Women filmmakers make up only 24%* of the top filmmaking roles in the industry, so as a brand with a longstanding commitment to progressing gender equity, this awards season, Johnnie Walker is celebrating women trailblazers who changed the fabric of film, and enabling future generations of women filmmakers, by leaning into one of Hollywood’s most iconic symbols – the red carpet.

As part of the Johnnie Walker First Strides initiative, and in time for the pinnacle of awards season, the brand has crafted a piece of art symbolizing the red carpet in honor of the many women who have broken and continue to break barriers so future generations of women were seen and celebrated walking the red carpet.

The avant-garde work spotlights seven filmmakers for their boundary-pushing contributions to culture, including:

• Ana Lily Amirpour made her directorial debut in 2014 and immediately tore the mainstream to shreds with her distinctive creative vision and stylistic sense of adventure.
• Janicza Bravo is an acclaimed writer and director known for breaking boundaries in both cinema and television.
• Christine Choy is an electrifying artist behind and beyond the camera.
• Julie Dash was the first African American woman to have a feature film receive a wide theatrical release and has continued to innovate in the worlds of cinema, television, and fine art ever since.
• Claire Denis has created an inventive body of work and is widely recognized as an inspired director and screenwriter with a vivacious and trenchant perspective.
• Wanuri Kahiu is an acclaimed filmmaker, speaker, and science fiction writer whose work champions the need for fun, fierce and frivolous African art.
• Gina Prince-Bythewood is a wildly prolific director, writer, and producer, and longtime advocate for equal representation in the industry. Her films are known for their authentic, character-driven narratives

The carpet debuted at the 16th Annual WIF Oscar Party, which Johnnie Walker presented as a sponsor of to help honor all 65 women, in front of and behind the camera, who have been nominated for an award this year. Learn more about this year’s nominees and how WIF is recognizing their work by visiting womeninfilm.org/voteforwomen.

“The stories being told by women deserve to be celebrated, and we need to see and hear more of them,” said Sophie Kelly, SVP Whiskies at Diageo North America. “As we roll out our own red carpet in partnership with WIF, Johnnie Walker is proud to recognize all the incredible trailblazers, whose voices are shaping culture and the entertainment industry, and we hope our continued work inspires others to join us in taking steps towards a more equitable future.”

To further uplift women in the industry and inspire future generations of bold women storytellers, Johnnie Walker is supporting the mission of WIF, the nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for gender equity in the screen industries. Tied to a larger initiative to be announced by WIF next month, the partnership will set out to dismantle barriers and carve paths to spotlight and support women storytellers.

“We recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in the industry to encourage and inspire more women to become filmmakers,” said Kirsten Schaffer, the Chief Executive Officer of WIF. “Johnnie Walker is a brand that has shown its commitment to advancing gender equity and we’re proud to have them as our partners helping to build a world that values women by empowering them to tell the stories that shape our culture.”

Johnnie Walker’s support will help WIF equip emerging women filmmakers with the experience, skills, and connections needed to achieve their goals. The collective ambition is to build the pipeline, sustain careers and advocate for industry change that closes the gender gap, fosters safe working environments and ultimately achieves parity for women.

Understanding women-led films get made when more people watch them, Johnnie Walker teamed up with MUBI, the global distributor, streaming service and production company, to offer unlimited, 30-day free subscriptions. Consumers 21+ can start watching and discover new women-made films by visiting www.mubi.com/johnniewalker.

To learn more about Johnnie Walker’s support for women in the film industry and the filmmakers featured on the carpet, please visit www.johnniewalker.com/firststrides.

• Travel and Leisure

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 13, 2023

Meet the Mom, Dad, and Two Daughters Providing Black Families With 6 and 7-Star Luxury Travel Experiences

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Meet Glenn and Amanda Goring and their two daughters, Brooklyn and Lexington, the owners/operators of a successful luxury travel business called In-Style Travel. Mom and Dad book the accommodations, curate travel itineraries, and serve as travel concierges for the luxury travel packages offered. Meanwhile, the two daughters serve as travel influencers and video bloggers for their company’s YouTube channel, LittleMissTravelers. Together, this family travels in style and aims to show the world that luxury travel can be a wonderful experience for everyone including Black families with small children.

Both licensed pharmacists, Amanda from New York and Glenn, originally from Canada, met while attending the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. The couple has been married for 13 years.

They were travel enthusiasts and enjoyed traveling together before becoming parents. To their dismay, the travel agent they first encountered after their first daughter, Brooklyn, was born tried to discourage them from traveling with their two-month-old baby. The travel agent immediately informed them of the services the resort would not provide to accommodate the new parents. Undeterred, the couple took it upon themselves to plan their itinerary and enjoyed a life-changing travel experience.

