The ASEAN Post Team

A woman talks on a phone next to the Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX) logo during the official listing ceremony of ACLEDA Bank Plc on the exchange in Phnom Penh. (AFP Photo)

Southeast Asia has a growing fintech ecosystem which provides innovative services such as loans and payment platforms. Fintech fosters a financial inclusion strategy that can reduce the growing wealth gapand provide the poor with critical resources.

A 2019 study by ValueChampion, a Singapore-based personal finance and consumer research brand, placed Singapore second after Australia as one of the Best countries for women in fintech in Asia-Pacific. The study ranked countries based on the climate opportunity for womens advancement, prioritising nations that have strong fintech markets but also closer to gender equality.

Malaysia ranks fourth, while Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam rank seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively. Each country was also ranked by subcategory of business climate, existing gender gap, womens safety and fintech salary, among others. The research company noted that the limited data available on women in fintech makes a thorough analysis difficult.

Climate Of Opportunity

Singapore is a hotbed for fintech innovation, with the highest number of fintech start-ups per capita. Ranked second, the city-state has a positive environment for women in general. Over the past few years, the gender gap has decreased, reflected in the unopposed election of the nation's first female president Halimah Yacob in 2017. However, Singapore's gender wage gap increased substantially in 2018, with the widest disparity recorded in the financial and insurance industries.

Malaysias moderately strong fintech market also provides some opportunities for female advancement in an affordable setting. In 2017, the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) initiative was launched by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) to grow the nation's internet economy and to facilitate cross-border e-commerce.

Malaysia also offers a reasonably supportive environment for women looking to succeed in their careers. Based on 2019 data compiled by Bloomberg, the ASEAN member state has the highest representation of women in top positions (33 percent) in the banking industry.

Over in Vietnam, efforts have been made to tap womens potential by improving the business environment and giving them control over their finances, such as the Mobile Banking Financial Inclusion and Economic Empowerment for Low-Income People and Women in Vietnam project launched by the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies.

There is an increasing number of women making inroads into fintech, but the growing fintech sector in the region is not always accessible to females seeking professional advancement. Fintech is still a difficult market for women to break into. According to the Ernst & Young ASEAN FinTech Census 2018, 86 percent of all fintech organisations still have all-male founders.

Support More Women

There is an emergence of prominent funds focused on supporting ventures by women in fintech globally. Last year, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) launched an Innovation Fund on digital solutions for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) in the Asia-Pacific region. The fund seeks to improve access to finance, removing barriers to scale and enhancing the operational efficiency of women-led MSMEs. The initiative is expected to benefit 20,000 women entrepreneurs in six countries across the region.

Women-owned micro, small and medium enterprises have the greatest potential to benefit from ICT as these technologies can help them overcome the typical barriers to expansion and growth, said Hongjoo Hahm, officer-in-charge of ESCAP.

Miss Kaya is a financial platform built by women for women, founded by entrepreneur, Gina Heng. The platform allows women to receive guidance on their savings and investments.

In 2018, Miss Kaya and LATTICE80 announced the launch of an accelerator programme for women entrepreneurs to support women-led businesses. Their collaboration led to the release of a list of the top 100 women in fintech around the world in 2019.

At Miss Kaya, we want to be there to encourage and support more women entrepreneurs to develop and grow their ideas. I know first-hand how challenging the process can be, but if we can create a supportive community and share resources and networks, the chances of success are higher. We are happy to partner with LATTICE80 to begin this journey, said Heng.

It should be noted that persistent gender biases, whether intentionally or unintentionally, still exist. Although the regions fintech industry is relatively strong, it doesnt mean its equally accessible to both genders. More needs to be done to ensure women are allowed to rise through the ranks, lead teams, start companies and decide on industry policy.

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Vietnam Is The Regions Fintech Hub

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More Women Tapping On Fintech? - The ASEAN Post

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., walks a fine line on technology issues: She represents Silicon Valley and has a track record of using data and technology to solve government problems. But at the same time, the first-term senator doesnt shy away from questioning technology practices that may risk consumer privacy or national security.

To understand the tech background of the vice presidential candidate, Nextgov took a look at her record in the Senate, past statements and her work as attorney general of California. Though Harris is not always the leader on hot topics such as rural broadband access or protecting intellectual property, the first-term senator is savvy when it comes to technology, according to experts.

Daniel Castro, who works on tech policy issues as director of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundations Center for Data Innovation, told Nextgov Harris could be a strong voice for using technology to improve government services in a potential Biden administration.

It seems like there's going to be someone who has that hands-on experience of actually using digital technologies for transformation of government, and to me that's actually an exciting idea, Castro said. We haven't had someone in government at that high a level that has that kind of experience or insight and I think that's a major asset to the ticket.

Transforming Government with Technology

Two key projects stick out in Harriss record for transforming government using technology: her OpenJustice initiative, which she spearheaded as Californias attorney general, and a bill she introduced in 2019 that sets aside funding for state and local governments to improve government services using technology.

Castro said Harris first came on the radar for technology issues when she rolled out the OpenJustice data project. OpenJustice takes the California Department of Justices statistical data and combines it with other public datasets to create a dashboard the public can use to track law enforcement interactions with the community.

When Harris was a U.S. Senate candidate in 2016, she told the San Diego Union Tribune the project is all about transparency and allowing experts access to data so that they can analyze it and explain whats going on with policing.

So I then talked to my friends, who are my colleagues in law enforcement and others and I say hey you know, those folks who are annoyed with Black Lives Matter should probably know that maybe perhaps with anecdote and maybe perhaps with emotion theyre telling us exactly what the data tells us, Harris told the Union Tribunes editorial board. There are in fact racial disparities in the system. So lets deal with that. Lets use the data so we can drive public policy in a way that is based on fact and metrics instead of ideology or emotion.

According to Castro, the OpenJustice project was one of the first of its kind, and has served as a model for other data transparency projects. He added governments in general are continuing to move in the direction of more data transparency.

More recently, Harris introduced a bill that would provide funding to state and local governments so that they can essentially build their own, localized versions of the U.S. Digital Service. The bill, called the Digital Service Act, would provide a $15 million pool of funding for local governments. It would also set aside an additional $50 million of funding per year for USDS.

We must do more to empower our state and local governments to tap into the power of technology to provide seamless, cost-effective services for the 21st century, Harris said in a statement. The Digital Service Act will help harness top talent for the government, save taxpayer dollars, and put the power of technology to work on behalf of the American people.

Harris has also sponsored legislation around data sharing within the federal government. For example, she introduced legislation in 2017 requiring the Homeland Security Department to facilitate increased information sharing about maritime-related cybersecurity risks. The bill required DHS to create a cybersecurity risk assessment model and develop plans to mitigate cybersecurity risks at the nations ports.

