Health and Wellness

Telling Our Stories: How StoryCorps and the Jordan Brand Will Amplify Black Voices with the Brightness in Black Initiative – Essence

Published

2 hours ago

November 25, 2024

StorCorps

StoryCorpsa national nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating the voices of on a regular basis people has launched a groundbreaking latest initiative, “Brightness in Black.” This three-yr project, in partnership with Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand’s Black Community Commitment, goals to spotlight Black stories in a way that shifts the narrative and celebrates the joy and diverse richness of Black life.

To dig deeper into this multi-yr initiative, ESSENCE sat down StoryCorps CEO Sandra Clark. She emphasized that Brightness in Black goes beyond traditional storytelling and seeks to alter the way black stories are told and received. Launched in September, the project launched in Philadelphia and Atlanta – two cities deeply rooted in black culture and history.

Clark began by emphasizing that Light in the Black is rooted in StoryCorps’ core mission – empowering people to inform their very own stories in their very own voices. “StoryCorps has traveled across the country over the last 20 years, collecting stories from everyday people. And what we know about these stories is that when people can tell their own stories in their own voices about what is most important to them… they become a legacy,” Clark said. “These stories combined together constitute the true history of America.”

As Clark explained, this initiative will not be nearly documenting experiences; it’s about addressing oversimplified and often negative narratives about Black life. “Our stories are often oversimplified. The narratives about our lives are often very limited,” she said, reflecting on how Black communities are typically portrayed in the media. Brightness in Black is a probability to flip the script – to give attention to the nuances, joys and aspirations that are not all the time at the focus.

Brightness in Black officially premiered in Philadelphia and Atlanta in September, and Clark explained that the alternative wasn’t nearly demographics; it was about history, community strength and local partnerships. “These cities have such a rich Black history, and the people here are no strangers to working to change the narrative,” Clark said.

StoryCorps doesn’t just parachute in and ask people to inform their stories. Clark explained that the project relies heavily on collaboration with community organizations, creators and educators in these cities. “We work with local partners — organizations and educators who have been doing this work for a long time. They understand the power of storytelling and the importance of capturing the full scope of Black life,” she said.

Through partnerships with HBCUs, community organizations and local creators, Brightness in Black will launch with storytelling events, recording sessions and workshops designed to have interaction each individuals and larger communities. “It’s not just about coming in, recording a story and leaving,” Clark explained. “We are creating connections by working with local leaders to ensure this initiative is deeply rooted in communities.”

One of the key pillars of the initiative is changing the typical narrative specializing in combat. Clark said that while difficult elements of the Black experience can’t be ignored, there may be also way more that needs attention.

“We as Black people are used to telling our stories, starting with trauma, hardship and hardship. And while these experiences are certainly part of our lives, there is much more to our story. Brightness in Black gives us a space to talk about our dreams, aspirations and the joys of everyday life. We want to focus on the greatness of Black life in all its forms,” Clark said.

The initiative includes in-person and virtual opportunities to share your stories through the StoryCorps app, community storytelling sessions, and StoryCorps Connect, which allows friends and family to record conversations from anywhere.

Black Joy and Black Fatherhood are examples of the stories Clark desires to amplify through this initiative. So what happens to all these powerful stories once they’re shared? The recordings collected during the three-yr initiative shall be archived at the Library of Congress, making these stories a part of the historical record. Additionally, the stories shall be shared widely – through radio, podcasts and local events that bring these narratives to life in their communities.

“Changing the narrative works best when everyone can hear the stories,” Clark said. “It’s not just about sharing our stories in Black communities – it’s about the wider world hearing these stories. This is how we change the perspective.”

Each city involved in Brightness in Black can have the opportunity to present these stories locally, allowing residents of Philadelphia, Atlanta and other future cities to listen to reflections on their very own community in a meaningful way. As “Brightness in Black” develops over the next three years, Clark is worked up about the project’s potential impact. “This is not just a collection of stories – it is a movement to change the way we view and value Black lives,” she said.

“We want to ensure that at the end of this initiative, we have created a lasting legacy that future generations can look back on and see the full picture of Black life in America.”

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

Health and Wellness

Why Monday is the most dangerous day on a construction site

Published

7 hours ago

November 24, 2024

IAM

The Australian construction industry employs over 1.3 million employees. That’s about 9% of the workforce.

But there could also be construction sites dangerous workplaces. There are also more accidents on the street Monday than every other weekday, as we see on this pattern many countries.

Many aspects give us this “The Monday effect“. We can address these and other issues to scale back avoidable workplace accidents on Mondays and other weekdays.

