Latest news with #Landis
The Citizen
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Ridgeway girls group dazzle at Women's Day event
A Ridgeway group of five young girls, Times Stars, realised their dream by performing at the Women's Day celebration event held at the Apartheid Museum in Ormonde. Ward 55 Clr Rashieda Landis thanked them for the special performance and expressed gratitude to Booysens SAPS' Lieutenant Colonel Thandazile Sengwayo for facilitating the process. Sengwayo, also known as Crazy Tee and an artist herself, said that when Landis invited her to perform at the Women's Day event, she immediately thought of these youngsters. 'I often see them at my complex, Lion Ridge, dancing outside in one of the yards. I thought they had potential and talent, hence I gave them this opportunity. 'I decided to meet their parents and request that the gift within them should not go unnoticed. This was the first time they had this kind of exposure,' she said. She also thanked Landis and her husband, Gayer Landis, who is the CPF chairperson, for inviting the police to engage with other role players in partnership with local projects aimed at curbing GBV in the community. 'Our social crime prevention project partners will work together with the Booysens Women Network Forum to uplift residents,' she said.
The Star
22-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Turtles defender Landis vows to fire up fans with solid show
PETALING JAYA: Terengganu's new Brazilian import Diego Landis (pic) is not just here to defend but he is here to inspire. The 28-year-old, who arrived in Malaysia just days ago, has settled down ahead of the Super League starting on Aug 8 after passing his medical and fitness tests in Kuala Lumpur. Though a defender by trade, Landis aims to bring excitement to the stands. 'I've met my teammates and coaches, and now I just want to get started,' said Landis, who stands tall at 1.93m. 'I know I'm here to defend but I want to give performances that truly energise the supporters. 'Terengganu are one of the biggest clubs in Malaysia, and I've heard how passionate the fans can be. I'm excited to play in front of them.' Under the guidance of coach Badrul Afzan Razali, Landis is expected to fortify a Terengganu defence that has undergone a major reshuffle following the departure of several key players, including Dutch centreback Matthew Steenvorden. Landis arrives with solid credentials, having played in Thailand's top-flight league with Nakhon Ratchasima. There, he earned praise for his calm composure, disciplined play, aerial dominance, and swift transitions in defence. His signing could not come at a better time for the Turtles, who are looking to bounce back after a shaky defensive showing last season. With his presence, Terengganu will be hoping to bring much-needed stability to their backline. The team finished fifth in the Super League, and qualified for the semi-finals of the FA Cup and Malaysia Cup last season. As the new season looms, all eyes will be on Landis to see if he can anchor the defence and become a key figure in Terengganu's quest for silverware.
San Francisco Chronicle
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
How queer Gen Zers are transforming the S.F. nightlife scene
It's a Thursday night in the Mission District and a glitter-drenched crowd of 20-somethings are gathered around a dance pole in the middle of a cozy apartment. Some take turns twirling around and twerking on it while others lounge nearby, sipping drinks and swapping hugs. Cheers erupt above the booming music every few minutes as guests trickle in — some in torn jeans and T-shirts, others in bikini tops and fishnets — filling the room with sweaty, kinetic energy. But the house party is merely a warm up to the evening's main event: Queen Out, a new rave series shaking up San Francisco's queer nightlife. Queen Out, founded by Jimmy Hadden and Abby Landis, launched in February as a direct response to what they observe as a stagnant queer nightclub and bar scene in the Castro. While the neighborhood has long been celebrated as a haven for gay men — particularly white men who sought refuge there in the 1960s and '70s — the two say it hasn't evolved with the diversity of today's LGBTQ community. With Queen Out, they aim to create an inclusive alternative, particularly carving out a space for Gen Z and younger millennials. Hadden, 29, and Landis, 26, met at the inaugural Portola Festival in 2022, quickly bonding over their shared music taste. Landis, who is of Taiwanese descent, has been performing under the moniker DJ Mama San for five years and began throwing queer parties in the summer of 2024 after growing frustrated with the lack of sapphic-focused nightlife options. Hadden, who is a bisexual Black man, also observed 'it's very homogenized' in the Castro. Queen Out seeks to challenge that status quo. 'It's a kind of bucking the trend and pushing back against kind of what the culture has been,' Hadden said. DJ China G, a Chinese American artist and mentor to Landis, noticed a similar need in the early aughts and filled the gap by co-founding Rebel Girl, a lesbian party series that ran from 2000-2009. Queen Out, the Generation Xer believes, is channeling that same spirit. 'It's a refreshing, inclusive and much needed alternative to the mainstream nightlife scene in the Castro,' DJ China G said. 