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For almost five years, Little Muffincakes® has sought to ensure that parents of color can find products for their children that feature illustrations of children that look like they do. It is a simple mission undertaken by founder Debra Raney, and an essential one.

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“As a mother and grandmother, I am aware of how important it is that our children see positive and encouraging images that look like them,” Raney said. “When my twin daughters and son were growing up, it was so difficult finding characters and products that were made with them in mind.”

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Raney’s company, Little Muffincakes, was born out of this difficulty. To fulfill the company mission to provide high-quality, inclusive merchandise with unique character art that reflects the diversity and beauty in children, Little Muffincakes designs and sells items from apparel to paper products and room décor all featuring diverse imagery.

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Little Muffincakes products provide value outside of their functional purpose by helping parents of color reinforce the self-esteem and beauty of their children, especially Black children. But even the greatest products cannot reach their full potential unless consumers know about them.

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Enter Agency Habitat, a team of digital media experts with a long history of branding, marketing and social content creation. Raney initially sought help from Agency Habitat with Little Muffincakes’ social media efforts — but as an agency, they knew their expertise could do so much more for Little Muffincakes. Together, Raney and Agency Habitat worked together to make sure the brand image was as powerful as the brand story. The creative has since won local and national awards.

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“Debra and her business captivated the Agency Habitat team,” said Lindsay Hendon, Agency Habitat’s Vice President of Operations. “There was no question that her mission deserved a full-service experience to help her get to the next level more quickly.”

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Agency Habitat saw that Raney had an inspiring vision and the right products. The key would be getting that idea and those products in front of potential customers with an elevated style and a consistent, impactful message. With that goal in mind, the Agency Habitat team provided Raney with a redesigned logo, photo and video shoot, and detailed social media/brand guidelines. Their mission was to help elevate the Little Muffincakes brand and provide it with a new image that matched Raney’s creativity and hopes.

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“We are a small business with big dreams,” Raney said. “With everything Agency Habitat was able to do for us, we are well on our way to becoming a big business whose roots remain firmly planted in the cause of social justice and empowerment. Our rebranding not only caught the eye of new customers, but it also got us a critical new outlet for our product line.”

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Little Muffincakes products can now be found on the Little Muffincakes’ site as well as a growing list of online national retailers, opening the company to a larger universe of potential customers.

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“Agency Habitat was interested in why I started Little Muffincakes,” Raney said. “They wanted to listen to me and had all these fresh ideas, helping develop a vision for me to make my brand better. They helped address my social media, making our presence more cohesive. When firms like Agency Habitat work with brands like us, they can get a sense of pride about helping to elevate a small brand and directly see their impact.”

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“We feel so fortunate for the opportunity to work with Debra and Little Muffincakes,” said Lauren Coleman, Agency Habitat’s Vice President of Creative Services. “Her passion and purpose inspired our entire team. To see her boutique brand continue to gain national attention is a joy to us all. I’d encourage all agencies to find the time and resources to help small businesses that have amazing potential. Who knows? The next big brand could already be growing in your own backyard.”

Simple Food Ventures today announced its first close of $6 million for its $15 million fundraise. Fundraising efforts for the remaining $9 million will continue through year end. The early-stage consumer fund invests in seed to series B CPG companies with a natural and organic ethos and a mass market appeal. More specifically, the fund will focus on natural and organic products that disrupt the stale assumptions around food and nutrition, making healthier food options more accessible and affordable to a broader demographic. The firm leverages a strong grocery network to grow its portfolio companies' retail distribution footprint in exchange for additional, performance-based equity, which produces enhanced fund returns for Limited Partners.

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SFV finds, funds and champions early-stage companies with passionate founders creating minimally processed, nutrient-dense, and nourishing products that are better for the body and environment. SFV’s leadership team, Greer Tessler, Cara Kaufman, and Luke Goldstein, leverage their extensive experience and network in the grocery industry to bolster the success of their portfolio companies, helping them scale distribution at an accelerated pace through strategic retail relationships and advisory services. The firm leverages 11 years of experience working with conventional grocery stores and strong relationships at mass and big box retailers to identify white space on shelves for new healthier food options.  

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With backgrounds in partnerships, grocery, sales, finance and consumer operations, the management team is uniquely equipped to take advantage of strategic opportunities in the grocery arena. Their successful investments to date include Aura Bora, craft sparkling water; Simulate, Instagram-famous plant-based staples; Cure Hydration, clean hydration powder; Belliwelli, the first Low FodMap Dessert bar; Rae Wellness, a female-centered supplement brand; and Bored Cow, a first of its kind line of lab-grown, animal-free dairy milk.

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All investors are private, made up of family offices and high net worth individuals.

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About Simple Food Ventures

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Founded in 2020, Simple Food Ventures Fund I is an early stage, mission-driven venture capital fund investing in the future of healthy foods and products by targeting the next generation of food, beverages and CPG companies. The Fund was founded to bring better-for-you food and beverage products to middle income markets within mass grocery stores. Brands include Aura Bora, Bears Fruit, Belliwelli, Cure Hydration, Faves, Lupii, Miracle Seltzer, Rae Wellness, Simulate, Tomorrow Farms.

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For more information, please visit https://www.simplefoodvc.com/ or contact Greer@simplefoodventures.com

Naples Soap Company, Inc. (OTC PINK: NASO), a retail destination known for high-quality skin and hair care, has signed a lease to open a new store in Venice, Fla. in the planned community of Wellen Park located along US 41 and River Road. The location will feature over 2,200 square feet of retail space with a clean, coastal, modern vibe and showcase the Company’s full line of natural soaps, bath bombs, face care, body butters and more. The new store is expected to open just in time for the holiday shopping season in the fourth quarter of 2022.

