About Skyler Johnson

World Kidney Day Hike

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In March, a group of 20 kidney donors summited the highest mountain in Africa to celebrate World Kidney Day. This activity demonstrated that living organ donors can accomplish any physical challenge that could be achieved by a person with two kidneys. This month, they continue their advocacy of living donation by Releasing a video of their trip in observance of April as National Donate Life Month.

The climbers are all members of the nonprofit Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA), founded in 2018. “Something important to all of us is to normalize kidney donations,” KDA supporter and climber Patty Graham said. “We’re not heroes. We’re normal people leading normal lives.”

KDA President Bobby McLaughlin explained the multi-dimensional benefits of the trek, that “spending time with fellow kidney donors in Africa, spreading the word of living donation—[it] doesn’t get much better than that, but thanks in part to Embark Exploration Company we’re also making inroads and establishing partnerships with agencies in Tanzania that support kidney donation.”

Currently, there are nearly 100,000 people on the waiting list in the United States in need of a kidney. With an average wait time of three to five years for a transplant, 13 people die every day. Increasing the number of living donations would significantly reduce the number of unnecessary deaths from kidney failure, as kidneys from living donors last, on average, 50% longer than those from deceased donors.

“The media response to the Kilimanjaro climb has been overwhelming, and everyone we’ve talked to wants to see footage of the trip,” explained McLaughlin. “We hope that this attention translates to action in becoming a living donor for some.” Created by Tom Racek of Summit Pointe Productions, the new video of the trek is a precursor to an upcoming documentary to be released in the coming weeks.

More information about living kidney donation and Kidney Donor Athletes can be found HERE. The video is available on the KDA YouTube channel.

About Kidney Donor Athletes

Kidney Donor Athletes is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to promote the gift of life through living kidney donation among active individuals and athletes by building a community that inspires, supports, and educates people about the experience of kidney donation.

Role Model – Rx

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Role Model (a.k.a. Tucker Pillsbury) released his debut album, Rx. He also unveiled the music video for the title track. The album comes fresh off the heels of Role Model‘s latest single, “neverletyougo.” Its video racked up over 1.7M views (Click HERE.) His previous single “if jesus saves, she’s my type” amassed over 1.5M streams in its first week (Click HERE). Rx is an extremely dynamic body of work. Within it exists an underlying message about the power of a woman. Elements of religion, sex and love layer throughout. Find Role Model’s debut album at all digital retail providers via Interscope Records.

Click HERE to listen.

Role Model says about the album, “In the simplest terms, the album is about the power of a woman and how it healed me the past couple years. As much as it’s telling a story, it also shows the crazy shift in my life. A woman saved me and brought me out of a hole. Lyrically, I wanted to put her on a pedestal, like a higher power.”

The Music Video

The music video for “rx” presents an emotional, performance-based visual. It takes place during a long, lonely drive with a vulnerable Tucker at the wheel. As Tucker drives, the song builds as do his emotions, becoming especially triggered with each chorus. Towards the end of the song, the video cuts to a new frame revealing a girl has been sitting next to him in the car the entire time.

Click HERE to watch.

Role Model says about the music video, “I wrote the video to be as simple as it possibly could be. The focus should be on the lyrics and the emotion involved. I think the two frames sum it up perfectly.” In addition, Role Model announced his first-ever “TOURx 2022” World Tour. This is the artist’s most massive tour to date, as he will be performing at larger venues across the U.S., and he will be taking his incredible show overseas to the U.K. and Europe for the first time.

Touring

Previously announced shows in the U.K. and Europe have been upgraded to larger venues for which tickets initially purchased will be valid for the new venues. Several new U.K. and European dates have been announced as well. Role Model‘s “TOURx 2022” World Tour will also include festivals such as Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Hangout Music Fest, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and more. Tickets are on-sale now and can be purchased HERE.

New Music Releases

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It’s very easy to get stuck in a music rut. Check out songs and EPs recently released by smaller artists.

