for fall enrollment will be released after the semester by CMUs Office of Academic Planning and Analysis.

Students regularly include improved career outcomes as one of their main reasons to pursue higher education, DeHaemers said. For those students, CMUs focus on hands-on, experiential learning and career readiness are compelling reasons to apply.

It also helps that CMU students are graduating into great jobs, DeHaemers said. According to its most recent First Destination Survey, CMU shows that nearly 94% of graduates are gainfully employed, engaged in volunteer service programs or pursuing additional education within 6 months of graduation.

A primary component of career readiness is the scholarly and creative work students can dig into from their first day at CMU, DeHaemers said.

Faculty at CMU are engaging students in their research and creative activity as early as the first weeks of class, she said. Our undergraduate students are engaging in work at CMU that is usually limited to graduate students.

DeHaemers said students also regularly mention the warm, welcoming campus community as a primary reason for choosing CMU.

CMU is a community where they will be more than a face in the crowd, she said. These students know they will get to know their faculty members and receive support from their classmates and peers. They know they will find mentors who will encourage them on their academic journey.

The new students come from communities in Michigan, around the region and throughout the world, bringing a wide range of perspectives and experiences to enrich the university community. They are future health care and business professionals, teachers and athletic trainers, engineers and ecologists. They are Fired Up and ready to make a difference on CMUs campus and in the communities they call home.

Class year: First-year student

Hometown: Metro Detroit, Michigan

Academic interests: Entrepreneurship, leadership and management

Published author. Award-winning poet. Accomplished motivational speaker. Budding entrepreneur. Before stepping foot on campus at CMU, Jazlyn Coles already had an impressive professional bio. Now, shes ready to add more to it.

A self-described overachiever with high aspirations, Coles attended Ferndale High School and, at just 15 years old, began taking college courses at Oakland Community College. Knowing she wanted to earn a four-year degree, she pushed hard to earn the highest grades in every class, so shed be eligible for lots of scholarships. And, as valedictorian of her high school and with an associate degree already in hand, Coles had many options to choose from.

When she was invited to CMU to participate in the Leader Advancement Scholarship competition, Coles realized shed found her place. It started with hearing from Leadership Institute Director Dan Gaken.

He was such a great speaker I was taking notes while he was speaking, she said. I cried. It was the first time that I just knew I am meant to be here.

Gaken not only inspired her, but he also provided a first on-campus step to pursue her goal of becoming an international motivational speaker focused on self-empowerment and self-worth.

He invited her to speak at Leadership Safari, opening for nationally recognized guest speaker and poet Ebony Stewart.

It was the biggest crowd Id ever spoken to, she said. It was exciting and empowering, it was amazing.

Since then, Coles has found several places to continue to build her professional profile. She connected with the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship and plans to participate in the New Venture Challenge; she hopes it will help her learn how to market her upcoming book, Elegantly In-Tuned.

She also plans on starting a new registered student organization focused on poetry and volunteer service. As a first-generation college student and someone accustomed to being the youngest person in the room, Coles believes she has a vital role to play in helping other college students find their voice and feel empowered to make a difference in the world.

I want to inspire people, to help them know they are not alone, and to know that even if they are young, they can still be leaders, she said. Poetry is a way we can find connection and be in community together.

Class year: third-year transfer student Hometown: Auburn, Michigan Academic interest: Electrical Engineering

At just six years old, Kyle Kieser discovered the wonderful world of taking things apart and figuring out how to put them back together better. As he enhanced and improved his Nerf toys, he was test-driving a career in engineering.

By junior high and high school, he was building mechanical hands and developing a first-of-its-kind air hockey pinball game with his friends. Years later, Kieser continued down the engineering path at Delta College, where he earned a full-tuition scholarship, participated in the Phi Theta Kappa honors society, and was a member of the college honors program.

He was a top scholar and presenter in the Liberal Arts Network for Development (LAND) Student Scholars Competition; his project was a unique cellphone app designer to help young students discover STEM and explore careers in engineering.

My favorite part of the app was the quiz feature that would let them answer questions and it would recommend an engineering field, he said. I did a lot of research on it. I felt like we could get this information in front of kids earlier and help them get excited about STEM.

During his sophomore year, Kieser landed a co-op position at Nexteer Automotive working on a solution to reduce the time it took to complete a quality assurance process. When it was time to choose a college, CMU was Kiesers first choice after touring the engineering department.

The same robots they used on the line in my co-op are used in the labs here, he said. There was a direct connection for me I wanted to be in that class, I wanted to play with those robotics. It was a no-brainer; it is exactly what I want to do.

His sister had shared lots of remarkable stories about her experiences on campus, but it was seeing how happy she was on campus and how personal President Davies made her commencement ceremony that made Kieser think he could find a home here, too.

Beyond feeling comfortable on campus, Kieser is also excited about all the opportunities to get involved in professional organizations and clubs that will connect him with people and activities in his field of interest.

There is so much to do here there are multiple clubs even just for electrical engineering, he said. I want to do everything.

Class year: First-year student

Hometown: Harare, Zimbabwe

Academic interests: STEM, pre-medical studies

In 2019, Ruvarashe Musasiwa watched as physicians in her hometown of Harare, Zimbabwe, went on strike, leaving hospitals empty of doctors who could have saved her fathers life. The devastating incident left her with a singular goal: Medical school.

Musasiwas interests already aligned well with pre-medical studies she loved chemistry and math and was excelling in classes like biology and statistics. The decision to pursue health care brought all her passions together and pointed her to colleges in the United States.

When I was looking at schools to go to, even though I dont know what I want to major in yet, I loved the versatility at CMU in terms of STEM subjects, she said. I love math and statistics and chemistry with my whole heart, but I also am looking at computer science as well and biomedical. I love what CMU had to offer.

She began following CMU on YouTube and other social media channels and was moved by the videos focus on being a welcoming community.

I loved how the Mount Pleasant community was centered around Central Michigan, and I love the sense of community. When I was exploring, everyone was so open to my asking questions, she said. I just felt a sense of belonging and I fit in.

Musasiwa chose to live in the Science and Engineering Residential College and has already made friends in her hall that she sees regularly in class. She has also connected with several faculty members both inside and outside her program.

At the international student welcome meal, some of the professors actually came up to us and greeted us, she said. Before I even started school, I had a sense that I could go to anyone and not worry. One professor even came up to me and gave me her business card and told me I could contact her at any time.

In her first semester on campus, Musasiwa is focusing on registered student organizations centered on pre-medical studies. Eventually, she would like to join some other groups and even play a little field hockey.

My goal is to make the most of this opportunity I have been given, she said. My family has made sacrifices for me to be here, and not everyone gets a chance like this to study abroad. It is a lot of pressure, but it is also very exciting.

Class year: First-year student

Hometown: Livonia, Michigan

Academic interests: Marketing and logistics

Jaclyn Serazios friends always ask her for help editing photos and writing captions for their social media posts, and she loves using the online channels to find and share stories. Shes known for a while that social media marketing was something she wanted to pursue, and shes known for a while that shed make the journey to that career at CMU.