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“We’ve built a strong following along the West Coast of Florida with many loyal shoppers. The Venice location will help us fill the gap between our store at Lakewood Ranch northeast of Sarasota and our Fishermen’s Village location on the coast.”

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“I opened my second store in Punta Gorda back in 2010 at Fishermen’s Village and love this area,” said Founder and CEO, Deanna Wallin. “We’ve built a strong following along the West Coast of Florida with many loyal shoppers. The Venice location will help us fill the gap between our store at Lakewood Ranch northeast of Sarasota and our Fishermen’s Village location on the coast.”

The Company is seeking full and part-time employees to fill a variety of roles at this new location and other stores within the footprint. To apply, visit naplessoap.com/careers.

The beauty and wellness industry is one of the most competitive and demanding businesses anywhere in the world today, but Skinovatio Medical Spa has managed to take the lead since its establishment in 2015 by simply making a firm commitment to excellence, innovations, and safety. Known as the first medical spa franchise in the Chicago area, the company has made a respectable name for itself over the past seven years by offering quality treatments and state-of-the-art equipment handled by top medical practitioners and specialists.

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Skinovatio Medical Spa is a fusion of an aesthetic medical center and a day spa, offering a wide range of innovative aesthetic services centered on world-class beauty and wellness. It is composed of a team of highly qualified, trained, and experienced medical practitioners and aesthetic specialists that are qualified to utilize revolutionary technologies and proprietary therapies to bring out the natural beauty of its clients. It takes pride in offering quick, non-invasive or minimally invasive procedures and painless, safe, and carefully executed services.

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Business partners and founders Kat Sallam and Aleksandra Waibel wanted to create a high-quality brand that can provide excellent beauty treatments without downtime after every procedure. The two wanted to eliminate the inconvenience of not being able to work for a couple of days or having to stay indoors to recover from treatment. By choosing to use emerging and highly effective procedures that are virtually painless, their clients get to go back to their normal way of life after each treatment.

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Additionally, the two were motivated to create Skinovatio Medical Spa after realizing that too many individuals are put at risk by going through underground Botox treatments, for instance, that are not facilitated by qualified professionals.

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"We want to educate our readers and inform them that it is very important to choose the right facility for their procedures. Cheap injections are not always good injections. You can still receive your procedure out of cost, but it is very important to make sure that it is done by a highly trained injector or laser technician since the majority of these treatments carry on the risk of long life side effects," Kat and Aleksandra shared. "This is not a case with Skinovatio Medical Spa since we are heavily focused on maintaining a highly trained and qualified staff," they added.

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There is a wide variety of beauty treatments to choose from a Skinovatio Medical Spa, which include injectables, BOTOX, dermal fillers, KYBELLA, non-invasive facelifts, platelet-rich plasma, hair removal, laser tattoo removal, Endermologie, i-Lipo, VelaShape, Emsculpt, plasma pen fibroblast skin tightening, intense pulsed light photofacials, microneedling, and vampire facials.

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Apart from being the go-to place for reliable, fast, and painless treatments, it is also a lucrative beauty and wellness business opportunity that a lot of entrepreneurs will find promising. At present, Skinovatio Medical Spa has several franchise opportunities in key areas, including Arlington Heights, Barrington, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, and Western Springs in Illinois. The franchise fee is inclusive of training, coaching, and compensation.

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There is no doubt that the current success of Skinovatio Medical Spa is attracting potential investors. Its founders are presently focused on a nationwide expansion that will put the business in the spotlight as they aim to establish a medical spa in every state around the country.

Sequoia Living, a nonprofit providing homes and services for healthy aging, recognizes the importance of creating healthier environments by reducing waste. With nearly 4,000 nutritious meals prepared daily, Sequoia Living uses sustainable practices focused on menu planning, tracking inventory, purchasing in-season ingredients, and reducing uneaten leftovers.

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"At Sequoia Living we are committed to reducing the impact on the environment while providing nourishing and sustainable meals daily," said Sara McVey, President and CEO of Sequoia Living. "We work with our chefs, dieticians, and dining service managers to prioritize ingredients from local and diverse artisans to reduce our carbon footprint."

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"Through this sustainable meals program, residents' choice is of the utmost importance," said Chef Tsitsi Helman. "We not only provide vegetarian options, but we also encourage 'Meatless Mondays' because we know reducing meat consumption is good for our heart and good for the planet."

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To continue learning about Sequoia Living's efforts to reduce environmental impact and climate change, watch our Legacy Talks webinar series featuring discussions about emissions, air pollution, and strategies to reduce waste.

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Being stewards of the environment is important to the people who live and work at Sequoia Living. Through our compost and recycling programs, everyone is involved in diverting waste from landfills. We invite you to come and learn what life is like at Sequoia Living. Click here to find a community near you.

Littlebird, the Connected Care platform launching Fall 2022, has announced the hire of media veteran, Megan Colarossi, as Director of Media and Communications. The move comes as the company gears up to bring its Littlebird Toddler CareTracker to market, the first cellular Bluetooth and GPS wearable of its kind for small children ages one to five years old.

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A former Anchor for Good Day LA, TODAY Show contributor, and award-winning producer for famed news outlets such as CNN, MTV News, and more, Colarossi brings a wealth of journalistic integrity and cross-departmental experience to Littlebird.

