Category: Art & Life

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Art & Life Lifestyle Regulations & Security

Mutualink working to enhance emergency communications in 30 Florida counties

In an emergency, every second counts; Mutualinks integration will help first responders save lives in an emergency.

 

MIAMI — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Mutualink is expanding the ability for first responders and law enforcement in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Fort Myers area to get critical lifesaving information through its integrated platform during a school emergency. The platform allows school administrators to share critical pictures, live video, school floor plans, and any other critical information directly with 911 in real-time.


Mutualink is the leading provider of communications solutions for public safety and is a trusted partner in Alyssa’s Law school safety mobile panic alert solutions. Panic buttons integrated with Mutualink provide a direct link to communicate voice, text, video and pictures to authorities in an emergency. In addition, users gain access to the broader Mutualink Network- the largest nationwide ecosystem of government, public safety entities, and secondary response organizations in the world.

 

Law Enforcement Agencies, Fire Departments, Local and County government and Schools are among the various public safety entities in Brevard, Broward, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Hernando, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Leon, Manatee, Marion, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St Lucie, Sumter, Valencia, Volusia, and Walton counties- that have joined the Mutualink Network to enhance their emergency communications and protect their communities.

 

“There are dozens of panic buttons and active shooter alert apps on the market, but the terrifying reality is that some don’t provide direct communication with 911 dispatchers and first responders,” said Chrissie Coon, Chief Customer Experience Officer. “So in situations where seconds can save lives and information is critical during a response, we want to give school administrators the peace of mind that the panic button solution they are using integrates directly with 911 to get the fastest response.”

 

Alyssa’s Law requires all Florida public schools to have a mobile panic alarm system in place this school year. The Florida State legislature passed the law in honor of Alyssa Alhadeff, who died in the February 14, 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. New Jersey adopted its own Alyssa’s law in 2019. Many other states are working to adopt versions of Alyssa’s Law.

 

“We commend community leaders for working hard to select the best solution for their public safety community,” said Mark Guthrie, Senior VP & Chief Growth Officer, Mutualink, Inc. “We’re honored to be on the teams trusted to equip Florida’s educators, first responders, and community leaders with the technology they will rely on in emergencies.”

 

Mutualink is part of partnered solution selected and approved by the Florida Department of Education to comply with Alyssa’s Law. To learn more about Mutualink, Inc., visit https://mutualink.net/school-safety/

 

About Mutualink, Inc.

Mutualink, Inc. is the leading technology provider of a best-in-class intelligent multimedia network that enables public safety community partners to securely share voice, text, video and data for instant communications and real-time data sharing. Certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act for interoperable communications, partners and clients trust Mutualink, Inc. to provide innovative, scalable, secure solutions they rely on every day and in any emergency.

Contacts

Chrissie Coon

Email: Ccoon@mutualink.net
Cell: (702) 271 – 9791

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Art & Life Business

Mortgage delinquency continues to sink as pandemic recedes, CoreLogic reports

Homeowners look to income growth and home equity wealth to manage their mortgage debt

 

IRVINE, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — CoreLogic, a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today released its monthly Loan Performance Insights Report for August 2021.


For the month of August, 4% of all mortgages in the U.S. were in some stage of delinquency (30 days or more past due, including those in foreclosure), representing a 2.6-percentage point decrease in delinquency compared to August 2020, when it was 6.6%.

 

To gain a complete view of the mortgage market and loan performance health, CoreLogic examines all stages of delinquency. In August 2021, the U.S. delinquency and transition rates, and their year-over-year changes, were as follows:

 

  • Early-Stage Delinquencies (30 to 59 days past due): 1.1%, down from 1.5% in August 2020.
  • Adverse Delinquency (60 to 89 days past due): 0.3%, down from 0.8% in August 2020.
  • Serious Delinquency (90 days or more past due, including loans in foreclosure): 2.6%, down from 4.3% in August 2020.
  • Foreclosure Inventory Rate (the share of mortgages in some stage of the foreclosure process): 0.2%, down from 0.3% in August 2020. This remains the lowest foreclosure rate recorded since CoreLogic began recording data (1999).
  • Transition Rate (the share of mortgages that transitioned from current to 30 days past due): 0.6%, down from 0.9% in August 2020.

 

Facing slower than anticipated employment growth — August saw an increase of only 235,000 new jobs compared to the expected 720,000 — households have found creative ways to cut back on spending to prioritize mortgage payments. In a recent CoreLogic survey, over 30% of respondents said they would cut back on both entertainment and travel to focus on repaying outstanding debt. Income growth and a continued buildup in home-equity wealth will be important parts of financial recovery for borrowers hit hardest by the pandemic.

