A complete list of Bulletin Board items can be found at timesonline.com under the Lifestyle section. Events also can be found on and submitted to an online calendar listing at app.evvnt.com/users/sign_in.

CHURCH NEWS

COMMUNITY

Explore Your Future Job and Career Fair: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 24, Beaver Valley Mall, 285 Beaver Valley Mall Blvd., Center Township. Employers and training providers with job opportunities; speakers, demonstrations, career paths, veterans resource center. Free admission; all welcome. 724-725-4860 or http://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov.

1940s Hangar Dance and Dinner: 5:30 to 11 p.m. Nov. 2, Air Heritage In, 35 Piper St., Chippewa Township. Features 1940s comfort food, dance and costume contest, prizes, live big band. Tickets, dinner and dance, $20; dance only, $10 at 7:15 p.m. 724-843-2820.

Jeff Daytons Salute to Glen Campbell, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5, Beaver Falls Middle School Auditorium, 1803 Eighth Ave. Dayton, Glen Campbells bandleader and guitarist, toured nationally with the late singer. Tickets, at door, adults, $20; students, $5. Available by calling 724-843-2941, online at http://www.bvcommunityconcert.org or by sending check, payable to the Beaver Valley Community Concert Association, attention Peg Denhart, 604 Sixth Ave., Beaver Falls, PA 15010.

American Red Cross Blood Drive: 1 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 21, Darlington Township municipal building, 3590 Darlington Road; noon to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 24, American Red Cross Building, 133 Friendship Circle, Brighton Township; 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 29, Lincoln High School, 501 Crescent Ave., Ellwood City. Eligible donors with all types of blood are needed, especially those with O negative, A negative and B negative. Platelets are also needed. Blood donor app available by texting BLOODAPP to 90999. App tracks health stats and donor record. RAPIDPASS - an online donor pre-reading and health history available. Appointments strongly suggested and are taken first. Donors will receive a $5 Amazon gift card via email. http://www.redcrossblood.org, 800-733-2767 or 724-775-9700.

National Drug Take-Back Day; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 26, The Mall at Robinson, (parking lot near Dicks Sporting Goods), Robinson Township. Dispose of unwanted prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications at no cost. Free. List available online at http://www.dea.gov.

Merchandise Bingo: 7 p.m. Oct. 21, St. Frances Cabrinis OConnell Hall, 115 Trinity Drive, Center Township. Door prizes, silent auction, bingo prizes. Lunch included in admission price. Information, call 724-378-1870 or 724-775-6944.

Handpainted Oils on Porcelain Sale: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Raccoon United Presbyterian Church, 2001 Crissman Drive, Raccoon Township.

Halloween Decorating Contest: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 27, Beaver Meadows, 5130 Tuscarawas Road, Brighton Township. Residents may enter their decorated Halloween house. Community will judge. If interested, call or message 570-578-9839.

Halloween Wing Bash and Costume Party: 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 26, Baden American Legion, 271 State St. Sponsored by Baden Sons of the American Legion Squadron 641. Wings, disc jockey, prizes. Admission, $20; all welcome. Benefits veterans. 724-869-9780.

St Felix Parish Fall Festival: 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 7, St. Felix Parish, 450 13th St., Freedom. Includes roast beef dinner with potatoes, vegetables, bread, beverage and dessert, cookies and craft sale, silent auction, raffle.

Merry Mistletoe Marketplace: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 2, Woodlawn American Baptist Church, 2170 McMinn St., Aliquippa. Gift, makeup, kitchen, jewelry, book and more vendors, Woodlawn Praise Band and Night Shift perform; bake sale, kids crafts, free hot chocolate and coffee. 724-375-6653 or email woodlawnbaptist1910@gmail.com.

New Brighton Halloween Parade: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23, Third Avenue from 13th Street to Townsend Park. Groups or individuals may register by email to nbparade@gmail.com. Third Avenue will be closed to traffic from Fifth to 16th streets from 5:45 p.m. until parade ends. Side streets will remain open.

Halloween Parade 1-Mile Dash: 6 p.m. Oct. 23, New Brighton municipal building, 610 Third Ave. All ages, 1-mile run down Third Avenue. Sponsored by the New Brighton Area Recreation Commission. No fee; participants must register online at http://www.nbarc.net or at municipal building until 5:30 p.m. Costumes encouraged.

Halloween Spooktacular: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23, Moon Park, 1350 Joe DeNardo Way. Family-friendly event includes treat bag for first 400 children, pumpkin painting, trick-or-treat trail, a disc jockey, hay rides. Free; open to children age 10 and younger. 412-262-1703 or http://www.moonparks.org.

Habitat Zombie Festival and Trail Run: 4 p.m. Oct. 26, Bradys Run Park, Four Seasons Pavilion, 121 Bradys Run Road, Brighton Township. Festival includes trail run, apocalyptic maze, escape rooms, disc jockey, craft beer and watch party. Trail participants opt to be humans or zombies with aim to capture humans flag. Not a timed race. Others may participate in other activities. Trail run for ages 14 and older; zombie elixir area (craft beer) is over age 21 and additional cost. Registration, VIP (3 p.m. start), $60, includes trail run, festival activities,special effects makeup, craft beer ticket; festival and trail run, $35, includes all festivities and run; festival only, $25. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity of Beaver County. http://www.beavercountyhabitat.org or 724-843-7939.

Halloween Hustle 5K: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 26, Chippewa United Methodist Church Community Center, 118 McMillen Ave. Wear Halloween costumes to run or walk. Cost, $20 per person. Sponsored by and benefiting the Blackhawk Basketball Society to purchase youth basketball uniforms, tournament fees and gym time.

Halloween Haunting at Old Economy: Noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 26, Old Economy Village, 270 16th St., Ambridge. Costumed children age 10 and younger will go door-to-door throughout village and trick-or-treat. Costumed interpreters and guides will assist. Assorted activities and refreshments. Cost, $5 per person. To register, call 724-266-4500, ext. 101, online at http://www.oldeconomyvillage.org or email c-chlthoma@pa.gov.

Trick or Treat Trail: 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 26, Green Valley Park, 184 Snyder Drive, New Sewickley Township. Family-friendly trick-or-treating along a paved trail to collect candy, treats and goodies. Anyone is welcome to set up and pass out candy along trail. Concession stand will be open. Halloween movies will be screened, weather permitting. Take lawn chairs. Sponsored by the New Sewickley Township Recreation Board. http://www.newsewickley.com or 724-774-7822.

