Elizabeth Liz DiCarlo has been advocating for people on multiple fronts for more than 40 years. That statement of fact recently put DiCarlo in a special category of women from Massachusetts she was named as a Commonwealth Heroine by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women.

Her name was advanced by State Representative Antonio Cabral of the 13thBristol District.

Noted in DiCarlos biography posted on Mass.gov, Cabral gave a long list of her service achievements such as working with populations from Central America, HIV/AIDS education for at-risk people, affordable-housing issues, and efforts to mitigate discrimination faced by LGBTQ people. She is without a doubt the ultimate people-person.

WhenThe Wanderercaught up with DiCarlo, she softly said of all the recognition she has been receiving, its a little embarrassing. Yet DiCarlo speaks strongly and very clearly when it comes to the issues she believes in fighting for, namely helping those who may be the last to receive services. And while she claims to be retired, it was quite clear her work is far from over.

Im working with the Democratic Town Committee, she said of her ongoing work on voter registration so that, people can vote for those who represent them and their interests.

After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 1970s, DiCarlo became a nurse working as a public health sector. She is originally from Newton but moved to the New Bedford area after graduating. Her family built a home in Mattapoisett around 1975. I was very happy about that! she said.

New Bedford became her base from which she began work organizing labor-union groups and immersing herself in multi-cultural neighborhoods. I love the richness, the diversity of cultures, she said. New Bedford has people from Cape Verde, the Caribbean, Latin America, Ireland, France there have been waves of immigration through the centuries. She said her work over the years has focused on identifying where need exists and then finding the ways and means to serve the people.

One need that DiCarlo identified as growing in urgency is affordable housing. The next generation cant afford to live in Mattapoisett, she stated and explained that the rising cost of owning or even renting properties is impacting young and old alike. Our seniors want to downsize and live in Mattapoisett, but where?

DiCarlo said it is time to think about different types of housing stock and shared her hope that Mattapoisetts updated Master Plan, currently under review by the Planning Board and other committees with the assistance of SRPEDD, will help in finding new ways to solve old problems keeping a roof over heads. She expressed concern that if Mattapoisett doesnt take a proactive approach to affordable housing, Someone will come in and do it.

Systems, process analysis, data collection, and assessment are some of the cornerstones of public nursing, and DiCarlo has thrown her talents to all of those through the years.

On Cape Cod, DiCarlo was hired as a consultant to bring together a network of agencies and community centers for a needs assessment of the 15 towns that comprise the peninsula. There are growing Latino, Caribbean, and Brazilian communities on the Cape, she said, the goal being to understand how well the people can access healthcare services. To her surprise, 1,000 households participated, not hesitating to share their data. She had deployed 200 volunteers in the effort. There were four languages to take into consideration, she said, The response was fabulous. The data from the surveys pointed to the need for culturally competent care and interpretation services.

With pride, DiCarlo said that this project inspired the development of dental services for immigrant populations throughout the Cape. We found that there was a major issue for these people in accessing dental care. The development of dental operatories, locations and services made available to those without insurance or the means to pay for services, bloomed. We developed partnerships with Cape Cod Regional Vocational High School in Harwich and Cape Cod Community College to provide oral health services. That program reached out across Buzzards Bay to Marthas Vineyard as well.

More recently, DiCarlos work has focused on getting out the vote. We want people to come out and vote their values. From a regional standpoint, she said a strong effort had been made in networking for social justice including LGBTQ platforms, but that it is important to increase the dialogue and understanding that voting matters. Having an up-to-date voter registration is critical.

DiCarlo has been involved in school-based, voter-registration drives and placing visual reminders around New Bedford and the surrounding area that display dates of elections. We need people to think about what is important to them; in the larger cities, you have to find ways of reaching people But this isnt new stuff, she added with a chuckle. Weve been doing this since the Rainbow Coalition, personal empowerment, and political empowerment.

HIV/AIDS, health education, and the role of public health nursing are also part of DiCarlos early work. We engaged with communities to assess their assets and identify their limitations to come up with opportunities, she said. We had candid discussions about how to be safe; its not just giving out information but in having those explicit conversations about sexual practices and drugs. She said providing health care was also part of the program, so people could get the care that they needed.

Given the current pandemic, DiCarlo believes, Its not enough to give education, systems have to be in place to help the victims. She said the Southcoast region has done a good job reaching businesses to ensure that distancing and face coverings are used in the workplace.

While talking about workers her thoughts turned to their homelives. Lots of family members may live in a small apartment. We need to educate the children, make sure food resources are readily available, and think about how they will care for one another to prevent the spread of COVID, she said. Half of New Bedford is Latino. They live in dense situations. If we are looking at the data, we need to make sure educational opportunities are there.

That whole-systems approach is the hallmark of a public health professional or, as DiCarlo framed it, All things are possible with honest collaboration, dignity and respect.

By Marilou Newell

Go here to see the original:

DiCarlo Shy upon Recognition, Relentless in Her Mission - Wanderer

Limbitless Solutions builds self-confidence and independence in kids with limb differences.

Jul. 09 /CSRwire/ - Originally published by Adobe

As a graduate student in mechanical engineering at the University of Central Florida (UCF), Albert Manero always wanted to use his engineering skills to change the world. One morning in 2013, he caught a glimpse of how he might do it.

I heard a radio interview with a man who developed the first 3D-printed mechanical hand, shared his design, and essentially started a global movement of makers, Manero says. I was determined to help by bringing whatever skills and lab resources I could to the project.

It wasnt long before a family in Orlando reached out to Manero with a slightly modified requestsomething he and his fellow classmates hadnt tried before. They asked if we could build a bionic arm for their six-year-old son, he says. Their request was a little intimidating and also exciting. We knew if we could assemble the right team of engineers and designers that we could do it. Within eight weeks, we had a prototype, and thats when Limbitless Solutions was born.

Limbitless Solutions finds its inspiration

Manero was soon consumed with the project. Juggling classes and international research, he and his fellow students established a nonprofit organization on the UCF campus. Their focus: making low-cost, lightweight, personalized bionic arms at no cost to families. Making the limbs financially accessible is key. A bionic limb can traditionally cost as much as $50,000something that is unaffordable for many families, especially since a bionic limb requires replacement every few years as a child grows.

Coming up with the mission was a great start, but the real inspiration came when they looked at the problem through the eyes of children with limb differences. Even when kids can get traditional prosthetics or bionic limbs, they may be embarrassed to wear them or simply have a hard time seeing the device as an integrated part of themselves.

Kids with limb differences often face challenges. Our mistake was to assume they just want to blend in and feel normal, says Manero, now president of Limbitless. When we started talking with them, we realized that these kids want to be seen and celebrated for who they aresuperheroes."

That insight made Limbitless what it is today. The team has grown from its initial group of engineers to include artists, designers, developers, and around 25 student interns each semester from across engineering, marketing, and arts disciplines at UCF. The result is a blend of science and creativity that is evident in every bionic arm the organization develops.

