Latest news with #BookClub
Time Business News
4 days ago
- General
- Time Business News
Youth Champions Alumni Share Their Success Stories: Insights from a Summer Book Club
Exploring new avenues of personal and professional growth, Youth Champions alumni are testament to the success of empowering young voices. By showcasing their journeys through the Youth Champions programs, these alumni stories ignite inspiration and hope for current participants navigating similar paths. From taking on leadership roles to making impactful changes in their communities, the experiences shared highlight the lasting influence of this initiative. Complementing these inspiring alumni success stories, the return of the Summer Book Club offers another platform for engagement and education. With applications open and participants eagerly diving into thought-provoking literature, the club fosters a sense of community and intellectual curiosity. This initiative presents yet another opportunity for Youth Champions to continue paving the way for lifelong learning and development. Balancing stories of achievement with practical opportunities for growth, Youth Champions continues to shape a dynamic environment for young individuals. As alumni reflect on their personal growth and collective achievements, their narratives serve as powerful reminders of the potential unlocked through support and community. Youth Champions alumni have demonstrated remarkable achievements since completing the program. Their stories offer valuable insight into how engaging in structured programs and activities such as the Summer Book Club can lay the groundwork for their future accomplishments. Alumni of Youth Champions have made significant strides in their personal and professional lives. These individuals often credit the program with helping them build strong foundations for leadership and self-improvement. An alumni testimonial highlighted a journey of becoming influential community leaders. Their paths inspire current youth by illustrating tangible outcomes through dedication and perseverance. Many alumni have taken on mentoring roles themselves, guiding new participants through the challenges they once faced. The Summer Book Club has become a key component in preparing Youth Champions participants for future endeavors. This initiative encourages analytical thinking and a love for reading, helping participants strengthen critical skills. Many alumni attribute their improved academic performances to the club. The discussions around diverse topics have enhanced their ability to communicate effectively. The club's impacts are evident in the testimonials of alumni who mention increased confidence and comprehension skills. These skills have been instrumental in their success in various fields. Youth Champions programs have a lasting effect on their participants. Alumni often enter adulthood with a sense of agency and a toolkit of essential skills. By focusing on empowerment and practical learning experiences, the programs have paved the way for successful careers and community involvement. Alumni achievements include taking roles in nonprofit organizations and leading successful business enterprises. The structured environment provided by Youth Champions equips participants with a transformative experience that extends beyond the duration of the program. Participating in the Youth Champions Summer Book Club has had significant benefits for alumni, from nurturing essential skills to fostering connections that impact their professional and personal lives. The Summer Book Club equips participants with essential skills that transcend academic settings. Readers engage with diverse genres and topics, fostering curiosity and a habit of lifelong learning. This exposure to varied literature expands their perspectives and helps them think critically and analytically. Alumni report that the club's reading curriculum, which includes both fiction and non-fiction, has improved their problem-solving abilities. They learn to approach challenges creatively by drawing insights from the books discussed. These experiences prepare them for complex environments in higher education and their careers. Engaging in the Summer Book Club promotes leadership development among its participants. By exploring narratives with strong characters and leadership themes, members are inspired to adopt leadership qualities in their lives. Discussions about these characters allow them to reflect on various leadership styles and their applicability in the real world. Former participants often take the initiative in group discussions, enhancing their confidence and public speaking skills. Encouraged to voice their opinions, they learn how to lead conversations effectively and collaboratively. These skills become invaluable as alumni advance in their careers, where leadership is often a crucial component. The book club serves as a social platform, allowing members to build meaningful connections. Through group discussions and collaborative activities, participants from diverse backgrounds come together, fostering a sense of community and inclusivity. These interactions pave the way for long-term professional and personal relationships. Alumni often keep in touch with fellow participants, forming networks that extend beyond the book club setting. Such connections provide them with opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and support throughout their careers. The relationships forged during these sessions can open doors to new ventures and collaborations. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Forbes
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Reese Witherspoon Launches Hello Sunshine Sister Brand For Gen Z
Reese Witherspoon is having a busy week. The day after she announced a podcast deal with iHeartMedia for her monthly book club, she pulled back the curtain on Sunnie, a Gen Z-focused sister brand to her media juggernaut Hello Sunshine. On stage at Cannes Lions on June 18, Witherspoon shared the vision for Sunnie, designed to inspire the next generation of young women through storytelling and experiences to reclaim their time, follow their curiosity and step into their power and guided by an advisory board of 20 teenage girls. 'It's been a dream of mine to build a space where young women can be the truest version of themselves,' said Witherspoon. 'We've discovered that young women are not defined by doom and gloom as they're often portrayed in media – they're complex, creative individuals with incredible agency. Sunnie will be a celebration of that spirit, giving them the tools and community to navigate life's challenges while embracing their authentic selves.' Part of Candle Media, Hello Sunshine centers women in stories across platforms from scripted and unscripted television, feature films, animated series, podcasts, audio storytelling, and digital series, and is home to Reese's Book Club. Projects include 'The Morning Show,' 'Daisy Jones and the Six,' 'Little Fires Everywhere' and 'Big Little Lies.' Sunnie, which aspires to 'build a community rooted in joy, curiosity, and real self-expression,' is launching with partner e.l.f. Beauty as its foundational partner and features collaborations out of the gate with Gen Z creators including Lana Condor and Hello Sunshine Collective talent Molly Carlson and Raegan Revord on topics including confidence and creative outlets to culture-driving trends, like fashion, entertainment, sports, STEM, and mental health. Sunnie also has formed strategic alliances with organizations including Child Mind Institute, Être, Lyda Hill Philanthropies' IF/THEN Initiative, Step Up, the Women's Sports Foundation, and Purdue University as the official University Partner. To ground the platform in real insights, Hello Sunshine also partnered with Être and YPulse to commission a national research report titled The Gen Z Rewrite, which surveys 1,000 girls ages 13–18. 'Young women – despite the many pressures they face – are intentionally creating space for joy,' said Maureen polo, head of direct to consumer at Hello Sunshine. 'They're writing their own stories, setting boundaries, finding community, and embracing both digital and real-world connections on their terms. And yet, 75 percent say advertising rarely reflects how they actually talk, dress, or act — a clear signal that the industry still isn't truly seeing them. Sunnie will support and amplify these efforts, providing content, curriculum, and experiences that resonate with how they actually live their lives, not how adults assume they do.'
Winnipeg Free Press
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Hard time
'Can a man who caused the death of his child ever atone enough to be forgiven?' American author Wally Lamb asks this in his sixth novel, a heart-shattering saga about addiction, trauma, redemption and the healing power of relationships. Heavy themes, but familiar ones for Lamb. He became a household name with his 1992 novel I Know This Much Is True, (made into a limited series by HBO in 2020 and available on Crave) which follows the story of identical twin brothers, one of whom develops paranoid schizophrenia. Shana Sureck photo Wally Lamb's latest was recently selected as the next read for Oprah's Book Club. Lamb is known for his Dickensian-like storytelling — epic, winding stories, sharp criticism of social ills, plentiful references to topical events and deeply relatable characters. The River Is Waiting contains all these elements. The story opens in 2017 in Lamb's favourite setting: the fictional small-town of Three Rivers, Conn., where we meet 35-year-old Corby Ledbetter. Corby thinks he's doing fine. He may have lost