Category Archives: Intentional Communities

Pressley, Bush, Frankel Led ERA Caucus, Dem. Womens Caucus in March to Senate Prior to Vote

WASHINGTON At a Capitol Hill press conference today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Caucus, responded to the Senates vote on S.J.Res.4, the Senate companion to her joint resolution with Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) to remove the arbitrary deadline for ratification of the ERA and positively affirm it as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The resolution received 51 votes of support, short of the 60 necessary for passage in the Senate.

Earlier today, Rep. Pressley, along with ERA Caucus Co-Chair Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) and Democratic Womens Caucus Chair Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22), led the ERA Caucus and the Democratic Womens Caucus members in marching to the Senate chamber to demand passage of the bill.

Full video of Rep. Pressleys remarks is available here and a transcript is available below. Video of the lawmakers march to the Senate is available here.

Transcript: Rep. Pressley Responds to Senates Vote on Equal Rights AmendmentU.S. Senate SwampApril 27, 2023

You know, having been an aide before I was an elected official for some 16 years, you know, very often our aides write these incredible talking points for us. And then as Members, we get up here and just adlib.

Im gonna do a mix because I am a little emotional.

I understand Leader Schumer very much when he said that were not going to curse the darkness, but I want to talk about what it felt like to be in the Senate chamber today.

Myself, Congresswoman Cori Bush who is founding Co-Chair of the ERA Caucus in the House, the first in the history of the House we led a House delegation of our colleagues to sit in the Senate chamber today when the vote took place.

It was very demoralizing to learn that there were colleagues who did not even deem this issue worthy of debate. It was incredibly hurtful to see those colleagues come in to vote today and defiantly put their thumb down as if they were not birthed by women and dont have women in their own families or daughters that they are raising.

I wish that I could say Im disappointed. But in order to be disappointed, I would have to be surprised. It is simply another day in this place. Another day of obstruction of justice, of the undermining of democracy, of demoralizing and dangerous attacks against women.

And yet despite it all, we aint gonna let nobody turn us around. Because the women of this country, sadly, are battle tested. Were battle tested because we have had to soldier on. We have taken care of our families, our communities, this democracy.

In the midst of and in the residual aftermath of policy violence, I would venture to guess that you have grown tired and weary of our statistics of all the disparate treatment that women experience in this country. Imagine how tired we are of living them.

But I am emboldened in this moment and grateful for the partnership and leadership of Senator Cardin, Majority Leader Schumer, Congresswoman Bush, our Senate colleagues, and advocates.

And I also want to give a shout out to Congresswoman Maloney and Congresswoman Speier because they were very intentional as they passed the baton in this fight to two Black women. And those two Black women are leading and centering those who have historically had our contributions erased from history and who were not reflected in the founding document of this country.

So this is a movement now being led by and centering the most marginalized who are in the greatest need of these protections and rights. Its been over 100 years now. Some might think thats a testament to our resilience. I think its a pathetic commentary.

For 100 years now a broad, diverse, multiracial intergenerational of justice seekers, table shakers and movement builders have been organizing relentlessly to enshrine gender equality into the highest law of the land.

Weve done so because for too long our Constitution has failed to recognize the dignity, humanity and equality of women, LGBTQ folks and other marginalized people. Im so proud to join Senator Cardin, our colleagues in introducing a joint resolution to remove the arbitrary deadline imposed by Congress on ratification of the ERA. Our bill would enshrine the ERA as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America at a time when we face daily sexism, pregnancy discrimination, pay inequities, sexual violence and persistent legislated attacks on our bodily autonomy. Our bill is essential.

But once again, the Jim Crow era rules of the United States Senate are obstructing justice and LGBTQ folks and other marginalized communities. Today, the obstruction of the ERA by some callous Senate Republicans is only the latest example of a damning failure to do the bare minimum to protect our fundamental rights at defining moments in our nations history.

The Senates failure to pass our bill means constitutional inequality. The daily indignities of disparities that come with it will remain the status quo. For now. We aint gonna let nobody turn us around.

Despite this devastating setback, we remain resolved and determined. As Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress and a key strategist to the fight to pass the ERA once said, It is time to sweep away these relics of the past and set further generations free of them.

Her words were true 50 years ago, and they remain true today.

On days like this, I cant help but to think of our 14-year-old daughter Cora. She asked me why at every rally and march we chant when we fight, we win.

I told her, Baby girl, because its the truth. I will not be made a liar to my kid. When we fight, we win. And I do not want my daughter or any daughter, to continue to live in a country where we have normalized and internalized the disparate treatment of women and LGBTQ folks and disparities that follow.

This fight isnt over. Im proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with this coalition.

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VIDEO: Pressley Responds to Senate's Vote on Equal Rights ... - Representative Ayanna Pressley

Its no secret that educators and school leaders endure a lot of stress, from managing classroom and school communities to monitoring staff and student morale. When that stress mounts, negative feelings can shift inward. Educators may even shoulder the expectation that they must solve every problem on their own. But theres a way to handle that stress, and it begins with self-compassion.

Simply put, self-compassion means treating yourself with care. As a developmental psychologist and researcher who studies educator well-being at Committee for Children, a global nonprofit focused on social-emotional learning and development, Im well-acquainted with the myriad of challenges educators face. Extensive research suggests that practicing self-compassion is a vital strategy for educators to support and strengthen their mental health. But with so many competing demands, it can be difficult to prioritize it.

Educators spend a lot of time if not most of their time caring for others, which can make it challenging to prioritize themselves. As a mother, I can say thats also true for parenting, which is problematic for educators who are also parents because the demands for attention and care are increased. While fixing up a hot cup of tea at the end of the day is a part of self-care, meaningful, lasting self-compassion requires intentional and consistent attention to our emotional and mental needs. And it takes time and patience for the work of self-compassion to bear fruit.

A common way to practice self-compassion is to consider how you would treat a good friend in the situation youre experiencing, and then extend that same kindness and care to yourself. Its about giving yourself grace. All self-compassion begins with this simple concept, but the long-term effects can be profound. In schools, theres a clear link between educator well-being and the way students experience school. There is also evidence of an association between educator well-being and academic success in the classroom.

