Weekly Report 2-6

The Ymca Of Greater Houston Launches Htx+, A Transformative Virtual Platform

By d-mars.com News Provider

The YMCA of Greater Houston recently announced the launch of HTX+, a new on-demand, one-of-a-kind virtual platform with fitness and wellness courses and resources for all ages. The multilay ered platform includes fitness, HTX Kids YLife, mindfulness, virtual personal training, educational resources and more. Since the start of the pandemic, The Y has taken unrelenting action to eradicate inequities in the community and support critical needs. The virtual service is another step in the Y’s mission to provide access to all and combat food insecurity, racial in equities, health disparities, social isolation and learning gaps.

“Given the safety precautions and restrictions of COVID-19 last year, the Y pivoted to ensure the community could still access YMCA pro grams and rolled out virtual classes on YouTube to keep everyone active and feeling connected,” states Stephen Ives, President and CEO, YMCA of Greater Houston. “During the peak of the pandemic last year, the virtual classes witnessed record-breaking check-ins by members of all ages and backgrounds spending 43,000+ hours per week connecting and staying active. With this in mind, The YMCA elevated its online platform with HTX+ by offering more classes and resources. Through the new platform we can better serve the community and provide more opportunities to connect whether in side or out of a YMCA location.”

HTX+ offers interactive elements for kids to seniors, differentiating the online platform from any other virtual platform in Houston. To keep moving, HTX+ offers an array of fitness classes including: high-intensity interval training (HIIT), strength, cardio, cycle, yoga, barre, low impact, bootcamp, mind and body, dance, Pilates and more. HTX+ also features ForeverWell which is

will discover everything from games, recipes, mindfulness videos, documentaries and more. For the young members, HTX Kids includes arts and crafts for kids of all ages, STEM, as well as plenty of sports videos to help teach kids the basics and get them ready for the next sports season. Videos for the platform are updated each week to ensure fresh and engaging content year-round

As an added bonus, all members can access the full library of workouts, water safety, swim lessons, sports and educational videos whenever or wherever – at home, in the gym or on the go by steaming from a laptop, moapp or .org. The Y is transforming its membership to become a powerful tool to create equity and impact in is one of the many ways that helps create a stronger, healthier and more connected

For more information about the YMCA of Greater Houston, visit www.ymcahouston.org or follow the organization on Facebook @YMCAHouston and

Source: YMCA of Greater Houston

POLITICS

Biden Administration to Appoint Kristen Clarke to Key Civil Rights Post

rity,” Biden said in a statement.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

C

risten Clarke, the president of the Lawyer’s Committee Civil Rights Under Law, will serve as assistant at torney general for civil rights under the new Biden Admin istration.

Clarke’s appointment adds even more diversity to an in coming administration that has kept its campaign promise to ensure that top staff and cabinet members reflect all of America.

“Our first-rate nominees to lead the Justice Department are eminently qualified, embody character and judgment that is beyond reproach, and have devoted their careers to serving the American people with honor and integ-

“They will restore the independence of the department, so it serves the interests of the people, not a presidency, rebuild public trust in the rule of law, and work tirelessly to ensure a more fair and equitable justice system.”

Clarke has extensive civil rights experience, starting her career as an attorney in the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. While at the DOJ, the Brooklyn-born attorney served as a federal prosecutor in the Criminal Section Division, responsible for police misconduct, hate crimes, and human trafficking.

Through the Division’s Voting Section, she also worked on voting rights and redistricting cases.

The current president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Clarke has also served as the head of the Civil Rights

Bureau for the New York State Attorney General’s Office, where she successfully led landmark efforts to address discrimination in housing, the school-to-prison pipeline, and reforming practices and policies of police departments.

Clarke previously served at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education-

al Fund, focusing on voting rights and election law.

Clarke received her A.B. from Harvard University and her J.D. from Columbia Law School.

Source: NNPA

The first-of-its-kind virtual platform is geared to tackle social isolation by providing Houstonians resources to strengthen spirit, mind and body in the comfort of their homes

Photo Caption: Kristen Clarke has extensive civil rights experience, starting her career as an attorney in the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.