When thinking of all the other Black parents who may have been similarly discouraged, Glenn and Amanda became inspired to officially launch In-Style Travel to curate luxurious travel packages intended specifically for Black families, looking to enjoy international and domestic travel with children of all ages.

Amanda, a professional speaker and seasoned thought leader on self-care, planned many of the family’s travel destinations to keep up with her speaking engagements. Understanding this niche has led the family to begin customizing premium luxury experiences and curated retreat packages for healthcare entrepreneurs, as well as Health & Wellness coaches under their In-Style Travel brand. Amanda has even become a certified member of CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), Disney, Marriott, ACCOR hotels, among others.

After having launched their In-Style Travel brand full-scale, the global pandemic challenged the family’s best intentions in 2020. The dramatic decline in worldwide travel hurt profits for the family’s travel business. However, they continued to keep up with their travel commitments. With laptops and Wi-Fi connections, the family could adhere to what was required to travel the world, document, and report how the pandemic was affecting excursions and travel experiences, if at all.

They’d return to questions; the same questions were usually on everyone’s mind. How do you travel the world with such small children? How is this possible? The family launched the #LittleMissTravelers video blog and Social Media presence, featuring their little Black girls, traveling the world in braids and ponytails, as a way of reporting back and sharing details of their experiences on YouTube for their clients, followers, and subscribers.

Amanda explains, “Their education is always a priority. So, amid nationwide school closings during the Pandemic, we ensured the girls kept up with their assignments. Plus, as part of every trip, we schedule time with a local educator who can teach our girls about the local culture. In the Maldives resort, their Kids Club teachers taught the children the language, and we scheduled and assigned a Thai teacher to our villa for instruction in Thailand. Travel is one of the best forms of education. The girls now attend a mixed culture school that encourages our family’s travel schedule and prepares lessons for them to take when traveling abroad.”

In-Style Travel provides premium luxury accommodations at exclusive, exotic 6 and 7-star locations and 5-star vendors around the world. “We understand this is your dream vacation,” says Amanda. “We set up your itinerary, and provide your driver. We also brief you on the information you need. We let you know who the US consulate is, and connect you with the concierge at the destination. We are an on-demand service. We aim to offer families a completely hassle-free experience. We require flight travel protection with your booking. So, hypothetically, if you miss your plane, you receive a credit toward the next flight. We are there for you before the journey. While you are there, we are there with you every step of the way. And we send you gifts! We don’t just send you invoices and tickets; we customize your excursions and offer a premium, high-touch experience. And that’s why 4 out of 5 of our clients return as repeat business.”

And, according to Amanda, In-Style Travel emphasizes their travel accommodations are luxury because there’s a misconception that luxury travel experiences are not for kids. “We are here in business because luxury can be for anybody,” she comments.

Learn more about In-Style Travel services and plan your next retreat, visit the website InstyleTravelLLC.com

This news first appeared on blacknews.com

• Business

by Kia Morgan Smith

March 13, 2023

After Silicon Valley Bank Failure, US Acts to Shore Up Banking System Confidence

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U.S. authorities launched emergency measures on Sunday to shore up confidence in the banking system after the failure of Silicon Valley Bank threatened to trigger a broader financial crisis.

After a dramatic weekend, regulators said the failed bank’s customers will have access to all their deposits starting Monday and set up a new facility to give banks access to emergency funds. The Federal Reserve also made it easier for banks to borrow from it in emergencies.

While the measures provided some relief for Silicon Valley firms and global markets on Monday, worries about broader banking risks remain and have cast doubts over whether the Fed will stick with its plan for aggressive interest rate hikes.

“We think the steps taken by the Fed, Treasury and (the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp) will decisively break the psychological ‘doom loop’ across the regional banking sector,” said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Corpay in Toronto.

“But, fairly or not, the episode will contribute to higher levels of background volatility, with investors watching warily for other cracks to emerge as the Fed’s policy tightening continues.”

Regulators also moved swiftly to close New York’s Signature Bank, which had come under pressure in recent days.

The wider efforts to avert a crisis lifted Wall Street stock futures in Asian trade on Monday, helping broader markets.

Lingering concerns about the financial sector weighed on bank shares in Asia, with Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ hitting a two-month low and Singapore’s DBS a four-month low. Hong Kong shares of HSBC and Standard Chartered pared early losses to trade near-flat.

