Latest news with #DonnaMurphy
CBS News
19-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Community gathers to support survivors of Gabriel House fire in Fall River
They waited in line for hours on Friday night for the chance to support survivors of the Gabriel House fire in Fall River, Massachusetts, who are now starting from scratch. A fundraising event was hosted by multiple community groups at St. John Banquet Hall. It featured donated food from local restaurants and auction items from local businesses. All of the proceeds set to go to survivors. Nine residents died in the fire Sunday night and 30 more were hurt. It was the deadliest fire in Massachusetts in more than 40 years. "It's an awful tragedy," said Carol Dupras who drove from Tiverton, RI to be at the event. "These poor people have nothing. I just want to help. I didn't know anybody personally. I just wanted to help anyway I could." The line wrapped around the block for much of the evening as an overflow room also filled up to capacity. "It's kind of humbling," said Pat Oliveira. "We have got a lot of problems in the city, but when there are problems in the city, people pull together. They really do." A busload of Gabriel House survivors arrived at the event and was greeted by applause and hugs from those in attendance. Many of the residents were separated after the fire and placed in new assisted living facilities. Friday was the first time some had seen each other since the fire. "The outpouring of the community has been unbelievable," said Donna Murphy. "It's touched me so much." Murphy was a resident at Gabriel House, but her family asked her to babysit Sunday night. She missed the fire by hours. "It's mind boggling. The fact that I was not home that night. Of all nights I slept out. That just blows my mind," Murphy said.
Forbes
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Neurodivergent Talent Isn't A Trend, It's The Future Of Creativity
The creative industry benefits not just from neurodivergent minds. It needs them to survive what's ... More next. On Neurodiversity Pride Day, Havas didn't just join the conversation around inclusion; they reframed it. Their new global campaign, Beyond the Brief, launched live at the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, was designed not to spotlight neurodivergent talent as a token effort, but to reposition it as essential to the future of the creative industry. Helmed by Donna Murphy, Global CEO of Havas Creative and Health Networks, the campaign builds on the foundation of Neuroverse: Powered by Havas, aiming to shift how the industry identifies and cultivates creative potential radically. "We're at a pivotal point of transformation in the creative industry, driven by the rise of AI and the welcoming of new tools and ideas, " Murphy explained. "Yet there remains a clear gap. It's one that Havas believes has a clear resolve by tapping into the immense potential of neurodivergent creative talent. " The message is simple: the creative industry benefits not just from neurodivergent minds. It needs them to survive what's next. Breaking the Mold, Not Fitting Into It The campaign's anchor panel, "Neurodivergent Minds: They Don't Need Advertising. Advertising Needs Them," was held on June 16 at the Palais Lumière Theatre. Moderated by The Daily's Michael Barbaro, the panel featured Murphy, Renee Connolly of Merck KGaA, and British singer-songwriter Lola Young, who brought raw honesty and authenticity to the discussion. Young didn't mince words when describing her place in the creative world. "I'm not here to fit into anyone's idea of what 'creative' should look like," she said. "I'm here because the way my mind works is exactly why my art connects." Diagnosed with ADHD, she added that her diagnosis wasn't a limitation, but a strength. "ADHD isn't a barrier, it's the engine." That ethos echoed throughout the campaign's presence at Cannes. Days before the launch, unbranded digital teaser displays appeared along the Croisette, posing provocative questions like, 'What if the future of creativity doesn't look like the past, and never did?' Each display featured a QR code that led to a dedicated microsite with a full agenda of neurodiversity-focused programming, including featured panels, downloadable insights, and events hosted beyond Havas. The entire rollout sent a clear signal: this is a movement, not a moment. Data Meets Lived Experience It's not just anecdotes driving the need for change. A 2025 study from and the Ad Council reveals that 69% of neurodivergent professionals believe their thinking style gives them a creative advantage, yet only 19% feel supported at work. That gap between potential and understanding is precisely what Beyond the Brief seeks to close. A 2025 study from and the Ad Council reveals that 69% of neurodivergent professionals ... More believe their thinking style gives them a creative advantage, yet only 19% feel supported at work. The campaign also highlighted that neurodivergent people are more than just creative contributors; they're also a critical consumer demographic. A session at the Havas Café titled "The New Creative Alchemy: Neurodivergent Minds & AI as Industry Catalysts" offered a roadmap