 

“The unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimuli that have been implemented to combat the pandemic are pushing housing prices and home equity to record levels,” said Frank Martell, president and CEO of CoreLogic. “This phenomenon is driving down delinquencies and fueling a boom in cash-out refinancing transactions.”

 

“The decline in the overall delinquency rate to its lowest since the onset of the pandemic is good News but it masks the serious financial challenges that some of the borrower population has experienced,” said Dr. Frank Nothaft, chief economist at CoreLogic. “In the months prior to the pandemic, only one-in-five delinquent loans had missed six or more payments. This August, one-in-two borrowers with missed payments were behind six-or-more monthly installments, even though the overall delinquency rate had declined to the lowest level since March 2020.”

 

State and Metro Takeaways:

  • In August 2021, all states saw year over year declines in their overall delinquency rate. New Jersey (down 4.0 percentage points); Florida (down 3.8 percentage points); and Nevada (down 3.6 percentage points), saw the largest year over year declines. All other states experienced decreases between -1.3 and -3.3 percentage points.
  • All U.S. metropolitan areas posted at least a small annual decrease in their overall delinquency rate. The largest annual decreases were in Laredo, Texas (down 6.3 percentage points), Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Florida (down 5.7 percentage points), McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas (down 5.3 percentage points) and Atlantic City-Hammonton, New Jersey (down 5 percentage points).

 

The next CoreLogic Loan Performance Insights Report will be released on December 14, 2021, featuring data for September 2021. For ongoing housing trends and data, visit the CoreLogic Intelligence Blog: www.corelogic.com/intelligence.

 

Methodology

The data in The CoreLogic LPI report represents foreclosure and delinquency activity reported through August 2021. The data in this report accounts for only first liens against a property and does not include secondary liens. The delinquency, transition and foreclosure rates are measured only against homes that have an outstanding mortgage. Homes without mortgage liens are not subject to foreclosure and are, therefore, excluded from the analysis. CoreLogic has approximately 75% coverage of U.S. foreclosure data.

 

About the CoreLogic Consumer Housing Sentiment Study

3,000+ consumers were surveyed by CoreLogic via Qualtrics. The study is an annual pulse of U.S. housing market dynamics concentrated on consumers looking to purchase a home, consumers not looking to purchase a home, and current mortgage holder. The survey was conducted in April 2021 and hosted on Qualtrics. The survey has a sampling error of~3% at the total respondent level with a 95% confidence level.

 

Source: CoreLogic

The data provided is for use only by the primary recipient or the primary recipient’s publication or broadcast. This data may not be re-sold, republished or licensed to any other source, including publications and sources owned by the primary recipient’s parent company without prior written permission from CoreLogic. Any CoreLogic data used for publication or broadcast, in whole or in part, must be sourced as coming from CoreLogic, a data and analytics company. For use with broadcast or web content, the citation must directly accompany first reference of the data. If the data is illustrated with maps, charts, graphs or other visual elements, the CoreLogic logo must be included on screen or website. For questions, analysis or interpretation of the data, contact Amy Brennan at newsmedia@corelogic.com. Data provided may not be modified without the prior written permission of CoreLogic. Do not use the data in any unlawful manner. This data is compiled from public records, contributory databases and proprietary analytics, and its accuracy is dependent upon these sources.

 

About CoreLogic

CoreLogic is a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider. The company’s combined data from public, contributory and proprietary sources includes over 4.5 billion records spanning more than 50 years, providing detailed coverage of property, mortgages and other encumbrances, consumer credit, tenancy, location, hazard risk and related performance information. The markets CoreLogic serves include real estate and mortgage finance, insurance, capital markets, and the public sector. CoreLogic delivers value to clients through unique data, analytics, workflow technology, advisory and managed services. Clients rely on CoreLogic to help identify and manage growth opportunities, improve performance and mitigate risk. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., CoreLogic operates in North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit www.corelogic.com.

 

CORELOGIC and the CoreLogic logo are trademarks of CoreLogic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts

Amy Brennan

CoreLogic

newsmedia@corelogic.com

Categories
Art & Life Culture

New Jersey Photography Forum opens the international photography exhibit, ‘Unframed’

The NJ Photography Forum opened its 27th Annual Photography Exhibit, Unframed, online on Oct. 1. through Jan. 15, 2022

 

Seventy-five works by 40 artists were chosen for this year’s show from hundreds of entries which came from around the globe and across the U.S. Unframed, printed images of the selected works will also be on display at the Watchung Arts Center in Watchung, NJ from November 2, through November 30, 2021.

