Category Archives: Personal Empowerment

Do your getaways turn into vacations from healthy eating and exercise? Do you take the time off as an excuse to really let go while you get away from it all? Regret is a bad souvenir.

But what if an excursion included upping your fitness level and kick-starting your way of thinking about health all while you were being pampered, of course.

Fortunately, more and more resorts are embracing healthy escapes itineraries or unique offerings that mix fit choices into fab experiences. From full-on fitness programs in a spectacular setting to resorts that offer fun, unique and easy ways to keep you moving while relaxing, we can now have our fun trip and stay fit, too.

With spring coming, now is a perfect time to be proactive. Instead of waiting for warm weather to work toward getting into beach clothes, start now with a vacation accented with fitness. Consider these options for a luxurious, relaxing but healthy escape.

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach: Sure, you know this amazing destination from the celebrity sightings, the amazing parties and the renowned elegance. What you might not know is the Fontainebleau is a great spot to find the warm sun, soak in the Miami scene and also to stay on your fitness game at the same time.

This year, the Fontainebleau is offering its first-ever Wellness Escape. From April 7 to 9, the Fontainebleau has partnered with fitness brands Barrys Bootcamp, Tone House, 305 Fitness, Daybreaker, Greenmonkey yoga, and meditation with Nikki Novo to host a weekend-long event jam-packed with health and wellness activities.

Beginning April 7, guests will be able to choose from fitness classes, cooking demonstrations, curated menus and more. The weekend focuses on the body and the mind.

Guests taking part will also have access to experts covering topics from holistic health to personal empowerment and spiritual healing. There is also a marketplace, offering top health and wellness brands and services.

And since its all set at a fabulous destination (and many of the programs are poolside), youll soak in top accommodations, eat healthy meals prepared by great chefs and, of course, take in all Miami has to offer. Learn more at fontainebleau.com/wellness.

Red Mountain Resort, St. George, Utah: Tucked into a sublime setting the red and white sand canyon region of southern Utah the resort has roomy and beautiful accommodations, a spectacular spa and a dining room that amps up every meal.

And it just happens to be a place you can find a new fitness level, set diet goals and more via some great packages. The resorts Weight Loss & Living Well retreat takes things we may not want to think about on vacation and makes them wonderful. Fitness becomes delightful when it involves hiking beautiful canyons, biking though national parks or doing yoga with a breathtaking view. Healthy eating is easy and delicious when chefs prepare colorful and creative meals for you each day. And working on bettering oneself feels like a dream vacation when its in this setting.

The resort offers more packages, too, such as the Sports Performance Retreat, new this year. This four-day, three-night retreat is for athletes and sports enthusiasts looking to take their fitness to the next level. Guests meet with the top-level Intermountain Health Care sports performance team and experience state-of-the-art testing in order to become faster, stronger and achieve their training goals. Then, with a plan in place, guests use the resort and its surroundings to put it all into action. Learn more at http://www.redmountainresort.com.

Woodstock Inn, Vermont: So what if its not spring yet, the Woodstock Inn can help you relax, unwind and stay fit with a snowshoe stay. The resorts Tubbs Snowshoe Trek Package includes two nights at the warm, beautiful inn, breakfast daily at the inns Red Rooster where a buffet offers plenty of healthy choices (and a chef prepares omelets on request), a picnic lunch to take on your trek and the equipment you need to head out and up to Mount Tom cabin. For an added fee, you can amp it up and snowshoe up Mount Peg with a resort guide.

The inn has a large, beautiful and accommodating spa, too, to work out your aches, as well as access to the Woodstock Athletic Club, where you can take on a full schedule of fitness classes or play indoor tennis. Learn more at http://www.woodstockinn.com.

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Make dash for fitness escapes - Boston Herald

The search is on for the new Dean of Students. The search committee has selected three finalists. All three have come to speak to students, faculty and staff throughout the past week.

Dr. Khalilah T. Doss, Dr. Brandon Barile-Swain and Dr. Jerry Parker are the three finalists up for the position.

Doss presented on Feb. 24, Barile-Swain presented on Feb. 28 and Parker presented Tuesday.

