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Celebrate the First Annual California State Parks Week June 14-18, 2022

Save the Redwoods League

The public is invited to celebrate the first annual California State Parks Week, June 14-18, presented by California State Parks, Save the Redwoods League, Parks California and the California State Parks Foundation. Through special community events and in-person and virtual programming, this inaugural event celebrates California’s 279 state parks and the people who visit and help protect these iconic places. A complete list of the week’s events and how to participate are available at CAStateParksWeek.org. “State Parks is excited to welcome the first-ever California State Parks Week, which celebrates the oldest state park system in the nation,” said Armando Quintero, director of California State Parks. “California’s state parks are as unique and diverse as the state itself. They help preserve and protect the state’s natural and cultural history for generations to come. I hope this week gives everyone a chance to visit the outdoors, enjoy its beauty and find their own connection with California’s great outdoors.” California State Parks Week is modeled after National Park Week, and it helps advance the “Outdoor Access For All” initiative championed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, as well as the recently launched “California Outdoors For All” initiative. This initiative expands outdoor access to all Californians through focused investments in open space infrastructure and outdoor programming, with a priority of expanding access in underserved communities. Why California State Parks Week? The COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges to California’s communities, but it also illuminated the important connection of the outdoors to our physical and mental well-being. Parks across the U.S. experienced increased visitation in 2020-21, and California State Parks Week underscores the important role parks play in communities statewide. “As we emerge from the impacts of the pandemic, we are excited to celebrate California’s resilience and expand access to so many joyful experiences and benefits of nature through California State Parks Week,” said Sam Hodder, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League. "It is inspiring to see how California’s state park system has grown over generations. The parks encompass not only the state’s most iconic landscapes, but also the diversity of our people, cultural experiences and moments of joy to be found along thousands of miles of trails.” California State Parks protects the best of the state’s natural and cultural history; more than 340 miles of coastline; the tallest, largest and among the oldest trees in the world; and deserts, lakes, rivers and beaches. Across 279 parks statewide there are more than 5,200 miles of trails, 15,000 campsites, prehistoric and historic archeological sites, ghost towns, historic homes and monuments — all waiting to be explored. “California State Parks Week is a fun and inclusive way to celebrate the wonder and sense of community that the outdoors provides to the people of California and visitors from all over the world,” said Kindley Walsh Lawlor, president and CEO of Parks California. California State Parks Week Themed Days: “Parks have been there for us in so many ways. As we recognize the partners, volunteers, state parks staff and many others who make California’s state park system the gem it is today, there is so much to celebrate! The themes for each day bring all those contributions into focus,” said Rachel Norton, executive director of California State Parks Foundation. Tuesday, Jun 14: Land Acknowledgement Day On Land Acknowledgement Day, we will elevate, honor and celebrate the Indigenous voices and stories that are rooted in traditional Native lands. View all events. Featured: Honoring the Indigenous Peoples of the North Coast State Park interpreters and tribal members will share the importance of honoring the Indigenous peoples who have lived on the North Coast since time immemorial. Join online via Facebook Live at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 15: Kids Career Day On Kids Career Day, we invite kids and families to explore all the important jobs that people do to help keep parks healthy and running. View all events. Featured: My Fun Future in the Outdoors! From 9-11 a.m. at Cardiff (Seaside) State Beach in San Diego, State Park employees will share some of their favorite reasons to work in parks. Join in person at the park or online via Facebook Live. Thursday, June 16: Health and Wellness Day Spending time outdoors is critical to health and well-being. On Health and Wellness Day, we invite you to explore a park near you and learn about organizations, events and activities that can continue to inspire you every day. View all events. Featured: Guided Lava Bluffs Trail Hike Hike across a volcanic formation at Calaveras Big Trees State Park. This 2.5-mile, 2- to 3-hour moderate-strenuous hike starts at 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 17: Stewardship Day On Stewardship Day, discover the various land and habitat management activities that safeguard the wide diversity of plants and animals in the parks, and learn how to get involved. View all events. Featured: Historic Sites Preservation Tours Tour of some of the oldest buildings in California at Monterey State Historic Park. Starts at 11 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 18: Partnership Day / Volunteer Day On Partnership Day / Volunteer Day, learn about the important roles that businesses, nonprofits and other partners play in stewarding the California State Park System, and find out how you can get involved. View all events. Featured: Science Day and StoryWalk Learn about butterflies with hands-on educational activities, or take a stroll while reading an illustrated children’s book from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area. Recreate Responsibly California State Parks reminds visitors to recreate responsibly as COVID-19 is still present. Prior to leaving home, visitors are asked to check the status of the park units they want to visit to find out what restrictions and guidelines are in place. Having a back-up plan in case the destination is crowded is recommended. For additional guidelines and safety tips, please visit parks.ca.gov/COVID19. * * * For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Robin Carr at (415) 971-3991 or redwoods@landispr.com. To access hi-res images and b-roll video, please visit the California State Parks Week newsroom. California State Parks Week Presenting Partners: California State Parks and the recreational programs supported by its divisions of Boating and Waterways, Historic Preservation and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provide the opportunity for families, friends, and communities to connect. Off-highway motor vehicle recreation, boating activities, horseback riding, cycling, hiking, camping, rock climbing, tours, hikes, school group enrichment, and special events are just some of the activities enjoyed in 279 park units organized into 21 field districts throughout the state. Learn more at www.parks.ca.gov. Save the Redwoods League is one of the nation’s longest-running conservation organizations, and it has been protecting and restoring redwood forests since 1918. The League has connected generations of visitors with the beauty and serenity of the redwood forest. The nonprofit’s 29,000 members have enabled the organization to protect more than 216,000 acres of irreplaceable forests in 66 state, national and local parks and reserves. For information, please visit SaveTheRedwoods.org. Parks California is a statewide nonprofit working to ensure state, regional, and local parks thrive. As the statutory partner to California State Parks, Parks California has a simple mission – to help strengthen parks and inspire all to experience these extraordinary places. From redwood groves and desert springs to urban parks and lighthouses, the organization works with partners to steward these natural wonders and make California’s parks more welcoming, accessible and relevant to all visitors. For more information, please visit parkscalifornia.org. California State Parks Foundation is an independent, member-supported nonprofit that mobilizes a diverse network of Californians to be active champions for our state parks. At California State Parks Foundation, we believe that all Californians are essential to sustaining our state parks. Every day, we inform and inspire current and future generations of park champions, enabling them to be the passionate advocates our state parks need. Because when we build a movement of park supporters, we ensure the long-term sustainability of our incredible state park treasures. Learn more at www.calparks.org. ### Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-971-3991 redwoods@landispr.com Company Website https://www.savetheredwoods.org/

