Chloe O'Toole, Tyler Morrison and Mileni Lopes Seidi - just three of more than 100 young people affected by homelessness whose lives have been turned around by the Relentless Change Programme, run by the Northern Ireland Youth Forum, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and supported by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Extern and Ulster University

Published: 05:23 Thursday 05 December 2019

More than 100 young people affected by homelessness have rebuilt their lives thanks to a major project run by the Northern Ireland Youth Forum.

The Relentless Change Programme, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund has had a real impact on the lives of these young people, helping them to find permanent accommodation, employment and connection to vital statutory services.

The RCP Programme is supported by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Extern and Ulster University.

This has been achieved largely through The Youth Forums Relentless Youth Work Approach with the young people establishing transformational relationships and completing personal and social development and experiential learning courses to help them deal with the challenges and pressures of homelessness.

On top of that 18 young people have completed a work placement this year and 41 have completed an accredited Ulster University course on civic empowerment. A further 15 are registered to take part in the course in April.

On November 26 at the Northern Ireland Youth Forum, programme participants, staff and partner agencies came together to celebrate their successes on the programme over the last year.

In the second year of this three-year programme, more than 40 young homeless people engaged with the RCP project.

As a result of their work, they continued to present key messages which they feel would make life easier for other young people in the same situation.

These are:

Access to correct information from NIHE at the right time; Dont put young people in hostels with older people or in B&Bs; Family Intervention at the right time could help prevent homelessness.

Social services need to do more to help support young people leaving care; An advice service for youth homelessness that is flexible and provides out of hours support; Young people need more choices in relation to housing options; Services and decision makers to listen and learn from young people; More education in schools and youth clubs about homelessness.

More here:
Young people rebuild lives thanks to project - Belfast Newsletter

Futures Recovery have released a new blog post on their website. It is a blog post titled The Importance of Community in Recovery. This is a beneficial blog for people who are considering drug rehab in Palm Beach or who are looking for a particular addiction treatment center in Palm Beach.

In the Blog post, Futures Recovery discusses many areas such as Jupiter Recovery Day, Fighting Stigma, and Helping Others is a Primary Theme in Recovery. According to Futures Recovery, when you are in recovery from addiction, it is advised to give up old relationships and make significant life changes; however, they do not recommend doing this alone. They quoted a book with the sentence Loneliness hangs over our culture today like thick smog, written by Johan Hari in his 2018 book Lost Connections. The book is about trying to investigate and reveal the real causes of depression.

In Futures Recoverys opinion, recovery means connecting with your peers for mutual support and connecting with your local community. A significant emphasis on the community will help you in the road to recovery, according to Futures Recovery. Also, Futures Recovery Healthcare recently sponsored the inaugural Jupiter Recovery Day.

The event brought members of the South Florida community together to honor and celebrate individuals in recovery from substance use or mental health disorders. It is a brilliant day with everyone int eh community gathering, which helps with the improvement of those who are in rehab or a loved one.

Jupiter Recovery Day is a unique event that connects people in recovery with the rest of the community. It helps raise awareness of the disease and overcome the stigma still attached to it. Community events like these may also encourage people with substance use disorder to feel more confident about seeking treatment and less afraid of being judged because of their disease.

An interesting fact that Futures Recovery has found is that overcoming addiction is aided by connecting with supportive people, especially peers who have been going through similar experiences. There has been scientific research to show that peer support and being part of a community significantly increase the chances of sustained recovery from addiction.

So, there are many ways to help individuals who in rehab and one the road to recovery. One way of which is helping each other recover from addiction is by joining community-based recovery housing. Staying sober and living in a recovery residence among peers can help stabilize people in their early recovery. Many housemates may also hold each other accountable.

Futures has established partnerships with certified recovery residences within our local community and across the country to assist clients who would benefit from safe, supervised sober living.

Futures Recovery recommends always to have someone, a loved one or friend, as Isolation and lack of genuine support can be dangerous, especially if you are recovering from addiction.

Contact Futures Recovery today if you or your loved one is considering Palm Beach addiction treatment. The team at Futures Recovery is professional and considerate, and it is an excellent drug addiction treatment center in Palm beach. You can ring the Palm beach treatment center on (561) 475-1804, or you can email the team at info@futuresrecoveryhealthcare.com for more information about rehab or any information on their site, including the new blog post about recovery in your community.

Source:https://thenewsfront.com/futures-recovery-release-a-new-blog-post-on-their-site/

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Futures Recovery Release a New Blog Post on Their Site - The News Front

The CROWN Act Of 2019 Calls For Federal Protection Against Hair Discrimination To Ensure All Natural Beauty Is Welcome In All Workplaces And Schools

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS,N.J., Dec. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --The CROWN Coalition, a national alliance of organizations working to advance anti hair discrimination legislation, is celebrating a major victory with the introduction of a federal bill to ban hair discrimination called The CROWN Act of 2019. The CROWN Coalition, founded by Dove, National Urban League, Western Center on Law & Poverty, and Color Of Change, and supported by over 50 NGOs and non-profit organizations, have been working to raise awareness for the issue of hair discrimination and to drive action to end hair discrimination in workplaces and schools. The announcement of a federal bill, led by Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-Louisiana) and Senator Corey Booker (D-New Jersey), is a monumental milestone in the Coalition's efforts to Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.

"Hair discrimination has been a problematic practice impacting Black people in multiple settings for far too long. Natural hair and protective styles should never serve as a barrier. We in Congress have acted, and together with a racial equity champion like Adjoa B. Asamoah and the CROWN Coalition, we can ensure this form of discrimination no longer goes unchecked," said Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-Louisiana).

