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A restorative justice program for survivors of domestic violence. A plan to reduce readmissions at one of the areas busiest hospitals. A strategy to expand a mobile food market that combats food insecurity. A guidebook to help caregivers assist aging relatives.

These are just a few of the projects that UBs Social Impact Fellows developed this summer alongside 10 local organizations. Their work, as the name of the fellowship promises, is already making an impact in the community and is poised to do so for months and years to come.

Now in its fifth year, the Social Impact Fellows program brings together students from the School of Management, School of Social Work and College of Arts and Sciences to create social innovation in Western New York. Working in teams of three with one graduate student from each school, the fellows collaborate to research a problem facing a community organization. Then, they devise a solution and pitch their project in the hopes of winning funds for the organization to implement it.

This years Pitch for a Cause competition wrapped up the program on Aug. 5, as the fellows, UB community members and organization partners came together to hear more about their summer of impact.

I applaud each of you for contributing to the greater good, and in so doing, embodying UBs values, President Satish K. Tripathi told the fellows at the event.

Our fellows meaningful service is core to UBs mission of excellence, Tripathi continued, addressing the audience. A true measure of the success of the Social Impact Fellows program is the impact our students make on community organizations. We know that many of our partners have integrated into their business practices the innovative solutions developed by our students.

I hate to be clich, but I definitely signed up to make social impact in the Buffalo community, MBA student Kennethea Wilson says of her decision to join the program.

With teammates Maria Rothaupt and Abhipsa Chakraborty MSW and PhD in English students, respectively Wilson interned with the South Buffalo Community Association. The team created and distributed a community needs assessment, and using that data, got to work creating a business plan for a food pantry and delivery service that would address residents greatest concerns: food insecurity and transportation.

Wilson says the program cemented her career goals of working for community organizations and being an advocate for change.

After this experience, I feel affirmed in my career path I am going to be a leader, she says. I know I will step into a leadership role having the training to know what it means to be a leader, how to manage a team setting and how to create a timeline and execute it.

Alex Bakke, a PhD student in Spanish language and literature, also came away from the program with a newfound understanding of how his skillset could align with career opportunities. Bakke and his teammates, MSW student Kiara Owen and MBA student Michael Mankiewicz, worked with the nonprofit Open Buffalo on a business plan for an urban ecology center that would address environmental racism in East Buffalo.

At first, Bakke says it was a challenge to figure out how his background in linguistics and research fit in with such a project. But by collaborating with his teammates, he discovered how their skills and perspectives complemented one another and enhanced the final deliverable.

Its been an eye-opening experience for me, Bakke says. I learned how I can translate my skills into the private sector, nonprofits or to give back in my free time. All in all, having this experience just makes me more marketable.

In addition to interning at their partner organizations, the fellows came together several times during the summer for sessions with management and social work faculty, and to visit mission-driven organizations throughout the region.

The entire program is built on the idea of social innovation that to tackle societys greatest challenges, organizations and individuals from many sectors must come together to find solutions.

Social innovation is imperative for the next generation of leaders, particularly because you get an opportunity to address the complex challenges facing todays society, Ananth Iyer, dean of the School of Management, told the audience at the Pitch for a Cause competition.

Speaking directly to the fellows, Keith Alford, dean of the School of Social Work, agreed: Social innovation and experiential learning are key initiatives of the university. Your interdisciplinary focus in solving the challenges of today through creative innovation is certainly outstanding and will be needed more than you can possibly imagine in years to come.

In total, 10 teams of fellows delivered pitches representing the following organizations:

Presenting in random order, each team had five minutes to describe the problem they were addressing and their solution, followed by three minutes of rapid-fire questions from the judging panel.

This years judges were Esther Annan, program officer, John R. Oishei Foundation; David Femi, head of multicultural banking and diverse market strategy, M&T Bank; Dharshan Jayasinghe, UB Alumni Association president and CEO, bizWin Strategies and Triad Health Care Recruiting; and Rene Petties-Jones, president, National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York.