for how brands and agencies can better support neurodivergent talent and create products and campaigns that resonate with their experiences. "With Beyond the Brief, we're looking to amplify these voices and challenge the industry to rethink the systems in place," Murphy emphasized. By debuting the initiative at the largest creative festival in the world, she made it clear that this wasn't about corporate social responsibility; it was about redesigning the very ecosystem of creativity. Rewriting the Rules, Not Just the Résumés Too often, neurodivergent candidates are excluded not because they lack ideas, but because the hiring systems weren't designed for them. Job descriptions use vague buzzwords. Interviewers prize eye contact and neurotypical social norms. Creative briefs lack clarity or accessibility. Havas' campaign challenges these defaults. The microsite offers a downloadable insights report along with recommendations on everything from more inclusive hiring practices to designing sensory-friendly work environments. It's about removing the friction that has long kept brilliant, divergent thinkers outside the door. "The campaign calls on everyone in the industry to help shape a future of creativity that's more dynamic and powerful than ever before," Murphy noted. That future requires intentional, actionable change, not just applause from the audience. Neurodivergent Minds Aren't Optional. They're Original For years, the advertising industry has praised the value of thinking outside the box. But as Young and others made clear, neurodivergent creatives never saw the box in the first place. Their brains operate with different rhythms, connections, and cues, and that difference is their edge. To ignore that is to ignore the direction innovation is already headed. Panels like the one at Cannes Lions weren't confined to back corners or check-the-box sessions. They were mainstage moments. They asked the industry to rethink not just who gets hired but what creativity means in an era shaped by AI, global crises, and shifting audience values. Building a Future That Reflects Every Mind We are finally at the precipice of building a world where neurodivergent minds are not just ... More welcomed, but embraced. We are finally at the precipice of building a world where neurodivergent minds are not just welcomed, but embraced. It's not enough to be inspired by their talent. We must adapt our systems to include them from the start. Murphy, Young, Connolly, and the Havas team are showing what that future could look like: one where the industry stops viewing those who are neurodivergent as a challenge to manage and starts recognizing it as a competitive advantage. Because the future of creativity doesn't resemble the past, it never has.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Creativity Rewired: Havas Debuts 'Beyond the Brief' to Spotlight Neurodiversity as the Next Creative Advantage
Launching on Neurodiversity Pride Day at Cannes Lions 2025, the global campaign challenges the industry to rethink creativity by focusing on neurodivergent talent. CANNES, France, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Today, Havas unveils Beyond the Brief – a bold, first-of-its-kind global campaign designed to reshape conversations around the future of the creative industry. Launched live on the opening day of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and led by Donna Murphy, Global CEO of Havas Creative and Health Networks, Beyond the Brief builds on Neuroverse: Powered by Havas, and the commitment to reshaping how creative talent is identified and embraced. The initiative was teased over the weekend with an unbranded activation on the Croisette and continues throughout the festival. "We're at a pivotal point of transformation in the creative industry, driven by the rise of AI and the welcoming of new tools and ideas. Yet there remains a clear gap – one that Havas believes has a clear resolve by tapping into the immense potential of neurodivergent creative talent," said Donna Murphy. The campaign is anchored by the inaugural Havas mainstage panel, "Neurodivergent Minds: They Don't Need Advertising – Advertising Needs Them," taking place June 16 at the Palais' Lumière Theatre. Moderated by The Daily podcast host Michael Barbaro of The New York Times, the conversation features global recording artist, Lola Young, who will be joined by Renee Connolly, Chief Belonging & Inclusion Officer and SVP, Life Science Communications & Branding, Merck KGaA; and Donna Murphy. "I'm not here to fit into anyone's idea of what 'creative' should look like, I'm here because the way my mind works is exactly why my art connects," shared Lola Young, global recording artist. "ADHD isn't a barrier, it's the engine. Being part of this panel, and the industry challenge Havas is putting forward at Cannes, is about saying it loud: there's power in the mess, and brilliance in the minds people have spent too long trying to 'fix'." Unbranded digital teaser displays appeared along the Croisette ahead of the official campaign's launch, and running all week, with bold creative asking questions like, "What if the future of creativity doesn't look like the past — and never did?" QR