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When asked what drew her to Littlebird, Megan shared, "As a working mom of three, the well-being of my children is my top priority. I was instantly inspired by LittleBird's core mission which is to bring families closer together through a state-of-the-art connected care platform. It is a game changer for parents who face enormous amounts of stress when we are apart from our kids. Littlebird's revolutionary 360° digital approach to childcare will help ease parent anxiety by allowing them to feel connected with their child anywhere - anytime - which is simply incredible!"  

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In another tactical step towards launching the brand, Littlebird brought on creative communications firm, Small Girls PR, whose client roster features a mix of venture-backed startups to publicly traded companies, many within the Famtech category. The agency will oversee brand communications and strategic media relations for the company.

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"Both Megan and Small Girls make a powerhouse communications team," says Monica Plath, Founder & CEO of Littlebird. "Their extensive media knowledge coupled with their strong relationships will ensure that Littlebird takes flight in a thoughtful and compelling manner. Our top priority is to create a safe and connected community for parents, children and caregivers to thrive and they strongly believe in that mission as well."

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Small Girls PR CEO & Cofounder Mallory Blair says, "As a woman-owned agency, we are passionate about supporting strong female leaders and first-movers in industries traditionally dominated by men, especially tech. In our initial meeting with Monica, we were immediately drawn to her enthusiasm for improving the lives of parents and children who will benefit greatly from this truly smart and innovative technology."

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For more information on Littlebird, visit https://www.littlebird.care/.

Hank, a new digital platform connecting adults 55+ with people and activities in their community, officially debuted today. The company also announced it has raised $7 million in seed funding led by General Catalyst and Resolute Ventures. By connecting individuals with in-person events and like-minded people, Hank is redefining the midlife experience while helping this demographic build social connections that contribute to health, happiness, and longevity.

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Hank matches active adults over the age of 55 with relevant events and activities like pickleball, art workshops, coffee meet-ups, skydiving, and more. Members can find Hank-sponsored events in their area or create their own events to connect with others over shared passions, hobbies, and interests.

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"After ten years in the tech industry, I saw a clear and solvable bias problem in how products were developed: age," said Brian Park, co-founder and CEO, Hank. "I created Hank because I knew there was an opportunity to innovate for empty nesters like my parents, who were looking for ways to build their community and preferred to deepen their friendships in real life and not just behind a screen. For them, social activities have been key to happiness in this new chapter of life, and I knew that we could use technology to improve in-person social connections for this specific demographic."

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To help shift age-old stereotypes of what a person age 55 plus looks like, Hank has also launched a new brand campaign, "Generation You." Featuring real 55+ adults—not models—living their most vibrant lives, the campaign aims to capture what most age-specific media has not: a realistic and modern representation of age.

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"They were the first generation to graduate from mixed tapes to digital playlists. They mastered Pong and successfully survived over 30 versions of the iPhone. They are tech savvy and it's about time for a platform to connect this vibrant community," said Niko Bonatsos, managing director at General Catalyst. "Over 30 percent of the US population is over 50 and those lucky enough to be part of the GenX population have personalities, interests, and hunger for experiences that match their flair for 80's fashion. We are committed to helping the creative and passionate team at Hank as they continue to rapidly grow the brand and create a destination for those who actually know and celebrate the lyrics to 80s music."

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Currently, Hank is live in the New York City area, but plans to expand nationally in the second half of this year. To help expedite its expansion, Hank has raised $7M in seed funding led by General Catalyst, with Resolute Ventures, Canaan Partners, The Fund, and Tau Ventures also contributing to this round of fundraising.

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To find out more about Hank or to become a member, visit gethank.com.

Texas Original, Texas’ leading medical cannabis provider, announced its newest prescription pickup location has opened in Waco, Texas. The new location is Waco’s first medical cannabis pickup site and the first drive-thru location in the state. The pickup location is open every Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. for patients who qualify under the Compassionate Use Program.

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Texas Original operates the most robust medical cannabis distribution network in Texas. In addition to its convenient pickup locations open weekly throughout the state, the company also delivers prescriptions directly to patients’ doorsteps on a daily and weekly basis. The Waco opening marks another important milestone in the company’s pursuit of expanding access to life-changing medical cannabis treatment for every Texan. Waco-area patients like Barry Freeman—who uses medical cannabis to treat symptoms of PTSD—now have a convenient option to pick up their prescriptions locally.

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“Medical cannabis has helped me sleep better, live without the burden of chronic pain and eliminate pain pills from my treatment,” Freeman said. “Texas Original’s medicine has changed my life and I’m so grateful to have nearby access to their products through the Waco pickup location.”

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Registered physicians can prescribe medical cannabis to treat conditions including epilepsy, cancer, PTSD and hundreds of neurodegenerative disorders. Texas Original's medicine alleviates common symptoms—including chronic pain, insomnia and anxiety—associated with such conditions for thousands of patients. Qualifying Waco residents can obtain medical cannabis prescriptions through online clinics or Waco-based physicians registered with the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas.

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“Getting your medical cannabis prescription filled should be as easy as picking up any other medicine,” said Morris Denton, CEO of Texas Original. “Swiftly receiving care from the comfort of your car is another significant step toward expanding access for our patients. I encourage Waco residents to ask their doctors about the life-changing benefits of medical cannabis and reach out to us to start experiencing relief as soon as possible.”

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Waco patients can continue to access their prescriptions through Texas Original’s delivery network. Today’s announcement also follows the opening of Texas Original’s first permanent medical cannabis pickup location in Houston, which serves the greater Houston area five days a week. Operating times for the company’s permanent Houston Heights location and other local pickup sites can be found on the Texas Original website here.

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Texas Original’s suite of gummies, tincture and lozenge products are also available for pickup at the company’s dispensary in Austin, Texas. To learn whether you or a loved one qualifies for medical cannabis, visit www.texasoriginal.com/patients.