Personal designs empower kids to express themselves

Kids are especially excited about the fact that each arm is custom-designed to reflect their unique personality. They get to collaborate with students from the UCF School of Visual Arts and Design to create personalized outer sleeves using creative tools such asAdobe PhotoshopandAdobe Illustrator. Then, the Limbitless art and painting team uses Photoshop, Illustrator,Dimension, andSubstance Painter, along with professional airbrushing equipment, to give each bionic arm its unique character.

Together, theyve designed arms that look like everything from a bouquet of flowers to the arm of Iron Man. This creative expression is crucial for creating a sense of ownership, empowerment, and confidence in each and every child.

Annika Emmert, 15, one of Limbitlesss bionic kids, was 10 when she received her first arm. I cant even begin to explain the opportunities Ive had since meeting the amazing people from Limbitless, Emmert says. The fact tht I got to design my own bionic arm makes me feel good about wearing it. It has changed my life for the better."

That blend of creativity and engineering comes through in everything Limbitless does, including the apps it develops. Kids learn how to control their new arms by playingLimbitless RunnerandLimbitless Adventuregames built usingAdobe XD,Mixamo,Fuse, Photoshop, Illustrator, andAnimate. These fun, immersive games help limb recipients get comfortable with flexing their muscles to produce movements and gestures. That training is key to faster adoption. Testing the effectiveness of the training games in relation to adoption of the arms has been an integral part of their first clinical trial. Preliminary testing shows positive results for use of training games to accelerate the ability to use the bionic arm.

For families, theres an app for bionic arm calibration, troubleshooting, and family support chat. The organization has even developed an app and a website portal that allows families to customize their bionic designs online. Both were designed and prototyped in Adobe XD.

Visual storytelling changes the conversation around limb differences

Limbitless is more than halfway through the clinical trials on its bionic arms. Once complete, FDA certification will enable the prosthetics to be covered by insurance, thereby making the arms more accessible to children with limb differences. In the meantime, the non-profit is working hard to raise awareness and attract funding. Visual storytelling is central to its efforts.

The advocacy and marketing teams top priority is to share the Limbitless mission through the website, social media, flyers, and posters, and they rely onAdobe InDesign,Illustrator,Photoshop,XD, andSparkto do so. Videos on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, created usingAdobe Premiere Pro,Premiere Rush, andAfter Effects, are particularly effective in communicating the Limbitless mission and celebrating limb recipients.

Limbitless' sole focus is not only on the technology, such as our bionic arms, but the children using the technology, their families, their lives, and their stories, says Mrudula Peddinti, Branding Director at Limbitless Solutions. Creative storytelling goes beyond scientific data and statistics about a device. It adds emotional impact and the humanity behind the prosthetic. Our role is not only to develop and provide accessible technology, but also utilize the power of visuals to amplify our bionic kids' and families' voices and stories to build awareness throughout the rest of the community. This is what allows Limbitless to not only garner genuine buy-in and support of our mission, but also empower our bionic kids.

The Limbitless bionic kids themselves are helping to raise awareness using visual storytelling. , and now they have their own comic. TheBionic Kidcomic series is the brainchild of then 10-year-old Zachary Pamboukas, who received his first bionic arm in 2016, and his older brother, Christo. The two boys came up with the idea to raise money for other kids in need of bionic arms, writing the story and even helping with the illustrations. The comic is helping to change the conversation around limb differences.

Bionic Beginningsis the amazing origin story of the Bionic Kid, Zachary, a boy who confronts a bully through nonviolent means and ultimately becomes a superhero. It shows how to openly communicate about disabilities, says Manero. A group SVAD professors, Limbitless illustrators, and undergraduate interns sat down with Zachary and Christo to bring the story to life in Photoshop, Illustrator and Spark. We even had the boys draw some of the details to make sure the storyline and characters were just right.

Building a STEAM-powered maker space

When Manero realized how important it was to blend art with engineering, he contacted Matt Dombrowski, assistant professor in the School of Visual Arts and Design at UCF. Dombrowski has been instrumental in pulling the thread of creativity through every team and building an academic program thats truly STEAM-powered.

The idea is to blur the lines among disciplines and show students how to work at the intersection of art and engineering, says Dombrowski. We believe creativity is an essential skill for everyone which is whyAdobe Creative Cloudis embedded in everything we do.

That multidisciplinary approach is a driving force for Limbitless, and the organization will soon have an ideal space for its design-driven engineering to flourish. The non-profit plans to open a new lab on the UCF campus, partially funded by Adobe, which will increase safety, ramp up production to help kids in need, and expand the educational impact for students. This new facility will amplify production up to 10x!

The new Limbitless Learning Lab will more than triple the organizations square footage, allowing more room for 3D printing, laser-cutting, airbrushing, and injection molding equipment. It will also include conference rooms and training areas, ideal for K12 field trips and summer STEAM camps that teach the value of importance of creativity and expose students to the three pillars of the Limbitless mission: engineering design, artful expression, and gamified training. Limbitless has already hostedfield trips for several high school classes, and the new space will allow the organization to expand the program, empowering the next generation of innovators.

Manero also wants to provide a safe space for staff and students to try new ideas and tackle new challenges as they arise, a philosophy that came into play during the COVID-19 crisis. Early in the pandemic, Limbitless quickly repurposed its manufacturing space to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) for local healthcare providers. Employing the capabilities ofAdobe Creative Cloud, the team utilizedLightroomandPhotoshopto process the images of the designed protective visors imprinted with the messageslove,hope,compassion,andthank you yet another sign of its emphasis on creativity and the human spirit. The organization also helped manufacture parts for one of the worlds first3D-printed mechanical ventilators, supplementing supplies for hospitals dealing with an influx of respiratory patients.

"We're so fortunate to have the opportunity to make an impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. We know that this isn't the last challenge we're going to face, says Manero. We want to give students a place where they can pursue creative ideas about how to empower individuals and entire communities.

Limbitless goes full STEAM ahead

For Manero and his team, the journey has been challenging and rewarding. The growing family of bionic kids inspires them to keep improving bionic arm technology and expand design options. More than 160 Limbitless interns have gained valuable 21stcentury STEAM learning skills, and many have gone on to make their mark in art, game development, software, and even accessible technology. And the future looks even better.

Combining immense creative talent and passion with technology and engineering, we can change the world with solutions that are not only functional, but also beautiful, expressive, and empowering, says Manero. Thats really the heart of our mission at Limbitless.

Read the original:

The Art and Science of Changing Lives Press Releases on CSRwire.com - CSRwire.com

Were born not knowing much except how to cry, eat, and sleep. But as we grow, its up to us to expand our horizons. Gaining knowledge is like lighting a fire in our lives. For Athol Williams, Mbali Mahlale, and Kwezi Qika, a commitment to learning has set them each firmly on a path to fulfilment.