Regulation, Data Privacy and Equity

Harris is known for her tough prosecutorial style, and as a senator, she has showcased her precise questioning techniques on data privacy issues. In 2018, Harris took a stand on the importance of transparency when it comes to data privacy at a hearing probing the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scandal.

During the course of this hearing these past four hours, youve been asked several critical questions for which you dont have answers, Harris said to Facebook founder MarkZuckerberg. Those questions have included whether Facebook can track users browsing activity even after the user has logged off of Facebook, whether Facebook can track your activity across devices even when you arent logged into Facebook, who is Facebooks biggest competition, whether Facebook may store up to 96 categories of users information, and her list went on.

During Harriss questioning, Zuckerberg admitted his company made a mistake in failing to notify users regarding the Cambridge Analytica data breach. Facebook knew of the breach in 2015, three years prior to the hearing.

When asked by the New York Times in an interview as a presidential candidate whether the major tech companies like Facebook as well as Amazon and Google should be broken up, Harris wouldnt commit. Instead, she said her first priority was data privacy.

I believe that the tech companies have got to be regulated in a way that we can ensure and the American consumer can be certain that their privacy is not being compromised, she told the Times, adding that consumers should be empowered to make decisions about their personal information.

Harris has taken some criticism for her perceived relationships with Silicon Valley, especially in light of the fact that other presidential candidates running at the time such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., called directly for Big Tech companies to be broken up.

A July Huffington Post piece asserts that Harris didnt do enough as attorney general to confront metastasizing threats to American consumers and American democracy from big tech. The article was based on a tranche of emails the Huffington Post obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests.

Dr. Nicol Turner Lee, a sociologist studying equity and technology at the Brookings Institution, said she doesnt view Harriss connections to technology companies as inherently problematic.

Clearly, she has had a cordial relationship with Big Tech by the nature of her representation in California, Turner Lee said. But that doesnt mean that I dont think shes going to be strong on enforcement of anti-competitive behavior.

Turner Lee said Harris membership in the Congressional Black Caucus may lead her to put more pressure on tech companies to adopt better diversity and inclusion practices, too. She added Harris niche may be finding ways to use government to enhance transparency around equity issues like she did with the OpenJustice project.

One example of an equity provision Harris sponsored is the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act, which was introduced in 2019. The legislation requires the National Science Foundation to convene a working group composed of representatives of federal statistical agencies to develop questions on sexual harassment in STEM departments in order to gather national data on the prevalence, nature, and implications of such harassment in institutions of higher education.

Election Security

Another issue important to the Congressional Black Caucus that Harris has also focused on is election security. Harris has been a major player on election security legislation in the Senate, and Turner Lee said she expects that advocacy to continue, particularly in light of voter suppression issues arising due to COVID-19 and the gutting of U.S. Postal Service operations.

Harris has been involved with nearly every significant piece of legislation on election security during her tenure in the Senate. She sits on the intelligence committee, which conducted a major investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Her questioning of Facebooks data privacy and transparency practices in the 2018 hearing can also be understood as related to her advocacy for stronger protections against election interference.

Harris, along with Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., championed the 2017 Secure Elections Act, a bill that aimed to prevent foreign election interference by modernizing election cybersecurity. The legislation included enhancements to information-sharing practices between federal intelligence entities and state election agencies.

The bill ultimately failed in the Republican-controlled Senate, but Turner Lee said Harris is unlikely to lose sight of election security and foreign interference issues if she ascends to the vice presidency.

Clearly, election security, mail-in voting, voter suppression, are going to be key issues and in this election off the bat, Turner Lee said. And I dont see Kamala Harris backing away from those issues, nor do I see her giving a pass to companies that may in some way embolden that type of illegal activity just by the nature of being publicly available to share content.

The Big Picture

The Obama/Biden administration is widely viewed as the first tech administration. Beginning in the 2008 campaign, then-candidate Barack Obama harnessed technology and social media to reach voters in a way that had never been done before.

The U.S. Digital Service was also born during that administration, and Healthcare.gov, despite its problematic rollout, was an important milestone in the growth of digital technologies used for making government services more accessible.

But the ground has since shifted. Progressives within the Democratic party consistently push for greater regulation and intervention in Silicon Valley. Castro said the fact that Biden and Harris are trying to build a big tent coalition of support from the various wings of the party may mean adopting some of these stances.

As a senator, Harris has not shied away from speaking out on problems with the unregulated technology industry. Castro and Turner Lee both said she has been willing to go after anyone on important issues such as data privacy.

At the same time, Harris appears to have held on to the idea that technology can be harnessed to solve problems. Turner Lee said she wouldnt be surprised if Harris and Biden take on more projects similar to the OpenJustice initiative, and maybe even an effort to pass privacy legislation.

I do believe that there's going to be a lot of empowerment to the people when it comes to technology policy, Turner Lee said.

Original post:
The Tech Perspective Kamala Harris Could Bring to the Vice Presidency - Nextgov

The Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture on Wednesday continued with aviation-related evidence and probed the personal knowledge of Vuyisile Aaron Ndzeku, director of JM Aviation South Africa, a ground support equipment and aviation spares supplier, and Swissport, a provider of airport ground and cargo handling services.

Evidence leader Advocate Kate Hofmeyr questioned Ndzeku on the role he played at JM Aviation and Swissport, the payments he received, the payments JM Aviation received and paid out, the land deal with Nontsasa Memela (who was head of procurement at SAA), and the land deal with her mother, Ms Hlohlela, as well as his meetings/introductions/encounters with various role players in the aviation-related evidence.

Hofmeyr eventually obtained Ndzekus confirmation that the unsigned affidavit submitted to the commission by his attorneys was a true and fair recollection of his version of events.

Spoilers

Ndzeku admitted to receiving a salary of R35 000 a month from Swissport and R35 000 a month from JM Aviation, and conceded to having received other payments ranging from R50 000 to R100 000. But he wasnt able to explain to Judge Zondo what he did to earn a salary.

Read: Why did PwC not identify corruption atSAA?

SAA awarded a R1.5 billion, five-year ground-handling contract to Swissport on condition that 30% was paid to an empowerment company ostensibly belonging to Daluxolo Peter.

Soon thereafter, Swissport paid R28.5 million to JM Aviation SA.

JM Aviation SA then paid R20 million to Daluxolo Peters company, R2.5 million to BM Kolisi Attorneys, and R2.5 million into Ndzekus personal bank account.

BM Kolisi Attorneys then paid the R2.5 million towards the purchase of two sports cars for Lester Peter, head of SAA procurement.

Ndzeku denied knowledge of the R2.5 million sitting in his bank account, and denied knowledge of the payments.