'It's beautiful to witness this next generation of queers carrying the torch.' The monthly event has become so popular that this month — notably Pride Month — marks the first time they've hosted multiple events. The duo also had to move it from the nearly 500-capacity The Cafe — the largest gay bar and club in the Castro, where they sold out their first four Queen Out parties — to Public Works, a Mission District venue that holds 1,200, for their most recent event on Juneteenth. 'I feel like a lot of queer BIPOC people don't get a lot of spaces like this, so it's important that when they're available to us we take advantage of them,' said Lia Kitahada, a 25-year-old Japanese American lesbian who lives in Hayes Valley, during the party on Thursday, June 19. 'More events like this are needed.' Queen Out feels especially urgent amid renewed political attacks on LGBTQ rights from President Donald Trump and his administration. From anti-diversity, anti-equity and anti-inclusion policies to the weaponization of the law against transgender people and the shut down of the national suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth, events like these serve as vital affirmations of queer identity and solidarity. 'Community is always important, but especially in a time like this' said 24-year-old Berkeley resident Hallie Macaulay, who identifies as a white gay woman. Queen Out, she noted, brings like-minded people together 'to really lean on each other and feel less alone. It's a major thing that gives hope.' Hadden agreed these events are crucial, particularly for those actively involved in LGBTQ advocacy and resistance. 'It wears on you,' he said. 'You need spaces to queen out, so that you can recharge your battery.' 'We need a place where we can just feel safe and shake ass and have fun,' Landis, who identifies as queer and uses they/them pronouns, added. 'Otherwise the world can feel like it's way too much.' In addition to hosting the parties, Landis and Hadden have been donating a portion of Queen Out proceeds to various LGBTQ charities. Thursday's event benefited the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, which defends the rights of Black trans people. Both Hadden and Landis research talent for each Queen Out event, scouring the internet for up-and-comers and pulling from their own ever-expanding music libraries. As DJ Mama San, Landis has spun at several local events and is slated to perform at the Outside Lands festival's queer open-air dance floor, known as Dolores', on Aug. 8. But they chose to sit out the Juneteenth Queen Out party to make room for Black artists to shine. That night's lineup featured R&B pop artist Bayli and DJ Prosperity Room, both based in New York, and Bay Area DJ Queermom, who helped fill Public Works by 11 p.m. The crowd of at least 500 moved fluidly throughout the two-floor venue, with those on the dance floor bathed in colorful lights and fully immersed in the thumping hyperpop music, which included remixes of tunes by Whitney Houston, Doechii and Charli XCX. There wasn't a phone in sight. In bathroom lines and tucked-away corners, strangers exchanged Instagram handles and fashion praise. It was clear this wasn't a typical night out at the club — Queen Out felt like true community, a place for queer people to find genuine connection. 'I think we brought a whole new generation of club kids to the Castro,' Hadden said of their Queen Out events at The Cafe. 'I really hope what we're doing spreads … to all of San Francisco, all of the Bay.'
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Landis Communications CEO Sean Dowdall Named 2025 Business of Pride Honoree as Award-Winning Agency Celebrates 35 Years of Impact
Leading LGBTQ+ Business Leader Recognized During Pride Month as Agency Adds Six New Clients and Earns National Industry Honors SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pride month brings extra reason to celebrate for Landis Communications Inc. (Landis), as the San Francisco Business Times (SFBT) has named President and CEO Sean Dowdall a 2025 Outstanding Voices and Business of Pride Honoree. The prestigious recognition highlights LGBTQ+ business leaders who are making a significant difference in their communities and companies – a perfect reflection of Landis' 35-year commitment to purpose-driven communications and community impact. The Business of Pride honor adds to Dowdall's distinguished record as a leader in both the LGBTQ+ business community and the broader San Francisco Bay Area. Landis has been a multiple-year winner of the SF Business Times' top philanthropy awards and has consistently ranked among the top LGBTQ+ businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area, reinforcing the agency's deep roots in community leadership and social responsibility. Mr. Dowdall reflected upon this moment in a uniquely personal blog entry. "Being recognized as a Business of Pride Honoree is deeply meaningful, especially during Pride month when we celebrate the progress our community has made while acknowledging the work still ahead," said Dowdall. "This recognition reflects not just my personal journey, but the values that have guided Landis for 35 years – using our platform to amplify voices that matter and create meaningful change in our communities. We are enormously proud to be a values aligned business." The SFBT recognition comes during a banner year for the award-winning agency. Landis was named to the PRNEWS Agency Elite Top 120 for the fifth consecutive year and ranks among O'Dwyer's top PR firms for 2024. The agency also won PR Daily's national award for Best Nonprofit Campaign, highlighting its leadership in purpose-driven communications. Adding to its trophy case, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) San Francisco chapter awarded Landis the coveted "Standout Tactic of the Year" award for its imaginative and impactful General Sherman campaign for Save the Redwoods League. This award recognizes exceptional creativity and effectiveness in public relations tactics. Reflecting the agency's continued growth and industry recognition, Landis has recently welcomed six new clients to its roster: Align Surgical Associates, National Rainbow College Fund, Mechanics' Institute, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, Mother's Milk Bank and Western Rivers Conservancy. "Our success over 35 years has always been rooted in putting our clients first while staying true to our values of community impact and social responsibility," said Dowdall. "As we celebrate this Pride recognition, we're reminded that our work extends beyond traditional PR – we're helping organizations create lasting change and build meaningful connections within the communities they serve." ABOUT LANDIS COMMUNICATIONS INC. (Landis): Celebrating 35 years in business, Landis is an award-winning, full-service, integrated public relations, marketing communications, digital and social media agency. The agency offers a unique mix of expertise in healthcare, environmental, corporate, consumer, B2B, B2C, technology, arts/culture and nonprofit marketing communications. Ragan's ACE Awards named Landis America's #1 Small Agency and America's #1 Healthcare PR Agency. Landis also is the San Francisco/Silicon Valley member agency of the Public Relations Global Network, with 50+ agency affiliates worldwide. For further information, visit Landis online. Contact: Brianne Murphy Miller650.575.7727brianne@
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Landis Communications CEO Sean Dowdall Named 2025 Business of Pride Honoree as Award-Winning Agency Celebrates 35 Years of Impact
Leading LGBTQ+ Business Leader Recognized During Pride Month as Agency Adds Six New Clients and Earns National Industry Honors SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pride month brings extra reason to celebrate for Landis Communications Inc. (Landis), as the San Francisco Business Times (SFBT) has named President and CEO Sean Dowdall a 2025 Outstanding Voices and Business of Pride Honoree. The prestigious recognition highlights LGBTQ+ business leaders who are making a significant difference in their communities and companies – a perfect reflection of Landis' 35-year commitment to purpose-driven communications and community impact. The Business of Pride honor adds to Dowdall's distinguished record as a leader in both the LGBTQ+ business community and the broader San Francisco Bay Area. Landis has been a multiple-year winner of the SF Business Times' top philanthropy awards and has consistently ranked among the top LGBTQ+ businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area, reinforcing the agency's deep roots in community leadership and social responsibility. Mr. Dowdall reflected upon this moment in a uniquely personal blog entry. "Being recognized as a Business of Pride Honoree is deeply meaningful, especially during Pride month when we celebrate the progress our community has made while acknowledging the work still ahead," said Dowdall. "This recognition reflects not just my personal journey, but the values that have guided Landis for 35 years – using our platform to amplify voices that matter and create meaningful change in our communities. We are enormously proud to be a values aligned business." The SFBT recognition comes during a banner year for the award-winning agency. Landis was named to the PRNEWS Agency Elite Top 120 for the fifth consecutive year and ranks among O'Dwyer's top PR firms for 2024. The agency also won PR Daily's national award for Best Nonprofit Campaign, highlighting its leadership in purpose-driven communications. Adding to its trophy case, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) San Francisco chapter awarded Landis the coveted "Standout Tactic of the Year" award for its imaginative and impactful General Sherman campaign for Save the Redwoods League. This award recognizes exceptional creativity and effectiveness in public relations tactics. Reflecting the agency's continued growth and industry recognition, Landis has recently welcomed six new clients to its roster: Align Surgical Associates, National Rainbow College Fund, Mechanics' Institute, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, Mother's Milk Bank and Western Rivers Conservancy. "Our success over 35 years has always been rooted in putting our clients first while staying true to our values of community impact and social responsibility," said Dowdall. "As we celebrate this Pride recognition, we're reminded that our work extends beyond traditional PR – we're helping organizations create lasting change and build meaningful connections within the communities they serve." ABOUT LANDIS COMMUNICATIONS INC. (Landis): Celebrating 35 years in business, Landis is an award-winning, full-service, integrated public relations, marketing communications, digital and social media agency. The agency offers a unique mix of expertise in healthcare, environmental, corporate, consumer, B2B, B2C, technology, arts/culture and nonprofit marketing communications. Ragan's ACE Awards named Landis America's #1 Small Agency and America's #1 Healthcare PR Agency. Landis also is the San Francisco/Silicon Valley member agency of the Public Relations Global Network, with 50+ agency affiliates worldwide. For further information, visit Landis online. Contact: Brianne Murphy Miller650.575.7727brianne@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