European stock markets fell 0.6% in early trade, while banking stocks fell just over 1%. U.S. stock futures were higher. Asian shares outside Japan climbed over 1% while the blue-chip Nikkei tumbled 1%.

The Biden administration’s intervention underscores how a relentless campaign by the Fed and other major central banks to beat back inflation is putting stress in the financial system and global markets.

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a mainstay for the startup economy, was a product of the decades-long era of cheap money, with unique risks that made it especially vulnerable. But as a run on the bank ensued last week, worries that other regional banks shared similarities spread quickly.

With the Fed poised to continue raising rates, investors said the financial system may not be fully out of the woods yet.

Goldman Sachs analysts said they no longer expect the Fed to raise rates by 25 basis points at its next policy meeting on March 21-22, amid the stress in the banking sector.

“What investors have to expect coming into tomorrow and beyond is that we are going to be dealing with a lot of event risk,” said Michael Purves, chief executive of Tallbacken Capital Advisors. “There are still going to be lingering questions with other regional banks.”

DEPOSITORS PROTECTED

The collapse of SVB – the largest bank failure since 2008 – sparked concerns over whether small-business clients would be able to pay their staff, with the FDIC only protecting deposits of up to $250,000.

Some 89% of SVB’s $175 billion in deposits were uninsured as of the end of 2022, according to the FDIC.

All depositors, including those whose funds exceed the maximum government-insured level, will be made whole, according to a joint statement by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Fed Chair Jerome Powell and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp Chair Martin Gruenberg on Sunday evening.

A senior U.S. Treasury official said the actions taken would protect depositors, while providing additional support to the broader banking system, but officials and regulators were continuing to monitor financial system stability.

“The firms are not being bailed out. The depositors are being protected,” the official said.

The risk would be borne by the Deposit Insurance Fund, which has sufficient funds to do so.

Providing the systemic risk exceptions was deemed quicker than waiting for a possible buyer, the official said.

‘WIPED OUT’

Treasury officials said depositors of New York’s Signature Bank, which was closed Sunday by the New York state financial regulator, would also be made whole at no loss to the taxpayer.

Signature, like SVB, had a clientele concentrated in the tech sector, and the securities on its balance sheet had eroded as interest rates rose. As of September, almost a quarter of Signature’s deposits came from the cryptocurrency sector, but the bank announced in December that it would shrink its crypto-related deposits by $8 billion.

While all customer deposits will be protected, new policies adopted Sunday will “wipe out” equity and bondholders in SVB and Signature Bank, a senior U.S. Treasury official said.

Together with the Fed’s decision to ensure financial institutions can meet the needs of all their depositors, the steps would “restore market confidence,” the official said.

Fed fund futures surged on Monday to imply only a 17% chance of a half-point rate hike by the Federal Reserve when it meets next week, well off the 70% before the SVB news broke last week.

The Fed said it would make additional funding available through a new Bank Term Funding Program, which would offer loans of up to one year to depository institutions, backed by Treasuries and other assets these institutions hold.

When the coronavirus pandemic triggered financial panic in March 2020, the Fed announced a series of measures to keep credit flowing by lowering borrowing costs and lengthening the terms of direct loans. By the end of that month, use of the Fed’s discount window facility shot up to more than $50 billion.

Through the middle of last week, before SVB’s collapse, there had been no indications of usage picking up, with Fed data showing weekly outstanding balances of $4 billion to $5 billion since the start of the year.

UK FALLOUT

In Britain, where SVB has a subsidiary, the government and Bank of England held talks over weekend to find a solution that would avert the local lender from failing.

In a move reminiscent of the financial crisis era, early on Monday in London HSBC announced it was buying Silicon Valley Bank UK for 1 pound ($1.21). It said the subsidiary had loans of around 5.5 billion pounds and deposits of around 6.7 billion pounds as of March 10.

While SVB UK is small – HSBC’s balance sheet exceeds $2.9 trillion – concerns that SVB’s failure would cause Britain’s start-up industry to seize up had prompted calls from the sector for government to intervene.

British start-ups backed by venture capital have around 2.5 billion pounds, largely in deposits, “locked” in SVB UK, according to a weekend survey by an industry body, seen by Reuters.

