Category Archives: Progress

The University of Pennsylvania has launched Projects for Progress, a new initiative that will award prizes of as much as $100,000 to support proposals by teams of students, faculty, and staff designed to promote equity and inclusion and to make a direct impact in Philadelphia.

The applications for this years funding are due by March 1. The winners are expected to be announced in May.

Established by President Amy Gutmann, the initial fund of $2 million was announced in June. Projects for Progress is managed by the new Office of Social Equity & Community, led by University Chaplain Charles ChazHoward, who became the offices first vice president in August.

Project proposals must clearly and directly address one or more of three objectives: eradicating or reducing systemic racism, achieving educational equity, or reducing health disparities based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and/or social determinants of health.

Its an opportunity to propose practical steps to tackle certain issues that need more attention, says Nicole Maloy, director of social equity and community, who is coordinating the initiative. I think it really is part of what Penn does so well. Its not just about coming up with ideas; its about making them happen, making them a reality, the intersection of theory and practice.

Projects for Progress joins the Presidents Engagement Prize and the Presidents Innovation Prize in providing funding of as much as $100,000 for projects proposed by the Penn community. Establishing this prize helps to bring these special opportunities full circle to align with the ideals of the institution: impact, innovation, and inclusion, Maloy says.

An important distinction is that while the Engagement and Innovation prizes are for graduating seniors, Projects for Progress is open to teams of three to five students, faculty, and staff. In addition, while the other prizes are for global, national, and local projects, the new initiative is focused on Philadelphia, whether at Penn or more broadly in the city.

We value our relationship with our neighbors. Penn is a part of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia is a part of Penn, Maloy says. As important as it is to be thinking nationally and globally about our impact, its also incredibly important that we make a positive impact where we are.

The number of awards and the amount of each has yet to be determined, but there will be more than one Projects for Progress proposal chosen for the prize this year, Maloy says. Each proposal must include a budget, and the projects are expected to launch within six months of being named as prize recipients.

Interdisciplinary teams and those that include a combination of students, faculty, and staff will receive priority consideration. Teams are encouraged to take full advantage of the breadth of perspectives, life experiences, and academic expertise represented across and throughout the University to help inform their proposals.

Study after study shows that diversity in thought, diversity in experience, diversity in background will lead to increases in creativity among groups. That's a value and a priority here at Penn, Maloy says.

Maloy acknowledges that the inaugural application timeline is short. We wanted to make the opportunity available rather than wait an entire year, she says.

Assisting in choosing the winners will be a committee of representatives from the School of Social Policy & Practice, the Graduate School of Education, the School of Nursing, the Perelman School of Medicine, the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, and Civic House.

I'm hoping that the students, staff, and faculty who engage in the process of creating a proposal to address one of these incredibly important issues in society will use their power and their potential to make a positive impact in the world around them, regardless of whether or not they win this particular prize, says Maloy. The more people who embrace that idea, whether in small ways or in large ways, the more successful this will be.

See the article here:

Projects for Progress | Penn Today - Penn Today

Austin, Texas The City of Austins Housing and Planning Department, in partnership with HousingWorks Austin, have released the first set of scorecards that analyze and track the communitys progress towards affordable housing goals set forth in the Strategic Housing Blueprint. The Blueprint Scorecards show that the Austin community is making progress towards the 10-year goals outlined in the Strategic Housing Blueprint adopted in 2017, but significant work remains.

The Scorecards measure goals outlined in the Strategic Housing Blueprint including ensuring the creation, preservation, and equitable spread of affordable housing units across our City, while aiming to create affordability accessible to a wide range of incomes.

The Blueprint Scorecards may be viewed online here.

Additionally, these first-ever reporting scorecards grade each goal with Making Progress, Slow Progress, and Losing Ground indicators to clearly and quickly determine the progress made that year towards achieving that goal.

