Greg Marku

Jan. 29, 2021Updated: Jan. 29, 2021 11:55a.m.

File photo of the Ridgefield Library.

RIDGEFIELD Even a pandemic cannot stop librarians from delivering services to their patrons.

On Feb. 6, public libraries throughout Connecticut and country will celebrate the 10th annual Take Your Child to the Library Day with free, safe events and activities for children and families. The event launched in Connecticut in 2011 and has since grown to more than 1,300 participating libraries from 49 states and five countries.

Ridgefield Library has participated in the event for the past nine years.

Libraries serve a large purpose in childrens lives, not just on Take the Library to Your Child week, Ridgefield Library Director Brenda McKinley said.

Early literacy is a key thing that public libraries do really in helping prepare kids before theyre going off into the public schools, she said. Its a fun program, I think weve done a lot of fun things over the years but I think its important to highlight this addition that libraries have.

Created by Waterford childrens librarian Nadine Lipman, Take Your Child to the Library Day was developed to encourage families everywhere to take their children to their local libraries and spotlight libraries as vital community resources that enrich, educate and entertain.

Its supported by the Connecticut Library Consortium and endorsed by the Association for Library Service to Children, which is a division of the American Library Association.

But of course, the pandemic has changed the annual celebration and so libraries created a twist on the original idea.

Were doing the Take the Library to your Child approach because we have very limited opening right now because of COVID restrictions, McKinley said.

Ridgefield patrons can use their library card to register online to pick up a book bundle, which includes 10 picture books and coloring sheets. The bundles are available beginning Monday. McKinley said the book bundle idea was added in December to the other virtual programs staff planned.

Well have book bundles specifically geared to children with some fun things in there and we have a library mascot that the kids vote for every year, McKinley said.

While she says its tough with the celebration being so different, the library still wanted to recognize the event and luckily the state allowed for it to take place in a certain way. She added that working through the pandemic shows the innovation that they have to do to still offer some programs.

Throughout the state, Take the Library to Your Child will be a week of activities that will include virtual programs, outdoor fun, and take-and-make kits to pick up at the library so families can get crafty at home.

Brookfield Library is offering grab-and-go crafts and Monroes Edith Wheeler Memorial Library is hosting a virtual program about animals.

Anyone who checks out a book at Danbury Library on Friday will get a treat bag while supplies last.

Newtowns C.H. Booth Library will host a timed Lego challenge where families will build a character or scene from a favorite book using only the Legos in their buckets. Families can be up to five people and must register, as well as wear masks. Prizes will be awarded immediately after the competition. Young Adult Library volunteers will be on hand to supervise the socially distanced activity in several areas of the library.

If you want your children to become thoughtful, engaged citizens, start by bringing them to the library - on Take Your Child to the Library Day or any, day.said Jennifer Keohane, Connecticut Library Consortiums executive director. If your local library building is currently closed for in-person visits, they are still offering wonderful services for all ages. Take advantage of curbside pickup, digital materials, and virtual programs. It wont be long before all library doors are back open and full services restored.

gmarku@darientimes.com

Read more:
Ridgefield puts twist on Take Your Child to the Library Day - The Ridgefield Press

The Dare County Library has announced the return of its Library Enrichment Series for Adults, which will be offered as virtual Zoom presentations that patrons can tune into from the comfort of their homes starting Jan. 29, 2021.

Each month, a new hour-long presentation will be made available. This years series features presentations about smart shopping, stress relief, meditation, hobbies and healthy living.

To kick off the series, Michelle Lord will present Steals & Deals of Couponing on Friday, Jan. 29 from 11 a.m. to noon. The program will be repeated from 3 to 4 p.m. In this program, viewers will learn how to find the best deals whether they shop in person or online.

A full-time mom, wife and worker, Lord has been searching for deals for years and will share some of her local findings with viewers.

Registration for each program is required and space is limited. Registration will remain open until the night before each presentation and once a user is registered, Zoom login instructions for that program will be sent via email.

Programs are free to Dare County residents and property owners ages 18 years and older. Each presentation will be repeated, so patrons can select the program date and time that they prefer.

To register for a program or to find more information, visitwww.DareNC.com/Libraryor visit the Dare County Librarys Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/DareCountyLibrary.

For assistance with registration, call the Dare County Library location in your area Monday through Friday:

For more information, contact Dare County librarian Jonathan Wark at 252-473-2372 orjwark@earlibrary.org.

