Red Cross

They are helping by giving money to people affected by the fires. The store’s Hot Topic, Honda, and Starbucks are collaborating with the Red Cross. People who buy from these places can donate money too. According to the Red Cross, millions of dollars have been given to people affected by the fires.

Fire Aid LA

In tribute to the people who lost their lives in the fires in Los Angeles, these people are getting together to sing for a week. They raise money for people who lost everything in the fire. Fire Aid LA was on January 30, 2025. The performance was at the Kia Form. Artists Billie Eilish, No Doubt, P!nk, Green Day, Olivia Rodrigo, and more performed at Fire Aid LA.

Anyone who misses the live concert can watch it on YouTube Channel.

It’s great that everyone is doing something to support Los Angeles, California.

Metro

All Metro buses in Los Angeles California and Metro trains give free rides to people in need.

Salvation Army

Some people have come to the Salvation Army Thrift stores to give out bed covers and new clothes.  These people affected by fires need new clothes to wear and bed covers when they are cold. If someone buys other items from the Salvation Army, they give money to people affected by fires in Los Angeles as well.

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People need help with food, shelter, and clothes and shelters are doing their best to help out. Homes Shelters have been developed people can go to Hart High School, 24825 Newhall Ave Santa Clarita, and Valencia High School 27801 Dickson Dr. Valencia. People who are affected by the fires evacuation even have shelters for their animals at Lancaster Animal Care Center, 5210 W Ave 1, Lancaster

Palmdale Animal Care Center, 38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale.

Big animals can evacuate to shelters at Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave, Woodland Hills

Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 E Harbor Blvd, Ventura

Los Angeles YCMC and Restoration Life Church

People give out a pack of water bottles to places to give out to people affected by fires. These people who are affected by fires do need water to help stay alive.

It is good that people are coming together to help people who are affected by fires. People are giving things they do need shows how connected we are as a community and that we can overcome any hardship thrown at us.

Beverly B. Thompson, Communications Director, City of Durham

919.560.4123 x11229 

Beverly.Thompson@DurhamNC.gov

Dawn Dudley, Sr. Public Information Specialist, Durham County

919.560.0008

ddudley@dconc.gov

DURHAM, N.C. – The City of Durham and Durham County governments announce the return of their longtime resident academy program, Durham Neighborhood College, after being on hold for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The award-winning program, co-sponsored by the City of Durham and Durham County, provides an opportunity for residents to learn about the operations and services of both local governments. The program features a series of interactive classes facilitated by City and County employees who work hard to provide quality services to make Durham a great place to live, work, and play.

Classes will be held on seven Thursday nights beginning September 14 through October 26, from 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. A light meal is served prior to the start of each class and sessions are held at local government facilities. Residents accepted into the program must pay a $35 fee. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available.

Residents looking to play a more active role in their neighborhoods and the Durham community are encouraged to apply. Some past graduates from the program have gone onto elected and appointed positions for local and state governments.

Applications are accepted through Thursday, August 17. Space is limited to 25 participants with the goal of creating a diverse cohort representing different neighborhoods as well as youth, Hispanic residents, and residents outside the city limits.

To learn more about Durham Neighborhood College visit webpages for the City of Durham or Durham County.Click here to apply. Hard copy applications are available at the Durham County Clerk to the Board of Commissioners Office, Administration Building I, 200 E. Main Street, 2^nd floor.  To receive an application by email, reach out to publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov.

For more information, interested applicants may also contact the City’s Communications Department at (919) 560-4123 or the County’s Public Information Office at (919) 560-0000.

Trustee Marty Kotis said on Fox News about the University’s new “School of Civic Life & Leadership: “I wouldn’t say that we’re taking direct aim at workism. I’d say that we’re creating an environment for civil discourse, when one side is represented and the other side is suddenly allowed to speak up, it may seem like we’re taking aim – but really we’re just trying to create a level playing field.” As part of the university’s “Carolina Next: Innovations for Public Good” plan, the North Carolina college announced the school which falls under the plan’s “Promote Democracy” strategic initiative.

Kotis praised the school, which he says is “allowing for the two sides of the coin, different perspectives to be presented.”

“By having that, you’ll have that constructive dialog. The problem right now is you only sometimes have one message, and it’s not really an “R” versus a “D” or a woke versus conservative. It’s allowing freedom of expression and ideas and exchange of ideas, which is the foundation of the university, light and liberty.” Hopefully, this new school at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will be everything it’s made out to be by the school’s top brass. 

Vinyasa is a particular style of yoga that draws from strength training, pilates, and the philosophy of yoga. Within the Vinyasa practice, participants enter a posture of consciousness, allowing the body to smoothly flow from one sequence to another. Vinyasa combines the best aspects of classical yoga while incorporating elements of power through repetitive endurance exercises. These seamless transitions of movement hold endless possibilities for yoga attendees and instructors to proactively work on a balanced, grounded self.

It’s important to remember that each Vinyasa sequence is orchestrated by the breath. As the body finds a natural rhythm for each Vinyasa flow, strength is centered around a gentle inhale and exhale. Here are some Vinyasa sequences that will provide healthy challenges for those new and acquainted with yoga.

