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johnboothus · 3 years

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Terry Wheatley Is Innovating Wine Brands Both Old and New

On June 8, 2021, Terry Wheatley, president of Vintage Wine Estates, quietly marched the company into the future. Representing portfolio brands such as Owen Roe, Viansa Sonoma, and Girard Winery, the VWE team launched a $690 million IPO on the NASDAQ. These are all brands included in the Vintage Wine Estates portfolio, overseen and managed by Terry Wheatley.

Wheatley has dedicated her career to building brands and shaping careers in the wine business. She has held both managerial and executive positions within E&J Gallo Winery, served as both director of marketing and VP of sales with the Trinchero Family Estates, and founding partner of Canopy Management. In 2018, after four years as VP of sales and marketing for Vintage Wine Estates, she was tapped to become the company’s first female president.

Wheatley has founded charities, lent her time, skills, and expertise to a variety of philanthropic causes, and is raising money and awareness for issues related, but not limited to, social justice, entrepreneurship, and preventive health causes such as breast cancer. She is the founder of Wine Sisterhood, a 400,000-member lifestyle social media platform where women connect with one another through wine; Angels Share, a nationwide initiative addressing food insecurity; and Tough Enough to Wear Pink, which equips rodeos and western events in the U.S. and Canada to plan fundraising for breast cancer awareness.

Throughout her 40-plus-year career in wine, Wheatley has been recognized by numerous organizations for her innovative vision, sales expertise, and overall excellence in the wine business. Speaking with VinePair, she shares insights about her career, her struggles, and the ways she supports women in the wine business; as well as the ways Vintage Wine Estates is helping small wine brands, winemakers, and vineyards by preserving vintage wine brands while helping to shape their futures.

1. Tell VinePair readers more about Vintage Wine Estates (VWE) and what the company does.

VWE is a wine company with a portfolio that appeals across demographics and wine tastes. Our mission is to reinvigorate legacy wine brands and launch young brands while giving them the tools needed to be successful or continue their artfully honed winemaking craft.

When VWE purchases a wine brand, we are invisible but impactful. We are here to make a struggling business successful by pulling out inefficiencies that they don’t know how to do. We typically maintain as much of the original architecture of the business including current staff. That’s very important to us as a company because we don’t want to homogenize the purchase. We want to be good stewards of the land that we purchase. We invite the family to stay on board and we try to keep the personality, winemaking style, and sourcing that attracted us in the first place. We may update the logo and polish or rebuild the existing property, but we strive to always keep the charm or magic of the brands we acquire.

2. You are set to lead Vintage Wine Estates to its IPO this June, making VWE a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ global market. What would you say to women who are now following your career?

Be prepared to work hard and then work even harder. Surround yourself with people who believe in your vision and partner with a company who values the work and contributions of women. Two, honor your word and live up to what you say you’re going to do. Third, go ahead and establish lofty goals. Know that nothing you dream of is insurmountable. Be willing to give it everything you’ve got because that’s where the real work begins!

3. VWE has a special program that enables consumers to become shareholders in the company. Can you tell us more about this?

When we designed the shareholder passport program, we were thinking of the people that we do business with. Our suppliers, the farmers, the consumers that purchase our brands or really the general public. We wanted to give people who don’t have millions of dollars to invest in our brand a way to participate and profit from our success. The Shareholder Passport is our “sharing” program which gives our supporters an opportunity to be partners or shareholders in VWE. It’s a very approachable program where you own a part of 52 wine brands. Shareholders also will receive an invitation to the annual shareholders meeting held in the Napa Valley, among other perks and benefits. It really is a great program.

4. What makes VWE so special as a company?

I am honored to be the first female that has led a multi-million-dollar company public — but much prouder that over half of the managers in our company are women. I work very hard to increase the female representation in the organization. In fact, our CFO, head of operations, marketing, chief digital officer, director of our wine clubs, and all of our tasting rooms are all female-led departments within VWE. This has happened because the founders and current leaders of VWE have all committed to increasing the female presence throughout the company.

5. There has been a wealth of publications describing the experiences of those in the wine industry due to the compounded effects of Covid-19, recent weather-related tragedies, and the overall slim margins in wine production. It’s been reported that independent or small family-owned wine producers are struggling to keep their doors open. Does VWE have a strategy to address this and help small producers who are struggling?

The majority of our portfolio are small wine producers who needed help continuing or successfully increasing their reach in the wine industry. Now you have companies who have, for instance, been devastated by recent wildfires who now are in a terrifying situation because of the effects of Covid. These are companies whose business plans were built upon partnerships with successful restaurants, tasting rooms and wine clubs with little to no distribution plan, and they are now in serious trouble. This is where VWE can step in and help. We offer help with streamlining/improving the winemaking process, marketing and distribution. We want to maintain the integrity of the company but bring our skills in marketing, finance, and our vast network of winemakers and supplies in order to elevate the brand and continue their legacy in the wine business.

6. Let’s talk about the businesses and/or philanthropic platforms you’ve built or led. Why does Tough Enough to Wear Pink hold a special place in your heart?

There is a long history of breast cancer in my family. My grandmother died of breast cancer. My mom had a double mastectomy when she was 38 years old, and I had one when I was 48 years old. My daughter has had multiple biopsies as well, so I have a huge interest in eradicating this disease. Early in my career, I knew I wanted to be involved in the fight against breast cancer. I supported local initiatives such as City of Hope (a cancer research center in Los Angeles) but I wanted to do even more.

I co-founded Tough Enough to Wear Pink in order to involve the sport of rodeos and the Western community in the fight against breast cancer. To date, we are so proud to say we’ve raised over $32 million for local and nationwide breast cancer charities to launch awareness campaigns to spread awareness and encourage testing!