March 15, 2022 05:35 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk is Back on the Course in 2022

Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk

The annual Boston Marathon ® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai will be returning to the historic course in person on Sunday, October 2 nd, to defy cancer. The Jimmy Fund Walk is the only organized walk permitted on the famed course and participants have the flexibility to choose from four distance options: 5K Walk (3.1 miles from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), 10K Walk (6.2 miles from Newton), Half Marathon Walk (13.1 miles from Wellesley), or Marathon Walk (26.2 miles from Hopkinton). Participants can also choose to join the event virtually by “ walking their way ” from wherever they are most comfortable—in their neighborhood, on a favorite hiking trail, or on a treadmill at home. Virtual programming and supporting materials will be available. “Throughout the Jimmy Fund Walk’s 33-year history, we have raised money to support our lifesaving mission, and the pandemic didn’t stop us,” said Zack Blackburn, Director of the Jimmy Fund Walk. Over the past two years, we saw our teams walk virtually and celebrate in their own unique way. Now, we welcome them to walk the course in person. We are back, and we are stronger than ever.” The Jimmy Fund Walk has raised more than $155 million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in its 33-year history. Funds raised from the Walk support all forms of adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at the nation’s premier cancer center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Anyone interested in additional information can email JimmyFundWalk@DFCI.Harvard.edu or call 866-531-9255. Along the course, walkers are treated to 12 refueling stations as well as poster-sized photographs of patients – Jimmy Fund Walk Heroes – displayed at each mile marker and half-mile marker as inspiration. All four routes of the Jimmy Fund Walk end at the Copley Square Finish Line with a celebration complete with food, music, and a speaking program. To register for the Jimmy Fund Walk (#JimmyFundWalk) or to support a walker, visit www.JimmyFundWalk.org or call (866) 531-9255. Registrants can enter the promo code NEWS for $5 off the registration fee. All registered walkers will receive a bib, medal, and a Jimmy Fund Walk T-shirt. About the Jimmy Fund The Jimmy Fund, established in Boston in 1948, is comprised of community-based fundraising events and other programs that, solely and directly, benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s lifesaving mission to provide compassionate patient care and groundbreaking cancer research for children and adults. The Jimmy Fund is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the Pan-Mass Challenge, and the Variety Children's Charity of New England. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide. Follow the Jimmy Fund on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @TheJimmyFund. Contact Details Brodeur Partners Kaitlynn Cooney +1 609-351-5944 kcooney@brodeur.com Company Website https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR?fr_id=1840&pg=entry

