Colby College announced has opened the $200 million Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center on its Waterville, Maine, campus.

The college says in a news release that the 350,000-square-foot building is the most advanced and comprehensive NCAA Division-III facility in the nation.

The center has an aquatics center with the only Olympic-sized Myrtha pool in Maine, an ice arena with year-round regulation ice, the Margaret M. Crook Center with three regulation-length basketball/volleyball courts, and the open-air ONeil Atrium at the center of the building. Additional highlights:

Construction of the center was made possible in large part from the philanthropic support of the Harold Alfond Foundation.

The three-story building was developed to emphasize daylight and openness, maximize views into venues, and intuitively articulate the buildings organizationconveying a sense of intimacy despite its expansive scale.

The college is aiming to achieve LEED Gold certification for the center's design and construction. Key sustainability components include optimizing natural resources (e.g. daylight harvesting), minimizing embodied carbon, and reducing energy and water use as well as carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.

The architects on the project are Hopkins Architects and Sasaki. The general contractor is Consigli.

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Colby College opens athletic and recreation center on its Waterville, Maine, campus - American School & University

UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov has announced plans to school people outside the octagon, revealing that he is "ready to share" a new course giving the public his wisdom on time management, motivation, teamwork and more.

The UFC star can be seen presenting his new course, 'Become a Champion in Life', in a suit and bow tie on "global online university" Megacampus, where he features as a tutor alongside the likes ofEvgeniy Chernyak one of Ukraine's richest men and Russian fashion model and businesswoman Oxana Samoylova.

Offering fans access for around $32 a month, Megacampus touts Nurmagomedov as "one of the most successful representatives of showbusiness" and "a global brand around which many businesses are built and an international audience gathers."

Across three months and 17 lessons, the masterclass pledges to help "those who agree to win"explore Nurmagomedov's life story, how he arranges his work schedule, insights into business, personal growth and goal completion and the principles that allow the 31-year-old to "be himself".

He lists "strength, dignity and respect" as the three elements that made himthe first modern Russian UFC champion andare essential to victory in sport and life, as well as the "hard work, discipline and ability to maintain concentration" that have allowed him to "confidently develop" a powerful brand and partnerships with the likes of Reebok, Toyota and Gorilla.

The marketing materials show photos from his heavily-followed Instagram account and formative years and mention his business decisions this year, including buying a 25 percent stake in a telecom operator, founding an agency for the development of Islamic tourism, establishing a shoe and clothing company, running a martial arts school and engaging in an agricultural business.

"Khabib is popular but not public," declares the promotional page. "According to him, he does not seek to be in the public eye and attract more attention to himself than his status requires.

"At the same time, the activity of the soldier extends to the entire globe...he donates money from battles to foundations, builds new hospitals in Nigeria, develops entrepreneurship in Dagestan, launches sports and educational projects for children and adolescents.

"Restraint, a sober assessment of the situation and a clear understanding of the goal allow an athlete to be successful in any endeavors and save energy for new achievements."

Fans are warned that achieving success comparable to the unbeaten fighter's spectacular career in the Octagon is no easy task. As Nurmagomedov is seen studying a book in an ornate armchair, potential students are told that they will be given tips to inspire and reward a team, "get rid of fears and prepare for new frontiers" and "make all your dreams come true."

He is seen at a weigh-in next to a section on developing a winning instinct, taking a selfie with fans next to a chapter that includes "managing euphoria" and sitting with his late father, Abdulmanap, and Russian president Vladimir Putin as part of a module onself-education and "choosing a worthy mentor".

"I have gained experience and knowledge," he announced, breaking away from social media posts documenting his preparations for his return to UFC action against Justin Gaethje on October 24.

"I am ready to share it. This isn't about fighting. Its about how to properly manage time, set priorities, how to assemble a team of like-minded people and motivate them. How to be a champion in life and in business."

The course, available in English and Russian, is scheduled to launch on October 5.

Continued here:
Life coaching with Khabib: Dapper UFC star reveals he is releasing a course to teach people 'how to be a champ in life & business' - RT

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 16, 2020 / Jennifer Chapman was living her best life in corporate America. She was working in prominent companies and made lasting relationships with industry leaders. However, upon suffering from a stroke at the age of 34, Jennifer completely pivoted her life. She realigned her priorities to help others who have gone through similar situations.