An Evening of Tales and Hauntings: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and 9 to 11 p.m. Oct. 26, Vicary Mansion, 1235 Third Ave., Freedom. Members of CUE (Center for Unexplained Events) and PROOF (Paranormal Research Organization of Freedom) present information about Big Foot, UFOs and local rumored haunted sites. Free. A 9 p.m. session explores methods and equipment used in paranormal investigations. Session cost is $13; registration required at 724-775-1848.

Ellwood City Spooktacular Halloween Parade: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 26, Lawrence Avenue between Fourth and Eighth streets. Sponsored by the Ellwood City Area Chamber of Commerce. Participants wanted. 724-758-5501 or email info@ellwoodchamber.org.

Ghosts of Libraries Past: 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 26, B.F. Jones Memorial Library, 663 Franklin Ave., Aliquippa. Darkened staircase leads to haunted happenings. For youth, ages 12and older; parental discretion advised. Free. 724-375-2900.

Beastly Haunted Trail: 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through October, Beaver County Humane Society woods area, 3394 Brodhead Road, Center Township. Features live actors, special effects and monsters. Youth ages 12 and younger must be accompanied by a parent. Tickets, adults, $15, children, age 12 and younger, $12, Benefits the humane society. 724-775-5801 or http://www.beavercountyhumanesociety.org.

Beastly Haunted Trail Jr.: 5 to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through October, storefront of former Pac Sun store in the Beaver Valley Mall, Center Township. Appropriate for children ages 12 and younger. Benefits humane society. Tickets: children, $7; adults, free. http://www.beavercountyhumanesociety.org or 724-775-5801.

Freddys Haunts: 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 27, and Blackout Tours on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 192 McCune Road, Independence Township. Indoor haunted trail, nightly bonfire, free parking. Blackout tours in total darkness except for a glow stick. Donors of canned goods and non-perishable food items for Faith Restoration Food Pantry will receive free ticket for a hot dog. Admission, $15. http://www.freddyshaunts.net.

Zombies of the Corn: Friday and Saturday evenings through October, also Oct. 20 and 27, Three Rivers Paintball, 282 Rochester Road, New Sewickley Township. Features blackout maze, halloween storytellers by bonfire, facepainting for kids. Tickets: adults, $34.99; kids, age 10 and younger, $29.99; includes 150 paint balls. Reservations and information online at http://www.ZombieOfTheCorn.org or call 724-775-6232.

Fearscapes Haunted Attraction: 7 to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 28, Fearscapes, 1503 Brentwood Ave., Ellwood City. Spooky classic circus sideshow perform fire eating piano solos, sword swallowing, bug munching with an escape maze. Black Out Nights, with a 50-room totally dark escape maze and chasing ghouls, are Oct. 28 to 30. Friday and Saturday admission, $15; Black Out Nights, $20. Information, online at Fearscapes page on Facebook.

Strategues for Successful Selling Workshop: 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, Nov. 6 to 20, Alliance for Nonprofit Resources, 127 S. Main St., Butler. Three-session workshop focuses on strategies to improve the business management skills, social media, pricing and winter sales strategy for farm and food businesses. Sponsored by Penn State Extension. Series fee, $30. Register online at http://www.extension.psu.edu/strategies-for-successful-selling or call 877-345-0691.

ServSafe Food Safety Manager Course: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 6 and 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 13, Beaver County Emergency Services, 351 Fourth St., Ambridge. Topics include sanitizing and on preventing contamination of food by properly receiving, storing, preparing, cooking, coolings and serving food. Successful exam completion earns a food protection manager certificate. Presented by Beaver County Penn State Extension. Cost, $185, includes materials and exam. Register online at http://www.extension.psu.edu/servsafe or call 877-345-0691. Further information, call 724-774-3003.

Lego Your Imagination! Fall Childrens Art Class: 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, Merrick Art Gallery, 1100 Fifth Ave., New Brighton. Children ages 5 to 12 explore elements and principles of art using shapes, textures and their imagination with Legos. Includes Lego brick rubbings, painting a Lego self portrait, and designing Lego characters. Cost, $65, all materials included. To register, call 724-846-1130 or online at http://www.merrickartgallery.org.

Beaver Falls Book Club: 10:30 a.m. Oct. 19 and Nov. 16, Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls, 1301 Seventh Ave. For children ages 3 to 5. Monthly storybook time with activity and craft; free book each month. Care and homework help available for older siblings. Parent or guardian must attend. 724-847-6683 or email beaverfallsbookclub@gmail.com.

Beginning Genealogy and Family History Classes: Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, 250 E. End Ave., Beaver. Focuses on how to begin researching family history, completing genealogical charts and form and research protection. 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 7 and 14; 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 8 and 15. Cost: $35, payable at registration. Limited spaces available for both sessions. To register, call 724-775-1775.

FUNDRAISERS

Trash to Treasure Sale: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 20, Van Kirk Lutheran Church, 106 Van Kirk Road, Center Township. Household goods, baked goods, drawing. Lunch available to eat in or take out. Benefits church. 724-775-7030.

Taste of Autumn Celebration: 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 2, Laughlin Memorial Library, 99 11th St., Ambridge. Fine wine, food, music, gift baskets, raffles. Tickets, in advance, $45; at door, $50; available at library, online at http://www.toa2019.eventbrite.com or call 724-266-3857.

Beaver County 4-H Benefit and Project Auction: 1 to 5 p.m. Nov. 3, Monaca Turners Club, 1700 Old Brodhead Road, Center Township. Includes holiday decorations, handmade items, and homemade baked goods. Benefits Beaver County 4-H and 4-H members. 724-371-2064.

Beaver County YMCA Santa Run 5K, Relay and 1-Mile Fun Run: 9 a.m. Nov. 2, Bridgewater municipal building, 199 Boundary Lane. Registration, check-in and three-person relay begin at 9 a.m., 5K starts at 10 a.m., rain or shine. Awards for top finishers overall and age groups. Registration: 5K, in advance, $25; race day, $40; Fun Run, $20; race day, $30; three-person relay, $45; race day, $60. Benefits YMCA programs. http://www.beavercountymca.org or 724-891-8439.

Fall Craft and Vendor Show: 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Nov.16 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17, Aliquippa Elks Lodge, 2655 Brodhead Road. Area crafters and vendors welcome to participate. Email jancatt@yahoo.com.

Holiday Extravaganza Craft Show: 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 1, the Club at Shadow Lakes, 2000 Beaver Lakes Blvd, Hopewell Township. Assortment of holiday crafts, raffle, silent auction. Raffle and auction proceeds will benefit, The Asservo Project which works to combat global human trafficking and sexual predators.

