"NOW the music's gone but they carry on; For their spirit's been bruised, never broken".

These lyrics from the last verse of Phil Coulter's The Town I Love So Well, his personal lament for his home town of Derry, inspire the title of the singer-songwriter's memoir, penned after 55 years working in the music industry.

Heartfelt and wry, meditative and entertaining, Bruised, Never Broken is the story of the authors remarkable rise from modest beginnings on the streets of postwar Derry to the summit of the global charts, as a composer and confidante to a host of stars, such as Van Morrison, Luke Kelly, Elvis, Cliff Richard, The Bay City Rollers and Sandie Shaw.

"The idea of writing a book has been knocked about for 20 years. It was my friend [the journalist and broadcaster] Eamon Dunphy that said 'Phil, you better get started on this book when you can still remember stuff'. He also said you owe it to your readers and yourself to be honest and that's what I tried to do.

Poignantly, Bruised, Never Broken, also explores the personal and political upheaval he faced, most of which has, to date, been kept hidden from public view.

This includes losing his brother and sister in separate drowning accidents in Lough Swilly. His brother Brian, died after getting in trouble windsurfing, while his sister Cyd, a counsellor, died as she was trying to help one of her clients who drove into the lough while she was with them. The tragedies would later be immortalised in his laments Shores Of The Swilly and Star Of The Sea.

The 77-year-old, whose credits include 23 platinum discs, 39 gold discs, 52 silver discs, and a Grammy nomination, credits his success to the four Ts of talent, temperament, tenacity and timing.

"I am not the most talented man in the country. I know that. As Luke Kelly once said, 'Coulter is not a genius, he's a craftsman and a very good craftsman.' I will settle for that. To make a living from something you enjoy is a simple definition of success," says Coulter, who turned down the offer of a ghost writer for his memoir.

"My motto in life is, if you're going to do something, do it properly or don't do it at all. I've made my living from writing for the past 55 years, albeit of a different kind, and I wanted to do it myself."

Coulter believes drive and ambition is "in your DNA" and in the early pages of his memoir he shares his father's persistent determination to join the RUC.

It was while researching the book that he discovered his father's handwritten diary.

"There was a lot in there I was unaware of. I knew their first-born child died of diphtheria and I knew he was called Philip, but I didn't know he was Philip Michael and by coincidence I chose Michael as my confirmation name.

"I also wasn't aware of the harrowing detail of my parents being prohibited from visiting him in the fever hospital," adds Coulter, whose own first-born son passed away at just four years of age.

In his book he confesses how he struggled to bond with his son, who was born with Down syndrome.

"I even found it hard to lift a baby from his cot and give him a cuddle, God forgive me," he writes.

He eventually did bond with his young son, Paul, writing the song, Scorn Not His Simplicity, which has been recorded by Luke Kelly and Sinad O'Connor among others, about him.

From answering an ad for a piano player and discovering he was going to be a Butlin's Green Coat and believing that "this was as good as it got", through to leaving Queen's University Belfast without sitting his final exams for his big break in London's Tin Pan Alley and Eurovision success, Coulter's career has certainly been colourful.

Over the years he developed an unlikely partnership with Scottish comedian Billy Connolly, from writing the parody of Tammy Wynette's D-I-V-O-R-C-E to recording the theme track of 1980s kids TV drama Super Gran.

"There was never a dull moment with Billy Connolly around," laughs Coulter, recalling chocolate cake fights at Ralph McTell's birthday party and a dinner party where the guests included Robin Williams, Steve Buscemi, Eric Idle and Sarah Ferguson.

"I met him last January in Florida. We had a five-hour lunch over which we laughed, reminisced and sang songs. He told me how the meds for his Parkinson's had [the symptoms] under control and it was like having the old Billy again," he recalls.

Although now residing in Bray, Co Wicklow, Coulter is still passionate about his home city of Derry. He recalls writing his first political song Free The People in response to witnessing the introduction of internment in 1971.

"It was a knee-jerk angry reaction. It's not a great song but without it I probably would never have written The Town I Loved So Well," says Coulter, who helped organise a talent contest in 1979 to help boost public morale in the city.

He had only just started playing The Water Babies score when a bomb went off at the back of the Guildhall. He continued playing the Steinway until, after a second loud bang, MC Don O'Doherty shouted at him "For f**k's sake, Phil. They're shooting!" and he dived under the piano.

"From my new vantage point, I could hear the screams getting louder. Then I spotted him the man who was coming to rescue me. On his belly, commando style, he crossed the stage and joined me underneath the piano. He reached into his inside pocket, to get a pen and a piece of paper, and said calmly: 'Phil, any chance you could get me Billy Connolly's autograph?' In Derry people survived the darkest hours with the help of humour."

Before returning to Ireland to work with the likes of The Dubliners, Planxty and The Fureys and embark upon his own solo career, Coulter enjoyed success in LA living on the same street as singer Diana Ross and recording industry executive Herb Alpert.

But it was opening his door to the dad of one of his daughter's friends that remains his greatest memory of that time.

"My oldest girl, Siobhan had a best pal called Bridget Kelly. One afternoon she asked if it would be OK if she stayed a bit longer at our house and her dad would collect her. I answered the doorbell and nearly passed out they're standing on the doorstep was Gene Kelly.

"He was a real gent, very unassuming. I must admit, though, I was very tempted to trade off me giving his daughter tea for some tap-dancing lessons," he laughs.

Coulter has nine children himself, with only one, Niamh, working in the world of entertainment, as a set director, her credits including Far From The Madding Crowd and The Lady in the Van.

Showing no signs of slowing down, this month Coulter played his first gig in London in 30 years and has plans for UK and US tours in 2020.

"Every time I go on stage I learn something new. As long as I have my health and people are still coming to my gigs I will keep going."

Over the past few years, he has been followed by cameras from TG4 for a new documentary, which will be broadcast on Christmas Day. Phil Coulter: Mo Shaol will also feature rarely seen archive material and a large chunk of narration from Coulter in Irish

:: Bruised, Never Broken by Phil Coulter is published by Gill Books and is available now. TG4 will air the new documentary Phil Coulter: Mo Shaol at 9.30pm on Christmas Day.