LBA Hospitality, an Alabama–based hotel management company, today announced that the Moxy Chattanooga Downtown Hotel picked up three awards at the annual Marriott Select Brands (MSB) Owner Franchisee Conference. These awards recognize and honor the achievements of Marriott's best team members, strongest managers and top performing hotels in the Select Brand category. The MSB accolades are based on financial performance, guest satisfaction, quality assurance results and nominations from hotel staff or management company representatives.

"The Moxy Chattanooga Downtown is truly a one of a kind hotel," said Dwayne Massengale, General Manager. "The team is all hands-on-deck all of the time and there is no such thing as NOT MY JOB. The property leads its brand in intent to recommend, cleanliness and other brand metrics, not just in 2021 but three years in a row."

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Located at 1220 King Street in downtown Chattanooga, the trendy, 108-room hotel was awarded with the prestigious Hotel of the Year, along with Highest Guest Satisfaction and Captain of the Year was presented to the hotel's general manager - Dwayne Massengale.

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"The Moxy Chattanooga is a high-energy, lifestyle brand. The buzz it creates within Marriott and the local Chattanooga community is directly related to the playful, daring, and dynamic team Dwayne has assembled.". Said Beau Benton, President, LBA Hospitality. "These awards are not easy to achieve, yet the Moxy Chattanooga Crew continue to knock it out of the park."

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The Moxy Chattanooga Downtown caters to the free-spirited traveler looking for an edgy and unconventional hotel experience. The four-story hotel features a unique combination of a bold but friendly environment, with a creative and high-energy staff that offers an entirely different approach to hospitality. For more information or to contact the Moxy Chattanooga Downtown please call directly at 423-664-1180, or visit www.marriott.com/chaox.

JumpRydz is New York City's rideshare solution for NYC families, shuttling children to and from school, camp, activities, and more! JumpRydz offers kid-safe rides for unaccompanied children, making it easier for NYC families to obtain and keep a job without having to constantly worry about how their child will safely get from one place to another. This innovative family rideshare company offers pre-scheduled rides for multiple children, and with multiple stops, making it the perfect solution for families throughout New York City who want to ensure their children are safely making it to school and other activities.

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JumpRydz offers more than just rides to school for little ones, they can also provide rides to the airport, rides for seniors, and even rides home from the hospital for you and your newborn! With proper-fitting child safety seats available, JumpRydz is your safe and reliable rideshare solution for single parents, families with elder members, and families throughout New York City who just need a little help making sure their loved ones get to their appointments, school, and more.

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JumpRydz understands that your children are precious cargo. That's why we've obtained licensing and certifications from several institutions to provide you with peace of mind that your child is in good hands. JumpRydz is licensed and certified by the following:

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• The Black Car Fund®
• NYC® Taxi & Limousine Commission
• NYC® Small Business Services
• Empire State Development
• Safe Kids Worldwide™

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When you choose JumpRydz to take your child to and from school, camp, or other activities, you can rest assured they are in safe and capable hands. With JumpRydz, you can focus on work and other obligations while feeling sure that your child has a reliable ride to all of their activities.

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Learn more about our child-safe rideshares at: JumpRydz.com

After years of social distancing, face mask requirements, and stay-at-home restrictions, Americans are finally getting back out and about this summer. There's no doubt that the circumstances feel different than they did when everyone had to stay inside and exercise in their living rooms.

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While people can go to the gym, run outside, and participate in group exercise sessions again, there's one aspect of fitness that hasn't changed: the need to keep the body fueled. This starts with proper hydration, but Dance2Fit owner Jessica Bass James knows how much fueling the body with the right nutrition can impact a fitness regimen, too. That's why the exercise instructor and fitness guru created her popular D2Fit sports nutrition label.

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"The way you fuel your body before and after a workout makes a big difference on how impactful that exercise is," says James, "I designed the three key products in the D2Fit Nutrition line with the needs of my loyal fan base in mind. These products are formulated to help them — and myself — take our workouts to a whole new level and reach our fitness goals together."

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The "loyal fanbase" that James refers to comes from the members of her wildly popular Dance2Fit program and consists of a predominantly female fitness community. This includes hundreds of thousands of women who, in James' words, "want to look and feel their best." In response to the needs of this vibrant group, D2Fit offers the following:

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• D2Fit Multi Collagen Preworkout: A preworkout formula that utilizes collagen and biotin and can boost focus, endurance, and energy.
• D2Fit Women's Time Release Whey Protein: A time-released whey protein supplement designed to feed and tone muscles during a workout.
• D2Fit Women's 4-in-1 Kickstart: A fat-burning, thermogenic formula tailored to support a healthy metabolism and boost energy.

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James and her team at Dance2Fit know that exercise is important, no matter what conditions or environment an individual might find themselves in. However, they also know that the body requires the right forms of protein, collagen, and other supplemental nutrients to sustain health and maximize results. The D2Fit Nutrition line of products serves to fill that function for the millions of women across America who are trying to stay fit and healthy in the months ahead.

The City of Naples CRA announced the approval of the DPZ CoDESIGN Master Plan for the newly designated Naples Design District, formerly described as the 41-10 Mixed-Use Area. The Master Plan Vision sets forth actionable strategies in support of three key goals:

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1. Build on the Naples Design District's existing strengths by ensuring improvements and redevelopment are consistent with the neighborhood's existing character and fine-grain urban fabric;
2. Encourage new business opportunities while preserving the existing affordable housing stock; and
3. Foster placemaking policies and regulations that serve a multi-generational population, especially the young-at-heart.