HousingWorks Austin consulted many community partners to track development patterns in Austin since the adoption of the Strategic Housing Blueprint, said Nora Linares-Moeller, Executive Director at HousingWorks Austin. Austin has made some progress toward meeting goals to provide housing affordable to households earning 60% Median Family Income and above. However, much work remains to address the significant need for more housing dedicated to families experiencing chronic homelessness and those earning below 60% MFI.

Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint Overview

The Citys first Strategic Housing Blueprint, adopted by Council in 2017, is a 10-year plan to help align resources and facilitate community partnerships around a single, strategic vision to create 60,000 affordable housing units to those making less than 80% of the median family income and ensure that there is affordable housing throughout the city. The Blueprint establishes a clear timeframe with which to track progress, outline clear, numeric and trackable goals, build partnerships, and identify needed resources and funding mechanisms.

The Strategic Housing Blueprint identifies five community values that are reflected in the seven housing goals outlined in the Blueprint. The community values are:

Blueprint Scorecard

The Scorecard analyses and tracks progress toward achieving the seven housing goals that are key to implementing the Blueprint. This annually reported scorecard can help Austin track its efforts to sustainably achieve affordability goals, expand housing opportunities, and ensure Austin remains a livable city for all.

Current reporting data shows Austin has made considerable progress towards achieving strategic housing goals, but significant work remains. To achieve these goals would require leveraging existing funding sources, increasing future funding opportunities, ensuring that existing regulations and programs align with affordability goals, and expanding collaborations with non-profit and private sector partners. Continued progress also depends on a strong community commitment, such as the voter approval of Project Connect in 2020, which includes $300 million for anti-displacement activities, to address the needs of the most vulnerable and create a more equitable and inclusive Austin.

Scorecard Presentations

The Housing and Planning Department, along with HousingWorks Austin, will present the Scorecards to the Planning Commission on January 26 and the City Council Housing and Planning Committee on February 23.

To learn more about the Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint and to view the Blueprint Scorecards for 2018 and 2019 in full, visit: austintexas.gov/blueprint

###

Link:

City Releases the First Set of 'Report Cards' Highlighting Progress Towards Affordable Housing Goals - AustinTexas.gov

STOCKHOLM, Jan. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday January 12th, in Nature Communications, strong preclinical results for a new COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the team of Prof. Salanti from University of Copenhagen, ExpreS2ion Biotech, its joint venture partner AdaptVac and the PREVENT-nCoV consortium, was published. Based on these results, aclinical trial application (CTA) for a clinical Phase I/II study for the COVID-19 vaccine has been submitted.

About the preclinical resultsReadouts from the data show that ABNCoV2 has the potential to be the best-in-class COVID-19 vaccine with a more than 100-fold higher level of neutralizing antibodies compared with published preclinical animal data from currently approved COVID-19 vaccines, such as Pfizer-BioNTech's, Moderna's, and AstraZeneca-Oxford's vaccines. The full paper is available online and can be read here.

About the CTAThe Clinical trial application (CTA) for the ABNCoV2 capsid virus-like particle (cVLP) based COVID-19 vaccine was submitted to the Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (CCMO) in the Netherlands last week. It is expected to be approved under a COVID-19 fast-track review progress. This can be seen as another significant milestone following theNovember 2020 announcementof the successful GMP manufacturing of the vaccine. ExpreS2ion expects to present preliminary clinical Phase I/IIa results before end of Q1 2021.

Attana's involvementSince March 2020, Attana has been assisting the team of Prof. Ali Salanti at the University of Copenhagen in the development of this COVID-19 vaccine with two of Attana's QCM Biosensors combined with research intelligence. As can be seen in the paper published, Attana's technology has foremost been used to analyze kinetic interactions between RBD antigens and CLP-RBD to hACE2. Furthermore, Attana and ExpreS2ion recently established a strategic partnership including a supply agreement of proteins. In addition, Attana technology has been used to quality control the vaccine for the IND submission.