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Camp Verde AZ (January 31, 2021) Modeled after OneBook AZ,OneBook Experienceseeks to bring the Verde Valley communities together through the experience of shared literature. This is your opportunity to readVanished Arizona: Recollections of the Army Life of a New England Womanby Martha Summerhayes through the month of February and experience an example of what life was like before women had a voice or a vote. Then,click HEREto join in a Virtual Book Discussion facilitated by Amber Polo Thursday, February 25 at 10:00a.A limited amount of copies are available on a first-come-first-serve basis at Camp Verde Community Library, Cottonwood Public Library, and the VOC branch of SedonaPublicLibrary.

When Martha Summerhayes (1844-1926) came as a bride to Fort Russell in Wyoming Territory in 1874, she saw not much in those first few days besides bright buttons, blue uniforms, and shining swords, but soon enough the hard facts of army life began to intrude. Remonstrating with her husband, Jack Wyder Summerhayes, that she had only three rooms and a kitchen instead of a whole house, she was informed that women are not reckoned in at all in the War Department. Although Martha Summerhayess recollections span a quarter of a century and recount life at a dozen army posts, the heart of this book concerns her experiences during the 1870s in Arizona, where the harsh climate, rattlesnakes, cactus thorns, white desperadoes, and other inconveniences all made for a less-than-desirable posting for the Summerhayeses. First printed in 1908, Vanished Arizona is Summerhayess memoir of her years as a military wife as her husbands Eighth Regiment conductedGen. George Crooks expeditionagainst the Apaches. It was so well received that she became an instant celebrity and the book a timeless classic. The book retains its place securely among the essential primary records of the frontier-military West because of the narrative skill of the author and her delight in life.

This program is part of theVoices and Votes Special Programs & Events Experiencecurrently at the Library.Voices and Votes: Democracy in Americahas been made possible at Camp Verde Community Library by AZ Humanities Council.Voices and Votes: Democracy in Americais part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils nationwide. It is based on an exhibition by the National Museum of American History. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.

Camp Verde Community Library is located just off of Montezuma Castle Highway at 130 Black Bridge Road, Camp Verde AZ. For more information about this or any other library program visit the librarys website atwww.cvlibrary.orgor call 554-8380 during library open hours Mon-Sat 9am-5pm.

Read more from the original source:
OneBook Experience Virtual Book Discussion with Verde Valley Libraries | Sedona.Biz - The Internet Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley - Sedona.biz

Download Destination, which offers e-books and audiobooks to 50 libraries in southeast Michigan, surpassed one million checkouts of digital materials in 2020.

With the temporary closure of libraries that started in mid-March, demand for OverDrive digital materials has grown at an unprecedented rate, said Jim Flury, technical services manager of the state'sLibrary Network.

For several years, this digital collection has provided readers with the ability to check out online reading materials all day, every daythroughOverDriveand the award-winningLibby reading app. Oakland County member librariesincludeCommerce Township Community Library, Northville District Library, Novi Public Library and Waterford Township Public Library.

Julie Farkas, Novi Public Library director, said, We are excited to be offering Download Destination to our Novi community. Many residents have benefited from the opportunity to access digital materials during the pandemic.

Our usage has definitely increased, and we have welcomed new adopters of the technology as well. This is just one of the many services that public libraries are proud to be offering in order to stay connected with our residents.

To take advantage of Download DestinationsOverDrive-powered digital collection, readers just need a valid library card from a member library. Its accessible on all major devices, including Apple, Android, Chromebook and Kindle. Visittln.overdrive.comor download the Libby app to start borrowing e-books and audiobooks. For more information about The Library Network, visit tln.lib.mi.us.

View post:
Local libraries see increase of digital checkouts during pandemic - The Oakland Press

SIDNEY TOWNSHIP With a history spanning more than five decades to its founding in 1965, Montcalm Community College (MCC) has long served the community as an institution of higher learning.

Throughout that history the college has also grown and expanded, from offering new educational courses, placing a focus on community programs and even expanding outside its boundaries of Sidney with a campus in the city of Greenville.

With a firm grasp of that history in one hand, the college continues to look ahead, reaching out to the future with the other.

As the first step to solidify that focus on the future, MCC has unveiled its official 2021-2024 Strategic Plan to the public today, solidifying a number of goals to accomplish in both the short and long term.

For MCC President Stacy Young, developing the new plan involved a balancing act of both respecting the colleges past and embracing a progressive future.