Read more from the original source:
Phil Coulter's memoir examines high points and personal tragedies of 55-year career - The Irish News

In order for a business to continue to grow and prosper, retaining clients is a priority: Without repeat businessand the word of mouth it bringsit can be hard for a company to find long-term success.

As there area lot of different strategies for client retention, it's important to findout which approacheswill work best for your business. Tolearn more, weasked membersofForbes Business Councilto share their preferred methods of client retention, as well as whythey're so effective.

Members discussa few ways companies can improve customer retention.

1. Build Personal Relationships

Our client retention is all about building personal relationships. Our business is focused on authentic, pre-owned luxury and our clients are used to a certain level of service and care. Our customer care team personally reaches out to clients to help them with personal shopping via email, text and phone calls. -Emily Erkel,LePrix

2. A Simple, Enjoyable Onboarding Process

Many entrepreneurs create customer journeys just to funnel a visitor to a lead and into a buyer. But stopping here, there is no focus further on building the relationship with a customer after they purchase your product or service. Creating a membership site as a bonus in the onboarding process for your customers or students can create a customer for life. -Marian Esanu,Marketing Strategist

3. Transparency

Transparency is the golden answer. Give away as much as you can and dont be afraid of losing control. Employing a sticky solution so your client is dependent on your services only gives you a false sense of job security. If you can demonstrate that your expertise will bring value to your clients business, they will retain you. Be flexible, innovative, creative and most of all, transparent. -Mori Kabiri,Counself Inc.

4. A Focus On Customer Service

It can be very challenging to enter a customer's mind space, let alone retaining them. In a consumer business, it's far more convenient for us to create campaigns to capture customer's attention, but it's a much greater "impact" when we provide a better service. That is what creates word-of-mouth, which is by far the most powerful way to not only acquire customers but truly retain them. -Neha Kesarwani,Vertoe

5. Frequent Follow-Up

The key to retention is constant follow-up. We like to make sure that our clients are happy. We send them coupons for different services they might need as our company provides a broad spectrum of home services,andwe send gifts and personalized handwritten notes. Our goal is to make our clients feel safe and valued. -Sardor Umrdinov,Home Alliance

6. Overcommunication

The best way to guard against any client issue is to align goals, process and personalities from the outset. If there are fundamental differences, a successful result is almost impossible to obtain. Therefore, overcommunication is the only way to make sure that clients are understanding, on the same page and glad to have you service them (or want to obtain your service) with no drama. -Dandan Zhu,DG Recruit

7. Achievable, Upfront Expectations

Transparency is the most effective aspect of client retention. Be honest with them about what you know, and what you dont know. Set expectations upfront and let them know when you feel like you cant deliver on your promises. People are used to hearing a million excuses. Treat them with respect, and theyll reciprocate with their loyalty. -Corey Lewis,1AND1 Life

8. Truly Listening To Clients

Too often, companies and service providers view clients as walking dollar signs instead of human beings. Just like all of us other humans, clients want to be heard, feel a connection and get the work done. That's why its essential to build trust by listening and seeking to understand, being honest, seeking to serve and delivering amazing work. After all, it's a relationship, not a transaction. -Robyn Bolton,Mile Zero LLC

9. Proactive Post-Sale Service

In a highly competitive market, it all boils down to your level of service. If you are proactive in providing after-sale servicestaying in touch with your clientsyou would not only have a better chance of retaining your clients for a long time but also getting additional business through their reference. Create an effective customer service program and stick to it. -Syed Gilani,Safr Technologies Inc.

10. Multi-Channel Touches

It's darned easy to lose customers. Why? They buy, pay and keep quiet. Before you know it, if you don't focus on retention, they will be gone. We believe in touches. An email newsletter, a small gift, a call to say hi, asking about underserved needs, a discount every once in a while you can think of more. It's critically important to stay in touch in as many ways as possible, frequently. -Andrew Fox,SuperJeweler.com

11. Exceed Expectations On Every Level

Our clients are paramount to us and we work very hard at exceeding their expectations. If we are delivering three ideas, we'll do four. If they need an extra round, we don't charge. We check on them throughout the year, try and get together when we are in their cities. We never miss a deadline. We make complex projects as simple as we can for them, often we are one of many vendors on their plate. -Audrey Arbeeny,Audiobrain

12. Treat Clients Like Family

As a luxury travel provider,we arentselling a single product or even a specific trip, but rather an experience. Part of that experience is being treated like family. Go the extra mile to meet your clients' requests, build a connection beyond just business, and be available, especially when things go wrong. These moments will stick with clients and are the foundation for loyalty and trust. -Alex Weissman,Elite Travel Agency

13. Train Your Team To Nurture Client Relationships

Customer service is key. This is a focus on the process so clients understand the framework of our business operations. We want them to have the freedom and flexibility to run their business while they know how we work. We share marketplace intelligence about client campaigns so they can learn how to better nurture their clients outside of an advertising framework. -Robert Brill,BrillMedia.co

More here:
Keeping Customers: 13 Client Retention Strategies That Work - Forbes

Do you underestimate your ability to persuade and influence others?

If so, you're not alone. Researchers have found that people are overly pessimistic about their ability to persuade and influence others, as I learned at the 2019 NeuroLeadership Institute Summit in a panel discussion on the "The Impact of Influence."

As panelistDr. Vanessa Bohns, an Associate Professor in Organizational Behavior at Cornell University, explained, "We think people's default is to say 'no.'" Yet, people are more inclined to say "yes" to requests, based on her studies. The other two panelists, Dr. Dan Molden, Associate Professor and Director of Social Psychology at Northwestern University, and Dr. Marlone Henderson, an Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Texas, agreed, according to their research and experience.

Granted, requests can run the gamut from asking to change a meeting date to pitching for funds for a new venture. Yet the research surprised me. I, too, jump to the negative and assume people will brush off most of my appeals.

Yet whatever the size of our "ask," we've got to acknowledge that being able to persuade and influence are vital skills in all aspects of our life. (And yes, there's a difference between persuasion and influence. When you persuade, you present a case generally to sway the opinions or actions of others. Persuasion is more short-term and immediate than influence, which builds over time. When you're influential, you're able to present a vision or goal for others to work toward. And then without using any bullying, coercion, or other strong-arm tactics, you get people to work together to achieve your vision or goal.)