Jennifer grew up in a family that was full of love, and she had an unrivaled passion for dancing. Needless to say that she had a wonderful childhood. At a young age, Jennifer knew that she wanted to be successful in the corporate landscape. Her biggest support system was her mother. Unfortunately, at 11 years old, she tragically lost her biggest fan. Jennifer had to adapt to a new life with her father and brother as well as her extended family (aunts and grandparents). Eventually, she found her love for tennis, which also helped her cope with her circumstances.

Straight out of college, Jennifer began working in sales. She found herself loving every minute of her ten years spent working in the beer, wine, and spirit industry. Being the risk taker, Jennifer went out of her comfort zone. She transferred to a different industry as a sales representative. "I found success in my first year by hitting President's Club, which was career-changing," Jennifer recalled.

Jennifer lived her life to the fullest when out of the blue, at 34 years old, she suffered a stroke. Her case was alarming because she was in her optimum health. No red flags would have led her to suspect that such a thing would happen. Nonetheless, Jennifer's life changed in an instant. Her situation gave her an epiphany: her mother was also 34 when she passed.

Jennifer went through two weeks of rehabilitation and four months of therapy. She found herself blessed to recover physically, but the emotional burden remained with her. "I had to fully understand how to adapt to, accept and have confidence in my new normal," she said. On her healing process, Jennifer also spent nine months with a life coach that helped her a lot in mending her spirit and self-esteem.

It took a village of caring individuals, especially her life coach, to lead Jennifer to her pivotal transformation. Although she continues to adapt to her situation, Jennifer is filled with love, joy, acceptance, and strength. With the tremendous change in her perspective, Jennifer wants to support other stroke survivors and various individuals who need mentors and life coaches to overcome their challenges.

Hence, Just Commit Coaching was born. The company was built to honor her mother's legacy. Seeing the amount of support she received from a community of individuals and life coaches, Jennifer recalls that they are the reason why she survived. "I work every day to make [my mother] proud through helping others see their value, their purpose, their confidence in their new normal," said Jennifer.

Jennifer believes that everyone has a unique story to tell. They can use their narrative to inspire others to take action. "I have this incredible life experience that is meant to be shared as someone else's hope and healing," said Jennifer. Just Commit Coaching provides a safe space for her clients going through hardships, anxiety, depression, or physical illnesses. Through her company, Jennifer leads people to change their mindset, celebrate even the smallest of successes, and alter their perspective to see the change they need in their lives.

Story continues

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Stroke Survivor Pivots Life Purpose to Empower Others and Embrace Their New Normal - Yahoo Finance

SEATTLE, Sept. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Cylient today announced the global launch of Coaching in the Moment digital learning where people learn how to recognize and untie knots in everyday conversations. Knots are things that are not happeninglike team members not talking about an important issue or someone not doing what is expected of them. Coaching in the Moment teaches people how toquickly identify what is stuck and use "in the moment" coaching approaches to amicably resolve issues, foster learning from everyday challenges, strengthen relationships and much more.

Learners have fun as they journey together for four weeks in this collaborative, moderator-guided learning experience. With social learning, discussions, video scenarios, and real-life application of coaching approaches, the learning comes alive. An entire learning ecosphere can be created through the addition of virtual group practice sessions, the support of champions and office hours.

"We've taught thousands of people using our instructor-led Coaching in the Moment workshop, and now we are thrilled to make the same robust learning experience available to those who don't have access to a classroom setting," said Dianna Anderson, CEO of Cylient. "Now, more than ever, everyone needs to feel comfortable talking about the things that matter most, because we can't change what we can't talk about."

For more information about Cylient's Coaching in the Moment digital learning, email us at info@cylient.com.

About Cylient

Cylient offers virtual and digital training that teaches people to untie "knots" in everyday conversations. Knots are things that are KNOT happening, such as conversations people are "knot" having, or projects that are "knot" moving forward. Our Untying the Knot approach to "in the moment" coaching gives everyone in your organization a simple yet powerful way to resolve day-to-day challenges amicably while facilitating learning.

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Cylient Launches Global and Collaborative Digital Learning Version of Coaching in the Moment Training - Daily Record-News

Ed Pepple, the winningest basketball coach in Washington high school history, died Monday at age 88 after a battle with cancer. The Mercer Island legend impacted many lives in his decades-long coaching career.