Attana CEO Teodor Aastrup comments: "I'm thrilled for our partners sake and for the future of vaccine development and wish to congratulate all parties involved for achieving such exciting results. I'm now looking forward to explore this collaboration further and to hopefully work more closely with both Prof. Salanti and the team at ExpreS2ion in the near time future."

For more information, please contact:

Teodor Aastrup[emailprotected]+46 (0)8674 57 00

The Board of directors for Attana consider that the information in this press release is not likely to have a significant effect on the share price but is of general interest for the shareholders and hence should be communicated.

About Attana

Attana was founded in 2002 with the vision ofin-vitrocharacterization of molecular interactions mimickingin-vivoconditions. Since then, Attana has developed proprietary label free biosensors for biochemical, crude, sera, and cell-based assays and the Attana Virus Analytics (AVA) platform, a proprietary in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) tool. Attana products and research services are used by Big Pharma, biotech companies and academic institutions within the life sciences. To learn more about our latest services and products, please visitwww.attana.se or contact [emailprotected].

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/attana/r/significant-progress-made-in-new-covid-19-vaccine-developed-by-the-team-of-prof-salanti,c3267204

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE Attana

See the article here:

Significant progress made in new COVID-19 vaccine developed by the team of Prof Salanti - PRNewswire

Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and James Corden play Broadway actors who help an Indiana teen attend a dance with her girlfriend in Netflix's 'The Prom.' USA TODAY

Netflix released its first-ever inclusion report Wednesday, highlighting progress the company has made and further steps itneeds to take to be more inclusive such as achievingpay equity for underrepresented employees.

A video accompanying the report highlights strides the company has made in diversity and inclusion, like having the first transgender director nominated for an Oscar;Laverne Cox's historic Emmy nomination; putting together theBlack British Stories collection;and the representation of a gay man with cerebral palsy in series "Special." But on-screen progress begins behind the lens, saysVern Myers, vice president ofinclusion strategy at Netflix.

About half of the company's overall workforce is female, as is the make-up of its leadership level. Nearly 48% of director-level employees and above are female, an improvement since 2017 when about 41% were female.

Also, about half of the company's U.S. workforce (46%) are people from underrepresented racial and/or ethnic backgrounds (i.e. Black;Latinoor Hispanic;Indigenous, Middle Eastern;Asian;and Pacific Islander). White staff make-up dipped from 46.1% to 45.5% since 2017.Black employees make up 8% of the company's workforce in the U.S.and 9% of its leadership; this number has doubled in the last three years.

Netflix's report also touches on pay equity, and says the company does "open compensation," meaning the top 1,000 leaders at the company can see what employees are paid. The company also has held more than 120 workshops on subjects likeprivilege, bias and intersectionality across employee levels.

"In the last year, weve shifted our consciousness towardallyship," Myers writes. "It can be uncomfortable to talk about privilege. But we dont think privilege is a dirty word. And once weve located our privilege, how can we use that privilege to offset inequities for others?"

This topic became critical for the company after the events of George Floyd's death; Floyd was a Black man who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck, sparking renewed calls for racial justice last summer around the U.S.

Going forward, Myers says the company needs to improve its Hispanic or Latino and other underrepresented people across areas of the company especially at the leadership level. Netflix also wants to expand its inclusion efforts internationally and focus on work beyond demographics and hiring goals.

"Hiring is important, for sure, but so is retention, promotion, tenure and compensation among underrepresented colleagues," Myers writes.

In case you missed: Trio of best children's group Grammy contenders decline nominations over lack of diversity

And here, too: After Grammy nominations outcry, Recording Academy steps up efforts to support Black musicians

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2021/01/13/netflix-first-inclusion-report-highlights-progress-need-more-diversity/4144725001/

Link:

Netflix releases first-ever inclusion report: 'We don't think privilege is a dirty word' - USA TODAY

Stimulus check or junk mail? Know what to look for so you don't toss it in the trash.

