We Are Thankful for Our 15th Year Anniversary!
November/December 2022
Having Aunties In Reach (H.A.I.R): A Commitment to the Youth
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Beautiful, Healthy, and Lustrous Hair: Find the Salon for You Today! CAHEC-Celebrating 30 Years of Creating Healthy Sustainable Neighborhoods Finding the Most Suitable Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home Identifying Your Ideal Barber Selecting the Best Lawyer for Your Case is Critical
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FROM THE PUBLISHER Hello loyal supporters! As we enter our 15th year of serving as a trusted resource of insight, we want to express our gratitude to you for sticking with us all these years. You should be looking forward to the onset of winter and the new year, and I hope you are. Despite the obstacles you may have faced this year, I hope that you have accomplished all that you set out to do, or are well on your way. As a result, make it a challenge to reach the next milestone in 2023 and beyond for exploration of those aspirations. The missions of the remarkable organizations featured in this issue all have a strong focus on serving the community. One of their shared primary goals is to help others by providing useful services. You will also gain understanding of pivotal industries that serve as service providers to other businesses. Despite all... Hopefully, you’ll finish 2022 strong! Thank you for reading this issue of The City Insight and we appreciate your continued interest.
Sincerely, Joseph Crawford The City Insight Magazine www.thecityinsightmag.com
PRESIDENT & CEO FOUNDER & PUBLISHER Joseph Crawford jcrawford@thecityinsight.com EDITORIAL editor@thecityinsight.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Taylor Basnight Joseph Crawford Lynn DelGaudio Jessica Barfield Graham Edwin Kirk ErinKate Mitchell Daniel Peterson Nicholas Sessions Tracy Smith Chris Thomas Meredith Young LIAISONS Rene Daughtry (Technology) Lynn DelGaudio (Health) Jennifer Harris (Business) Sheyenne Kreamer (Non-Profits) SALES Visit www.thecityinsightmag.com/ business-services Or Call 919-881-4121 MARKETING Tiara Sanders CLIENT SUPPORT clientsupport@thecityinsight.com We have the following opportunities: • Contributing Writers and Editors • Sales Representatives and Affiliates • Internships Email hr@thecityinsight.com The City Insight, Inc is published bi-monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner without the written permission of The City Insight, Inc is strictly prohibited. 2007-2023 Copyright All Rights Reserved
WHAT’S INSIDE SPOTLIGHTING YOUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR LOVED ONE
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IDENTIFYING YOUR IDEAL BARBER
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CAHEC-CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF CREATING HEALTHY SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOODS
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GUIDELINES TO PHYSICAL FITNESS
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COVER STORY HAVING AUNTIES IN REACH (H.A.I.R): A COMMUNITY COMMITMENT OF INSTILLING POSITIVE VALUES IN THE YOUTH
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BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY, AND LUSTROUS HAIR: FIND THE
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SALON FOR YOU TODAY!
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BULLYING IN THE WORKPLACE
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FINDING THE MOST SUITABLE REAL ESTATE AGENT TO SELL YOUR HOME
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KIDS NEED A DOSE OF DAILY PLAYTIME
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SELECTING THE BEST LAWYER FOR YOUR CASE IS CRITICAL
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STAYCATION EXPLORATION
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UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS THAT AUTHORS SHARE
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RECOVERY COMMUNITIES OF NORTH CAROLINA AND THEIR DIVINE SERVICE!
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Spotlighting
Your Commitment to Your Loved One By ErinKate Mitchell
Wedding traditions have transformed over the years to keep up with the times. Instead of seeing bridal announcements in the newspaper, people share the news through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Just like fashion styles, traditions always come back around, and announcements are coming back to The City Insight magazine! Engagements, weddings, and anniversary milestones are some of the most important days in a person’s life. Here at The City Insight, our team and readers are a community that's also a family, and we want to celebrate your special moments alongside you! In the magazine's Bridal & Bridal Fashion section, we will now be spotlighting our readers' engagements, weddings, and anniversary milestones. The City Insight wants to welcome and congratulate our readers who have reached these milestones. Our readers will have the opportunity to submit photos and provide details about their recent events for our team to announce and spotlight with the rest of our community. To showcase your commitment to your loved one in The City Insight, click here or email info@thecityinsight.com!
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By Chris Thomas
IDENTIFYING YOUR IDEAL BARBER
Simply Conduct a Standard Google Search
Hike Around the City to See Everything It Has to Offer
You can utilize Google to find a reliable barber in your area if you need one. If you perform a search on Google for a retailer, you can read customers’ opinions just underneath the business’s listing. While these are very useful resources, it’s important to remember that competitors may occasionally check out your competitors’ pages and leave unfavorable reviews. In light of this, you should take these critiques with a grain of salt.