7. Why is philanthropy, and D&I initiatives, so important to you as a businesswoman?

2020 was such a profound year with everything that happened with the racial awakening and the Black Lives Matter movement. I reached out to our communications manager and said, “We need to find ways to support Black women in the wine business.” Currently, we are exploring ways, such as scholarship or mentorship, we can help grow their careers in wine. We’re also looking at a couple of [BI]POC-owned wine and spirits brands to partner with or acquire. There will be more on this coming up soon.

Separately from VWE, I serve as chairwoman of the board for CannaCraft. We are developing ways to level the playing field for people of color in the cannabis industry. Whether it’s through strain development, farming, or brand development, we want to push forward with supporting the needs of the community. Why is the African- and Mexican-American community incarcerated more over cannabis infractions than other groups? That’s just stupid, which is why supporting the Last Prisoner Project along with CannaCraft is so important to me as well. What’s the point of all of this success if you aren’t making a real difference in lives?

8. Where would you like to travel to explore wine excellence when you are ready to take a break from conquering the world?

I would love to go back to Florence, Italy! Maybe split my time between California and Italy. That would be such a great thing to do.

9. If you could share the success of the IPO with anyone, who would it be?

That’s easy: Ruth Bader Ginsburg! She was amazing, a trailblazer, and a force of nature. I hope my career is as long, impactful, and successful as hers was and continues to be.

The article Terry Wheatley Is Innovating Wine Brands Both Old and New appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/terry-wheatley-vintage-estate-wines/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/terry-wheatley-is-innovating-wine-brands-both-old-and-new

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wineanddinosaur · 3 years

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Terry Wheatley Is Innovating Wine Brands Both Old and New

1. Tell VinePair readers more about Vintage Wine Estates (VWE) and what the company does.

2. You are set to lead Vintage Wine Estates to its IPO this June, making VWE a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ global market. What would you say to women who are now following your career?

3. VWE has a special program that enables consumers to become shareholders in the company. Can you tell us more about this?

4. What makes VWE so special as a company?

6. Let’s talk about the businesses and/or philanthropic platforms you’ve built or led. Why does Tough Enough to Wear Pink hold a special place in your heart?

7. Why is philanthropy, and D&I initiatives, so important to you as a businesswoman?

8. Where would you like to travel to explore wine excellence when you are ready to take a break from conquering the world?

I would love to go back to Florence, Italy! Maybe split my time between California and Italy. That would be such a great thing to do.

9. If you could share the success of the IPO with anyone, who would it be?

That’s easy: Ruth Bader Ginsburg! She was amazing, a trailblazer, and a force of nature. I hope my career is as long, impactful, and successful as hers was and continues to be.

The article Terry Wheatley Is Innovating Wine Brands Both Old and New appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/terry-wheatley-vintage-estate-wines/

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expatimes · 4 years

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Malaysia's Indigenous people question timber sustainability

Indigenous people from the Malaysian state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo are fighting against plans to cut their forests, saying that while the logging has been certified as “sustainable”, they have not given their consent to the proposals, which could destroy an environment that is home to critically endangered species including gibbons, sun bears and hornbills.

The thousands of Indigenous people who live in the northern Limbang and Baram districts rely on the forest for their physical and cultural wellbeing, while the Baram River is the state's second-largest and an important life-source.

“Logging will destroy our forests,” Penan leader Komeok Joe said in a statement to Al Jazeera, rejecting the plan. The Penan are a semi-nomadic group living in Borneo.

“It will destroy our rivers and medicines and prevent us from satisfying all of our needs in the forests on which we depend for our lives. We Penan communities reject any logging activities in our Baram territory. ”

Village leaders say they were not adequately consulted on a plan by Samling, a Malaysian timber company, to log thousands of hectares of forest. Nor, they say, did they have access to the social and environmental impact assessments conducted for the projects, even though Samling was certified under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS).

MTCS is operated by the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) and is endorsed by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), a leading international forest certification body.

Several communities dependent on forests in Baram and Limbang districts are against logging in these areas [Fiona McAlpine/The Borneo Project]

The communities worry that that certification will allow wood from the trees to be sold as “sustainable” in international markets.

Certification without consent

Samling received the certification for its 148,305-hectare (366,469-acre) Gerenai concession in April this year in the Upper Baram - an area double the size of Singapore.

In the Kenyah Jamok village of Long Tungan, community members say they were not consulted nor made aware of the MTCS certificate until it was granted to Samling.

Instead of logging, they say they want to preserve the environment and are working on a community conservation and ecotourism initiative.

“None of us in Long Tungan were ever visited by anyone from MTCC. How can they say that we have given our free, prior and informed consent? ” asked Jamok community leader John Jau Sigau.

Danny Lawai Kajan from the neighboring village of Long Semiyang also rejects logging in his area.

“Enough is enough. We want the trees to grow back, ”he told Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the concession in the Kenyah village of Long Julan, Patrick Keheng says his community is also opposed to the plan.

“Samling failed to consult all stakeholders in a transparent fashion,” Keheng said. "We do not want any more destruction to our forest, no more logging."

The Kenyah Jamok community of Long Tungan say they have not been consulted on matters affecting their land rights [Fiona McAlpine / The Borneo Project]

It is not the first time Samling has been accused of neglecting the rights of Indigenous peoples and causing environmental damage.

Samling was founded in 1963 by Sarawak businessman Yaw Teck Seng, who currently heads the Miri-based conglomerate with his son Yaw Chee Ming.

Samling's business, involving logging, plantation, construction and property development spans the globe from Southeast Asia, to China, Russia and the United States. The father-son duo was estimated to be worth $ 480m by Forbes Malaysia in 2020.

In 2010, the Norwegian Pension Fund divested millions of shares in Samling after its Council on Ethics concluded that the company had contributed to illegal logging and severe environmental damage in Sarawak and Guyana.

The environmental watchdog, Global Witness, has condemned Samling for its “egregious track record of illegal logging, primary rainforest destruction and violation of indigenous rights” in countries including Malaysia, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea.

