CIVILIAN - v2 i2 - Mayor Francis X. Suarez Cover

MAYOR FRANCIS X. SUAREZ NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES MARK CUBAN DR. JO JORGENSEN

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Civilian Magazine stands against racism, sexism, misogyny, hatred and anti-Blackness.

The violence that claimed the lives of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and too many more Black people shows how far we have to go to achieve a safer, more conscious world. And it is clear that silence is not an option.

We pledge to prioritize justice and equality in our partnerships and in our editorial choices.

We promise to listen, learn, grieve, and act. We will seek out and amplify the voices of those who have been left behind for too long and far too often. #BlackLivesMatter

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INSIDE

Cover shot by Contarsy+Karecha (for Highmark Studios) (a social-distancing collaboration with Alexandra Van Zant) and Tolga Kavut (Mayor Francis X. Suarez)

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Publisher

CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER

Editor-in-Chief

Editorial Assistant

Creative Director

Art Director

Vanessa Ferrelli

Kristina Villarini

Eiko Watanabe

Hannah Fitzpatrick

Tim Morrison

Tyon Weekes

Director of International and Public Affairs

Tiffany Shorter

Fashion Editor

Travel Editor

Politics Editor

PHOTO EDITOR

Ty-Ron Mayes

Thomas Wilmer

Matt Anthes

Ron Contarsy

Director of Technology

Senior Web Developer

VP, Brand Partnerships

JP Martinez

Rebecca Koniahgari

Makaila Kay Ho

Event Director

Media Producer

Staff Writers

Catherine Ho

Van Harris

Samantha Orr, Mia Fitzgibbon, Leonye McCalla, Lydee Striplin, Hazel Mekkattukulam, Nicole Soler, Sophia Mazurowski, Grace Callahan, Joshua Stabach, and Clair Geary

Legal Counsel

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Jeff Ostrow 1 West Las Olas Blvd., Suite 500 Fort Lauderdale | Florida 33301 | T. 954-525-4100

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NOTE FROM THE

EDITORIN-CHIEF

How is 2020 going for you? This year has been teaching me so, so, so many lessons. As wild as it could get, it’s also been such an important year for all of us. And, here is our special issue: Pandemic Issue.

Our main focus has been to give a sense of courage, hope, and justice to our readers by featuring diverse individuals per issue, and we have embraced and appreciated their own unique background as they’d usually talk about upbringing, transitions, setbacks, victories, struggles, goals, and dreams in life. For this Pandemic Issue, however, we wanted to discuss two pandemics – COVID-19 and the chronic problems of racism – by featuring those who have been fighting for the sake of other people throughout all of this, and revealing the common thread that “your own happiness can never be built on the misfortune of others” (The New Human Revolution, vol. 17, p. 109).

Change starts with one person – with each individual’s heart and its fundamental transformation – and if you remain silent in the face of injustice, you are also supporting it. At this time, more than ever, it is crucial that each of us asks ourselves questions and digs deeper on what you’d like to see in society.

Do you believe in the equality and dignity of all people? What do you think is the essence of human rights? What does that mean to you?

When every person is undeniably unique, what does true equality mean? Does the ability to respect and care for others have anything to do with our collective humanity? Have we lost it? Then, how could we restore it? Did we even have that to begin with? What kind of future do you envision for yourself and your loved ones?

What kind of self are you trying to develop?

What action can you take from this point on?

Now is the time to address them, all of them, because this is a moment in history – let’s not waste it.

Please stay well,

Eiko Watanabe Editor-in-Chief

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A M ER IC A

MARK CUBAN

Mia Fitzgibbon

Owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, star of the long-running ABC reality show Shark Tank, co-owner of a media and entertainment company producing multiple critically-acclaimed and award-winning films, and one of the most exemplary and successful entrepreneurs in the world – on paper, Mark Cuban appears to live in a different world. Even considering his unparalleled generosity, mensch-like business models, and general palpable empathy, it would be easy to feel that Cuban must breathe different air, drink different water, and walk secret streets. But in the midst of a global pandemic, his dayto-day life doesn’t look entirely different from those of the rest of us with non-essential jobs. We may not have to respond to murmurs of potential presidential plans, or be in the fortunate position of compensating and supporting our quarantined employees without a second thought, but Cuban has mostly been at home, in Dallas, Texas, struggling to come up with at-home family fun night ideas. (Also, Shark Tank has recently headed back to production after a coronavirus-related shutdown.)

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s we’ve heard time after time from our heroes on the frontlines of COVID-19, nobody is above this virus. Unless you’ve already fought it, or have been asymptomatic (and therefore may put others at risk if not practicing social distancing), you are susceptible to a very dangerous illness. The fear, uneasiness, and sadness have been universal. The numbers have been stacked, so it is likely that you have known

someone or have heard of someone within your circle suffering. “That part of it has been the toughest of all – watching friends and their families suffer through it,” says Cuban, who also confirms that status, fame, or fortune has nothing to do with personal preparedness for a crisis like this. “No one can ever be prepared for this. We can talk all we want about ‘planning for the worst and hoping for the best,’ but the worst we planned for was never as bad as this.”

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MARK CUBAN

Cuban’s character truly shines when asked for advice and reassurance regarding the postCOVID future of vulnerable businesses. He shares wisdom with an unflappable but genuine kind of confidence. His spirit of fully supporting business owners in need is rooted in personal experience.

“I know what it’s like to be an entrepreneur who

is on the verge of losing everything, or who has lost everything. Having been through the tough times, I hope my experiences can help others,” he says. According to Cuban, the most effective way to help people is “paying them.” What may seem almost comically simple couldn’t be more legitimate and true. “As an employee, it’s about trying to pay your bills and keep yourself and family safe,” he adds. For business owners and entrepreneurs who have employees relying on them and are not in the fortunate position of having excess funds, his advice is equally as simple and sound. “First and foremost is the truth. Business is all about trying to anticipate the future, so you can best innovate for and serve your customers, no matter what your business does. Right now, we are working with

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imperfect information. No one knows exactly what will happen. The best thing we can do is to communicate, be transparent, and be truthful about what is going on,” he says.

Cuban is not only paying attention to entrepreneurs and business owners, but is also considering independent and gig-economy workers. He feels that, for artists and their communities, who have been heavily hit, the CARES Act has not been perfect, but it’s been better than nothing. “Hopefully, there will be more stimulus measures for all independent workers.

Beyond stimulus measures, we need people who can afford it to buy works of art and music,” says Cuban. “There are also people who work in direct contact with others – masseuses, stylists, barbers, music teachers, etc. I’ve reached out to those that our family works with and pre-purchased future services as a way of helping, and have encouraged others to do the same.”

While Cuban asks himself a lot of questions that nobody knows the answers to yet (“How will America 2.0 do business? What will be the same? What will be different? What new kind of businesses will emerge? How will employees feel about going to work? Will they want to return to their former jobs? What happens if those jobs are gone?”), he is absolutely optimistic: “Where there is change, there is opportunity. There is a new generation who will see this and remix what they learned from the past with their vision for the future. I see my and other kids ready to take the lead on what comes next. I trust them and am excited for what they can do. One of my favorite sayings is, ‘We don’t live in the world we were born into.’ Our kids will look back and marvel at how they were able to change the world for the better,” he affirms.

Photographer & Videographer: Ron Contarsy (for Highmark Studios) Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

I know what it’s like to be an entrepreneur who is on the verge of losing everything, or who has lost everything. Having been through the tough times, I hope my experiences can help others.

S K I N - C A R E

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EPARA ENVIRONMENT LEONYE MCCALL A PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER: SCOTT RANKIN

(FOR PHOTOGRAPHY BY GINGER)

SKIN-CARE

Cleansing Lotion Epara Skincare

The Cleansing Lotion has a light, airy scent, very reminiscent of the plankton extract used to create the lotion. With its crème consistency, the lotion gently buffs away dirt and impurities to reveal softer skin. This product is great for dry skin – but can also help with sebum production in oily skin.

