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OneUnited Bank, the largest Black-owned bank in the U.S., is proud to announce the winners of its 12th annual “I Got Bank! Youth Essay & Art Contest.” Each of the ten (10) youth winners are awarded a $1,000 savings account. Aida Anderson The 2022 winners are Aida Anderson, 11, Cooper City, FL, Hahrin Vivian Chiang, 9, Santa Monica, CA, Kendyl Gray, 11, Reseda, CA, Liam Hughton, 9, Los Angeles, CA, Golden Littlejohn, 8, Knoxville, TN, Grayson Nevel, 9, Boston, MA, Ryllie Stephens, 12, Sarasota, FL, Zya Taylor, 12, Decatur, GA, Kordell White, 12, Sylmar, CA, Lukas Wormack, 12, Plainfield, NJ. Each winner expressed the importance of savings. The panel of judges included Teri Williams, the bank’s President & Chief Operating Officer. Williams, who wrote the book I Got Bank! What My Grandad Taught Me About Money (Beckham) after she discovered the lack of books geared toward educating urban youth about financial literacy, stated, “This year we were excited to see how financial literacy has become a family conversation. We continue to strive to make financial literacy a core value in the Black community. Congratulations to our winners and their families.” The “I Got Bank!” youth essay & art contest is part of a larger OneUnited Bank initiative to make financial literacy a core value of the Black community. To learn more about past I Got Bank winners, please visit the OneUnited Bank Financial Literacy Blog. OneUnited Bank has also launched its Financial Education Center with online playlists on Financial Basics, Major Life Decisions, Starting a Career, Small Business and Preventing Elder Fraud. OneUnited Bank hopes its efforts will improve the financial skills of children and adults throughout the country. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of OneUnited Bank

“In 2020, I learned to focus on my mental health and happiness,” says Charlotte McKinney. “My goal for this year is to maintain prioritizing happiness and continue working on my craft of acting and modeling.” The Orlando, Florida native started out as a Guess model. Then, fast food chain Carl’s Jr. gave Charlotte her big break when they featured her in their salacious 2015 Super Bowl XLIX commercial. The blonde bombshell struts through a busy farmer’s market passing by strategically placed fruit and such, suggesting that she is au natural. The commercial reveals that she’s sporting a tiny bikini top and shorts. Charlotte gazes into the camera, then takes a big bite out of Carl’s Jr.’s juicy All-Natural Burger. “I am always thankful to the Carl’s Jr. team for selecting me to star in the infamous Super Bowl commercial,” says Charlotte. People would be surprised to find out that… (fill in the blank): I’m extremely introverted and always enjoy my alone time. A natural in front of the camera, Charlotte has loved entertaining ever since she was a child. “My sister and I always loved to perform and dance as kids.” When Charlotte first started out, she didn’t know anyone in the entertainment industry, which only motivated her to work harder and to rely on herself. “I’m so thankful to my amazing parents, who supported my pursuit into modeling and consequently acting too.” The 27-year-old has been acting since 2006. In the last few years, she has appeared in TV shows and films, including Baywatch (2017) and Fantasy Island (2020). This February, I caught up with the Los Angeles resident, who has been working on a few collaborations and staying active with hot yoga sessions, long walks and at-home Pilates sessions. “A workout gets my endorphins going and puts me in a good mood for the day. Working out is such a large part of my physical and mental health.” How are things on the west coast? What’s your daily routine like? Things in L.A. have been pretty rough and extremely scary for a while now thanks to COVID-19. Early February, we saw things beginning to reopen, but I’m remaining super cautious and I stay home as much as I can, only going out for essentials. As for my daily routine, I wake up, drink water, get my sweat on with a workout, then jump into work emails and calls, work on audition self-tapes. And very occasionally, I’ll be on set, if necessary, for work. I finish most days on my couch with a glass of Dry Farm’s red wine. I’ve added wine connoisseur to my resume since the pandemic started. What’s a common misconception people have of you? Oh boy, there is a lot. I guess I have to say the “dumb blonde.” It’s funny when people actually get to know me, they are surprised when they realize I have interests, intelligence, personality and can have a laugh, even at myself. What projects are you working on right now? It’s been a busy start to the year, so I’m counting my blessings. Late January, my collaboration with The Good Chocolate was released. The Detox Bar is a delicious and nutritious chocolate bar made up of 65% dark zero sugar chocolate with coconut and turmeric. For Valentine’s Day this year, I partnered up with Canadian brand La Senza to curate a lingerie collection that’s perfect for your special day with a loved one. And in the coming weeks, I’m super excited to collaborate with Bala Bangles on a really fun and creative campaign and new color range of their popular fitness accessories. What was it like collaborating on a new lingerie line? How did that come about? My mother is from Canada, so La Senza was a brand I was very familiar with growing up. They reached out in regards to a collaboration for Valentine’s Day and I thought it would be fun. I really enjoy collaborations where I join forces with another team and we share our ideas and bring them to life. How do you stay grounded/sane in 2021? What keeps you at peace? I take everything day by day, and stick to my routine, which helps me stay focused and grounded. I wake up, drink water and make myself a coffee before I even open my emails and Instagram on my phone. Then, I get my sweat on with a workout. Lately, I’ve been taking private hot yoga sessions at Sweat Yoga and I walk out feeling incredible. And I thank technology, namely, Facetime more than ever, as I Facetime my family often. I chat with my mom in Florida every day and she always puts me at ease. “I’m lucky to live by the beach, whenever I’m by the water I have a feeling of peace.” What are you looking forward to this year? Hopefully, we can go back to traveling soon. I can’t wait to see my family in the Bahamas --this is the longest I’ve gone without seeing them. What are you watching on TV? Any good documentaries, auto-biographies. I’ve always preferred non-fiction films, TV and books. True crime is my guilty pleasure though; I just finished watching the Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer on Netflix and it was insane —a must watch! You’re a Florida native, when you’re in Miami, what are some of your favorite places to visit? Oh, I love a good Miami weekend with girlfriends and can’t wait to get back! I always stay at The Edition Hotel. Dinner at Milos and Casa Tua are a must. Dr. Smood for juice and coffee. And I’m obsessed with a good facial at Gee Beauty. Follow Charlotte on Instagram: @CharlotteMcKinney Words by Vanessa Pascale Rust • Photo Credit: Camilo Rios | www.instagram.com/riocam