 

Old Oak Tree
— By Nancy Melin

The links to access the exhibit are: Watchung Arts Center website- http://watchungarts.org/nj-photography-forum-international-photo-exhibit/, NJ Photography Forum website- https://www.njphotoforum.com/p75497615

 

“The emotional impact of the pieces ranges from mysterious and thought provoking, to stunning black and whites and digitally enhanced pieces, to traditional and beautiful color works. The variety of creative ideas and processing techniques has produced an interesting show with many more pieces which we can accommodate because of the format of the show,” says Nancy Ori, director of the photography forum and the curator of the exhibit, who was very enthusiastic about the response to the call for submissions.

 

The public is invited to attend an online conference via Zoom moderated by the Curator to review the exhibit and hear from some of the artists on November 13, 2021 at 1 pm eastern time. Contact Nancy Ori to get the link.

 

At the same time as the Unframed exhibit is in the Main Gallery of the Watchung Art Center, the Photography Forum will also be showing The Best One, works by the members of the Forum’s Exhibit Committee in the more intimate downstairs gallery. Both exhibits can be viewed during regular gallery hours. Visit the Watchung Arts Center website at: www.watchungarts.org for visitation requirements and times. Entrance is free at: 18 Stirling Road in Watchung, NJ on the circle.

 

All of the images will be for sale with a portion of the proceeds going to support the Watchung Arts Center.

 

Two years ago, The New Jersey Photography Forum celebrated the 25thanniversary of its founding. The NJPF is dedicated to furthering the interests of professional and serious photographers living or working in the New Jersey area. Over the past 27 years under the direction of Nancy Ori, the NJPF has become the largest and most recognized group of fine art exhibiting photographers in the state.

 

The monthly meetings are currently held virtually using Zoom but will return to in-person meetings at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit when possible. At the meetings, attendees are encouraged to share expertise and advance their skills. The meetings provide access to a wide variety of current creative and technical information through informal presentations and demonstrations by manufacturers and photographic artists. At each meeting, photographers have an opportunity to display their work for critique by others. Exhibition possibilities within the fine art community are constantly explored, and the group historically has produced as many as a dozen group exhibits each year at various venues. These opportunities have become an invaluable resource for photographers interested in becoming fine art exhibitors.

 

The Watchung Arts Center offers new art exhibitions each month, performances of music, comedy, improv and classes for children and adults in art, photography, dance, yoga, and more. Visit their website at www.watchungarts.org.

 

You can learn more about the New Jersey Photography Forum by visiting their web site at www.njphotoforum.com or by contacting Nancy Ori at nancyori@comcast.net.

Categories
Art & Life Business

New Jersey Devils and Prudential Financial expand groundbreaking business and marketing program for Black entrepreneurs

Prudential Financial to donate premier helmet brand position to Black-owned, New Jersey-based business for 13 games


NEWARK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — The New Jersey Devils and Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) announce the expansion of their groundbreaking Buy Black business program to support and amplify business opportunities for Black entrepreneurs; and, in a National Hockey League and sports industry first, Prudential Financial will donate its premier brand placement on the Devils helmet to a Black-owned, New Jersey-based business for 13 select games, creating unprecedented business and marketing exposure.

 

The Devils Buy Black Program Presented by Prudential Financial will identify Black-owned businesses in New Jersey and provide marketing and business consultation, advertising exposure, financial wellness counseling with a Prudential Financial advisor, local networking opportunities and more. Interested companies can submit applications for the 2021-22 season between Oct. 13 and 29 at devils.nhl.com/buyblack. The selected company will be named mid-November and will be seen on helmets starting Dec. 8.

 

“With hometown sports fans and the world watching, we’re proud to spotlight Black entrepreneurs on and off the ice. In partnership with the New Jersey Devils, we’re providing businesses with support, visibility and financial guidance to help them grow, thrive and win,” said Susan Somersille Johnson, Prudential Financial’s chief marketing officer.

 

For the second year, Prudential Financial will donate 200 helmets to Black youth ice hockey programs in New Jersey.

 

“This partnership with Prudential Financial is about amplifying the power of sports and live entertainment to drive meaningful change in our community,” said New Jersey Devils President Jake Reynolds. “Among the elements that makes this partnership so impactful is the aligned values that our organizations share. That Prudential Financial would donate the most powerful brand and marketing placement opportunity in professional sports to a Black-owned business, should truly be an inspiration to mindful brands and professional sports leagues and teams across the globe.”

 

The New Jersey Devils and Prudential Financial became the first team in NHL history to announce a helmet brand partnership on Dec. 22, 2020.

 

About Prudential Financial:

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial wellness leader and premier active global investment manager with more than $1.5 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2021, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

 

About The New Jersey Devils:

The New Jersey Devils are part of the 31-team National Hockey League, with teams throughout the United States and Canada. Established in 1982, they are entering their 37th season in the Garden State. During that time, the team has won three Stanley Cup Championships: 1995, 2000 and 2003. Follow the Devils at NewJerseyDevils.com, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The New Jersey Devils organization is a Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment property.