Balancing Face Oil Epara Skincare

The Balancing Face Oil comes in a palm-sized bottle with an oil dropper for convenient use. The oil has a botanical scent, most likely due to its formulation, which includes moringa, marula, and ylang-ylang oils. This product can help with hyperpigmentation as well as evening skin tone. Because of its versatile consistency, the oil is light for the summer season and rich enough for the winter months.

Intense Hydrating Mask Epara Skincare

The mask comes packaged with a steel spatula for easy application. The fragrance is intense, an ode to the frankincense oil and licorice-root extract listed in the ingredients. Use the spatula to apply the mask to clean skin, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.

Once washed off, the mask reveals cleaner and clearer skin. This product can be used a couple times a week to give skin a boost.

OZOHU ADOH

B R E A K I N G

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COCOON ONESELF Leonye McCalla

Ozohu Adoh is on a mission to improve skin-care for women of color, and her journey has been more than inspiring. While she finished her accounting degree at the University of Oxford, it was Adoh’s own skin issues that led her to the world of skin-care. “I had struggled to find products which catered to my particular needs after suffering from a skin condition over a long period of time that was difficult to diagnose,” she says. When she noticed a lack of luxury skin-care products for women of color, particularly for those dealing with dryness or hyperpigmentation, she decided to launch her own skin-care line, Epara Skincare, in 2017.

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para Skincare is unique – not only in its name, but also in its ingredients. Adoh has made sure to source ingredients from the continent of Africa. Users will find moisturizing and safe ingredients like plankton extract, allantoin, and hyaluronic acid that hydrate the skin, along with targeting hyperpigmentation. It is very important for Adoh to create products that are organic and natural – and scientifically proven to work. The Nigerian native knows firsthand the power of African ingredients. “We had always heard from our forebears how certain oils and butters were good for the skin. So, by understanding this aspect of the botanicals, we could bring to market a truly scientifically-compelling product line that was indeed efficacious,” she explains. As the COVID-19 pandemic has had a certain impact on her business “especially during the initial part of the lockdown when many people couldn’t go into the stores,” her team has “partly offset this setback with an increased online presence. In the upstream sector, it also impacts the supply chain of our raw-material ingredients. The ability to procure them is substantially harder.”

reflect that change. However, everybody’s skin is different, and scientific research is key to formulating the right brand. Epara Skincare finds a way to combine the two schools of thought into various skin-care products. Adoh wants her customers to envelop themselves in the full Epara experience. “It should come across to the end user that the investment of their resources and time is truly worth it and that extraordinary care has been taken to ensure that great quality has gone into every aspect of delivering this skin-care product,” she affirms.

In fact, natural and primarily organic skin-care has been the rage for years now. As more and more people move toward cleaner, healthier lifestyles, many want their skin-care to also

Special thanks to Epara Skincare (@eparaskincare – www.eparaskincare.com) & EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

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Moreover, Adoh wants buyers to take a closer look at the products they use every day. “I always advise potential clients to scrutinize the current cleanser they use to ensure it is not overly harsh,” she elaborates. “The cleanser is a fundamental piece of the puzzle of good skin-care. It needs to be gentle and yet effective.” For first-time buyers, Adoh has some recommendations: “I do love them all, but I certainly use the Comforting Body Cream every day. I also love the Cleansing Lotion, and of course, the Brightening Night Balm,” she says.

Photographer & Videographer: Scott Rankin (for Photography By Ginger) Editor: Eiko Watanabe

BREAKING THE NEWS Samantha Orr

While the role of the news media should be to inform the public through unbiased reporting, viewers are often exposed to divisive agendas. As Americans, freely

sharing our opinions is a constitutional right. However, when major media outlets are polarized, the narrative on the severity of something like the COVID-19 pandemic can produce a great deal of skepticism and anxiety, which could present serious challenges to the health of our country.

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ERIC SHAWN

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ith decades of experience in covering current events like presidential campaigns, war, and terrorism, Fox News’ Eric Shawn breaks down his role in the media. “There’s no room for personal politics in news reporting. Journalists are supposed to use their platform to inform the people of the truth. Currently, the health of our people is at risk. It is our responsibility now more than ever to give people the facts,” he affirms. “The reality is, we need to explain the truth in an unbiased way through clarifying the analysis and the context. The media should not be used for political purposes.”

While there have been differing views on the precautions taken to handle the virus, Shawn says that the magnitude of this pandemic is perhaps the most outstanding topic he has ever reported on – throughout the entirety of his career. “The morning of 9/11, I was down there reporting on what had happened. I have been in war zones in the Middle East. But this virus is something that has struck people all over the world,” he adds. “It has shaken us as a society

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on a personal, medical, and economic level. I do think this will turn out to be the biggest story that I will ever cover.”

With plenty of unknowns circulating the media, Shawn has decided to instill hope and confidence in our community through his platform by informing viewers that Americans are supporting all the unsung heroes. “Because Fox News has a prominent national voice, I thought it would be great to support these brave men and women. We have been focusing on different charities that are supporting the nurses and doctors fighting coronavirus. Our first story was on an organization called the Afya Foundation, and after that segment, they received over $100,000 of donations to go towards PPE (personal protective equipment) for our healthcare workers. I am so honored that the Fox News viewers stepped up to help our heroes on the frontlines,” says Shawn. “On a positive note, we can take this time to pause and reflect on what is going on and be more prepared for the future.”

Photographer: Fox News Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

M Y

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H I D E AWAY

HIGHMARK STUDIOS PRESENTS: A SOCIAL-DISTANCING COLLABORATION WITH RON CONTARSY, SETH KARECHA, AND ALEXANDRA VAN ZANT REPRESENTED BY Q MANAGEMENT

JEREMY JACOBOWITZ

MORE THAN JUST A MEAL Grace Callahan

When Jeremy Jacobowitz, travel and food connoisseur and founder of Brunch Boys, headed over to his local CityMD on April 30 for a COVID-19 antibody test, he was hesitant to put himself in a position where he could be exposed to the virus.

However, currently residing in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Jacobowitz saw firsthand the importance of getting tested. “I know how valuable this data is,” he says. “The more people that get tested, the more it helps everybody.” He initially planned to donate plasma with the COVID-19 antibodies in it if his results were positive; unsurprisingly to him, they were not. He showed few to no symptoms before the test, but still went for peace of mind.

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oon after, Jacobowitz shared his testing experience on his social-media platforms, usually filled with pictures and videos of droolworthy food or incredible travel destinations. “I think that – especially in a time like this – I’m very lucky to have a platform, have a voice, and be able to make an impact. While food is fun and I love talking about food and it’s important to some people, there are a lot bigger issues that I could discuss,” he says.

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he experience was safe and comfortable: The CityMD location adhered to social-distancing guidelines, as everyone waited six feet apart and only a few people were let in at a time. According to Jacobowitz, a lot of his followers have been happy to hear a play-by-play of what they can expect when going to get an antibody test. “They, too, are nervous about going to the doctor in general, I think,” he says, adding that his immediate family went to get tested shortly after his trip to CityMD. Although the pandemic has made it a little difficult for Jacobowitz to produce his online content featuring food and travel, to him, it’s “more of a creative challenge. It’s not a struggle.” He’s been spending more time cooking at home, ordering in, and planning his next trips while waiting until it’s safe to go back on the road (“That would be nice”).

Even in the midst of defining our “new normal,” Jacobowitz has found unique ways to continue creating and sharing his love for food, lifestyle, and travel. “Seeing all these restaurants back open and at least being able to go and grab a drink, or grab some food – seeing life and energy come back into the city has been really nice,” he says.

