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No twerking. Drinking is prohibited. But I lost a party at a Christian nightclub

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A young crowd at a Nashville nightclub was ready to bop under strobe lights to a pulsing mixture of hip-hop, rap and Latin beats. But first they gathered to wish and praise God.

The rules were announced on the dance floor by an MC with a microphone to the club’s 200-plus patrons shrouded in thick, smoke-producing fog: “Rule No. 1: No twerking. Rule two: no drinking. And the third rule: no smoking. The last unspoken rule seemed obvious even then: no secular music – your complete playlist needed to be Christian.

Welcome to Bay.

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Jeremiah Manley (left) and other attendees of The Cove, an 18-and-over Christian nightclub, raise their arms in worship on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

This pop-up Christian nightclub for people over 18 was founded last 12 months by seven black Christians of their 20s – amongst them an Ivy League-educated financial analyst, musician and social media expert – who wanted to construct a thriving community and a welcoming space for young Christians in front of homes of prayer. The launch comes amid a post-pandemic decline in church attendance, especially amongst Black Protestants, that research shows is unmatched amongst another major religious group.

“We experienced pain ourselves because we couldn’t find community outside of our church, we didn’t know what to do to have fun without feeling bad, doing things that went against our values,” said Eric Diggs, a 24-year-old specialist at The Cove old CEO.

“There was no room to cultivate it. So we created it ourselves, taking into consideration this pain point – loneliness, anxiety, depression, Covid and long quarantine.

Prove that Christians will be cool, not trivial

Before their first monthly event in November, they set themselves an ambitious goal: to achieve 1,000 followers on social media. “We ended up getting over 10,000 followers before our first event, which was crazy,” said Eric’s brother, Jordan Diggs, 22, who manages the club’s social media presence.

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“Christians are considered trivial. And we want to show that Christians can be normal, they can be cool. And they can have fun.”

The second equally popular event took place on the occasion of the New Year. The third one took place in February.

The Cove co-founders, from left: Jonathan Diggs, Jordan Diggs, Darin Starks, Shem Rivera and Eric Diggs, welcome guests to The Cove, an 18-and-over Christian nightclub they founded late last 12 months. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

He’s been on his own for weeks Instagram account — under hashtags like #jesuschrist #nightclubs — club organizers asked people to be ready to bop your complete evening of worship and look their best: “When you pull up, we expect to see you at the Most Holy Drop.”

At the mid-February event, many members of the racially and ethnically diverse audience wore a rainbow of vibrant colours – fluorescent turquoise, vivid orange, neon pink – in Nike, Adidas and New Balance sneakers. Or sweatshirts with images of Jesus and college jackets with passages from the Holy Bible.

“Honestly, what surprised me the most was the diversity,” said Aaron Dews, one in every of the club’s founders. “Since we are seven Black people, just seeing the increase in the number of people we can bring in and uniting around one idea has been extremely encouraging.”

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Food trucks were waiting for hungry club members. Inside, Benji Shuler was selling vintage clothes hanging on racks with religious messages. A white T-shirt with the long-lasting Pepsi logo with the inscription: “Jesus: the choice of a new generation”, referring to the slogan of the soda company from several a long time ago.

Instead of alcohol, vendors sold sports drinks, bottled water and soda. Organizers were blissful to organize early. They hung Christmas lights on the ceilings, sang a cappella and practiced their best choreographies.

The club becomes a destination for Christians near and much

Before impressing everyone along with his dance moves, 20-year-old Garrett Bland listened to gospel singer Donald Lawrence’s song “Deliver Me” on his phone. “It’s about letting the Lord into your life,” he said, wearing a gold medallion with the words “The Lord’s Prayer” around his neck and a beige hoodie with the words, “God First.”

He applauded the efforts of The Cove’s founders, saying “they want to create a space for believers who want to come to faith and have fun.”

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Wearing a blue hoodie with white embroidery depicting “young sons of God,” Eric Diggs asked organizers and volunteers to hitch him in prayer. “Dear God, thank you for this night,” he said. “Amen!” – the group shouted in unison to the gang, like a basketball team before a game – and shouted: “Bay!”