Its one of the best business schools in the state, she said. How could you not love it here?"

After being highly involved in high school as a senator in student government, varsity cheerleader, National Honor Society member and more Serazio knew it was important to find a college campus where shed be able to be just as engaged.

There is something for everyone at CMU. There are so many opportunities, even just within the business school with all its registered student organizations, she said. And everyone is so excited to share their interests with you.

Serazio attended Leadership Safari and learned more about clubs and RSOs at MainStage. She has already joined the Supply Chain Management Association and plans to attend meetings for the Society of Women in Business. She is also looking forward to joining a sorority.

She had heard plenty about the opportunities at Central from her family. Her father and sister are both CMU graduates, and her older brother is currently in his senior year. However, Serazio knew she had to make a decision about college based on what would suit her needs best.

Visits to campus, including a tour of Grawn Hall, and attending one of the Maroon and Gold events hosted by CMU admissions sealed the deal for her.

Whenever I came to visit, there were always friendly faces. Whenever I talked to faculty members, they made me feel like they had known me for a lifetime, she said. CMU had everything that big universities have but was small enough to feel like home.

Class year: Graduate

Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Academic interest: Athletic Training

Taylor Griffith loves everything about sports playing them, participating in competitions and spending time with athletes. She knew she wanted a profession that would let her focus on those passions she didnt know it would be an injury that would introduce her to the right career path.

After tearing her ACL during her senior year, Griffith worked with an athletic trainer who helped her recover from her injury and get back on the field with her softball team.

I learned a lot during that time and realized that athletic training fit what I envisioned myself doing in the future, she said. I knew I wanted to pursue a profession that allowed me to work with and give back to the athletic community."

After earning her undergraduate degree at a small private college, Griffith was ready to explore masters degree programs in athletic training. Her undergraduate advisor connected Griffith with Dr. Blaine Long in CMUs athletic training department.

I knew that CMU was going to be the right place for me after my in-person meeting with Dr. Long because I learned so many additional things about the program, she said. I really liked how CMUs MSAT would allow me to get clinical experience in both the traditional and non-traditional settings so that I could not only learn what I enjoyed doing the most but also learn in each of the different fields.

She also loved the campus at CMU slightly larger than the private college shed attended for undergraduate, but still a place where shed get to work closely with faculty who would push her and shape her to do her best.

The faculty and preceptors have been so helpful and always want to help you learn. I feel like the courses are set up to push you out of your comfort zone and to work hard but allow you to be the most prepared for your clinical field experiences.

Griffith hopes to begin her career working with athletes at the collegiate level.

I love that in athletic training you have the opportunity to understand and get to know your patients on a deeper level, she said. Often times, you are with a patient from the time they get injured, through the rehabilitation process and then proceed to watch them return to their sport healthy again. It's a very rewarding experience.

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New academic year, new faces on campus - Central Michigan University

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Vanilla perfume is having a major moment right nowsome of the best perfumes out there champion notes of warming vanilla. And turns out, its not just me reaching for the sweet, comforting scent, the stats show its in demand. LookFantastic reports a 41% increase in vanilla perfume compared to last year.

Theres good reason its one of the most popular perfumes, too. Vanilla is an incredibly versatile ingredient, which complements a whole host of fragrance notes, explains Sana Jardin Founder, Amy Christiansen.

Historically, vanilla is associated with water and Venus; it's commonly found in soothing, calming, personal empowerment, good luck and love rituals, Amy explains. Vanilla incense is burned to attract love, increase sexual desire, and to improve the powers of the mind, she adds. Pretty powerful stuff, Id say!

And while not all vanillas ooze the sort of expensive-smelling vibe we want out of fragrance, there are plenty that do. Ive rounded up 8 of the very best from old classics to niche perfumes, so keep reading if youre looking to add a new vanilla perfume to your collection.

(Image credit: Sana Jardin)

Doesn't smell like traditional vanilla

If you arent a fan of traditional vanilla fragrances then you might like this one. Its not traditionally sweet so it doesn't feel cloying at all. Thats all down to the clever inclusion of benzoin (resin), sandalwood and frankincenseall giving it a spicy feel.

(Image credit: Cult Beauty)

Great for layering

Fairly long lasting

Might be a bit too sweet for some

It can stain clothes due to colour

Known for its punchy, powerful scents is Huda Beauty Kayali and this vanilla number is no different. As with all of the Kayali perfumes, it is designed to be layered; with this one working particularly well paired with the brand's Eden Juicy Apple.

(Image credit: The Body Shop)

An affordable classic, this vanilla body mist is light, sweet and refreshing. Its beauty lies in being basic; not overcomplicating the star scent. Due to being a lightweight body mist, its definitely not the most long-lasting scent. But this is one you can keep in your handbag for top-up spritzes throughout the day.

(Image credit: Look Fantastic)

Fairly expensive for longevity

If you want your vanilla perfume to encapsulate the perfect, cosiest coffee morning, this is it. Its like being wrapped in the softest cashmere blanket with the best cup of coffee youve hadbonus points if its autumn and a little drizzly. Vanilla isnt the strongest note, but as the base, its creamy enough to warrant being in the list. Lavender also comes through on this one, adding a lovely cosy element.

(Image credit: The Fragrance Shop)

It isn't traditionally gourmand

Gourmand scents arent for everyone, especially when it comes to vanilla, but if youre in that camp then this is for you. It can be a little cloying to begin with but settles down to a lovely floral, citrus vanilla combo. What's more, this one lasts an impressively long time.

(Image credit: Sephora UK)

Possible too intense for close quarters

I'll admit, this is definitely expensive for a small bottle, but when I tell you this is the longest-lasting perfume I own, I really mean it. You need the teeniest drop of this and youll be enveloped in the gourmand scent for hours. If you love plenty of coconut to pair with your vanilla perfume, this is a beautiful option.

(Image credit: Jo Malone)

More masculine than other vanilla fragrances, but depends on taste

True to its name, this perfume contains equal parts earthy vetiver with comforting vanilla, making it more complex than your standard vanilla scent. The dry down leans more towards vanilla, giving a creamy lasting fragrance.

(Image credit: Floral Street)

Beautiful packaging

Sustainable brand

Not exceptionally long lasting

Yes, you are absolutely allowed to get this perfume for the stunning packaging alone, but I promise you, youll be even more pleased with the contents inside. To me, its the perfect wintertime vanilla as its incredibly creamy with floral notes coming through, finishing off with the slightest note of sandalwood (although the sweetness definitely cuts through). Its not super long-lasting but its also pretty affordable so you can go spritz heavy.