The team from ECMC Alyssa Ruminski, MSW; Muhammad Ashraf, MBA; and Thaddeus Okon, PhD in linguistics took second, collecting a $1,000 prize to help the medical center implement their project to lower readmission rates for complex care patients.

Finally, to thunderous applause, the winning team was named: Andy Whitehead, MSW; Elizabeth Ramirez, MBA/MSW; and Samantha King-Shaw, PhD in global gender studies, representing the Matt Urban Center. Throughout the summer, they created a curriculum, marketing materials, a recruitment guide and other tools for a workforce development program that teaches participants culinary skills and kitchen fundamentals, leading to certifications and employment opportunities.

Now, thanks to their victory and the $2,000 prize, the teams idea for the Above Ground Culinary Arts Training program may eventually become a reality.

Social work has to combine with business thats how were going to create successful programs and organizations, Whitehead says. A lot of social workers come to school to do micro-level work, but this opportunity gave me a different perspective and showed me that I can work on the business side and use my social work perspective to contribute to a successful program.

The Social Impact Fellows program is made possible through the generous support of many partners, individuals and organizations, including Fred and Donna Saia; Steven H. Shepsman and Debra A. Shepsman; and Sujata Yalamanchili and R. Kent Roberts.

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Social Impact Fellows use diverse perspectives to create change - UBNow: News and views for UB faculty and staff - University at Buffalo

Yes, I know that you were burned by the final season of Game of Thrones, in which your favorite character did something so inexplicable that it ruined all seven seasons or preceding development, to the point where you can hardly bear to look at a map of Westeros ever again

But Game of Thrones is about to make a comeback, albeit in different form, with the prequel House of the Dragon set to premiere on HBO this weekend.

And past traumas aside, it could be good (George RR Martin says that its much more aligned with his original vision), and either way, we do get to see those amazing dragons on TV once again.

Which is the focus of the latest campaign on Snapchat, which enables Snap users to transform themselves into dragons via various AR activations within the app's Lens tools.

Which looks kind of cool but even more interesting, from a social media marketing standpoint, is this element of the latest HBO/Snap campaign:

Snap and HBO Max have also coordinated with members of Snaps Lens Network from around the world to build custom Landmarker AR experiences in their local markets. This is the first partnership to pair a brand with a diverse group of Lens Creators at a global scale.

In what could be a new consideration for large-scale launches, or even for smaller brands looking to collaborate with a range of creators in different regions, Snap has facilitated a new, global partnership, with various Lens makers, to enable new forms of localized engagement with these Lens activations.

In order to execute the campaign, HBO Max provided the Lens Creators with AR assets for each dragon to build the new Landmarker Lenses. Each Lens Creator personally selected the location for their individual Landmarker Lens, bringing a powerful local element to this global campaign.

The Lenses will be available at the following locations once the show begins:

Whats more, the activations will evolve throughout the season, with new dragons that appear in the show also becoming available in these displays.

Its an interesting expansion on the usual Lens campaign approach, with the more localized approach potentially helping to improve engagement, and get even more Snap users engaged in the show.

Which, as noted, could be a hard sell but then again, if the show is actually good, that could help to wash away at least some of the bad taste left in fans mouths after the terrible Game of Thrones season finale.

And from a digital marketing perspective, it could highlight a new way to work with Snaps growing network of creators to build more inclusive, regionally relevant, engaging experiences.

More than 250,000 Lens Creators have already built over 2.5 million Lenses through Snaps Lens Studio AR creation tool. Thats a lot of potential for broader integrations via Snap campaigns.

See the article here:
Snapchat Launches New Localized Lens Promotion for 'House of the Dragon' - Social Media Today

The study - published in the Journal for Studies on Alcohol and Drugs found that packaging helps shape perceptions of the product, drinker and drinker experience: saying it has a significant impact in creating appeal among young people.

The findings come as the Scottish Government prepares to launch a consultation on alcohol marketing later this year.

The new study which was supported by Alcohol Focus Scotland sought to explore how young adults, aged between 18 and 35, viewed and engaged with alcohol packaging. Fifty current drinkers, from Scotland, participated in eight focus groups in which they engaged with a range of alcohol products.

