Category Archives: Intentional Communities

NEW ORLEANS Conversations about the effects of racism generally center on how it impacts issues like job status, wealth building and homeownership. But more recently, there has been more attention paid to the impact of racism on the health of Black people.

Racism, both systemic and interpersonal, is a major contributor to health inequities, disparities, and disease. The impact of these injustices on American health is significant, far-reaching, and unacceptable, according to the Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).

The CDC says that racial and ethnic minority communities have higher rates of poor health and disease than whites in several health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma, and heart disease. Life expectancy for Black/African Americans is four years lower than that of white Americans.

These substantial health disparities were discussed as part of a larger conversation about racism as a public health concern and how to address it during the Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) at this years ESSENCE Festival of Culture.

GBEF programming brings together global leaders, policymakers, activists, and celebrities annually to advance equity for the Black community and other marginalized groups. The forum includes pertinent panels on topics such as philanthropy, healthcare, and diversity.

Racism does not exist in the vacuum, said Cliff Barnes, who moderated the conversation. Barnes, a Partner at the law firm Epstein, Becker, and Green, added that some policies and practices have manifested and perpetuated it.

He asked each of the three panelists, How does history as Black people in America and our current state impact health?

In response, the President & CEO of National Medical Fellowships, Michellene Davis, Esq., said, Healthcare is undoubtedly the Civil Rights issue of our time.

What we have seen, what we are seeing is that when you live in one of the most industrialized countries in the world, that for Black and Brown communities to have issues still to access clean, potable water, as we do in Flint, Michigan and Jackson, Mississippi, and quite frankly, any urban environment where there are lead pipes bringing us our water, we know that we are still in the midst of a crisis, she added.

Davis also noted that things such as certain zoning laws, regulations and other policies create for us environments where it is difficult for us to actually achieve sound health.

What we know, inherently, is that the challenges that we do have with the health system are really rooted in racism. It is racism, said American Medical Association Chief Healthy Equity Officer Dr. Althea Maybank, noting that the roots of racism in America run deep and have impacted generations of Black people.

For Dr. Cedric Bright, explaining the prevalence of racism in healthcare comes down to a simple question that Black people often have to ask themselves after seeking care: Did that just happen to me because Im Black?

Despite the challenges of combatting racism and the subsequent public health crisis that it has created, they each shared things people can do to push back and persevere.

Its so important that we develop programs that help create pathways for our young people to reach the point of becoming health professionals. Theres nothing in health care where we have too many of theres a place where we all belong, said Dr. Bright, who is Vice Dean For Medical Education And Admissions at Brody School Of Medicine at East Carolina University.

I think the biggest importance is how much we are going to rely on each other, Dr. Maybank said. She also highlighted the Black Progress Index by the Brookings Institute and the NAACP for context.

I think its a really important context because a lot of the data shows the deficits that we dont have as Black people, the gaps. You have more hypertension, more cancer, all those things that we need to know. But to me, we dont build from a context of deficit; we build from a context of strength and knowing what our strengths are, she added. Dr. Maybank encouraged communities of color to look at reports like this that show where Black people are living longer, thriving to build strength.

In closing, Davis provided three key pieces of advice: practice self-care and equip yourself with the knowledge about health disparities in your demographic, speak up when you go to the doctor, and be intentional about finding and going to a Black doctor.

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EFOC: Is This Happening To Me Because I'm Black? Combating ... - Essence

Media agency Horizon Media is working with Burst Premium Network to deliver local stories highlighting diversity, equity and inclusion in crowdsourced segments using user-generated content that can be sponsored by Horizons clients.

Horizon served as an adviser in shaping the unwired network. which now includes 150 stations that use Burst software to manage and utilize user-generated content to bolster their newsgathering.

The Burst Premium Network segments air as frequently as three times a week on each station and consist of a locally focused 30-second vignette paired with a 30-second commercial. They are designed to line up with commemorations like Black History Month, Pride, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month.

Were showcasing the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things, Burst CEO Bryant McBride told Broadcasting+Cable. We know theres a market for that. We want to showcase amazing people in their community that no ones ever heard of. A lot of them are traditionally marginalized people.

As a part of the upfront market, Horizons national clients are getting a first look at the segments.

We are intentional about consistently operating in a manner that advances DEI for the good of our clients, our business, our industry and the communities we collectively serve, Bill Koenigsberg, founder and CEO of Horizon Media, said. Working with Burst to introduce a new way for brands to forge authentic connections with local communities by amplifying diverse voices and sharing untold stories is an extension of that commitment and of our focus on DEI innovations.

Burst has been providing its user-generated content software to stations for eight years. The software gives the stations access to mobile video and photos from viewers, fans and social media in a way thats compatible with the stations production systems.

Our software has become the industry standard for user-generated content for local news, said McBride.

