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There are many groups of people who have an interest, financial or otherwise, in the performance of a business - these different groups are known as stakeholders. The main stakeholders are considered to be:
These people have a clear financial interest in the performance of the business. They have invested money into the company through purchasing shares and they expect the company to grow and prosper so that they receive a healthy return on their investment. The return that they receive can come in two forms. Firstly, by a rise in the share price, so that they can sell their shares at a higher price than the purchase price (this is known as making a capital gain). Secondly, based on the level of profits for the year, the company issues a portion of this to each shareholder for every share that they hold (this is known as a dividend). The shareholders are also entitled to vote each year at the A.G.M. to elect the Board of Directors, who will run the company on their behalf.
This group also has an obvious financial interest in the company, since their pay levels and their job security will depend on the performance and the profitability of the business. It is employees who perform the basic functions and tasks of the business (producing output, meeting deadlines and delivery dates, etc.) and over recent years their traditional role has started to change. They are often now encouraged to become involved in multi-skilled teamworking, problem solving and decision making - thus having a significant input to the workings of the business.
Customers are vital to the survival of any business, since they purchase the goods and services which provides the business with the majority of its revenue. It is therefore vital for a business to find out exactly what the needs of the consumers are, and to produce their output to directly satisfy these needs - this is done through market research. The goods and services must then be promoted in such a way as to appeal to the target market and to inform them of the availability, price, etc. Once the goods and services have been purchased by the customer, it is essential that after-sales service is offered and that the customer is happy with his/her purchase. The business must try to keep the customer loyal so that they return in the future and become a repeat-purchaser.
Without flexible and reliable suppliers, the business could not guarantee that it will always have sufficient high quality raw materials which they require to produce their output. It is important for a business to maintain good relationships with their suppliers, so that raw materials and components can be ordered and delivered at short notice, and also so that the business can negotiate good credit terms from the suppliers (i.e. buy now, pay at a later date).
The Government
The government affects the workings of businesses in many ways:
1. Businesses have to pay a variety of taxes to central and local government, including Corporation tax on their profits, Value-Added Tax (V.A.T) on their sales, and Business Rates to the local council for the provision of local services.
2. Businesses also have to adhere to a wide-ranging amount of legislation, which is aimed at protecting the consumers, the employees and the local environment from business activity.
3. Businesses will be affected by different economic policies, (for example, if interest rates are increased, then this will discourage businesses from borrowing money since the repayments will now be significantly higher). However, businesses can also benefit from government incentives and initiatives, such as new infrastructure, job creation schemes and business relocation packages, offering cheap rent, rates and low-interest loans.
The Local Community
Businesses are likely to provide significant amounts of employment for the local community and often will produce and sell much of their output to the local residents. The sponsorship of local events and good causes (such as local charity work) can also help the business to establish itself in the community as a caring, socially responsible organisation. Many businesses develop links with local schools and colleges, offering sponsorships and resources to these under-funded institutions. However, businesses can also cause many problems in local communities, such as congestion, pollution and noise, and these negative externalities may often outweigh the benefits that the businesses bring to the community.
Due to the demands placed on businesses by so many different stakeholders, it is no surprise that there are often disagreements and conflict between the different groups. Some of the more common areas of conflict are:
Shareholders and management
Profit maximisation is often the over-riding objective of shareholders - resulting in large dividend payments for them. However, it is far more likely that the managers of the business will aim to profit satisfy rather than profit maximise (that is, they will aim to earn a satisfactory level of profits, and then use the remaining resources to pursue other objectives such as diversification and growth). This conflict between these two groups is often referred to as divorce of ownership (the shareholders) and control (the management).
Customers and the business
Customers are unlikely to remain loyal and repeat purchase from the business if the product that the have purchased is of poor quality and/or is poor value for money. More customers are prepared to complain about the quality of products and after-sales service than ever before, and the business must ensure that it has in place a number of strategies designed to satisfy the disgruntled customer, reimburse any financial loss that they may have incurred and persuade them to remain loyal to the business.
Suppliers and the business
Suppliers are often quoted as complaining about the lack of prompt payments from businesses for deliveries of raw materials, and if this became a regular problem then the suppliers may well refuse credit to the businesses or may even cease all dealings with them. On the other hand, many businesses have been known to complain about the late deliveries of raw materials and components from suppliers, and the dubious quality of the parts once they have been inspected.
The community and the business
As outlined previously, the local community can often suffer at the hands of a large company through the negative externalities of pollution, noise, congestion and the building of new factories in areas of outstanding beauty. However, if the business faces strong protests from residents and from pressure groups concerned about its actions, then it may decide to relocate to another area, causing much unemployment and a fall in investment in the community it leaves behind.
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I have a very long break in front of me and during this break I want to see how far I can get to learning how to build a Google Keep style application. I want it to be a very simple window which has an option to add information (which will then be visually stored within the window), and I also want a search bar which can bring up results of any information stored by the user within the application.
obviously just saying it like this is simple but can anyone boost me off? offer me a guideline or a basic understanding of what needs to be done?
Thanks for any replies.

subset: commoncrawl


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Home | Conference | Membership | Search | Contact Us
ITTPC Outstanding Tutor Award (OTA):
OTA Home & Nomination
The ITTPC Outstanding Tutor Award was established by the College Reading and Learning Association's (CRLA's) International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC) committee. Initially named for Tom Pasternack (1995-2010), the CRLA Newsletter editor and special individual. This award allows the CRLA to recognize an outstanding undergraduate ITTPC certified student tutor each year with a plaque and a check for $250. As of 2012, those able to accept the award in person at the Fall CRLA conference will also receive an additional $250 award to offset conference travel costs.
Nomination Instructions: [printable copy of this page of instructions]
The Outstanding Tutor Award was established in 1995 by the College Reading and Learning Association's International Tutor Training Program Certification committee (ITTPC). This award is given annually to one peer tutor from any one of our 1100+ certified tutor training programs. It honors the work of our undergraduate student tutors who contribute so much to the academic success of their peers and enrich our professional lives through their hard work, dedication and enthusiasm.
The nominated tutor must be an undergraduate and certified through a CRLA- ITTPC certified tutor program who has reached the highest level offered by his/her program as documented by copies of CRLA certificates indicating the nominee's level of certification.
The nominee must provide a current official transcript (scanned) demonstrating a minimum 3.0 GPA, a letter of recommendation from one of her/his course professors from the institution s/he currently attends, who is not directly affiliated with the tutoring program the nominee is employed by and a letter of recommendation from her/his tutorial program supervisor. Please Note: Institutions can only submit one nomination per tutoring program.
The nominee must submit an original essay of at least 500 words and not exceeding 750 words addressing the topic, "The tutor's role in supporting student learning outcomes and assessment". This original essay must be submitted electronically, double-spaced and in standard MLA format (to include headers and headings). Essays should show insight into the tutoring process while addressing the specific topic.
To apply:
All completed applications must be received no later than 11:59 PM EDT on May 18, 2014. Partial or incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants will be notified by email of receipt of their application packets.
Application form must be completed and submitted with all required documentation. Please submit scanned copies of all documents, including the transcript. Do not mail any hard copies or flash drives.
Applications will be reviewed and the winner chosen by a selected panel made up of members from the College Reading and Learning Association ITTPC committee. Applicants will be notified by email of the results. Application materials cannot be returned.
Completed applications must include the following:
Questions please contact:


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My new column, Fraud Flashpoints, went "live" Friday morning at Corporate Compliance Insights (CCI). As the featured fraud columnist, I'm excited about exploring professional areas of interest. Look for my featured fraud column semi-monthly!
Corporate Compliance Insights (CCI) is a corporate governance, risk and compliance (GRC) digital news publication. Writing this column presented me with a unique opportunity to do something different in the industry. Unlike academic pieces which are longer and more theory based, "Flashpoints" are shorter, more insightful and topical pieces focusing on the events going on in the fraud world today.


