Category Archives: Personal Empowerment

From Wash Co

At their meeting last Wednesday, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners passed the first vote to award $3.2M to organizations who submitted proposals through the American Rescue Plan Act Funded (ARPA) Community Priority Fund (CPF). Proposals fall under the Addressing Housing and Homelessness and Expanding Access to Childcare categories of the fund. The organizations who are being considered for funding were recommended by a commissioner-appointed, Community Review Body and the County Administrator.

The CPF represents such an impactful opportunity for organizations who have worked diligently throughout the pandemic and since., said Commissioner Justin Hodge, Working Session Chair, While some of these agencies have been around for a while, most havent done business with us before, so we are absolutely expanding our ecosystem of service providers and supporting crucial work for our residents in community.

The Community Priority Fund was created by the Board of Commissioners in March of this year using ARPA dollars. The CPF is designed to provide funding and support to organizations that have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and are working in historically under-resourced areas of Washtenaw. It is also intended to expand the Countys ecosystem of providers by creating opportunities for organizations who have not historically contracted with Washtenaw County. All organizations approved for funding will also receive technical assistance to meet the rigorous data evaluation and reporting guidelines ties to ARPA dollars.

Foundations Preschool ($20,000) - Founded in 1934, and formerly known as Perry Nursery School, approximately 70% of schools population resides in the 48197/98 zip code area and other low opportunity areas of Washtenaw County. Over 97% of families are from low-income households.

Bottles and Backpacks Child Development Center, Inc. ($600,000) - Bottles-N-Backpacks Child Development Center, Inc. (BNB) is the largest African- American owned and operated early childhood education center in Washtenaw County. As a family-owned business, the co-owners have successfully operated within the early childhood development sector for over 17-years across Southeastern Michigan. During that time BNB has served and cared for more than 700 families in the Ypsilanti area since 2008. As BNB is rooted in the community, we believe that deep, long-term engagement with families in Ypsilanti are vital to supporting childrens growth and development. Just as the center is located in the city of Ypsilanti, more than 90% of BNBs staff and families live in those same zip codes (48197 and 48198).

Child Care Network ($1,180,000) - Established in 1971, Child Care Network (CCN) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the success of children, families and our community through quality childcare education, advocacy, and family support. CCN has served the community by helping families find care, helping families pay for care, and helping early learning professionals provide quality childcare.

Huron Valley PACE ($278,181) - Huron Valley PACE, in Ypsilanti Township, MI, serves older adults aged 55 or older who have ongoing healthcare needs and live within their service area. PACE provides all the care and services covered by Medicare and Medicaid, as well as additional care and services regarded as necessary by the interdisciplinary team. PACE provides coverage for primary and specialty care, prescription drugs, medical transportation, hospital visits, dental care, medical equipment, home care, as well as physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and other services. Their mission is to partner with aging community members to provide integrative care and promote successful community living.

Life After Incarceration: Transition and Reentry ($142, 000) - Life After Incarceration: Transition and Reentry is an occupational therapy program that provides life skill and habit-building opportunities to justice-involved individuals and underserved communities to increase the equity in the county and in the justice system overall.

The House by the Side of the Road ($75,000) - The House by the Side of the Road provides free clothing, linens, and small household items for children and adults in need (i.e., people with disabilities, single parents, former prisoners, immigrants, and veterans) due to poverty, fire, flood, homelessness, prolonged illness, or job loss. These items are free to clients who have limited funds for household essentials, regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age, or size. In 2021, they served 2097 families, more than half of whom live in 48197 and 48198.

Michigan Itinerant Shelter System Interdependent Out of Necessity (MISSION) ($55,900) - For nine years, M.I.S.S.I.O.N has provided direct support to the houseless community in Washtenaw County utilizing extremely limited resources. They provide warm meals, winter clothing, boots, hygiene & personal care supplies, hand warmers, and other donated items as well as daytime sheltering to unhoused individuals and families. During this past season (December through late March), they served over 400 unique members of the community, most of whom repeatedly utilized the services.

2Marines ($22,000) - 2Marines mission is to be there for veterans and their families in the 48197/48198 zip codes by providing interventional programs in their time of need. Their goal is to empower veterans through holistic programming and real-world understanding of their situations and needs. They work closely work with the Veterans Affairs (on their behalf of veterans) to access crucial veterans' benefits that will aid in providing daily living necessities.

Dawn Farm ($21,040.20) - Since 1973, Dawn Farm has met communitys needs with compassion, creativity, and hope. They offer a place where addicts and alcoholics can go for help, regardless of their drug of choice or ability to pay for treatment. They offer a continuum of long-term treatment services to help people achieve long-term recovery. This continuum includes residential treatment, transitional housing, outpatient care, sub-acute detoxification, and a range of active outreach programs. Most importantly, Dawn Farm helps people with addictions last long after they have completed treatment.

Community Family Life Center ($676,582.80) - Community Family Life Center (CFLC) is a neighborhood-based, non-profit organization that serves as a hub for the Sugarbrook Neighborhood and the greater Ypsilanti area. CFLCs mission is to serve individuals, youth and their families with programming focused on social, educational, physical, and economic well-being.

Family Empowerment Program ($129,296) - The Family Empowerment Program (FEP) supports individuals and families through resource navigation and community building to foster self-sufficiency and enhance quality of life. The program is housed at Eastern Michigan University and coordinated by on-site social workers is a key point for social, health and economic access, education support and community navigation. FEP serves families living in all Ypsilanti Housing Commission (YHC) communities. Through partnerships and programming, the FEP has developed social services program whose purpose is substantially improve the educational, health and economic outcomes for 900 + individuals currently living in YHC communities.

We expect that the Boards investment in this way will be transformational, said Alize Asberry Payne, Racial Equity Officer, The Community Priority Fund is really a demonstration of the spirit of the federal ARPA dollars. These resources are going to communities where disparities are most evident and supporting organizations who have been doing some of the most challenging work.

