Hyde Park Citizen 10-26-2022

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND THE MAYOR’S OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CUT THE RIBBON ON CAREER CENTER

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) announced the opening of the MOPD Career Center, dedicated to serving job seekers with disabilities and providing career readiness. The Career Center is located at the Central West Community Center, located at 2102 W. Ogden in the Tri-Taylor neighborhood. The Center is staffed by Career Placement Counselors who specialize in assisting job seekers with disabilities to access em ployment and accessibility, including an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter on staff along with computer stations equipped with adaptive technolo gy to reduce barriers to digital access.

Under Mayor Lightfoot’s leadership, the City of Chicago is making a $1.2 million investment toward increasing disability employment, an import ant contribution to making the City of Chicago one of the most accessible cities in the nation.

The career center not only leverages the pan demic, which created a surplus of job opportunities available along with a labor shortage but also pro vides much-needed services to support people with disabilities seeking employment opportunities.

The event also celebrated the unveiling of a new mural at the Central West Community Center, created by local and internationally renowned artist Sam Kirk. The mural was a collaborative initiative by MOPD, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), and the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS).

MOPD, DFSS, DCASE, and Mayor Light foot also announced the selection of an inaugural Artist-in-Residence at the Central West Community Center, Ariella Granados.

Services at the Central West Community Center are available to people with disabilities who reside in the City of Chicago, are at least age 16, identify as a person with a disability, and want to get a job. City Colleges of Chicago students with disabilities are also eligible for services. This career center is one of the many investments Mayor Lightfoot has created to ensure job seekers have the resources and opportunities to access good-quality and sustainable jobs.

BLICK ART MATERIALS CELEBRATES OPENING OF CHICAGO RANDOLPH ST. STORE

CHICAGO — Blick Art Materials is pleased to announce the opening of its newest retail store at 16 W. Randolph St. in downtown Chicago Situated in the heart of the city’s theater district, the new store is housed inside an historic Chicago building with a distinct architectural style.

Originally the site of the Old Heidelberg Restaurant, the building boasts an elegant façade de signed by the same architecture firm responsible for the Merchandise Mart and Civic Opera Building.

The new space features two stories and a media-spanning selection of over 18,000 products. Highlights include an enhanced selection of Utrecht Artists’ Paints, as well as trending craft items, stationery, and unique gifts. In addition to serving professional artists and hobbyists, the store will cater to students and educators from the nearby School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, and The American Academy of Art College.

Blick has long supported arts education and community organizations throughout Chicago and nationwide and is intentional about inviting local artists to enhance its stores.

Blick Art Materials’ new Randolph St. store is accessible via the Lake station on the CTA Red Line and the Washington station on the CTA Blue Line.

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Tarell Alvin McCraney talks about playwrighting, screenwriting and building community intentionally

BY TIA CAROL JONES

While in that program, he received training in play, getting onstage and being in the world that the actors were imaging at the time. He also learned the craft of making sure he was playing an action, delivering a line, projecting a voice.

“The way in which it helped as a playwright, is because I could look at the page and say, ‘well, an actor isn’t going to have a good time doing that,’ or ‘an actor is going to get into that role and not have much to do, or not have a lot of room.’ How can I make sure that there’s room for an actor and really live this circumstance,” McCraney said.

McCraney would go on to receive his MFA in Playwrighting from Yale University’s David Geffen School of Drama. In 2010, he became a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Ensemble. Steppenwolf is also a lot about play, a lot about the ensemble, about people getting on stage and knowing night-to-night they have a similar story to tell, but also, what’s happening between people, what they can do differently and what’s alive in the eyes that day.

At the core of a lot of McCraney’s work is a sense of collaboration, a sense of community, a sense of working with people who really want the betterment of the next person.

McCraney knew he wanted to become an actor, become a playwright and a screenwriter at 14, which is when he wrote his first play, for the Youth Fair Miami.

He knew he didn’t want to act in his 20s. Writing became the thing he wanted to do. It allowed him the ability to collab orate with people and really connect with community, to build community. It enabled him to write something and call people into the room and get them together around telling stories. At 24, he wrote plays that he still engages with today.

McCraney describes his childhood in Liberty City Miami as complex and beautiful. He described Miami as a subtropical paradise with a very Urban sprawl. Growing up watching tele vision and films, he didn’t see the world he lived in reflected in television. Both “Moonlight” and “David Makes Man” were set in Mami and Homestead, Fla.

“Something that was really important to me was just to make sure the lives of the people I saw, engaged with, loved, didn’t like so much, had a chance to be seen in the world, had a chance to know their stories meant a great deal to me and a great deal to the community,” McCraney said, adding that it is

important to tell the stories of what happens in places so they won’t be forgotten.

“Moonlight” won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali) and Best Picture in 2017 for the 89th Academy Awards. McCraney was already pretty numb, Ali had won for Best Supporting Actor, then McCraney and Barry Jenkins won for Best Adapted Screen play. He described that moment as incredible and beautiful.

Initially Warren Beatty announced that “La La Land” won the Best Picture award. When the producer from the movie, Jor dan Horowitz, realized, he announced that “Moonlight” was the actual Best Picture award winner instead on “La La Land”.

“I don’t even remember how I felt at that moment. I just remember being like I’m sincerely blessed here and we ought to get out of here before they change their minds,” he said, adding that because of the way the award was announced was confus ing. “I guess I instantly thought, this is how this has to happen.”

McCraney believes it is necessary for stories about and centering Black people and by Black people to be in theaters, because Black people do their best work in conversation, when in dialogue about a thing, in front of each other. McCraney acknowledged to have a play like the “Piano Lesson” on Broad way now, and have audiences that look like the people in the play engage with that play, is where Black people do their best work.

McCraney also talked about how people consume series. Not everyone is watching via a television, but on some kind of screen, a mobile phone, a computer or tablet screen. He said it is imperative the stories that are told come through a screen because it becomes a part of “the lexicon of knowing.”

“Film is the place where we go to see things that are taking place, things that are intimate to us and seeing them epic. The struggle of every day is made bigger, and we can see ourselves in it and we leave feeling a little more heroic because of that It is the place where we go to be the authors of our stories and feel some agency. For Black people to be able to see a world they can engage, be in, or allow their imagination to stretch in a way they might not have been able to before, that exercise is necessary. It helps us see ourselves,” McCraney said, adding that representation allows people to walk around differently.

McCraney is currently Chair of Playwrighting at Yale Uni versity. He is also teaching and developing some projects.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT RELEASES THE CHICAGO BUILDING DECARBONIZATION WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot released the Chicago Building Decarbonization Working Group (CBDWG) report, which recommends equitable solutions to address the nearly 70% of total citywide greenhouse gas emissions that come from buildings in Chicago. The report release comes as Mayor Lightfoot continues to make progress on the City of Chicago’s Green Recovery Agenda, a plan to combat climate change by drastically reducing the City’s largest sources of emissions, reduc ing the city’s reliance on fossil fuels and driving green economic opportunities for residents.

