
Capital One Impact Initiative
Veterans across the country are struggling to find stable housing. This affordable housing community is ensuring Los Angeles vets have a place to call home.
02.13.21
Courtesy of Benjamin Faust via Unsplash
True
After years of service as a military nurse in the naval Marine Corps, Los Angeles, California-resident Rhonda Jackson became one of the 37,000 retired veterans in the U.S. who are currently experiencing homelessness — roughly eight percent of the entire homeless population.
"I was living in a one-bedroom apartment with no heat for two years," Jackson said. "The Department of Veterans Affairs was doing everything they could to help but I was not in a good situation."
One day in 2019, Jackson felt a sudden sense of hope for a better living arrangement when she caught wind of the ongoing construction of Veteran's Village in Carson, California — a 51-unit affordable housing development with one, two and three-bedroom apartments and supportive services to residents through a partnership with U.S.VETS.
Her feelings of hope quickly blossomed into a vision for her future when she learned that Veteran's Village was taking applications for residents to move in later that year after construction was complete.
"I was entered into a lottery and I just said to myself, 'Okay, this is going to work out,'" Jackson said. "The next thing I knew, I had won the lottery — in more ways than one."
<p>Communities like Veteran's Village are contributing to the national decline in homeless veterans. <u><a href="https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2019-AHAR-Part-1.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">According to The Department of Housing and Urban Development</a></u>, 793 fewer veterans experienced homelessness between 2018 and 2019.</p><p>That drop continued a steady decline over the past decade, as the number of veterans experiencing homelessness <u><a href="https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2019-AHAR-Part-1.pdf" target="_blank">has fallen nearly 50 percent</a></u> since 2009.<br></p><p><a target="_blank"></a>National Equity Fund (NEF), a nonprofit LIHTC syndicator and partner to Capital One, brought Veteran's Village to the bank, which responded by providing a $14.3 million construction loan and $15.6 million long-term equity investment through the purchase of low-income housing tax credits.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY0NDgyNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1ODYwOTQ1N30.9Hx_lOBHw7k-4oEOdCCFG11hRY2rgQwgmlOKCFy7YmE/img.jpg?width=980" id="cc95e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ebfbc8429462c2ce7ca0764081868223" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="2349" data-height="1320">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Courtesy of Thomas Safran & Associates </small></p><p>"Everyone deserves safe, secure, stable housing — especially the heroes that protect our rights and freedoms," says David Musial, a Capital One Senior Director of the Bank's Community Finance team, which specializes in financing affordable housing. "We are honored to be able to support communities like Veteran's Village as stable affordable housing is fundamental to physical and financial health and access to opportunity."<br></p><p>Veteran's Village strives to be more than just an affordable housing development. Its staff functions as a support system to help residents navigate their individual situations to ensure that each resident is equipped with the tools they need to thrive.</p><p>"Through the support of Capital One, we were able to provide much-needed housing for U.S. Veterans," said Amy Hyde of Thomas Safran & Associates, an affordable housing development and management organization whose properties include Veteran's Village. "Our goal is to enrich the lives of the people who reside in our buildings and Capital One's funding is helping us do just that," Hyde said.</p><p>For Jackson, that goal is realized through the sense of community throughout Veteran's Village.</p><p>"It's home for people who served their country and want to serve each other," Jackson said. "We take care of each other and we look out for each other. We're a family here."</p><p>In addition to supporting housing for veterans, Capital One supports affordable housing for residents throughout the Los Angeles area, including <u><a href="https://nationalcore.org/communities/vista-grande-court/" target="_blank">Vista Grande Court</a></u>, an affordable development that supports people over 60 years of age and Palo Verde Apartments, which includes 49 affordable units with 25 reserved for formerly homeless veterans and their families.</p><p>Capital One's support to affordable housing communities in Los Angeles comes as part of its larger <u><a href="http://capital.one/2Gl20C3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Capital One Impact Initiative</a><a href="http://capital.one/2Gl20C3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">,</a></u> an initial $200 million, multi-year commitment to advancing socioeconomic mobility through advocating for an inclusive society, building thriving communities and creating financial tools that enrich lives.</p><p>Jackson said that while she is grateful for her living arrangement at Veteran's Village, there is a long road ahead in ensuring that every veteran has access to stable housing.</p><p>"I pray that there will be more communities like this built because there are so many of my veteran brothers and sisters on the streets that don't even realize their living situation doesn't have to be the way it currently is," Jackson said.</p>
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Capital One Impact Initiative
Veterans across the country are struggling to find stable housing. This affordable housing community is ensuring Los Angeles vets have a place to call home.