Peter Raffoul – I Just Wanna Be Ok

“I Just Wanna Be Ok” follows Peter Raffoul‘s “Bad For Me” single which has quickly become his most-streamed release. This new single and the 3 before it are all released on Peter’s own label, House In Blue.

Peter Raffoul is an alternative singer-songwriter originally from Leamington, Ontario and now based in Nashville, Tennessee. This song was co-written with his brother Billy who released his debut album on Interscope Records in 2020.

Peter has seen tremendous growth since the release of “Bad For Me” last month. With several Instagram Reels gaining hundreds of thousands of views (and one with over 1 million views), Peter’s following has exploded with over 45,000 new fans last month alone.

Conor Burns – Atherton

Conor Burn‘s Atherton EP is the culmination of several months of singles from the Bay Area artist and features the new track “Might Go Back To Atherton” which is about returning to his hometown after spending some time in Los Angeles. “This body of work is me in music form. The good, the bad, the scary, the pretty, the ugly.” said Conor Burns

The Atherton EP is Conor’s exploration of self. It also finds him exploring a mix of genres including dark pop, electronic, and alternative.

Cliffdiver – IKEA Strikes Back

CLIFFDIVER‘s second single on SideOneDummy Records, “IKEA Strikes Back,” is out along with a music video. The Tulsa band’s new album Exercise Your Demons featuring this song and the previously released single “New Vegas Bomb” is due out May 6th.

The music video follows CLIFFDIVER on their epic journey to the Battle of the Bands competition where they are overthrown by none other than fellow Tulsans Hanson.

The band announced a US tour with Carpool and Goalkeeper this summer which also includes a performance at New Found Glory’s Sticks And Stones Fest in Worcester, Massachusetts and a hometown album release show.

SEVENTEEN – Darl+ing

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K-pop stage-breakers SEVENTEEN shared a sneak peek at their first English language single “Darl+ing” with a set of concept photos and a trailer for the single.

In the first set of concept photos released at midnight on April 9 (KST), JOSHUA, JUN, THE 8, MINGYU, VERNON and DINO cast an affectionate gaze against vibrant backdrops of warm, soft-hued colors. Revealed a day earlier, a trailer for the single featured a sunlit wall that appears to be filled with messages of love and photos of memories with a loved one, accompanied by a heartwarming instrumental track. Additional concept photos are expected to follow in the days leading up to the release at midnight on April 15 (ET).

Arriving ahead of their full-length album to debut in May, the 13-member act’s first English-language single will serve as a prelude to SEVENTEEN‘s heartfelt stories for their fans, CARATs, around the world. The title poster unveiled earlier disclosed the title of the upcoming single to be “Darl+ing,” stylized with the addition of a plus sign to the affectionate term used to address a beloved.

As global fans count down the days to the release, the K-pop creatives also recently announced a collaborative project with Apple. In celebration of the new single release and Apple’s new store opening in Korea, SEVENTEEN and Apple will debut the first-ever K-pop Today at Apple Remix session which spotlights “Darl+ing.” Remix session attendees will discover more about the band’s creative process and be guided to create a one-of-a-kind remix of the new track using GarageBand and Apple’s devices. The session is set to launch initially in Korea and then in Apple stores across Asia.

About SEVENTEEN

Racking up 2 billion streams and selling 10 million albums, SEVENTEEN has rocketed to the forefront of the music scene fueled by a fiercely independent spirit and an unmatched in-house creative ecosystem. The group’s innovative structure hinges on the interplay of three units: hip-hop, vocals, and performance. Living up to the title of “K-pop Stage-breakers,” SEVENTEEN has unassumingly made history and become one of the biggest groups ever due to their world-class synchronization, jaw-dropping choreography, and tight teamwork. Moving at an unparalleled pace, the K-pop stage-breakers made their U.S. television debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden in January 2021 and followed it with unforgettable performances on The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and MTV’s Fresh Out Live. SEVENTEEN’s latest EP, Attacca, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and No. 13 on the Billboard 200. It sold over 1.3 million copies in the first week of release, earning the K-pop superstars the “quintuple-million seller” title.