Ndzeku also denied knowing that the R2.5 million he paid Memelas mother for purchasing her property (part of tribal land) in the Eastern Cape would be given to Memela to purchase a property. There are no title deeds for the land allegedly purchased, and a handwriting expert has concluded that the apparent signatures of Memelas mother are a forgery.

Daluxolo Peter alleged in his affidavit submitted to the commission that Ndzeku was the mastermind, and in fact set up the empowerment company.

JM Aviation made R6 million in a one-day trade on 12 ground power units that were purchased from SAA and on-sold to Swissport.

JM Aviation South Africa

Ndzeku was a director of JM Aviation, together with his daughters Vuyelwa Sokhulu and Natasha Van Louw, and one Julian Aires. Ndzekus wife, Miss Hendricks, is also an employee of JMSA. Ndzeku didnt know what her role was, and he couldnt remember when they got married. He couldnt even remember if she was employed at JM before they got married.

Ndzeku didnt see any conflict of interest in being a director of both Swissport and JM Aviation, as he wasnt involved in operations.

Financial assistance given to former head of SAA procurement

Ndzeku met Nontsasa Memela in 2015, at a compliance development workshop, and said he was not aware that she was head of SAA Technical procurement.

Ndzeku had acannabis-growing business in Lesotho and Swaziland, and was interested in purchasing land in the Eastern Cape. Memelas mother, Ms Hlohlela, just happened to own a piece of land in the Eastern Cape.

Ndzeku met with Hlohlela in 2015 in Johannesburg, and on another occasion at her home. He had shown her his companys document on the cannabis business. When Hofmeyr later informed him that said document had only been generated in 2018 he tried to change what he meant.

Hofmeyr submitted that Ndzeku had changed his version of events over the course of the day.

To summarise, Ndzeku purchased an indeterminate piece of tribal land next to the river, for which he would receive no title deeds.

Hofmeyr refers to an affidavit deposed by the forensic document examiner (a handwriting expert), which concludes that the apparent signatures of Hlohlela on the affidavit and the sale agreement are in fact a forgery.

Hofmeyr submitted to the commission that there was no agreement about any land whatsoever, there was only a payment of R2.5 million to be made to Memela.

Hofmeyr further explained how Memela benefitted JM Aviation: She agreed to sell 12 ground power units [GPUs] to your daughter for R3 million. On the same day, JM Aviation billed Swissport R9 million for the same GPUs. JM Aviation made R6 million in one day.

Hofmeyr continued, informing the commission that R4.3 million was paid into a forex trading company called Zanospark, and ended up being paid to Yakhe Kwinana, former chair of SAA Technical.

Hofmeyr informed the commission that Zanospark was only created in February 2016, and is not an authorised trader.

SAA ground handling contract

Hofmeyr probed Ndzeku on his interactions and meetings with Kwinana, including a meeting held with SAA in 2016.

At the meeting Kwinana demanded that Swissport pay 30% to SAAs designated empowerment company, and threatened to terminate the relationship with Swissport if they didnt agree to these terms.

Ndzeku admitted to having spoken with Kwinana a few times but said he didnt see it as a conflict of interest as he was not involved in operational matters. He admitted to having discussed the empowerment partner with Kwinana, but not the deal. Swissport was handling that, he said.

Bob Gurr from Swissport had taken notes at the meeting, which conflicted with Ndzekus evidence, and he recalled Ndzeku saying get the deal done.

Swissport did ultimately agree to bring Daluxolo Peters company in as the empowerment partner, and it was awarded the R1.5 billion contract for five years on March 15, 2016. Lester Peters, as SAA chief of procurement, and Ndzeku, signed as witnesses.

Hofmeyr tried to get to grips with the timeline of events in 2016: On 10 February the deal was off, but on March 15 they seem to find each other. Hofmeyr then referred to the service level agreement concluded between Swissport and JM Aviation on March 2, in terms of which R28.5 million would be paid to JM Aviation.

Agreement between Swissport and JM Aviation

The R28.5 million payment made by Swissport to JM Aviation was ostensibly paid in regard to a general service level agreement that was entered into in 2016. The agreement detailed the various services that would be provided.

JMs bank balance prior to the deposit of R28.5 million was only R1 000.

JM Aviation

Ndzeku was questioned on the payments made by JM Aviation to the empowerment partner (R20 million), BM Kolisi Attorneys (R2.5 million towards sports cars for Lester Peter), and R2.5 million to Ndzekus personal bank account.

Ndzeku couldnt recall the meetings he had had with Lester Peter, and denied any knowledge of Lester Peter being head of SAA procurement.

Even though he was a director of JM Aviation, and his daughter had sole signing powers to the bank account, he denied any knowledge of any deposits or payments. He couldnt explain why JM Aviation was used to make the R20 million payment to the empowerment partner.

Hofmeyr then dropped a bombshell.

The empowerment company played no role in the SAA ground handling contract. Daluxolo Peter, in his affidavit submitted to the commission, alleged that Ndzeku was the mastermind behind the whole deal, and that Ndzeku in fact put the empowerment company together, and put his daughter in as a director.

Daluxolo Peter further alleged that of the R20 million, he took R5 million for himself, paid BM Kolisi Attorneys R10 million, and withdrew cash in tranches of R500000 totalling R10 million, and paid this over to BM Kolisi Attorneys.

Read: The bankers, lawyers and liars who enabledstate capture

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The Zondo Commission, the dealmaker, and the botched evidence - Moneyweb

In an effort to support businesses and their employees during the economic downturn, First Horizon Bank is now offering on-demand Financial Wellness programs. These free classes, previously offered onsite, have been held virtually since April. With the addition of the on-demand option, First Horizon is making financial literacy even more convenient for people in Middle Tennessee.

200 companies are currently enrolled in the First Horizon Bank Financial Wellness Program. Through the program, these organizations provide their employees with access to classes focusing on personal finances and strategies for improving financial health. Free, confidential counseling sessions with First Horizon Bank financial representatives are also offered as part of the program.

Our business partners have shared that their employees need us now more than ever, said Carol Yochem, president of First Horizon Bank for the Middle Tennessee Region. Offering classes in a pre-recorded format is another way we are bringing financial wellness and empowerment to individuals during a time when many can benefit from professional counsel. Those enrolled in the program can listen when they have time, and we always invite them to schedule a one-on-one confidential financial counseling appointment at the end of each class.