Dr. Khalilah Doss was the first to present in Sussman Theater. She currently serves as the assistant dean of students at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO. Doss received her doctorate from Southern Illinois University.

Dr. Doss opened up her presentation by explaining that it took her five years to finish undergrad at McKendree University. She said that she likes to be upfront with her students because they can connect with her story. Dr. Doss said she prides herself in supporting, educating, advocating and leading her students.

If you want to be a change agent, you have to do the work, Dr. Doss said.

Dr. Dosss presentation also focused on how different lenses can affect how a student looks at Drake. In her presentation, she compared students to the film Monsters University, realizing that every student looks different when they come to college. She ended her presentation by talking about advocacy and diversity.

Being an advocate is a verb, Dr. Doss said. You cant just sit there and say, Hey Im an advocate.

Dr. Brandon Barile-Swain is currently an Assistant Dean of Students at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. He received his doctorate from Northeastern University where he focused on leadership and how gender expectations play a role in that. Dr. Barile Swain said he strives to make sure that administration understands and empathizes with the needs of students.

According to Dr. Barile-Swains website, teaching personal empowerment is one of the best parts of his job. He helps students develop self-awareness and Self-management skills based on developing emotional intelligence.Dr. Barile-Swain stated that he would want to amplify

Dr. Barile-Swain stated that he would want to amplify voices of those who feel they are not heard. According to

Dr. Barile-Swain, he would listen to students regardless of their political stances.

Being an active listener is something that Dr. Barile- Swain said he strives to do. In order to make a decision, he said he would want to understand and coordinate with others, in order to see the whole picture.

Dr. Barile-Swain said if he were hired he would want to make efforts to connect with students in Olmsted and to walk around campus in order to get to know students.

Dr. Jerry Parke is currently Drakes Interim Dean of Students. He received his B.A. and M.A. from Texas State University. He completed his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University. His presentation focused on civic professionalism and

His presentation focused on civic professionalism and how it can be incorporated more at Drake. He said the campus needs to work together with the community and that people need to have discussions with each other in order to better understand one another.

A problem that Parker said he sees on campus is the lack of respect and conversations between those who are different. A way that he said to combat this is to promote students talking to those who are different than them. Parker also stated that he encourages students interacting with the community in order to enrich student education. Parker said the transition from having one person

Parker said the transition from having one person handling the Dean of Students role instead of having both an Associate Dean and a Dean may be beneficial. Parker stated that this can help ensure that both the day to day and long term goals are carried out more.

Jessica Lynk contributed to this article.

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At a glance: Dean of Students candidates - Times-Delphic

Saint Lucia will join the rest of the world on Wednesday March 8th 2017, in observance of International Womens Day. The day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women in its advocacy to create awareness of the contribution of women to the development of society as positive agents of change.

The theme for this years observance is Be Bold For Change. It challenges each individual to be leaders within the spheres of influence by engaging in a practical action to narrow the gender gap and help women and girls realize their full potential.

The Division of Gender Relations and several other agencies in Saint Lucia have planned a number of activities to mark this years observance, which began with a Praise and Worship Service on Sunday 5th March, 2017, at the Victory Pentecostal Church in La Resource Vieux Fort.

The highlight of this years observance will be a series of Empowerment Seminars for Women to be held in communities around the island. The seminars will focus on personal empowerment for women to enable them to form healthy relationships with themselves and others, to be Bold For Change that will allow them to transform their lives and communities as leaders and change agents. The Empowerment Seminars will be held on evenings to facilitate greater participation and will include topics such as self-esteem, independence, and respect and love for self, others, community and country.

In an effort to recognize and celebrate women who are leaders in the workplace, the Division of Gender Relations has invited business places and organizations to showcase the careers and responsibilities of women in a Festival of Women in the Workplace. The Festival will involve the display of some of the jobs held by women within the organizations, highlighting the nature of services provided, the academic and skills requirements for the specific posts and opportunities for employment in similar positions. It is expected that the Festival of Women in the Workplace will be open to the general public, including students and prospective employees as it seeks to mentor young women and guide career choices.

