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Forbes
an hour ago
- Business
- Forbes
14 Coaches On The Benefits Of Joining A Professional Association
Staying connected and informed is essential to long-term career success, and one of the most effective ways to do that is by joining a professional association. There's no shortage of available options—from local and niche groups to national industry-based entities—depending on one's specific needs and interests. The members of Forbes Coaches Council are well-versed in how joining the right professional association can accelerate career growth. Here, 14 members share the benefits of joining one of these organizations and reasons why doing so makes networking, continuing education and gaining essential industry insights more straightforward and enjoyable endeavors. 1. Connecting With A Broader Community Joining a professional association connects you to a broader community that sharpens your skills, expands your perspective and keeps you current on trends in your field. They offer a space to exchange ideas, grow your influence and strengthen your professional identity. Want more impact? Join an event or volunteer for a committee. It's where deeper learning and relationships begin. - Kathleen Shanley, Statice 2. Building Alliances In today's climate of rapid change and increasing complexity, joining a professional association is a powerful form of alliance building. These communities represent values-driven space to build collective influence. Leaders can benefit by co-creating cross-sector task forces that surface emerging challenges, share diverse perspectives and propose actionable, systems-level solutions. - Olivia Dufour, Olivia Dufour Consulting 3. Developing Qualifications And Credibility Professional associations bring qualifications, credibility and, more importantly, a sense of community. We are all braver and wiser when we surround ourselves with respected peers. Now, more than ever, is a time to work in a community with leaders whose values you align with. Engaging with professional associations is one way of achieving this. After all, you are the company you keep! - Dr. John Blakey, John Blakey Ltd 4. Increasing Your Authority Aligning with a professional body is an excellent way to raise your authority in your field and show potential customers that you are serious about your craft. Often, professional associations require a commitment to continuing professional development, an exam or an interview process, thereby demonstrating that as a member, you are a qualified and experienced professional. - Tanya Edgar, Tanya Edgar Coaching and Consulting Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify? 5. Learning And Connecting The three key reasons to belong and engage with a professional association are: learning, connecting and possibly creating your own thought leadership avenue. Making time to learn is like an antidepressant in today's stressful world. Networking casually with peers is essential, and think about how you could position yourself as a thought leader while you are engaging. - Brenda Abdilla, Management Momentum LLC 6. Showcasing Commitment To Craft An underrated benefit of professional associations is that they demonstrate your commitment to your craft. Whether you're looking for a new job, aiming for a promotion or positioning yourself as a thought leader, being part of an association signals that you're invested in your industry. It shows you've taken the time to engage with your community and are committed to continuous growth. - Dr. Kyle Elliott, MPA, CHES, 7. Supporting Career Development Belonging to professional associations is crucial for career development and networking. One key benefit is access to valuable resources like training, certifications and industry research, which enhance skills and knowledge. These associations also provide networking opportunities, promoting collaboration and mentorship among professionals, leading to potential job leads and career advancement. - Jay Garcia, Jay Garcia Group 8. Gaining Access To Vetted Minds Professional associations offer something LinkedIn can't: depth over scrolling. One standout benefit? Access to vetted minds in your lane. You're not just swapping business cards; you're pressure-testing ideas with people who get it. In a world of noisy feeds and fast takes, that kind of intel is rare and ridiculously valuable. - Anastasia Paruntseva, Visionary Partners Ltd. 9. Leveraging Membership For Learning Professional associations can be an unexpected learning platform. Often, professionals belong to associations to network or gain notoriety; however, using an association as an educational institution to gain insight can make it an unexpectedly rich environment. This exposure can enhance business knowledge and offer fresh perspectives to deepen expertise. - Alecia Wellen, Alecia Wellen Coaching 10. Laying The Groundwork For Transformation Belonging to a professional association creates fertile ground for transformation. It's not just about networking; it's about surrounding yourself