(Reporting by Lananh Nguyen, Paritosh Bansal, Tatiana Bautzer, Nupur Anand, Ira Iosebashvili and Dan Burns in New York, and Pete Schroeder, Jason Lange, Sarah N. Lynch, Rami Ayyub, David Morgan and Andrea Shalal in Washington, Kanjyik Ghosh and Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru, and Andrew MacAskill, William Schomberg, Amy-Jo Crowley and Pablo Mayo in London; Writing by Megan Davies, Alexander Smith, Leslie Adler, Simon Lewis and Vidya Ranganathan; Editing by Deepa Babington, Heather Timmons, Diane Craft, Leslie; Adler, Sam Holmes, Elisa Martinuzzi and Catherine Evans)

Some people don’t seem to know when they are doing the most. But Twitter always steps in right on time to remind them.

Users were upset after a video surfaced of actress Brooke Shields grabbing Angela Bassett’s rear end while taking photos with Cate Blanchett. The three veteran actresses were being honored during Time‘s second annual Women Of The Year gala in Los Angeles last Wednesday.

Posing for a photo and showing off their vibrant attire, things became weird when the 57-year-old Shields took a handful of Bassett’s bottom unprovoked.

Cate Blanchett, Angela Bassett and Brooke Shields at the TIME Women of the Year awards tonight. pic.twitter.com/BJassWia3P

— Krysta Fauria (@krystafauria) March 9, 2023

It didn’t take long for Twitter users to come to Bassett’s rescue as the video shows her looking somewhat unamused. One user saw it as an assault on a Black Oscar-nominated actress.

We’re not going to talk about the assault we just witnessed or how you decided to share that part of the clip? We’re just going to ignore a Black Oscar nominated actress being assaulted and you sharing that as if you couldn’t cut it out? https://t.co/HRcFbjOaQl

— Uh uh; But How Do It Free Us? Sanchez (@maracharese) March 9, 2023

Another was questioning why Shields thought it was OK to do what she did in the first place.

We’re not going to talk about the assault we just witnessed or how you decided to share that part of the clip? We’re just going to ignore a Black Oscar nominated actress being assaulted and you sharing that as if you couldn’t cut it out? https://t.co/HRcFbjOaQl

— Uh uh; But How Do It Free Us? Sanchez (@maracharese) March 9, 2023

Its looks like Auntie Angela kept it cute for the cameras but other fans hoped she would take it up a notch.

Brooke Shields’ behavior here is absolutely inappropriate, and you see Angela Bassett shake it off because of the cameras but I hope a totally different conversation was had privately https://t.co/yAIwUh3RRJ

— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) March 9, 2023

It seems Hollywood still needs to be schooled on boundaries.

Dr. Djenane Bartholomew and Dexter Bartholomew have opened Frutango Juice Bar, in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York.

Frutango’s juices and smoothie products contain no additional additives or extra sugars and “provide customers with nothing but 100% cold-pressed juice from fruits and vegetables,” says Dexter Bartholomew. The founders also incorporate ingredients from their Haitian heritage, including ginger, turmeric, and lemon.

The goal is to provide Flatbush’s Caribbean community with healthy and tasty options while helping to combat hypertension and diabetes through nutrition.

Frutango wants to create an educational experience so customers can learn about the ingredients in every juice or smoothie produced, including through education pamphlets placed throughout the bar, so customers can choose what works best for them.

Djenane Bartholomew says Caribbean children and adults consume too much sugar, “and back home [Caribbean] we are used to a lot of sugar in the production of our juices.” One in 3 Caribbean children is estimated to be obese or overweight, which leads to medical issues in childhood and adulthood including type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

“The Caribbean culture here in New York is the same. We have all of the risk factors, and sugary drinks are the primary source of sugar in our diets.”

Frutango sells all-natural juices, smoothies, smoothie bowls, superfood lattes, coffee elixirs, acai bowls, salads, wellness shots, and iced drinks.

The Banana Berry Punch smoothie is a fulfilling meal replacement packed with natural fuel including coconut milk, agave, vanilla extract, peanut butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, and bananas. Their cleanse program offers three different options: the beginner needing a reset, an intermediate customer interested in replacing daily food intake with juices, and an advanced juicer seeking a total cleanse.

Whether you are interested in a juice, smoothie, or a total cleanse package, you will be provided with the information needed to commit to a healthier lifestyle. “We worked with a consultant to develop juices and flavors for a Caribbean community that are both healthy and flavorful,” Dexter Bartholomew says.

“As we are introducing juicing into this community the ingredients have to resonate with our customers, feel like home, and taste like home,” he adds.

The Frutango product offerings can be purchased at its retail location on Church Avenue in Brooklyn New York or line. In addition, Frutango Juice Bar has partnered with delivery services Uber Eats, and Grub Hub for ordering convenience and access to juice options.

The Bartholomews want to continue to promote a healthier option for their community and use their experience in the franchise industry to open multiple Frutango Juice Bar locations.