This years observance will cumulate with the launching of a publication entitled Running in Heels: Women and Politics in Saint Lucia 1961-2016.

A number of other agencies have also planned activities for this years International Womens Day including:

The St Lucia Civil Service Association (CSA) in collaboration with womens activists group Raise Your Voices has organized a Movie showing on March 8th at Caribbean Cinemas featuring the movie Hidden Figures, which portrays the challenges women faced in the workplace. The CSA will also be hosting a Luncheon Lecture on March 10th 2017. The event will take place at Bel Jou Hotel, La Pansee, Castries. Contact the CSA at 45 23903 for further information.

The Folk Research Centre has planned a Panel discussion on the topic The Challenges of Women in Todays Social and Cultural Setting. The discussion take place on Saturday March 18th 2017, from 3:00 p.m. at the FRCs headquarters at Mount Pleasant.

Celestial Self- Development Centre will be holding its annual Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk on Saturday 11th March 2017. Call 45 31924, email:[emailprotected] or WhatsApp 518 2370 for details.

The Womens Committee of the St. Lucia Teachers Union in collaboration with the St. Lucia Teachers Credit Cooperative will hold their Annual Womens Conference on March 8, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the Golden Palm Events Center.

The embassies of Spain and Mexico and the Alliance Francaise are organizing a cultural and social celebration, which will emphasize the role of women in the Arts. The cultural event entitled She.Lc 2017 is a presentation from Saint Lucian artists who will be playing Spanish, Mexican and English music along with theatrical and dance pieces dedicated to women. She.Lc 2017 will take place on March 8th from 7:00p.m. at the National Cultural Center. Admission to this event is free.

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International Women's Day 2017 Be Bold For Change - St. Lucia Times Online News (press release)

Westfield HS to Host Female Student Empowerment Symposium ... Patch.com The Woodlands, TX - The event on March 9 will feature breakout sessions on personal image, dating, as well as health and wellness. and more »

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Westfield HS to Host Female Student Empowerment Symposium ... - Patch.com

With the likes of Stormzy and Skeptabecoming successful, Grime has well and truly crash landed into the mainstream this year. And not before time, a strain of British hip-hop that melds urgent delivery, telling tales of street life over skittering beats and samples. Its perhaps the most organic youth music sound to emerge in the last few years. Now the tentacles of its influences have reached South-Wales, Cardiff collective Astroid Boyswhose work has been reflecting the multi-culture of Cardiffs C10 postcode reflecting a life of nights out, gangs, nbsp; discrimination and personal empowerment through struggle.

Joined by fellow Cardiffian Sonny Double 1, Foreigners takes a downtempo beat, that sounds like car alarms going off and allows each member toscatter brutally honest bars that hold up a mirror to themes like gun crime, police corruption, the Muslim Ban and Brexit. We know that you dont like the foreigners, goes the cutting refrain as the crew lay out lyrics rife with pointed social commentary, and prescient wit My hair is on Donald Trump/My swag is on Donald Duck,and surprising crescendos that have as much in common with hardcore punk as they have urban music. Its accompanied by a similarlystark video, street corners, dimly lit back streets and police raids, its a snapshot of life on the margins.

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Video Of The Week #24: Astroid Boys Foreigners (Feat Sonny Double 1) - God Is In The TV

Clearly Veg (blog)

What the Health Documentary Shocks, Educates, and Empowers Clearly Veg (blog) The new follow-up film by Cowspiracy team Kip Anderson and Keegan Kuhn will make your brain explode and then help you piece it back together by inspiring personal empowerment and meaningful measures to take against the state of modern animal ...

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What the Health Documentary Shocks, Educates, and Empowers - Clearly Veg (blog)

A bill to renew funding for a pilot sports-participation program for students with disabilities is not just a welcome instance of bipartisanship. Its also a bit of legislation about which we can all feel good.

A 2015 bill passed by the state legislature provided up to $300,000 in annual financing for the 2015-17 budget years toward developing pilot, community-based, adapted sports programs for kindergarten through 12th grade. Based on a federal civil rights edict, it required equal access to extracurricular athletics for students with disabilities.