March 15, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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The Tastes of St. Patrick’s Day: Live from the Chef’s Kitchen in Ireland

YourUpdateTV

This St. Patrick's Day leave green-hued food in the past and lean into the Irish culture with dishes that go beyond corned beef and cabbage. Even if you're only Irish once a year, you'll want to observe year-round with these delicious and traditional ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Live from Ireland, on March 11, Chef Catherine Fulvio, conducted a nationwide media tour to provide recipes and background on the most authentic way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day along with insights on which products to use including telling the story of Ireland’s own, Truly Grass Fed. To check out this year’s featured recipe CHEDDAR AND CARAMELIZED ONION BARLEY RISOTTO click here: trulygrassfed.com/cheddar-and-caramelized-onion-barely-risotto Truly Grass Fed is a line of delicious premium cheese, butter, and ghee clarified butter imported from Ireland coming from cows that are indeed truly grass fed. In fact, 95% of their diet is grass. These are happy, healthy, cows roaming nearly 200 acres of lush green Irish pastures per farm for 250 days a year. All of their dairy products come from Irish family-run farms run along the eastern seaboard and into the rich green pasturelands of Ireland’s midlands. All Truly Grass Fed products are Animal Welfare Approved (by A Greener World) an independent non-profit certification program for farm animal welfare, outdoor access and sustainability. You can see the Animal Welfare Approved logo on each & every pack. The range is also non GMO Project Verified and a 1% for the Planet member. Grass fed is not just good for the animals, it’s also good for the products making for delicious cheese and butter for you & your family, all while being kinder to animals and the planet. Truly Grass Fed is dedicated to continued innovation and is excited to introduce their new spreadable butter tub hitting shelves this May. trulygrassfed.com Instagram: instagram.com/trulygrassfed Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

March 14, 2022 05:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cookie Co. Celebrates the Opening of its First Franchise in the Nation

Cookie Co.

The moment Cookie Co. began considering expansions via franchising, they decided that quality could not be compromised in their pursuit of growth. As a team, they set out on a quest to curate systems and processes that would ensure their coveted cookies would be of exceptional quality at any location. Cookie Co. cookies are made with the highest quality ingredients and baked to perfection following signature and proprietary recipes. Once the brand established protocols to ensure the sweet treats their raving fans love would be exceptionally delicious at any location, they established the type of franchise partners they envisioned having as a part of the Cookie Co. family. One of many things that they determined would be vital in selecting franchise partners is choosing partners that share their commitment to giving back and investing in the community. Cookie Co. is proud to support all things local and is more than a cookie shop – it strives to be an invaluable part of each community that it has a location within. After carefully considering a vast array of franchise applications, Cookie Co. selected their first franchise partner and is excited to see the first franchise location in the nation open March 21 st, 2022 at 1500 Rivery Blvd, Suite 310, Georgetown, Texas, 78628. Grand opening day will feature fun festivities for the family including giveaways, photo booths, music and more! “As a company we hold quality and core values close to heart. While we are inspired to bring Cookie Co. to more of our raving fans nationwide, we are just as inspired to see our unsurpassed quality upheld from location to location. We also believe that re-investing in community is vital, and are focused on accepting franchise partners who share our same vision.” –Elise Thomas, Co-Founder, Cookie Co. Gourmet cookies, made locally. Founded in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, Cookie Co. began as a labor of love, offering the simplest of comfort foods – fresh baked cookies. Baked right at home with curbside pick-up in their driveway, Founders Elise and Matt Thomas discovered peace in providing an experience that reminded them of hopeful childhood memories. Opening the first location in August 2020 in Redlands, California, Cookie Co. is known for its signature cookies which are proprietary to the company. Cookie Co. has thrived thanks to raving fans across the community and is now available as a franchise. Interested franchise partners can learn more here. Contact Details Sterling Public Relations Paula Steurer +1 949-200-6566 concierge@sterlingpublicrelationsoc.com Company Website https://www.theofficialcookieco.com/

