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MLB is seeing a slow improvement in diversity among its young players, despite a record low number of black major league players

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For most of Lee Allen Jr.’s childhood. baseball seemed quite distant to him.

The Major League Baseball Royals played in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, but Allen – who is black and lives downtown – did not have much opportunity to play baseball until late highschool.

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In January 2020, 17-year-old Allen was invited to 1 of MLB’s development programs, the DREAM Series, where he stood in front of scouts and coaches for the primary time to showcase his skills in a competitive environment.

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Termarr Johnson throws to first base throughout the sixth inning of a spring baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Saturday in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo: Charlie Neibergall/AP)

Four years later, Allen took the sector on the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida, wearing the purple, white and gold baseball uniform representing historically black college Prairie View A&M University, together with his eyes set on a skilled profession.

More than 200 HBCU standouts were available for the MLB Andre Dawson Classic, a collegiate tournament for players who hope to sooner or later break through the major leagues and maybe help usher in the following generation of African-American stars.

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“The opportunity to be here and showcase my talents to scouts and other players that are looking at us at the next level,” said Allen, now a junior defenseman for the Panthers. “It feels great for me because I know these are goals I can achieve and they are there.”

That’s the goal of MLB, which has struggled with a historically low number of black players in the major leagues. A study by the Central Florida Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports found that African-American players made up just 6.2% of players on MLB Opening Day rosters in 2023, down from 7.2% in 2022. Both numbers were the bottom for the reason that study began in 2023 1991, when 18% of MLB players were black.

It’s also the bottom percentage of African-American participation among 4 of the five major skilled sports — the NBA, NFL, MLB and MLS — outside the National Hockey League, where greater than 90% of the players are white. MLB has tried to handle this problem through a series of grassroots diversity initiatives.

“We’re really doubling down on what we’ve done,” said Del Matthews, MLB’s vice chairman of baseball development, “because they’re raising kids who go to college and have internships in the sport. We’re seeing more kids playing in Division I college baseball leagues, and we’re seeing more kids getting called up to the minor leagues. So we just pass it on through the different programs we’ve had.”

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There are signs of progress on the skilled level. From 2012 to 2021, 17.4% of first-round picks were African-American players. That number increased to 30% in 2022, when 4 of the primary five players chosen were Black players for the primary time ever, and all 4 were graduates of not less than one MLB diversity initiative. In 2023, Black players made up 10 of the primary 50 draft picks, or 20%.

These gains haven’t yet increased MLB’s player base, and even in the minors, Black participation is growing slowly. When MLB recently announced its Spring Breakout rosters featuring top minor league prospects, 9.5% of players were Black – including 31 graduates of MLB’s diversity programs.

MLB’s activities begin with an annual tour of skilled camps in various cities across the country to discover baseball potential among inner-city kids. The route has grown annually – from 12 stops when it launched in 2018 to 18 cities now – and is aimed toward children aged roughly 13-14, just before they begin secondary school.

The goal is to eventually send these players to more advanced development programs where they’ll gain significant reps in competitive baseball – mostly for gratis – and develop relationships with skilled scouts and former major league players that may help them further in their careers .

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“Sports have become so expensive that they have eliminated many of our children,” said Jerry Manuel, former manager of the White Sox and Mets. “So we need to do everything we can to get them back into the pipeline.”

The shows are mostly funded by USA Baseball, the game’s governing body in the United States, which pays for equipment, meals and potential travel to shows that Matthews said would otherwise cost greater than $700 per event. Between 1,200 and 1,500 children are chosen annually to participate in MLB programs focused on diversity, including the DREAM Series, Breakthrough Series, Hank Aaron Invitational and girls’ baseball/softball events. Some players participate in several events a yr – a possibility that will otherwise not be possible for a lot of children from lower-income families.

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That’s why Sheila Moreno was grateful that her son Jadin was introduced to baseball through the Houston Astros’ free youth baseball league, one of greater than 180 organizations affiliated with MLB’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) outreach program to kids in the community about neglected needs.

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Moreno said Jadin desired to play skilled baseball abroad, but knowing how expensive the game may very well be, she was frightened the expenses would prevent him from launching his profession. When Moreno stumbled upon Houston’s RBI program, Jadin gained the contacts he needed to earn invites to other development shows. He is currently a junior goalie at Prairie View.

“He didn’t have to pay anything,” Moreno said last month on the Andre Dawson Classic, “in order that was very helpful. All he wanted was to play football. He was just searching for someone who would help him learn basic skills and put in the trouble.

The league reported that just about 700 graduates of its development programs have played college baseball, with about 90% of them being black players.

According to the NCAA’s demographic database, 752 Division I baseball players – about 6% – are black. That’s the best number in 10 years and reflects a small but regular increase that Tony Reagins, MLB’s director of baseball development, said indicates improvement is coming.

