Category Archives: Intentional Communities

October 04, 2022

Source:District of the USA

This issue of The Angeluswill look at a so-called back-to-the-land movement emerged on both sides of the Atlantic in the early years of the 20th century and the decades that followed.

Dear Reader,

Spurred in part as a reaction to mass industrialization and urbanization, the movement had a practical component as well when food shortages beset Europe during the First World War. Proponents of the movement, which came to include Catholic intellectuals such as Fr. Vincent McNabb, argued that the mechanization of life had eroded traditional communities and families while contributing to poverty, misery, and vice.

Although this movement began to fade by the middle of the last century, it never disappeared entirely. Traditional Catholics have maintained a steady interest in the land movement, relying in large part on the works of Fr. McNabb and authors such as Hilaire Belloc and G.K. Chesterton. In more recent times, the writings of John Senior have inspired not just a desire for agrarian living, but the formation of intentional communities built around traditional Catholicism. St. Marys, KS, which has become the heart and soul of the Society of Saint Pius X in the United States, is an example of such a community.

The Angelus this month features a series of articles on returning to the land as a means of maintaining and growing an authentic Catholic society. More than a romantic longing for simpler times, these pieces present a vision of living that is both deeply spiritual and eminently practical. Examples of localized living are on offer, as are some needful reflections on its cultural components.

While not everyone can uproot their lives and start fresh on the open plains, every Catholic can and should be on guard against the temptations of contemporary living, particularly consumerism, individualism, and social atomism. The lessons contained in this issue, and the further reading they inspire, can assist everyone in living engaged and godly lives.

Fr. John FullertonPublisher

Originally posted here:

Theme of New Issue of "The Angelus" - Back to Land and Hearth - SSPX.org

Summit County residents will soon be invited to learn about local planning and policy while helping shape the future of the community.

Planning Department staff on Wednesday shared an idea for a new concept, dubbed the Community Planning Lab, with the Summit County Council. The initiative strives to engage people who want to better understand the processes that drive executive decisions.

Community Development Director Pat Putt, county planner Madlyn McDonough, and Meghan Burrows, whos affiliated with the University of Utah, expressed their excitement for the project, which they said is an opportunity for residents to become more involved starting in 2023.

We have pretty big dreams for this Community Planning Lab and were trying to think really strategically about not only this first, inaugural class, but also future classes moving forward, McDonough said.

The 10-week course is expected to begin in mid-January and run until April. McDonough said the Planning Lab is interactive and it will be a hybrid format with in-person and online meetings via Zoom or Google Classroom.

Summit County community members who are interested in learning about planning, land-use policy and decision-making are encouraged to apply. Activities throughout the course may include presentations from experts in the field, site visits and final projects. Planning Department staffers want participants to come away with an understanding of how planning helps shape our cities and towns and how engagement and participation in local affairs develop community, according to a staff report from Wednesdays meeting.

McDonough and Burrows interviewed stakeholders, including planners from Oakley and Francis, to learn what theyd be interested in discussing. Course topics will likely include the history of planning, how to effectively engage in public hearings, affordable housing, sustainable development, design, planning for growth, transportation, and more.

Planning Department staffers also reviewed academic studies about community planning academies in other locations, such as Lakewood, Colorado and King George County, Virginia, to learn how the programs were run and what residents learned. Burrows said the initiative helps enhance engagement by empowering people to take part in decisions that have lasting impacts on their communities.

The goals of the Community Planning Lab are to increase the level of knowledge and understanding regarding planning, zoning and other county processes amongst community members and foster strong, intentional involvement throughout Summit County. The Planning Department said in a staff report it also wants to empower the community to take a more active role in shaping the future of their neighborhoods, understand the most pressing issues affecting the community and learn how they can make an effective change, connect advocates and leaders to tools and information, as well as promote regional collaboration.

We think a community that has a better, deeper understanding of not only the issues, but the complexity of the issues, and the tools that are available to help manage some of the issues that we have, the better they become, Putt said. The more we lift them up in that knowledge, the better participation were going to have, the better feedback were going to have, and that result is more quality decision-making going into some of the policy and land-use decisions that we have.

The Planning Department is asking for $10,000 in its budget to help pay for materials, speakers and fuel costs associated with the Community Planning Lab. This will allow community members to participate at no cost.

County Councilor Roger Armstrong praised the initiative as a leadership program that will help address planning needs through Summit County. He said it would also help educate the public about certain issues, such as residents asking for a development moratorium when it isnt possible.

County Councilor Malena Stevens agreed. She said the Community Planning Lab gives power to the community and promotes regional collaboration. The initiative can also help meaningful information to be applied directly.

Staffers have already partnered with the University of Utahs Department of City and Metropolitan Planning to conduct the Community Planning Lab and have drafted the curriculums framework.

A survey is located on the Planning Departments website for people to sign up for more information about the program and how to get involved. Burrows and McDonough anticipate around 35 people will be accepted into the first class, but theyve seen programs with as many as 50 participants. They plan to gauge interest before capping the number.

I think ultimately, if we get enough people through this program, well see less conflict when these issues come before the [County] Council and we have a more engaged and empowered citizenry thats participating in that process and giving good input in public hearings, Janna Young, the interim county manager, said.

Read the original here:

Summit County expected to launch Community Planning Lab next year - The Park Record

If youre reading this, chances are youre a believer in newspapers.

Thats a safe bet, since youre reading this in print or behind our online paywall, so you or someone you know paid money maybe a couple quarters at the grocery store, maybe a few bucks to subscribe online, maybe a bit more for home delivery to have access to this column.

Another safe bet is that fewer of your friends and neighbors are taking the paper than yesteryear, and certainly fewer than a decade ago. The paper back then was bigger, and it cost less well, to be fair, everything cost less.

This newspaper, and most like it, arent the same. We have fewer reporters, and it feels like theres more to cover. Theres definitely more people living in the area to cover. And its an exciting time to work as a journalist, even if its perhaps not got the same glamorous reputation we once believed it did.

People are also reading

Yet, Id argue this community newspaper, along with our regional and national brethren, are more important than ever, or at least have the potential to be.

A newspaper has always been something put out by many people. In small operations, every subscriber, every advertiser, every retail partner, every voter, every postal carrier ... well, you get the idea. The newspaper is a group endeavor, and it serves its community.

Theres plenty of competition from other information sources, let alone other media used for entertainment or the algorithmic precision that social media deploys to capture attention the currency of the realm for itself.