Participants discussed seeing alcohol packaging in different settings typically shops and drinking venues and via marketing, particularly advertising. They frequently recalled seeing it featured in the media with most reporting exposure on television, in movies, on social media and the internet.

Most recalled packs that stood out in shops were considered appealing for being different, interesting, or aesthetically pleasing. Some participants reported purchasing alcohol products solely on pack appeal, with one saying: I dont actually like beer, but I bought it specifically because I liked the packaging.

Packaging design such as colors and graphics is central to appeal, as is structure, with most participants drawn to sleek or distinctive shapes, note the researchers.

The size of packs is also important: larger packs, for example, were considered by participants to be more cost-effective and preferable when intending to consume a large quantity of alcohol. Meanwhile, smaller grab and go packs were thought to enable and encourage consumption in public settings, such as on trains or at concerts, and help avoid unwanted attention from police and security.

On-pack promotions such as gifts and prizes contributed to appeal, as did sponsorships, for example those linked to sports, festivals, and television shows. Meanwhile, most felt that price marks on packaging were indicative of inferior products.

Limited edition packs were considered eye-catching and seen as an incentive by several participants, thought to encourage trial, collection, and upcycling with most having retained expensive or cool empty bottles for display or collection.

We found that, for young adult drinkers in Scotland, alcohol packaging can capture attention, create appeal, and help shape perceptions of the product, drinker and drinking experience, said lead author Daniel Jones from the Institute for Social Marketing and Health (ISMH) at Stirling. Five main themes emerged from our data: the ubiquity of alcohol packaging; its appeal and ability to catch attention; its association with particular occasions and activities; its ability to inform perceptions; and its engagement of both visual and non-visual senses taste, touch, sound and smell.

The findings provide pause for thought about the contrast between unrestricted designs in alcohol packaging, and the plain packaging legal requirements for cigarettes.

Further research should consider potential benefits of stronger regulation of alcohol packaging and labelling, as well as public support for such changes, the researchers say.

Previous studies have suggested that including prominent warnings on packs could reduce the appeal and increase awareness of alcohol-related risks and support a decrease in consumption, with supporters suggesting mandatory health warnings on alcohol products would help counter the attractiveness of packaging and address the low levels of knowledge about alcohol harm.

However, the study also notes that theres a dearth of research around the promotional role of packaging and how it should be regulated, as attractive features could, conversely, limit the effectiveness of warnings.

The study can be found here.

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Study assesses influence of alcohol packaging on young people - BeverageDaily.com

The Singapore government has taken a monumental step forward in accepting the LGBTQ+ community as it announced the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code. Yesterday, prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his National Day Rally speech that the government will revoke the law which criminalises sex between men, without changing the definition of marriage or national policies on public housing, education, adoption rules, and advertising standards and film classification.

Along with that, the government will also amend the Constitution to protect the definition of marriage which is currently recognised as that between a man and a woman. The news was met with applause from those attending the Rally, and since then social media has been flooded with comments from the public. According to Truescope, a majority (40-50%) of those on social media expressed approval and joy towards the decision to repeal Section 377A. Meanwhile,around 20-39% expressed disappointment towards the decision to repeal Section 377A, stating that they did not expect PAP to give in to the masses.Less that 19% disapproved of the decision to repeal Section 377A, and less that 19% also expressed disappointment towards same-sex marriage still not being legalised.

However, Meltwater data presented a different picture where sentiments are mostly neutral (66%), but negative sentiments are pretty high at 25%. Positive sentiments are only at 8%.

Many agreed that the move, on paper, was a step in the right direction in the sense that it no longer criminalised queer people. However, some recognised that this move was announced alongside other non-progressive moves such as amending the constitution to set heterosexual marriages in stone, which resulted in a loss for the LGBTQ+ movement as it shuts off possibility of more equal rights for this community, said the statement from Meltwater. Others also said the government was simply doing the bare minimum, and missing the whole point of repealing 377A. The data added that many understood that the move as a means to gain political power, and some felt that PAP holds too much political power.