March 14, 2022 11:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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QSR Automations Breaks into the Senior Living Sector

QSR Automations

QSR Automations, the global leader in restaurant technology, will now bring its innovative solutions to senior living operators around the country after entering a partnership with one of the nation’s leading providers of exceptional senior care. Leveraging its ConnectSmart platform, QSR Automations is poised to help senior living communities maximize efficiency in both front-of-house and back-of-house operations. Features including delayed timing and recipe integration ensure that dishes are made consistently and delivered to the table at exactly the right time, while servers and hosts can view the progress and status of each order without ever leaving the front desk. Hosts can check seating capacity in a dining room against reservations and parties waiting in a lobby to alert kitchen staff to the next rush and adjust labor accordingly. All of these efficiencies result in a calmer, quieter kitchen, and a more pleasant dining experience for guests. “Residents moving into senior living communities today are active, cultured, and unique, and they expect their dining experience in their new home to be the same,” said Connor Joffe, Senior Living Business Consultant at QSR Automations, citing a study by Mather Lifeways Institute on Aging that found that 80 percent of residents had a strong interest in the culinary experience of their communities—more than any other service line. “Operators that layer in efficient technology that replicates that of a traditional, world-class restaurant experience will come out on top.” Restaurant technology can also aid in off-premise ordering and contactless delivery, which may be crucial for residents who struggle with mobility, or are more vulnerable to COVID and other illnesses. QSR’s ConnectSmart platform can aid in timing to-go and delivery orders so they arrive at their destination the proper temperature, and automated packing checklists ensure dishes arrive with all utensils and condiments while eliminating waste. According to a senior living industry staffing survey conducted by Sodexo in August 2021, a third of senior living facilities have already invested in online and off-premise ordering capabilities, and technologies to improve labor and resource productivity, and an additional third plan to make similar investments in the future. “Our fully customizable solutions integrate seamlessly with existing systems, so communities aren’t required to start from scratch with all new technologies,” said Joffe. “We can meet each customer where they are and address their unique pain points to enhance staffing and operational efficiencies, and ultimately the resident experience.” To schedule an interview with Connor Joffe, business consultant, senior living at QSR Automations to support your outlet’s coverage of restaurant technology in use in senior living facilities, please contact Beth Clayton at bethc@thebsmnt.com. About QSR Automations QSR Automations, headquartered in Louisville, KY with offices in the United Kingdom, is a global industry leader in kitchen automation and guest management services. Since 1996, restaurant operators have turned to the brand’s signature platform, ConnectSmart, for customized solutions to improve the guest experience and drive operational excellence. Used in 21 of the nation’s top 25 casual dining chains, ConnectSmart leverages data to create customized solutions that make calmer kitchens, simpler workflows, and happier guests. We didn’t just pioneer restaurant technology. We perfected it. Contact Details Beth Clayton Director of Strategic Communications +1 317-407-2921 bethc@thebsmnt.com Company Website https://www.qsrautomations.com/

March 14, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Functional Fitness Brand, P.volve Announces Transformative Rebrand to Revolutionize the Fitness and Women’s Wellness Industries

