Category Archives: Society: Social Services

The Latest news about what is available to our Society in North America, These PR articles, bring the newest technologies, initiatives and helpful tools to those who need them through social services.

Society: Social Services

15th Annual Operation Dry Water yields over 700 BUI arrests

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“Every impaired boater creates a hazardous situation not only for themselves but also for fellow recreators out on the water,” says Lt. Curt Lewis, NASBLA Chair. “The substantial law enforcement presence on the water, coupled with the heightened outreach and educational endeavors of the ‘Operation Dry Water’ campaign, has contributed to a safer and more enjoyable environment for recreational boaters.”

In addition to enforcement efforts on the water, NASBLA also worked diligently with the states, other law enforcement agencies, boating safety organizations, and the U.S. Coast Guard to develop and execute the Operation Dry Water marketing and outreach campaign. This collaborative effort aimed to go beyond enforcing boating under the influence laws; it sought to increase public awareness and educate boaters about the risks associated with impaired boating.

The campaign’s targeted enforcement weekend occurs each year around the July 4th holiday, a time when there is a consistent increase in boating incidents and fatalities related to alcohol and drug impairment. The 2024 Operation Dry Water heightened awareness and enforcement weekend will take place nationwide, July 4 – 6, 2024.

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) coordinates the Operation Dry Water campaign, in partnership with law enforcement agencies and outreach partners nationwide, through a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Operation Dry Water (ODW) is a year-round boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign with the mission of reducing the number of alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities through increased recreational boater awareness and by fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol use on the water. http://www.operationdrywater.org.

Media Contact

Taylor Matsko, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, 859.225.9487, [email protected], https://www.nasbla.org/home

SOURCE National Association of State Boating Law Administrators

Society: Social Services

Fortinet strengthens strategic partnership with Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS)

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According to a recent report from Fortinet, 83% of organizations have diversity goals for hiring for the next three years with 73% of those groups aimed toward women. WiCyS and Fortinet are collaborating to reskill more women into cybersecurity and help them grow in their careers.

Fortinet has recently launched a WiCyS-Fortinet Networking Fundamentals Bootcamp. This hybrid, self-paced training program helps participants understand essential networking concepts and terminology and was developed as part of the recent updates to the NSE Certification program. Online modules with live, instructor-led webinars will help those who want to pursue a career in cybersecurity.

WiCyS helps recruit and retain women in the cybersecurity field as well as advance them at all levels of their careers through skills development, networking and training with knowledgeable partners around the world. Their partnerships with businesses, companies and groups make a significant impact in growing the community to over 8,000 members in more than 70 countries. Partners support the WiCyS initiatives through annual monetary contributions, which determines if they are Tier 1, 2 or 3.

A strategic partnership involves year-round engagement and support of the WiCyS organization, particularly driving the inclusion and diversity changes needed within the cybersecurity workforce. Strategic partners at any level can participate in the Leadership Summit and Veterans program; post jobs and access all member resumes through the WiCyS Job Board++; sponsor educational/best practice webinars; access the strategic partner community portal and bi-monthly meetings; and be recognized in WiCyS social media and the newsletter, among many benefits.

“Much like WiCyS, Fortinet has initiatives to close the cybersecurity skills gap by bringing more diverse talent to fill critical roles in the field. To achieve this, we are committed to increasing access to cybersecurity training and certification programs, as well as employment opportunities through partnerships like this. Fortinet has also pledged to train one million people in cybersecurity by 2026,” said Rob Rashotte, VP of the Fortinet Training Institute and Global Field Enablement.

For more information on Fortinet, visit http://www.fortinet.com. For more information on WiCyS and strategic partnerships, visit http://www.wicys.org.

About WiCyS
Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) is a nonprofit organization with international reach dedicated to the recruitment, retention and advancement of women in cybersecurity. Founded by Dr. Ambareen Siraj through a National Science Foundation grant given to Tennessee Tech University in 2013, WiCyS offers opportunities, trainings, events, and resources for its community and members. Strategic partners include Tier 1: Akamai Technologies, Amazon, AT&T Cybersecurity, Battelle, Bloomberg, Carnegie Mellon University – Software Engineering Institute, Cisco, DeVry University, Ford Motor Company, Fortinet, Google, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Optum, Sandia National Laboratories, SentinelOne. Tier 2: Accenture, Dell Technologies, Intel, JPMorgan Chase & Co., LinkedIn, McKesson, Motorola Solutions, Navy Federal Credit Union, NCC Group, Workday, Yubico Inc. To partner, visit http://www.wicys.org/support/strategic-partnerships/.