Although I'm known as a successful persuader and influencer, I had not been confident in my abilities until recently. Receiving external validation from these researchers that my approach meets their standards gave me a boost, further bolstered by a recent achievement.

What worked well for me? I set myself up for success, as the researchers advise. You, too, can do this at home and at work.

Three actions can make a huge difference in your ability to be a successful persuader and influencer:

1. Talk to people face-to-face. We're much more persuasive in person than over the phone or video, according to Dr. Bohns. As for trying to sway others over email, text, or social media platforms, none of these channels work as well as being with people. When you're together, individuals can observe your body language, hear the entire spectrum of your voice, and catch your emotions.

2. Craft a personal appeal that's tailored to the core values and motivation of the people you're persuading and influencing. Even if you don't know everyone personally or well, be strategic with your messaging, suggested Dr. Molden. For instance, first try to get to know others better. Or if that's difficult in your circumstances, appeal to something people care about and want. For example, when I help my clients and coaches be more persuasive and influential, we'll focus on how they can encourage others to be more aligned with their employer's values and goals as well as contribute to a better functioning team and organization.

3. Follow through with a compelling ask. First, make sure you ask clearly and concisely. (The researchers observed that many people don't even ask. And in my experience, many of the "asks" I read and hear in organizational settings are fuzzy, especially around what you're expected to do and by when.) Even better, make sure you've structured the ask from the perspective of your target. In other words, your ask avoids referring to what you want or need, such as a job, opportunity or selfish favor. Instead, your request explains what someone will get or how they'll benefit by responding to your ask.

So how did these three steps work in my situation? Playing to my husband's interests, I convinced him to delay his retirement by three years. As a result, I preserved my health care benefits during this period, saved more than $10,000, and maintained ideal working conditions. Even better, my husband was content.

What's my specific story? My motivation was admittedly self-centered. I work out of the house and appreciate the peace and quiet of just the dog's company during the day. More importantly, ever since I established my coaching and consulting firm in 2004, I've had health care benefits through my husband's employer.

Leading up to my husband's retirement, whenever we talked about his planned retirement date, I stayed mum about why I wanted him to keep working. Instead, I turned the spotlight on him and kept asking how he felt about giving up his most favorite work benefit, which would disappear the day he retired.

This benefit was a four-figure annual clothing allowance to spend however he liked, as long as he could wear his purchases to work. To say my husband loves clothes is an understatement.So even though he knew I wanted him to keep working to maintain my health care benefits, he also wanted to hold onto his valuable benefit.

Those three years were a good run while they lasted. And the experience demonstrated the positive and mutual benefits of effective persuasion and influence.

Now here's to your success persuading and influencing with these three steps!

Read more here:
Three Actions For Becoming More Persuasive And Influential - Forbes

As the New Year approaches, Texans across the state will make new resolutions for personal wellness or personal improvement. According to Inc., last year resolutions reached high percentages in the areas of health and getting gym memberships, saving money or eating better.

What didnt make the list was something everyone has to give: our time.

In honor of the holiday season and new beginnings for 2020, consider checking out these nonprofits in Texas actively looking for new volunteers.

This very popular literacy center gets 100 volunteers a week. If youd like to be one of them, their website describes how to sign up and how their program impacts the community, At Aberg Center for Literacy we rely on a committed group of community and professional volunteers to offer our tuition-free services to our students and their families.

This Dallas-based organization helps special needs children by removing barriers to care in order to serve these children through education, health, advocacy and social services. There are many ways to get involved, including volunteering for various programs throughout the year, donating items from their Wishlist or getting involved with a digital campaign. More information is available at the website here.

Animal lovers looking for ways to give back should know that the SPCA of Texas is looking for volunteers. The Volunteer Recruiting Manager shared with Reform Austin that Volunteers at the SPCA of Texas give their hearts and time to make every day special for the animals who are waiting for their forever home. We depend on hundreds of volunteers to help in our shelters, clinics, and in our community. We have locations in McKinney and Dallas, with several volunteer opportunities. Volunteers help with adoption counseling, horse training, socializing cats, walking dogs, grooming, office support, and more. We have openings seven days a week, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., and we accept volunteers ages 10 and older. Find out more about volunteering on the SPCA website here.

This non-profit bereavement center offers free grief support services to children, families and adults during their grief journey. Volunteers help with programs for all ages and assist in the kitchen as well. To support someone who is grieving, consider becoming a Volunteer Facilitator and run a support group. More information on volunteering can be found on Bos Places website.

Volunteers are always needed at the Houston Food Bank for food sorting, packaging food and assisting with meal prep. For those looking for family volunteer opportunities, its a great way to involve younger helpers. Volunteers are also encouraged to round up co-workers and plan a corporate volunteer and work side-by-side in the fight against hunger. The Houston Food Bank shared with Reform Austin, Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. Those are the words of Helen Keller, and they could easily be a motto of the Houston Food Bank, says Jermaine Harmon, director of Volunteer Services at Houston Food Bank. Last year, our organization provided access to 104 million nutritious meals in 18 counties in southeast Texas through our 1,500 community partners, but it could not be done without the assistance of volunteers. They are crucial to the fight against hunger and accomplishing our mission to provide food for better lives. More information on volunteering can be found here.

Project Row Houses engages neighbors of Houstons Historic Third Ward with artists and enterprises in collective creative action to help materialize sustainable opportunities in marginalized communities. The 39 structures serve as a base for enriching initiatives, art programs, and neighborhood development activities. Eureka Gilkey, Executive Director of Project Row Houses shared with Reform Austin, Project Row Houses volunteers are integral to the success of our organization. We are fortunate to have a group of committed volunteers who continuously provide support for our events and facilities team, childcare for our Young Mothers Residential Program participants, and tutoring for our Third Ward youth and adult learners. We look forward to welcoming more volunteers as we expand our reach and services. Learn more about volunteering and supporting programs here.

For book lovers, BookSpring has a passion for closing the early literacy gap. Their website states, Were big on books, but small on staff. Their website shares plenty of helpful details on how to get involved with in-office book sorting every day of the work week, and their Twitter page is bursting with volunteer opportunities and updates. Volunteer roles include sorting books, supporting motivational reading activities including reading aloud to groups of children, delivery driving, and organizational support. Through 2020, BookSprings goals include achieving 2,000 volunteer placements, both groups and individuals.