P.volve

P.volve, the functional fitness brand revolutionizing the way women move, live and feel, announced today a transformative rebrand to bridge the gap between fitness, women’s health and physical therapy. With this new company-wide direction, P.volve will unveil a whole new look and feel to their online and brick-and-mortar presence by gracefully connecting movement to the essence of nature through neutral colors and textures reflective of our environment. Additionally, the brand will introduce a new, life changing category of fitness called ‘Movement Therapy’; announce their expert Clinical Advisory Board, launch their first-ever ingestible recovery solution and more. With these monumental enhancements to the brand’s vision, purpose and mission, P.volve is for women to sculpt their body, support long-term health and restore vitality by delivering powerful, steadfast results. P.volve, which derives from the phrase ‘Personal Evolution’ is doing just that - helping millions of women evolve with their body through every stage of life, building the most powerful version of themselves with a workout to strengthen, sustain and recover. Focusing on ‘Natural Connection’, this new brand direction celebrates and honors the beautiful fluidity of nature and the human body, shown throughout every aspect of the rebrand. “We are thrilled to reintroduce P.volve as a Method that is disrupting the way we look at movement and teaching women all over the world to expect more from their fitness,” says Co-Founder, Rachel Katzman. “So many women, myself included, have been let down by traditional fitness, left not meeting goals and broken down. With this movement you can exceed all your goals - the butt you always wanted, mitigate everyday pain, balance your hormones and overall feel the best you’ve ever felt in your body. I speak with members of all ages every single week and continue to be inspired and motivated by the stories they share about how P.volve has helped strengthen, nourish and restore their bodies throughout their lives. Our method, our experience, our equipment, and now our first-ever recovery supplement are all designed to evolve with a woman’s body over time so she can feel the life changing power of daily, functional movement.” With the goal of opening 250 brick-and-mortar studios by 2025 and getting 30 million women to move functionally by 2030, P.volve will be rolling out the following initiatives to create a comprehensive, best-in-class and cutting-edge experience for their members and beyond: Bridging the Gap Between Healthcare and Fitness: Building a World-Class Clinical Advisory Board - P.volve’s Clinical Advisory Board (CAB), made up of seasoned medical doctors and experts, including Dr. Amy Hoover, Dr. Nima Alamdari, and Dr. Suman Tewari collaborate to create workouts, advise on equipment and develop new products. Together, they are helping us to ensure that the P.volve Method is rooted in science and research. Currently P.volve's trusted team of experts are going through multiple clinical trials, including three with the University of Exeter in the UK, a top 10 globally ranked university in sports related subjects. The studies will focus on muscle recovery strategies as well as the impact of the method on young and older adults; slated for completion in 2025. Most recently, preliminary results in a University of Minnesota clinical study of adults with chronic lower back pain showed that 12 weeks of the P.volve Back Strengthening Series workout (whole body low-intensity exercises that focus on the pelvic floor and strengthening the core): significantly reduced pain, improved body awareness and strength and reduced fearful avoidance of movement. Lower back pain is an ailment that up to 80% of Americans will develop in their lifetime, with up to 15-20% of adults reporting it in an average year. ‘Prescribing P.volve’ Pilot Program - While P.volve is not a medical treatment that requires a prescription, Dr. Amy Hoover, Founding P.volve CAB member and Resident Physical Therapist specializing in pelvic health, is spearheading a pilot program with a network of doctors throughout the U.S. whereby they recommend P.volve’s Movement Therapy programming to patients as part of their continuous care treatment plan. “Many people are failed by the healthcare system when it comes to fitness, movement and exercise. They are told to exercise, but then not guided on what works best for their specific body. I love this method because it not only helps to restore proper muscle balance and biomechanics, but also teaches people about how their body works. P.volve connects them to their own body and helps them identify their own specific needs, which empowers them to help restore themselves through movement. I use this method to complement treatments for my patients,” says Dr. Hoover. Partnerships in Healthcare - As part of its mission to help 30 million women move better and live better by 2030, P.volve is partnering with top healthcare brands such as Ovia Health, Spring Fertility, Medicare Fitness Programs, Amazon Halo, Integrative Institute for Nutrition and Sugarbreak. Together, they are providing holistic solutions and resources for women, while making the P.volve Method more accessible to those who need it most. Introducing a New Category of Fitness: As part of the mission to elevate what women can expect from their fitness routine, P.volve launched Movement Therapy, a new category of workouts developed by expert Trainers in collaboration with the Clinical Board. These programs deliver strong, balanced and resilient physiques, while also addressing the pain points and sensitivities that patients and members commonly experience. This includes female-specific need-states, such as pelvic floor health, managing symptoms related to menstrual cycle, workouts for pre and post natal, and managing with endometriosis. It also addresses everyday aches and pains related to knees, hips, back, wrists and more. Accelerating Recovery: P.volve believes that daily, functional movement is necessary for a woman to live a healthy and sustainable life. Understanding that muscle recovery is a critical component to the ability to move daily with ease, P.volve is launching a great-tasting, easy to use, and scientifically-backed powdered recovery solution, Recover 9, to enable members to recover faster and experience less muscle soreness. The formulation was developed in partnership with scientists and includes all nine essential amino acids and pomegranate fruit extract. This first-of-its-kind blend is sourced from best-in-class ingredients and manufacturers, is vegan, sugar-free, non-GMO, contains no artificial flavors, and is free of gluten and all major allergens. Recover 9 joins P.volve’s pre-existing proprietary product line up, including the p.ball, p.band, and p.3 trainer. Member Advisory Board: With a strong legacy of using member feedback to drive key business decisions, P.volve appointed an official Member Advisory Board comprised of brand advocates globally. The Board meets virtually every month and uses WhatsApp daily to communicate and share feedback with P.volve Leadership. The Board is charged with bringing the voice of the member to the team so that member feedback is consistently represented and prioritized across the business. With a belief that women have been underserved by traditional fitness modalities, P.volve is raising the bar within industry and teaching women all around the globe to expect more from their fitness - because any fitness can deliver toned physiques, but the ability to both strengthen and restore the body is the future. With an expert Clinical Team, University-led Clinical Trials, a growing list of partners within the healthcare space and a new category of Movement Therapy, this is just the beginning for P.volve. ABOUT P.VOLVE P.volve is a leading science-backed, holistic fitness Method for women that harnesses the power of functional movement to nourish and heal while it shapes, tones, and strengthens. The Method supports women’s evolving needs and empowers its members to move with ease—for life. Experienced in-studio and virtually, P.volve offers a growing franchise studio footprint, proprietary equipment, an on-demand and live-streaming platform, and a recovery supplement. P.volve launched in November 2017 and was co-founded by Rachel Katzman, in partnership with Camelot Venture Group, whose portfolio companies include 1-800 CONTACTS, SmileDirectClub and Quicken Loans. Available worldwide, P.volve is headquartered in New York City. For more information, please visit www.pvolve.com and @pvolve on Instagram. Contact Details Courtney Stewart courtney@powers-pr.com Company Website https://www.pvolve.com