CityPlace Doral is home to more than 18 restaurants and bars as well as wellness, beauty and entertainment spots such as Improv Comedy Club and CMX CinéBistro movie theater. Whether it’s a family outing, dinner, drinks, brunch, or glamming up, CityPlace Doral offers something for everyone. Kings Dining and Entertainment offers timeless social gaming right up anyone’s alley, including Bowling, Billiards, Shuffleboard, Air Hockey, Foosball, food and much more. Parents can let their children’s imagination run wild! Marina Kids, offers a safe, fun, and friendly environment where parents can take advantage of their “Super Fun Drop” babysitting service allowing parents to drop off their children so that they may dine and enjoy all that CityPlace Doral has to offer. Offering a playground, soft-play, VR motion stations, arcade, PS4/Nintendo Switch Stations and entertaining games, Marina Kids provides peace of mind for parents looking for childcare services. Beat the lunch rush! Carrot Express is the perfect balance of delicious and nutritious foods for the health-conscious foodie on the go. Additional options include grab and go offerings from The Fresh Market. It doesn’t get any cheddar than The Cheese Course. Adventure through artisanal, handcrafted cheeses from all around the world or bite into flavorful sandwiches, fresh salads and savory soups. When it’s time for happy hour, Tap 42 is a natural first choice – expect a craft beer list along with seasonal cocktails and cocktails on tap, as well as an extensive selection of more than 40 bourbons and whiskeys. Wine not try one of Cooper’s Hawk signature wines of the month or a have a tasting in the tasting room? Dinnertime calls for a trip to Suviche for some mouthwatering Japanese and Peruvian cuisine, including a variety of beautifully crafted and flavorful sushi rolls, ceviches and sautéed Peruvian specialties. Chico Malo is the spot for unapologetically bold Mexican food, and Novecento offers a selection of Argentinian influenced dishes, premium steaks and pasta. Calling all rock stars, foodies, beer geeks and cocktail connoisseurs, Copper Blues Rock Pub and Kitchen has created the perfect destination! Whether it’s the Stage Bar to sing along to Top 40 and classic rock from resident bands, or the Beer Garden for a more relaxed atmosphere, Copper Blues is for those looking for more than just food when they go out. For the ultimate girl’s night out, the ladies can check out the Martini Bar Doral and dine, drink and dance the night away! For those wanting to look their best, Venetian Nail Spa, and TipsySalon Bar are all conveniently located in the Plaza. 4Ever Young is dedicated to helping clients optimize their health and wellness by employing functional medicine applications to address healthy aging. End the experience on a sweet note at 4D Gelateria or Sloan’s Ice Cream, which won “Best Sweets” in the City of Doral’s Best of the Best 2021 Awards. To complement the sweet treat, Juan Valdez Café offers the unique flavors and aromas of 100% Colombian coffee. CityPlace Doral is South Florida’s premier wellness, entertainment, dining, and restaurant destination, located at 8300 NW 36th Street in Doral, Florida, in the center of Doral. Valet service and complimentary self-parking are available. CityPlace Doral is open seven days a week. To view all of CityPlace Doral’s retailers – click here. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of CityPlace Doral

OneUnited Bank, located in Liberty City, is proud to announce its inclusion in ‘“The Shift,” a new branded video series by Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) and NBCUniversal, showing how seven high-growth organizations took on digital transformation during heavy market headwinds — and made it through. “The Shift” will premiere with the OneUnited Bank episode on Sept. 17th, 2022 at 2:30 pm ET on CNBC and will stream exclusively on CNBC.com, Peacock, and Salesforce+. The episode will be available to stream on Salesforce+ and CNBC.com on Monday September 19th, 2022. On Oct. 3, the series will debut on Peacock. The premiere episode of “The Shift” spotlights how OneUnited Bank, America’s largest Black-owned bank, is building a revolutionary new digital product, Cash Please, aimed at upending the predatory payday loan business. “This moment of social reckoning has created an unprecedented opportunity for our country to overcome the sustained damage from our history of systemic racism. Technology provides the opportunity to organize effectively to drive political, social, and economic change. It also creates the biggest opportunity to generate wealth in the history of mankind,” said Kevin Cohee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OneUnited Bank. Shot over six months at OneUnited Bank branches in Los Angeles, Boston and Miami, the 30-minute episode will explore the story of the Bank, its history and mission to utilize technology to empower Black America to close the racial wealth gap and create generational wealth. The episode covers the innerworkings of the Bank and features interviews that tell the story of the Bank’s progress and march towards technology over the past 25 years. “We are excited to bring OneUnited Bank’s inspiring story to life on the premiere episode of The Shift”, said Matthew Jaffe, VP, Head of Salesforce Studios. “They are a great example of industry leaders using business as a platform for change through the use of innovative technology.” By ML Staff. Image courtesy of The Shift

It’s the World’s Most Magical Celebration - the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort - and the most luxurious way to revel in this once-in-a-lifetime celebration is with an extraordinary new offering in the premier suites at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort. Two special suite packages offered in celebration of the 50th Anniversary, the Royal Splendor and the Grand Getaway, are sure to leave a lasting magical impression. “Our premier suites are truly incredible and unique in Orlando, and are regularly in high demand,” notes Thomas Steinhauer, Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Orlando. “For an unforgettable, over-the-top experience, a stay in one of our signature suites is the ultimate way to experience this iconic destination. We’re excited to offer additional special experiences for those reserving our new suite packages in celebration of Disney’s 50th Anniversary.” The Resort boasts one of the largest Royal Suites in the US, capable of expanding to a nine-bedroom residence totalling nearly 10,000 square feet (930 square metres); a 4,280 squarefoot (400 square metre) four-bedroom Presidential Suite; and amazing Grand Suites. The Royal Splendor 5-Night Top Floor Package - USD 500,000 Celebrate the 50th anniversary with a special buyout of the Resort’s 16th floor. This