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|Illustrators Workshop
The Authors' Words:
|Cheryl Johnson
A recipient of the Mom's Choice Award, the 10th of October, 2014 marked the day when Cheryl was awarded the seal of excellence for her first three books. It meant that her first three stories passed a rigorous panel of judges who evaluate both the stories themselves and the illustrations. As a non-traditional aged student starting art college at 38 years old, going to school was certainly a challenge. Cheryl was a single parent of four children, worked as a cake decorator in a local family bakery and commuted over an hour each way to the city of Portland to work. Working hard it took seven long years to get her degree in Fine Arts, with a minor in Art History from MECA, Maine College of Art. Today, Cheryl has published many children's stories and illustrated others for authors.
Hi Cheryl! So glad you could do this interview with me!
Cheryl, what circumstances inspired you to pursue your art?
That's one of my first memories of drawing. I ALWAYS loved to color and by the time I was ten,I was drawing for hours at a time. I made home made books in the 5th and 6th grade with my friends as characters.
At 15 I was convinced I would be a female Leonardo Da Vinci when I grew up.
Drawing what was in my imagination was a way to control something,create my own world. It was an escape from a chaotic home life. It was an addiction,along with music I loved that kept me from using drugs or alcohol as a teen.
I loved the idea of creating my own stories from preteen. Again,it was a way of controlling my world. I was a loner as a child and spent a lot of time walking in our woods or fields,talking to myself and spinning fantasies in a force field that surrounded me.
What drew you to writing for children?
What drew me to writing mostly for children is the freedom. I get to write from what I still connect to,I remember everything about my childhood and myself.I remember reading fairy tales and books like Narnia and A Wrinkle in Time and they fed my imagination. I love writing children's stories because I can really run with them.
To me, it feels as though they have no rules or boundaries in imagination. I can make snails play the guitar and mushrooms bounce.
How have you come up with the characters in the books?
Oh my gosh. I think of new characters every day. When I walk my three miles,it seems to unleash a lot of creativity in me.That's how I came up with my Cloud Hill book.It rushed at me from the universe-the whole story and 8 days later I had it up on Createspace published.
My characters of Mish,Sid,Chonk just started to grown from one little story about 35 years ago.Now I have a head FULL of additional characters waiting to see the light of day. The latest addition is Brax-a very small mushroom man who came from the "bad side of the forest". I am introducing two not so savory mushroom men named Malvin,the leader and his side kick Grut. I LOVE drawing these guys.They have rubber faces. It's hard to stop coming up with more ideas for stories. I don't even try to stop the flow.
Cheryl, you are the recipient of the Mom's Choice Award! Where in you home does is the award displayed?
I was a nobody. But now, I can use sites like Createspace to self publish and I'm THRILLED.
My mom passed away 23 years ago and never got to see any of my books in print. She would have been very proud.
I don't have the award displayed on a wall for Mom's Choice but I do include it in every book I do now, in the back of the books where I show the other ones I've written.
What was your original goal to achieve as an author and artist, and have you reached it?
My original goal as a writer and an artist was to hold a book in my hands that I actually published. I have done almost 20 now. It is the most gratifying accomplishment in my career to date,and I am just getting started. I published Mish #1 in Oct 2013. I intend to surpass Dr.Suess in quantity by 2017. Hopefully there will be a best seller in there somewhere.
What mediums do you work in?
I draw for my children's books exclusively with my Wacom tablet. I used to use Prisma markers but once I was introduced to digital art,I was hooked. It is without waste,or limits.I feel as though I was gifted a magic wand 3 years ago and thank heaven EVERY day!
You were a single parent of four children working as a cake decorator in a bakery and commuted over an hour each way to work and it took seven years to get your Art degree. What drove you?
|Story by Susan Darling
Was there any particular children's author or authors who influenced you?
I was influenced by several children's book artists. They are Maraja,Nardini and Addrienne Segur. I have my childhood books still with their fabulous artwork in them. They are very precious to me.
My advice to other aspiring authors or illustrators is to love what you do.
I paint a lot of traditional commission work to pay the bills but I make sure I spend a fair amount of time focusing on what I love.
I can't stress enough that you have to be passionate about your work.It's what keeps you going when no one is watching or paying you.
I want to sell a million books. But if I don't ever become truly financially successful in the book industry,I won't have any regrets. None at all.
I do it for myself, and to spread joy and try to promote goodness in my little corner of this world.
What project are you working on now?
Where can people find your artwork?
|Story by Jan Kubiac
I can be found here on Facebook everyday. I also have a website. www.mishandfriends.com
|Story by MW McKenney
|Story by Marco Greer
Thank you so much, Cheryl for doing this interview. I appreciate it.
All Cheryl Johnson's Children's Books can be found at: http://www.mishandfriends.com/
AND Bought AT: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00IR0464Q
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CHERYL & See Her Wonderful ArtWorks for Sell AT: http://www.mishandfriends.com/who.html
AND http://artistcheryljohnson.com/


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Why is this blog not talking about fishing even once?
Hello random and curious readers,
If you drop by here every now and then, I guess you'll have noticed that there is no single post about fishing. So I can read the big question that is appearing in your minds… why having named this blog this way then? Well, let me try to answer this question.
I've always wanted this blog to be a place of Peace and Happiness, where any web traveller could rest a little before facing again the harsh stream of life. Therefore, I thought it would be logical to refer to my own references about these two notions. In my mind, fishing was the closest to both of them. Why, you ask?
I think the answer is quite obvious for Peace. Fishermen have always lived a peaceful life, in calm towns. They have to sit at a place for hours without doing anything but appreciating how great life is. No unwanted stuff, perhaps some annoying insect or rain, but hey, it is a fisherman's life, so they get used to it. I guess one's life cannot be more peaceful.
If these persons are not having peaceful lives…
Happiness is harder to explain though… I believe that living a fisherman's life is one way to reach this state of mind. These persons have no stressful deadlines to follow, no long-term worries, no true life trouble… If they are patient enough, the only thing they have to do is to sit, calmly wait, and enjoy how pretty life is. And fate will decide if they will eat or not, but they don't really care, since they can't do anything about it… In the meantime, they just have to sit and remain contemplative facing Nature's amazing beauty. And this is great if you take time to do this. Simply sitting down and watching the sunrise, or looking at curious insects, awesome plants or a simple tree full of little insect life… This is a part of Happiness too often neglected nowadays.
Besides, a fisherman is never simply waiting. He is waiting for something, would it be a fish or any other kind of catch. By doing this, he is already imagining how big his fish would be, or how well he would eat tonight… He's already enjoying his catch without having caught even a single fish. And this is another part of Happiness : being able to enjoy things you don't have yet, to imagine how happy you would be with these, because you are never as happy as you expected when you have them.
Last but not least, a fisherman has time, and therefore can use it to dream. These are a good way to enjoy your time, and imagination can be a good friend if you have time to kill. This is not Happiness, but it does play a role in it too… being able to colour your life, as I often say, is an important component of Happiness, because Life itself is harsh.
Thus, a fisherman would be, in my mind at least, a good incarnation of Happiness and Peace. Of course, this is idealized, but it's enough to make a good title for my blog, right? I hope this have made you think a tad bit about your own life and Happiness… Are you really Happy?


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In stock items ship today if
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In stock items ship today
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Get the fastest turnaround in the industry on custom stage and event curtains.
Scenic paint is composed of three parts: the binder, the pigment and the medium. The binder is what makes the paint adhere to the surface to which it is applied, the pigment gives the paint it's color, and the medium is designed to disappear as the paint dries. Scenic paints provide a good binder that will adhere to a variety of surfaces, and (as much as possible) a single pigment color, which keeps the color of the stage light from affecting the perceived color of the paint. A variety of paint types are available depending upon the surface and the artists' preference.
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QuickBooks 2007 on Demand is the ultimate reference for people who really want to learn how to use the most popular accounting program. Using a friendly seeit/do-it technique, QuickBooks 2007 on Demand gives you illustrated, full color, step-by-step explanations that put you in charge of your finances. Whether you keep this book right next to your computer for quick reference or use it to train others, you'll find this is an indispensable resource.
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Create and use a budget
Reconcile your bank account to the penny without waiting for the bank statement to come in the mail
Keep detailed records of fixed asset acquisitions
Protect your financial information with the latest in security techniques
Send customized mailings to your customers and vendors
1. Setting Up Your Company Accounts with the EasyStep Interview
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3. Adding or Changing Information After the Interview Is Completed
4. Invoicing and Collecting Income
5. Making Purchases and Recording Payments
6. Collecting and Paying Sales Tax
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10. QuickBooks Tips and Tricks
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15. Recording Your Assets
16. Recording Owners' Equity
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18. Preparing the Top Ten QuickBooks Reports
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Even in the best of times, internal turmoil was implicit in the description of legendary hardcore outfit Black Flag. (See one-time frontman Henry Rollins' essential tour diary, Get in the Van.) Given the band's ramshackle legacy, which was marked by shifting line-ups, spit-soaked shows and even police surveillance, it should come as no surprise that the band's 2013 reunion would be fraught with controversy.
This time around, however, the issues at stake were decidedly less punk. Greg Ginn, Black Flag's founder and arguably its leading creative voice since its inception, sought to bar former Black Flag singer Keith Morris (also known as the frontman for the now-defunct Circle Jerks and Off!) and other former Black Flag members from using the Black Flag name and iconic black bars logo: They'd been promoting their own outfit, Flag, which also featured performances of Black Flag classics. In a move more befitting his age than his reputation, Ginn sought resolution through litigation.
Over the latter half of 2013, the dispute played out publicly and in real time, as Ginn (via representation), Morris and bystanders with more opinions than skin in the game took to various media outlets to air their grievances. Like an aggro-Rashomon, accusations and insinuations abounded as the various stakeholders weighed in with their perspectives on the situation, revealing to a mainstream audience the gossipy side of the often-insular punk scene.
April 2014 brought a rather anticlimactic culmination to the affair, as Black Flag announced the suit brought by Ginn and his label, SST Records, was settled in an agreement signed by Ginn, SST Records, and former Black Flag singers Henry Rollins and Keith Morris. The settlement confirmed ownership of all Black Flag recordings and the Black Flag logo by Greg Ginn and SST Records, stipulating that Flag cease its use of the logo in promotion of Flag shows and releases.
Enter Mike Vallely. Though he's best known for his almost-mythic skateboarding skills, Vallely's varied résumé has also included work as a stuntman, a stint in the Federal Hockey League, and a music career dating all the way back to 1985, including a few one-off shows with Black Flag. In 2013, Vallely partnered with Ginn to form the punk outfit Just For You. Since Black Flag's reformation, Vallely has been acting as a co-manager and publicist, helping Ginn to navigate the uncharted waters the band faced. The mid-show exit (or firing, depending on who you ask) of Ron Reyes in November left Black Flag without a singer. In January, Ginn announced that in addition to co-management duties, Vallely would assume vocal duties for Black Flag.
Now that he is the mouthpiece for Black Flag both on- and offstage, Vallely has brought Black Flag closer to its aggressive DIY roots. He has no doubt in his choice to sign on as singer.
"It was just the obvious thing to do," he says. "Ron Reyes had quit the band. It was do or die. Instead of letting the band and the music end on this unresolved, negative note, we chose to move it forward." Despite his varied career history, which seems informed in equal parts by both opportunity and genuine desire, Vallely is focused on his new role. "It's a fun opportunity, but I am also committed to this for the long term, no doubt."
Like Henry Rollins, Vallely was a fan of Black Flag long before he became involved with the band, and it affected him deeply. "1984, Trenton, New Jersey," Vallely says. "It was an important night for me. I was 14 years old and it was the first live music I'd ever witnessed. The show, the music, the energy and intensity had a very profound effect on me. It was the moment when, in a way, I really began living my own life as I know it. It was a spark of true inspiration."
From Vallely's perspective, his new role is a natural fit, stemming from the chemistry between him and Ginn. "We have a very strong friendship and partnership," Vallely says. "There's a lot of respect there, as well as simple, straightforward communication. Musically and creatively we are on the [same] page. My singing for Black Flag comes from a place of strength. There is nothing to disagree about. Just work to do.
"With the lawsuit behind us, we can now just focus on putting the music first without any confusion about who or what Black Flag is."
Rosters aside, Black Flag's initial run, from 1976 to about 1986, inspired a legion of fans. Many followed Black Flag's war-like imperative to the letter, forming their own bands. Those who didn't adopt Black Flag as a lifestyle still received its message of aggression against the status quo, a lesson they carried into the world at large. While it may be easy to dismiss the dispute between Black Flag and Flag as rock stars arguing about first-world problems, it's important to note that during Black Flag's initial storied run, life in the band was a grinding struggle, a constant fight for the rarest and most marginal of victories. Spoils of that fight are a long time in coming. It should come as no surprise that everyone who suffered for and in Black Flag should want a share.
It's hard to say whether the band's influence was ubiquitous enough, its fans impassioned enough, to allow both Black Flag and Flag to co-exist profitably, but it isn't implausible. For his part, Vallely seems to be determined to recapture Black Flag's defining essence by any means necessary. When asked what Black Flag meant to him upon hearing the band for first time at14 , Vallely's answer is unequivocal: "Freedom. Still does."