So, in the face of chronic stress, how can educators practice self-compassion? The following research-backed strategies offer a starting place. These strategies are simple, but they all take practice. Of course, these tips arent going to solve the systemic problems that put stress on educators such as a lack of resources or support, but with consistency and intentionality, they can help educators manage and reframe their stress in positive and empowering ways.

According to Dr. Kristin Neff, a widely recognized research psychologist, self-compassion can improve well-being and it helps us work toward our goals with positive motivation (the desire for our own happiness) rather than negative motivation (fear of failure and inadequacy).

For example, we may set goals to grow in our careers or friendships, exercise more regularly or improve a creative skill. Whatever those goals may be, self-compassion encourages us to examine our motivations for those goals and adjust them if necessary. If our motivation is negative like exercising more to avoid gaining weight were less likely to stick with that corresponding goal and may end up encouraging more negative thinking during the process. When our motivations are positive and rooted in self-compassion, say exercising consistently to feel more energized at work, that corresponding goal can become an opportunity to care for ourselves and appreciate the progress were continuously making, big or small as it may be. With self-compassion, personal growth is less about bettering ourselves than it is about nurturing and expanding the good qualities we already have.

Educators often hold themselves to high standards, and it is common for educators to feel like theyre not doing enough, or that theyre coming up short. But were all human. Expecting perfection of ourselves can result in feelings of failure or inadequacy.

I often encourage the educators I work with to choose a phrase to repeat when theyre being hard on themselves, inside or outside of school, for example: I will be as kind to myself as I am to my students. I encourage them to write their phrase down and put it on their desk or computer screen. Then, when theyre having a tough moment or notice self-criticism, they can read their phrase as an active reminder of self-compassion.

Another strategy that can be helpful is to set a phone alarm with a soothing message at a time or day when you tend to feel a little overwhelmed after a difficult class period or challenging weekly meeting, for example. That alarm can offer a reminder of your commitment to self-compassion.

One simple strategy to manage stress and improve well-being is to develop a regular gratitude practice where you consistently and intentionally identify the positive things in your classroom, school, or organization. Research suggests that people who regularly practice gratitude report higher self-esteem and satisfaction with life, and the same can be said for educators.

Developing a personal routine to recognize the good things happening in your work, big or small, like teaching a great lesson, building a strong relationship with a colleague or simply enjoying your afternoon coffee can be helpful. School leaders can consider implementing a similar routine with staff, regularly encouraging their team to take stock of whats going well, like a successful conference night, testing day or pep rally. Teachers can also consider a gratitude jar for the whole class, where students can share anonymously. However, take note that a group gratitude practice should not be competitive. Affirmation and rewards have their place, but gratitude encourages us to recognize the good things were seeing, doing or experiencing, regardless of whether theyre tied to metrics of success and recognition.

Of course, gratitude doesnt mean ignoring what isnt working, or pretending like some things dont need to be fixed after all, we dont want to exhibit toxic positivity. Rather, think of gratitude as a well of positivity to dip into, especially when things get tough. Consider each small act of gratitude a drop in the well that youre filling up for future times when you may need a boost.

Positive reframing is a technique that helps us look at a situation in a different, more balanced way. When something has already happened, we cant change how it went, but we can change how we talk to ourselves about it. And if we anticipate something negative will happen in the near future, reframing can help us approach that event with a more healthy outlook. Research shows that how we think about an event affects how we feel about it.

Educators and school leaders can make a practice of reframing challenging situations that occurred with colleagues, students or families. Lets say you need additional time to send out an important email to families, for example. Instead of beating yourself up for being late, think of how youre taking extra time to prepare the best possible message to share with families.

It goes without saying that reframing will not solve the deeper, fundamental issues that can cause chronic stress for educators. It cant magically increase school funding, reverse harmful policies or ensure every student will show up for class. What it can do is build the mental and emotional resilience needed to see these challenges clearly and to respond to them with perspective, optimism and courage. Reframing can help educators tap into the same resilience they strive to help their own students and colleagues discover within themselves.

For many educators, the school year brings countless challenges, but it also presents endless opportunities to grow in self-compassion. Think of self-compassion as a muscle that gets stronger with consistency and time. In the long run, patterns of self-compassion can have profound effects not just on individual educators, but on the school communities for which they care so deeply.

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Educators Need More Than Self-Care. They Need Self-Compassion. - EdSurge

The top of the website for cannabis company Bens Best Blnzs declares, Our Mission is to sell Great Pot and use the power of our business to Right the Wrongs of the War on Drugs. The bold new brand founded by Ben Cohen (co-founder of Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream) is on a mission to raise awareness around the disproportionate rate at which Black people are arrested for using cannabis and address these injustices head on. 100% of B3s profits go directly back into the Black cannabis community and help fund groups advocating for criminal justice reform. 10% of their profits go to the Last Prisoner Project, another 10% goes to the The Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, and 80% is allocated to grants administered by the NuLeaf Project that benefit Black cannabis entrepreneurs.

These noble goals and business model deserved a brand identity to match. Now, thanks to the exemplary design work of Pentagram, Bens Best Blnz has the look and feel to achieve this greatness.

As a self-described old white guy, Cohen was intentional about creating a nonprofit cannabis company that directly supported and worked with Black entrepreneurs. This commitment extended into the branding design process. The design team, Led by Pentagram Partner Eddie Opara, developed an eye-catching brand identity and packaging system that prominently features the work of Black artists and designers. The system harnesses vibrant colors in graphic brush stroke textures along with loud and varied typefaces inspired by protest graphics.

B3 wanted to stand out visually in the already jam-packed cannabis space, which is dominated by certain tired visual motifs like marijuana leaves and green hues. To underpin what sets B3 apart in this field, Pentagram created a visual language that focuses on the brands message over their marijuana.

The goal for the Bens Best graphics was to be honest and artful to reflect the quality of our products and the social mission of our brand, Cohen said on Pentagrams website. The focus on this issue is something that a lot of other brands might mention, but virtually no other brand makes it so prominent. Pentagram helped us to integrate typefaces created by Black designers and original artwork by Black artists into our packaging, which is our major form of marketing.

Expressive typography is the core of Pentagrams creation, primarily featuring fonts from Vocal Type Foundry (founded by Tr Seals) that highlight critical moments in history for marginalized communities, like the Civil Rights Movement in America and the Womens Suffrage Movement in Argentina. Additional type in the B3 system was designed by Joshua Darden.

