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Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Lupus LA Expands Patient Advocacy Panel for 2025, Elevating Diverse Voices in the Fight Against Lupus
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lupus LA is proud to announce the 2025 Patient Advocacy Panel, welcoming two new patient leaders to further amplify diverse voices and lived experiences within the lupus community. The new panelists – award-winning filmmaker Lorena Gordon and healthcare professional and content creator Sharan Singh – join an established group of dedicated patient leaders who will work to reshape the narrative around lupus, advocate for improved healthcare access, and provide a stronger voice for those living with the disease. Lupus LA invites all lupus warriors, caregivers, and supporters to join this mission by sharing their stories, participating in advocacy efforts, and supporting patient-driven initiatives. Share This initiative underscores Lupus LA's commitment to inclusivity and patient-centered advocacy, ensuring that individuals from different backgrounds, life stages, and professions are represented. The 2025 Patient Advocacy Panel continues the work of bridging gaps in awareness, research, and policy, while fostering a global community of lupus warriors. Meet the New 2025 Lupus LA Patient Advocacy Panel Members Lorena Gordon – Award-Winning Writer/Director & Lupus Advocate Diagnosed with lupus at just thirteen years old, Lorena Gordon has spent her life navigating the challenges of autoimmune disease while pursuing her passion for storytelling. A Queens, New York native, Lorena is an award-winning writer and director whose latest short film, At Last, starring George Lopez and Zack Gottsagen, was acquired by HBO Max. She has multiple film projects in active development with major studios. Beyond her film career, Lorena has been a dedicated lupus advocate, previously participating in Lupus Chat at the Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC and volunteering at Camp Sunshine, a camp for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. As a new Lupus LA Patient Advocacy Panel member, Lorena is committed to raising awareness, increasing visibility for chronic illness in the media, and supporting the next generation of lupus warriors. Sharan Singh – Healthcare Professional, Content Creator & Future Physician Assistant Sharan Singh, 23, is a UC Irvine graduate, healthcare worker, lupus advocate, and content creator on TikTok, where she shares holistic healing approaches, personal health experiences, and educational insights about lupus. After undergoing multiple joint replacements and surgeries due to her condition, she became determined to give back to the medical field that has helped her navigate lupus. Sharan is currently pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant, with the goal of working in rheumatology and improving patient care for lupus patients. Her advocacy focuses on holistic healing, bridging patient-provider relationships, and ensuring that young lupus patients feel seen and supported. Returning Panel Members The 2025 Patient Advocacy Panel also includes returning leaders who continue to play an instrumental role in raising awareness, advocating for better healthcare policies, and representing the broad spectrum of lupus patient experiences. The full panel includes: Maurissa Tancharoen Whedon (Lupus LA Board Member, Writer, Producer & Lupus Advocate) Vania Dzib (Lupus Advocate & Wellness Educator) Cambria Francesca (Lupus Advocate & Chronic Illness Content Creator) Victoria Gibbs (Lupus Advocate, Yoga Enthusiast & Content Creator) Why the Patient Advocacy Panel Matters The Lupus LA Patient Advocacy Panel was designed to empower individuals living with lupus to use their experiences to drive meaningful change. By sharing their stories and engaging with policymakers, medical professionals, and the broader community, panel members help: Building on the Foundation of Patient Storytelling "At Lupus LA, we have always believed in the power of patient stories to drive change," said Susan Bazarsky, Executive Director of Lupus LA. "Our award-winning podcast, Your Story, Our Fight, was the first step in elevating patient voices. With the Patient Advocacy Panel, we are expanding that work, ensuring that lupus patients have a seat at the table when it comes to research, healthcare policies, and awareness campaigns.' With over 60,000 individuals affected in Los Angeles County alone, lupus remains one of the most underfunded and misunderstood