Most of the second stimulus checks have already been delivered to people in the US, throughdirect deposit--with some problems-- and mail in the form of a paper check orEIP debit card(more people are getting them this time). And if you're eligible for a second payment of up to $600 per person, but haven't received it in your bank account yet, you may need to pay attention to what's arriving in your mailbox.

There are two easy (and free) ways to track your stimulus check. The first is by using the IRS'stimulus check tracker tool, which can give you information about your payment schedule, how it's arriving,your second stimulus check totaland if there's been anerror processing your check. Then, if you learn your payment is coming in the mail, you can sign up for a free USPS service that shows you when your letters -- including your second stimulus check -- have been scanned, are in transit and have been delivered to your home.

With adeadline of Friday, Jan. 15-- just two days away -- the IRS has to finish sending out stimulus payments, as set in the December stimulus bill. If you don't receive your money in the mail shortly after that date, you'll have to file a claim during tax season to get it, and that could affect how quickly your money arrives. (Here's what to know about athird stimulus check, too.) We'll walk you through how you can use the USPS service to monitor your stimulus payment in the mail. This story was recently updated.

Informed Deliveryis a free mail-tracking service from the USPS that automatically scans your letters and can alert you with an image each time a letter with your name on it is about to be delivered -- this includes, of course, your second stimulus payment.

When the USPS runs mailed letters through its automated mail sorting equipment, it automatically creates a digital image of the front of all letter-size mail. Anyone who signs up for Informed Delivery can access the information by asking the USPS to notify you when each piece of mail with your name on it is on the way. Note that it can take three days to activate your account.

As part of the program, you'll receive an email each morning, Monday through Saturday, to notify you of any mail being delivered to you. You'll also see a grayscale image of the front of the letter. Informed Delivery has free apps forAndroidandiPhonethat you can use.

Just be aware that signing up means you'll seeallyour mail scanned by the post office, not just your stimulus check. You can cancel the service at any time.

Now playing: Watch this: Second stimulus checks: Everything you need to know

3:22

Informed Delivery does have some limitations. For example, it'll work with many residential and personal post office box addresses but not businesses. It also won't work for some residential buildings where the Postal Service hasn't yet identified each unit.

To check whether Informed Delivery is available in your area, head to the Postal Service's Informed Delivery page.

1. TapSign Up for Free.

2. Enter your mailing address and confirm it'll work with the service; then accept the terms and conditions and tap Continue.

3. On the next page, choose your username, password and security questions. Then, enter your contact information and tap Continue.

4. On the next page, you'll need to verify your identity. TapVerify identity online if you want to receive a verification code on your phone or tap Request invitation code by mail if you want the Postal Service to mail you a code. You may also have the option to visit a post office to verify your identity in person.

For more stimulus check details, here's how to calculate an estimate of your total, what we know about a third stimulus check and how some of your rights have changed for the better with a second stimulus check.

The rest is here:

Has the IRS mailed your stimulus check yet? Track its progress with this free USPS tool - CNET

While the COVID-19 pandemic and the presidential election will probably rank in most peoples minds as the top stories nationally in 2020, Butts County had its own fair share of top local stories during the last 12 months, including pandemic-related news.

The Progress-Argus is presenting a four-part series on the top story for each week of 2020, along with honorable mentions, based on the opinions of the staff. The Jan. 6 edition had the months of January-March, this week will be April-June, followed on Jan. 20 by July-September, and ending Jan. 27 with October-December.

Butts County prohibiting gatherings of 10 or more

The Butts County Board of Commissioners has amended their Declaration of Local Emergency to prohibit community gatherings of 10 or more people; require bars, taverns, nightclubs and similar establishments outside of city limits to be closed; require restaurants outside of city limits to close to the public except to provide takeout, delivery, drive-through, or curbside service, and require all businesses remaining open to ensure everyone in them remain six feet apart as much as possible.