package, designed for up to 50 guests, includes one signature experience of choice per day, for a total of six (includes arrival and departure days). A top floor buyout is ideal for those seeking a private escape with their closest family and friends, in the most luxurious of accommodations, including the nine-bedroom Royal Suite, four-bedroom Presidential Suite, and eight additional guest rooms for a total of 21 bedrooms. The Royal Suite is sure to be the ultimate gathering place. Ensconced in luxury, featuring more than 3,000 square feet (280 square metres), guests will be dazzled by the high ceilings and walls of windows, showcasing the gorgeous lakes and woodlands, capped off by nightly views of the Walt Disney World Resort fireworks display from the spacious wrap-around terrace. Signature Experiences When reserving the Royal Splendor package, each day will include one of the following experiences, for the whole group unless otherwise indicated: Private Character Dining Experience: Host a private party with Mickey Mouse or another beloved character in the Resort’s meeting space.* The family will forever treasure their private enchanting encounter with their favourite Disney character. Capa Steak & Eggs Brunch- Experience Capa steakhouse during the daytime, with a scrumptious private brunch for all guests, with a custom menu. Guests will enjoy beautiful views of the lakes, woodlands and Disney parks from the rooftop terrace. Enjoy relaxation in the utmost privacy, with an after-hours salon and Spa buyout: Unwind and be truly pampered at The Spa, all to oneself, enjoying the spacious, relaxing sanctuary just with closest friends and family. This package includes up to 40 spa treatments, ranging from the classic massage to hyper-customized facial. After-Hours private Hideout and Cove Pool access with late night snacks: Enjoy a private night of fun at the Resort’s gaming centre, complete with billiards, video games and more, with gourmet snacks and a private pool area just for the group. Disney VIP Tour - Enjoy two VIP Tour guides for the day at Disney Park of choice.* Includes up to 10 guests each. “Dive-In" movie by the pool: Enjoy an after-hours movie by the Explorer Pool on the giant Starstruck Screen, complete with beverages, gourmet snacks and ice cream. Private dinner with wine pairings in the Resort’s Ravello Demonstration Kitchen: Enjoy a cooking demonstration with one of the Resort’s acclaimed culinarians. A custom menu with wine pairings will be designed based on the guests’ preferences. Available for up to 36 guests; alternative venue/experience available if party size exceeds capacity. Dessert reception and Champagne bar setup: Enjoy a custom bar set up in-suite and watch the nightly Disney fireworks over gourmet treats with a glass of bubbly in hand, from the comfort of one's private terrace. Roundtrip airport transfers: Private car service for the party on arrival or departure day between Orlando airports and the Resort. Roundtrip access via Heathrow VIP for guests travelling from London, or roundtrip access to a Private Suite at PS for guests travelling through LAX. Arrive for the flight in luxury and ease with access to the PS at Los Angeles International Airport, a private terminal with seamless security clearance. Alternatively, guests travelling from London’s Heathrow Airport can enjoy the Royal Suite at Heathrow VIP, delivering an end-to-end service from collection at the aircraft to Jason Atherton’s unique menus to personal shopping within an exclusive lounge. These offerings are based on availability, for up to six guests. Larger parties may be accommodated, also dependent on suite availability, for an additional fee. In addition to choosing from the above Signature Experiences, the Royal Splendor top floor buyout also includes daily butler service (8 hours per day), one pool cabana per day, a special welcome amenity for each guest, and a nightly turn-down amenity for each guest. The Grand Getaway 4-night package - USD 50,000 The Grand Getaway is a new package that includes a four-night stay in a three-bedroom Grand Suite, ideal for up to six guests. The Grand Suite includes a spacious living room and a dining room area to seat eight, a bar area and a butler’s pantry for ease of in-room service, and an incredible primary bedroom with a custom mosaic tile accent wall. The primary bath also includes a stunning five-piece bath with a deep-soaking tub spotlighted by a gorgeous mosaic tile accent wall. The Grand Getaway package includes one of the above signature experiences of choice, plus a daily poolside cabana, and welcome amenity. Reservations for The Royal Splendor or Grand Getaway packages must be made directly by contacting the Resort reservations team at +1 407 313 8066. These packages are based on availability, restricted over certain holiday periods, and are offered through March 16, 2023. Note: Disney Character private enchanting encounter photo opportunities are subject to character availability and event space. Disney VIP Tour bookings are subject to tour guide availability and require Theme Park admission and Park Pass reservations. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Four Seasons Orlando Resort

The final installment of the "Taste at the Track" series is right around the corner! This fan favorite series combines the best of two worlds: food and drink and horse racing. Taking place in the third floor Flamingo Room overlooking the racetrack, guests can indulge in all-you-can-eat food and drink stations while taking in the excitement and energy of high stakes horse racing. The next event is BBQ & Bourbon on September 24. All events take place on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m.; guests must be 21 and over to attend. At this final installment of the series, guests can enjoy a variety of southern-style dishes, paired with the very best premium bourbons, whiskeys, and handcrafted cocktails. For both experienced bourbon drinkers and new enthusiasts, this event provides a great opportunity to taste and learn about some of the top labels including Amador, High West, Treaty Oak, Makers 46, Iron Smoke, Jim Beam and Jack Daniels. Save room for some of the best BBQ around, including brisket, pulled pork, smoked chicken and other offerings. Plenty of southern sweets bring a delicious end to the meal. Each unlimited tasting event is $50 per person. Food and beverage offerings are subject to change. For more information on Taste at the Track and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://www.gulfstreampark.com/events By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Gulfstream