FTC Attacks False Bamboo Claims

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The Federal Trade Commission used its Penalty Offense Authority to take action against national retailers Kohl’s, Inc. and Walmart, Inc. for falsely marketing dozens of rayon textile products as bamboo. Both companies also are charged with making deceptive environmental claims, touting that the “bamboo” textiles were made using eco-friendly processes, while in reality converting bamboo into rayon requires the use of toxic chemicals and results in hazardous pollutants.

The Commission has asked the court to order Kohl’s and Walmart to stop making deceptive green claims or using other misleading advertising, and pay penalties of $2.5 million and $3 million respectively, by far the largest penalties in this area. The complaints and proposed orders were filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on the FTC’s behalf.

“Kohl’s and Walmart are paying millions of dollars under the FTC’s Penalty Offense Authority for mislabeling their rayon products as bamboo,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “False environmental claims harm both consumers and honest businesses, and companies that greenwash can expect to pay a price.”

The FTC’s complaints against Kohl’s and Walmart are similar in their structure and allegations. According to the complaints, since at least January 2015, Kohl’s, headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, and Walmart, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, have each marketed at least two dozen items as made of bamboo in both product titles and descriptions. In addition, the companies have marketed some of the “bamboo-derived” products as providing general environment benefits, such as being produced “free of harmful chemicals, using clean, non-toxic materials.”

As the complaints allege, Kohl’s and Walmart’s supposed “bamboo” textiles are actually made of rayon derived from bamboo, which was not disclosed to consumers, in violation of the FTC Act and the Textile Act and Rules. Further, the complaints allege the claimed environmental benefits of the products are false and misleading because the rayon manufacturing process uses toxic chemicals and results in the emission of hazardous pollutants.

In conjunction with this announcement, the FTC is reviving additional Notices of Penalty Offenses that were issued in the 1970s or 1980s but remain valid and relevant. These notices cover, for example, textiles, energy savings, fur products, home improvement products, auto rentals, bait and switch, toys, and weight reduction. Businesses in these industries should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s determinations in these areas.

The Commission vote to authorize the staff to refer the complaints to the DOJ and to approve the proposed orders was 4-0. The DOJ filed the complaints and proposed orders on behalf of the Commission in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

New Miami Exhibits

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In the Miami Design District, a new pop-up exhibition debuted: Metonym, by Nadir Souirgi, which displays paintings that challenge human positionality in relation to other animals. Additionally, an eclectic group of Ukrainian artists are featured in the pop-up exhibition: The Memory on Her Face Pt. 2 which addresses issues of national identity from creators Nikita Kadan, Lesia Khomenko, Nikolay Karabinovych, Maria Sulymenko, Vlada Ralko and Oleksiy Sai.

Nadir Sourigi: Metonym | April 4 – May 27, Palm Court

This pop-up exhibition of new paintings by Nadir Souirgi challenges human positionality in relation to other animal realms through disorientation, interweaving, and framing. Souirgi’s work ranges from moments of ludic evolutionary force in Pink Light, where the background creates a levity to a scene that could otherwise be interpreted as simply agonizing, to moments of upturned abstraction which upon further examination reveal a code of phantom spaces and faces as in Carnival. The exhibit is presented by Bas Fisher Invitational as part of “Waterproof Miami,” a series of environmentally-informed projects done in collaboration with Bridge Initiative.