On October 19, 2022 at 7:00pm, the Board of Commissioners will consider the final vote on the Community Priority Fund (CPF) award recommendations in the Housing and Homelessness and Addressing Educational Disparities categories. We invite you to attend! You may participate in person in the boardroom at 220 N. Main St. or virtually by using the following Zoon information:

Remote Participation via Zoom: https://washtenaw.me/BOCZoom

Remote Participate via Phone: dial 1 (312) 626-6799 Webinar ID: 860 0810 5839, Passcode: 500953

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Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners Set to Consider $3.2M in Awards to Local Organizations as Part of the Community Priority Fund -...

Find out more about the high-profile people speaking at this conference

- Female Inclusion and Empowerment Conference on Thursday 13 October 2022- At the John Smiths Stadium from 8.30am-noon- Event sponsored by iTrain Legal

The John Smiths Stadium is hosting its first Female Inclusion and Empowerment Conference on Thursday 13 October 2022 with high-profile people speaking and sharing their experiences.

This free conference and networking event is open to all to promote female inclusion in sport and other industries, through a series of inspirational talks.

Here is a more in-depth look at our high-profile speakers.

Dorigen Sykes iTrain Legal

The Headline Speaker at this conference is Dorigen Sykes, she will share her journey from working in the Ticket Office at Huddersfield Town to becoming the Managing Director of her own technology training business.

Alongside reflecting on her success story, Sykes will also discuss the many challenges she had to face in achieving career success as a woman as well try to provide inspiration to pursue goals in career and life regardless or gender.

Using the recent triumph of the national womens team, Dorigen will explore how we can kick-on from that positive experience.

Dorigen will be on hand to share tips on how to support the women and girls in your life to whomever they want to be.

Jacqui Gedman CEO of Kirklees Council

Jacqui is a Civil Engineer by profession; although many women now work in the sector, Jacqui qualified at a time when it was an unusual industry for women to work in, so she experienced some of the opportunities and challenges that were presented.

Gedmans career in local government started in the 1990s when she went to work for Leeds City Council as a graduate Highway Engineer, 10 years later she needed another challenge and moved to Kirklees Council as a Senior Engineer.

During her time in Kirklees, Jacqui has had a number of roles including Director of Strategic Investment and Infrastructure, Director of Place, and Deputy Chief Executive she became Kirklees Councils first female Chief Executive in 2016 and is particularly proud of their amazing and diverse workforce and is driven to create the conditions for talented individuals to excel in.

Jacqui will talk about how her career to date has shaped her leadership style and the lessons she learned along the way. She will use this platform to provide insights on leading a complex organisation whilst trying to achieve a work life balance.

The CEO will discuss what she focusses on now to support the development of others.

Kim Leadbeater MP for Batley and Spen

Kim has been Labour MP for Batley and Spen since July 2021.

Before this, she graduated with a First-Class degree in Health-Related Exercise and Fitness from Leeds Metropolitan University and went on to be a lecturer in Higher Education at Kirklees College and Bradford College.

She then set up her own business as a personal trainer, wellbeing coach and group exercise instructor.

Prior to her election to Parliament, Kim was Ambassador for the Jo Cox Foundation, which was set up to continue the legacy of her sister, the former MP, who was murdered in the constituency in June 2016. Kim also chaired the More In Common Batley and Spen volunteer group this caved the path for her to be awarded an MBE in 2021 for her services to social cohesion and combatting loneliness.

In this conference, Kim will speak about the importance of sport for womens empowerment, not just in the UK but internationally. She will also talk about the broader importance of sport for the health and well-being of the whole country as well as its role in schools and at all stages of life.

If you would like to attend the conference or to find more information on the other guest speakers that will be making appearances, then CLICK HERE to register for free!

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FEMALE INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE SPEAKERS - News - htafc.com

The Herald

Shepherd Chimururi Youth Interactive Correspondent

The burning desire to create unique beautiful images is the fire that runs through the veins of many young people.

Nkosinathi Moyo, a 21-year-old brand designer based in the leaf suburb of Cowdray Park in Bulawayo is no exception.

This makes him a beneficiary of the ICT driven economy.

My journey into graphic design started in 2019 when it came to my attention that business owners, especially small business owners in Bulawayo, were now accustomed to bad design and had put aside the fact that the most influential assets of any business is its Identity. I employ artistic methods to distil thoughts and vision into imagery and words we work to solve a clients problem, explained Nkosinathi.

With no prior formal training his entry into the world of graphic designing was though sheer determination.

I learnt how to design through YouTube Academy and LinkedIn Learning then in February 2020, enrolled for the Visual Technics and Creative Design course at Bulawayo Polytechnic to learn more skills that could help in my journey, but I never got to finish the course because the class was disbanded after the emergence of Covid-19.

Later on in the year I enrolled at NUST to study Publishing Media, but had to defer because of financial challenges. I then got an internship at Kantor Enterprises and am now working as a junior graphic designer, he explained.

Part of his work includes designing banners, fliers, logos, labels, T-shirts, magazines, menu cards, calendars and business cards.

I mainly use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign to do my work. Through the YouTube Academy I have also learnt to use Affinity Software as well as write HTML and CSS.

His success story includes making designs for food festival giant Munch n Sip, UmaIceCream, Group Therapy Events and Entertainment who also have an upcoming festival on the 30th of October which is spreading breast cancer awareness.

Getting recognition in the field has not been easy as Nkosinathi explained.

As an upcoming young freelance designer, the hurdle was with entering the market as there were quite a number of other established designers already in the field and as well as clients who dont understand that they hire designers to do something that theyre not good at, and in turn pay for the knowledge, skills and experience.

He continued, But now that the hard part is almost out of the way, I am making steady income from the freelance gigs and the fulltime job. My inspiration mainly comes from Fungi Dube founder of Fungi Dube Graphics in Harare and Lesley Bhebhe of Amahle Creatives based in South Africa and number of other African Brand Designers.

Nkosinathis to aspiring brand designers is practical.