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by Terry Hemphill
January 25, 2012
Interview with Brenda Sutherland, Illustrator Product Manager
If you are an Illustrator customer, Brenda Sutherland, Adobe Illustrator Product Manager, is one person who has had a tremendous impact on your product during her tenure at Adobe. Check out this interview with Brenda by the Astute Graphics team when she visited their booth at the London International Technology show last fall, which includes questions from key figures in the design industry. Enjoy!


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The bridges we build
Can lead us to places unknown.
Friendships that become
more than just a passing glance
can start with just a simple smile.
A polite "Hello" or "How are you? "
can lead to a mutual understanding.
Things we have in common
are what binds us together
and makes us feel like we belong.
No one wants to feel alone.
We are all pieces of a large puzzle,
each of us having a unique purpose.
The bridges we build
need not be traveled alone,
for we can all use a hand to hold.
But if a bit of solitude is necessary,
please don't break those bridges down
after you've crossed,
for others may want to follow
in your footsteps.
Be proud of your journey,
and remember to be present
in all the moments of your life.
May the bridges you cross
lead you to your…
View original post 42 more words


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We passed a historic Data Resolution!
We passed and implemented a historic Data Resolution! Together with OUSD's Office of Equity, AYPAL recently implemented a Disaggregated Data Resolution originally passed in 2016, expanding the scope of the resolution to apply to ALL students! This is the first resolution of it's kind to disaggregate data for Asian Pacific Islander, LatinX, and African Immigrant students! There is also an increase of catagories students can identify as when they enroll, eliminating situations where they previously had to mark themselves as "Other". Check out this student produced video from KDOL for more info! Shouts out to former Youth Campaign Organizer Jamie for being a part of the interviews! We hope this video offers an example of what other school districts and city's everywhere can do to increase the visibility of underrepresented students and communities. We hope this offers insight as to why we need ethnic studies, No Hxstory No Self, KNOW Hxstory, KNOW Self. #WeHere
We passed and implemented a historical data resolution! from Joshua Fisher Lee (AYPAL) on Vimeo.
20th Annual May Arts Recap! Thank You!
On Saturday May 12th AYPAL youth leaders celebrated the 20th Annual AYPAL May Arts Festival, using culture as a tool to fight against displacement in Oakland! This event took place at Lincoln Square Park, the highest used Parks and Rec facility in the city, yet the park is right in the middle of several market rate housing developments being built over the next two years. These developments have the potential to completely shift the community as we know it. #WeHere to make sure public space continues to be utilized by longtime residents.
Check out full recap photos on our FB: https://www.facebook.com/AYPAL/
New Chinatown / Black Arts District Tool Available
As part of AYPAL's 3rd Annual "FOB: Fresh Off the Block Youth Arts Exhibit" which happened Thursday December 21st, 2017, AYPAL is excited to share a new tool created to better understand the potential impacts of all the new developments coming into our communities. Below is a link to a live map that allows users to click on various projects in and around Chinatown that have the potential to greatly change the community, as well as descriptions of the ways youth and community have been fighting to keep our communities in tact and thriving. This is a live document and information is subject to change, check it out by clicking the image below!
19th annual may arts festival "rooted in culture" highlights!
May Arts highlight video shot and edited by Stevie Sanchez of EastSide Arts Alliance now available below! 6.22.17
There is still time to give to our #WeHere campaign to keep our movement to protect our communities going! www.razoo.com/story/aypaloakland
Original post with photos 6.18.17
Thank you to everyone who attended, performed, donated, ate, built connections, laughed, cried, and cheered at AYPAL's 19th Annual May Arts Festival "Rooted In Culture" at Lincoln Square Park in Chinatown! #WeHere and we ain't goin no where! Support youth protecting Oakland culture!
On Saturday May 13th hundreds of community members enjoyed youth performances protecting our cultures and communities. Check out some images below from our photographer Sunshine V! Check out more on our Facebook page here.
Ieumsae Drummers open the space up with a contingent through the park
AYPAL youth Mien Dancers in full regalia awaiting the stage
DJ Edel repping for the class of 17′ at May Arts
Pat working on live art inspired by the event throughout the day
Members of APEN doing a Tai Chi activity with attendees
Hip Hop dancers breaking it down
The Guerilla Theater performance offered a glimpse into our struggles, and our resiliency and power
A crew of AYPAL youth leaders take the stage for a round of applause!
Check out more pictures on our facebook page here.
Interested in supporting AYPAL? Check out our page on RAZOO:
Thank you to our co-sponsor's:
Thank you to all of our funders:
The California Endowment
The Oakland Public Education Fund
The Penney Family Fund
The Clorox Foundation
Hella Heart Giving Circle
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
"Raising AAPI Youth Visibility" Report Released!
We are pleased to announce the "Visibility for AAPI Youth" report published by Asian Health Services, AYPAL: Building API Community Power, and Banteay Srei! This report analyzes disaggregated data from over 400 Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) completed youth surveys in Oakland public schools. The fact that a data set of this kind, which highlights the various experiences within the large AAPI umbrella, did not previously exist has been the primary motivation behind collecting and creating this report. We hope this document sheds light on the need for more specific, disaggregated data amongst AAPI communities and other communities whose stories often go untold.
- This data was driven by community organizations that noticed a dearth in relevant data about the youth they serve and work with.
- Data collected for this report was utilized to pass a "Disaggregated Data Resolution" for AAPI youth in the Oakland Unified School District; this is the first district in the state for have a resolution of this kind.
- We see the push for disaggregated data as an effort to highlight differences and similarities to inform efforts that would promote equity in health, socio-economics, and education. In doing so, it will help to further unite our diverse population by empowering us with accurate knowledge.
For more information, please visit our organizations' websites listed in the front of this report. Thank you to everyone who was a part of this project and its growth.
In community,
Mike Tran
Asian Health Services
Youth Program Coordinator
Joshua Fisher Lee
AYPAL: Building API Community Power
Hamida Yusufzai
Banteay Srei
Program Manager
19th annual may arts "rooted in culture" performances announced!
Join us as we fight for our communities in Oakland
and celebrate
19 years of Building API Community Power!
"Rooted In Culture"
Saturday May 13th
Lincoln Square Park, Chinatown
261 11th St, Oakland, CA 94607
AYPAL Youth Performances:
Guerrilla Theater
Hip Hop Dance
Khmer Moon Dance
Mien Dance
Southeast Asian Lion Dance
Spoken Word
Community Performances:
Ieumsae Korean Drumming
Tai Chi with APEN Members
ACPA Rondalla
Mix'd Ingrdnts
Babii Cris
Free Entry
Check out last year's recap vid here! https://goo.gl/0pSjcw
Feel free to contact us for more information on how to get involved.
Highlights from "Fresh Off the Block II"!
Thank you to everyone who attended AYPAL's 2nd annual Fresh Off the Block Photo Exhibit at Eastside Arts Alliance on December 15th, 2016!
We are excited to share this highlight video created by Stevie Sanchez. Community came together to share stories about Oakland, talk about gentrification, and even dance (of course)! Enjoy!
Missed the event? Want to see more? No worries, click the link below to gain access to the highlight video we played during the exhibit: Youth confronting decision makers during key moments in our 2016 #WeHere campaign!
#WeHere: https://goo.gl/SZQ49B
aypal organizer represents for assembly bill in sacramento: news video clip
With the passage of legislation that will make Asian and Pacific Islander students, particularly those who are underrepresented – such as Southeast Asians, more visible within the Oakland Unified School District, AYPAL has continued to work towards similar legislation at both the city and state levels. Over the summer AYPAL organizers met with State Assembly members to encourage the passage of Assembly Bill 1726, which would disaggregate data for API's similarly to the OUSD legislation (you can find that story here). Below is a video clip of a news story that documented both the conservative opposition to this bill, as well as AYPAL's very own Vincent Saephan explaining the need for this type of policy.
Check out the video below!
Oakland high school students form legislation with school board member to transform the way OUSD reports API student data, bringing invisible communities to the forefront; resolution passes unanimously.
A resolution to disaggregate Asian Pacific Islander (API) student data was passed early this week on June 8th, following a presentation and advocacy by youth from three different community organizations (Banteay Srei, Asian Health Services Youth Program, and AYPAL: Building API Community Power) at the May 25th school board meeting. The resolution was put forth by District 2 School Board member Aimee Eng and calls for the publishing of disaggregated data for API students in the Oakland Unified School District; adding "Mien/Lao", and "Tongan" as categories as part of the resolution. This resolution, which was backed by the support of several community and statewide organizations, as well as Assembly member Rob Bonta's office, Superintendent Antwan Wilson, and members of the city's Life Enrichment Committee, passed unanimously with a vote of 7-0. It is the first of it's kind to be passed in California school districts and will effectively break out several different groups within the category of "Asian" and "Pacific Islander" to provide more visibility to underrepresented API populations such as Cambodian, Mien, Tongan, and other Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander students.
For news coverage on this story, please see the following link to NPR/KQED news story:
On Wednesday May 25th, 2016 twenty high school youth in Oakland attended the Oakland Unified School District Board Meeting with signs that read things like "Count me in: 68% of Cambodians DO NOT have a high school diploma", to present their stories in an effort to back legislation that would change the way data is reported for underrepresented students. Youth presented their own set of data about Asian American youth in Oakland, and provided personal testimony to encourage the School Board to change the way data is tracked and reported to make the experiences of their communities more visible. Currently, data about Asian American and Pacific Islander students is reported in large clumps, which often masks the data of groups such as Southeast Asians, and other refugee and new immigrant communities. The youth who attended today's meeting spoke about the importance of having data that represents their stories.
Despite the diversity of Oakland's large Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) population, OUSD only publishes disaggregated data for a few of the major AAPI groups: Asian, Filipino, Pacific Islander populations. By failing to measure a large portion of the AAPI population, Oakland is unable to track the progress of the most disadvantaged segments of that population.
Without disaggregated data, policymakers and researchers must rely on less detailed data released by state agencies or local data that may be collected inconsistently in different jurisdictions. Without disaggregated data, support services cannot provide adequate data to show the needs of the API community, thus inhibits the ability to request funding for grants and resources to implement programs. Without programs focused on supporting our API communities, our API youth remain invisible and underserved.
During the 2014-2015 academic calendar, Oakland community based organizations Banteay Srei, Asian Health Services Youth Program, and AYPAL: Building API Community Power, felt the urgency to conduct an API youth assessment in order to better understand the needs and landscape of the API population within OUSD. In collaboration with Oakland High School and the Shop 55 Wellness Center, they collected data from API youth and young adults (between ages 12-24). About 500 surveys were collected from 8 OUSD schools, and several community college students, and data was disaggregated by the organizations by API ethnicity to demonstrate the differences and similarities with the API community experience. A focus group at Oakland High School with 5 Asian and Pacific Islander students was completed to better understand the survey data from youths perspective. The results of this survey have been shared by youth and staff at both city council and Alameda county levels, and has caught the attention of statewide media and legislation efforts.
Contribute to our crowd source fundraiser to keep this work going! #WeHere
AYPAL youth perform cultural arts action on land of Proposed Hotel to Demand Resources for Asian Pacific Islander Community, Not Low Wage Jobs and Gentrification
AYPAL is continuing the fight against gentrification, this time by escalating our action against the permitting of building a new hotel on an empty lot in Chinatown at 378 11th street, a block away from our programming site. Youth crossed the fence line on April 19th and 21st to perform cultural arts action on the land, bringing into question "how else could this space be used?". Our communities of Oakland need and deserve resources now, and our city government seems to be more concerned with working with developers with bad track records than paying attention to community. (Note: images purposely do not reveal AYPAL youth faces to prevent criminalization).
Below is an excerpt of our press release:
Downtown Oakland – At 4:45 PM on Tuesday April 19th and Thursday April 21st, carrying signs that read "Our Oakland, Our Future, Not for Sale!", twenty-five students from different Oakland high schools crossed the fence into the lot of the proposed Hampton Inn Hotel in Chinatown and performed a cultural arts dance show to protest the building of the new hotel. By reclaiming the space, their youth organization, AYPAL: Building API Community Power, demonstrated an alternative use for the space that provides resources that their community lacks, including after-school programs for "at-risk" youth.
The Oakland Planning Department approved Oak 378 LLC's application to build a new Hampton Inn on a valuable downtown site – just weeks after the City of Oakland notified Oak 378's owners of a fine for violating the new minimum wage ordinance at their existing Oakland hotel.
Oak 378 is owned by Sima and Pravin Patel, who also own the Holiday Inn Express on Hegenberger Road. A City report, issued February 3, listed numerous violations of the Oakland minimum wage ordinance at the Holiday Inn Express – including underpaying workers, manipulating time-card records, withholding evidence from City investigators, and reducing workers' hours in response to passage of the minimum wage law. Penalties included a $5,000 fine and back pay for employees.
Measure FF, passed overwhelmingly by Oakland voters last year, established a $12.25 minimum wage and expressly allowed the City to consider minimum wage law violations when making land use decisions.
The Hampton Inn approval was made with no hearings, public process, or community input – despite protests from Chinatown groups like AYPAL who said the hotel project would worsen inequality and displacement in the neighborhood. The decision to approve the hotel was delegated solely to Planning Director Rachel Flynn, who came under criticism last fall for asserting that there is no affordable housing crisis in Oakland.
"We want more accountability around decision-making. One person, Rachel Flynn, should not be deciding what gets built in our neighborhood. Today's action is to show that we are still building community, while the City seems to be tearing our community apart with developments like these. The API community is often overlooked, and this space could be used towards resources that underrepresented communities need, rather than building a hotel that was a track record of bad working conditions," said Joshua Fisher Lee, Director of AYPAL.
For a news update on this project, check the following link: http://patch.com/california/rockridge/oakland-planning-commission-affirms-new-downtown-hotel-decision-0
AYPAL continues fight against gentrification, sends delegation to Mayor's office and rallies at City Hall
On Wednesday April 13th, AYPAL led a delegation to the Mayors Office unannounced to deliver our community's vision for an empty lot in Chinatown on 11th street, a block away from our programming space. The vision was created during our rally in front of the site with hotel workers in February. (Click here for details from that rally)
Four youth leaders entered the Mayors Office to provide testimony against the recently approved permitting of a Hampton Inn at the 11th street site by City Planner Rachel Flynn, the developers of which, are currently under investigation for wage theft. AYPAL youth wanted to share a vision that empowered community, rather than fund a developer with a track record of poverty wage hotels throughout the city. We spoke with Senior Advisor to the Mayor Peggy Moore, and were able to speak with Mayor Schaaf herself briefly following the meeting.
The following day, AYPAL staff marched with UNITE HERE / Local 2850 during a rally for minimum wage for fast food workers, which started at the same 11th street site to connect wage theft, poverty wage developers, and gentrification. AYPAL organizer Vincent Saephan spoke at the rally in support of all communities of color being targeted by unfair working conditions, displacement, and lack of resources.
When we fight, we win! But the fight is not over, please keep following us as this story progresses and we continue to push city decision makers to prioritize people over profits. Check out pictures from the delegation and rally below!
Youth describing our vision at the office of the Mayor!
AYPAL organizer Vincent Saephan speaking in solidarity at the 11th Street site!
The rally at city hall calling for "No poverty wage hotel in Oakland"!
Watch it on TV! Follow the link and click on the first agenda item to stream! KTOP coverage of our presentation HERE
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders face particular challenges when it comes to having our experiences made visible. Together, in partnership with The Spot Youth Center and Banteay Srei, we conducted a culture and climate survey of 500 API identified youth in Oakland in an effort to tell our stories more accurately, and from our own community's perspective. On March 22nd, youth presented our survey findings and made recommendations to Oakland's Life Enrichment Committee as invited by District 2 Council Member Abel Guillen. Our goal with this project is to shed light on the issues facing APIs, particularly Southeast Asian youth, who are often systematically left out of the conversation by city-wide data tracking that is not disaggregated by API sub-ethnicity. This is a core institutional issue that prevents all underrepresented communities from being seen and heard! We will continue to push for a response from the City and the Oakland Unified School District, backing statewide action towards improved data collection and reporting, while simultaneously creating space for youth to share their stories and make policy recommendations to decision makers.
AYPAL leads action with local union to fight gentrification!
"This hotel, it represents imperialism. They're coming to a place that they don't really know and they're taking up the resources that this community desperately needs."
– Jason Le, AYPAL Youth Leader.
While private developers try and tear our communities apart, AYPAL and Unite HERE / Local 2850 are building ours up! That's exactly what we did last Thursday February 11th at the site of an empty lot in Chinatown proposed to become a Hampton Inn hotel by a poverty wage developer.
Check out photos of speeches from AYPAL youth leaders and Unite HERE members, us playing games with each other, and visioning what OUR community wants to see here instead of a hotel! All photos shot by Melanie Cervantes.
Peep links to other photos, and write-ups on this story in the NEWS below:
Stay tuned for more on how you can join us in the fight for Oakland!
AYPAL youth respond to changes happening in Oakland in this powerful photo project. Check out the video below. Special thanks to Stevie Sanchez and Eastside Arts Alliance on this collaboration.
Funded by:
Check back on our website for updates on our anti-gentrification work.
AYPAL Youth Choose New Campaign: Community Owned/Based Aquaponics System
For the past year, AYPAL youth, staff, and alumni have been engaged in coalition building, intense political education, and decision making processes to land on a campaign that will guide our work for the near future.