"Dove is incredibly proud to be a force in the movement towards a more equitable beauty experience for all people. We were inspired to co-found the CROWN Coalition to support Senator Holly Mitchell in California with the inaugural CROWN Act, and are excited to see other state and federal legislators recognizing the time is now to take action to end this form of discrimination," said Esi Eggleston Bracey, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Beauty and Personal Care at Unilever North America."We salute Congressman Richmond and Senator Booker, and the other members of the Congressional Black Caucus who are co-sponsoring The CROWN Act of 2019, for leading the charge to end hair discrimination nationwide."

"A federal bill in both chambers of Congress is exactly what is needed to address the racial injustice of hair discrimination on a national level," said Marc Morial, former mayor of New Orleans and CEO of the National Urban League, a founding member of the CROWN Coalition. "With the passing of The CROWN Act in California and New York and more than 10 other states taking action to introduce or pre-file similar legislation, there is a heightened awareness of the need to expand anti-discrimination protections to include hair texture and hairstyles inherent to race. Federal legislation would eliminate the need for state-by-state legislation and would immediately break down systemic barriers that limit social and economic mobility of African-Americans based on Eurocentric standards of beauty."

"The federal CROWN Act of 2019 is an important and overdue step toward achieving civil rights and economic equity in this country," said Color Of Change Vice President Arisha Hatch. "Ridding our schools, workplaces and communities of hostile hairstyle discrimination will finally allow children of color to view themselves as deserving of every opportunity they've seen handed to their white peers for generations. On behalf of our 1.7 million members, Color Of Change applauds Congressman Richmond and Senator Booker for their leadership in introducing this bill, and we thank our partners in the CROWN Coalition for their lasting commitment to ensuring that natural beauty is protected for all Americans, no matter the state they live in or the color of their skin."

The CROWN Act of 2019 is not the first time federal lawmakers have taken action against grooming policies that have a disparate impact on people of color. In 2014, the Congressional Black Caucus, led by then Chairwoman Rep. Marcia Fudge, appealed to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to reconsider U.S. Military rules for hairstyles that lacked cultural sensitivity and gave little regard to what it takes for women of color to maintain their natural hair. As a result, military grooming standards were reviewed and adjusted to ensure fair and respectful consideration of a diverse force.

"As reports of racial discrimination at work and in schools are increasing, it is essential that lawmakers recognize where more protections against it can, and should be, strengthened," said Jessica Bartholow of the Western Center on Law and Poverty. "We are so grateful to Senator Booker, Congressman Richmond and the Congressional Black Caucus for their leadership on this issue and are eager to continue the work with other CROWN Act coalition members and allies until all workers and all pupils in our country are free from cultural and racial discrimination based on the texture or style of their hair. Passing this Act is an essential step to reducing school pushout of black children and improving job opportunities for black workers."

Jointhe movementthat'screating realchangeand aiding in the efforts to ensureBlack men, women and children feel confident in expressing themselves. Sign the petition atwww.TheCROWNAct.comto help us end discrimination and learn howyou can get involved in bringing anti-hair discrimination legislation to your state.

About The CROWN CoalitionThe CROWN Coalition is a national alliance founded by Dove, National Urban League, Color Of Change, Western Center on Law & Poverty.

The CROWN Coalition is proud to sponsor and/or support the following bills in California, New York, and New Jersey:

These bills address unfair grooming policies that have a disparate impact on Black women, men and children and has drawn attention to cultural and racial discrimination taking place within workplaces and public schools. The CROWN Coalition members believe diversity and inclusion are key drivers of success of social and economic success.

The CROWN Coalition and The CROWN Act are supported by the following organizations: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Links, Inc., Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL Women), African American Mayors Association, Black Women's Agenda, National Council of Negro Women, Black Women's Roundtable, National Women's Law Center, Black Women Organized for Political Action, National Action Network, National Black MBA Association, Inc., National Black Child Development Institute, Inc., National Association of Black Psychologists, United States Black Chambers, Inc., Black Business Association, Black Women for Wellness Action Project, Greater Sacramento Urban League, National Coalition of 100 Black Women-Sacramento Chapter, EMERGE: Natural Beauty Industry Alliance, Beauty and Barber Empowerment Center, Ujima, Inc., Hip Hop Sisters Foundation, Alliance for Boys and Men of Color, Equal Rights Advocates, Public Health Advocates, American Academy of Pediatrics, Courage Campaign, Greenlining Institute, Anti-Defamation League, Women in Public Policy, Inc., Professional Beauty Association, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), California Black Health Network, Black American Political Association of California, California Black Chamber of Commerce, Women's Foundation of California, National Association of Social Workers-California Chapter, California Employment Lawyers Association, California Civil Liberties Advocacy, California Teachers Association, AFSCME California American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, ACLU New Jersey, ACLU California, ACLU of Northern California, ACLU of Southern California, ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties, Berkeley City Council, National Lawyers Guild Sacramento Chapter, Los Angeles County Office of Education, Los Angeles Community College District, City and County of San Francisco Department on the Status of Women

About DoveDove started its life in 1957 in the US, with launch of the Beauty Bar, with its patented blend of mild cleansers and moisturizing cream. Dove's heritage is based on moisturization proof not promises grew Dove from a Beauty Bar into one of the world's most beloved beauty brands.

Women have always been our inspiration and since the beginning, we have been wholly committed to providing superior care to all women and to championing real beauty in our advertising. Dove believes that beauty is for everyone. That beauty should be a source of confidence and not anxiety. Dove's mission is to inspire women everywhere to develop a positive relationship with the way they look and realize their personal potential for beauty.