Best practices from successful financial wellness programs indicate that classes addressing basic financial topics like how to build an emergency savings fund, how to budget and how to avoid costly debt may be the most relevant to peoples lives, regardless of their compensation. With these guidelines in mind, First Horizon currently offers classes on topics including:

Introduction to Financial Wellness

Importance of Financial Goals

5 Factors to Financial Wellness

Budgeting for Success

Understanding Credit

Boosting Your Score

Budgeting to Achieve Financial Goals

Understanding Fraud

Identity Protection

More Bang For Your Buck

Participating companies and employees do not have to be First Horizon Bank clients to take the classes or to consult with a First Horizon Bank Financial Wellness expert. To learn more about the program, classes and the financial counseling sessions, companies can email Donna Spears, First Horizon Bank Business Development Acquisition Specialist, at: [emailprotected]

About First Horizon

First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN), with $79 billion in assets, is a leading regional financial services company, dedicated to strengthening the lives of our associates, clients, shareholders, and communities. Headquartered in Memphis, TN, the banking subsidiary First Horizon Bank operates approximately 460 bank locations in 11 states across the Southeast. With more than 288 years of combined First Horizon Bank and IBERIABANK financial experience, the Company and its subsidiaries offer commercial, private banking, consumer, small business, wealth and trust management, retail brokerage, capital markets, fixed income, mortgage, and title insurance services. First Horizon is recognized as one of the nations best employers by Fortune and Forbes magazines and a Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. bank. More information is available at http://www.FirstHorizon.com

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First Horizon Bank Offers Financial Wellness Programs On Demand - rutherfordsource.com

A 1989 Portland High School graduate was featured on the nationally televised Tamron Hall Show featuring her successful weight loss journey, and she was on the Aug. 10 cover of Womans World Magazine along with her story inside.

Chellie Matchinske Beck began a weight loss program in October of 2018 and has lost 112 pounds using Dr. Steven Gundrys Plant Paradox program which she originally saw on the TV program The Doctors. The diet features eating foods low in lectin.

Beck had always tried to eat healthy, but while she was trying to eat gluten free and drinking water rather than sodas and sweet tea, she continued to gain weight.

When she went to her doctor, he assured her that her weight gain was normal for her age. He told her that various things were occurring that affected her such as her age, the environment, hormones and preservatives in foods.

Not only was she gaining weight, she was having other health issues. She had no energy and her body ached. She couldnt climb steps or carry her grandson to bed after rocking him to sleep. It took a trip to the hospital with high blood pressure to help her realize that she could do something about her health.

During that time, Gundrys interview on TV kept popping into her head, and at the same time, posts about him and the Plant Paradox program would appear on her Facebook page. She felt she was being directed to the program, and she is passionate about showing her gratitude to God for leading her to the program.

According to Beck she turned to Gundrys Plant Paradox program and it changed her life. She lost 70 pounds in the first four months. She credits the program with clearing her body of inflammation from the inside out. In addition, she says her skin has become healthier than it has ever been.

She said she could feel the healing process as it was occurring. She was gaining more energy and she was able to be more active. She says she can out play her 5-year-old grandson now. She sees the program as a life style change.

Beck sent her testimony and pictures to an email address hoping it would get to Gundry because she wanted him to know how thankful she was for his program and how it had changed her life.

To her surprise, the email went directly to him and he contacted her. Her testimony led to national recognition that she did not seek; however, she uses it as an opportunity given her to help others.

Becks story and pictures of her success are on her Instagram page titled Notafraidoffifty, which has resulted in many people contacting her with one as far away as Sydney, Australia.

She said she feels she is on a spiritual journey to help others. As she becomes a cheerleader for them, she shares personal success stories for encouragement. One of her favorites is telling them about saving the dress she wore when she graduated from high school because her husband always liked it.

According to Beck, the dress is actually a little big on her now that she is in a size 6-8 dress and size 4 jeans. In addition, she shares her motto with them - Be your best you for your best day and be your best you for your worst day.

I am very thankful for God leading me to Dr. Gundry, Beck said.

See the article here:
Portland woman receives national attention for weight loss - The Portland Sun

19 hr 36 min ago Trump takes credit for "success" in Kenosha

From CNN's Betsy Klein

In a tweet Friday, President Trump took credit for what he described as "success" in Kenosha, Wisconsin, furthering his law and order message.

Trump still has yet to address the shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black father, who was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Read the President's tweet:

CNNs Suzanne Malveaux is reporting from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, where activists are gathered to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington.

She told CNN's Kate Bolduan that she spoke to Martin Luther King III about what his father, Martin Luther King Jr., would think about todays march.

Malveaux said she also asked Luther King III what keeps him up at night.

"He said it's the fact thathis 12-year-old daughter hasalready asked him the question,'why do we still have to do this?I thought granddaddy had put thisto bed, put this to rest,' andhe says it's because we have to.We have to continue this fight."

Watch more:

Activists have gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, today, the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington. Speakers are addressing the crowd now.

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, who's at the event, said it's an emotional day for many of the protesters.

Today's event is dubbed the "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" Commitment March, a reference to the police killing of George Floyd, who died after held down with police officer's knee as he protested that he couldn't breathe.

The Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network began planning the march in partnership with the NAACP and others after heannouncedthe event during Floyd's funeral in June. But it comes during a week that has seen intensified called for social justice and police reform following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin.

Blake, a 29-year-old Black father, was shot by police on Sunday. His family says he is now paralyzed from the waist down.

Today's march comes during the coronavirus pandemic. Here's a look at the socially distanced protest:

From CNN's Melissa Alonso

The suspect in theKenosha, Wisconsin, fatal shootingwill stay in Lake County, Illinois, for a month anda hearing on the status of his extradition has been set for Sept. 25,according to the Illinois judge presidingover matters of hisextradition.

Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, did not appear at his videoextraditionhearing, which lasted only a few minutes.

Rittenhouse is not waiving extradition proceedings, according to a court appointed attorney in Illinois.

The public defender said the delay would allow Rittenhouse to meet with a private attorney and for that attorney to file an appearancewith the court.

Rittenhouse faces multiple charges for the shooting incident during a night of unrest in Kenosha earlier this week that left two people dead and a third person seriously injured, authorities have said.

Correction: A previous version of this post said Rittenhouse would be extraditedon Sept. 25.His hearing will beon Sept. 25.

Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black father, was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. The shooting sparked protests in Wisconsin and across the country.

If you need to read in, here's what we know about the shooting, the aftermath and the ongoing protests for social justice:

From CNN's Melissa Alonso

Jacob Blake's father, Jacob Blake Sr., is in Washington for the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s march there.

Blakeshared his family's history in civil rights with CNN'sAlisyn Camerota

Thousands are expected to gather in Washington, DC, today for the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic I Have a Dream speech.

From CNN's Veronica Stracqualursi

Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather today at the Lincoln Memorial to commemorate the historic 1963 civil rights March on Washington.

The demonstration, taking place on the 57th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic"I Have a Dream" speech, seeks "to restore and recommitto the dream Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. defined" that year.