Traditions, Beaver Area Memorial Library Fundraiser: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2, Beaver Area Memorial Library, 100 College Ave. Celebrates special events and activities in life. Variety of raffle baskets and silent auction items. Also, a Unique Boutique includes new and used jewelry, accessories, useful and decorative household items, and hand-crafted hats, scarves, gloves, mittens shawls, baby items and more crated by the librarys Knit and Crochet Club. Tickets, in advance, $12, at door, $15. Includes variety of hot and cold appetizers, petite desserts, punch, coffee and tea. Available at library. Raffle basket tickets will be available at a later date. 724-775-1132 or online at http://www.beaverlibraries.org.

Fall Craft Show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26, Chippewa Township fire hall, 2568 Darlington Road. Sponsored by the fire department auxiliary. Variety of items. Crafters wanted. 724-843-6885.

St. Frances Cabini 50+ Group: 1 p.m. Oct. 31, St. Frances Cabrinis OConnell Hall, Center Township. Catered buffet at 1 p.m. Costumes encouraged. Reservations required; 724-375-7216 or 724-378-7288.

GriefShare: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, Chippewa United Methodist Church, 2545 Darlington Road, Chippewa Township. Caring group of people who share and provide help through the grieving process. Free. Information, online at http://www.griefshare.org.

GriefShare: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m Tuesdays through Nov. 19, New Brighton Christian Assembly Church, 1810 Valley Ave. Weekly support group to help adults through the grief process following a loss. Attendance at each session is optional, not required. Free. 724-846-8820 or http://www.visitnbca.com.

Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Family Meeting: noon every Sunday, Drug and Alcohol Services of Beaver County, 697 State St., Beaver. Weekly meeting sponsored by Drug and Alcohol Services of Beaver County. 724-728-8200.

Alcoholics Anonymous Beginners Meeting: noon every Tuesday, Drug and Alcohol Services of Beaver County, 697 State St., Vanport Township.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Connection: noon every Tuesday, NAMI Support Group, 1229 Third St., Beaver. Weekly lunch and support group for people with a mental illness led by facilitators. Information, online at http://www.namibeavercounty.org; call 724-888-6877 or email rmattia@namibeavercounty.com.

Refuge Recovery Meeting: noon every Thursday, Drug and Alcohol Services of Beaver County, 697 State St., Vanport Township. Buddhist-based addiction recovery program sponsored by Drug and Alcohol Services of Beaver County. 724-728-8200.

Grief Share: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Faith Community United Methodist Church, 341 Jefferson St., Rochester. Weekly support group for those who have lost someone close. Each session is self-contained. 724-775-3447.

Compassionate Friends: 2 to 4 p.m. the second Sunday of each month through November, Westminster United Presbyterian Church, 115 N. Mercer Ave., New Brighton. Self-help support group for bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents who have lost a child of any age and any circumstance. 724-847-1494.

Gamblers Anonymous: 7 to 9 p.m. every Thursday, Chippewa United Methodist Church Community Life Center, 118 McMillen Ave., Chippewa Township. Fellowship of men and women who share experiences to help themselves and others recover from a gambling addiction. http://www.gamblersanonymous.org.

Pirogi: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays through Dec. 13, except Nov. 29, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 377 Linmore Ave., Baden. Potato, kraut, cottage cheese, and prune. $8 per dozen. To order, call 724-869-9758. Eat in, take out and bring own containers if youd like. Pick up from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ham Dinner: 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 1 on the first Tuesday of each month, Bridgewater Presbyterian Church, 408 Bridge St. Ham, potatoes, green beans, applesauce, brownie. Benefits church. 724-774-1454.

Fish Fry: 3 to 9 p.m. every Friday, Monaca Turners, 1700 Old Brodhead Road, Center Township. Baked and fried fish. Takeouts, 724-774-7007.

Fish Fry: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Friday, Aliquippa Croatian Center, 2365 Concord St.

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Bulletin Board - News - The Times - The Times

Andrew Male and Trevor Lewis

The Sunday Times,October 20 2019, 12:01am

The School Of Life (YouTube Originals)Alain de Bottons self-help organisation has always been in the business of popularising philosophical thought. However, with this new series he seems to have edged close to self-parody. The concept is simple, yet odd, with De Botton asking a series of YouTube creators and influencers such puzzlers as What is the secret of happiness? and Is democracy dangerous? So, Canadian gaming YouTuber Azzyland talks Daoism, LA internet comedians Hannah Stocking and Anwar Jibawi explain capitalism by selling cupcakes, and prank bloggers the Martinez Twins tackling anxiety with aerial yoga. Both anodyne and infuriating, its also fascinating to see such pressing questions tackled in a manner so utterly detached from the real world. AM

Docn Roll TV (docnrollfestival.com)The UK music

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TV review: Giri/Haji; Dublin Murders; Living with Yourself; Charlotte Church: My Family & Me

Radio review: Today; The Essay: The Way I See It; Only Artists

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The best TV and films on Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer and other ondemand services, October 20 - The Times

"Everything Below the Waist: Why Health Care Needs a Feminist Revolution," by Jennifer Block (St. Martin's, 324 pp., $27.99)

As I was writing this review, Alabama had passed a draconian law that bans abortion except in cases where a woman's health is at serious risk. The Food and Drug Administration had approved a new prescription drug injection to increase women's sex drive and end what some ads called the "tragedy" of low libido. And OB/GYNs around the country were offering"vaginal rejuvenation" through laser procedures that narrow the vaginal opening to create "a more youthful, pre-pregnancy state" - a technique that has prompted an FDA warning on safety.

If there was any doubt of an audience for Jennifer Block's advocacy book, those recent events should lay that notion to rest. In "Everything Below the Waist: Why Health Care Needs a Feminist Revolution," Block reveals the travails of women trapped by a medical profession that poorly serves their needs. Despite the growing presence of female doctors, many women still suffer from the neglect and chauvinism of paternalistic male physicians, resulting in both undertreatment and overtreatment of symptoms and illnesses.

While advocating for women, Block also argues that the women's movement has not delivered the magnitude of change in female care that's needed. Fifty years after the start of the feminist revolution, American women are still second-class citizens when it comes to health care. In one of her opening vignettes, a 46-year-old woman undergoes a minimally invasive hysterectomy at a major medical center. Two days later she complains of severe pains, and her heart rate jumps. Her doctor's response is to send her home with a prescription for anti-anxiety pills. Two days after that, the woman is rushed into emergency surgery, and doctors find that her intestine had been damaged during the hysterectomy. She leaves the hospital with a colostomy bag. "You may already be familiar with this story," Block writes. "Woman needs medical care. Woman is ignored. Woman has to fight."