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Reagins added that the support of former black major league players like Manuel has been especially helpful in showing aspiring professionals what is possible.

One of the MLB prospects is Termarr Johnson, who selected baseball over basketball and football, sports he felt were more popular when he was growing up in Atlanta. He has been involved in almost every diversity initiative MLB has offered and has been exposed to mentors akin to Manuel, Ken Griffey Jr., Dave Winfield and Marquis Grissom – some of whom he can turn to for advice if he so desires.

Johnson was the fourth overall pick in the draft in 2022. Standing in the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse before a recent major league spring training game, Johnson credited those programs for his growth on and off the sector.

“The biggest help was that they dealt with the mental element of being a big leaguer, a big leaguer,” Johnson said. “They tell me little things like, ‘Put your shirt on once you exit on the pitch.’ Make sure you run away from the sector. A scout sees it, people see it.

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Johnson has impressed to date with the second-ranked Pirates and began his own kids’ camp, hoping it might encourage more black kids to play the sport and keep on with it, similar to MLB programs did for him.

“I don’t know if I would be here right now if it wasn’t for this,” Johnson said.


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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

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The health program run by the community in distant land Arnhem shows promising results for the inhabitants of the first nations

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Native Australians are greater than twice as possible as non-bright Australians to suffer from diseases, especially Chronic diseases akin to diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease.

Health differences are worse in distant and really distant areas. The burden of diabetes in a distant Aboriginal population in northern territory, where it affects a couple of in 4 Adults over the age of 20 are amongst the highest in the world.

Yolŋu (or Yolngu) residents of the northern earth Arnhem, a big, distant area in NT, keep one of the The oldest full of life culture in the world. They also represent one of the largest indigenous groups in Australia.

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However, people in these communities face before The largest number of deaths that might be avoided In Australia, mainly from a chronic disease. A weight-reduction plan with an excessive amount of sugar, sophisticated and processed food products, smoking and an unhealthy lifestyle contribute to the health crisis of this region.

Starting from 2014, older women of Yolŋu in Galin’k, one of the largest communities in the north -eastern part of the Earth Arnhem, developed a singular program of change of weight-reduction plan and lifestyle called Hope for health. Since then, the program works sporadically and includes health retreat in the country, individualized health coaching in addition to group classes and classes.

Recently He evaluated this program. We have found that it offers significant advantages that may reduce the risk of chronic disease amongst Yolŋu people.

I hope for health participants and employees during cooking workshops.
Hope for health

Holistic approach

Most of Yolŋu live in Aboriginal region in distant communities of various sizes and have a deep uninterrupted relationship with the family country.

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Health and well -being are considered a holistic concept that mixes good physical, social, emotional, cultural, spiritual and ecological well -being at each individual and community levels.

. Hope for health The program relies on the values ​​of Margikundhamirrr (known and sharing understanding) and Goŋ-ŋthanhamirrr (supporting and walking side by side) to enable Yolŋu to acquire control over their health.

Within 4 months, the program focuses on providing individuals with knowledge about introducing their very own lifestyle to enhance health and forestall chronic illness.

Includes:

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  • About health in the country: It is a fascinating 12-day bush retreat specializing in re-combination with the tradition of life, food and treatment from the earth in addition to learning the body and health.

  • Support and mentoring in the community: Over 14 weeks after the retreat, this part of the program focuses on overcoming barriers in introducing lifestyle changes. It includes group classes to discover healthy food options in stores, storage and cooking fresh products and lands on a healthy lifestyle.

  • Individual and residential health coaching: This is completed during a retreat, after which in homes or chosen places of participants. Health coaches explain the results of blood tests to participants, offer education in their language and helps in setting goals akin to reducing sugar intake, smoking or increasing exercises.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8ssxxcmr-o

Hope for the health program goals to offer individuals with the knowledge needed to introduce their very own lifestyle changes.

What we found

Together with colleagues in Doherty Institute And other collaborators we rated the Hope Program for Health in the second half of 2022.

We assessed the results akin to body weight and blood sugar levels amongst 55 adults before and after their participation in the program. All participants were chubby or obesity at the starting.

We have recently published our findings in Medical Journal of Australia.

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At the end of the program, 52% of participants reduced their HBA1C – a measure of blood sugar level – by at the very least 0.3%. About 33% of participants lost at the very least 3% of body weight.

Such changes are called “clinically important” because they’re large enough for doctors to see real health advantages, akin to a reduced risk of chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.

Other results we checked out, also improved. In general, the participants at the end had smaller waist circuits, the lower part of the body, higher “good” levels of cholesterol, drank less sweet drinks and did more on a regular basis exercises.

