Latest news with #Curie
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
How an ex-football player is tackling health issues — and inspiring hope — on the West Side through running
If you've been wanting to get active but don't have the group to do it with, look no further. The Peace Runners have you covered. 'Seeing people hit their ultimate goals are the benefits of what running can provide,' Peace Runners 773 Executive Director Jackie Hoffman said. 'It's not about how fast you can (run), as long as we can get through that finish line. That's the thing we care about as an organization, and I think that's powerful.' Peace Runners 773 is a nonprofit running club located on the West Side that offers free runs and workouts for anyone interested. Whether you are a trained runner, looking for a late-summer body transformation or want to meet like-minded people, the group can provide all of the above. The club's goal is to 'tackle real community issues such as obesity, low life expectancy and mental health.' Hoffman, 35, always has been active. After growing up on the West Side and playing football and basketball at Curie, he played on the offensive line at College of DuPage and Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach, Fla., later receiving a tryout with the Chicago Bears. He said his football career helped show him what Chicago can be. 'That was the experience and exposure space for me to go see life and go to see every other place,' Hoffman said. '(When I came) back home, I'm like, dang, this community that I grew up in is not the place that everybody wants to be.' Hoffman said his reason for founding Peace Runners comes back to his mother. During the pandemic, she was on the phone with a doctor who informed his mother, 62 at the time, that the average life expectancy on the West Side was only 66 and the number varies with area codes. His mother dealt with high blood pressure, prediabetes and obesity, Hoffman said. 'That's the moment where it hit me,' he said. 'To me (my mom) is Superwoman. For the first time, (I saw) that she had a weakness, (that) this is a bad thing.' Hoffman challenged his mom to walk a mile a day. His push turned into 60 lost pounds, a decrease in medication and increased time between doctor visits. After that, Hoffman wondered what he could do for others on the West Side. 'Everybody (thinks) that gun violence is how people pass away in these intersecting communities, but it's this secret killer (of bad health) that is taking us away,' Hoffman said. 'We normalize somebody that's 60 years old dying. On the behalf of my mom, no, that's not happening.' From there, Peace Runners was born. The Peace Runners symbol is a peace sign with wings and the 773 area code on both sides. It represents the group's goals: violence prevention and mental health security. 'The biggest thing is when people see (a group of) Black or brown people, (I wonder) what the first image of that (is),' Hoffman said. 'When people see us and see those wings, they know it's the Peace Runners.' Participants have covered more than 50,000 miles all over the globe. Hoffman and other Peace Runners have hit the streets in cities such as Tokyo, Sydney and Boston. 'If I go to Sydney or Tokyo and run 26.2 miles with 'Peace Runners' on my chest, everybody understands the mission of why I'm running this race,' Hoffman said. 'I'm shedding light on the disinvestment in our community. It's something we don't deserve. It's time for changes to happen so we can push forward and grow as a community.' The club wants members to experience a family-like feeling. Peace Runners is centered in Garfield Park, which the club calls an 'inspiring backdrop for individual transformation.' One way the group checks in with members is with the #BigSteppaWednesday hashtag, whereby runners post themselves running or exercising along with their progress on social media. 'Love for us isn't something that you have to earn,' Hoffman said. 'Love is (where) we go meet you where you're at and greet you with love. We understand that on a daily basis, people aren't meeting you with that.' Members feel the love from the Peace Runners leaders. 'I was sick a little bit in the hospital and called (Hoffman) to come to the hospital to see me and (they) only have family members coming in,' track coach Brendan Gilbert, 36, said. 'We show up to not only this, we come to people's work events, we go to birthday parties and we meet each other's families, so it's nice.' Added member Sarah Lyons, 36: 'I always thought I was a solo runner, (but) it's so much better to run with people who (are) on the same page and have the same goals, and Peace Runners does a great job of bringing everyone.' Those with minimal running experience should feel welcome in Peace Runners' Couch to 5K program, which helps transform non-runners into 3-mile form. Running a 5K can appear daunting but is easier than it sounds. 'It's basically getting the person who has not run in their entire life the nutrition, the proper techniques and tools to get them moving,' said Nicole Midderhoff, 42, the group's community events and engagement manager. 'To be able to run your first 5K, that's big.' On June 14, the Peace Runners held their Juneteenth Wellness 5K run on the West Side. More than 520 people showed up. Hoffman shared what it means to him for people of color to come together in a run. 'After learning about Juneteenth, (we said) let's do something positive in the community,' Hoffman said. 'It was only 20 people (the first time), but to go from 20 to 520 is insane. 'In broader conversations about community, people have to see people that look like them in the space and see positive things for others to be positive. When you see 500 people running (together), it changes the mind and inspires and provides a feeling of hope.' If there is a Peace Runners sighting, the group asks spectators to throw up a peace sign. 'Or better yet, JOIN US!' as their website states. 'The Peace Runners is the best place in the world, not just Chicago,' Hoffman said. 'To be inspired and loved, that's what we're about, so tell them to pull up to Peace Runners.'