Block notes that "there are no sacred cows in this book," and that includes America's fertility industry, where women endure open-ended treatments for a diagnosis of "unexplained infertility." That leads to budget-busting artificial insemination, embryo freezing, repeated injections and surgery. Block tracks down a doctor in Pennsylvania, Danielle Miller, who produces better outcomes by taking the time to find the underlying reasons that women can't get pregnant. The difficulty could be linked to hormonal imbalances or endometriosis - a diagnosis, says Miller, that is "not difficult. It's just complicated." And, for the doctor, less lucrative.

Block, a former editor of Ms. magazine, was also editor of the revised "Our Bodies, Ourselves," the original women's health-care bible. Her 2007 book, "Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care," delivered a scathing critique of "medicalized" childbirth in the United States. In a 2017 Washington Post article, she detailed the controversy over the birth-control device Essure, regarded by some as a breakthrough in contraception and by others as a serious danger to women. After reports of many women suffering significant side effects, Bayer, the maker of the device, announced in 2018 that Essure would no longer be sold in the United States starting in 2019.

In blunt language, Block addresses the consequences of the movement to criminalize abortion and limit women's access to clinics. "Ninety percent of counties in the United States have zero abortion clinics," she writes. "Mississippi and six other states have just one for the whole state." The result: "Underground abortion is a thing again."

In her last chapter, "The Case for Home Abortion," Block meets with nurses, doulas and midwives in a secret place surrounded by specula, cannula and syringes to learn how an abortion can be safely performed early in pregnancy. "Over the past five years, a decentralized group of providers has multiplied to a few hundred," she writes. Her instructor wishes to remain anonymous out of fear of "law enforcement and anti-abortion vigilantes." Block practices on a sola papaya, a fruit that resembles a pregnant uterus and is apparently used around the world to teach a "method of modern reproductive health care: manual vacuum aspiration."

Block wants readers to understand that women have always had access to birth control and abortion - just in unconventional ways. "In Chicago," she writes, "the self-trained underground group Jane Collective performed thousands of at-home abortions without incident before Roe."

One of the most interesting people in the book is Carol Downer, a mother of six and co-founder of the Federation of Feminist Women's Health Care Centers. Downer was an influential activist in the 1970s and leader of the original women's self-help movement. She and others "hopped up on tables with a mirror, flashlight, and speculum to show other women how to view their own cervices," Block writes.

Downer and her camp believed that medical fluency and control over one's own biology were fundamental to the pursuit of civil rights. The radical arm of the women's movement led to the publication of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" and, Block explains, "to direct actions against high-dose birth control pills, diethylstilbestrol, the Dalkon Shield, the exclusion of women from clinical research, and the isolation of women in maternity wards."

Block uses Downer's saga to show how divisions within the women's movement played a role in women's loss of control over their health care. In 1971, Downer was ostracized at the National Organization for Women conference and told not to get too graphic at the meeting promoting self-exams. After abortion became legal two years later, self-helpers such as Downer were seen as "retro." Mainstream feminists were focused on expanding the role of women in health care:They should become doctors, not just play doctor with a plastic speculum.

Feminist health activists now "regret this turning point," Block writes. Today, about 60% of OB/GYNs in the United States are females. But about a third of women in the country will have hysterectomies before they are 60, nearly a third of pregnant women have C-sections, and maternal mortality rates are increasing.

The book's upsetting anecdotes, startling statistics and terrific interviews will leave you outraged or simply sad.

Block concludes with a call for "physiological justice" and a new feminist health-care movement. This is the book's weak spot. Block doesn't explain how a national movement to help women take back their health care would coalesce. Telling women to question their doctors and research their options sounds like former special counsel Robert Mueller telling Americans to read his 400-plus page report. Good idea!

Still, "Everything Below the Waist" is a must-read for women, especially any woman who might ever need to see a doctor.

Mundy is the author of "Crystal Mesh: How Addiction to Money Turned Medical Device Makers and Doctors Into Street Dealers."

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Book World: The health-care system's second-class citizens - The Oakland Press

They can be expensive, noisy and annoying, yet todays pampered pets have never been more cossetted and adored. Now new research reveals that it is the Victorians who were responsible for changing attitudes towards domestic animals.

Historians are combing the historical archives for evidence of when familial, emotional attachments to pets became commonplace and socially acceptable in Britain. The work is part of a five-year project that will culminate in a book and an exhibition at the Geffrye Museum in east London.

We thought we would find that there has been an increase in peoples emotional investment in pets in recent times, but what weve actually found is that people in the early 19th century were also very emotionally invested in their animals. They just expressed that in a different way, said Jane Hamlett, professor of modern British history at Royal Holloway, University of London, who has been leading the study for the past three years along with Professor Julie-Marie Strange at the University of Durham. They had a different cultural sense of what a pet should be.

Until the 19th century, keeping pets was frowned upon and would crop up in satirical prints criticising the elite and aristocracy. Quite often, you get pictures of 18th-century ladies dressed in ostentatious, over-the-top costumes with a lapdog, Hamlett said.

Pet owners, particularly when they were female, were seen as frivolous consumers who spent their money in absurd ways: animals were generally expected to earn their keep or be eaten by their owners.

What seems to happen in the late 18th century and early 19th century is that pet-keeping becomes culturally more acceptable, Hamlett said. Writers and artists in the 19th century assigned a new moral value to pets, and consequently saw keeping them as beneficial for children.

Pet ownership began to be seen as character building, particularly for boys, because it taught children to be caring and responsible. Pets were also thought to enhance the domesticity of a home for a potentially valuable social purpose.

The Victorians were very interested in the home and domestic life, and bringing up children was seen as very important for creating the right kind of morality in society, Hamlett said. And one of the things that children could do to develop morality was to keep a pet so you get quite a lot of advice manuals from the mid-19th century onwards suggesting that children should keep pets to improve themselves and their moral qualities.

Even poor working-class families would capture wild birds like blackbirds, linnets and thrushes to keep as pets, often hanging the cages outside their windows and feeding them scraps, while aspirational middle-class families would buy more expensive pets, such as pedigree dogs, to signal their higher wealth and status.

Pedigree dog breeding really takes off in the Victorian period. Dogs were very popular for Victorians, partly because they embody cultural values Victorians were really keen on: theyre seen as steadfast, loyal, plucky and courageous, Hamlett added.

Wild parrots and monkeys imported from the colonies were popular choices for the wealthiest families, as the Victorians did not perceive anything cruel or immoral about keeping such pets.

Rabbits were popular too boys could be expected to build hutches from scratch and look after the animals single-handed but cats were viewed less positively. Many people kept cats during the Victorian period and felt affectionate towards them, but they were still very much seen as utility animals, which kept mice and vermin down, Hamlett said.

As a result, cats werent as well-fed as other pets and developed a reputation for being sly and calculating. This wasnt helped by their traditional association with witches. Its only in the 20th century that cats start to be seen wholeheartedly as pets.