with the right stimulus to spark new neural connections, expand your perspective and elevate your leadership through meaningful exchange and shared purpose. Growth is fueled through collaboration, and it all begins with connection. - Patricia Arboleda, Arboleda Coaching 11. Exchanging Peer-To-Peer Insights In Context One key benefit of professional associations is the opportunity to discuss industry-specific challenges with peers who truly understand the context. These peer exchanges often lead to more practical, experience-based solutions than external consultants can offer, grounded in real-world insights rather than theory. - Stephan Lendi, Newbury Media & Communications GmbH 12. Expanding Perspectives Professional associations expand your perspective. They connect you to peers outside your company, expose you to industry trends early and give you a sounding board beyond your day-to-day bubble. It's a place to build meaningful connections, share best practices and grow in a broader community. - Mel Cidado, Breakthrough Coaching 13. Plugging Into Key Conversations Professional associations plug you into conversations you didn't even know you needed to be in. The real value isn't the newsletter—it's the side doors into emerging trends, deals, shifts and decisions that never show up on Google. If you're not in the room, you're just catching up. And by the time it hits LinkedIn, the real opportunity's already passed you by. - Alla Adam, Adam Impact Institute 14. Helping To Shape What Is Relevant Joining a professional association isn't just about networking—it's a power move. You plug into a pulse of industry shifts, bold ideas and game-changing leaders. One key benefit? Proximity to influence. When you're in the right rooms, conversations spark opportunities, and you stop chasing relevance; instead, you help shape it. - Shikha Bajaj, Own Your Color
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Health experts warn Trump cuts to the CDC could hurt overdose prevention: ‘A step backwards'
Public health officials across the country working to prevent overdose deaths may have just a month to prepare for up to $140m in funding cuts for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that the Trump administration has reportedly withheld. US overdose deaths began to decline for the first time in 2023 after climbing for over two decades. The CDC's Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) cooperative agreement, launched in 2019 during the first Trump administration, provides funding for overdose 'prevention and surveillance strategies'. Public health officials emphasized to the Guardian that to effectively reduce fatal overdoses, agencies must work in tandem to track substance use disorders, overdoses and changes in the drug supply, and to implement interventions, like distributing the overdose reversal drug naloxone. OD2A funding made this kind of robust response possible. The Biden administration expanded the program in 2023, giving five year grants to 90 state and local public health departments. 'The funding has largely been used for surveillance, in other words, to obtain data on the opioid crisis that informs a public health response to the problem,' said Dr Andrew Kolodny, medical director for the Opioid Policy Research Collaborative at Brandeis University. 'In general, our surveillance data for the opioid crisis is awful. I would even say that one of the reasons that the opioid crisis is as severe as it is, and why, up until recently, overdose deaths have continued to go up pretty much year after year for about 25 years, is because we had very poor surveillance of the problem.' But now, health officials worry the money could run out at the end of the first two year cycle on 1 September. Dr Jenny Hua, interim deputy commissioner for Chicago's department of public health (CDPH), which receives $3.4m annually in OD2A funding, says they're preparing for the worst. 'We are doing scenario planning. The preferred scenario is that we have the entire award starting the first of August,' she said, though she's uncertain whether that's likely. Hua noted that what she's been 'told about this money is that at least half of it is available next year. The problem is that for a number of [the CDC's] cooperative agreements with local health departments and state health departments, they're receiving that money in monthly increments, which has never happened before.' She also said that the CDC now doesn't have enough money at once to distribute. A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said in a statement that CDC is committed to the O2DA program and that: 'We are working closely with our funding partners to make within the next month, at a minimum, initial grant awards, which may contain less than the full-year of funding in the first incremental award … This incremental funding approach is not specific to OD2A.' Hua said 'that sort of fog is making it incredibly difficult for us to make funding decisions, to allocate our resources.' The CDPH has used OD2A funding to make same day substance use disorder treatment available to patients through telehealth, and had plans to expand recovery housing for treatment. 