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Contacts

MEDIA:

Prudential Financial

Rebecca Rickert

973-943-6679

Rebecca.rickert@prudential.com

Categories
Art & Life Business

 Women small business owners say they’re happier than ever being their own boss, despite work/life balance struggle and ongoing challenges

  •  According to a new Groupon survey of more than 600 women small business owners, 94% are happier than ever being their own boss
  • 64% of women small business owners reported they make just as much or more money than they did before running their own business
  • 76% of women who own their own business said they work more than the standard 8-hour workday, with the average owner working 12 hours a day
  • New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio and California identified as the top states for minority women to state a business

 

CHICAGO — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Groupon, the go-to destination for local experiences, is encouraging everyone to celebrate October’s National Women’s Small Business Month. To make it easy to support and shop at women-owned businesses, Groupon is featuring approximately 2,000 women-owned businesses from across the United States. Groupon spoke with more than 600 women small business owners from around the United States to better understand why they decided to become their own boss and how they have remained resilient during the global pandemic.


Women Small Business Owners Say They’re Held to a Different Standard than Men

 

According to the survey results, women small business owners continue to face systemic challenges as a result of their gender. Fifty-four percent of women small business owners said they’re held to a different standard than their male counterparts when it comes to accessing capital, acquiring mentors and being taken seriously by their peers. Fifty-four percent of survey respondents also said that it’s harder for them to balance work and family life.

 

Women Put in the Work to be Their Own Boss

Despite these obstacles, nearly all women small business owners––an overwhelming 94%––are happy with their choice to work for themselves and ready to overcome any challenges thrown their way. Seventy-six percent of women small business owners work beyond the standard 8-hour work day, with the average owner working 12 hours a day. And this hard work is paying off, as 64% of women small business owners said they make as much or more money than they did before opening their own business.

 

“As one of the largest marketplaces of women-owned small businesses anywhere in the world, we’re excited and encouraged by the progress these entrepreneurs are making, and we’re focused on opening up new opportunities for women –– both internally and externally –– to create a Groupon that’s reflective of the world we want to live in,” said Groupon’s Chief Financial Officer Melissa Thomas. “We’re extremely proud of the fact that nearly 60%* of the small businesses on Groupon are owned by women, and we’re committed to ensuring these merchants come out of the pandemic stronger than ever.”

 

Increasing Awareness and Support for Women-Owned Businesses

According to the survey results, women small business owners have a clear plan and path to drive revenue and accelerate their recovery from the pandemic. The top ways that women-owned businesses are looking to increase profits are the following: growing their social media presence, leveraging sales, expanding inventory, taking advantage of government or small business organization loans and resources and running paid advertising campaigns.

 

Even before the start of the pandemic, many states invested heavily in education and financial programs to help foster the development and success of small businesses. After the pandemic hit, many states stepped up to help the businesses impacted by movement restrictions in the form of deferring sales tax payments and increasing financial support through state grants.

 

Groupon asked women small business owners to score their state based on three criteria: how easy it is for women to start their own businesses, support offered to women of color to start their own business and resources provided to help women-owned businesses recover from the pandemic. Based on the survey results, some states consistently showed up as going above and beyond for women entrepreneurs:

  • New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida and Ohio were the top states for women looking to start their own business.
  • New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio and California were identified as the top states for minority women to state a business.
  • New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida and Colorado were the top states when it came to helping women-owned businesses recover from the devastating impact of COVID-19.

 

Taking Action

Groupon is urging consumers to celebrate National Women’s Small Business Month by supporting women-owned businesses in their local communities as well as by making a donation to help provide new women entrepreneurs with much needed capital. To find a women-owned business that you can support in your community, please visit gr.pn/wsbm.

 

*June 2021 Merchant Satisfaction Survey. Survey of active merchants conducted June 8-23

About Groupon

Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN) is an experiences marketplace where consumers discover fun things to do and local businesses thrive. For our customers, this means giving them an amazing selection of experiences at great values. For our merchants, this means making it easy for them to partner with Groupon and reach millions of consumers around the world.

Contacts

Groupon

Nick Halliwell

nhalliwell@groupon.com

Allison & Partners

Lexi Holden

groupon@allisonpr.com

For more media assets please visit here.