Fears of polio gripped the U.S. in the mid-20th century. Parents were afraid to send their children to birthday parties, public pools or any place where children mingled. Children in wheelchairs served as a stark reminder of the ravages of the disease. To prevent polio outbreaks, government officials used tactics now familiar in the era of COVID-19: They closed public spaces and shut down restaurants, pools and other gathering places. In 1952, two years prior to the introduction of a trial polio vaccine, there were an estimated 58,000 cases of polio and 3,145 deaths due to polio in the U.S.. These cases included children who were paralyzed for life. But those numbers dropped dramatically following a widespread vaccination campaign against polio, beginning in 1955. By the 1970s, there were fewer than 10 cases of paralysis due to polio in the U.S., and the polio virus was considered eliminated from the U.S. by 1979. Since then, collective fear of the virus has been mostly lost to history – many people alive today are lucky enough not to know someone who has experienced polio. So when news broke in July 2022 that an unvaccinated adult man in New York had contracted polio – the first case in the U.S. since 2013 – and developed paralysis from the disease, it sent a ripple of fear throughout the public health community and raised the question of whether an old foe was making a comeback. I am a virologist and a professor of immunology and microbiology and have spent my career both teaching about and doing research on how viruses can cause disease. There is no cure for polio. The only treatment is prevention. And the tool for prevention is vaccination, the same tool that eliminated polio in the U.S. in the first place. Health experts are urging unvaccinated Americans to get vaccinated against polio. Life cycle of the poliovirus Polio – or poliomyelitis – the disease, is caused by the poliovirus, which is passed from person to person through the mouth. And while no one would knowingly ingest a virus, touching a contaminated object like a spoon or a glass or accidentally swallowing contaminated water can unknowingly lead to infection. When someone is infected with the poliovirus, they shed the infectious virus in their feces. This is why recent reports that poliovirus has been circulating in New York City wastewater for months and that the virus now has been detected in three New York counties are particularly concerning. In August 2022, New York State Health Commissioner Mary Basset said that the state health department is “treating the single case of polio as just the tip of the iceberg of much greater potential spread.” “Based on earlier polio outbreaks,” she added, “New Yorkers should know that for every one case of paralytic polio observed, there may be hundreds of other people infected.” A single case of polio reflects a larger potential spread of the virus because most people infected either don’t show any symptoms or have a very mild illness with symptoms similar to the flu. But even without symptoms, an infected person is still excreting virus in their feces, which means they can be a source of infection to others. The virus, which is very stable in the environment, is easily spread through surface contamination. For this reason, hand-washing is a critical prevention tool. Although many disinfecting agents, such as alcohol or diluted Lysol, fail to inactivate the virus, chlorine bleach does destroy it. This is why public health officials started chlorinating swimming pools decades ago in order to inactivate the polio virus. Typically, the human body uses stomach acid to protect against ingested viruses. But poliovirus can survive stomach acid to travel to your gastrointestinal tract. There, the virus reproduces itself to establish an infection. What is paralytic polio? Unfortunately, one person out of about 200 people infected with poliovirus will develop paralysis. Scientists still don’t know why one person is susceptible to the paralytic disease while most are not. In the small subset of people that get paralytic polio, the virus can attack the lower motor neurons found in the brain stem and spinal cord, which are important for controlling muscles. Infection of those neurons leads to the muscle paralysis that is characteristic of paralytic polio. The legs are typically affected – often on only one side of the body – and paralysis can range from mild to severe. Other muscle groups can also be affected. In the worst cases of paralytic polio, the virus can damage the centers of the nervous system that control breathing. Respirators known as “iron lungs” were early medical devices that aided those with damaged respiratory muscles, helping them breathe until their muscles healed enough to work on their own. Patients could die when the paralysis was severe and sustained. Anti-vaccination sentiments and an overall drop in routine vaccination rates during the COVID-19 pandemic have likely contributed to the resurfacing of the poliovirus in the U.S. Levels of severity Although polio can be devastating for those who contract the severe form of it, most people’s immune systems are well-equipped to combat it. When someone recovers from polio, researchers can detect poliovirus-fighting antibodies in the blood. But even long-term survivors of paralytic polio can develop late-onset muscle weakness and fatigue, which is known as post-polio syndrome. While the muscular effects of post-polio syndrome are well-recognized, a number of other symptoms can be associated with post-polio syndrome, including chronic pain, sleep disturbances, cold intolerance and difficulty swallowing. Because post-polio syndrome is diagnosed only based on symptoms, there is no consensus on the number of polio survivors who develop it, but estimates range from 15% to upward of 80%. Prevention of polio is key The decline in polio in the U.S. and globally is a direct result of the introduction of vaccines and the willingness of the public to accept them. In 1988, the World Health Organization, in partnership with Rotary International, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other national governments, launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative with the goal to wipe out polio worldwide, as is the case with smallpox. When this initiative was launched, there were still an estimated 350,000 children with polio in 125 countries. In 2021, there were only six reported cases. Two types of polio vaccine are in use worldwide. The one used in the U.S. since 2000 is an injection made from inactivated poliovirus. Inactivation kills the virus and prevents it from spreading. Children in the U.S. get this shot at 2 months, 4 months and between 6 to 15 months of age, and it essentially provides lifelong protection from polio. The second vaccine type, still in use in many parts of the world, is an attenuated – or weakened – form of the virus that is taken orally. In places where community transmission remains significant, like Pakistan, the oral vaccine is preferred because it prevents people from getting polio and also stops person-to-person transmission. In the U.S., where person-to-person transmission of the poliovirus has been virtually nonexistent for decades, the inactivated vaccine is preferred since the focus is on preventing disease in the vaccinated person and there’s less concern about spreading the virus. But in extremely rare cases, the vaccine virus mutates after it’s been