Simply exploring the central or main street area of your town should lead you to a barbershop. Since you have no way of knowing the quality of the place, you might as well give it a chance if you’re in the spirit of exploration.
Just Start Asking Around the Office It’s possible that you’ve seen a few coworkers with new hairstyles. Strange as it may seem, asking a coworker where they get their haircut is a terrific approach to start a discussion and show that you are interested in what they have to say. Meaning: don’t be a coward. Don’t be afraid to ask.
Please Verify Their Age Some barbershops even advertise the year they opened their doors to the public. A barbershop that has been successful for 20 years must be doing something right, or its customers wouldn’t keep returning. Perhaps clients keep coming back despite the barber’s obvious incompetence because they are afraid to hurt the barber’s feelings. Commit to a Simple Service First
Yelp is one of the best places to look for a local business because of the extensive user reviews it compiles. Having your Yelp and Facebook accounts linked together makes it simple to monitor the doings of your friends and acquaintances.
If you have narrowed your search down to a select few barbers but are still on the fence about making a full commitment, you may want to consider going in for a very brief trim. This way, you can stop by the barbershop for a trial run before deciding to get a major haircut there. There’s a chance it’ll turn out well, but it could also be a waste of money.
The Online Yellow Pages
The Bottom-Line of the Matter
Avoid the potential anxiety of utilizing Yelp by instead using a reliable directory search. Keep in mind that this was the standard practice before the widespread adoption of other popular directories for finding neighborhood establishments. Most barbershops still use directories like the Yellow Pages to get their names out there.
After all, visiting the barber is a relatively unimportant part of adjusting to life in a new city. Your new setting may feel more comfortable with a trustworthy individual present to talk to and provide a haircut. As a result, picking the best one is more important than you might think. The odds are in your favor, and I hope the best for you.
Look Up Reviews On Yelp
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Dana Boole President & CEO
Celebrating 30 Years of Creating Healthy, Sustainable Neighborhoods By Lynn DelGaudio Recently, Lynn DelGaudio had the opportunity to sit down and interview the President & CEO of CAHEC, Dana Boole, to hear first hand, the organization’s vision and mission. This heartfelt dialogue sheds light on the positive solutions for affordable housing and how CAHEC takes care of the community it serves.
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Raleigh based CAHEC celebrates their 30th anniversary this year! CAHEC is one of the largest non-profit syndicators of affordable housing in the U.S. Their continued growth – even through adversity – is impressive, and they continue to work diligently towards their vision of sustainable communities, offering housing and life-changing opportunities to their residents. I recently sat down with President & CEO, Dana Boole, and asked him some questions about CAHEC, the evolving industry, giving back, and much more. Lynn: Tell me about CAHEC? Dana: CAHEC is a leading community investment company focusing on syndication (equity and debt), preservation, general partnerships, property management, and charitable initiatives. In short, we create sustainable, healthy neighborhoods through affordable housing and growth and revitalization opportunities. Lynn: Why is the work CAHEC does important for communities? Dana: Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. This need has especially shone the past 2 ½ years during Covid and the inflationary times that followed. To that end, CAHEC’s ability to address this housing need – along with the investor and developer communities we serve – is something in which we can all be proud.
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Lynn: Beyond housing, how else does CAHEC give back to the communities you invest in? Dana: It has never solely been about housing for us – we’ve always focused on what else we can do to support residents within our footprint. Our charitable efforts (through CAHEC and CAHEC Foundation) provide capital through a host of community investments that empower residents, promote the development of affordable rental and ownership housing, and foster sustainability within the communities we serve. Since inception, it has differentiated us among our peers and resulted in our granting over $16 million to those we serve; specifically, wellness and education for youth and young adults.
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Lynn: As CEO, what is one of the biggest challenges you currently face in this industry? Dana: Our core challenge the past two years has been inflation and its impact on our partners and residents. Development costs (hard and soft costs) have skyrocketed, contractors are in short supply, and wages for residents have been strained. Each of these factors have had a negative and extended effect on affordable housing. Lynn: How has CAHEC evolved over time? Dana: CAHEC is committed to market differentiation rather than pure vertical growth. We keenly understand the needs of our stakeholders and work to identify niches where we can make a sustainable difference. An example is our recent expansion into property management, preservation, and ownership of affordable housing. Each represent a hedge to our core business by offering complementary revenue streams, but more importantly, each one positively impacts the communities we serve.