On this weeks episode of the SBLive Washington podcast, analyst Dan Dickau spoke to a variety of individuals who share stories and memories of coach Pepple: former Prairie High School basketball coach Eric Hjort (8:44 mark), former UW standout Scott Didrickson (16:16), Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Chad Forcier (20:44), Calabasas (Calif.) boys coach Jon Palarz (39:46), former Mercer Island standout Diron Mobley (27:06) and Rainier Beach great and NBA player Jamal Crawford (47:11).

The SBLive Washington podcast is a weekly conversation that takes a look at the top stories impacting high school sports across the state of Washington.

Listen in the browser, and subscribe to theSBLive Washingtonpodcastbelow:

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Remembering the life, legacy of Ed Pepple through those he impacted: SBLive Washington podcast - scorebooklive.com

Football is back! NBA playoff basketball in the bubble is awesome, and were nearing the start of the MLB and WNBA postseason.

Sports, baby!

For Minnesota Timberwolves fans, well get to see Jimmy Butler try to lead the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals. Most Timberwolves fans cant stand Butler at all and thats 100% understandable. The guy forced his way out of Minnesota. He acted childish. Its the old dont give me any praise but also PAY ATTENTION TO ME! trick we see from athletes who crave the spotlight. Thats Jimmys playbook: Half of the Jimmy works hard! stories that leak out are pretty easy to trace.

With that being said, its hard to argue with the fact that Butler is a top-12 player and could be the best player on a team in the NBA Finals.

What if the Wolves had decided to trade Karl-Anthony Towns and/or Andrew Wiggins instead of Butler? What if the team decided to build the team around him entirely? At the time, that seemed crazy. Now? Not so much. What would a team with Butler leading the way look like in Minnesota?

Its a fun and depressing thought exercise.

Lets get to the topics of the week.

As we speculated in last weeks column, the NBA Draft will indeed be postponed to Nov. 18 while the 2020-21 NBA season wont start before Christmas. My guess is that the season will start sometime in February, but well get more clarity in the coming weeks.

Its gonna be weird having the NBA Draft a week before Thanksgiving, but thats kind of where were at.

This will give the Timberwolves a good two months to figure out what they will do with the No. 1 pick. Anthony Edwards? LaMelo Ball? James Wiseman?

Or, will the Timberwolves do something crazy and trade the No. 1 pick?

Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas has already made the rounds of we are keeping all options open! that we see from every team in the league as we approach the draft. Its one of my favorite lines that we fall for year after year. Articles are written. Tweets are sent. And its so silly. Of course the team is keeping all options open! Thats how the job works.

What is he supposed to say?

We are absolutely going to trade the pick?

While that would be entertaining, leaving all options open is what his job is.

ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Indiana Pacers are considering Timberwolves assistant coach David Vanterpool for their head-coaching vacancy. Id imagine that Vanterpool will also get looked at in New Orleans and Oklahoma City as they try to find their next coach.

We can talk about schemes, but more than anything, Vanterpool is a guy who is beloved by his players. Both Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum praised Vanterpool after he left Portland for Minnesota. As we saw with the Steve Nash hiring in Brooklyn, relationships with players means more than Xs and Os.

If Vanterpool was hired by another team, that would be a huge hit for the Wolves. I wont get into the would Vanterpool be a good head coach for the Timberwolves? talk too much, but theres a reason why those questions pop up. Vanterpool is a well-respected coach in the league.

Shams Charania has also reported that Timberwolves executive vice president Sachin Gupta is a finalist for the Sacramento Kings head of basketball vacancy. Gupta, the man who developed the trade machine(!), would bring an analytics mind to the opening in Sacramento. It would be the opposite approach of their last hire, Vlade Divac.

With the draft and the offseason being pushed back, it could be a while before either of these openings are filled.

Well keep you updated.

Who should the Timberwolves take with the first pick?

I lean towards Ball or Wiseman, but it seems the consensus around experts is that the team should take Edwards.

The Ringers Kevin OConnor has a great draft mind and does plenty of research when it comes to prospects. In his latest mock draft, he has the Wolves taking Edwards with the first overall pick. However, OConnor has Killian Hayes, a guard from France, as his No. 1 prospect.

Im of the belief that the Wolves should take the best player available. That seems silly to say, and should be obvious, but this is a weird draft. Theres no clear-cut No. 1 pick. And teams taking the best fit over the best player isnt that unusual.