The report was developed by the Mayor’s Office in partnership with Elevate and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), through the American Cities Climate Challenge. The team engaged in months of research to analyze best practices in decarbonization from 12 North American cities. The research was followed by a yearlong effort to engage stakeholders across the city via focus groups and in-depth interviews with leaders citywide.

The CBDWG divided into three sub-groups — Ex isting Buildings, New Construction, and Financial and Technical Assistance. The report assesses each subject area and identifies concrete policies and actions to:

Equitably advance decarbonization for all, par ticularly homeowners, community anchors, and local businesses in Chicago’s historically underserved commu nities.

Drastically reduce fossil fuel use and establish the highest efficiency standards for new construction.

Improve building energy use and performance through energy retrofits, advancement of renewable ener gy, and the electrification of existing buildings.

Identify financial and technical support and resourc es to ensure the successful decarbonization of Chicago’s building stock.

The report highlights 26 strategies, recommended by the working group, which include specific policy changes, programs, and studies to complement the City’s interim goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 62% citywide by 2040.

The CBDWG recommendations will serve as a guide for future policy development by Mayor Lightfoot to advance decarbonization across all building typologies in the City of Chicago.

Concrete investments in the Green Recovery Agenda include $31 million already dedicated to retrofit residen tial buildings and community anchor institutions.

BIPOC ED Coalition awards $1.37 million to Black, Indigenous and People of Color nonprofit leaders for sabbaticals and respites

SEATTLE — The BIPOC ED Coalition, a multicultural collaborative of 240+ nonprofit executive directors across Washington state, today an nounced $1.37 million in sabbatical and respite grants to support 32 Black, Indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC) nonprofit leaders and their organizations in healing, renewal and capacity building.

“BIPOC leaders need rest and restoration in order to heal from multigenerational trauma and years of non-stop working on behalf of their communities to recharge for the work ahead,” said Jodi Nishioka, co-founder and co-executive director of the BIPOC ED Coalition.

Wellness is core to the mission of the BIPOC ED Coalition, which launched in June 2020 to create a space for BIPOC nonprofit leaders to come together and fortify themselves and their organizations.

The new Sabbatical Leadership program supports BIPOC nonprofit leaders to step back from the exhaustion of work to rest and reconnect with their own vitality and balance. With these inaugural awards, 20 BIPOC nonprofit leaders and their organizations will receive $60,000 each for three-month sabbaticals to cover salary and benefits, individual sabbatical expenses and or ganizational development. In addition, 12 more leaders will receive respite awards to cover salary and benefits and individual sabbatical expenses for one month.

allows them to completely unplug, while helping their staff and board cover responsibilities during their time away. Staff will also receive coaching to grow their leadership and enhance the organization’s functioning.

“Recent research by ExecOnline showed a staggering 72% of leaders report being on the continuum of some what to extremely burned out,” shared Nishioka. “High levels of stress and fatigue are particularly acute among BIPOC leaders, who are navigating the harms of centuries of systemic racism on top of the numerous challenges we’re all facing with climate crises, economic woes, and the COVID pan demic.”

Earlier this year, the coalition published an issue paper, Sabbaticals for BIPOC Leaders: Capacity Building, Healing, Renewal, that showed sabbat icals are a wise investment with multi faceted positive impacts. Not only do sabbaticals support leaders in personal and professional renewal and increase confidence and connection with their vision, they strengthen organizational capacity, board functioning and succes sion planning.

“We believe that investing in these leaders is an investment in the futures of our communities,” said Santos. “Our dream is that every nonprofit can be supported to include wellness and sab baticals as part of their organizational management strategy, that sabbaticals become the norm — not just in Wash ington, but across the country.”

JOYCE APPLAUDS PROGRAM TO IMPROVE COVID-19 HEALTH EQUITY STRATEGIES

The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbat ed the health inequities facing communi ties throughout Illinois. Five organiza tions in portions of Kankakee and Will Counties represented by State Senator Patrick Joyce have been awarded funding to implement health equity strategies, he announced Thursday.

“The pandemic showed us firsthand the inequity and inequality in our health care system,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “This program will help combat the health equity gaps taking place in all corners of our state.”

Activating Relationships in Illinois for Systemic Equity (ARISE) is a joint initiative of the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Center for Minority Health Services and The Center for Rural Health, in collaboration with Well-Being and Equity (WE) in the World.

Between Joyce’s district in Kankakee and Will counties, five organizations will receive funding to address systemic health disparities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic: Kankakee County Health Department, Coordinated Care Alliance in Kankakee and Will counties, Will County Health Department and Junior Medic LLC.

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“Our goal is to provide as much support as possible for our BIPOC lead ers,” said Victoria Santos, co-founder and co-executive director of the BIPOC ED Coalition. “We’re shifting the para digm from competition to collaboration. Our coalition is about uniting in solidar ity and generating shared abundance.”

Sabbatical awardees include lead ers across Washington state who have been serving their communities for de cades at organizations like the African Community Housing & Development in South King County, Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative in Thurston County, Multi-Communities in Snohomish County, Washington Im migrant Solidarity Network in Yakima County, and many more.

“After 20 years of doing this work, I have not taken a break,” said Ginger Kwan, executive director of Open Doors for Multicultural Families.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Leaders and their organizations will receive coaching to prepare for their three-month sabbatical. Leaders will have support to create a plan that

Satterberg Foundation was an early funder of the sabbatical program, as well as an early adopter of the coali tion’s Equitable Funder Pledge that calls on philanthropy to commit to increase annual grantmaking to 10% or more; specifically to fund BIPOC-led organizations; provide multi-year, unre stricted funding; and support systemic change. The Black Future Co-op Fund, JP Morgan Chase, Medina Foundation, Seattle Foundation, Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation, Stolte Family Founda tion, and Threshold Philanthropy also contributed to the sabbatical and respite awards.

“We’re grateful to our partners who recognize the importance of fund ing sabbaticals and respites for BIPOC leaders,” continued Santos. “And we invite others to mobilize resources so we can spread the practice of sabbati cals to more leaders across Washington and beyond.”

For the full list of sabbatical awardees, visit: https://bipocedcoali tionwa.org/sabbaticals-for-bipoc-lead ers-capacity-building-healing-renewal/

Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ARISE intends to support socio-economically disad vantaged and historically marginalized communities outside of Cook County that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Further, organizations will be able to address enduring health inequities in their communities that have been exac erbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The selected ARISE Community Equity Zone communities will engage in a rigorous “learning-and-doing” capacity building program to advance health equity in the short, medium and long term. The community coalitions will address inequities in mental, physical and social well-being in communities that are expe riencing the brunt of these disparities by connecting people to vaccinations, food, and other well-being needs. They will also address underlying community needs such as humane housing, reliable transporta tion, and the root causes of these inequi ties, including racism and poverty.

“This initiative is targeting disadvan taged communities that are struggling to bounce back,” said Joyce. “Through these grant opportunities and community ef forts, the state is seeing strides in healing post-pandemic.”