The B3 logo was designed with flexibility in mind, composed of dynamic letterforms that can shift in size and scale. It can also be used as a framing device for imagery within graphics throughout the website, on social, and in the product packaging.

Another priority for B3 was creating eco-friendly packaging, and Cohen worked closely with Pentagram to ensure as many components as possible were sustainably made and recyclable. As such, the team opted for materials such as tin, glass, metal, and cardboard over the common plastic standards. In addition to these important material considerations, Pentagram was thoughtful in the visuals and copy adorning the packaging. The products are covered in calls to action to decarcerate and deschedule cannabis, along with powerful quotations from Black leaders like Angela Davis and Nelson Mandela. Every package also features a small ice cream cone icon as a subtle homage to Cohens Ben & Jerrys roots.

The packaging is deliberately heavy on type and text; it is designed to be explored and discovered over time as the reusable tin lays around the house, Cohen elaborates via Pentagram. At times we thought of the packaging as an artfully designed Dr. Bronners soap bottle. But it turned out to be so much more than that.

The frenetic typography is layered with the work of Black artists, including two commissioned pieces from multimedia artist Dana Robinson and Opara himself (see below, respectively).

B3 will launch its initial line at local dispensaries in Cohens home state of Vermont, and their full range of products is viewable on B3s website now.

Pentagram Partner: Eddie Opara

Project Team: Jack Collins, Raoul Gottschling, Ruben Gijselhart, Dana Reginiano

Collaborators: Claudia Mandlik, photographer; Dana Robinson, illustration; Vocal Type, typography; Darden Studio, typography; Michael Justiz, type animations; Jacob Macdonald, web development

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Cannabis Company Ben's Best Blnz is on a Mission to Right the ... - PRINT Magazine

Dirty, deflated balloons, empty of the helium that briefly supported a journey through the skies, are frequently found on the ground during litter pickups inside and outside of Baton Rouge, Metro Council member Laurie Adams said.

After constituents raised the issue to her, Adams authored a proposal set to be debated by the Metro Council on Wednesday that would ban the intentional release of 10 or more balloons, imposing a $100 fine for the first offense and $250 fines for subsequent offenses. But following discussions with council members who represent majority Black areas in the northern half of Baton Rouge where balloon releases are common at celebrations of life, Adams said she's open to having a conversation at Wednesday's meeting about how to address litter from balloon releases without cracking down on the practice.

"We can get into the chamber and talk about it," Adams said. "I certainly know that when things have a cultural significance, those things dont change quickly or easily.

"I've already had conversations with people through this effort about how we could go about this a different way," Adams added.

Council member Darryl Hurst, who represents a portion of north Baton Rouge, said he and Adams, who represents a majority White area, spoke recently about the frequency of balloon releases in minority communities in Baton Rouge.

Among the many sources of litter in Baton Rouge, Hurst said, balloons represent a small percentage of the litter found in the city and Adams' proposal would disproportionately target Black communities.

"I don't think that any litter should be put in place, I'm not for litter, but the biggest piece of litter that we see in our community comes from Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, Christmas parades," Hurst said. "It allows 10 times more litter than a balloon ever would, but we allow parades to happen because they're a cultural thing in south Louisiana, no different than balloon releases in minority communities."

Adams said she expects opposition from Hurst and several other representatives of north Baton Rouge but appreciates the opportunity to have conversations about alternatives to balloon releases, such as candlelight vigils or planting a tree.

"If nothing comes out of this, I think well at least have a good conversation about the unintended impact the things we do can have," Adams said, who also noted the effect on wildlife that may choke or ingest the deflated balloons.

Outside of the city, Baton Rouge resident Jill Purkey-Harris encounters balloon litter at a far higher frequency on Louisiana's beaches, she said. Purkey-Harris and her family frequently participate in litter cleanups on the beach near their camp in Cameron.

The number of balloons washing up on the beach has increased in recent years and typically explodes after holidays like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, bringing along customized balloons for the preceding occasion, Purkey-Harris said.

"I just want nature, I dont want the people mess brought into nature," Purkey-Harris said. "The balloons were really disconcerting because you see it and think how unnecessary it is."

During a litter cleanup with fellow council members in Tigerland over the weekend, Adams said, she found a discarded balloon, highlighting the reality of the situation.

"If it were just litter, if wildlife were not impacted, if these balloons didnt create environmental issues as well, I think (Hurst) is right," Adams said. "But if we take a holistic look, there are more problems than just litter created by releases."

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Source of litter or way to celebrate the dead? Metro Council debates balloon release ban - The Advocate

The Indianapolis Public Schools district is asking voters for a $410 million capital referendum on this years May primary ballot. Those dollars would go towards improvements on more than 20 IPS buildings.

IPS Superintendent Aleesia Johnson recently sat down with IndyStar to share why she thinks voters should approve the referendum this May.

Her answers have been edited for length and clarity.

IndyStar: What is at stake if this referendum doesnt pass?

If we are successful on May 2, we will be able to bring every elementary and middle school building up to a status of good condition, meaning just in need of routine maintenance. On a project schedule that we have right now, that could all be accomplished in the next eight years.

If we are not successful, then those same projects would take us the next 14 years to complete, assuming that we don't have any additional system failures and I can nearly guarantee that we would, given the age of some of those systems in our buildings. So it's really a difference between how soon can we deliver on what we believe our kids deserve to have access to.

More on School referendums: What Marion County voters need to know about 3 school referendums on the May 2023 ballot

IndyStar: The last capital referendum was just five years ago. Why do you need another?

In 2018, we went out for both an operating and a capital referendum. The operating referendum was solely about staff compensation, and if we're a district that's trying to drive for better student outcomes, well guess what, you need high-quality compensated teachers to make that happen. I believe we've delivered on the commitment we made in 2018 on the operating referendum. Then on the capital side, we had a safety and security referendum that was about $52 million.

This is about those bigger projects that are more substantive in nature that need to get accomplished for our schools. When we see that 30% of our buildings have been rated as in poor or worse condition. When we look at the average age of an IPS building being 61 years old. The longer we wait to take on those projects, the more extreme the need is going to be.

IndyStar: Have you been good stewards of public dollars?