Think about in 2018 when the Suns took Deandre Ayton at No. 1 and the Kings took Marvin Bagley at No. 2. The basketball consensus was that Luka Doncic was the better player, but both teams needed a big man. Even at the time, the logic was incredibly flawed.

Im not sure who the best player in the draft will be, but in post-draft interviews, that should be the catchphrase that Rosas uses time after time in his media availability.

When it comes to players who could be franchise-altering players, you draft them and figure everything else out later.

Well be creative with our content over the next few months considering theres not a whole lot to discuss about the Wolves. Maybe a mailbag next week followed by a mock draft the week after.

Talk to you soon.

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Life Without Jimmy, Wolves Coaches Being Interviewed and Draft Talk - Zone Coverage

As a volunteer youth football coach, Terrell Kopping has helped Mason Bruesewitz (right) gain skills and fall in love with the sport.

Terrell Kopping is still in college but the UW-Eau Claire senior already is well on his way to making his football dreams come true.

Starting quarterback for the Blugolds? Nope.

Try volunteer football coach for several Chippewa Valley youth football programs and an advocate for young athletes.

When Im done with college, I want to run my own strength and conditioning camps, and I want them to be free, says Kopping, a kinesiology-rehabilitation science major from Rice Lake. I also want to be a high school coach so I can work on changing how high school coaches interact with their players.

Raised by his mother and grandparents in a low-income household in northern Wisconsin, Kopping didnt have the money to pay for the expensive off-season sports camps that many of his teammates attended. He also didnt have the time for them since he worked to help support his family.

The lack of off-season training often meant less playing time and, even more frustrating, less respect from his coaches, says Kopping, who competed in football and wrestling throughout high school.

I was working to pay the bills, Kopping says. I still worked out and stayed in shape, but I didnt get the respect because I didnt go to the camps. That bothered me a lot.

Terrell Kopping hopes to help change the culture of youth sports through his coaching.

Rather than complain about it, Kopping is trying to do something positive to change a youth sports culture that he thinks is leaving kids especially those from low socioeconomic families behind.

During his years as a Blugold, Kopping has coached several Eau Claire area youth football teams, embracing coaching strategies that he says help build kids confidence along with their football skills.

By making practices and games fun for everyone on the team, regardless of their skills, his players are learning to work together, to respect themselves and others, and to love the sport, Kopping says.

I want kids to play to have fun and build strong, healthy relationships, Kopping says. I dont focus on winning when I coach. I interact with the kids and want them to feel valued, like they can take risks.

His approach seems to be working, Kopping says, noting that his teams have had winning records as well as athletes who are eager to play year after year.

Koppings passion for coaching and his commitment to the young athletes has impressed his players parents as well as his fellow coaches.

Matt Williams, head coach of a youth football team that Kopping helped coach, says the Blugolds dedication to the young athletes is impressive and his coaching style is inspiring.

He connects with our boys and they enjoy his presence and skills, Williams says of Kopping. He took it upon himself to lead them in skill training, prepare them in off season and continues to work with them to build their future in sports. Its been a great pleasure, and these boys look up to him.

Ive never seen kids so excited to run until Terrell helped me coach football.

Kim Bruesewitz, whose son, Mason, played on a team Kopping coaches, agrees.

As a volunteer youth football coach, Terrell Kopping has helped Mason Bruesewitz (right) gain skills and fall in love with the sport.

As a volunteer youth football coach, Terrell Kopping has helped Mason Bruesewitz (right) gain skills and fall in love with the sport.

Terrell has coached my son since third grade and has been such an incredible role model for him, Bruesewitz says. He focused on learning and having fun, which helped my son fall in love with the sport. I am so grateful that Terrell chose to volunteer his time while he was in college to help kids in our community.

Growing up he had plenty of what he calls old-school coaches who liked to yell, but he also had coaches who showed him what he believes effective coaching in youth sports should look like, Kopping says.

For example, in high school, one of the assistant football coaches realized that that Kopping was struggling on the field so he took time after practices to go over plays while also asking about his life outside of football. It was through those conversations that Kopping finally admitted to his coach that he was wearing worn-out and too-small cleats because he couldnt afford to buy new ones.

He took the time to talk to me and to try to understand what was going on in my life, Kopping says, noting that the coach also helped him come up with a plan to earn money to buy new cleats. Instead of yelling at me about what I was doing wrong, he took the time to show me how to do it right. He asked questions and made it clear that all his players were more than their position or number.