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Draup Launches Curie: The Agentic AI Built for Enterprise HR Teams
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, July 16, 2025 /CNW/ -- Draup, the leader in enterprise talent intelligence, today announced the launch of Curie: a purpose-built agentic AI product that radically redefines how HR leaders turn complex labor and market data into strategic decisions. As enterprises navigate global talent shortages, rapid skill evolution, and rising pressure to future-proof their workforce, Curie steps in to close the gap between data overload and actionable talent decisions. "Curie is a GenAI Assistant purpose-built to combine Draup's powerful labor market data with the simplicity of natural conversation. From workforce planning and talent acquisition to skills architecture, Curie delivers instant, actionable insights that previously took weeks to generate. As a strategic digital twin, Curie empowers HR to shape the future of work with unprecedented speed and clarity. One of the most rewarding moments was when a senior HR leader shared that they used Curie to create a comprehensive white paper on location strategy for their CHRO—in under two hours." — Vijay Swaminathan, CEO & Co-Founder, Draup Built on one of the world's richest labor and market datasets spanning 1.5 million companies, 18,000 skills, 850 million professionals, and 4 million career paths, Curie makes workforce planning radically faster, smarter, and easier. Talent teams can use Curie to explore emerging skills across domains like AI and cybersecurity, assess the best global locations to hire specific talent, and identify redundant roles. They can also evaluate reskilling paths for impacted employees, compare compensation benchmarks across geographies, and understand how to evolve their talent architecture to align with business transformation. A New Kind of AI for HR: Agentic, Not Just Assistive Unlike conventional AI assistants, Curie is agentic. It is designed to take initiative, understand context, and navigate vast, interconnected data to deliver decision-ready insights. "Most business and HR leaders recognize the critical role of workforce planning in enabling business performance. Yet, organizations often struggle to execute it effectively. Curie by Draup is one of the most promising solutions for closing this gap — unlocking the power of agentic AI and labor market data for faster, more informed talent decisions that drive business results." — Brian Heger, Founder of Talent Edge Weekly Curie allows users to: Uncover skill gaps, forecast demand, and align workforce transformation Identify emerging roles, design reskilling paths, and stay ahead of talent shifts Benchmark compensation trends, identify strategic whitespace, and model location strategies And more Ready to Meet Curie: Book a demo to experience how Draup's agentic AI can reshape the way enterprises make decisions. About Draup Draup is a Talent Strategy Platform that equips HR leaders with real-time labor and market data to power workforce planning, recruitment, and skills transformation. By offering deep insights into global talent, peer benchmarks, and career pathing, Draup helps organizations design future-ready workforce strategies with precision and confidence. For media inquiries, please contact: Shyam RavishankarHead of Marketing Logo: View original content: SOURCE Draup View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Malaysian Reserve
16-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Draup Launches Curie: The Agentic AI Built for Enterprise HR Teams
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, July 16, 2025 /CNW/ — Draup, the leader in enterprise talent intelligence, today announced the launch of Curie: a purpose-built agentic AI product that radically redefines how HR leaders turn complex labor and market data into strategic decisions. As enterprises navigate global talent shortages, rapid skill evolution, and rising pressure to future-proof their workforce, Curie steps in to close the gap between data overload and actionable talent decisions. 