Our youth have intentionally built with community partners at the Spot, the HANG Program, Movement Generation, Planting Justice, and Veggi Farmers Co-operative (New Orleans) to inform our process and to educate our youth about food systems, permaculture design, ecological justice, and resiliency based organizing.
Our AYPAL staff and youth alumni were crucial in engaging with this process through setting possible campaign trajectories (including an AYPAL Food Truck!), and informing it with more than 20 decades of collective organizing experience.
On Monday, March 2, 2015 sixteen youth interns from VOYCE and SEAYCA came together to pick the next campaign that AYPAL will take on. They landed on creating a community owned, Oakland based, aquaponics farm that would not only act as a locus point for intergenerational organizing work but also provide nutritious food, health education, and jobs for youth that come through our program.
Stay tuned for more exciting developments! We are excited for what the future holds for us!!
Fighting For Fair School Funding in CA: Take Action THIS WEEK!
For the past year, AYPAL and the Campaign for Quality Education (CQE) coalition have been pushing for the timely passage of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) by the state budget deadline of June 30th, 2013. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT to make this goal a reality!
For more information on LCFF and to sign our petition, go HERE!
Use ANY of the following TWITTER messages AND handles May 20th – May 24th 2013!
@SenRicardoLara: Don't water down #LCFF. Keep equity, keep weighted formula, keep concentration grants #EquityNow
- Don't water down #LCFF. Keep equity, keep weighted formula, keep concentration grants #EquityNow
- All CA students deserve an education that prepares for college & careers, whether poor, EL, or not #WheresOurFuture #LCFF
- #LCFF in this budget! #WheresOurFuture Equitable funding for low-income, EL and foster youth is best for CA #EquityNow
ON TUESDAY, 5/21: Support our CQE Day of Action at the Capitol by tweeting BOTH our CA Senators and Assembly Members! Who to target:
Darrell Steinberg:@proTemSteinberg John A. Perez:@SpeakerPerez
ON THURSDAY, 5/23: Tweet our CA Senators:
Darrell Steinberg:@proTemSteinberg Mark Leno: @MarkLeno Hannah Beth-Jackson: @SenHannahBeth Ricardo Lara: @SenRicardoLara Lou Correa: @SenLouCorrea Bob Huff: @bobhuff99 Kevin De Leon: @kdleon Alex Padilla: @Alex_Padilla
ON FRIDAY, 5/24: Tweet our CA Assembly Members:
John A. Perez:@SpeakerPerez Susan Bonilla: @ASMSusanBonilla Rocky Chavez:@AsmRocky Rob Bonta: @RobBonta Phil Ting: @PhilTing Isadore Hall:@isadorehall Steven Bradford:@GardenaSteve Curren Price: @currenpricejr
During the CQE's Week of Social Media Action, we must let our state's legislators know that it's time for California schools to become a great equalizer. Low-income and EL students have been suffering for too long in our state. We must fund equity now – our futures cannot wait!
Take Action TODAY to Support Our Schools!
It takes just TWO minutes of your time (on Wednesday, June 13th OR Thursday, June 14th) to help AYPAL and the Campaign for a Quality Education (CQE) fight for a better school funding system for California!
Passing a "Weighted Student Formula" will bring California out of an outdated, complicated and inequitable school funding system by giving more money to school districts that serve more low-income and immigrant students.
Check out the facts:
* Oakland Unified could gain an additional $105 million if passed
* San Francisco Unified could gain $170 million more
* Los Angeles Unified could gain $1.9 BILLION more
Call information:
|Capitol Phone #
|District Phone #
|Leadership Role
|1. Senate Pro Tem
Darrell Steinberg
|(916) 651-4006
|(916) 651-1529
|Senate Leader ("pro tempore")
|2. Assembly Speaker John Pérez
|(916) 319-2046
|(213) 620-4646
|Assembly Leader ("Speaker")
|3. Governor Jerry Brown
|(916) 445-2841
Sample script for making the calls:
1. Hi, my name is ____ and I'm from ____(city, organization).
2. I'm calling today because I strongly believe that [Speaker Perez /or Senate Pro Tem Steinberg] needs to push the Legislature to work with Governor Brown to pass a fair school funding formula this year – by including the Governor's proposal for a "weighted student formula" in the final 2012-2013 Budget.
3. The "weighted student formula" is a good idea for California because it is a fair and equitable way to give money to our state's schools.
4. However, we must have a strong accountability system in place that will guarantee that the additional "weights" or funding will be spent on English Language Learners and low-income students that need it the most.
5. We must also make sure that parent site and advisory councils still have a voice and have rights when it comes to local-control and decision-making in this process.
6. If the "weighted student formula" doesn't make it in the Budget, we urge leadership to keep it on the front burner and get into policy this session!
7. As the [Speaker of the Assembly/Senate], I hope that [Speaker Perez /or Senate Pro Tem Steinberg] will push to make a weighted student formula" happen this year.
8. Thank you for getting this message to [Speaker Perez /or Senate Pro Tem Steinberg].
Follow our work by "liking" our page on Facebook!
Thank you in advance for your support!
Weighted Student Formula – A step toward educational funding equity
"This budget proposal is important because due to budget cuts, my school has resorted to constructing portables that have created an unhealthy and jail-like environment…and has a supply of unsteady counselors which leaves my graduating class of 2012 to less than 10. Half of them are not prepared to continue higher education…because they are unprepared to bounce back…and can barely manage their current settings."
– Sweet-Jody Diala, AYPAL Youth
Picture this scene: Ten to fifteen young leaders step up one at a time to speak out about poor school conditions and the need for a new school funding formula in front of a panel of California lawmakers. Now imagine that these young leaders are some of the only voices in the room that represent students from large, urban school districts that are predominantly low-income youth of color.
This was the scene that AYPAL and the Campaign for Quality Education (CQE) coalition faced when we testified at the Senate and Assembly Budget subcommittees on education finance in February and March of this year. Despite much push-back from smaller, more rural, and more affluent school districts, we advocated strongly for a "weighted student formula" that would increase funding for low-income and English Language Learner (ELL) students. Without a new method to increase equity, accountability, and adequacy in our school finance system, many immigrant and low-income youth of color will continue to be under-prepared to graduate high school and/or attend college.
This spring, AYPAL will be working with the rest of the CQE coalition to demand that the California legislature and our Governor work together to create a new school funding formula that addresses the needs of our state's neediest students. Stay tuned for future announcements on those upcoming actions in May!
LIKE CQE's Facebook campaign to get up to date information: http://www.facebook.com/pages/
Senate hearing: http://www.calchannel.com/
Assembly hearing: http://www.calchannel.com/
Youth Persistent in Getting More Funding for Oakland Schools!
6 AYPAL Youth Leaders along with organizational members of the CQE were in Sacramento weighing in on statewide educational policy.
On March 19, AYPAL was back in Sacramento to advocate for the weighted student formula in the Governor's Budget. Students shared their personal stories and pushed for a more equitable school funding system at the Assembly Budget Sub-Committee on Education. Here are some excerpts from the testimonies our leaders gave:
"[The weighted student formula] would make Oakland public schools work more for students and that would change a lot of people's lives. Take my little brother for example, I really want better for him. We both come from a low income family. If they target low-income youth, my brother can break the cycle of poverty in my family. He could have everything that I couldn't get. He could have all the resources, all the classes, all the activities! I want him to feel he can make it. I want him to know that he can make it. I think we should prioritize low income and ELL students. "
– Tommy Phan (AYPAL Youth Intern, Sophomore at Oakland High School)
"I believe if no more money is given to education, at schools like mine courses are going to be cut, cut and cut. There won't be any more electives or AP classes given to us, and basically we will have the core classes and this doesn't prepare students for college. The school district is setting us up for failure in college."
– Ryan Tern (AYPAL Youth Intern, Junior at Fremont High School)
To see the entire hearing click here.
AYPAL youth speaking up for educational funding equity!
"California has been facing many
budget cuts since 2007 and each of the
cuts have been leaving wounds on the
most neediest students."
– Christopher Saechao, AYPAL youth
While improving our state's public education system might seem like a daunting task, AYPAL is honing in on specific issue areas to make meaningful improvements to our schools — both locally and statewide!
In February, AYPAL Youth Leaders Nhi Nguyen and Christopher Saechao testified at a Senate Budget Hearing with other members of the Campaign for Quality Education (CQE) Coalition in support of Governor Brown's proposal for a "weighted student formula". This funding formula would help make our education system more equitable by taking student needs into account when giving money to school districts.
It's a step in the right direction toward improving California's public education system, especially for the low-income Asian and Pacific Islander immigrant and refugee families that AYPAL serves.
However, a fair funding formula isn't enough – we also need to make sure that all schools have the kind of funding that once made California a top state in the nation for public education. Look out for progressive tax-the-rich initiatives on the November ballot that will increase public education funding!
PS. You can watch Nhi and Christopher's full testimonies here: http://www.calchannel.com/channel/viewVideo/3331
Kids First 2
AYPAL is working in coalition with Kids First 2 to re-authorize and increase the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth.
The challenges kids in Oakland face everyday are growing, but the resources to help them are not. The number of children in poverty is on the rise; the dropout rate is one of the highest in the state; and more and more children have no adult supervision after-school. Our children need and deserve to be a top priority and passing this measure will prevent the city from ignoring the needs of Oakland youth.