Mbali Mahlale was born without arms. The pupil has taught herself to write with her right foot, and eat with her left. Theres nothing difficult about school because I like reading and practising Maths, she says. Learning is her gateway to a world of possibility. Fuelled by an unwavering resilience, Mahlale is determined to become a dentist one day. Sometimes people think I cant do much because of the way I look, she says. Being born without arms wont stop me from succeeding.

Athol Williams life is a testament to success against all odds. Raised in Mitchells Plain, a coloured township, during apartheid meant that Williams was subject to deliberately inferior schooling. I realised that to beat the system, I would have to take personal responsibility for my life and my own education, he says. A schoolboy with a voracious appetite for wisdom, Williams absorbed everything he could. Today, hes the only person to have achieved five Masters degrees from five of the top universities in the world. To uplift others, Williams co-foundedREAD to RISE, an organisation that distributes childrens books. I think its very important for us to always remember the power of sharing knowledge, he says.

But learning isnt just confined to the classroom. As a child, all Kwezi Qika wanted to do was surf yet he couldnt swim. He stayed on the sand, watching as people shredded waves. When a friend gave him a surfboard and wetsuit, Qika was too embarrassed to admit that he didnt know how to swim. Qika merely bobbed on his board between the breakers, hoping he wouldnt get knocked off. Eventually, his desire to carve lines in the water outweighed his lack of knowledge. I had to learn because I knew if I didnt, Im going to drown, he says. Diving in, he doggedly pursued his liquid education and went on to become South Africas first black longboarding champion.

The resolve to always keep learning propels Mahlale, Williams, and Qika on a trajectory of empowerment. Its at the end of our limitations that we see our lives coloured by the gift of knowledge. No matter our circumstances, theres always something to be gained.

Link:

There are no limits to learning it's our path to empowerment - East Coast Radio

Thank you for the invitation. However, I distinctly remember that your editorial board at the Post-Dispatch made a decision in July 2016 not to endorse in county races other than circuit attorney. In case you forgot, heres a link to the editorial where you said the only candidates we would endorse are those with solid qualifications who also promise to work to eliminate the office. And since I am not making that promise, I believe that makes me ineligible for consideration.

Famous St. Louisan Maya Angelou once said, When people show you who they are, believe them, the first time. So, Im going to take your word for it. Since 2016, this editorial board has done nothing but use its pen, ink, and declining readership to try to disparage my reputation as a public servant of the city I love and serve. Consequently, I am not inclined to accept your invitation. However, what I will do is use this as an opportunity to take a stroll down memory lane of your petty editorials. Shall we?

In 2016, it was pretty light. You only wrote two attack pieces. One telling me that I should give up a benefit that was afforded to elected officials for decades before me, but somehow became an issue after I took office. Despite the fact that this perk was added to my taxes as income, you compared me to Marco Rubios performance in his response to the presidents State of the Union address.

The next salvo was in 2017, when the mayors race was in full swing. You called me the high flying treasurer and said that I should be brought down, which is nothing more than a euphemism for calling me an uppity Black woman who didnt know her place. In February, I declined your interview for an endorsement in the mayors race, because, based on advice from Maya Angelou, you showed me who you were. Instead, I published my response to your interview request in The St. Louis American.

In your endorsement of then-candidate Antonio French for mayor, you spent almost as much time attacking me as you did endorsing him. Treasurer Tishaura Jones has treated public office as a grab bag of perks for her personal enjoyment. You wrote. We need a mayor who consistently upholds a high standard of ethics. She is quick to deploy the race card recklessly. The mayors job is too important to entrust to someone with such demonstrably bad judgment.

After I exceeded everyones expectations in the primaries including yours, I might add you said, Jones has long tended to blame others for her own shortcomings. Even after Tuesday nights loss, she offered no hint of admitting that personal failings might have turned voters away. Instead, she blamed the other African-American candidates for refusing to bury their male egos and bow out of the race. Voters value honesty and transparency. Add a dose of humility, and Jones might still have a promising political future ahead. Even the Washington Post called your response bull [expletive].

It was clear to me after the mayors race that I would never receive an objective eye or ear from the editorial board, which the last time I checked still doesnt have one African American. I called you out on it in 2017, and I will continue to call you out on it until it changes.

How can I forget when you accused me of fraud related to the funds I raised to remove the Confederate monument in Forest Park? In case youre still wondering, that check was presented to the city parks department as soon as GoFundMe mailed it to my office.

When I tried to help the city and the Scottrade Center fund renovations, after they changed the terms of the lease behind closed doors, you said I control too much money and with too little transparency, saying, Jones might hope to boost future political prospects by asserting herself as the hero who saved the Scottrade Center renovation. Thats not her offices role, and taxpayers shouldnt tolerate it when so many other city needs are going unmet. Im damned if I try to help and damned if I mind my own business. I just cant win, can I?

Three months later, you called Alderwoman Megan Green and I hypocrites for supporting community benefit agreements for development projects after a sales tax increase for police salaries was passed by voters. Never mind that CBAs have been attached to some of the largest projects in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Detroit in recent years. St. Louis gives away millions in tax incentives to wealthy developers and gets nothing in return. And you think we should continue to give our tax dollars away at the expense of our schools, crumbling infrastructure, and declining tax revenue?

And, how could I forget the holiday season? You were working hard trying to make me out to be Ebeneezer Scrooge for starting the nation's second largest childrens savings program. You made a declaration that my office has no business running childrens savings programs, despite the fact that these programs are often birthed from state and local treasurers around this country. Heres some news for you, Mr. Robberson. My office has received national awards for the innovative way we fund financial empowerment services. And, heres what will blow your mind: other cities (Los Angeles, Newark, and St. Paul, to name a few) are asking us how they can funnel parking dollars to financial empowerment services like we have. So, who's the Scrooge now?

2018 started with a bang. It started with your declaration that parking money belongs to the city, not the Treasurers Office. Well, the last time I checked, Im elected by the citizens of the City of St. Louis. My office is in City Hall. My employees are city employees. This narrative that the money doesnt go to the city is a boldfaced lie. You further insinuated that I used the offices budget as the treasurers play money to spend as she pleases. You consistently conflate the facts about my budget and how much is due to the city. The sum of $18 million is gross revenue, before my employees are paid, before operational expenses of running the parking division, before debt service. The city has received more money under my administration through contributions from the parking fund and returns on investments than ever before. But, of course, those are the facts you refuse to report.

When I petitioned the legislature to expand financial empowerment services to other treasurers around the state, you hit back with this one: The city coffers are not Jones personal piggy bank. Her efforts to change the law so she can dip into parking revenue whenever she wants and spend without checks and balances is an unprecedented power grab.

The rest of 2018 and 2019 were a series of editorial pieces about the lawsuit, which my opponent joined after he garnered a mere 1,400 votes in his embarrassing bid for mayor. Might I remind the readers that this same opponent ran against me in 2012 and is running against me again this year. Describing the nuances of the case against me in which my opponent and the mayor have joined would take another page, so I wont bore everyone with your opinion.