There have been a number of initiatives and efforts to find savings and or reduce costs. When we've had the flexibility to dispose of facilities, for example, we've done that to the tune of upwards of $25 million. We've reduced some of our central office roles and other staffing roles, particularly in our facilities and operations side to just be more efficient. We've invested in a wellness team so that we can proactively be asking our employees to take on some practices that keep them healthier to help the bottom line in costs around health insurance.

IndyStar: With inflation high why should IPS voters approve a tax increase?

My worry is if we were to continue to wait what that would mean about the bottom-line cost of the very same projects that we need to still do is risking even more facilities deteriorations or systems failures. So certainly, the timing in terms of what taxpayers are being asked matters. That's why we've tried to be very thoughtful about talking about the ways in which we have saved dollars, the ways in which we've worked to be responsible fiscal stewards of public resources.

IndyStar: If this referendum isnt passed will that impact Rebuilding Stronger?

Some parts of the referendum are about supporting the academic programming for Rebuilding Stronger, so for example, at Arlington Middle School, where there's a massive investment not just in the campus grounds, but also in STEM-based classrooms.

Recent Charter School news: Valor Classical Academy no longer interested in Pike Township, looking once more to HamCo

If the referendum does not pass, it will require us to spend some time over the next few months determining how do we still provide that experience to our students knowing that unfortunately, the physical environment that could best set them up for success may not be readily available. That would be hugely disappointing.

We've given ourselves the 23-24 school year to plan so that we can be thoughtful and intentional so certainly there is some time in there for us to readjust course, but my prayer is that we won't have to do that.

IndyStar: The legislature hasnt settled its budget yet, but if they do approve a plan that would share property tax dollars with charter schools, what might the effect be?

Under both the Senate and House plan, we are projecting out what would be multiple million dollars of loss over the next several years and so that's concerning. We know that school districts are still responding to the impact of COVID-19 on student learning. We're really proud that we've seen some of the most significant growth from 2019 to 2022 across our state in terms of our students. So the momentum that we feel right now, we want to continue to accelerate, and if our state legislature makes decisions that actually put us in a more precarious position to do that, that would be a huge disappointment.

More on Statehouse news: Lawmakers have extra $1.5B as they negotiate state budget

We have a number of charter partners in our district. I understand their argument in terms of additional funding. I also believe that it does not have to be a zero-sum where a district full of students who also have incredible needs has to be negatively impacted to support schools or families who have made different choices. I think all students can get what they need if our state chooses to fund them in such a way to do that.

IndyStar: What has the community reaction been to the referendum?

A lot of excitement about schools that are coming back online, certainly for Thomas Carr Howe and Broad Ripple. There's a lot of excitement about those buildings being assets in the community that families can now take part in, being a part of the legacy and history of those buildings, being vibrant again, particularly from alums.

Keep up with school news: Sign up for Study Hall, IndyStar's weekly education newsletter.

A lot of excitement about the potential investment at Arlington Middle School, a lot of work happening in the Devington neighborhood. Ive heard from a number of folks about why that is really exciting and how it often feels like those are communities that have been forgotten. And we were very intentional about making investments in those communities to hopefully send a statement and a signal that we believe, and we want to be a part of those neighborhoods being reinvigorated.

Contact IndyStar reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 orCBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter:@CarolineB_Indy.

Carolines work is supported by Report for America and Glick Philanthropies. As part of its work in Marion County, Glick Philanthropies partners with organizations focused onclosing access and achievement gaps in education.

Report for America is a program of The GroundTruth Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening local newsrooms. Report for America provides funding for up to half of Carolines salary during her time with us, and IndyStar is fundraising the remainder.

To learn more about how you can support IndyStars partnership with Report for America and to make a donation, visitindystar.com/RFA.

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Indianapolis Public Schools: Learn about the $410 million referendum - IndyStar

Professional volleyball is coming to Madison.

League One Volleyball (LOVB) announced Thursday morning that the Madison area has been selected as one of the sites for its nascent league that is set to begin play in late 2024. Madison is the third location for the league, joining Atlanta and Houston.

Madison was a prime target right from the start for the league, said Katlyn Gao, co-founder and CEO of LOVB (pronounced Love). She cited the fervent support for the University of Wisconsin volleyball team and the areas growing club volleyball involvement as key factors in the citys appeal.

When we were looking for our next pro team location, it was clear Madison was it, Gao said. The market has everything were looking for record-breaking crowds, off the charts talent and passion that cant be manufactured. Its like capturing lightning in the bottle.

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LOVB is one of three organizations in the process of building pro volleyball operations in the United States, offering college players opportunities to continue their playing careers after graduation. Each has a slightly different approach to building its league.

Athletes Unlimited, which also operates womens basketball, softball and lacrosse competition, is in its third season of volleyball. AU, which put together a team this spring to play a series of exhibitions against top college programs, including a match against the Badgers at the UW Field House in March, will play its regular season this fall in Mesa, Arizona, after playing the first two seasons in the Dallas area. The AU format consists of 44 players, with different team captains selecting teams to compete over a five-week season.

The Pro Volleyball Federation plans to hold its inaugural season in 2024 with eight to 10 franchises playing 16 matches from February to May. The first four sites announced are Atlanta; Columbus, Ohio; Omaha, Nebraska; and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Investors in the league included Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and his family and former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer. Dilfers daughter, Tori, a former Louisville setter, is among the players involved in the league, along with Jenna Rosenthal (Marquette), Morgan Hentz (Stanford), Kenzie Maloney (Nebraska) and Ronika Stone (Oregon). Each franchise will have separate ownership and PVF plans to hold its first draft in November.

LOVB, meanwhile, is taking a holistic approach to the sport with involvement starting at the youth club level all the way up to the pros. It already has a foothold in the Madison area by operating Madtown Juniors with a facility with four courts on Madisons Northeast Side that houses about 370 young athletes.

LOVB has plans to build a new facility with eight courts that will be home to both the Madtown Juniors and the pros. Three other regional clubs, FC Elite, One Wisconsin and VC United, also will utilize the facility. Details of the new facility will be released soon, Gao said.

Were really building it from the community up, Gao said of the organization. So for the last three years weve had an eye on where the club and pro communities would reside. Madison matched that.

That was very intentional as we looked across the entire country and where we thought there would be a great fit for us to have not just a pro team in that city but also where the club and the pro community would come together.