To learn more about the ARISE initiative, people can visit www.weinthe world.org/arise-project

“LIZZIE G” ELIE LICENSED REALTOR

“Recent research by ExecOnline showed a staggering 72% of leaders report being on the continuum of somewhat to extremely burned out,” shared Nishioka.

Tips on saving for the unexpected

Finances are different for everyone, and so are the life events we all go through. An emergen cy fund is your financial line of defense against life’s lemons. Although there are many financial rules of thumb, there is no “normal” way to han dle your emergency fund.

The bottom line: saving money is the first line of defense to financial wellness, especially when the unexpected happens. While nobody can predict the future, everyone can prepare for it.

What is the reason for my emergency fund?

Your emergency fund is a safety net that can help you avoid getting into a difficult financial situation due to a loss of income or unexpected, one-time expenses. Having one in place can reduce stress, anxiety, and other emotions that could make han dling the non-financial aspects of an emergency much more difficult.

It may seem a little obvious that an emergency fund is for emergencies. However, one of the challenging aspects of an emergency fund is knowing what expenses qualify as an emergency. This fund’s sole purpose is to prepare you for costs that you cannot or would not typically plan out. For example, oil changes and new tires are predictable vehicle expenses you should plan for in your regular savings. However, you wouldn’t typically plan for costs that you could incur on the off chance that you need to make emergency home repairs or pay for emergency medical expenses. You would cover these from your emergency fund.

How much do I need?

How much would a new furnace cost? If you could not work, how much would you need to cover essential expenses until you could? Asking yourself these kinds of questions will help you set a goal amount for your emergency fund.

The general rule of thumb is three to six months of essential expenses. However, you can always start with a goal you find achievable. Say, $1,000. Once you reach that goal, aim for three months of rent, then three months of essential expenses, and so on.

Tracking your spending can help you estimate monthly expenses. Completing this exercise can also help you figure out how much you can afford to save toward your emergency fund each month.

How do I save that much?

Start small: If you haven’t started, consider putting $25 from every paycheck into a savings account. Even a few dollars can make a big impact in the long run. Check your budget or spending plan to see how much you can save after you’ve paid essential expenses and before budgeting for discretionary spending.

Keep it separate: Open a separate savings account to

help you resist the temptation to dip into it. Remember, this account is for emergencies, so keep it away from your daily spending accounts and separate it from vaca tion and holiday savings. This method will help you stay organized, visualize your progress, and provide peace of mind.

Automate your savings: One way to automate is via direct deposit. You may be able to instruct your employer to deposit a portion of your paycheck directly into your emergency savings account every pay period. Alterna tively, you can set up an automatic transfer from your primary checking account to your emergency savings ac count on payday. Both methods save you from adding a manual transfer to your to-do list that may be overlooked if things get busy!

Will I ever need to change the amount?

As your life changes, the amount you need in your emergency fund will change as well. It’s a good idea to revisit your emergency fund plan every six months or any time you experience a life event that impacts your income. Marriage, starting or adding to your family, buying a home, and divorce are just a few examples of when you may need to increase your emergency fund. A good savings plan can roll with the punches right alongside you!

How do I prioritize emergency savings against debt and other goals?

Deciding whether you should pay down debt, save for other goals, or grow your emergency fund is all about the big picture. Everyone has different financials, so that picture will vary person-to-person. What will impact you the most financially? Paying down debt and saving mon ey long term or having a plan B that allows you to keep making minimum payments if you lose income? There is no right or wrong answer.

Your emergency fund is there to help you expense the unexpected. So, make a plan and be ready for what ever comes your way!

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Obatala Sciences Closes $3 Million Series A Funding Round Co-led by être Venture Capital and Ochsner Health

-Funding accelerates commercialization of researchenabling solutions to speed up therapies for obesity, diabetes, and cancer across diverse populations

NEW ORLEANS -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Obatala Sciences, a New Orleans biotechnology company recognized for speeding up therapies for obesity, diabetes, and cancer across diverse populations, today announced the closing of a $3 million Series A finance round coled by être Venture Capital and Ochsner Lafayette General Healthcare Innovation Fund II and joined by Benson Capital Partners, Elevate Capital Fund, and The Hackett-Robertson-Tobe Group.

The funding will be used to further the commercialization of its first-of-kind research-enabling products and platform for drug discovery and development. These solutions, provided to pharmaceu tical companies, government labs, and researchers, are designed to accelerate the study and prevention of diseases in the fields of obesity, diabetes, cancer, and regenerative medicines.

“Recently the FDA has signaled the need to improve predictivity by reducing the use of animal-derived tissues, while the NIH has been calling for greater diversity in testing. Obatala Sciences’ diverse human-derived products are the exact solution designed for these market directions,” said Jennifer Kuan, partner at être Venture Capital. “Obatala’s solutions enable their custom ers to significantly reduce failure rates, reduce the time to market, and thereby reduce costs. Combine that with Obatala’s extensive intellec tual property portfolio, manufacturing strength, and rapidly growing customer base, and you can see why Obatala is positioned to be a leader in the 3D culture market.”

“We are thrilled to have the support of our investment partners. Their belief in us, and their commitment to support minority-led compa nies and communities, like New Orleans, is changing the landscape for biotech companies like Obatala Sciences,” said Obatala Sciences CEO Trivia Frazier, Ph.D., MBA. “This funding will accelerate the commer cialization of our pipeline products as we work towards our milestones, which include the build-out of our lab at The Beach at UNO, a Research Park District located near the University of New Orleans campus, obtaining our ISO certifications, expanding our North American and international distribution network, and deepening our sales, marketing, and customer support teams to support our growing global customer base.”

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Appoints Adora Ndu, Pharm.D., J.D. to its Board of Directors

SAN DIEGO -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD) has announced the appointment of Adora Ndu, Pharm.D., J.D. to its Board of Directors. Dr. Ndu is a biopharma executive with more than 15 years of experience in regulatory affairs and clinical development.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Ndu to Acadia’s Board,” said Stephen R. Biggar, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman of Acadia’s Board of Directors. “Dr. Ndu’s significant regulatory and clinical development experience, combined with her extensive background in rare disease nicely complements the skill sets of our current membership. Her expertise will be invaluable as we continue to pursue our strategic initiatives in disorders affecting the central nervous system, particularly as the company prepares to launch its second commercial product, trofinetide, for the treatment of Rett syndrome.”

“I am honored to join Acadia’s Board of Directors. I look forward to collaborating with its members alongside

Acadia’s talented management team as they develop and commercialize innovative new therapies addressing high unmet needs in the field of CNS,” said Dr. Ndu.