As pets became integrated into family life, contemporary publications and handwritten diaries show just how emotional the Victorians could be about their pets, triggering a new form of consumerism well-known to animal owners today. Self-help books on how to care for specific pets, particularly difficult exotic ones, such as monkeys, began to be published from the 1850s onwards. Health remedies such as cough pills for dogs and cats were sold widely and pet food began to be manufactured. Pet cemeteries were even created in London.

Surprisingly, the love Victorians felt for their pets and the role of pets in family life has been largely ignored by historians in the past. No historian has written about that topic and no research had been done specifically on the history of pets in peoples homes, said Hamlett. Some of the historical documents her team has looked at have never even been studied before. But actually, people wrote about their pets quite a lot.

Link:
How the Victorians turned mere beasts into mans best friends - The Guardian

Earlier this month, the Trump administration appointed George Mentz, an author and consultant with a penchant for unsettling power poses, to the Commission on Presidential Scholars. In the scope of things, this is a small matter: nominees dont have to be confirmed by Congress, and the groups essential function is to anoint 161 schoolchildren, name them presidential scholars, and give them a medal for being such good kids. Whats notable about Mentz is that he isnt much of a scholar of anything, besides unlocking the infinite mystical power of The Illuminati, which honestly sounds about right.

According to his website, Mentz is an author, speaker, lawyer, consultant, and global education pioneer. Writing under the pen name Magnus Incognito, he writes self-help books about the secret powers of the mind and Masonic spirituality and secrets. For those not familiar, the Freemasons are a secretive, quasi-religious fraternity that in its contemporary context is mostly about aging men wearing a big ring on their meaty fingers. Under his real name, Mentz blogs prolifically for Newsmax, a website owned by a friend of Donald Trumps. And his volume of work might be impressive, if his posts on investment strategy and the economics of diversity didnt read as if they had been written by a poorly trained bot.=

In a good story this week from the Denver Post, a reporter noted that Mentz is also the owner of something called the Global Academy of Finance and Management in Colorado, as well as the former CEO of the American Academy of Financial Management. Like most online credentialing companies with vague names comprising of strung together management concepts both companies are technically legal but also a scam.

The Global Academy offers more than 100 credentials that sound alternately like positions you might hold in the Ku Klux Klan or WeWork, such as Master Corporate Banker, Certified Chartered FinTech Professional, and Registered Islamic Financial Specialist. As Huffpo pointed out, the online coursework and certification costs nearly $400 dollars a piece, and certificates expire after two years, forcing a potential FinTech Professional to re-apply and shell out another $378 every few years to remain a member. In the early 2000s, the Wall Street Journal found that the American Academy actually wasnt doing much in the way of coursework, reporting that a number of its graduates had never taken classes, or even a test. In 2010, another Journal article revealed that even the companys board of advisors were made-up or had their names attached without their consent.

But perhaps most thrillingly, George Mentz, or Magnus Incognito, writes books with titles like The Illuminati Secret Laws of Money, The Illuminati Handbook, 50 Laws of Power of the Illuminati, 100 Secrets and Habits of the Illuminati for Life Success, and Success MagicThe Prosperity Secret to Win with Magical Spiritual Power: How to Grow Rich, Influence People, Protect Your Mindset and Love Yourself Like a Warrior Using Timeless Abundance Secrets.

As Mentz explained to the Post, however, all that Illuminati stuff is really marketing: these books arent about the shadowy cabal pulling the strings from inside the Deep State. Theyre about, in the words of one book blurb, how to be a BADASS with Spiritual Magic. It continues:

This is your chance to learn the Secrets of the MASTERS. This book is LOADED with Secret Nuggets of Power. Read this book and you can Harness the Mindful Warrior Power needed to find purpose, happiness, relationships, and financial success. If you want to learn the basic truths to become a Spiritual and Metaphysical warrior, then you have found the secret manuscript that will get you on the path to success and power.

Just because I use the word Illuminati, dont let that get you too excited, Menz told the Post. If you look the word up, it means illumination. Equally illuminating is that the newest member of the Commission on Presidential Scholars donated more than $10,000 to Trumps various campaigns and organizations, and has been planning to write a blockbuster book about the presidents success principles for some time.

Cant wait to read it, Magnus.

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The Trump Appointee Who Loves 'Badass' Spiritual Magic But Can't Use the Word 'Illuminati' Right - Jezebel

Jason Sattler, Opinion columnist Published 7:10 a.m. ET Oct. 16, 2019 | Updated 4:36 p.m. ET Oct. 16, 2019

Debate winners and losers, Warren on the defensive, and what we're watching for before the next Democratic debate. Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY

All 12leading Democratic candidates for president got a chance to demonstrate why they were able to meet the requirements to pack on the stage for the fourth debate Tuesday.

Sen.Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts stayed feisty and focused in her new role as front-runner.

Former Vice President Joe Biden was optimistic and self-congratulatory as he tried to win the John McCain name-dropping contest. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii confounded everyone by spreading the blame for the slaughter of the Kurds in northern Syria that Donald Trump invited to members of both parties. And Andrew Yang got to say lots of things as if no one had ever thought of them before.

But the winner of the night was older than the two youngest candidates on stage Gabbard, 38, and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 37 combined.

Vermont Sen.Bernie Sanders, 78, returned to the campaign trail after recovering from a heart attack to deliver his strongest debate performance of the campaign. He was lively, funny and persuasive. At onepoint, he even seemed to convince billionaire Tom Steyer that billionaires shouldnt exist.

Sanders also took on Bidens constant praise of bipartisanship and his pointed boast, I'm the only one on this stage that has gotten anything really big done.

The 2020 election is nearing and with that, comes the caucuses and primary elections. But whats the difference? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

Joe, you talked about working with Republicans and getting things done, Sanders said. But you know what you also got done and I say this as a good friend you got the disastrous war in Iraq done. You got a bankruptcy bill, which is hurting middle-class families all over this country. You got trade agreements like NAFTA and PNTR (permanent normal trade relations)with China done, which have cost us 4 million jobs. Now, let's get to 'Medicare for All.' ... If we stood together, we could create the greatest health care system in the world.

A conservative's take: Winners and losers in the Democratic debate from columnist Glenn Harlan Reynolds

But Bernies biggest moment of the night didnt happen onstage. In the closing minutes of the debate, news broke that one of the brightest young stars on Americas left, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York,will endorse the 2016 Democratic primary runner-up this weekend.

This gives the democratic socialist from Vermont the chance to break the momentum of Warrens steady rise in the polls, though he notably hasnt taken a shot at the senator from Massachusetts on the debate stage yet. Instead, he sided with her several times as she was cornered, echoing her arguments for systemic change.