If you love the music scene in Austin, consider getting involved with the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, which provides access to affordable healthcare for Austins low-income self-employed working musicians, with a focus on prevention and wellness. The organization offers year-round volunteer opportunities that include taking donations at concerts, spreading the word about HAAM, and helping the small but mighty HAAM staff out in a variety of ways. Learn about their volunteering programs here.

A nationally known nonprofit, Austins Habitat for Humanity is built around ending the cycle of poverty housing and the deeply held belief that everyone deserves a decent, affordable place to live. The website stresses, You dont have to be part of a group or team to volunteer with Austin Habitat. Each individual volunteer plays an essential role in achieving our mission of building homes, communities and hope.

This long-serving organization works to Eliminate hunger, alleviate isolation, and foster independence among seniors, in partnership with volunteers and the community. Volunteers for Meals on Wheels in San Antonio bring nutritious meals through home-delivery to seniors, deliver pet food on weekends, and spend quality time over coffee or tea with our more isolated Meals on Wheels recipients to keep people mentally, physically and emotionally fit. Volunteer hours are flexible and kids are welcome participants. Find out more about volunteering and sign up for volunteer orientations here.

Dress for Success was created to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools and targets the needs of low-income women by promoting economic security and self-sufficiency to break the chains of generational poverty through job preparation, employment retention and career development programs. In San Antonio, volunteers serve in a variety of ways, including as personal shoppers to help clients select suits for interviews and jobs, working in the career center, and for meetings and special events. More information on volunteering is available here.

For anyone hoping to spend some time outside or get a little closer to natural beauty in San Antonio, no experience is needed to be involved at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Volunteers can help out once a year or more regularly, and green thumbs arent always a necessity. The gardens website says, Volunteers play a critical role in helping the Garden growand not all work with plants! More information on volunteering is available here.

See the original post:
Want to give back? These Texas Nonprofits Are Looking for Volunteers - Reform Austin

Although the mass protests in several cities around the world in 2019 erupted spontaneously, they were not bolts from the blue. Trust in either governments or markets to give people a fair chance in life has faded in many countries. Compounding this, a sense of togetherness among people has given way to one of us versus them".

These tensions manifest themselves differently depending on where one looks. But they reflect underlying realities. Social mobility is stubbornly low in many countries, economic growth has slowed, younger people see fewer prospects of getting good jobs and owning a home, and income and wealth gaps have widened. Globalization and new technologies have contributed to these trends, but they are not at the core of the issue. The few countries that have avoided wage stagnation and the hollowing out of the middle classSweden and Singapore, for examplehave actually been more exposed to these forces than most. What matters is the policy response, and whether governments, businesses, and unions take responsibility for addressing the difficulties. The problem is that the loss of trust and solidarity is fragmenting politics and undermining democratic institutions capacity to muster an effective response. That, in turn, is weakening countries ability to cooperate to secure global growth, avert crises, and ensure a sustainable world.

The task, then, is to rebuild confidence in the broad centre of politics. It requires, most fundamentally, a bolder social ambition. We need more committed and sustained investment in the social foundations of broad-based prosperity if we are to restore optimism in the future. These foundations are in disrepair in much of the advanced world, and woefully inadequate in most developing countries. We must give people a better chance early in life, and second and third chances later, so that no ones path is determined from where they start. And through our politics, and in our schools, neighbourhoods and employment, we must develop the sense of affinity among people of different social and ethnic backgrounds that is critical to reducing the appeal of the populist right.

It is much easier to promote relative social mobility when you have absolute mobility, where everyone is progressing. We must ensure this moving escalator continues. When the escalator slows or stops, those in the middle tend to become more anxious not just about those who are moving farther ahead of them, but also about those who might catch up from behind. Reversing the prolonged trend of weak productivity growth and restoring economic dynamism is thus a necessary first step.

But governing from the centre must also involve intervening upstream to redress the sources of inequality. We must close the gaps in maternal health and early childhood development, to avoid lifelong disadvantages. We must upskill workers and match them to new tasks while they are on the job, rather than waiting for them to be displaced by new labour-saving technologies. And we must redress the problem of increasingly segregated neighbourhoods, which have created growing social distances between people and shaped different aspirations. None of these is easy, but it is far more difficult to tackle the larger problems that form downstream.

These tasks cannot be left to the market, which on its own tends to amplify initial disadvantages and advantagesthrough assortative mating, better-educated parents investing more time and resources in their kids, hiring practices based on educational or social pedigree, and the like. It is facile to object to upstream interventions on the grounds that they amount to social engineering". The state, and all of us collectively, must mitigate the social engineering" of the market, make opportunities less unequal, and prevent an underclass and other legacies from becoming too entrenched to solve in democratically acceptable ways.

The social contract of the new centre must engender both collective solidarity and personal responsibility, transcending the traditional narratives of both the right and the left. The right tends to attribute lifes outcomes to whether people take responsibility for themselves. But there has not been any surge in personal irresponsibility that can explain prolonged low productivity and wage growth, the loss of jobs in the middle, or widening regional disparities in so many countries.

Likewise, the lefts focus on redistribution as a response to inequality is based on too narrow a view of the states role and of our collective responsibilities to one another. This view has lost appeal even within the major social democracies. The traditional left would otherwise have performed much better than it did in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, considering the great difficulties imposed on ordinary working families.

Rather than viewing collective solidarity and personal responsibility as alternatives, we should look for ways in which they reinforce each other. The state and its social partners must broaden opportunities and provide the support that people often need to seize them and earn their own success in education, employment, and contributing to the community themselves. This compact of personal and collective responsibility is what makes strategies for social upliftment succeed. Society never tires of supporting people who are making an effort to help themselves.

When designed well, progressive fiscal systems can support both growth and inclusivity. They are also critical in sustaining support for open, market-based democratic systems.

But the progressivity of the new centre must place much greater emphasis on strategies for social mobility, and on helping people, towns, and regions to regenerate themselves when jobs and whole industries are lost. Successful examples of how local networks of public, private, and educational actors have spurred regrowth reflect strategies that seek to empower people, and are fundamentally different from traditional redistributive schemes that compensate the losers" and which have done little to redress a sense of exclusion.