Elsewhere in Sarawak, in Upper Limbang, Samling received certification for its 117,941 hectare (292,438 acre) Ravenscourt concession in 2018, but Penan communities in the area say they only learned of its existence in July of this year when the MTCS certificate was due to be re-evaluated.

The area in question is home to some of the last unspoiled tracts of forest in Sarawak, and is part of an important Borneo wildlife corridor. The concession borders the Pulong Tau National Park and Mulu National Park, a World Heritage site renowned for its gigantic limestone caves.

A logging truck belonging to the company Samling transports tropical wood from the Sarawak rainforest [Fiona McAlpine / The Borneo Project]

“As long as the company cuts down the forest in our area, we do not agree,” said Ketua Baru from Long Adang, one of the villages.

“These communities have repeatedly expressed that they do not want logging on their land,” said Penan leader Komeok Joe.

Samling did not respond to Al Jazeera's request for comment. Instead, the company pointed to several press statements released in rebuttal to earlier allegations.

It says: “The Group operates in a lawful manner and is dismayed by the allegations made. We observe strict guidelines for all our activities, including the certification process, which is naturally part and parcel of our operational plan towards ensuring responsible management of forest resources. ”

Stop the Chop!

Affected communities have now joined hands with Indigenous rights local and environmental campaigners to launch a campaign called "Stop the Chop!" in an attempt to put an end to what it alleges is "the certification of conflict timber in Sarawak."

Campaigners are urging the PEFC to use its influence to ensure that the MTCS meets its standards.

The PEFC is a global alliance of national forest certification systems, based in Switzerland, which says it is dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification.

Penan communities in Upper Limbang say they reject all logging by Samling and certification under the MTCS [Keruan/Supplied]

Last month, Samling invited communities affected by the Gerenai concession to a seminar to learn about the certification process.

Representatives from the MTCC and the Forest Department Sarawak also attended, but Peter Kallang, chairman of the indigenous organization SAVE Rivers says Samling's seminar “was just a facade to fulfill their corporate obligations. SAVE Rivers urges Samling to take heed of the matters raised at the seminar and take responsibility. "

Community members who attended the seminar said they were frustrated and compared the event to a “meet and listen” session.

“What I can conclude about the seminar is that it's non-interactive. We never got to ask any questions after each speaker finished their presentation. We had to wait till the end to do so, ”says Lusat Tebengang from Long Palai.

MTCC's Chief Executive Officer Yong Teng Koon told Al Jazeera the MTCC met SAVE Rivers following the seminar to “listen to their concerns and provide additional clarification on the due processes provided by certification.

“We take any complaints against the MTCS very seriously and work tirelessly to ensure they are investigated to ensure the highest standards of sustainable forest management are maintained by all forest managers who have voluntarily agreed to abide by these standards and have submitted their management to be assessed and certified against them. ”

The MTCS uses third parties to audit the certification for forest management. The process involves independent certification bodies which have to evaluate the application of forest managers to forest management certification standards.

Campaigners say 'Stop the Chop' in the Sarawak rainforest [Peter Kallang/SAVE Rivers]

Beyond Sarawak, environmental campaigners from the United States and Switzerland told Al Jazeera that the issues raised by Indigenous communities should concern the PEFC and the international community.

“It's the PEFC's role to prevent this conflict timber from entering the international market labelled as sustainable,” said Annina Aeberli from the Basel-based Bruno Manser Fund.

"If the PEFC does not take action knowing the flaws in the issuance of certificates, then they would be helping to greenwash tropical timber and questioning the reliability of their own standards."

“The international community should be very concerned about bogus timber certificates being issued in Sarawak,” said Fiona McAlpine from The Borneo Project, which brings international attention and support to community -led efforts to defend forests, sustainable livelihoods and human rights. “Our efforts to stem the tide of the extinction and climate crises will all be for naught if we can't trust labels that claim to uphold sustainability.

"Indigenous communities in Sarawak are on the front lines of the climate crisis and they need our support."

PEFC CEO Ben Gunneberg says the organization will be meeting concerned stakeholders including SAVE Rivers and the Bruno Manser Fund to learn more about their issues in Sarawak and how best to address their concerns.

Indigenous peoples in Sarawak are battling to save some of the state's last intact forests [Annina Aeberli / Bruno Manser Fund

“We are aware that, as with any certification programme or activity, issues of non-conformity or non-compliance may arise, and need to be thoroughly and independently investigated,” he said, stressing that PEFC has a complaints and appeals mechanism to deal with alleged breaches of the code.

“A thorough investigation of all complaints is in our best interest, as just one non-compliance by a certified entity poses a potential risk to the credibility of the entire system,” he said.

. #world Read full article: https://expatimes.com/?p=13001&feed_id=12902

#AsiaPacific #Economy #Environment #Features #Indigenousrights #Malaysia #News

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womprat99 · 4 years

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The Thing About Today – October 20

October 20, 2020 Day 294 of 366

October 20th is the 294th day of the year. It is World Osteoporosis Day, a day that launches a year-long campaign dedicated to raising global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease.

In the United States, today is “celebrated” as National Youth Confidence Day, National Brandied Fruit Day, and National…

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#The Thing About Today #World Statistics Day

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iamflypped · 5 years

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World Oral Health Day 2020: Tips for Oral Health Know When You Should Go to the Dentist

World Oral Health Day - Healthy body having healthy oral system works effectively in the body. Maintaining a healthy mouth is not very easy but crucial in keeping it functioning correctly and for maintaining overall health and quality of life. FDI, World Dental Federation has announced that materials are available for member associations to use in the promotion of World Oral Health Day (WOHD). These include posters, ads, a brochure, an advocacy toolkit, and more. Every year it is celebrated on March 20, on oral health “World Oral Health Day” is the largest global awareness campaign. This awareness was launched by FDI World Dental Federation in 2007 and is the result of year-long activities dedicated to raising global awareness on the prevention and control of oral disease. Read more – Health and Fitness tips

#world tooth brushing day #world health organization #world oral health day 2020 theme #dental health tips #Health and Fitness Tips

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csrgood · 4 years

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"AIDS Won't Stop for COVID-19": Meet 3 Inspiring Women Who Are as Committed as Ever to Making HIV History

Originally published on jnj.com

When COVID-19 reached pandemic status, life as most of the world knew it came to a grinding halt. Yet for the scientists, activists and advocates working on HIV/AIDS research, education and awareness, their critical work marched forward.