School Meals on Wheels: Butts County School System providing almost 3,000 meals a week to students

Manhunt after Sunday murder narrows to two suspects

A search for a suspected killer and possible female hostage has changed into a search for two suspects after the Butts County Sheriffs Office determined Autumn Keara Finlay, 21, may be aiding Cody Bryce Matthews, 20, to evade apprehension. Matthews is wanted for the shooting death of William Ryan Ray, 30, of Jenkinsburg. Ray was gunned down near the pool and tennis courts on Sunday, April 3, in the Jackson Glenn subdivision west of Jackson off of Ga. Highway 36 near I-75. Witnesses told investigators several children were playing near the pool when shots rang out.

Cody Matthews captured in Williamson; Autumn Finlay found safe

The hunt is over. The Butts County Sheriffs Office, Georgia State Patrol, and United States Marshalls apprehended Cody Bryce Matthews. Autumn Keara Finlay was also found and is safe. Matthews was wanted for the shooting death of William Ryan Ray, 30, of Jenkinsburg. Ray was gunned down near the pool and tennis courts on Sunday, April 3, in the Jackson Glenn subdivision west of Jackson off of Ga. Highway 36 near I-75. Matthews was hiding in at a residence in Williamson in Pike County. He is being transported to the Butts County Jail.

Spirit of service: Churches are stepping forward to assist community during COVID-19 pandemic

Two deaths, 82 cases reported in Butts County

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed the first two deaths from COVID-19 in Butts County, both patients at Westbury Medical Care and Rehab, and 82 confirmed cases countywide.

126 confirmed cases, 3 deaths in Butts County

As of noon on Tuesday, April 28, Butts County had a total of 129 residents who have tested positive for COVID-19, 3 deaths, and 9 residents who were hospitalized at the time their doctors reported to the Georgia Department of Community Health (DPH). Two of the deaths occurred at Westbury Medical Care and Rehab. The third was not a patient at Westbury.

Body of missing Henry County kayaker found in Butts County

Butts County child found safe on Friday

Multitudes of concerned Butts County residents turned out to search by foot and on ATVs Friday afternoon and evening for a lost 8-year-old non-verbal autistic child. Thankfully, the boy, Kayden Reaves, was found safe on a paintball field near his home on Harkness Road at 9:47 p.m. about 6 and a half hours after he went missing.

Westbury has 15 of the 17 COVID-19 deaths in Butts County, according to DPH

No deaths in 7 days, reports DPH; Westbury celebrating recovery of 92 residents from virus

As of 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, both Butts County and Westbury Medical and Rehab have cause for celebration, with the numbers of deaths in the county reported by the Department of Public Health (DPH) remaining at 17 for the last 7 days, and with 92 Westbury residents having recovered from the virus and only 10 others remaining symptomatic. As of May 12, Westbury has reported 24 deaths from the virus, with 92 residents recovered, 10 residents that remain symptomatic, and only one new case. The difference in the number of deaths reported by Westbury and the DPH is because deaths are not included in the DPH report until they can be confirmed as COVID-19 related.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

JHS Class of 2020 Senior Procession set for Friday

Due to COVID-19, May 22 will be a day the Jackson High School Class of 2020 will remember for years to come, but not for the usual reason, which would have been their graduation before a cheering crowd of family and friends. Instead, May 22 will be remembered as the Jackson High School Class of 2020 Car Procession. Hosted by the Butts County Sheriffs Office, the procession will begin at Jackson High School, go through downtown Jackson with family and friends cheering them on, and end with a balloon release at Red Devil Hill.

Cause for celebration: Westbury residents, families mark COVID-19 recovery with parade

Butts County Administration Building reopened to the public

Inmate, girlfriend captured following manhunt

An inmate awaiting trial on drug charges is now facing additional charges, including aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, after he fled from a work detail, allegedly attempted to strike Butts County Sheriff Gary Long with a vehicle, and was captured 28 hours after his escape. His girlfriend is also facing charges in connection with the escape.