Wade Institute of Technology (WIT), an experiential college that offers students of African descent the opportunity to create a STEM major tailored to their interests and talents, is currently recruiting students for the launch of its Integrated Engineering master’s degree program.

The program integrates engineering courses with human-centered classes in leadership and management concepts. The goal is to prepare graduates for broad-based management and leadership roles in technology.

Following an initial design phase where students collaborated with faculty on the curriculum, the full program will begin this fall. In keeping with WIT’s commitment to practical learning, the student-centric curriculum emphasizes problem-solving applicability to real-world challenges.

“There’s an acute underrepresentation of African Americans and students of African descent in the engineering ecosystem,” said WIT Executive Director Booker T. Wade, Jr. “Our goal is to create a program that not only mitigates that issue but does so through an innovative, project-based approach that meets the current demand for engineers who are skilled in a variety of disciplines.”

The program will include elements from aeronautics and astronautics; material sciences; leadership; project management; and biomedical, computer, electrical, mechanical, systems, civil and environmental engineering.

The application deadline is August 30 and coursework begins in September. The first year of study will be offered tuition-free for accepted students. Those who possess a bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline will complete their studies in 12-18 months instead of 24 months.

Details about the program and the application process can be found at https://wit.university/integrated-engineering-program/

This news first appeared on blacknews.com

• Diversity, Equality, Inclusion

by Kiara Williams

March 13, 2023

Do Corporate DE&I Metrics Actually Help Drive Change?

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Over the last few years, some of the unjust treatment the Black community faces has finally started getting the media coverage it deserves. As a result, in corporate boardrooms, it seems like many brands have seen the memo that they are expected to be a part of the change.

Yet many corporate DE&I initiatives can feel like little more than performative “virtue signaling.” I’m sure I’m not alone in looking at some campaigns and thinking a company isn’t really doing anything–they just want everyone to think they are. Executives are wise to the implications of brand perception, and annual diversity reporting is becoming more popular. These often include both qualitative and quantitative DE&I metrics as a way of showing progress.

Ironically, sometimes these reports show the opposite. An industry-wide survey, the BuiltIn State of DEI in Tech 2022 report, showed that 73% of responding companies had zero Black leaders on their executive teams. And demand for people in charge of driving the change seems to be rapidly waning.

This raises the question of whether DE&I metrics are means to an end–or the end itself.

You can’t manage what you can’t measure

Business theorist Peter Drucker famously coined (some version of) this phrase, and to some extent it’s true. If companies didn’t track DE&I metrics, then how could they possibly know if they were making any progress?

Perhaps more important than the metrics themselves is the targets they become associated with. Simplifying your organization’s inclusivity levels into dashboard-friendly deliverables might make it easier to get leadership teams aligned, whereas vaguely trying to “become more diverse” could cause confusion.

Salesforce is a great example of a company that is doing this well. They set a target to have 50% of the company’s U.S. workforce made up of underrepresented groups, and they reached it a year early. They also doubled their U.S. representation of Black leaders and aim to do more.

Metrics without consequences

I caution the BIPOC community against applauding companies for simply producing diversity reports, as Salesforce’s progress can sadly be an exception.

For many companies, it feels like a box-checking exercise with no real consequences. They release numbers that reveals how they aren’t diverse, then make an empty statement about being better next year. For instance, only 4.9% of Meta employees in the U.S. identify as Black. Why is this not a bigger issue?

Industry reports can be misleading too, as they generally allow companies to self-report on their own progress. Lever’s “State of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” report reveals that 83% of employers think their company accurately reflects their diversity efforts. Yet, of course, employers would think they are doing well. What matters is how the employees and applicants feel.

We aren’t numbers

Many companies focus their reporting on simple percentages of different backgrounds and celebrate increases in diversity. The pie chart will look better, but the devil is in the details.

If a company hires 10 people and half of them are Black, then it looks great on their report. Yet if those five Black people take longer to be promoted, report lower satisfaction, and feel their opinion is less heard then is that truly progress?

Aiming for diversity first can be a mistake, and it can be better to target inclusivity – which is, of course, trickier to measure. If current employees from diverse backgrounds feel respected, then naturally they will encourage others to join.

A recent TrustRadius HR Trends Survey showed that 60% of HR workers think their companies are diverse, but only 43% think they are inclusive. This is a serious gap that begs for action.

Breeding resentment

Most of us are aware of the negative feelings some campaigns around DE&I metrics can cause.

Quotas are a particularly sticky subject when used to meet arbitrary goals for representation. They can be a powerful tool to tackle diversity issues, and some would argue it’s better to force company culture to change than be too laid-back.