his job, but he'll find another one. In the meantime, he's devoting himself to his beloved wife, Emily, and working as a stay-at-home dad to their two-year-old twins. And even though he sneaks booze and sedatives to cope with his growing stress and depression, he knows he can quit when things get better. As Corby says, 'I'm not too worried about my growing reliance on 'better living through chemistry.' It's just a stopgap until my situation turns around.' Corby keeps telling himself this, even after the morning he takes a double dose of Ativan, chases it with Captain Morgan rum — and backs over his toddler son in the driveway, killing him. Sentenced to prison, Corby finds unexpected fellowship with inmates, including an older mentor and a troubled young man desperately looking for a role model. With the help of his new friends, a warm-hearted prison librarian and his mother's unconditional love, Corby begins to hope that he can conquer his demons, forgive himself and come back to his wife and daughter. The River is Waiting Like fellow American author Matthew Quick, best-known for his 2008 novel The Silver Linings Playbook, Lamb excels at creating characters that are lovable even when not likable. Corby is genuinely grief-stricken and remorseful for killing his son. Most of the time, he seems honest and committed to conquering his addiction. By letting Corby tell the story, readers can't help but sympathize with him and, at times, feel his frustration towards his wife when she refuses to visit, or his mother when she offers well-meaning but unhelpful advice. At other times, Corby comes across as self-righteous, such as when he lashes out at his wife for being protective of their remaining child. 'No matter what's going to happen between Emily and me, I'll fight her tooth and nail if she's going to try to screw with my parental rights. I was a good dad before it happened. She knows that. Doesn't that count for anything?' Corby fumes to himself. During his long career as a teacher and novelist, Lamb also taught creative writing to inmates at York Correctional Institute in Connecticut. He draws on his experience to authentically depict the interior of prison life. Guards treat prisoners kindly or cruelly depending on whim, healing programs are limited or inaccessible, personal phone calls are monitored and inmates learn not to speak up for their own protection. As Corby wryly notes, 'The only thing most of the staff is interested in 'correcting' is a new inmate's assumption that he might be something more than a worthless piece of s–t with a felony conviction and inmate number.' Lamb also dives into the racial injustice of the legal system, with Corby noticing the segregation of inmates by race, and how inmates of colour typically receive longer sentences than white inmates, regardless of the nature of their offences. David Kanigan / Silhouette of bird on shore of lake in Cove Island Park in USA. As Corby realizes after speaking with an older Black inmate: 'For the death of my son, they gave me three years. Lester got 50 years because a judge's daughter lost an arm and, I'm guessing, because she was white.' Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Lamb touches on topical elements from 2017-2023, including Trump followers, economic downturns and the COVID-19 pandemic. Several characters from Lamb's previous novels also make appearances, including psychologist Dr. Patel and nurse Maureen Quirk. Lamb handles the narrative skilfully. While the plot drags at time, this serves to emphasize the monotony of day-to-day life in prison. The River Is Waiting is worth the nine-year wait since Lamb's most recent novel. Kathryne Cardwell is a writer in Treaty One Territory.
Forbes
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Stay, Read, Drink! This Top Times Square Hotel Offers Books And Sips
Tempo by Hilton Times Square has partnered with Book Club Bar to offer guests a trio of bestselling books and literary-inspired cocktails. I stayed at Tempo by Hilton Times Square earlier this year, when they had the foresight to collaborate with Maybe Happy Ending, so I could score discount tickets to what turned out to be this year's Tony award winner for Best Musical. Although that promotion has long since expired, the perfectly-located hotel continues to keep its finger on the pulse of pop culture and is now offering a Reading and Relaxation package dedicated to book lovers (*raises hand*). Embracing the #BookTok trend and encouraging guests to read seems like a natural move for Tempo, Hilton's wellness brand, so it makes sense that the hotel has partnered with Book Club Bar, the popular East Village bookstore/bar, to provide a thoughtfully curated collection of books as well as a trio of literary-inspired craft cocktails to go with them. There's nothing like curling up in a hotel bed with