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1404 Race Street
Suite 202
Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513) 407-8260
9am - 5pm Weekdays
Architecture Firm specializing in everything but single family. We believe in balancing the art and science of architecture.
By practicing our Smart Design philosophy, we're able to match creativity with practicality. At our core, we strive to be confident, collaborative, progressive, driven, proactive, and knowledgeable. These values guide our holistic design approach.
At the corner of 14th & Race above Zula. park in the Washington Park garage or on Race Street.


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Most large organizations are undergoing a number of major change initiatives at any one time.
These can include restructuring the way teams work together, improving customer experience, undertaking a six sigma ethos - right through redefining the markets that they will play in. The pace of these changes is not slowing down and there are no indications that it will any time soon.
One of the key competencies organizations need to continuously develop is a capacity to execute change effectively, across complex, chaotic, diverse and widely spread systems. Enterprise Learning initiatives can have a huge impact on converting business strategies into sustainable results.
You will learn:


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Job Description
Java Developer / Architect (Software CI/CD Agile Java). Global FinTech is seeking is seeking a highly skilled Java Developer / Architect to join the Software Architecture Team to architect and design OTC pricing and Exchange Market Making systems; identifying and developing strategies for long term renovation.
As a Java Developer / Architect you will be responsible for both short and long term business projects, assessing the impact and proposing solutions; you'll partner with development teams throughout project delivery and liaise with business experts and development teams to refine and determine solutions ensuring integration and conformance to related architectural policies and strategies.
Stylish City based offices with a software house atmosphere, smart casual dress code and a good work / life balance.
*Experience of designing / architecting large, distributed systems
*Good knowledge of low latency high performance processing and messaging technologies / architectures
*Strong core Java software development background
*Ability to think at high level and see the big picture as well as the technical detail
*UML modelling skills
*Good knowledge of Continuous Integration (CI/CD) and Build systems
*Good understanding of Agile principles and how to apply them
*Collaborative team member with excellent communication skills; approachable, pragmatic and able to achieve buy-in
As a Java Developer / Architect you will earn a competitive salary (to £110k) plus bonus and 12% flexible benefits package.
Apply now or call for a confidential discussion about this Java Developer / Architect opportunity.


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You've probably read and heard that "unplugging" for a few hours a day may be the key to maintaining your sanity and achieving success. The experts recommend everyone try it and say the benefits are big. But one CEO says powering down and disconnecting isn't always an option.
She doesn't disagree that unplugging can do wonders — but she says doing it every day, for a few hours at a time, isn't realistic for everyone.
"I think there is a lot of discussion involving one extreme or the other, but it's really all about balance and figuring out what works for you," says Jess Levin Conroy, the founder and chief executive of Carats & Cake, an online wedding resource that features curated content and information about vendors.
"Realistically there is no one-size-fits-all answer to whether we should unplug, and depending on what you do for a living and what your priorities are, there is going to be a unique blend of unplugging and plugging in that works and this will most likely be a constant state of flux."
For instance, unplugging and entrepreneurship might be mutually exclusive, she says, especially in the early years. "When you are building something you really believe in, unplugging doesn't cross your mind because it doesn't feel like work and you can't really turn off. You are also always conscious of your investors — including those who have allocated money and those who have spent time and emotion supporting you — and taking a break in some ways seems almost disrespectful of their investment."
We asked the startup founder whether she unplugs. Her response: "The truth? No, not really."
When she first started Carats & Cake, she says she never unplugged. "I was constantly on and that was the right balance (or rather imbalance) for me in the beginning — and I worked that way for the first few years.
"While you are building a company, there are constant ups and downs and there is always something you can be thinking about. So even if I was taking a break from emails I would be researching or reading articles. I almost felt guilty not doing something for the company that moved the ball forward every moment of every day and truthfully, in some ways I still do."
In the beginning, Levin Conroy says she thought unplugging would mean something would fall through the cracks. "But then one of our advisors pulled me aside and explained the importance of perspective and explained to me that if you're constantly in the weeds, you can't see the bigger picture."
"I have learned that if I am able to spend a few hours a weekend refreshing, some of the best ideas come to me, because I am able to get a little perspective. So recently I have had the luxury — mostly because of the team we have built — to exercise my version of unplugging from time to time. I try to do this on Saturdays for a few hours. I spend that time outside."
Her personal definition of unplugging, she says, is not looking at social media or responding to emails (unless there is something urgent). It doesn't mean putting the phone or laptop away completely. "This works for me right now. Some weekends I unplug more than others. It just depends on that particular moment and the state of imbalance I am in."
She says she thinks it's easy for people to hear about the "importance of unplugging" and think that's what they should be doing, "when realistically only you can figure out what works for you," she explains. "So if you need to unplug, whatever unplugging means to you, then do so on your own terms."


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Photograph Portfolio
Recently Updated Galleries
Goose Island
This was a project assigned in my Documentary Photo class. We were assigned a place in or around La Crosse that we would have to go visit and document with photography. I was assigned Goose Island. Initially, I though that this would be a difficult place to photograph because there are very ...
Abstract Light
This project evolved out of a few projects in a color photography class. The first dabble in abstract photos was for a project in response to the film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly". Inspried by the blurry images in the beginning of the movie I found various abstract images when inspecting ...
Behind the Walls
The project started with the question, "If you could photograph something you know nothing about, what would it be?". My initial response was a place that I have never visited. Upon further thought, I came up with the idea of photographing the production of the products that we use everyday. ...
Various photos that I have taken over the years, but were not part of a series.


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Іt has been said the pain of kidney stones is like giving birth. But, whilst сhildbirth is a welcome anԁ predicable event, the sudden, excгuciating pain of a kidney ѕtone strikes without warning. Such is the shock and the agony of this, it's hardly surрrising you'll гeadily agree to surgery. Yet a little research will uncover some very effective homе remedies for kidney stones, whicɦ can avoid painful, invasive surgery in the majority of cases.
Keep 600 ml water for boiling. Onсe it has boiled, add celery, parsleʏ, bulb of fennel and 25 gramѕ of asparagus roots into it. Drink this decoction on a daily basis till kidney stones dissolve.
Did you know that most kidney stоnes arе createԁ because your body is not able to flush the unused calcium and other chemicals quickly enough? Therefore it only makes sense that dissolving calcium and flushing it is the natural remedy for kidney stones.
Blocked urine flow.
There are several things that сan lead to a gradual blockage of urine flow and not an abrupt blockage such as that of a kidney stone. In these situations the kidney might bе expanded and lead to a dull throbbing pain.
Watermelon seed tea iѕ a recommended diuretic for kidnеү and bladder ϲleansing and purification. For preparing watermelon sеed tea, take two cups of boiling water, ovеr a tablesροon of ground watermelon seed extract. Allow it to steep and strain it once it cools. Drink this extract daily for a period of three weeks.
Also, avoid foods that cause kidney stones for example. the foods that are rich in uric acid. Also, not drinking enough watеr is one of the main reasons for kidney stоnes.