Nia Gant, 18, was at the club for the primary time. She moved from Grand Rapids, Michigan, 4 months ago and said she prayed to make like-minded friends. “I think joy and religion can go together,” said Gant, who was wearing a nose piercing, Air Jordans and ripped jeans. “God,” she said, “is joy.”

Jade Russell of Louisville, Kentucky, dances at The Cove, an 18-and-over pop-up Christian nightclub, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

Soon there was a line of individuals outside who had purchased tickets prematurely to enter the nightclub. At the door, security guards in bulletproof vests searched club patrons. Inside they were talking, laughing and high-fiving one another.

Word spread quickly that the couple had traveled greater than 9,000 miles from their home in Brisbane, Australia, to a Christian club in Tennessee’s capital often called Music City. It was true: Haynza Posala, 23, and his wife Kim Posala, 24, heard about The Cove through podcast about faith and culture co-hosted by Darin Starks, one in every of the club’s founders.

“We thought it was cool, it glorified God,” Haynza Posala said.

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“It’s surreal,” Kim Posala said, looking around as people wearing trucker hats, berets and baseball caps streamed into the club and were handed bracelets of various colours. “It’s community and that’s what church is all about.”

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Microphone in hand, Carlton Batts Jr., a founding musician who was the designated DJ and emcee, asked people on the dance floor questions, dividing them into groups: “If you like listening to music, come here,” he said, pointing to at least one side . “If you prefer podcasts, here.”

“People can be really cliquey in church,” Batts said. “So here we give them cues, so when we start the DJ set, people are really dancing freely.”

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The crowd went wild when the DJ played “Alacazam” by rapper Caleb Gordon, who has gained popularity for faith-inspired songs, especially Christian hip-hop. They held their breath and cheered as 21-year-old Dillan Runions, a former competitive dancer, performed a backflip on the dance floor.

The dance party is combined with an emotional worship service

Eventually it changed into a revival of sorts: some cried or knelt with their eyes closed in prayer. Someone within the small group whispered and asked God to “take away the negative suicidal thoughts.”

Many sang a gospel song that everybody appeared to know by heart: “A God like you,” performed by the choir director, rapper and songwriter Kirk Franklin.

The feedback was mostly positive. Club founders have also faced criticism on TikTok from some who say dancing and worship don’t go together — and even see it as a sin. Jordan Diggs says it attracts attention, whether it’s good or bad – “just the words ‘Christian’ and ‘nightclub’ will start a lot of conversations.”

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Jonathan Diggs (center) and Carlyle Coppins (right) join a line of dancers at The Cove, an 18-and-over pop-up Christian nightclub, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

Other generations notice this. At one point, Shem Rivera, 26, worship leader and founder, approached 18-year-old Noah Moon on the dance floor and asked him how he heard about The Cove.

“My mom told me about it — she sent me a video on Instagram,” said Moon, who had moved from Kansas to Nashville the day before. “It’s fire!” Rivera replied smiling.

At the top, everyone prayed in silence. “It sounds oxymoronic – a Christian dance club,” said Nicholas Oldham, who manages the club. At first he was skeptical and even wondered whether it was not a sacrilege.

“Fun is the bait; it’s bait,” he said, adding that what happens on the dance floor is rather more.

“For old fools like me, it means that the young are hungry for the word of God,” said Oldham, in his 40s. “The church is not a building and these young people are catching up.”

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Business and Finance

Annual women’s salaries narrow the gap. But men are still ahead of women with an average of USD 547 per week

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Women’s annual earnings are closed to men, and the difference in sex salaries in the Australian private sector decreases from 14.5% to 13.6% last yr.

This everlasting improvement, in comparison with 15.4% gap two years ago.

While women work and earn greater than ever before, they are now entitled to much more information to barter wages and judge which firms.

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This information is especially helpful on the tight labor market, z unemployment rate On just 4.1%, because firms are fighting for the best talents.