'Curie is a GenAI Assistant purpose-built to combine Draup's powerful labor market data with the simplicity of natural conversation. From workforce planning and talent acquisition to skills architecture, Curie delivers instant, actionable insights that previously took weeks to generate. As a strategic digital twin, Curie empowers HR to shape the future of work with unprecedented speed and clarity. One of the most rewarding moments was when a senior HR leader shared that they used Curie to create a comprehensive white paper on location strategy for their CHRO—in under two hours.' — Vijay Swaminathan, CEO & Co-Founder, Draup Built on one of the world's richest labor and market datasets spanning 1.5 million companies, 18,000 skills, 850 million professionals, and 4 million career paths, Curie makes workforce planning radically faster, smarter, and easier. Talent teams can use Curie to explore emerging skills across domains like AI and cybersecurity, assess the best global locations to hire specific talent, and identify redundant roles. They can also evaluate reskilling paths for impacted employees, compare compensation benchmarks across geographies, and understand how to evolve their talent architecture to align with business transformation. A New Kind of AI for HR: Agentic, Not Just Assistive Unlike conventional AI assistants, Curie is agentic. It is designed to take initiative, understand context, and navigate vast, interconnected data to deliver decision-ready insights. 'Most business and HR leaders recognize the critical role of workforce planning in enabling business performance. Yet, organizations often struggle to execute it effectively. Curie by Draup is one of the most promising solutions for closing this gap — unlocking the power of agentic AI and labor market data for faster, more informed talent decisions that drive business results.' — Brian Heger, Founder of Talent Edge Weekly Curie allows users to: Uncover skill gaps, forecast demand, and align workforce transformation Identify emerging roles, design reskilling paths, and stay ahead of talent shifts Benchmark compensation trends, identify strategic whitespace, and model location strategies And more Ready to Meet Curie: Book a demo to experience how Draup's agentic AI can reshape the way enterprises make decisions. About Draup Draup is a Talent Strategy Platform that equips HR leaders with real-time labor and market data to power workforce planning, recruitment, and skills transformation. By offering deep insights into global talent, peer benchmarks, and career pathing, Draup helps organizations design future-ready workforce strategies with precision and confidence. For media inquiries, please contact: Shyam RavishankarHead of Marketing Logo: View original content:
Cision Canada
16-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Draup Launches Curie: The Agentic AI Built for Enterprise HR Teams
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, July 16, 2025 /CNW/ -- Draup, the leader in enterprise talent intelligence, today announced the launch of Curie: a purpose-built agentic AI product that radically redefines how HR leaders turn complex labor and market data into strategic decisions. As enterprises navigate global talent shortages, rapid skill evolution, and rising pressure to future-proof their workforce, Curie steps in to close the gap between data overload and actionable talent decisions. "Curie is a GenAI Assistant purpose-built to combine Draup's powerful labor market data with the simplicity of natural conversation. From workforce planning and talent acquisition to skills architecture, Curie delivers instant, actionable insights that previously took weeks to generate. As a strategic digital twin, Curie empowers HR to shape the future of work with unprecedented speed and clarity. One of the most rewarding moments was when a senior HR leader shared that they used Curie to create a comprehensive white paper on location strategy for their CHRO—in under two hours." — Vijay Swaminathan, CEO & Co-Founder, Draup Built on one of the world's richest labor and market datasets spanning 1.5 million companies, 18,000 skills, 850 million professionals, and 4 million career paths, Curie makes workforce planning radically faster, smarter, and easier. Talent teams can use Curie to explore emerging skills across domains like AI and cybersecurity, assess the best global locations to hire specific talent, and identify redundant roles. They can also evaluate reskilling paths for impacted employees, compare compensation benchmarks across geographies, and understand how to evolve their talent architecture to align with business transformation. A New Kind of AI for HR: Agentic, Not Just Assistive Unlike conventional AI