Thats not to say those other formats dont have their place. TV news, online outlets, magazine, radio, podcasts I consume a variety of informational media, and only I wish there was more time in the day. Its been too long since I caught Frontline or watched a feature-length documentary, and far too long since I read a book-length piece of journalism.

But newspaper journalism including the work of wire services like the Associated Press and digital stories from outlets such as the nonprofit States Newsroom affiliates is foundational.

Newspaper stories are long enough to include somenuance and detail, but short enough to be consumed by many people. Theyre largely straightforward and intended to communicate information clearly and precisely.

In their best, they distill painstaking reporting into just what you need to know. Even the lowly rewritten press release still aims to communicate information of interest to readers.

Together, newspaper stories weave together a picture of the community they cover. Like any attempt to capture our complex society, theyre offering just a portion of the whole but its more than there would be without the paper, and thats a situation increasingly realized by communities across the country.

A community without a newspaper, or without professional journalists at all, is harder to navigate. Governments and other interests are harder to hold to account. Those at the margin are easier to ignore. And the community itself is smaller as a result, less than it might be without intentional story sharing.

Sure, there still are social media posts provided youre allowed to make them. There are still the occasional story in the next-nearest outlet. If your local member of Congress is indicted, youll still hear about it.

But staying informed in those communities is harder, and fewer people will invest the time and energy. More are likely to fall victim to misinformation or disinformation.

So, as we recognize National Newspaper Week, Id like to thank you for supporting this newspaper. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to subscribe if you like what youre seeing. If you dont, please let us know and understand that were doing our best.

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Continued here:

National Newspaper Week: Newspapers are a product of their community - The Daily Nonpareil

A serpentine man and woman with child, sculpted by Qaunaq Mikkigak of Cape Dorset, Nunavut. Photo: Ansgar Walk

Indigenous peoples have inhabited the Arctic since time immemorial, establishing rich regional cultures and governance systems long before the introduction of modern borders. The Arctic Institutes 2022 Colonialism Series explores the colonial histories of Arctic nations and the still-evolving relationships between settler governments and Arctic Indigenous peoples in a time of renewed Arctic exploration and development.

The intention of this research is to draw connections between historical and contemporary colonialism in so-called canada (canada), and the lack of reproductive justice for Arctic Indigenous communities. This research will demonstrate the ways in which colonialism has historically revoked reproductive justice from Indigenous communities, and in which the contemporary Arctic geopolitical circumstances further emphasize difficulties in accessing reproductive care. Further, this research will seek to identify a lack of Arctic Indigenous reproductive justice within a larger legacy of colonial genocide, by imposing measures intended to prevent the births of Indigenous children, and by forcibly displacing Indigenous children from their communities.

Though the scope of this work is focused on colonial genocide and reproductive justice in Arctic Indigenous communities, it is important to note the ways in which colonial genocide perpetrated through the revocation of reproductive justice impacted Indigenous communities across canada. Violence perpetrated through the separation of children, forced sterilizations, a lack of comprehensive and culturally-informed sexual education, and a lack of basic human needs to food, water, and shelter are not unique to Arctic Indigenous communities. As such, while this research will focus specifically on Arctic Indigenous communities, colonial genocide has impacted reproductive justice in Indigenous communities across canada. Further research should be devoted to the diversity of these impacts on different Indigenous communities.

It is also important to note that this work will specifically address forcible sterilization processes, predominantly tubal ligation; it does not cover canadas history of performing forced vasectomies on Indigenous people. This is due to the disproportionate percentage of tubal litigations forcefully performed on Indigenous people.1)Lombard AR (2018) Without Prejudice: Examination of Canadas State Report, 65th Session. Maurice Law, 15 October, https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CAT/Shared%20Documents/CAN/INT_CAT_CSS_CAN_32800_E.pdf. Accessed on 2 October 2022 Further research would be useful to identify how gender uniquely informed medical procedures forced onto Indigenous communities.

This paper spells canada in lower case to resist the legitimization of the colonial state and as a deliberate act of resistance. Finally, gender neutral language is used throughout this paper, to acknowledge the diversity of identities and Indigenous conceptualizations of the gender spectrum.

This work will begin by acknowledging the limitations of this research followed by a note on language used throughout. The paper focuses on reproductive justice in Arctic Indigenous communities followed by a section that expands the impact of colonialism on Arctic Indigenous reproductive justice. The final section expands on themes of colonialism, reproductive justice and genocide and outlines recommendations for future policy and research.

It is crucial that as researchers we situate our voices within the literature, and identify the limitations that may impact this work. As two settler and one First Nations researchers, we acknowledge the need to amplify Arctic Indigenous voices, and the ways in which our own research lacks this lived experience. This piece is intended to aid in stimulating conversation surrounding Arctic Indigenous reproductive justice, as an underrepresented topic in western academia. All conversations should center the voices of Arctic Indigenous communities.

Additionally, it is important to acknowledge the constraints imposed by western secondary research methods, which often underestimate the value of qualitative research and oral storytelling. This removal of emotion and depersonalization of research has had a negative impact on the way Indigenous communities have come to be represented in western academia.

This paper uses the Reproductive Justice Framework to guide an understanding of colonial impacts on Indigenous peoples autonomy over their health, bodies, and decisions.

In 1994, the Black Womens Caucus of the Illinois Pro-Choice Alliance determined the need to adopt a human rights framework for low-income communities and people of colour that addressed issues of bodily autonomy within reproductive decision-making.2)In Our Own Voice: National Black Womens Reproductive Justice Agenda. Reproductive Justice. https://blackrj.org/our-issues/reproductive-justice/. Accessed on 25 March 2022 As such, the Reproductive Justice Framework defines the human right to control ones sexuality, gender, work, and reproduction.3)In Our Own Voice: National Black Womens Reproductive Justice Agenda. Reproductive Justice. https://blackrj.org/our-issues/reproductive-justice/. Accessed on 25 March 2022 The reproductive justice framework moves beyond simply considering abortion rights, and addresses the social, economic, and political systems that impact an individuals capacity to make healthy decisions about their bodies, families, and communities.4)In Our Own Voice: National Black Womens Reproductive Justice Agenda. Reproductive Justice. https://blackrj.org/our-issues/reproductive-justice/. Accessed on 25 March 2022 The three main tenets of the Reproductive Justice Framework state: a) the right to have children; b) the right not to have children; and c) the right to nurture children in a safe and healthy environment.5)In Our Own Voice: National Black Womens Reproductive Justice Agenda. Reproductive Justice. https://blackrj.org/our-issues/reproductive-justice/. Accessed on 25 March 2022

This research will argue canadas actions impede on all three tenets of the Reproductive Justice Framework.