To young people looking to get into graphic design, I want them first to understand that it is a game of patience and hard work, but also a powerful tool for personal empowerment.

The power of design shapes the future of brands. In order to grow your craft, you have to listen, watch and learn. It is also a learning journey that you take together with your clients to create brands that are both brilliant and beautiful.

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Graphic designer works his way to the top - The Herald

NEWS STORY. 06/10/2022

Coaches and educators from the Real Madrid Foundation's socio-sporting schools in Tanzania have received training in football, basketball and values in in-person sessions delivered by staff from the Foundation's Training Department. Since 2019, 180 vulnerable participants from the Don Bosco Oysterbay Vocational Training Centre in Dar es Salaam have receiving values-based training through sport thanks to the support of Salesian Missions.

The training sessions were attended by eight coaches and educators and represented a special moment as it was the first time that in-person sessions have been since the pandemic, with these sessions complementing the online provision that was provided last season. The sessions combined football and basketball content. The training served to reinforce the participants' knowledge of the Real Madrid Foundation's educational philosophy and methodology Por una educacin REAL: Valores y deporte (For a REAL education: Values and sport), while enhacing their knowledge of elements related to the comprehensive model, tactical and technical training content and values.

Supporting minors at riskThe socio-sporting school in Dar es Salam caters for minors at risk of social exclusion aged between nine and 17, who learn about values by playing football and basketball in mixed-gender groups, with the large number of girls involved representing a standout feature. In addition to the sporting activities, participants benefit from extra-curricular support classes and monitoring sessions, family support and talks and training and awareness workshops on matters relating to the right to education and personal empowerment.

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Foundation coaches in Tanzania attend in-person training sessions - Real Madrid

Hot on the heels of the successful Lead Me On release three weeks ago, Jade Helliwell is finally sharing her new EP - Woman, this Friday (7th October).

A selection of songs full of empowerment, celebration and support for women and those identifying as female, Woman is an upbeat collection of music hailing an era of girl-power from one of the UKs hottest country artists.

In each of the tracks, Jade takes a look at a different kind of woman. Inspired by women she has met, women she aspires to be like, the woman she has been, is now and hopes to become in the future, she highlights vulnerability, to self-empowerment, to celebration.

I want the listener to be able to relate to each of the women in the tracks, by opening up behind the scenes of things I have experienced and felt myself. I want them to see themselves in each song and see the women they are now; to feel empowered and in control of their life, their relationships and friendships. I want people to feel sassy, to have the urge to dance and sing along, to turn the music up loud and let themselves get carried away with this EP. Its a feel-good album.

This collection of songs is the first EP to be released by Jade since 2018. Having worked tirelessly to increase her fan base throughout lockdown, and listen to feedback from her hugely engaged audience, Jade has taken great care to choose the right songs for the EP, to showcase her story and ensure each track flows throughout the album. Woman is a particularly personal album for both Jade & her fans, having been funded entirely by a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Woman has been worked on by a huge amount of talent alongside Jade herself. The EP was produced by Matt Geroux (staff writer at BMG) and mastered by Dan Shike (Larkin Poe, Gloria Gaynor), both of whom are based in Nashville. Co-writers across the tracks include Jon Stone (producer & writer for Lee Brice, Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts and one half of successful US act, American Young), Wade Kirby, Chris Gebulda (Meghan Trainor, Dustin Lynch, Billy Currington), Jess Thristan (renowned for sync work with 3 Mobile and Love Island, and a regular across the UK country scene) and Laura Oakes (UK country hit writer & artist, former BCMA Female Vocalist of the Year and Bob Harris favourite.) Vocal production was done by Rameera Abraham (Little Mix, Adele, & JP Cooper) at Platoon Studios, London.

Having had a fantastic summer, touring with top US artists such as Priscilla Block and Tenille Arts, Jade also played to packed crowds at The Long Road and Millport festivals, and a great headline slot at Buckle & Boots. She was invited to take part in the Nashville Nights Songwriters Tour in Denmark, connecting with and engaging new fans across Europe, and Jade is now gearing up to kick off her own headline tour across the UK, starting on 11th October. Woman is yet another success, establishing Jade Helliwell as a significant player in the flourishing pop-country genre.

Upcoming Performances:

October 11th- Howlers, Newcastle (Headline Tour)

October 12th - Audio, Glasgow (Headline Tour)

October 13th - Adelphi Club, Hull (Headline Tour)

October 14th - Night & Day Cafe, Manchester (Headline Tour)

October 15th - Origin, Batley (Headline Tour)

October 22nd - Brunswick Pub, Brighton (Headline Tour)

December 10th - South Wales Country Music Festival

February 11th - Thornton Hough Village Club March 25th - Vaqueros Songwriters Festival

You can read our Q&A interview we did with Jade back in August here.

Author: Adam Bailey

Adam is a regular contributor for established press release distribution website Release-News.com. He writes on a wide range of topics including music.

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Jade Helliwell releases first EP since 2018 in upbeat celebration of women - Music Talkers

This article was co-authored by Ashlee Nealon, Paralegal, Sydney.

Protections against discrimination in the workplace in Australia are covered by a series of legislation, with protection covering gender identity embedded in the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (SDA) and across the breadth of corresponding state and territory legislation.

Under the SDA, it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee for their sexual orientation, intersex status and gender identity, where employers are also vicariously liable for the discriminatory acts of employees. Most relevantly, gender identity means, the gender-related identity, appearance or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of a person (whether by way of medical intervention or not), with or without regard to the person's designated sex at birth. This protection is extended to agency workers and contractors. Additionally, protections for sexual orientation in the SDA are adopted into the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FWA).

Where a transgender individual (trans is adopted in this article) is covered under the SDA in respect of their gender identity, they have the right not to be subjected to:

In Australia, rather than a personal right derived from statute, such as is found in the UK Equality Act (2010), there is a reliance on the doctrine of implied freedom of communication and political communication (Implied Right) drawn from the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia 1901, (Constitution).