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Dorrigo Waterfalls - The Waterfall Way
The 191 kilometre Waterfall Way is one of the world's most scenic drives and recommended as a detour off the Pacific Coast Drive. The road winds upwards from the Pacific Highway from Coffs Harbour, through the delightfull town of Dorrigo, and on to Armidale on the New England Tablelands.
This breathtaking journey is the perfect way to experience the diversity of the changing landscape of the Great Dividing Range from the pristine coastal beaches climbing through lush tropical rainforest to the wide open plains of New England.
For more info on waterfalls and scenic drives go to our Self Drive Tours.
Download the flier HERE


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Diesel Grants & Funding
Diesel Grants & Funding
To the extent resources are available, DEEP can provide assistance to entities and individuals seeking to apply for these grants:
State Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Funding: The Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA), contained within the Energy Policy Act of 2005, provides grants and loans to states and other eligible entities to achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions. DEEP receives funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the State DERA Program. From time to time, project proposals have been solicited from municipalities, organizations, and individuals for diesel reduction projects that are environmentally and economically beneficial. Requests for proposals are listed below.
Request for Clean Diesel Projects -
Up to $728,000 is being made available for Connecticuts FY19 State DERA Program. A portion of the funding for this year is available to us through the "DERA Option" under Connecticut's Volkswagen mitigation Program (VW Program). For detailed information, see the guidance document below.
Connecticut's Volkswagen NOx Mitigation Program: In 2018, over $50 million became available for various nitrogen oxide (NOx) mitigation projects, including diesel reduction projects. $12 million was awarded during the first round of funding and the second round will be launched in the summer of 2019. While incentives under the VW Program are potentially more generous, many clean diesel projects that are eligible for the State DERA Program, are not eligible for VW funding.
National Clean Diesel Campaign Grants: Requests for proposals for the National Clean Diesel Campaign and related information are posted on EPA's Clean Diesel Website. For additional information on this program, see: Federal Funds Information Issue Brief 05-34 (PDF, 134 KB)
EPA Region 1 Grant Opportunities: EPAs Boston office provides information regarding Grants and Funding in New England on its website.
Clean Cities Grant Programs: Your organization may be able to take advantage of incentive and financial opportunities for reducing petroleum use in your fleet of vehicles.
EPA Open Announcements: EPA maintains a listing of open announcements for grants, fellowships and other funding for environmental projects.
2017-2018 State DERA Grant
In October of 2017, DEEP received a new year of funding from EPAs State DERA program. DEEP has received a second year of funding to support projects that must be completed in the 2018 fiscal year. DEEPs activities under the program are subject to the terms of the agreements below.
The 2017-2018 FY State DERA projects are being funded by a combination of DEEPs 2017 and 2018 State DERA allocations, DERA Option matching funds from the Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Environmental Mitigation Trust (VW Trust), an additional voluntary match from DEEP Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) funds and an EPA match incentive. DEEP conducted an open and competitive solicitation in the fall of 2018 after which fourteen new projects were selected for 2017-2018 State DERA funding are:
2014-2016 State DERA2 Grant
Three projects were selected to receive DERA2 funding following an open competition in 2014. These projects were completed and the equipment is in use. {Box Truck}
In the fall of 2015, an open and competitive process resulted in the selection of four early replacement projects, all of which were successfully completed.
DEEP conducted an open and competitive process for selecting four new projects in the fall of 2016. All projects were successfully completed and the equipment is in use.
{Image of fishing vessel Jeanette T underway}
2012-2013 State DERA2 Grant
Final Report: CT State DERA Program 2012-2013: October 20, 2015
After an open competition, the 2012 funding of $130,892.00 was awarded to the Connecticut{SeldenIII Ferry} Department of Transportation to replace the engines on the Chester/Hadlyme river ferry, the Selden III. The project was completed and the vessel was back in service on April 1, 2013.
Following an open and competitive process, three projects were selected for 2013 DERA2 funding. The following two were completed and the trucks are in service:
SEP-Funded Diesel Replacement Program
In January of 2013, DEEP initiated a program to provide incentives for the replacement of diesel trucks in the state. The funds are from settlement of a case involving environmental violations with American Electric Power Service Corporation, Columbus, Ohio and were required to be used to reduce diesel emissions in heavy traffic areas in environmental justice communities. An open competition yielded 37 proposals from which seven were selected for funding under this program. The following municipalities received up to 25% of the cost of a new truck: Enfield, Middletown, Naugatuck, Plainville, Stamford, Waterbury and Wethersfield.
2008-2012 State DERA Grant
Final Report: CT Clean Diesel Grant Program; April 20, 2012
{Children with Schoolbus} DEEP received four years of funding from EPAs State DERA program. In 2008, the initial year of funding was used to implement the Connecticut Clean School Bus Program, which installed emission controls on 353 school buses in the state. In subsequent years, DEEP conducted outreach efforts and, in accordance with DERA requirements, competitive processes to {Tugboat Gotham} award funding to the following projects:
{Recycling Trucks}
Currently approved proposals are described in the Work Plan Narrative and Budget Narrative for the 2011-2012 Connecticut Clean Diesel Grant Program.
{Retrofitted Truck}
2008 NEDC/DERA Grant
In 2008, following a competitive process, DEEP received a National DERA award to retrofit its fleet of maintenance equipment and some air compressors used on Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) construction sites with aftermarket emission control technologies. The DEEP retrofits were completed in the fall of 2009. The air compressor project was not carried out due to cost-related issues for emission control technology for the air compressors, but subsequent amendments to the funding award allowed CT DOT to install aftermarket emission controls on some of its maintenance trucks with funds from the grant. This was completed in December of 2010.
A complete list of all projects funded by the DERA National Funding Assistance Program can be found on EPA's National Clean Diesel Campaign web page. Projects funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are included.
In 2014 and 2015, Connecticut School districts received DERA funding for clean school buses. Three school districts in Connecticut were chosen in 2014 to receive $245,000 from EPA to help pay for 11 new school buses: Killingly School District received $125,000 and Montville Public Schools $100,000, each to replace five school buses. Martel Transportation serving Canton school received $20,000 to replace one bus in its fleet.
In 2015, two public schools and four school bus service providers in Connecticut were selected to receive a total of $525,000 in rebates to help pay for 31 new school buses. This funding went towards buses in the communities of Bethany, Canton, Killingly, Oakdale, Waterbury and New Britain. The bus operators chosen were:
The Connecticut Maritime Foundation received $800,000.00 to upgrade the engines on a New London based ferry. The Cross Sound Ferry Services high speed passenger ferry, Jessica W., received two new, Tier 3 marine engines.
The Town of Trumbull successfully competed for National DERA funds to replace the diesel engines on three of its waste collection vehicles with engines powered by compressed natural gas.
The Town of Fairfields proposal to install verified diesel emissions reduction technologies on its fleet of municipal vehicles was also successful in winning National DERA funds.
In addition, National DERA funding was awarded for a switch engine conversion project in New Haven. The grant enabled CSX railroad to replace one of its switch engines, with a three-part configuration of smaller and cleaner EPA-certified Tier 3 generator sets (gensets) that allow the locomotive to run more efficiently and save fuel. This was one of a group of projects implemented under a single grant to the New England States for Coordinated Air Use Management in 2009.
Other Funded Diesel Reduction Projects in Connecticut:
A number of Connecticut municipalities competed successfully for funding from EPA's Clean School Bus USA program, before it was consolidated into the DERA program in 2008. Funds from that program allowed Stamford, Fairfield, Regional District 18 (Lyme/Old Lyme), and Mansfield to retrofit their school buses with emission controls. In addition, Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) funds were used to provide for school bus retrofits in New Haven, Bridgeport, Hartford, Hamden, Norwich and Newington. A description of the SEP program can be found on EPAs website.
Hartford also received SEP funding to install emission controls on recycling trucks and on off-road equipment used at the landfill.
The Federal Highway Administrations Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Program (CMAQ) provided funding to install emission controls on transit buses in Hartford, Stamford and New Haven. More information about the CMAQ program can be found on FHWAs website.
And DEEPs own Lawn Equipment Exchange Fund (LEEF) used SEP funds to help provide new, cleaner lawn maintenance equipment to 76 communities in Connecticut (This program ended in 2012).
Capital Clean Cities of Connecticut, Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition, and Southwestern Connecticut Clean Cities have received American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for their Connecticut Future Fuels Project to provide assistance for projects that reduce emissions by encouraging the use of clean, alternative fuels.
Content Last Updated on October 15, 2019
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Interview: Ryan Scott Dancey on Pathfinder Online
From humble beginnings the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game has seen a meteoric rise in popularity over the last few years, to the point where it's now challenging the mighty Dungeon & Dragons' status as the pre-eminent tabletop RPG. Now owners Paizo are branching the property out into the video game market with Pathfinder Online, an ambitious, Kickstarter-funded MMO. It's being developed by Goblinworks, a new development studio formed by several industry veterans. I spoke to Goblinworks CEO Ryan Scott Dancey about his upcoming title.
This is Pathfinder and Golbinworks', first foray into the video game market. What made you choose the MMO genre for your first title?
When I left CCP one of the first things I did was call and ask Paizo if they had an MMO plan for Pathfinder. They responded "we have a plan to make a plan – come up and tell us what we need to know". The Pathfinder IP is a great fit for MMOs so it was easy to explain my concept for using it as a the basis of a fantasy sandbox game.
Pathfinder still hadn't had the explosive growth spurt it's experiencing now, so it didn't have much visibility with video game producers at that time. I was just lucky to be first.
One of the stand-out features of the Pathfinder brand is their focus on creating engaging and unique monthly adventure paths. Will you be taking inspiration from these, and if so, how will you approach the concept in game?
Story is a fundamental backbone of the tabletop RPG strategy. The online game is built around the idea that the players interactions ARE the story, so we won't be telling the same kinds of stories as the Pathfinder tabletop game. Over the very long term, we think we have some ideas for "arcs" of content that will create story-like experiences but we're focusing on making the game a great sandbox first, before we start thinking about how to accomplish that.
Pathfinder is built around the Open Gaming License of the venerable and popular D&D 3.5 edition rule-set, but Pathfinder Online is going instead for a classless skill system similar to EVE Online. Could you tell us a little more about how this will work, and why you decided not to use the tabletop rules?
The Open Gaming License is fundamentally incompatible with videogame design. The OGL requires that it be the only license that applies to Open Game Content. Most videogames (including ours) are built with tools that have their own licensing terms, and then for an MMO, we will have Terms of Service and a standard End User License Agreement which will describe and limit what players can do with the software. That is incompatible with the OGL.
The d20 tabletop rules are not a good fit for a real-time MMO experience either. We need a game that allows characters to be developed over very long periods of real-time – years of real-time, whereas the Pathfinder game is built around the idea that a character advances from 1st to 20th level in a couple of hundred hours of play.
The Pathfinder tabletop game is also focused on a very narrow range of characters: adventuring heroes. The online game is a super-set of the characters from the tabletop game. We also need explorers, diplomats, spies, soldiers, merchants, crafters, politicians, teamsters, and a hundred other specialties.
These things require us to create a game system that is evocative of the tabletop game rules and that will be immediately familiar to the players of the tabletop game, but are built from the ground up to meet our unique needs.
How closely will you be working with the tabletop team in the creation of the game? Will they be involved in the writing, character and mission designs?
There's a clean separation between Paizo and Goblinworks. The only person with a job in both companies is Lisa Stevens.
How do you intend to approach PvP combat?
Aggressively. It's a primary focus of the design. One of our guiding principles is to "maximize meaningful human interaction", and combat is one of the most meaningful interactions that players can experience. So we're spending a massive amount of time working on those systems.
Player crafting and communities seem to be a major theme in Pathfinder Online, could you tell us some of the ways in which players can impact the world outside of combat?
The game's sandbox design is based on the fundamental idea that players are the driving force in the game world. Most of the items in the economy will be crafted by players. Most of the buildings will be created by players, from player-generated components. Players will be able to destroy those buildings as well. Players will drive the economics, politics, and warfare of the game totally.
The MMO genre is a particularly tightly contested one. What makes Pathfinder Online stand out amongst the crowd?
When we begin Early Enrollment next year, it will be the only modern fantasy sandbox MMO with a balanced approach to PvP, PvE, crafting, and kingdom building.
We've seen some great successes with Kickstarter recently, but also some high-profile failures. What are your experiences using the model, and what were your reasons for choosing it?
Kickstarter was a near-perfect solution for us. It allowed us to raise a lot of money, quickly, without the complications of debt or equity. That money was crucial to allowing us to bootstrap from "some good ideas" to a fully staffed development team and target a very aggressive release schedule. It allowed us to secure additional investment to meat the budget of the project by demonstrating clearly that there's a lot of interest in the game and that interest can be translated into revenue.
Long term it also gives us a great contact list of backers who will form the initial players in the game and become the seed of our social network and community – folks we have the ability to communicate with directly via email and in many cases we also have mailing address info as well.
Kickstarter also raised our visibility with potential investors, with the media, and with the industry as a whole, in a way that would have been very expensive to replicate with traditional marketing.