For 60 years, Dove has been committed to broadening the narrow definition of beauty in the work they do. With the 'Dove Real Beauty Pledge,' Dove vows to:

About Unilever North America

Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2.5 billion consumers a day. In the United States and Canada, the portfolio includes brand icons such as: Axe, Ben & Jerry's, Breyers, Degree, Dollar Shave Club, Dove, Hellmann's, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Love Beauty and Planet, Magnum, Nexxus, Noxzema, Pond's, Popsicle, Pure Leaf, Q-tips, Seventh Generation, Simple, Sir Kensington's, St. Ives, Suave, Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto, TAZO, TIGI, TRESemm and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies.

Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) underpins the company's strategy and commits to:

The USLP creates value by driving growth and trust, eliminating costs and reducing risks. In 2018, the company's Sustainable Living Brands grew 69% faster than the rest of the business, compared to 46% in 2017.

Since 2010 we have been taking action through the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan to help more than a billion people improve their health and well-being, halve our environmental footprint and enhance the livelihoods of millions of people as we grow our business. We have already made significant progress and continue to expand our ambition most recently committing to ensure 100% of our plastic packaging is fully reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. While there is still more to do, we are proud to have been recognized in 2018 as sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and as the top ranked company in the GlobeScan/SustainAbility Global Corporate Sustainability Leaders survey, for the eighth-consecutive year.

For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit: http://www.unileverusa.com For more information on the USLP: http://www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/

About National Urban LeagueThe National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. The National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its 90 local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 2 million people annually nationwide. Visit http://www.nul.org and follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @NatUrbanLeague.

About Color Of ChangeColor Of Change is the nation's largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by more than 1.4 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people and our allies in America. Our campaigns and initiatives win changes that matter. By designing strategies powerful enough to fight racism and injusticein politics and culture, in the work place and the economy, in criminal justice and community life, and wherever they existwe are changing both the written and unwritten rules of society. We mobilize our members to end practices and systems that unfairly hold Black people back, and champion solutions that move us all forward.

About Western Center on Law & PovertyWestern Center fights for justice and system-wide change to secure housing, health care, racial justice and a strong safety net for low-income Californians. Western Center attains real-world policy solutions for our clients through litigation, legislative and policy advocacy, and technical assistance and legal support for the state's legal aid programs. Western Center is California's oldest and largest legal services support center. Visitwclp.org.

http://www.thecrownact.com

CONTACTS:

Marcy Polanco

Shemika Harmitt

marcy@joycollective.com

shemika@joycollective.com

917-940-3099

347-768-0761

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By Clara Green

Its hard to hate up close.

Those were the words spoken by a welcoming uncle to his curious young nephew. The nephew wanted to know why the uncle always invited so many people, from all walks of life, to Thanksgiving dinner.

One year, I asked him, How am I related to everybody here? the nephew recalled. They were a racially diverse group, an ethnically diverse group, a socially diverse group, and a geographically diverse group. I remember him saying to me, Logan, youre related to them not by the blood in your veins but by whats in your heart and whats in their heart.

The uncles view was this: Were all connected by three similarities. One is the love of family. Another is we all want to be respected and appreciated. And the third is that, at some point in our lives, were going to face hard times, and well need others to be there with us.

So, Logan, this is your family, the uncle explained.

And thats why, each year, he made it a point to open his home to people hed met along lifes journey. They may not be blood relatives. But if only we take the time to look, we can always find common bonds.

Were Spanish on my side of the family, so were huggers and kissers, Logan added. So my uncle leans in really close; he takes my head in his hands and gives me a kiss on each cheek, and he gets about two inches from my face, and thats when he said it: Its hard to hate up close. And his point was to just get to know people. Youll see just how many great people there are.

That was decades ago. And Logan Pichel, whose own lifes journey led to him becoming an executive at Regions Bank, still follows and shares his uncles advice.

Over the last year, our teams at Regions have been on a journey, too. Its a journey toward better understanding, more openly welcoming, and always respecting the unique backgrounds of colleagues across our organization.

Along the way, weve had a series of candid conversations that reflects the value Regions places on diversity. Each conversation, open to Regions associates and streamed to company offices in several states, has offered insights that can help all of us better appreciate the experiences of others.

One of our earliest discussions was with Regions CEO John Turner, who shared how fostering diversity makes Regions a better bank. But its not just about diversity, he shared. Inclusion must be at the heart of our journey, too. Diversity is having more people at the table. Inclusion is listening to everyones voices and actively seeking the perspectives of people whose backgrounds are different than our own.

Another conversation featured women leaders from different departments at the bank, as well as from different generations. They shared a message of inspiration and empowerment, with a focus on charting a course, overcoming challenges, and building professional and personal success.

During Black History Month, we heard from the first African-American mayor of our headquarters city, Birmingham, Alabama, joined by the current mayor, who is also African-American. They talked about history and being an African-American leader then and now. They spoke of progress in terms of equality and opportunity. And they acknowledged the progress society still needs to make.

In May, we recognized Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and invited colleagues from China, Pakistan, the Philippines and India to share how theyve found a sense of belonging in the U.S., which can be a challenge for people in new surroundings. Another colleague, raised in the U.S. by Taiwanese parents, reflected his pride in being bicultural.

During June, we celebrated LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Two of our colleagues told personal and transparent stories about coming out. Another colleague shared the story of his son coming out and talked about his responsibility as a parent. We walked away from that conversation with a clearer understanding of how there is so much more to members of the LGBTQ+ community than their sexuality.