In addition and under specific circumstances, employees may also seek recourse for discrimination in the workplace for their religious and/or political beliefs, such as for adverse treatment, or termination, under the FWA (FWA Protections), and corresponding state and territory legislation.

Given there is no personal right to freedom of political communication, guidance as to the reach of the Implied Right for statutory employers can be taken from the Federal Court case, Chief of Defence Force v Gaynor [2017] (Gaynor), albeit applying different legislation.

When Mr Gaynor was terminated from the army reserve after making abrasive social media comments such as I wouldnt let a gay person teach my children and I am not afraid to say it, the test applied was essentially whether the statute relied upon (the Defence (Personnel) Regulations 2002 (Cth)) to terminate Mr Gaynors service could, suitably, necessarily and on balance, impose a restriction on the Implied Right. The full court of the Federal Court decided it could.

Gaynor has been followed more recently, with the then Federal Circuit Court of Australia (FCCA) reaffirming that the freedom to communicate is capable of being protected at law, where the Implied Right operates as a freedom from government restraint, rather than a freestanding personal right.

The protections afforded under the SDA for gender identity (and resultant employer policies produced to enforce such protections) can conflict with the FWA Protections. Protracted commentary about this conflict came to a head in 2019 with the contentious, and very public debate, when Israel Folau filed an application to the FCCA claiming his contract with the Australian Wallabies rugby team was unlawfully terminated following his anti-gay and anti-trans social media posts. Rugby Australia alleged the posts, such as that hell awaits gay people, went against their code of conduct.

We dont yet have definitive case law on how to deal with this intersection of the protection of trans rights and the FWA Protections, as most matters arising from this conflict, such as Folaus claim, settle. However, we anticipate that the Fair Work Commission and the courts, presented with circumstances similar to those of Bailey or Forstater, would carefully balance these nuanced protections, and as usual, any decision will turn on the specific facts.

Also hotly debated in Australia was the Religious Discrimination Bill 2022 (Bill), originally introduced by the former government in 2021, which would have provided statutory protection for freedom of religious belief. Highly contentious was the statement of beliefs clause enabling individuals to make statements that could not be discriminatory under Australias suite of anti-discrimination legislation, with the only caveat based upon the intent of the statement maker (which had to be in good faith, without malicious intent) rather than the perception of the person receiving the discriminatory statement. Under the current Labor government, this Bill is unlikely to be reintroduced.

Paid leave for gender affirmation in Australia has gained recent attention with unions lobbying, as there is no statutory entitlement, for paid gender affirmation leave to be incorporated into Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (agreements on terms and conditions of employment between employers and their employees).

In the private sector, gender affirmation leave is also being adopted by household names who are promoting their new or increased gender reaffirmation leave policies such as Coles and Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Banking Group Limited announcing policies this year, joining Telstra and Zurich in 2021, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2019, all following Woolworths and Westpac, who have had gender reaffirmation leave policies in place since 2018.

Especially with the prolific use of social media and individual empowerment to express personal opinion online in the public arena, reviewing your business social media policies, bullying and harassment policies, including by giving specific examples of unacceptable behaviour and repercussions for discriminatory statements is timely given current Environmental, Social and Governance sentiment (additionally because the employer can be held vicariously liable and this is also of relevance to insurers).

There are no statutory entitlements to leave for gender affirmation, if this is important to your business ethos, you can incorporate this type of leave into your policies, where paid and unpaid leave can cover medical appointments, surgery, hormone appointments, and time taken to update legal documents.

Related items:

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Competing interests: protection of transgender rights and freedom of religious beliefs - the Australian perspective - Kennedys - Kennedys Law

Cheating scandals have always been with us. When Zeus stepped out on Hera, the Greeks turned his every affair into literal legend. When Eddie Fisher stepped out on Debbie Reynolds with Elizabeth Taylor, we turned a messy real-life breakup into a classic love triangle narrative, with an ugly virgin/whore conflict at its center. When Beyonce shaded Jay-Z for cheating on her, we opined that even a woman who seemed so close to perfection had to deal with a trifling husband while also letting our speculation over Becky with the good hair run rampant.

When celebrities cheat, its an opportunity for gossip and tawdry sensationalism, often fueled by longstanding gender stereotypes and tabloid tropes that may be easily consumable entertainment but bear little resemblance to reality. In other words, cheating scandals say more about the pop cultural narratives we superimpose upon them than they do about the people involved in them.

Yet a recent string of high-profile cheating scandals, all involving high-profile straight men who cheated on their successful wives, suggests that the publics relationship to these tropes, and perhaps the celebrities themselves, might be changing. Out: slut-shaming and victim-blaming. In: interrogating toxic masculinity.

Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine drew massive backlash after an allegation surfaced last month that he had cheated on his pregnant wife with an Instagram model half his age. A few days after news of Levines cheating scandal broke, actress Nia Long grabbed headlines when the Boston Celtics suspended her husband, head coach Ime Udoka, for one year following an investigation into his alleged relationship with a junior member of his staff. Once again, the public backlash conveyed shock and outrage that such an ideal woman could find herself with a philandering spouse.

The most personal public response yet arrived when the world learned last week that Ned Fulmer, lately of popular YouTube group the Try Guys, had cheated on his wife. Although theyre much lower-profile compared to the other celebrities in this rundown, the Try Guys have cultivated a deeply loyal fan base by building a brand based on their relatability and relative wholesomeness. Fulmer in particular had branded himself in partnership with his wife, building their professional work around their idyllic marriage. Consequently, the Try Guys cheating scandal fully subsumed social media in collective shock, hurt, and mourning. When the rest of the Try Guys (Keith Habersberger, Eugene Lee Yang, and Zach Kornfeld) finally spoke out on Monday to confirm that the allegations were true and that theyd parted ways with Fulmer, their fans quickly valorized them.

On their face, each of these scandals seems pretty different. Yet each has culled a level of public concern and moralism that feels like a shift from the cheating scandals of the past, which were essentially tawdry cautionary tales and little else. When we look at them more closely, we see a set of competing narratives about power, gender, and relationships that dont always align with reality but do tell us a lot about ourselves.