After all, “HIV doesn’t care that COVID-19 is circulating,” says Macaya Douoguih, M.D., M.P.H., Head of Clinical Development & Medical Affairs, Janssen Vaccines, a Janssen Pharmaceutical Company of Johnson & Johnson. Which is why Dr. Douoguih and her team have continued their crucial research on a potential HIV vaccine—along with countless others who are working tirelessly to help end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

It’s also the reason why the International AIDS Society (IAS) continued with their plans for its 23rd annual conference this year, transforming it into a virtual event. AIDS 2020 will give participants access to breaking science and data on HIV/AIDS, as well as a special one-day meeting on how COVID-19 is impacting the HIV/AIDS epidemic around the world.

To kick off this year’s conference—where Johnson & Johnson will be presenting the first episode of Season 2 of "The Road to a Vaccine," a live video series about efforts to create a potential COVID-19 vaccine—we sat down with three attendees who are more emboldened than ever on their mission to defeat the disease, even as the world continues to battle COVID-19.

The HIV Vaccine Researcher: Macaya Douoguih, M.D., M.P.H. Head of Clinical Development & Medical Affairs, Janssen Vaccines

You’ve been working on an investigational HIV vaccine regimen. How has COVID-19 impacted this work? My group is responsible for devising strategy and oversight of the clinical development of our investigational HIV vaccine regimen. Right now, we have critical studies taking place, which is why it’s crucial that we maintain the momentum of our studies.

We have two efficacy studies well underway—one in southern African countries with about 2,600 at-risk women enrolled, and the other across three continents with 3,800 men who have sex with men and transgender individuals. We are making every attempt to adapt to the current pandemic situation because we are extremely committed to keeping these trials going.

While the novel coronavirus is unpredictable, the team working on the investigational HIV vaccine is continuously coming up with creative solutions to keep our studies going safely. In South Africa, for example, about 400 participants were waiting for their fourth dose of the investigational vaccine when the country had a big uptick in COVID-19 cases. Luckily, we were able to work out how to administer those vaccines safely, with proper PPE and social distancing practices. Our collaborators and partners are incredibly dedicated to the work, so they made it happen.

We’re also doing as many virtual visits with study participants as we can. Unless it is necessary to administer a vaccine or draw blood, we can connect with people remotely.

There may even be a silver lining: If we can do this remote work now, what does this mean for clinical trial efficiencies later, when we’re not in the middle of a global pandemic?

Why is the AIDS 2020 conference so crucial when it comes to highlighting the continued fight to end HIV? It’s important to let people know that we’re not going to let COVID-19 sidetrack us. We’re still working on solutions, and we’re closer than ever.

Every year that we come to the conference we’re closer to having results of our HIV vaccine trials. And I believe it’s essential to share the progress we’ve made and to reassure the world that we’re not losing sight of our goal: to develop a global HIV vaccine that can be offered to women and men around the globe.

Why is continuing the research so crucial—even during a global pandemic—when it comes to progressing the science and the push for a vaccine? HIV doesn’t care that COVID-19 is circulating. The longer it takes to get studies done, the longer it takes to get the answers we need—and the longer it’ll take to get a vaccine that could help millions of people around the world. Not losing track of our ultimate objective is essential.

We’re learning how to adapt because we are committed to delivering a vaccine.

The HIV/AIDS Activist: Laverne Cox Orange Is the New Black star, transgender activist and spokeswoman for the (BAND-AID®)RED campaign

What inspired you to become an HIV/AIDS activist? HIV/AIDS has always affected my community and people I know. And throughout my life, there's been so much stigma around it.

As I grew up and began to think about sex, I remember thinking that I was going to get AIDS and die. I associated being a member of the LGBTQ+ community and being sexual with death. Those things were connected in my mind for a long time.

I also thought: If I feel this way, I must not be the only one who feels this way. The way to deal with the shame and trauma, in part, is to talk about it and find ways to heal.

What are you most excited about when it comes to the progress that’s been made with HIV/AIDS research? As scientists work to find a preventive HIV vaccine, it's hugely important to ensure the inclusion of everyone who is at risk—especially those who have historically been underrepresented in medical research and may encounter barriers accessing quality healthcare.

This is why I’m so glad that leading HIV researchers are including transgender individuals and men who have sex with men in HIV vaccine studies, as these groups experience an increased burden of HIV transmission.

I look forward to seeing the progress to come, and I’ll continue to use my voice to advocate for this kind of inclusive approach in HIV research that reflects the world in which we live. Because only by working together can we help end HIV.

Why is a continued push for advocacy and research so important—even now, when the world is focused on COVID-19? As we stare into the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are certain aspects of this time that feel all too familiar—and I feel compelled to look back through the history of HIV right now, as the world finds itself confronting a new pandemic.

HIV/AIDS was a death sentence back in the 1980s, and it devastated the LGBTQ+ community. If you were diagnosed, you were most likely going to die.

Thankfully, since then, we have made huge advances in science and healthcare and have succeeded in developing transformational medicines for HIV. Today, for many people, HIV is a manageable condition. But too many people still don't fully understand that, so we need to continue this work to help end the misconceptions and help everyone get the information they need.

I think this awareness work is also crucial right now because it’s a chance to let others know they can make a difference. We can work to end HIV/AIDS in our lifetime.