Ukrainian Artists: The Memory on Her Face Pt. 2 | April 2 – 25, Laverne Building

Presented by Voloshyn Gallery, The Memory on Her Face. Part 2 is a collective exhibition of Ukrainian artists. Addressing issues of national identity, destruction and renaissance, the exhibition highlights the artists’ take on historical events and processes, interactions between the past and the present, and ideas for the future. The first iteration of this exhibition, The Memory on Her Face, was presented in Miami between February 5–March 28, 2022. After the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine on February 24, the exhibition project gained new relevance. Documenting the events that unfolded in Ukraine over the last 8 years, the works in the show trace the physical

destruction and collective anguish caused by unfathomable events that demand global attention.

Amani Lewis | Baltimore’s Finest: Mr. Girlyoucrazy and Dev

Amani Lewis, known exclusively for canvas work, unveiled their first-ever mural in The Miami Design District‘s Jade Alley. Being a Black and nonbinary artist, Amani Lewis creates works of art with the mission to move and inform. They pull from their personal adversity and social and creative circles to make stunning portraits that point out prevailing narratives and societal misconceptions.

In the mural, Amani constructed a double portrait highlighting a creative couple from their hometown of Baltimore. Spanning a massive 40ft x 12ft, the mural depicts musician Mr. GirlYouCrazy and fashion stylist Devrene in tender embrace.

Fainzilber | Melin Windows

This window installation comprises three photographic series: Somewear, 2014; Wild Flowers, 2016; and The Cookbook, 2019) by New York-based Argentinian photographer Lucía Fainzilber. Arranged in the Melin Building windows, these highly stylized visual compositions trigger an enhanced sensorial perception through a deliberate manipulation of the artist’s preferred subjects: fabrics, food, and color. As an immigrant female artist working in New York City, the experiences of cultural and gender difference inform Fainzilber’s approach to photography, and distinguish her idiosyncratic body of work.

Natura Ora

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In celebration of Earth Day this month, The St. Regis Bora Bora is delighted to officially launch Natura Ora. Tahitian for “Living Nature,” Natura Ora is the resort’s sustainability initiative dedicated to protecting the environment, supporting local people and communities, preserving French Polynesian culture, and practicing more responsible consumption.

“For several months, our teams have worked closely with our new Sustainability Development Officer, Lucie-Léa Viot, to develop the Natura Ora concept and we are excited to officially debut this important sustainability initiative in celebration of Earth Day,” states General Manager Emmanuel Richardet. “Our goal is to create lasting, pro-active programs under the Natura Ora umbrella that inspire colleagues and the local community to work together to protect our fenua (Tahitian for land), support the people and preserve the culture of French Polynesia.”

With an emphasis on collaboration and co-creation, the resort is working with various organizations to achieve Natura Ora’s goals including the local environmental protection organization, Ia Vai Ma Noa; Amazones Pacific, a non-profit organization supporting women whose lives have been compromised by cancer; Pae Tai Pae Uta, a waste management consultancy firm; and the Agency for Environment & Energy Management (ADEME).

“This is such an incredible destination that is rich with cultural and environmental treasures,” states Lucie-Léa Viot, the resort’s Sustainability Development Officer. “I’m proud to be given this opportunity to bring our vision for Natura Ora to life to ensure that French Polynesia’s fenua, its people, and its culture thrive for many years to come.”

Projects launched as part of the Natura Ora initiative include:

Waste Management – Repurposing of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)

The resort has partnered with the local charity, Ia Via Ma Noa, to collect and repurpose electronic and electrical equipment for donation to local families and businesses in need.

Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Market

As part of Natura Ora’s mission to support good health practices, an on-property weekly market was established to sell fresh, locally-sourced produce at below market prices to help make healthy eating more accessible and affordable for colleagues and the local community.

Coral Planting

“In French Polynesia, the protection of marine life, particularly the preservation of corals, is

essential for biodiversity,” states Sustainability Development Officer, Lucie-Léa Viot. To that end, the resort will launch a coral reforestation program that invites guests to actively participate in the planting of coral with the resort’s marine specialist. Guests will receive a diploma for their work and can follow the evolution of the coral they planted year after year.