The user-generated content is used during newscasts to supplement stations own newsgathering capabilities with video about weather, fires, animals and other local-news staples. Its the stuff you need to feed that local news beast, McBride said.

When there is a snowstorm, Burst urges people to share their video so it can be used on TV, giving a station potentially millions of cameras to cover a story. Weve changed the dynamics of news collection, McBride said.

After the death of George Floyd amplified the Black Lives Matter movement and corporate America made commitments to tell more diverse stories, Burst started a program to tell stories that teach, heal and humanize at sale for national advertisers, McBride said.

The Burst National Network currently reaches about 90% of U.S. households. Theres only one station per market and each station has either the No. 1 or No. 2 newscasts in the market.

Segments usually appear in the second block of a newscast to be away from the crime and mayhem that can often lead the telecast, putting the stories in a safer environment for advertisers.

Burst splits the revenue generated by the segments with the stations.

Burst solicits videos on various websites, calling for people to help fill what McBride calls a hole in the American narrative, McBride said.

People send in stories about a grandmother who was a civil rights leader, or an aunt who was the first person in the country to do something. The stories are pouring in, he said. Of the tens of thousands we get, we take the ones that really grab people and inspire and shape them and repackage them.

McBride himself is a storyteller. He grew up in Canada and wanted to be the first Black hockey player in the National Hockey League, but found out Willie ORee had played for the Boston Bruins from 1958 to 1979. McBride later became VP of business development for the league and hired ORee as an NHL Ambassador.

He co-produced a documentary about ORee, called Willie, which can be streamed on Peacock.

There is a need to tell these stories, McBride said. Victory for us is really simple. When people go, I had no idea. How come I wasnt taught this? How come I dont know this? thats victory. These stories arent being told widely, or as widely as they should be.

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Stations Telling Diverse Stories With Sponsored Segments from ... - Next TV

The U.S. unemployment rate is hovering near lows unseen since the 1960s. A few months ago, there were roughly two job openings for every unemployed person in the country. Many standard economic models suggest that almost everyone who wants a job has a job.

Yet the broad group of Americans with records of imprisonment or arrests a population disproportionately male and Black have remarkably high jobless rates. Over 60 percent of those leaving prison are unemployed a year later, seeking work but not finding it.

That harsh reality has endured even as the social upheaval after the murder of George Floyd in 2020 gave a boost to a second-chance hiring movement in corporate America aimed at hiring candidates with criminal records. And the gap exists even as unemployment for minority groups overall is near record lows.

Many states have ban the box laws barring initial job applications from asking if candidates have a criminal history. But a prison record can block progress after interviews or background checks especially for convictions more serious than nonviolent drug offenses, which have undergone a more sympathetic public reappraisal in recent years.

For economic policymakers, a persistent demand for labor paired with a persistent lack of work for many former prisoners presents an awkward conundrum: A wide swath of citizens have re-entered society after a quadrupling of the U.S. incarceration rate over 40 years but the nations economic engine is not sure what to do with them.

These are people that are trying to compete in the legal labor market, said Shawn D. Bushway, an economist and criminologist at the RAND Corporation, who estimates that 64 percent of unemployed men have been arrested and that 46 percent have been convicted. You cant say, Well, these people are just lazy or These people really dont really want to work.

In a research paper, Mr. Bushway and his co-authors found that when former prisoners do land a job, they earn significantly less than their counterparts without criminal history records, making the middle class ever less reachable for unemployed men in this cohort.

One challenge is a longstanding presumption that people with criminal records are more likely to be difficult, untrustworthy or unreliable employees. DeAnna Hoskins, the president of JustLeadershipUSA, a nonprofit group focused on decreasing incarceration, said she challenged that concern as overblown. Moreover, she said, locking former prisoners out of the job market can foster survival crime by people looking to make ends meet.

One way shown to stem recidivism a relapse into criminal behavior is deepening investments in prison education so former prisoners re-enter society with more demonstrable, valuable skills.

According to a RAND analysis, incarcerated people who take part in education programs are 43 percent less likely than others to be incarcerated again, and for every dollar spent on prison education, the government saves $4 to $5 in reimprisonment costs.

Last year, a chapter of the White House Council of Economic Advisers Economic Report of the President was dedicated, in part, to substantial evidence of labor force discrimination against formerly incarcerated people. The Biden administration announced that the Justice and Labor Departments would devote $145 million over two years to job training and re-entry services for federal prisoners.

Mr. Bushway pointed to another approach: broader government-sponsored jobs programs for those leaving incarceration. Such programs existed more widely at the federal level before the tough-on-crime movement of the 1980s, providing incentives like wage subsidies for businesses hiring workers with criminal records.

But Mr. Bushway and Ms. Hoskins said any consequential changes were likely to need support from and coordination with states and cities. Some small but ambitious efforts are underway.