Two state representatives from Forsyth County, Democrat Ed Hanes and Republican Donny Lambeth, have filed a new bill to extend the program, providing up to $300,000 annually for the 2017-19 budget years, the Journals Richard Craver reported recently.

Hanes and Lambeths pilot program, like the one before it, is designed to develop specific strategies to overcome barriers to the participation of students with disabilities ... and incorporate a philosophy of personal empowerment for those students.

Physical education is important to all children, but particularly important to those with some disability with limited options, Lambeth told the Journal.

Lambeth couldnt be more right. Children with physical disabilities are capable and can benefit from physical education and exercise. This bill will help ensure their needs are met.

Because there are questions about the best approach, this bill provides funding for the department to work with a local district to develop a program and to monitor its effectiveness, Lambeth told the Journal.

Programs could be conducted in one or more local school administrative units, including local universities, community colleges and other community organizations, the Journal reported.

The cooperation exhibited here is no doubt informed by the best instincts of governing to improve the lives of our citizens. While some states like Texas are cutting resources for disabled children, we in North Carolina can see the benefit clearly, to the children, their families and to our society as a whole.

Kudos to these legislators, in these contentious days, for working together for the good of our states citizens.

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Our view: Sports program for disabled students is welcome - Winston-Salem Journal

AUSTIN, Texas - Its a celebration thats more than a year in the making.

We are so excited to be opening our campus and being able to impact these families two generations at a time, said Shannon Moody, executive director of the Jeremiah Program.

More than 44,000 female-headed families live in poverty in Austin. The Jeremiah Program gives these families a place to live while the mom pursues higher education.

It's an approach that helps the kids too.

If we focus on just the mother, the children may not get the education needed to start kindergarten ready to be successful, said Moody.

Marissa Martinez, 19, says her move to the campus will take some weight off her shoulders.

People frown upon young mothers, and especially at 14. That was very, very young, you know what I mean? And people believed I couldnt do it, said Martinez.

Getting on campus wasnt easy. To live here, women face rigorous program criteria, followed by a 12-week personal empowerment course.

We invite them to move in to a beautiful two-bedroom apartment. We have early childhood education that starts at infant level and goes up to age four, said Moody.

With housing secure, Martinez says her sights are set on a college education in surgical technologya task made easier through Jeremiah.

Safe affordable housing for my sons and I while I get my degree and go to a university as well, said Martinez.

It's been an uphill battle of Martinez, but she has plenty of motivation.

I feel like my sons both know their mother tries. My oldest son knows my mommy goes to college and that shes trying. I hope to give them the sameI hope theyre better than me but I like to show them that I work hard for them.

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Jeremiah Program Gives Families Home to Help Rise Out of Poverty - TWC News

Photo: Family planning. Photo/Courtesy

Collins Baswony

As Kenya today joins the rest of the world in commemorating the International Womens Day 2017, we must renew our commitment towards forging a better working world a more gender inclusive world One path towards achieving gender equality in the workplace is investing in family planning services to ensure access to high quality and affordable services.

Access to family planning services helps girls and women to achieve their ambitions. Whether they are in school, in formal or informal employment, women (and their partners) who have the benefit of choosing when to have children, how many and how much time between them (spacing), stand a better chance of achieving their goals.

Studies show that women who plan their children alongside their personal and family goals are able to attain their academic and professional dreams, get higher incomes and participate in social activities in their communities.

American philanthropist Melinda Gates, a prominent family planning advocate, has told her personal family planning story many times. Last year, she wrote in a letter about the role of family planning in helping her and her husband plan their family as they were building their business.

Also read: Ongeri decries waste discharge into river

Gates said it was not by coincidence that her three children were born when they were born and exactly three years apart. This can be the story of every Kenyan woman: that they can have a family but still pursue career or business dreams.

But for that story to be complete, Kenyan women need access to family planning services. Sadly, Kenya has a high number of women who want to either stop or delay childbearing but are not using any contraception.

According to the latest data, 20 per cent of married women are in that category. #BeBoldForChange This years International Womens Day, whose theme is #BeBoldForChange, provides an opportunity for Kenya to evaluate and renew its commitment towards ensuring that women who need family planning services can easily access them.