02.13.21
Courtesy of Benjamin Faust via Unsplash
True
After years of service as a military nurse in the naval Marine Corps, Los Angeles, California-resident Rhonda Jackson became one of the 37,000 retired veterans in the U.S. who are currently experiencing homelessness — roughly eight percent of the entire homeless population.
"I was living in a one-bedroom apartment with no heat for two years," Jackson said. "The Department of Veterans Affairs was doing everything they could to help but I was not in a good situation."
One day in 2019, Jackson felt a sudden sense of hope for a better living arrangement when she caught wind of the ongoing construction of Veteran's Village in Carson, California — a 51-unit affordable housing development with one, two and three-bedroom apartments and supportive services to residents through a partnership with U.S.VETS.
Her feelings of hope quickly blossomed into a vision for her future when she learned that Veteran's Village was taking applications for residents to move in later that year after construction was complete.
"I was entered into a lottery and I just said to myself, 'Okay, this is going to work out,'" Jackson said. "The next thing I knew, I had won the lottery — in more ways than one."
<p>Communities like Veteran's Village are contributing to the national decline in homeless veterans. <u><a href="https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2019-AHAR-Part-1.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">According to The Department of Housing and Urban Development</a></u>, 793 fewer veterans experienced homelessness between 2018 and 2019.</p><p>That drop continued a steady decline over the past decade, as the number of veterans experiencing homelessness <u><a href="https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2019-AHAR-Part-1.pdf" target="_blank">has fallen nearly 50 percent</a></u> since 2009.<br></p><p><a target="_blank"></a>National Equity Fund (NEF), a nonprofit LIHTC syndicator and partner to Capital One, brought Veteran's Village to the bank, which responded by providing a $14.3 million construction loan and $15.6 million long-term equity investment through the purchase of low-income housing tax credits.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY0NDgyNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1ODYwOTQ1N30.9Hx_lOBHw7k-4oEOdCCFG11hRY2rgQwgmlOKCFy7YmE/img.jpg?width=980" id="cc95e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ebfbc8429462c2ce7ca0764081868223" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="2349" data-height="1320">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Courtesy of Thomas Safran & Associates </small></p><p>"Everyone deserves safe, secure, stable housing — especially the heroes that protect our rights and freedoms," says David Musial, a Capital One Senior Director of the Bank's Community Finance team, which specializes in financing affordable housing. "We are honored to be able to support communities like Veteran's Village as stable affordable housing is fundamental to physical and financial health and access to opportunity."<br></p><p>Veteran's Village strives to be more than just an affordable housing development. Its staff functions as a support system to help residents navigate their individual situations to ensure that each resident is equipped with the tools they need to thrive.</p><p>"Through the support of Capital One, we were able to provide much-needed housing for U.S. Veterans," said Amy Hyde of Thomas Safran & Associates, an affordable housing development and management organization whose properties include Veteran's Village. "Our goal is to enrich the lives of the people who reside in our buildings and Capital One's funding is helping us do just that," Hyde said.</p><p>For Jackson, that goal is realized through the sense of community throughout Veteran's Village.</p><p>"It's home for people who served their country and want to serve each other," Jackson said. "We take care of each other and we look out for each other. We're a family here."</p><p>In addition to supporting housing for veterans, Capital One supports affordable housing for residents throughout the Los Angeles area, including <u><a href="https://nationalcore.org/communities/vista-grande-court/" target="_blank">Vista Grande Court</a></u>, an affordable development that supports people over 60 years of age and Palo Verde Apartments, which includes 49 affordable units with 25 reserved for formerly homeless veterans and their families.</p><p>Capital One's support to affordable housing communities in Los Angeles comes as part of its larger <u><a href="http://capital.one/2Gl20C3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Capital One Impact Initiative</a><a href="http://capital.one/2Gl20C3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">,</a></u> an initial $200 million, multi-year commitment to advancing socioeconomic mobility through advocating for an inclusive society, building thriving communities and creating financial tools that enrich lives.</p><p>Jackson said that while she is grateful for her living arrangement at Veteran's Village, there is a long road ahead in ensuring that every veteran has access to stable housing.</p><p>"I pray that there will be more communities like this built because there are so many of my veteran brothers and sisters on the streets that don't even realize their living situation doesn't have to be the way it currently is," Jackson said.</p>