Categories
Art & Life Business

Zoetis named a ‘100 Best Company’ and a ‘Best Company for Dads’ by Seramount

  • Seramount (formerly Working Mother Media) recognized Zoetis for forward-thinking programs and benefits related to parental leave, family support and job flexibility
  • Kristy Earley-Murray, Strategic Veterinarian, Named Zoetis’ Working Mother of the Year
  • Chip Dorsey, Business Development VP, Named Zoetis’ First-Ever Working Father of the Year

 

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $ZTS #Seramount100Best2021–For the eighth year in a row, Zoetis has been named one of Seramount’s 100 Best Companies (previously known as the Working Mother 100 Best Companies list). The company was also named to Seramount’s Best Companies for Dads list for the first time. Both awards reflect Zoetis’ commitment to providing colleagues with a range of family-friendly benefits and flexible work arrangements.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present challenges and uncertainty for all of our colleagues, especially our working parents and caregivers,” said Roxanne Lagano, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Global Operations at Zoetis. “We believe it is absolutely essential to offer comprehensive benefits that protect and enhance the variety of health and well-being needs of our colleagues and their loved ones. We also understand how important flexibility is when it comes to leading a balanced and productive life, and we are committed to making flexibility a lasting part of our culture. We are honored to once again be named one of Seramount’s 100 Best Companies, and we are thrilled to earn a place for the first time on the Best Companies for Dads list.”

 

Kristy Earley-Murray Named Zoetis’ Working Mother of the Year

As part of the 100 Best Companies recognition, Zoetis named Kristy Earley-Murray its 2021 Working Mother of the Year. A Strategic Veterinarian in the company’s Midwest region and mother of three young children, Kristy draws her inspiration from her own mother, whose work ethic and devotion to her family compelled Kristy to help others in need. “Whether it’s being there for a colleague who is struggling to find balance as a working mom, or talking to other veterinarians about compassion fatigue and the critical need for self-care, I understand the importance of community and strive to make a difference wherever I can – big or small,” she said. Kristy also holds a leadership role within the Differently-abled & Neurodiversity Alliance (DNA) colleague resource group at Zoetis. “As the mother of a neurodivergent child, I leapt at the opportunity to be part of this supportive group at Zoetis. Connecting with peers who have similar experiences has provided me much comfort during times of uncertainty and I hope my involvement in DNA can provide other parents with the same,” she said. Learn more about Kristy’s story here.

 

Chip Dorsey Named Zoetis’ First-Ever Working Father of the Year

As part of its inaugural inclusion on Seramount’s Best Companies for Dads list, Zoetis named Chip Dorsey, Vice President of Business Development, its first-ever Working Father of the Year. A dedicated leader, mentor and father to two young boys, Chip’s role models growing up were his parents, both doctors who modeled a comfortable overlap between parenting and working. When Chip’s mother passed away at the beginning of the pandemic, he and his family relocated to California to be closer to loved ones. “The support of my colleagues and the Zoetis culture made this shift as smooth as possible, reinforcing that it was the right choice for my family. Zoetis provided me with the opportunity to work fully remote, which has allowed me to spend much more time with my sons. I get to watch them learn and grow, while still pursuing a fulfilling career with growth and development potential.” Chip also serves as a mentor to other colleagues. “I encourage young fathers to be transparent about what they want to accomplish and speak to them about prioritizing their values in order to find balance in their own lives,” said Chip. Learn more about Chip’s story here.

 

Learn More

Seramount will feature a profile of Zoetis online today. The 100 Best Companies and Best Companies for Dads lists are also available here.

 

For more information about Zoetis, including career opportunities and our award-winning culture, visit https://careers.zoetis.com/.

 

About Zoetis

As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. After nearly 70 years innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness, Zoetis continues to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide – from livestock farmers to veterinarians and pet owners. The company’s leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and technologies make a difference in over 100 countries. In 2020, Zoetis generated revenue of $6.7 billion with ~11,300 employees. For more, visit www.zoetis.com.

 

About Seramount

Seramount, now part of EAB, is a strategic professional services firm dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Over four decades, partnering with some of the most iconic companies in the world, we’ve built a deep, data-driven understanding of the employee experience, which lays the groundwork for everything we do. Our comprehensive DE&I toolkit includes actionable research and insights, membership, strategic guidance and consulting, and inspiring events, meeting each client’s needs no matter where they are on their journey and guiding them along an ever-changing landscape. Seramount has empowered over 450 organizations to realize the business benefits of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more at seramount.com.

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Contacts

Media Contact:

Kristen Seely

1-973-443-2777

kristen.seely@zoetis.com

Categories
Art & Life News Now!

XO World Project to unveil two monumental sculptures at World Trade Center in honor of World Peace Day

“World Peace from World Trade”

 

XO World and XO Play Sculptures Aim to Promote Equality, Unity, Peace, and Love, and Ignite a Worldwide “Share the Love” Movement

 

NEW YORK — (BUSINESS WIRE) — XO World Project today announced it will display two monumental sculptures in New York City to celebrate World Peace Day on September 21, 2021. To promote equality, unity, peace, and love, artist Daniel Anderson created the XO World sculpture and its companion, the XO Play sculpture. Both represent new public artworks that will be located on the World Trade Center campus.