Part of the solution must also be to refocus attention on public goods. Fiscal policy in many countries has undergone a decades-long drift toward spending on short-term over long-term objectives, and on individuals over the social bases of welfare. To be sure, subsidies for poor and middle-income individuals are essential to ensure fair access to education, healthcare, and housing, as are policies to top up low wages, such as through negative income taxes. But investments in public goods are ultimately vital to the quality of life for ordinary citizens, and to restore optimism in the future. Finally, the new political centre must take responsibility for building a more sustainable world, and marshal the energies of the young to help us get there.

Tharman Shanmugaratnam is senior minister in Singapores cabinet, chair of the Group of Thirty and co-chair of the Advisory Board for the UN 2019 Human Development Report.

2019/PROJECT SYNDICATE

Read the original here:
Rebuilding the political centre - Livemint

In anexpeditionhalfway across the globe,UTEP PresidentEmeritaDianaNatalicioand Associate Vice President for Student Engagement and Dean of Students Catie McCorry-Andalisembarkedon a triptocontinuetheir dedicatedeffortsincultivatingthe unique connection shared between UTEP andthe Kingdom ofBhutan.

The trip started offwith theflightbeingdiverted to London in place of the projected routedue to a typhoon.Natalicioexplained that despite this being the next best solution, the diversion causedunforeseenadditions to the flight resulting in a bit of discomfort throughout the lengthy trek.

El Paso and Bhutan are exactly on opposite sides of the globe so were 12 hours apart. Day is night, night is day. Thats hard to adapt to for just your internal clock,but its also a long distance,Nataliciosaid.We ended up in not very comfortable seating and its a long flighta long time to be wedged into a tiny little space.

However, despiteinconvenient conditions,adeepadmirationforthe journey prevailed.

The flight into Bhutan is beautiful. Youre flying into the Himalayas which is very different than any other airportIn the old daysthe pilotswere not Bhutanese and now almost all of them are and thatsreally terrific,Nataliciosaid.Its considered to bean outstanding airline for safety and all kinds of things when you considerthey fly into those mountains in kind of a circuitous route. Itspretty impressive.

Itissignificant to note that the country of Bhutanseldom receivesvisitorsandis rigorouslyparticular with itstourism, making sure tohavesanctioned tour groupsthat regulate passage.There are limited flights entering Bhutan andnot just anyone is authorizedto be certified inpilotingthe aircraftsthat do entersince they takegreatpride in their autonomy fromtotalreliance on foreign talent.

Bhutans sister country is Nepal.

Nepal has struggled because theyve opened their doors to trekkers and theyve had a tremendous challenge of cleaning up and managing this large group of people,Nataliciosaid.Bhutan is very protective of their beautiful country and made aconsciousdecision for this not to happen. They want tourists to come but they want them to come under certain conditions.

Alot of that is to make sure the country preserves fundamentally who they are as a nation, this is a nation that measures things inGrossNationalHappiness(GNH)andthey are intentional and thoughtfulabout it, McCorry-Andalissaid.

According toGNH USA,anonprofitthat seeks to increase personal happiness and our collective wellbeing by changing how we measure progress and success,GNHis defined asa socioeconomic development model that is a measurement ofthe collective happiness in a nation.

It is apparent thatthere isnot only substantialimportance placedonthe contentment of the nations citizens, butalsothe preservation oftheirway of lifeandardentvalue in familialand cultural ties.

I think in a small country like that,its somehow easier, more personal to be a loving member of your society, it feels like its a family for them,McCorry-Andalissaid.In a great big society like ours, its a little bit more difficult to identify in that way. They are very loyal and committed to the future of their country, its really quitenice to see.

It had been six years since the last trip to Bhutanand there is much to be said about the rich history of thisbond that originated with UTEPs architecture in 1917, with the constructionofOld MainwhenKathleen Worrell,thewife of UTEPs first deanSteve Worrell,saw a Bhutan spread in National GeographicandwasinstantaneouslycaptivatedbythefeaturedHimalayanarchitecture.

The story is that the wife of the first dean had an interest in(National GeographicsBhutan)story and thought that the buildings in that set of photographs resembled buildings that related well to mountains. And she thought this Franklin Mountain kind of looked like those Himalayas,Nataliciosaid.

Turns out that thedecisionended up beingespecially congruoustothedry climate, mountainsand higher elevationsuch as with the inset windows that counterbalance the,often sweltering,intensity of the sun.

It represents a sort of jewel that we wouldve never been forgiven for not discovering. It was so obvious that this is a connection that we needed to make,Nataliciosaid.Ithink its important to emphasize that it is a partnership and I dont think theres another university anywhere that has stepped up.One of the reasons that I think its important thatUTEP did that is because of this fortuitous architectural connection with Bhutan.We were very fortunate that we got this architecture that somebody back then kind of unwittingly just liked the look of it andall of asuddenwe were off and running.

Thearchitecturehasalso benefitted the community andspread awareness aboutthe Kingdom of Bhutan.

Because of our architecture and the work that weve done with our cultural events and activities, you have kids in elementary school around here who know where Bhutan is, McCorry-Andalissaid.

The connection, however,eminentlytranscends shared architecture.

The timelineprogressesto the1970swhenJigmeDorji,UTEPs first Bhutanese student, enrolled andlaterreceived his degree in engineering. Today,he is a very successful businessman and entrepreneurin his homeland.

Subsequent to this first enrollment, more Bhutanese students began to trickle in.At its inception, funding for a program was not feasible in the sense of scholarships,sothere was a requisiteforstudentsfamiliestoensure thatthere wereenoughfundstosatisfysponsorshipdemands.

However, with Bhutanmobilizing its transition from a monarchy to a fully functioning democracy, the government began institutinginvestments into higher education. They would now be needing tooccupypositions never before consideredpreliminary to the shift froma monocracyto a democracy, such as the establishment of a tax system and people proficientenough to operate it, a concept not often considered when the kings beneficence attended tosuch matters.

This democratic shift,which wasmethodical inprioritizingthe inclusion of the necessary disciplines forthe kingdomssociological growth,thenacceleratedthe momentumevenfurtherwith the implementation of scholarshipsandidentifyingqualifyingcandidates.