I think about the people who started the college, the foresight they had to know the college would impact the community in such a positive way and it takes my breath away, she said. Whether it be making sure more of our students go to the college full time or that our facilities are more up to date, thats what this plan is about to make sure everyone is taken care of and that we continue to grow and serve the community.

Vision, mission and values

The plan places renewed definitions on the colleges core focal points vision, mission and values.

According to the plan, the colleges vision is to focus on community inspiration, exceptional education and personal empowerment.

Its mission is outlined as transforming lives through quality education, and in establishing values, the college will place an emphasis on student success, empowerment, relationships, visionary, inclusion, community and excellence.

Its that last list regarding values that has Young most excited, as it was designed by college Board and Foundation members, as well as students, to create an acronym spelling out SERVICE.

Servant leadership and serving others is very important to me, Young said. We are rolling out a year of service in the community and challenging our employees and students to 10,000 hours of community service in the year.

Young said in her year of experience as the colleges president since being hired in January of 2020, shes witnessed enough to believe the goal of reaching 10,000 hours of community service by Dec. 31 of this year is well within reach.

We hope these 10,000 hours allow us to be out in the community more than we are now, she said. We are there to serve our community, whatever that looks like, be it providing a place to learn or go on our nature trails. Our hope is, and we believe we already have a great relationship, but were looking to go from good to great.

Young said she believes the college already impacts the greater Montcalm County community well beyond the walls of the college and she hopes those efforts only continue to increase as outlined as a priority within the plan.

Increased enrollment

Within the strategic plan are four specific goals that have been established: Increase enrollment, improve student success and access, enhance facilities and (increase) community engagement.

The subject of increased enrollment is one that will likely be most challenging, as community colleges across the state and country deal with a current decline in students amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

With enrollment hovering around 1,400 students for the current spring semester, that number of students is among its lowest recorded at the college in the past 20 years down about 15% over the past two years.

However, Young is confident those numbers can begin trending upward once again, with her personal goal to see enrollment climb back above 2,000.

The last time MCC had a fall semester with enrollment surpassing 2,000 students was in 2012 the last of nine consecutive years, beginning in 2004, in which enrollment was at least that high.

My goal is 2,000, but its going to take us a while to get there, Young said. Enrollment is key, but its not just about getting new students, but making sure our current students progress and graduate. We want to make sure they take as many classes as they can and try to move to full-time status.

According to Young, of the colleges entire student population, 76% of those students only attend the college on a part-time basis (less than 12 credits per semester).

Were actually trying to flip that, she said. Most of our students are 18 to 22 years old, and while we know they have certain life circumstances, we really want to help them get in and get done. The faster they get done (with MCC), the faster they can transfer on to another college or begin supporting themselves and their family.

Young said shes hopeful that with the development of a Strategic Enrollment and Marketing Plan, as well as promoting a better awareness of student scholarships, those numbers will begin to trend upward in the near future.

Improve student success and access

In looking to improve student success and access, Young said a number of steps will be taken, including the implementation of a concierge service for students, along with new efforts toward improving diversity, equity and inclusion through the curriculum.

Additionally, the plan calls for more hands-on learning opportunities, as well as a goal to have the college adapt more to the needs of students.

We know we have some work to do there, but we want to lead in this area, Young said. So were starting with our faculty and staff. That concierge service is really something that weve already started the first steps of and its just about helping people who dont know what to do, who dont know what that first step might look like.

Young said those first steps could be as simple as questions about how to buy textbooks or working to overcome early struggles in class.

In looking to add more hands-on learning opportunities, Young said studies have shown that is exactly what the current and upcoming generation of students are looking for in a college environment.

This generation (Generation Z) likes to be involved. They want to help and we want their input, she said. I think thats going to make us stand out among other schools were going to be very hands-on. In a dream world, wed have a student-run coffee house where they are not only managing it, but the marketing class is preparing the marketing materials and the accounting class is handling the books.

Enhance facilities

One of the more costly goals, looking potentially within the next year and also further years down the road, is renovations of current buildings and the potential to construct on-campus housing facilities.

First on the agenda, according to the plan, is to renovate the Kenneth J. Smith Instructional Building.

The Smith building includes classrooms, laboratories and instructors offices and serves as a primary instruction area for the colleges health-care programs.

As one of the founding buildings of the Sidney campus, the Smith building consists of two levels, is approximately 24,752 square feet in size and was originally built in 1966 and was last updated in 1999.