Construction is dangerous

The construction sector has higher rates accidents at work than the national average.

The industry reported that in 2023 45 employees diedwhich is a rise from the five-year average of 33.

Construction employees most often die from being hit by moving objects. The next most common causes are deaths resulting from falls, trips and slips.

Financial yr 2022-23 There were over 16,600 serious employees’ compensation claims in the construction sector. The median salary is now A$18,479 and the median lost work time is 8.5 weeks – each higher than in previous years.

“The Monday Effect”

Various studies conducted in numerous regions confirm that “The Monday effect”in construction. For example, a Chinese study found that fatal accidents occurred 12.6% more often on Mondays in comparison with other weekdays. There was a similar trend in Spain AND Hong Kong.

We also see “The Monday effect” IN other industries, akin to agriculture, forestry, mining and manufacturing.

A Spanish study that checked out records almost 3 million accidents at workincluding construction, confirmed the Monday effect across industries, firms of all sizes, every kind of employees, and every kind of injuries.

Linked data from all workplace accidents in Queensland also confirms Monday’s impact.

Why Mondays?

Construction accidents are more likely on Monday many reasons.

For example, staying up late on Sunday night and getting a poor night’s rest the night before the work week starts contributes to “cognitive failures” and mistakes at work on Monday.

Mondays often involve starting recent tasks or projects. This may cause unknown risks.

Construction site conditions, including weather, may change over the weekend, causing unexpected hazards. For example, strong winds over the weekend could cause scaffolding or unsecured materials to maneuver, increasing the risk of accidents on Monday.

We need to handle the root causes

AND test chargeable for the safety and efficiency of the Australian construction industry, stressed the have to proactively anticipate and stop accidents somewhat than taking motion after they occur – on Mondays or other days of the week.

The study used in-depth interviews with 30 industry professionals at 14 firms to discover several aspects contributing to construction accidents:

unrealistic deadlineswhich might prompt employees to rush and cut corners to get the job done on time
shortage of expert laborwhich suggests some employees could also be doing work for which they aren’t qualified
employees are afraid to talk out about safety concernswhich can result in failure to report and address potential threats
complicated and unknown custom structureswhich can involve unique risks and challenges that employees may not have encountered before
insufficient human factor risk assessmentwhich include fatigue, stress or cognitive overload and might result in errors and unsafe decisions on the spot
rushed training programsparticularly for safety reasons, which can leave employees unprepared to cope with risks or follow proper procedures.

What can we do to forestall accidents?

Part of the solution to a few of these problems is supporting a workplace culture during which security it is perceived as a core value and shared responsibility of employers, superiors and employees.

In construction firms, where safety is treated as “psychological contract” – unwritten but mutual obligations of employees and superiors – employees are higher equipped identifying and eliminating security threats.

Awareness campaigns highlighting issues akin to the “Monday effect” can even encourage adjustments to workflows to scale back the risk of accidents. This may include scheduling less dangerous or less complex tasks for Mondays to present employees time to return to their every day duties.

What else can we do?

Technology it will possibly also help prevent accidents.

For example, wearable sensors on a wristband or smartphone can discover, track and monitor employees body posture. These sensors can detect unsafe lifting practices, excessive bending, or prolonged exposure to a static or uncomfortable position. These are aspects that may contribute to ergonomic risks and injuries.

Augmented reality could be used to simulate tasks to assist employees practice techniques safely.

Artificial intelligence could analyze the image from the camera Down monitor workplaces in case of dangerous activities and signaling threats.

But cost concernsprivacy and industry belief that these investments are worthwhile are amongst the barriers to the adoption of those technologies.

Talking about money

Raising awareness of the economic costs of workplace accidents can change attitudes and priorities.

2019 Australian study found that the average cost of a construction accident ranges from $2,040 to $6,024,517. This depends on whether the accident resulted in brief or long absence from work, whether someone is partially or completely unable to work, or whether someone dies.

Elements of this estimate include compensation, lack of income or earnings, costs of coaching and retraining of staff, social welfare advantages, in addition to costs of treatment, tests and care.

Goal: zero deaths

Deaths and injuries at work on construction sites mustn’t be dismissed as accidents. They are a symptom of many systemic aspects that should be addressed through thoughtful motion and a commitment to safety.

Just as road safety initiatives aim to realize zero fatalities, the construction industry should focus on achieving zero workplace fatalities.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com

Health and Wellness

Yvette Nicole Brown’s glamorous bachelorette party was a star-studded affair

Published

14 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Getty

Yvette Nicole Brown is sort of ready for her big day, and her girls are by her side to assist her rejoice her upcoming nuptials.