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Vanilla perfumes: the 8 best and long-lasting - Marie Claire UK

NOIDA: Against the backdrop of student suicides in Kota, considered a coaching hub of the country, the district school inspector (DIOS) has made it mandatory for all tuition centres, as well as higher education institutions, in the NCR city to install CCTV cameras and submit a compliance report within a week. The DIOS has also formed 20 teams, each with two officials onboard, that will check the safety and security standards at all coaching centres. Every coaching institute and the higher education institutions must install CCTV cameras at their common areas, entrance and exit points, GB Nagar DIOS Dharamveer Singh said on Saturday. There are nearly 200 coaching institutes in Noida. Of them, 158 have claimed to have already installed surveillance cameras on their premises. Most of these coaching centres are clustered around Sector 62. Referring to a recent fire at Delhis Mukherjee Nagar coaching institute and suicide cases in Kota, Singh said, CCTVs are of utmost importance for the safety and security of students and surveillance of any kind of suspicious activities at coaching centres. Twenty-five students studying various coaching centres in Kota to prepare for competitive exams have died by suicide this year, the latest being a 16-year-old National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) aspirant who hung herself in her hostel room. The initiative is a part of the Safe City guidelines, which also requires all education institutions to have separate toilets for boys and girls and regular counselling of students, Singh said. Coaching institutes have also been instructed not to function after 8pm, he added. The order, secondary education department officials, also extends to all educational institutions, including schools and colleges. We also published the following articles recently Free coaching for Class XII students The RA Puram Residents Association in Chennai is offering free coaching classes for Class XII students in the state board curriculum. Professional chartered accountants will be volunteering to teach subjects like accountancy, general commerce, business mathematics, and economics. The classes will take place every Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm at the Greater Chennai Corporation park. Lunch will also be provided for free. For further information, interested individuals can contact 98410 30040. Nipah Virus: All educational institutes to remain shut in Kozhikode till Sept 24 In response to the Nipah virus outbreak, the Kerala government has decided to close all educational institutions in Kozhikode district for a week. Online classes will be conducted during this time. The contact list for infected individuals currently includes 1,080 people, with 327 of them being healthcare workers. There are also 29 people in other districts on the contact list. The number of individuals on the list is expected to increase. The state has recorded a total of six confirmed cases of Nipah virus. Coach introduces new collection Coach has launched a new campaign called Wear Your Shine, featuring Dove Cameron, Lil Buck, Youngji Lee, and Yanfei Song. The campaign introduces the Coach Shine collection, which includes metallic and expressive bags, ready-to-wear, and accessories. The campaign aims to inspire audiences to express themselves authentically and positions fashion as a tool for personal empowerment. Through a series of films, the cast confronts their inner critics and emerges ready to shine. The campaign also features a cameo by Jennifer Lopez. Coach plans to bring the campaign to life through immersive pop-ups and digital storytelling.

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Now, CCTV cams must at coaching centres - Times of India

It hardly bears thinking, imagining the sexist neanderthals braying over Riggss inherent masculine superiority, hearing the misogynistic misanthropes and their chorus of I-told-you-sos, watching the ugly underside of America gleefully dancing in the Astrodome aisles.

There truly was that much at stake on a consequential sports night 50 years ago this Wednesday, when the so-called Battle of the Sexes between the self-proclaimed chauvinist Riggs and the equal rights activist King captivated a worldwide audience. They had come ostensibly to watch a tennis match, but the stakes went so far beyond game, set, and match.

Dont just take it from me. Ask the protagonist herself.

What would have happened had she lost?

I gave myself an ultimatum that I had to win. That helped, King said over a Zoom call this past week.

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I thought if we lost we could lose all the steam we had going in womens tennis and womens sports. We were just getting started, I felt, thanks to Title IX [passed the year before, in 1972], where women could start getting athletic scholarships, which was major because wed had no resources spent on us. Wed just started our womens tour in 71, it was only the third year of professional tennis. I knew if I could win, when I would win, that I knew it was about social change, not just about sports.

We needed social change and womens sports could be a part of that change, gender equity, equality, everything that matters to each human being. It was starting to change the hearts and minds of people, and if we could start to change hearts and minds, then wed have a chance to progress through Title IX, to changes like being able to get a credit card on our own. I knew we had 90 million people watching. Wed never have that again.

This was our chance, I knew, to really make a difference for the rest of our lives.

Now bring that clock forward 50 years, to the upcoming anniversary of Kings unforgettable straight-set victory over the ridiculous Riggs, and celebrate the woman who refused to lose, the 29-year-old superstar who swept past her opponent, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, by beating him at his own damn game, running his 55-year-old body all over the court while she handled his lobs, drops, and serves, forcing him to come to the net for a serve-and-volley contest his tired, unprepared bones had no chance of winning.

Celebrate the woman who took so much on her shoulders to play that match, to interrupt her packed professional schedule knowing she had to erase the memory of Margaret Courts lopsided loss to Riggs four months earlier, to stand up for women everywhere who just wanted the opportunity to play. Celebrate the woman who took such an enormous symbolic step, one with five full decades of proof of unceasing impact and unending legacy. Just look at last weekends US Open championship television ratings, where Coco Gauffs Saturday victory drew an average of 3.42 million viewers, more than a million more than Novak Djokovics record 24th Grand Slam title did a day later, and where both champions earned equal prize money.

The link from there to here is built through Billie Jean King.

The Riggs match was a first huge steppingstone to real change, she said. I love womens sports, but people then had no understanding of what womens sports could do for a person, a girl. They knew for a boy, or really, they hadnt thought about it, it was just part of the landscape. I knew it could change everything. We knew what womens sport should be, knew what it could be.

And she understood how important the visuals were. She knew the power of beating Riggs at his own game, of allowing herself to be carried onto the court like Cleopatra, surrounded by muscled, bare-chested men as she reclined on a feather-covered litter, but let none of that pomp and circumstance affect her focus. As much as King supported womens rights movements led by contemporaries such as Gloria Steinem, she recalled those efforts as being from the neck up, while sports, with its inherent personal empowerment, its package of beauty, power, and grace, she knew that was her arena for change.

In sports youre for yourself, you have confidence, you trust your body, all the things the feminists were fighting for, we were doing. Womens sports teaches you these things, resiliency, how to win, how to be in life, to bounce back, King said.

All these things were so important. And in this King-Riggs match, Im thinking about all of it, bringing it to a head, to a focus, a real focus.

When she won, all women won. All sports fans won. Womens tennis is an ever-growing global sport, and King remains its greatest ambassador. The little kid from California who discovered a love for tennis only to look around at her country club confines and think, Where is everyone else? has never stopped fighting for opportunity and equality. Her philanthropic, leadership, and business ventures are vast and inspiring, coming soon to a Boston hockey arena near you, thanks to her role as an owner with the local representative in the newly formed PWHL.

It hasnt happened because she won. But who knows how much of it would have happened had she lost. The Battle of the Sexes, with its record crowd of 30,000-plus inside the Houston Astrodome, with its mega ABC telecast anchored by the legendary Howard Cosell, was that consequential.

Every single day as long as I go out of the apartment, someone brings up this match, she said. Thats how many have been touched by this.

Tara Sullivan is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at tara.sullivan@globe.com. Follow her @Globe_Tara.

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What would have happened if Billie Jean King had lost to Bobby ... - The Boston Globe

When you think about Ghent, Belgium, do you think about its historic city centre, with the Castle of the Counts and its intricate network of canals and waterways? Sure, but do you also think about how its poised to become the European technology capital?