The Canadian Medical Protection Association specifies that in order for a medical patient to consent to a procedure, they must be properly informed, they must have the capacity to consent, and that consent must be voluntary.6)CMPA (2006) Consent: A guide for Canadian physicians (4th ed.) Canadian Medical Protective Association Any procedure performed when a patient is under the threat of coercion, or unaware of the full consequence of the procedure, is by nature, nonconsensual. As such, the use of the word forced is intentional throughout this paper.

In order to understand the ways in which colonialism revoked Arctic Indigenous reproductive justice, it is important to first establish the ways in which Arctic Indigenous reproductive justice is unique, making it a threat to colonial domination.

In pre-contact societies, Arctic Indigenous peoples held full autonomy of their bodies and sexual abilities. Artic pre-contact societies allowed for full fluidity of relationships; essentially referring to an individuals relationships outside of the western idea of what romantic and sexual relationships look like (i.e. monogamy). Pre-contact societies were often described by their freedom of autonomy.7)Chansonneuve D (2005) Reclaiming connections: Understanding residential school trauma among aboriginal people: A resource manual. Aboriginal Healing Foundation. This was true for adults in regards to their relationships and sexual freedoms; however, it also applied more broadly to relationships that community members created in their own lives and among other members of the community. This explained fluidity in relationships extends to communal relationships. Arctic Indigenous children were very freely accepted into other homes and many children came into the care of other community members, separate from their parents without judgment. These so-called adoptive parents acted as a community support to one another, ensuring that the children were taken care of and held safe. This role of customary adoption in Inuit communities was a clear representation of the interconnectedness of Inuit societies.8)PIWC (2006) The Inuit way: A guide to Inuit culture. Ottawa: Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada

These themes of sexual autonomy and community fluidity are exemplary of the strong foundations embedded in Inuit reproductive culture. As such, it is natural that these aspects of Arctic Indigenous culture became the base cause of violent assimilation tactics, used by colonizers to control Arctic Indigenous peoples.

This section will demonstrate the ways in which historical and contemporary colonial policies and practices have negatively impacted Arctic Indigenous communities rights to reproductive justice by infringing on their right to parent, right not to parent, and right to parent in a healthy and sustainable environment.

The government of canada has a vested interest in the removal of Indigenous peoples from their land and communities. Reproductive justice became a primary way of enacting this removal, and infringement on ones right to parent was enacted both by stealing Arctic Indigenous children from their families through the residential schooling and child welfare systems and by forcibly sterilizing Indigenous people.9)Chansonneuve D (2005) Reclaiming connections: Understanding residential school trauma among aboriginal people: A resource manual. Aboriginal Healing Foundation.

The government of canada began legislating residential schools in 1885 in order to legally remove Indigenous children from parental and community care.10)Chansonneuve D (2005) Reclaiming connections: Understanding residential school trauma among aboriginal people: A resource manual. Aboriginal Healing Foundation. The violent removal of Indigenous children from their families also meant the revocation of Indigenous peoples ability to parent. By 1964, 75% of Inuit school-age children were in attendance at residential schools.11)Chansonneuve D (2005) Reclaiming connections: Understanding residential school trauma among aboriginal people: A resource manual. Aboriginal Healing Foundation. These schools demonstrate the violent intentions of severing opportunities for Arctic Indigenous parenthood, as part of a grander colonial project.

The government continues to revoke Arctic Indigenous peoples right to parent through the child welfare system. Intergenerational trauma from colonial legacies such as residential schools has led to Indigenous communities experiencing high levels of poverty, alcohol abuse, and housing instability12)Healey GK (2017) What if our health care systems embodied the values of our communities? A reflection from Nunavut. The Arctic Institute, 20 June, https://www.thearcticinstitute.org/health-care-systems-values-communities-nunavut/. Accessed on 2 October 2022 all which are considered to be reasons for removal of children by the state.13)Badry D & Wight Felske A (2020) An examination of three key factors: Alcohol, trauma and child welfare: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the Northwest Territories of Canada. First Peoples Child & Family Review 8(1): 130142. The states self-appointed power to remove children from their homes and communities allows for the continuous irrevocable traumatization of Arctic Indigenous children, families, and communities.

The other vile and invasive colonial revocation of Arctic Indigenous reproductive justice came in the form of forced sterilizations. The practice of forced sterilization in a canadian context dates back to the early 1900s and has been reported as an ongoing practice as recently as 2012.14)Lombard AR (2018) Without Prejudice: Examination of Canadas State Report, 65th Session. Maurice Law, 15 October, https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CAT/Shared%20Documents/CAN/INT_CAT_CSS_CAN_32800_E.pdf. Accessed on 2 October 2022; Stote K (2012) The coercive sterilization of Aboriginal women in Canada. American Indian Culture and Research Journal 36(3): 117150 Inuit sterilizations were carried out without patients consent both in the North and in provincial institutions throughout the 1900s.15)Stote K (2012) The coercive sterilization of Aboriginal women in Canada. American Indian Culture and Research Journal 36(3): 117150 A submission of data by the Medical Services Branch in 1976 brought about by a parliamentary inquiry found that Indigenous patients were disproportionately targeted by forced sterilization.16)Stote K (2012) The coercive sterilization of Aboriginal women in Canada. American Indian Culture and Research Journal 36(3): 117150 The inquiry found that between the years of 1966-1976, 70 sterilizations were performed on Arctic Indigenous community members.17)Stote K (2012) The coercive sterilization of Aboriginal women in Canada. American Indian Culture and Research Journal 36(3): 117150 The collection of Medical Services files omitted from the parliamentary inquiry, however, show that between the years of 1970-1973, 180 Indigenous people were sterilized across 33 Arctic Indigenous settlements.18)Stote K (2012) The coercive sterilization of Aboriginal women in Canada. American Indian Culture and Research Journal 36(3): 117150 It is important to note that the six Arctic Indigenous settlements selected for the parliamentary inquiry were the communities with the least number of sterilizations.19)Stote K (2012) The coercive sterilization of Aboriginal women in Canada. American Indian Culture and Research Journal 36(3): 117150

In some instances, medical professionals sought consent for tubal ligation using coercion, the leveraging of stressful situations, or misinformation.20)Lombard AR (2018) Without Prejudice: Examination of Canadas State Report, 65th Session. Maurice Law, 15 October, https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CAT/Shared%20Documents/CAN/INT_CAT_CSS_CAN_32800_E.pdf. Accessed on 2 October 2022 In other instances, doctors simply forewent seeking consent and performed these procedures without the patients knowledge.21)Lombard AR (2018) Without Prejudice: Examination of Canadas State Report, 65th Session. Maurice Law, 15 October, https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CAT/Shared%20Documents/CAN/INT_CAT_CSS_CAN_32800_E.pdf. Accessed on 2 October 2022 Morningstar Mercredi describes her traumatic experience of forced sterilization in her book Sacred Bundles Unborn.22)Mercredi M (2021) Sacred bundles unborn. Friesenpress It took place when she was alone and underage. In all cases, the violent and irreversible revocation of an Indigenous persons right to parent through the severance of reproductive organs is an ongoing practice of colonial genocide.