According to Young, renovating the facility is crucial if the college wants to continue offering competitive, modern instruction for its students.

All of the buildings on our campus get rated every year and this one definitely needs some work, she said. Even with COVID, 766 students took classes in that building last year, so we know its a super important building on our campus. It hosts classes for some of the hottest careers and industries right now, including science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and nursing, so we need to provide our students some up-to-date upgrades.

Young said those upgrades would include new learning spaces, laboratories, and most importantly, important upgrades to allow for nursing simulation programs.

We need to show the community that we have these resources, to show the hospitals that we have them, she said. If you have the equipment, you can simulate actual medical issues and replicate it in the classroom, whereas if you go to the hospital to do your clinical rotation, you may or may not have the opportunity to experience some things.

Young said initial estimates at this time call for approximately $5 million in total renovations to the building.

Thinking a little more outside the box regarding new facilities, Young said the college will also open up conversations regarding potential on-campus student housing.

Community engagement

In regards to the last of the four goals, Young said a focus on community engagement means improving upon current relationships with the community.

Additionally, she said that means exploring more fundraising and grant opportunities for future college projects, as well as educating the community at large on the value of the college.

Young said the new 10,000 hours of service project will be a big part of stressing the colleges focus on community engagement.

I dont want to say that community is important to us, I want to show that it is, she said. We are there for the community as much as it is there for us community is in our name.

In having reviewed the plan, members of the Board of Trustees said they are not only on board with the initiatives and goals going forward, but impressed with the efforts it took to draft the plan in a year engulfed in the coronavirus pandemic.

The enormous upheaval caused by the COVID-19 crisis affected nearly every facet of everyones life, Board Treasurer Kurt Peterson said. The strategic plan that was in place at MCC was not spared. The members of the new strategic planning committee led by President Young did a fantastic job of reprioritizing the schools most important needs and objectives on our campus in light of the Pandemic and developing a new short-term strategic plan. The board was kept well informed and supports the revised plan.

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From 'good to great' - Greenville Daily News

The following is a list of books focused on women and girls' empowerment and titles related to the achievements of, and equal rights for, women, young women and girls.

Main feature

ADULT:

ABRAMS IMAGE

Bookish Broads: Women Who Wrote Themselves into History

Lauren Marino, Feb.

Illuminates the lives of the greats as well as the literary talents history has wrongfully overlooked.

ALLEN & UNWIN

Jacinda Ardern

Michelle Duff, Apr.

Delves into the New Zealand Prime Minister's beginnings as a nose-ringed teen fighting for equality and her own identity in a devout Mormon family.

ANDREWS MCMEEL

Women Dont Owe You Pretty

Florence Given, Apr.

A vibrantly illustrated primer on modern feminism for the Instagram generation.

ANGRY ROBOT

The Second Bell

Gabriela Houston, Mar.

A reimagined popular folktale where a headstrong young striga finds herself in a life- threatening situation that tests the bonds between mother and child.

ATLANTIC

The Home Stretch: Why Its Time to Come Clean About Who Does the Dishes

Sally Howard, June

The author combines history and fieldwork with her own personal story.

ATRIA

As A Woman: What I Learned about Power, Sex, and the Patriarchy After I Transitioned

Paula Stone Williams, June

The author pulls back the curtain on her transition journey and sheds light on the gendered landscape that impacts many in the LGBTQ+ community.

AVE MARIA

Expect More: Dare to Stand Up and Stand Out: A Guide for Women on Reaching Their Potential

Muffet McGraw, Feb.

The retired head coach of the Univ. of Notre Dame womens basketball team guides women to expect more in their careers and family lives.

BALLANTINE

Unfinished

Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Feb.

Urges a generation to gather their courage, embrace their ambition, and commit to the hard work of following their dreams.

The Soul of a Woman

Isabel Allende, Mar.

The bestselling author offers a passionate and inspiring meditation on what it means to be a woman.

The Bohemians

Jasmin Darznik, Apr.

A novel imagining the wild 1920s in San Francisco that awakened photographer Dorothea Langes career-defining grit, compassion, and daring.

BERKLEY

Black Girl, Call Home

Jasmine Mans, Mar.

A poetry collection inspired by the authors own life explores the intersection of race, feminism, and queer identity.

A Special Place for Women

Laura Hankin, May

A funny novel about a clandestine womens-only social club and the reporter who sets out to expose its secrets.