excreted in feces. And if immunization levels fall below a critical threshold – as is the case in some areas of the world – this poliovirus can cause disease. The recent New York polio case has been traced back to a mutated vaccine-derived poliovirus thought to be acquired overseas. Most people in the U.S. are vaccinated through routine childhood vaccinations. Because immunity to polio following vaccination is lifelong, the CDC is not recommending booster vaccinations for the general population for people who completed the full series. However, the CDC does recommend that anyone who has not been vaccinated against polio virus get vaccinated, including adults. In my office, I keep a painting of Dr. Jonas Salk, the virologist who developed the first polio vaccine. It serves as my reminder of the importance of biomedical research to help eliminate human suffering caused by infectious diseases. Words By Rosemary Rochford. Professor of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus . Special thanks to The Conversation for republishing permission. Top image courtesy of Ivan Diaz/unsplash

The Friends of Jack & Jill Center – a support group of volunteers committed to developing community awareness, fundraising and program assistance for Jack & Jill Center’s children and their families – is excited to host the 21st Annual Power Lunch at the Global Grille at First Baptist on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 11:30 a.m. The event pays tribute to special and outstanding honorees in the South Florida community who helped The Friends of Jack & Jill Center raise over $5 million for high-need children and families in the South Florida community since its inception in 1999. The 21st Annual Power Lunch is anticipated to be attended by over 250 business professionals in Broward County. David Lawrence Jr., founder of The Children’s Movement of Florida and former publisher of the Miami Herald will serve as the event’s guest speaker and Neki Mohan, the vice president of Visit Lauderdale, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. In recognition of their dedication to Jack & Jill Center, the luncheon will honor United Way of Broward County ReadingPals as the volunteer honoree, the Leslie L. Alexander Foundation as the foundation honoree and Valley Bank as the corporate honoree. These awards are bestowed to those who have gone above and beyond through their contributions and service to Jack & Jill Center. The proceeds from the event will benefit Jack & Jill Center’s mission to strengthen children and families through innovative education, supportive programming and community engagement. Jack & Jill Center supports children of high-need working families through quality early childhood education, elementary education and family strengthening programs to ensure every child and family has the tools they need to be successful. Jack & Jill Center has served 26,000 children and families in South Florida since 1942. Where: Global Grille at First Baptist 301 East Broward Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 When: Thursday, Sept. 29, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Cost: Guests may purchase individual tickets for $125 for general admission. How: For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.jackandjillcenter.org/event/powerlunch/. For more information about sponsorship or underwriting opportunities, please contact Director of Special Events Jennifer Swercheck at 954.463.8772, ext. 206 or jswercheck@jack​andjillcenter.o​rg. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Unsplash

"Guac costs extra" is the phrase that guacamole aficionados hear whispered in their ears during their worst nightmares. Thankfully, with National Guacamole Day on September 16, there are a handful of South Florida food spots where guac lovers can indulge in dishes without having to hear the scary phrase "guac costs extra." To celebrate the creamy and delicious snack, appetizer, topper and more, check out an exclusive selection of dining destinations below to discover where any guacamole craving can be satisfied. Chotto Matte After traveling the world to research and learn from the best local chefs across the continents, Kurt Zdesar, owner of Chotto Matte, was determined to create a fine dining experience never seen before. To celebrate the very best of authentic and innovative Nikkei cuisine, as well as National Guacamole day, guests can order the vegan Purple, Green & White Tostada Chips ($9) with guacamole as well as the King Oyster Mushroom Tostadas ($14), with pulled mushroom, smoked aji panca chili, guacamole, lime and cilantro. The elaborate menu includes a wide selection of shareable plates for the entire table to enjoy, spanning choices for both meat lovers and plant-forward pallets. 1666 Lenox Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 Casa Sensei Casa Sensei brilliantly blends traditional Latin American cuisine with Pan-Asian staples to create the best of both worlds. The Latino Bites section of the menu highlights Casa Sensei’s homemade guacamole for the perfect celebration. Enjoy the freshly fished Lobster Guacamole (MKT), with seared lobster tail skewers, house-made Casa guacamole and malanga chips, as well as the Cuban Tostones ($16), with shrimp, house-made Casa guacamole, tostones and creamy chimichurri sauce. These authentic comfort dishes are paired with an immersive dining experience in the restaurant’s elegant dining room, dog-friendly waterfront patio or via a scenic Riverfront Gondola Tour along the Himmarshee Canal. 1200 East Las Olas Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Negroni Bistro & Sushi Bar Known as a favorite local hot spot in Midtown Miami, Negroni Bistro & Sushi Bar is helping you jumpstart your National Guacamole Day. Their brunch menu includes the Avocado Toast ($13), with poached eggs, crispy bacon, grilled toast and Huancaina sauce. This classic brunch dish can be paired with deliciously crafted cocktails and homemade varieties of negronis, spritzes and tonics. Their new Happy Hour menu is available everyday, Monday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the restaurant’s elegant indoor bar and alfresco patio. 3201 Buena Vista Boulevard, Miami, FL 33127 Villa Azur Celebrate National Guacamole Day the classy way at the chic French supper club Villa Azur. Its fresh ingredients are hand-picked from the south of France and are beautifully blended with local flavors and recipes. The Apple Crab Louis ($27), with mint citrus avocado mash, fresh crab salad, lemon emulsion apple batonnet and fennel salad will please even the most refined of palettes. Made with coconut citrus ginger sauce, hearts of palm, red onion, butternut squash, mint avocado mash and chili oil, the Heart of Palm Ceviche ($25) has avocado lovers drooling. Additional avocado bites include a Latin twist on Tuna Tartare with avocado salsa verde. 309 23rd Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139 By ML Staff. Images are courtesy of each featured restaurant. Header via Unsplash.