In sum, the right to parent poses obvious threats to any colonial project, as it ensures the opportunity for sustained Indigenous presence in canada. As such, canada used residential schools, child welfare practices, and forced sterilization in order to revoke this right, causing lasting negative impacts within Arctic Indigenous communities.

The second tenet of the Reproductive Justice Framework enshrines ones right not to parent. When considering the right to make a choice about having children, it is integral that one is fully equipped with knowledge and education surrounding their sexual health. The canadian state is responsible for a lack of comprehensive sexual health awareness and education in Arctic Indigenous communities, preventing youth from making informed decisions about reproduction.

A study conducted in 2015 by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) confirmed this, finding that sexual health education was inconsistent across the country as well as within provinces and territories.23)Hulme J, Dunn S, Guilbert E, Soon J & Norman W (2015) Barriers and facilitators to family planning access in Canada. Healthcare Policy | Politiques De Sant 10(3): 4863 The majority of family planning education in Arctic Indigenous communities remains culturally irrelevant, focused solely on the prevention of births and, in some cases, includes abstinence teachings24)Government of Yukon (2020) Find information about sex education programs. 5 November, https://yukon.ca/en/health-and-wellness/health-concerns-diseases-and-conditions/find-information-about-sex-education. Accessed on 25 March 2022; Hulme J, Dunn S, Guilbert E, Soon J & Norman W (2015) Barriers and facilitators to family planning access in Canada. Healthcare Policy | Politiques De Sant 10(3): 4863; Lys C & Reading C (2012) Coming of age: How young women in the Northwest Territories understand the barriers and facilitators to positive, empowered, and Safer Sexual Health. International Journal of Circumpolar Health 71(1).

Furthermore, the NCBI study found that Arctic Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable to physician bias and outdated practices.25)Hulme J, Dunn S, Guilbert E, Soon J & Norman W (2015) Barriers and facilitators to family planning access in Canada. Healthcare Policy | Politiques De Sant 10(3): 4863 In a 2013 study which explored five personal stories of sexual health education and services in Yukon, participants shared that the lack of anonymity and access to health services such as STI testing led them to avoid these services altogether.26)Rudachyk L (2013) Womens stories of Access: Sexual Health Education and services in Yukon. Ottawa: Carleton University In addition, participants shared that when seeking an abortion, they hitchhiked for hours to other communities in order to access anonymous and judgement-free health care.27)Rudachyk L (2013) Womens stories of Access: Sexual Health Education and services in Yukon. Ottawa: Carleton University Access to abortion care is particularly limited in Arctic Indigenous communities, where 64% of the population lives 100km or more from the nearest physician.28)Lys C & Reading C (2012) Coming of age: How young women in the Northwest Territories understand the barriers and facilitators to positive, empowered, and Safer Sexual Health. International Journal of Circumpolar Health 71(1). This is further exacerbated by the fact that amongst Yellowknife, Nunavut and Yukon, there are only four total providers for safe access to abortion.29)Action Canada SHR (2019) Access at a Glance: Abortion Services in Canada. Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights, https://www.actioncanadashr.org/resources/factsheets-guidelines/2019-09-19-access-glance-abortion-services-canada. Accessed on 2 October 2022

Combined, this data is vital in understanding the scale and scope of what constitutes a clear and comprehensive understanding of sexual health, and the ways in which that understanding has been historically and contemporarily denied to Arctic Indigenous youth. By failing to provide this, the canadian government actively infringes on the reproductive justice rights of Arctic Indigenous communities.

The right to parent healthily and sustainably is dependent on access to basic human needs such as water, food, and shelter. Yet, colonial policies such as relocations, settlement programs, and residential schooling have curtailed Arctic Indigenous mobility and subsequent access to adequate housing and food security since the 1900s.30)INFSS (2021) Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. Ottawa: Inuit Nunangat Food Security Strategy When discussing the right to parent healthily and sustainably, it is important to note that inadequate Arctic housing infrastructure and food insecurity are two social determinants of health that have been heavily impacted by canadian colonial policies.

Access to adequate housing is necessary in ensuring the health and safety of ones child. The chronic housing shortage faced by Arctic Indigenous communities exacerbated by the lack of social support31)Tranter E (2020) Nunavut MLAs concerned about territorys high birth rate, taboo around accessing reproductive health services. Nunatsiaq News, 25 February, https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/nunavut-mlas-concerned-about-territorys-high-birth-rate-taboo-around-accessing-reproductive-health-services/ directly impacts the health of Arctic Indigenous communities, as living situations are often overcrowded, affecting indoor air quality and sanitation.32)Knotsch C & Kinnon D (2011) If Not Now When? Addressing the Ongoing Inuit Housing Crisis in Canada. Ottawa: National Aboriginal Health Organization As of 2016, in Inuit Nunangat, 51.7% of Inuit lived in crowded conditions, and 31% lived in houses requiring major repairs. Housing infrastructure is also a severe hindrance to socio-economic development, which relies on community infrastructure that can provide a good quality of life for community members.33)Mihychuk M (2019) A Path to Growth: Investing in the North. Ottawa: House of Commons Canada

Food insecurity is another social determinant of health that impedes on the right of Arctic Indigenous parents to raise their children in a healthy and sustainable environment. The severity of food insecurity among Arctic Indigenous communities is one of the longest-lasting public health crises in canada, and is attributable to intersecting driving factors, including but not limited to: poverty; climate change; inadequate infrastructure; high cost of living; and systemic racism.34)INFSS (2021) Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. Ottawa: Inuit Nunangat Food Security Strategy In fact, food security statistics from the years 2011-2012 states that Nunavut had a food insecurity rate over four times that of the national average, and that the highest rates of food insecurity are found across the three Arctic territories.35)Roshanafshar S & Hawkins E (2015) Food insecurity in Canada. Ottawa: Statistics Canada

Beyond physical health, it is important to acknowledge the cultural and spiritual health impacts that canadian colonialism has had on Arctic Indigenous reproductive justice. Territorial policies related to childbirth and delivery systemically hastened cultural erosion, as most community members were required to be removed to a distant hospital or birthing clinic.36)Thibeault R (2002) Fostering Healing through Occupation: The Case of the Canadian Inuit. Journal of Occupational Science 9(3): 153158 This prevented the ability to perform birthing celebrations and rituals which are important to Arctic Indigenous cultural and spiritual health.