BERRETT-KOEHLER

The Body is Not an Apology

Sonya Renee Taylor, Feb.

From PWs review: Poet and activist Taylor (A Little Truth on Your Shirt) packs important ideas into this concise volume on body empowerment.

EMILY BESTLER

To the Greatest Heights: Facing Danger, Finding Humility, and Climbing a Mountain of Truth

Vanessa O'Brien, Mar.

A memoir by the record-breaking American-British explorer who became the first American woman and the first British woman to successfully summit K2, and was named Explorer of the Year in 2018 by the Scientific Exploration Society.

BLOOMSBURY

Girlhood

Melissa Febos, Mar.

A set of stories about the forces that shape girls and the adults they become.

The Mysteries

Marisa Silver, May

An intimate story of two young girls, joined in an unlikely friendship, whose lives are shattered in a single, unthinkable moment.

BLUE STAR

The Gift of Self-Love: A Workbook to Help You Build Confidence, Recognize Your Worth, and Learn to Finally Love Yourself

Mary Jelkovsky, Mar.

Build confidence, boost self-esteem, and overcome body image issues using this interactive self-help book for women.

CHARLESBRIDGE

The Next Smart Step: How to Overcome Gender Stereotypes and Build a Stronger Organization

Kelly Watson and Jodi Ecker Detjen, Feb.

A guide to understanding the challenge of gender imbalance, implementing solutions, and offering tools to ensure positive and enduring change.

CHICAGO REVIEW PRESS

Besharam: On Love and Other Bad Behaviors

Priya-Alika Elias, Apr.

Essays by a lawyer and a feminist writer that touch on themes of family, culture, body image, sex, and feminism.

The Daring Life and Dangerous Times of Eve Adams

Jonathan Ned Katz, May

Uncovers the forgotten story of radical lesbian feminist Eve Adams, and her long-lost book Lesbian Love.

Open Skies: My Life As Afghanistan's First Female Pilot

Niloofar Rahmani, July

The true story of the authors determination to become Afghanistan's first female air force fighter pilot.

We Are the Baby-Sitters Club: Essays and Artwork from Grown-Up Readers

Edited by Marisa Crawford and Megan Milks, July

A nostalgia-packed, star-studded anthology exploring the lasting impact of the Baby-Sitters Club series.

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL

Chicken Soup For the Soul: Be You

Amy Newmark, Apr.

Contributors from all ethnicities and the LGBTQ community celebrate their strength and individuality.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Im Speaking Now: Black Women Share Their Truth In 101 Stories of Love, Courage and Hope

Amy Newmark and Breena Clarke, June

Black women share their dreams, triumphs and failures, and their lives, which have unique challenges and hardships that are not well understood by others.

CHRONICLE

She Holds A Cosmos: Poems On Motherhood

Edited by Mallory Farrugia, illus. by Karolin Schnoor, Mar.

Thirty poems exploring motherhood in all its dimensionsfrom pregnancy and birth to the joys, struggles, and hilarious moments that come with raising children.

Why She Wrote: A Graphic History of the Lives, Inspirations, and Influences Behind the Pens of Classic Women Writers

Hannah K. Chapman and Luaren Burke, illus. by Kaley Bales, April

Unexpected and inspiring stories behind eighteen women writers from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries.

CHRONICLE PRISM

Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions For Success at Work

More:
New and Forthcoming Titles on Women, Girls and Empowerment - Publishers Weekly

We are wasting time trying to impeach our former president. So, why are we going through the motions? What a waste of time and effort!

We are wasting all that time and effort, IMO, for one reason. That reason is to get each and every person who has a vote in the matter recorded for posterity in black and white, on an immutable and permanent paper. So that there is no equivocation as to their intent and action.

We've suffered 4 years of dedicated mismanagement from a man who has no religion but himself. Who has no goal other than personal empowerment and monetary gain. Who destroys the lives of those who fall from his favor. Don't think so? Read Michael Cohen's book.

We do not need to re-elect people who will openly condone treason against our country, who are willing to promote domestic terror against our electors and citizens. And that, dear people, is why we are wasting time.

Dave Knecht, Zumbro Falls

See the original post here:
Letter: Why are we wasting our time with impeachment? - PostBulletin.com

Its 2021. After almost an entire year of isolation and zero festivities, music brings solace to the mind and soul. An elegant melody accompanied by elaborate lyrics, occasionally adding energetic choreography and a colorful music video, music dominates the world.