Here are key things to know about today's event:

Read more here.

From CNN's Scott Gloverand Casey Tolan

Before he was identified as the police officer captured in a viral video in which he shoots a Black man multiple times in the back, Rusten Sheskey pedaled around the lakeside city of Kenosha, Wisconsin, as part of the bike patrol and walked the shopping mall beat during the holidays.

He'd occasionally bring a squad car home from work and turn on the siren for neighborhood kids, one neighbor recalled. An American flag flies outside his home in a middle-class neighborhood.

But five days after Sheskey's shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake prompted protests and rioting in the typically quiet streets of Kenosha, much remains unknown about the seven-year veteran officer and what prompted him to open fire.

Authorities have declined to provide information on a number of critical questions in the turbulent days since Blake was shot. Most importantly, they have not offered any detailed explanation for why Sheskey used deadly force on Blake as he leaned into a parked car.

Police and city officials also have not responded to public records requests for Sheskey's history with the department, including any previous uses of force or disciplinary issues. According to a memo from the police chief published on the city's website, Sheskey received a one-day suspension in 2017 for a violation regarding "safe operation of department vehicles."

Meanwhile, Blake remains handcuffed to a hospital bed. He was left paralyzed from the waist down in the aftermath of the shooting, which took place in front of three of his young children who were in the car.

Dispatch records indicate that Sheskey and other officers responded to a complaint from a woman saying that Blake was not supposed to be at her residence and would not leave. She also said he had taken her keys and would not give them back.

At a news conference Wednesday, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said officers fired a Taser at Blake before the shooting, but that it was "not successful." Kaul said Blake admitted possessing a knife and officers recovered one from the floor of the car he was leaning into when Sheskey opened fire. Kaul did not say if Blake had brandished the weapon or what precise reason Sheskey gave for firing multiple shots.

Blake's family has demanded answers, too, wondering why Sheskey decided to use a gun to resolve the situation. At a news conference on Tuesday, Blake's family attorney Ben Crump called for the officer's arrest.

"We are demanding that the prosecutor arrest the officer who shot Jacob Blake. And we are also asking that these officers who violated the policies and their training be terminated immediately," he said.

Read more here.

Hear more from the Wisconsin attorney general on the investigation:

From CNN's Melissa Alonso, Jill Martin, Leah Asmelash and David Close

Jacob Blake's father, Jacob Blake Sr., told CNN's Alisyn Camerota that his son is in and out of consciousness and he's not aware of the situation in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Blake Sr. said the focus is on his son's recovery and he does not want to upset his son with news of unrest Kenosha.

Blake Sr. also said his son received a gift from his favorite team.

"The thing that made him smile was the Milwaukee Bucks. That made him smile, and I'm from Chicago. But now I am truly a Milwaukee Bucks fan because they reached out to my son, sent a jersey that was signed by the whole organization," Blake said.

Some background: The Milwaukee Bucks' decided to boycott their playoff game following Blake's shooting in the team's home state a move that cascaded into a wave of similar protests across the American sports.

Soon after the Wisconsin-based team decided to not play,the NBA announcedit would postpone Game 5 of three different playoff series Bucks vs. Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers.

Blake's father thanks the Milwaukee Bucks:

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Live updates: Jacob Blake shooting and the March on Washington - CNN

The first hour of the final evening of the 2020 Republican Convention had two clear, albeit somewhat contradictory, messages.

On the one hand, a parade of nonwhite speakers vouched for President Donald Trump both as a non-racist individual and as a policymaker who delivered criminal justice reform. On the other hand, Black Lives Matter protests are responsible for rioting and rising crime all across America and only Trump can save the suburbs from inner-city chaos. His election rival Joe Biden, by the same token, was both an avatar of the tough on crime excesses of the 1990s and somehow the leader of a movement to defund the police.

It was clearly a pitch to more moderate voters who might have misgivings about how things are going under Trump. Earlier nights in the convention served up plenty of red meat to the base from anti-abortion tirades to overt attempts to own the libs but Thursday night was clearly the persuasion game.

The big message was that America as a whole is tumbling into chaos and lawlessness, and the only person who can rescue us is ... the guy in charge.

The speech itself was a bit of a letdown. Trump, a master of drawing attention to himself, has never been very skilled at reading prepared text from a teleprompter. And this night was no exception, as he delivered a somewhat stilted speech largely free of the zany riffing that makes his rallies compelling. Nonetheless, given a huge (and illegal) stage, he was very much the center of attention, giving a looooong speech and making clear that he sees himself as the indispensable man for a country in crisis.

That the president of the United States chose to stage his convention speech at the White House as a flagrant violation of the Hatch Act is on some level not important.

But maybe its the most important thing of all.

In the earliest days of his political career it was often said Trump wouldnt really run for president, because if he did he would have to release his tax returns and engage in other forms of financial disclosure. As a candidate, even Trump himself claimed to believe he would have to divest himself from control over his operating companies. And in the early days of his administration, he would frequently be told that on the small number of policy issues he did care about, there were various legal or constitutional reasons he couldnt do what he wanted to do.

But as his first term enters its final months, its now clear to everyone that none of that is true. If I earnestly wrote that it is bad that the president of the United States is in a position to collect cash bribes in unlimited quantities through his hotels and opaque network of shell companies, Id be laughed out of the room as hopelessly nave and a tedious bore to boot. The smart set of DC journalists who set the political agenda declared days ago that the Hatch Act is something real people dont care about, so the same television networks that devoted more time to Hillary Clintons emails than all policy issues combined in 2016 feel free to ignore it.

Fundamentally, the American system of government depends on the supposition that a presidents co-partisans in Congress will be bothered by lawbreaking especially lawbreaking that has no ideological purpose. What congressional Republicans learned about themselves in this years impeachment process is that they arent actually bothered. And now Trump knows that they know this. And they know that Trump knows that they know it. So in essence, the gloves are off, the rule of law is dead, and were simply left with the question of whether or not Trumps illegal orders are followed.

Sure, Trumps finishing speech was long, tedious, and poorly delivered. But he also used the convention to broadcast a series of blatant lies about his administrations competency, largely uninterrupted, for 10-plus hours over the course of four nights.

And while the theme Trump pushed all week, on the side of police and law and order, could have come across flat much like his immigrants are coming to kill you argument did in 2018 events in Kenosha, Wisconsin, made the message suddenly relevant, and some Democrats are newly worried at the prospect of a Trump reelection.

For a political neophyte often caricatured by both his foes and his allies as somewhat dimwitted, its genuinely an impressive achievement, and itll be his no matter what the outcome in November.

Matthew Yglesias

While the Democrats reacted to the unusual circumstances of a political convention held amid a pandemic with an innovative, integrated multimedia show, the GOP perhaps lacking the Democrats Hollywood connections struggled more with format.