A woman talking to a group of people, some sitting and standing outside in a park or pitch.
A member of Hope for Health Stering Committee talking to other members and program participants.
Hope for health

Why did it work?

Behavioral change isn’t necessarily easy to attain in those communities which have a totally different language and culture from the mainstream of Australia.

Our study is the first in distant Aboriginal communities that comprehensively assess the lifestyle change program with such promising results.

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The study project cannot prove that the intervention has directly caused changes. This implies that there might be other aspects that contributed to the results.

Randomized controlled study would ensure stronger proof that the program has led to an observed improvement in health, but these studies could also be inappropriate in distant indigenous communities. In this study, the community was concerned about the delay of the program for some people will hurt their health. In addition, many wanted their further family to participate, which hinders to decide on a representative control group that may be needed for this sort of research.

Nevertheless, our results suggest support for culturally sensitive health initiatives, akin to hope for health, is of key importance to reducing the burden of chronic diseases in distant indigenous communities.

We consider that hope for health worked since it was led by Yolŋu people and relies on the knowledge, language and culture of Yolŋu. Education provided to distant Aborigines, akin to Yolŋu, should be Liya-Lapmarnhamrr. This means in a way that brings revelation and understanding.

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This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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The MET gala ended, but Dandyism is not. Here’s how to dress like elegant in everyday life

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Michael Henry Adams had He reached the style crossroads At the start of the seventies: when Bell Bottoms and Afros became a trend, and the looks of film characters reminiscent of John Shaft and “Super Fly” became prototypes of fashion, the teenager felt unrepresentted.

But the previous trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, because his exhibition “Harlem in my mind” has already begun to lay his fashion foundation.

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“When I saw these photos of elegant harletes that promote up and down the seventh Avenue and Lennox Avenue … The Raccoon Coats and Fox Coats and Spangled Dresses, in addition to bowls … splendor.

Adams would come with He had a reputation: Dandyism. And Dandyism was in the middle Monday’s met gala, where a lot of probably the most famous and influential flavors in the world They put them on the posh best To start the exhibition “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” MET. But black dandyism is not limited to expensive fashion – it is displayed day-after-day.

“He is everywhere in the black community, the concept of what dandy is,” explained Adams, who was photographed to the “Superfine” catalog. “The player, ingenuity and creativity of black, when it comes to fashion, has always been with us.”

How Men -oriented exhibition – The first costume institute, which displays only black designers – opens to a public Saturday, listed below are tips about using style in everyday life.

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Tip 1: Start with confidence

Dandies say The key to a characteristic appearance It starts from the within for the primary time.

“Fashion is a personality sense. Two guys can go to the same store and get the same outfit and look completely different,” said 62-year-old Guy Wood, a trendy co-owner Harlem Herdashera. Inspired by relations and elegant neighbors of Harlem, he developed a talent for the early style. “It’s confidence … you enter the room and all your heads turn.”

Michael Andrew, a 42-year-old consultant in the style in Atlanta, delved into Dandy for the primary time after he was inspired by Fonzwortha Bentley, probably the most recognized as Sean “Diddy” Combs, a often controlled assistant and an umbrella owner initially of 2000. Bentley’s colourful costumes and adapted outfits were separated from the universal loose appearance of the hip-hop era.

“Many guys think that being a dandy is about being exaggerated,” said Andrew, who was photographed to the Rose Callahan book from 2013, “I am Dandy: The Return of the elegant gentleman.” “For me, Dandyism is the highest form of taste with self -expression.”

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Tip 2: Select the weather of the instructions

The basis of dandyism rests with assumptions reminiscent of daring colours and small tailoring, but there is no special way to achieve appearance. Each dandy creates its own unique style, often specializing in specific elements. For Wood, which refers to creating appearance as gumbo, it It starts with suits.

“Wearing a suit, you just feel important,” said Wood, who often combines them with shoes of various vivid colours. “We love well adapted.”

James McFarland, 80-year-old Master Krawiec, claims that Dandy’s affinity for tailoring is easy to understand: “It’s very simple: we are a visual world. When you wear something that is well adapted and it suits you well, people look at it.”

Known as “Gentleman Jim”, McFarland was prepared by Orie Walls, a tailor from the Sixties. McFarland says that they’ve created suits through almost every famous black celebrity of those times, from Duke Ellington to Jackie Robinson to Muhammad Ali – in addition to one of the crucial infamous characters from the era, reminiscent of gangsters Frank Lucas and Jumpy Johnson. He says that wearing a suit “makes you feel better. Have you ever heard the term style and profiling?”

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While Adams, a historian, is attracted to the spine, shoes and straw hats, Andrew says that the fantastic thing about dandyism makes it yours.

