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

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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

Skylodge Adventure Suites is made up of clear pods hanging above the Sacred Valley in Cusco, Peru.

Skylodge Adventure Suites is made up of clear pods hanging above the Sacred Valley in Cusco, Peru.

Photo: Natura Vive, Natura Vive / Natura Vive

Skylodge Adventure Suites is made up of clear pods hanging above the Sacred Valley in Cusco, Peru.

Skylodge Adventure Suites is made up of clear pods hanging above the Sacred Valley in Cusco, Peru.

10 of the world's most beautiful places to unplug

My family and I are phone addicts, so weve never purposely searched out vacation destinations with restricted WiFi access. Then, a few months ago, we took off on a small ship for a cruise through the Bahamas. We were promised wed be connected at all times, but it was not to be. Within hours of leaving the port, the connection slowed and then we were cut off completely.

Panic ensued. I begged the captain to unplug, to restart, to call someone, to do something. But no flipping of the switch was going to connect us for the next week. It was just my family of four alone on a boat with no entertainment except one another. There were no televisions, no phone connection, nothing electronic whatsoever.

At first, it was miserable. I fretted about work (what if there was an emergency?), about real emergencies (what if someone needs me?), about all the updates I was missing. (Im hardly alone; 59% of professionals check their work email while on vacation, according to a 2019 study from LinkedIn.)

But I didnt have a choice. So I read a book from cover to cover. I played Uno with my children. I learned the ins and outs of the fifth-grade drama in my daughters school. It was, surprisingly, the best vacation ever. As soon as we returned, we started researching our next WiFi-free vacation. Next time, well be prepared with even more games and books.

Granted, it can be tricky to find off-the-grid spots, because if theyre truly off the grid, theyre not usually on the internet. But if you, too, are dreaming of phone-free travel, the majority of the accommodations on this list are in WiFi dead zones, and theyre also in some of the most beautiful places in the world. While some properties advertised as phone-free do have designated spots where you can log on if necessary, theyll nevertheless get you closer to having a family vacation sans screen time.

Mountainside pod in Peru

This isnt for anyone afraid of heights. Skylodge Adventure Suites, located 90 minutes from Cusco and 8 miles from Machu Picchu in Sacred Valley, consists of three transparent pods attached to a mountain by cable. Reaching your four-person room, crafted of polycarbonate and airplane aluminum, requires a 90-minute climb via metal steps and wires (hiking is also an option). Leaving involves a zip-line. A guide will arrive with you, along with your food and water. Dont worry theres a toilet in the pod. Entertainment is limited to stargazing, eating and sleeping. Pista 224 km, Urubamba-Ollantaytambo, Cusco, Peru; naturavive.com/web/; Rooms start at $409 per night including the zip-line.

Private sheep farm in Argentina

Bahia Bustamante Lodge is a 210,000-acre sheep farm in Patagonia that offers only 11 cabins that can accommodate 39 guests total. The cabins are steps from the South Atlantic, and visitors will include egrets, horses, dogs, ostriches, guanacos (similar to llamas) and the sheep. Some of the food you eat (three daily meals are provided) will be harvested from the farms organic garden and orchard. Electricity is supplied by a generator in the lodge and cabins are only lit by solar energy and battery lights. Your hosts will take you to visit penguins, to ride horses and to learn more about sheep farming. WiFi is incredibly spotty, and theres no phone service. U9111 Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina; bahiabustamante.com. Rooms start at $135 per night.

Safari lodge in Africa

This property is as much bucket-list as off-the-beaten-path experience. The newly renovated, eco-friendly Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge overlooks a watering hole that attracts elephants, cheetahs and hyenas (you can snap photos from your phone, but youll have to wait to post them until after your vacation since the included internet is spotty to nonexistent). You wont exactly be roughing it here: The lodge looks like an incredibly luxurious glamping experience, with air conditioners and en suite bathrooms within the 12 tented rooms, complete with a luxury spa. All meals are included. Get up close to the elephants on a safari before unwinding by the lodges pool. Chobe National Park, Botswana; belmond.com. Rooms start at $2,300 per night.