Lynn: This is CAHEC’s 30th anniversary. Congratulations! What are you most proud of? Dana: Since inception, CAHEC has been driven by innovative products, exemplary service, and a commitment to continually evolve. We believe in mastering our knowledge of the residents and communities we serve. I believe – in the face of headwinds and adversity – we’ve accomplished that with patience and perseverance.
Lynn: How have you seen the affordable housing industry change over the years? Dana: I just finished my 21st year and during that time, our industry has faced an abundance of challenges. That said, reacting to those hurdles isn’t the exception to what we do. Rather, it’s what we do! We’ve been fortunate - through education of leaders at the Federal, state and local levels - to foster a climate of strong, bipartisan legislative champions when it comes to affordable housing. It’s their support and education which should continue to mitigate our nation’s shortage of safe and quality affordable housing.
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Lynn: What is next for CAHEC? Where do you go from here? Dana: The path to CAHEC’s ‘end game” is navigated by diversification and sustainability. We will continue to focus on furthering our mission, solidifying leadership, and taking on new initiatives that create sustainable, healthy neighborhoods. When considering opportunities (both organic and established), we evaluate “key criteria,” namely, whether it aligns with our vision and mission, is there a need for this initiative, is it scalable, and, of course, is it financially practical.
Lynn: How will demand for affordable housing be increasing in the coming years? Dana: Simply put, it will continue to rise! According to the ACTION Campaign, the low income housing credit has financed nearly 3.6 million homes for 8 million households nationwide (including approximately 100,000 homes for 211,000 households in North Carolina) for low-income families and individuals since 1986. While impressive, the need is still enormous. The Action Campaign further estimates that 10.5 million renter households nationwide (including over 300,000 in North Carolina) pay more than half of their monthly income on rent, leaving too little for other expenses like health care, transportation, and nutritious food. This illustrates the scope of the need for safe and affordable housing. Lynn: For those who might be looking for affordable housing, how would they get started? Dana: Contact the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (www.nchfa.com) who can assist in identifying affordable housing opportunities for North Carolinians. The need for affordable housing is not going away, and neither is CAHEC. As the industry continues to evolve, so will they, ensuring the needs of residents and communities across the Southeast and mid-Atlantic continue to be met. CAHEC strives to always go beyond simply financing a development to truly impacting communities with economic, educational, and enrichment opportunities. We look forward to another 30 successful years from CAHEC! To learn more about CAHEC, please visit www.cahec.com.
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GUIDELINES TO PHYSICAL FITNESS By Meredith Young
TV infomercials and commercials may lead you to believe otherwise, but unfortunately, there is no one-time solution that can instantly and miraculously make you fit. Regardless of what any fitness model or celebrity endorsement of a “groundbreaking” exercise machine, diet, or supplementation program may imply, the truth is that getting in shape is hard work. You may be sure that the spokesperson didn’t achieve that body by using the “new, incredible de-fat-melter” for 60 seconds every day. Undoubtedly, he or she is in the midst of an intensive fitness regimen that features a healthy diet and loads of physical activity. On the other hand, we think that everyone has what it takes to become physically fit. In order to kickstart your fitness program and start you on the road to success, this article will give you some strong, effective measures you can follow right now.
Start Working on Your Goals Today! Getting in shape successfully requires a commitment to slow and steady progress. Implementing even modest changes can have a multiplicative snowball effect, much like the power of compound interest, which boosts motivation, energy, and output.
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You may start seeing real improvements right away by making a few key adjustments: Move Even though it seems obvious, this one action can have a tremendous impact. Place your car at the far end of the parking lot, choose for the stairs instead of the elevator, and run behind with your grandchildren to get some exercise. Our bodies were made to move, so increasing your activity level is a fantastic first step toward a healthier lifestyle. The benefits of walking as exercise are often overlooked. It’s the same with dance.
Stay Hydrated Stay Hydrated A glass half an hour before and after eating is recommended. Calories can be reduced and consumption of artificial flavoring, coloring, and other additives can be decreased by switching to water from less nutritious drinks (like soda). Adding more water to your diet is a simple way to control your hunger.
Cut Back on Portions and Increase Your Frequency of Meals Five or six smaller meals per day, as opposed to the three larger meals we are accustomed to, has been found to improve our bodies’ efficiency. Even grandma was right when she insisted you eat your vegetables. There is a widespread lack of fruit and vegetable consumption amongst Americans. If you drink more water and eat more fruits and vegetables, you can easily reduce the portion sizes of your meals.