Gao said the plan is to have six pro teams in place for the inaugural season, which will begin following the 2024 Paris Olympics. She foresees the league expanding as it goes.

One day were going to be the NBA of volleyball, so it is a national footprint that we will build over time, Gao said.

Until now volleyball players have had to go overseas to continue their careers after college. Previous attempts to establish pro leagues in the U.S. were short-lived, the most recent beginning and ending in 2001.

But Gao is confident that the time is right for the sport to move into the professional realm and that there is room for all three ventures to succeed.

One of the things that struck me the most about this very special sport is just how popular it is and how underappreciated it is, Gao said. Its awareness in the mainstream is just not where I personally think it should be. The fact that youve got multiple folks coming in and wanting to make something out of this special sport I think thats just a rising tide raises all boats.

There is a differentiation between the three and I think thats all very good. I think theres definitely going to be folks that feel really strongly about a specific niche. We feel very strongly that our combination of starting and having the discipline to start first with the fan base is extremely compelling.

PVF plans to pay players comparably with WNBA players, around $60,000 the first year with members of the championship team earning around $100,000 with bonuses.

Gao didnt get specific about player salaries for LOVB, but she did say the league will be competitive and attract top-level players.

The league has signed three members of the U.S. 2021 Olympics gold medal team, Haleigh Washington (Penn State), Kelsey Robinson (Tennessee/Nebraska) and Justine Wong-Orantes (Nebraska).

We definitely have compelling offers of a way to bring some of the best players onboard, she said. We already have three of the best in the world who have signed up and they all have lots of other choices. For these players its a combination of different things and compensation is one of the key factors.

At the same time for them to give up an opportunity to go elsewhere and choose LOVB instead, theres a belief in its longevity and its success and sustainability as a league. A lot of leagues have tried to start before and they have not lasted. These are very smart women who are making smart decisions by looking at it holistically and saying where do I want to take my career, who do I want to be associated with?

And especially for the founding athletes, theres a lot riding on this so theyre choosing it very carefully and I think theyve all found our offer very compelling, both from a financial perspective but also from wanting to be part of something that has the strong foundation of a community as we do.

Gao said that LOVBs structure, with each team operated under the league umbrella, could make it easier for players to choose the location where they wish to play, rather than PFV, where franchises will draft players like in other pro sports.

Well definitely take that into consideration, Gao said. Its one of the tellers of how we think about the best roster for each locale. That community support of seeing someone who has grown up in the community at different stages of their playing career, to be able to then represent them at the pro level is very meaningful.

Does that mean that the Madison team could have first shot at having former Badgers on its roster?

Youre going to have to stay tuned, Gao said. Hopefully, were going to be able to share a lot more exciting news very soon. Weve got a lot of talent to tap into there. Thats a big talent pool.

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Professional volleyball league picks Madison for team, and ... - Madison.com

DISCOVER FLAGSTAFF

Discover Flagstaff is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) of Destinations International. As a certified Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) Discover Flagstaff works with intentional design to understand and create synergy between the resident and visitor through responsible visitation marketing. It is an honor to tell the Flagstaff story and project our community values, Discover Flagstaff Director Trace Ward said.

The official tourism bureau, funded by the Bed, Board, and Beverage (BBB) tax, is Discover Flagstaff and operates as a section in the City of Flagstaffs Economic Vitality Division. The mission of Discover Flagstaff is to increase visitation and visitor spend through responsible marketing, advertising, direct sales and other programming. This is done by utilizing data-driven strategies and tactics which inspires and motivates year-round visitation benefiting the community economically and socially. Tourism is the citys number one industry and economic driver. In fiscal year 2022, BBB tax generated $11,446, 072 in revenue for an unprecedented post-pandemic increase of 26.5% and 75% of all Flagstaff Airport enplanements are visitors. According to the Arizona Office of Tourism Economic Impact Study, tourism provides economic stability to the community with an annual real tax savings of $738.00 per household.

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Traditional accommodation metrics, for occupancy and average daily rate (ADR) from July 2022 through February 2023, reported by Smith Travel Report (STR) continue to show strong and healthy performances. Discover Flagstaff has taken a holistic approach to marketing our mountain town and continues to educate and engage the public on responsible tourism while promoting all things that make Flagstaff a special place to visit.

The connection of tourism, economic vitality, and economic development work together. For example, the Visit-Discover-Grow program, takes visitation to the next level by investing in the Flagstaff community economically. Are you aware that in 1964 Bill Gore visited Flagstaff with his family to experience hiking in Flagstaffs beautiful Ponderosa pine forests and was captured by areas natural beauty? W.L. Gore & Associates is a major employer in Flagstaff. The W.L. Gore products help people around the world from firefighters to outdoor enthusiasts, commuters to cardiac patients with the belief in the natural, human capacity to solve problems in creative ways. Flagstaff is a great place to live and visit as well as a great place to start a business.

Discover Flagstaff connects visitors and residents in multiple ways, one of which is ecotourism. Ecotourism is any form of visitation that focuses on traveling to natural environments with a mission to learn about and ultimately help protect those environments. The Discover Flagstaff Pledge for the Wild (PFTW) program is all about responsible visitation and giving back to our community to keep Flagstaffs wild places wild. This public education effort is for both locals and visitors to keep our destination beautiful, sustainable, clean and educate responsible trail use while hiking, tree bathing, stargazing, wildlife watching or biking. The program benefits the local non-profit Flagstaff Trails Initiative with trail management and it is easy to participate simply text WILD4FLAG to 44321 with a donation. Adding more strength to PFTW, Discover Flagstaff is adding a new dimension Flagstaff Trails Passport -- in May 2023 which adds another level of awareness and further encourages participation of responsible recreation to preserve Flagstaffs beauty. The Flagstaff Trails Passport is designed to easily and conveniently select trails from a multi-agency procured list to help manage trail congestion, while also providing an opportunity to earn great prizes. These trails are assigned points based on level of difficulty, with easy trails assigned 1 point, moderate trails assigned 2 points, and difficult trails assigned 3 points. The first 400 people that earn a cumulative of at least 10 points allows Discover Flagstaff to make a one-time donation (in the trail users name) to the Flagstaff Trails Initiative (FTI.) The Flagstaff Trails Passport is an excellent guide to adventure and pairs perfectly with Pledge for the Wild. Get the free Flagstaff Trails Passport launching May 7 -- at discoverflagtaff.com and win prizes!