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The Naples Design District will join 5 Avenue South and 3 Street South as a place to live, work and enjoy – for entertainment, dining, leisure, and shopping in what is evolving into Naples' most exciting and inclusive community.

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"The Naples Design District Master Plan demonstrates the desires and intentions of Naples residents to maintain the unique, inclusive qualities of the area, while building on the assets to create another dynamic area reflective of the Naples vision," said Anita Jenkins, CRA Administrator.

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Initiated by the CRA in response to substantial new investment in the area known for its concentration of art and décor businesses between US-41 and 10 Street, the Master Plan is a culmination of a year-long process that kicked off on September 10, 2021 with the creation of the Speak Up Naples platform. The site was designed to inform the Naples community about the process, give stakeholders a forum in which to share their ideas and voice concerns, and to grant an opportunity for all area residents to post comments reflecting their concerns and desires for the evolution of this District.

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Vice Mayor Mike McCabe, CRA Chair said "The Naples Design District is an exciting, eclectic area that has so much potential.  It will evolve into the next place to be.  The Master Plan developed by DPZ CoDESIGN is the foundation for all that will come.  Here's to the next jewel of the City of Naples."

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The Master Plan seeks to leverage existing assets by amplifying infrastructure that currently defines the Naples Design District's success, such as enhancing the unique alleyway system with the Design Walk, a picturesque and active promenade to complement the art, design, and dining scene already in progress.  Also underway are plans to refine the District's infrastructure and to improve connectivity to destinations beyond the Naples Design District.

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"The Community Redevelopment Agency Board's acceptance of the final Naples Design District Master Plan is the culmination of the community's commitment to a viable plan, befitting of the City of Naples, that will enhance the district and position it for the next generation," said newly appointed City Manager, Jay Boodheshwar.

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The CRA will meet in September to evaluate capital improvements and a three to five-year implementation plan.

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To see the DPZ CoDESIGN final report, click here.

Today, Babson College's Center for Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership (CWEL) announced its latest WIN Lab(Women Innovating Now) initiative inside the Greenwood Women's Business Center (Greenwood WBC) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The initiative is in partnership with the Greenwood WBC, the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Black Chambers Inc. (USBC), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and local Tulsa universities—Langston University (an Historically Black College and University), Oklahoma State University, Tulsa Community College, and Tulsa Tech. The WIN Lab is made possible through a grant given to Babson College from FedEx Corp. The Greenwood WBC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the SBA.

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WIN Lab was first launched in 2013 by Babson's CWEL on the Wellesley campus. In 2016, the WIN Lab expanded to Miami. It's a first-of-its-kind program helping women entrepreneurs launch successful businesses and create economic and social impact.

Babson's Tulsa WIN Lab will reside in the Greenwood WBC, located in one of the remaining buildings left standing after the Tulsa Massacre 100 years ago. The building is a centerpiece in the initiative to "Help Rebuild Black Wall Street" preserving the legacy of this historic district. The center provides an array of resources designed to support women business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in achieving success.

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Dr. Shakenna Wlliams, executive director of Babson's CWEL, spearheaded the Tulsa WIN Lab project. "We are grateful to have been invited by USBC and Greenwood WBC and look forward to working collaboratively with this distinguished organization in advancing opportunities for women entrepreneurs," said Dr. Williams.

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The Tulsa WIN Lab is an extension of Babson's entrepreneurial leadership programming, designed specifically to meet the needs of women business owners in Tulsa and the Southwest region. The new site will offer programming from Babson's CWEL which includes workshops, networking events, accelerators, access to capital, and business development. The center also will offer local businesswomen access to other exclusive educational opportunities that are only available through Babson College.

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"This initiative is a natural fit for Babson. Creating an environment where the talented women of Tulsa can be entrepreneurial leaders is critical to addressing our economic development challenges at the national level," said Stephen Spinelli Jr., Ph.D., President of Babson College. "Babson WIN Tulsa builds on Babson's strong track record in helping women leaders achieve success in business, government, and academia. We know that organizations that include women at all levels are more productive and successful," said Spinelli.

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For more details about CWEL Tulsa and the Greenwood WBC, click here.

Helping Hands Family (HHF) has expanded their New Jersey footprint by adding comprehensive applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy services to both Monmouth and Middlesex County, New Jersey. This expansion reflects HHF's commitment to the autism community, serving as many families and children in need as they can.

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Currently, HHF is providing services to children across nearly 20 locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware, with plans to expand to Connecticut this Fall. To fulfill their mission to make autism services personal, HHF offers tailored treatment plans to meet each child's individual needs. Their experienced therapists are highly skilled in delivering the most productive therapeutic experience to each child.  

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Clinical Director, Hailey Gould comments "We are so excited to expand our services in New Jersey! Our therapists and behavior analysts have completed thorough, comprehensive training programs to ensure they are ready to provide high-quality services to our clients. We are so proud of the highly experienced clinicians who provide oversight to each case and mentorship to each therapist. HHF cares about supporting the whole family through this therapeutic process and cannot wait to help more families access ABA therapy."

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HHF is proud to deliver the following benefits of ABA expansion to new communities:

• Providing evidence-based therapy service to children diagnosed with autism in the area
• Reducing travel time for families in need of services
• Creating local job growth and professional opportunities
• Contributing resources and support within the community
• Fostering relationships with local schools and providers to increase access to autism care
• Increasing awareness and knowledge about autism and ABA

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HHF service locations in NJ: Bergen, Morris, Somerset, Middlesex, Union, Monmouth, Ocean, Camden, and Burlington County

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Any parent interested in services in New Jersey, please contact Nikki Marchetti, at (973) 967-3267.