In May 2016, Jabarre Jarrett of Ripley, Tenn., a small town about 15 miles east of the Mississippi River, got a call from his sister. She told Mr. Jarrett, then 27, that her boyfriend had assaulted her. Frustrated and angry, Mr. Jarrett drove to see her. A verbal altercation with the man, who was armed, turned physical, and Mr. Jarrett, also armed, fatally shot him.

Mr. Jarrett pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge and was given a 12-year sentence. Released in 2021 after his term was reduced for good conduct, he found that he was still paying for his crime, in a literal sense.

Housing was hard to get. Mr. Jarrett owed child support. And despite a vibrant labor market, he struggled to piece together a living, finding employers hesitant to offer him full-time work that paid enough to cover his bills.

One night somebody from my past called me, man, and they offered me an opportunity to get back in the game, he said with options like running scams, selling drugs, you name it.

One reason he resisted, Mr. Jarrett said, was his decision a few weeks earlier to sign up for a program called Persevere, out of curiosity.

Persevere, a nonprofit group funded by federal grants, private donations and state partnerships, focuses on halting recidivism in part through technical job training, offering software development courses to those recently freed from prison and those within three years of release. It pairs that effort with wraparound services including mentorship, transportation, temporary housing and access to basic necessities to address financial and mental health needs.

For Mr. Jarrett, that network helped solidify a life change. When he got off the phone call with the old friend, he called a mental health counselor at Persevere.

I said, Man, is this real? he recalled. I told him, I got child support, I just lost another job, and somebody offered me an opportunity to make money right now, and I want to turn it down so bad, but I dont have no hope. The counselor talked him through the moment and discussed less risky ways to get through the next months.

In September, after his yearlong training period, Mr. Jarrett became a full-time web developer for Persevere itself, making about $55,000 a year a stroke of luck, he said, until he builds enough experience for a more senior role at a private-sector employer.

Persevere is relatively small (active in six states) and rare in its design. Yet its program claims extraordinary success compared with conventional approaches.

By many measures, over 60 percent of formerly incarcerated people are arrested or convicted again. Executives at Persevere report recidivism in the single digits among participants who complete its program, with 93 percent placed in jobs and a 85 percent retention rate, defined as still working a year later.

Were working with regular people who made a very big mistake, so anything that I can do to help them live a fruitful, peaceful, good life is what I want to do, said Julie Landers, a program manager at Persevere in the Atlanta area.

If neither employers nor governments roll the dice on the millions sentenced for serious crimes, Ms. Landers argued, were going to get what weve always gotten cycles of poverty and criminality and thats the definition of insanity.

Dante Cottingham got a life sentence at 17 for first-degree intentional homicide in the killing of another man and served 27 years. While in prison, he completed a paralegal program. As a job seeker afterward, he battled the stigma of a criminal record an obstacle he is trying to help others overcome.

While working at a couple of minimum-wage restaurant jobs in Wisconsin after his release last year, he volunteered as an organizer for EXPO EX-incarcerated People Organizing a nonprofit group, mainly funded by grants and donations, that aims to restore formerly incarcerated people to full participation in the life of our communities.

Now he works full time for the group, meeting with local businesses to persuade them to take on people with criminal records. He also works for another group, Project WisHope, as a peer support specialist, using his experience to counsel currently and formerly incarcerated people.

It can still feel like a minor victory just getting somebody an interview, Mr. Cottingham said, with only two or three companies typically showing preliminary interest in anyone with a serious record.

I run into some doors, but I keep talking, I keep trying, I keep setting up meetings to have the discussion, he said. Its not easy, though.

Ed Hennings, who started a Milwaukee-based trucking company in 2016, sees things from two perspectives: as a formerly imprisoned person and as an employer.

Mr. Hennings served 20 years in prison for reckless homicide in a confrontation he and his uncle had with another man. Even though he mostly hires formerly incarcerated men at least 20 so far he candidly tells some candidates that he has limited wiggle room to decipher whether you changed or not. Still, Mr. Hennings, 51, is quick to add that he has been frustrated by employers that use those circumstances as a blanket excuse.

I understand that it takes a little more work to try to decipher all of that, but I know from hiring people myself that you just have to be on your judgment game, he said. There are some people that come home that are just not ready to change true enough but theres a large portion that are ready to change, given the opportunity.

In addition to greater educational opportunities before release, he thinks giving employers incentives like subsidies to do what they otherwise would not may be among the few solutions that stick, even though it is a tough politicalhurdle.

Its hard for them not to look at you a certain way and still hard for them to get over that stigma, Mr. Hennings said. And thats part of the conditioning and culture of American society.