He made me feel like I was somebody and like we were on the same team. Thats what I want to do for kids and teens as a coach.

Coaches need to understand the impact that they have on young athletes, Kopping says, noting that the impact good or bad can be lifelong.

This is really a passion of mine, Kopping says. I want coaches to take their roles seriously because they can make a big difference in someones life for a long time, not just when theyre on a team.

In addition to coaching youth football teams, Kopping also runs a summer strength and conditioning camp for 10-15 Eau Claire area youth.

While free sports camps and volunteer coaching are a big part of his personal aspirations, Kopping has set some lofty professional goals as well, goals also shaped by his childhood experiences.

Koppings mother and grandparents shared parenting responsibilities when he was growing up, so he is close to all three of his primary caregivers.

I loved having what was basically three parents, but that also means that two of my parents are 70 years old, Kopping says of his grandparents. As I see them age, I feel helpless. By going into a career in health care, I feel like I can help and understand them better.

His grandfather has had several heart attacks, the first one when Kopping was a young boy and then two more when he was a teen.

Kopping was fascinated by the physical therapists who worked with his grandfather after the heart attacks, he says, crediting them with helping his grandfather regain his strength.

They are why he was able to play catch with me again, Kopping says of the physical therapists.

Now in his final year at UW-Eau Claire, Kopping is applying to graduate schools, with plans to eventually work as a geriatric or pediatric physical therapist.

Kopping came to UW-Eau Claire as a kinesiology major but switched to education thinking that might be a better fit because he loves working with kids.

However, while he enjoyed his education classes, once he got into an actual school classroom, he realized teaching wasnt the right career for him.

He switched back to being a kinesiology major, this time pursuing a degree in the kinesiology-rehabilitation science program, a new major being offered at UW-Eau Claire that aligns perfectly with his interests, Kopping says. When he graduates in the spring, he will be among the first Blugolds to graduate from the program.

That same summer, Kopping was working as a counselor for a Blugold Beginnings camp when one of the young campers introduced him to his father, Dr. Jeff Janot, professor of kinesiology and chair of the kinesiology department.

After they met, Janot told Kopping that he now was Koppings advisor. In the years since, Janot has been a trusted friend and a valuable resource, playing a big role in helping him succeed in college and plan for his future, Kopping says.

Hes super cool; Im very lucky I have him, Kopping says of Janot. Weve built a really good relationship. Hes a huge resource for me. My mom has an associate degree but Im the only one in my family earning a four-year degree and whos going to graduate school. So, this is all new to me and no one in my family can help me with it. Dr. Janot makes sure Im focusing on the right things.

In addition to his studies, Kopping, who is in the University Honors program, also works 30-40 hours a week at two group homes, one for adults with traumatic brain injuries and another for adults who have other challenges.

He also works with the Wounded Warrior Project, helping military veterans with stretching, physical therapy and social rehabilitation, as well as on mental health issues related to their service.

Through his classes, Kopping has worked with UW-Eau Claires PRIDE program, which provides physical fitness classes to young people in the community who have disabilities, and the universitys community fitness program, helping adults develop fitness routines designed specifically for them.

Dr. Janot is always there to help me keep everything balanced, Kopping says of trying to manage his academics, work and volunteer activities. Academics have been a challenge, but Ive done well. Its been a good challenge. I wish I could have worked less but that wasnt possible.

Its just been a really good experience to be here because there are so many opportunities on campus and in the community.

Wherever life takes him after graduation, Kopping says his heart always will be in Eau Claire.

Eau Claire is the first place that really feels like home to me, Kopping says. Eau Claire is the first place I have ever felt really accepted and where I feel like Im part of a community. Eau Claire is always going to feel like home to me.

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Kopping fulfills football dreams by coaching youth teams - Ashland Daily Press

Everything was a competition. He put together some of the best softball teams in the county, helped organize weekly football games in Hanes Park and at the School of the Arts, where they came up with the nickname Fighting Pickles.

We played tennis and disc golf and darts, and we went skiing and tubing and destroyed sleds on Pilot View. On every Christmas Day, we walked onto Forsyth Country Club and played 18 holes, and nobody ever stopped us.

Wadsley did all of this with a smile on his face. He smiled all the time, unless he was losing at something. He was a terrible loser. When he was winning, he was insufferable, constantly whistling. He was a terrible whistler.