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HHF accepts most insurance plans and provides clients assistance with applying for insurance coverage.

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For more information about HHF, please visit their website at  www.hhfamily.com

Trinity Health Of New England and Nest Collaborative announced the launch of a new program providing telehealth breastfeeding support to families giving birth at the integrated health system's hospitals in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

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The new program is available now to mothers who give birth within any of Trinity Health Of New England's three birthing hospitals – Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford, Conn., Saint Mary's Hospital in Waterbury, Conn., and Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, Mass.

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Trinity Health Of New England has a long history of supporting patients in breastfeeding, which imparts significant health benefits to both babies and their mothers. The health system is committed to ensuring expectant mothers can sign up for the Nest Collaborative service at no cost to the patient, regardless of their insurance status. Registration for interested parents is handled by each hospital's maternity team, who provide immediate virtual access to Nest Collaborative's International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) once parents return home with their newborns.

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"We know every new mother is going to run into breastfeeding hurdles and frustrations and we want to provide families with support, so they're able to overcome those challenges and reach their feeding goals," said Walter Trymbulak, M.D., Ph.D., Chair of the Women and Infants Service Line at Trinity Health Of New England. "Nest plays a critical dual role in that process by augmenting the lactation services we provide for our moms in the hospital and also fortifying and helping moms who are being seen by our private OBGYN providers in the community. Nothing's been easier than this relationship and we're hoping other Trinity Health hospitals across the country will also adopt this program."

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Mary Carnemolla, RN, the prepared childbirth coordinator at Saint Francis Hospital, noted the value in both the multi-lingual capabilities of Nest Collaborative's IBCLCs – with service available in Arabic, English, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Portuguese, Spanish, Urdu and Burmese – and their availability for same-day appointments 7 days a week and late into the evening.

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"(Nest Collaborative consultants) speak the language of the people we serve, and they're available when new moms are trying to put what they've learned into practice at 8pm or 9pm when they're tired, starting to struggle, and they just need a little extra guidance to breastfeed," Carnemolla said. "It's also a comfort to our on-staff lactation consultants to know that once their patient leaves the hospital, a Nest Collaborative consultant is going to follow up with that patient and help them continue on their breastfeeding journey."

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Nest Collaborative's nationwide network of lactation consultants are available to families for virtual consultations, seven days a week, in all 50 states.

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"Amid the infant feeding crisis, there has never been a more critical time to support parents in finding the safest, most appropriate way to ensure their newborns are well fed and healthy," said Judith Nowlin, CEO of Nest Collaborative. "We are grateful to Trinity Health Of New England for allowing our certified lactation consultants to help guide parents to the right choice for their family. Breastfeeding can be challenging, so we focus on helping parents find safe feeding options if exclusive breastfeeding is not possible or desired."

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Nest Collaborative removes a significant barrier to breastfeeding by connecting parents to lactation consultants who are covered in-full by most national insurers. The company accepts insurance from the healthcare marketplace, employee-sponsored plans and Medicaid.

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Nest Collaborative has quickly scaled to serve more than 10,000 parents and babies across the country. Families highly recommend the company's services with a consistent NPS rating of 95+.

YouNite Media launches today with a focus on providing advertisers the ability to reach 250 million people across General Market, Hispanic, Black, Asian and LGBTQ segments. A minority-owned company, YouNite was founded by industry-leading pioneers Pedro Lerma, CEO of LERMA/, and Rodrigo Vallejo, CEO of RO2 Media, with the goal of forging meaningful connections between brands and consumers. YouNite gives access to a considerable portion of the eyes, ears, and hearts across the country while helping brands achieve their supplier diversity investment goals.

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"In the wake of George Floyd's murder, and what I call the 2020 multicultural awakening, brands have committed to invest in Black and Hispanic-owned media companies," Pedro Lerma, Co-Founder of YouNite Media said. "The problem in the industry is that there aren't enough scalable media outlets. So, we built one."

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The innovative company merges decades of experience in multicultural media engagement with strategic consumer marketing, helping brands deliver authentic messaging with key demographics across the globe. Built on a strategic alliance with leading people-based advertising software company Viant, YouNite taps into best-in-class Adelphic programmatic software and proprietary Household ID, helping brands connect and measure engagement with key audiences across the open web including CTV, mobile, desktop, DOOH and streaming audio.

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The YouNite Difference

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With a continued emphasis on elevating minority-owned entities, the progressive media company merges best-in-class technology with unmatched cultural insight in an ever more multicultural America.

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• Meaningful Connection: YouNite uses people-based audience insights to build meaningful marketing campaigns. The expert team optimizes resources across premium channels to effectively measure offline and online business outcomes – all while achieving marketers' diversity investment needs.
• Embracing Culture: The "general market" is a thing of the past. A minority-owned company, YouNite believes cultural diversity is more than just a trend, but rather the future of marketing. Not only can YouNite speak authentically to a diverse range of consumers, but is equipped to manage evolving web compliance.
• The Cookie-less Frontier: Specializing in emerging channels, YouNite leverages the Viant proprietary Household ID, a data compliant offering, as well as other integrated approaches to identify and connect with consumers across the globe.
• Measuring Multicultural Commitment: Utilizing proprietary tools like the Brand Inclusivity Performance Index (BIPI), YouNite can effectively score how brands are stacking up to their competitors across a variety of indicators of multiculturalism.
• Lending a Hand Up: YouNite will allocate 5% of profits to fund minority-owned startups. The founders feel a responsibility to support underrepresented communities because there were people who believed in and gave them opportunities early in their careers. They believe it's the right thing to do.