assistants, Curie is agentic. It is designed to take initiative, understand context, and navigate vast, interconnected data to deliver decision-ready insights. "Most business and HR leaders recognize the critical role of workforce planning in enabling business performance. Yet, organizations often struggle to execute it effectively. Curie by Draup is one of the most promising solutions for closing this gap — unlocking the power of agentic AI and labor market data for faster, more informed talent decisions that drive business results." — Brian Heger, Founder of Talent Edge Weekly Curie allows users to: Uncover skill gaps, forecast demand, and align workforce transformation Identify emerging roles, design reskilling paths, and stay ahead of talent shifts Benchmark compensation trends, identify strategic whitespace, and model location strategies And more Ready to Meet Curie: Book a demo to experience how Draup's agentic AI can reshape the way enterprises make decisions. About Draup Draup is a Talent Strategy Platform that equips HR leaders with real-time labor and market data to power workforce planning, recruitment, and skills transformation. By offering deep insights into global talent, peer benchmarks, and career pathing, Draup helps organizations design future-ready workforce strategies with precision and confidence. For media inquiries, please contact:
Korea Herald
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Women at center stage: ‘Frida,' 'Marie Curie' and ‘Wicked'
For this summer, meet complex, resilient women — real and fictional — who stand at the forefront of musical storytelling, each backed by a proven track record on stage and in the hearts of audiences. 'Frida' "Frida," presented as a talk show, tells the fierce life story of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907–1954). Frida's short life of only 47 years was filled with pain. Polio left her right leg underdeveloped at six, and a bus accident at 18 led to over 30 surgeries. She married muralist Diego Rivera, 21 years her senior, but suffered a miscarriage and his affair with her sister. Premiered in 2022, the Korean musical captures Frida's physical and emotional torment through sharp ambulance sirens, vivid stage colors and powerful performances. Now in its third run, "Frida" plays from June 17 to Sept. 7 at Nol Uniplex in Daehagno, Seoul's theater district. Performed in Korean; subtitles are not available. 'Marie Curie' "Marie Curie" blends imagination with the true story of the pioneering scientist (1867–1934), who achieved groundbreaking accomplishments despite the challenges she faced as a woman and an immigrant. The musical stages an imagined encounter between Curie — who discovered radium, won the Nobel Prize, and illuminated the world — and the 'Radium Girls,' young female factory workers who suffered tragic fates painting luminous dials. Since its 2018 premiere, "Marie Curie" has proven its impact both at home and abroad, with performances in Poland, Curie's birthplace, in 2022, and a successful West End run in London last year. Its fourth season, featuring powerhouse vocalists Kim So-hyang, Park Hye-na, Kim Ryeo-won and Ock Joo-hyun, runs from July 25 to Oct. 19 at Kwanglim Arts Center in Gangnam, Seoul. Performed in Korean; subtitles are not available. 'Wicked" "Wicked" returns to Korea this week with its international tour cast performing the beloved musical in its original English, marking its first visit in 13 years since its 2012 Korean debut. It reimagines the untold story of the witches of Oz, offering a fresh perspective on the classic tale of "The Wizard of Oz." With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman, the musical explores the complex friendship between Elphaba, a misunderstood, green-skinned witch, and Glinda, a popular and ambitious witch. Premiered in 2003 on Broadway, "Wicked" has become one of the most successful musicals in the world, surpassing $6 billion in global ticket sales. It has been staged in 16 countries, produced in six different languages and won more than 100 international awards. For the first time, the musical will tour three Korean cities, opening at Seoul's Blue Square Theater before moving to Busan's Dream Theater in November and concluding at Daegu's Keimyung Art Center in January 2026. In Seoul, "Wicked" will run from July 12 to Oct. 26 at Blue Square in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. gypark@