I didnt change when I came out, one of our panelists said. Im still the person I am, and just getting people to realize that is important for everybody.

In September, we focused on Hispanic Heritage Month. Three colleagues told of their families immigration to the United States. Some of their parents and ancestors came legally; others came illegally, seeking exile from unsafe conditions. We were left to ponder the risks we would be willing to take personally in search of a better life.

During October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we heard from author David Cooks, who motivated us by showing how hes fulfilling his purpose, despite being a T6 paraplegic since he was a teen. He spoke of how the Americans with Disabilities Act has helped level the playing field, but theres a need to consistently ensure people living with disabilities have access to opportunities for professional growth. I think the next step, now that I can get in the bathroom, is to figure out how to get in the boardroom, he said.

Our conversation series is taking a very intentional approach toward ensuring that were listening to voices from across demographic groups, and that includes a recent conversation with white male colleagues, who I also see as an important piece of our diversity and inclusion puzzle. We heard these colleagues share how they champion diversity and inclusion, serving as advocates and allies for others. And we reaffirmed that, to be a truly inclusive organization, everyone needs to see themselves as part of the equation. Its my responsibility to be part of helping ensure we have a level playing field, one participant shared, as all others agreed.

Why is Regions taking these steps? Indeed, we believe a diverse and inclusive organization is better suited for meeting the needs of our communities. But its not only that. We also believe it is fundamentally the right thing to do. People deserve a workplace that values them for who they are. We want our colleagues to know they are welcomed and valued. And we believe a consistent focus on diversity and inclusion helps us better understand each other and helps our organization grow stronger.

Our goal is not to see others through the narrow lens of labels or stereotypes. Rather, we see a greater value in taking the time to get to know each other up close.

Clara Green is Executive Vice President, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Regions Bank.

Updated at 12:45 p.m. on 12/5/2019 to correct wording in headline and add a sentence previously omitted.

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Regions' Clara Green On Bank's Diversity and Inclusion Journey - Birmingham Times

Loose Women panellist Andrea McLean has revealed that she is working on an exciting new project.

The Scottish telly star, who is best known for hosting the ITV chat show, took to Instagram this week to announce details of her new efforts, revealing she has launched a marketplace in conjunction with her womens website, This Girl Is On Fire.

The online platform, aimed at inspiring females, has launched the online shop, which is set to offer products and experiences to help women enrich their lives.

READ MORE:Linda Robson reveals why she had to take a break from Loose Women ahead of her return to the show

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#AD I am so excited to announce the launch of This Girl Is On Fires Marketplace an online shop where women can buy amazing products, download courses and experience events to help equip them to go out and live, learn, thrive in a life they love. And I am looking for business owners like you who share my mission to get involved. Everything we do at TGIOF is built around 3 core pillars Live, Learn, Thrive and all the products we sell empower women to do just this. Why am I doing this? I am passionate about empowering women and making them feel great about themselves, helping them learn new skills and encouraging them to grow into unstoppable Girls On Fire. If you are too, youre my kind of people, so join me! WIIFM the chance to put your product/service in front of our community of 1000s of women who are all looking to live, learn, thrive in a life they love. We offer curated collections and features via our website, newsletters and social posts to help promote your products. And only when youre successful, are we. What we mean to Live: products that makes my life easier; life hacks & small wins What we mean to Learn: products that help my personal growth and development What we mean to Thrive: products that make me feel the best I can, both inside & out my happy place If you feel your product/service fits in with my mission and would like to be part of the TGIOF marketplace, then apply via the link in my bio. I cant wait to welcome you! #womeninbusiness #strongwomen #womensupportingwomen #femaleentrepreneur #joinme

A post shared by Andrea McLean (@andreamclean1) on Dec 2, 2019 at 10:54am PST

Explaining the new business venture to her 232 thousand followers, the author and mum-of-two said, Im so excited to announce the launch of the This Girl Is on Fire marketplace. An online shop where women can buy products, download courses and experience events thatll help them live, learn and thrive in a life they love.

And Im looking for business owners like you who share my mission to come and get involved. Everything we do at This Girl Is on Fire is built around three core pillars: live, learn thrive.

And everything we sell will empower women to do just this. Why am I doing this? Well, I am passionate about empowering women to feel great about themselves. If you are too, youre my kind of people. If you feel like your product or service fits in with my mission, then click on the link in my bio.

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This week is Global Entrepreneurship Week, which makes it the perfect time to celebrate some incredible women who are striking out and doing their own thing in the business world. As a woman running a business which is all about empowering others to live, learn and thrive it was hugely important to me to inspire you all by showing you that there is no set path when it comes to making a success of your passion. So, I approached women who have interesting and varied stories to tell about their experience of running their own business and asked them all exactly the same questions. Their answers are as unique as the women themselves and give a fascinating insight into what makes them tick as women, and as businesswomen. Some run huge companies with hundreds of staff, others are just starting out on their journey, but I know all of them will inspire you with their determination, tenacity and passion for what they do. Over at my website http://www.thisgirlisonfire.co.uk we will be bringing you a different woman every day this week, all of them united in being the very thing we love they are all on fire! Check out todays Q&A with founder of the Female Entrepreneur Association @iamcarriegreen by clicking on the link at @officialtgiof I promise you will be inspired! Coming up this week, inspiring answers from @lizearleme @karenmillen_obe @fionalambertstyle @terrasaunders and @donnamaymakeup #globalentrepreneurshipweek #entrepreneur #business #womeninbusiness #ladyboss #femaleempowerment #strongwomen

A post shared by Andrea McLean (@andreamclean1) on Nov 17, 2019 at 11:00pm PST

Andreas supportive fans made sure to congratulate her on her achievement in the comment section, with lots praising her for spreading the important message of female empowerment.