Mountain open-air resort in St. Lucia

Jade Mountain Resort sits on the southwestern Caribbean coastline above a volcano sand beach. There are 24 private suites, each with its own infinity pool with views of the Caribbean and the Pitons (five additional suites have a tub for two rather than a pool). Because every part of the resort is open air, there are no windows. Scuba diving, cycling, kayaking and other water sports are popular activities - and the rainforest, botanical gardens, a semiactive volcano and some sulfur springs are nearby. There are no TVs, radios or air conditioners, and youre not allowed to use your phone in any public areas. If you choose to use internet in your room (its discouraged), youre required to keep your phone on the vibrate setting. 100 Anse Chastanet Rd., Soufriere, St. Lucia; 800-223-1108; jademountain.com. Rooms start at $1,225 per night without meals.

Cliff-top retreat in Australia

Theres a spot on Kangaroo Island in Australia that boasts more than 260 bird species, along with kangaroos, goats, sheep, sea lions and more and a small luxury property with panoramic views of the ocean. The Southern Ocean Lodge on 1,700-square-mile Kangaroo Island offers each visitor a backpack, water bottles and other necessities to explore their surroundings. Naturalists take visitors on daytime tours of Flinders Chase National Park to spot koalas, geese and seals, or nighttime tours of a koala sanctuary. While WiFi is available, it doesnt usually work. Hanson Bay Rd., Kingscote, South Australia ; southernoceanlodge.com.au/lodge. Rooms start at $850 per night.

Nomadic lifestyle in Mongolia

Three Camel Lodge in the Gobi Desert aims to combine Mongolias nomadic culture with the feel of a luxury retreat. Stay in one of 40 fancy all-inclusive gers, as yurts are known in Mongolia, which are made of wood and covered in felt and canvas. Each has a private bathroom and is heated by a wooden stove. Youll have unobstructed views of the desert and the Gobi-Altai Mountains. The focus here is on sustainability, so the amenities are eco-friendly, the lighting is solar-powered and the water is limited. Theres no TV or WiFi. Activities include horseback and camel riding, and exploring the desert. Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, Mongolia; threecamellodge.com. Rooms start at $320 per night.

The real Alaska

At the Ultima Thule Alaska Lodge, youll be 100 miles from the closest paved road, and only up to 14 guests within individual groups will be accommodated weekly (you arrive on a Sunday via one of the lodge airplanes and will leave on a Thursday). Theres no phone service, and the WiFi is reminiscent of dial-up. To get here, youll need to take a bush plane (fly into Anchorage, and the lodge will help arrange a seat on a charter flight). Advertised as the real Alaska, Ultima Thule is located within the largest national park in North America: mountainous Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Since it is truly in the middle of nowhere, you can only visit between May and September, and all meals and experiences are provided. Its all about the wilderness, though the lodge is designed with plush couches, sheepskin rugs and a wood-fired hot tub. Theres even a wood-fired sauna and a greenhouse. While youre there, you can hike, take a private safari by plane, explore a gold mine and more. 18714 Mink Creek Dr., Chugiak, Alaska; 917-854-4500; ultimathulelodge.com. Rooms start at $8,550 per person for the five-day trip.

Eco lodge in Costa Rica

Lapa Rios Ecolodge, a 1,000-acre private reserve in southwestern Costa Rica that has 17 bungalows in the Osa Peninsula rainforest, is intentionally low-tech. Youll have a hard time finding any internet or phone service. Instead, tune in to the sounds of the rainforest, swim in the pool or take the short walk to the ocean and watch the monkeys swing through the trees. Screens are the only divider separating you from the forest; youll be waked by howler monkeys rather than by an alarm clock, and entertained by the parrots, monkeys and toucans that like to hang out in the trees by the pool. Take a wilderness tour to see waterfalls, the forest and the wildlife (included with the price of the lodge). Puntarenas Province, Puerto Jimenez; 800-963-1195; laparios.com. Rooms start at $887 per night.