The Advocate and Educator: Matshediso (Tshedi) Sibande Monitoring and Evaluation Lead, DREAMS Thina Abantu Abasha Program, a youth-led initiative supported by Johnson & Johnson

How has your work as an HIV/AIDS activist and educator changed since the COVID-19 pandemic? My role in the DREAMS Thina Abantu Abasha Program (“Nothing for Us, Without Us”) is to work face-to-face with adolescent girls and young women in South Africa to help educate them about their sexual and reproductive health, as well as provide leadership and employability skills. It’s all part of an effort to reduce HIV infection rates in this population. If we can help women stand their ground within their relationships, we can help make them less vulnerable to HIV.

Since COVID-19, we’ve had to adapt—which has meant deploying our program virtually. We have launched WhatsApp groups to try and reach adolescent girls and young women and boosted our social media presence. I’ve often thought during this time: Even if we reach just one young girl a day, that’s something.

What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your outreach work in the last few months? As COVID-19 cases started to rise, the women we reached out to were mostly focused on how they could prevent getting the novel coronavirus. But as time went by—and as we started implementing new, virtual ways of sharing our information—I could tell what we were offering was so desperately needed. After all, this lockdown has meant many young girls and women are even more vulnerable to acquiring HIV and AIDS, since they don't have safe places, like schools, to go to.

What do you think the future will look like when it comes to HIV/AIDS? Even if we don’t completely wipe out the virus, we are raising a generation of young girls who will be better able to make informed decisions so they are less vulnerable to getting the virus. I know we're making progress when a woman tells me, "I now understand my worth and the power of my no."

When I was growing up, I learned about HIV/AIDS, but the information presented to me and my peers wasn’t taught in a way that made it easy to apply to real life. What we try to do in our program is the opposite. Not only do we educate our girls about the virus, but we also give them real-life scenarios and steps they can take to help them implement what they’re learning into their own lives. That gives them the best shot at actually preventing the disease.

I believe one silver lining of this time is that we may actually be able to reach more people than before. In the last few months, our program has managed to extend our reach to other districts within South Africa. Even in areas where women struggle with things like internet connectivity and data costs, they are doing everything they can to get into our WhatsApp groups to receive the information we’re providing. That says a lot about the need—and how a little creativity on our part can help us be even more effective in achieving our ultimate goal of reducing HIV infection rates.

You can hear more from Laverne Cox and Macaya Douoguih, M.D., M.P.H., on the Season 2 premiere of “The Road to a Vaccine,” a live video series hosted by journalist and author Lisa Ling about the quest for a COVID-19 vaccine. The July 7 episode, which is streaming live from AIDS 2020, will delve into the similarities between the HIV epidemic and the current pandemic, the importance of HIV advocacy in underrepresented communities, and the impact the novel coronavirus is having on HIV research and activism.

source: https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/45405--AIDS-Won-t-Stop-for-COVID-19-Meet-3-Inspiring-Women-Who-Are-as-Committed-as-Ever-to-Making-HIV-History?tracking_source=rss

#CSR #corporate social responsibility #social good #philanthropy #employee engagement #workplace givi

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sarahburness · 5 years

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Free 5-Day Meditation Challenge – Interview with Mindful in May Founder Elise Bialylew

Every year, I share a little about Mindful in May, a month-long online meditation program that can dramatically improve your state of your mind and your life, while also transforming the lives of others living in poverty.

This year, I was grateful to connect with Mindful in May founder Elise Bialylew to learn more about the program; how mindfulness can help with depression, anxiety, and chronic stress; and how you can you can get a free taste of the already dramatically discounted program from April 8th through 12th.

Here’s what Elise had to say…

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself and why you decided to launch Mindful in May?

I was always deeply curious about the human condition and the ingredients that are required to live a thriving life. At medical school, I remember being completely blown away as I held a human brain in my hands and wondered how a one kilogram mass could house a lifetime of memories, thoughts, and desires.

Studying medicine, although at times was so difficult, gave me a deep appreciation for the miracle of the body and the preciousness of life.

As I moved deeper into my career I discovered that while psychiatry helped save people’s lives, it often left the flourishing part of the equation to other professionals. I also realized that this was the part of the journey I was most passionate about. I wanted to support people in thriving, not just surviving.

It was during my own search for greater clarity, meaning, and a way to manage the stress of my everyday life in the wards, that I truly committed to meditation.

When I started learning mindfulness I had no idea how deeply it would transform my life.

One morning, I was sitting in meditation when a phrase appeared in my mind, flashing like a neon light: “Mindful in May.” The phrase grew into an idea to create an online global mindfulness fundraising campaign each year during May, where people could be taught about mindfulness by the world’s best experts and dedicate the month to making a positive difference in the world, by raising funds for global poverty—specifically bringing clean, safe drinking water to those in need.

This was the beginning of a new path that would answer the call of my longing to make a positive difference in a more far-reaching way than prescribing medication and facilitating small group meetings. It was an idea that integrated three of my passions: mindfulness, social impact, and community.

For me, mindfulness meditation has been life changing. It’s taught me so much about how to manage stressful situations and equipped me to manage my emotions more skilfully, both in my personal and professional relationships. Of course it’s still a work in progress—there’s never an end to learning and growing but so far it’s transformed my life and career path for the better.

The fact that we now understand that the way we use our minds can literally change our brains and our genetic expression, is an exciting finding that has re-inspired me along my career path and led me to create Mindful in May.

In the developed world most of us have our material and survival needs met, but it’s our minds that cause so much of our suffering. The World Health Organisation states that depression is now the second leading cause of global burden of disease.

In the developing world it’s something as basic as clean water that creates so much suffering.

Mindful in May addresses both of these global issues by offering people a way to learn how to train their attention, develop their awareness, and become masters rather than slaves of their minds, while helping to raise funds to build clean water wells in the developing world.

2. Who is this program ideally suited for?

The program offers daily content and support including an online interactive community where participants can get their questions answered and connect with other likeminded people from around the world.

Each year complete beginners and more experienced meditators can join the one month program and, no matter their experience, find it hugely valuable. There’s something for everyone in here and most people who do it once, come back again and again each year to deepen their knowledge and practice.