Many organisations supporting causes around LGBTQ+ have also released statements regarding the news. Organisers of Pink Dot said they were relieved by the governments intention to repeal Section 377A, and said this is a significant milestone and a powerful statement that state-sanctioned discrimination has no place in Singapore. For those that long for a more equal and inclusive Singapore, the repeal signifies that change is indeed possible, the statement said while noting that the change did come late for many.

On the changes to the constituency on what defines a marriage, however, Pink Dot organisers added: Any move by the government to introduce further legislation or constitutional amendments that signal LGBTQ+ people as unequal citizens is disappointing. We urge the government not to heed recent calls from religious conservatives to enshrine the definition of marriage into a constitution.

Meanwhile, AWARE Singapore also lauded the striking of the law saying that Section 377A served as a primary barrier to dignity and well-being for LGBTQ people in Singapore. "Now that it has been struck down, the work begins to heal and uplift the community even as it grapples with continued institutional discrimination: in public housing, education, adoption rules, advertising standards and film classification. This work has to happen at all levels state, societal and individual. It is one thing to not be a criminal, and another to be treated as a valued and respected member of society. In that regard we still have some ways to go," it added.

According to an article on CNA, severalreligious groups alsosupported the governments decision to amend the Constitution to protect the definition of marriage and define it clearly.

The announcement comes 15 years after the last debate in 2007 regarding Section 377A and PM Lee said that attitudes have shifted appreciably since then. Yet, for the past 15 years, the issue remained a thorn at the side of the otherwise modern-looking cosmopolitan state. In fact, in a recent interview, conducted approximately a week ago, between deputy PM Lawrence Wong and the editor-in-chief of Bloomberg John Micklethwait, Micklethwait said to the DPM having such a law must be "embarrassing".

He said: Personally, you [Lawrence Wong] are a modern man. You have studied abroad, you have studied at Harvard, you are cosmopolitan. It must be very embarrassing having a law like [Section 377A] when you are trying to bring people to come to Singapore.

To which the DPM said: We all understand the history and the reason why this role was in place. It is not something that the Government in Singapore introduced. It was a legacy. []. He added that there are many segments in Singapore who feel that it is not just about the law, but the law is a marker for other things such as society, societal values, family, and marriage.

We are having this conversation even right now, engaging different groups and considering how best we might move forward in a way that will not cause deeper divisions in our society, said DMP Wong.

Commenting on what the repeal of the law does for Brand Singapore, which is now on its way to attracting foreign talent, former politician and director of strategic advisory at PRecious Communication Jose Raymond said that the move was a right one as the law has been an albatross around the governments neck, and a blight on its positioning as a global, cosmopolitan and modern society.

The decision is not just a victory for the LGBT community. It is a victory for the many activists, lawyers, academics and others who have been fiercely contesting 377A over decades. It is historic and momentous, Raymond added.

Sentiments in Singapore on same-sex relationships

In June, a survey done by IPSOS also found that many Singaporeans are becoming more supportive of same-sex relationships, where 50% of those surveyed were willing to speak out against prejudice towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. It added that attitudes towards same-sex relationships have become more favourable in the past three years, especially among young adults.

While the older age group remains largely opposed to same-sex relationships, a significant percentage also reported a softening in their stance. Around 45% of all respondents in the 2022 Ipsos study say they are more accepting of same-sex relationships than they were three years ago, among young adults aged 18 - 29, 67% indicate greater acceptance now and 29% of respondents aged 50 years old and above acknowledge that they are more accepting of same-sex relationships than they were three years ago.

Support for, or opposition to, Section 377A is often viewed as a proxy for attitudes towards same-sex relationships. In this regard, the study also revealed a change in attitudes in recent years with the number of respondents opposed to Section 377A increased by 8 percentage points from 12% in 2018 to 20% in 2022. The percentage of those who remain supportive of the penal code fell to less than half - from 55% in 2018 to 44% in 2022.

Melanie Ng, director of public affairs at Ipsos in Singaporesaid attitudes towards same-sex relationships are gradually becoming more inclusive as Singaporeans get exposed to diverse perspectives through mass media and social channels, and have more direct exposure to same-sex relationships around them.