And he was the most stubborn human being Ive ever known. He smoked, drank Dr Pepper like it was going out of style and ate Reeses cups like they were one of the major food groups.

Later in life, after a series of strokes, he still smoked, drank Dr Pepper and ate Reeses cups.

There were some bad days in the end. But Ill only remember the good days before it, the 35 years we coached together, the poker nights and the fishing trips and the fantasy football trophy he designed by taking one of our old tournament trophies - just a second-place trophy he said - mounting a football to it and awarding it to the winner every year.

The one year I won it, he was so upset that he didnt want to give me the trophy. So of course, once I took it home, I sent him a picture of it every day until the following season.

Link:
Looking back on a life filled with basketball games and good times - Greensboro News & Record

Yoga studios, which are often hands-on, have had to make adaptations during the time of coronavirus fears, moving their classes online out of need. Indianapolis Star

As protests in response to George Floyd's death continued, Katara McCartys social media feeds were saturated with images and videos of police brutality.

It was like a brick on my chest, she said. Its my people. Its my family. It was traumatic to see those images and videos of Black lives being lost.

Soon after, McCarty was watching a live webinar, listening to Black leaders discuss how to respond toincidents of police brutality. One person spoke up, telling the audience they had to stop waiting for the government to show up to support them.

We have to show up for each other, they told listeners.

McCarty cried at their words. She re-watched the webinar until 1 a.m. before laying in bed, crying untilshe fell asleep. For weeks afterward, she asked herself what she could do to show up for her community.

Her answer came in an idea for an emotional well-being app called Exhale.

Life coach Katara McCarty launched Exhale, the first emotional well-being app for and by Black women. The app, which launched Aug. 25, offers content tailored to women of color to promote self-care, mindfulness and rest.(Photo: Provided by Katara McCarty)

Black, Indigenous, women of color are some of the most marginalized people in our society, McCarty said. What if I could create an emotional well-being app catered towards them?

Using her skills as a life coach in Indianapolis, McCarty,created the first emotional well-being app for and by Black women. The app, which launched Aug. 25, offers content tailored to women of color to promote self-care, mindfulness and rest.

The app came from a place of grieving, she said. It came from a place where I at times felt hopeless for my community. I wanted to lift some of the burden that we as a Black community are collectively feeling.

An avid user of meditation apps, McCarty felt disconnected from the apps she was using that didnt feel relevant to her experiences as a Black woman. Most of the apps she used were created by white people and didnt include otherperspectives.

I felt lost all of a sudden, she said. Because of what I was going through and what my community was going through, it felt like the apps were just out of touch with my experiences.

This disconnect is because women of color have different emotional needs, McCarty said. She said women of color, especially queer and transgender women, disproportionately face systems of oppression that harm their bodies and minds yet also have reduced access to mental health care and life coaching.

We carry a lot as Black, Indigenous, women of color, she said. We go unseen. Systems of oppression have caused us to be at the bottom of the barrel. We get left out of spaces and narratives. We are the most devalued people in society, and I wanted to create a space for us.

As a Black woman, McCarty has faced her own racial trauma from a young age, and she realized early in life that the color of her skin mattered.

McCarty is biracial. Her white mother left her at the hospital in 1972 before she was adopted by a Black woman.

Ive lived with that my whole life, she said. As a young child, I felt like I was too much of something to be loved by my white mother, that I was too Black for her and her family.

In first grade, McCarty made friends with a white girl in her class, who returned the next day to tell her they couldnt be friends because she was Black. Navigating life as a biracial Black woman also posed challenges, she said, and she often felt she wasnt Black enough. In her work life, she faced microaggressions and people who saw her as less of a leader because of the color of her skin.

From the time I can remember, I felt like I didnt belong fully, she said. I felt othered very early. That takes a toll on you.

Life coach Katara McCarty launched Exhale, the first emotional well-being app for and by women of color. The app, which launched Aug. 25, offers content tailored to women of color to promote self-care, mindfulness and rest.(Photo: Provided by Katara McCarty)

But her turning point came as she laid in the hospital just after giving birth to her first daughter. As she stroked her daughters face, nose and hands, she realized she had to process her own trauma.

It wasnt until I held her sweet little body in my arms that I realized I had to process what Id gone through to be better for her, she said. To be better for us.