City of Jackson cancels 4th of July Red, White & Boom

Third suspect in shootout surrenders to Jackson police

The third suspect in the May 27 shootout on the square in Jackson surrendered to Jackson Police Chief James Morgan Friday afternoon. Courtney Deon Marshal, 31, of Jackson, is facing charges of aggravated assault, reckless conduct, terroristic threats, and two counts of criminal damage to property. Also under arrest and facing similar charges are Xavier Walker, 26, of Flovilla, and Deon Jermaine Smith, 29, of Jackson.

No programs this summer at Parks and Recreation

Butts County proposes increase in millage rate

For the first time in five years, the Butts County Board of Commissioners are proposing to raise the countys millage rate by one mill, from 12.209 mills to 13.209 mills. It will mean an increase of 16.06% in property taxes.

Ward wins Clerk of Superior Court; Marshall wins BOE District 4

Guest of honor: Bride and groom travel to Westbury to share wedding with his grandmother

BOE taking wait and see approach on 2021 budget

The Butts County Board of Education is taking a wait and see approach toward the school systems Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) budget, waiting to see what the Georgia General Assembly will decide on in the states budget. The largest portion of school system revenues come from the state, so how large a cut in school funding the legislators decide on will have major effect on school system budgets.

We deserve to be supported: Peaceful protest march, celebration in Jackson ends with call for collective action

More than 200 people took part in a peaceful Juneteenth march and celebration on Friday, June 19. Hosted by the Jackson Renaissance Group, the march through downtown Jackson and celebration had a four-fold purpose. The first was to celebrate Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. The second was to march against police brutality, the third was to begin a collective seeking better conditions for blacks in Jackson, and the fourth was to encourage voter registration.

Officer Gilroy, Deputy Vick honored for saving the life of another officer

Residents protest rate increases, county budget

Here is the original post:

Top stories of 2020 in the Jackson Progress-Argus, Part 2 - jacksonprogress-argus

Nashville- Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III joined a broad coalition of 48 attorneys general in pushing federal regulators to examine recent progress in their fight against opioid abuse.

The bipartisan coalition seeks a progress report regarding recent steps taken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to combat the opioid crisis, given the new authorities Congress granted the agency in 2018.

In their letter to FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, the attorneys general contend the requested information will help reduce prescription opioid abuse and accidental deaths.

In Tennessee we see every day the devastating effects of opioid addition- the lives lost and the cost to our healthcare systems and local economies, said General Slatery. Every tool should be used- from the federal level on down-to protect consumers, educate patients, and provide relief as we work to abate the ongoing crisis.

The coalitions letter seeks clarification of how the FDA is using and plans to use powers granted under the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act). Those provisions include safer opioid packaging and disposal features, research and issuance of new regulations on non-addictive alternatives to opioids and guidelines for opioid prescribing.

The attorneys general believe the FDA plays a critical role in ensuring both the safety and efficacy of opioids and encouraging non-addictive, non-opioid alternatives for treating pain.

General Slatery signed the West Virginia- and New Mexico-led letter with attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Read a copy of the coalitions letter here: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/attorneygeneral/documents/pr/2021/pr21-02-letter.pdf

###

#21-02:AG Slatery and Bipartisan Coalition Push FDA to Examine Progress in Opioid Fight

See original here:

AG Slatery and Bipartisan Coalition Push FDA to Examine Progress in Opioid Fight - tn.gov

by Peter Coleman and Allegra Chen-Carrel|January 12, 2021

As partisan politics, systemic racism, and violence dominate the news cycle, it can be easy to lose sight of evidence from a variety of disciplines which suggests that for the vast majority of human history, Homo sapiens have lived in peace. Despite this, today many societies around the world struggle with fractures and divides. Science could offer meaningful contributions to peace policy and programming, but most peace scholars tend to study what prevents and mitigates conflict rather than focusing on what sustains positive peace. In response, the Advanced Consortium on Cooperation, Conflict, and Complexitys Sustaining Peace Project was launched in 2014 to better understand what leads to sustainable peace.