diseases. Lupus LA has raised over $13 million for research, advocacy, and patient support and now reaches over 4.3 million people worldwide through digital education. The Patient Advocacy Panel will continue shaping the future of lupus awareness, representation, and care. Join the Movement Lupus LA invites all lupus warriors, caregivers, and supporters to join this mission by sharing their stories, participating in advocacy efforts, and supporting patient-driven initiatives. Want to get involved? Share your lupus story at info@ or visit to learn more. Follow us for updates: @LupusLA About Lupus LA Lupus LA is an independent, national nonprofit health organization based in Los Angeles dedicated to funding lupus research, providing patient services, and advocating for those living with lupus. Through community-driven initiatives, digital education, and national advocacy efforts, Lupus LA works to improve the lives of those affected by this chronic autoimmune disease.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sam Altman's World unveils a mobile verification device
Tools for Humanity, the startup behind the World human verification project that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman co-founded, plans to unveil Wednesday a mobile device designed to help people determine the difference between a human and an AI agent. The company, which is debuting the device during its its "At Last" event in San Francisco, also will announce plans to open brick-and-mortar storefront where people can access its Orbs. World, a web3 project started by Altman and Alex Blania that was formerly known as Worldcoin, is based on the idea that it will eventually be impossible to distinguish humans from AI agents on the internet. To address this, World wants to create digital 'proof of human' tools; these announcements are part of its effort to get millions of people to sign up. After scanning your eyeball with one of its silver metal Orbs — or now, one of its Orb Minis — World will give you a unique identifier on the blockchain to verify that you're a human. The Orb Mini, a reference to the company's larger Orb devices, looks like a smartphone and is designed to be portable, a Tools for Humanity spokesperson told TechCrunch in a briefing. Thomas Meyerhoff, a former Apple Designer helped design the Orb Mini, according to people familiar with the new product. The main purpose of the Orb Mini is to verify more people, not necessarily to use apps, make calls, or send texts. However, the spokesperson said it's unclear what the device's ultimate functionality would be. Tools for Humanity is also launching its World Network in the U.S. on Thursday, and will open storefronts in Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville and San Francisco. The stores, which World already has in other countries, are designed for people to come in and have their eyeballs scanned by one of the company's Orbs. The World project claims 26 million people have signed up, and 12 million people are verified, around the world. Today, the company has a larger presence in Latin America, South America, and Asia — but Wednesday announcement aims to grow the project in the U.S. While the company was light on details about its Orb Mini, the device seems to be an effort to distribute its verification devices more broadly. While World's objectives have shifted over the years, the Orb seems core to their mission. A key question around swirling around World is whether it will one day partner with Sam Altman's other venture, OpenAI. It's unclear if the Orb Mini will have any AI features, or whether it's related to the AI device OpenAI is reportedly working on. This article originally appeared on TechCrunch at Sign in to access your portfolio
News18
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Madison Beer Recalls Her Nude Photo Leak At 15, Justin Bieber's Trauma: ‘He's Been Through So Much'