“As our society faces unprecedented challenges stemming from a global pandemic, economic recovery, racial inequity, and territorial conflicts, World Peace Day offers the perfect backdrop to unveil these two inspiring sculptures intended to bring people together,” said Anderson.

 

The XO World sculpture is 12 foot in height and 24 feet long. It is inspired by the game of jacks, which is played by many cultures worldwide and dates to approximately 2,000 years ago. The “X” is illustrated by the “Jack” with crossed arms attached to the spoke, representing LOVE in universal sign language. The “O” in the “XO” is represented by the globe. The XO World will be installed in front of One World Trade Center on the West Plaza at 285 Fulton Street.

 

The XO Play is a sculpture of multi-racial children engaged in the game of jacks. This is reminiscent of our childhood’s innocent and harmonious co-existence with friends and effortless ability to make new friends. XO Play will be installed in the Oculus at World Trade next to the 911 Memorial. By choosing New York City for its debut, the XO World Project aims to propel a message of hope, resilience, and inclusion.

 

“I am excited to showcase these sculptures in New York City, the epicenter of the world, and encourage people of all ages to share the love,” added Anderson. “My inspiration for these sculptures came from children and their open acceptance of others. A child’s mind and heart are free of prejudice regardless of race, gender, or religion, which is how we should all strive to emulate.”

 

The combination of the outdoor XO World and indoor XO Play sculptures are intended to ignite a global “Share the Love” movement embracing equality, unity, peace, and love. Anderson’s goal is to bring people together for future generations.

 

“We are proud to partner with XO World Project to bring public art back to the World Trade Center,” said Jonathan (Jody) Durst, President of The Durst Organization. “We hope Daniel Anderson’s message of unity and peace will inspire everyone who sees XO World.”

 

It is XO World Project’s unwavering belief that children have the power to change the course of the future through strong community, hope, peace for a better tomorrow. XO World Project has partnered with charitable organization Operation International Kids whose mission is to make difference in medical care for those in need. Additional support for the New York City launch includes The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and The Durst Organization.

 

“Share the Love” Social Media Campaign

XO World Project is encouraging visitors to take a selfie in front of the XO World sculpture at One World Trade Center, posing with arms crossed over their chest to replicate the ‘X-O’ sculpture and post on social media using the hashtag #SharetheLove.

 

Ribbon Cutting Event

The XO World and indoor XO Play sculptures will be officially unveiled at a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 21 at 3:00 PM at One World Trade Center and 4:00 PM inside the Oculus World Trade (3-minute walk).

 

Future Installations

XO World Project plans to install the XO World and XO Play sculptures in Paris in 2022, and in London, Hong Kong, Moscow, and Dubai thereafter.

 

ABOUT XO World Project

In 2017, artist Daniel Anderson created XO World Project to encourage people to “Share the Love” through sculptures representing the innocence of children and their open acceptance of others. The XO World Project aims to inspire people worldwide to actively seek peace, love, and inclusion by engaging with the play principles of youth when all races, ages, genders, religions, and nationalities are welcomed. To learn more about XO World Project, visit: www.XOWorldProject.com. To learn more about Daniel Anderson, visit: https://www.danielandersonart.com.

Contacts

Domenick Cilea

732-610-6850

Categories
Art & Life Digital - AI & Apps

NJPF photographers to host a free informative, networking, virtual conference for artists

Two well-known New Jersey photographers will host a free virtual meeting Sunday to provide an opportunity for other artists to network and share their journeys with younger photographers.

 

The well-known N.J. photographer, author and international instructor, Nancy Ori, along with Andrew Darlow, who is an award-winning author, photographer, and consultant, have joined forces to support other artists.

 

The two photographers have collaborated many times in the past to teach together. They have now written articles for each other’s newsletters on the topic of It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

 

Their newsletters and conference content are a look back at the creative inspiration they gathered from nature and how they generate positive energy and artwork during this past year.

 

“Early in 2020, life suddenly shifted in so many ways for so many people, yet the natural world of my neighborhood, including the birds, flowers, geese, and trees, didn’t seem to notice. During the virtual presentation, I look forward to sharing some of the images and text that helped me, and my family get through that time,” said Darlow

 

The artists have identified the beauty of their collaboration, how powerful their journeys have been, and so they decided that it will be worth sharing with other artists as well as hearing from them about their topics.

 

At 3 p.m. Sunday, Ori and Darlow will host the free virtual meeting with an opportunity for other artists to network and share their thoughts about their own journeys, give helpful tips for younger artists, and help make some plans. To get the discussion rolling, they will be showing their most recent works.

 

The hosts have invited three additional artists to present their work that was inspired and created during the pandemic.

 

The six artists will have time to talk about what inspired them during the pandemic and how that inspiration impacted their lives and work.