The Lincoln Eatery, Miami Beach's first modern food hall, announces the opening of the first permanent location of Vice Burger, an award-winning burger joint serving mouthwatering patties, shakes, fries and sodas. This past February, at the South Florida Food and Wine Burger Bash, judges Dwyane Wade, Reverend Run DMC, Chef Ahmad Alzahabi, The Points Guy, and Al Roker from NBC, voted Vice Burger as the #1 Burger. Owner Greg Schesser will continue to make his mark on South Beach with the opening of Vice Burger at the Miami Beach food hall. Helmed by restaurateur Greg Schesser, VICE Burger made its way onto the Miami culinary scene with the launch of a pop up at the downtown nightclub E11even. The late-night burger stand was an instant hit. Since then, VICE Burger has made appearances at Smorgasburg Miami, a new open-air market that originated in Brooklyn, attracting thousands each weekend. The growing success of the burger hot spot urged Schesser to launch a brick and mortar location at the local food hall. Using only the freshest ingredients, Vice Burger’s quality is reflected through highly-held standards and fresh ingredients. The burger patties are made from a savory custom-blend of brisket, short rib, and chuck. Served on a toasted brioche bun, the patty is drizzled with Vice Sauce, topped off with gooey American cheese, pickle chips and paper-thin onions. The secret Vice Sauce is a homemade tasty combination of ketchup, mustard, relish, Dukes Mayo, fresh cut herbs and a few more secret ingredients. With each bite, these crafted burgers become one’s next vice. Schesser established himself in the culinary industry as a student at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. Since then he has had a vast career in the culinary industry, holding positions at Michelin-starred restaurant, the French Laundry where he worked for the renowned Chef, Thomas Keller. Returning back to simpler roots, Schesser used the years of experience and training in the fine dining industry to set a goal – to bring back high quality to casual dining. “After working in fine dining I really wanted to elevate the iconic American staple,” said Founder, Greg Schesser. “I wanted to simplify and elevate the classic American burger with the highest quality ingredients while utilizing a two step cooking process that involves steam to create the juicy, hot classic burger that everyone knows and loves and brings you back to your childhood with every bite.” The menu will include the award winning Vice Burger, a 5oz VB custom blend patty on a toasted brioche bun with American cheese, pickle chips, paper-thin onions, and the secret Vice Sauce. Other notable offerings include the A5 Burger, a 7oz patty of Japanese A5 Wagyu beef, topped with melted American cheese, caramelized onions, a sunny side up egg and umami sauce; the Double Vice, a 10oz VB custom blend patty topped with American cheese, pickle chips, paper-thin onions and Vice Sauce; or The Hamburger, a 5oz VB custom blend patty on a toasted brioche bun with pickle chips, paper-thin onions, and secret Vice Sauce. To accompany Vice Burger’s savory menu items, diners can indulge in the Especially Vanilla MilkShake, made with a ridiculous amount of Vanilla Bean; the R.W.C., a combination of caramelized white chocolate and tart freeze dried raspberries; or “The Cuban,” a twist on the Especially Vanilla shake topped with a hot shot of espresso. Additionally, guests can complete the cult classic dish by adding a side of crispy french fries like the Vice Fries, double-fried for a golden brown look and delicious taste; or the Black Truffle Fries, Vice Fries topped with fresh herbs and black truffle salt. Vice Burger will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, please visit Vice Burger online, or follow on social media. Images courtesy of Vice Burger.