Ive just started following this site!! What an inspiration! Thank you x, wrote one.

You go Girl more power to women and female entrepreneurs! Where would I be without them, I love how you can juggle 7 things at once while men struggle with 1 at a time, joked a second.

Good luck, good wishes and every success with the launch , sweetly chipped in a third.

Well done, Andrea!

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Loose Womens Andrea McLean reveals lovely news in exciting post - woman&home

When I was a teenager, I was in two abusive relationships one with my then-boyfriend, and one with God.

My fathers side of the family is Jewish and my mothers side is Christian; I was raised Christian. When I was 13, I was confirmed into the Lutheran church a decision that was essentially made for me and then at age 15, I started dating my ex.

We had been best friends growing up in our small town, and we dated for a little under four years until we broke up while I was in college. After our first few months of dating, I found myself deferring more and more of my decisions and opinions to his will. After a while, I was expected to defend his bullying of others and allow for his belittling of me, and to say nothing when he was hours late or cancelled on me altogether. He manipulated me into doing exactly what he wanted. Soon, he began to interrogate me about what I wore, if I drank, and who I spent time with.

At 16, I was at something of a crossroads. While it would take me two more years to escape a relationship rooted in gaslighting a behavior defined by Psychology Today as a tactic in which a person or entity, in order to gain more power, makes a victim question their reality I was already undergoing a break-up with God.

I remember sitting on my bed sobbing, having decided that later that night I would lose my virginity and terrified that the decision would condemn me to Hell. I remember typing the words will God hate me if I have sex? into Google. I was scared to the point of sickness about God and the consequences of sinning.

As I later learned, such a relationship one of fear, imbalanced power, and insecurity instead of love and acceptance is abusive.

In the weeks after I lost my virginity, I attended church every Sunday. I was never afforded the freedom growing up to question the belief that Jesus was the messiah. It was expected that I would be an obedient Christian. That was the way things were from when I was a child arguing about having to attend Sunday school, to my high school years getting grounded for fighting about having to go to church when all I wanted to do was sleep in.

But those Sundays after I felt I had done something inexcusable, while I was clinging to any shard of hope that I could be forgiven in Gods eyes, I became angry and began to examine the tradition I had grown up with through a critical lens.

Unlike what I eventually learned through Judaism, my Christian upbringing taught me that being pious meant being God-fearing. In many ways, being constantly fearful of what my then-partner might say or do taught me to act in ways that would avoid conflict and keep me in good standing. But in both my relationship with God and with my ex, I was fundamentally being told that my very existence was something to apologize for. To be born was to be born a Sinner.

In my freshman year of college, I made the personal decision to disconnect from Christianity. On Easter, arguably the holiest day of the Christian calendar, I made a vocal declaration to myself that I would not be celebrating. I still put on my floral springtime dress and sat in the decorated pews of my church as the organ music echoed around me, but I wasnt having it anymore.

I was not going to celebrate the way that the miracle of Christs resurrection made me feel about myself, how it made me feel guilty for sins outside my control. In my mind, being born and living a human life was not a sin. But in order to be grateful for Easter, I felt that I needed to internalize and accept a fundamental flaw within my being.

The summer after that Easter, I went on Birthright to learn more about another religion, one just as much a part of my ancestry as Christianity. The Judaism presented to me on that trip was incredibly non-conditional. There are some ambiguous teachings about the afterlife, but the focus of the tradition lies elsewhere. The core of Jewish practice, I learned, was the continuous interpretation, questioning, and re-interpretation of the Torah, the repair of the world, and performing mitzvot for yourself and others. This was the first time I felt free within a religion to examine it critically and accept what worked for me. It was exactly what I needed.

Through years of keeping up appearances while allowing myself to be controlled by others expectations, I had lost my sense of self. I was just finishing my freshman year of college and was finally coming into myself, thanks to the many miles separating me from my family and former partner.

Something was compelling me, empowering me to become more than the dependent, complacent, and demure mouse of a human I had been for so long. During this period, I was struggling. My grades were slipping rapidly, and I was living with anxiety that manifested in an eating disorder. I didnt like myself, which I now realize enabled others to exert power over me. It was obvious that something in my life had to change.

5,000 miles away from home, I finally found my community. A week into my Birthright trip, the support of people who have now become my best friends allowed me to break up with my abuser after almost four years of doubting my own sense of reality.

I prayed and cried at the Kotel as I slipped a piece of crumpled paper that read help me, give me clarity, please in ink distorted by fat drops of tears into the Walls ancient cracks. In the most vulnerable moment of my life, I followed through with the decision I had known for some time had to be made.

That night, we hiked into the vast desert, and I sobbed under the enormity of the sky. It was the closest I have ever felt to God. God was not asking anything of me. I was allowed to forgive myself. The next day, atop Masada, I chose my Hebrew name and began my Jewish life. I was Rivkah, Matriarch; I was done taking shit from any human, institution, or supreme being. The Judaism I found gave me space to be newly brazen, and radically myself.

Because I was still new to Judaism, it wasnt until the following year that I decided to observe Yom Kippur. In all honesty, it was probably good that I waited because I wasnt in a strong enough place emotionally to handle a holiday of atonement. I had also at first misunderstood the point of fasting I thought of it as a punishment, instead of as an opportunity to transcend the body.

This is the fast I desire: To unlock fetters of wickedness, and untie the cords of the yoke to let the oppressed go free; to break off every yoke. It is to share your bread with the hungry, and to take the wretched poor into your home; when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to ignore your own kin. (Isaiah 58)

Making this distinction was necessary before I made the choice to fast. When I was finally ready the following year, I felt empowerment rather than a vague and empty shame.