Mixing excellent infrastructure, talented individuals working on the modern miracles of tomorrow, and fostering regular collaboration between research organizations and business solutions, one can witness the captivating and vibrant energy of this city. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and thats also true for Ghents vibrant healthtech cluster.

With seamless cooperation between life sciences, medtech, and digitech, it attracts investments and offers comprehensive support structures. In this article, we examine Ghents captivating healthtech cluster to learn why it should also be on your radar.

The convergence of academic institutions, research centres, and healthcare facilities in Ghent has nurtured a flourishing ecosystem, with ground-breaking technologies and solutions.

One of the central actors is VIB, the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology. Anchored at Tech Lane Ghent Science Park, it is a facility where multidisciplinary life sciences research is conducted. Their dedicated team of researchers explores molecular mechanisms across various organisms, aiming for tangible societal impact through their technology transfer approach. One focus area is the use of llama antibodies, with potential applications in cancer, inflammatory diseases, and viral infections. To enhance their research capacities, VIB and Ghent University have opened a new research building. Accommodating 200 researchers and a state-of-the-art BioSafety Level 3 facility, it offers a space for experimental research on airborne pathogens.

This brings us to another key contributor to this ecosystem: Ghent University, renowned for its focus on health and medical sciences. This educational powerhouse serves as a magnet for the worlds most promising talents in medicine and related fields. Its diverse departments focus on addressing the challenges of diagnosing rare diseases, understanding mechanisms, and developing therapies. They also educate future researchers and professionals and are involved in advisory and decision boards, which helps guide patient-centred research and education.

Situated in the southern region of Ghent, UZ Ghent serves as the citys university hospital and is a central component of the health ecosystem. With a strong track record, the hospital conducts over 1,900 clinical experiments and 900 clinical studies annually. UZ Ghent acknowledges the importance of translating research into practical applications and is expanding its clinical GMP unit for cell and gene therapy with lentiviral vector production capabilities, enabling faster development of innovative treatments like CAR-T for cancer and infectious diseases.

Playing a pivotal role in the region, Flanders.bio serves as a vibrant life sciences cluster organisation, fostering collaboration and networking within the healthtech sector. Its aim is to bolster the Flemish regions standing in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare through diverse activities and initiatives. Flanders.bio facilitates internationalisation, provides essential services, and builds expertise, ultimately nurturing a robust health ecosystem in Ghent and beyond.

Another research institute Ghent couldnt do without is imec, specialising in integrated circuits, sensors, smart health solutions, and life sciences. Its research focuses on improving healthcare delivery, diagnostic and treatment methods, and promoting individual empowerment in health management. Imec collaborates with organisations to develop and validate innovative technologies for personalised and preventive healthcare. By merging life sciences with digital technology, imec also enables enhanced measurement precision and efficient handling, storage, and utilisation of large datasets.

And lets not forget imec.istart, imecs business accelerator, the first investor and supporting partner to scale tech startups. Its program offers a broad range of services such as initial financial injection, personal coaching and mentoring, access to technology and working facilities, access to a broad (inter)national network of partners and investors and more. Since its launch in 2011, imec.istart has helped more than 290 tech startups in diverse fields to develop into sustainable ventures.Last May, the organisation was rankedworlds best university linked Business Acceleratorby UBI Global during the World Incubation Summit.

Several local healthtech companies begin as spin-offs from these actors, while new collaborations also serve as a magnet for attracting additional companies.

Among the VIB-inspired spin-offs, for example, Ablynx has emerged as a frontrunner in human therapeutic innovation. The company has achieved success in developing caplacizumab, the worlds first medication for acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP), a rare blood clotting disorder, through the discovery and development of NANOBODY-derived medication, based on llama derived antibodies. Sanofis recognition of Ablynxs achievements led to its acquisition for 3.9 billion in 2018.

Agomab, also inspired by VIB, leverages extensive expertise in growth factor biology to spearhead the development of ground-breaking treatments. The primary focus is on tackling fibrosis, promoting tissue structure repair, and the restoration of organ function.

Another spin-off, Confo Therapeutics, specialises in GPCRs, a type of membrane receptors widely targeted in drug discovery. With a unique discovery engine, Confo precisely targets desired GPCR conformations, unlocking significant potential for breakthrough medicines.

VIB is also closely collaborating with Orionis Biosciences, an early-stage company propelling advancements in critical fields such as oncology and immunotherapies. Last year, this company captured the attention of the scientific community with a $55 million financing round, to support advancement into the clinic.

Ghent University also plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation. CESPE is one of its offspring, an accelerator focusing on the sustainable development, design, and optimisation of drug substance and product production platforms. This group has forged partnerships with local players such as Rheavita and AM-Team, as well as renowned multinationals including Janssen, Takeda, Pfizer and Cognizant. CESPE will relocate labs to state-of-the-art GMP-like facilities by the end of 2025, enabling pioneering research on pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical compounds.

Where like-minded people come together, innovation thrives. Another platform is GATE, connecting researchers, industry and clinicians to harness emerging gene, cell, and tissue engineering technologies to revolutionise disease treatment, artificial organ development, and organ-on-chip technology. GATEs focus includes reconstructive surgery, cancer, neurological and cardiac syndromes, as well as eye and hearing issues. Moreover, these advancements have implications beyond healthcare, benefiting areas such as drug screening, medical devices, and cultured meat.

These platforms have brought forth notable companies like Ziphius and anacura. Ziphius utilises its self-amplifying RNA platform to drive the development of vaccines for infectious diseases and gene supplementation therapies for rare genetic disorders. Meanwhile, Anacura stands as an independent analytical centre of excellence in healthcare and drug development. The GMP unit for gene and cell therapy at Ghent University Hospital closely collaborates with local companies, producing the GMP batches of the Ziphius vaccines for phase 1 and 2 clinical trials.

CAR-T therapy, a widely-recognised form of cell therapy, shows immense promise in immunotherapy. This innovative treatment involves extracting, genetically modifying, and reintroducing the patients own cells to enhance their ability to combat diseases like cancer. Harmless viral vectors act as vehicles to deliver genetic material during gene therapy or facilitate genetic modification in laboratory settings. In part, these ground-breaking local advancements are why Legend Biotech and Janssen chose Ghent to construct their joint, state-of-the-art facility, also located at Tech Lane Ghent Science Park. In 2025, they will put their cleanrooms to use and start offering life-changing CAR-T therapy.

Next to that, Ghent has also become known as a hub for expertise in the field of autoimmune diseases. Argenx, for example, conducts advanced testing for various rare autoimmune diseases, including ITP (the destruction of blood platelets), pemphigus (a skin disease), and CIDP (the impairment of nerve pathways in the arms and legs). Recently, the company has received the FDA approval of the subcutaneous formulation of their first FcRn blocker for anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive generalised myasthenia gravis.

While these established players dominate the healthtech scene, imec.istart is experiencing a rise in a new breed of life science startups, nurturing the growth of companies like Ontoforce and IntelliProve.