Media Contact
Lynn Dohm, Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS), 815-530-7307, [email protected], https://www.wicys.org/

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SOURCE Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS)



Society: Social Services

Little Giraffe Foundation Names 2023 NICU Support Grant Recipients

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This year’s Little Giraffe Foundation’s NICU Support Grant recipients are as follows:

  • UPMC Carlisle, Carlisle, Pennsylvania — to receive $1,000 for food for mothers of breast-feeding infants, food for the immediate families of NICU infants, gas vouchers for rural families, and direct transportation vouchers for those who live in Carlisle.
  • Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation, Louisville, Kentucky — to receive $1,000 for gas gift cards for parents traveling to visit their baby in the NICU at Norton Children’s Hospital.
  • Madelyn’s Fund, Charlotte, North Carolina — to receive $1,000 to provide meal assistance to local families with children in the NICU.
  • Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, Pomona, California — to receive $1,000 to expand their current “Book Nook” Library Program and add an “Electronic Book Nook” e-Reader Library Program for the NICU.
  • Kentucky Children’s Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky — to receive $1,000 to purchase gas gift cards to distribute to NICU parents.
  • The Tiny Miracles Foundation, Darien, Connecticut — to receive $1,000 to host special holiday meals for parents with babies in the NICU.
  • St. Luke’s University Health Network, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania — to receive $1,000 to assist families in purchasing basic necessities for their baby, self care items for postpartum mothers, gasoline and quick nutritious food.
  • Jefferson Abington Hospital, Abington, Pennsylvania — to receive $1,000 to help NICU families with basic necessities like car seats, cribs, breast pumps, diapers and clothing.
  • UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — to receive $1,000 to provide monthly, age-appropriate activity kits to send home to siblings of NICU patients.
  • Edward Foundation, Naperville, Illinois — to receive $1,000 to provide NICU patients and families with a strand of beads to provide support and help tell their story of courage during their NICU stay.
  • Franciscan Health Foundation, Indianapolis, Indiana — to receive $1,000 for gas cards for NICU families.
  • Franciscan Health Foundation, Crown Point, Indiana — to receive $1,000 to purchase an AngelEye camera to allow parents to see their baby in the NICU.
  • Franciscan Health Foundation, Lafayette, Indiana — to receive $959 to purchase infant care kits that will provide the critical basic supplies to care for an infant.
  • Altru Health Foundation, Grand Forks, North Dakota — to receive $1,000 to purchase a new glider that will make a difference for families with babies in the NICU.
  • Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois — to receive $1,000 to fund recording devices for NICU families.

“Supporting these crucial programs allows parents and families with NICU-bound children to focus on the most important thing—the well-being of their infants. Whether it’s getting them food, gas cards, or essential items for their little ones’ development, these grants are here to make life easier for families all year long,” said Mike Santoro, co-founder of the Little Giraffe Foundation. “We are extremely grateful to our financial contributors and dedicated volunteers who make this funding happen. Helping thousands of NICU families has only been possible because of their unwavering support.”

To learn more about the Little Giraffe Foundation and its efforts to aid in NICU patient and family assistance, as well as neonatal medical research, please visit: http://www.littlegiraffefoundation.org/ and follow the organization’s news on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/LittleGiraffeFoundation.

About the Little Giraffe Foundation:
The Little Giraffe Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Chicago, dedicated to supporting parents and patients of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Since 2011, the foundation has delivered gift bags to more than 26,000 families during their stay in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), awarded over 140 support grants to dozens of hospitals across the country, and funded over $300,000 in medical research.

Media Contact

Daniel Gerardi, Walker Sands for Little Giraffe Foundation, (312) 267-0066, [email protected], https://www.littlegiraffefoundation.org/

SOURCE Little Giraffe Foundation

Society: Social Services

Write the World Announces its “Support Young Writers, Change the World” Campaign for Giving Tuesday

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Write the World, a nonprofit organization and online writing community that’s served over 100,000 teens and educators, today announced its Giving Tuesday campaign, “Support Young Writers, Change the World.”

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Write the World, a nonprofit organization and online writing community that’s served over 100,000 teens and educators, today announced its Giving Tuesday campaign, “Support Young Writers, Change the World.”