On September 19, 23-year-old model Sumner Stroh came forward on TikTok to accuse 43-year-old Levine of having a year-long affair with her. After cheating on his pregnant wife, Victorias Secret angel Behati Prinsloo, Levine allegedly DMd Stroh to ask if he could name the baby after Sumner. As creepy as that is, Levine looked even smarmier once three other women also spoke out to accuse Levine of sending flirty texts like I may need to see the booty. In an Instagram post, Levine later denied having a physical relationship with anyone, but admitted to utilizing poor judgment and cross[ing] the line during a regrettable period in my life.

These accusations ranged widely in scope. One woman basically accused Levine of disrupting her life by sending her a single flirtatious text and then ghosting her in 2010, four years before he married Prinsloo. Another failed to produce anything more shocking than texts revealing that Levine is an ass man. Still, they all had the basic theme of Levine behaving inappropriately, usually with much younger women and they introduced a theme that ran throughout the subsequent discourse around the other cheating scandals as well: the imbalanced power dynamic of these relationships.

At the time, I was young, I was naive, and, I mean, quite frankly, I feel exploited, Stroh stated in her TikTok about the alleged affair. I was very easily manipulated. Other onlookers expanded on Strohs point, including actress Emily Ratajkowski. I dont understand why we continue to blame women for mens mistakes, especially when youre talking about 20-something-year-old women dealing with men in positions of power who are twice their age, Ratajkowski stated in a pointed, since-deleted TikTok. The power dynamic is so skewed, its ridiculous. Its predatory, its manipulative.

Remaining aware of the power dynamics at play was also a priority for the staff who dealt with the fallout of the other scandals. We as an organization have a responsibility to support [female staff members], Celtics executive Brad Stevens stated in the wake of Udokas suspension, noting that many of them had been dragged unfairly into the social media gossip about the scandal. (Udoka apologized in a statement to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down.)

Meanwhile, the Try Guys were so sensitive to the optics around the Fulmer scandal that they spent Mondays clarification video discussing their efforts to completely erase Fulmer himself, literally, from their videos and merchandise. While the rumor mill is flowing with numerous anonymous allegations that the other members of the Try Guys team witnessed Fulmers sexual misconduct in person multiple times, the men confessed themselves deeply shocked and hurt by the scandal, saying they had no idea. We refused to sweep things under the rug, Yang stated. That is not who we are and its not what we stand for.

Its not just the Guys who are focused on the optics. All of these scandals seem to reflect a major shift in how the people involved and the general public think about the parameters of a cheating scandal. For what may be the first time ever, were seeing an emphasis on more than just who did it and whos the villain.

Historically, the cheating narrative has always been inherently misogynistic, reifying our tropes about the evil other woman, hammering away at the virgin/whore dichotomy, questioning the behavior of the spurned party, and rarely if ever focusing on the cheating partner. The Jolenes of the world were given a witchy mystical ability to steal even the strongest man, while marriage, even monogamy itself, tended to be framed as a confining prison for women, forced to either pine for men who would never change or evolve beyond them into independence. If a man stepped out of his wife and the public learned about it, the prevailing cultural attitude held that she had failed to adequately perform any of her many wifely duties as home manager, housekeeper, mother, caretaker, and fully accommodating sexual partner.

This pattern arguably began to shift with Beyonces 2016 stunner Lemonade, which largely centered around her feelings and reactions to husband Jay-Zs cheating. Instead of shifting those feelings onto the proverbial other woman (the aforementioned Becky, who drew attention but wasnt the focus), Bey transformed the anger into a narrative of personal empowerment. She also initially released the whole album on the streaming platform owned by Jay-Z, so Lemonade ironically became a way of consolidating their power couple status. The Lemonade narrative was perhaps the most successful narrative yet at forging a new path between fruitless pining and I dont need a man. And, crucially, it didnt have to destroy another woman to do it.

In 2017, the cheating narrative gained another element of complexity, this time at the expense of Joss Whedon. Whedons longstanding image as an outspoken feminist creator had been deteriorating for some time in his post-Avengers era, but it took its biggest hit yet when his ex-wife Kai Cole alleged that his feminism was just a front for years of cheating. Whedon, Cole alleged, preyed on much younger women, usually women he worked with. These were relationships with seriously imbalanced power dynamics, and Cole emphasized that Whedon used his feminism as a way of masking his manipulative tactics and gaslighting women who would question them, including Cole herself.

Coles narrative about her relationship with Whedon arrived right before the Me Too movement and preceded what would soon become culture-wide conversations about imbalanced workplace relationships. By confronting the idea that her husbands cheating was dually a form of emotional abuse and a form of predation, Cole created an approach to talking about infidelity that broke away from the wicked adulterer trope and aligned with more complex Me Too themes. Me Too awoke us, culturally, to countless reductive and gendered stereotypes around the ways we discuss everything from sexual harassment to monogamy. Inevitably, the conversation around cheating began to focus on the man at the center of the scandal.

This change arguably happened not only because of the Me Too movement, but also because of our increasingly intimate parasocial relationships. Were far removed from the peak era of the Hollywood idol, when stormy celebrity relationships could happen mostly far away from us. Now, they often play out on social media among famous people who feel like our pals. We got our first real taste of this, culturally speaking, when John Mulaney cheated on his wife of six years, artist Anna Marie Tendler. Like Fulmer, Mulaney had become known for being a wife guy a dude whose personality presents itself, rightly or wrongly, as I love my wife! Like Fulmer, Mulaneys often ironically banal comic style had won him the kind of audience whose parasocial relationships with him led them to feel deep outrage and betrayal over the idea that he could have cheated on a woman he spent years publicly adoring. But unfortunately, neither Mulaneys nor Fulmers wife guy brand could stand up to reality.

The parasocial aspect is arguably the last new piece of the cheating scandals evolution, but its one of the thorniest. It also indicates how complicated some of our conversations around cheating have become maybe even to their detriment.