Watch What You Eat by Keeping a Food Journal One more nuance that could not be more important! It’s a terrific method to keep track of what you eat, whether you choose to keep a written record or just attempt to perform mental recaps at certain points during the day. Reviewing what you’ve eaten throughout the day might help you make informed decisions about dinner, for instance.
Stretch Possessing a high degree of flexibility is crucial for achieving optimal physical health. Performing even the most simple stretches every day can have a dramatic effect on your range of motion. Remember that stretching should be done slowly and gently, never bouncing or jerking. Once you've implemented the aforementioned modifications to your daily routine, you'll gain the motivation to work harder toward your fitness objectives.
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Cover Story
Having Aunties In Reach (H.A.I.R): A Commitment to the Youth By Joseph Crawford
Having Aunties In Reach, also known as H.A.I.R., is actively working to improve the lives of individuals and the community as a whole. When it comes to the purpose of the organization, which is to instill positive values in the lives of young people, Tameka Shipman, the company’s Founder, has a progressive and passionate approach. When Tameka first conceived of the idea for the nonprofit organization, she was thinking ahead to the 2019 academic year as she mulled over the numerous ways in which she could give something back to the students. Even before the H.A.I.R. organization was founded, this was her lifelong interest and primary focus. The H.A.I.R. organization is an innovative and constructive outlet that keeps the youth in mind on a consistent basis. This is important in a culture where assistance is not always easily accessible.
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Tameka’s outlook on life is predicated on the idea that if you love what you do, you will engage in that activity with all of your passion. Although she was aware that the majority of people donate book bags, she decided that she wanted to do something that was a little bit unconventional. Shipman reflected on the time in her life when her grandparents raised her and recalled how her grandma did not know how to properly style her hair. Because of this, she had the wonderful idea to braid the hair of female students from school for free in order to get them ready for the start of the new school year. Shipman noted, “Given that I am an expert in the care of natural hair, I felt obligated to organize a back-to-school braid drive.” The effort was to collect natural hair braids for children who would otherwise not have access to them. “Two days before the first day of school, we offered to braid hair free of charge for 40 of the female students, and the organization has been utilizing that method ever since.”
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Shipman has been doing hairstyling jobs for other people ever since she was a little girl of 12 years old, and she wished for the name of the organization to incorporate the abbreviation H.A.I.R. In order to figure out what the acronym H.A.I.R. could stand for, she was forced to participate in some strategic planning. She discovered that the term “Having Aunties In Reach” was quite easy for her to say, so she made the decision to continue using it in her conversations. This was the beginning of
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a very remarkable journey, and the rest, as they say, is history. The idea of Having Aunties In Reach did in fact originate from the grass-roots level; however, there was still a significant amount of work to be done before the new moniker could live up to the expectations. Having said that, the group proved to be up to the challenge, and it even solicited participation from others in an effort to cultivate the communal commitment that had been envisioned in the first place.
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At this time, individuals in Wake County and Columbus County are eligible for assistance from Having Aunties In Reach. There is serious consideration being given to expanding their operations into surrounding counties in light of the positive response to their purpose. Shipman’s long-term objective is to find a local chapter in each and every state, which will allow them to assist a significantly higher number of kids. Because the vision of H.A.I.R. is founded on a mission that is centered around the concept of community, it is necessary to find the appropriate individuals who have the same mindset in order to ensure that this endeavor will continue to be successful. Those individuals who donate money and provide their time to the organization are extremely important to its success since the information they provide is priceless and the professional connections they forge are significant. The ages of children that H.A.I.R. works with range from 5 to 12 years old. Every month, they set aside between two and three hours for activities that are designed specifically for children to take part in. A wide variety of topics, including but not limited to self-esteem, early entrepreneurship skills, instructions on hair braiding, juice and paint, personal hygiene care, and how to take care of your body, are just some of the activities or information that are covered. It is crucial to have the
fundamentals, and doing so gives the H.A.I.R. team the chance to leave a positive impression on people who are in need of the specialized care that the organization is recognized for providing. A young entrepreneur who was only 12 years old, came to the school in April of 2022 to teach the students how to bake bread. During her visit, the young girl recounted the process through which she established her own cupcake company. During the month of June, they plan to hold a look and learn event for a total of fifteen kids. “I will teach them how to braid, do basic cornrows, or mend basic single plaits,” said Shipman. “I will also demonstrate to them how to repair the most fundamental of single plaits.” “We have aunts, uncles, grandparents, and older cousins who are parenting children, so we can take them off of their hands for a few hours each month,” said Shipman. “We have older relatives who are also able to help out with the kids.” We are able to relieve them of the responsibility for a portion of their time each and every month. “We do this so that the parents can have some free time to work on their mental health, go shopping for groceries, or obtain the items that the children require,” “We also do this so that the children will have some time to themselves to play. We are grateful for any donations and sponsors at any time.”