The Green Council

This 10-person team was curated from different resort departments for the purpose of brainstorming and implementing new concepts and programs in accordance with Natura Ora’s goals and areas of focus.

Annual Earth Hour Event

On March 26 this year, the resort held its first annual commemoration of Earth Hour to increase awareness about the need to reduce energy consumption to help save the planet. Between 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM, electric lights were extinguished on the resort’s Main Beach—380 candles and two fire pits were lit to illuminate the area. The event included live music and a presentation about the origins and purpose of Earth Hour.

Additional Natura Ora projects in the pipeline include taking waste management practices to the next level by increasing recycling rates and improving sorting, further development of the coral reforestation program, installment of water fountains to eliminate the use of plastic water bottles, and increasing the consumption of local products to decrease the resort’s carbon footprint. For resort colleagues, more wellness offerings and volunteer opportunities are also in development.

About The St. Regis Bora BoraThis expansive 44-acre tropical paradise combines French Polynesian hospitality with St. Regis’ renowned service. The resort’s 90-rooms are comprised of charming garden view villas, beachside villas, two-bedroom reef side villas perfect for families, and the largest overwater villas in the South Pacific. Accommodations throughout the resort are idyllically situated to optimize views of majestic Mount Otemanu and access Bora Bora’s brilliant turquoise waters and pristine beaches. Lagoon by Jean Georges Restaurant, the Iridium Spa nestled on its own private island, St. Regis’ signature butler service, a fun-filled Kids Club and the property’s stunning Lagoonarium flush with marine life are just some of the things that make this award-winning hideaway one of the world’s leading luxury resorts.

Oh Wonder – Fuck it, I Love You

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Oh Wonder dropped brand new track “Fuck It, I Love You”—the second preview of upcoming album 22 Make, which will see its release on Republic Records on July 22^nd and follows the beautiful single “Magnificent“. The band’s huge run of global dates begins this week and includes a homecoming show at London’s Brixton Academy on April 21^st.

“Fuck It I Love You” is piano-driven pop at Oh Wonder‘s finest, a bridge in many ways between the worlds of accompanying albums 22 Make and 2021’s 22 Break. It was written way back in the summer of 2020 and represented a glimmer of hope for the couple, then in the throes of what seemed like the end of both the band and the couple’s relationship. “We clung to the demo for months, secretly hoping that we’d get to release ‘Fuck It I Love You’ in happier times. It was almost like the song was telling us that we couldn’t break up and disband because it needed to be released. It probably kept us together!” Now though, adds Josephine, “We’re struggling for a non-explicit version.”

Introduced in beguiling style by the first single “Magnificent”, 22 Make is the surprise second half of alt-pop duo Oh Wonder’s 22 Break project. Its first half dropped with little warning towards the end of 2021, unpicking a turbulent period in the band’s incredible story: here were universal themes (loneliness, inadequacy, resentment, fears for the future) as experienced by one couple in real-time, all blown up in the pandemic. Not many bands can make a break-up album that culminates in them tying the knot—but then again, Oh Wonder has never been like other bands. Coming out of 22 Break and all the soul-searching that it forced them to do, Josephine and Anthony got married and channeled all this into 22 Make: a whole new album soundtracking the light at the end of a tunnel and realizing despite everything—”fuck It, I Love You”.

“When we nearly broke up during the pandemic, we used music as a way out,” Oh Wonder writes, introducing the project in its entirety. “We wrote all our pain, sadness, and confusion into a collection of songs that we eventually released as the album 22 Break. But for us, that was only half of the story. We managed to survive our rocky patch and emerge stronger than ever and full of love for each other. It only felt right therefore, to write about the other side, where you realize not just that you’re meant for each other, but also that it also takes two people to make a love flourish. We are thrilled to be releasing ’22 Make’, an album full of love and life-affirming songs that reflect on fate, gratitude, and being there for someone.”