As such, the holistic perspective offered by the Reproductive Justice Framework is particularly useful in understanding that social and cultural determinants of health are integral to Arctic Indigenous reproductive rights. Arctic Indigenous communities deserved and continue to deserve to thrive through parenthood, both physically and culturally. However, it is these thriving communities that are considered antithetical to the success of the canadian colonial project.

So far, this paper has aimed to demonstrate the historical and contemporary impacts of the canadian colonial project on Arctic Indigenous communities access to reproductive justice. This colonial project was purposeful and could be interpreted as an intent to destroy in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group37)UN (1948) Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. United Nations, p.280 Revoking Indigenous reproductive justice was just one tool that the canadian state used to commit genocide against Indigenous people, by violating Article 2d and 2e of the United Nations Genocide Convention.

The UNGC defines genocide in five categorized acts: a) killing members of the group; b) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; c) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; d) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; and e) forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.38)UN (1948) Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. United Nations, p280, Art. 2

The canadian states infringement on Arctic Indigenous reproductive justice could be considered genocide based on Article 2d and 2e of the UNGC. Specifically, Article 2d on the prevention of births is relevant to canadas history of forced sterilization of Arctic Indigenous women. In fact, the current lawsuit led by Alisa Lombard seeks justice for Indigenous victims of forced sterilization in Saskatchewan, with cases as recent as 2018.39)Lombard AR (2018) Without Prejudice: Examination of Canadas State Report, 65th Session. Maurice Law, 15 October, https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CAT/Shared%20Documents/CAN/INT_CAT_CSS_CAN_32800_E.pdf. Accessed on 2 October 2022; The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights (2021) Forced and coerced sterilization of persons in Canada. Ottawa: Senate Canada Similarly, canadas responsibility for residential schools and its modern counterpart, the child welfare system could be considered a violation of Article 2e, which highlights forcible transfer of children.

The states 1966 decision to incorporate only UNGC Articles 2a and 2b into the canadian Criminal Code is further evidence of the intentionality behind canadas avoided accountability for their history of genocide.40)MacDonald DB (2019) Understanding Genocide: Raphael Lemkin, the UN Genocide Convention, and International Law in The Sleeping Giant Awakens: Genocide, Indian Residential Schools, and the Challenge of Conciliation. Toronto: University of Toronto Press

This research discusses the impacts of canadian colonialism on Arctic Indigenous reproductive justice, and its potential constitution as genocide under the UNGC Article 2d and e. This research is intended to be a contribution to the discussion on Arctic Indigenous reproductive justice, which should evolve as more research is conducted in new and innovative ways. As such, our recommendations are geared to researchers and academics who are interested in engaging with the topic of Arctic Indigenous reproductive justice:

Maya Crawford (she/her) is an Algonquin and settler woman from the Snimikobi Community in the Ottawa Valley. Currently an undergraduate student at the University of Ottawa, Maya is in her 4th year majoring in Conflict Studies and Human Rights with a minor in Indigenous Studies. As an Indigenous academic, Mayas research has focused on oral storytelling as knowledge, the reality and interconnectivity of Indigenous and Migrant lived experiences on Turtle Island, and providing Indigenous youth with a platform to educate. Jayde Lavoie (she/her) is a queer settler, artist, and academic situated on Tiohti:ke (Montreal), the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Kanienkeh:ka Nation. A University of Ottawa graduate of Conflict Studies and Human Rights with a minor in Indigenous Studies, Jaydes research interests have predominantly focused on Canadas colonial history, climate justice, and Arctic policy. Reanne Bremner (she/her) is a graduate of Political Science with a focus on woman and gender studies and Indigenous feminisms from the University of Ottawa. As a queer settler currently situated on Tiohti:ke (Montreal), the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Kanienkeh:ka Nation, Reannes work centers around human rights education, community-based programming, and youth empowerment with an emphasis on an intersectional and human rights based approach.

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Colonialism and Reproductive Justice in Arctic Canada: The Neglected Historical and Contemporary Analysis of Genocidal Policies on Arctic Indigeneous...

By Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Business

(CNN) One of the best ways to build wealth in the United States is to own your own business. But just 2% of businesses with employees are Black-owned, according to a report from the Alliance for Entrepreneurial Equity.

And that has played a big part in widening the racial wealth gap in the US. Black households, which made up nearly 16% of the US population, held just under 3% of overall wealth, the Federal Reserves 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances found. White households, by contrast, held nearly 87% of the wealth but only represented 68% of the population.

While there has been no lack of entrepreneurial ventures among Blacks in the United States, systemic racism and a persistent lack of adequate support and funding has made it much harder for Black-owned businesses of all sizes to thrive, according to a panel of experts who spoke at an event co-sponsored by MIPAD and CNN Business.

The issue is not starting the business, but being able to keep the businesses afloat, being able to help the businesses grow and scale over time, said Brandon Andrews, co-founder of Gauge, an AI-enabled mobile market research platform.

In the first half of 2021, just 1.2% of total US venture dollars went to Black entrepreneurs.

That dearth of funding can be attributed to all those -isms and biases that have built up over the 400 years that weve been part of this country, said Gayle Jennings OByrne, who co-founded the Wocstar Fund, an early stage investment fund that invests in tech innovation ventures led by women of color.

But the discrimination is subtle, rather than overt, OByrne said. It looks like, Hey, great job. Thats an awesome idea. Keep going. Come back to me, you know, a year from now. Id love to see how youre doing. Hey, stay in touch.'

And its not just a lack of funding for promising start-ups. Its the lack of sustained support for micro businesses that make up the lifeblood of communities.

How do we empower those micro businesses? How do we ensure that they have access to capital? How do we ensure they have access to business education?, Andrews asked.

Doing so is also likely to help keep a community afloat. We know that Black business owners and Black entrepreneurs tend to hire from their community, hence spreading the economic benefit, said Kenneth Ebie, executive director and chief development officer, Black Entrepreneurs NYC.