Photographer: Ron Contarsy (for Highmark Studios) Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia epkmedia.com)

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WOMAN OF TOMORROW

LAURA BELL BUNDY

Grace Callahan

Back in mid-March, it was the day after a party when Laura Bell Bundy woke up with a pounding headache, which she assumed came from one too many drinks she had the night before. Little did she know that the headache would be the start of a month-long battle with COVID-19.

The day the headache began, Bundy went in for a typical acupuncture treatment. Slightly alarmed by her symptoms, her acupuncturist sent Bundy home with a special herb blend to combat viruses. Afterward, Bundy went to Ralphs, her local grocery store, to stock up before she began self-quarantining. “I went to the Ralphs in a complete hazmat suit, like a full-face mask, a raincoat, and I had sunglasses and rubber gloves,” she says with a chuckle.

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fter suffering from symptoms like sore throat, chills, and fatigue, Bundy decided it was time to get tested.

A few days later, her test came back positive. “I don’t think that you can’t be scared when you find out that you have it,” says the actress, singer, and Broadway star, who was hoping to compare her symptoms to those of others in order “to be able to see if I had those same symptoms,” but there was a lack of people sharing their experiences with the virus, so she “felt like, ‘Well, why don’t I just tell people what my symptoms are so that they can help identify if they have those symptoms?’” In addition to several social-media posts about her coronavirus experience, Bundy posted a TikTok video, outlining her symptoms with dance moves, which she called “corona choreo.”

There was a sense of responsibility for me to find out if I have these antibodies to donate some plasma to people who are really struggling.

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nce the virus seemed to run its course, it was time for her to get an antibody test. “There was a sense of responsibility for me to find out if I have these antibodies to donate some plasma to people who are really struggling. It’s the only thing we know we can do,” Bundy affirms.

While this year has been anything but typical in many ways, she is trying to remain appreciative of the extra time to reflect on larger matters: “I have to have moments of gratitude for this quarantine because it’s allowed my husband and me to reassess what we want in our lives, how we want to live, where we want to live, and being home with our child more,” Bundy shares.

Additionally, Bundy hopes to continue using her musical gifts to uplift people’s spirits (e.g., her newest album Women of Tomorrow), and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

“Once you’ve seen the light, you can’t go back into the dark. I wish I was louder sooner. I wish I had spoken out sooner. It’s not enough to just post a black square. We have to look within,” she says of being the best ally she can be. “I have a lot of white shame and a lot of guilt right now, and I’m doing the work. I’m posting about it, and we’ve got to change it. Enough is enough. I’m ready to listen.”

Photographer & Videographer: Haldane Morris Editor: Eiko Watanabe

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Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI

ONCE AN ANGELENO, ALWAYS AN ANGELENO Grace Callahan

Like many leaders in our country, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti – who is a fourth-generation Angeleno, born and raised in the San Fernando Valley – has made big decisions for his city to combat the spread of COVID-19. For instance, in late April, he was responsible for making Los Angeles the first major U.S. city to offer free coronavirus testing to its residents. “We’ve brought testing to communities of color, underserved neighborhoods, nursing homes, and manufacturing plants hit hard by this pandemic,” he says. “The more people we test, the more information we will have and the better able we will be to get this virus under control, protect public health, and save lives. That’s the bottom line.”

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MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI

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arcetti’s team has also been hard at work fighting the virus through a contact-tracing program led by L.A. County, joined by nearly 300 City of Los Angeles employees. “This effort is founded on a simple premise and focused on a singular mission: identifying infections, getting ahead of outbreaks, tracking this pandemic, and stopping its spread,” Garcetti elaborates. “It will enable our public-health officials to know who’s tested positive for the virus and who has been in close contact with them, so we can prevent more people from getting sick and ensure more Angelenos stay healthy and safe.”

your hands and sanitize surfaces. And wear a face covering any time you are near others. These straightforward actions are part of a system to keep you and our communities safe.”

In order to best protect Angelenos, Garcetti remains alert and flexible. “We’re making decisions based on the latest data and guidance from public-health experts, and when we have to, we will quickly change course to save lives,” he says of his June 29 announcement where he put a “hard pause” on reopening movie theaters, concert venues, and other gathering places.

This came a day after California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered bars to close in seven counties, including Los Angeles. (Bars were allowed to reopen in Los Angeles County on June 19.) “Our response and recovery are up to us. COVID-19 is taking control, and we need to take control back.

We can do so by taking simple steps,” Garcetti adds. “Stay safer at home when you can, and don’t gather with anyone who doesn’t live with you. Keep practicing physical distancing. Wash

Garcetti affirms that as challenging as this year has been, we are all in this together: “Progress is always hard. Even in this time of pain, anguish, and anger, this can be a moment of hope, opportunity, and change. And we can’t afford to waste it. The real, tough, necessary work happens away from the cameras, apart from the politics, and inside those moments when everyone understands that there’s only one way we’re going to get there – together. Together, we will move forward with strength. Look ahead with resilience and resolve.

And lead with love.”

On July 13, Newsom announced that all counties would close certain indoor operations, including restaurants, wineries, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos, museums, and card rooms, and that bars would be required to close all operations. Additionally, counties on the state’s monitoring list (again, including L.A. County) would close additional indoor operations, including fitness centers, places of worship, noncritical offices, hair salons, barbershops, and malls.

Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

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We’re making decisions based on the latest data and guidance from public-health experts, and when we have to, we will quickly change course to save lives.

A MOMENT IN HISTORY CHANGING ALL OF OUR PER SPEC TIVE S OVERNIGHT

PHOTO GRAPHE R: CHRIS JOHNSO N

PHOTO, CHRIS JOHNSON

PHOTO, CHRIS JOHNSON

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PHOTO, CHRIS JOHNSON

PHOTO, CHRIS JOHNSON

PHOTO, CHRIS JOHNSON

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PHOTO, CHRIS JOHNSON

PHOTO, CHRIS JOHNSON

PHOTO, PACO ANSELMI

PHOTO, PACO ANSELMI

PHOTO, RON CONTARSY (FOR HIGHMARK STUDIOS)

PHOTO, RON CONTARSY (FOR HIGHMARK STUDIOS)

PHOTO, ROBIN F. PENDERGRAST

PHOTO, ROBIN F. PENDERGRAST

PHOTO, ROBIN F. PENDERGRAST

SHERIFF TONY CHILDRESS

FROM RIDEALONGS TO THE WHITE HOUSE Sophia Mazurowski

Sheriff Tony Childress is nearing his 30th year in law enforcement in Livingston County, Illinois. At around age 13, he became close with police officers in his hometown of East St. Louis, Missouri. “I was intrigued with the work that they did, and it wasn’t long before I was doing ride-along programs with police officers,” Childress says.

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SHERIFF TONY CHILDRESS

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lected as the sheriff in 2014, Childress has since been invited to the White House several times, most recently to take part in a roundtable discussion with law-enforcement leaders in early June (President Trump then signed an executive order on June 16 on police reform amid the domestic unrest across the nation following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota). “I’ve become very close to the White House administration,” he shares. “I assured the president when I was at the White House that I would always be available to sit down at the table with him and to make this country a better nation. I stand ready. When the president calls, I will be there. That’s what I intend to do.”

Childress suggested three ideas for police reform at the White House roundtable. The first is “mandatory de-escalation training for all officers, it needs to be across the board nationally.”

He also hopes that citizens will be taught deescalation tactics. “As a society, we’ve gotten to a point where citizens need to be trained, as well,” he says. Secondly, he discusses restrictions on the use of physical restraints, such as “maneuvers on or above the neck, and any physical act that restricts the flow of blood or oxygen.” He adds, “They should be outlawed except for in cases where force is necessary.” And lastly, he proposes “the rendering of medical aid to all people nationally across the board” in order to ensure the safety of those interacting with police.