I would say roughly about 13 years ago is when it reallybegan totake hold and that was because we established several formal partnerships with some agencies in Bhutan, the Royal Civil Service Commission is one, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, McCorry-Andalissaid.Theyhave some very specific needs of educating their community and they were sponsoring students to come to UTEP specifically. Our first large cohort that we got was nine students at the time, all graduate students and today,it has just completely expanded with more coming our way.

There are currently 44Bhutanesestudentsenrolledat the universityandmore than100alumni.

The students are unique in their experience in that most of them often do not get the opportunity to go back home throughout the entirety of their academic stay, not to mention having to acclimate to an unfamiliar culture.

I was a study abroad student inBrazil for a year,Nataliciosaid.There was nobody else with my scholarship inRio de Janeiro,so I had to plunge directlyinand I was terrified,but it was the best thing to ever happen to me.

A trip to Bhutan from El Paso lasts roughly two and a half to three days to and from, not to mention thecost.Studentscoming fromthereare among some of the studyabroadattendees that are the furthest away from home. Technology can only suffice so much to compensate for the yearningtobe neartheir familiesand these trips to Bhutan are designed tobridge that gap.

Students are not able to go homefor four years.Theyre here and a few of them travel,but many of them are here and they make that commitment.It was wonderful to see some of our alumni there,but we(also)have to assure parents if theyre going to trust their children to us for four years,Nataliciosaid.

TheBhutanesestudentscan also be distinguishedby how avidly committed to their educationthey arebecause of their entrenched moral imperative to contributing to theimprovementof theircountry.

UTEP is held in very high regard and I think its the type of education that they are receiving here. They have access to education first and foremost,but then theyre not only getting phenomenal professors,its that engagement, McCorry-Andalissaid.Whether its research in a lab or student teaching, those are invaluable to them particularly when they go back to a country that is really new to what theyre trying to make happen, its so important for their success and theyre just so grateful to UTEP for giving them that opportunityOur big challenge now is to take more of our students to Bhutan.

There are hopes for a faculty-led, shorttermstudy abroad program to launch in 2021 which McCorry-Andalissays is exciting since theyhave alreadycontacteda couple of interested professors and will involve a partnership with Royal Thimphu College.

The purpose of this trip was to make certain that that same gratitude wasalsoreciprocatedon behalf ofthe university toitsesteemedpartners.Natalicioand McCorry-Andalisexpress theirenduringrespect and appreciationby fostering the unprecedented relationship thathasbeen cultivatedand rooted in authenticitybetween UTEP and Bhutan in hopes ofkeepingthe connection continuous and consistent for many years to come.

Through the years ithas grown, but it doesnt grow without nurturing. Therehas tobe a set of relationships on both ends, UTEP and Bhutan, that are committed to deal with the many dimensions of a program like this because these programs arent just straight forward.Idont know any other university that has a relationship with Bhutan the way we do,so weve had to build it,Nataliciosaid.(This trip) isto thank themand to nurture the relationship going forward so that were able to continue to be able to work with our partners in Bhutan on behalf of the Bhutanese students that are coming to UTEP with big dreams.

Sasha Minjarez may be reached at [emailprotected]

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Natalicio and dean of students strengthen UTEP's ties with Bhutan during visit - The Prospector

The demand for fresh fruits and vegetables has caused large-scale supermarkets to rethink their purchasing.

The Wall Street Journal reports produce sales rose to $62 billion this year, up from $60.8 billion in 2018. Krogers organic produce alone reached a reported $1 billion in sales last year.

To keep up with demand, grocers are expanding produce selections to include new, and sometimes exotic, choices. However, local grocery stores still struggle with profit margins as more investments are made in online grocery delivery.

Organic produce sales grew by nearly 7% in 2018, compared to conventional produce sales growth of 0.6%, although conventional produce raked in the bulk of overall sales at $55.8 billion compared to organics $4.1 billion.

Despite the higher loss rates than other food products, stores are expanding produce offerings to keep up with the demand. Shoppers that buy more produce also drive up traffic in other aisles, as those who buy more produce tend to spend more at checkout, The Journal reports.

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Rising demand for produce prompts grocers to expand selection - Greater Baton Rouge Business Report

Days after Almark Foods announced a voluntary recall that included all hard-boiled eggs it produced, the company has expanded the recall to all of its products due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

The first recall was announced on Friday. By Monday, Almark included all of its products in the recall that were produced in Gainesville, Georgia.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the pre-packaged hard-boiled eggs were believed to be responsible for an outbreak of listeria which infected seven people and killed one.

The CDC says the eggs produced by Almark Foods were shipped nationwide. Of the seven infected, four were hospitalized and one death was reported in Texas. Of the confirmed cases, the closest to Massachusetts was in Maine.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, they notified Almark Foods on Dec. 18 that the companys hard-boiled and peeled eggs may be associated with a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. A more recent FDA sample from the facility, the agency said, also matched the outbreak strain, suggesting the possibility that the strain may have remained present in the facility.

Almark has temporarily suspended all production at its Gainesville plant. The recalled products include Best If Used By dates up through March 2, 2020.

The affected products can be identified by viewing the Best If Used By date coding on the product package. If the Best If Used By code starts with the prefix G, the product was manufactured at the companys Gainesville facility and is subject to this recall. Products with the prefix N or Y are not subject to this recall.

The products included in the recall are:

Brand - Product

7 Select - 2 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs w/salt/pepper

Almark Foods - Classic ProBox Mini

Almark Foods - Smokehouse PRoBox Mini

Almark Foods - Barbecue Probox Mini

Almark Foods - Classic ProBox

Almark Foods - Smokehouse ProBox

Almark Foods - Barbecue ProBox

Almark Foods - 12 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Almark Foods - Hard-Cooked Eggs - 5# Bag

Almark Foods - 1 Count Hard Cooked Eggs

Almark Foods - 2 Count Hard Cooked Eggs

Almark Foods - Cage Free Hard-Cooked Eggs - 5# Bag

Almark Foods - Cage Free 1 Count Hard Cooked Eggs

Almark Foods - Organic 12 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Almark Foods - Red Beet 2 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Almark Foods - Cage Free 2 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs w/salt/pepper