And, last but not least, we arrive at the present year, 2020. Your unhealthy obsession with who I endorsed for President and how I responded to the pandemic led you to pen three scathing articles in the short span of eight days. First, you blamed Megan Green and me for Bernie Sanders loss in the presidential primary, saying its not just a rebuke to Sanders but also to his two most prominent local surrogates. When I learned that COVID-19 was community-spread and could directly affect my employees health, I shut down parking meter operations and ordered my employees to shelter in place, days before any other local official. You questioned my legal authority to do so, and, just two days later, you tried to say that mayhem would ensue if parking wasnt enforced. Newsflash: that never happened.

As treasurer, I am responsible for protecting the credit rating of the parking division, which is tied to the citys credit rating. During my tenure, the credit rating of the parking division was increased twice as a result of my sound financial decisions. I objected to my opponents premature request to transfer $5 million to the citys reserve fund, because we did not yet know the full extent of the aid coming from the federal government. We are still in the middle of this pandemic, and we do not know how long this will last. My position has been and always will be a conservative position when it comes to protecting the citys and parking divisions finances. My degree in finance and my experience in the investment banking industry informs my decisions. Your statement about desperate times calling for desperate measures is reckless and irresponsible.

And, last, at a time when this country is reeling from the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, this countrys failure to deal with systemic and institutional racism is on display for the world to see. And nowhere is this more prevalent than your editorial board, which still doesnt have an African-American journalist. You continue to perpetuate a double standard when writing about Black elected officials. Might I also point out that your columns are eerily similar to my opponents complaints and campaign promises. You accused me of pay to play by awarding a multi-million-dollar contract to a Black-woman-owned business, while ignoring the response we sent to your questions that explained that the process was transparent and open to the public. Let me also make this abundantly clear: I am unapologetically Black and will use the power ofmy office to empower Black people and others who have been ignored and marginalized for far too long. Your continued attacks on Black elected officials in this city, in this current environment, is insensitive and tone-deaf.

You dont want to know the truth. And, frankly, Im tired of trying to convince you otherwise. Youve consistently shown me who you are, and after four years and 23 different editorials dragging my name through the mud, its crystal-clear to me that youre not capable of anything different. Therefore, I am declining the opportunity to interview with the editorial board of the Post-Disgrace oops, I meant Post-Dispatch again.

Be blessed.

Tishaura O. Jones is treasurer of the City of St. Louis.

Originally posted here:

Open letter to the Post-Dispatch remembering its 23 editorial attacks on me - St. Louis American

From creating a group chat to starting a movement on Twitter, survivors tell their stories of sexual violence. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE

While some believe that the conversation on sexual violence at USF began when a series of tweets gained thousands of reactions over the past few weeks, the ongoing dialogue actually began over a month ago when a Black woman created a group chat for women to share their stories of sexual violence.

However, some people highlighted the lack of attention and representation women of color were receiving when the conversation first started.

I may have been the first person to tweet about my experience, but the first thing I noticed as stories poured in was that Black women were the only ones being attacked for coming forward, an anonymous alumna tweeted on July 2. They werent supported as loudly. They were openly harassed for putting together resources.

I do care about making sure Black womens voices are not erased and properly supporting them since theyre always on the front lines for everyone else.

Others were disappointed, but not surprised. Samantha, a current student, described it as a black and white thing.

Just look at the support that Black women are getting and compare it to the support that every other survivor is getting and you see a stark difference, Samantha said. Theyre getting thousands of retweets, theyre getting quotes and stuff like that.

While recent sexual violence allegations received a lot of attention in the past few weeks, the conversation began in late May, when current student Zaynab Salahuddin created a GroupMe to spread awareness about sexual assault cases on campus as well as create a safe space for women to share their stories.

In the group, women would share their personal experiences as well as stay informed about alleged perpetrators within the USF community. Less than a week after it was created, the group gained more than 200 members.

Salahuddin, who was sexually assaulted on campus her freshman year during finals week, said she wanted to create a place where women wouldnt be scared to share their stories and to prevent other women from having a similar experience.

As the group received more attention, the stories shared in the group chat, which were supposed to remain confidential, started leaking and reported directly to the victims perpetrator. To ensure the victims safety and control of the situation, Salahuddin decided to delete the group chat.

Some women were coming into the chat with the wrong intentions . to just come into like look at it like a gossipy thing, but in actuality, you know, it was a very sensitive thing, Salahuddin said. These are womens stories and stuff thats actually happening to them.

Salahuddin, however, said she didnt expect the conversation to get the attention it is currently receiving.

Im just really happy that people are starting to realize that this is a very big issue in our community and that changes do need to be made, Salahuddin said. Something does need to get done because it happens way too often to way too many women.

After seeing the impact the group created, Salahuddin said she created a more private group chat, with less than 100 members, focused on women empowerment.

Although the conversation began within the group chat, a more widespread conversation was sparked on sexual violence at USF when an alumna decided to take it a step further and share her story publicly on Twitter.

The alumna, kept anonymous to preserve her identity, said she was inspired to share her story after participating in a Twitter thread where people would share their age when the assault happened and the relationship with the abuser/perpetrator.

She then went into details of her story in a separate tweet on June 2, without revealing his name except for his affiliation with Lambda Upsilon Lambda fraternity. After receiving support from the community and hundreds of likes on the tweet, she felt comfortable enough to share his identity and expose his actions.

I cried myself to sleep for days, she tweeted. I felt betrayed by someone I once considered a friend.

[I] literally suppressed this for so long because I didnt want to start any drama. [I] tried to make myself forget it happened.

After overcoming barriers in her way, she decided to offer help to students going through a similar experience.

Through a Google Drive folder, she created documents to serve as resources for survivors when beginning to come to terms with their trauma. From offering a fraternity directory to a template letter to send it to organizations, she hopes to help survivors with one less barrier that they have to overcome.

On top of everything else the survivors are going through, just even trying to gather the energy to put together the email can be really difficult because youre so overwhelmed and just overcome with so many things at once, she said. Youre just exhausted and drained, so I thought this would be one way to be able to help people.

Aside from kicking off the conversation surrounding sexual assault within the USF community on Twitter, her tweet consequently inspired more women to share their stories, including current student Samantha.

Samantha became involved in the conversation after joining Salahuddins first GroupMe group chat in early June. After sharing her story and realizing that she wasnt the only one hurt by the same man, she felt compelled to post it on Twitter as well.

I wish that this chat was made early during my freshman year or early sophomore year because like five other girls went through the same thing as me. I felt comforted that I wasnt alone in my victimization by that individual and in general, but I was also sad and disappointed that I wasnt alone in this experience.

However, as more women started sharing their stories, she said that some individuals attempted to discredit the movement or not give it enough support, especially within the Black community.

Were Black women, and its called intersectionality, Samantha said. Were not just Black and were not just women were both. So if you want to fight both fights, then thats it because in my opinion, Black women are getting it from all sides like its not just Black Lives Matter for us as well. Black womens lives matter as well.

