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New Study Shows Promise for Uniting America

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While extreme differences exist, surprising areas of agreement offer hope and a way forward.

NEW YORK, June 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A new survey by The Common Good demonstrates a strong desire for a return to civility and an end to government gridlock while highlighting areas that can unite our divided nation.

The Common Good has been tracking national division and working to identify ways to return to greater civility and effective governance. While the results of this study demonstrate great cynicism and frustration with the status quo, it also identifies a strong desire for ending political gridlock and provides a foundation of shared values and commonalities around which Americans can agree and unite.

The American Dream is Dead

56% of Americans believe the American Dream (that if you work hard, you can achieve success) was never true or, if it was once, it is now gone (Dems 57%, Reps. 50%, Ind 62%). Only 44% believe the American Dream is still alive.69% Say government is so divided that it is no longer effective.
(Dems 67%, Reps. 77%, Ind 62%)75% Believe most politicians today promote and encourage national division out of political self-interest. (81% in the Northeast)62% say movies, TV, and popular culture sometimes demonstrate a social and political view that is offensive to them. (Dems 52%, Reps. 76%, Ind 60%)48% believe efforts to protect LGBTQ rights have gone too far.46% believe Colleges and Universities are too liberal.46% believe Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) policies are no longer needed.43% give the Federal Government a grade of “D” or “F.”

Ending divisions and uniting the country

There are growing areas of agreement and shared values that offer hope for a more united America and offer a foundation for rebuilding a constructive national dialogue.

89% say political courage (making a tough decision even when it puts your career in jeopardy) is important when they choose a candidate. (Dem 92%, Rep 91%, Ind 83%)Creating a nationwide civics education program in all schools focused on American history, principles, and responsibilities of citizenship is widely supported by 82% nationally, including over 80% in every region and by both Democrats (82%) and Republicans (88%).83% agree that it is important to maintain “separation of church and state” keeping religion separate from government. Support is strong across all parties and regions. (Dems 92%, Reps 77%, Ind, 77%, Northeast 86%, South 79%, West 87%, Midwest 80%).68% of Americans are looking for a candidate willing to compromise to get things done.Democrats (32%) and Republicans (31%) both cite “Equality” as the Strongest American core value shared by most Americans. Second is “Liberty: Freedom of religion, speech & press” at 27% nationally.Asked what is most likely to unite us as a nation, the majority of Americans say “a national crisis” or “shared American Values” both tied at 37%.Protecting reproductive rights are broadly supported by 69% of Americans with majority support across every region.

“While our nation remains dangerously divided, we are starting to see a path forward as we focus on the issues and the shared values that unite us.” said Patricia Duff, founder of The Common Good. “We must focus on our areas of agreement and shared values to rebuild trust and return our national political discourse to civility and effective governance.”

This national study included 1,000 US voters and was conducted May 24-27, 2024

Survey Details: https://emersoncollegepolling.com/the-common-good-index-survey

About The Common Good

The Common Good strives to inspire broad participation in our democracy through the free exchange of ideas and civil dialogue and seeks to find ways to bridge the growing divisions that threaten our nation. https://www.thecommongoodus.org

Media Contact:
Patricia Duff
917-331-0123
379481@email4pr.com

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SOURCE The Common Good

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The Discovery Point Difference: Choosing Center-Based VPK vs. Public School Programs

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TAMPA, Fla., June 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Parents of preschoolers now have many options in early childhood education. These may include half or full day private programs like church preschool or in childcare centers. When a child turns four, there are additional options including state funded PreK or a Voluntary Preschool Program (VPK) paid for with school vouchers.

State-funded programs are traditionally housed in childcare centers, but there are an increasing number of classrooms being offered at local public schools. How do parents know which option is best for their child?

At Discovery Point, children are not simply preparing for kindergarten; they are building a strong foundation in an environment intentionally designed just for them.

What Is Florida VPK?

Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Program provides free educational opportunities for eligible four-year-olds before they enter kindergarten. The goal of VPK is to help children develop the academic, social, emotional, and physical skills needed for future school success. Families can use their Florida VPK voucher at approved childcare centers, private preschools, and certain public-school programs.

As parents compare their options, it’s important to look beyond cost and convenience to evaluate the quality of the learning environment, teacher qualifications, safety procedures, and overall educational experience.

Why Families Choose Discovery Point Centers for VPK

Discovery Point’s Proprietary curriculum and in-center design is created for preschool aged children:

Caring, nurturing teachers specifically trained in Early Childhood Education.A secure campus designed for young children, with controlled access, structured supervision, and safety procedures focused exclusively on the needs of preschoolers.A social-emotional environment where children can learn, grow, and build friendships alongside peers their own age, without exposure to the influences, behaviors, and challenges that naturally come with sharing a campus with children as old as 12 years old.Classrooms filled with developmentally appropriate materials, toys, and learning experiences designed specifically for four- and five-year-olds.Child-sized restrooms, sinks, furniture, and learning environments that promote confidence, independence, and success.Age-appropriate playgrounds designed to meet preschool developmental needs and ASTM safety standards.Regular oversight through inspections by the Florida Department of Children and Families, along with Discovery Point’s own Quality Assurance Team, ensuring high standards for health, safety, and educational excellence.A warm, family-focused environment where children are known, valued, and encouraged to grow socially, emotionally, physically, and academically.Enrichment opportunities and experiences that go beyond what many traditional school settings can offer, helping children develop confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.A proven curriculum that prepares children for kindergarten success through hands-on learning experiences that build early literacy, math, science, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Elementary schools simply aren’t designed for little minds and little bodies.