Discover Flagstaff was recognized two years in a row with Arizona Governors Tourism Awards for the fire awareness campaign and Pledge for the Wild program. Destination stewardship efforts are ongoing with stay and play responsibly campaigns regarding winter recreation, trails less traveled, to respect private property, be fire aware, leave no trace, protect dark skies, tackle trail trash, stick to trails, plan ahead, prepare and have an alternate plan in order to appreciate Arizona. Flagstaff offers sustainable stay and play options at eco-friendly attractions, restaurants, hotels, tours and breweries.

Discover Flagstaff also recognizes businesses annually for outstanding ecofriendly programs and the 2022 Sustainability Award winners are: High Country Motor Lodge, Flagstaff Area National Monuments and High Country Conference Center. Discover Flagstaff is accepting nominations for an excellence in Sustainability Awards for eco-friendly practices in the categories of accommodations, restaurants/bars and attractions. To submit a nomination(s) the process is simple - provide a 500 word description explaining why the sustainability practices of the tourism business demonstrates an outstanding commitment to help benefit our community, visitor, and environment.

Nomination must include the following information:

Email nomination(s) to Jessica Young, Sales and Marketing Manager: Meetings and Events, at jyoung@flagstaffaz.gov. Winners will be announced at the Annual Stakeholder and Partner Meeting.

Innovation, inspiration, and education continue to be the driving factors Discover Flagstaff uses to motivate travel to our destination responsibly and is actively working on three Visit Arizona Initiative (VAI) grants awarded for astrotourism, gastronomy and responsible visitation. Flagstaff has a rich history of astronomy and is one of the best places on the planet for stargazing! Flagstaff is the worlds first international dark sky city, home to the discovery of Pluto and all the astronauts that walked on the moon trained in Flagstaff. It is amazing to walk downtown at night and see the Milky Way or get a closer look through high powered telescopes at Lowell Observatory only a few minutes from downtown. Flagstaffs food scene as a culinary mecca continues to evolve with creativity, forward-thinking chefs and is Arizonas leading craft beer city. This mountain town offers abundant opportunities to tempt your taste buds. Flagstaff received culinary honors from the James Beard awards with Chef Christian Lowe of Shift Kitchen & Bar as a 2023 James Beard finalist in the Emerging Chef category, Proper Meats + Provisions as an Outstanding Restaurant 2023 semifinalist and Chef Rochelle Daniel of Atria as a semifinalist in the 2022 Emerging Chef category! A James Beard Award in the food world is equivalent to an Oscar in the movie world.

Did you know -- National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is May 7-13, 2023? This year marks the 40th anniversary of NTTW celebrating the industrys critical role in powering economies, communities and connections moving travel forward. Discover Flagstaff has nuanced the week as National Eco-Tourism Week for an eco-friendly localized twist. Nuancing the weeks festivities by adding a strategic spin, locally the celebration will be named National Travel and Eco-Tourism Week. Please join Discover Flagstaffs tourism service day scheduled on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. RSVP to attend by emailing to Carrie Nelson at cnelson@flagstaffaz.gov.

The Discover Flagstaff goal is to keep Flagstaff relevant, collaborate with community partners, and support locals while marketing attractions, accommodations, restaurants and events with all the things to see and do while visiting encouraging tourists to stay and play responsibly. Learn more at discoverflagstaff.com and the Flagstaff Visitor Center (1 E. Rt. 66.)

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Discover Flagstaff creates synergy between visitors and residents ... - Arizona Daily Sun

MADISON Today all across the State, press conferences were held by Assembly Republicans to suggest, without detail, a new shared revenue plan that would both give fewer dollars to local municipalities and counties than what is in the Governors proposed budget and would strip budgetary and policy autonomy away from local units of government. These meager funds come tied to a host of conditions that would dictate many aspects of public life including schools, law enforcement, and property taxes. The broader proposal would mandate that law enforcement budgets across the state continue to rise year after year; additional proposed stipulations apply only to the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County.

These regressive, punitive policy barbs seek to undo the vital work of groups like Leaders Igniting Transformation, Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and many others. This proposal undermines their important work of making local government more responsive and accountable.

The Governors proposed budget already contains provisions for substantially more shared revenue without the attacks on the ability of local governments to set their own budgets or policy priorities.

Representatives Madison (D-10) and Representative Clancy (D-19) issued the following statement:

Like so many other Milwaukee residents, we know well the harm caused by the intentional and continued underfunding of the City and County. As residents, organizers and electeds, it is beyond frustrating to see how often we fail to meet the needs of our people from housing, to transit, to basic investments in infrastructure and public spaces because we simply dont have the funds available to do so. We are grateful that, finally, there seems to be consensus from elected leaders across the state on the dire need for more shared revenue funding for our municipalities and counties.

And yet we also know full well that local leaders not those hundreds of miles away are best equipped to know what the interests and priorities of their constituents are. The Republican plan suggested today strips away local budgetary control from both municipalities and counties, tying their hands and revoking the ability of local government to meet the needs of the people they represent.

Any reasonable person can look at the fiscal problems within the City of Milwaukee and realize quickly that we are in this crisis both because of a lack of shared revenue and because nearly half of the city budget and Milwaukees ability to provide essential services is devoured by the Milwaukee Police Department. The Republican plan for a city drowning in police is merely more police and less accountability: its a life preserver made of lead. Milwaukee, and all communities across the state, deserves to be able to invest in what will actually make our neighborhoods better and safer. This does the opposite.

We oppose any plan that would strip local control away from governments or expand the already massive and harmful footprint of law enforcement.

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Rep. Clancy: Wisconsin socialist caucus responds to Republican ... - WisPolitics.com

Tyriek Whites debut novel, We Are a Haunting, is a close study of the relationship between a mother and son and how unanswered questions, time, and dead spirits shape their understanding of each other. Whites work is brave, raw, and tugs at the essence of New York City. As we time travel and bear witness between the living and dead, the past and present, you cant help but fall in love with this cast of characters, worry about them, and ultimately wish them well.

In an interview with TC. Mann, Program Assistant for Literary Writing Programs, White opens up about his artistry and the people who inspired him.

