Latest news with #advocacy
E&E News
27 minutes ago
- Business
- E&E News
Parks advocacy group boss to step down
The head of the National Parks Conservation Association plans to step down at the end of this year, the organization announced Tuesday. Theresa Pierno, who joined the parks advocacy group in 2004 and led the organization since 2015, plans to stay on the job while the board conducts a formal search for its next leader, NPCA announced. 'After 21 years with National Parks Conservation Association — 10 of them as CEO — I have made the deeply difficult decision to step down this winter,' Pierno posted on LinkedIn. Advertisement 'I am endlessly proud of the work NPCA has done to protect and strengthen our national parks,' she said in a statement the group posted on its website. She added, 'I know the time is right for me to hand the reigns over to the next person who will continue this proud legacy of leading what NPCA's founder called the 'fearless and outspoken defender of the people's parks.''
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Italian American Legend Connie Francis Belongs in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) launches advocacy campaign on behalf of Francis, whose chart-topping ballads once ruled the airwaves — and now trend across TikTok by the billions. CLEVELAND, July 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation remembers Connie Francis, one question, amplified by disbelief, grows louder: Where the girls are? Everywhere but the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, it seems. "The Rock Hall has faced ongoing criticism for under-representing early female pop vocalists and girl groups — many of whom, like Connie Francis, laid the foundation for pop and rock in the 1950s and '60s," said COPOMIAO President Basil Russo. "There's a strong case to be made that she deserves induction for her cultural influence and pioneering success as one of the first female pop superstars. Madonna — a successor to Francis in both Italian American heritage and chart dominance — was inducted in 2008. Francis's exclusion today appears indefensible." Consider her legacy: 200+ million records sold worldwide First woman to top the Billboard Hot 100 Top-selling female artist of the 1960s 27 billion TikTok views featuring her music (and counting) 53 Billboard Hot 100 chart hits The voice of a generation, Francis broke through at a time when women were expected to sing, not lead. Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark, N.J., to Italian immigrant parents, she grew up speaking Italian and performing at local events by age 4. After years of grinding out talent contests and TV appearances, she exploded onto the scene in 1958 with "Who's Sorry Now?" COPOMIAO is rallying the public to contact the Rock Hall and advocate for the recognition Connie Francis deserves. From there, she became a trailblazer: the first woman to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Everybody's Somebody's Fool," and the first to headline major tours across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. She recorded in over a dozen languages, starred in Hollywood musicals, and even opened for the Queen of England. By the mid-1960s, Francis had become not only a household name but also a symbol of Italian American pride. ABOUT COPOMIAO Formed in NYC in 1975, the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) is a national coalition of 74 cultural, educational, fraternal and anti-defamation groups that advocate for the Italian American culture. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations Error 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
CBC
5 days ago
- Health
- CBC
The price of inadequate mental health care
A CBC News analysis estimates one woman's costs at over $800,000 and rising. In Ontario, two main camps are lobbying for change, with very different ideas on how to go about it.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Man advocates for home health aides by riding wheelchair to Madison
OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – A man is riding his wheelchair from Neenah to Madison to advocate for a group of people who help him out every single day. Carl Schulze told Local 5 News he became a quadriplegic about 18 years ago after a terrible accident at Oktoberfest in Appleton. He relies on his home health aides to help him with daily tasks and says their assistance allows him to live on his own. Village of Harrison breaks ground on public works garage expansion 'If I didn't have home health care aids, and I couldn't find family to fill in the gaps, the only option would be an institution,' Schulze said about the importance of his home health aides. 'A nursing home, if I'm lucky, a nice one.' With the help of his aide Katelynn, Schulze is riding his wheelchair from Neenah to Madison to advocate for home health aides. He said there's a lot of turnover in the profession, which makes it difficult for the people who receive the care. He said he's also appalled by the average salary for this type of healthcare worker. 'From my perspective, it is insulting because what they do is help people have dignity and stay alive in their own environment,' he told Local 5 News. 'It's just shocking that people who take care of other humans are paid the worse in our society right now.' According to on average, home health aides in Wisconsin make $17.92 per hour. Schulze's journey to Madison will take several weeks. During each leg of the trip, he rides until the battery on his wheelchair dies. He's usually able to make it 10 or 11 miles each day and hopes to make it to Madison by the final week of July or the first week of August. He said he's been in contact with at least one lawmaker to share his story and explain why advocating for home health aides is so important to him. He's also connected with several groups that help and advocate for people with disabilities. 'Serious risk of illness': Waters of Lake Winneconne Park closed, elevated levels of E. coli He's documenting his journey on his YouTube page as well. 'I'm trying to absolutely keep the same dedication and punctuality that they give me the respect of by completing this journey,' he said. 'Someone has got to do it (stand up for home health aides) nobody is stepping up yet.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
News24
5 days ago
- Health
- News24
Thato Mphuthi is outpacing her peers
Thato Mphuthi's life was changed when, as an 8-year-old, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the right hip. Although she recovered from the illness, she had to rely on crutches for mobility. This not only changed her perception of herself but also radicalised her because of the difference in treatment she experienced. She was bullied and alienated by her peers. 'It is through that discomfort that I started creating spaces [and] inviting and empowering other young disabled voices to ensure that they also take up space,' she told News24. At 30, she's the founder and director of Enabled Enlightenment - a disability-rights and advocacy organisation. She has spent the last five years providing support for people living with disabilities and their families and providing sensitivity training for workplaces. As an admitted 'big dreamer', she's not letting her disability or the perceptions people have of her limit her potential. 'I am a self-starter; I literally fight tooth and nail for everything that I have.'