Since 2022, Dr. Ndu has served as the Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer of BridgeBio. Previously, she was the Group Vice President, Head of Worldwide Research and Develop ment Strategy, Scientific Collaborations and Policy at BioM arin Pharmaceutical. She brings over 15 years of complemen tary experience in drug development and regulatory affairs. Dr. Ndu has spent eight years in various leadership roles in the biopharmaceutical sector. Her expertise includes regulatory strategy, patient engagement, prescription drug promotion, and policy for U.S. and international markets. Additionally, Dr. Ndu spent eight years at the U.S. Food and Drug Admin istration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, where she progressed in leadership serving most recently as Director for the Division of Medical Policy Development and Command er in the U.S. Public Health Service. She has been involved

in the registrations of multiple products globally and is a re spected thought leader in regulatory science, having played a significant role in developing and evaluating guidance, as well as shaping regulatory policy. Dr. Ndu currently serves on the board of DBV Technologies. Dr. Ndu received her doctorate in pharmacy from Howard University’s College of Pharmacy and a law degree from the University of Maryland.

Acadia is advancing breakthroughs in neuroscience to elevate life. For more than 25 years we have been working at the forefront of healthcare to bring vital solutions to people who need them most. We developed and commercialized the first and only approved therapy for hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis. Our clinical-stage development efforts are focused on treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, Rett syndrome and neu ropsychiatric symptoms in central nervous system disorders. For more information, visit us at www.acadia.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Trivia Frazier, PhD, MBA. Co-Founder, President, & CEO of Obatala Sciences, Inc.

(Photo: Business Wire)a

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T.J.Maxx and “Find Your Maxx” Partner and Mentor Yvonne Orji Launch Interactive Workshop Series for Women Everywhere

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., PRNewswire -- As part of its mission to provide women with essential tools that empower them to ditch the fear of failure and put themselves first, T.J. Maxx is launching its Find Your Maxx workshop series this weekend. Find Your Maxx is part of The Maxx You Project, T.J. Maxx’s ongoing initiative to support women with tools and resources as they navigate the process of becoming their most authentic, unapologetic selves.

Earlier this year, T.J. Maxx and Emmy-nominated actress, comedian, and writer, Yvonne Orji partnered to launch Find Your Maxx, offering one lucky grand prize winner the mentorship of a lifetime and $50,000 in starter funds to help propel them toward their Maxx self. Now, Yvonne will kick off an interactive virtual workshop series with the ‘Maxx Your Mindset’ session, co-hosted by seasoned life coach Sophia Casey. The first workshop took place on Instagram Live via @ tjmaxx on Oct. 15. Following Orji’s workshop, five additional workshop installments will follow, each hosted by two influen tial women, throughout October and November via Instagram Live and TikTok Live and will provide viewers with support and resources they need to break down the barriers of self-pri oritization and maintain a confident mindset.

“Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s not always easy to Maxx Your Mindset – sometimes we just need a little help get ting started! During my virtual workshop, I’ll be hosting a dis

cussion on how I tap into my Maxx self, and I’ll share tools to help you become your best, most confident self,” said Yvonne Orji. “I’m also excited to introduce the Find Your Maxx grand prize winner as we kick start her journey. Be sure to tune in on @tjmaxx’s Instagram Live and ask questions – I can’t wait to pass along what I’ve learned from my mentors and inspire women everywhere to be their most unapologetic selves.”

The workshop series is designed to provide women with actionable tools to become their most authentic self and includes themes like ‘Maxx Your Mentors’ and ‘Maxx Your Confidence.’ T.J. Maxx will also collaborate with global non-profit organization Dress for Success – an ongoing partner – on the ‘Maxx Your Career’ virtual workshop to support its mission of empowering women to transform their lives and re-envision their futures.

“The Maxx You Project community has grown tremen dously since it began in 2017, and we’re proud to provide women with tools and resources that empower them,” said Robyn Arvedon, Assistant Vice President of Marketing, T.J. Maxx. “We look forward to kicking off the Find Your Maxx workshop series and continuing this impactful movement we’ve started.”

For more information on The Maxx You Project, as well as tools and resources to use during the Find Your Maxx work shops, visit maxxyouproject.com.

Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation Celebrates Commitment to Mental Health Support

NEW YORK, PRNewswire

-- On Tuesday, Oct. 11, the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation celebrated its ongoing commitment to support mental health with a cocktail fundraiser hosted by Executive Chairman of Saks and President of the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation Richard Baker and Saks CEO Marc Metrick at L’Avenue at Saks in New York City. The event raised $1.8 million to help strengthen the Foun dation’s mission to make mental health a priority in every commu nity by increasing awareness and education, improving access to care, and promoting the tools and skills that build positive mental health for those who need it most.

“There is no doubt that the last two and a half years have chal lenged people around the world in unforeseen ways,” said Richard Baker, Executive Chairman of Saks and President of the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation. “The need for mental health support has never been more urgent, and we are grate ful to our many partners who make our efforts possible through their generous donations. With this latest funding, we are able to continue supporting our nonprofit partners in delivering crucial mental health support to those in need.”

Since the Foundation’s found ing in 2017, Saks Fifth Avenue and the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation have donated more than $5.8 mil lion for U.S. mental health initia tives and reached over 6.6 million individuals through programs that promote positive mental health, with a focus on allocating resources to underserved communities. This

year, the Foundation launched a $250,000 fund that will support grassroots, community-based organizations whose local efforts are critical in offering support to the health and wellbeing of those they serve.

“Five years ago, the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation embarked on a journey to make an impact on mental health, and today, we feel just as passionate about supporting this increasingly important cause,” noted Marc Metrick, CEO of Saks and Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation Board Member. “We are proud of the incredible work our nonprofit partners are doing to ensure that underserved communities and pop ulations disproportionately affected by mental health issues receive criti cal access to care. We appreciate our many partners who make this work possible through their continued dedication to the Saks Fifth Avenue Foundation’s efforts.”

Guests at the fundraiser enjoyed a special performance by six-time GRAMMY Award-win ning artist and pop culture icon, Dionne Warwick, who sang three of her top hits including “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” “That’s What Friends Are For,” and “If I Want To.” Dionne joins an impres sive roster of legendary artists who have performed at the Foundation’s annual Fall Fundraiser, including Patti LaBelle, Cyndi Lauper and Rufus Wainwright.

“There’s something that can be done about mental illness and it takes all of us to do that,” noted Ms. Warwick. “All we have to do is care, truly care, and always try

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Photo Credit: Erik Carter

Improving Health Outcomes through Equity and Access

Betteraccess to healthcare equals better health outcomes. Biogen strives to increase access and address the barriers that patient populations face. Oftentimes, health outcomes depend on factors beyond the control of patients and their doctors. Dis parities across age, gender, race, ethnicity and socio economic level are some examples. One of the key parts to Biogen’s approach involves researching and understanding these issues as well as their compound ing factors, such as, inadequate representation in clin ical trials and limitations to accessing care. Overall, the goal is clear: improve health outcomes for Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino and other under served communities in Biogen’s main disease areas.

Research and Collaboration

Issues of culture awareness and mistrust remain prev alent alongside a host of other considerations prior to enrollment in a clinical trial. To address these issues, Biogen uses a multi-channeled health equity strate gy which includes incorporating diverse community perspectives and insights into our drug development and engaging with the community by partnering with organizations to educate, build awareness, establish trust, and drive health equity.