Quotas can backfire, invalidating the achievements of Black people because others will think they only got their role because of positive discrimination. I’ve heard many sad stories of friends and family members who are made to feel like a token.

Gartner found some terrifying statistics when they asked about internal attitudes towards DE&I programs. Apparently, 44% of employees agree that a growing number of their colleagues feel alienated by their organizations’ DE&I efforts. Metrics can give the idea of reaching a target for the sake of reaching it, rather than actually changing cultures to be more welcoming.

We need to go deeper

DE&I metrics can obscure the human element behind what companies are trying to achieve. How many of us truly care about having the exact right percentage of Black people in each industry?

More than numbers, we want to feel heard and like our opinions matter. There is a story behind every failing DE&I statistic. It’s someone who didn’t bother to apply because they thought they didn’t have a chance. It’s a highly qualified person who was passed over because of their name. It’s people who are frustrated by their everyday work life because their colleagues don’t respect them.

Unless businesses take qualitative measures into account and actually sit down and interview those who feel alienated, company DE&I measurement programs will always be destined to fail.

• Health and Wellness

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 13, 2023

New Research in JNCCN Highlights the Negative Impact of Continued Exclusion of Racial Groups from Research on Cancer Genomics USA

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New research in the March 2023 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network highlights how the lack of genomic research for people with African ancestry, particularly those from the Sub-Saharan region, is hampering efforts to reduce disparities for people with cancer. In a first-of-its-kind study, the researchers evaluated molecular genetic results for 113 Black South African men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer to find evidence for increased and potentially unique genetic testing recommendations.

The researchers point out that, according to the GLOBOCON 2020 studies, the regions of the world most impacted by prostate cancer mortality include populations with significant African ancestry, such as the Caribbean and the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, with mortality rates 3.4- and 2.5-fold greater, than reported for the United States, respectively. Within the United States, African American men are at 2.3- to 5-times increased risk for prostate cancer associated death than their non-African American counterparts.

“Although men of African ancestry have the highest incidence rates for aggressive prostate cancer and associated death globally, due to lack of available data, no tailored testing criteria have been established for such populations at increased risk,” said lead researcher Kazzem Gheybi, MD, PhD, of The University of Sydney in Australia. “This study opens the door to begin to establish new criteria, providing men of African ancestry with hope that germline testing can change current disparities in clinical outcomes.”

“The African diaspora is highly diverse, so I caution against regarding the most genetically diverse population in ‘singular’ terms,” added senior researcher Vanessa M. Hayes, PhD, also from The University of Sydney and the University of Pretoria in South Africa. “What is required is concerted effort for inclusion that takes a grassroots approach. We need to build criteria based on population-specific knowledge. We encourage cancer care and germline screening providers to establish a research and development arm tailored specifically for African inclusion. We need to move away from the one-size-fits-all model for prostate cancer care; African solutions should address African-relevant disparities in prostate cancer outcomes.”

The study included a close examination of 21,899 single-nucleotide variants, 4,626 small insertions and deletions, and 73 structural variants across 20 genes from the 113 patients. After initially excluding variants that were known not to be cancer-causing, they found 38 mutations across 52 patients. A total of 17 pathogenic (4) and potential oncogenic (13) variants were identified. The 5.6% rate of rare cancer-causing variants in this population was significantly lower than the established rate of 11.8% for non-African patients with confirmed metastatic prostate cancer, suggesting decreased sensitivity of current gene panels for risk assessment in this patient population.

“This study highlights the poor clinical utility (30%) of the currently most-utilized germline testing panels in men of African ancestry, largely due to minimal inclusion of these groups in the development of the panels,” commented Samuel L. Washington III, MD, MAS, Assistant Professor of Urology; Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, who was not involved in this research.

Dr. Washington, who is also a Member of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines^®) Panel for Prostate Cancer Early Detection, continued: “This study emphasizes two crucial domains: 1) it provides further evidence of the need for greater inclusivity in genetic panel development and 2) it recognizes that disparities in outcomes for men of African ancestry can’t be explained solely by the findings in 113 Black South African males. Although the NCCN Guidelines for Prostate Cancer Early Detection identify Black/African American identity as a risk factor, the panel notes the contributions of poor access to care, social determinants of health/social risk, and heritable genes to these observations. I look forward to further research in this area that examines how the limitations of our current tools can be improved to better reflect the populations we serve.”

