Kaiser Permanente • We Don’t Have Time: Connecting Climate Change and Health

On June 7th, 2023, Kaiser Permanente, partnered with We Don’t Have Time, launched the Connecting Climate Change and Health series.  The event aimed to spotlight crucial themes like air quality, extreme weather, and their effects on individual and community health, including health equity.  Special guests from prominent organizations participated, discussing the integration of health and health equity into climate action planning for national business leaders across various industries.

Speakers included Candace Vahlsing, Climate, White House Office of Management and Budget, Greg A. Adams, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Kaiser Permanente, Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, 18th U.S. Surgeon General, 2009-2013, Rhea Goswami, Founder and Executive Director, Environmental Justice Coalition, Adrienne Hollis, PhD, JD, Vice President, Environmental Justice, Public Health, and Community Revitalization, National Wildlife Federation, Ivor Braden Horn, MD, MPH, Director of Health Equity and Product Inclusion, Google, Andrew Moose, MBA, Head of Health and Wellness, World Economic Forum, Denise Naguib, Global Vice President, Sustainability and Supplier Diversity, Marriott International, Kevin Rabinovitch, Global Vice President, Sustainability and Chief Climate Officer, Mars, and Samantha Ahdoot, MD, Climate Change and Children’s Health, American College of Pediatrics.

Kaiser Permanente • HAVI: Reducing Gun Violence in America

The Role of Health Care Sector and Community-Based Solutions

On January 26th, 2023, Kaiser Permanente announced its is intensifying its efforts to combat the escalating issue of gun violence in America with a $25 million investment in its Center for Gun Violence Research and Education.  In response to firearms recently surpassing motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of injury and death among young Americans, Kaiser Permanente aims to address this public health crisis through care innovation, research, education, and partnerships.  The organization will collaborate with the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI) to focus on hospital-based violence intervention programs and community collaborations.  The five-year commitment will fund prevention research, education initiatives, and community projects to mitigate the devastating mental and physical health impacts of gun violence, with a particular emphasis on addressing underlying risk factors and promoting racial equity.

Museum of Failure: Washington, DC Launch Party

I attended the Museum of Failure's launch party in September, 2023, anticipating an exciting experience, however, The Museum of Failure, located in a failed gym within a failed shopping mall, left me disappointed.  The layout was haphazard, and the artifacts, while featuring memorable failures, often took shortcuts, with some using replicas instead of authentic items.  Some of the captions had errors, including misplaced apostrophes and unexplained references.

One of my suggestions for improvement is to look to the Museum of Sex in Manhattan as a model for a more immersive experience.  Despite the drawbacks of the hastily assembled traveling exhibit, it showcased interesting products, such as a controversial sex doll rental service and an array of failed toys and ill-timed electronics.  Sections devoted to Donald Trump and Elon Musk were also present.  The food section included familiar brands and products, but I questioned the inclusion of Starbucks' Oleato, which has since expanded to nationwide availability.

The controversial inclusion of the Colgate Lasagna, a viral meme product that never actually existed, raised doubts about the museum's seriousness.  The Museum of Failure, in my opinion in order to be taken more seriously, needs to reassess their focus on accuracy rather than entertaining at the expense of facts.  Overall, it was a small, quirky collection with room for improvement, and I suggest the permanent location being built in Malaga, Spain should be larger and more consistently factual.

Latoya & Shawn: Married November 11th, 2023

On Latoya and Shawn’s wedding day, time danced in harmony with their love – a surreal blend of moments that lingered and flew by in a heartbeat. It feels like just a whisper of seasons since Shawn surprised Latoya during a family photo session, yet in reality, a whole year has woven its tale. On a serene Fall day at a country club, nestled not far from the heart of Fairfax, friends and family of Latoya and Shawn converged to witness the couple's union and commemorate the commencement of a new chapter in their lives.

Engaged in shared glances, a symphony of happy smirks adorns both Latoya and Shawn when their minds drift to one another. I sensed their magnetic connection the day Latoya unknowingly spoke of Shawn, just materialized before he materialized for their proposal. That same smirk, perhaps embellished with a dash more sass, graced Shawn's face when Latoya sent over a box of breath mints while Shawn was suiting up for saying “I Do.”

Shawn, a fellow photographer, got to experience being on the other side of the lens; you can catch glimpses of his photography on Instagram @828Visuals.

Amidst the breathtaking canvas of Autumn's final flourish, Latoya and Shawn exchanged vows just before the sun dipped below the horizon. The celebration continued with the dance floor alive with lights and favorite songs. As the night embraced its final moments, the Latoya and Shawn stole away for an intimate last dance, savoring the essence of the day. Loved ones bid them farewell in style, showering them with confetti and streamers, creating a dazzling spectacle as they kissed beneath the moonlight before embarking on their honeymoon.

What a magnificent conclusion to 2023! Wishing you all a Happy New Year – dive into Latoya & Shawn’s wedding pictures to usher in the magic of 2024!

Baby Abby - Newborn Lifestyle Portraits

This past August, Madonna and Rubin welcomed their baby girl Abby into the world after an exciting 9 months of anticipation filled with lots of pink - you may remember their explosive pink smoke bomb baby reveal, and airport-themed waterfront maternity photos from not long ago.

For this photoshoot I took on a new-ish challenge, and captured some newborn photos of Abby.  Newborn photos aren’t a genre of photography I historically capture, and the timing on this wasn’t quite ideal, swooping in on the late-end of newborn portraits at 3 weeks due to me having COVID-19 at the same time Abby was born; Rubin and Donna deeply wanted me to be sure to capture Abby as her life began, so we made it happen once I was testing negative and it was safe for Abby.

Due to having to wait the extra time, Abby was definitely already exiting that peaceful and pliable newborn posing stage which lasts only around the first two weeks after birth; Abby is adorable, but just not having it with the peaceful curled newborn poses that are possible even just a week earlier - babies grow up quickly, which is why it’s important to capture every moment you can.