Were getting attacked on all sides and on all angles so if you want to call attention to something because you guys are saying Black Lives Matter, then we should call attention to everything.

Samantha said the group chat inspired her to tell her story and cultivate a safe space for survivors to speak up.

You have a story, youre telling the truth and were choosing to believe you, Samantha said. That was the train of thought behind [the group chat].

It was like a woman empowerment movement, but we were also supporting male victims as well, like it was with everybody if you were a victim, we believed you.

Senior Christine Njiri was also one among several other women who shared their story. She was raped in 2018 by a member of the Zeta Delta Chapter of the Iota Phi Delta fraternity.

While healing after the traumatic experience, Njiri said she lost a tremendous amount of weight and started attending therapy sessions.

I was internalizing everything and folding this secret that was affecting me in such a negative way, but had I just said something or had I just told someone it would have lifted this weight off my chest and my shoulders which I definitely feel now, Njiri said.

Its been a wild ride, to say the least. [It has been] very emotionally taxing.

Njiri said she has been dedicating the past six months to heal while staying at her home in South Africa. After she was raped, she was scared of speaking up and, as a result of what she called the toxic human culture present at USF, started missing classes and not leaving her apartment.

I grew a very deep resentment for Greek life and the celebratory culture that surrounds it, Njiri said. Not because I didnt understand the benefits of it, or the way that it was helping people, but it bothered me tremendously because I believe that if youre going to be loud about something or if youre going to praise something then let that be praiseworthy.

I believe in accountability, I believe in holding people accountable.

Her tweet, posted on June 24, received more than 350 likes and 170 retweets as of July 7.

At the end of the day, one thing I rest assured is that no one can ever come and fight me, I know that for a fact, Njiri said. You cant come in and be fake about me. I dont tolerate fakeness at all. Its not something that Ive ever been about.

As more attention was being drawn toward sexual violence, several other women also started sharing their stories on Twitter, including student MartazShia Gibbs.

Gibbs was sexually assaulted in 2017 and, at the time, she filed a report through Title IX. When contacting friends and family members, Gibbs said she wasnt listened to and didnt get fair treatment.

I was victimized and it was very hurtful. It was hard to deal with it, so, eventually, you lose hope, Gibbs said.

As Gibbs saw the conversation around sexual violence growing, she decided to speak up and share her story publicly.

I felt like, you know what, Im going to say it again and even if nobodys listening, I just want to say it and I want to name these people so that way [other] people can know, Gibbs said. Thats my truth that Im telling, but also because I want people to know that Im not afraid. Im not afraid of people who may want to silence me.

Gibbs said she filed a report against the student and Title IX reached out to start an investigation. During the process, she felt as if the staff didnt believe her and, consequently, she lost hope in the investigation.

I felt like I was doing what I was supposed to do, Gibbs said. I went to the Counseling Center. I reported it to our campus police and then I also reported it to Tampa Bay police. I told a university official in which they said that you should be telling Title IX.

After my experience with Title IX, I eventually lost so much hope that I just stopped going [to the office] because this investigation is taking so long. This semester will be over before we even get anywhere.

At the time, Gibbs said she was labeled as a liar and had her story discredited by people who supported the abuser.

Moments after posting her story on Twitter, she quickly received messages of support from other survivors as well.

When I spoke out, it was the same exact story, my same truth. The only difference between now and then, is that sexual assault, sexual [mis]conduct, rape and sexual harassment has become more knowledgeable, so people have done more research and they understand the topic, Gibbs said.

As several survivors started sharing their stories and coming forward with their abusers names, a few students decided to create a Google Sheets spreadsheet as a resource for women.

The list, created by students on June 30, was based off a thread on Twitter, listing names from individual stories. As of July 12, the list contained more than 160 names.

Among the people who helped create the list, a current USF student and owner of the Twitter account @talkyoshxt has been on the front line to guarantee that all survivors stories are heard.

I cant even take credit at all, simply because it wasnt my idea, they said. The list originated from a Black woman And she knew a lot of stories and a lot of survivors were comfortable to tell her their stories.

None of this would have been possible without her I started using her list, and just basically trying to match up people with social media and then it literally just evolved into me creating a whole spreadsheet with their names.

The list also includes names of organizations the accused men are part of, their current student status and social media accounts.

They said the purpose behind the list was to provide a resource, where women or queer folk can look at all the men that are in our area to keep an out eye for, as well as initiate the conversation on sexual violence.

I want people to start learning what sexual harassment is and what sexual assault is, they said. This whole big umbrella its not just about physical violence and rape, its making people feel unsafe.

As the list started growing and gaining attention, some tried to discredit it by making false allegations.

On June 30, a former student received a text message from a friend to let him know that he was accused of sexually assaulting and taking advantage of drunk women while at USF. His name was then added to the Google spreadsheet.

As a gay man, the post took him by surprise, especially after sharing his story when he was sexually assaulted by someone from the gay community and Greek life.

My friend sent me a text that morning that my name was added to some spreadsheet as somebody who sexually assaulted women, the former student said. It was less than 24 hours after I had outed my fraternity brother as my sexual assaulter.

Somebody, anonymously, put my name onto this list in retaliation because the person who sexually assaulted me was very well liked and so me coming out against this person caused me to have enemies I otherwise wouldnt have.

The former student posted on June 30 a statement where he addressed the allegations against him. Moments later, his name was removed from the list.

The student behind @talkyoshxt said if someone feels theres a problem or a mistake was made on the list, they are open to talking to people.

Im destined to always believe in the survivor first, they said. So, when I read these stories obviously Im thinking theyre all true to begin with, but I have to take everything into consideration at the end of the day, who am I to tell survivors that they are wrong?

Despite the false allegation against him, the former student said his case should not be used to discredit the list or the other survivors who are sharing their stories.

My intention isnt to discredit anyone, but to sound bite on the fact that retaliation is real, he said. After you come out against somebody, retaliation is definitely a thing that can happen and thats a fear of everyone who has been sexually assaulted. Theyre afraid that people will turn on them, things will be said about them, and its a big reason why a lot of people dont come forward.

He also emphasized the fact that sexual violence can happen to anyone, including within the gay community.

I think its easy for people to forget that, not just women get sexually assaulted and not just straight men get sexually assaulted and that ended up happening to me, unfortunately, he said. I try to deal with it in a more private matter, because going out publicly is just so scary because you know youre afraid of retaliation and unfortunately that is something that happened to me.

As more survivors share their stories and advocate for change within campus, students emphasize the importance of shedding a light on sexual violence within the campus community.

A lot of times people ignore and suppress the memories, but the survivors are left with the trauma and the emotional burden of keeping it a secret and never sharing this with anybody and I think people are just kind of sick of that honestly, the alumna who sparked the conversation on Twitter said.

I think survivors have come to a point where they want to reclaim their power and they want to tell their truth, and theyre doing that unapologetically. And I think thats amazing.