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Ex-Prisoners Face Headwinds as Job Seekers, Even as Openings ... - The New York Times

There's been an argument raging in Destiny 2 lore communities for years, ever since Bungie revealed the Witnessthe big bad that's been working behind the scenes throughout the game's Light and Darkness sagaat the end of The Witch Queen campaign. The question, fiercely debated, is this: Is the Witness the same entity as the Winnower, the cosmic force described back in the Shadowkeep expansion lore book Unveiling?

OK, yes, let me back up. Unveiling was arguably the first major attempt by Bungie to lay out the stakes of the Destiny 2 universe's broader cosmologythe start of a path that leads directly to the conflict of the game's next expansion, The Final Shape. It describes two entities from before time, a Gardener and a Winnower, who played a game that caused an argument that led to the creation of the universe. The Gardener it describes is clearly the Traveler, the big orb that is the source of Guardians' power. Arguably it follows, then, that The Witness is the Winnower.

Except: the cutscene that appeared two weeks ago finally gives us the origin story of the Witness. It's actually the amalgamation of the first species that the Traveler uplifted. So case closed, right? The Witness isn't the Winnower. So why are the loreheads still getting angry at each other?

For one thing, Unveiling was seemingly written by the Witness, delivered to us via the Black Fleet it controls. For another, the argument has moved in a different direction and led to a new question: If the Witness isn't the Winnower, does the Winnower even exist? Some argue that there is another entity behind the Witness that is the true Winnower. Some will tell you that, no, having a super-secret extra final boss would be lameobviously the Witness isn't the Winnower, it's just creating self-insert fanfic about its desired place in the universe. And others argue that Unveiling itself should be discarded, because Bungie has simply retconned the entire story and the origin of the Witness itself.

Bungie commented on the confusion in a recent roundtable Q&A that I attended. Naturally, the studio's representatives didn't offer any actual answers, but they did at least show that they're aware of the confusion and contradictions.

"Welcome to the problem that all Bible scholars have trying to figure outwhat may or may not have happened and lining that up to actual historical events," says senior narrative designer Robert Brookes. "Unveiling is a parable. It is effectively a religious text. And how much of that is propaganda, how much of that is myth, how much of that is fact is deeply unclear in the nature of the text."

Brookes notes that, when Unveiling first dropped, players did take it as the literal gospel truth. "Players believed it to be 100% fact: there was a literal garden, there was a literal Gardener, there was a literal Winnower. And now it's starting to become clear that those may not actually be just concrete ideas, but metaphors or things that are far less concrete and clear. And as we get closer into The Final Shape, more answers on that will start coming up. And The Final Shape, of course, will have a lot of answers about the nature of those conflicts."

Brookes refused to offer any more hints on how this will all resolve. Except for this: "The contradictory nature has always kind of been intentional. Whatever the Witness says, maybe don't trust it."

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Bungie weighs in on the current argument raging through the ... - PC Gamer

Myanmars overall humanitarian and human rights situation has deteriorated to alarming levels, exacerbated by the militarys strategy to prevent life-saving humanitarian aid from reaching those who desperately need it, a report published today by the UN Human Rights Office shows.

Since 1 February 2021, UN Human Rights has documented how the military continues to prioritize its aims over all other considerations, including the urgent need of conflict-affected communities to receive life-saving assistance. Even when humanitarian workers have been permitted access, their ability to deliver aid has been strictly limited and controlled.

The military has operated as if those providing aid are helping those opposed to their rule, rather than respecting their need for protection and facilitating their access and assistance to the civilian population in a time of crisis.

The already dire situation on the ground has been compounded by the militarys restrictions on aid imposed in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha in May, bringing further suffering and misery to wide swathes of the population in the west and northwest of the country.

As the report makes clear, intentional obstruction or denial of humanitarian assistance may amount to gross violations of international human rights law, and serious violations of international humanitarian law.

Aiming in part at cutting off support for its opponents, the military has employed its four-cuts strategy to kill and injure thousands of civilians while destroying goods and infrastructure necessary for survival, including food, shelter, and medical centres, the report says.

Myanmars human rights and humanitarian crisis is massive. An estimated 1.5 million people have been internally displaced, and approximately 60,000 civilian structures have reportedly been burnt or destroyed. Over 17.6 million people, or one-third of the overall population, require some form of humanitarian assistance.

Between February 2021 and April 2023, credible sources verified that at least 3,452 people had died at the hands of the military and its affiliates, and 21,807 individuals had been arrested.

Notably, our report says the security situation has dramatically worsened for humanitarian workers since the coup. Aid providers are consistently exposed to risks of arrest, harassment or other mistreatment, or even death.

Under international human rights law and international humanitarian law, populations-in-need are entitled to receive assistance to ensure the respect of their rights to food, shelter, and health. All parties must allow and facilitate unimpeded passage of life-saving relief to all those in need".