 

The three guest artists are: Gerry Heydt, a traditional American impressionist who paints in oil, and whose students inspired her to create in new ways; Charles Chessler, a NYC-based portrait photographer, who has been inspired to photograph from his computer monitor; and Mike Pach, who is an award-winning photographer and author based in Colorado Springs, CO.

 

Anyone interested in joining the discussion will need to contact Ori at nancyori@comcast.net to get the Zoom link. Attendance is open to any artist of any age using any medium. Along with important information about how to manage an art business through trying times, a major part of the conference discussion with attendees will be about what has been learned and how to draw inspiration from difficult situations.

 

Darlow is a Piscataway, New Jersey-based photographer, author, and digital workflow coach. For over 25 years, he has helped people capture, edit, print and backup their photographs and other media. He is the author of four award-winning books. His newest book is titled: Focus and Filter, Professional Techniques for Mastering Digital Photography and Capturing the Perfect Shot, which is available in both English and Spanish on Amazon.

 

Ori, owner of New Jersey Media Center in Berkeley Heights, is respected internationally as a corporate photographer, author, and photography instructor for many years. She teaches workshops both locally and internationally and was affiliated for many years with the Ansel Adams Workshop in California. She currently teaches privately and is on the faculty of several museums and art centers in New Jersey. Her international tours are scheduled to start up again next spring with visits to her typical off-the-beaten-path locations in Europe. Her latest book: 5 Important Elements of a Portfolio and Critique is available on Amazon.

 

Ori says, “I came up with this idea of collaboration with other artists and invited Andrew as the second artist. I would like to continue these conversations with other artists moving forward to share our thoughts on a variety of topics in future conferences. It will be a great networking opportunity for everyone.

 

The Zoom conference is a great way for experienced artists to share their inspirations and realizations to help other artists. The conference will be void of discussions on anything political or negative. I would like the attendees to walk away with some positive energy and tips for how to make some plans. How will they redefine their normal?”

 

For more information on the It’s a Beautiful Day in the NeighborhoodConference, please contact Nancy Ori at 908-790-8820 or nancyori@comcast.net to receive the Zoom link to attend. You can visit both artists websites at www.nancyoriworkshops.com for more information and free photo tips.

 

nancyori@comcast.net

www.nancyoriworkshops.com

Categories
Art & Life

New Jersey Photography Forum to present ‘Colorific 2021’ exhibit at the Mayo Performing Arts Center

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Late this summer into fall, the New Jersey Photography Forum will present its annual exhibit, “Colorific,” at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in the Art Upstairs Gallery.  

 

The show will be happening, starting Sept. 8 through Oct. 18.

 

The public is invited to a free reception to meet the artists at the gallery on Sunday, Sept. 26 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Masks and vaccinations will be required.

 

The “Colorific” exhibit features 30 images that place a premium on color and the importance it plays in the visual impact of artistic images. The images were selected from over 80 pieces chosen by a jury of three judges and include classic still-lives, landscapes, and highly manipulated abstract photographs.

 

This year, the exhibit kicks off the performance season for MPAC as well as the exhibition season for NJ Photo Forum.

 

“We are thrilled to be returning to the Mayo PAC with this annual exhibit!” says Nancy Ori, director of the NJPF.

 

“It will be a colorful way to start our exhibit season. Showing artistic work for a live audience is what the Forum is all about, and this is a perfect way to start our new exhibits after 2 years of waiting,” she explained.

 

14 artists from around New Jersey will have works included in the exhibit: Ruth Brown, Edison; Jamin Chen, Montville; Ken Curtis, Califon; Ralph Greene, Woodland Park; Theresa Hood, Hamilton Township, PA; Marv Kaminsky, Flanders; John Markanich, West Milford; Leonard McDonald, Mountainside; Charlann Meluso, Berkeley Heights; Charles Miller, Ringoes; Nancy Ori, Berkeley Heights; Lynn Ronan, Midland Park; Christine Truhe, Summit and Russ Wills, Plainfield.

 

Two years ago, The New Jersey Photography Forum celebrated the 25thanniversary of its founding. The NJPF is dedicated to furthering the interests of professional and serious photographers living or working in the New Jersey area. Over the past 27 years under the direction of Nancy Ori, the NJPF has become the largest and most recognized group of fine art exhibiting photographers in the state.

 

The monthly meetings are currently held virtually using Zoom but will return to in-person meetings at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit when possible. At the meetings, attendees are encouraged to share expertise and advance their skills. The meetings provide access to a wide variety of current creative and technical information through informal presentations and demonstrations by photographic artists.

 

At each meeting, photographers have an opportunity to share their work for critique by others. Exhibition possibilities within the fine art community are constantly explored, and the group historically has produced as many as a dozen group exhibits each year at various venues. These opportunities have become an invaluable resource for photographers interested in becoming fine art exhibitors.