Its time to forget about the physical isolation and discomfort. In the first month of a new year, why not allow yourself to fully immerse in music, be taken captive in the unlimited possibilities of lyrical wonders and heavenly harmonies?

January resonated as a fresh start for all. Lets pick up the highlights of this month.

Drivers License by Olivia Rodrigo (Jan. 8, 2021)

Ready for some heartbreaking love feuds? In a time of cold isolation, we definitely need a fiery spirit of passionate love stories or breakup stories. Ranking No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Global 200, Drivers License marked Olivia Rodrigos extraordinary debut unlike any other. Listen to this Gen Z gently recite her broken heart as she drives past the suburbs, without the guy she thought was the one.

Skin by Sabrina Carpenter (Jan. 22, 2021)

Could this be her response to the blonde girl remark in Drivers License? Beginning softly, Sabrina Carpenter doubts the gravity in the words [they] write. But she soon launches into her blinding spotlight of a life, flaunting her long career in the music industry, slashing back at haters and softly responding to the newly-licensed-teenage-driver. While graceful lyrics discreetly tackle the injustices Carpenter faced, her strong yet majestically faltering vocal cords convey a sense of pride and utmost confidence that no one can get under [her] skin.

Lie Lie Lie by Joshua Bassett (Jan. 14, 2021)

Listen to this sharp farewell to an ex-best friend from the Disney+ star of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Despite much speculation from fans and the coincidentally corresponding release dates, Joshua Bassett sings about a betrayal from a long time friend, utterly irrelevant to the love triangle. Frequently revealing snippets of this song while working on it this past year, his dedication to the lyrics and music notes appear evident in the upbeat melody of the newly released Lie Lie Lie.

De Una Vez by Selena Gomez (Jan. 14, 2021)

Selena Gomez sings from her jeweled heart about her emotional growth through intricately weaved Spanish lyrics, poetically reciting self-empowerment. Proudly establishing her Latin American heritage, she immerses heartbroken listeners with precise words of healing encouragement, enticing a sense of empathic unity and compelling independence. After all: Soy mas fuerte sola, she asserts, I am stronger on my own.

Nobody Is Listening by Zayn (Jan. 15, 2021)

It looks like the coronavirus blues penetrated the musical blues by Zayn. His sad voice weakens into mumbles in his latest album, Nobody Is Listening. Unfortunately, Zayns intuition from naming his album stands uncorrected. The dismally isolated nature of his tracklist slowly rolled off the iTunes Top 100 into Calamity before barely balancing on the Tightrope at No. 22. Perhaps it was the overlapping dismay of the times that shrouded listeners from the potentially profound intent of creating personal music. Indeed, Zayn appears proud and accomplished to release music based on his creative journey as a solo artist for the first time. Despite the harsh chart records, it is never too late to appreciate the artistic value of Zayns intimate storytelling that resonates with purpose.

The Good Times and the Bad Ones by Why Dont We (Jan. 15, 2021)

True musicians, singers, instrumentalists tune into this new album consisting of heartfelt songs personally written and composed by the band members of Why Dont We during their tour and through coronavirus outbreaks. For an honest account of the good times and the bad ones, listen to the optimistic vibes of their new playlist.

What I Said by VICTON (Jan. 11, 2021)

Voice To New World (VICTON), these former romanticists are back with piercing vocals to celebrate their fourth anniversary. Adopting a unique Latin pop sound, these K-pop idols mix in brass instruments to create a dynamic dance hit. In the music video, VICTON fills the stage with powerful choreography, proudly claiming that the future is now. All seven members worked on this perfectly potent album, reflecting their accomplishments as artists and potential as future leaders of K-pop.

Anyone by Justin Bieber (Jan. 1, 2021)

What about another sweet song for a golden 2021? The striking melody contrasts with soft lyrics dedicating his love for his wife, insisting that if its not you, its not anyone. Needless to say, the admirably pleasant nature of the lyrics address a heartfelt companion. Justin Bieber goes even further to don silk boxing shorts to fight for his love in this new music video.

Life Rolls On (Audio) by Florida Georgia Line (Jan. 15, 2021)

Is there a more wonderful way to address the times? To those anticipating the obvious, life proved unsettling after the sudden coronavirus pandemic. But as these country singers declare, the best alternative is acceptance of the highs and the lows and the yes and the nos. After all, life rolls on.