In the context of armed conflicts, intentional obstruction or denial of humanitarian assistance may further constitute war crimes such as wilful killing, torture and other degrading treatment, starvation, and collective punishment. Such intentional denial can also constitute crimes against humanity such as murder, extermination, torture and other inhumane acts, or persecution, when committed in the context of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population.

The UN Human Rights Chief will present the report to the Human Rights Council next week.

Read the full report

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Myanmar: Dire humanitarian and human rights situation ... - OHCHR

Just shy of a year ago, CNBC ranked North Carolina as No. 1 on its list of Americas Top States for Business. For North Carolinians, especially those who have lived their entire lives here as I have, this was no surprise. For years, state leaders have been intentional about making investments and building an infrastructure that positions North Carolina as a key destination for businesses across the globe.

In contrast, we have not done the same for public education.

As superintendent of Guilford County Schools,a place I have called home since kindergarten, I am often asked about what I have seen change in public education. My answer is always the same: not that much. Most notably, our teachers continue to be undervalued for their hard work and have seen few changes in compensation over the years, which is far behind the national average.

Do you see the problem here? Though business is booming, and our state is growing, our communities remain fragile because of how little we have invested in our public schools which are often the top employers in communities across the state. Flourishing business in North Carolina brings us one step forward, but meager teacher compensation takes us two steps back. Burnout is intensifying, teachers are leaving, undergraduate teaching programs are enrolling fewer students and all of this is happening in the wake of pandemic learning loss when our kids need high-performing and committed teachers most.

Our dollars speak volumes about our indifference.

I say this not with bullheaded partisanship or false alarm but with desperation for our states citizens to understand the realities we are facing and the dangerous trajectory we are on. Being the top state in business and the last in teacher pay is a future we cannot afford. It is a future where millions of kids lacking high-performing teachers are robbed of the opportunity that could have been theirs and where our communities, once filled with promise, become fragile. I believe our kids deserve better that we all deserve better. Our communities can only be as strong as our public schools, which is why we must invest in them with competitive compensation in order to attract and retain the best teachers.

Consider what our hard-working teachers have been able to accomplish despite decades of underfunding and inadequate pay. I think, for example, about the broad range of choice programs Guilford County Schools offers families that have been developed in partnership with businesses and aligned to workforce needs including STEM, aviation, artificial intelligence, global logistics, biotechnology research and advanced manufacturing. We also have early and middle colleges, language immersion schools, top art programs and four public separate schools for students with severe and profound disabilities. These choice programs are completely unmatched in the private and charter school sector and they are offered for free in order to transform life outcomes for all students regardless of zip code. Imagine, then, what our public schools might do with competitive teacher salaries and adequate funding. We would be able to attract the best teachers in the nation, giving our own students a competitive advantage to lead in a global economy.

What is special about public schools is that public schools belong to all of us, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or ability to pay. We take all students. That is not the case for private schools. If the bill to expand private school vouchers passes, however, even more resources will be taken away from our already underfunded schools.

I do not oppose families having the opportunity to choose the best school possible for their children, but that should not come at the expense of public education. If we want to remain a state that attracts global employers, we must invest in our young people at scale.

This is a pivotal moment for the state, and our kids and our communities are waiting on us to show up for them. Will we embrace the opportunity to train our workforce and strengthen our communities? Or will we give up on the schools and teachers that have shown remarkable resilience crisis after crisis? The choice is ours. I hope we can stand united on behalf of our youngest North Carolinians for their future and the future of North Carolina.

Dr. Whitney Oakley is the superintendent of Guilford County Schools (GCS), serving more than 68,000 PK-12 students and 10,000 employees at 126 schools. As the districts first homegrown superintendent, Oakley is a long-time educator and school administrator with a proven track record of improving student learning outcomes.

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Invest in our public schools - EdNC

The rights of LGBTQ Americans are under attack. Lawmakers in other states are doubling down on efforts to roll back advancements in LGBTQ equality, and they have set their sights specifically on the transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary communities.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, state legislatures nationwide weighed more than 525 anti-LGBTQ bills this year alone. More than 75 of these measures have become law more than double the number from last year. Barricades to health care, mental health support, and workplace discrimination that were once torn down, are being erected again.

Some states are even going so far as to ban educators from discussing LGBTQ issues in class, essentially seeking to erase these Americans from existence. Instead of moving our nation forward, lawmakers in these states continue to use dangerous rhetoric to advance an agenda that would usher the return of an era steeped in ignorance, intolerance, and malice.

Not in New York.

Governor Hochul signed nation-leading legislation to protect and affirm the LGBTQ+ community ahead of her participation in New York City's annual Pride March. (Don Pollard/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)

From Stonewall to the legalization of same sex marriage, to the unprecedented protection from the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act and Gender Recognition Act, New York has been a pioneer in the evolution of LGBTQ equality. Gov. Hochul is determined to continue to trailblaze, advancing initiatives that will ensure our state remains inclusive for all New Yorkers, especially our LGBTQ community.