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Capital One Impact Initiative
How one business is helping create a safety net for restaurants this winter
02.02.21
Courtesy of Maketto
Maketto, a communal marketplace located in Washington D.C. that combines retail, restaurant and cafe experiences.
True
As the cold, dark days of winter carry on, restaurants all over the country are struggling to keep patrons coming in the proverbial door. Despite expensive and elaborate upgrades to help make restaurant dining safer, the one-two punch of the pandemic and frigid temperatures has done a number on restaurants' cash flow. Already, 17% of all restaurants in the United States have permanently closed since the start of the pandemic.
The National Restaurant Association described the industry as being "in an economic free-fall" in their plea to the U.S. House of Representatives, for some economic relief. If no help is received, they expect 58% of restaurants to continue furloughs and layoffs in the first quarter of the year.
There are, however, some big businesses doing their part to support the restaurant industry in its time of need. Capital One, for example, is taking a multi-pronged approach to helping the restaurant industry. One of those initiatives is providing over 30 restaurants nationwide with funding to safely and successfully winterize their outdoor dining options so they can stay open and keep their occupancy up.
"Restaurants are anchors in the communities in which we live and work, which is why we're providing them support so they can better access the tools they need to survive these difficult winter months," says Monica Bauder, Head of Cardholder Access at Capital One. "At Capital One, the dining industry has always been an important community to us and we want to continue to find ways to help them through this difficult time."
<p><a href="https://www.cotognasf.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cotogna</a>, an Italian restaurant in San Francisco's Jackson Square, was able to build an outdoor structure with a roof and heaters at each table thanks to Capital One's help. The staff also put olive trees between the tables to act as barriers while maintaining the restaurant's ambiance. Now Cotogna can operate at full capacity entirely outdoors.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU2NzExNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NTI0MjY1N30.jDOuXcUpN1n6sSg3s2R6wD_npQrCk-YMPoKxSvSNDgQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="ca667" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="158b0e0647daf8411689585daae6c01e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="1667" data-height="2500">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Courtesy of Cotogna</small></p><p>"We are really committed to making guests feel safe and comfortable and want them to feel like they're eating at the Cotogna they know and love," says Matt Cirne, Cotogna's beverage director. "Having partners like Capital One that are willing to be creative and really help restaurants navigate the uncertainty that lies ahead is crucial."<br></p><p>Two well-known restaurants in Washington, D.C., <a href="https://www.abcpony.com/about" target="_blank">ABC Pony</a> and <a href="http://maketto1351.com/" target="_blank">Maketto</a>, have also received support from Capital One during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since everyone uses online reservation services these days, Capital One partnered with <a href="https://sevenrooms.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SevenRooms</a> to provide complimentary table reservation services to restaurants like them. This service will be invaluable for restaurants whether they're able to be open now or later. </p><p>"It's going to be crucially important to have constant communication with our guests once it's safe to reopen our indoor dining rooms to ensure that each person feels comfortable," says Erik Bruner-Yang, a Washington D.C.-based chef who also manages ABC Pony and Maketto. "Capital One's sponsorship of our transition to using SevenRooms as our management system will help keep our guests up-to-date in real-time about our COVID-19 safety practices and other important updates."