Write the World’s inaugural Giving Tuesday campaign is dedicated to its College Essay Program, which gives students from all backgrounds the confidence and skills to develop their authentic voice, refine their essays, and increase their likelihood of college success. All donations will support the College Essay Program, including providing scholarships to help make college acceptance a reality for students who lack access to writing resources. Contributions during the campaign will be matched dollar for dollar (up to $5,000 total) by David Weinstein, Founder & CEO of Write the World, doubling the impact of donations.

“Giving Tuesday is an opportunity for Write the World to unite our community, inspire generosity, and help college aspirants achieve their dreams,” said David Weinstein. “As a nonprofit, Write the World is committed to giving all students affordable writing support, and contributions from this campaign will allow us to reach more deserving students.”

Other programs at Write the World include its free global online writing community, educator resources, monthly writing competitions, internships, and online literary journals.

As a thank you to the community, the latest issue of the Write the World Review, a literary journal that publishes standout student work, is available for free to everyone. Students, educators, and the public are invited to read and share works published by students from around the world using the hashtag #WriteTheWorld.

“I never experienced such a deep connection to contemporary youthful literary works from all over the world,” said Luiza Louback, a student from Brazil, who completed the Community Ambassador internship program. “This ambassadorship filled me with hope for our generation and warmed my heart to the ever-changing power of literature and writing surrounding me.”

The “Support Young Writers, Change the World” campaign will run from Nov. 1st to Dec. 31st.

To donate and to learn more, visit info.writetheworld.org/get-involved.

About Write the World

Write the World, Inc. is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization, founded at Harvard University in 2012. We offer online educational programs and support a vibrant writing community that’s served over 100,000 young writers and their educators. Our mission is to support young writers, directly and through their educators, to develop the writing and critical thinking skills essential to achieve success in school, career, and life. In addition to college essay services, Write the World’s programs include: a global interactive online writing community, monthly writing competitions, teacher resources, and intensive writing workshops. Learn more and sign up at writetheworld.org

Media Inquiries:
[email protected]

Media Contact

Mayra Pena, TaleSplash for Write the World, 1 2105570743, [email protected], https://writetheworld.org/ 

SOURCE Write the World

Society: Social Services

OREF/UConn Collaboration to Support The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering

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As part of the collaboration, the OREF will work to grow awareness of and support for The Cato T. Laurencin Institute as well as provide a mechanism for donors to give through the OREF website. “OREF is committed to improving care and outcomes for all patients, including those impacted by musculoskeletal injuries, illness or congenital issues affecting the limbs,” noted OREF President Thomas P. Sculco, MD. “We are delighted to partner with Dr. Laurencin and The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering to support his important and breakthrough work.”

Dr. Laurencin, the Chief Executive Officer of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, stated, “the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation and The Cato T. Laurencin Institute share a vision of producing leading edge research that ultimately translates to leading edge care of our patients. The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering represents a transdisciplinary effort integrating medicine, engineering, surgery, biology, physics, chemistry, and statistics/machine learning to enable a powerful platform for addressing scientific and medical problems in the regeneration and healing of complex tissues, organs, or organ systems. This new partnership is exciting. It will advance clinical treatment and patient outcomes through novel research, and through translating findings directly to technologies helping people.”

To make a gift, visit the OREF website at https://www.oref.org/Laurencin. Funds raised through this partnership will support the core programs of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute and OREF’s research mission. Ninety-five percent of each gift will be directed by OREF to the UConn Foundation, Inc to support The Cato T. Laurencin Institute programs and five percent will support OREF’s research programs. Additional information about the UConn Foundation is available at https://www.foundation.uconn.edu/financial-information/

To learn more about The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, visit OREF’s website or the institute’s website at https://health.uconn.edu/regenerative-engineering-institute/.

About the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation
An independent 501(c)3 nonprofit, OREF strives to improve clinical care and patient outcomes by advancing innovative research, developing new investigators, and uniting the orthopaedic community in promoting musculoskeletal health. The Foundation raises funds to support research on diseases and injuries of bones, nerves, muscles, and tendons and to enhance clinical care leading to improved health, increased activity, and a better quality of life for patients. For more information, visit https://www.oref.org and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About the Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering at UConn
Founded by Cato T. Laurencin, MD, PhD, The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering is a cross-university Institute focused on breakthrough technologies for complex tissue regeneration. For more information, visit https://health.uconn.edu/regenerative-engineering-institute/.