'Do you pull the plug? What tea leaves are we supposed to read, to know what course of action to take?' Hao wondered. Kolodny said it's especially important to keep funding surveillance of multiple factors related to overdose deaths because 'right now, you can talk to five different experts, and you'll get five different explanations for why the deaths are coming down. Nobody really knows, right? And that's because we don't have good surveillance data,' he said, 'and it's about to get worse.' Surveillance means tracking not only the number of fatal and non-fatal overdoses in the US, but also the prevalence of substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder. Historically, this has been the mission of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (Samhsa), which also provides a plethora of other addiction and overdose prevention services, but that agency also faces funding cuts. OD2A funding also went towards surveillance of 'emergency drug threats' which often comes in the form of new adulterants in the street drug supply. Unexpected substances, including tranquilizers like xylazine, and potent synthetic opioids like nitazenes and carfentanil, can cause overdoses and poisonings that are more dangerous because they aren't yet well understood. Still, many health departments across the country do not monitor the street drug supply. Street drug surveillance can help officials intervene rapidly when overdoses increase. Partly thanks to OD2A funding, Chicago health officials immediately became aware of a spike in overdoses on the city's west side last May. Lab analysis revealed the spike was related to the presence of medetomidine, a potent veterinary tranquilizer, in the street drug supply. In June, the CDPH launched the Summer Opioid Response Incident Command System, a coordinated effort involving public messaging about the contaminated drug supply, distribution of naloxone and drug testing kits, and expanding access to treatment. This effort reduced overdose related emergency responses by 23% last summer compared to the year before, according to a report on the program. The Los Angeles department of public health also uses OD2A funding for 'community-based drug checking', according to a statement from a spokesperson; 'The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recently announced a 22% decline in drug-related overdose deaths and poisonings in 2024, the most significant drop in LA County history,' adding that 'the CDC Overdose to Action LOCAL grant award contributed to these successes.' A spokesperson for the Maryland department of health said that cuts could mean layoffs for 28 public health workers, which would mean they no longer have the capacity to track non-fatal overdoses and will lose most of their capacity to track fatal overdoses. Tracking the number of people who die of overdoses is the 'bare minimum' of surveillance, according to Kolodny, who noted that funding cuts are 'frustrating' to witness. 'Trump has been especially popular in some of the regions of the country that have suffered most from the opioid crisis. So one might think that his administration would be doing everything it can to bring this problem to an end. And in my opinion, this is a step backwards,' he said. Funding overdose prevention doesn't just save lives, it also saves money, Kolodny said: 'The opioid crisis is a trillion dollar a year problem, and I'm not making up that number. That's a number that comes in part from the cost analysis on the number of lives that are lost.' Lives will continue to be lost until we can really understand what drives overdose deaths, Kolodny said: 'Without the data, we're shooting in the dark.'
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Exclusive: Sandra Oh And Sean Wang Leads TAAF's Latest PSA Campaign
The Asian American Foundation (TAAF)'s "Asian+American" Campaign The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), a nonprofit organization focused on serving Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, has unveiled its 'Asian+American' campaign to encourage Asian Americans to celebrate the complexity and beauty of their dual identities. In partnership with global creative agency Wieden+Kennedy New York, TAAF launched a national PSA initiative, directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Sean Wang and narrated by Emmy Award-winning actress Sandra Oh, to kick-start the campaign. Powerful portraits and images will be displayed across billboards, digital platforms, social media, and out-of-home locations. According to TAAF's 2025 STAATUS Index, the leading national study of Americans' perceptions of AANHPIs, just 20% of Asian Americans ages 16-24 and 23% overall felt fully accepted for their racial identity. There are these ideas of feeling 'too Asian' or 'not Asian enough,' and torn between choosing one identity, culture, language, and names over the other to fit in. TAAF hopes the campaign will spark a sense of pride in being both Asian and American, especially among the younger generations. 