This is the second yr Gender Equality Agency in the workplace (WGEA) published the company Differences in gender salaries, responding to fears that progress in the scope of gender equality stuck.

Transparency in payments solves the problem of “asymmetrical information”, wherein employers know where every worker sits on a salary scale, but employees don’t.

Data from 7,800 private firms

Typical full -time women’s salaries amounted to USD 72,638 in 2023–24, in comparison with USD 84,048.

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Although narrowing, it’s still a niche of USD 11,410 per yr, i.e. about USD 220 per week.

The difference is far higher after bonuses, time beyond regulation and pension are included: USD 18,835 or a complete salary gap of 18.3%.

All private firms in Australia from at the very least 100 employees must report their data of the Federal Agency. This includes 5.3 million employees in 7,800 firms, which is a fantastic expansion in comparison with 5000 firms last yr, because more firms will improve data reporting.

Employees can Look at the Agency’s website To discover a difference in the gender salary of your employer from the private sector – or one they give thought to joining.

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This yr’s calculations of the company’s differences in the company’s salary also include salaries of the highest management staff.

When general directors and business bosses participate, the difference in the average salary of men and women rises to USD 28,435, i.e. 21.8%.

All this consists of men overtaking women by an average of $ 547 per week.


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A more in-depth take a look at the gaps in the genital wages at the company level

In all firms, the average gender difference in total salary is 13.0%. But size differs significantly in numerous firms.

About 2,200 firms (a couple of quarter) have a niche exceeding 20%. Of these, about 250 firms have a niche exceeding 40%.

On the other hand, a couple of quarter of firms has a niche that’s either zero or negative, which implies in favor of women.

The agency considers the difference in gender salary in the negative scope of 5% to a positive 5% as a legitimate measure to which it needs to be sought.

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WITH The largest organizations (Out of 5,000 or more employees) Airlines are amongst the worst contractors. Virgin has an average gender difference in total salary of 41.7%, while Qantas reports a niche of 39.2%.

Among the banks, Commonwealth Bank and Westpac report an average difference in sex salaries of 22.4%. GAP Suncorp is nineteen.3%, the NAP is nineteen.0%, and Anz has a niche of 18.8%.

Progress happens

The purpose of the Pay Gap publishing home is given to drive progress in the field of gender equality in Australian workplaces.

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He follows in accordance with prescribed reforms to motivate employers to listen to their difference in gender salaries and have taken more actions.

Comparisons with last yr’s data suggest that this is occurring. The agency informs that just over half of all employers (56%) reduced the difference in gender salaries. And 68% conducted an evaluation of its difference in gender salaries, which is an vital first step in making progress.

Greater transparency makes the employer more liable for improving working conditions.

It can also be a technique to recognize firms that improve with time and learn from their success.

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Correct interpretation is crucial

The difference in sex salaries, measured as the difference between the earnings of men and women, is just not the same as the equal remuneration for equal or comparable work. For over 50 years, he has been contrary to the law in Australia to pay for men and women otherwise for performing equal value.

Luki at the employer’s level In earnings, the combination of aspects, including gender patterns in various types of professions, wherein men and women are in the company. But these gender patterns in the types of tasks don’t explain the entire image.

Prejudices and barriers Stay, including unconscious favors, sex imbalance in life duties and consolidating sex stereotypes.

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It can also be not a niche that will be explained by women working lower than men. Calculations include part -time employees, whose remuneration is transformed into an annual full -time equivalent.

Every employer He has a probability to present a deeper evaluation and explanation of their differences in genital salaries and their actions of their official statements of employers, which are also available on the Agnece website.

This information will strengthen not only current employees, but in addition potential employees, clients, business partners and a wider community of their elections, wherein firms should work, do business and support – which are not.



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This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Business and Finance

Hot Girl Spirl

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Megan Thee Stallion just isn’t only the lover of Tequila – he’s now a tycoon of Tequila. The three -time Grammy winner and licensed Hot Girl adds further flexibility to his CV with launch Funny girlsThe Premium Tequila brand designed to bring an event. Is there a greater option to rejoice 30 years than with a bottle (or two) of your personal alcohol?

