Malal Yousafzai Launches Extracurricular Apple TV Programming Partnership

Women’s rights activist Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai is building on her longstanding relationship with Apple with an exciting, original programming partnership for Apple TV+. The alliance will produce dramas, comedies, documentaries, animation, and children’s series, — all born of Malala’s historic ability to inspire people of every age in every country in the world.

“I believe in the power of stories to bring families together, forge friendships, build movements, and inspire children to dream,” said Malala Yousafzai. “And I couldn’t ask for a better partner than Apple to help bring these stories to life. I’m grateful for the opportunity to support women, young people, writers, and artists in reflecting the world as they see it.”

Malala and her new production studio Extracurricular is an extension of Apple’s long-running relationship with the young women who was shot in the head by Taliban forces. Sitting in her Swat Valley school bus on Oct. 9, 2012, Malala remained unconscious and in critical condition at the Tawalpindi Institute of Cardiology. In a symbolic girls education nightmare watched by the entire world, Malala was then airlifted out of Pakistan to the UK to seek asylum.

The brilliant humanitarian and activist, inspired by her own education activist father Ziauddin, recovered at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham UK. In addition to offering world class medical resources, Birmingham has a large population — about 20% — of Muslims from all over the world.

When Malala founded Malala Fund to champion every girl’s right to 12 years of safe, free, quality education, Apple proudly became her first Laureate partner “supporting the organization’s work with local advocates and teachers in eight countries where girls face significant education challenges. Apple also assists with technology, curriculum, and research into policy changes to support girls’ education. The partnership has since expanded, and in Brazil, Apple’s 10 Developer Academies have partnered with Malala Fund to advance girls’ education opportunities there and around the world”, writes the Apple Newsroom. .

The voice of young women worldwide, Malala Yousafzai graduated virtually from Oxford University in Fall 2020. She wrote an essay published on Vanity Fair “Not the Ending I Imagined”: Malala on Her Virtual Oxford Graduation”.

Malala will join Apple’s burgeoning roster of creative visionaries, including Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Idris Elba, Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Octavia Spencer, Kumail Nanjiani, Alfonso Cuarón, and more.

Tracking the Health Benefits of Jasmine, Inspired by Gucci X Ken Scott Sp 2021 Capsule

Gucci X Ken Scott Capsule Collection Spring 2021 Celebrates Flower Power on Steroids AOC Fashion

Known as the ‘Fashion Gardener’, Ken Scott was an Indiana-born American designer who lived in Milan during the ‘60s and ‘70s. Scott enjoyed cult-like status in the world of fashion and design with his devotion to flowers.

In honor of the late designer, a figure whom Gucci’s own Alessandro Michele admires dearly, the luxury fashion house partnered with the Ken Scott Foundation to reimagine his archived prints as part of the spring 2021 Gucci Epilogue Collection.

Flower power is in the air across the world and not because spring arrives in a week in the northern hemisphere. COVID vaccinations and a new US president inspire AOC stateside.

The fashion world was notably cool to former US prez Donald Trump, whose every right-wing value collided with the majority of ours. New president Joe Biden has surprised all progressives with his initial legislation initiatives. Most of all Joe Biden’s empathy has captured our hearts — not the hearts of Trumpers — but my heart and those of my friends and colleagues.

Flowers Create Far More Than Pretty Prints

15 months ago, Vogue Arabia shared a story: How Flowers Can Help You Achieve Your Wellness Goals. Noting that Maison Des Fleurs head florist Cheryl Cox cites research that humans feel less depressed, anvious and agitated after receiving flowers, I no longer am embarassed to admit that I’ve been expressing gratitude to my own flowers while making morning coffee. See 5 Ways to Boost Your Engagement of Life From Gratitude to Goals.

Besides an earnest rush of sincere gratitude to my beautiful blooms, I also have a quiet laugh over being silly — and laughter is also good for health and wellness.

Vogue Arabia writes that jasmine and lavender are proven to lower stress and anxiety levels. Their wellness benefits include inducing peacefulness, improving sleep and lowering heart rate. Most of us know about lavendar. But jasmine? I positively adore jasmine, have it frequently on my patio or porch and feel sad when the blooming ends. Jasmine is my alter-ego first name.

Calming Impact of Jasmine

Jasmine image by Image by Laana13 from Pixabay. Collage by AOC

A decade ago German researchers tested the impact of hundreds of fragrances on mice and then humans, in an effort to understand their physiological impact. The results of the study — incomprehensible to the general public as I just tried to read it — were published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

When mice were exposed to jasmine fragrance, the scent caused them “to cease all activity and sit quietly in a corner.”

Brain scans show that inhaling the scent of jasmine boosts the effects of a chemical called GABA on the nerve cells, thus relieving anxiety and promoting rest. Moving from mice to humans, researchers found that jasmine specifically increased the GABA effect by over five times.

“We have discovered a new class of GABA receptor modulator which can be administered through the respiratory air,” Ruhr University Professor Hanns Hatt told The Telegraph.

Jasmine could be used as a sedative, sleeping pill, and to relieve aggression and anxiety, Hatt concluded. Imagine the effect of jasmine being as effective as sedatives, sleeping pills and relaxants without the side effects.

A quick review of jasmine’s history suggests that the majority of botanists believe Persia, now Iran, is where jasmine originate before crossing the Red Sea into Egypt. As early as 1000 B.C., jasmine found its way to Turkey and Greece.

More jasmine facts are now an AOC priority, due to its historical relevance in global trade routes, but also because bees love jasmine. And AOC is devoted to understanding and acting ethically to save our bees.