</p><p>The impact on the restaurant industry is changing month-to-month though, which is why Capital One is adapting its support to fit the new needs. For example, the company is also working with Bruner-Yang on <a href="https://www.powerof10initiative.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Power of 10</a>, an initiative he created that is helping restaurants keep their employees employed and food insecure communities fed. The initiative found that a restaurant can keep 10 full-time staff employed and make 1,000 meals for frontline healthcare workers and other vulnerable community members with $10,000 a week. So far, the partnership has lead to over 55,000 meals served and 280 jobs saved.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU1ODIwNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1Mzc4NDk3NX0.NnWpq8PpokZjHFRTvQhF-aGWkTJt2WWhcD96TNn-1SU/img.jpg?width=980" id="ff92c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="25e4fd73a242fd813a1179ccc88a7cd1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="3840" data-height="2560">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Erik Bruner-Yang</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Courtesy of The Power of 10</small></p><p>In order to help the thousands of restaurant workers who've lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Capital One has also partnered with <a href="https://www.getshiftdone.org/" target="_blank">Get Shift Done</a>, a nonprofit that's hiring impacted restaurant workers to help put together food boxes for food-insecure communities nationwide.<br></p><p>And since keeping a restaurant afloat during the pandemic is an uphill battle, Capital One, the official credit card partner of The James Beard Foundation, hosted a free webinar series for restaurant owners as part of the foundation's<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.jamesbeard.org/aboutopenforgood__;!!EFVe01R3CjU!JMwtMvyM7_NBw6PqmJRSwXUTqFmVmD_QBzFB4a2LBDvfiFul0HHZPtRyzktB2hyDTcO-%24" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.jamesbeard.org/aboutopenforgood__;!!EFVe01R3CjU!JMwtMvyM7_NBw6PqmJRSwXUTqFmVmD_QBzFB4a2LBDvfiFul0HHZPtRyzktB2hyDTcO-%24" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Open for Good Initiative</a>. The initiative was designed to act as a guidepost for owners during this unprecedented time when the future looks so uncertain, and provided useful information on cash flow, business credit, human resources, social media, and public relations. </p><p>Despite the challenges that businesses have faced - and continue to face - more than two-thirds of business owners remain optimistic that their businesses will return to pre-pandemic operations and revenues, according to a <a href="https://www.techrepublic.com/article/smb-leaders-are-optimistic-about-2021-but-bracing-for-more-covid-19-disruptions/" target="_blank">recent survey</a> conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of Capital One Business.</p><p>While that optimism is encouraging, it's taken resilience and dedication among business owners to navigate the stressful environment of the past year.</p><p>Many businesses, including those in the food services industry, have taken measures to help navigate the economic shutdowns and social distancing mandates brought on by the pandemic. They've adopted contactless payment options, delivery, online ordering and curbside pickup to keep their doors open and stay connected to customers.</p><p>To support local restaurants and the broader small business community, Capital One partnered with a coalition of brands and nonprofit organizations to launch <a href="https://smallunites.org/" target="_blank">Small Unites</a>, a national advocacy program that is providing ongoing support for small businesses across America. As part of Small Unites, anyone can donate to verified small business fundraisers, as well as the <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/smallbusinessrelieffund?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=ogilvy&utm_campaign=smallunites" target="_blank">Small Business Relief Fund</a>. <br></p><p><em><strong>Learn more about how Capital One is helping <a href="https://www.capitalone.com/about/our-commitments/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">build thriving communities</a>.</strong></em><br></p>
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One of the greatest parenting milestones is the day you get to explain to your children the basics of sex. Sometimes that day arrives because a kid bluntly asks how babies are made, sometimes parents bring it up so their kids to hear it from them before they hear it from other people, and sometimes it's a result of an unexpected encounter (like a kid walking in on their parents doing the deed).