Now, the question is, how do we hold police accountable for complying with these new reforms and regulations? “The executive order that the president signed, and the bill that we’re looking to have in legislation include a record-

keeping system for use of force,” Childress says.

“That is a necessary legislation and a necessary piece of checks and balances for use of force.”

Childress also recommends community programs that “create partnerships” with the civilians.

Programs, such as Shopping with the Sheriff, allow children to “go shopping one-on-one with a uniformed police officer.” After buying them necessities and clothing, “we let them buy a toy for Christmas.” He then enthusiastically elaborates, “I have always said that if we can get to the children when they’re young, it just makes for a better relationship when they become adults.”

As a matter of fact, Livingston County has seen “positive change.” Childress says, “Some of the local kids join the military and become police officers as a result of these programs. So far, we’ve been successful in deterring riots in our communities, and just having people come out and protest peacefully.” Childress and his team feel that “the more that the children can have positive contact with law enforcement in our community, the better off our community will be in the long run and down the road.”

As a Black police officer, Childress recommends that other Black law-enforcement officers “make sure that everything [they] do is correct and right.

You have to treat people right, you have to treat them well. And if you don’t, it’s going to come back to you. Good will follow good, and bad will follow bad.”

Photographer & Videographer: Jeremy Byrd Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to Livingston County Sheriff’s Office (livingstoncountysheriff.com) & EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

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NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES

PROJECT

1619 WHY IT IS

THE

AS IT IS

SOPHIA MAZUROWSKI

Nikole Hannah-Jones has been a journalist for over twenty years, and in August 2019, she launched the acclaimed 1619 Project for The New

York Times Magazine. Her vision was for the project to “commemorate the 400-year anniversary of the first African boat brought to Virginia” in order to “really acknowledge how central slavery was to the development of our country, and that the legacy of slavery continues across nearly every aspect of American life.” She further explains, “I just felt it was necessary for us to document this anniversary, understanding that most Americans are unfamiliar with the date and have probably never heard of the year 1619. I really wanted to force that date into the national timeline.”

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he project “didn’t unearth new history,” but rather, it presented that very history to the “wider public.” In fact, the year 1619 remained unknown throughout the country until last year. “We don’t get this history in our K-12 education,” Hannah-Jones says. “There is voluminous historiography on slavery, on racism, but it’s just not widely taught. It’s not part of national memory, it’s not part of national monuments, it’s not documented in our public spaces – but the history is certainly there.”

Given its nature, Hannah-Jones has occasionally received negative reactions to the 1619 Project.

“I would have been extremely naïve if I had not thought that there would be any backlash to this project in some sectors. It was a project that was placing slavery at the center of the national narrative, that was placing the contributions of Black people at the center of the national narrative that was challenging the mythology of our founding,” she shares. “If we were a country that had done a good job of grappling with this history, the 1619 Project would not have been necessary.”

While Hannah-Jones believes that the pushback “was inevitable” and “really speaks to the power of the project,” she won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary, and moreover, Oprah Winfrey and Lionsgate have partnered with Hannah-Jones to adapt the project for feature films, TV series, documentaries, and other cross-platform content.

“The positive response and reception were and remain beyond my wildest dreams. The magazine

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sold out all across the country on the day it was released,” she says.

As the 1619 Project is currently “becoming part of curriculums in every state in the country, and even with the protests following George Floyd’s death, you continue to see references to the year 1619,” Hannah-Jones is “quite proud of the way that people have embraced and learned from the project.” And yet, there is far more progress to be made – in order to heal from 400 years of suffering in America. “Atonement is more important than an apology that would require the federal government to pass and implement a reparations bill,” affirms Hannah-Jones, who hopes that the 1619 Project offers “the roadmap of how we got to have a Black Lives Matter movement in the first place, how we got to where we are today.”

Also, to “make sure that the field of investigative reporting is representative of America” and open doors “for as many journalists of color” as possible, Hannah-Jones is actively improving the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting that she co-founded in 2016. “I’m doing exactly what I want to do – producing journalism that matters,” she says. “My hope for the future is that I can continue to do this type of work and that I will continue to help other journalists reach their ambitions, as well.”

Photographer & Videographer: Ron Contarsy (for Highmark Studios) Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

If we were a country that had done a good job of grappling with this history, the 1619 Project would not have been necessary.

The whole world seems to be working on this now. There is a lot of communication and creativity within the scientific community.

MOLECULAR

BIOPHYSICIST ON THE FRONTLINE Samantha Orr

DR. JEREMY C. SMITH

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ven with drastic measures taken such as lockdown orders and social distancing, many of us may feel uneasy in these unprecedented times brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Without a vaccine or effective drugs, this virus keeps perpetuating fear and anxiety of the unknown. Dr. Jeremy C. Smith, governor’s chair at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and director of the University of Tennessee/Oak Ridge National Laboratory Center for Molecular Biophysics, has been focused on discovering drug compounds that could help combat the brutal symptoms caused by COVID-19. And he is doing so with the help of the supercomputer Summit – which happens to be the most powerful computer in the world and has the practical ability to run and analyze millions of simulations of compounds that potentially have the effect of preventing the novel coronavirus from infecting host cells.

Although Smith and his team are undoubtedly driven and have tremendous resources, he warns that this type of study and its development into a viable drug treatment are a tedious and challenging process. “Like many other labs, our studies focus on viral proteins, meaning proteins on the viral particle or that the virus instructs the human host to reluctantly produce. We are trying to stop these proteins from doing what the virus wants them to do. You have to be careful, though, as there can be unwanted side effects.

So our overall goal is to create a drug that will specifically target the virus, minimizing or eliminating the symptoms of COVID-19 without any other cellular interactions that may result in complications,” he says.

Coronavirus is called a coronavirus because it has a corona, and one concept behind the R&D is based upon diminishing its effectiveness. Coronas consist of little spikes on the outer surface of the virus that serve as the primary point of contact when virus starts to infect human cells. “Simply speaking, we might try and blunt the spike, and find a chemical that may bind to that. It may stop the spike from recognizing its receptor on human cells. So that’s one way of trying to attack the problem, though we cannot say we’ve succeeded,” Smith adds. “What we’ve done is to take a database of chemicals that we roughly know how safe they are, because many of them are already approved drugs that are used for other purposes.

We are also targeting other viral proteins that do different jobs for the virus, such as chopping up proteins or messing with the human genetic code.

Later on, we will also design new chemicals from scratch, which will require plenty more testing to be done.”

Clearly, the solution will not come overnight.

Smith, like many of his colleagues, is working around the clock to try to save lives. The silver lining in an otherwise dark cloud is the collaboration and team effort. “We have video meetings with our scientists that sometimes go on for 3 to 4 hours attempting to find solutions.

I mean, from our perspective, the whole world seems to be working on this now. There is a lot of communication and creativity within the scientific community,” he says, assuring that when we work together, we are powerful, can instill hope, and can make a difference in the world.

Photographer: Ron Contarsy (for Highmark Studios) Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

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PHOTOGRAPHER: RON CONTARSY (FOR HIGHMARK STUDIOS) MODEL: ASHTON SMITH (FOR STATE MANAGEMENT)

SOPHIE JAFFE

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P H I L O S O P H I E :

UNBOUNDED

BLISS AND BALANCE Sophia Mazurowski

At first glance, Sophie Jaffe seems like the woman who has it all – and she is: a beautiful wife, a mother of three, a business owner, and an influencer. However, just like any other family, her life was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and reexamined by the explosion of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Jaffe’s influence reaches far and wide, as the founder of health and wellness brand Philosophie and co-host of the popular IGNTD podcast. At a time when it is most crucial, she is ready to share her opinions and feelings with her family and the world. According to her, luckily, this year has provided the “perfect storm” for the family to “have dance parties and make videos,” “break bread together” – and ultimately learn and grow as a family. “We’ve been absorbing content, like documentaries or films, and pausing every 10 minutes so that we can share a conversation as a family, so they could ask questions and we could share our take on whatever the situation is,” she says of educating her children on racial injustice.