For much of my life, I was told that I was wrong and less-than, but such self-flagellation didnt actually allow me the opportunity to face the real ways I had erred, and the steps I could take to build a better life.

Judaism, and the teachings of teshuva, not only allowed me to see that what I was living through both religiously and romantically was not sustainable, but my Jewish practice has also given me a path forward.

Judaism has granted me the immense clarity that a former version of myself prayed for at her most battered and defeated. As the possibilities of what healthy relationships can look like with others, with God, and with myself have blossomed, I have too.

Featured image credit: Canva.com/Aaron Northcott.

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I Found God When I Learned to Love Myself - New Voices

The royal family appears to be moving in a new direction and Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince William, and Kate Middleton are being credited for the change. One source close to the Sussexes even believes that Prince Harry and Markle have single-handedly modernized the monarchy.

During the documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, the Sussexes shared some of the emotional fallout of living in the spotlight.

Markle pointed to the unfair criticism from the press, while Prince Harry addressed rumors of a feud between himself and Prince William. The candid interviews humanized the monarchy in a way we dont usually see.

A source told CNN: The institution around the British Royal Family is full of people afraid of and inexperienced at how to best help harness and deploy the value of the royal couple who have single-handedly modernized the monarchy.

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South Africa After months of planning, Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived in South Africa today for their official Royal Tour of Southern Africa focusing on community, grassroots leadership, womens and girls rights, mental health, HIV/AIDS and the environment. Their first stop was to the incredible Justice Desk Project which works to make women and children safer in Nyanga. Its an issue of vital importance in South Africa and across the globe, their Royal Highnesses wanted to learn first-hand about the issues people face and the work being done on the ground. One of the workshops Their Royal Highnesses saw was the Mbokodo project which provides self-defense classes and female empowerment workshops to young girls who are overcoming major traumas. This project's powerful motto is "wathint' abafazi wathint' imbokodo" which means "you strike a woman; you strike a rock" And just on one personal note, may I just say that while I am here with my husband as a member of The Royal Family, I want you to know that for me I am here with you as a mother, as a wife, as a woman, as a woman of colour and as your sister. The Duchess of Sussex @TheJusticeDesk Project is supported by the @Queens_Commonwealth_Trust and works with community leaders in Nyanga, with the firm belief that if you can change the mindset of a community, you can change the mindset of a country. #SussexRoyalTour #RoyalVisitSouthAfrica Photo PA images / SussexRoyal video SussexRoyal

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Sep 23, 2019 at 10:54am PDT

Prince Harry and Markles royal tour of Africa earned them rave reviews following a period of intense scrutiny. In an interview with Nine News Australia, royal expert Juliette Rieden shared: After all those criticisms and jibes that weve been covering for weeks on end here is Meghan and Harry doing what they both do best, which is meeting people, inspiring people, changing the face of the royal family, I think.

She continued, They dont meet people with a handshake, weve seen that, they go in for the hug every time. And they love it, everybody loves it, everybody loves that personal contact.

Rieden further explained how its evident that the Sussexes and Cambridges are making a huge splash, sharing: There is no question that Harry and Meghan are very important members of the monarchy They, along with William and Kate, are the young royals that are going to move the monarchy forward.

Yes, theyre doing it in their own way and, largely, the public like that, Rieden noted, adding, They are so impressive when theyre meeting people, they really do care, they really do listen, they really do want to interact and get involved and make a difference. Its not just handshakes, its not just cutting ribbons with them.

Winning public support can be challenging, but Middleton has tapped into a method Princess Diana used. Royal commentator Neil Sean told Australias Today Show how Middleton has taken a page from Diana, explaining: She sort of made sure that William and Harry had normal lives if you like. There was a very famous picture of them queuing in McDonalds in Kensington and then there was the other picture of them at funfairs and amusement parks. Well, Kate has done the same thing, she has taken the same route.

He pointed to the way Middleton is seen in non-royal situations with the children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, giving them a normal life which endears the Cambridges to the public and helps to modernize the royal family. This sense of normalcy makes it easier to identify with them.

Sean continued: According to a royal source, she wants her children to experience the reality of life. There was actually a picture of Kate shopping forHalloween treats with George and Charlottein a local supermarket near to where they were staying. This really endears people not just to William and Catherine but to the Royal Family in general.

He added: Although people werent allowed to take pictures, youve got to appreciate and I think Kate is very clever at this that the Royal Family has to modernize. By that, they have to get within the people, and I think thats a good trade Diana has given to William who passed it on to Catherine.

A royal insider told The Sun that Princess Diana was very unstuffy and wanted William and Harry to fit in with their school friends and experience normality. Thats the baton she handed to Kate.

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The Major Ways Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince William, and Kate Middleton Have Changed the Monarchy - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

There is a path the Scriptures reveal, where the pain of the past can be transformed in daily life, through an apprenticeship relationship with Jesus

HUDSON, Ill. (PRWEB) December 05, 2019

Bret Hansons book You Were Made For More: Finding Redemption & Eternal Purpose Amidst Our Struggles & Lifes Pain ($14.99, paperback, 9781545600078; $7.99, e-book, 9781545600085), is available for purchase.

You Were Made For More gives readers the first step in identifying the underlying causes of their brokenness. It helps lay out a big-picture perspective for how God can help them become whole again. Readers will become more transparent and authentic in the admission of their own personal brokenness. In that honest state, healing and wholeness is available from God.