Rethinking what it means to get a return on investment from these small businesses is essential if the goal is to strengthen communities and local economies, said Alfa Demmellash, CEO of Rising Tide Capital, a non-profit that teaches business development skills to entrepreneurs from historically marginalized communities.

We dont just need a handful of successful millionaire-billionaire entrepreneurs. Communities of color are actually enabling communities. We saw this during the pandemic. Its like if you are sitting at home and you needed that food to be brought to you, whos cooking the food? Whos driving that truck? Whos bringing it to your home? Whos cleaning your home? Whos taking care of sanitation? Its literally our livelihoods, Demmellash said. Theyre the essential workers and theyre essential entrepreneurs. They create culture. They create livelihoods. . [But they] are invisible and are never invested in because thats not seen as having great [investor] return.

To that point, OByrne noted, investment in those Black-owned small businesses can also take the form of making a business recommendation, or being intentional about using someones services or only hiring contractors that have a diverse leadership team.

If you dont run a business, you can still build wealth by getting in on the ground floor of a start-up raising capital. But for Blacks and other minorities there is a barrier to entry known as the accredited investor rule, Andrews noted.

Most people in our communities literally are legally barred from doing it in the United States because of that accredited investor definition, he said.

The Securities and Exchange Commission requires that anyone wishing to invest in an early-stage company have a net worth over $1 million, excluding their primary residence, and an income of more than $200,000 for individuals ($300,000 if they have a spouse or partner) in each of the prior two years and an expectation that their income in the current year will be the same.

So theres, again, systemic oppression thats there that keeps our communities from having access to even spend our money on our businesses in the way that we might do otherwise, Andrews said.

CNN Business Laurie Frankel contributed to this report

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Barriers to Black entrepreneurship widen the wealth gap - madison365.com

People lay flowers and cards near a spot where a mass shooting took place during the 4th of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois on July 6, 2022.

Jacek Boczarski | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

The survivors and families of victims of recent mass shootings in Texas and Illinois are taking on gun companies and stores in dozens of lawsuits, alleging the businesses bear responsibility for the massacres.

Last week, survivors of the July 4 mass shooting at a parade in Highland Park, Illinois, sued gun maker Smith & Wesson Brands, two gun retailers and others for their alleged role in the attack that left seven dead and more than 40 injured. The families of three children who survived theUvalde, Texas, school shooting earlier this year are pursuing legal action in separate cases, as well.

The gun industry, under federal law, has broad immunity from the fallout of mass shootings. Experts say plaintiffs face an uphill battle. But survivors, victims, family members and gun law advocates see an opportunity to hold manufacturers and dealers liable by calling into question their sales and marketing practices. If successful, these suits may reshape how guns are sold to Americans.

"The shooter in Highland Park didn't act on his own," said Eric Tirschwell, executive director of Everytown Law, one of the firms representing plaintiffs.

The Highland Park suits were filed in Lake County Circuit Court on behalf of the family members of people who were killed. The plaintiffs allege Smith & Wesson used deceptive marketing strategies to "appeal to the impulsive, risk-taking tendencies of civilian adolescent and post-adolescent males."

The plaintiffs also accuse online distributor Bud's Gun Shop and retailer Red Dot Arms of negligently and illegally selling the murder weapon a Smith & Wesson M&P assault-style rifle to the shooter despite a ban on selling such weapons in Highland Park. (Last month, a gun rights group sued the city, targeting the ban.) The man charged with killings and his father are also being sued.

The plaintiffs seek a jury trial and monetary damages from each of the defendants. CNBC reached out to Smith Wesson, Bud's Gun Shop and Red Dot Arms for comment.

The Uvalde plaintiffs, meanwhile, are seeking punitive damages against gun manufacturerDaniel Defense, Firequest International Inc., which designed the accessory trigger system used by the gunman, and gun store Oasis Outback.

The complaint, filed last week in Texas' Western District Court,also seeks to hold accountable the school district, city and law enforcement officials. It alleges that the failures and negligence by each of these entities played a role in the attack that left 21 students and teachers dead on May 24 after an 18-year-old gunman began firing into classrooms at Robb Elementary School.

According to the suit, Daniel Defense "directly sold the Uvalde shooter a DDM4 V7 days after his 18th birthday," and alleges that the gun manufacturer's marketing to young adult males is "reckless, deliberate, intentional, and needlessly endanger American children."

"This is a company that chooses to stay ignorant of the harm they cause communities like Uvalde so they can continue to recklessly market their products and make millions," said Stephanie Sherman, who is representing the families, in a press release.

The plaintiffs are also suing Firequest International for selling an accessory trigger system used to convert a semiautomatic rifle into the equivalent of a machine gun, and accusing local firearms dealer Oasis Outback of selling weapons to the gunman "knowing he was suspicious and likely dangerous."

CNBC reached out to Daniel Defense for comment, Firequest International and Oasis Outback for comment.

The accused Highland Park shooter has pleaded not guilty. The Uvalde shooter was killed.

Under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, or PLCAA, signed into law in 2005, gun manufacturers and dealershave broad federal protections that shield them from consequences when crimes have been committed using their products.

Jake Charles, a law professor at Pepperdine University who specializes in firearms law, said these suits face an uphill battle because of PLCAA.

"PLCAA is quite clearly the biggest boon to manufacturers and dealers in cases like these," he said. "It's a strong shield against many types of claims arising from gun misuse."

While PCLAA, added Charles, "prohibits most ordinary negligence claims against gun defendants in cases like this," a claim has a chance at moving past it if it "alleges that the defendants violated a state or federal law applicable to the sale or marketing of a firearm."

Earlier this year, the families of nine Sandy Hook school shooting victims settled a lawsuit for $73 millionagainst Remington, the maker of the AR-15-style rifle used in the 2012 massacre in which 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school.

The families in that suit, which is believed to be the largest payout by a gun manufacturer in a mass shooting case, alleged that the rifle used by the Newtown shooter was marketed to younger, at-risk males in advertising and product placementin video games.

Remington, which twice filed for bankruptcy in recent years, could not be reached for comment.

Antonio Romanucci, one of the attorneys representing plaintiffs in the Highland Park case, notes PCLAA has multiple exceptions "one of which is when a gun manufacturer violates state or federal law in the marketing or sale of its weapons, just as we've alleged Smith & Wesson has done here."

For this reason, said Romanucci, he expects an Illinois court to side with him and "hold Smith & Wesson accountable for its illegal and negligent conduct."

Charles said even with this exception, it's difficult to anticipate how the cases in Highland Park and Uvalde will go.

"It will depend in large part whether the judges who hear these cases are persuaded by the ruling in the Sandy Hook and similar cases," he said.