The big set pieces for Trump, first lady Melania, Vice President Mike Pence, and other featured speakers came off well. And the evening featured many well-crafted videos. But the bulk of the programming was a series of traditional standup podium speeches delivered in the empty Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. With no audience, speeches delivered there mostly came off flat. Other higher-energy speeches, like the one delivered by Rudy Giuliani, felt unhinged. At times, the microphones picked up audible echo from the vast empty chamber.

The eeriness was bad on its own terms. But it also served as a reminder that Republicans seem to believe the Covid-19 pandemic is somehow gone, irrelevant, or over, even as it visibly, viscerally impacts almost every aspect of American life on a daily basis.

Caseloads are now heading downward after their July spike, but more Americans died of Covid-19 during the four days of the GOP convention than died on 9/11, schools are closed in vast swaths of the country, and nobody knows if cooler weather and more indoor activity will bring a new spike in infections.

MY

African Americans are hardly part of the Republican base. In 2016, just 8 percent of Black voters supported President Trump, according to CNN exit polls. And yet, if you didnt know that and looked at the faces of the speakers at the Republican National Convention, youd think Black Trump supporters are both welcome at the table of the Republican Party and numerous.

Trump once said there were very fine people on both sides of a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. But the RNCs planners recruited a sizable roster of African Americans, from among the small minority of Black voters who support Trump, to speak at this weeks convention.

At the 2016 RNC, only 18 African American delegates were expected to be present, out of the 2,000-plus delegates invited. This year, by contrast, about a dozen Black people were given featured speaking slots.

Night one of the convention closed with a speech from Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), the only Black Republican in the Senate, who powerfully relayed his personal success story Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime. Other RNC speakers included 1980s NFL stars Herschel Walker and Burgess Owens, former NFL football player Jack Brewer, long-shot congressional candidate Kim Klacik, and civil rights activist Clarence Henderson, all of whom are Black.

Black Trump supporters filled the speaking list on night four. Trump aide JaRon Smith claimed that every issue important to Black communities has been a priority for Trump. Stacia Brightmon, a Black veteran, touted a federal job training program. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson praised Trump for bringing the office of historically Black colleges and universities into the White House.

Many of these speakers attacked the notoriously loose-tongued Democratic nominee, claiming that one of Bidens more inarticulate moments suggests he takes Black voters for granted. Over and over this week, speakers brought up a Biden gaffe when the former vice president, in an apparent effort to tout his broad support among African Americans, said that if you have a problem figuring out whether youre for me or Trump, then you aint Black. (Biden later said he shouldnt have been such a wise guy when he made this remark.)

Perhaps Trump who polled well, for a Republican, among Black men before the pandemic struck believes he can narrow Bidens margins among African Americans. Or perhaps, as the Nations Elie Mystal writes, the GOP is simply engaged in tokenism to give white people permission to vote for a president who often pushes a white nationalist agenda.

Whatever the reason, its clear that Republicans want viewers of their convention to believe that Trump has Black friends.

Ian Millhiser

It was still surreal to see people, without masks, sitting quite close together on the White House lawn. On Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence mingled with the audience after the speech he gave the day before Trump.

As the coronavirus pandemic rages around the world, and particularly in the United States, the mere sight of so many human beings congregated together is a shock all its own.

At last count, there have been almost 5.9 million cases in the United States and about 180,000 deaths. The US ranked near the bottom of the new Foreign Policy global response index, behind much of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and a number of African and Asian countries. My colleague German Lopez reports persuasively that Trump, by repeatedly doing nothing, shifting responsibility and blame to others, let Covid-19 win.

It was also reported during the RNC that the CDC had been pressured by the Trump administration to encourage less testing through its official guidance. The administrations testing czar denies it.

So Trump has been, at best, a hindrance to the US response, and at worst, he may be actively sabotaging it. He has certainly helped politicize the debate over how the US should contain the virus in his attitude toward social distancing. He refused to wear a mask for months and suggested other people were wearing masks to spite him. He tweeted that governors should LIBERATE their states from pandemic-related restrictions, even when cases were still high and the countrys capacity to test, trace, and isolate was inadequate.

What followed was a summer wave in cases and then deaths.

People follow signals from their leaders. We are fortunate that most Americans say they are taking precautions like wearing masks. But there is already some disparity between Democrats and Republicans. RNC viewers have heard a clear message from their leaders this week: Social distancing doesnt need to be taken that seriously.

Dylan Scott

One of the most emotional moments of the night came from Ann Dorn, the widow of a retired police officer killed when he tried to stop looters in St. Louis after the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd. Dorn linked the chaos that killed her husband, David, to one of the themes of the Republican convention. Namely, that in Democratic-run cities, a movement largely supported by Democrats is spiraling into uncontrolled violence, and that Democratic leaders have failed to stop this violence, but Trump is ready to do something.

Violence and destruction are not legitimate forms of protest. They do not safeguard Black lives. They destroy them, she said. President Trump understands this and has offered federal help to restore order in our communities. In a time when police departments are short on resources and manpower, we need that help. We should accept that help. We must heal before we can effect change, but we cannot heal amid devastation and chaos. President Trump knows we need more Davids in our communities, not fewer.

Republicans hit this message again and again, condemning the property damage and violence by some protesters. They repeatedly claimed that Joe Biden and Democrats want to defund police departments that are supposed to protect communities from this violence. (Bidens plan actually calls for an increase in funding for police.)

One can disagree with this message. Maybe you think protests that become violent or turn to looting are the voice of the unheard, showing a genuine grievance that should be taken seriously, or that its unfair to link such violence to Democrats in particular, given that many of them including Biden have condemned it.

But Dorn was an effective messenger though her husbands daughters claim he was not, in fact, a Trump supporter.

Its too soon to know how the protests in Kenosha will affect public opinion in Wisconsin. A recent study from Omar Wasow, published in the American Political Science Review, concluded that nonviolent protests in the 1960s successfully built support for Democrats who backed civil rights causes. But the backlash to the riots of the era was so fierce that it helped Republicans contributing to the election of Republican Richard Nixon in 1968.

Its unclear if this study applies to the current political environment, given how much has changed. And Trump, after all, is the incumbent, whereas Nixon was running in an open contest. But it suggests riots could lead to a backlash against Black Lives Matter and other causes linked to Democrats and Trump is clearly hoping it will.

German Lopez

Oh, Bill.

Not only was New York Mayor Bill de Blasio not invited to the Democratic National Convention last week, he didnt even know it was happening. (Or so he claims, because who among us hasnt pretended not to care about that party we werent invited to.) But at the Republican National Convention on Thursday, the short-lived 2020 presidential candidate and reluctant Upper East Side resident was front and center.