Just days ago, the governor signed legislation removing outdated and stigmatizing language from the definition of sexual orientation in the states Human Rights Law. She also signed a measure implementing the use of gender-neutral language in state laws, reinforced protections for those seeking and providing gender-affirming care, and established safeguards to protect transgender youth. The governor embodies what we as New Yorkers all share: the ability to be compassionate, respectful, and protective of our neighbors.

The state Department of Labor is part of this effort to advance inclusion in the workplace. We continue to take a data-driven approach to better cater to the needs of all New Yorkers, while also educating employers so they can better provide a safe, inclusive work environment.

To that end, the Department of Labor has extended its public comment period for our first transgender and gender non-conforming employment study. New Yorkers who identify as transgender or gender non-conforming now have until Sept. 15 to provide insight into their experiences applying for jobs and in the workforce.

We want the voices of New York States transgender and gender non-conforming community to shape both the report and the resulting recommendations aimed at breaking down all barriers to employment. The Department of Labor has been intentional to prioritize meeting with and listening to transgender and gender non-conforming stakeholders and community organizations, in an effort to be as thoughtful as possible in our coming policy recommendations.

Many nationwide studies have determined that transgender and gender non-conforming Americans experience high rates of unemployment, workplace discrimination, harassment, and violations and our goal is to find out why, and how we can put an end to it. We also want to ensure that the transgender and gender non-confirming community feels supported and comfortable in being their authentic selves in the workplace.

Data has always played a crucial role in how we as a state respond to injustices impacting the people of New York, and the data we are compiling for this report could impact generations of transgender and gender non-conforming New Yorkers. Out Leadership recently ranked New York State No. 1 in the nation for LGBTQ equality in the workplace, a ranking we are very proud of at the Department of Labor and one we hope to maintain for years to come.

Pride month ending today is devoted to honoring the contributions of our LGBTQ community. It is a time to remember when these New Yorkers were silenced simply because of who they are. It is also a moment to celebrate victories in overcoming hate and prejudice to gain the respect, freedom, and rights we all deserve as Americans. The fight is far from over. Those rights are now in jeopardy beyond our borders, and we must continue to stand together in solidarity of what is right and just. Pride month lasts only 30 days, but in New York, we will continue to fight each and every day to protect the rights of our LGBTQ community.

By utilizing data, knowledge, and truth, we can continue to be a shining beacon of hope for the LGBTQ community across the state, nation and globe. We want them to know that they will always be seen, will always be welcome, will always have a voice, and will always find a safe haven here in New York State.

Reardon is commissioner of the state Department of Labor.

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N.Y. stands up for LGBTQ equality: Having Pride 12 months a year - New York Daily News

NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace hangs out with young fans outside of a McDonalds restaurant in Chicago.

CHICAGO Ahead of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, Bubba Wallace driver No. 23 of Michael Jordan co-owned 23XI Racing hosted Bubbas Block Party, a nationwide community initiative at The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center on Wednesday.

The South Side event featured racing-themed entertainment, local food from Black-owned businesses and a live musical performance from Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco. It was scheduled from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

A lot of people (have been) saying that they dont feel welcomed to be a part of our sport. Ive been racing for 20 years, going on 21 years now, and I couldnt think of being anywhere else, Wallace told the Tribune.

Ive always enjoyed my time, except when I lose. But from the stories that Ive heard and peoples comments, we got to be better. Youve always heard the labels about our sport whether its being racist, redneck or whatnot. Thats very far from the truth. Theres always a couple bad apples, but a couple bad apples doesnt portray the whole picture of our sport.

Wallace, who became just the second Black driver to win a race in NASCARs top Cup Series level in 2021, wants his block party to be a place where people, who havent felt welcomed by the racing community, come and learn about the sport. Since 2020, Wallace has tried to expose racing to new audiences, bringing our life into their lives and vice versa.

The block party initiative, which began last year, has been held in Richmond, Virginia and Birmingham, Alabama both cities with majority Black and minority communities. They are intended to be a fun atmosphere where Wallace can connect with fans of all ages.

Its really just for you to feel welcomed and feel wanted, something a lot of people have said in years past that they dont feel comfortable with, he said of the block parties, which also featured iRacing simulators and pit stops.

At the parties, Wallace received feedback from fans. He viewed it as an opportunity to show there are other ways to be a part of NASCAR, such as a member of a pit crew. He acknowledges the expense of the sport for both participants and viewers can be a barrier to entry for many in Black and brown communities. The block parties are free.