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Gun industry faces a new wave of lawsuits that could reshape how firearms are sold - CNBC

That 70s HOCO brings week of festivities

On UNIs campus, Homecoming festivities are in full swing. Decked out in a groovy 70s theme, offices around campus show their panther pride in a diverse way. Although homecoming week is halfway over, students and alumni alike still have a wide array of activities to get involved in and traditions to take part in. Heather Harbach, Ph.D., UNIs Vice President of Student Life, sat down to discuss all things homecoming and community this week.

Homecoming brings a sense of connection to the communities on campus. It brings a certain energy and excitement within our common community, she said.

Especially with the Verdin Company bell foundry being on campus, UNIs Homecoming brings another layer of excitement.

The bell foundry will be on campus both Thursday and Friday to cast new bells for UNIs beloved Campanile. An ingot passing will be held so students can touch the metals that will be put into the bells, as well as being present for the casting of the bells Friday night.

This is something really special, these bells will live on for years and years to come, and long beyond their time at our institution, students get to be a part of UNIs future, Harbach said. Thursdays Homecoming events will include a University Picnic on Lawther Field from 11:30 a.m. 1 p.m., a Carillon performance with the Campanile at 12:30 p.m., and UNIs Womens Soccer Team vs. Drake at 3:00 p.m.

Friday is chock-full of UNI traditions and Homecoming celebrations, giving students and alumni every opportunity to celebrate UNI. So many big things happen in a short amount of time, when you can look back and reflect, at the time it may not have thought about it, but reflection brings gratitude, Harbach said.

Panther Friday encourages UNI students and alumni to show their Panther Pride by wearing their purple and gold. Fridays festivities also include another Carillon performance at 10 a.m., and an Anthropology Dig Open House from noon 2 p.m. in the south part of campus near the observatory. The Our Tomorrow Exhibition will be open in Rod Library from 10 a.m. 6 p.m., and student organization golf cart decoration for Saturdays parade from 2 p.m. 5 p.m. downtown. Later that night, the UNI Swimming & Diving Team will host their Homecoming meet, and UNIs Volleyball team will face off against Bradley. The Our Tomorrow Campaign Celebration including live music from Micahel Cavanaugh and special guest Kurt Warner from 5:30 p.m. 9 p.m. at the Campanile Plaza. Following the Our Tomorrow celebration will be a Homecoming dance party at the Campanile Plaza from 9 p.m. 11:45 p.m., and immediately following is UNIs long-standing Campaniling tradition at midnight.

Going into Saturdays celebrations, Harbach discussed how important it is for UNI as a community to be able to celebrate together. We want people to have a fun experience and celebrate a community that hasnt been able to be around each other. Theres something for everyone, students and alumni, she said.

Saturdays Homecoming events include the Homecoming 5k Run/Walk at 8 a.m. at 2700 Campus Street, followed by the Homecoming Parade downtown at 10 a.m., with special guest Kurt Warner. The Mens Soccer Club will face off against St. Thomas at 1 p.m. on the fields west of the Dome. The UNI Football team will take on Illinois States Redbirds in the Dome at 4 p.m., and the UNI Volleyball team will follow suit at 7 p.m.

Homecoming is truly a celebration of the past, present and future. This year is a really intentional celebration, with the launching of Our Tomorrow and the bell foundry, Harbach said.

She also emphasized the importance of community and how students and alumni can celebrate UNI this week, saying, What I always tell students is take advantage of it, there are so many things to do, put yourself out there and see what its like. Dont miss out, join the fun; its truly a special time of year.

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Panthers get ready to growl and groove - Northern Iowan

As a longtime resident of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, I have witnessed firsthand the dramatic changes that have occurred in our North Texas region over the last 20 years.

Today, first-time homebuyers and young families are hard-pressed to find viable homes in attractive neighborhoods and school districts for less than $400,000.

I remember when Light Farms, the first master-planned community in Prosper, was comfortably priced in the $200s-$300s. Or more recently, in 2017, when our development in Fort Worth, known as Walsh, opened with new homes starting in the high $200s. Just five years later, homebuilders are now struggling to deliver homes in fast-growing suburbs and urban areas for less than half a million dollars.

The reasons for this affordability crisis are recycled and oft-cited: material costs rising, supply chain issues, permitting delays, and labor force shortages, just to name a few. And lets not forget the influx of out-of-state and institutional buyers with deep pockets and plenty of cash.

What are the consequences of pricing out the $200K-$400K first-time buyer looking for a place to call home? The teachers, firefighters, and local health care professionals that work and serve our neighborhood can no longer afford to live there. Is that place truly the exceptional and diverse community we envision and aspire to?

I say no. It is time for real estate developers and investors, as well as city officials, to generate fresh ideas and creative solutions to address the current affordability crisis North Texans are facing. The first solution I propose we seriously consider: build-to-rent development.

You may have already seen these much-buzzed-about communities coming to life across the North Texas metro: from Alliance to Cedar Hill to Northeast Fort Worth. They span Tarrant, Denton, Dallas, and Collin counties.

As with anything new or unknown, there is often concern and confusion from neighboring residents and homeowners about what this type of product is, who lives there, and what effect it will have on the existing community and housing market. It is the responsibility of local developers operating in and exploring this space to introduce these projects in a thoughtful and collaborative way. Build-to-rent done well requires an intentional commitment to understanding the unique, existing social fabric of nearby neighborhoods, and it requires the ability and desire to accept and act on feedback from those who already call that place home.

As North Texas companies develop these much-needed communities, we must take care to patiently educate and inform current residents and city officials on the many benefits of the build-to-rent solution. An increase in tax revenue for cities and school districts and the ability to use each new development as an economic engine for local commerce are conversation starters.

As build-to-rent developers, we must commit to creating exceptional places to live while bearing in mind the effect on traffic, drainage, and the natural landscape no different from the approach of a traditional master plan. In my mind, this means communities with ample green space. It means quality construction and attractive architectural designs. It means creative and thoughtful planning with a personal touch to create a sense of connection. These things create a place where people want to live, stay, and get to know their neighbors.

Beyond economics or execution, build-to-rent is an opportunity to provide generations of people a place to call home. My hope is that the DFW development community does not simply rush to create affordable housing solutions for North Texas residents because they expect high demand but remembers why we do what we do: to give people a place, a real place, to live exceptionally and call home.

Seth Carpenter is the senior vice president of development with Republic Property Group.