The problem with our newly woke awareness of cheating is that the old cheating narratives havent disappeared. Theyre still with us, bound up in all the typical stereotypes about broken relationships only now theyre competing with a barrage of endless social media takes that turn these individual scandals into parts of much larger conversations about gender. All the while, the women who come forward with these allegations still endure the brunt of the publics anger.

Current conversations still incorporate the other woman is evil trope, this time abutting the how could a man cheat on this perfect woman outcry. The public conversation still too frequently relegates women to flat caricatures of themselves, even if the caricatures are supposedly positive.

Then theres the overexposure of the people involved and the treatment of the scandal itself as newsworthy beyond its actual merits. The fact that all of this happens online and on social media makes the scandal feel like homework for many people. Ive never heard of the Try Guys in my life, a friend told me in the wake of the Fulmer allegations. Now theyre everywhere. Do I have to know who these people are?

The performance of public outrage can feel exhausting and in some cases, like Levines banal sexting, like a throwback to Victorian-era sexual politics. Because of the ongoing advance of purity culture across the internet, its become far too easy to conflate being scandalized and shocked that a guy cheated on his pregnant wife with being scandalized and shocked that a guy likes sex at all, or that two adults were gasp! flirting.

At the same time, because of our newfound awareness of the elements of coercion, power, and manipulation that can accompany cheating, our outrage often conflates cheating with far more serious sexual transgressions like much more aggressive nonconsensual behavior and sexual misconduct.

Amid all of the gossip and discourse, the speculations about who the involved parties are and wife guy jokes and consensual workplace relationship memes, we have to ask: Ultimately, is any of this our business? Is any of it really newsworthy? Is it all just an excuse to gawk at celebrities and put their lives under a microscope of extreme moral scrutiny?

Behind every celebrity scandal are real people trying to cope with serious life circumstances and even if they seem trivial to us, the onslaught of public opinion attaching to a public figure can make any situation 10 times worse.

That said, we know from long study that our relationships to celebrities have more to do with what we project upon them than the celebrities themselves. The cheating scandal too often turns women into scapegoats for the behavior of cheating men, and too often allows the public to demonize them. Now, while the cheating scandal has in some ways become more black and white than ever, its also started to crystallize many of the ideas Me Too raised. Were starting to ask what drives people to cheat, and in what ways cheating can be used to reinforce creepy power dynamics and emotionally abusive situations. Those conversations are good for us, even if they lead to an overwhelming onslaught of takes and social media fatigue.

It also seems clear that the public interest isnt dying down soon. So, no, you dont need to know who the Try Guys are. Just know that this cheating episode, like all of them, holds a mirror up to our own relationships and invites us to peek inside if we dare.

Our goal this month

Now is not the time for paywalls. Now is the time to point out whats hidden in plain sight (for instance, the hundreds of election deniers on ballots across the country), clearly explain the answers to voters questions, and give people the tools they need to be active participants in Americas democracy. Reader gifts help keep our well-sourced, research-driven explanatory journalism free for everyone. By the end of September, were aiming to add 5,000 new financial contributors to our community of Vox supporters. Will you help us reach our goal by making a gift today?

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Adam Levine and The Try Guys: Cheating scandals hit different right now - Vox.com

In conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2022 which falls in October, pharmaceutical company Roche Malaysia, in partnership with The Asian Women (TAW) and Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara (LPPKN), is encouraging women to be more aware about breast cancer care, to establish a future proof healthcare plan and to reimagine their time, health, and future.

HER TIME Matters is a multi-faceted breast cancer campaign which champions health empowerment, engagement and personal decision making. The goal is to inspire behavioural change among women and to encourage proactive management of their own health. #timeforme #timeforothers #hertimematters.

Conducted between September 2022 January 2023, HER TIME Matters campaign, is a multifaceted approach to close the gap in 3 areas: Awareness, Health Empowerment and Inspiration with the aim to transform the landscape and mode of care of breast cancer in Malaysia. It will include a concerted online education programme, health talks, partnerships with insurance companies to look into women's health policies and hospitals for screening and as checks, which includes Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur, Sunway Medical Centre at Sunway City and Beacon Hospital, well as sharing inspiring life journeys of cancer survivors and much more.

Commenting on the rationale for the HER TIME Matters campaign, Deepti Saraf, General Manager of Roche Malaysia said, Women are generally known to be self-sacrificial and often place the importance of others above themselves, lacking the urgency, awareness and focus to invest in their own health needs. To mark Breast Cancer Awareness 2022, Roche, together with our campaign partners, want to empower women towards behavioural change by sharing hope, innovation, collaboration, and medical breakthroughs that will enhance greater awareness on the importance for a future-proof healthcare plan for them.

At Roche, our unwavering goal is to impact the lives of patients and be at the forefront of finding cures for cancer. For more than 50 years, we have developed innovative medicines and diagnostics that help prevent, detect, diagnose, treat and monitor cancer. Our innovations which leverage on technology such as telehealth, cutting edge treatments and flexcare options are all aimed at adding time to lives and ensuring a future proof healthcare plan.

Roche teams around the world also work with patient groups and governments to help more women get diagnosed at an early stage of their disease when breast cancer may be potentially curable. Locally, we have collaborated with the Breast Cancer Welfare Association and the College of Surgeons on the importance of patient-doctor communication and joint decision making. We will continue our efforts to educate and empower women to embrace a healthcare management plan for a healthier future for themselves and their loved ones, she added.

Sharing at the launch of the HER TIME Matters, Dr Ng Char Hong, Consultant Breast Surgeon at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, I cant emphasise enough the importance of early screening to downstage breast cancer and for women to be apprised of the latest and innovative treatments that can result in better patient outcomes.

The awareness on the need for consistent breast care is still very much lacking. The 2019 National Health Morbidity Survey highlighted the exceedingly low rate of breast cancer screening. 3 out of every 4 women over 40 in Malaysia have never had a mammogram done while 1 in 2 women do not practise breast self-examination(1).