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oreover, Jaffe sees “both sides” of public reactions to the Black Lives Matter movement.

“It’s a really interesting position to be in,” she adds. “I see what it can be like being a brand owner to swiftly pivot in these times, and as an influencer, I also see the pressure I’m putting on brands to step up and put substance behind their posts.” Being a public figure with a large platform, Jaffe possesses the power to hold influencers and brands accountable – to uplift Black voices on the podcast, and inspire her followers to take part and get educated. She says that many of her influencer friends “have half a million followers, and they’re not saying anything, they’re not trying,” and promises to hold them accountable because “that’s disrespectful to all of us.”

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y hosting yoga classes online, Jaffe promotes well-being during this time of unrest while still encouraging her followers to take action and get involved in the current social-justice movement. On Juneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery, Philosophie took a portion of all sales from the day and contributed it to Black Lives Matter. Personally, she “can’t imagine not continuing down this path of activism,” passionately affirming that “whether it be about the environment, Black Lives Matter, politics, social justice, or spiritual activism, this is my heart, and I really can’t imagine going back to anything else.”

Together with her psychologist husband, Dr. Adi Jaffe, she is determined to maintain the momentum of the movement, through IGNTD, Philosophie, and their daily actions and practices as a family.

“From the very first moment, my husband and I said, ‘We cannot let this die.’ We cannot let this movement stop like it has every other time where everyone puts something up for one or two weeks, and then it goes away. We need to talk about it until we don’t need to talk about it anymore,” says Jaffe, adding that she has “worked so hard for these platforms, and it’s time to share the spotlight.”

Photographer & Videographer: Haldane Morris Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

JOJO

IT’S GOOD TO KNOW Mia Fitzgibbon

In this time of uncertainty, sadness, uneasiness, and confusion, the masses have turned to one overwhelmingly popular and powerful method of coping: art.

Reliance on artists, their passions, and their products has been heavier than ever – and with technology enabling instant access to both viewing and sharing art, the outpouring of creations has been mesmerizing. We have been watching musical friends pick up new instruments, family members try their paintbrushes on expansive canvases, and celebrities share their talents in new ways to elevate awareness. One of those who have made dedicated efforts to spread some positivity is Joanna Noëlle Levesque, better known as JoJo. You may remember her singing “Chill (Stay In)” – a new version of her hit song “Leave (Get Out)” – to encourage people to stay indoors in order to ride out the coronavirus crisis.

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oJo’s career has been anything but straightforward. Coming from quite a humble background, at a very young age, JoJo sought out performance opportunities whenever and wherever possible. One of these opportunities, the television competition show America’s Most Talented Kids (originally titled America’s Most Talented Kid), jump-started it all. A man in the audience, who was impressed with her performance, connected her with her first record label. While this label may have been responsible for her initial steps into stardom, they later became the reason why she couldn’t release music anymore. After years of devastation, lawyers looking for loopholes, and fans wondering where their favorite pop star went, JoJo finally reemerged. She had to put her career on pause for 10 years – legally forbidden from releasing new albums from 2006 to 2016 due to clauses in her first record contract that she signed as a child.

As one could imagine, the past few years of her musical freedom have been pivotal and emotional ones in her career, but JoJo – just like everyone else – has had her plans rocked by COVID-19. Her new album, good to know, has been experienced by her fans, friends, and family alike in a different kind of world now – and JoJo is okay with that.

“When it comes to this album, I was coming from

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a place of wanting to find escapism from myself and distract myself from the inward journey I knew I needed to take eventually,” she says. “It’s interesting that we have been forced in this time to slow down, or maybe go inward, or to connect in different ways.” Not only is JoJo embracing her album’s release coinciding with this trying time, but she’s also been using her newfound time at home in the best way possible. “It’s been a really productive time for me. I’m looking on the bright side of what I can take from this,” she shares. (The deluxe edition features collaborations with Demi Lovato and Tinashe, as well as five new tracks.)

She believes that the power of art can bring people together; as for the future, JoJo affirms: “I have faith in humanity. I think society will change, but I think that human beings still have so many wonderful things to share and to give to one another. I know that music is a great connector.

I see it every time I step onto a stage – how everybody looks so different, but we’re all here together to bond over shared experiences and feel something. I know that music will always be so necessary to make people feel like, ‘Okay, I’m not the only one who feels this way.’”

Photographers: Dennis Leupold & Doug Krantz Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

ABBY HORNACEK

TRUE TALES OF SOCIAL DISTANCING Samantha Orr

Throughout the madness of the COVID-19 outbreak, Americans have seen the healthcare system fight through the largest and most frightening pandemic in 100 years. Many of us have been aware of the PPE (personal protective equipment) shortage impacting those on the frontlines, but there has been another medical deficiency: a drop in the nation’s blood supply triggered by the coronavirus outbreak.

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ABBY HORNACEK

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t a White House press briefing in March, Dr. Jerome Adams, Surgeon General of the United States, said, “We know many of you are home practicing the president’s guidelines for social distancing, but one thing we should all consider, especially our millennials and Gen Z, is donating blood.” In response to his call to action, Abby Hornacek, host of the Getting Schooled podcast and PARK*D on Fox Nation, has since encouraged Americans to help address a severe shortage of blood donations through a social-media campaign under the hashtag #BringTheBlood.

According to the American Red Cross, one donation can save up to three lives. “In all that has been happening with the virus, it’s easy to forget that there is still a need for blood donations. I think people are afraid to go out and expose themselves or others to the virus,” Hornacek says.

“Blood drives have been canceled across the nation in response to the outbreak, and there are still people out there who need blood transfusions to survive. I felt a responsibility to share this

knowledge with my followers, and this is what prompted me to launch this challenge.”

Together with Kacie McDonnell and Tomi Lahren, recently, Hornacek has co-hosted Tales of Social Distancing on Fox Nation, documenting moments of their day while living through the pandemic, including her visit to a temporary American Red Cross facility in Arizona to donate blood herself.

“The donation process was very safe. They are following social-distancing guidelines by keeping people six feet apart. It was very clean. They disinfect everything, so there is no need to worry.

And it only takes about 23 minutes of your time.

It is a great opportunity for those that are healthy to make a difference,” she shares. “Right now, we can take this time as an opportunity for reflection.

It gives us the chance to connect with those close to us. For example, I have really been appreciating the time I have gotten to spend with my parents. I like to think that this is a great moment for people to really focus on bettering themselves.”

Photographer: Fox News Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

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NEAL BROWNING

A FIRST STEP Hazel Mekkattukulam

In such a short period of time, the world may have come to a complete stop. Economies have crashed, countries have shut down, and people have self-isolated to prevent an increased spread of the coronavirus. However, in times of global crisis, there are heroes that have emerged from the smoke: Our first responders, essential/healthcare workers, and scientists have been doing what they can on various fronts to contain COVID-19 and flatten the curve of new infections. Everybody has been chipping in to help combat this novel virus. Neal Browning is one such person, who has volunteered his body as a testing ground for a potential vaccine for COVID-19 through the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (he was the second person to receive the shot in the study).

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rowning, a resident of Washington, first discovered information about the vaccine trial through a friend on Facebook. After doing some research on the process, he concluded that “the rewards that could be reached from this, if we could get something out there to help the rest of the world, far outweighed whatever minimal risks I saw.” The study needed extremely healthy people, which required Browning to go through rigorous testing: looking deep into Browning’s medical history to check whether he had any disqualifying medical conditions and a thorough physical examination to ensure that Browning meets the health standards to advance to the next step.