codes embedded in the work link to a dedicated microsite with a full agenda of neurodiversity-focused programming across Cannes and beyond Havas, underscoring that this is a movement larger than one agency. Additional programming includes the Havas Café panel, "The New Creative Alchemy: Neurodivergent Minds & AI as Industry Catalysts," on Monday, June 16. The session will unveil new data and professional insights that highlight the contributions of neurodivergent individuals, as creative professionals and powerful consumers, offering agencies, brands, and leaders a practical roadmap for action. "With Beyond the Brief, we're looking to amplify these voices and challenge the industry to rethink the systems in place. At the world's largest creative festival, we're calling on everyone to help shape a future of creativity that's more dynamic and powerful than ever before," adds Murphy. The campaign's dedicated microsite, accessible via QR codes on the Havas digital displays on the Croissette, offers a full look at Beyond the Brief and Havas' broader neurodiversity efforts, including the Cannes programming agenda, featured events across the festival, downloadable insights report, and more. Visit it directly at ABOUT HAVAS HEALTH NETWORK Havas Health Network unites Havas Life, Havas Lynx, and Jacques, all wholly owned health and communications networks, with the consumer health businesses and practices of Havas Creative Network. The network's approach is centered around making a meaningful difference and has the talent, tenacity, and technology that health companies, brands, and people need to thrive in today's world. For more information, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Havas Worldwide, LLC Sign in to access your portfolio
Geek Girl Authority
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Unpopular Opinion - TANGLED'S Mother Gothel Wasn't That Bad
Mother Gothel wasn't that bad. Hear me out. Did she keep the Queen and King of the land in anguish for 18 years by stealing their only baby? Sure did. Did she keep said baby locked in a tower away from human contact and influence? Most definitely. Did she emit Mommie Dearest energy by gaslighting her to believe that the lanterns flown on her birthday every year were never for her? Yep, unfortunately. If this were a real-world scenario, there's no doubt that Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy) would have been arrested, tried and thrown in prison for tens of years – and rightfully so. However, honestly, in the grand scheme of things, she could have done so much more damage to Rapunzel overall. Besides being a kidnapper, her worst crime as her acting mother was never empowering her – which I think we can all agree is a terrible thing for any parental figure to do to their own child. Gothel's strategy of stifling Rapunzel's inner desire to experience life outside her tower was convincing her that the 'outside was a dangerous place, filled with horrible, selfish people.' I mean, she wasn't totally wrong. Am I right? She raised her as her own, taught her to sing (granted, this was to keep Gothel young), nicknamed her Flower, and even when Rapunzel wanted a specific gift for her birthday that required a long trip to retrieve, Gothel agreed to take the trip with little hesitation. All I'm saying is all Gothel needed was Rapunzel's hair, she didn't have to love and care for her the way that she did. Now, could I have a slight bias in this because newer stories of women that we've always been led to believe are villains are being told, so we now see it from their perspectives? 100% YES. For example, ABC's Once Upon a Time told the story of one of my favorite character progression arcs, with the Evil Queen, played by Lana Parrilla. In seven seasons, the writers allowed the Evil Queen to evolve into less of an evil character and more of an upstanding, regal one. She may have had her moments of pure pettiness toward Snow White, but over time we saw how the events of her past shaped and reshaped her choices in life to become the selfless, wonderful mother she was always meant to be to Snow White and Snow White's grandson – the familial ties were DEEP in this show. Arguably, the same thing could be said for the Angelina Jolie's portrayal of Maleficent. The way that she learned to love and care for Aurora – of course this was after putting a sleeping curse on her for revenge against a jilted lover – ended up morphing into a beautiful relationship between fairy Godmother and Godchild. ONCE UPON A TIME – ABC's 'Once Upon a Time' stars Lana Parrilla as Evil Queen/Regina/Roni. (ABC/Craig Sjodin) Ultimately, it's safe to assume that the most long-term damage Rapunzel will have is Stockholm Syndrome, and that's for her charming partner, Flynn Rider, and her birth parents, whom she's been reunited with, to handle. Rapunzel is extremely loved, and thankfully she's never not known that feeling – thanks to her other Mother, Gothel. Once she gets out of the tower, you see her interactions with other people and you see how caring she is to other people around her, so clearly Mother Gothel wasn't that bad. This article was originally posted on 6/30/20 Geek Girl Authority's Favorite Sci-Fi Mothers