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"Our goal is to create a media company as diverse and evolving as the people that businesses are hoping to engage with," Rodrigo Vallejo, Co-Founder of YouNite said. "YouNite offers a full suite of services to optimize a brand's unique messages across relevant channels as well as effectively measure both offline and online conversations."

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Combining analytics with tenured marketing experience, YouNite's exceptional team translates cultural intelligence into a direct ROI for clients. Purposeful in name and concept, YouNite focuses on what's most important – uniting brands authentically with their customer counterparts.

Atlantic Power and Infrastructure Corp. (OTC PINK:AWSL) is pleased to announce its proprietary Flexi-Pave installation has been completed for the 1380 ft long recreational walking/jogging loop at Bridgeport's well known, famed and popular outdoor entertainment pavilion, 'Seaside Park' - ‘Band Shell'.

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The Grand Opening in June 2022 of Bridgeport's jogging track at 'Seaside Park' - ‘Band Shell' has opened a new era of enhanced facilities for residents and visitors alike, thanks to the city's extensive research into the most preferred, most advanced, and most beneficial material available for walkers, joggers, and runners. The city committed to installing Flexi-Pave to enhance the area while avoiding the ever-increasing budget struggles necessary to maintain the clay surface on their 1,380-foot-long recreational walking/jogging loop.

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The City determined that like many municipalities, financial restrains are resulting in finding improved ways that will reduce their costly maintenance short term and in the long run. The city considered the alternatives and determined that using other traditional materials and technologies, such as concrete and asphalt, would not only be irresponsible but would also be more costly and show no beneficial enhancement to the ‘loop' and especially to the users of the track. They determined that the likelihood of failure using anything, but Flexi-Pave would have been wasteful. This extensive research resulted in the city contracting Tri-State Flexi-Pave, Inc., to install Flexi-Pave.

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Seaside Park is located in Fairfield County; geographically located on the southwestern Connecticut coastline of Long Island Sound. It's positioning to the adjacent beaches provides cool breezes off Long Island Sound, and quick access to other park amenities. The city leadership knew the loop had to be upgraded due to the low-lying coastal location of the loop that had been subject to flooding in heavy rain events and storm surges.

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During 'Super Storm Sandy' the loop and great lawn were under 6' of salt water. The city determined the correct solution is to have a surface that is permeable, bonded and monolithic, resistant to flooding and to salt corrosion, yet durable to heavy pedestrian traffic, comfortable and safe to walk and jog on. Their research determined that only KBI's Flexi-Pave permeable flexible pavement, will allow the maintenance, management and resilience needed to sustain stormwater and storm surges that the harsh coastal environment dishes out. As a result, KBI's affiliate and certified installers Tri-State Flexi-Pave, Inc. have been renovating the loop over the past several months.

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Tri-State Flexi-Pave, Inc., explained how the 1380 Lineal foot loop has been widened from 8' to 10'; with a new compacted gravel base that has been installed to provide foundation support and stormwater storage capacity. Three areas of the loop have been reenforced with additional stone and geo-textiles to allow for vehicle access to the great lawn for events. The edges of the loop have been supported by welded steel edging and the finish surface of Flexi-Pave will now provide decades of recreation benefits for Bridgeport residence and visitors.

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This installation is a major bonus to the city and the residents, with the nearly 13,800 sf Flexi®-Pave used to create the loop surface and in unison benefitting the environment by recycling over 4500 used tires to produce the Flexi-Pave.

Former Local 4 News Meteorologist Kim Adams will rejoin WDIV as a meteorologist on all of our station's main content platforms -- Local 4 News on television, the station website clickondetroit.com, and the station's streaming channel Local 4+, it was announced today by WDIV Vice President and General Manager Bob Ellis. Adams will start these new roles beginning August 8.

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"We've been searching for someone who can serve the changing content needs of our audiences for a while now," said Ellis. "In looking all over the country, we were searching for the exact right person to handle what the people of southeast Michigan have clearly told us they need and want on TV, on our website, and with extended coverage during important weather events.  In Kim, we discovered that exact right person has been right here at home all along."

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Adams previously served as Meteorologist on Local 4 most recently in 2009, when she left the station to become a full-time mother of her five children.

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"We're thrilled to have Kim returning to the Local 4 team," said News Director Kim Voet.  "She certainly knows southeast Michigan and the weather that comes with living here.  Southeast Michigan also knows Kim, and they know they can depend on her to keep them updated across all our platforms on the changing weather."

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In addition to her role joining Devin Scillian, Kimberly Gill, Karen Drew, Jason Colthorp and Bernie Smilovitz on Local 4 News each evening on TV, Kim will be a daily contributor to clickondetroit.com, providing weather forecasts for the website and station apps, as well as providing insights through in-depth articles and a weekly weather newsletter as to why changing weather conditions are happening. She will also serve as one of the primary forecasters on Local 4+, the station's streaming channel, where she will be anchoring extended coverage for all of southeast Michigan.

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Teamed with Paul Gross, Andrew Humphrey, Brandon Roux, and Brett Collar, Adams will help sharpen the station's focus on covering local weather under the station's new weather brand, 4 Warn Weather.  Using the most powerful weather technology available today, which is exclusive to Local 4 News, the station will give viewers the most up-to-the-minute information pinpointed for each neighborhood, so they are always prepared.

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"My job, above all, is to make sure everyone in Detroit and Southeast Michigan is ready for whatever is coming. You'll get that on TV, on our app, website, and streaming channel. After seeing the capabilities of the station's Exact Track 4D Radar product, I can tell you it's a true difference maker. It will help our entire weather team warn our audience dangerous weather is coming before it happens so you can keep your family, and friends safe. This technology is exclusive to Local 4, and it allows us to see things develop even before the national weather service issues warnings," said Adams.    