Ontoforce has been at the forefront for over a decade now, working on the integration of data to unlock transformative insights, accelerate drug discovery, streamline clinical trial research, and establish a faster time-to-market. And IntelliProve has developed a mobile application which uses novel signal processing and computer vision technology, along with a cloud-based AI engine, to accurately assess a patients health parameters through a smartphone camera. This approach also attracted a significant investment of 1 million last year.

Ghent is home to other cutting-edge ventures embodying the fusion of scientific expertise and digital capabilities, which are revolutionising healthcare. Think about Robovision, collaborating closely with medical experts to translate ideas into state-of-the-art AI solutions, enabling precise organ detection and advanced decision support. Meanwhile, myNEO, a data-driven biotech startup, develops immunotherapies that train the immune system to combat tumour cells, identifying tumour epitope targets using biological datasets, neural networks, and specialised teams. Additionally, BioLizard combines biological knowledge with expertise in bioinformatics, data analytics, AI, and software development to provide comprehensive solutions for drug and biomarker development. Supporting both biotech and pharma companies, they have even expanded to the US.

Ghent, with its abundant talent pool and accessible R&D funding, presents alluring investment prospects in the healthtech industry. What distinguishes the Ghent health region is the remarkable convergence of biotech, medtech, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and the digital sector. As a flourishing epicentre, Ghent paves the path towards a healthier and brighter future, empowering its transformation into the European technology capital.

Want to find out whether your business is a perfect match with our DNA? Watch this video or contact Invest in Ghent at invest@stad.gent.

Link:

Discover the synergy between biotech and medtech in Ghent - Labiotech.eu

By the time David* came to terms with what he believed was imminent death, he had been drifting aimlessly in a rubber dinghy across the Mediterranean Sea for hours. Precisely how long he had been inside the cramped vessel, hearing relentless vomiting and moaning in the background, he could not say, although he never lost consciousness throughout the night. He lay awake at one end of the flimsy boat, waiting for daylight, not knowing if help would arrive.

David, a gay 35-year-old man from Cameroon, calculated 40 people were on the dinghy, including several pregnant women, children, and infants. Occasionally, he would hear the sound of a splash, but he did not dare look up to see if someone had fallen or been thrown into the black sea.

It dawned on him that it was the night he would die, yet he felt at peace under a stunning starry sky. "I would rather die under the night sky as a free man, with some dignity, as the human being I really am, than live a life of intimidation and brutality, constantly in fear and hiding," he said.

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Sitting in an old cafe in the neighborhood of Kypseli in Athens in June 2022, surrounded by elegant apartment buildings on Fokionos Negri Street, David took long pauses as he recalled the terrifying night crossing. It took him weeks to trust me with his story, but he was eager to share it that day. Verbalizing the journey and creating a narrative based on his real-life experience was part of a healing and self-empowerment process. The conversation made him tense, so he avoided eye contact and lowered his head while sipping an ice-cold soda between his lines. He continued the harrowing tale.

David did not want his life to end with a defeated spirit, so he defied reality by smiling for the last time. He looked up at the sky with a wide-open grin, his teeth exposed to the damp, salty air, counting the stars while coming to terms with what he trusted would be his fate. "Resistance comes in many forms," he said.

Lying on his back, he could hear waves crashing onto the boat as the women chanted African prayer songs, pleading with God to lead their way to the safety of Greek shores. That is when he felt a bright light hit his eyes. Exhausted and dehydrated, he initially thought it was death coming to take him, but when he heard a loud voice from a megaphone, David realized it was a rescue operation.

David's Mediterranean crossing began one day before his rescue in May 2019 at an unmapped location on Turkey's western coast, where smugglers ordered him to climb onto the dinghy with a large group. In hindsight, he estimates over 60 people who spoke Arabic and African dialects, and at least two Cameroon dialects, which he understood, were on the boat. Those on the vessel fled conflict, famine, and other humanitarian disasters.

David escaped a less visible form of barbarity: homophobic violence. Persecuting LGBTQ individuals in the region is not only socially acceptedat times, it is legalized and encouraged. In March 2023, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which criminalizes homosexual activities and establishes life in prison and the death penalty as punishment for those caught and convicted. Institutionalized homophobia is becoming a rule across the continent, devastating the African LGBTQ community.

Facing severe challenges after being repeatedly assaulted, threatened, kidnapped by civil vigilantes, and illegally detained by police authorities, David learned that a local group of men were preparing to kill him. Two days later, he escaped Cameroon with empty hands.

After being rescued at sea by the Hellenic Coast Guard, David landed at a refugee camp on the island of Kos. Two months later, he and a group of refugees were transported to the mainland, instructed to board the back of a truck, taken to the Turkish border, and told to get off and start walking. The illegal practice of taking migrants who arrive in Greece back to the Turkish border by sea and land and forcing them to cross over into Turkey is known as "pushback." Pushback operations have been widely documented by international investigative media and condemned by the European Court of Human Rights.

David would face two more years of wandering between Turkey, Serbia, Bosnia, and North Macedonia, eventually returning to Thessaloniki and settling in Athens. In 2021, he joined Safe Place International (SPI), a humanitarian organization working with leadership development for displaced LGBTQ individuals in Greece.

David counts himself among the migrants who survive the torturous journey across Mediterranean waters in an attempt to find safety. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM)s Missing Migrants Project, which records the death of migrants, including refugees and asylum-seekers in the process of migrating, keeping an updated database of all reported casualties by official sources (from coast guards to medical examiners) and nonofficial sources (media reports, NGOs, surveys, and interviews of migrants), 28,073 people lost their lives in the Mediterranean between 2014 and August 2023.

The body of water with invisible borders has become a shared space of life and death, hope and despair, reception and separation, entrapment and freedom for displaced people and rescuers alike. In migrant and humanitarian aid circles, the Mediterranean is known as the Emerald Cemetery due to the countless bodies that disappear at the bottom of the sea. Yet, the water-crossing pilgrimage is merely one of the extraordinarily challenging steps of a journey that often begins years before any given departure date and thousands of miles away.

Before his arrival on the western coast of Turkey, David had taken a flight from Cameroon to Lisbon and, with the financial and logistical support of a well-established Turkish acquaintance, made his way across Europe. When he reached Turkey, he thought of staying and settling down for some time. However, Turkey is considered an unfriendly nation for asylum-seekers and notoriously violent against LGBTQ individuals, despite Greece unilaterally declaring Turkey a safe third country for asylum-seekers.

In Turkey, David was illegally detained, beaten, and robbed by immigration police, survived on clandestine slave jobs, was sexually exploited and violated, and faced several violent encounters. When asked what kept him going, he said, "There was nothing left behind. I was not living. I was only surviving. Every minute of every day, wandering like a lost zombie." He added, "Many times, I thought life was not worth living, that I could not continue to suffer, living a miserable life of abuse."

Ironically, what led David to a more hopeful situation was a thwarted effort to end it all. After a suicide attempt in Turkey, David was sent to a medical facility. There, he took a break from the hostile environment that entrapped him, regained his strength, and reconsidered if he should try again to make plans for the future.