Excerpt from:
Bring back the beat: Music you missed this January - Daily Trojan Online

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Penn States Senior Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Ben Locke has seen something of a cultural shift in recent years as mental health and wellness awareness has become a greater and greater part of the national dialogue.

Over the past decade, Locke said there has been a significant increase in students turning to counseling services at campuses across the nation. At Penn State, the number has increased by more than 50% over the last 10 years. Thats actually a positive sign, Locke said. That increase doesnt mean there are suddenly more people dealing with mental health issues, but rather more people are reaching out for the help they need.

Penn State has made significant investments in mental health and wellness resources for students in recent years, including a substantial CAPS funding increase from President Eric Barron in 2017, as well as support from the 2020 and 2016 senior class gifts. The University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) has also helped create and lead the Red Folder Initiative, which aims to educate faculty and staff members at all campuses on how to identify signs a student might be struggling with their mental health or wellness, as well as resources available to benefit them.

Locke encourages all Penn Staters to take an active role in looking after their own health and wellness, and to also look out and care for their fellow Penn Staters.

If youre struggling, seeking help is absolutely a sign of strength, not weakness, Locke said. And if you see something, do something. If you think a friend or peer is struggling in some way, check in, ask them how they are, or reach out for a consultation with a trusted source, like CAPS.

Were all Penn Staters, and we as a community have to recognize the role we all play in providing support, assistance and encouragement to each other.

Mental health and wellness resources

There are many wellness and mental health resources available to support and empower Penn State students, including:

Additional crisis resources

For those in immediate crisis, services through CAPS are available without a wait. Locke says a crisis can include thoughts of harming oneself or others, loss of housing, a recent death in the family or any other traumatic event that profoundly and negatively impacts ones day-to-day life and ability to function.

If you want to connect with a mental health professional in the event of a crisis:

Students in crisis may also connect with theOffice of Student Care and Advocacy, which works with students struggling with everything from medical emergencies and hospitalization to food or housing insecurity. Student Care and Advocacy works with partners across the University to empower students impacted by medical issues, mental health crises, food and housing insecurity and more. Students at Commonwealth Campuses may also benefit from services offered by the Office of Student Affairs at their individual campus.

Mental health and wellness tips and strategies

Locke acknowledged that college students across the country have experienced emotional, social, career and academic losses throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and continue to experience insecurity or doubt in their lives.

Many students are struggling with uncertainty about next steps, how unknown events will continue to affect them, and what to do when these things happen, Locke said.

Anxiety is your bodys way of communicating with you that something worrisome is happening and that you should pay attention, he said. While not all experiences of anxiety or stress require professional help, I encourage students who are experiencing anxiety to give yourself a little bit of time to see how things change. If you find that youre not making progress and continue to feel anxious, nervous or upset on a regular basis -- that is when you should reach out for help.

James Dillard, distinguished professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State who researches how people experience and manage fear of infectious diseases, said that while feeling unsure or even fearful in uncertain times is normal, there are also strategies you can use to help regulate your emotions.

As the semester begins, Dillard said that taking breaks from the news and social media can help manage stress and boost an individuals well-being. Individuals should gauge the impact the news related to the pandemic has on them while being mindful of factors such as how important it is for them to be up to date on the latest COVID-related research, and adjust their media intake and interpersonal communication on that basis, according to Dillard.

Dillard and Locke both also shared that taking proper care of your body and overall wellness can help contribute to positive mental health. TheCDChas advised people to continue to exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, eat well-balanced and healthy meals at regular intervals, as well as avoid consumption of alcohol and drugs.

It is important to be honest with yourself and others in your life about what youre going through, what your needs are, and how youre struggling rather than trying to shut those feelings down, said Locke. As we continue to live through these uncertain times, it is so important to make space and time in your life to stay connected to your friends and family, hobbies and interests that are important to you, and your connection to a bigger purpose in the world.

See more here:
Resources available to support student wellness and mental health - Penn State News

One of the key challenges of expanding coverage to new beneficiaries under the World Banks Yemen Emergency Crisis Response Project (YECRP) was accessing data to assess household needs. The project team did this by hiring consultants from the localities being surveyed in order to protect against spreading COVID-19 between different communities.

All of the enumerators used personal protective equipment (PPE) and practiced physical distancing. Their survey was used to raise awareness of COVID-19 among tens of thousands of people. The Social Fund for Development (SFD) hired health advisers and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) specialists to ensure that the enumerators and beneficiaries were protected. They developed data collection applications that synchronized data with project servers to minimize the use of paper while providing information in real-time.