Glamping in Big Sur

The Treebones Resort campground overlooks the Pacific and feels like a playground in a rustic setting. Its a bit like camp (the sleepaway kind), as everyone is glamping or camping and its a short walk to the shared bathroom (most of the accommodations here are without a bathroom). There are various choices for sleeping arrangements: a yurt, which is sparse but comes with beds, lights and chairs; a fancy tent, with 500 square feet of space including an en suite bathroom and a claw-foot shower; a BYO tent option ($95 per day with a two-night minimum); or the Human Nest, a hand-woven hut that looks like a human-size birds nest. It comes with a futon pad and a warning that raccoons, bats and mice sometimes visit. There are two restaurants serving local organic food, plus a hot tub and yoga classes. Most people spend their days hiking and relaxing. While theres internet in the main lodge, its not strong enough to support much more than email and theres no cellphone service. 71895 Hwy. 1, South Big Sur, Calif.; 877-424-4787; treebonesresort.com. Rooms start at $215 per night for a twig hut.

Italian monastery retreat

For those who want to go off the grid alone theres no double occupancy, and its not family friendly Eremito, 90 minutes north of Rome, is the place to be. Its a half-hour from the closest road and is only accessible via a 4x4. Stay in a small, restored 14th-century monastery that was created specifically to drag people away from their grind. While you can speak with other guests during breakfast and lunch silence is demanded part of the day - the vibe is always peaceful, with the occasional Gregorian chanting. Theres farm-fresh homemade vegetarian food, a steam bath dug out of a rock and a yoga room. Rooms come sans minibar, sans TV, sans internet, and dinner is silent. Fill your day with yoga, meditation, hiking and relaxing in the outdoor hot tub. Localita Tarina 2, 05010 Parrano TR, Italy; eremito.com. Rooms start at $180 per night.

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10 of the world's most beautiful places to unplug - Chron

Global Lucuma Fruit Sugar Market Outlook

Despite being a mature market, the global food additive market continues to grow at a significant rate in terms of value sales. Surging demand from the food and beverages manufacturer due to the large-scale application such as taste enhancement, food safety, appearance, favoring etc, has been driving the market. Over the years, the food additives such as the sweetener have evolved due to the varying demand and perception of target customers. Sucralose, Aspartame, Cyclamate, Saccharin, Stevia are some of the famously used sweeteners. However, over the past couple of years, consumers are gradually witnessing a change preference for natural food ingredients. Hence owing to this factor, several natural sweeteners such asLucuma Fruit Sugarhave been used on regular basis for the production of several food products.

Global Lucuma Fruit Sugar Market: Reasons for Covering this Title

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Global Lucuma Fruit Sugar Market: Key Players

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Global Lucuma Fruit Sugar Market: Key Developments

Opportunities for Lucuma Fruit Sugar Market Participants

Due to rise in awareness about the critical health benefits associated with consumption of natural and organic products, the segment (natural and organic foods) has gradually started gaining traction in major food consuming regions such as Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. The confluence of factors such as consumers desire of adapting themselves into healthier lifestyle and rise in per capita income which has been triggering the demand for natural food products. Taking this account into consideration, the food processing industry has been stressing over using natural or functional ingredients in its products. Hence the consumers preference for natural and organic food products paves an opportunity for Lucuma fruit sugar market, especially in the food industry.

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Lucuma Fruit Sugar Market- Valuable Growth Prospects, Key Country Analysis, Trends and Forecast till 2028 with Top Players - Market Research Sheets

Letters to the Editor: December 19 25, 2019

Editor,

Our family of four is thrilled to have at least one organic and healthy store in the city of ours that homes one of the wealthiest households in the whole country. We have children as well as elderly that deserve to eat organic and wholesome food and with Giant, Harris Teeter and Aldi that have close to no organic food choices, our city has the opportunity to finally live and feel great!