At the clinic, David met a United Nations representative who helped him report the mistreatment of Greek immigration police and referred him to reliable humanitarian organizations in Athens, finally allowing him to file an asylum claim. The guidance was critical, and for the first time, things seemed to be turning around. However, without proper legal assistance to strengthen his case, the Greek government would reject his asylum claim several times.

Davids fleeing trajectory and experience is the story of most LGBTQ refugees. The narrative of an excruciatingly long journey riddled with violence and despair is the norm for LGBTQ asylum-seekers who try to make it to Greece, and the road to recovery is long and winding for asylum-seekers and those who support them.

Fenix, a human rights law organization based in Lesbos, a Greek island in the northeastern Aegean Sea off the coast of Turkey, provides refugees with information and tools to navigate the complex and confusing asylum process while supporting individual needs with medical and psychosocial case management, mental health services, and legal representation. It provides a unique service that includes the interdisciplinary collaboration of lawyers, psychologists, and protection officers working on cases, making it an unconventional humanitarian law organization. This collaboration holistically addresses their clients' legal, medical, mental health, material, and social needs, focusing on personal dignity and empowerment.

This approach allows Fenix to effectively overcome the barriers that prevent clients claiming asylum from exercising their rights and helps improve their well-being and sense of security while navigating the asylum process. We use a less traditional approach, one that is more holistic and focused on self-empowerment, said Abby Field, Fenixs legal team Family Reunification Supervisor and SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sex Characteristics) Consultant.

In 2019, after earning a masters in International Human Rights Law at the University of Sussex, Field moved to Lesbos, joining Fenix as a legal assistant. Lesbos was, and still is, ground zero for Europes refugee crisis. It gained worldwide attention in 2015 when the Syrian Civil War triggered a massive exodus from Syria, Western Asia, and the Middle East. Many of those fleeing made their way to Greece, intending to reach other European countries. The island has always been the gateway to the heavily fortified European borders.

When Field joined Fenix, they started reading the reports of the organizations legal transcripts. Scrolling through hundreds of pages of case studies, Field found a pattern of wrongdoing and violations years in the making. The standard procedural issues often involved minors, LGBTQ individuals, and single women.

A common issue was improper language in the required legal paperwork and inadequate translations introduced at court hearings, which could threaten the asylum-seeking process for LGBTQ individuals. Field understood that addressing the underlying issues of prejudice and discrimination against LGBTQ asylum-seekers in Greece was an enormous task, so instead, they proposed that Fenix would begin by trying to educate and train those on the frontlines of the humanitarian rescue process and the agencies involved in the legal claim-to-asylum process.

The first step was to raise awareness of the outdated conventions in language and procedures, [and] point out popular prejudice so that attitudes can change, Field said. Fenix started the work at a micro level, locally, offering training sessions to humanitarian workers, translators, attorneys, and those involved in the process of asylum claims, including local media.

Fenix attorneys and legal assistants combed through piles of legal transcripts, pointing out the incorrect use of language. Specific terms, such as

Field pointed out that these changes might seem small but they significantly impact the dated Greek asylum-claim process and, consequently, the claims filed by Fenix's clients. The idea behind the training is that, with time, changes in the language will lead to changes in mindset, attitude, and, eventually, culture.

When looking at the trauma and violence suffered in their countries of origin and throughout their refugee journeys, the cross-border LGBTQ collective, with its vast cultural and ethnic differences, has eerily similar stories. Vulnerability is the rule, said Fenix co-founder and deputy director Ana Liz Chiban, an Argentinean attorney based in Athens who developed the organizations legal strategy and impact litigation efforts. We have this concept of speaking of survivors of war, survivors of torture, but I feel that these are survivors of seeking asylum. Seeking asylum is deadly; arriving in a safe space is deadly, she said.

To illustrate her point, Chiban explained how refugees are usually grouped inside camps according to their country of origin. LGBTQ refugees must often stay for weeks or months in overcrowded, enclosed spaces with the community of people who inflicted violence on them in their homeland. Thus, this group feels unsafe in refugee camps, where they must hide their identity. Due to the lack of protection for LGBTQ individuals in the camps, sexual violence and physical assaults are common.

Fenix works with individually tailored legal consultations to prepare their cases, explaining the legal procedure for people with a claim based on their sexual and gender orientation. Their legal team prepares LGBTQ clients for asylum claim interviews, focusing on the often invasive and, at times, illegal questions that LGBTQ individuals are asked.

Clients also have a designated protection officer who assesses their situation and advocates for them to receive the services they need, particularly medical and mental health support and connects them to LGBTQ support groups where they build a community, helping them feel less alone and more empowered.

Fenix assigns a psychologist to each client to help process their trauma and create purpose in their renewed lives. The act of finally expressing their claims for protection clearly and unequivocally will help LGBTQ asylum-seeking individuals move forward.

There are few places in Greece for LGBTQ refugees and asylum-seekers to gather safely. In Athens, Safe Place International (SPI) has been a reference for the collective since 2018. Founded by Justin Hilton, an American humanitarian entrepreneur, SPI opened its first safe house for LGBTQ refugees and asylum-seekers in Athens. As the unprecedented migration exodus was ongoing due to Syrias Civil War, Hilton, a long-time activist involved in grassroots advocacy and humanitarian relief work, realized that doubly discriminated LGBTQ refugees had no support in Greece.

SPI started by offering LGBTQ refugees and other underrepresented refugee groupsmainly single women and unaccompanied childrenshelter, food, and resources. Today, SPI supports over 20 shelter locations in Greece and has a thriving community center in central Athens.

Hilton also points to a lack of training in humanitarian and human rights law circles. "There's no standard for vulnerability assessments. There's no standard for protection. There's standards for protection for minors, but for no one else. So if someone comes in and they have HIV, or they're LGBT[Q], or they're trans, nobody asks any questions to provide them protective housing. Nobody does any assessment," Hilton said.

Hilton believes that humanitarian organizations on the frontlines must accurately record refugee stories in writing immediately upon their arrival. The issue is nobody asks [refugees] if they left their country because of their gender or orientation. Our interest is in becoming a global aggregator of those concerns. So we can start some longer conversations, addressing systemic issues, while trying to make individual situations marginally more safe, he added.

Like many humanitarian organizations supporting LGBTQ asylum-seekers, SPI faces the challenge of securing the longevity of its support. Given that most LGBTQ refugees who survive the migration journey and arrive in Greece would prefer to move to other European countries and the Americas, the plan is to create a network of supporting organizations throughout Europe and beyond.

It is not an easy thing to do. My prayer is always that with each referral that SPI makes to a French organization, a Belgium organization, or a Dutch organization, it becomes a reciprocal flow of information and networking that allows asylum-seekers to move more effectively, Hilton said.

A global humanitarian aid network offering long-term monitoring and support is what many LGBTQ asylum-seekers and the organizations that work with them strive for. "Right now, it's the opposite of what we aim to achieve. It's likeI'm in Syria. Okay, let's email every organization in Syria," Hilton explained.

These local networks are critical to the safety of hundreds of LGBTQ refugees. "We know from reading history books about the Underground Railroad that networks can really serve people in a way that works and hands them off in a very dignified way. But we have aspirations for a more global, expansive, effective, and enduring robust network," Hilton said.