1. How does your writing navigate truth? What is the relationship between truth and fiction? Theres this moment where Key, one of the main characters in my debut novel, We Are a Haunting, doesnt give us the ending to a story shes been telling her son Colly (and the reader). She struggles with whether some stories, while they are hers to tell, dont solely belong to her and chooses to leave it open for interpretation. She also questions the necessity of telling us this key fact, what that does to the production of meaning. Its a very meta conversation, one I struggle with when writing about people I know and typically care about. Especially writing a novel about settings and groups of people who are traditionally flattened by mainstream media and historical representations. I wanted to be intentional. It forced me to pay attention more, to interrogate why Im telling this story, and honestly, if its anyones business.

2. How does time help shape this story?This book pushes back against time as a linear experience and shows the past crashing into the present, sometimes in painful ways. Collys journey is different from his mothers (they are at different points in their lives) but they often speak back to each other. Choices made before either are born affect their way forward. Even spatially, the community this family lives in the broken Waste Treatment Plant, electric substations from the mid-1900s, the industrial park, the streets named after slave-owners, crime rates that mirror decades before, the new buildings that have sprung from thirsty realtor groups all show a community that often feels outside of time.

Especially writing a novel about settings and groups of people who are traditionally flattened by mainstream media and historical representations. I wanted to be intentional. It forced me to pay attention more, to interrogate why Im telling this story, and honestly, if its anyones business.

3. Which writers working today are you most excited by? Im excited by a lot of poets; Nadia Alexis, Nabila Lovelace, Jonah Webster-Dixon, Sadia Hassan. There is something about writers from the south, or navigating the south, that speaks to resilience, restoration, and reclamation in this country.

4. Why did you choose to focus on Keys relationship with Colly, instead of her relationship with Toya? How has this decision impacted the story? Ive always wanted to write about a mother and son because of how much it played a part in my life and the lives of my friends. Theres so much criticism as to whether mothers can even raise sons, from well-meaning people to blind evangelicals of the Moynihan report, still pushing decades-old narratives.

I think a bit of Toyas relationship with her mom is reflected in Keys relationship with her own mother, Audrey. I always imagined Toya as having a completely different way of seeing, or processing than Colly. It would be a different story.

5. What was your creative process when it came to exploring Keys voice? Keys voice is really an amalgamation of my aunties and cousins, the friends Ive had growing up, etc. I wanted Key to be relatable, despite her gift of seeing. When we meet her, she isnt happy with her job, shes boosting designer clothes, and is searching for something more. She goes through a change where she must accept what is happening to her and she embraces it. She grows into who she is supposed to be. I wanted her to be in lineage with women depicted in great literature, in Sula or Brown Girl, Brownstones, or Mama Day.

It is why there is so much investment, politically and even historically, in the erasure of books by certain communities or voices. Writing about alternate paths forward can create new perspectives and ways we resist.

6. New York City becomes a character unto itself. Can you tell us how NYC helped in the telling of this family?

New York can be a different place for different people. Half the fun was asking my dad about growing up when he did, or researching the lives of other people living in the city during a specific era. What kind of clothes or name brands did folk wear, what music did they listen to, what were the popular clubs or hangouts?

7. We are all familiar with the mantra, No child left behind. What was your intention in addressing these young peoples journey of survival? Its such a particular time period for kids. I grew up during that era, the No Child Left Behind policies of George Bush in the early-2000s. I know the failing schools were mostly in Black and brown communities, and were shut down or carved up into three or four separate schools in one building. I remember test scores were an obsession. I dont really remember if the whole thing worked or not. Probably not.

8. How can writers affect resistance movements? Im never into the idea that art can ever do the real work of people involved in resistance movements, or organizing in their communities. What I do think writers can do is create art that begins to reimagine the world we live in and possible futures. It is why there is so much investment, politically and even historically, in the erasure of books by certain communities or voices. Writing about alternate paths forward can create new perspectives and ways we resist.

I think a writers positionality is essential to what stories they choose to tell, no matter how hard artists wish to remain objective. Im a black boy who grew up working class, in public housing, in one of the worst neighborhoods in Brooklyn. This is how myself and my work will be received regardless. My concerns are very particular.

9. What do you consider to be the biggest threat to free expression today? Have there been times when your right to free expression has been challenged? Free expression has been challenged consistently by legislature, whether banning critical race theory or reactionary politics to queer and trans identities. Its odd having your history pushed out of classrooms, as if it ever fully existed there in the first place. The biggest threat to me, however, is access. Folk on the fringes of society; poor and working people of various identities do not have access to the spaces or rooms that privilege certain voices.

10. How does your identity shape your writing? Is there such a thing as the writers identity? I think a writers positionality is essential to what stories they choose to tell, no matter how hard artists wish to remain objective. Im a black boy who grew up working class, in public housing, in one of the worst neighborhoods in Brooklyn. This is how myself and my work will be received regardless. My concerns are very particular. I do believe people from disenfranchised communities understand on an intimate/personal level the inner workings of empire. I think if youre writing a story outside yourself or challenging genre (like the surreal or even Sci-fi), there should be some truth you are pursuing or questioning, whether an emotional truth, or society, etc.

Tyriek Rashawn White is a writer, musician, and educator from Brooklyn, NY. He is currently the media director of Lampblack Literary Foundation, which seeks to provide mutual aid and various resources to Black writers across the diaspora. He has received fellowships from Callaloo Writing Workshop, New York State Writers Institute, and Key West Writers Workshop, among other honors. He holds an MFA in fiction from the University of Mississippi.

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The PEN Ten: An Interview with Tyriek White - PEN America

When I was younger, I always dreamed of being married, having kids and having my career solidified by 25. Of course, when we are younger, we have no concept of time and how long it truly takes to cultivate these things. I didnt even meet my husband Jimmy until I was turning 25.

We got married in October of 2018 and have been together for nearly 10 years. After Jimmy and I met, we really wanted to enjoy our relationship, so the conversation about family building and marriage didnt come about for two years, and then the conversation got serious really fast. For me, I was determined to start my family before the age of 30. For him, he was in a place of, Im still figuring it out. I dont know if thats exactly what I want to do right now.