March 14, 2022 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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College of DuPage Awarded Illinois CRSS Success Program Grant to Support Individuals with Mental Health or Substance Use Recovery

College of DuPage

Students with lived experience of mental health or substance use recovery can now earn a certificate in behavioral health at College of DuPage thanks to a newly awarded grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health. Launching in fall 2022, the 16-hour Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) program will prepare students for an entry level position in the behavioral health workforce, specifically in the areas of substance abuse and mental health disorder recovery. Certified Recovery Support Specialists use their lived experience to help others gain hope and achieve specific life and recovery goals. Students in the program will receive full funding to overcome practical barriers to success, including tuition, textbook costs, application fees, childcare and transportation. COD Human Services Associate Professor Jason Florin said that there is a critical and growing need for mental health support professionals in DuPage County. “The rapidly growing peer workforce is an integral part of behavioral health treatment,” he said. “Increasingly in the last decade, these highly trained and competent peers are being hired in a variety of different health care settings, non-profits and other recovery-oriented systems.” Certified Recovery Support Specialists bring not only their expertise, but compassion, hope, and honesty to any team offering treatment and recovery services, said COD Human Services Professor Andrea Polites. “The new CRSS program at COD creates a win-win scenario,” she said. “The organization hiring someone in recovery gains an employee with competency in utilizing their life experiences to help others, and upon completion of our program, the student is qualified for gainful employment, where they can leverage their lived experience to support and mentor others, while expanding their skillset,” she said. Program graduates can sit for two certification exams through the Illinois Certification Board—Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS). For more information about the CRSS program, contact Florin at florin@cod.edu or (630) 942-2043. Learn more about the COD Human Services Program. Watch a video of Florin discussing the importance of the new CRSSS program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QInT4eauXfs ### Contact Details Angela Mennecke +1 630-942-3134 menneckea@cod.edu