However you arrive at it, that initial conversation is always interesting. No matter how prepared you think you are, some awkward hilarity is inevitable as you navigate those new waters. Sex is pretty simple on the one hand, but quite complicated on the other, and figuring what details to share at what stage is a tricky balancing act.
Some kids are open and curious and ask a million questions. Some kids are quiet and reserved and process it all in their own sweet time. But the first reaction of most pre-pubescent kids when they first hear about the mechanics of sex, even if you introduce it in a sex-positive way, is something along the lines of "What?? Are you serious? EW." And when they connect the dots that their parents had sex in order for them to be alive, the reaction gets even funnier.
A thread on Twitter illustrates how true this is as parents share their children's reactions to hearing about the birds and the bees.
<div id="4e6fc" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ccb951411b7305d8fa0c10362e28a0a3"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1356769961910308864" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Reaction from my kids after explaining how sex works:
“You’ve done this THREE TIMES?”</div> — megan (@megan)<a href="https://twitter.com/meganmuircoyle/statuses/1356769961910308864">1612314141.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Clearly, Megan has three kids. Logic.</p><p>Some kids let questions slip out before thinking about whether they really want to know the answer. Once you know it, you can't unknow it. Sorry, kiddo.</p><div id="9c63b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="72e535ad4373d429bdd786a974d2e08d"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1357013326228766723" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@meganmuircoyle On a summer walk my 1 boy(9) was asking ? about sex & I explained everything. My husband was away f… https://t.co/0hHQQxUFgt</div> — arlene geerlinks (@arlene geerlinks)<a href="https://twitter.com/ArleneGeerlinks/statuses/1357013326228766723">1612372163.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Parents have to be prepared for awkward questions, but sometimes you really can't predict what a kid might want to know. Kids aren't exactly known for having boundaries, and that's doubly true for a topic that's totally new for them. </p><div id="b20b5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d6981553ee4dad100f042648e827a726"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1357061258038501380" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@Kezfromchadders @meganmuircoyle My daughter (6 at the time) asked if we need to have a doctor watch us do it since… https://t.co/JA5Dfy2BbA</div> — Laura Zaugg (@Laura Zaugg)<a href="https://twitter.com/Laurazaugg/statuses/1357061258038501380">1612383591.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br></p><div id="5ed5d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="21b3996bdc3f1b34c4cc6d338bf0e889"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1357019881678512134" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@AnnieTook @meganmuircoyle I remember asking my mom how you’d know “ when you inseminated a woman”. I was like 9 an… https://t.co/g11TnU7zBv</div> — Space Nerd 🚀🚀🚀 #BLM (@Space Nerd 🚀🚀🚀 #BLM)<a href="https://twitter.com/spacenerd19/statuses/1357019881678512134">1612373726.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br></p><p>Most of us don't like to imagine our parents having sex, so this is one area where kids who are adopted have somewhat of an advantage (until they learn that procreation isn't the only reason people have sex). </p><div id="a1205" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d0b90a94f54a1d32741516061c5a89fa"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1357002285339922432" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@meganmuircoyle My kids are adopted, and I once heard, "Well, at least you guys didn't have to do THAT!"</div> — Wendy Gassaway (@Wendy Gassaway)<a href="https://twitter.com/WendyGassaway/statuses/1357002285339922432">1612369531.0</a></blockquote></div><p>It's not just the questions, but the declarations that come along with kids learning about sex that can take parents by surprise. </p><div id="1a22a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f8c9201b257742571b4460206465b30e"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1356963228295847938" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@meganmuircoyle My kid learned about it in the backseat at Target in a spur of the moment conversation. We got home… https://t.co/aqRtY79sEP</div> — long story short, we survived 🌊 (@long story short, we survived 🌊)<a href="https://twitter.com/peasandkaris/statuses/1356963228295847938">1612360219.