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The voices behind a movement: how students began the conversation on sexual violence - The Oracle

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Celebrity stylist Tara Swennen and Glamhive founder Stephanie Sprangers will once again bring together some of the biggest names from around the world in style, fashion, beauty and womens empowerment for theGlamhive Digital Summer Bazaara groundbreaking digital event taking place this Saturday, July 11thkicking off at 10:00 a.m. PDT.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005857/en/

During Glamhives first digital event, Glamhive LIVE Style Summit, audience members were asked to engage with panels through live, real-time question and answer sessions. The conversations ranged from intimate questions about how to break down gender barriers when starting a business to how to find ways to break in into business through marketing. Due to that events overwhelming success, Swennen and Sprangers decided to raise the bar for their next global event.

The style, beauty, and designer communities are a close-knit one; many of us have worked together or known each other for yearsand, this year has been a tough one. Im thrilled by the opportunity to bring us all together and share our insights, experience, and advice with everyone who wants to be part of our community too, said Tara Swennen, celebrity stylist. Swennen was inducted into the Costume Designers Guild, was named one ofThe Hollywood Reporter'sTop 25 Most Powerful Stylists four years in a row and was awarded Best Vegan Fashion Stylist at the first Vegan Fashion Week. Her clients include Kristen Stewart, Matthew McConaughey, Lana Condor, and Allison Janney. She has worked on major campaigns with Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Neutrogena, E!, Target, and Netflix, and her work has appeared inFlaunt,InStyle,Nylon,Teen Vogue,Esquire UK,Maxim, and more.

The Glamhive Digital Summer Bazaar is touted as the worlds largest digital gathering of some of the greatest talents in the fashion, style and beauty industries, coming together for round table discussions with audience participation. The conference will feature three tracks, 32 panels, over 100 different speakers, and offer highly intensive Master Classes focused on specific topics with in-depth, intimate conversations with globally renowned experts.

Glamhives vision is to make personal styling available to everyone, everywhere and our digital events are a wonderful extension of that. For the very first time, people who are fashion and beauty enthusiasts or work in the industry can learn from the best in the business, said Stephanie Sprangers, Glamhive founder. Sprangers is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Glamhive, the online personal styling service that brings expert personal stylists and makeup artistsrecruited directly from Hollywood and Instagramto everyone. Glamhive has developed proprietary software that allows stylists to take clients through a styling experience that is 100% online, allowing people to work with stylists anywhere in the world.

Tickets to the conference are $99 for an all-day ticket and $149 for an all-day ticket + VIP Gift Box. Glamhive will donate 15 percent of all ticket sales to the NAACP. For a 25 percent discount on all-day tickets, use the promo code:GLAMHIVEGLOBAL.

Presenting sponsor for the Glamhive Digital Summer Bazaar is Mary Kay and its Mary Kay Global Design Studio. Other sponsors include 11 Honore, Michael Stars, and more.

Track 1: Personal Style

Personal style is about expression, communication, connection, and valuing yourself enough to reach your potential. In this track, personal style is as unique as you are.

Track 2: Business of Fashion

Innovation. Creativity. Sustainability. Diversity. The business of fashion is worth $2.5 trillion globally. Consumers, creatives, philanthropists, entrepreneurs and businesses need to have a stronger voice in shaping the industry for the better.

Track 3: The Beauty Biz

Personalized beauty is the new beauty and businesses are evolving on how to build a customized, unique business, product portfolio, and all areas of business to meet consumer demands.

The Master Classes

This exclusive track is a wide spectrum ranging from creating your brand to building your business, focusing on insider information and breaking through any barrier to start, grow or expand your knowledge of fashion, beauty, and style.

Quotes from Speakers/Panelists

Pati Dubroff, Celebrity Makeup Artist

Dubroff is considered one of the most legendary and respected Hollywood makeup artists of all time.

I am thrilled to join this very impressive lineup of the best of the best in the worlds of beauty, fashion and design as we band together to share and inspire. Although we need to be physically distant, we can keep our creative juices flowing and be together learning and growing with this awesome Glamhive community.

Adir Abergel, Celebrity Hair Stylist

Abergel has created memorable hair looks for Hollywoods most talented artists, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart, Jennifer Garner, Charlize Theron, and more.

I am humbled to be included with so many smart and inspiring women that are leaders in our industry.

Africa Miranda, TV Host | Author | Beautypreneur | Digital Media Personality | Founder of Beauty by Africa Miranda

A dynamic speaker, host, actress and spokesmodel, with distinctive style and quick wit, and the breakout star of Bravo TVs The New Atlanta.

If a creative in any field can maximize their digital presence, the sky is the limit. Im honored and excited to partner with Glamhive as a speaker for the Digital Summer Bazaar. This will be a fantastic opportunity for stylists and fashion-lovers to expand their know how and build their brands.

Mark Badgley, co-founder of Badgley Mischka

James Mischka, co-founder of Badgley Mischka

Badgley and Mischka have been hailed by Vogue as one of the Top 10 American Designers and as the darlings of the Hollywood set. The design duo has made their mark over the past two decades.

We are thrilled to be a part of the GlamHive Live Digital Summer Bazaar, said Mark Badgley. To be able to chat with Micaela and share our insights and thoughts on all things Bridal will be a treat. We are excited to be connecting with such a great audience of fashion fans, added James Mischka.

About Glamhive

Glamhive was founded by entrepreneur Stephanie Sprangers in 2017 with the vision to democratize personal styling and the premise that the confidence that comes with glamour should not be exclusive to the rich and famous. The online styling experience offers anyone with a Wi-Fi connection access to stylists who will provide them with the support they need to be the best version of themselves. For stylists, it is a seamless end-to-end platform to help them grow their network and their business, 100% virtually.

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005857/en/

Contact person:

Stephanie Sprangers206-851-0446steph@glamhive.com

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Celebrity Stylist Tara Swennen and Glamhive Founder Stephanie Sprangers Once Again Bring Together Some of the Biggest Names from Around the World in...

Diamond-studded G-strings, female strippers writhing spread-eagle down a pole, banging trap music, shady real estate deals, complicated motherhood, and the church. Its no wonder award-winning playwright Katori Hall decided to take her 2015 stage production of Pussy Valley to the small screen where millions more people can experience the many complexities of life in the Dirty South over the course of eight one-hour episodes. It was overstuffed, she admits to BAZAAR.com. There was so much going on.

But with the new Starz series, modestly titled yet just as explicit as ever, P-Valley, Hall was able to flesh out these gloriously entangled themes and imagesand, even more provocatively, show how they are intrinsically embedded in the fabric of the Mississippi Delta. Fans whove been following Halls career for years already know that the Memphis native is no stranger to exploring the history of the South and its persistent racial politics in her work. But fewer people may realize that for six years, she was just as feverishly investigating it through its Black strip club culture, which was such a fond part of her life growing up.

These girls are superheroes [and] what they do should be respected, Hall says. This world deserves to be explored more deeply. In an industry where few women, especially Black women, are granted opportunities to step behind the camera to tell an unapologetically Black story, the fact that Hallwho had little screen experienceis the showrunner, writer, and a producer on the hotly anticipated cable series is a major feat.