March 14, 2022 08:00 AM Central Daylight Time

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ibble Announces General Availability and Super Event Feature

ibble

Learn more at www.getibble.com or sxsw.getibble.com ibble, the social media app focused on authentic conversations and engagement, is coming out stealth in style as the unofficial app of SXSW. Making the partnership even more powerful and expanding on ibble's ability to facilitate conversations, the social media app also announces the Super Events feature. "When you ask a marketer what the best way is to market, they almost always say 'word of mouth' marketing. But when you ask where they spend their money it is rarely on word-of-mouth marketing," said Raymond Kaminski, CEO, and co-founder of ibble. "The way we built ibble, companies can now see and hear the power of word-of-mouth marketing. Our Super Events feature only adds to this by showing what was most talked about at SXSW, removing the hype and getting into the conversations that matter most – yours," "We're big believers in ibble because it allows creators and brands to connect with their audience in a more authentic way compared to the social media platforms of the last decade," said Mitch Morales, Founding Partner, Managing Director at Unknown Ventures. "The new Super Event feature is a great example of how the app generates new valuable touchpoints for users by blending digital and IRL experience." ibble is built with distinct features that positively impact how, when, and why people communicate on the social media app. With ibble, you do more than simply follow, explore and share. ibble makes conversations better by allowing users to learn and gain new perspectives through friends "sparking" conversations sharing news to the ibble community or a private group of friends. Because ibble bases conversations and questions on audio or video, it is easier to see others' true perspectives, connect at a deeper level, ask questions. Experts and influencers have the freedom to choose how and when to talk with their community without losing the conversation. "Our Super Event feature allows people to dive deeper into events, connecting with brands and participants at a deeper level," said Irving Lee, Co-founder, and Head of Partnerships. "We have built an innovative platform that bridges social media, engagement, and events with Super Events that captures experiences and conversations in one single place, and that is something that has never been available before." The Super Event feature was built to connect event participants deeper with brands, the event itself, and other participants. Super Event also removes FOMO (fear of missing out) by allowing people to be everywhere at once by showcasing everything happening at the event and giving the end-user the ability to move between experiences fluidly and virtually. Through ibble, users are given the unique experience to ask event experts questions before getting on stage. With the spark feature, ibble users can spin-off conversations to share their perspectives with video or audio. More importantly, these sparked conversations continue to grow and gain depth long after the event or presentation has ended. "The Super Event feature will improve the participant experience, speaker experience, and overall event. With ibble event badge holders, creators and partners will be able to take full advantage of the event without feeling the pain of being pulled in too many directions," added Mr. Kaminski. About Ibble.io Ibble.io is the social media app that enables experts and their communities to directly engage through audio and video conversations. Ibble makes events more accessible and adds depth through back-and-forth video and audio posts. Learn more at https://www.getibble.com/ Contact Details Jason Jepson +1 949-394-7033 press@ibble.io Company Website https://www.getibble.com/

March 11, 2022 10:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Uno Pizzeria & Grill Rewards Restaurant Industry Workers with $1 Pizzas

UNO Pizzeria & Grill

The Restaurant and Hospitality industries were some of the hardest hit during the Covid-19 Pandemic with many companies eventually closing their doors for good. Those that continued to operate relied heavily on their employees to show up to work and deliver exceptional service to their customers. Uno Pizzeria and Grill knows this was no small feat and wanted to recognize those industry employees who worked through the toughest of times. As a show of support for all fellow staff, UNO Pizzeria and Grill has handed out thousands of vouchers good for a $1 Individual Deep Dish or Thin crust pizza of their choice. They allowed their staff, both restaurant and corporate, to be the ones to distribute them to their fellow neighborhood establishments. “We hope this act of kindness will serve as a show of support to all those in the hospitality community who continue to provide spectacular service during these challenging times and help keep spirits high while we all work so hard”, stated CEO Erik Frederick. “We know the effort and commitment it has taken to persevere through these tough times for our staff as well as all hospitality and restaurant staff. We wanted to show our appreciation and admiration to all of the dedicated service workers out there in our communities. After all, we’re all in this together”. About UNO Pizzeria & Grill Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Uno Restaurant Holdings Corporation includes approximately 90 company-owned and franchised UNO Pizzeria & Grill restaurants located in 18 states, and the District of Columbia, India, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. An additional 6 locations are scheduled to open this year. UNO is all about connecting people over amazing pizza – from its famous Chicago Deep Dish, which UNO invented in 1943, to its Chicago Thin Crust, to its gluten-free and vegan pizzas. The Company also operates Uno Foods, a consumer packaged-foods business which supplies grocery stores, club stores and various foodservice industries, with both frozen and refrigerated private-label foods and UNO branded products. For more information, visit www.unos.com. Contact Details Uno Pizzeria and Grill Lindsay Rhoades lindsay.rhoades@unos.com Company Website https://www.unos.com/

March 10, 2022 01:21 PM Eastern Standard Time

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