Dialogue around same-sex relationships started in earnest in 2008, with the launch of the Pink Dot SG movement to raise awareness of, and support for, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community in Singapore.

Today, we continue to see a steady shift in societal attitudes, led by younger adult Singaporeans who are more ready to see the country embrace same sex relationships. At the same time, while the older generation of Singaporeans remains largely opposed to same-sex relationships, we also see attitudes slowly changing, she added.

Related articles:MP appearance at Pink Dot gains media coverage: A sign of changing tides?GOODSTUPH shows support for minorities in LGBTQ+ community with Pink Dot SG merchDear Straight People founder Sean Foo on creating gay web drama series ahead of pride month

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SG govt repeals Section 377A: What's the social chatter like? - Marketing Interactive

The Erin Boisson Aries Team, Mario Stocco and Francisco Rizo have been tapped as the exclusive reps for new luxury residences with the celebrated Mexican Caribbean resort

NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --Douglas Elliman Realty, one of the largest independent residential real estate brokerages in the United States, announced today that the Erin Boisson Aries Team of New York City, Mario Stocco of Florida and Francisco Rizo of Texas have been named the exclusive marketing representatives for The Reserve at Mayakoba, a new collection of luxury residences within the celebrated Mexican Caribbean resort.

Located on 620 acres of pristine lagoons, jungles and beaches along the shores of the famed Riviera Maya, in Mexico's Yucatn peninsula, the Mayakoba Resort is home to award-winning hotels, restaurants, spas and a PGA-sanctioned golf course, all designed to preserve and enhance the native landscape.

Developed by leading asset management firm Sancus Capital Partners in partnership with Inmobilia, one of the most important real estate developers in the Mexican Southeast, The Reserve at Mayakoba will offer exceptional privacy and enviable amenities across 66,408 square meters of landscaped grounds, footpaths and canals. Designed by the prestigious international architecture studio L35 in association with Seplveda Arquitectos, the development will be completed in two phases and comprise eight towers of nine units, for a total of 72 residences.

"In the ever-expanding universe of branded residential developments, The Reserve at Mayakoba promises to set a new standard in privacy, exclusivity and luxury," said Howard M. Lorber, Executive Chairman, Douglas Elliman. "I am proud to align Douglas Elliman with such an impressive brand."

In addition to providing residents with priority access to the resort's twenty-three restaurants, four spas and the Greg Norman-designed El Camalen golf course, The Reserve at Mayakoba will offer independent entrances to the resort and additional security booth access to the residences.

"The Reserve at Mayakoba exemplifies modern design in delicate balance with the natural environment," said Carlos Orozco, Sales Director of The Reserve at Mayakoba. "Featuring innovative architecture conceived in response to its unique setting, the exciting new development will offer residents a truly unparalleled experience of the Riviera Maya."

Pricing for the residences range from $620,100 to $3,700,000 USD. For additional information, please visit http://www.elliman.com/mayakoba.

About Douglas Elliman Inc. Douglas Elliman Inc. (NYSE: DOUG, "Douglas Elliman") owns Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC, which is one of the largest residential brokerage companies in the United States with operations in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut, New Jersey, the Hamptons, Massachusetts, Florida, California, Colorado, Texas and Nevada. In addition, Douglas Elliman sources, uses and invests in early-stage, disruptive property technology ("PropTech") solutions and companies and provides other real estate services, including development marketing, property management and settlement and escrow services in select markets. Additional information concerning Douglas Elliman is available on its website, http://www.elliman.com.

Investors and others should note that we may post information about Douglas Elliman on our website at http://www.elliman.comor, if applicable, on our accounts on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube or other social media platforms. It is possible that the postings or releases could include information deemed to be material information. Therefore, we encourage investors, the media and others interested in Douglas Elliman to review the information we post on our website at http://www.elliman.comand on our social media accounts.

SOURCE Douglas Elliman Realty

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Douglas Elliman Partners with The Reserve at Mayakoba to Lead U.S. Marketing - PR Newswire