In partnership with the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP), Biogen formed a Community Advisory Board (CAB) of patient advocates from underserved and underrepre sented communities who co-develop honest and trans parent educational assets for patients, HCPs and clin ical trial sites to discuss the importance of diversity in clinical trials. The CAB has also advised on various program and study designs as well as the develop ment of Biogen Trial Link, a publicly facing website to learn more about and find clinical trials.

In collaboration with the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF), Biogen launched the Clinical Trial Index and Clinical Trial Learning Community (CTLC) which uses U.S. heat maps of Medicare/Medicaid ben eficiary data by patient demographics and maps them against clinical trial site locations. This information seeks to identify the right sites in the right locations to meet patient needs. The CTLC launched as a vir tual space for local stakeholders and subject matter experts to integrate routines in local care networks to increase underrepresented and underserved popula tion participation in clinical trials.

Clinical Recruitment and Specific Disease Areas

As the clinical study recruitment begins, Biogen teams track and report their progress toward the study tar gets that represent the epidemiology of their respec tive disease. Given this commitment, 2021 had 100% of Phase 1–4 studies in the U.S. including a plan to recruit participants from underrepresented commu nities to ensure the study population is representa tive of the intended treatment population. They also launched an Internal Participant Demographic Dis tribution Dashboard to track and measure the demo graphic distribution of participants across programs and studies, and to compare directly to epidemiology targets. Within certain disease areas, Biogen has built community and faith-based outreach and education programs for disease awareness and general clinical trial education with trusted organizations such as HEAL Collaborative and Proximity Health Solutions.

In Alzheimer’s specifically, they have sponsored the Bright Focus Foundation’s Virtual Community Out reach Series, bringing sustained Alzheimer’s disease and clinical trial education and access to communities with an underrepresented focus. Additionally, Biogen co-developed a paper with the NMQF titled “A Road map for Real-World Evidence Generation in Alzhei mer’s Disease.” It highlights how real-world evidence can include larger patient populations that are his torically underrepresented in randomized controlled trials.

In Lupus, Biogen collaborated with Saira Z. Sheikh, M.D., Director of University of North Carolina (UNC) Rheumatology Lupus Clinic and Director of the Clin ical Trials Program at UNC’s Thurston Arthritis Re search Center, to gather insights on barriers to clini cal trial enrollment among underrepresented groups. These insights are being used to inform Biogen’s clin ical development programs in lupus and address eq uity in study participation. For the Phase 3 studies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Biogen set enrollment targets that reflect the prevalence of SLE in Black or African American and Hispanic and/or Latino communities to achieve appropriate represen tation. Through partnerships with community-based Proximity Health Solutions and faith-based HEAL Collaborative, along with expert panels of commu nity leaders, HCPs and patient advocates, they par

ticipated in seven events across the U.S. in 2021 to educate communities about lupus and clinical trial research.

A Holistic Approach to Inclusion and Equity

Beyond this commitment to the patients and their specific needs, Biogen also focuses on the workers in volved in clinical trials. In 2021, they joined the Asso ciation of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) as part of ACRP Partners in Workforce Advancement™, which works to expand the diversity of the clinical re search workforce and to set and support standards for workforce competence.

Additionally, Biogen has fostered employee collabo ration to increase awareness of health equity needs cross-functionally. In 2021, they introduced a Health Equity Ideas Cafe Series to deepen organization-wide understanding of Biogen’s commitment, including representation in our clinical trials and equitable ac cess. The three-part series engaged internal and ex ternal guest speakers on themes of lupus awareness, patient voices and community partnerships, and equi table access to healthcare. In addition, Biogen hosted an event with John Sawyer, Ph.D., ABPP-CN and a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist of the Ochs ner Neuroscience Institute; and Donnie Batie, M.D., on successful approaches to caring for underrepre sented patients.

From their research into healthcare disparities and patients’ needs, Biogen’s approach to health equity is guided by the motivation to help those who have his torically been underserved. Concretely, this commit ment to health equity looks like: clinical trial diver sity, empowering underrepresented groups, engaging employees, and launching new tools to improve acces sibility.

Visit Biogen Trial Link to learn more about clinical trials and how you can support equity and access ef forts such as these.

Dave East and droppLabs Offer Fans the Opportunity to Executive Produce His Next EP

NEW YORK -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- droppLabs, a lead ing subsidiary of dropp group (“Dropp”), a future-forward Web3 enabler, and Dave East, commercially and critically acclaimed music artist and actor in Wu-Tang: An American Saga, today announced the launch of the flagship program “Dave East Total Access.” The program allows 5,000 members to collaborate with Dave East’s team, become credited executive producers for his upcoming EP, and receive exclusive benefits.

“We are thrilled to work with Dave East on this Web3-en abled music experience that will turn fans and aspiring music industry professionals into credited executive producers on his next project,” said Gurps Rai, CEO and co-founder of drop pLabs. “This is the first experience of its kind that offers fans and those interested in the music industry real-world productio n experience and access to one of their favorite signed artists. As the digital age transforms how music is produced and con sumed, there is vast potential for creating new access to histo ri cally gated knowledge and experiences.”

As part of the program, Dave East Total Access Members will have exclusive access to a six-module interactive course with 21 hours of instructional content. The course will be taught by some of the biggest names in the business, including Dave and his cohorts, such as multi-platinum producer Buda Da Future, who has worked with some of rap’s biggest superstars, Gunna, Juice WRLD, Rick Ross, and many more. The immer sive program will prepare members to build & develop a career in the music industry.

The program will also utilize peer-to-peer learning with members working collaboratively with Dave East and his team. Members will also have the opportunity to be involved in various aspects of the EP production. The offering is designed to create a digitally democratized system of access to working in the music industry which was previously blocked. The Dave East Total Access program highlights the tangible utility of tokenized digital assets and immersive Web3 experiences that reimagine the relationship between artists and their fans.

“I’m excited to use Web3 technology to give my fans and aspiring music producers across the globe the chance to be a real part of one of my projects,” said Dave East. “This is the only project that lets members learn Web3 technology and build a valuable community while doing what we love most – making great music.”

Members will also receive a unique and tradeable Dave East NFT created by one of the industry’s most creative young artists, Marly McFly. “This is an innovative project combining the best of music, technology, art and education. I am thrilled to join Dave East and droppLabs to provide fans a truly unique experience,” said Marly McFly.

Memberships for the Dave East Total Access and additional details are now available at www.daveeasttotalaccess.com.

For more info, please visit www.dropplabs.io.

Clubhouse Media Group, Inc. Closes Promo Deal With Klay Thompson, Four-Time NBA Champion

LOS ANGELES, PRNews wire -- Clubhouse Media Group, Inc. (OTCMKTS: CMGR) (“CMGR”), an influencer-based social media firm and digital talent management agency, announced that they have finalized a brand promotional deal with four-time NBA champion and five-time NBA All-Star, Klay Thompson. Thompson was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 2011. He holds the NBA regular season records for most points scored in a quarter and most three-pointers made in a game. Off the court, Thompson has become active on social media, boasting 13.4M followers on Instagram alone.