Due to popularity, The Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA)’s groundbreaking exhibition “My Name is Maryan” was extended to October 2, 2022. Curated by Alison M. Gingeras, the exhibition is a monographic presentation of four decades of paintings, sculptures, drawings and film by the iconoclastic, ground-breaking Polish-born artist Maryan. Drawing upon new scholarship and a trove of never-before-exhibited works, “My Name is Maryan” is the first retrospective to holistically examine all periods of Maryan’s life and work. Throughout the museum, Maryan’s extraordinary biography and prolific oeuvre represent a deeply moving monument to the perseverance of the human spirit and power of art to work through traumatic loss. Credited as being among the first artist-eyewitnesses to directly depict their experiences of the Shoah, Maryan's unique approach to figurative art strove to solidarity across cultures and generations. The public is invited for a last look of the exhibition before it travels to the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. MOCA is pleased to offer a robust series of education and public programming revolving around “My Name is Maryan” throughout the month of September. Programming includes: Conversations at MOCA: Memory and Identity: A Reflection on My Name is Maryan | Wednesday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. Conversations at MOCA is an ongoing public lecture series, aimed at bringing forward discourse on a variety of topics to engage our community of voices. This Conversation is part of the ongoing public programming around the ground breaking exhibition My Name is Maryan. The Polish-born artist who came to be known as Maryan grew up in a traditional, working-class Jewish family, before being captured by the Nazis and imprisoned at various forced labor camps, as well as the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps. The sole survivor of his family, the young artist shed his name after the War and became Maryan in a radical act of self-definition. His iconoclastic, ground-breaking work, presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, speaks simultaneously of traumatic loss and the resilience of the human spirit. Participants are invited to join a walk-through of this powerful exhibition followed by an inspiring conversation, as a panel of scholars explores the multiple and profound connections between Maryan’s biography and oeuvre and the concepts of identity and memory. Panelists include Dr. Helen Sachs Chaset, Board Member, Miami Dade Holocaust Survivors; Dr. Luna Goldberg, Education Manager, Jewish Museum of Florida, FIU; and Dr. Rebecca Friedman, Director, Wolfsonian Public Humanitites Lab, FIU. The conversation will be moderated by Dr. Martin Palouš, Director, Václav Havel Program for Human Rights and Diplomacy at FIU. This event will be co-sponsored by Ruth K. and Shepard Broad Distinguished Lecture Series. · Cost: Free · RSVP: For more information, please click here. My Name is Maryan – Docent-Led Exhibition Tour | Sunday, Sept. 11 and 25, 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Register for a tour led by MOCA docent Dr. Helen Sachs Chaset. Dr. Chaset is an educator with more than 45 years of experience in administration, professional development, and program development. She is also a board member of Miami-Dade Holocaust Survivors, the Jewish Community Services of South Florida and the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education. Dr. Chaset is the daughter of two Holocaust Survivors and was born in a displaced persons camp in Hannover, Germany. · Cost: All tours are free with admission. Admission to the museum is $10. Admission for students, seniors, and visitors identifying as disabled is $3. Admission is free to MOCA members, children under 12, North Miami residents, city employees, veterans, and caregivers accompanying people who are disabled. · RSVP: For more information, please click here. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of MOCA

For more than a decade, Maksim Chmerkovskiy dazzled Dancing with the Stars fans with a superbly versatile talent for ballroom dance cultivated through his Ukrainian roots and with a family tradition that began with his mother, Larisa Chmerkovskaya. A love of dance was passed down to Maksim and his younger brother and DWTS cast member, Valentin Chmerkovskiy. One of the first things the family did upon emigrating to the United States was to open a dance studio in New Jersey, as the brothers traveled the world competing in dance competitions and racking up trophies for their prowess. When Dancing with the Stars came calling, it took some convincing to get him on board, until his younger brother Val gave him the nudge to venture out to Los Angeles and give television a try. Photo Credit: Benjo Arwas Having completed seventeen seasons of the juggernaut television show, Maks’ celebrity dance partners have included Vanessa Lachey, Brandy, Melanie Brown, Laila Ali, Melissa Gilbert, Denise Richards, Tia Carrere and many others. Maks now marvels at the irony of what his television fame has given him, including his beautiful wife and fellow DWTS pro, Peta Murgatroyd. “We met on Broadway, but the reality is I would probably not have been on that Broadway production had I not been a certain level dancer on television,” he happily admits. Red carpet photo credit: Shutterstock His notoriety and large fanbase has also offered him a spotlight from which to launch his 501c3 nonprofit organization, Baranova 27. The public nonprofit has been providing continuous resources, including housing, to Ukrainians during the country’s ongoing war with Russia and its fight to remain an independent and democratic nation. Allison Kugel: I would love for people to know your early story. What prompted your family to leave Ukraine when you were fourteen and your younger brother, fellow Dancing with the Stars pro Val, was eight? Maksim Chmerkovskiy: My family got up and left [Ukraine] because of the opportunities for us in the U.S., but also because of the [Soviet] army reserves and the way you were being put on their list. The army back there was mandatory, and so my parents looked at me turning fourteen and thought, ‘Okay, he is next.’ As a matter of fact, at fourteen I was already put on the list for when I would turn eighteen. As we were finalizing our documents [to emigrate to the U.S.], that’s what happened. All of a sudden, I was in school and someone came in and they put me on the list. My mom started freaking out, thinking they are not going to let us out of the country. When we emigrated to the United States and I started to mature and grow up, and I talked to my fellow immigrants and I realized it wasn’t all gravy [in the former Soviet Union). My dad wasn’t able to go to the university he wanted to go to. He actually wasn’t allowed into a university, because he was Jewish. He had to go into the Merchant Marine in order to also not fall into the army. All of those things made it not the place you wanted to raise your kids, let’s put it that way. Allison Kugel: Then you landed in New York City and settled in Brooklyn. How were those early days? Maksim Chmerkovskiy: We landed here. We moved on from where we came from. We weren’t focused on the immigrant part of it. But there were food stamps, there was welfare and government assistance programs. We were given plastic chairs. I remember we were a family of four and we got furniture that was donated to us by a Jewish organization. I remember we got a table and three