“The texture is necessary when you start talking about dandyism-texts and designs. A great point is that dandars always have their own things. And for me the hats are mine,” said Andrew, adding that small accessories reminiscent of stylish wool or cashmere socks and pocket squares can easily raise the looks. “Now he begins to become glasses. … Every Dandy has the opportunity to use something.”

Tip 3: Creativity is value greater than money

Wood says Creativity is essential grow to be a dandy – it is not a high income.

“It’s a class code,” said Wood. “This is creative … Most of us don’t have much money. You can enter your mother’s wardrobe and (think):” Oh, this scarf is flying. ” You attach it to the neck and put it in your shoulder.

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Adams says that while style and inspiration can go hand in hand, individuality should all the time be crucial.

“People should find their truth and aspire to look like yourself,” he said, noticing that he is shopping in various stores, high-class Brooks brothers Down Shops outside of price and discount Like Marshalls and K&G fashion. “The part of things that made me rebelled against looking like a” super fly “or” roller “is that I didn’t want to look like everyone else.”

Jacques Agbobly, a designer whose clothes are presented on the MET exhibition, agrees.

“There are people who would really think that it is a suit that you wear and the highest hat … But for me and I think that this is what this exhibition does, really prepares a group of amazing clothes that really redefine, what dandy is,” he said. For a designer born in Togo, “taking space is in a sense a kind of open thing”, no matter whether it is achieved thanks to the colours, silhouettes or fabric selections.

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Black tutorial

Tip 4: Avoid the crisis of freedom

General consensus amongst dands A well -dressed look past.

McFarland, a tailor, claims that his occupation is not admired or used in us because it was years ago. He teaches excellent tailoring, just like for many years, and plans to start a podcast to discuss the craft and his adventures of the celebs of his era.

“When I grew up, I wanted to look like people in the area,” he said, explaining that his mother couldn’t afford the garments he wanted, leading him to tailoring. “Everyone, men and a woman, were dressed.”

Andrew hopes the identical A trendy spirit from the past may be reborn, Faith in appearance and pride cooperates with one another.

“I would hire or encourage us all, especially as black, to remember our history, to remember that we have thrown our Sunday,” he said. “We wanted to show ourselves as the best versions of ourselves.”

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. “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition, which can last until October, will definitely introduce visitors to probably the most elevated types of black dandyism. But for wood and other everyday dandy it is simply a business as usual.

“The fact that Met realizes it is a beautiful thing,” he said with a cunning smile. “But we do it forever and we don’t really pay attention to it. We just do it because we love it.”

Rich Dandyism inspired by the diaspora at the MET 2025 gala

(Tagstranslate) @Ap

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Like Rocket Mortgage helps tenants with the property of the house

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Online rocket loan helps to dream of tenants with home properties develop into a reality with a brand new program This gives them recognition of 5000 USD, informs CNBC.

The Rocketrentrewards program, launched in February, gives tenants a loan value 10% of their last yr of rent, which may be used to shut the cost of housing loan of mortgage rockets.

“Many tenants believe that the household owner is out of reach, especially when they try to save money on the closing table,” said the essential economist Rocket Mortgage, Bill Banfield. “Rentrewards soothes these fears, rewarding customers for simply doing what they do every month: making rent withdrawals.”

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Closing costs for people buying a house – including lenders’ fees, title and insurance and residential inspection – may be a rise. The average cost may be as much as 6% of the house price. When selling a house in the amount of $ 200,000, buyers may have a look at nearly USD 12,000 closing costs.

With 10% savings, the tenant paying USD 1800 would have a loan of USD 2160.

Vice President of Product Development and Credit Policy, Eileen TU, claims that the program also helps potential buyers understand existing expenses Apart from the advance.

“There are many costs that are associated with buying a house, and sometimes people are not aware that you not only have to reduce the payment, but also the closure costs that are involved,” he said here, based on.

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There are certain conditions with qualifying for the program; The essential thing is that candidates have to be a tenant. However, tenants would not have to live in the same place for the last 12 months. To calculate a possible loan, Rocket mortgage requires documentation proving the Applicant’s rent and the way much it’s paid every month.

Rocketrentrewards can only be used to purchase the original place of residence, not a second home or investment property. Applicants would not have to be a house buyer for the first time to qualify. According to here, “many people do not know that such offers are there.”

Financial institutions, resembling Bank of America and the third federal savings and loans, have programs that increase home availability. Bank of America offers an advance subsidy of as much as USD 10,000 and a lender’s loan of as much as USD 7,500 for eligible borrowers, while the third federal savings and a loan provides low-cost mortgage loans that cover only USD 395 in closing costs in exchange for a seemingly higher mortgage rate.

Candidates of the rocket program needs to be aware that there’s a probability to still blame the cost of closing after applying the loan along with liability for the advance.

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(Tagstotransate) Rocket Mortgage (T) Rocketrentrewards (T) House owners

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