“It was a pleasure to work with James Barry, and Klay’s broad er team at Wasserman” said Alden Reiman, President

of The Reiman Agency. “They are best in class and a key partner which has allowed us to bolster our services to top brands.”

“The agency has been closing deals with brands and talent of the highest stature” said Amir Ben-Yo hanan, CEO of CMGR. “As we continue to grow our sales team, we can extend our reach and make a lasting impression in the digital advertising space.”

CMGR offers management, production, and deal-making services to its handpicked influ encers, a management division for individual influencer clients, and an investment arm for joint ventures and acquisitions for companies in the social media influencer space.

Follow CMGR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClubhouseCMGR

Passage to Host “Knostalgia” Hip-Hop/Martial Arts Festival in the Metaverse

WINCHESTER, Va., PRNewswire -- Passage, a platform for creating and connecting metaverse experiences, announced Knostalgia, a hip-hop / martial arts festival in partnership with rapper Philippe Prosper (better known as “Rap Is A Martial Art”).

Hosted in Passage with 3D video chat and spatial ized audio, the virtual event will feature the exclusive release and performance of Rap Is A Martial Art’s new project “Knostalgia” on Feb. 25.

The Knostalgia lineup will feature performances, talks, and appearances by prominent hip-hop and martial artists, including:

RZA of the WuTang Clan Martial Club, the fight choreographers from Everything Ev erywhere All At Once Cory Gunz Mickey Factz

Additional per formers and speakers to be announced

“It’s been a long-time dream of mine to merge the worlds of hip-hop and martial arts in one event,” said Rap Is A Martial Art. “The Passage team shares my disruptive, out-of-the-box DNA. With top-notch 3D aesthetics and an unparalleled vision, they were the ideal partner and right hand to bring this experience to life. Hosting Knostalgia in the Passage metaverse is allowing us to create a one-of-a kind event with global reach, while maintaining a personal touch and delivering high artistic value.”

The brainchild of rapper and former Internation al Kung Fu Grand Champion Rap Is A Martial Art, Knostalgia is a first-of-its-kind event merging the worlds

of hip-hop and martial arts in an immersive virtual environment.

Fans interested in attending the festival can join the waitlist for tickets at RIAMAFest.com.

“As Martial Club, we have long prided ourselves in being on the cutting edge of martial arts in cinema,” said Daniel Mah, co-founder of Martial Club. “We are excited to work with Passage and Rap Is A Martial Art to contribute to a future where martial arts and hip-hop can be expe rienced on a whole new level in a virtual space. Innovation is key to the survival and evolution of our art form, and we believe the metaverse is the platform on which we can elevate it to the highest level.”

Knostalgia is hosted exclusively in Passage, a platform for building and connecting virtual and physical experiences. Attendees can join the festival via their internet browser on any device thanks to Passage’s in-browser streaming and 3D communication infrastructure. Passage is built with Unreal Engine 5, enabling high-end, real-time 3D graphics and immersive visuals.

This news follows the recent appointment of Passage CEO Caleb Applegate, a web3 and enter tainment industry veteran who is currently leading a $9.2M private sale of the project’s native PASG token. To date, the team behind Passage has worked with leading brands like Capitol Records, Amazon Studios, and American Girl to host custom experiences using Passage technology.

PRNewsfoto/Clubhouse Media Group, Inc

droppLabs and Dave East announce the launch of “Dave East Total Access.” (Graphic: Business Wire)

THETA OMEGA CHAPTER TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

The Theta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated will host a double celebration to commemorate its Centennial and to celebrate the payoff of its 30-year mortgage on its multimillion-dollar AKARAMA Foundation Community Service Center in 15 years. The Center is under the umbrella of the AKARAMA Foundation, the charitable arm of Theta Omega chapter.

The Chapter will honor these milestones with a Reception on Saturday, November 5 from 2-5 PM at the Center, 6220 S. Ingleside. The theme of the celebration is “100 Years of Sister hood and Service: Strengthening Our Community.” Founded on November 5, 1922, the chapter is hailed as one of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s premiere chapters. Theta Omega Chapter was the first Graduate Chapter in Chicago and boasts an illustrious history.

During the reception, members will reflect on the past 100 years and will make projections for the future. Several organizations such as Legal Aid Chicago, DLA Piper Law Firm, University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement will be recognized and will receive expressions of appreciation for being sustained supporters through the years.

In making the announcement, Kimberley Egonmwan, Esq. President of the AKArama Foundation and Theta Omega chapter declared that the reception will hail the chapter’s Centennial milestone. Egonmwan also asserted: “Retiring the mortgage is a triumph and a reflection of the Foundation’s love and devotion to serving the community.”

Located in the heart of the Woodlawn community, the Center is heralded as a beacon of light. Under its roof is a service haven where programs are planned and hosted by mem bers who reach out to the community and provide information, tools and resources.

Egonmwan declared that the payoff of the Center rep resents the culmination of a dream by the Foundation members. “In illustrating their financial might, members pooled their

resources, combined their talents, crafted a plan, harnessed their strengths and executed their mission: to own, manage and control the Foundation’s direction and destiny. It is a powerful show of Black economic empowerment by African-American women.”

The President revealed that the early payoff was because aggressive fundraising efforts were mounted. Additionally, with extra-generous donations from members and substantial amounts bequeathed to the chapter, the mortgage was paid off in half the time.

During the event on Saturday November 5, members will host a symbolic “Burning of the Mortgage.”

The AKArama Community Service Center stands as a brick-and-mortar extension of the Foundation members’ passion, resolve and commitment to service. Under its roof, the Foundation has served millions, awarded over $1 million in scholarships and, overall, earned its designation as a citadel of service.

The acquisition and ownership of the Community Service Center is a major part of the arc of history of Theta Omega and the AKARAMA Foundation. In the 1990s, members began craving for a bigger space. These constant laments represented the tipping point that led to the eventual building of the Center. Audrey Cooper-Stanton, chapter president in 1999, led the charge. She put in motion a plan, assembled a team, and did the preliminary work that achieved results.

To seek support, Cooper-Stanton met with State Senator Emil Jones, Jr., who was also president of the State Senate.

Impressed with the community service focus, Jones directed Cooper-Stanton to prepare a plan capturing the vision. She crafted and submitted a proposal. Within a month, Coo per-Stanton received a commitment that the Foundation was awarded $500,000 from the Illinois First Fund. Additionally, the City sold the chapter eight parcels of land valued at $450,000 for a total of $1 per parcel. Reflecting on the significance of

these two developments Stanton-Cooper remarked: “With these two events, the Center went from a dream to a reality.”

The contractors charged with the overall project were Black-owned firms: The architect was Raymond Broady of RBA Architects; construction management was entrusted to UBM, Inc., whose president is Paul J. King, Jr.