Also read: Ahmednasir links Muhoro to Tatu row

Considering that six out of 10 users of family planning services get them from public health facilities, both the National and County governments must invest invest in the services.

Such investment, especially by County governments, are crucial in educating Kenyans about benefits while dispelling the myths and misconceptions surrounding family planning.

Investing in Family planning is also vital now more than ever before because resources from development partners and international donors are shrinking.

The reinstatement of the global gag rule by US President Donald Trump only made the situation worse. For Kenya to contribute to creating a more gender inclusive world, we must make family planning services available to them. The writer is a communications practitioner working with an international development organisation. [emailprotected], twitter: @BwanaCollins

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Family planning key to women empowerment - K24 TV

Michaela Brew / Sun Senior Editor

Five Cornell students will be spending eight weeks in the summer in Tanoso, Ghana through a service-learning program with the nonprofit Voices of African Mothers and the Africana Studies Department.

Five Cornell students will be spending the summer in Tanoso, Ghana through a service-learning program with the nonprofit Voices of African Mothers in the hopes of establishing a long-lasting legacy of empowerment, education and equality in Ghana and beyond, according to Blake Brown 17, program facilitator and former participant.

This four-year Cornell partnership with Voices of African Mothers will allow students to engage firsthand with an organization that emphasizes the transformative power of women and childrens education in African nations, Brown explained.

After this impactful service-learning experience, the Cornell volunteers will be agents of change in their own communities, with a renewed commitment and an insightful understanding of the vital work that VAM and its partners are doing in Ghana and beyond, Brown said.

According to Brown, the Cornell Voices of African Mothers partnership was started by Sam Ritholtz 14 and Ritholtzs advisor, Prof. NDri Thrse Assi-Lumumba, Africana studies.

This year, after an intensive selection process with a record number of applications, five students of diverse backgrounds and fields of study were chosen based on academic merit, extracurricular involvement and interest in VAMs work in Ghana, Brown said. Each student expressed unique, personal and empowering goals for the program.

As an immigrant from West Africa I want to go back to where I originally started from and use what I have learned so far to uplift students in Africa, build unbreakable bonds with them and show them that a dream is not just something in your head, it is a reality that is yet to come, said Clinton Ikioda 19, one of the selected participants.

Kierra Grayson 18 added that her motivation for involvement in the program stemmed from her desire to gain a much more accurate perspective on the breadth of certain issues by talking to someone who is living through them on the daily.

Likewise, participant Matt Jirsa 19 recognized the innate responsibility Cornell students bear in coming to Ghana as outsiders.

Coming from a privileged background, I do not want my role as a volunteer to shift into one of a white savior or as a voluntourist, Jirsa said. I am not going to Ghana to impose my own culture on its people, but [to] use the strengths of collaboration between our cultures to institute realistic and Ghanaian inspired change.

Prior to their departure, co-facilitators Brown and Ali Peterson 17, with the guidance of Assi-Lumumba, will help this years cohort to gain a profound sensitivity and understanding of Ghanaian culture [and history], Brown said.

Once in Ghana, the student experiences will be varied and immersive, Brown added.

During the eight-week service-learning experience, Cornell students will volunteer at a local school and clinic and have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Ghanaian culture by visiting various historical sites, learning about the indigenous people and forming authentic relationships with community partners of VAM, Brown said.

Nevertheless, participant Tamzen Naegle 18 acknowledged the challenges present in navigating different conceptions of appropriate treatment of and rights for women in Ghana.

I expect to feel disheartened by the inequalities present in Ghana, as I am a feminist and have been raised to promote human rights for everyone regardless of status or background, Naegle said. By practicing cultural respect [as I will be a foreigner] I hope to adhere to the customs of Tanoso yet also introduce my own views on womens rights and the desired treatment for girls everywhere.

We are an independent, student newspaper. Help keep us reporting with a tax-deductible donation to the Cornell Sun Alumni Association, a non-profit dedicated to aiding The Sun.

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Cornell Students Plan Service Project in Ghana to Build Relationships, Promote Equality - Cornell University The Cornell Daily Sun