text: Blustein, Shapiro, Rich & Barone, LLP Associate Attorney Megan R. Conroy, J.D. will be honored with the 2018 Outstanding New Lawyer Award from the Women's Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties (WBAOSC) at its Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner Thursday, April 26. The Outstanding New Lawyer Award is presented annually to a WBAOSC member who has been practicing fewer than 10 years and who has made noteworthy contributions to the WBAOSC, to the profession of law, and to the community at large. Ms. Conroy, an…Read More


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I used to have a rather narrow view of fruits and vegetables: they were just a way to take in fiber, vitamins, and minerals while avoiding fat and calories. But I now know that these foods are more than just filler laced with the relatively narrow list of natural chemicals we know as nutrients.
My awakening came when researchers began publishing studies about antioxidants; these nutrients protect human cells from damage caused by highly reactive and destructive free radicals. Our bodies manufacture free radicals in the process of converting food into energy. But unchecked, they can destroy cell membranes, convert fats in the blood into artery-clogging plaque, and cause genes to mutate, perhaps initiating cancer.
I learned that scientists were most familiar with three antioxidants - vitamins C and E, and beta carotene, but that these were only the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of other disease-fighting phytochemicals (plant-based chemicals) such as beta-carotene found in plants.
One group, the carotenoids, contains more than 500 different orange-yellow plant pigments. The best known is beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A, a well-known and long-studied essential vitamin. But carotenoids do more than make plants look pretty. Residing in tiny droplets of fat in plant cells, they assist in photosynthesis by absorbing certain wavelengths of sunlight not absorbed by green chlorophyll; in effect, they help capture the sun's energy while preventing cells from being destroyed by excess light. Carotenoids also act as antioxidants.
The primary function of many phytochemicals is to protect plant cells from wind, rain, excess sunlight, invading organisms, and - perhaps most important-from cellular replication errors. When we eat fruits and vegetables containing these phytochemicals, our cells are protected in ways that we are only now beginning to understand.
Not surprisingly, the phytochemical research that has received the most attention is in the area of cancer prevention. Cancer often develops through many stages over many decades, and researchers have begun to pinpoint how phytochemicals can step in along the way and block the disease's progress. For example, they can prevent cells' exposure to carcinogens (cancer-causing substances). They can also come to the rescue later, when cells with abnormal genes begin to grow and multiply. The best-known example is how vitamin C blocks nitros-amine, the carcinogen believed to initiate stomach cancer.
Other phytochemicals also offer protection. For instance, sulforaphane, a substance in broccoli identified by Johns Hopkins researchers about three years ago, was found to block tumor growth by stimulating the body's production of cancer-fighting enzymes. Other sulfur-containing compounds, such as those found in garlic and onions, can also suppress the division of mutant cells that eventually form tumors. Genistein, found in soybeans, has the ability to literally starve tumors to death by blocking their blood supply. Genistein and daidzein, another soy phytochemical, act as phytoestrogens, which are believed to lower breast cancer risk by interfering with circulating levels of estrogen.
The list of disease-fighting phytochemicals continues to grow: Indoles in broccoli and cabbage, elegiac acid in nuts and berries, limonoids and flavonoids in citrus fruit rinds (my grandmother told me that the white of the orange was good for me), capsaicin in chili peppers, catechins in tea, lycopene in tomatoes and strawberries. Even herbs and spices, including rosemary, cumin, and saffron, are believed to have protective properties.
The Healing Power of Food
Yet researchers agree that true disease protection lies not in any single compound, but within the intricate chemistry of entire foods. For example, Cornell University researchers found that orange juice extracts, minus their vitamin C, reduced precancerous lesi by 40 percent. This suggests that vitamin C is not working alone when it interferes with cancer growth. (I suspect whole oranges may have worked even better.) And last year, the results of the 12-year Physicians Health Study by Harvard University researchers showed no difference in risk of heart disease or cancer between 11,000 physicians who took beta-carotene pills and 11,000 of them who took a placebo. Nor was a protective effect for beta-carotene observed in two other large health trials. This suggests that beta-carotene alone has no disease-fighting effect.
Once the hundreds of beneficial compounds are properly identified and their interactions understood, you could take 100 pills a day and still not enjoy the same benefits. There is a much simpler and better-tasting option; eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Elizabeth Hiser is a nutritionist and writer about health issues.
Photography by Suzanne DeJohn/National Gardening Association


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If you like Virtual Reality, you may want to check out Rifting Reality: An all new blog pioneering longform VR Journalism.
Nokia's fall from dominance is well-documented, and its failures are often attributed to its lack of foresight and unwillingness to adapt. If Nokia had put the pedal to the metal and tried to innovate instead of enjoying the short-term success of its popularity, it may never have fallen from grace. Continue reading Report: Nokia is making a VR Headset


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There's Still Light After Death: Castor Canadensis's Recycled Tube Light
Well here's a witty use of dead fluorescents. While we like energy efficiency of fluorescent tubes we're not so keen on their overly functional aesthetic and harsh illumination, not to mention the irritating flickering just before they die on us. They are not so easy to dispose of either, so we love Castor Canadensis's idea of light after death. Bunch a load of dead useless tubes together to make a big tube, et voila you have a functional funky light! Castor Canadensis use incandescent bulbs inside, but we recommend some energy saving compact fluorescents. The Recycle Tube lights come in 2, 4 and 8 foot lengths. Castor Canadensis - they of the mobile Sauna Box – are a Canadian collective based in Toronto. Check out their new website to see their eclectic range of projects. ::Castor Canadensis via: MocoLoco


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i could not possibly eat one more bite of this mashed goodness… … wait…. maybe one more
Just finished thanksgiving dinner. SOooooo much of my favorite foods. Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, grandma's hand made rolls, grandma's hand made jam. There was also a salad on the table, though no one has been able to sufficiently explain exactly why yet.
As for the rest of the day, we shall see. I'm hoping to play basketball against my dad and his brothers, just for SOME physical activity, but we'll see how that goes. Besides that, just football, tiny asian cousins, rasberry cobbler and ice cream.
Posted by Red Scott @ 3:34 pm