chairs and I thought, “That is odd. There are four of us.” My parents both had two jobs. Not the jobs that you would be proud of but… we are talking about dishwasher and delivery boy. This is while trying to learn English and while trying to get some kind of education going. All of those struggles were crazy, but we felt good about it. We felt romantic about it. I got beat up on the second day here, so talk about “Welcome to America.” Half of the kids that beat me up were fellow immigrants. It was a United Nations welcome. There were a few moments that toughened me up. If everything was roses and butterflies, it would have been different. My path, and the overcoming of some things, it’s not me patting myself on the back, but saying that the circumstance behind my life was such that it shaped me to do this. If the circumstances were easy, maybe I would be something different. Allison Kugel: Then you returned to Ukraine earlier this year just as Russia invaded the country, and you were finally able to get out of the country and into Poland. What was that experience like for you? Maksim Chmerkovskiy: There was the announcement. “This is the train going to Warsaw.” The people that were with me shoved me on the train and then the doors opened and all of these people just bum-rushed it. Just to give you a visual, the train car is made for 30 people. We had 137 people on that train. It was so packed to where I realized I’m just taking up way too much space, so I moved myself and put myself in a little place that was in between the train [cars]. Then all of these people felt bad for me because I was freezing, so I came back in and warmed up. Someone made me a sandwich and then everybody went to sleep, and there became literally no space to stand because everybody is just laying down everywhere. We saw a mother who was right next to me. She got on the train with her two kids, but in the process of getting on the train she had to dump all of their stuff. So now she has a wallet and two kids, and nothing else. We had to collect some milk and formula for the baby. I mean, I have a five-year-old and we are freaking out when his day is not going according to plan, right? This is just so horrible and crazy. Allison Kugel: You made it back home to Los Angeles safely and then you returned to Warsaw, Poland to help out as Ukrainians were fleeing into Poland. And you and your family launched your 501c3 non-profit organization, Baranova 27 to continue helping Ukraine. Tall me about Baranova 27 and the work you are doing. Maksim Chmerkovskiy: Any organization of this sort starts with a nucleus and I was the nucleus. I got stuck in Ukraine and it turned into national news. I was sort of the poster child for this, and people thought, “This is a person we trust because he is constantly on television and we know him from this show (Dancing with the Stars), and he’s not political. My dad, my mom, my brother, everybody immediately felt all this fear and anxiety for me, but we all collectively felt for the Ukrainian people, including people that we know. I have friends now directly from Ukraine, not Ukrainians in America, so there was a lot of association. Baranova 27 started immediately. Initially it all started with GoFundMe where we raised about $400,000. We have been sending things over by air, by ships in containers; currently we have two big containers on the way over there, but we have now shifted our efforts to trying to provide housing for displaced Ukrainians. A lot of people are now coming back to Ukraine to help with the war efforts, and so that is our goal now, is building mobile homes. We are calling them Baranova Villages. They are mobile homes that we buy in Turkey or from local manufacturers in Ukraine, that we put up and turn into little settlements. Allison Kugel: Have you reached out to Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy to align your efforts? Maksim Chmerkovskiy: I have connections to the president because he comes from the entertainment world. Not only that, but I think a few years ago he actually won Dancing with The Stars Ukraine. I have some friends who are his very close friends, but I don’t need his support and I don’t think he needs mine at the moment. He needs all of us to do what we can do. I actually don’t want to bother him with yet another nonprofit. When there is a moment that I need his participation, I will reach out. Right now, I’m sure he has a lot to deal with, and the idea of nonprofits like mine is to help, not to be helped. We are the ones providing the help. I’m not doing this for recognition and neither is my dad or any of the people involved. When I need President Zelenskyy’s support in order to gain something, then I will reach out. Right now I just need to appeal and reach out to people and continue doing the work that we are doing to get likeminded people to be a part of our organization. Allison Kugel: On a lighter note, I heard that you had originally turned down Dancing with the Stars when they first approached you, years ago, to appear in the show’s first season. Maksim Chmerkovskiy: Dancing with the Stars started their first season, and I remember it was a pilot season during the summertime and the phone rang; “Hey, it’s Dancing with The Stars.” I literally hung up right away. There were another ten calls and I just kept hanging up. It was not my plan. It was not what I wanted to do. It was nothing to do with my future. My future had to do with winning the world title (for ballroom dance). Allison Kugel: Being on the show also led you to your wife, Peta. Maksim Chmerkovskiy: We met on Broadway, but the reality is I would probably not have been on that Broadway production had I not been a certain level dancer on television. Peta was one of the starring characters in a show called Burn the Floor when it came to the U.S., and it was already a popular production all over the world in countries that were ballroom-dance friendly. It was the first ever ballroom-based stage production that was a worldwide phenom. When it came to the U.S., they asked me to be one of the stars, just to basically sell tickets in this country, because I’m big-name dancer in this country on television. When Peta and I met she wasn’t really fond of me because she thought, “Who is this celebrity coming in and taking up the whole center stage space?” And in reality, I was just there to sell tickets. But she saw me for who I truly am on the inside, and she fell in love, I believe at first site. But she is never going to admit it (laugh). Allison Kugel: And now you’re a veteran and one of the show’s biggest breakout stars. What is your future with Dancing with the Stars? Maksim Chmerkovskiy: Well, my wife is on it, my brother is on it, and my sister-in-law is on it. I feel like I’ll be waiting until one of our kids is joining it, like 20 years from now! I’m in perfect health and I try to stay that way for whatever comes at me. If Dancing with The Stars comes to me and says, “We want you as a pro. Let’s go back to shake that tail feather one more time,” I’m in. I’m definitely shaking it in other ways and on other platforms, but I have not danced my last dance yet, let’s just put it that way. Allison Kugel is a veteran entertainment journalist and host of the Allison Interviews podcast. Watch her extended interview with Maksim Chmerkovskiy on YouTube or listen to the extended interview on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow Allison Kugel on Instagram @theallisonkugel and at AllisonInterviews.com. By ML Staff. Images Courtesy of Allison Kugel