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Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Global Citizen takes its fight against poverty to the world's growing cities
DETROIT (AP) — Global Citizen is turning to cities as it looks to break through what it sees as widespread political gridlock hindering large-scale action on its goal of ending extreme poverty worldwide. The nonprofit advocacy group has rallied the private sector and foreign dignitaries to solve humanitarian challenges together, driving millions of dollars toward replenishing international aid and eradicating polio since 2008. But Global Citizen co-founder Simon Moss said Thursday it is local officials who are increasingly joining traditional international players in shaping whether communities are equipped to tackle urgent crises. 'We can get beyond partisan politics a lot of the time when you're dealing with a group of people in a city who all literally live there," Moss said. 'That's easier a lot of the time to get real progress compared to waiting on elected officials in capitals, who will often talk a good game and who'll be responsive, but where, in America and many other countries, they're finding it really hard to actually make big-picture policy decisions," he added. The emphasis arose when leaders heard shared concerns from partners across major African and North American cities. In Detroit, which Thursday hosted Global Citizen's first American conference outside New York City, organizers saw an opportunity to highlight a place experiencing population growth after decades-long losses alongside the auto industry's decline. The urban focus also reflects U.N. projections that more than two-thirds of the world's population will live in cities by 2050 — a trend that Global Citizen fears will worsen concentrated poverty if local governments don't start creating inclusive economic opportunities. Making AI available to small businesses To prevent under-resourced communities from missing the latest technological changes, Global Citizen unveiled a new partnership making artificial intelligence more accessible. Goodera, a company that helps implement corporate volunteer programs, aims to mobilize engineers with the goal of making 10 million people 'AI literate' by 2030. Half of those people will be underserved women and youth, according to Moss. Their first focus will be bridging the digital divide in cities, according to Moss, and Goodera is helping identify those most at risk of getting left behind. They also plan to work with entrepreneurs in low-income countries. Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban noted the transformative potential for small business owners during a panel Thursday at Global Citizen NOW: Detroit. ChatGPT can 'write a business plan that's better' than anything he could write, Cuban admitted, and offers access to every piece of business advice out there. George Opare Addo, Ghana's minister of youth development and empowerment, pointed out that farmers are already using the technology's limited availability to better predict weather and improve their yields. But he said that youth must be engaged in its rollout. 'For young people to be able to appreciate AI, then they must be not just users of it, but makers of it,' he said. Art, food and sports as cornerstones of changing communities Other panelists emphasized the need for cities to build shared cultures by fostering creative scenes and sports fandoms. Global Citizen has recently relied on high-powered sports leagues such as FIFA to raise money for education initiatives. And Cuban — who previously owned the Dallas Mavericks — said no industry unites people around a common cause like sports. 'As things change in a city, the first place you look is the sports team for support, always. Every tragedy, you look to the sports team first, always,' Cuban said. 'And that is so unique. You just don't get that with any other business.' For celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, the food industry provides 'spaces that you can have dialogues' and 'opportunities to break bread.' Samuelsson's cuisine, for example, blends his Ethiopian heritage with his Swedish upbringing. Jessica Nabongo, a Ugandan-American travel blogger, recalled growing up eating Lebanese, Polish and Japanese foods in Detroit's diverse culinary scene. That experience, she said, instilled 'a respect for other people's culture out the gate.' 'There has to be a reverence — truly a reverence — for the people who are here and have been here and made the city what it is, no matter what the ebbs and flows are,' she said. As cities change, though, it is local artists who Detroit Poet Laureate jessica Care moore finds are tasked with making sure their histories remain told and their longtime residents remain seen. Good artists, she said, 'paint the pictures that people can't see' and 'ask the questions that nobody's asking.' 'Artists are the pulse of the people,' she said. 'If you turn cities into just places for corporations, then you lose the soul of the city. And Detroit, the soul of our city, are the people that live here.' ___ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit James Pollard, The Associated Press
Associated Press
10-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Global Citizen takes its fight against poverty to the world's growing cities
DETROIT (AP) — Global Citizen is turning to cities as it looks to break through what it sees as widespread political gridlock hindering large-scale action on its goal of ending extreme poverty worldwide. The nonprofit advocacy group has rallied the private sector and foreign dignitaries to solve humanitarian challenges together, driving millions of dollars toward replenishing international aid and eradicating polio since 2008. But Global Citizen co-founder Simon Moss said Thursday it is local officials who are increasingly joining traditional international players in shaping whether communities are equipped to tackle urgent crises. 'We can get beyond partisan politics a lot of the time when you're dealing with a group of people in a city who all literally live there,' Moss said. 'That's easier a lot of the time to get real progress compared to waiting on elected officials in capitals, who will often talk a good game and who'll be responsive, but where, in America and many other countries, they're finding it really hard to actually make big-picture policy decisions,' he added. The emphasis arose when leaders heard shared concerns from partners across major African and North American cities. In Detroit, which Thursday hosted Global Citizen's first American conference outside New York City, organizers saw an opportunity to highlight a place experiencing population growth after decades-long losses alongside the auto industry's decline. The urban focus also reflects U.N. projections that more than two-thirds of the world's population will live in cities by 2050 — a trend that Global Citizen fears will worsen concentrated poverty if local governments don't start creating inclusive economic opportunities. Making AI available to small businesses To prevent under-resourced communities from missing the latest technological changes, Global Citizen unveiled a new partnership making artificial intelligence more accessible. Goodera, a company that helps implement corporate volunteer programs, aims to mobilize engineers with the goal of making 10 million people 'AI literate' by 2030. Half of those people will be underserved women and youth, according to Moss. Their first focus will be bridging the digital divide in cities, according to Moss, and Goodera is helping identify those most at risk of getting left behind. They also plan to work with entrepreneurs in low-income countries. Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban noted the transformative potential for small business owners during a panel Thursday at Global Citizen NOW: Detroit. ChatGPT can 'write a business plan that's better' than anything he could write, Cuban admitted, and offers access to every piece of business advice out there. George Opare Addo, Ghana's minister of youth development and empowerment, pointed out that farmers are already using the technology's limited availability to better predict weather and improve their yields. But he said that youth must be engaged in its rollout. 'For young people to be able to appreciate AI, then they must be not just users of it, but makers of it,' he said. Art, food and sports as cornerstones of changing communities Other panelists emphasized the need for cities to build shared cultures by fostering creative scenes and sports fandoms. Global Citizen has recently relied on high-powered sports leagues such as FIFA to raise money for education initiatives. And Cuban — who previously owned the Dallas Mavericks — said no industry unites people around a common cause like sports. 'As things change in a city, the first place you look is the sports team for support, always. Every tragedy, you look to the sports team first, always,' Cuban said. 'And that is so unique. You just don't get that with any other business.' For celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, the food industry provides 'spaces that you can have dialogues' and 'opportunities to break bread.' Samuelsson's cuisine, for example, blends his Ethiopian heritage with his Swedish upbringing. Jessica Nabongo, a Ugandan-American travel blogger, recalled growing up eating Lebanese, Polish and Japanese foods in Detroit's diverse culinary scene. That experience, she said, instilled 'a respect for other people's culture out the gate.' 'There has to be a reverence — truly a reverence — for the people who are here and have been here and made the city what it is, no matter what the ebbs and flows are,' she said. As cities change, though, it is local artists who Detroit Poet Laureate jessica Care moore finds are tasked with making sure their histories remain told and their longtime residents remain seen. Good artists, she said, 'paint the pictures that people can't see' and 'ask the questions that nobody's asking.' 'Artists are the pulse of the people,' she said. 'If you turn cities into just places for corporations, then you lose the soul of the city. And Detroit, the soul of our city, are the people that live here.' ___ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit
CTV News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Barry Manilow superfan almost missed out on Toronto concert due to lack of accessible seating
Superfan Cynthia from Brampton, wanted to see Barry very badly and was disappointed when she couldn't get wheelchair accessible tickets for the concert. There are some big-name acts coming to Toronto this summer, with the city is hosting concerts including Oasis, Coldplay and Stevie Knicks among others. Barry Manilow will bring six decades of hits to Toronto's Scotiabank Arena on his 'Last Concerts' tour on May 31st. Superfan Cynthia from Brampton – who asked we only use her first name – said she was extremely excited to see him perform. 'I've played his CDs so much that some of them have worn out,' Cynthia told CTV News. Manilow had numerous major hits in the '70s such as 'I Write the Songs,' 'Mandy,' and 'Copacabana.' Cynthia says she's seen him in concert twice already, and was excited about getting to attend the 81-year-old singer's final tour. She says she has also read all of Manilow's books and can play his songs on the piano. 'Oh boy. Barry, Barry, Barry. It would be so thrilling just to see him. I would just die to go.' Cynthia has a disability and requires a mobility scooter, wheelchair, and walker to get around. She first contacted CTV News in February when she was trying to buy tickets for Manilow's concert and was shocked to find out there were no wheelchair accessible tickets available. 'They checked and said we are not selling tickets for the handicapped spots. I don't know why,' said Cynthia. An advocacy group, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance (AODAA), says there needs to be more accessible seating made available for people with disabilities at concerts and sporting events. 'For fans of Barry Manilow, they are going to be older folks because he was a hit back in the '70s,' said AODAA Chair David Lepofsky. 'We need to have proper standards enacted and enforced so that when future venues are built, they are designed to maximize accessibility.' 'If you don't have equal access that's not fair, and our human rights code guarantees equal treatment in respect to goods, services and facilities without discrimination because of disability.' Scotiabank Arena's website says it provides one per cent of fixed seating for the disabled and their companions. CTV reached out to Ticketmaster and a spokesperson said, 'Accessible seating tickets were available for the show and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to demand, this ticket type is no longer available.' When CTV contacted Scotiabank Arena, they were able to locate two wheelchair accessible tickets and gave them to Cynthia and her husband free of charge. 'I got tickets to Barry Manilow. I've died and gone to heaven. I am so excited and just thrilled to pieces. I just so thankful,' said Cynthia.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Indivisible Charlotte holds 10th Tesla protest in Matthews
A local civic engagement and advocacy group hosted its tenth Tesla protest Saturday afternoon. READ: Thousands gather in Charlotte to participate in national 'Hands Off!' protest Volunteers with Indivisible Charlotte gathered in front of the Matthews Tesla dealership in a peaceful protest. Organizers said the group was out there to protest D.O.G.E. and Elon Musk, with a focus on dissent toward billionaire involvement in the government and cuts to social programs. The protests aim to discourage others from buying Tesla vehicles or Tesla stock, according to organizers. PHOTOS: Indivisible Charlotte holds 10th Tesla protest in Matthews
