Author: sHq_LoGiNz
The first-of-its-kind brunch united influential women, including author and TV personality Porsha Williams, “Good Morning America’s” Janai Norman, and NBC4 New York/WNBC’s Natalie Pasquarella for heartfelt conversations about maternal and infant health.
NEW YORK, Oct. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, March of Dimes hosted “The Collective” as part of its signature It Starts With Mom campaign convening CEOs, changemakers, and advocates for an inspiring discussion on how the power of personal experience can drive systemic change. The event was emceed by Natalie Pasquarella, anchor for NBC4 New York/WNBC, who helped weave together the stories and themes that shaped the morning’s discussion.
The conversation “From Personal to Powerful: Stories Driving Change for Moms and Babies“ was moderated by Janai Norman, co-anchor of “Good Morning America” and featured a deeply moving panel with heartfelt conversation centered on how lived experiences can shape change. Panelists included Porsha Williams, author and TV personality; Adrianna Carrig, founder and CBO of Little Words Project; Dr. May Lee Tjoa, Senior Global Medical Affairs Leader at Johnson & Johnson, and Elizabeth Caulder, CEO of Phoenix Lifestyle Marketing Group.
“Every statistic we talk about, whether it’s preterm birth or maternal mortality, represents a family, a mom, a baby who deserves the best possible start,” said Cindy Rahman, President and CEO of March of Dimes. “Today’s event was a powerful reminder that real change starts when we listen to women’s stories, and when partners come together to turn those stories into action. We’re proud to stand with our supporters who share our mission to fight for the health of all moms and babies.”
Throughout the conversation, speakers reflected on the profound connection between their personal experiences and their professional missions—from Williams’ maternal health advocacy and Caulder’s journey of loss and healing, to Carrig’s experience in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and Dr. Tjoa’s role advancing innovation in maternal-fetal medicine.
“We can’t fix what we won’t face. I’m honored to stand with March of Dimes and share my story. When we speak out, we help others feel seen, heard, and empowered to push for better care,” said Porsha Williams, March of Dimes Celebrity Advocate Council Member. “There’s so much more work to do, especially for Black moms. But today reminded me that we’re not in this alone.”
The Collective was supported by a powerful group of partners whose ongoing collaboration fuels the March of Dimes mission. Premier sponsor Johnson & Johnson joined Supportive sponsors The Honest Company and Momcozy; Event sponsors Garrison Financial Group and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association; and Media partner The Bump. National It Starts With Mom campaign partners include HCA Healthcare, Clearblue, and Sanofi. March of Dimes National partner, Philips Healthcare and Philips Avent, highlighted their collaboration with March of Dimes as a powerful example of thought leadership in action, translating shared insights into tangible solutions for moms and moms-to-be.
Little Words Project, Broadwick Fibers, and Crayola Flowers were featured through interactive and creative moments during the event.
As the nation continues to face persistently high and inequitable rates of maternal mortality and preterm birth, March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies through research, education, advocacy, programs, and partnerships. The Collective is both a celebration of stories and a rallying cry for action—because behind every statistic is a family, reminding participants that everyone has a role to play in creating a healthy future for families.
To learn more and get involved, visit marchofdimes.org/itstartswithmom. For more about March of Dimes’ work to improve maternal and infant health, visit marchofdimes.org.
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SOURCE March of Dimes Inc.
CNH brand New Holland, a global leader in agricultural innovation, will participate in FIRA USA, the premier event for agricultural robotics and automation, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable farming practices.
New Holland’s presence at FIRA USA – From October 21 – 23 – highlights its dedication to environmental stewardship through advanced technologies that support automation, precision agriculture, and regenerative farming. By equipping farmers with tools that enhance productivity while minimizing environmental impact, New Holland is helping shape a more sustainable future for agriculture.
Held in Woodland, California, FIRA USA brings together farmers, industry leaders, startups, scientists, and investors to collaborate on the future of eco-conscious farming.