Republicans ran what basically amounted to an attack ad against the mayor on the final night of the convention. The produced video spot showed New York residents and housing leaders criticizing de Blasio. I would really hate to get started on this mayor, said Carmen Quiones, president of the Douglass Houses, a public housing complex on New Yorks Upper West Side.

The spot seemed to be an attempt to pit Black Americans against immigrants when it comes to housing in the city. How is it that we have people waiting on the waiting list for New York City public housing for 10 years or more, but yes, we have illegal immigrants living here? posited Judy Smith, a resident of New York public housing.

Its true that housing is a perennial issue in New York, and that de Blasio, like many mayors before him, has failed to fix it. It is also true that the Trump campaign has been making some pretty overt appeals to Black voters throughout the convention, and making immigrants out to be a scapegoat plays very much into that narrative.

Beyond the ins and outs of the policy debate, the situation does say something about de Blasio, who has had a problematic tenure as mayor. He hasnt exactly been knocking it out of the park amid the Covid-19 outbreak. The pandemic is an unprecedented situation, but de Blasios response has been rather inconsistent and indecisive when it comes to issues such as schools, and his ongoing feud with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasnt helped the situation.

In early August, the citys health commissioner resigned over disagreements with the mayor. Heck, Im somewhat sympathetic to de Blasio, and even Ive thought, Please stop going to Prospect Park, on multiple occasions in all of this.

On the one hand, de Blasio is an easy character for Republicans to train their fire on: He is not particularly popular in national politics or in New York (though in the city, its worth clarifying his polling problems are more with white residents than with Black residents). Plus, the GOP is trying to run this narrative of Democratic-led cities on fire, and the unpopular New York mayor seems as good an example as any. On the other hand, de Blasio getting all this attention during the RNC is a bit of a win for him. Beyond Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, who else has gotten this kind of attention?

So, I guess, go Bill?

Emily Stewart

Sports have always been political and this week thats been incredibly evident, as players in numerous leagues have decided to strike in protest of racism and police brutality. Teams in the NBA, WNBA, MLB, and MLS are among those participating in demonstrations following the police shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake earlier this week. Despite the overwhelming pleas for change, there have been no actions, so our focus cannot be on basketball, Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling Brown said when the team boycotted a playoff game on Wednesday.

Amid these protests, the Republican National Convention included a video montage on Thursday dedicated to the American athlete. Clips showed Trump praising athletes willingness to strive for greatness, and spotlighted a nostalgic Lou Gehrig moment. Yet, despite its purported praise of American athletes, it was a segment that, likely intentionally, made no mention of the ongoing protests so many athletes are currently involved in.

It was clearly meant to tap into the cancel culture theme of the week and make overtures to more moderate Republicans who may miss the days when sports were less rife with political strife.

The videos tone-deaf, and insulting, omission of these demonstrations revealed how Republicans are using sports for their own ideological aims as well. By focusing solely on celebratory meetings in the White House (something many athletes have actually refused to attend during the Trump administration) and lauding teams for overcoming adversity, the RNC montage seemed to ask people to hark back to a time when sports was solely about winning, not sending a message.

In other words, by implying that politics and activism shouldnt be present in sports, Republicans were making sports political, too.

Li Zhou

New goal: 25,000

In the spring, we launched a program asking readers for financial contributions to help keep Vox free for everyone, and last week, we set a goal of reaching 20,000 contributors. Well, you helped us blow past that. Today, we are extending that goal to 25,000. Millions turn to Vox each month to understand an increasingly chaotic world from what is happening with the USPS to the coronavirus crisis to what is, quite possibly, the most consequential presidential election of our lifetimes. Even when the economy and the news advertising market recovers, your support will be a critical part of sustaining our resource-intensive work and helping everyone make sense of an increasingly chaotic world. Contribute today from as little as $3.

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RNC 2020 final night winners and losers: Trump, Black Republicans, the NBA, and riots - Vox.com

Whatever It is that we have to get done, there is a secret to making sure that we actually get it done. It's called accountability, or rather personal accountability.

If you are a regular reader of this Winning Words column, and even though I am placing the focus this week on people in the profession of selling, what I share below is applicable to all of us who are striving to stay as productive as possible in all walks of life. So, I encourage you to keep reading.

Over the past several months we have all participated in our own version and reality of the Next Normal. Some of us chose to participate fully and look for new and innovative ways to work, live, and play. Others fell into the flow and tried to keep pace with what was happening around them. And then there were some who wanted to wait and watch what would be happening next. Possibly waiting too long and losing energy and momentum along the way.

Our daily routines were shifted and, in many cases, completely turned upside down. In the world of professional selling, some folks decided that they would fully participate and amplified their work ethic and behaviors, holding themselves personally accountable for getting It done, whatever It was. It, in professional selling, could include continuous learning and honing of sales skills. It could be committing to prospecting or making a daily commitment to check in on prospects, channel partners, and customers. It could be learning how to better understand technology and how to connect and engage remotely. Whatever It is, this group was going to get it done with or without management's direction.

For the teams and individuals who went along for the ride initially, we see that they eventually found their rhythm and understood the effort and behaviors necessary to succeed in getting things done. They realized that the competition was getting close, and sooner or later could take away their business. Salespeople who initially followed old selling habits, even if they were good habits, realized that in the new business landscape they needed to change, and not only change, but hold themselves personally accountable to make the transition and stay relevant, adding value and getting It done for themselves and their customers.

Some of the watchful waiters eventually took notice what was happening around them and made the decision to get back in the game of selling. They realized that if they didn't do It, no one else would. And if they watched and waited too long, they would probably be invited to find success elsewhere. And in that moment, they also stumbled across the secret to getting It done, personal accountability. No excuses.

I have been so blessed to work with and learn from amazing partners, clients, sales leaders, and salespeople today and throughout my career. And I have seen so many incredible programs, attended hundreds of seminars, and read countless books on selling. I share that with you because when I am having conversations about sales success or analyzing the difference between underperforming, average, and top performing sales people, there is one thing that salespeople at the very top consistently do better than their peers. They hold themselves personally accountable for doing the behaviors and getting It done.

If you are not in the world of professional selling, and have read along this far, you know that the secret to getting anything done, getting It done in our personal or professional life, comes down to holding accountability, personal accountability. No excuses.

So how about you? Did you decide to fully participate early on and amplify your game? Did you fall into the flow and eventually pick up the pace? Or have you been a watchful waiter and now trying to regain your momentum? I would love to hear how you are getting It done today at mnorton@tramazing.com. And when we realize the secret to accomplishing anything is personal accountability, it really will be a better than good week.

Michael Norton is the grateful CEO of Tramazing.com, a personal and professional coach, and a consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator to businesses of all sizes.