The format of the debate flowed much better than the previous three. Its unclear whetherthiswas because the moderators allowed the candidates more air to answer and rebut each other, or because self-help guru Marianne Williamson wasnt on the stage. Whatever it is, they should do more of it.

While there are still miles to go before anyone actually votes for a nominee, the race for the chance to oppose Trump will likely remain a tossup amongSanders, Warren and Biden. This is mostly because the rest of the candidates have done a better job of canceling each other out than breaking through.

While the debates have led to some blips in the polls most notably for Sen.Kamala Harris of California after the second debate the crowded stage format has the effect of blurring candidates together, especially since every debate seems to rehash the same Medicare for All contentions over and over until even Sanders seems a little bored by the fray.

Another huge winner of the night was impeachment, which is now polling50%.

Every candidate on stage backs the inquiry in the House, and no candidate showed any willingness to echo the attacks on Hunter Biden that Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into trumping up.

Unfortunately, the biggest loser of the night was human civilization.

While there was a question about Ellen DeGeneres defense of her kindness to former president and torture purveyor George W. Bush, there wasnt one question about climate change. Future generations will have to be satisfiedknowing that we were much too busy worrying about rich people getting along in luxury boxes to stop the planet from boiling.

Jason Sattler, a writer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a member of USA TODAYs Board of Contributors and host of "The GOTMFV Show" podcast. Follow him on Twitter:@LOLGOP

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Bernie Sanders is big Democratic debate winner, and only partly due to his performance - USA TODAY

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: Ali Wong attends The Hollywood Reporter's Empowerment in Entertainment event 2019 at Milk Studios on April 30, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)

Ali Wong, the actress, writer and stand-up comedian known for her two Netflix comedy specials Baby Cobra and Hard Knock Wife, publishes her debut memoir Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice For Living Your Best Life, a chronicle of her life as an up-and-coming comic. Wong constantly gives advice in her stand-up routines and she instructs women to bring diapers (for themselves) to the hospital when theyre about to deliver a baby and to read self-help books if they feel like theyre a bad person, but now she has written down her advice in the form of a series of letters to her two daughters that make up her new book. Wong gives a large range of advice and covers numerous topics, and she gives a fair bit of career advice to aspiring stand-up comedians that can apply to any career. Below are five pieces of career advice she gives in her new book Dear Girls:

Fear Can Be A Good Motivator

Wong signed a prenuptial agreement before she married her husband, she says her in-laws insisted, and writes what they mean is, We still dont trust that b****. If she failed at stand-up and got divorced, she was basically left with nothing. She knew then she never wanted to rely on her husband to be the only source of income for their family. Wong writes, I was very motivated to make my own money because I signed a document specifically outlining how much I couldnt depend on my husband. My father always praised the gift of fear and that prenup scared the s*** out of me. In the end, being forced to sign that prenup was one of the greatest things that ever happened to me and my career.

You Have To Want It

Wong has a theory for why stand-up comedy doesnt appeal to women: safety. She points to the alone time, and when she is on the road, the number of times a day she has to share a car with strangers, for women it increases the odds of harassment, assault, etc. exponentially. She discusses how she walks through parking lots after shows late at night with keys between her fingers and sleeps in cheap, unsafe motel roomsits not a glamorous life. You gotta want it really bad to constantly put yourself in those situations, writes Wong. You have to really love stand-up and embrace every s***** thing that comes with it.

Its Important To Fail & Enjoy It

No one is born a great stand-up comedian, or born great at anything really. People become great by trying and failing consistently, improving on those failures and not losing enthusiasm for the work. Nobody is great at stand-up comedy right away and its important to have room to experiment, find your voice and, most important, to fail, writes Wong. In stand-up comedy failing on stage is called bombing, and Wong relishes it. She believes aspiring comedians must love bombing in order to be a great comic. I think all you need to be a good stand-up is to have a unique point of view, be funny, and enjoy bombing in front of strangers. You really do have to learn to like bombing a lot.

Dont Take A Class, Do The Work

Wong writes that if you want to be a stand-up the one thing you should not do is take a stand-up class, she calls them hacky, and says its a widely held view in the stand-up comedy community. If you want to learn how to do stand-up comedy, you have to do stand-up: go out to small, gritty comedy clubs, try new material, bomb, then get up and do it again.

Doing the open-mic circuit is real stand-up comedy class. Thats when you really find out if you have the strength and stamina to make a real audience laugh. The audiences for those stand-up comedy class shows are made up of friends and family of the students in the class. Its not a real audience. Those laughs arent genuine. Those classes are a sham because theyre too safe and nobody will respect you if they ever learn you took them.

Move Away From Home

At several points in the book, from when she moves to college, to studying abroad, traveling after college to when she moves to New York to do stand-up, Wong champions leaving the nest and seeing the world. Not only to learn about the world, but to understand who you are outside of your family. At some point you gotta go. Mama loves you but its important to get out of your hometown and get the f*** away from your familyWhen I got away from them, I finally felt like I could be the person I was meant to be, she writes.

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5 Pieces Of Career Advice From Comedian Ali Wongs New Book Dear Girls - Forbes

I was in a small, unfussy coffee shop close to my cottage in rural Nova Scotia when I saw the poster advertising a womens empowerment retreat at a rustic lodge on the shores of the warm Northumberland Strait.

Ive become increasingly curious about the growing interest in new-age spiritualism, and in particular, how women are seemingly using it as a way to address chronic dissatisfaction. Without knowing exactly what I would get out of it I contacted the retreat organizers to ask if I could attend the weekends events. Two weeks later I was sitting in a chair with my eyes closed in the middle of a log-walled room. Around me, dozens of women circled, taking turns whispering affirmations into my ear: You are brave. You are loved. You are special. Even as I rolled my eyes, I felt myself start to cry.

Oh god, I thought. Its working.

I felt simultaneously defeated and relieved.

The retreat, called I Am Worth It, was hosted by three wellness practitioners: a healing touch specialist, a reflexology therapist, and a naturopathic doctor. In addition to healthy meals, beach walks, and yoga, there were guided sessions that addressed letting go of past hurt, setting intentions, prioritizing self-care, and harnessing energy centers. It costs around $333 per person to attend. The duration of the retreat is two days. Rooms were shared.

Over the course of the two days, from early morning until well into the evening, women shared stories, exhaled a lot, dabbed their eyes with tissues, and formed a drumming circle under the full moon. Throughout we received advice from the practitioners, intended to help budge participants out of a rut once they returned home: make sure to get out into nature, light some scented candles while soaking in a deep tub, observe your chakras, and tell your mirrored reflection youre beautiful over and over until you start to believe it. We whispered affirmations in each others ears. At some point the naturopath explained that she tells clients, Were not going to talk about weight loss, but about how your parents treated you when you were little.

