Latest news with #StephanieJones
Travel Weekly
2 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance, whose focus included DEI efforts in tourism, is shutting down
The Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance, a nonprofit that aimed to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the travel industry, will shut down at the end of June, according to its founder and CEO, Stephanie Jones. The organization, which was founded in 2020 and focused on educational initiatives, saw its mission evolve after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers as the travel and tourism industry worked to implement DEI initiatives. Stephanie Jones But with the Trump administration's executive orders that targeted DEI initiatives and threatened partnerships and funding, Jones decided to dismantle the alliance on June 30. Initiatives founded under the alliance, like Blacks in Travel and Tourism and Black Cultural Heritage Tours, will also cease operations at the end of the month. Jones said that a partnership the alliance created with the International Trade Administration was axed after President Trump returned to office this year. Efforts to gain Minority Business Development Agency pilot funding were also impacted by the administration's DEI orders, she said. 'We have been evolving over the past five years and also really looking at the impact we have been able to make,' she said. 'CHEA was formed with DEI in our DNA. … I proposed that this was a good season for CHEA to sunset, so that we don't have to be concerned about not being able to access federal funding.' A new focus Jones has turned her focus to Disrupt for Change, which she said 'is really leaning into working with underrepresented tourism and hospitality, small and micro enterprises, cultural museums … to be able to introduce them to entrepreneurship as a pathway into the industry.' She will serve as CEO and managing director of the organization. Disrupt for Change launched in April. Diversity Tourism Academy, which debuted under the Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance and offers tourism marketing courses, will continue to operate under the new brand. • Cover story: Black influencers who explore and inspire The new initiative will work with small enterprises in the tourism space, like hospitality, museums or cultural institutions, that struggle to market themselves as tourism destinations and face systemic barriers, Jones said. Disrupt for Change will offer educational resources for underrepresented tourism businesses globally. Jones said through the alliance she was already working with small suppliers outside of the U.S. in places like the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. Disrupt for Change is actively seeking partnerships with tourism boards, DMOs and hospitality brands to help broaden access to the travel and tourism industry for small, underrepresented suppliers. 'It makes sense for us to focus on how we can leverage our strategic relationships globally to better help position these businesses that are universally dealing with some of the same challenges,' she said. 'It's important that there is an entity that represents the interests of smaller suppliers and that is leveraging all of its resources to help these businesses become better positioned in the industry to make money.'
Los Angeles Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
The best movies, TV shows and books for summer 2025
(Photo illustration by Stephanie Jones / Los Angeles Times; images by Universal and Disney) May 15, 2025 3 AM PT
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Incredible victory' MI lifts ban on paid surrogacy, clears barriers
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — For decades, Michigan's anti-surrogacy policies have been among the nation's most restrictive. It was a felony to pay a surrogate to carry an embryo, and couples fortunate enough to secure an uncompensated surrogate were often required to formally adopt their own biological children after birth. It was 2019 when Target 8 first introduced you to a that was forced to endure the costly and invasive process of adopting their twins, created through in vitro fertilization, from the gestational surrogate who carried them on the couple's behalf. W. MI parents denied legal rights to their babies due to outdated law In the years since, a grassroots effort led by parents who endured the state's antiquated policies has pushed hard for change. On Tuesday, their efforts paid off when the Michigan Family Protection Act went into effect. The act lifted the ban on paid surrogacy and removed barriers for couples who want to grow their families through IVF and gestational surrogacy. In many cases, medical conditions preclude the parents from carrying an embryo to term, making gestational surrogacy their only option to produce children. Michigan the 'worst' for couples seeking surrogacy Nine bills comprise the act, which also makes it easier and less costly to ensure proper recognition of parentage at birth. 'This is an incredible victory for all Michigan families formed through assisted reproduction, including IVF and surrogacy and for LGBTQ+ families,' said Stephanie Jones, founder of the Michigan Fertility Alliance, a leader in the push to modernize the state's outdated surrogacy stance. 'With this law, all Michigan families will now have equitable access to safe and secure parent-child relationships, and our state will have legal safeguards for family building through surrogacy, protecting all involved — parents, children and surrogates.' legalize and regulate paid surrogacy and ensure fair compensation and legal representation for gestational surrogates, according to a news release from the Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Fighting for surrogacy in MI, couples share their infertility stories 'The package repeals an unjust ban that made Michigan the only state in the nation to criminalize surrogacy contracts, and better protects surrogates, parents and children so that more Michiganders have the support they need to start a family,' said Whitmer in the release. 'The Michigan Protection Act takes common sense, long overdue action to repeal Michigan ban on surrogacy, protect family formed by IVF, and ensure LGBTQ+ parents are treated equally.' To act as a gestational surrogate, a woman must be at least 21 years old, have given birth at least once, undergone comprehensive medical and mental health screening and been assigned an independent lawyer to ensure their rights are protected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