A causal loop diagram of empirically derived factors related to peace. Source: Sustaining Peace Project

The Sustaining Peace Project includes six key components: (1) Developing a basic theoretical model of the core dynamics of sustainably peaceful societies; (2) Learning from complexity and creating visualizations that map the ways observed peace-related factors interact; (3) Examining historical and ethnographic data comparing peace and non-peace systems to uncover key variables associated with peace; (4) Mathematical modeling of the ways these different factors interact over time to create robust and resilient cultures of peace; (5) Learning from peaceful communities and ground truthing the theoretical model through dialogues with local stakeholders in peaceful societies; and (6) Developing new methods and metrics for measuring and tracking trends related to sustaining peace.

Six years into this process, what have we learned?

A recent publication in American Psychologist provides a progress report on this initiative and identifies several key lessons learned:

Recently, we launched the Sustaining Peace Project website, which includes an overview of the project and a map locating contemporary societies sustaining peace. An interactive version of the causal loop diagram allows users to click on the variables and links between them to access evidence supporting the diagram, and an interactive version of the mathematical model encourages users to plug in values and play with the model.

While this initiative is an ambitious undertaking, progress to date highlights the ways a variety of scientific methods and modes of inquiry can contribute to our understanding of the processes and dynamics which can lead to a more durable and holistic peace.

Peter Coleman is a professor of psychology and education, and co-director of the Advanced Consortium for Cooperation, Conflict, and Complexity (AC4). AllegraChen-Carrelis the program manager for the Sustaining Peace Project at AC4.

Continued here:

A Progress Report on the Sustaining Peace Project - State of the Planet

CINCINNATI Jake Liscow and I discuss Joe Burrow's progress, the latest Bengals' coaching news, their 2021 cap space and so much more. Hear from Burrow on his health and get his thoughts on potentially reuniting with Ja'Marr Chase.

Listen to the episode of Locked on Bengals below and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean or wherever you get your podcasts.

For more on the Bengals, including the latest NFL news, go here!

-----

You May Also Like:

Joe Burrow Shares Thoughts on Potential Reunion With Ja'Marr Chase

Joe Mixon Gives His Thoughts on the Bengals' Draft

Joe Burrow Chimes in on the 2019 LSU vs. 2020 Alabama Debate

Bengals to interview Former Pro Bowler For Defensive Line Coaching Job

WATCH: Joe Burrow on His Health, the Bengals' Future and Zac Taylor

-----

Be sure to keep it locked on AllBengals all the time!

Subscribe to the AllBengals YouTube channelFollow James on Twitter: @JamesRapienFollow AllBengals on Twitter: @AllBengalsLike and follow AllBengals on Facebook

Follow this link:

Podcast: Burrow's Progress, the Latest Coaching News and a Look at the Bengals' Cap Space - Sports Illustrated

The world was watching in shock and horror as a rightwing mob stormed the Capitol during the confirmation of Joe Biden as the next democratically elected president of the US.

On the heels of Democratic victories in Georgia giving Democrats control of the Senate (to go along with the House and the Presidency), armed Trump supporters broke through the police and interrupted the proceedings. Far from being a protest, this was a terrorist insurrection that struck at the very core of US democracy.

At the heart of this violence were Trump and his Republican colleagues who have been feeding his supporters lies about a stolen election and the need to resist. It echoed his entire presidency which was built on a virulent mixture of conspiracy theory, white resentment, and real economic suffering. His politics was one of mob rule and populist backlash with the need to Make America Great Again regardless of the political or human costs.

Yet the US also now faces a clear and profound choice. Will it finally face up to the root causes of this extremism: corporate power, growing inequality, and systemic racism? Or will it continue to try to treat the symptoms without curing the disease?

Throughout his time in office, there were ongoing questions of how serious a threat to democracy Trump and his voters actually were. While his rhetoric and behavior crossed all conceivable lines of political civility and democratic acceptability, there was still hope that his reign would end with a peaceful transfer of power. Any such illusions were shattered by the recent far-right assault.