Plank

Beginning on the mat, arrive at a plank position. This is achieved at the level of difficulty most comfortable for the body. Knees may be on the mat or lifted in a holding position. Hold for several breaths.

Chaturanga

Exhaling, bend the elbows to gently lower the body to the mat. The goal is to reach the lowest point of a traditional pushup, allowing the body to flow from a plank to a straight-line position. Although challenging, hold for a few breaths.

Cobra

On the next inhale, allow the body to lower completely to the mat. The upper body remains lifted, gently reaching up as the hips remain on the ground. Remain in this stretch of the lower back for several breaths.

Downward-Facing Dog

On the next exhale, let the toes plant themselves firmly on the mat. Straighten the arms and lift the body into a downward position. Feet are firmly stabilized on the ground as the hands remain outstretched and the spine is elongated. Stay in this position for several breaths. An optional movement is to pedal the feet while in downward dog, providing the calf muscles with a gentle stretch.

Savasana

Once you have reached the end of your Vinyasa practice, allow the body to cool down and rest in a comfortable position. Lie down on your back with the feet spread to the width of your mat, eyes closed, and palms facing toward the ceiling. This posture symbolizes the end of the workout, and is a time of relaxation for the body to acknowledge the work performed.

Vinyasa Yoga finds its strength in variety and is the perfect blend of power and grace for a balanced workout. Whether you are new or experienced to the practice of yoga, Vinyasa offers something for everyone. Let your body express itself in a new and creative way, flowing from sequence to hold with a posture of balanced wellness this spring season.

Because of this, contact with books can never be called “early.” Reading, literature, imagination, storytelling – and storytelling – favor continuous learning, which we take for the rest of our lives.

In addition to this fundamental role of reading, the habit of reading also favors learning to write. Thus, in addition to being a great little reader, it is through contact with books that we form great little writers.

How about, then, exploring even more the powers of reading there in your home? It is precisely through shared reading that we see the strength of these beautiful habits: reading and imagining.

The benefits of childhood reading

In addition to being a delight to be done with the family, reading brings countless benefits to the child and, also, to the parents. See some of the impacts:

• It strengthens the connection with those who read to the child (parents, family members, or caregivers);
• Develops attention, concentration, vocabulary, memory, and reasoning;
• Stimulates curiosity, imagination, creativity;
• Helps the child to understand and deal with feelings and emotions;
• It helps in the development of empathy (ability to put yourself in the other’s shoes); 
• Minimizes behavioral problems such as aggression;
• Develops oral language;
• It favors the learning of writing;
• It works as a continuous exercise in the organization of thought, which is expressed in speech and then in writing ;
• It’s a way to explore those themes that the child likes the most, informing and making communication more and more consistent.

Proper reading, combined with correct activities, generates incredible results

Therefore, books must always be part of the children’s universe. And, if possible, even from pregnancy!

There is no need to force any activity as learning comes naturally. Another important tip is to make reading part of the child’s routine, which makes this moment even more natural.

After all, this is exactly what we are looking for: to make this moment more common in homes, in different families and their different organizations. In this way, we turn reading into a moment of pleasure, reflection, and sharing. Reading doesn’t have to be a boring obligation.

Just as it is essential to provide adequate reading for each stage of the child, the way to encourage this reading also varies. We’ve listed some tips, separated by age, to make this moment even cooler!

Children from 0 to 1 year

1. Explore rubber, plastic, fabric, and textured books for free handling (because babies like to handle objects to get familiar with them);

2. Point to the pictures in the book and say out loud the name of what your child is looking at;

3. Turn the pages to your baby’s interest or help him turn;

4. Represent with gestures or with the voice the figure you are showing;

5. Imitate the sounds the baby makes and observe their reaction;

 Children from 1 to 2 years old 

1. Let the child choose a book they want to read with you;

2. Use different voices to represent the different characters in the stories;

3. Ask questions so the child can respond by pointing or speaking;

4. Encourage child to make the sound of a certain animal ;

5. Smile and respond when the child speaks or points ;

 Children from 2 to 4 years old 

1. Ask questions about the pictures in the book for the child to answer;

2. Read books that present actions that children already understand as unusual. For example: “The three cubs and the bad pig”;

3. Provide space for the child to comment on a picture or word, and value all the questions and comments the child makes;

4. Encourage the child to tell their favorite story, in their own way, without interference from you – remember that telling is also a way of recreating;

5. Show the child how things that happen in books are similar to what happens to us;

Children from 4 to 6 years old 

1. Chat spontaneously about the subjects of the book;

2. Show the child that you are reading the words in the book, which allows them to identify the sound of each combination of letters ;

3. Read the story the way the author wrote it, without changing the strange and different words, which expands the child’s vocabulary;

 Children from 6 to 8 years old 

At this time of life, the child is already in a phase where imagination and creativity already have bigger wings to fly. In part, this is due to the literacy process and the path taken by the family throughout the formation of the young reader.