To read the entire study, visit JNCCN.org. Complimentary access to “Evaluating Germline Testing Panels in Southern African Males with Advanced Prostate Cancer” is available until June 10, 2023. Visit NCCN.org/harmonized to learn more about NCCN’s global program, including resources tailored specifically for people in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This weekend at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro showcased Disney’s long-time commitment to innovation by pulling back the curtain on ways Disney creates intentional environments envisioned and built for happiness.

D’Amaro’s presentation, “Creating Happiness: The Art & Science of Disney Parks Storytelling,” was delivered at the essential destination for global professionals. SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals celebrating the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture.

“Disney’s 100-year legacy is built on the intersection of creativity, innovation, and storytelling,” D’Amaro said. “We’re humbled by the fact that millions of people choose Disney as their vacation destination every year to escape into our beloved stories. To our guests around the world, I want to tell you that we’ve only just begun.”

Disney Imagineers, the team behind making “broomsticks walk and cars talk” took the stage to share some of the unique and ambitious ideas that bring Disney stories to life and spark happiness for millions world-wide. D’Amaro and Disney Imagineers shared insights about how creating immersive environments, sensory-provoking food and music, visual effects, interactions with favorite Disney characters and world-class service from Disney cast members are all designed to bring people together to create their own stories again and again.

The “Creating Happiness” presentation included the unveiling of a brand-new prototype robot. Pushing boundaries of what characters can do in Disney experiences, the new robot demonstrated its ability to make dynamic maneuvers, including falling down and getting back up, as well as a somersault. The dynamic robot incorporates motion-capture data to create performances that evoke emotion, giving Disney Imagineers a new way to bring out a characters’ personality.

The presentation also included a behind-the-scenes look at another blue-sky concept from Disney Imagineers that lets fans have a live conversation with pixie-sized Tinker Bell. It’s the latest in innovations from Disney Imagineers to bring Disney characters, both big and small, to life in new ways. The Hulk character who appeared at Disney California Adventure Park in 2022 was also on display for the audience. This unique, exoskeleton allows performers to operate large, non-human characters.

Delivering more hope, inspiration and happiness is at the center of Disney’s next 100 years, D’Amaro shared. “We want to invent the future once again – together – drawing on a range of voices and perspectives that will help us continue to create even more happiness around the world.”  

 About Disney Parks, Experiences and Products

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products brings the magic of The Walt Disney Company’s powerful brands and franchises — including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, ESPN, Twentieth Century Studios and National Geographic — into the daily lives of families and fans around the world to create magical memories that last a lifetime.

When Walt Disney opened Disneyland in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 1955, he created a unique destination built around storytelling and immersive experiences, ushering in a new era of family entertainment. More than 60 years later, Disney has grown into one of the world’s leading providers of family travel and leisure experiences, with iconic businesses including six resort destinations with 12 theme parks and 53 resorts in the United States, Europe and Asia; a top-rated cruise line fleet of five ships with three more planned in the coming years; a luxurious family beach resort in Hawaii; a popular vacation ownership program; and two award-winning guided tour adventure businesses. Disney Imagineers are the creative force behind Disney theme parks, resort hotels and cruise ships globally.

Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing includes the world’s leading licensing business; one of the largest children’s publishing brands globally; one of the largest licensors of games across platforms worldwide; and consumer products at retail around the world.

March is National Women’s Month!

Today we’re  taking out the time to highlight some women who are taking philanthropy to another level in their own communities, through tout their state & region, and throughout the United States of America!

They know that it truly does take a village and they are not afraid to take their high heels off and get their hands dirty to help save their community. Whether it’s providing transitional housing for single mothers and teenage runaways, food support to organizations that give food to the underprivileged, after school for children and/or vocational training to individuals re-entering society—these women have demonstrated that they understand the assignment!!!

It’s been said that when one gives back to their community, and that it can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Plain and simple, giving is good for you! When we give to others it activates the areas of the brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust. Altruistic behavior releases endorphins in the brain and boosts happiness for us as well as the people we help.

The question: Who have YOU reached back to help? How do you plan to make an impact in another’s life in 2023? Who’s on your rescue list? Instead of talking about what’s not being done, where’s the shovel in your hand?

These 7 women have answered those questions! And have done so quite well!

Dr. Felicia Phillips– The One Millions Dream Foundation for Black Women and Girls is an empowerment-focused foundation passionate about engaging black women-owned businesses with best practices that enable them to achieve sustainable growth through the maximum utilization of tools and resources made available to them by programs offered through the foundation.