For LGBTQ individuals, the roads that lead to the Mediterranean are many. Most come from the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Others come from as far as the Caribbean in an astounding around-the-world quest for a life worth living. Those forced to flee cannot choose a preferred route or means of transportation. Therefore, Haitian migrants may find themselves side by side with Angolan, Iranian, or Iraqi refugees on the same Turkish shore, in the same deadly dinghy, or, if they make it to safer lands, the same refugee social circle.

SPIs community center in Athens serves as a gathering space for LGBTQ refugees at different points in their asylum-seeking process. From the outside, the unmarked two-story building is unremarkable. As a safe space for all LGBTQ refugees and asylum-seekers in Athens, SPI prefers to go unnoticed and keep a plain-looking facade. No one wants to attract unwanted attention from police, homophobic and racist individuals, or anti-migration groups. In September 2018, Zak Kostopoulos, an LGBTQ rights activist, was beaten to death on a busy street in plain daylight near SPIs community center. His death shook the LGBTQ community in Athens. However, behind the undistinguished front, transformations take place.

On a hot June day, LGBTQ refugees and asylum-seekers came together to prepare for the 2022 Athens Pride Parade. For some, this was not their first Pride event. For others, it was a significant moment as it was the first time they experienced the freedom and safety to celebrate their identity publicly.

Preparations began weeks before the parade: Banners, costumes, and t-shirts were made, and the invitation for the LGBTQ refugee community to assemble at SPIs community center before the Pride Parade spread across Athens.

The day began with SPI volunteers painting the faces of community members who were unafraid to catch public attention. The concern was that later that day, the group would have to take public transportation to Syntagma Square, the most important square of modern Athens, where the parades concentration would be.

The music played in the background, and the excitement was palpable inside the community center. M.* and A.*, two transgender asylum-seekers, watched the mirror while S.*, a transgender refugee from Tunisia, retouched their makeup. M., originally from Morocco, has lived in Athens for over two years, but her refugee journey began over seven years ago when she was forced to flee her hometown due to gender and sexual violence. She was still awaiting a final decision on her asylum claim.

Arezou, a lesbian Iranian asylum-seeker, created her fashion version of SPIs t-shirt. She fled Iran years before this Pride day and awaits a final decision on her asylum claim. Arezou and M. are veterans of the LGBTQ refugee scene in Athens. This was not their first Pride parade, so they knew what it would be like outside their safe space. Although they are always cautious on the streets of Athens, on that June day, they were not afraid.

R.N.*, a lesbian asylum-seeker from Haiti, admired her Pride makeup but felt apprehensive. It was her first Pride event, something she never dreamed possible. M.R.*, a lesbian refugee from Cameroon, hesitated before finally agreeing to have her face painted. Josep, a gay asylum-seeker from Iraq, felt overwhelmed by the idea of walking on the streets wearing a t-shirt with a rainbow, something that could get him killed in his homeland.

As preparations for the celebration continued and the music got louder, several members remembered the profound significance of this day and momenton the back of SPIs t-shirt, a bold statement: The queer nation has no borders. Josep proudly slipped one on.

Late afternoon, the group moved through the streets of Athens. LGBTQ refugees, especially those who are transgender, are consistently harassed in public, and that day was no exception. A few unfriendly onlookers started heckling, but nothing seemed to faze this collective.

The group arrived at a packed Syntagma Square, where LGBTQ community members and supporters waited for the parade to begin. On the big stage at the center of the square, there were musical and dance performances, followed by several speakers. They introduced themselves, read texts, delivered messages, and claimed LGBTQ human rights. Nervously waiting in front of the stage was David. It was his first Pride event ever.

A few weeks before Pride, Hilton invited David to represent SPI at the parade warm-up event. David dreads speaking in public, so he rehearsed his speech out loud in front of a mirror, preparing a delivery addressing SPIs work in Athens and demanding better conditions for LGBTQ refugees and asylum-seekers in Greece. He had never appeared openly in public as a gay man and felt more trepidation than excitement. Even though it had been three years since his rescue at sea, David still struggled with the trauma suffered in Cameroon and the violence experienced throughout his forced migration. It will take years to ease his dread and build a mental and emotional footprint of alternative positive life experiences.

The term refugee evolved from the Latin word refugium, but the modern definition was established after World War II. Today, the UNHCR recognizes refugees as persons who are outside their country of nationality or habitual residence and unable to return there, owing to serious and indiscriminate threats to life, physical integrity or freedom. Every member of the SPI community fits those criteria.

While definitions evolve, the UNHCR and other governmental agencies fail to address the timing of the asylum-seeking process and the complexity of refugee needs. The refugee reality is often discussed in the media and legal procedures as a temporary crisis requiring punctual action to fix it. Realistically, a refugee's existence is a long road riddled with systemic failures and transborder issues.

Frontline humanitarian agencies and organizations in countries experiencing endless waves of forced migration would benefit from proper training and education to bridge existing knowledge gaps in the context of asylum. According to Fenix, newly arrived refugees are rushed into the asylum procedure without receiving basic legal information. Chiban is convinced the asylum system would gain by offering information sessions in different languages, during which refugees can learn the asylum procedure and their rights.

We've focused the first years of our existence on trying to build strong individual case management and legal support for our clients [and] a more stable, longer-term strategy for our advocacy and strategic teams. So we can actually make some impact because we've seen the same problems in case over case. And that means there's a systemic failure in the asylum practice, Chiban said.

In the context of LGBTQ individuals seeking safety from persecution, many refugees are unaware they have a right to international protection based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. After being forced to hide their identities for many years in their homeland, most do not know how to express their asylum claims clearly. Understanding the asylum procedure, how sexual orientation and gender identity relate to it, what to expect during asylum claim interviews, the proper explicit language that should be used, and LGBTQ refugee rights in Greece and Europe would be an asset for the population seeking asylum.

Additionally, most LGBTQ asylum-seekers have survived traumatic events in their countries of origin and on their route to safer destinations, and they continue to face many stressors while in Greece. Ideally, they would receive mental health treatment and psychosocial support to help increase their chances of a smoother transition into a new life. Unfortunately, in Greece, most LGBTQ refugees have no access to mental health programs to help address their ongoing issues, which is why Fenix and SPI provide some form of mental health support to their clients and community.

Local integration is also key to providing LGBTQ asylum-seekers a sense of long-term stability while rebuilding self-confidence. SPI is developing local collaborations: For folks staying in Greece, we're looking at partnerships with small restaurants where we pay their [refugees'] rent, and they [restaurants] train refugees. We pay the first three months of the refugee salary. The support changes with the changing needs, Hilton said.

In greater scope, the legal timeframe of seeking asylum must be reconsidered and reframed as a continuous process, not a single event or an isolated crisis. For LGBTQ refugees, reaching a second chance at life will take several years. Long after the immediate threat to life has ceased, a slow and painful reconstruction of self continues.