This transformative period continues Oh Wonder’s remarkable, homegrown success story. 2020’s acclaimed No One Else Can Wear Your Crown continued a run of back-to-back top 10 albums from the band who have—on their own distinct terms—become one of UK pop’s more unsuspecting breakthroughs (2.7 billion streams, 1.7 million adjusted album sales, and vocal fans in the likes of Billie Eilish). Oh Wonder even founded and literally built from the ground up the hugely popular Nola cafe in Peckham early on in the pandemic. Through opening up to their fans and each other, the ‘Make or Break?’ poised by 22 Break and 22 Make appears not so much a question, as an active choice—to be as honest as possible, to move forward, and to begin a brand new chapter in the story of Oh Wonder.

Rail Explorers Easter

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Rail Explorers^®, the year-round, all-ages, outdoor-adventure attraction offers memorable family photo opportunities on its Easter Brunch Ramble tours April 16 and 17.

Guests can enjoy an exhilarating eight-mile downhill pedal-assisted ride from the Nevada State Railroad Museum to Railroad Pass powered by Rail Explorers^®‘ new REX Propulsion System—custom-built electric motors that make the adventure truly effortless.

A light brunch of complimentary coffee, pastries and fruit will be served for all guests.

Meanwhile, guests over 21 years of age will also enjoy mimosas, while everyone will have plenty of time to relax in Rail Explorers^®‘ signature red Adirondack chairs at the turnaround point while kids search for Easter candy. All passengers will also enjoy free entry to the museum upon returning to the station.

A tandem railbike for two is available for $110 and a quad railbike for four guests is available for $185.

Book online HERE.

About Rail Explorers^®

Located in historic Boulder City, Nevada—just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip en route to Hoover Dam—Rail Explorers^® offers exhilarating, guided excursions in two or four-seat rail bikes along the same tracks used during the construction of the dam. Tours include five memorable options, including the Southwest Round-Up, an 8-mile round trip tour, the Southwest Ramble, a scenic daytime rail bike ride that includes a trip on a historic train; the Desert Sunset Tour, a picturesque ride in the evening as the sun sets behind the River Mountains; the Fireside Starlight Ride, a one-of-a-kind experience featuring personal fire pits under the vast desert sky; and the Night Lights Tour offering a colorful illuminated rail bike ride. Rail bikes provide a truly distinctive way to explore this extraordinarily scenic and historic area. For more information, click HERE or follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Cinejoy

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Cinejoy, featuring the artists & films of Cinequest, occurs April 1-17 virtually and brings a thrilling lineup of live events, community gatherings, artist conversations and over 135 films and television (85 World and U.S. Premieres). Live Spotlight Events include the Gemma Arterton Maverick Spirit Conversation Highlight.

Maverick Spirit Award Recipients

Cinequest’s highest award, the Cinequest Maverick Spirit Award, honors those who stand apart from the crowd, creating and innovating from a place of personal yet global vision. Past recipients include Harrison Ford, Neil Gaiman, Nicolas Cage, J.J. Abrams, Alec Baldwin, Rosario Dawson, Michael Keaton, Sir Ben Kingsley, Spike Lee, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Sir Ian McKellen, Elle Fanning and Sam Neil.

This year’s recipient is Gemma Arterton! Ms. Arterton (Quantum of Solace, Kingsman: The Secret Service, The Escape, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Byzantium, The Girl with All the Gifts, Clash of the Titans) will receive the award during a special moderated conversation prior to the screening of her remarkable new movie occurring during the Spotlight Event on Sunday, April 10, at 5:30 PM PT

About Cinequest

Cinequest fuses innovation with the arts to empower great creations and to connect audiences, youth, artists, and innovators with these creations and with each other—forging community, joy, and our future. Set in Silicon Valley, Cinequest’s uniqueness, impact and legacy result from applying this powerful integration of creativity and technology to democratize opportunity and to transform lives. Cinequest does this through the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival, Cinejoy Virtual Festival, Maverick Studio, and Picture The Possibilities global youth programs.