Madison Beer was just 13 when a video of her singing Etta James' At Last went viral and caught Justin Bieber's attention. Madison Beer is reflecting on her difficult journey through fame and childhood stardom. In a new interview with Cosmopolitan, the singer opened up about the trauma of being thrust into the spotlight at a young age and the fallout she experienced shortly after being discovered by Justin Bieber. Now 26, Beer was just 13 when a video of her singing Etta James' At Last went viral and caught Bieber's attention. He shared the clip with his then-manager Scooter Braun, leading to her being signed. While it seemed like a dream come true, the reality was far more damaging. Beer recalled how quickly her career stalled and how devastating the aftermath was. 'Literally the same day my manager dropped me, my lawyer dropped me, and my label dropped me," she said. 'I was 16 and my label was like, 'Good luck.' And I'm like, 'You guys just stole years of my childhood that I'll never get back.'" She described how industry figures made inappropriate comments about her appearance at just 14, and how a nude photo leak at 15 added to her distress. 'I felt like I was a dollar sign to them and when I didn't bring in enough money, they didn't care about me anymore," she said. Beer also said the label hyped her up as the 'female Justin Bieber," only to later 'drop her on her head." Without traditional schooling or a backup plan, she felt lost. 'My whole family uprooted and moved to Los Angeles with no connections. I have no friends. Are you guys kidding me?" She also addressed her past association with Scooter Braun, who no longer manages Bieber. Reflecting on that time, she acknowledged how young they all were. 'Justin was also only a teenager when I got signed — he hadn't even experienced his adult life yet. He's been through so much, too." Despite the chaos, her bond with Justin and Hailey Bieber remains strong. 'I love him and Hailey very much," Beer said. 'I was with them recently and we were like, 'How special that we've known each other for so long.' I've known Hailey since I was 10, and I've known Justin since I was 12. We're still in each other's lives and now they're married with a baby." First Published:
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Madison Beer talks 'special' friendship with Justin Bieber since childhood: 'I love him'
Madison Beer talks 'special' friendship with Justin Bieber since childhood: 'I love him' Show Caption Hide Caption Scooter Braun deactivates Instagram after Justin Bieber unfollows Scooter Braun, Justin Bieber's longtime manager, deactivated his Instagram account after Bieber unfollowed him. unbranded - Entertainment Madison Beer is opening up about her traumatic start as a child star. The "Make You Mine" singer opened up about being dropped by music manager Scooter Braun and her label, the inappropriate comments made about her appearance as a teenager, as well as her longtime friendship with Hailey and Justin Bieber, in a Cosmopolitan cover story published April 28. Justin Bieber discovered Beer, now 26, after she posted a cover of Etta James' "At Last" in 2012, and shared it with his former manager, Braun, who signed her. The experience of being signed so young proved to be "disturbing," including "grown men talking about how I was too sexy" at 14, she said, and a nude photo leak incident at 15. Then at 16, due to a lack of momentum in her career, she said her team dropped her. Justin Bieber raises eyebrows with another cryptic post on social media "Literally the same day my manager dropped me, my lawyer dropped me, and my label dropped me. Everything in my life went away within 12 hours," she told the outlet. "I was 16 and my label was like, 'Good luck.' And I'm like, 'You guys just stole years of my childhood that I'll never get back.'" She went from being told she was "going to be the female Justin Bieber, give it a year" to being "dropped on (her) head." "I can't go to college because I've been homeschooled," she continued. "I have a high school degree and nothing else because of my career. My whole family uprooted and moved to Los Angeles with no connections. I have no friends. Are you guys kidding me?" She said she was suddenly estranged from people who once treated her like family. "I felt like I was a dollar sign to them and when I didn't bring in enough money, they didn't care about me anymore," Beer said. "Maybe they shouldn't have signed a 12-year-old without thinking of the consequences of what that was going to do." Beer has since spoken out against Braun, who in recent years stopped managing Bieber. "Justin was also only a teenager when I got signed — he hadn't even experienced his adult life yet," said Beer. "He's been through so much, too." Justin Bieber is 'crashing out' according to fans. What does that mean? The singer and Bieber remain close, she said, having met the pair around the time they met each other. "I love him and Hailey (Bieber) very much. I was with them recently and we were like, 'How special that we've known each other for so long,'" Beer said. "I've known Hailey since I was 10, and I've known Justin since I was 12. We're still in each other's lives and now they're married with a baby."