On March 16, Browning received the vaccine injection. Developed by biotechnology company Moderna, along with researchers from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the vaccine itself does not have a dead or weakened version of the coronavirus. Instead, it is a new method of vaccination, in which they use “messenger RNA, which is basically a set of instructions that goes into your cells and reprograms your DNA, much like a virus would.” While a virus reprograms the cells to create more of its kind, this particular vaccine would reprogram Browning’s cells to produce protein structures that represent the outer shell of the coronavirus. The intended goal of this method is to get the body to have an immune reaction that teaches its white blood cells how to create antibodies to attack and destroy the coronavirus shell. If that works, this vaccine would allow the body to recognize the virus as a foreign invader more quickly and begin attacking it.

After the vaccination, Browning didn’t notice any health issues, and everything was quite normal.

He kept a daily log, monitoring any changes, and reported his temperature to make sure that he didn’t have a fever. He was quarantining at home with his family and taking extra measures to avoid any possible contact with the virus in order not to taint the results of the study.

Moderna announced on May 18 that their closelywatched early-stage human trial for a coronavirus vaccine produced COVID-19 antibodies in all 45 participants. “The vaccine trial is looking to be successful. All participants have created antibodies – even the smaller-dose, first group I am in had antibodies in levels similar to those found in people who recovered from COVID-19,” Browning says with excitement.

On July 14, the company said that its potential vaccine to prevent COVID-19 produced a “robust” immune response in all 45 patients in its early-stage human trial, according to a study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.

This virus has put things into perspective for Browning. He realized that life is fragile and that what seemed so important before the pandemic means little in the grand scheme of things. This study has allowed him to “give some positive hope,” inspiring his children to step up and “help the greater good of mankind” if the need arises in their future. No matter how big or small, in times of crisis, the actions of people like Browning are greatly appreciated and prove once again how we come together to take care of one another and find positive solutions.

Photographer: Ron Contarsy (for Highmark Studios) Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

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MELISSA FRANCIS

NEW LESSONS FROM THE PRAIRIE Samantha Orr

Experts have always warned that a pandemic would be inevitable, but the lack of preparedness during the COVID-19 outbreak has been a serious wakeup call for Americans. As the United States has become the epicenter of the virus, many people have feared that the biggest threat wouldn’t just be the number of confirmed cases, but the collateral damage to our economy.

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osting shows like Outnumbered and After The Bell to share her widely-recognized expertise in economics with viewers, Fox News and Fox Business’ Melissa Francis has been outspoken when it comes to maintaining a healthy financial system during this crisis. “I think we are reaching a tipping point where – if we don’t reopen the economy – the threat to public health is greater than the threat of the virus. Lives have been ruined, businesses have been up in smoke, life savings have been gone, and there have been families with no way to feed their children, or pay the rent,” she says. “I think when the American people see pundits on TV saying we should keep this lockdown in place as long as possible to be ‘on the safe side,’ they understand that person talking is most often still cashing a paycheck and comfortably ordering take-out from home. This can’t go on much longer.”

While some may say that shutting down is a necessary precaution to ensure public safety, many Americans have remained puzzled about the recent measures taken. Is it truly the best solution to have the healthy quarantined while keeping major liquor stores open and the local bar down the street closed? Sure, major executives may be uncomfortable, but it is the smallbusiness owner that suffers.

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This year, Francis’ husband was diagnosed with COVID-19; however, she has remained healthy. In an effort to offer a solution and reopen the country’s economy (“So we can relieve those who have held down the fort while the rest of us work from home”), Francis has volunteered to have her blood tested for antibodies.

One can hardly turn on a screen of any kind without being greeted with the latest COVID-19 updates. But, with today’s confusing media spectacles, how much of an impact does the media have on the public? “I think viewers are very smart. They can spot authenticity, and they are not fooled by sanctimony. They can spot an agenda,” Francis shares. “For example, some journalists and pundits are always against this administration, no matter what happens. Others are relentlessly cheerleading. Neither of those groups ever changes a single mind, or has any measurable impact. I think viewers feel that if they can predict what we’re going to say before we even open our mouths, there’s no point in watching, and nothing to be learned. The media has to ask questions and seek answers for viewers who may not have a megaphone loud enough to be heard.”

Photographer: Fox News Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

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R E S I L I E N C E PHOTOGRAPHER: VANESSA CHARLOT

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PATRICE C. WASHINGTON

DEAR WHITE PEOPLE Sophia Mazurowski

On May 29, 2020, personal-finance expert Patrice C. Washington shared on Instagram her experiences with racism, and described her position in the world as a Black woman. Although Washington had only spoken among her friends and never felt “compelled to speak publicly,” she has “personally evolved to just be like, ‘I can talk about whatever the hell I want to talk about,’ and this is just too heavy.” Before recording the video, she noticed that the silence of those who she considered friends was hurting her as much as the pain caused by deaths at the hands of police. “I realized that by me not using my platform sooner, I had built the idea that because maybe they saw me as an equal professionally or socioeconomically, they thought we were the same,” she says, adding that those friends did not “realize the burden” that Washington carries as a Black woman in 21st-century America. She then asks, “Because

how does it come up in conversation?”

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owever, the time for silence has passed. In the video, Washington urges her white friends to speak up, take action, and take a stance (“Being non-racist is not the same as being anti-racist. You have to call it out, you have to be aware that this is really a thing, and we’re not just making it up”). When asked whether or not the response was positive, she responds, “80% has been positive feedback, I’ve seen people take stands and educate their audiences.” She is determined to give her white followers and friends a chance – even if it may take some time for them to understand. “I still am not in a place where I’m going to dismiss every ignorant comment because I think that maybe one in ten can be saved,” she shares. “I’m willing to say something for the one, I can go deeper with the people who are willing to really make an effort. We need every person to be open and willing to be a part of this if we’re actually going to create any type of change.”

As a Black mother to her 13-year-old daughter, moreover, Washington has been having conversations about racial injustice and racism for years. “We started pretty early with my daughter,” she recalls. “These conversations come up over and over again.” Thanks to TikTok videos and documentaries on Black history, furthermore, Washington and her daughter are both learning a great deal. “TikTok has told her way more than I ever did,” she says. “It is important to have the

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conversation, and I think for any Black parent, it is what it is – we have to protect them by telling them what the reality currently is.”

Upon practicing self-care methods to keep her mindset as positive and calm as possible, Washington is “just disconnecting from the news and social media. Bad news will be there when you get back.” She emphasizes the importance of “choosing, not waiting until you feel like it, but choosing a day” in order to fully disconnect and “give your brain an opportunity to rest.” She also prescribes laughter as a form of relaxation (“I literally just let myself go from one comedy special to the next on Netflix, just so I could laugh, uninterrupted”).

Washington hopes to raise awareness about racial injustice through her large platform, and to continue to offer words of wisdom to her clients.

“What I’m really concerned about right now is the mental health of Black folk,” she adds. “The Loveland Foundation is one organization, I don’t feel the need to start my own, but I do feel like I need to bring light to the organizations that really are doing the work that I feel most aligned with.

We’re going to see the wealth gap continue to widen if people don’t heal from this trauma.”

Photographer: Katie Coon Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to Avalon (@avaloninsider www.experienceavalon.com) & EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

#MIAMIDEPIE

MAYOR FRANCIS X. SUAREZ

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Lydee Striplin

Back in mid-March, Mayor Francis X. Suarez of Miami was only the second person in Miami-Dade County to test positive for COVID-19. Since then, he has been using his experience to inform decisions about how the city of Miami would respond to the pandemic and give people hope during the unprecedented time of unrest and anxiety as Miami-Dade County has had the leading number of confirmed cases in the state.