A key feature of New Holland’s showcase will be the T4.120F specialty tractor paired with a precision fan sprayer using the Raven Air Blast Sprayer Kit. Tailored for vineyards and specialty crops, this system is already available to customers and represents a major step forward in sustainable spraying practices.
This advanced system is designed to eliminate application overlaps and skips through coverage sharing, the system increases daily coverage by up to 20% and reduces crop protection input use by up to 10%. These improvements translate into lower chemical usage, reduced waste, and cost savings for growers, all while promoting environmentally responsible agriculture.
Read the full article here
In response to back-to-back storms spurred by Typhoon Halong in western Alaska, Direct Relief is dispatching medical and financial support to impacted communities in the state, where more than 1,000 people have been displaced.
Winds of more than 100 miles per hour ripped homes from their foundations, and record tidal surges inundated communities in the western part of the state on Sunday. At least one person has died as a result of the floods, and two remain missing, according to state agencies. Many people are sheltering in local schools or community centers, and critical infrastructure has been damaged.
The storm’s impacts were most significant in low-lying areas of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region in western Alaska, including the communities of Kwigillingok, Kipnuk, and Napakiak. The remote area has limited road access, making emergency response and aid distribution challenging. Many communities can only be reached by boat or plane, and a critical airport in the community of Kipnuk has sustained damage.
Direct Relief’s Response
Direct Relief has been in communication with local healthcare providers and tribal organizations across the state about ongoing medical requests.
On Wednesday, the organization shipped emergency medical aid requested by the Alaska Native Heritage Center, or ANHC, located in Anchorage. A part of a statewide coalition of organizations, ANHC is working to coordinate relief provisions to directly impacted individuals. The organization is coordinating material aid to areas of greatest need, providing financial assistance to displaced families, and coordinating transportation of supplies to Southwest Alaska. In the past, ANHC provided donations to those impacted by Typhoon Merbok in 2022 and community preparedness while monitoring volcanic activity from Mount Spurr earlier this year.
The shipment to ANHC included field medic packs, which contain first aid essentials for triage care outside of clinic walls and are used by healthcare providers and first responders in disaster settings, including basic medical needs in shelters.
Direct Relief is also preparing to ship requested personal care items, including soap, shampoo, and dental hygiene products for people who have been displaced by the storm. ANHC will also receive $50,000 to support emergency response costs.
Direct Relief has provided more than $5 million in medical and financial support to organizations across the state since 2008, and has provided support after other extreme weather events in the region, including 2022’s Typhoon Merbok, which impacted western Alaska.
The organization continues to reach out and offer assistance to organizations supporting the impacted region and will continue to respond to immediate and long-term needs as they become known.
Key Points
- A tribal community in New Mexico is celebrating the first paved parking area ever at its community services complex, which was surrounded only by dirt for years.
- The Pueblo of Zia held a community gathering to mark completion of the project, which eliminated drainage issues and provides access to people in wheelchairs.
- The Pueblo’s administration collaborated on the project with Marathon Petroleum’s midstream affiliate, MPLX, which funded and coordinated the work.
October 17, 2025 /3BL/ – Keresan-speaking Indians have continuously occupied the Pueblo of Zia in north-central New Mexico for more than 600 years, and the pueblo’s familiar sun symbol is the official insignia on the New Mexico state flag. Recently, the Zia Pueblo celebrated another historical milestone of a much different kind: installation of an asphalt parking lot at its community services complex.
“The newly paved parking lot marks a monumental achievement for our community, as it is the first of its kind in the pueblo’s history,” said Pueblo of Zia Tribal Administrator Angela Young-Geffre. “Previously, this area was a rugged expanse of dirt and rocks that posed challenges, particularly during rainy weather when it turned into a muddy hazard.”
Marathon Petroleum’s midstream affiliate, MPLX, collaborated with the Pueblo of Zia’s administration to execute the project. Planning, funding and coordination came through MPLX’s Natural Gas and NGL Services (NG & NGL Services) component, which operates a pipeline that crosses Zia Pueblo land.