For further information, please contact us at (919) 895-2642 or visit our website at www.havingauntiesinreach.org.
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Beautiful, Healthy, and Lustrous Hair: FIND THE SALON FOR YOU TODAY! By Tracy Smith
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woman’s hair is one of the first things people notice about her appearance. Consequently, the wish to have beautiful, healthy, and lustrous hair is shared by both sexes. If you go to the right salon and have the preferred treatment, you can get the hair length and style you want in a modern hair salon. If you’re still at a loss as to which option is best, read the advice and suggestions provided below.
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Finding a good hair salon may be as simple as asking others for testimonials. Famous hairstylists recommend asking around amongst attractive women for recommendations on good salons. Simply inquire as to the location of their favorite hair salon. In addition, hairstylists recommend asking around to find a salon frequented by people with similar hair types and textures to your own. Using it aids in locating a suitable salon in your area.
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“While searching for a perfect place for hair treatment and cut, women frequently assume that a salon with a wonderful infrastructure, loads of advertisement, and numerous other showy items would be a fantastic salon,” experts say. It’s not always the case, though. As a result, you shouldn’t prioritize a hair salon’s array of high-tech features over the quality of its services while making your selection. You should also look for a salon where the stylists have plenty of experience. In sum, a salon that appears unassuming on the outside yet offers exceptional services may be preferable to a more expensive, so-called “big” salon. When deciding on a salon, cleanliness and efficiency of management are two key factors to keep in mind. You shouldn’t visit a salon if it looks unclean or disorganized. Next, think about the hairstylist who will be responsible for giving you a new and improved do. You should not visit a salon if you discover that the stylist there lacks the necessary experience. Because of this, you should prioritize the hair stylist while choosing a salon for your hair treatment. Using the internet is a great tool that can help you find the best salon in your area. Since the internet is the finest place to find data on any topic, it stands to reason that it would also be the ideal place to find the best hair salon. Searching online for hair salons is a quick and easy way to locate a chosen establishment. Additionally, a directory of salons may be of use. If you do your research online, stay away from flashy salons that use a lot of flashy advertising. 25
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Once you’ve located your ideal hair salon, it’s time to make a trip to the salon. All prices and fees are subject to your specific request. Keep in mind that the cost of a hairstyle varies depending on the desired cut. To sum up, we’d like to advise doing some preliminary research, either online or offline, before settling on a hair salon.
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Bullying in the
Workplace
By Jessica Barfield Graham
Sticks and Stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.
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This is what I whispered to myself as a middle-schooler. Little did I know I would be saying this to myself at the peak of my career as an adult.
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Why you ask would I say this? I was a victim of workplace bullying. Now, I know some of you, may think “how can you possibly be bullied as an adult?” This is how… We all believe that when we leave school, bullying will no longer exist. That is so untrue! I have listened to several of my family and friends express their frustration about the unfair treatments they’ve experienced from a coworker, supervisor or superior. So I know you are thinking… What is Workplace Bullying? Bullying is legally defined as unwanted behavior that occurs over a period of time and is meant to harm someone who feels powerless to respond. However, since there is not a legal definition for Workplace bullying, workplace bullying is defined as “offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behavior, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the person being bullied.” For example, if your boss and/or coworker demonstrates: • • • •
• •
• • • •
Overbearing supervision; Constant criticism; Blocking promotion; Exclusion, for example from lunches and drinks, relevant meetings, and important emails; Being overworked and expecting unreasonable response times; Making threats or comments about job security without foundation; Such as Threaten you by saying “If you report me, you will be fired!”; Yelling or humiliating you; Belittles your character or spread rumors about you; Sabotages your work.
If this is something you have been experiencing; then you should seek help. In situation such as this, you should speak to someone that you can trust such as a friend or a family member.; even a coworker that you can trust. You should first decide if you can speak directly to the one who is bullying you. Believe it or not, sometimes they are unaware of how they are coming off to their team. However, if that does not work, you should report them to Human Resources (HR) and file for a formal grievance. A formal grievance should force your employer to investigate the matter. An employer should have a grievance policy that explains how the process works. Usually, the grievance is lodged with HR or your manager (unless your manager is the bully, in which case, if possible, you should lodge it with someone who holds more seniority). To help the case, you must document everything. The more proof the better the chance to solve the case. If the grievance is not upheld, you have the right to lodge an appeal. If it is upheld, the person bullying you could be disciplined or even dismissed. As the old saying goes, “Stick and Stone may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” That statement is totally false! Words do hurt! In fact, it can cause people stress, PTSD and other issues such as: • • • • •
Hypertension; Auto-immune disorders; Depression; Anxiety; Suicide.