Almark Foods - Cage Free 2 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Almark Foods - Cage Free 6 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Almark Foods - Cage Free 12 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Almark Foods - 2 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs w/salt/pepper

Almark Foods - 6 count Hard-Cooked eggs

Almark Foods - Three 2 counts in Clamshell Hard Cooked Eggs

Almark Foods - Organic 2 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Almark Foods - 12 Count Cage Free Hard-Cooked Eggs

Best Choice - Three 2 counts in Clamshell Hard Cooked Eggs

CMI - 12 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

CMI - 12 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Dairy Fresh - Great Value 6 Count Stand-Up Pouch Hard-Cooked Eggs

Dairy Fresh - 2 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Deb-El - Deb-El 12 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Egglands Best - 6 Count Stand up Pouch Cage Free Hard Cooked Eggs

Egglands Best - Egglands Best Hard-Cooked Eggs - 5# Bag

Egglands Best - 1 count Egglands Best Hard Cooked Eggs

Egglands Best - Egglands Best Cage Free Hard-Cooked Eggs - 5# Bag

Egglands Best - 2 Count Egglands Best Eggs w/salt/pepper

Egglands Best - 12 Count Stand up Pouch Hard Cooked Eggs

Egglands Best - 10 Count Stand up Pouch Hard Cooked Eggs

Egglands Best - 6 Count Stand up Pouch Hard Cooked Eggs

Egglands Best - 2 Count Egglands Best Eggs

Egglands Best - 6 Count Stand up Pouch Organic Hard Cooked Eggs

Everyday Essentials - 6 Count Hard-Cooked eggs

Farmers Hen House - 6 Count Stand up Pouch Hard Cooked Eggs

Food Club - Food Club 6 Count Stand-Up Pouch Hard-Cooked Eggs

Fresh Thyme - Fresh Thyme 6 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Fresh Thyme -Fresh Thyme 2 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Giant Eagle -Giant Eagle 6 Count Stand-Up Pouch Cage Free Hard-Cooked Eggs

Great Day -2 Count Hard Cooked Eggs

Great Day -6 Count Hard-Cooked eggs

Great Value -Great Value 6 Count Stand-Up Pouch Hard-Cooked Eggs

Inpsired Organics -6 Count Stand up Pouch Organic Hard Cooked Eggs

Inpsired Organics -2 Count Organic Hard-Cooked Eggs

Kirkland Signature -2 count Organic Hard-cooked Eggs

Kroger -Three Cage Free 2 counts in Clamshell Hard Cooked Eggs

LIDL - LIDL 6 Count Stand-Up Pouch Hard-Cooked Eggs

Lucerne - Lucerne 6 Count Stand-Up Pouch Cage Free Hard-Cooked Eggs

Members Mark - Jackd Protein Snack

Naturally Better - 6 Count Stand-Up Pouch Cage Free Hard-Cooked Eggs

Nellies - 2 Count Nellies Hard-Cooked Eggs

O Organics - 2 Count Organic Hard-Cooked Eggs w/Salt/Pepper

O Organics - 6 Count Stand up Pouch Organic Hard Cooked Eggs

Peckish - Two 1 Counts boxed Hard Cooked Eggs--With Dip

Peckish - 1 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Pete & Gerrys - 6 Count Stand up Pouch Organic Hard Cooked Eggs

Pete & Gerrys - 2 Count Organic Hard-Cooked Eggs

Rainbow Farms - Rainbow Diced Egg - 5# Bag

Rainbow Farms - 12 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs

Rainbow Farms - Rainbow Farms Hard-Cooked Eggs - 5# Bag

Rembrandt Foods - Rembrandt Diced Egg - 5# Bag

Rembrandt Foods - 12 Count Cage Free Hard-Cooked Eggs

ShopRite - ShopRite 6 Count Stand-Up Pouch Cage Free Hard-Cooked Eggs

Simple Truth Organics - 6 Count Organic Hard-Cooked Eggs

Sunshine - 2 Count Hard-Cooked Eggs w/salt/pepper

Vital Farms - Vital Farms Pature Raised Hard-Cooked Eggs - 5# Bag

Vital Farms - Three Boxed 2 Counts Pature Raised Hard-Cooked Eggs

Vital Farms - 2 Count Pasture Raised Hard-Cooked Eggs w/salt/pepper

Wild Harvest - 6 Count Organic Hard-Cooked Eggs

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Hard-boiled egg recall expanded to all Almark Food products from its Georgia facility following outbreak of l - MassLive.com

With growing consciousness amongst people about the side effects of artificial chemicals on food production, people are getting inclined towards organic food. The sector is gaining significant acceptance from masses where the demand is not only confined to urbanites of metro cities, but is gaining rising momentum from even Tier 2 and 3 cities.A recent report states that the organic products market in India is growing at a CAGR of 25% and is expected to touch INR 10,000 - 12,000 crore by 2020 from the present market size of INR 4000 crore. Changing consumer behavior, growing awareness amongst people, easy accessibility to product information, value for money, trust and credibility are some of the key factors impacting the growing demand for organic food.

By Komal Bhardwaj, Co-Founder Kesarwala

Industry trends have shown that with growing popularity in a product, trend or belief, there is usually a parallel growth in myths and misconceptions around it. The organic food industry in India has been witnessing its share of myths in the last five years. Here are such myths which negatively impact consumer sentiment and can build pessimism towards organic food consumption.

Myths around organic food labeling are one of the most heated topics of discussion. Consumers are uncertain about the credibility of labels. Usually, the label stating 95% of organic ingredients highlight some amount of pesticide content in it. Similarly, Made with organic ingredients usually means that 70% of the ingredients are organic, and 100% Organic label suggests that the food product grown is organically grown and produced.

There has been a growing perception that organic food is a marketing strategy, where the food hardly offers any additional health benefit, but it is sold at higher market prices. Research proved that the level of toxins and pesticides in organic food is significantly less than conventionally grown food. In addition to this, organic food does not involve traditional farming but combines scientific methods of ecology and modern technology which helps in creating food safety, biodiversity and in building the best produce.

While organic food is gaining popularity, there is a downtrend which comes with the consumer perception of the food being highly priced. It is true that in some stores or big retail chains, brands and retailers put a premium price on the products, but there are stores and markets where one can buy organic food at the same price or a negligibly higher price, which does not impact the affordability of consumers. There is also some organically produced food which costs less than its non-organic counterpart.