Brown will soon marry actor Anthony Davis, Brown, 53, celebrated on Nov. 17 with a lavish wedding reception along with her closest friends and sorority sisters at Inglewood’s only Black-owned winery, 1010 Wine & Events. This star-studded event was planned by William P. Miller and hosted by legendary black actresses reminiscent of Vanessa Bell Calloway Lela Rochon Fuqua Kym Whitley, who was also the “Shower Master of Ceremonies.”

The party’s theme was “Our Pearl Found Her Diamond” and paid tribute to Brown’s beloved sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and its signature pearls and diamond engagement ring. Brown became a proud soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority 30 years ago when she graduated from the University of Akron in Ohio, where she became a member of the Delta Pi chapter.

The guest list included several of Brown’s famous friends from Black Hollywood’s elite circle, including Kim Fields, Essence Atkins, Holly Robinson Peete, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Cree Summer Francks and Yvette Lee Bowser.

The ladies rejoiced with the music of DJ Candice Manier, original SV Vodka cocktails and a cake created by Southern Girl Desserts. They also made pearl jewelry, played games, and watched a video with sweet messages and photos.

For Brown, having her friends’ support down the aisle “means everything.”

“I think most of them were or are married. I know a few of them have been at least proposed,” Brown says. “This is my first everything. It’s exciting to be able to sit at their feet and hear their opinions on various topics, and to be able to tell me what they think about it all.”

We cannot wait for Brown to tie the knot along with her beau next month.

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

Health and Wellness

“Get Lifted” by John Legend (twentieth Anniversary Edition) [Interview] – Essence

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2024

Photo credit: Danny Clinch

When John Legend unveiled his debut album in 2004, he couldn’t have predicted the extraordinary legacy it could construct over the following 20 years. Now, with the discharge the singer returns to the project that launched his profession and redefined the boundaries of R&B, hip-hop and neo-soul. Available now, the digital Deluxe Edition offers fans a refreshed tackle timeless classics with remixes, rare tracks and collaborations that bring latest energy to the music.

The twentieth Anniversary Edition includes 11 bonus tracks, including remixes from iconic artists equivalent to Tems, Killer Mike, Lil Wayne, Simi and Black Thought. Two previously unreleased songs – “Do What I Gotta Do” and “Just In Time” – offer fans an intimate look into Legend’s creative process during this era. The album’s revival doesn’t end there; will even be available as 3LP vinyl in 2025, and all copies are signed by Legend.

Reflecting on the challenges of making an original album, the award-winning artist recalled the struggles of an aspiring artist trying to search out their sound. “I wrote a lot of this album when I wasn’t signed, so the big challenge was just figuring out what would work to give me a chance to get the music out there,” he explains. . “I’ve been trying to get a record deal for over five years, but record labels were turning me down both left and right.”

It was only when Kanye West took a likelihood on Legend and signed a contract with GOOD Music that all the pieces began to alter. Working with West and touring together opened doors for the University of Pennsylvania graduate. That same yr, he signed a record take care of Columbia and was able to hit the shelves. The album’s breakout single “Ordinary people” became the anthem that defined Legend’s artistry. “When it finally came out and made it work the way it did, especially with my second single, it was really beautiful to see it start to connect and connect with people,” she tells ESSENCE.

On the occasion of the anniversary edition, Legend collaborated with artists who provided a refreshing atmosphere to Legend’s debut – but remixes aren’t just repetitions of original songs. “I’m a fan of every artist we asked to be a part of the remix,” says Legend. “They have new beats, new energy, new vibes and of course new guest artists. It really brought a fresh perspective to music and excited me to reconnect with music.”

was a breakthrough album for the Ohio-born artist, combining multiple genres in a timeless and groundbreaking way. “I felt like it happened when neo-soul was already at its peak, so in a way it was almost like my reaction to neo-soul,” Legend reflects. “We also combine hip hop and gospel and create something fresh.” Legend’s commitment to songwriting is a thread that runs deep through his work then and now.

The physical format of music, especially upcoming vinyl releases, also plays a big role in maintaining the impact of the unique album. “There will always be people who want to hold something, read the sleeve notes, and play vinyl on their record players at home,” Legend states. “Especially when you’re celebrating an anniversary like this, it’s nice to have a commemorative thing that you can keep. This album means something to people because they remember 20 years ago when they started listening to it and what it meant to them then.”

Rekindling the magic of a pioneering debut, it also stands as a testament to Legend’s enduring craftsmanship. The album stays a masterclass in musical storytelling, connecting generations of fans and proving that great music, like great artists, only gets higher with time.

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