'For too long, Asian Americans have been made to feel like we must shrink, code-switch, or choose between identities just to be seen as American enough,' said Norman Chen, CEO of TAAF, in a press statement. 'At TAAF, we are focused on building a future where our community can thrive in safety, prosperity, and true belonging—free from discrimination, slander, and violence. Belonging begins with being seen and heard, and we hope this campaign sparks the kind of honest conversations that help us own, and celebrate, every part of who we are. Directed by Wang, the campaign's PSA, a 60-second short film called Beyond, Together, explores this pressure to choose between these two identities and 'offers an intimate look at Asian American individuals embracing their full selves without limits or compromises.' The Park Pictures director has touched on his Asian American identity in his Sundance darling feature, Dìdi. So, developing the short film was not a stretch for him. 'My own Asian American identity and sense of belonging are things I've attempted to define for myself through my work,' said Wang, who also participated in the inaugural Sundance Institute | TAAF Fellowship 2022 cohort. 'Through those experiences, I've connected with so many others who share the unique challenges of navigating multiple cultural identities.' Oh, who had shared her experiences of systematic racism in Hollywood, is honored to lend her voice yet again for TAAF's project. She had previously worked with them on the 2022 TAAF-supported PBS documentary, Rising Against Asian Hate: One Day In March. 'Lending my voice on a message so close to my heart—one that represents my community—has tremendous meaning for me,' said Oh. 'Working with TAAF to highlight the intersectionality of our identities and cultures has been a project made out of love by everyone who has touched it. I'm so honored to be part of giving this message to the AAPI community and with the world.' The Asian American Foundation (TAAF)'s "Asian+American" Campaign There has been an increased presence in AANHPI representation in all industries and on social media, with many reconnecting with their heritage, proudly speaking their languages, celebrating their foods and culture, and reclaiming their Asian names. Yet, they're often only celebrated nationally during May for Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. TAAF invites the public to celebrate their pride all year round by sharing their 'Asian+American' story and celebrating their declaration of being and belonging to both. Using the #AsianPlusAmerican (and tag @TAAForg), the campaign aims to amplify the diverse voices, experiences, and identities that shape the Asian American community and show the world what it truly means to be both. To learn more about TAAF's 'Asian+American' campaign, visit
New York Times
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Rich Eisen to take over ESPN Radio's noon slot: Sources
'The Rich Eisen Show' will be the new centerpiece of ESPN Radio, with its program airing nationally from noon-3 p.m. ET beginning Sept. 2, sources briefed on the move told The Athletic. In May, The Athletic reported that a strong possibility existed for Eisen's program to be a staple of ESPN Radio. It will also appear on Disney+ and ESPN+, as well as ESPN's full direct-to-consumer app that is set to debut in the fall. Advertisement The show that is currently in the noon slot, 'Joe & Q,' featuring Joe Fortenbaugh and Qiant 'Q' Myers, will be disbanded. Fortenbaugh, a sports betting guru, will focus on his TV and radio spots, while Myers will be a Monday-Friday late-night host on ESPN Radio 'GameTime.' The rest of the lead-in lineup, including its morning drive show, 'Unsportsmanlike,' hosted by Evan Cohen, Chris Canty and Michelle Smallmon, and the 10 a.m.-to-noon show 'Clinton & Friends,' centered on Clinton Yates, will remain the same. 'The Rich Eisen Show' will be on at the same time as 'The Pat McAfee Show' and will be available on ESPN, the forthcoming ESPN DTC and YouTube. Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith is beginning a new SiriusXM program that will compete directly with Eisen. Smith remains the star of 'First Take.' The Rich Eisen Podcast Network will also be on ESPN's platforms and will include a new, yet-to-be-named podcast that will have Eisen, a former SportsCenter host from 1996-2003, interviewing colleagues from his run behind the desk.
Bloomberg
7 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Google Seeks Licensing Talks With News Groups, Following AI Rivals
Google is seeking to recruit news organizations for a new licensing project related to artificial intelligence, according to people familiar with the matter, a sign the company wants to strengthen strained ties with the industry. The company plans to launch a pilot project initially with about 20 national news outlets, according to one of the people, who works at a media outlet that was contacted and asked not to be identified discussing private talks.