However, this extremism has always been central to Trumps appeal and victory. He plays on fears and presents the nation as being in extreme danger, a crisis which requires an extreme response. He has cloaked his entire political ascent to a paranoid belief in the need to resist a corrupt establishment. It is with little irony that this corrupt business person born into wealth and privilege presents himself as the only person standing up to elites in defense of the people.

Ultimately, whatever claims he makes, his revolution is one of pure reaction. It is a channeling of anger against vulnerable populations and in the service of corporate interests.

Even worse, it is the trading of an entrenched oligarchy for a personal plutocracy as he has used the presidency, above and beyond all else, as a vehicle to enrich himself, his family, and his friends. Far from draining the swamp, he was trying to build the foundations for a gilded 21st monarchy, a Trump-branded dynasty that he could profit off of for decades to come.

Still, for those breaking into the Capitol, there was a desire for revolution, for genuine change and democracy despite it being driven by white power and nativism. Even as they concretely tried to disrupt and dismantle it, they were ironically doing so in the name of saving US democracy.

Watching from our homes the danger to US democracy was easy to spot and condemn in the right-wing mob overtaking the Capitol Building. Less visible but every bit as threatening to its long-term survival though was the decent status quo which was under attack by the very extremists they ironically helped to create.

Undeniably, the most urgent task is to top this literal far right assault on US freedom and popular sovereignty.

Yet this immediate responsibility must not come at the expense of dealing with these deeper issues fundamentally undermining democracy in the US and globally. The threat of authoritarian capitalism, widening inequality, and corporate imperialism will continue to give birth to extremism and destroy any and all democratic gains.

These existential threats to freedom and democracy are covered over by a politic of voting for the lesser evil and trumped out partisan divides. While there is an underlying pro-finance and pro-military census between mainstream Republicans and Democrats, this is too often hidden in media-friendly culture wars. Further, attempts to enact serious reforms are labeled as naive and politically impossible.

Trumpism arose from the corrupted soil of a democracy that was far more rhetoric than reality. This political oligarchy was matched by a civic and popular culture that promoted violence over deliberation, policing and anti-heroes over social movements, and collective attempts to create real change.

In the face of globalization that was rapidly leaving most people behind, a financial crisis with a recovery for the rich and not the poor, and endless wars with mounting casualties at home and abroad, people wanted to feel empowered and found little opportunity to do so democratically either politically or in the workplace.

The violence invading the Capitol is, thus, a reflection of the violence that has infected US society in the new millennium.

It is one where everyday people, especially Black citizens, face state-based violence of a militarized and largely legally unaccountable police force. It is the daily violence of people being allowed to go hungry, sick, and jobless while corporations are given ever-larger subsidies by the state. It is the violence of mass shootings and no serious gun laws due to the power of the gun lobby. And it is the violence of a military that regularly invades, attacks, and overthrow legitimately elected governments that challenge US corporate interests all in the name of preserving democracy.

The attempted coup reveals the nation at a crossroads. One path leads to the rise of even greater authoritarianism and social division. The other to genuine solidarity and progress. Just as the myth that right-wing extremism was harmless must now be forever disregarded, so too must we dispense with the centrist myth that we can return to the status quo before Trump and expect our democracy to survive let alone thrive.

What we are witnessing is the barbarism of far-right populism. But it sprung from the savage injustices of a respectable politics as usual. Without destroying the latter, the former will continue to rise and rise again. The hard work will come with revitalizing our democracy in our communities, workplaces, and globally.

Right now, in front the worlds watching eyes, fascism and hate are literally trying to overrun US democracy, something sadly it has done around the world with bipartisan support. We must put our energy into stopping this threat.

Yet tomorrow, the choice between change or the status quo has never been so obvious. For popular rule and freedom to be preserved and expanded, we must begin to choose justice over hate, equality over greed, and real progress over greater and lesser evils.

Originally posted here:

Threatening Democracy: The Choice Between Progress and Extremism Has Never Been So Clear - The Globe Post