On the big stage of Syntagma Square, David delivered his first speech as a gay man and a visible LGBTQ activist. A team of SPI workers and collaborators, LGBTQ asylum-seekers, and refugees of many nationalities stood by his side. He demanded that LGBTQ people have the right to live in peace without the need to justify their existence. He recalled parts of his journey before the crowd, and his vulnerability became an asset. David was ecstatic and proud when he concluded his speech, the crowd cheering and applauding his delivery.

As the Pride parade was about to begin and the SPI group prepared to march, David recalled something perhaps more important to him than anyone else: There was a dark night when I thought it is the end and that I would never smile again. He shook his head, threw his arms up in the air, and cried exuberantly, Look at me now!

*Editor's note: Names have been changed or shortened to protect the identity of the source.

Read more here:

Offtrack: The Long Road to Asylum for LGBTQ Refugees in Greece - Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

Dating has become a prominent feature of modern relationships due to several societal shifts. PHOTO | COURTESY.

It might seem counterintuitive that Gen Zs are championing the idea of solo dates in a time when the world is digitally connected.

Traditionally, going on a date has been associated with romantic pursuits or outings with friends, but todays young adults are breaking the mold by choosing to spend quality time with themselves.

So, whats behind this trend, and why are solo dates becoming so popular among Gen Zs?

One of the driving forces behind the rise of solo dates among Gen Zs is the self-care movement.

Also read: Single Kiasi Season 2: As messy and dramatic as the Nairobi dating scene

This generation places a high value on mental and emotional well-being, and solo dates provide the perfect opportunity to prioritize self-care.

Whether its indulging in a spa day, taking a leisurely stroll in the park, or simply enjoying a favorite book at Java, solo dates allow Gen Zs to disconnect from their busy lives and focus on self-rejuvenation.

Gen Zs are also well known for their desire for independence and autonomy. Unlike previous generations, they are less likely to conform to traditional societal norms and expectations.

Solo dates represent a way for them to exercise their freedom and enjoy their own company without the need for external validation or companionship. Its a statement of self-reliance and self-sufficiency.

Solo dates also offer Gen Zs the opportunity to explore their personal interests and passions fully.

Whether its attending a pottery class, trying out a new restaurant, or attending a concert of their favorite artist, solo dates allow them to unapologetically pursue what they love without compromise.

Also read: Height vs Heart: Kenyan women share candid thoughts on dating short men

This focus on self-discovery is a key reason behind the trend.

Me time also provides a chance for a digital detox. In an era dominated by smartphones and social media, Gen Zs are increasingly recognizing the importance of unplugging and having meaningful offline experiences.

Solo dates provide an excellent chance to disconnect from the digital world, allowing them to be present in the moment and rediscover the joy of living without constant notifications and distractions.

For Gen Zs, relationships are evolving, and they are redefining what it means to connect with others. Solo dates are not just about spending time alone; they can also be seen as a form of self-love and self-empowerment.

By nurturing a strong relationship with themselves, Gen Zs are better equipped to cultivate healthy connections with others, both romantically and platonically.

Last, but definitely not least, solo dates are often budget-friendly, making them an attractive option for Gen Zs who may be navigating student loans and financial constraints.

Exploring local attractions, hiking in nature reserves, or cooking a homemade meal for one can be both enjoyable and economical.

Also read: Dating: Why Gen Z fear commitment

See the article here:

The rise of solo dates: Why Gen Zs are embracing 'Me Time' - Nairobi News

In the grand tapestry of the zodiac, a few star signs radiate selfless devotion to those they hold dear. They are not just kind and considerate, but they are also incredibly encouraging and supportive. In fact, these individuals are the kind of people who lend a sympathetic ear, empathize deeply, and make it a point to fulfill the wishes of their loved ones. They willingly work for the betterment of others, even when their plate is full. These caregivers, whose needs often fade into the background, find their greatest joy in being pillars of unwavering support for others. But taking time for their well-being ensures they can uplift others while soaring gracefully through life's ups and downs. Let us embark on a cosmic journey to discover who these souls are:

Sagittarius natives may not always articulate their emotions, but their actions are eloquent love letters to those in their orbit. Their kindness, reassurance, and care know no bounds. Picture them as compassionate listeners, the empathetic shoulders to lean on, and the wish-granters for their cherished ones. Sagittarius possesses a unique superpower the ability to set aside personal needs to stand firmly by the side of their loved ones. Their hearts overflow with generosity, ensuring no soul feels abandoned when they require a helping hand. However, they must treat themselves with the same kindness and consideration they extend to others. Taking time for themselves can allow them to think more clearly and make rational decisions. This can also enable Sagittarians to provide others with enduring support without burning out, much like an ancient oak sheltering those in need.

Among the celestial water signs, Pisceans emerge as gentle souls who extend their kindness far and wide. They envelop everyone in their compassionate embrace, from familiar faces to nameless strangers and even the voiceless animals on Earth. Moreover, they offer an endless wellspring of empathy, a well so deep it can leave them feeling somewhat tuckered out. When Pisces-born individuals perceive someone in need, they bravely step out of their comfort zones to provide unparalleled assistance, choosing their words with care to ensure no harm befalls those in their circle. But while tending to others, Pisces must prioritize their needs. Valuing their own needs can add a sweet harmony to their life, fostering contentment and happiness, much like a soothing lullaby.

In the cosmic symphony, Cancer natives are the natural caregivers, their nurturing instincts woven into the very fabric of their being. Their selflessness is boundless as they shower authentic love and thoughtfulness upon those whom they hold dear. What sets them apart is their innate ability to step into the shoes of others effortlessly, sensing needs, and providing steadfast support. These benevolent souls often place the well-being of their family members and friends above their own. Sometimes these Crabs even let their own need for rest or time off fade into the background to step up and aid others. They must learn to make time for their tasks, as it fosters self-empowerment and personal growth. This water sign must also focus on healthy boundaries as saying no sometimes ensures that self-esteem and a strong sense of agency bloom. Moreover, setting a good example of self-care can inspire others to do the same.

In the cosmic ballet, Libra stands as the unwavering devotee to friends and family, tirelessly working for the greater good, even when their plate is brimming. Libra-born individuals are selfless doers of good deeds who seldom mention the weight they may bear. They continuously ponder the challenges faced by others, striving to ensure that settling for anything less is never an option. Their actions, like shooting stars across the night sky, eloquently express their love and affection. In fact, theyre consistently extending comfort and warmth to all they encounter. Having said that, it would be prudent for them to prioritize their own needs, as it aligns with their values and personal integrity. If they constantly ignore their exhaustion, they may find it unsustainable to help others consistently. So, striking a wonderful balance can be a beautiful and uplifting choice.

These zodiac signs illuminate the lives of others with their nurturing and caring nature, painting strokes of true compassion across the cosmic canvas. They are the constellations of kindness, the galaxies of generosity, and the beacons of boundless love! All they must do is think of self-care as tending to the eternal flame within them. Balancing their needs with others shall be like nurturing a resilient garden within their heart.

Disclaimer: These attributes are generic and may not necessarily hold true for you.

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Libra to Pisces: 4 Nurturing Zodiac Signs Who Prioritize the Needs ... - PINKVILLA