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Here's the secret to getting 'It' done - Highlands Ranch Herald

They felt helpless when they watched video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back seven times by a Kenosha, Wis., police officer. Players questioned whether they should be here, playing basketball, enjoying the sun, fishing and gaming, while others in the Black community are still suffering police brutality and racism.

The anger from the players meeting, after the Bucks decided to sit out their playoff game with the Magic on Wednesday, was evident. Players were frustrated, feeling hopeless and uncertain about their purpose.

The overnight time to reflect allowed the players to understand that great work can still be done in this bubble. While their anger has been geared toward the establishment, the government that has fostered an atrocious relationship between Black people and law enforcement, their disdain was not against the league that has encouraged them to express themselves on social issues.

In the end, the players decided to continue the playoffs, but it was apparent they needed at least a couple of days off to catch their breath. The Celtics will likely open their Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Raptors on Sunday.

The games will return, but NBA players want to ensure they are getting the proper support from team owners, who are wealthy and powerful enough to help foster change, or at least spark conversations.

It was understood that changes are going to take time, and its going to start with grassroots action, including encouraging people to register to vote and challenging politicians and law enforcement to review policies and tactics in dealing with the Black community and other people of color.

The players felt they needed to make a statement after last weekends events, which included a 17-year-old white male being allowed to walk past police during the Kenosha protests carrying an AR-15-style rifle, and then allegedly killing two people.

Players see this and ask: Why should we continue to provide entertainment for a country that doesnt consider our lives worthy? How is me playing ball going to prevent the next Jacob Blake from being shot?

Those answers cannot be found in a few days. But what can be done is the suggestions made in the past several weeks by players can turn into demands. There can be meetings arranged by players from every NBA team and the governor of their respective states, such as the Celtics with Governor Charlie Baker, to discuss issues that plague the inner cities.

If these athletes want a seat at the table, then they should have one. And now they have a chance to work with the owners, if so desired, to create a strong agenda for change. One of the questions that dominated the players meeting Wednesday night was, What are we going to do now?

Some players were angry because the Bucks had no comprehensive plan to back up their boycott. Now is the time for these players to meet with civil rights and community leaders, and even powerful former players such as Magic Johnson, Grant Hill, and Craig Hodges, to determine a plan that will have a lasting impact and make them feel more fulfilled in changing their communities for the better.

Right now, they dont feel fulfilled. Theyve been in the bubble for nearly two months, and while the basketball has been enthralling and played at a high level, Black men and women are still being shot in the streets, COVID-19 is still running rampant, and American society doesnt appear to have made any improvements since the killing of George Floyd.

There is a lot of work to be done, and the players realize they will face major resistance from the powers that be that would rather have them just dribble a ball, shut up, and sign another sneaker deal.

The impact is lessened if the players dont reach out to their communities and try to uplift those who may not have the influence they have. Those who arent concerned with uplifting these communities are fine with these players making millions of dollars as long as they keep their mouths shut and only relish in their personal success. With this boycott, these players have made sure their voices wont be muted again.

Gary Washburn can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe.

Originally posted here:
After reflection, NBA players believe they can turn ideas to end social injustice into demands if they play on - The Boston Globe

Morley Stanwood grad Carey Yukich shares her journey

Joe Judd, joe.judd@pioneergroup.com

Push Through: Former Mohawk standout penning motivational book

BIG RAPIDS In both sports and in life, everyone gets thrown obstacles, but the key is figuring out how to manage them and persevere nonetheless.

While that is easier said than done, former Morley Stanwood Mohawk Carey Yukich has done exactly that, and is in the process of penning her own story, with the hope that others can succeed and use her journey as ongoing motivation to do so.

Yukich, along with co-author Hawley Woods Gray, are putting the finishing touches on their book: Push Through: Your Ultimate Success Playbook, which is currently available for pre-order and is expected to be released digitally in early to mid-October.

She said she hopes the publishing of the book will help inspire others to overcome adversity and various roadblocks that occur and are frequent in sports and life in general.

The concept is: Push through those types of overwhelming feelings and steps and do them anyway, Yukich said. Theres a lot more to it, but that was really the motivation for me to even begin writing this book.

Having moved a dozen times in her youth, Yukich and her family came to the Big Rapids area halfway through the 1985 academic year, where she soon settled in as a three-sport Mohawk athlete, playing volleyball, basketball and softball.

Just talking through athletics and what Ive learned and experienced through athletics and the traits that helped me make that jump have helped me be successful throughout the rest of my life, Yukich said.

While the trifecta of sports kept her occupied, volleyball was always her go-to activity, so much so that she was also a member of a club volleyball team within the Big Rapids Area Volleyball Organization (BRAVO), where she excelled under the coaching of Beth Launiere.

At the time, Launiere was an assistant coach for Ferris States volleyball team.

Launiere will be writing a testimonial for Push Through, and has since gone on to coach the University of Utahs volleyball squad, where she is about to embark on her 31st season, and has amassed nearly 600 collegiate victories.

I very much benefited from the coaching and that opportunity, Yukich said. We traveled across the state of Michigan and also to Chicago every year for a national tournament that attracted teams from all over the country most importantly for me, it attracted college coaches. That was a pretty big deal for a little-town Morley-Stanwood girl.

Upon receiving acclaim and notoriety for her build and skill set, especially during the many tournaments played in the Windy City, Yukich was subsequently awarded a full athletic scholarship to play collegiate volleyball at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Transitioning from a relatively small and nationally unknown pocket of Michigan to competing in a Division I sport in the Big Ten Conference was initially a lot to take in for Yukich, even after putting in months of preparation before arriving on campus in the fall of 89.

It was incredibly overwhelming and very scary, not just because of the athletics, but because of the academics, Yukich said.

Yukich said coming to Northwestern was similar to her arrival at Morley Stanwood just a few years prior, and was met with a few challenges during her first days with the volleyball team, but still managed to stay the course.

Despite the increase in pace and skill level, along with shifting positions from middle hitter to setter, Yukich stuck around and competed in one of, if not the toughest conferences for college volleyball.

Along with the book, Yukich and Woods Gray are also coming out with a companion Daily Push Journal, that will also be made available for purchase at the same time as the book.

Yukich said the idea is for the readers to follow along and chart their own personal path, whether it mirrors her own life or not.

At the end of reading this book, individuals if they fully participate should have a customized playbook for how theyre going to go forward and reach higher levels of success for themselves, Yukich said. At the end of every chapter, theres an exercise that culminates with an assessment and an outline of their particular gameplan.

For more information on Yukich or Woods Gray, or to pre-order a copy of the book, visit: pushthroughbook.com

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Push Through: Former Mohawk standout penning motivational book - The Pioneer