There is a path the Scriptures reveal, where the pain of the past can be transformed in daily life, through an apprenticeship relationship with Jesus said Hanson.

Brent Hanson is a counselor, teacher, and apprentice of Jesus. He has spent 27 years counseling and teaching the pathway of love, grace, freedom, rest, and empowerment. After six years in full-time private practice, he helped found The Moriah Foundation, where he currently serves as Executive Director. # # #

Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the worlds largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 12,000 titles published to date You Were Made For More: Finding Redemption & Eternal Purpose Amidst Our Struggles & Lifes Pain is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.

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Readers Will See God Heal Their Difficult and Painful Past Experiences in Powerful Ways - PR Web

Insider is looking back on the last decade of musical greats with a series of opinion essays. Next up: Lady Gaga.

It's 2010, and everyone is angry. Lady Gaga, you see, has stepped out at the MTV Video Music Awards artfully smothered in raw beef.

The "meat dress," as it came to be known, immediately entered the pantheon of infamous media moments, drawing condemnation and fascination. It was a bizarre and delightfully garish example of Gaga's signature talent for breaking the rules. It also marked the beginning of a decade she would come to dominate.

That's the thing about Gaga: She's a mover and a shaker, and she elevates the conversation. You can argue that the meat dress was a savvy stunt that it was nothing but an attention grab but you can't argue that it didn't work. She's an entertainer in the purest sense of the word, and oozes glitz and glamour from every pore. And while she may draw comparisons to Cher or Madonna thanks to her audacious style, she's a true original in a decade populated by carbon copies.

Mother Monster is more than just a pop star she's a pioneer. Her unparalleled sense of who she is and uncompromised artistry make Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta the most influential artist of the decade.

Unlike the inoffensive bubblegum pop and monotonous club-happy dance music, Gaga's hits had personality and edge. The essence of her music loud, flamboyant, unignorable made her someone you couldn't take your eyes off of.

She's also no stranger to breaking records. At the top of the decade, she scored the most MTV Video Music Award nominations ever in a single year, when she was nominated 13 times. More recently, Gaga broke another record, when she became the first female artist with four No. 1 albums this decade.

What makes her special, though, is that she's crafted a career that far exceeds the boundaries of music. Gaga's creative genius has seeped into cinemas, runways, television screens, and even retail stores.

In 2019, she stole hearts and scooped up a number of awards thanks to her evocative performance in "A Star Is Born." She took home the award for best original song at the Oscars after writing and recording the much-memed "Shallow," and was also nominated for best actress. She also starred as a vampiric countess on "American Horror Story," and the dark role proved that she was capable of being as much of a chameleon onscreen as she is on the radio.

She's a bona fide fashion icon and a muse to countless designers. She even launched her own beauty line, Haus Laboratories, in 2019 and it's rooted in the fact that the power of makeup is what inspired her artistry to begin with. (She's said she'll "never" become a clothing designer herself because she respects their craft too much.)

Accolades and ostentatious public persona aside, her fans know that Gaga's true self is quite separate from Stefani Germanotta the person. "It's a bit of a creation," as she's admitted, but if you peel back the layers, the woman underneath is just as interesting: Take, for example, the time she stripped everything down to the core for 2016's "Joanne." With the more minimalist side of Gaga exposed to the world, she delivered some of her most personal songwriting to date.

The record proved that Gaga isn't afraid to kick her persona to the curb at times. In her earlier years, she demolished the pop star stereotype with her daring ensembles. (Billboard's collection of her wackiest outfits has a whopping 120 entries on it.) In more recent years, however, she quietly turned herself into a jeans-and-white-tee-shirt woman. And all the while, she manages to maintain her instantly recognizable Gaga-ness.

The name she has given herself says it all: "Mother Monster." Part of her cultural power comes from her innate ability to make people she's never even met feel like friends. She has the uncanny ability to make all of her 38 million Instagram followers feel like she is speaking directly to them, even when she's not, and they cling to her messages of love and empowerment.

One of the most impactful ways she's made a difference is through her relationship with the LGBTQ+ community. In 2011, she and her mother created the Born This Way Foundation, which focuses on community building and advocates for acceptance. While she's received criticism in the past for the shifting language around her own identity she publicly came out as bisexual in 2009, but has also called herself an ally it has also opened up conversations about bisexual erasure within the LGBTQ+ community.

Her most recent endeavor is the Enigma Las Vegas residency, following in the footsteps of Celine Dion, Diana Ross, and Mariah Carey women who have arguably had many more years to build up their careers.

In a world of diet tea hawkers, Instagram personalities, and high-profile "influencers," Gaga has maintained an authenticity that can't be taught. Lady Gaga embodies the qualities a pop star should have, and as this decade comes to a close, she's still just getting started.

Brandy Robidoux is a contributing writer for Insider. In addition to Insider, her words can be read at HollywoodLife, Billboard, Elite Daily, Stylecaster, and more. Say hi to her on Instagram: @thebrandybaye

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Lady Gaga is the artist of the decade - INSIDER

Posted October 24, 2019 05:17:18

Circling the athletics track at the end of her street, Sally Heppleston felt like a fraud.

She wasn't a runner. In fact, for someone who had never even stepped foot in a gym, a foray into fitness hadn't really been on the books.

But following the devastating stillbirth of her first child, Hope, and two more pregnancies in quick succession, Sally irrevocably found herself "spiralling out of life-changing grief into being a mum with two small children".

"[Running] was my escape from the kids," she said. "I needed something to do just for me."

"I'd been grieving, I'd been mothering, and I just had neglected myself for so long, so the running for me was something to do out on my own."