There is much misconception, stigma and fears among women aside from other challenges in life that they face, trying to juggle home life and other responsibilities. However, being proactive to seek help, weighing in the options in a timely fashion and making a decision to treat while holistically caring for themselves at the same time can lend significant impact and offer better treatment outcomes, he added.

Studies have shown that only a low proportion of women reported knowing the signs and symptoms (42.6%) or risk factors (16.5%) of breast cancer while only 17.8% report ever being screened for breast cancer. 2 As for behavioural factors, most women (64.4%) reported shared decision making, while 13% of women reported that they make their own health decisions. For up to 21% of women, their health decisions are made by their family.(2)

The lack of knowledge is also the most common barrier to help-seeking, followed by lack of motivation, such as emotional barriers (22.1%) and optimism (20.8%). Approximately 11% of patients report lack of opportunity to seek help, due to physical and social barriers(3).

Child care also posed a competing priority for some women who shared that they would not have time for breast checks. Some women were scared of being diagnosed with cancer, thought the screening is painful or are afraid of breast removal surgery and of losing hair due to the treatment.

Many rural Malaysian women also have inadequate understanding and awareness about breast cancer, were in denial, were misinformed about cancer, or didn't think they were susceptible, so they weren't interested in screening.

Polin Lim, Founder of TAW shared, The Asian Women is a social media channel that encourages women to uplift one another by going on camera to share life stories and honest conversations that raise awareness, break stigmas and inspire hope. Ultimately, we hope to see women achieve a stronger and happier self. Through this campaign of Her Time Matters with Roche, we want to empower women to take charge and ownership of their breast health - to be breast aware, to know what latest treatment options are available and to understand how important it is to have adequate insurance coverage.

Jojo Struys, founder of OhanaJo and a wellness personality, chimed in on how important it is to lead a well- balanced life and take care of oneself, "Regardless of whether one is facing any medical challenges, we all have a choice, so choose to eat healthier, exercise more, adopt a more positive outlook in life and remove unnecessary stressors in your life. For me personally, meditation has been an amazing way to clear and calm the mind, anchoring me in the present moment. Make it a daily habit to practice self-love and gratitude to raise levels of positivity and resilience.

Jojo also added, You can choose what works best for you to also keep your body moving. Yoga has really helped to tone my body without even using any equipment or weights and it trains the mind for better focus and clarity. Regardless of what you do, its important to have a healthcare management plan for yourself. Don't leave it to chance or be reactive when you can be proactive. We only have this body in this lifetime so do all things possible to really look after it.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, share with every woman you know how important it is to enhance their knowledge on breast care and to be proactive in having a healthcare plan. For more information and to be part of HER TIME Matters campaign, log on to https://www.hertimematters.my/ or https://www.facebook.com/hertimematters.

References

17, F. (2022, February 17). Cancer in my community: Addressing increasing cancer cases in Malaysia. Cancer.Net. Retrieved September 13, 2022, from this link.

Rajaram, N., Jaganathan, M., Muniandy, K., Rajoo, Y., Zainal, H., Rahim, N., Tajudeen, N. A., Zainal, N. H., Khairy, A. M., Abdul Wahab, M. Y., & Teo, S. H. (2022). Barriers to help-seeking for Malaysian women with symptoms of breast cancer: A mixed-methods, two-step cluster analysis.https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.05.19.22275285

Su, T. T., Azzani, M., Donnelly, M., & Majid, H. A. (2020). Seeking medical help for cancer among urban dwellers in Malaysia-Emotional barriers and awareness of cancer symptoms. European journal of cancer care, 29(4), e13232.https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.13232

This content is provided by Roche Malaysia.

Interested in having your announcements on Malaysiakini? Contact the announcements team at[emailprotected]or whatsapp on+60 17-323 0707for urgent matters.

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Championing the value of time and a future-proof healthcare plan for women - Malaysiakini

This month, Seattle Rep is bringing an assortment of opportunities to the public, including the final performances of its season opening production, Where We Belong, and subsequent special events including a Lushootseed Language Event on October 3 and Teen Night on October 9. The highly anticipated Tony-nominated play What the Constitution Means to Me will open for previews on September 30. In conjunction with this play, Seattle Rep will host a panel discussion entitled "Abortion Rights & Healthcare" on October 4 and a Teen Night at the theater on October 21. Seattle Rep's first world premiere of the season, Mr. Dickens and His Carol will go on sale on October 3. For complete show details, please visit SeattleRep.org.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT Seattle Rep OCTOBER 2022

WHERE WE BELONG

On stage thru October 9

In 2015, Mohegan theater-maker Madeline Sayet travels to England to pursue a PhD in Shakespeare. Madeline finds a country that refuses to acknowledge its ongoing role in colonialism, just as the Brexit vote threatens to further disengage the UK from the wider world. In this intimate and exhilarating solo piece, Madeline echoes a journey to England braved by Native ancestors in the 1700s following treatise betrayals - and forces us to consider what it means to belong in an increasingly globalized world.

SEP 30 - Post-Show Poetry with Sasha LaPointe.OCT 1 - ASL Interpreted performance.OCT 3 - Lushootseed Language Event: Learn about the unique qualities and cultural importance of the Lushootseed language and the language revitalization efforts happening with schools, organizations, families, tribes, and institutions across the Puget Sound.OCT 8 - Audio Described Performance.OCT 9 - Teen Night: Teens ages 13-19 can become a member of TeenTix for free and gain access to $5 tickets to the show.

WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME

September 30 - October 23, 2022

Playwright Heidi Schreck's boundary-breaking play breathes new life into our Constitution and imagines how it will shape the next generation of Americans. In this hilarious, hopeful, and achingly human new play, actor Cassie Beck resurrects Schreck's teenage self in order to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives.