New York Times
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Alice Tan Ridley, a Subway Singer Who Dazzled on ‘America's Got Talent,' Dies at 72
Alice Tan Ridley, who rose to fame after decades singing for tips in the New York City subway with an unexpected run in the television show 'America's Got Talent,' died on March 25 in New York City. Ms. Ridley, who was the mother of the Oscar-nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe, was 72. Her family announced the death in an obituary published online. It did not include the cause of death. Ms. Ridley's public life as a singer began underground in the mid-1980s, and she spent decades belting out songs in New York City subway stations. At first, the subway busking was meant to supplement income from her day job in education. Eventually, she quit to sing full time. In her early days of busking, the performances were collaborations with her brother Roger Ridley and their cousin Jimmy McMillan, the political activist who would become famous for founding the Rent Is Too Damn High Party in New York. 'We are not homeless,' she told 'Good Morning America' in 2010, referring to buskers. 'We are not beggars. And we're not under drug influence, you know? There are traditional jobs, and there are nontraditional jobs.' She compared busking in New York to 'being in a cathedral.' 'It's wonderful,' she said. 'There's just music all over this city, and especially down underground.' For Ms. Ridley, singing underground fulfilled a calling. In 2005, she appeared in the film 'Heights,' directed by Chris Terrio, as a subway singer. 'People always say, 'Why don't you sing in clubs?' ' Ms. Ridley told The New York Post in 2010. 'I tell them, 'This is my club.'' Her big break came that year when she auditioned for 'America's Got Talent.' Typically, most contestants on competition shows are younger, but Ms. Ridley was in her late 50s. In her audition, she impressed the judges with her rendition of the Etta James classic 'At Last.' She would be eliminated in the semifinals, but not before delivering other highly praised performances, including renditions of 'Proud Mary' and 'Midnight Train to Georgia.' The talent show stint kicked off her career above ground, and she began touring worldwide. Finding the travel grueling, Ms. Ridley returned to busking in 2014. 'When I was no longer down under there,' Ms. Ridley told The New York Times in 2016, 'I missed it.' That same year, she released her debut album, 'Never Lost My Way.' Alice Tan Ridley, the daughter of Melton Lee and Lessie B. Ridley, was born Alice Ann Ridley on Dec. 21, 1952. She grew up in a large musical family in Lumpkin, Ga. 'My mother was my greatest influence,' she told The Morning Call in 2013, referring to her mother, Lessie. 'She wrote songs and plays and had us all singing.' Her father, Melton Lee, was a guitar player. Roger, her older sibling, was also a street musician who played around the country and became prominent after appearing in performances for 'Playing for Change,' a project that unites musicians across the world. She graduated from Stewart County High School in Lumpkin, Ga., around 1969, before moving to New York, where she had visited during summer breaks in high school. Ms. Ridley married Ibnou Sidibe, who was then a cabdriver, around 1980. They had two children, Ahmed Sidibe and Gabourey Sidibe, before their marriage ended in divorce in the early 1990s. Ms. Ridley is also survived by two brothers, James D. Ridley and Tommy Lee Cherry; two sisters, Julia Van Mater-Miller and Mildred Ridley Dent; and two grandchildren. Singing was a third career for Ms. Ridley. In the early 1970s, she worked as a nursery teacher after moving to New York. In 1976, Ms. Ridley took a job as a teacher's aide for special needs children at a public elementary school in New York. The year before Ms. Ridley appeared on 'America's Got Talent,' her daughter, Ms. Sidibe, hit it big: She starred in the movie 'Precious,' a role for which Ms. Sidibe was nominated for an Oscar. The role came about, in part, because of Ms. Ridley. From her telling, she was approached to be in the movie. 'They asked me to play the part of the mother,' Ms. Ridley told The Post in the 2010 interview. 'But being a mom and teacher, I just couldn't play that part. It was just too hard.' The movie is an adaptation of the 1996 novel 'Push' by Sapphire. 'I read the book, and I gave it to Gabby,' Ms. Ridley said. 'Her friends encouraged her to try out for 'Precious,' and she got it.' At the time, Ms. Sidibe was a psychology student secretly working as a phone-sex operator. In the 'Good Morning America' interview, Ms. Ridley recalled how she told her children that they 'can be whatever you want to be.' 'You can do whatever you want to do,' Ms. Ridley said. 'You just have to get up and do it.' In Ms. Ridley's case, she wanted to be a singer — no matter where. 'Travelers would be worried about their mortgages, getting fired and their jobs,' Ms. Ridley told The Toronto Star in 2012. 'They would pass by me and see me singing. They would stand by me for two or three hours, hang with me in the heat all sweating or as cold as the dickens because they were entertained.' She added, 'I brought a little joy to people who were traveling.'