a good book. Book selections will rotate every few months but right now, the three options include Wicked by Gregory Maguire, The Housemaid by Freida McFadden and In Tongues by Thomas Gratton. Your book of choice is accompanied by a bottle of red or white wine along with charcuterie and cheese, all delivered directly to your room. Although I loved The Housemaid, which is such a page-turner, you may not want to leave your room, I think it would be such a unique experience to (re)read Wicked with the billboard for the show literally outside your floor to ceiling windows. Room with a(n amazing) view. Thanks to those floor to ceiling windows, rooms at Tempo by Hilton Times Square seem much larger than they are. Blackout curtains ensure the lights of Broadway don't keep you awake but, when they're open, the views are magical. You can even opt for a wellness room, which comes with a yoga mat and resistance bands and lets you take a Peloton for a spin while overlooking the wonder that is Broadway. Because of this birds-eye view, the hotel would be an amazing place to spend New Year's Eve. In fact, it boasts 31 Ball Drop rooms that get you up close and personal with the iconic Times Square Ball as it makes its way down. This is such a rare opportunity, you may want to start making plans now for ushering in 2026. Highball is a great spot to get cozy and enjoy a meal or a drink. On the 11th floor, flanked by floor to ceiling windows and giving off an inviting retro vibe, Highball, Tempo by Hilton Times Square's signature restaurant and lounge, is serving these new cocktail creations in conjunction with the hotel's current book offerings: If, like me, you're not a drinker, Highball does a great job of recreating any of their cocktails as tasty mocktails. My husband and I had dinner at Highball during our stay and enjoyed one of the best burgers we've ever eaten. Trust me, we were as shocked as you probably are just reading this. Accompanied by Tater Tots and finished off with a shareable slice of Chef Kit's Chocolate Crunch Cake, it was just a perfect — and perfectly unexpected — meal. We're already planning a fall trip back to New York and can't wait to see which new titles Tempo by Hilton Times Square will be adding to the Reading and Relaxation package. We're ready to book it.
USA Today
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Oprah's June book club pick is here and it's an author she's loved since the '90s
Oprah's June book club pick is here and it's an author she's loved since the '90s Oprah Winfrey has made her latest book club selection, and this time it's a fan favorite. 'The River is Waiting' by Wally Lamb (out now from Simon & Schuster), a propulsive crime novel following a young father after an unforgivable tragedy, is the Oprah book club pick for June. It's the third time Oprah has chosen a Lamb book for her book club – first 'She's Come Undone' in 1997 and 'I Know This Much Is True' in 1998. In a statement, Winfrey says her third pick from the author is indicative of 'what I think of this truly masterful and beloved writer.' 'Wally Lamb takes us on an incredible and transformative journey from the depths of despair to the healing power of facing the truth and finding forgiveness,' Winfrey said in a statement. Oprah's Book Club June pick: 'The River is Waiting' by Wally Lamb 'The River is Waiting' follows Corby Ledbetter, a struggling new father who is already mourning the loss of his job and the consequences of his secret addiction before tragedy strikes. Now incarcerated, Corby struggles with the violence and brutality of prison but also finds a prison librarian, a good-natured cellmate and a troubled teen who give him something to fight for. This novel is his quest for forgiveness and hope. Lamb is the author of nine books, including two nonfiction collections of testimonies from imprisoned women, 'Couldn't Keep It To Myself' and 'I'll Fly Away.' His second novel, "I Know This Much Is True," was adapted into a miniseries starring Mark Ruffalo in 2000. In a statement, Lamb reflected on his four phone conversations with Winfrey over his career, three of which were to notify him of the book club selection. The first time she called him, it was 1992 and Winfrey simply wanted to express her gratitude for him writing 'She's Come Undone.' Five years later, she chose it as her fourth book club pick. 'I'm not sure why I've been on the receiving end of such grace and good fortune, but I try to live each day expressing my gratitude in the way I treat others,' Lamb said in a statement. 'And of those four phone conversations with Oprah, I think my favorite may be the first one, before there was an Oprah's Book Club, when I received a validating gift from an avid reader who just wanted to thank me for having written my book.' Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