That just underscores Halls unflinching vision for the show that centers on the eponymous strip club in which a young woman (Elarica Johnson) has escaped a personal tragedy, a seasoned stripper (the magnetic Brandee Evans) is just weeks away from saving up enough money to open a dance studio, and its gender-fluid owner (Nicco Annan) is juggling the day-to-day business and keeping eviction at bay.

She may have compromised on P-Valleys shortened title, but Hall was adamant about its nudity, female crew, relentlessly female gaze, and its slanguage. Its a strip club, so dont be clutching your pearls over naked women, she laughs. We are very aware that we are dealing with a history of hyper-sexualized images of Black women. But we knew that we were going to be lensing these women with a very humanistic approach.

Ahead, Hall talks further with BAZAAR.com about bringing the Dirty Souths strip club culture to the mainstream, the thin line between sexual empowerment and exploitation, and the hushed relationship between the pole and the pulpit.

Im always exploring my Southern roots in every play that Ive written. It showcases the fact that Im a daughter of the South. So, in that vein, strip club culture, particularly Southern Black strip club culture, was part of my coming of age. I was always in those spaces. I was going there [to] see one of the most amazing shows on earth; women climbing up on those poles and putting forth this theatrical experience. I would be moved by the way the women were flying around sometimes two stories in the air. I was in awe of their strength and flexibility.

I was like, These girls are superheroes. I had moved to New York and [was] in school, and I wanted to get my little sexy on. I remember taking a pole dancing class. It was truly one of the hardest classes I have ever taken. As a matter of fact, I was on the spinner pole and had to run out of the studio because I got nauseated. In that moment, I was like, What these women do should be respected. So that was my entry point into the worldme trying to replicate the amazing theatrical and acrobatic feats that I saw coming of age down south.

Tina Rowden/Starz

I was like, This world deserves to be explored more deeply. I really wanted to bring the women front and center in terms of telling us their stories, understanding why they chose the profession and why the profession chose them. So, I ended up researching for six years. I went to so many strip clubs [and] interviewed so many women. I ended up working on the play and doing dance workshops. This all culminated into the stage production, which premiered in 2015 at the Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis.

When I saw it, I immediately said to myself, Girl, this is a TV show, because it was overstuffed. There was so much going on. But at the center of the story were these amazing characters that you wanted to be with for years, not just for three hours (thats how long the play was). So I quickly pivoted and pitched it. Luckily, Starz saw what I wanted to do, which was humanize women who had been dehumanized for so long. And for four years, I developed it from the stage play into the TV show.

I feel as though P-Valley as a television series is the next chapter in terms of my creative life as a storyteller widening the ways in which I tell stories and [use] different mediums. At the core of it is this Southern gal who was always reflecting to the world the beauty and the darkness of the South.

I sit at this complicated intersection of race, class, and gender as a Black woman who grew up in the South. And I have inherited a complicated history. I think all Americans have inherited this history of slavery and oppression. In Memphis, and often Mississippi, the weight of that history is felt even more. Im always interested in unpacking that history and showing people its actually not the past; it is very present. We see it in our politics, in how we as Americans still interact with each other, the fact that the Black body has been dehumanized for so long. That is why we are seeing these Black men being killed by police.

I hope that this story provides a way of humanizing a group of people that are demanding human rights.

My art is always a way to continue addressing all these levels of injustice. And I hope that this story provides a way of humanizing a group of people that are demanding human rights. The most powerful thing about the story is that it creates empathy. It doesnt necessarily change policy, but it does impact the policymakers. I am always trying to dig into the complicated and dark parts of our history and culture to try and affect social change.

Absolutely. The secular and the sacred live side by side. You think about people going to the club on Saturday night and in a few hours, theyre rolling up in church on Sunday morning. I really feel as though that storyline of Mercedess [Evans] hypocritical mom [Harriett D. Foy] looking down on her child and participating in respectability politics to a certain extent is just something youre raised to do. The church is definitely the biggest cultural cornerstone down south. [For] a large percentage of people, if theyre not going to church on Sunday morning, theyre at least listening to it on the radio Sunday morning.

Jessica Miglio/Starz

But what is so interesting is how segregated our churches still are down south. I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to look at the patriarchy of the church, particularly the Black church. A lot of people dont even want to touch that. Theres a very interesting commonality exposed over the course of the season where you see Mercedes on her pedestal, the stage in the strip club where shes fighting for respect, and her mother up on the pulpit but they wont let her speak. She has to sing and perform and draw money out of sinners pockets.

But theyre both doing the same thing. Theyre still pushing up against patriarchy, but in two completely different spaces. It just goes to show that it doesnt matter where you are as a woman, you still have to fight against the goliath that is patriarchy in this country.

That was the biggest fight we hadand me and Starz didnt fight! They were really good partners. But they had a preliminary conversation with the carriersComcast, Time Warner, all of themand those folks were like, Were not going to put a show on our platform that has the word pussy in it. So it ended up being a business decision. We didnt want to create this amazing show and people not be able to have access to it. We decided that we would basically truncate the title, a nickname of the nickname. However, in the main title and in the dialogue in the show, it is very clear that everyone calls the place Pussy Valley.

Everything was nonnegotiable. If you are doing a show that is set in a strip club, you have to be honest. So that means we have to be honest about the level of nudity. Dont be clutching your pearls over naked women. We are very aware that we are dealing with a history of hyper-sexualized images of Black women. But because we knew that this show was going to be centered through the female gaze, we knew that we were going to be lensing these women with a very humanistic approach and that we had to be sensitive.

There was a balance. But at the same time, we had to be authentic to a Black strip club. We talked about being truthful [about] the way people spoke. There had been a conversationthat I was not a part of and thank God, because I would have read everybody for filthabout subtitling the show because of the specificity of the language. I was like, I am not going to lie about how these people speak. I am not going to whitewash the sound.

I am not going to lie about how these people speak. I am not going to whitewash the sound.

We as Black folks grow up and have to be bicultural in that weve got to learn how to code-switch. We have to learn how to walk in a white world. We have to do all these things and strip ourselves of these cultural markers in order to fit in and make other people feel comfortable. Were not going to do that with this show. You are going to have to learn their language [and] understand their rules. This is their world. They are the kings and queens, and we have to learn their tongue, their English.

And its okay; its a valid form of communication. It is a fusion of dialect and accent and slang. I like to use the word slanguage to describe how the characters speak. Ive often been that Black girl in a mostly white space, and the only one having to fix my tongue in order for people to understand me. There came a point in my life where I was like, I am country as hell. Dont replace that.

Absolutely. When I started interviewing directors, I actually did interview a few men. I would ask, What is your definition of the female gaze? The men never really had an answer. I think it had a lot to do with [the fact that] they never have to think about it. No one ever asked them that question because theyre always in the majority when it comes to being a director. But artists are affected by their own lived experiences. As a woman walking in this world, a Black woman walking along this world, a trans woman walking in this world, this life is going to be different from your typical white man [in terms of] how people interact with you.