Suarez was originally exposed to the coronavirus when he attended a local event with a Brazilian government official, who later tested positive for the virus. “That same day, the Department of Health asked me to come in and get tested even though I was asymptomatic – and I was positive,” he recalls. “To me, it highlighted just how contagious the virus really is. Someone, who is asymptomatic, could pass it to a lot of people.” Suarez’s positive diagnosis set off a string of testing; around 40 other people in the administration were tested to ensure that no one else was affected. “Thankfully, our medical team took prophylactic steps immediately. I think that really saved my family and saved so many others from potentially getting it from me,” he adds.

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uarez received two consecutive negative test results after 18 days in self-isolation, and has since reunited with his family. He says that the opportunity to be with his family more has been rewarding, but he – just like everyone else who has felt the effects of the quarantine – has a desire to return to normalcy, for the sake of himself and his city.

In fact, Suarez remained asymptomatic throughout the entire quarantine period. His symptoms were no worse than a cold, and he occupied his time by working from isolation, including posting video journals of his experience to show viewers that his spirits were high. His experience was no doubt lonely and terrifying, but it gave him the opportunity to become the first person in Florida to donate plasma with the antibodies to potentially fight the virus and help a critically ill patient, with the help of OneBlood, one of the largest non-profit blood centers in the U.S. While facing backlash for cancelling popular events like the Calle Ocho Music Festival and Ultra Music Festival, Suarez did his best to take early precautions for the sake of his city. “I was

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criticized by some local leaders who thought I was acting prematurely,” he explains. “They failed to close our beaches, which are not under my jurisdiction. We got national press coverage for the spring breakers on our beaches, which was not positive. People have died since who were at a music festival on our beaches, so that’s tragic, and it highlights the need for bold action.”

Despite opposition, Miami was one of the first cities in the state to enact a curfew and a shelterin-place order for its citizens. Given the gravity of this global pandemic, without his quick actions, the situation in Miami could’ve been much more dire. “We’re going to have to figure out how to get people safely back to work and how to make sure people feel safe when interacting with one another. That’s going to be our goal,” affirms Suarez, who was recently elected to serve as the second vice president of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), and then subsequently as the president in 2022, making him the third Latino mayor to serve as the president.

Photographer & Videographer: Tolga Kavut Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to City of Miami (@cityofmiami www.miamigov.com/home) & EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

We’re going to have to figure out how to get people safely back to work and how to make sure people feel safe when interacting with one another.

AMERICAN INDIVIDUALISM

DR. JO JORGENSEN

Sophia Mazurowski

Meet the Libertarian candidate for president in 2020: “I’m running for president because government is too big, too bossy, too intrusive, too nosy, and, worst of all, often hurts the very people it tries to help,” says Dr. Jo Jorgensen, who has been involved in the Libertarian Party since hearing about it on a radio show in 1979 (“I heard about libertarianism for the first time from the guest, and immediately realized I was a libertarian”).

In addition to teaching at Clemson University, where she got her PhD, Jorgensen earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Baylor University in 1979, and then pursued an MBA at Southern Methodist University (SMU). She hopes to “allow people to make their own decisions,” instead of “allowing the bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., to make the decisions for them,” by advocating for smaller government.

“I’m not interested in politics,” she adds. “I look at this as an act of self-defense.”

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n the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, Jorgensen supports the “bill to end qualified immunity, a policy that protects police officers from being sued,” introduced by Justin Amash, a former Republican-turned-Libertarian congressman from Michigan. “I don’t think the many good cops in the U.S. will object to a measure that holds bad cops to account for using excessive force,” she says. Jorgensen also supports Senator Rand Paul’s “bill to end noknock raids, an unconscionable policy, which has led to incidents, such as the killing of Breonna Taylor.”

As for the recent calls for police defunding and abolition, Jorgensen is “for federal-government defunding, and allowing communities to make their own decisions. We need to return policing to their communities – it’s up to the police department, mayor, city council, taxpayers, and voters of each community to decide how to police themselves.”

Additionally, Jorgensen “will work to immediately end the so-called war on drugs, which has caused so many of our problems.” She elaborates, “Like the alcohol prohibition, it’s been a disaster, and encourages, rather than discourages, dangerous substance use.” On her first day in office, moreover, she “will pardon and free all nonviolent drug offenders – Black, white, everyone – in federal prison” and “will also encourage the states to do the same. If there is no victim, there is no crime.”

Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, when asked about lack of healthcare disproportionately affecting Black and brown communities, Jorgensen is “baffled as to why people, who are against corporate monopolies, all of a sudden

think it’s fine to have a federal-government monopoly. Monopolies do not have the best interests of the patients, the customers, at heart.” Since “people of color are adversely affected because they are left with no option but Medicaid,” they have “suffered a higher mortality rate from this pandemic. I want doctors and hospitals to compete against one another, offering higher quality and lower prices.”

According to Jorgensen, her platform is especially attractive to the youth, who want much better opportunities than what’s currently in store for them. “More freedom, more choices, a purging of government over-regulation, low taxes, and low government spending will generate millions of new jobs,” she affirms. “Such real change will enable the best of human progress, environmental safety, prosperity, justice, and peace.” If Jorgensen wins the presidential election in November, she says, all the good things will be in store. “Obstacles to healthcare access will become rare,” she shares. “We’ll have a harmonious society where individuals and groups work and live together peacefully.”

She then adds, “If I fall short of being elected, but we succeed in demonstrating our growing strength and numbers, we’ll create a huge opportunity for real change, for real people,” which Jorgensen hopes will inspire many to “join the freedom movement and the Libertarian Party” in order to “move America in a libertarian direction” and to “always prioritize the rights of each individual over the force of government, regardless of the issue.”

Photographers & Videographers: Jason & Tara Massey Editor: Eiko Watanabe Special thanks to EPK Media (@myepk & @epkmedia - epkmedia.com)

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We’ll have a harmonious society where individuals and groups work and live together peacefully.

STANFORD MEDICINE

WEARABLE DEVICES T O P R E D I C T I L L N E S S , I N C L U D I N G C O V I D - 1 9

Coronavirus testing numbers are improving in the United States, but not at a rate where testing is available to anyone, at any time. Individuals are directed to testing centers because they are actively showing symptoms, because they have a known exposure, or because they work as a first responder. However, a study led by Michael Snyder, MD, PhD, chair of genetics at the Stanford University School of Medicine, aims to revolutionize the way we look at infectious-disease prevention and control, by tapping the potential of technology to keep individuals healthy rather than treating them after they become ill.

Snyder and his research collaborators are exploring the possibility that wearable devices can detect early signs of viral infection without a diagnostic exam, measuring the skin temperature and heart-rate levels that elevate when the body combats an infection.

If effective, this capability could be key in pre-diagnostic measures towards COVID-19 testing and management.

Collaborating with Fitbit and Scripps Research, Stanford Medicine has been working on research aimed at using Fitbit data to help detect, track, and contain infectious diseases like COVID-19 through a research consortium. The consortium brings together separate research already underway by both Stanford and Scripps to promote sharing of aggregated information, learning, and development. Fitbit is also helping promote those studies to increase enrollment.

For the past decade, Snyder has been using longitudinal methods to track measures on the human body for their potential to predict and prevent diseases. His ground-breaking research aims to make these preventive measures more accessible to the public, which could ultimately have a huge impact in helping curb the spread of viral infections, such as COVID-19.

For more details, visit Stanford Medicine: @stanford.med – med.stanford.edu & Fitbit: @fitbit – www.fitbit.com & Scripps Research: @scrippsresearch – www.scripps.edu

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Fight COVID-19 through the Power of Prediction COVID-19 testing has many limitations. We’re working to find out if information from wearable devices can help detect infection before symptoms emerge.

C O M P A T I B L E

D E V I C E S

We are making progress and preparing for the next phase.