According to the 1974 Health and Safety Act, it is the employer’s responsibility to protect the well-being of their employees. An unhealthy work environment stresses all employees; not just the target, and increases the rate of physical and emotional illnesses.
If you are witnessing someone being bullied at work, please do your part and report it. If you don’t, then you become part of the problem.
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Finding the
Most Suitable Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home By Daniel Peterson
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t’s a stressful experience trying to sell your property. Most people are moving to a new house and getting the old one ready for a new family is a major hassle in and of itself. Most homeowners who decide to sell their property do so with the assistance of a real estate agency. A lot of people prefer to sell their own homes, even though it’s riskier and could take longer. For those who do decide to work with a real estate agency, the question of which agency to use is a common one.
There are a number of steps you can take to choose the most suitable real estate agent: 1. Find out who has been selling properties in your area recently. You can rest assured that the office and agent have expertise with residences like yours because they are likely to be comparable to yours. Inquire amongst friends and relations as to the word-of-mouth recommendations they may have received regarding local real estate brokers. These methods are useful for learning about the agents before you actually meet them. 2. If you locate an agency that piques your interest, give them a call to arrange a meeting with an agent who focuses on the kind of property you're looking for. You should inquire to meet with the designated individual if you have been given their name. When you finally get connected with the agent, make sure you go into every detail with them. It is important that the realtor understands if there is a firm price at which you are willing to sell your home. It is also recommended to describe some of the homes' hidden charms. In the case of a yard equipped with an underground sprinkler system, for instance. The house must have everything that can raise its value and make it more desirable. 3. At some point during the consultation, the agent should look around the property to acquire a sense of it. The seller may want to highlight certain aspects of the property during this walkthrough. The hardwood floors have just been installed, and the kitchen has been updated. Simply put, provide the realtor any and all information they may possibly need to sell your home. 4. The most crucial aspect of the relationship between a real estate agent and a seller is the availability of open lines of communication and mutual trust. Without mutual trust, the endeavor is doomed to fail from the start.
In order to quickly sell their house, sellers need to choose an agent they can trust to work hard on their behalf.
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Kids Need a Dose of Daily Playtime (StatePoint) At your child’s next checkup, don’t be surprised if your pediatrician recommends a healthy dose of play. Beyond the typical preventive care strategies for healthy child development, more pediatricians are recognizing play’s multifaceted benefits. Play is fundamentally important for developing 21st century skills, including social, emotional, language and cognitive skills, according to a recent clinical report by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends play for children to buffer toxic stress, build parental relationships and improve executive functioning. For these reasons, The Genius of Play is on a mission to enable parents to use the power of play to help raise a happier, healthier, and more productive next generation. To help ensure your kids get their daily dose of play, they are offering these fun ideas you can do together as a family. • Take me – “in” – to the ball game: With the long tube from a roll of wrapping paper as a bat and a balloon as a ball, you can safely play “baseball” indoors. Simply designate four pieces of furniture or other markers as bases and you’re ready to go. A great game for kids 4 years and up, it’s also a useful way to build cognitive skills, improve hand-eye coordination and, most importantly, have fun indoors. Is the sun shining? Take the fun to the backyard, with a real T-ball or softball set and use trees, bird houses and other markers as bases.
• Worlds of imagination: Kids are not yet able to express their emotions as adults would. But when they create imaginary scenarios during play, they can act out their current emotional states, which in turn helps them learn to express and regulate their feelings. Through the use of toys such as dolls, action figures and playsets, children are able to express emotions like fear, frustration, anger or aggression, in situations they control, as well as build empathy and understanding. • It’s no cake walk: Get some exercise while building social skills. Show children how to walk like crabs: hands and feet on the floor, stomach facing up. See if they can balance something on their stomachs, such as a bag of beans, while they move. To make it competitive, have everyone race to a marked finish line. Or, organize a relay race to encourage teamwork and cooperation. • Puzzle it out: Brain-teasers, puzzles and strategy-based games are not just good old-fashioned fun, they strengthen critical thinking skills by facilitating a child’s ability to strategize and focus. From jigsaw puzzles to fast-paced board games with buzzers and egg timers, such types of play sharpen children’s planning skills and lengthen their attention spans. And, when children are faced with a problem during play, the situation can test their reasoning and judgment — and ability to find a solution.