Over the last 6 years we have helped more than 3,000 businesses through our annual conference, MogulCon, business accelerators and 1:1 business coaching.  The economic impact of our services has generated over $100 Million (USD) in contracts with the help of our partners and stakeholders. This eco-system has empowered the businesses we serve to become competitive in the global marketplace, as well as create jobs and opportunities that will contribute to the communities where they live, work and play.

In 2022, the foundation signed a strategic alliance memorandum with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide additional resources and services that support the advancement of black women entrepreneurs.

Onemilliondreamsfoundation.org

Dr.K.C Fox-The Lady General Foundation’s mission is to create the next generation of leaders. We ensure that girls remain confident, motivated, inspired, and empowered to reach their FULL potential without oppression or fear of oppression. Our programs are tailored to help young leaders defy the odds by using critical thinking skills wrapped with mission planning and exemplary execution.

PHILOSOPHY

We’re teaching at an elevated level. We don’t do boxes, glass ceilings, or limitations. The young women we work with are trained to perform with a no boundaries mindset. Our Generals in Training are ages 9-17. With a 5-year case study and extended lifeline mentorship in place.

STRATEGY

“Our leadership programming is based on military-style strategies.” says Dr.Fox. Founder K.C. Fox has taken the strategies she learned while in the military and incorporated their core principles of merit-based and performance-based activities to help the girls realize their leadership potential.

To date, they  have trained over 6,000 young minority females.

www.tlgfoundation.org

Tracey Gales—My Fresh Start focuses on providing downtrodden single mothers who have experienced domestic abuse with a brand new fresh start in life.

Job training, life skills, workforce development and vocational training are provided in order to assist the single mother to become marketable and have the skills needed to secure a livable wage and go forth to live a purposeful life.

Dr.Kerry Ann Zamore—The Zamore Foundation  501c3 is a nonprofit organization that focuses on fundraising and resource building, and community organizing  to build collaborative opportunities with local, state, federal, and private entities and to develop educational  workshops to include: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Healthy Living Seminars, and Personal Life and Success Coaching and other social issues affecting families and communities. The Foundation utilizes interactive workshops and performing arts such as public service announcements, stage plays and films to strengthen and bring awareness and education to  issues affecting  families and communities.

Dr.Tyreese McAllister– The Ayana J. McAllister Legacy Foundation was created to address gun violence in the Black and Brown communities after 18-year-old Ayana was killed by gun violence in Washington, DC.  Ayana, a college freshman, is one of the many African American young adults killed, most likely by someone also Black.  Ayana’s parents, Mr. Anthony McAllister and Dr. Tyreese R. McAllister, created the foundation to address the disproportionate number of youth and young people who tragically end up on both sides of the gun. Mr. McAllister has served 30 years in juvenile justice, while Dr. McAllister has a 30-year career in trauma response in the Washington metropolitan area.  They have teamed up with other concerned citizens to address gun violence, including the former Director of Forensic Sciences for Washington, DC, and Joe Youcha, Founder of Building to Teach and the Seaport Foundation. The McAllister’s are dedicated to helping African American youth avoid gun violence, neither as victims nor perpetrators.  Dr. McAllister is often quoted saying, “No mother should have to bury their child or visit their child in prison.” The McAllister’s own and operate Clinical & Forensic Associates, Inc., where they provide mental health and wellness services.

The Ayana J.McAllister Foundation for the Awareness/Affects of Gun Violence

Dr. .Ashley Little- Dr. Ashley Little is the CEO/Founder/Visionary Author of The HBCU Experience Movement, the first Black-owned company to launch books written and published by prominent alumni throughout the world who attended Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). As authors, they share a powerful collection of stories on how their unique college experience has molded them into the people they are today. The purpose of The HBCU Experience Movement is to change the narrative by sharing Black stories and investing financially back into our HBCUs to increase young alumni giving and enrollment. The award-winning bestselling authors won the Black Authors Matter TV Award in May of 2021, Inaugural Anthem Awards of 2022, as well as the International Book Awards by The American Book Fest. The books are also part of the WorldCat.org, the world’s largest network of library content and services.

@thehbcuexperiencemovement (instagram)

 www.thehbcuexperiencemovement.com

Dr.Cheryl Polote-Williamson—Soul Reborn is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by best selling author, transformational speaker and entrepreneur, Dr. Cheryl Polote-Williamson. Through the help of community leaders, influencers and volunteers, Soul Reborn focuses on transforming the lives of disadvantaged, disenfranchised and previously incarcerated women by educating and equipping them with the tools for life and business. The organization addresses both the personal and professional development needs of women who struggle due to hurt, unforgiveness, grief, loss, or low self-esteem.

www.soulreborn.org