We were brainstorming ideas on how we need to keep trending forward and moving the messages forward, moving our visuals, our fan base forward, and not staying stagnant and doing the same old stuff, Wallace said of his Diversity Leadership Team that was created in 2020. I was like, hey, you know, theres a lot of people that want to come to race. They dont feel safe, they dont feel welcomed. Why dont we make a welcoming environment beforehand? Have a party at the racetrack, like a block party?

Having the Chicago installment event at The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center was an intentional choice on the part of Wallace and NASCAR.

The museum is named after Jean Baptiste Point DuSable. Wallace called it an honor to both give back and pay homage to its namesake, the first permanent non-indigenous settler of what would eventually become the city of Chicago.

He hoped the Chicago street race, as well as the block party, would bring racing to those who have felt it was out of reach and help move NASCAR forward.

It makes people question a lot about themselves. It also allows people to accept change and accept something different. Its been a fun process, but its been a tough one to continue to guide because its a never-ending process. And theres always going to be something that we need to be better at. And its up to us to be proactive instead of reactive.

The NASCAR Chicago Street Race will be held Sunday around Grant Park.

Original post:

NASCAR, Bubba Wallace bring 'Bubba's Block Party' to Chicago - Daytona Times

Fifth Third Bancorp (Nasdaq: FITB) today published its 2022 Sustainability Report . The report is an annual update on the Companys progress against its five sustainability priorities: keeping the customer at the center, strengthening its communities, delivering on its commitment to employees, promoting inclusion and diversity, and addressing climate change.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230630077853/en/

Fifth Third has published its 2022 Sustainability Report (Graphic: Business Wire)

In addition to the 2022 Sustainability Report, Fifth Third has published indices aligned with the Global Reporting Initiative, SASB standards and Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics. The indices are published as part of the Companys commitment to provide transparency and data aligned to industry standards for all of its stakeholders.

Its an honor for Fifth Third to report its progress in advancing sustainability, said Kala Gibson, executive vice president and chief corporate responsibility officer. We are innovative, inclusive and intentional in the development and execution of our sustainability priorities, all of which align with our purpose to improve lives and the well-being of our communities while we continue striving to be the one bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Thirds 2022 Sustainability Report spotlights the following categories:

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank thats as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, weve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and its one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethispheres Worlds Most Ethical Companies for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nations highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FITB." Investor information and press releases can be viewed at http://www.53.com . Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230630077853/en/

Stacie Haas (Media Relations) Stacie.Haas@53.com | 513-534-5113

Chris Doll (Investor Relations) Christopher.Doll@53.com | 513-534-2345

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Fifth Third's 2022 Sustainability Report Shares Progress on Priorities ... - InvestorsObserver

Due to a legacy of discrimination and ongoing legal disparities, LGBTQ+ people have a variety of unique financial needs and challenges. Employment, healthcare, family planning, insurance, housing, marriage, and retirement are just some of the financial planning priorities that may look a bit different for LGBTQ+ people.

Luckily, there are many LGBTQ+ financial experts and influencers (or finfluencers) sharing their knowledge and lived experiences around money and finance online through social media, books, podcasts, and their own platforms.

With many personal finance influencers sharing content online, theres a wealth of information out there. Here are a few financial influencers and experts from LGBTQ+ communities who are worth following:

Carmen Perez is the founder of Make Real Cents, a blog about personal finance and financial independence, and the creator of Much, a budgeting and finance management app. With a Bachelor of Science degree in finance, she focuses on teaching millennials and Gen Z about money management and building wealth, with tips on investing, crypto, paying down debt, budgeting, and saving.

Although her financial advice is not specifically targeted to LGBTQ+ communities, Perez gave this advice in an interview: Because folks in our community can and do face financial problems because of their gender identity or sexual orientation, side hustles are one of the best ways to give yourself a raise and bridge income loss/stagnant wages. While building a side hustle can take time, its advantageous to have a book of business or another stream of income you can rely on regardless of your employer.

Daniella Flores is a neurodivergent, nonbinary, and queer Latine entrepreneur who helps LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent people develop their money, side hustles, and careers. Their podcast, Remote Work Bestie, launched in 2023 and interviews guests on topics like salary transparency, traveling while working full time, moving abroad to work remotely, and working with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Their financial resources focus on saving, investing, upskilling, and finding and managing passive income streams.

About their work, Flores writes, We dont believe in gatekeeping through manipulative hustle bro culture. This knowledge should be accessible to anyone and everyone. Side hustles are all about creating more assets, income streams, and optionsand can be an important tool when trying to build wealth and financial freedom.

Husbands David Auten and John Schneider are authors, bloggers, speakers, and the creators of the Queer Money podcast, which is all about the nuances of personal finance in LGBTQ+ communities. It all started when the two financial services professionals found themselves living beyond their means and accruing over $50,000 of credit card debt. They created a system to pay it off and started sharing their personal and professional experience around debt, entrepreneurship, saving, and investment with others.