“The newly paved parking lot marks a monumental achievement for our community, as it is the first of its kind in the pueblo’s history.”
“The leadership explained to our project team how life-changing it would be to have a paved parking lot, which most of us might take for granted,” NG & NGL Services Senior Engineer Cheol Kim said. “The existing grade at the complex prevented wheelchair access and caused water to pool that led to mud being tracked into buildings, so we designed adjustments to redirect stormwater runoff away from buildings and add an ADA-compliant (Americans with Disabilities Act) ramp.”
The project took four weeks to complete. It culminated with a community celebration that attracted almost 400 people.
“We began conversations about this project with the Pueblo of Zia’s government three years ago, so seeing the quality of the finished project and the community come together for a celebration was very rewarding,” said MPLX Tribal Government Affairs Manager V.J. Smith, who attended the pueblo’s gathering.
Young-Geffre noted that she looks forward to the continued positive impacts of this project for years to come, pointing to a recent example.
“The response from local children has been particularly heartwarming,” she said. “They have embraced the new paved surface, eagerly gathering after school and on weekends to ride their bicycles and scooters, making joyful memories on this smooth new terrain.”
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pacify Health, a leading provider of a multimodal maternal health platform offering members access to in-person and virtual doula care, and 24/7 virtual lactation support, today announced a strategic collaboration with Community Care Plan (CCP). The collaboration will provide specialized, wraparound maternal health services to CCP members with the aim of addressing gaps in maternal health in the region. This collaboration will increase access to comprehensive, evidence-based, doula-led support through Pacify’s network of certified doulas and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) to pregnant and postpartum individuals across 19 Florida Counties.
Pacify Health, leading provider of doula and lactation support, announces collaboration with Community Care Plan (CCP).
Addressing Critical Maternal Health Needs in Florida
This collaboration comes at a critical time as, not unlike the rest of the country, Florida continues to face gaps in providing access to maternal health support at scale. According to the most recent data from the CDC, the U.S. maternal mortality rate was 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, showing an improvement from 22.3 in 2022. Florida’s ongoing efforts to address these rates make enhanced maternal care services an urgent priority as maternal mortality remains a pressing concern, with the state reporting a maternal mortality rate averaging 24.1 per 100,000 live births from 2018 – 2022 2022, and a slight increase in preterm births reported in 2023 according to the 2024 March of Dimes report. Incorporating doula support is an opportunity to address these challenges and has been shown to:
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Reduce cesarean rates by up to 47%,
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Increase postpartum care visits by ~46%, -
Reduce preterm births by 29%
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Lower odds of postpartum depression/postpartum anxiety by 57.5%
“Community Care Plan’s commitment to improving maternal health outcomes aligns perfectly with Pacify’s mission to provide accessible, evidence-based support throughout the pregnancy journey and beyond,” said Jennifer Sargent, CEO at Pacify Health. “By collaborating with Community Care Plan, we can reach more families who need these vital services, particularly in communities facing healthcare disparities and in rural areas where access to maternal care services remain limited.”
The Florida Department of Health has established initiatives like the Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative to address maternal mental health needs, recognizing that good mental health before, during, and after pregnancy positively impacts the health of both mother and child. The department has actively worked to strengthen knowledge related to maternal mental health and expand services throughout the state.
Evidence-Based Care for Healthier Families
Through this collaboration, eligible CCP members will gain access to Pacify’s multimodal maternal care platform, which includes:
- Virtual prenatal support with certified doulas
- Birth planning guidance
- 24/7 on-demand infant feeding support with IBCLCs
- Postpartum recovery assistance
- Access to in-person doula support in select areas
- Access to a library of educational resources, and messaging and scheduling tools through the app, which supports both English and Spanish speakers
Research consistently demonstrates that doula support is associated with better birth outcomes. A nationwide study involving Florida participants found that individuals receiving doula care were more likely to have improved health outcomes, including lower rates of cesarean births and higher breastfeeding initiation rates. Yet, despite these benefits, nationwide surveys estimate that only about 6% of births involve doula support.