SPECIAL EVENTS & DATES TO NOTE::

SEP 30 - OCT 23 - Period Donation Drive.OCT 4 - Abortion Rights & Healthcare: A Panel Discussion with Local Artists and Advocates.OCT 5 - Opening NightOCT 13 - Audio DescribedOCT 15 - InterAct's Saturday Soire.OCT 21 - Teen Night: become a member of TeenTix and gain access to $5 tickets to the show.Can't make it to Teen Night? Seattle Rep is partnering with TeenTix to offer $5 tickets for a teen and a guest on Friday and Sunday evening performances.OCT 22 - ASL Interpreted

World Premiere!

November 25 - December 23, 2022 - TICKETS ON SALE OCTOBER 3

Charles Dickens should be looking forward to Christmas. When his latest book is a flop, putting both his popularity and finances in peril, his publishers give an ultimatum: write a Christmas book within a month or lose everything. Adapted for the stage from Samantha Silva's critically acclaimed novel, this tale set in the heart of Victorian England weaves a fictional take on Dickens' past, present, and future into a comedic and poignant new holiday classic.

Young Women Empowered (Y-WE) Speak

Every other Thursday, October 20 - June 1, 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Find your voice, tell your story, create community, and play games! Creating a generative and supportive youth ensemble, we will express our creativity and passions through theater games and performance. Exploring themes of identity, community, and social justice, participants will write personal monologues, explore community issues, and practice using theater for social change.

Improv for Wellness Troupe

Wednesdays, September 21, 2022 - May 31, 2023

Ages:13-19

Experience a holistic, beginner friendly, accessible approach to the art form of Improv! With a focus on building a community based in play and self-worth, this weekly drop-in series will teach us to unleash our creativity without judgment, develop tools for self-empowerment, and embrace our inner artistry all while learning the tenets of Improv.

Next Narrative Monologue Competition (NNMC)

2023 NNMC competition dates to be announced

True Colors' Next Narrative Monologue CompetitionTM (NNMC) features newly created works from fifty of America's leading contemporary Black playwrights that engage students of all backgrounds in artful exploration of 21st century themes, while instilling confidence in all to find their voices. Now accepting registration for 2023.

Adults with Autism Class

Tuesdays 6-8 P.M., October. 25 - November 15, 2022

Through improvisation, basic script analysis, and the study and performance of monologues and scenes, students are introduced to the fundamentals of theatrical and social performance. Understanding the difficulties people with autism face at school, home, and in social settings, our program aims to create an environment that allows for the appropriate structure, opportunity, and guidance for students with unique perspectives of the world. Through our program, students will learn practical social skills, conflict resolution, and interpersonal connection through the training of verbal and physical communication.

Seattle Rep puts theater at the heart of public life. Founded in 1963 and winner of the 1990 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, Seattle Rep is currently led by Artistic Director Braden Abraham and Managing Director Jeffrey Herrmann. Over a season and throughout the year, Seattle Rep collaborates with extraordinary artists to create productions and programs that reflect and elevate the diverse cultures, perspectives, and life experiences of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle Rep's nationally recognized programs include the New Play Program, Seattle Rep's Public Works, Youth Engagement programming, Pay What You Choose ticketing options, and numerous audience enrichment and engagement opportunities including post-play panels, discussions, and community events and presentations.

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Seattle Rep Announces October Programming Featuring WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME & More - Broadway World

The private lives and relationships of two of the most iconic civil rights leaders will be explored in the Emmy Award-winning Genius anthology series.

Disney+ and National Geographic announced Wednesday that Kelvin Harrison Jr. will star as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Aaron Pierre will play Malcolm X in Genius: MLK/X, expected to start production in Atlanta next month.

Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. (David Reiss and Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images/David Reiss)

According to the logline, the anthology series will explore the formative years, pioneering accomplishments, dueling philosophies and key personal relationships of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. While King advanced racial equality through nonviolent protest, Malcolm X argued forcefully for Black empowerment, identity and self-determination.

Harrison, who most recently appeared as blues pioneer B.B. King in Elvis, received buzz earlier this year for his star turn in Cyrano. The New Orleans native previously starred as Fred Hampton in Aaron Sorkins six-time Oscar nominated historical drama The Trial of the Chicago 7.

[Cyrano star to portray Jean-Michel Basquiat in Samo Lives biopic]

Pierre had a star turn in the Amazon series The Underground Railroad and M. Night Shyamalans Old last year. The London-born actor was also cast as the lead of the new Blade movie, which is in pre-production. Both actors will also star in Mufasa: The Lion King Barry Jenkins live action sequel to The Lion King, expected to hit theaters in 2024.

I May Destroy You actress Weruche Opia will play Coretta Scott King, and Jayme Lawson (of The Batman) as Betty Shabazz in the series that will be helmed by Miss Juneteenth director Channing Godfrey Peoples.

Weruche Opia and Jayme Lawson. (Karl Lake and Ryan E. Plett/Karl Lake)

Executive producers Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood selected several historians and experts to serve as consultants before the project was scripted in order to guide the narrative.

Former Black Panther Party member and Columbia University School of the Arts Prof. Jamal Joseph, Muslim Wellness Foundation founder Dr. Kameelah Rashad, award-winning journalist and author Dr. Barbara Reynolds and Pastor Michael A. Walrond, Jr., of Harlems First Corinthian Baptist Church are among the think tank for Genius: MLK/X.

We wanted to assemble a consortium of scholars and experts who can not only lend their extensive knowledge, expertise and research but also create a space for meaningful debate and discussion to ensure an honest portrayal of the complexities of these iconic geniuses. The legacies of Martin and Malcolm are critical to our understanding of the social justice movements of today, so we had to get this right. We could not have asked for a more incredible group to guide us through their stories, added the Bythewoods.

[First look at Viola Davis in Gina Prince-Bythewood's "The Woman King"]

The Genius series set out to dramatize the stories of the worlds most brilliant innovators, exploring their achievements along with their complex personal relationships.

Previous subjects include scientist Albert Einstein (portrayed by Geoffrey Rush) in 2017 and 2019s installment about iconic Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, played by Antonio Banderas.

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Who are the actors playing Martin Luther King and Malcolm X? - New York Daily News