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Solving Affordability Gap With Creative Construction - D CEO Magazine - D Magazine

ALBANY The Lincoln Park Pool has had a water problem that has forced city leaders to wrestle with the thought of closing the nearly 100-year-old summer attraction altogether since the 1980s.

Next summer, it will be closed but only for it to be replaced.

Mayor Kathy Sheehan joined Department of Recreation Commissioner Jonathan Jones on Wednesday, Sept. 28 to announce the final concept for the new Lincoln Park Pool. The idea was voted upon by approximately 1,600, with an overwhelming majority choosing to retain its unique zero-entry features.

The City anticipates obtaining final engineered design plans early next year and will publish a Request For Proposals to both demolish the current structure and build the new pool by 2024. As drawn today, it is a comprehensive plan that includes a 10,000-square-foot zero-entry pool, a 10-Lane half-sized Olympic lap pool, a 6,000-square-foot splash pad, and a water slide. The plan also includes a new, 10,000-square-foot playground, with restrooms and shade pavilions.

The City has long grappled with repairing or closing the neighborhood pool. It was first opened in 1930 in what once was a ravine. William Kennedy recalled how the stream that ran through the ravine was heavily polluted by residents and surrounding breweries in his book, O Albany!. The ravine was filled to create Lincoln Park.

The park has been a recreational center for the South End community ever since. Wagers over semi-professional baseball games sometimes sparked fights before the matchs outcome was determined. Those hooligans were later brushed aside, later ushering in tennis courts and a playground. Since the pool was built, an estimated 1,200 city residents visit for a summer respite.

But the pool leaked. A lot. The City says it has been leaking since it was opened 91 years ago. It was recently estimated that 300,000 to 500,00 gallons escape the pool each day. Mayor Kathy Sheehan said that its water had to be shut off at times to allow emergency crews to fight neighboring fires.

Twenty years ago, then-Mayor Jerry Jennings threatened to replace the old pool, and its 1.1 million gallon capacity, with a smaller lap pool. Neighborhood advocates, however, pressed to preserve the pools unique characteristics, demanding it remains open for a beleaguered community. The City estimates that will cost $10 million, and its willing to try.

During its 91-year history, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have used the Lincoln Park Pool whether learning how to swim for the first time or cooling off with their friends and family on a hot summer day and the pools unique bowl shape and location in Lincoln Park invokes deep memories for those who have visited, Sheehan said during a Wednesday morning press conference. Our residents deserve a new facility that can serve our City for another 90 years, and we are one significant step closer to that goal thanks to the generosity and partnership of Ed, Lisa Mitzen, Jahkeen Hoke, and the entire team at Business for Good.

Ed Mitzen, Business for Good Co-Founder and the Lincoln Park Pool Capital Campaign Committee Chair, announced a $1 million donation toward the construction of the new pool, sharing his goal of raising a total of $10 million from the Capital Districts philanthropy community.

We founded BFG with the intention of investing in communities and improving peoples lives, Mitzen said. The Lincoln Park Pool will provide families and friends in downtown Albany access to a state-of-the-art recreational spot to gather, get relief from the summer heat, and have fun with activities such as learning how to swim and other aquatic programs.

Formed in 2020, Business for Good is a philanthropy group focused on equity, access, opportunity, and prosperity. Its efforts were recognized on a national level as a 2022 recipient of Fast Companys World Changing Ideas Awards, which recognizes pioneering teams that are playing an important role in the betterment of the world through intentional philanthropy.

Designed by the Albany-based engineering firm Weston & Sampson, construction is expected to run through next summer. Sheehan said, however, she hopes that would lead to the projects completion in time for 2024. The amenities promised in the new plan retain the features community leaders fought to keep.

The Lincoln Park Alliance is grateful for the community feedback and collaborative efforts to advocate for the renovations of Lincoln Park Pool, Lincoln Park Alliance Chair Lily Mercogliano said. As a treasure within our community, we are committed to the best renovation outcome for its future use. It is truly an investment in the future of recreation in the South End as well as the entire city.

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The Lincoln Park Pool will be closed but only for it to be replaced - Spotlight News

The Health and Wellness Summit is finally here!

Youre invited to join Health and Wellness Services to learn how fun and play can improve your health, creativity and relationships as an adult.

This free event is open to all CU Boulder students, staff and faculty.

While there will be a number of presentations available at this years summit, here are five you absolutely should attend.

See the full presentation schedule and register online

Presented by: Paul OsincupDate: Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. (CASE Auditorium) Keynote speaker

When were stressed, people often say things like you need to laugh it off or have a sense of humor about it... which is great except nobody ever tells you how to do that. In this hilarious and high-energy keynote presentation, Paul Osincup will share evidence-based strategies for honing your sense of humor into an intentional tool to help you reduce stress and boost your overall well-being and performance.

Presented by: Brianna RennieDate: Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 2:30 p.m. (CASE Auditorium)

Are you looking to optimize your schedule to balance self-care, school and social commitments this year? Join Disability Services and academic coaches for a free, hands-on workshop! During this session, youll have the opportunity to actively plan our two weeks of your upcoming schedule while learning healthy ways to prioritize yourself, your classes and your social goals.

Presented by: Bradford WilderDate: Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 3 p.m. (CASE Auditorium) Keynote speaker

Join Bradford Wilder for an imaginative, funny and outlandish improv session. Just imagine this: You and your family are at a theme park. You all decide to try out a new ride. Much to your surprise, this ride is different. Incomparable. You laugh nervously together and get on. Much to your delight and surprise, it's not at all what you thought. Come and give the ride a try!

Presented by: Ben OtotivoDate: Thursday, Oct. 13 at 2p.m. (Zoom)

While we know play can provide tremendous benefit to our well-being and mental health, we do not all have equal access to play. There are a number of barriers to play that communities can face, including a lack of time, lack of safe space or the policing of play. Join Ben Ototivo, a mental health provider on campus, to learn about the nuances of who has access to play and how we can create communities that foster equity in play.

Presented by: Pete McGrawDate: Friday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. (UMC 235) Keynote speaker

Peter McGraw is a behavioral economist, professional speaker, CU Boulder professor and expert in the interdisciplinary fields of judgment, emotion and choice. His research has answered questions, such as How do feelings affect the ways people spend money?, Can people feel happy and sad at the same time?, and, Why does the TSA suck? As the founder of the Humor Research Lab, much of his work examines the antecedents and consequences of humor. Join Peter for an entertaining and inspiring lesson on how we can all use humor to solve problems, craft powerful solutions and create better communities.

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5 must-attend Health and Wellness Summit presentations | Health & Wellness Services - University of Colorado Boulder