While both organic and conventional food may be at a similar risk of bacterial contamination; organic food over the years has proved its worth in terms of higher nutritional content. As per reports and studies, organic food provides significantly higher levels of vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus. Organic food is also significantly lower in nitrates and pesticide residues, has greater antioxidant activity, and is more potent in suppressing toxic compounds.

While organic food is expected to turn out into a huge market in India, it is important that consumers are aware of the industry. The organic industry lacks the trust and this can be created by providing the right messaging, resources, technology and stringent punishments for the offenders.The government can act as a catalyst with the right kind of regulations and initiatives.

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Myths related to organic food and why it remains the best option - Times of India

Daisy Garcias small Van Nuys apartment doesnt offer much space for her 9-month old daughter to crawl. So this 27-year-old college student brings her little one to a childrens play area at Los Angeles Valley College.

Here, under the watchful eyes of child educators and caretakers, is where the baby girl lifts herself up to stand next to a shelf, wobbles and plops back down on her bottom, legs landing in a W position.

W is bad for their backs, Pam Fischer, a student worker, told Garcia. So when you see W, reposition her.

The play area is one of the services offered at Valley Colleges Family Resource Center, among a handful of such community college programs nationwide designed to assist student parents with what educators say are critically important but largely invisible needs.

Nationwide, 3.8 million one out of every five college students are parents. At community colleges, the share is even higher at about one in four. These students face unique obstacles to completing their education at a time when the economic stakes of dropping out are high. Yet there is little awareness about their struggles, educators and policymakers say.

This issue had been somewhat invisible and it has now found its moment, said Anne Mosle, vice president at the Aspen Institute, a think tank where she directs a postsecondary success for parents initiative.

As higher education leaders seek to increase success rates at community colleges, they are paying more attention to the demographics and non-academic needs of their students.

Weve done a lot to serve students who are low-income, students who are from diverse backgrounds, Mosle said. The parent lens is the next chapter of recognition ... of who is coming up this pipeline.

Marni Roosevelt was ahead of the curve. As a Valley College child development professor in the early 2000s, Roosevelt often had students approach her for advice on how to handle difficulties with their children.

She realized many of her students were parents of young children and didnt know they shared this commonality.

I figured if students could get together, they could support each other, Roosevelt said.

Roosevelt invited them to meet in an empty classroom, pushing desks to the sides so their children would have a place to play. Then she applied for grants and hired interns to provide child care while the student parents met.

That evolved into what today is a dedicated building with indoor and outdoor play areas, a study lounge with desktop computers and printers, a baby clothing exchange and lending library, a break room with snacks, and a lactation room for mothers.

The Family Resource Center, adjacent to the colleges child care center and child development department, also runs a food pantry with fresh and organic produce from a local farmers market. It maintains a steady supply of diapers, wipes and infant formula to give to anyone who asks. The building was paid for by local developer J.h. Snyder, and the centers $500,000 annual budget is fully funded by government grants and private donations.

Students can bring their children to play groups, join a parenting class or meet with an academic counselor or social worker. Across its various services, the center serves about 1,000 families a year. Child care, offered to students, staff, faculty and members of the community on a sliding scale, is available next door.

But the Family Resource Center offers students a place where they can attend to their childrens needs as well as their own.

Data suggest the services are working. In the 2017-2018 school year, 81% of students who used Family Resource Center services completed their semester, compared with 69% of students campus-wide, Roosevelt said.

Students cant access services [on campus] when their kids are with them, she said. They cant bring them to the library when they need to study, they cant bring them when they meet with a counselor.

Providing that space is crucial, students say.

Garcia has been in and out of college for 10 years. She had to stop to work and support herself. And she couldnt pass statistics, which blocked her progress.

She went back to school in 2018 determined to finish her associates degree and transfer to Cal State Northridge. But then she found out she was pregnant. Without child care and little support at home, it was hard to study.

When her daughter was 4 months old, Garcia started bringing her to the Family Resource Center. She uses its services and can work on her statistics homework in a computer lounge while child development interns watch her daughter. Shes finally doing better in the course.

It benefits her and it benefits me as well, said Garcia, who aspires one day to run a child care program.

Julianna Ontiveros, 29, has also taken advantage of the study time, as well as the centers play group and parenting class. Ontiveros, who has two toddlers and is pregnant with her third child, already has a bachelors degree from UCLA but is working on pre-requisites for a masters degree in school psychology. She works part time, too.

Honestly, I couldnt do it without them, she said of the Family Resource Center.

Itchel Coronel Reyes, 30, tried twice before to go to college. The mother of two couldnt afford day care or private preschool. She waited until both her sons, 4 and 6, were in school to enroll at Valley College but still had little time for her own tutoring needs or meeting other parents.

The Family Resource Center has eased those pressures. Im still back and forth with my kids, but at least Im able to do my homework, Reyes said. Being here gives me hope to finish something finally.

California community college students are likely to come from racial and ethnic minorities, be the first in their families to attend college, go to school part time, work, and take on debt for their education.

Student parents sit at the intersection of all of those trends, said Lindsey Reichlin Cruse, a study director at the Institute for Womens Policy Research. If you want to increase student success, if you want to increase family economic security, you have to start paying attention to these students.

Cruse said research has shown that affordable, high-quality child care is essential to enabling students to complete college. Managing the needs of each student is also particularly effective. At Valley College, a counselor and a social worker help students plan out their courses and enroll in services for which they and their kids are eligible.

Ensuring that student parents stay in school and finish is an economic imperative and creates a more skilled workforce, reduced poverty, lower spending on public assistance, and an increased tax base, Cruse said.

Theres a huge economic return when student parents earn associates degrees, Cruse said. The return for single mothers is 12 to 1 that has huge implications for their familys success and their childrens success long term.

There is a growing recognition among policymakers of the value of supporting student parents. In 2018, state Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian (D-Van Nuys) secured an $800,000 carve-out in the state budget to support the Family Resource Center over four years. He hopes the money will be used in part to collect data on program elements and student outcomes.

I want this to potentially serve as a statewide model, Nazarian said.

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For students with kids, college can be a lonely struggle. One program aims to help - Los Angeles Times