It was a rollercoaster of practical and obscure, out-there woo woo nonsense and disarmingly astute observation.

Wellness retreats are nothing new. Since the 2nd century B.C. and its Roman baths, people have fled to spas and health-minded resorts in an attempt to feel better. These early incarnations eventually evolved into the spa model of Golden Door in San Marcos, California, and Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona, both of which offered opulent surroundings coupled with rigorous training geared toward weight loss and physical transformation. By the mid 2000s yoga retreats filled up Instagram feeds with photos of virtuous-looking activities, sun salutations on the beach, and fit people inhaling huge amounts of avocado.

And todays retreat culture has moved past the lose weight, feel great mentality, beyond a week of yoga and vegan meals in Puerto Vallarta, and squarely into the realm of self-empowerment.

These new retreat goers arent focused on losing weight, rehabbing, or escaping their problems. Theyre packing their emotional baggage and heading to places like Renew Breakup Bootcamp in upstate New York, a broken-heart retreat that helps women address subconscious patterns that keep them from the love they really deserve. At a Purpose in Paris retreat, participants cast negative self-talk into the Seine and make self-worth vows at the iconic lovelock bridge. In Miami, there are vision-boarding and manifesting retreats to help pinpoint limiting beliefs and evict the resident shit-talker living in your head. And one Costa Rica retreat combines self-defense, mindfulness, and self-care with the promise that your inner warrior princess is waiting to be unleashed into the world.

I believe people are understanding their need to turn focus inward and shine a light on the dark parts of themselves that maybe they weren't willing to face before, says Jennifer Sembler, whose Yemanya Travel company offers retreats for women with a 360-degree approach to mind, body, and spirit, including hiking, meditation, and life coaching sessions. This search for inner peace and truth is one of the driving forces behind this retreat movement, she says.

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Women's Retreats Are Changing Their Message From Weight Loss to Self-Empowerment - Bon Appetit

You only live once, but readers, in that one life, gain the wisdom of thousands. When you are reading a great book, you imagine yourself in that place the writer described as a little piece of heaven. You feel happiness, sadness, excitement and nerve-wracking anxiety all at once as you turn the pages of your favorite book.

A good read flushes adrenaline in veins and keeps one sane but some classic self-help books have something more to offer; they give you an insight to thoughtfulness, a thrill of creativity, imagination and personal growth as well. They light up your brain and help you grow morally, intellectually and physically with their nature of timelessness, universality and resonance with the reader.

From my personal to-read list, here is a list of 5 classic self-help books you wouldnt want to miss reading.

Note: You can read these books for free on BookMigo app or from a free online repository of classic books, Project Gutenberg.

Theme: Self-Mastery

This autobiography is the masterpiece to take inspiration, and, to actualize that inspiration. Fairly every page in this book is motivational enough to light the spark of chasing seemingly unachievable goals and leaving no stone unturned to achieve those goals.

The theme of this classical piece is mastery and the storyline is based on real events of Ben Franklin; a little boy born in a poor family of 17 children with limited resources. However, nothing came in his way of quest for knowledge and hustle for curiosity, which made him one of the most influential people. This is a real story of passion, combined with hard work and persistence.

Here is a chunk from his book showing how fond he was of reading despite having no resources:

I had such a thirst for knowledge, more proper books had not fallen in my way So, he proposed to his brother to be paid for him boarding. .. I could save half what he paid me. This was an additional fund for buying books

Theme: Self-Preservation

If wisdom and wit appeal to you, you must give a read to this ever-living classical novel, with self-preservation theme; The Prince.

Written originally in the Italian language, this bestseller is much more than a simple practical guide on how-to-rule, or (on a lighter note) a satire on how-not-to-rule.

In this classical hit, Machievalli tucks the diverse historical era into the words of wisdom by analyzing the reign of great rulers and criticizing their mistakes which caused their downfall. The universality of what he preaches to be a good ruler are yet synonymous with being a good leader, from which you can learn a great deal.

One of my very favourite passages from this classic novel is of chapter XVII: Cruelty and Clemency, and whether it is better to be Loved or Feared in which Machievalli writes:

and he must proceed in a temperate manner with prudence and humanity, so that too much confidence does not render him incautious, and too much diffidence does not render him intolerant

Theme: The Good Life

One of its own kind, this classic book Meditation is certainly a piece of literature that brings positive energy to you, the energy you might not even know already existed in you.

This book, based on the theme of good life, originally was not meant to be published, rather it was a collection of self-correction and continual-betterment thoughts of Aurelius. More of an assemblage of philosophical ideas, private thoughts and alleviating exercises to stay humble, empathetic, motivated, patient and generous.

Here is a beautiful piece of his writings:

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.

Written years ago, this book still resonates with thousands of readers as the insights, based on stoicism philosophy, are practical, calming and life changing as the witty comprehensiveness is hypnotic enough to bring the best out of yourself, to channel the positive thoughts and to make your life happier and satisfying.

Theme: Solitude

The idea of wandering in the land of nature, all by yourself, exploring wildlife and embracing deep thoughts is fascinating. This is what is reflected in this classic book, Walden Pond, written by Thoreau, based on the theme, solitude, with main focus on individualism. It revolves around the idea of sufficiency of a man, himself, to survive and most importantly to be happy.

You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land, there is no other life but this.

The love of nature, self-conscious thoughts and strength of ones self is what we all are deep down missing in this racing world of technology, despite being happy superficially. This book is an insight, in fact a reminder for us to start cherishing the little moments, the small things and the few resources we have, and trust in the self power.

Theme:Discipline

Ideas, hard work, discipline, faith, consistency, good morals and disregard of competition is what this classical book is full of and we have a lot to learn from it.

Based on the theme of discipline, this autobiography of Henry Ford is not a lifestyle but the mindset we need to get motivation from. Written beautifully, it is the story of an assiduous man, Ford, who changed the world by his vision and hard work and still always preferred public benefit more than his own profit. Reading this book will give you chuckles and loads of inspiration.

Heres a passage from this everlasting classical hit:

I will build a car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one

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Five Wisdom-filled Classic Books You Should Not Miss Reading - Thrive Global

Cathi Kims office is just a few blocks from Wall Street, but she isnt managing investment capital like most of her neighboring investment managers are. Shes putting money exclusively into credit unions that are doing community development work in some of the hardest places to do community development, places that mainstream banks have long neglected.

Kim pitches to some of the same investors Wall Street financial firms do, like foundations and insurance companies, but her portfolio at Inclusiv (formerly the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions) includes 24 credit unions, such as Hope Credit Union based in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Self-Help family of credit unions based in Durham, North Carolina.