Though her story is unique, Sally's experience is far from an anomaly.

She is one of a growing number of women finding empowerment through exercise as they navigate the unpredictable path of motherhood and the demands that come with it.

"What we're seeing is an increasing rate of women wanting to start running," said Nicole French, an exercise physiologist and director of Exercise for Rehabilitation and Health.

"The biggest thing [they they're telling us] is that lack of control. Everything is changing for them. They want to feel empowered in some way and they want to be in control of something."

It should come as little surprise that the transition into parenthood often goes hand in hand with a decline in exercise.

In a trial examining physical activity trends across non-parents, first-time parents and second time parents, up to 50 per cent of adults who were regularly active dropped their physical activity behaviours when they had children.

This deficit was still present after five years.

Ms French said sleep deprivation and a change in routine or lack thereof were often to blame.

"What many mums report is that in addition to these things going on, they can actually feel quite guilty about investing any time into themselves," she said.

"They'll also talk about judgement from family and friends if they're not seen to be investing every single minute of the day into their newborn, and they're very fearful of being judged as bad parents."

It's hardly a phenomenon limited to Australia. A recent survey of 1,000 mothers in the United Kingdom found six in ten felt that they were neglecting their family by taking time out to exercise.

It's a sentiment Nicole Bunyon is attune to.

The mother of three and ultra-marathon runner founded Running Mums Australia, a grassroots community of parents with a passion for pounding the pavement, while juggling the demands of motherhood.

What started as a small following on Facebook has sparked a nationwide movement of mothers who identify with her message.

"When I was a younger mum with young children, I did feel guilty about taking time out to run or do my own thing, but over the years I see just how important it is for myself to have goals and work towards them," she said.

"I think I am a better mother by showing my kids that I can commit to something, work hard at it and achieve it, no matter how hard it seems.

"It also means time for me as a mum to connect with myself, my friends and nature."

While the physical benefits of exercise are widely acknowledged, according to Dr Justin Coulson, there's also a psychological basis behind the pursuit of fitness.

The parenting expert says the sense of volition and autonomy that exercise brings can be an important circuit breaker for parents.

"When you're exercising, it's something that you're freely choosing, it's a passion. It's just something you can do because it feels great," he said.

"Whereas when it comes to family life, many parents will say to me, 'I feel so trapped. And I get out on the bike, or I get out on my run... because I feel like I'm free, I feel like it's my release'."

With the support of her husband who was conscious of the fact that she "needed an outlet", particularly when her children were younger Sally made sure she set aside time to lace up her sneakers.

In between "breastfeeding and nappies and the naps they they weren't having", she said it was something "I could really do for me".

"And on my own, which was good because life is busy and noisy with little kids at home, so the running was a real outlet."

Though exercise can serve as an important reprieve for those experiencing major upheavals in their home lives, experts have warned it's not all liberation and lycra.

According to Ms French, the fruition of social media trendsetters "racing back to pre-birth bodies" is encouraging women to push themselves beyond their limits.

"I have heard and seen firsthand people jumping back into things like high intensity interval training classes two weeks after giving birth," she said.

"A lot of the instructors that lead these programs, they sort of embrace it and celebrate it and glorify it, which is quite scary. They have this 'good on you, I wish I had more people like you' mentality."

Ms French said the phenomenon was putting women at increased risk of bleeding and prolapse. Longer term, she said, those in the health sector were seeing "higher incidents of chronic lower back pain and incontinence".

But it's not just the potential physical consequences of overexercising that experts point to.

After becoming parents, Dr Coulson believes some couples begin to take their relationships for granted, and turn to exercise to meet their "needs satisfaction".

"So they're no longer looking to their partner and their kids to satisfy the relationship needs that they have," he said.

"They're saying, 'well they're always there and sometimes they're a bit of a burden, but my mates on the bike never ask anything of me, they're just fun and it feels good'."

Though this type of "obsessive passion" can create stress within a relationship, Dr Coulson believes it has much darker consequences.

"I've had conversations with people who openly said, 'I left the three-year-old watching Paw Patrol so I could sneak out for an hour [to exercise]'," he said.

"That's an obsessive passion and it's disturbing. It's concerning and it's child abuse."

According to Dr Coulson, like all things in life, reaping the rewards of exercise comes down to striking the right balance.

"The research shows if we can be consistent three or four times a week and get out there and have that time, we still get to experience a sense of competence," he said.

"We still get the 'me time', the volition, the autonomous 'I'm out here doing what I want'. But we come back, we're fresher, we're able to contribute more and we have greater mental acuity."

To develop realistic exercise expectations postpartum, Ms French adds, women should look at what their personal fitness and health levels were like prior to falling pregnant.

"The major thing is for mums to steer away from looking at a lot of that social media in and around trying to get back to this perfect body and everything so, so quickly," she said.

As far as Nicole Bunyon is concerned, the "perfect body" doesn't exist. She wants women of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds to come together to embrace the benefits of exercise.

"When women see beyond what society perceives as the 'perfect athlete body' they can achieve great things," she said.

A couple of marathons later including the London Marathon, where she raised almost $25,000 for the Stillbirth Foundation it's fair to say Sally doesn't feel like a fraud anymore.

But these days, the avid parkrun volunteer says she's pretty content with sticking to "five or ten kilometres".

"That's about all I can fit in around kids and work or whatever, but I'm happy to just stay fit, see my friends and have a coffee afterwards," she quipped.

Topics:exercise-and-fitness,health,community-and-society,family-and-children,parenting,australia

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More new mothers are finding empowerment in exercise, but there's one major barrier - ABC News