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br></p><div id="7e3ad" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="11e0b13dd47c8139a1e1c60d02dcfcb9"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1357051241042444290" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@meganmuircoyle @bames_jrolin My nephew was about 7 when he got this info. At the next big holiday dinner he sponta… https://t.co/S7Fl4RNZcC</div> — JPG 🌞 (@JPG 🌞)<a href="https://twitter.com/ms_ginadano/statuses/1357051241042444290">1612381203.0</a></blockquote></div><p>It's always entertaining to see a kid's understanding move from innocence to reality.</p><div id="ba83d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4ed35c0e333a0ac05ce0ae3fedaa67fb"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1357066018213023744" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@meganmuircoyle when he got older I told him about the cervix, contractions, labour etc and he was like "oh. okay.… https://t.co/u7mnCiVYUg</div> — L. (@L.)<a href="https://twitter.com/Wumbenhood/statuses/1357066018213023744">1612384726.0</a></blockquote></div><p>And even more entertaining when you realize that you were the one who inadvertently introduced your kid to a sexual concept you may not have been prepared to discuss.</p><div id="a16df" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9581b454cd0aba9823ba12586d65b269"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1357124687982116866" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@fitz_lorie @meganmuircoyle @JoJoFromJerz I asked my mom the same question around the same age. She wanted to know… https://t.co/GT1G1MaL46</div> — Rebecca (@Rebecca)<a href="https://twitter.com/Reba_Dawn1/statuses/1357124687982116866">1612398714.0</a></blockquote></div><p>And then there are the unintentional misunderstandings that occur when kids don't get quite enough information.</p><div id="f89e0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="62ffafc6c971890b331c79320e2bda41"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1357125716660293633" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@BH_Kohn @meganmuircoyle https://t.co/eta3Thsl5s</div> — Chad (@Chad)<a href="https://twitter.com/ChadduboisR/statuses/1357125716660293633">1612398959.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Perhaps the funniest part about talking about sex with kids is how actually kind of weird the physical act really is when you think about it. Of course it seems absurd to children who haven't sexually developed yet. </p><div id="edb49" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e2ff044fce1fae196fb07036bec07d3f"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1356995315010850816" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@JessicaReens @meganmuircoyle Wow, they have it SO backwards! 😂</div> — Dr. Gemma Angel 🍞🌹🌏🏳️🌈 (@Dr. Gemma Angel 🍞🌹🌏🏳️🌈)<a href="https://twitter.com/Gemma_Angel/statuses/1356995315010850816">1612367869.0</a></blockquote></div><p>In fact, some kids find it so weird, they literally don't believe it. </p><div id="029e6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0bae8673fc700b8586fb2be221924a69"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1357038037486559232" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@KathlynClore @meganmuircoyle I used to think that people got pregnant by kissing, the baby would grow and eat in y… https://t.co/7JXLHhXwLA</div> — Lauren Cheever⁷ (@Lauren Cheever⁷)<a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenCheever/statuses/1357038037486559232">1612378055.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Like, what the heck with this design? And they don't even know at this point about the nitty-gritty details that you only really know once you've done it. </p><div id="a3abd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="97be46f5741f662401ea6e5bf1b62296"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1356992106426949639" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@hobwas @meganmuircoyle Kid is like: 🤣 https://t.co/2BPeT1JKjB</div> — Trey Felder (@Trey Felder)<a href="https://twitter.com/TbirdTr3y_10/statuses/1356992106426949639">1612367104.0</a></blockquote></div><p>As funny as these stories are, the fact that parents are having open and honest conversations with their kids about sex is seriously awesome. Some people do their kids a disservice by being too creeped out to talk about it, or maybe worrying they'll give too much info, so they don't talk about it. </p><div id="7631a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="732b516fe1c649be07c4e9c0b4431907"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1357056470911569922" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@meganmuircoyle I was lucky, when I was like 5 I asked my mom where babies came from and she explained it, and told… https://t.co/X27PUnHPgE</div> — OrangeGoth 🍊🦇🎃 essek apologist (@OrangeGoth 🍊🦇🎃 essek apologist)<a href="https://twitter.com/ThatAuntZelda/statuses/1357056470911569922">1612382450.