In 2007, five years after the groundbreaking, the AKAra ma Foundation Community Service Center opened its doors to much fanfare and excitement.

Spotlighted among the attendees was State Senator Emil Jones, Jr. who was hailed for his role in giving life to the Center. Jones is invited to attend and will be applauded at the reception on November 5.

With pride, Egonmwan declared, “The AKArama Com munity Center is emblematic of the 100 years of service that defines the Foundation and the chapter. The Center has emerged as a service haven where programs are planned and hosted by members who reach out to the community and provide infor mation, tools and resources. We invite the public to participate in the many activities that take place at the Center.

The reception will be the first of three events to com memorate Theta Omega’s Centennial. Following are the other high-profile events and the dates:

• On Saturday November 12 the chapter will host a gala formal at the Marriott Hotel, 540 N. Michigan Avenue begin ning at 6:00 P.M. Members will reflect on 100 years of service through testimonials and anecdotes.

•On Sunday, November 13.the Centennial Celebration will culminate with a brunch, also at the Marriott, beginning at 11: A.M. Members will offer final words of praise and gratitude while looking forward to the second century.

To purchase tickets to the Centennial events and for more information, log on to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrat ing-100-years-of-sisterhood-service-a-centennial-ball-tick ets-412891378227.

American Lung Association Invests

$13.1 Million in New Research

CHICAGO, PRNewswire -- Lung health research is more im portant than ever. Never have we faced so many challenges to our lung health, including COVID-19, vaping and smoke from increased wild fires. To find solutions to alleviate the burden of lung disease, today the American Lung Association announced it awarded research grants and is now funding more than 100 innovative projects. The funded projects address a wide range of lung health topics, including asthma, COPD, lung cancer, COVID-19 and more.

For its 2022-2023 funding cycle, the Lung Association funded $13.1 million for more than 130 lung health research grants. Through the Awards and Grants Program, the Lung Associ ation supports trailblazing research, novel ideas and innovative approaches. For this round of funding, the Lung Association placed a greater focus on strategic partnerships with key orga nizations like American Thoracic Society and CHEST, and grants that focus on equity like the Harold Amos Scholar.

“More than 34 million Americans live with lung disease, includ ing asthma, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). On top of that, we are seeing emerging lung health threats that we have never seen before. That’s why the American Lung Association is investing in the top scientific minds to find better ways to reduce the burden of lung disease and investigate the long-term impacts of lung health challenges like vaping, climate change and COVID-19,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “We are honored to welcome our 2023 Research Team and empower them to help us prevent lung disease and improve the lives of people living with lung disease for years to come.”

Research projects funded by the Lung Association are carefully selected through rigorous scientific review and awardees represent the

investigation of a wide range of complex issues. Awards were given in eight different categories; ALA/AAAAI Allergic Respiratory Diseases Award, ALA/ATS/CHEST Foundation Respiratory Health Equity Re search Award, Catalyst Award, COVID-19 Respiratory Virus Research Award, Dalsemer Award, Innovation Award, Lung Cancer Discovery Award, and Public Policy Research Award.

A few of the recent grant awardees include:

Lung Cancer Discovery Award Presented to Moumita Ghosh, PhD, from the University of Colorado Denver for his study on lung cancer titled, “Deconstructing and reconstructing the impact of the immune microenvironment.” When it comes to treatment of lung cancer, early detection is critical to the success of lung cancer treatments. One potential marker that signals early lung cancer could be changes in progenitor cells, which are a type of stem cell critical for tissue repair and mainte nance of a healthy lung. Dr. Ghosh’s lab discovered that these cells are impaired in people with lung cancer, which coincides with an increased level of immune cells. Their study will look at epithelial progenitor cells and how their function is affected by their location relative to a tumor, as well as the presence of immune cells. This investigation could lead to new methods of early detection of lung cancer and also new targets to enhance progenitor function and slow or stop the formation of cancer.

The Lung Association’s Nationwide Research Program includes the Awards and Grants Program, and also our Airways Clinical Research Network, the nation’s largest not-for-profit network of clinical research centers dedicated to asthma and COPD treatment research.

For more information about the new grant awardees and the entire American Lung Association Research Team, visit Lung.org/re search-team.

Remedy Organics Unveils Their New Immune Supporting Wellness Shots

NEW YORK, PRNewswire -- Remedy Organics, the lead ing producer of award-winning plant-based functional bever ages, unveils its newly elevated packaging and ready-to-drink immune supporting Wellness Shots. The updated products are now available in a more convenient shelf stable format, which are offered in four varieties: Heal, Protect, Energize and Digest.

“The beauty of these Wellness Shots is that they are made to fit conveniently into your everyday lifestyle and can be taken any time throughout your day,” - Cindy Kasindorf, founder of Remedy Organics.

Heal - the super immunity shot featuring ginger, turmeric, lemon, and prebiotics.

Protect - the immunity and defense shot featuring elderberry, ginger, cay enne, and prebiotics.

Energize - the immunity and energy shot featuring Japanese matcha, ginger, L-Theanine, and prebiotics.

Digest - the immunity and digestion shot featuring apple cider vinegar, ginger, cayenne, and prebiotics.

Focused on a holistic approach to optimal health, Remedy Organics’ Wellness Shots are cen tered around providing immune support and include additional functional ingredients that have been shown to boost energy, aid in digestion, metabolism, and support the body’s natural defense. Remedy Organics’ Wellness Shots are bolstered with ingredients such as elderberry and ginger for immune support, turmeric for inflammation, cayenne for metabolism, Japanese matcha for energy, and prebiotics for gut health. The available four SKUs are also formulated with certified organic ingre dients, contain 150% Vitamin C, and are all rich in Vitamin D and Zinc. The updated packaging features vibrant colors,

which highlight the key functional ingredients and benefits.

“The beauty of these Wellness Shots is that they are made to fit conveniently into your everyday lifestyle and can be taken any time throughout your day”, said Cindy Kasindorf, founder of Remedy Organics. “Our Wellness Shots can be taken every day to support wellness throughout the year and when feeling run down. You can kickstart your day with our Wellness Shots, take in-between meals, as a hangover remedy, the possibilities are endless!”

The Remedy Organics Wellness Shot line is available at leading stores nation wide and can also be purchased online at www.remedyorganics.com and amazon. com.

Remedy Organics is a leading producer of award-winning plant-based, functional beverages including Wellness Shakes and Wellness Shots. Founded by Cindy Kasindorf, Remedy Organics is the only functional beverage company led by a Certified Nutritional Health Counselor. Remedy Organics products are truly multi-functional and packed with adaptogenic herbs, superfoods and ayurvedics - providing health and well ness benefits that go well beyond general nutrition. Remedy Organics beverages are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and non GMO; all formulated with the highest quality, certified organic, plant-based ingredients to help unleash the body’s natural healing power. Inspired by the quote, “Let Food be Thy Medicine and Medicine be Thy Food,” the company’s mission is to make functional nutrition accessible and convenient to all. Remedy Organics products are available at major retailers across the US, online at Amazon.com, and remedyorganics. com. Discover more at @remedyorganics and remedyorganics. com.