3. How many people have participated since you launched, and what kind of feedback have they shared about their experience?

We’ve had thousands of people from over forty countries participate, and each year we hear of the profound benefits people experience.

Although I was hearing thousands of anecdotes each year about how the program was transforming people’s lives, I wanted science to support this finding. So we completed a pilot research study a few years ago that was published in the Mindfulness Journal which suggested that ten minutes of meditation a day over the one month program, was enough to bring tangible benefits.

Specifically, research revealed that participants experienced greater presence and focus, reduced stress, reduced negative emotions, and more positive emotions and overall described a greater sense of flourishing in life.

As well as these benefits, the research suggested that the more you practice meditation the more mindful you get, and the more mindful you get the more you experience positive emotions.

4. So many of us today struggle with depression, anxiety, and chronic stress. How can mindfulness help us better cope with these challenges and life’s daily struggles?

Each year more than 1,000 studies come out exploring the benefits of mindfulness in different domains. There is very solid research around the benefits of mindfulness in the realm of mental health.

A group of psychologists in England (Mark Williams, John Teasdale and Zindel Segal) conducted a study of patients who had suffered multiple episodes of depression. Incredibly, they found that mindfulness practice was at least as effective in preventing depressive relapse as maintenance antidepressants—without any of the side effects. A later study building on this discovery found that mindfulness practice could nearly halve the risk of depressive relapse.

Another groundbreaking study revealed that regular mindfulness meditation increased amounts of the enzyme Telomerase, which protects DNA from age and stress-related damage, suggesting that meditation can protect our cells from age-related damage that comes with stress.

Although genetics undeniably has an influence on our mental health, the new science offers a more empowering perspective, where we can, to some extent, become sculptors of our own brains by practicing mindfulness.

5. What, have you found, are the other key benefits of practicing mindfulness?

Mindfulness offers us a way to see more clearly and be more aware of what’s happening within us and around us in the world. With this greater self-awareness and present moment attention we become better at:

Being aware of our emotions and responding to them rather than reacting

Having better access to what we really want in our lives and then taking action to make that happen

Recognizing thoughts and letting them go rather than getting stuck in obsessive planning or worrying

Managing our stress

Being in relationships with others with less conflict

Communicating more effectively as we are more aware of why we are feeling what we are feeling

Staying focussed at work and being less prone to multitasking

Falling asleep at night as we have a tool to settle the mind

Making decisions that are aligned with what we truly value

6. What do you think are the biggest obstacles to starting and maintaining a meditation practice, and how can Mindful in May help people do just that?

I’ve found over the years of teaching that there are many misconceptions about what meditation is, and this means people come to the practice with expectations that set them up for failure. One of the biggest misconceptions is that meditation is about stopping your thoughts.

Meditation isn’t about stopping your thoughts but rather recognizing and becoming more aware of thoughts so that you are less caught in the impact they can have on you. Although as you practice for longer periods the mind certainly does settle, you can never stop the mind from thinking.

Just like the heart beats, the lungs breathe, and the eyes see, the mind thinks. So when you sit to meditate and notice the constant stream of thoughts, you realize that this is part of meditation, and so it becomes less of a challenge as you stop battling with your own mind.

There are other challenges to meditating whether that’s boredom, sleepiness, or restlessness, and these are all predictable obstacles that have been described for thousands of years in the ancient texts. Thankfully, meditators from centuries before us have faced these challenges and have come up with ways of working with these challenges, which support you to go deeper into the practice and experience the benefits that lie beyond these obstacles.

I created Mindful in May with all of these obstacles in mind, and each week I offer direct ways of working through these challenges. I think this really helps people finally get beyond barriers they’ve previously experienced and they start to experience the deep benefits of the practice.

One of the other big challenges for all of us is finding the time, prioritizing meditation, and making it a habit. We cover this challenge as well, and I feature guests who are experts in habit formation and behavior change. So it’s not just a meditation course that people are getting, it’s really an integrative program that helps people learn the tool of meditation but also learn how to create lasting positive change in their lives.

7. As part of the program, you feature interviews with more than a dozen mindfulness experts. Looking at the lineup, I’m sure these were all powerful, inspiring conversations! But can you share a couple key insights from these interviews—ideas that you think have the potential to change participants’ lives?

Critically acclaimed author and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, Dan Siegel, offers fascinating new research on the benefits of mindfulness and its ability to slow the ageing process, reduce inflammation, and lower both blood pressure and cholesterol.

He delves into interesting discoveries around mind wandering, explaining that, …”it’s not that unhappiness leads to mind wandering, but, it appears … not being present is making you unhappy. Even if your mind is wandering toward fun things—I’m going to go on a trip to Hawaii or I’m going to go to a fun ski trip, or whatever—that actually isn’t the issue. Somehow being in the present moment and literally having presence is associated with happiness and well-being.”

Mark Epstein, an NYC Bestselling author and psychiatrist, discusses what anger, restlessness, and worry can teach us about ourselves, and why “letting go” does not necessarily mean letting go of thoughts and emotions. He says, “Letting go does not mean releasing the thing that’s bothering you, trying to get rid of it only makes it stronger. Letting go has more to do with patience than it does with release.”

8. I know you offer a free five-day meditation challenge to offer a taste of Mindful in May. What does that challenge entail, and how can interested parties sign up?

I know how powerful the Mindful in May program is, but I also know that there are so many offerings online it can be hard for people to discern whether programs are really going to deliver what they promise. So, that’s why I offer a free program, to give people a chance to get a taste and discover the incredibly valuable learning and tools inside.

The FREE 5 Days To Mindfulness program runs from April 8th-12th, and when you register you get:

Daily emails for five days with mindfulness teaching and guided meditations

Access to a fascinating video teaching with world leading Stanford mindfulness expert and professor of psychology Kelly McGonical—you’ll learn practical tools that will transform your stress and life for the better!