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The Exact Track 4D Radar technology also provides street level weather data so with the forecast you will receive daily on all platforms, you can plan your day.

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"When the weather is going to be nice, I want to make sure you take advantage of it.  With 4 Warn Weather we'll also warn you not to miss a chance to enjoy the outdoor activities that make Michigan special," Adams added.      

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Adams, who grew up in southeast Michigan, has won numerous awards from the Associated Press and Michigan Association of Broadcasters for her weather reporting.

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She is also very involved in our community through her volunteer work. She is an active supporter of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, raising awareness for women's health issues. Kim is the former Fundraising and Development Executive for New Day Foundation for Families, which provides financial aid to help cancer patients during treatment. Drawing on her experiences as a domestic violence survivor and breast cancer survivor she is a tireless advocate for living life fearlessly. Additional organizations where she volunteers her time include The Miracle League and Turning Point Domestic Violence Shelter. She also devotes time to supporting Michigan Humane.

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Adams graduated summa cum laude from Oakland University, ranking 3rd in her graduating class. She received a master's degree from Wayne State University majoring in Radio/TV & Film. In addition, she studied thermodynamics and dynamics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Graduate School in Washington, D.C., and Synoptic Meteorology at Ohio State University.  

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"Our commitment to local weather has never been stronger than it is right now. That's what the word "Local" in Local 4 is all about. With Kim back home at WDIV we're putting more "Local" in Local 4 and we'll have additional announcements coming about plans for more special events and coverage of local weather. Things no one has ever done in Detroit," said Ellis.

T.D. Jakes was honored at the Museum of the Bible's Blessing of The Elders event on June 23 to celebrate his accomplishments as both a revered communicator, pastor and global humanitarian. The event honored the Black church's impact in America and how it has pioneered the way for many Americans to hear the message of the Bible.

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John Hope Bryant, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE, led the tribute of Jakes with these words:

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"[T.D. Jakes] is the ultimate translator and can communicate to all people, from business to ministry to global philanthropy. On Sunday, his message of hope and love is reaching millions around this globe, and by Monday he's in his director's chair producing some of the most compelling faith-based films and stories. On Tuesday, he's overseeing real estate development that will bring affording housing and economic opportunities to thousands, and by Wednesday he's helping the formerly incarcerated through his [Texas] offender reentry program. Now through his foundation, he's preparing people for the 21st-century workforce. T.D. Jakes is a man who understands the Scripture's charge to 'go into all the world and preach the gospel.' It's an honor to know him and call him friend."

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As the senior pastor of The Potter's House, a non-denominational, multicultural church and global humanitarian organization based in Dallas, Jakes has built more than a church. He has built a multi-faceted, faith-based organization whose impact reaches well beyond the pulpit by using business and community outreach as a force for good. Jakes believes that faith is what connects us all – be it faith in a higher power, faith in ourselves, or faith in the goodness of humanity. Jakes' ability to transcend cultural, racial, gender and socioeconomic barriers has transformed him into a guide and global leader for presidents and paupers alike around the world.  

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John Sharp, chief relations officer at Museum of the Bible, has long said that spiritual renewal in America could come through the Black church. The Blessing of the Elders initiative is intended to honor Black pastors across the U.S. who have been committed to the call of preaching and caring for others. It acknowledges their exceptional contribution as vitally important to the development of America's biblical values.  

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Along with Jakes, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr., Dr. John M. Perkins, Rev. Dr. A. R. Bernard Sr., Dr. Tony Evans, and Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie were also honored.  

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B-roll footage and photos of the event are available.

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Jakes will look to make an impact on thousands of women next during his Woman, Thou Art Loosed! conference in Atlanta, Sept. 22-24. The conference brings inspirational and motivational speakers to the stage to help women around the world be loosed from a myriad of strongholds, transforming them into revelations that help women to change the world.

Just in time for National Ice Cream Month, Enlightened, the feel-good dessert brand, aims to celebrate its indulgent flavors with a packaging rebrand and an expanding lineup of ice cream pints rolling out this summer.

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Enlightened's new look uses vibrant colors and whimsical illustrations to emphasize the abundant mix-ins and flavors while standing out on shelves. The first product lines to debut the design include ice cream pints and bars, Sundae Cones and Sugar-free Syrups.

"This new packaging design has been in the works for a while now, and we're thrilled to finally release it," Enlightened founder and CEO Michael Shoretz said. "The superior flavors and mix-ins in our desserts are what keep our fans coming back, so we chose to emphasize those aspects while maintaining a strong and identifiable look across all of our product lines."

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Along with the unveiling of a new packaging design, Enlightened expands its low-sugar ice cream pint lineup with four new light pints, including:

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• Kookie Dough: Blue (yes, blue!) vanilla-flavored ice cream with chunks of chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate sandwich cookie pieces;
• Chocolate P.B. Crunch: Rich chocolate ice cream with a thick peanut butter swirl and fudge-covered peanuts;
• Coffee Toffee: Coffee-flavored ice cream with with fudge-covered toffee pieces; and
• Chocolate Caramel Pecan Crunch: Chocolate ice cream with roasted pecan pieces and a caramel swirl.

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"We love to push the boundaries with indulgence and nutrition to make you question how something so delicious could be so low in sugar, and I think we accomplished that with these new flavors," Shoretz said.

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Shoppers can purchase Enlightened's new ice cream flavors in grocery stores nationwide and online now.