About the UConn Foundation
The UConn Foundation, Inc. is an independent, not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization that operates exclusively to promote the educational, scientific, cultural, research, and recreational objectives of the University of Connecticut. The Foundation does this by providing quality programs and services for its alumni and supporters, and by serving as the primary fundraising vehicle for the University. The Foundation solicits, administers, and invests private funds for the sole benefit of the University and its mission of pursuing excellence in teaching, research, and public service. For more information, visit http://www.foundation.uconn.edu or find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. 

Media Contact

Karen Pubentz, Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, 8474305113, [email protected], www.oref.org 

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SOURCE Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation



Society: Social Services

Alliance of Channel Women Thanks Outstanding Volunteers with 2023 ACT Awards

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  • Madison Beedy, National Channel Manager at One Ring Networks and Member of the ACW Sponsorship Committee
  • Sommer Figone, Senior Manager, Marketing at RapidScale, a Cox Business Company, and Co-chair of the ACW Events Committee
  • Vicki Patten, Vice President of Channel at Ntirety and Member of the ACW Mentorship Committee
  • Alexie Teferi, Account Director II, Channel Development at Lumen and Co-chair of ACW Mentorship Committee

“ACW relies on member volunteers for ideas and energy to help drive our community programs,” said Cassie Jeppson, ACW President and Director of North America Operations and Strategy at Lenovo. “We thank our outstanding volunteers — Madison Beedy, Sommer Figone, Vicki Patten and Alexie Teferi — for going above and beyond in supporting this community-driven organization and contributing to its success.”

ACT Award winners are selected annually by the ACW Board of Directors based on nominations from ACW committee chairs.

About the Alliance of Channel Women
Founded in 2010, the Alliance of Channel Women is a not-for-profit organization of women in the indirect sales channel of the telecom and IT industry. The Alliance of Channel Women brings us together to empower and advance women’s careers and leadership roles in the technology channel through education, community, advocacy and opportunities for personal growth. To learn more and to become a member, please visit http://www.allianceofchannelwomen.org.

Media Contact

Khali Henderson, Alliance of Channel Women, 480.848.6726, [email protected]m, www.allianceofchannelwomen.org

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SOURCE Alliance of Channel Women



Society: Social Services

Operation Homefront Relieves Holiday Financial Stress for Military Families through Nationwide Toy Drive with Dollar Tree

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“Our partnership with Operation Homefront is one of the many ways that our company champions our values of service and belonging.” said Jason Nordin, SVP, Chief of Stores, Dollar Tree. “By supporting the Holiday Toy Drive, Dollar Tree serves as a resource for providing toys to kids across the country – and it’s through our customers’ generosity that we’re able to ensure military families are cared for during the holiday season.”

“The holidays can be a very stressful time for many American families, but particularly so for our nation’s military families, many who may be far from loved ones and struggling to make ends meet,” said retired Brig. Gen. John I. Pray Jr., President & CEO of Operation Homefront. “The entire Operation Homefront family is extremely grateful that, for 17 consecutive years, our amazing Dollar Tree partners and their caring customers continue to express their gratitude through our annual Holiday Toy Drive program with the sole goal of helping this very special and deserving group of our fellow citizens in their time of need.”

Visit OperationHomefront.org/HolidayToys for more information about how to volunteer, sponsor, and donate toys or to register to receive toys at a distribution event.

About Operation Homefront: Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 85 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing, and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves America’s military families. For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org.

About Dollar Tree: Dollar Tree, a Fortune 200 Company, operated 16,476 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces as of July 29, 2023. Stores operate under the brands of Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree Canada. To learn more about the Company, visit http://www.DollarTree.com.

Media Contact

Erin Burgy, Operation Homefront, (469) 934-7131, [email protected], https://operationhomefront.org/

SOURCE Operation Homefront

Society: Social Services

United Airlines Sued For Racism, Anti-Semitism, And Favoring Young White Flight Attendants On Dodgers Charter Flight Program, By Merino Yebri LLP Law Firm In Los Angeles

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The flight attendants also allege in their lawsuit that white United employees engaged in blatant racism, discrimination, and antisemitism towards minority flight attendants on the Dodgers charter flights.