For more play ideas as well as information about the benefits of play, visit TheGeniusofPlay.org.
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Make life more fun by creating time for play every day and encouraging more of it. Your kids will be happier and healthier if they get their daily dose of play alongside other activities!
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Selecting the Best Lawyer for Your Case is Critical By Nicholas Sessions Numerous circumstances call for the assistance of an attorney. Not all of these will be obvious to prepare for, but some certainly will be. Regardless of the specifics of your situation, you should seek out the assistance of a competent attorney. Predictable scenarios can arise in a wide variety of fields of law, including commercial law and even family law disputes. A good business lawyer is an obvious necessity when dealing with issues related to commercial law. A qualified business lawyer should be able to help you with all of your business needs, from creating formal documents to reviewing contracts. However, if your needs are more specific than general business practice, you should investigate the lawyer’s experience and expertise in your chosen area. Predictability also exists in some areas of family law. You probably know you need a lawyer to draft a prenuptial agreement long before you actually need one. You’ll have plenty of time to research and interview prospective attorneys before making a decision. What’s more, this can be useful if you ever find yourself in need of a family lawyer again in the future. The ideal family lawyer should be able to assist you with matters of divorce, child custody, and even probate.
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In contrast, there are many instances in which the sudden need for a lawyer arises out of the blue. The criminal justice and personal injury systems are typical settings for this to occur. You may not realize you need legal representation until after you have already suffered an injury, as in the case of personal injury. After suffering an injury, say in a vehicle accident or on the job, the typical next step is to consult a lawyer. Before an accident occurs, no one makes an effort to locate legal representation. People are often caught off guard by criminal proceedings. It is never on anyone’s radar to get a DWI charge. This means that finding the correct lawyer for you is an urgent matter. But you need to be very certain that you’ve hired the best attorney possible for your case. The outcome of this case may have far-reaching consequences for you.
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STAYCATION EXPLORATIONS by Edwin Kirk
In contrast to regular vacations, which often require going to a different city, state, or even country, staycations are vacations that are spent in one’s own city while pretending to be a tourist. Staycations have become increasingly popular in recent years. Both are delightful in their own way and come with their fair share of advantages and downsides; however, if you’re considering a staycation for your upcoming vacation, have you considered staying in a hotel or bed and breakfast, instead of staying in your own place? The typical staycation consists of the vacationer remaining in their own residence while also going on day trips to various nearby sites. These day trips are typically shorter in duration than traditional excursions. It may be a trip to a nearby park to try out things like exploring trails that you’ve always wanted to do but never got around to doing so, or it could be a trip to a vineyard to experience some wine, or it could even be a theme park to have fun with the family. You will be able to unwind at home at the end of the day, and then you will be able to get ready for yet another exciting excursion the
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following day. Imagine for a moment that you made the decision to check into a hotel rather than going back home. Combining a trip away with time spent at home is a great way to spruce up your holiday without putting a strain on your finances. During a stay at a hotel or bed and breakfast, there is never a moment of boredom. The vast majority of them also have a bar or restaurant on the premises, where guests may easily grab a bite to eat, a drink to relax with, or even a complete meal if they so choose. It is possible that a staycation would provide you with a revitalizing experience. Every morning, it encourages you to drag yourself out of bed and face the adventure of the day, and every evening, it prepares a warm and inviting environment for your return home. You will be able to walk into a spotless room
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at the end of the day without having to make any effort to clean it. You don’t even have to stay for very long; just one or two nights at a hotel or bed and breakfast will offer you some interesting experiences to talk about after your staycation and add a new depth to life. You don’t even have to stay for very long. They are an excellent resource for learning about what is going on in the area that you might have missed had you not paid attention. Behave as though you are a tourist in your own city, and you will not only have a great time but also gain a lot of insight into the things that set your neighborhood apart from others. Although going back to your own house is usually reassuring, spending the night in a hotel or bed and breakfast may also be very enjoyable. The end outcome will more than live up to your anticipation.