Guided meditations that will help you find greater focus and calm (and take less than ten minutes!)

Support from a like minded online community where you’ll be held accountable to stay on track during your five-day training.

Experience the power of meditating in community with people around the world through a LIVE online guided meditation with Elise to help you access greater calm and relaxation in the busyness of your life

9. If people enjoy the free challenge, how can they get involved in the month-long campaign?

To register for the one month Mindful in May program they need to simply register here.

When they register they’ll get:

Guided meditations from the world’s best meditation teachers including meditations for relaxation, improved focus, better sleep, greater emotional balance, managing difficult emotions like anxiety and anger and more.

Sixteen+ exclusive video interviews with mindfulness experts, and neuroscientists including Daniel Siegel, James Baraz, Mark Epstein, and many more…

Daily emails to make meditation a habit

Access to the online community to help them stay accountable, connected and regularly meditating

This world-class meditation program is normally $300, but for the month of May, we drop the price to just $49. This gives you a chance to donate some of the difference to the cause. So it’s a win, win—a clear mind for you and clean water for others.

You can make an optional donation and or create a fundraising page and get sponsored to meditate for ten minutes a day throughout May.

Every $50 you raise will transform the life of one person through giving them the gift of clean safe drinking water.

—

In case you missed the many links throughout this post, you can join the free 5-day challenge here, or get signed up for the full month-long Mindful in May program here. I hope you find the program helpful, friends!

About Lori Deschene

Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She’s also the author of Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal and other books and co-founder of Recreate Your Life Story, an online course that helps you let go of the past and live a life you love. An avid film lover, she recently finished writing her first feature screenplay and is fundraising to get it made now. To get daily wisdom in your inbox, join the Tiny Buddha list here.

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Get in the conversation! Click here to leave a comment on the site.

The post Free 5-Day Meditation Challenge – Interview with Mindful in May Founder Elise Bialylew appeared first on Tiny Buddha.

from Tiny Buddha https://tinybuddha.com/blog/free-5-day-meditation-challenge-interview-with-mindful-in-may-founder-elise-bialylew/

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babaalexander · 7 years

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game-refraction · 7 years

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Digital Sales of The Town of Light to Directly Benefit Mental Health Awareness in Partnership with Take This, Inc.

Wired Productions, an independent games publisher and developer, LKA.it, a leading Italian games studio, are pleased to announce that money from every copy of The Town of Light sold between August 16 and September 6 will be placed into a new fund to support mental health charities including Take This, Inc.

Applying to digital sales across all formats, 25% of the net receipts from each copy of The Town of Light sold within the promotional window will go towards the fund. In order to maximize the impact of the campaign, Wired Productions and LKA.it have also worked tirelessly with multiple digital retailers to offer a 20% discount on the game itself during the same period.

This promotion marks the start of a year-long campaign to help raise awareness and bring ongoing attention to the importance of mental health. The proceeds from the campaign will help fund vital services offered by Take This, Inc, which include providing mental health education and referral resources, as well as the popular ‘AFK Rooms’ – staffed mental wellness spaces at some of the world’s most prominent video games events.

Details on further activities, events and partnerships will be announced throughout the campaign.

“The Town of Light, because of the themes of mental health within the game and its grounding in reality, starts the conversation, our duty is to stand together and continue that conversation, not only to ensure that we dispel the stigma around mental health, but also to ensure that those who feel alone know that they are not, and are given the help they often desperately need. This promotion, alongside our extended campaign for awareness, form only a small part of a much greater picture, but we hope they will touch many lives.” – Leo Zullo, Managing Director, Wired Productions

“The motivation behind The Town of Light has always been one of compassion, the struggles surrounding mental health affect so many of our lives day to day; to shine a light on mental illness and tell the story of those who suffered without a voice in the past was our goal. To have the opportunity to help those in the present is more than we could have hoped for.” – Luca Dalcò, Studio Head, LKA.it

“The biggest challenge people dealing with mental health issues face is isolation and loneliness. The feeling no one will understand or can help. And a lot of people turn to video games for an escape. Seeing mental health issues addressed in true and meaningful ways in a game like The Town of Light can be a lifeline for people in need.” – Russ Pitts, President, TakeThis, Inc.

Wired Productions and LKA.it are grateful to the following retailers for their support in the campaign:

Xbox https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/store/p/the-town-of-light/bscp6sp3qxz7

PlayStation Store https://store.playstation.com/#!/games/the-town-of-light/cid=EP4382-CUSA07051_00-THETOWNOFLIGHT00

GamesPlanet https://uk.gamesplanet.com/game/the-town-of-light-steam-key–3377-1

Humble Bundle https://www.humblebundle.com/store/the-town-of-light

Steam http://store.steampowered.com/app/433100/The_Town_of_Light/

Greenman Gaming https://www.greenmangaming.com/games/the-town-of-light/

Digital retailer GamesPlanet is further supporting the campaign by donating all of their profits from their sales of The Town of Light for the duration of the promotion.

If you’re interested in supporting Wired Productions by getting involved in charity events of your own, or if you’re a charity that specializes in supporting mental health issues and would like to register to be part of our year-long campaign for awareness, please contact [email protected].

Based on extensive research and inspired by real facts, The Town of Light is played through the fictional eyes of Renée, a 16-year-old girl who suffers from the symptoms of mental illness. She is searching for answers to the many questions from her past, while she explores and uncovers the place where she spent most of her youth. What happens next is a dark and emotional journey where the lines of interactive entertainment, storytelling, and reality frequently tend to blur.

About Wired Productions Ltd

Wired Productions is an established independent computer games publisher based in Watford, Hertfordshire, UK. Founded in 2008, Wired have produced over 40 titles for many global publishers and are part of the team responsible for the 1.5 million unit selling We Sing franchise. In 2013, Wired moved into console publishing on all major platforms. Notable launches to date include Tiny Troopers Joint Ops, Super Dungeon Bros, the critically acclaimed action RPG Victor Vran and the heart-breaking psychological adventure game The Town of Light.