1. Always encourage your little reader to read to you and help them whenever they notice any difficulties, but without speeding up or excessively influencing the reading process;

2. Take turns reading whenever necessary, inserting the lines of the characters in the book or page by page;

3. Be careful and don’t make reading a burden for the child, or even an obligation;

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Community Action Association (NCCAA) has launched “Sleeves Up North Carolina” – a statewide public education campaign aimed at dispelling common myths and providing factual information about the COVID-19 vaccines.

“Black and brown populations in North Carolina are hesitant to take a vaccine to help mediate the coronavirus pandemic,” said NCCAA Executive Director Sharon C. Goodson. “Much of this hesitancy comes from misinformation about the development of the vaccines, as well as the historical perspectives of how black and brown people have been treated with regards to healthcare.

“The Sleeves Up North Carolina campaign is designed to support our local communities with the resources needed to engage people and reinforce trusted information sources so that we can increase the rate of vaccines administered across the state,” she said.

The campaign is centered around a series of 30-second public service announcements that each debunk a common myth. The ads feature an animated character making an inaccurate declaration regarding the vaccines. Former NBA basketball player Chris Wilcox then addresses the erroneous statement with factual vaccine information.

The PSAs include a toll number for qualifying North Carolinians to schedule free roundtrip rides to COVID-19 vaccine appointments through the United Way of the Greater Triangle’s Ride United NC program: https://www.unitedwaytriangle.org/rideunitednc/.

“COVID-19 has really devastated the world, and also created even more downstream impacts for underserved communities,” said Wilcox, CEO, Wilcox Distribution. “I have cried with so many family members, friends, and neighbors in my hometown Whiteville, North Carolina over loved ones lost, and business shutdowns during this pandemic.

“But the time has come for us to reclaim living, going to church and getting our children back into classrooms. Vaccines are available and they will help us do that. The data shows they save lives, so I’m standing with United Way and partnering with NCCAA by encouraging everyone to get vaccinated today,” he said.

The PSAs, developed by Kernel, a digital creative agency, take a light-hearted, yet impactful and memorable approach to address four vaccine fallacies:

• The vaccine sickens recipients with the COVID-19 virus
• People who have been infected do not need to be vaccinated
• The vaccines were developed too quickly to be effective
• Once vaccinated, a mask is no longer required

To complement the PSAs, the Sleeves Up North Carolina campaign will include engaging social media content and a resource hub on the NCCAA website with informational posters, blog posts and local success stories, among other resources.

“We want to ensure that we are providing North Carolinians who are hesitant, reluctant, distrusting, or otherwise unmotivated with respect to the COVID-19 vaccines with the resources, information, and support they need to make the vaccination decision that is right for them,” said Goodson.

About the North Carolina Community Action Association (NCCAA)

The North Carolina Community Action Association is an anti-poverty member organization that advocates on behalf of the needs of vulnerable families through its statewide network of 34 community action agencies (CAAs) serving all 100 counties. Founded in 1965, we offer training, technical assistance, and other resources to aid our members in fighting poverty in their local communities. Our goal is to empower agencies to help families and communities thrive.

For more information about the North Carolina Community Action Association, please visit our website at https://www.nccaa.net/

Media Contact:
Yvette D. Ruffin, APR
Phone: 919-673-3340 (mobile)
Email: yvette.ruffin@nccaa.net

The prestigious award recognizes those who advocate for postdoctoral scholars; exhibit outstanding communication skills; embed diversity, equity and inclusion values in mentoring; demonstrate respect for the work and career paths of postdoctoral scholars; create productive working environments to enhance the postdoctoral experience; and show resilience and creativity as mentors during the pandemic.

“Recognition as a mentor is without a doubt the highest achievement one can receive, because it represents one’s positive impact on those that will help shape the future,” said Ed Krug, Ph.D., former recipient of the NPA Gallagher Mentor Award and professor emeritus at the Medical University of South Carolina.

The 2021 finalists for the NPA Gallagher Mentor Award are:

• Sreekanth Chalasani, Ph.D., Salk Institute for Biological Studies
• Cory Christiansen, Ph.D., University of Colorado School of Medicine
• Christina Cipriano, Ph.D., Yale School of Medicine
• John D. Fryer, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic
• Kentaro Fujita, Ph.D., Ohio State University
• David J. Katz, Ph.D., Emory University School of Medicine
• Stephanie Madon, Ph.D., Iowa State University
• Ethan Menahem Shevach, M.D., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

“The NPA recognizes the accomplishments of all eight of these impressive individuals and their unfailing commitment to mentorship for postdoctoral scholars,” stated NPA executive director and chief executive officer, Thomas P. Kimbis. “Each of these finalists is already a winner for how they give to others every day.”

The winner of this year’s award will be announced at the 2021 NPA Annual Conference, taking place online April 15-16, 2021. Registration remains open for this event accessible around the world.

About National Postdoctoral Association:

The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational association headquartered in Rockville, MD. Founded in 2003, the NPA envisions an inclusive community where all postdocs are empowered, valued, recognized, and supported in their current and future endeavors. The NPA serves the entire postdoctoral community, including its 18,000 individual and 215 organizational members.

Learn more at: https://www.nationalpostdoc.org/

_{News Source: National Postdoctoral Association}