On the topic of LGBTQ+ representation in the financial services industry, Auten said in an interview, Theres always been a struggle [...] for representation, but beyond that, I think that theres been a struggle with how the finances of queer folks [are] different than the general population[.] How do we figure out those nuances and serve those nuances? And I think a lot of companies are scared to do that, or hesitant to do that, or just downright dont want to do that.

While not a typical social media influencer, David Rae is an established media personality whose financial advice segments have appeared on various news outlets. Rae is also an accredited financial expert, holding Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) certifications, and he works with many LGBTQ+ clients through his financial advising company. On his website and in other publications, Rae has written on topics like retirement, savings, taxes, investing, and wealth management.

Regarding financial planning in the LGBTQ+ community, Rae says, I dont think investing for the LGBT community is actually a different thing unless youre really trying to do socially conscious investing. I think where the differences lie is really in financial planning. You build in different areas, you have different financial goals, and you have different expenses that are going to be a bigger thing for you. We have some income advantagesdouble income, no kids is a big advantage for many gay couplesbut at the same time were living in metropolitan areas that have much higher costs of living, so it will balance out.

K. Kenneth Davis is a Black transgender entrepreneur, financial literacy activist, and speaker who works to empower and educate LGBTQ+ people in order to end systemic poverty and economic discrimination. He holds a Master of Science in finance from Pace University and writes, coaches, runs workshops and creates content around topics like debt, navigating the legal system as a transgender person, and money management.

In an interview about his work, Davis said, If you are queer, please do not let society or capitalism make you think that you cannot thrive within this world because of your gender. It is possible to live your lifestyle peacefully, have a comfortable life, and achieve any financial goals that you have. I literally started with nothing, and I built an impactful company that does fantastic work to help empower others through mindset and money training.

River Nice is a queer independent financial planner who runs Be Intentional Financial, a remote, fee-only financial planning firm. Their specialty is working with transgender and queer individuals and families on short-term and long-term financial goals. They run online workshops and group programs, provide free online resources, and share videos on Instagram where they answer comments and questions from followers and users about money, work, financial planning, retirement, and more.

Regarding financial concerns that are specific to queer people, Nice says, Being able to talk to somebody about money and not have to explain what hormones are, what gender-affirming surgery is, that family planning takes a little extra effort and sometimes a lot of extra money [] there [are just] those basic competenc[ies] of understanding what our lives are like.

Without equal rights and protections when it comes to healthcare, work, school, housing, and in society at large, many LGBTQ+ people continue to experience discrimination and financial difficulty.

According to a report by the Center for LGBTQ Economic Advancement and Research, LGBTQ+ adults were more likely than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts to report low or unpredictable incomes, struggle to get by, be unemployed or looking for work, be unbanked or underbanked, have poor credit scores, or have less money saved for retirement.

Research has also identified an LGBTQ+ wage gap: LGBTQ+ workers earn around 90 cents compared to each dollar that an average worker earns. Nonbinary individuals, transgender people, and LGBTQ+ people of color typically earn even less.

In addition, many LGBTQ+ people experience different challenges when it comes to financial planning because of their priorities and lived experiences around work, education, healthcare, family planning, housing, and retirement.

Although there is much progress still to be made, the financial sector has begun to diversify, and LGBTQ+ people can now look to allies and role models within their communities for financial advice.

Whether online or in person, many resources are available that speak directly and specifically to the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people when it comes to personal finance. Finding an LGBTQ+-friendly bank can be a good place to start, as well as improving financial literacy with free online resources and courses such as the ones offered by the influencers listed above.

Opening up the conversation around money with friends and chosen family can also be a helpful starting point, whether its sharing tips and ideas or asking for emotional support.

LGBTQ+ financial influencers, or finfluencers, with large followings on social media include Carmen Perez (@MakeRealCents), David Auten and John Schneider (@DebtFreeGuys), and Danielle Flores (@ILikeToDabble).

Many LGBTQ+ financial influencers have multiple social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube, as well as their own websites.

As with any financial information, its important to check the credibility of the source, including relevant experience and professional designations. When it doubt, online money advice should not be considered a substitute for professional advice from a qualified financial advisor.

There are many financial influencers who identify as LGBTQ+ who share their experiences with money and financial planning online. LGBTQ+ people may find it helpful to look to their resources for inspiration, advice, and assistance, as content creators who are part of LGBTQ+ communities are likely to better address the specific financial situations that LGBTQ+ people tend to experience.

However, it is always important to thoroughly vet any information found online, review the financial qualifications and background of the source, and seek advice from designated financial professionals when appropriate.

The rest is here:

Top LGBTQ+ Financial Influencers to Learn from in 2023 - Investopedia