Wired Productions are also a founding member of We Sing Productions, which is a collaboration between THQ Nordic, Wired Productions and Le Cortex, with the sole mission to establish a new range of We Sing products for all formats.

About TakeThis, Inc.

TakeThis, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity founded in 2013 by veteran journalists Russ Pitts and Susan Arendt and clinical psychologist Dr. Mark Kline, Psy.D. in response to the tragic suicide of a colleague. TakeThis, Inc. seeks to inform our community about mental health issues, to provide education about mental disorders and mental illness prevention, and to reduce the stigma of mental illness. We do not provide mental health services or professional consultations. For information on when to seek dedicated clinical help and how to find it, please visit “When to Seek Help.” If you or someone you know is in crisis and in need of immediate intervention, please visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255.

TakeThis helps those who suffer by letting them know that they are not alone and by providing information on treatment options and how to find help. TakeThis provides friends, family and co-workers of those suffering from emotional distress with options for intervention and education about mental wellness. TakeThis educates greater institutions about effective methods of helping employees who suffer from emotional issues in order to promote healthier and more productive work environments.

Digital Sales of The Town of Light to Directly Benefit Mental Health Awareness in Partnership with Take This, Inc. was originally published on Game-Refraction

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healthcarebiz · 7 years

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Start Your Morning With a Cup of Coffee and an Ounce of Dengue Prevention

- A new awareness campaign from Sanofi Pasteur and Ya Kun Kaya Toast aims to bring talk of dengue prevention to the table -

SINGAPORE, June 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Sanofi Pasteu r , the vaccines global business unit of Sanof i , today launched the 'Be A Wall Against Dengue' disease education campaign in Singapore, part of the company's continued efforts in working with local communities to raise awareness to dengue prevention. For this campaign, Sanofi Pasteur is joining forces with Ya Kun Kaya Toast, a home-grown cafe chain that will be hosting a series of dengue prevention events at its branches throughout the country from now to July 15, 2017, a crucial time in the year when Singapore enters the traditional peak dengue season.

"Sanofi Pasteur has a long-standing history of providing educational campaigns for the general public to increase awareness to disease prevention. In Singapore, we know that although people are aware of dengue, they often are less sure about what they can do to prevent this disease from impacting them personally. By partnering with Ya Kun Kaya, we hope to engage people to talk about dengue prevention together and motivate each other to take action," said Baptiste de Clarens, General Manager of Sanofi Pasteur for Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei.

"Dengue is a disease that everyone can help to prevent in Singapore and we saw the "Be A Wall Against Dengue" campaign as a good way of supporting this. We have always been passionate about bringing the community together over good toast and coffee, and hope our patrons will appreciate the opportunity to learn more about how they can fight dengue," said Mr Jesher Loi, Director, Branding and Market Development, Ya Kun Kaya Toast.

Dengue is an unpredictable disease – one cannot predict who will develop severe dengue also called dengue hemorrhagic fever, which can be life threatening. Dengue can significantly impact people's lives resulting in time away from work and school, in some case leading to months of residual fatigue and hospitalization, along with significant individual healthcare costs. The greatest number of dengue cases occurs in adolescents and young adults who represent a highly mobile and social segment of the community. However, dengue can affect anyone regardless of health, age, lifestyle or social class and it can strike the same individual more than once with the second infection often being more severe.1

In Singapore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a cumulative total of 13,115 dengue cases in 2016, a 16% year-on-year increase over the total of 11,298 cases reported in 2015.2,3 As at 16 May this year, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has recorded a cumulative total of 998 reported cases of dengue.4

Members of the public who are interested to find out more about what to do to lower the risk or burden of dengue in the community are encouraged to visit the following sites or participate in these upcoming events:

Social media: Follow and like this campaign via Facebook http://ift.tt/2rsB4rn/

'Be A Wall Against Dengue' will run from June 15 to July 14, 2017, at various Ya Kun Kaya Toast outlets (please see below)

STORE

OPENING HOURS (first 100)

DATES

Suntec City [Central]

8:30am - 9:30am

(From Thursday 15th June to Wednesday 21st June 2017) 5 working days

Far East Plaza [Central]

8:30am - 9:30am

(From Friday 16th June to Thursday 22nd June 2017) 5 working days

Ng Teng Fong [West]

8:30am - 9:30am

(From Friday 16th June to Thursday 22nd June 2017) 5 working days

Orchard Central [Central]

11:00am - 12:00pm

(From Friday 16th June to Thursday 22nd June 2017) 5 working days

Parkway Parade [East]

8:30am - 9:30am

(From Friday 16th June to Thursday 22nd June 2017) 5 working days

Bugis Junction [Central]

8:30am - 9:30am

(From Monday 26th June to Friday 30th June 2017) 5 working days

Causeway Point [North]

8:30am - 9:30am

(From Monday 26th June to Friday 30th June 2017) 5 working days

Changi City Point [East]

8:30am - 9:30am

(From Monday 26th June to Friday 30th June 2017) 5 working days

The Central [Central]

8:30am - 9:30am

(From Monday 26th June to Friday 30th June 2017) 5 working days

Jurong Point [West]

8:30am - 9:30am

(From Monday 26th June to Friday 30th June 2017) 5 working days

Ion Orchard [Central]

8:30am - 9:30am

(From Monday 3rd July to Friday 7th July 2017) 5 working days

Paragon [Central]

8:30am - 9:30am

(From Monday 3rd July to Friday 7th July 2017) 5 working days

Compass One [North East]

8:30am - 9:30am

(From Monday 3rd July to Friday 7th July 2017) 5 working days

Junction 8 [North]

8:30am - 9:30am

(From Monday 3rd July to Friday 7th July 2017) 5 working days

Raffles City [Central]

8:30am - 9:30am

(From Monday 3rd July to Friday 7th July 2017) 5 working days

HDB Hub [North]

8:30am - 9:30am