These investments, known as secondary capital in credit union parlance, arent about taking over credit unions. Rather the money helps credit unions grow larger, and faster, than they would be able to grow without it. Hope Credit Union had seven branches before the Great Recession, and now has more than 30 locations across the Deep South, from Jackson and the Mississippi Delta to Memphis, Tennessee, to Little Rock, Arkansas, to New Orleans. This past summer Hope opened its second branch in Montgomery, Alabama. Meanwhile, over the past decade Self-Help has expanded outside North Carolina to six other states including California.

In September, Inclusiv launched the Southern Equity Fund, with the goal to double down and reach even deeper into the South, the poorest part of the United States. Inclusiv has raised around $45 million in capital so far for the new fund.

When you look at where the deeper pockets of persistent poverty counties are, and where we see this very tragic and complicated story of racial wealth gaps, we couldnt deny that theres this huge pattern, its concentrated in the South, Kim says.

More than a third of Inclusivs credit union members are already in the 17 states it defines as the South. But secondary capital investment remains largely concentrated in Hope and Self-Help. Those two credit unions alone account for a majority of all secondary capital invested in credit unions across the country, based on data from the National Credit Union Administration, the federal regulatory agency and deposit insurance provider for credit unions. With the Southern Equity Fund, one of Inclusivs goals is to bring more of its members into its secondary capital investment portfolio.

There are less than 100 credit unions currently in the country that have secondary capital, but we know far more are able to leverage it successfully, Kim says.

Secondary capital isnt for every credit union. First of all, its only available to those certified by the National Credit Union Administration as a low-income designated credit union meaning at least half the members come from low-income households.

It is an unfortunate reality of where our country is that almost half of all credit unions in this country are now low-income designated, Kim says.

In addition, secondary capital investments require prior approval from credit union regulators, including the National Credit Union Administration at the federal level and also a state regulator if the credit union is state-chartered. To obtain regulatory approval, eligible low-income designated credit unions submit a business plan showing how they will use the external investment to reach new members through new strategies, new branches, new products, or some combination of all the above. Thats often where Inclusiv can help, using its decades of experience making secondary capital investments in credit unions across the country.

Inclusiv has found secondary capital only really works when the credit union is already doing at least some of the groundwork required to reach deeper and further into communities that remain largely disconnected from the mainstream financial system.

Earlier this year, Inclusiv made a $2 million secondary capital investment in Park Community Credit Union, the fourth largest credit union in Kentucky. It was the credit unions first-ever secondary capital investment, and it illustrates the kind of groundwork that Inclusiv really looks for in potential candidates for secondary capital.

They were already doing the work, says Kim.

Park Community Credit Union was chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1955, originally serving as the credit union for employees of the General Electric Appliance Assembly Park in Louisville, Kentucky. It has since expanded its charter to serve the geographic areas of the Louisville metro area, southern Indiana and the Lexington area. With nearly a billion dollars in assets, Park Community is already the fourth largest credit union in Kentucky. But a few years ago its leadership and board who have always been predominantly white realized that they werent reaching certain parts of their region.

We saw that we are deficient in reaching out to some of these neighborhoods, especially the ones to be honest with you that we might have had some ignorance about as far as the prejudice, racial redlining, some of the things thats occurred historically, says David Shadburne, executive vice president at Park Community Credit Union.

Specifically, the credit union realized it wasnt reaching the nine predominantly black neighborhoods of Louisvilles West End the childhood home of Muhammad Ali which has historically been redlined and denied the same access to home mortgage lending and small business lending as white neighborhoods.

When you go into these communities where promises have been made and not been kept, you have to sit there and you have to listen, and you have to learn. You have to go in with a humble attitude and listen to the problems people are encountering every day, Shadburne says. Theyre problems I might not understand or have had to experience in my lifetime because I have privilege that others dont.

Park Community Credit Union is trying to back up conversations with action. For example, the credit union wanted to make a commitment to provide home mortgages that would meet the needs of current West End residents and help keep them in place. They decided to lower their credit score threshold for a home mortgage to 585, the lowest in the city. Then they figured out a way to offer the mortgages without requiring private mortgage insurance which can be a prohibitive cost barrier in Louisvilles West End because the number of vacant lots or abandoned houses makes these neighborhoods look like riskier investments requiring more costly private mortgage insurance policies.

Initially Park Community was going to offer these mortgages with adjustable interest rates until a conversation with local stakeholders convinced them to offer them at fixed interest rates instead.

One of those local stakeholders was Russell: A Place of Promise, a joint effort by the city of Louisville and the national nonprofit Cities United, co-led by Anthony Smith, who has been working for 25 years in community development, most of it focused in Louisvilles West End.

I dont know of any other credit unions or banks in my world, [who] have come out and made these relationships with folks who are not their members yet but theyre hoping they will be, says Smith. When we think about Park, their commitment, talking to them, they keep figuring out how to make this better. Theyve been just a key partner as an institution.

The credit union ended up making a public commitment to $7.5 million in home mortgages to families in the Russell neighborhood and its already met $1 million of that commitment, Shadburne says.

As part of its strategic growth into the West End, Park Community Credit Union also began offering commercial micro loans, up to $10,000, at just 3.99 percent interest, for small businesses looking to start up or expand. If the small business repays the loan on time, the credit union refunds the interest to the borrower. The credit union also began offering a new payday-loan alternative product that is already up to $1.5 million in outstanding loans, according to Shadburne.

The secondary capital investment from Inclusiv has allowed the Park Community Credit Union to be even more responsive to community needs than it might have been otherwise.

Without the secondary capital we wouldnt be able to have some of these innovative products. We would not be able to have the same magnitude of impact or go as quickly into some of these areas, Shadburne says. Were already talking about more secondary capital thats going to allow us to go deeper, farther into these areas.

Besides a bit of a cash cushion up front to go out and experiment with new products or new markets, the secondary capital also helps the credit union overcome the hidden barrier of regulatory oversight that often keeps mainstream financial institutions away from historically redlined neighborhoods because regulators believe those areas are too risky even if the financial institution is willing to take on the risk.

Secondary capital helps you to overcome some of the concerns that regulators have that goes back to some historic bias, Shadburne says. In a lot of cases, the history has sort of built on itself to cause some of the issues we have today.

Oscar is Next City's senior economics correspondent. He previously served asNext Citys editor from2018-2019, and was a Next City Equitable Cities Fellow from 2015-2016. Since 2011, Oscar has covered community development finance,community banking, impact investing, economic development, housingand more for media outlets suchas Shelterforce, B Magazine, Impact Alpha, and Fast Company.

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New Credit Union Fund to Boost Outreach in the South's Historically Redlined Neighborhoods - Next City