Darby Quezada, who is of Mexican, Black, and Jewish descent, claims that she was called the “flight’s maid” because they needed “a Mexican to clean the bathrooms,” was told to stop speaking Spanish with a Dodger player because “we are in America,” and endured antisemitic comments such as “you know Jesus died for you even if you don’t believe” and “you don’t look Jewish.”

“The unrelenting racist and antisemitic comments were demoralizing and dehumanizing,” said Ms. Quezada. “Blatant discrimination like this should not be tolerated in 2023.”

Dawn Todd, a Black flight attendant with over 17 years of experience at the airline, alleges that she suffered retaliation after complaining about the demotion of Black flight attendants, the denial of benefits and perks to Black flight attendants on the Dodger flights, and the racism and ageism she experienced herself.

“It was extremely disappointing that United mistreated us in this way and then completely ignored our complaints,” said Ms. Todd.

“Major America corporations like United Airlines must understand that it is illegal to make staffing decisions based on an employee’s race and looks, even if it is meant to please major clients like the Los Angeles Dodgers,” said attorney Sam S. Yebri of Merino Yebri LLP. “United’s blatantly discriminatory staffing decisions allowed the cancer of racism and antisemitism to metastasize on the flights themselves.”

This lawsuit follows a similar lawsuit filed in 2020 that alleged that United discriminated against Black and Jewish flight attendants for its athletic teams’ charter flights by staffing them only with flight attendants who “fit a specific visual image,” namely “young, white, female, and predominately blond/blue-eyed” flight attendants.

The lawsuit, filed on October 25, 2023 in Los Angeles Superior Court, is captioned Quezada et. al. v. United Airlines, Inc., LASC Case No. 23STCV26112.

Media Contact

Sam S. Yebri, Esq., Merino Yebri LLP, 1 3105512015, [email protected], www.MYLAWLLP.com

SOURCE Merino Yebri LLP

Society: Social Services

Zakay Law Group APLC and JCL Law Firm APC File Class Action Lawsuit Against San Francisco Aids Foundation Alleging Failure to Provide Meal and Rest Breaks

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As a result of their rigorous work schedules, San Francisco Aids Foundation’s employees were allegedly unable to take off duty rest breaks and were not fully relieved of duty for rest periods. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges employees were required from time-to-time to work in excess of four (4) hours without being provided ten (10) minute rest periods as a result of their overburdened work requirements and inadequate staffing. Further, the lawsuit alleges these employees were denied their first rest periods of at least ten (10) minutes for some shifts worked of at least two (2) to four (4) hours from time to time, a first and second rest period of at least ten (10) minutes for some shifts worked of between six (6) and eight (8) hours from time to time, and a first, second and third rest period of at least ten (10) minutes for some shifts worked of ten (10) hours or more from time to time. Additionally, San Francisco Aids Foundation’s employees were also allegedly not provided with one-hour wages in lieu thereof. As a result of their allegedly rigorous work schedules and inadequate staffing, San Francisco Aids Foundation’s employees were from time to time allegedly denied their proper rest periods by Windsor Twin Palms Healthcare Center.

If you would like to know more about the San Francisco Aids Foundation lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047.

Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC are labor and employment law firms with offices located in California that dedicate their practices to fighting for employees who have been wronged by their employers due to unfair employment practices. Contact one of their attorneys today if you need help with workplace issues regarding wage and hour, wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, and harassment.

-THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT (Rules Prof. Conduct, rule 7.2)-

Media Contact

Jackland Hom, Zakay Law Group, APLC, (619) 255-9047, [email protected], https://zakaylaw.com/

SOURCE Zakay Law Group, APLC

Society: Social Services

Minister Farrakhan addresses the Nation of Islam’s lawsuit filed against the ADL and SWC

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The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan will speak to the lawsuit He and the Nation of Islam filed on October 16, 2023, against the Anti-Defamation League, its CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and one of its directors, Rabbi Abraham Cooper for alleged First Amendment violations and defamation.

CHICAGO, Oct. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan will speak to the lawsuit He and the Nation of Islam filed on October 16, 2023 in US District Court for the Southern District of New York (Case Number: 1:2023cv09110), against the Anti-Defamation League, its CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and one of its directors, Rabbi Abraham Cooper for alleged First Amendment violations and defamation.

Tune in at NOI.org, Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. E.S.T.

Media Contact

Sa’ad Muhammad, Nation of Islam, 1 602-922-3536, [email protected], https://noi.org

SOURCE Nation of Islam