Governor Pritzker Continues Effort to Adjust COVID-19 Requirements

Chicago — As part of an ongoing effort to carefully roll back Illinois’s COVID-19 executive orders, Governor Pritzker on Mon day, Oct. 17, updated masking and testing requirements for healthcare facilities and long-term care centers. These new guidelines, which go into effect today, are in line with updated Center for Disease Control recom mendations. Federal requirements remain in effect for those facilities.

“Thanks to the tremendous efforts of our health care workers and residents, Illinois has done better at keeping our people safe with vaccines, boosters, and masking, which puts us in a position to continue to scale back health care requirements in line with the CDC,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “COVID-19 is on its way to becoming endemic, like the flu, but it still poses a real threat to our immunocompromised and disabled communities. Here in Illinois, we look out for one another—it’s what defines us as Illinoisans. Let us continue to live up to those ideals by masking up and testing when we have symptoms and getting COVID-19 booster shots—as I recently did—so that we can protect our neighbors.”

“As we continue to learn how to live with COVID-19, it is important for the State of Illinois to adapt our policies to better align with federal guidelines,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “The Department continues to monitor COVID-19 closely. And we are working with our health care and long-term care partners to promote staying up-to-date with vaccinations, make treat ments available, and protect our health care workforce. The updated Executive Order demonstrates our state’s ability to effectively combat COVID-19 with the many advanced tools at our disposal that can both prevent and treat this disease. I continue to encourage of all our residents, but especially those most at-risk of severe outcomes, to take advantage of the vaccinations and treatments available to protect themselves and their families.”

The updated executive order removes the weekly testing requirements for unvacci nated healthcare and LTC workers. The order will also trigger an update of IDPH policy on face coverings. Face coverings are no longer required in all healthcare facilities but are still recommended in healthcare facilities in areas of high community transmission, consistent with CDC guidance. Finally, the amended or der removes the state-issued vaccine mandate for LTC and healthcare employees, consistent with the CDC’s guidance.

Although the vaccine mandate has been removed on the state level, a federal rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requiring vaccination for workers at Medicare/Medicaid-certified facilities remains in effect. The state’s amended exec utive order does not impact that requirement and many Illinois healthcare and LTC sites will continue to have a COVID-19 vaccine mandate under this federal rule. As always, employers are encouraged to put appropriate testing, vaccination, and masking regulations in place if they so choose.

How to Get a Handle on Overdraft Fees

(StatePoint) When your bank account balance is low, life can be stressful. For example, when it’s time to pay large expenses that can’t wait, like car loan payments or monthly rent, it’s all too easy to overdraft a bank account.

In fact, U.S. consumers pay billions of dollars a year in overdraft fees for covering all types of purchases, both large and small.

There is no doubt that overdraft fees serve as a pain point for many consumers, and as the issue of overdraft continues to be discussed and debated, several banks have taken different approaches in response.

Some have taken steps to address overdrafts, mostly by eliminating fees or eliminating the ability to overdraft completely.

Alternatively, PNC Bank now offers a solution that provides customers with greater control in these circumstances. Low Cash Mode, a tool that offers transparency and choices to help customers avoid fees by managing low-cash moments or mistimed payments, is a feature available in the PNC Virtual Wallet account through the PNC Bank Mobile app. The feature notifies you when your available balance is near or below zero and gives you at least 24 hours (and often more) to bring a negative balance to at least $0 through a deposit or funds transfer before incurring a fee. It also

gives you the choice of whether to pay or return certain pending checks and electronic payments when your balance is nearing negative territory.

The Value of Overdraft

The ability to choose to overdraft can help consumers avoid bigger repercussions like credit impacts and loss of access to banking that unpaid bills or late payments can cause. Allowing customers to make their critical payments – albeit for a small fee – sometimes makes a difference that helps allow them to stay in the banking system.

For example, if you opt to pay your rent or car payment – and avoid a penalty or a negative impact to your credit score by simply paying an overdraft fee – then the option to overdraft has provided a value.

“Removing the ability to overdraw an account doesn’t address the fact that many customers need to pay bills, even during temporary cash shortfalls,” says Alex Overstrom, head of Retail Banking at PNC Bank. “The key is that the consumer should be making the decision to incur or avoid fees, not just the bank.”

Control Pays Off

This level of control has demonstrated real results. PNC reports that 64% of customers who have a negative-balance event cure their account in time to avoid incurring a fee.

“Sometimes people just need a little more time to cover important expenses,” says Overstrom. “And in these moments, they should have choices to make things right.”

Being proactive is key to weathering financial storms, yet less than half of consumers have prepared for a recession when it comes to their finances and credit. Those who have are finding different ways to do so: 49% have cut non-essential expenses like entertainment and vacations, 45% have created a budget and 40% have paid down debt.

While these are effective actions, there are other steps consumers can take to understand their credit history and safeguard their credit.

Consumers should check their credit report and credit score regularly to know exactly where they stand in the event that they need to apply for credit, or simply to be better informed as they prepare to pay down their debt ahead of an economic decline. They can get a free credit report and credit score from Experian (Spanish-language credit reports are also available) as well as access to free financial tools, an auto insurance shopping service and credit card marketplace.

Those who need help increasing their credit score can sign up for Experian Boost. This free feature enables consumers to add their monthly payments for cell phone bills, utility bills, rent and video streaming services to their credit history to potentially increase their FICO Score instantly. To learn more, visit experian.com/boost.

“Inflation and recession fears are putting pressure on consumer’s finances, but proactively planning for the worst can help consumers make it through potential challenges. Many consumers are already taking great steps to prepare, like creating a budget and paying down their debt, and we encourage them to utilize other available resources and tools to help,” says Rod Griffin, senior director of Public Education and Advocacy at Experian.

(StatePoint) As inflation continues to put a strain on budgets, talk of an upcoming recession has Americans worried about their finances. Prices on everyday items continue to rise and consumers are trying to find ways to make their dollar stretch further while safeguarding their money against the potential challenges a recession may bring. The future may be difficult to predict, but preparing now can help consumers protect their financial health during a recession.

A recent Experian survey found that two in three U.S. adults are concerned about a recession occurring in the United States. Consumers are most worried about the affordability of routine expenses, with 73% concerned that the price of everyday items like gas, groceries and rent will continue to rise to a level they can’t afford. Meanwhile, 55% harbor supply chain concerns and 38% are stressed about the affordability of big, planned purchases such as a home or a car.

As recession worries grow, more Americans are sizing up their finances to see where they stand. Only 48% are confident that they can financially handle a recession, and two in five believe that they’ll need to rely on credit to cover essential and unexpected expenses over the next three months. In fact, 27% have already increased their credit card debt within the past three months. This trend is accompanied by additional anxieties: two in three survey respondents are concerned to some degree that their credit score will negatively affect their ability to access credit in the next three months.

Is Your Wallet Recession-Proof?