So there was an interesting, very challenging point three years into our relationship. We decided to take some space to figure out what we both wanted for about five or six months. I say we were broken up, he says we were not, but we were still in communication so we were still very closely connected. He proposed to me soon after we got back together.

After getting married, we started to have that conversation again in depth about starting a family. It wasnt until the pandemic where we decided that we were going to actually start the process. For many people, the pandemic was not a great time, but for me, working in the wellness, fitness and health industry, it was one of the most lucrative periods for me. We bought a house and decided that we were going to settle down in North Carolina, but then I got a job in New York and we ended up moving up here. We sold the house, and in the midst of the move is when we intentionally started trying to have kids. All the way through our relationship and up to that point into our marriage, we were using protection because it was really important that we were very intentional about when we started our family.

About four or five months into trying, I was starting to raise some eyebrows at the process because it wasnt happening. For so long, you try not to get pregnant and then you just think, the moment I decide that I want to, its going to be easy. Being a Black woman and being a part of a family and various communities that dont have these discussions about womens reproductive systems and the fertility process, you really can be left in the dark as to how challenging this could potentially be for you. I was truly green to the process of infertility. I just thought, this is strange. Were really trying to do this thing and have children and its not working. So, six months in, we went to see our very first fertility specialist.

They told us the first order of business would to be testing. We did the standard test, we did AMH, we did FSH, we did HSG, and we did some blood work. Jimmy gave a sperm sample and they tested it. We were ultimately given the thumbs up, and they told us both of us should continue on the process of trying to conceive on our own. At that point, nothing else came into play and we just proceeded on the process of trying to have kids. We tried various positions. We used a sex book given to us by one of our friends. We were trying everything, having fun with it. We had gone on a trip and while on it, we naturally conceived for the first time.

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We started to plan how we were going to tell our loved ones and were really excited. It was having this major win after really, really trying our hardest to get to this point. And so, we were really, really crushed and devastated when, two months later, we lost the baby.

It was one of the hardest things Ive ever faced in my life. Most of it felt isolating and I hadnt heard of very many people who were close to me who had that experience. This was the first time that I really honestly felt like I had to face something alone. I felt a lot of shame around it. I asked myself questions like, whats wrong with my body? Why wasnt I able to hold the pregnancy? What could have gone wrong? What did I do wrong? From that point, I was never the same.

It was also difficult to get into a sexual routine with my husband again. We felt a little disconnected from each other. We both felt like, do we want to go through that again? Do we want to put our ourselves mentally and emotionally through that process again? Are we sure that this is what we really want? It had been nine months going on a year of trying and we just had to ask ourselves some serious questions.

We navigated that through therapy and through leaning on community, and were ultimately able to get back into a level of intimacy with one another. We started trying again three, four months after the miscarriage and were trying to conceive naturally because, at that point, we had indicators that our bodies could do it. I got frustrated a little sooner this time around. Three months into the process I thought, maybe we are going to need a little assistance. That is when we went to a different fertility clinic, and it was the first time that we heard of assisting options for fertility and the first time we heard what a proper diagnosis for infertility was.

We found out about IUI through this process after only knowing about IVF. When the doctor presented us with a less invasive and less expensive process, we thought maybe this could be a good option for us and so we started May 2022.

We were well into the journey of IUI at that point when I made this decision that I didnt want to suffer in silence. I really wanted to be on a strong pursuit for my healing and I knew that so much of that would come with me using my voice. Being a Black woman using my voice has been super impactful because I have connected with so many other incredible Black women who at one point chose to suffer in silence because there was so much shame around infertility. My healing journey has allowed me to fully and authentically show up as myself and not have to worry about always putting on a smile for everybody else, always performing and always having joy be the thing that resonates with others. My true life experiences have made me even more deeply connected to my community and thats actually been a rewarding part of this journey.

After attempting IUI, we started having conversations about IVF in December. I did a retrieval that month, which was really tough on my body. It was a very, very challenging procedure. It was also a disappointing procedure because we got 13 eggs but we slowly watched those numbers dwindle as seven of them were mature and then, from there, only five were showing normal signs of fertilization once introduced to my husbands sperm. Then four of them stopped growing in the lab and so we ended up with one embryo that we had to wait for genetic testing results to come back for. We got the testing results, and they said it had 46 completely normal chromosomes and they rated it as a 4AB, which is a really good grade of an embryo, and they put it on ice. We thought we were getting the news of a transfer date and were excited about it.

But my doctor, who I trust and Im so happy to have a woman of color as my doctor, she gave us the advice to do a second retrieval before any transfer to get at least two or more embryos in the bank. However, for the sake of my body and for the sake of my husbands mental space, we both decided it just was too heavy and too much in the moment. We opted to take a break and really just focus on our marriage; focus in on each other, travel and enjoy life. Thats really where weve landed after that process.

Whats helped me hold onto joy throughout this journey is friends and family. Im really, really conscious of the people I surround myself with. I stay around a lot of people who just bring me joy. Its also been important during this entire process to have support from people who have been through similar experiences. I joined a fertility support group last year and its been very, very helpful. Ive become very close friends with my fertility support group leader, and formed close connections with various other members.

Journaling and therapy have also been key resources in this process. I love to read a lot, I love to do a lot of research and so, for me, its been so great to educate myself through this process. And just being able to be a source for other people and allowing others to be able to have conversations with me has meant so much. I think my greatest outlet has been a new passion project of mine, my podcast. I host it with a fellow Lululemon ambassador and dear friend Alicia Ferguson, and it is called Dose of Duality. It was actually birthed from my own personal experience with my fertility journey and that is a great gift that Ive received along the way.

As an optimist, Ive decided to lean into the things that have brought me joy on this journey. I dont believe anything happens by accident. I really do believe that God is using me for a bigger plan, a bigger purpose. I dont know how my story is supposed to be written but, at the end of the day, I am glad that Im still here, that I still have life and that I still get to enjoy it.

Family is really, really important to both Jimmy and I. We went into all of this with this idea of how we ideally wanted to build our family, but weve also talked about other ways in which we can build this idea of family together. Were now in a space of really loving on each other. Were harvesting all the joy that we have in our household with lots of hope in our hearts that, eventually, our dreams of being a larger family will come true.

Be sure to follow Deja on Instagram and check out her podcast, A Dose of Duality.

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Sharing My Journey With Infertility Has Brought Me Community ... - Essence