Research continues to show that high-quality early childhood education can have lasting benefits for academic achievement and social-emotional development. For this reason, Discovery Point encourages families to carefully evaluate all preschool options and visit potential programs before making a decision.

For Florida VPK options with Discovery Point, visit https://www.discoverypoint.com/centers/ to find a location near you and schedule a tour. Discovery Point has been a leader in childcare and early education since 1988. 

Media Contact:
Briyanna Purifoye
bpurifoye@discoverypoint.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-discovery-point-difference-choosing-center-based-vpk-vs-public-school-programs-302800561.html

SOURCE Discovery Point Franchising, Inc

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Whimstay Launches Same-Day Booking, Bringing Hotel-Style Spontaneity to Vacation Rentals

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Travelers can now book select vacation rentals up to four hours before check-in, closing a gap that kept the category out of reach for last-minute bookers

SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Whimstay, the vacation rental platform built for last-minute travel, today announced that it now accepts same-day bookings on select properties. For participating homes, travelers can reserve a stay up to four hours before check-in, a capability long associated with hotels but rarely available in vacation rentals.

For years, the vacation rental industry stayed out of reach for same-day bookers. Long lead times, manual host approvals, and the operational complexity of turning over a home on short notice meant travelers who needed a place tonight defaulted to hotels. Whimstay’s same-day booking changes that for participating properties, giving spontaneous travelers, last-minute planners, and anyone whose plans shifted at the eleventh hour access to full homes instead of a single room.

The launch builds on Whimstay’s focus on last-minute inventory and competitive pricing. When a host opts a property into same-day booking, they are often motivated to fill an open calendar, which means travelers find space and value where they previously found neither.

Making four-hour bookings possible meant solving the trust problem that comes with speed. Whimstay built sophisticated fraud prevention into the same-day flow, screening transactions in real time so that faster bookings do not mean riskier ones for hosts or travelers.

“Same-day booking has been the standard in hotels for decades, and there was no good reason vacation rentals couldn’t offer the same thing,” said Ben Jamshahi, CEO at Whimstay. “We built the infrastructure to make it fast, safe, and reliable. Now a traveler can decide at noon and check into a full home by evening.”

Same-day booking is available now on participating Whimstay properties. To find a last-minute stay, visit whimstay.com.

About Whimstay
Whimstay is a vacation rental platform specializing in last-minute bookings and competitive pricing, connecting travelers with available homes when they need them most.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/whimstay-launches-same-day-booking-bringing-hotel-style-spontaneity-to-vacation-rentals-302800563.html

SOURCE Whimstay

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Kelley Drye Relocates San Diego Office to Del Mar

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New Location Supports Client Engagement and the Firm’s Continued Growth in California

SAN DIEGO, June 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kelley Drye & Warren LLP has relocated its San Diego office from La Jolla to a new Del Mar location at 12481 High Bluff Drive, reinforcing the firm’s continued investment in California and enhancing its ability to serve clients across the state.

The new 5,000‑square‑foot office is designed as a flexible hub for client engagement and collaboration. It features a state‑of‑the‑art conference center to support client meetings and industry programming, along with shared amenities that encourage informal connection among teams and clients. Centrally located within San Diego’s business and legal community, the Del Mar office provides room for continued growth while strengthening the firm’s local presence.

“California is a critical market for our clients,” said Kelley Drye Managing Partner Dana Rosenfeld. “Our new office allows us to collaborate more closely with clients while supporting the integrated, statewide platform we are building across California.”

The San Diego relocation builds on Kelley Drye’s recent expansion in California, including the opening of its San Francisco office and the addition of privacy partner Kate Black in San Francisco and litigation partner Tom Rybarczyk in Los Angeles. Together, these investments strengthen the firm’s ability to serve clients seamlessly throughout the state.

Lawyers in Kelley Drye’s San Diego office advise clients nationwide on environmental, international trade, and litigation matters. The office is led by partners Rebecca Durrant, Andrew Homer, and Kristine Pirnia, who will continue to build the firm’s presence and deepen client relationships in the region.

“This move gives us a stronger platform for client meetings, industry programs, and engagement with the San Diego business community,” said partner Andrew Homer. “As the firm continues to grow in California, we remain focused on attracting top talent and delivering the high level of service and collaboration our clients expect.”

The San Diego office move follows Kelley Drye’s recent relocations in Washington, D.C., New Jersey, and Connecticut. Together, these milestones underscore the firm’s long‑term commitment to its people, clients, and communities, and its focus on providing exceptional legal counsel in fast‑evolving markets.

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP is a powerhouse law firm with more than 190 years of practice. With over 300 attorneys and professionals across nine offices, it offers tenacious courtroom advocacy, strategic problem‑solving, and savvy deal‑making across litigation, regulatory, trade, real estate, bankruptcy, and corporate matters. Kelley Drye represents a diverse client base, serving Fortune 500 companies, emerging businesses, and government entities across technology, finance, healthcare, defense, real estate, and manufacturing. Kelley Drye is committed to delivering practical advice, creative solutions, and exceptional value through enduring client relationships. For more information, visit www.kelleydrye.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kelley-drye-relocates-san-diego-office-to-del-mar-302800434.html

SOURCE Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

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