Expanding Access to Wraparound Care
“At Community Care Plan, we are dedicated to providing best-practice wraparound care that supports healthier families across South Florida,” said Dr. Miguel Venereo, SVP and Chief Medical Officer at Community Care Plan. “Together with our Before Baby & Beyond program, the collaboration with Pacify reinforces our commitment to enhancing access to essential maternal health services and addressing the unique needs of our members during pregnancy and postpartum.”
Community Care Plan, established in 2000 and jointly owned by Broward Health (North Broward Hospital District) and Memorial Healthcare System (South Broward Hospital District), serves over 160,000 members across various health plans and managed care programs.
“This collaboration represents a significant step forward in supporting Florida’s ongoing efforts to improve maternal health outcomes,” added Dr. Miguel Venereo, SVP and Chief Medical Officer at Community Care Plan. “By increasing access to doula and lactation support services, we’re providing essential care that can help reduce maternal mortality rates and support healthier beginnings for Florida families.”
Community Care Plan is a managed care plan with a Florida Medicaid contract in Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Glades, Hendry, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Sarasota, Seminole, and St. Lucie counties.
The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information, contact the Managed Care Plan. Limitations, copayments, and/or restrictions may apply. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change.
About Pacify Health
Pacify Health is a leader in tech-enabled maternity care solutions, providing families with guidance from certified in-person and virtual doulas and lactation consultants, leveraging an innovative digital platform aimed at improving patient experience and satisfaction. Committed to improving healthcare equity, Pacify breaks down barriers in maternal health by offering personalized, accessible support to parents throughout their pregnancy and postpartum journey with a network of culturally compassionate, and specially trained providers. For more information, visit www.pacify.com.
About Community Care Plan
Community Care Plan, the health plan with a heart, was created in 2000 as South Florida Community Care Network and is based in Sunrise, Florida. We are owned by two large, well-respected hospitals, Broward Health (North Broward Hospital District) and Memorial Healthcare System (South Broward Hospital District). We serve over 165,000 members in Florida Healthy Kids, Medicaid, self-insured employee health plans, and uninsured programs (managed by SydCura, our third-party administration division). We strive to ensure that every community has access to high-quality, affordable healthcare.
For more information, please visit www.CCPcares.org.
Pacify Contact:
Kaitlyn Tuson
media@hellohelio.com
Community Care Plan Contact:
Suzanne Tamargo
stamargo@ccpcares.org
References
Hoyert, D. L. (2025). Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2023. NCHS Health E-Stats. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2023/Estat-maternal-mortality.pdf
Florida Department of Health. (2018). Florida Health Working to Improve Maternal Mental Health Outcomes. Retrieved from https://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2018/10/100318-maternal-mental-health-pr.html
The Lancet. (2022). Doula care across the maternity care continuum and impact on maternal health: Evaluation of doula programs across three states using propensity score matching. eClinicalMedicine. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(22)00261-9/fulltext
Declercq, E.R., Sakala, C., Corry, M.P., Applebaum, S., & Herrlich, A. (2013). Listening to Mothers SM III: Pregnancy and Birth. New York: Childbirth Connection. Referenced in DC Metro Doulas (2021): https://dcmetromaternity.com/statistics-about-birth-in-the-united-states/
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. (2022). Doula Care and Maternal Health: An Evidence Review. Issue Brief No. HP-2022-24. https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/dfcd768f1caf6fabf3d281f762e8d068/ASPE-Doula-Issue-Brief-12-13-22.pdf
Broward Health. (2024). Community Care Plan. https://www.browardhealth.org/pages/community-care-plan
Florida Department of Health. (2022). Maternal Deaths – Florida Health CHARTS. Retrieved from https://www.flhealthcharts.gov/ChartsReports/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=InfantDeath.DataViewer&cid=0392
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SOURCE Pacify
SÃO PAULO, Oct. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ: SGML), a leading global lithium producer dedicated to powering the next generation of batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems with socially and environmentally sustainable lithium concentrate, announces today that the company´s US-listed shares (NASDAQ:SGML) have been added to the Morgan Stanley National Security Stock Index (Bloomberg: MSXXNSEC).