Chicas Divertidas, which translates into “Fun Girls” in Spanish, hopes that he’ll bring all of the fun to the subsequent meeting. Star tequila is Apparently fabricated from simultaneous100% Agave Blue Weber, collected in the highest maturity from the red volcanic highlands in Mexico. Available in each Blanco and Reposado styles, Megan describes the recipe Chicas Divertidas as “light”, making it ideal for sipping, shooting and making memories.

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“As someone who values ​​good vibrations and wonderful memories, I knew that I wanted to create a tequila, which was designed to share and enjoy my hottia,” said Megan Thee Stallion in a press release. “Smooth, stuffy and premium. This process lasted many years and I am very proud that I can take another step as an entrepreneur. I know that hotties are ready – it’s time to give them a drink made by me! “

For the rapper “Hot Girl Summer” the standard of the brand shines through the product and its packaging. Inspired Angel’s trumpet flower – beautifully alive but fatal– Each bottle has sharp cuts and grooves resembling agave plant with shades of orange, pink, red and purple. The heart pierced with a dagger is on top, embodding the brand’s energy: sweet, elegant and the correct amount of cutting.

“The bottle is beautiful. It looks almost like a mixture or potion. This is a very high quality bottle; Has nice color gradients; My heart with a dagger upstairs; Golden accents. I think quality looks like. “She said Forbes.

This just isn’t just one other alcohol supported by a star. The star says that Chicas Divertidas is its extension.

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“I’m not a brand ambassador for alcohol. I don’t only put my face on someone’s brand. This is my tequila – she explained. “I devoted time to making a liquid and a bottle. Everything on this represents me. This is my business; This is my company. And this distinguishes me from other alcohols with endowed celebrities. “

She continued: “Everyone knows that I am a culture of a hot girl. I like to play. I am a curator. When you go to parties, my experience shows that the drinker is tequila. It seems to me that this is only a universal happy drink. And I’ve always loved good reposado. This is my favorite. So I decided that I had to bring a climate for parties – with gifts. That’s how I came up with Chicas. “

And when you are wondering the right way to sustain, it has one easy advice: “Drink water after each shot. Stay hydrated. “
Funny white girls ($ 70.00) and Resto Chicasdivertidastapila.com AND Respertbar.com. It can be expected that the brand will soon start with chosen American retail sellers.

(Tagstransate) Megan thee stallion (T) Business

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Business and Finance

Unemployed claims reach the largest weekly

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The variety of unemployment claims increased greater than expected last week, because more candidates for the first time applied for unemployment profit.

According to CNN, It is estimated that 242,000 unemployment claims were made last weekAn increase of twenty-two,000 in comparison with the previous week. Apparently, economists expected about 220,000 claims to land.

The variety of unemployment claims submitted last week has been the largest weekly for over 4 months. Weekly claims have also been at the highest level since December.

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Despite the growth, the American Department of Work The aforementioned snowstorms in some parts of the country and holidays on the occasion of the Presidential Day are guiltyWhich could cause some variability, informs.

“Extreme winter weather was mainly responsible for receiving in the initial claims last week,” said Samuel Tombs, the most important economist of the USA at Pantheon Macroeconomics.

How mass exemptions at federal level affect unemployment

It stays unclear how mass exemptions at federal level, directed by billionaire technology Elon Musk, who supervises the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (dog), will affect claims. According to Reuters, federal employees submit a separate compensation of unemployment, which, as stated, has a weekly delay. The latest data from February 15 show 614 people submitted to acquire advantages, which is barely one among the previous week.

“We will have to wait another week for details exactly how many initial claims were made throughout the country by former federal civilian employees, but this number was 614 in the week ending on February 15, only one – this is not a mistake – last week” – wrote Tombs in a note for investors on February 27. “It will take another week or two so that work reductions in the middle of the month will fully go into the given claims.”

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The work report in February is to be published on March 7. Economists reportedly expect a rise in employment, predicting that the USA adds about 160,000 jobs in February.

(Tagstranslat) feet of unemployment

This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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