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Whatever your moral perspectives on the topic, sex is part of life. It's basic health and biology. It's a human reality that everyone learns about one way or another, and it's generally better for kids to learn about sex from their parents than from their peers, who might give wrong information. Starting early by answering kids' questions matter-of-factly, giving age-appropriate details (which admittedly can be hard to discern), and bringing up the topic occasionally if your kids don't can help kids ease into a healthy understanding of sex. </p><p>While the basic mechanics conversation is indeed a parenting milestone, the best parent-child conversations about sex are ongoing and ever-expanding. Making consent and boundaries part of the conversation is vital as well. Some uncomfortable moments may be inevitable, but keep the line of communication wide open will go a long way toward helping kids prepare for what's to come.</p>
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Aerial camera captures dolphins hanging out with a huge aggregation of Florida manatees
02.13.21
An aerial camera caught a delightful sight off the coast of St. Petersburg, Florida last week, as a small pod of dolphins swam through a huge aggregation of manatees. As the dolphins make their way through the shallow waters, we see around 170 manatees just chilling, as manatees do. Then we get to see the dolphins show off their playfulness, as dolphins do.
The marine mammal mingling is particularly meaningful knowing how the manatee has struggled for survival.
170 Manatees and Some Jumping Dolphins in St Petersburg, FL www.youtube.com
Florida manatees became protected under the Endangered Species Act in 1973, when their numbers were estimated to be between 800 and 1,000. By 1991, their population was still less than 1,300. But dedicated conservation and rehabilitation efforts in recent decades have increased that number to around 6,300. Manatees in Florida currently make up around half of the world's total manatee population.
The increase in numbers does come with a couple of caveats, however. Manatee populations are notoriously difficult to count accurately, so estimates are just that. The manatee was downgraded from "endangered" to "threatened" in 2017, but some advocates said that designation is misleading because the threats to its survival are still just as much of a problem.
<p>The biggest threats manatees face are collisions with watercraft, habitat loss and degradation, fishing gear entanglement, human harassment, exposure to <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/02/14/694479180/after-16-months-of-dead-fish-manatees-and-dolphins-floridas-red-tide-ebbs" target="_blank">red tide</a>, and climate change. The loss of the manatee's warm-water habitat is a vital long-term threat to the species, as it can't tolerate cold waters. Traditionally, they rely on natural springs to stay warm during cold weather, but urban and agricultural development <a href="https://defenders.org/wildlife/florida-manatee" target="_blank">has impacted </a>many of Florida's natural artesian springs.</p><p>However, as far as conservation and rehabilitation goes, Florida manatees are a success story. Many groups, both within the government and non-profit sectors, work diligently to advocate for the protection of Florida manatees and educate people on how they can help. Seeing this large aggregation of manatees from above is a heartening reminder of how important that work has been.</p><p>The footage was captured by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp2H6pO0YZrNOuFJq3vWm1g" target="_blank">See Through Canoe,</a> a company that sells transparent canoes and that shares videos of animal encounters off the Florida coast. They say that dolphins and manatees often swim in the same waters, but rarely interact directly. This summer, they shared a video of a small pod of dolphins actually seeming to play together—a phenomenon they say they've not seen in 30 years of observing these animals.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5b73d7c787a320deb5e8b0f2a66b50ac"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R69Z9bIXL20?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">The Odd Pod. Dolphins and a Manatee Swimming and Playing Together</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://youtu.be/R69Z9bIXL20" target="_blank">youtu.be</a>
</small>
</p><p>As human activity continues to impact the well-being and survival of creatures like the manatee, we can use videos like this as inspiration and incentive to implement more environmentally responsible habits. Seeing what we're saving by pushing for ecologically sound policies and practices can go a long way toward keeping the momentum going. </p>
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