 

The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South Street, Morristown, NJ. The exhibit is open to ticket holders on nights of performance or by appointment during normal business hours, 10 am – 5 pm, Monday to Friday. To make an appointment call 908-507-9419.

 

For more information on the exhibit please contact Nancy Ori at nancyori@comcast.net You can also visit the New Jersey Photography Forum website at www.njphotoforum.com

 

www.njphotoforum.com
Categories
Art & Life Healthcare

Labcorp and Community Clinical Oncology Research Network collaborate to assess social and economic impacts of disparities in cancer care

The PREFER Registry and Biobank Will Help Inform Cancer Clinical Trials in Diverse Populations

 

BURLINGTON, N.C. & EDISON, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Labcorp (NYSE: LH), a leading global life sciences company, and Community Clinical Oncology Research Network, LLC (CCORN), a leading research organization, today announced their collaboration to better understand the impact of disparities in precision medicine for people with cancer. Information gathered from a patient registry and biobank will be used to help design future cancer clinical trials in diverse populations.


“Labcorp and CCORN are joining forces to ensure oncology clinical research reaches community oncology practices serving individuals from diverse populations who are living with cancer,” said Prasanth Reddy, M.D., MPH, FACP, Labcorp’s senior vice president and head of oncology. “While progress has been made to improve outcomes in cancer medicine, especially over the past two decades, current standards of care remain woefully inadequate, due in part to a lack of access and diversity in clinical trials, as well as limited access to advanced diagnostic testing. Advanced diagnostic testing offered by Labcorp, much like genomic sequencing, is critical to ensure the right drug reaches the right patient at the right time in their cancer journey. The PREFER (PRospective rEgistry oF advanced stage cancER) patient registry will provide key insights derived from clinical and lab data on the unmet needs among people with cancer from diverse populations, helping us reduce the impact of health care disparities and fully realize the power of precision medicine for these patients.”

Patient registries are observational study methods used to collect standardized information about a group of patients who share a condition or experience. PREFER will enroll up to 2,500 patients with advanced solid-tumor cancer from multiple sites across the United States beginning Sept. 1, 2021. OmniSeq INSIGHTsm, a comprehensive genomic and immune-profiling, tissue-based test that incorporates next-generation sequencing technology, will be used to help identify the prevalence of actionable biomarkers and driver mutations that are unique to different ethnicities.

As a part of their collaboration, Labcorp and CCORN will also create a biobank, enabling the broader oncology community to access real-world evidence and identify the source of disparities. Information from the biobank and patient registry could prove useful in improving the design of oncology clinical trials, assist in patient recruitment efforts, and help encourage the expansion of genomic profiling testing in diverse populations.

“Diverse populations already suffer from a lack of access to adequate cancer diagnosis and treatment, including reduced screening rates and staging at diagnosis, along with the financial challenges people often face following a diagnosis of cancer,” said Dr. Kashyap Patel, founder and Chairman of CCORN, President of the Community Oncology Alliance and CEO of the Carolina Blood and Cancer Care. “Drug development processes have been relatively unsuccessful in reflecting demographic diversity in clinical trials, which further contributes to disparities in care and outcomes for those groups. It’s imperative that we determine how and why disparities occur, and this collaboration with Labcorp will be a major step in this regard.”

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend and position clinical trials as a treatment option for cancer, yet less than 5% of patients diagnosed with cancer are enrolled in these trials due to lack of awareness, social determinants of health, and geographic and logistical obstacles. By ensuring diversity in trials, the oncology community will have a deeper understanding of how to continue advancing personalized medicine in cancer care and thereby improve outcomes for all patients.

Additionally, a 2020 American Association for Cancer Research report on cancer disparities estimated that 34% of cancer deaths among U.S. adults age 25 to 74 could be prevented if disparities in clinical trial participation were actively addressed.

About CCORN (Community Clinical Oncology Research Network)

CCORN is a startup company founded by a visionary team of oncologists with a collective research experience stretching over three decades and over 100 publications, and presentations at both national and international levels. Their mission is to close the widespread disparities in cancer burden, cancer care and precision medicine.

About Labcorp

Labcorp is a leading global life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and patients make clear and confident decisions. Through our unparalleled diagnostics and drug development capabilities, we provide insights and accelerate innovations to improve health and improve lives. With more than 70,000 employees, we serve clients in more than 100 countries. Labcorp (NYSE: LH) reported revenue of $14 billion in FY2020. Learn about Labcorp at www.Labcorp.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @Labcorp.

Contacts

Media: Christopher Allman-Bradshaw — 336-436-8263

Media@Labcorp.com

Investors: Chas Cook — 336-436-5076

Investor@Labcorp.com