For more information on who should join, please visit us online.

i nnovat i o n s . s ta n for d. e d u/ w e a r a b l es

RAPID TESTING

A GUIDE TO RAPID TESTING joshua stabach

Testing has played a critical role in combating the spread of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. The overall effectiveness of testing relies on accuracy, reliability, availability, and turnaround time. Currently, the most widely-used testing method collects a sample using a nasopharyngeal swab, and analyzes the sample using a technique called RT-PCR. While this technology is reliable and accurate, it falls short in turnaround time. Turnaround time (TAT) is the time it takes for a patient to receive their result after a test is performed. Furthermore, RT-PCR testing has been plagued by supply shortages of critical testing components, such as RNA isolation kits and expensive testing machinery.

As society reopens, the demand for rapid tests with a 15-minute turnaround time is growing exponentially. Rapid tests that detect an active infection are being adopted across multiple industries, including travel, education, professional and college athletics, healthcare, and public-event planning. Rapid testing allows people to be screened immediately before interacting with others, which prevents spread by asymptomatic carriers and significantly increases event safety.

There are two types of rapid tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection: diagnostic tests and antibody tests. A diagnostic test is used to determine if someone has an active coronavirus infection. If the results are positive, the patient should take steps to quarantine and self-isolate to prevent the spread of the disease. An antibody test determines if someone has already had an infection with SARS-CoV-2, which is also important information for patients and scientists.

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RAPID TESTING

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apid diagnostic testing for an active infection detects SAR-CoV-2 antigens, which are proteins specific to that virus, present in a sample.

These antigen tests collect a sample using a nasal or nasopharyngeal swab and provide results in about 15 minutes. The tests are specific to the virus, and positive results are highly reliable. While negative results are also generally reliable, a physician may request a non-rapid confirmation test if a person has symptoms but has a negative antigen test result. This can be caused by a patient having a low viral count in their sample. Overall, the benefits of rapid antigen screening far outweigh any downsides, and major corporations and organizations have begun adoption.

To determine a previous history of coronavirus infection, the FDA recommends antibody tests. To help fight off infections, the immune system makes antibodies, which are small molecules that stick to specific germs.

The presence of antibodies that recognize SARS-CoV-2 in a person’s blood indicates a history of infection with (or exposure to) the virus. Because antibodies take several days to weeks to develop after an infection begins, antibody tests should not be used to diagnose an active coronavirus infection. The results from antibody tests are important to patients who suspect they may have had COVID-19 and to scientists studying how widespread the virus previously was in an area.

Although not yet approved by the FDA, a new type of rapid diagnostic test is generating a lot of interest. This technology utilizes a spitcup assay that changes color in the presence of a positive sample. The technology is called rapid colorimetric assay using reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). If approved, it aims to combine the sensitivity of a PCR-based assay with the simplicity and speed of a rapid antigen assay.

Rapid diagnostic testing and antibody testing are paving the way for safely reopening society and understanding the prevalence of infection in the population. Performing rapid testing significantly reduces the risk of human interactions, because it identifies asymptomatic carriers before they can interact with a group of people. Finally, despite advances in testing technology, goodbehavior practices are still critical to stopping the spread. This includes practicing social distancing, as outlined in the CDC’s guidelines, and following the advice and regulations on the state and local level.

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FREEDOM FOR ALL DIAGNOSTICS

ONE TO LOOK OUT FOR: R A P I D T E S T I N G C H A N G E S T H E W AY W E A P P R O A C H C O V I D - 1 9 joshua stabach

Rapid 15-minute testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is a game-changing technology being implemented to keep businesses, schools, public events, and medical facilities operating safely. United and Lufthansa announced that they are providing 15-minute rapid antigen test kits to passengers before flights. Rapid testing was recently credited with saving Pac-12 football when a partnership with Quidel to provide daily testing to all players allowed the season to proceed. While many of the companies producing rapid tests are biotech giants, there are exciting startups also developing rapid tests that utilize similar technology.

Based in New York, Freedom For All Diagnostics is a manufacturer and distributor of rapid test kits used for detecting both active and prior SARS-CoV-2 infections. Their pipeline of rapid test assays is designed to be easy to use, accurate, and require no costly equipment to run.

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reedom For All Diagnostics currently has three COVID-19 tests in various stages of development: rapid antibody, rapid antigen, and rapid spit-cup tests. Using clinicallyproven and well-established chromatographic immunoassay technology, the antibody test kit provides accurate and rapid results showing whether someone has had a previous infection with SARS-CoV-2.

The rapid antigen test kit detects if an individual has an active SARS-CoV-2 infection in minutes.

This fantastic technology shows the results directly on the testing device so that coronaviruspositive individuals know they are infected before leaving the testing site. Finally, the rapid spit-cup test is being designed to provide the advantages of the rapid antigen test, while only requiring the patient to spit into a collection cup.

FREEDOM FOR ALL DIAGNOSTICS

Most of the tests now being used for diagnosing active infections require the patient to wait at home for up to 72 hours before knowing whether they are infectious. Waiting for results is dangerous as it prevents accurate contact-tracing.

The current consensus is that test results taking more than 24 hours make contact tracing nearly pointless. Freedom For All Diagnostics’ rapid, on-site results allow contact tracers to notify all potentially infected close contacts quickly.

Freedom For All Diagnostics’ SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG Antibody Assay Kit is a rapid chromatographic immunoassay intended for use in the qualitative detection of IgM and IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in human serum, plasma, or whole blood as an aid in the diagnosis of primary and secondary SARS-CoV-2 infections, as well as in identifying individuals with an adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2, indicating recent or prior infection.

According to a recent study* on the detection of IgM and IgG antibodies in patients with 2019 novel coronavirus, antibody testing played a critical role in scientists’ potential understanding of certain aspects of COVID-19. This study specifically investigated the aforementioned IgM and IgG antibodies, immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G, and found that IgM and IgG antibodies may play an imperative role in predicting the severity and prognosis of a SARSCoV-2 infection.

The study aimed to “determine the IgM and IgG responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with varying illness severities.” The IgM and IgG antibody levels were assessed via chemiluminescence immunoassay in 338 COVID-19 patients.

This study showed that “IgM levels increased during the first week after SARS-CoV-2 infection, peaked 2 weeks and then reduced to nearbackground levels in most patients.” They also found that “IgG was detectable after 1 week and

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was maintained at a high level for a long period.”

Moreover, “the positive rates of IgM and/or IgG antibody detections were not significantly different among the mild, severe and critical disease groups.” Additionally, “severe and critical cases had higher IgM levels than mild cases, whereas the IgG level in critical cases was lower than those in both mild and severe cases.”

That said, testing for antibodies is crucial as it could “provide information on the time course of virus infection.” Furthermore, quantitative IgM and IgG assays could be very helpful “in the diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19,” as well as “evaluating the severity” of the disease.

Freedom For All Diagnostics’ rapid antigen test detects small pieces of proteins that make up the virus and is considered a diagnostic test for detecting an active infection with the virus. This test utilizes a nasal swab for collection, and within 15 minutes, the test strip will show the presence of an active infection. This type of testing technology is critical for screening people before they gather with others for any reason, including business, travel, school, hospital visits, sporting activities, and religious services. Freedom For All Diagnostics believes that this technology will enable people to safely begin returning to precoronavirus activities.

Freedom For All Diagnostics’ ability to offer rapid test kits for both active and previous infections will significantly contribute to the fight in understanding and combating the COVID-19 pandemic. The scientific community has recognized the need for rapidly detecting active cases and identifying previous infections in the population. Due to the high rate of asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic individuals spreading the virus, a combination of both types of tests is needed to evaluate both current and previous infection levels in the population as a whole.

For more details, visit: @freedomforalldiagnostics – freedomtestkit.com * www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7202656/

Photo courtesy of International Medical Corps

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Because peace of mind is freedom.

K E E P Y O U R F A M I LY , F R I E N D S , A N D Y O U R L I B E R T Y S A F E F R O M C O V I D - 1 9 F R E E D O M T E S T K I T. C O M