The Morgan Stanley National Security Index is a thematic equity index developed by Morgan Stanley to track publicly listed companies whose operations, products or technologies contribute to national security, supply chain resilience and strategic infrastructure. The index includes leading US-listed firms engaged in several activities connected to technologies across industries such as defense, battery materials, cybersecurity, energy (including nuclear) reflecting the importance of these industrial complexes.
In addition to Sigma Lithium, the index includes other leading US-listed producers of strategic materials such as Albermarle (lithium), Freeport-McMoRan (copper), First Quantum Minerals (copper), Cameco Corp (uranium), MP Materials (rare earths), Lithium Americas (lithium), Centrus Energy Corp (uranium), NioCorp Developments (rare earths), USA Rare Earth (rare earths), Ivanhoe Electric (rare earths), among others. The index also includes Tesla (technology, batteries).
ABOUT SIGMA LITHIUM
Sigma Lithium (NASDAQ: SGML, TSXV: SGML, BVMF: S2GM34) is a leading global lithium producer dedicated to powering the next generation of batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems with carbon neutral, socially and environmentally sustainable chemical-grade lithium concentrate.
The Company operates one of the world’s largest lithium production sites—the fifth-largest industrial-mineral complex for lithium oxide—at its Grota do Cirilo Operation in Brazil. Sigma Lithium is at the forefront of environmental and social sustainability in the battery materials supply chain, producing Quintuple Zero Green Lithium: made with zero carbon, zero coal power, zero tailings dams, zero utilization of potable water and zero use of hazardous chemicals.
Sigma Lithium currently produces 270,000 tonnes of lithium oxide concentrate on an annualized basis (approximately 38,000–40,000 tonnes of LCE) at its state-of-the-art Greentech Industrial Lithium Plant. The Company is now constructing a second plant to double production capacity to 520,000 tonnes of lithium oxide concentrate (approximately 77,000–80,000 tonnes of LCE).
For more information about Sigma Lithium, visit our website
Sigma Lithium
LinkedIn: Sigma Lithium
Instagram: @sigmalithium
Twitter: @SigmaLithium
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release includes certain “forward-looking information” under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including but not limited to statements relating to timing and costs related to the general business and operational outlook of the Company, the environmental footprint of tailings and positive ecosystem impact relating thereto, donation and upcycling of tailings, timing and quantities relating to tailings and Green Lithium, achievements and projections relating to the Zero Tailings strategy, achievement of ramp-up volumes, production estimates and the operational status of the Grota do Cirilo Project, and other forward-looking information. All statements that address future plans, activities, events, estimates, expectations or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur is forward-looking information, including statements regarding the potential development of mineral resources and mineral reserves which may or may not occur. Forward-looking information contained herein is based on certain assumptions regarding, among other things: general economic and political conditions; the stable and supportive legislative, regulatory and community environment in Brazil; demand for lithium, including that such demand is supported by growth in the electric vehicle market; the Company’s market position and future financial and operating performance; the Company’s estimates of mineral resources and mineral reserves, including whether mineral resources will ever be developed into mineral reserves; and the Company’s ability to operate its mineral projects including that the Company will not experience any materials or equipment shortages, any labour or service provider outages or delays or any technical issues. Although management believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information inherently involves and is subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to that the market prices for lithium may not remain at current levels; and the market for electric vehicles and other large format batteries currently has limited market share and no assurances can be given for the rate at which this market will develop, if at all, which could affect the success of the Company and its ability to develop lithium operations. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. For more information on the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ from current expectations, please refer to the current annual information form of the Company and other public filings available under the Company’s profile at
www.sedarplus.com
.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
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SOURCE Sigma Lithium Corporation