So the artists that ended up rising to the top were able to answer that questionnot only due to their own lived experiences but because the work that they previously engaged in was already investigating what the female gaze is. They were able to come to the table with all these ideas in regard to the nudity, the cinematography, the camera movement. We really wanted to put the audience in the shoes of these women. We wanted to walk through the club and have the audience feel like they had big breasts and a curvaceous bottom. We wanted to see this world and experience it through their eyes.

I would ask, What is your definition of the female gaze? The men never really had an answer.

We even talked a lot about camera placement and framing. We did a lot of POV shots. We did a lot of shots that were super close up, so that we can feel like were actually inside the womens brains. Those were very important aesthetic choices that helped us hone in on what it means to be a woman.

I think exploitation and liberation exist within this strip club space. Thats what makes it so complicated. We had to be honest about how these characters were participating in their own subjugation but show how they were able to empower themselves even though they were oftentimes placed in disempowering positions.

Jessica Miglio/Starz

Theres a scene in Episode 2 where you have a dancer dancing butt naked on the lap of two business guys. She hears something [about a] very important business deal. Because they have forgotten about her, she has become an object. She uses her invisibility [to] empower herself. Shes like, They dont see me. Im just a pair of breasts and a big booty. Im going to listen to this secretive business deal, so that I can empower myself.

The show is constantly subverting what we think power and disempowerment look like. These men think theyre in the drivers seat. But eventually, this woman takes the key. The strip club is a very challenging space. But I really feel when audiences come to the show, they will see that nothing is black and white in this world. There are ways in which women can figure a way out and empower themselves and gain financial and social freedom. All kinds of freedoms can exist in this space if you open [your] eyes and see where those other possibilities are.

P-Valley airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Starz.

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.

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P-Valley Creator Katori Hall on Working with Women, Female Gaze - HarpersBAZAAR.com

More than 100 new laws hit the books from the 2020 legislative session, with issues ranging from expanding school vouchers to increasing fines for bear poaching.

Out of 156 bills Gov. Ron DeSantis had signed into law as of June 30, 112, including the states new $92.2 billion budget, took effect July 1, the start of the states fiscal year.

Other measures, such as a bill (SB 140) that helped clear the way for people to legally set off fireworks on July 4, New Years Eve and New Years Day, took effect immediately after being signed by DeSantis, or shortly thereafter.

Here are some of the key bills:

HB 5001: The record $92.2 billion budget increases public-school funding by $137 per student and provides 3% pay raises for state workers. Also, it includes $500 million to increase teacher salaries, $625 million for the Everglades and other water-related projects and $100 million for the Florida Forever conservation program.

HB 7097: A $47 million tax package includes a pair of sales-tax holidays, with back-to-school shoppers able to avoid paying sales taxes from Aug. 7 through Aug. 9 on clothes costing $60 or less, school supplies costing $15 or less and on the first $1,000 of the cost of personal computers. The bill also includes a disaster-preparedness tax holiday that was held around the June 1 start of hurricane season.

HB 7067: Lawmakers took a series of steps to increase school choice, including dramatically expanding the Family Empowerment Scholarship voucher program. The program, which was created last year, provided 17,724 vouchers as of February a number that will be able to jump to more than 46,600 during the 2020-2021 academic year.

HB 641: Coupled with $500 million in the budget, the bill sets the stage for public-school teachers to get pay raises. It also eliminates the controversial Best and Brightest teacher bonus program.

HB 1213: The bill will lead to public-school students learning about the 1920 Ocoee Election Day riot that involved attacks on black residents and requires the Department of Education to develop standards and curriculum for teaching the history of the Holocaust.

HB 7011: The Florida High School Athletic Association will be required to take a series of steps to protect high school athletes from suffering heat strokes. For example, the association will have to establish requirements for cooling zones, which could include such things as cold-water immersion tubs.

HB 389: Pharmacists will be able to play an expanded role in providing health care to patients. In part, they will be able to enter collaborative agreements with physicians to treat patients for chronic illnesses, such as arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, Type 2 diabetes, HIV, AIDS and obesity. Rules still need to be finalized to carry out the bill.

HB 607: Advanced practice registered nurses will have authority to practice independently of physicians, a top of priority of the legislative session for House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes.

SB 1344: The bill will help clear the way for building new intermediate care facilities for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

SB 698: Health-care providers will not be able to conduct pelvic exams on women without written consent. The measure also seeks to prevent misconduct by doctors who provide fertility treatment.

HB 743: The bill revises a 2019 law meant to crack down on opioid abuse by allowing health care practitioners to discuss non-opioid alternatives with patients representatives rather than just the patients. The measure also requires practitioners to provide people with a state-published pamphlet on opioids.

SB 172: Lawmakers moved to block Key West and other local governments from imposing bans on certain types of sunscreens that contain the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. Key West approved such a ban because of concerns that the chemicals could damage coral reefs.

SB 712: Dubbed the Clean Waterways Act, the bill sets new rules for septic tanks, increases fines for environmental violations and imposes requirements on agricultural fertilizer.

HB 1061: Lawmakers created the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve, which is aimed at protecting about 400,000 acres of sea grass habitat along Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. The protections will include restrictions on such things as dredging, seawall construction and sale of submerged lands.

HB 327: People who poach Florida black bears during a closed season will face increased penalties. Poaching stems, at least in part, from the animals being killed for their gallbladders. Bear bile, secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, can bring in hundreds or thousands of dollars on the black market, where it is promoted as a cure for numerous ills.

HB 659: Non-law enforcement employees of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be allowed to operate aerial drones for eradication efforts of invasive plants and animals on public lands, and the Florida Forest Service will be able to use drones to mitigate the threat of wildfires on public lands.

SB 664: All government employers such as local schools, public universities and state agencies and their contractors will be required to use a federal electronic system, known as E-Verify, to check the immigration status of new workers.

HB 969: Under the measure, up to $5 million a year will be set aside for Floridas Turnpike Enterprise to develop broadband infrastructure as part of projects to spur new or expanded toll roads from Collier County to the Georgia border.

SB 7018: The Florida Department of Transportation will plan and build staging areas for emergency response along the turnpike system, with a priority in counties with a population of 200,000 or less in which a multi-use corridor of regional significance is located. Such multi-use corridors are new or extended toll roads backed last year by the Legislature The measure also requires the Public Service Commission to work with the transportation department and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, to develop electric vehicle charging stations along state highways.

HB 971: Electric bicycles will be regulated in the same manner as pedal-powered bicycles, instead of as motorized vehicles.

HB 199: A statute of limitations will be eliminated in sexual battery cases when the victims are younger than 18 at the time the crimes occurred.

SB 1392: District court of appeal judges who live more than 50 miles from their courts will be allowed to have alternative headquarters. The measure also will allow the judges to be reimbursed for travel between the locations.

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More than 100 new laws signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis - Palm Coast Observer