Data application systems were adapted to capture behavioral changes. The data tracks farmer behavior and records patterns in production, the prioritization of grant utilization, knowledge sharing on productivity, and raising awareness about COVID-19.

Approximately 50% of adult Yemenis do not possess a national ID; in the poorest districts this number is closer to 70%. The project used enrollment to help cash-for-works beneficiaries obtain an ID by including the time taken to do so as part of their hours worked. This amounted to 5% to 10% of the entire payment.

Onboarding beneficiaries included continuous awareness of OHS and COVID-19. Each day, workers temperatures were taken and those with high temperatures were advised to stay home and rest. Field consultants are undertaking more advanced OHS training, and SFD has launched the first Yemeni online OHS training course allowing thousands of field engineers and consultants to hone their skills.

Regarding payments, the program has adopted a dual strategy. Smallholder producers were encouraged to open bank accounts to receive electronic transfers. Where this was not feasible, the team requested financial service providers to work with the Ministry of Health to produce COVID-19-sensitive cash transfer procedures.

Payment procedures include creating additional payment sites, calling together smaller groups through improved scheduling, physical distancing measures using ground markings, and PPE. The financial service provider introduced clean bank notes and instructed recipients on the safe handling of cash. At each worksite, workers were hired to disinfect surfaces.

An adaption specific to the cash-for-nutrition project was to change the payment schedule in order to pay cash benefits in advance to minimize in-person transactions. Instead of monthly payment gatherings, beneficiaries received cash for an entire quarter. This was particularly timely given that Yemen's COVID-19 transmission was expected to peak during the economically stressful period between the two Eid holidays (late May to late July). Getting larger than usual cash assistance during this period was crucial to beneficiaries.

Yet, beyond cash transfers, more was needed to protect communities.

Making 100,000 masks, replicating success

Women in Yemen make up the larger part of the workforce and shoulder most of the burden of care. The project prioritized women and children through cash-for-nutrition interventions. As a result, SFD managed to raise additional funding from the government of the United Kingdom for this important component as an emergency response to COVID-19.

Importantly, the project works to empower communities through Village Cooperative Councils (VCCs), where women are given more prominent roles alongside men village council members. Out of 23,600 elected councilors, 50% are women who have actively participated in community self-help initiatives, including the production of 100,000 face masks.

The Small and Micro Enterprise Promotion Service (SMEPS) (a subsidiary of SFD) support to women, particularly rural livestock breeders, has significantly helped avoid the use of negative coping strategies. Some 2,656 women livestock breeders have been supported with cash grants to buy food items and hygiene materials on the condition that they and their households attended the door-to-door awareness raising sessions on COVID-19 prevention, and a refresher on hygiene.

End line data for this sector shows a sustained increase of 185% in income, productivity increase of 129%, and a reduction in negative coping strategies. Main indicators for the coping strategy were: 75% decrease in the selling of assets and 50% increase in daily food intake. Women supported with cash grants used them to procure food (33%), hygiene materials (9%), productive assets (38%), preventive materials (4%), and clothing (16%).

The price of PPE, particularly face masks, has skyrocketed by 640%, which risks pricing the poor out of the market. SFD's community empowerment program has been working with 2,360 VCCs to support community initiatives to combat COVID-19. A common initiative has been producing high quality, reusable face masks. District health offices are buying locally produced masksan illustration of community competitiveness and resilience.

Communicating these successes is causing a replication effect.

Working with young, social media savvy professionals, the Yemen ECRP has produced a wealth of high-quality communications content, including 25 videos, 15 radio flashes, and printed materials, under the campaign titled #LetsFightCorona. These have been published online for download by other humanitarian and development agencies in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Thus far, this content is estimated to have reached more than 40 million people, with strong penetration amongst internet users in Yemen. Within a few days of launching the first COVID-19 video, local and regional TV channels had aired these messages at peak viewer times to an estimated several million people.

Finally, the projects team leaders would like to highlight our strategic partnership with the World Banks international Development Association and UNDP, which has been vital in the effort to provide services to Yemenis across the country. We will continue our concerted efforts to stave off famine by providing support to nutrition interventions, cash for work, vital services, and small businesses.

Read more:
Yemen: Delivering COVID assets through the project's chain - World Bank Group - World Bank Group