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Unique Characteristics that Authors Share By Taylor Basnight When it comes to today’s technology landscape, what characteristics define a writer? Before the advent of mass production and computerization, authors simply wrote and waited for their thoughts to be printed on paper and bound into a book. As far as we were concerned, an author was someone whose name appeared on the spine of a book that could be removed from a shelf and read. The publication of a physical book was essential to the development of the author’s craft. Books didn’t just appear; they were created by authors. The modern author’s life is rarely as idyllic as the image of a reclusive individual working on a typewriter in a dark attic. Without the need for physical paper, the act of writing may be entirely digitalized, with the resulting text appearing on the reader’s screen. Have traditional books lost their special value in the age of e-Books and other media formats? Can a writer who hasn’t published a book become an author? Can everybody who publishes an e-book be called an author? To what extent may one benefit from self-publishing? In the modern era, anyone can start their own publishing house. In today’s modern era, all it takes to reach millions of Kindle readers is a few hundred words compiled into an eBook and distributed through Amazon. Is that enough to label us as writers, though? There’s just a bad “vibe” about it. Our guts tell us it’s not the case. In that case, what makes a writer special? Authors can take on several identities. They are more likely to be readers than watchers. They’ll probably end up being authors. Very few writers actually begin penning works before they can read. Nonetheless, you can find them. A person from a culture with a long history of orally
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transmitted knowledge could be able to recount a book’s events from memory alone, even if they’ve never set eyes on a book. Therefore, authors need not read, need not write, and publishing is not a prerequisite. Then what are our final thoughts on writers? Most writers have diverse backgrounds, including reading, writing, researching, editing, and publishing. As their audiences grow from the publication of their works, they may branch out into related fields like advertising. Yes, authors of today are many things, but what, when pressed for a definition, can you say about them? It’s safe to say that an author and their work are unique and exclusive. That’s something we’re aware of. In the end, though, the processes themselves are less important than the status they have been given by others.
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How Do You Know if Pre-Need is for You? Whatever your wishes, they can be acknowledged and fulfilled in a way that will create a memorable service as well as a comfort for all family and friends.
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RECOVERY COMMUNITIES OF
NORTH CAROLINA
and their divine service! Recovery from any kind of addiction is the stepping stone for an individual to lead a healthy and self-directed life. However, transitioning from one phase to another is a tedious journey; the complete recovery from addiction takes some time. This is where things like recovery programs and recovery communities come in, which offer a supervised environment. The basic treatment programs do not usually include an aftercare system; these programs do provide an extraordinary rehab environment but fall short of providing the long-term support that is essential to stop an addict from falling into relapse. The relapse rate in the US is estimated to be between 40% and 60%. This is where the recovery communities play a major role; communities such as the Recovery Communities of North Carolina include non-profit organizations. The sole purpose of these organizations is to give back to the community and provide mutual support that enables an individual to
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recover more efficiently. Impact of Recovery Communities of North Carolina A recovery community drastically impacts the decisions taken by an individual and ensures that they find a way to commit to their new life. Here is a look at how the recovery homes have an impact on the lives of those who they serve. Expert Guidance The people who need help get expert guidance from the volunteers and house managers. These people are always available to guide the people struggling to maintain good behavior and encourage them every day if anything goes wrong. These places have a set of rules, and the staff motivates these people to follow these rules; however, if someone keeps breaking the rules, they face things like curfews. These places also keep a check and balance with regular drug tests that guarantee a clean environment.
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Emotional Support One of the most important impacts of these recovery communities is the emotional support they provide. An individual can find people going through the same phase or find alumni who have been through this phase in the past. This creates a sense of empathy among peers and allows them to discuss their concerns confidently and find role models. The relationship with other people also eliminates the factor of loneliness that an addict might have been facing for a long time. Healthier Appearance An addict usually goes through a lot and loses all sense of wellbeing; it takes a toll on basics things like healthy eating,
appearance, and personal hygiene. However, the recovery communities have a huge positive impact on these things. The addicts start noticing that things like their skin, eyes, and teeth are getting better because they have been eating healthier, drinking more water, and sleeping better. The end goal for an addict is to progress towards everyday life, and if it comes down to making a new life for themselves, they have the strength and courage to do so. It also provides a sense of independence as the person is now more comfortable with deeds like finding a job or establishing new healthy relationships. The freedom of choice is discovered by an addict who transitions back to mainstream life.
We Are Here For You, So Contact Us Today! Please call 919-231-0248 to make an appointment Hours of Operation: 10am-6pm Monday-Friday You can also check us out online at rcnc.org
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Having the Conversation About Addiction Recovery, Wellness and Citizenship Through Advocacy, Education and Support? Recover y Communities of North Carolina May Have the Answer! RCNC Vision: • North Carolina promotes a culture that supports addiction recovery for individuals, families and communities • North Carolinians seeking addiction recovery have access to the highest quality care, services, and support
• North Carolinians in addiction recovery are equal and valued members of our State
• North Carolinians in addiction recovery have opportunities to achieve their fullest educational, occupational and civic potential • Recovery from addiction is a celebrated reality
We are here to help, visit us at: 5245 Capital Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27616 (919) 231-0248 www.rcnc.org
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