Whole Foods has a philosophy to bring community together and that is exactly what we need plus real estate values statistically go up anywhere Whole Foods opens up.

We support this organic grocer wholeheartedly and are looking forward to it!

I. Pelikan

Falls Church

Letters to the Editor may be submitted toletters@fcnp.comor via ouronline form here.Letters should be limited to 350 words and may be edited for content, clarity and length. To view the FCNPs letter and submission policy, please clickhere.

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Letters to the Editor: Looking Forward to Whole Foods in F.C. - Falls Church News Press

Pumpkin Powder: Market Outlook

Pumpkin powder is derived from dried pumpkins that are grounded in powder form by using various techniques such as freeze dried, spray dried, and others. Moreover, while preparing organic pumpkin powder, organic pumpkin is used and no artificial colors, preservatives, or any other processing agents are used is the manufacturing process. Pumpkin powder is the best source of healthy nutrition as pumpkin powder enriched with high fiber, potassium, vitamins, and other nutritional ingredients. Owing to its health benefits and as a flavored ingredient, the demand for pumpkin powder is increasing among the food and beverage industry, dietary supplements, and others. In terms of health benefits, pumpkin powder is advantageous to reinforce the digestion system, prevents the increasing level of blood sugar and blood fat, helps in detoxification, boost the immune system, and others. On the other side, the demand for pumpkin powder is also increasing among food and beverage manufacturers as it has wide application in bakery products, snacks, baby food, sauces and dressings, confectionery, and many other products. In the global pumpkin powder, the demand for pumpkin powder is especially increasing among dietary supplement manufacturers and bakery industry.

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Increasing Demand for Pumpkin Powder in Nutritional Supplements Owing to its Varied Health Benifits

Pumpkin powder is rich in protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, carotene, vitamins, pectin, iron, magnesium, potassium, and many other ingredients that offer health benefits. In food and beverage industry, pumpkin powder is used to add flavors in bakery products, as a colorant in snacks, seasoning sauces, and other food products to add higher nutritional content and natural pumpkin flavor to products. Consumers are inclining towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which has led to higher consumption of food and food ingredients with potential health benefits. Currently, consumers have become more conscious about their diet, owing to which, they are spending on a holistic approach to health and wellness that includes almost every aspect of life. Additionally, consumers are increasingly participating in fitness activities that enhance well-being, such as using products, eating natural and organic foods, and consuming health supplements, along with following a special diet owing to which it is expected that the demand for organic pumpkin powder is an increase among functional food and dietary supplements manufacturers. Thus, the market for pumpkin powder has high demand in Western Europe and Asia Pacific countries, owing to an increase in the health and wellness awareness among the population, along with the growing number of highly affluent consumers who are interested in the trend for healthy food.

Global Pumpkin Powder: Market Segmentation

In terms of Nature, the global pumpkin powder has been segmented as:

In terms of End-use, the global pumpkin powder has been segmented as:

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Global Pumpkin Powder: Market Participants

Opportunities for Global Pumpkin Powder

The global pumpkin powder market is growing, owing to that there is a huge opportunity for the players in the pumpkin powder market. The rising number of health consciousness among the people, increasing demand for dietary supplements, and food products that offer extra added health benefits, it is expected that demand for the pumpkin powder has demand in Asia Pacific countries. It includes bakery manufacturers, dietary supplements manufacturers, and others. In addition, the demand for organic pumpkin powder is expected to increase in Western European and North America market owing to increasing demand for organic food and beverages in these regions.

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Pumpkin Powder Market Sales Revenue to Significantly Increase in the Next Few Years Bulletin Line - Bulletin Line