So she turned to church, a life coach and therapy to process her experiences, slowly building a tool belt for managing her racial trauma.

Now I want to do the same for other Black, Indigenous, women of color, to give them tools for their own tool belts, she said.

In May, she started piecing together resources she gave her clients and writing guided meditations. Through the summer, she spent her days writing and researching from her patio and many evenings attending Black Lives Matter protests. She recorded audio from her closet, sometimes staying up until 1 a.m.

When the app finally went live Aug. 25, she messaged her biological father, whom she met for the first time a year ago.

Your ancestors are proud, he told her.

The app, called Exhale, includes five categories of well-being practice: guided meditations, coaching talks, daily affirmations, guided visualizations and breathwork exercises. In her coaching talks and daily affirmations, McCarty speaks directly to women of colorand the issues they face.

One meditation centers around microaggressions and begins by defining microaggressions, offering examples and giving the user time to identify which microaggressions they have faced.

I talk about us, our needs, our pain, our grief, our joy, our power, she said. I want people to feel seen and heard and connected, to see that there is a collective of us and that theyre not alone in their worries and fears and traumas.

Life coach Katara McCarty launched EXHALE, the first emotional well-being app for and by Black women. The app, which launched Aug. 25, offers content tailored to women of color to promote self-care, mindfulness and rest.(Photo: Provided by Katara McCarty)

McCarty said wellness spaces are often white-dominated and spaces catered toward women of color are rare. When women of color walk into white-dominated spaces, McCarty said parts of their experiences arent seen or taken into consideration. As a result, it can be difficult for women of color to feel they fully belong to white-dominated wellness groups.

When I show up as a Black woman to these spaces, it feels like theres a big part of me that isnt recognized, she said. Theres a part of me that I have to hang up at the door because I cant always feel like I can bring my Blackness into that space.

McCarty said George Floyds final words I cant breathe have stuck with her since she first watched the video of his death. For her, it is a somber reflection of the reality Black people have faced for decades. It also helped inspire the name of her app.

We havent been able to breathe for 400 years, she said. As Black people, were always holding our breath, holding our breath for the next viral video of police brutality, holding our breath for the call about our son or daughter. I just want people to be able to take a moment and just breathe and exhale.

Exhale is free for download on the App Store and Google Play. While some features require a $4.99 per month subscription, McCarty decided to make the entire app free at least until Sept. 30 following Jacob Blakes shooting shortly before the apps launch. To learn more about the app, visit McCartys website.

Contact Pulliam Fellow Christine Fernando at cfernando@gannett.com.

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Kirkwood track and field coach Roberta McWoods knows first hand what COVID-19 can do to student-athletes

KIRKWOOD, Mo. New youth sports guidelines recently went into effect in St. Louis County, which prohibited games, tournaments, competitions and showcases for athletes 14 and older.

"Its much bigger than football, its much bigger than track and field, the sport i coach, its much bigger than any of the sports we have."

Kirkwood track and field coach Roberta McWoods knows first hand what COVID-19 can do to student-athletes. Her track season was cut short last spring due to the current pandemic.

"When the news hit, we were devastated, I spent 35 years as a coach, coaching and that hurt me," she said.

Just a few miles way, Mike Wise, a father of several athletes, has seen the pain this pandemic has caused. His daughter plays softball at SLU and lost a season last spring and his son would be a freshman football player at Vianney, and may now have to wait another year before playing.

"It was tough, he loves the game and loves to play but he also knows theres a greater good to what he has to do, rightwere in the middle of a pandemic," Wise said.

Both McWoods and Wise said the coronavirus is unpredictable and it hits the African American community much harder, which is why they both agree, youth sports should be put on pause.

"For our kids, sports is an extra curricular activity and so were treating it just that, and so focus on your education, focus on what you need to focus on in school," Wise said.

While some data indicates kids can bounce back much quicker than adults if they contracted the deadly virus, McWoods says we shouldnt chance a kids' life for just a game.

"Yes, there may be some high school students that would get through and be just fine, and theres going to be some we may not know what the long term effects are going to be in terms of how they may be affected later on and i dont think anybody should be willing to take that risk," he added.

On Sunday, some parents and students gathered at the edge of St. Louis County Executive Sam Page's residential street, chanting the message "let them play" in favor of playing sports.

Read more:
'It's much bigger than any of the sports we have' | Why some parents and coaches agree with youth sports ban - KSDK.com