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Digital Safety Alliance Marks One-Year Anniversary with the Launch of Digital Safety Virtual Assistant

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MIAMI, Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Digital Safety Alliance (DSA) is proud to celebrate its one-year anniversary with the launch of an innovative new tool, the Digital Safety Virtual Assistant, designed to help parents navigate digital safety challenges.

Over the past year, the DSA has driven critical conversations about the dangers young people face online via its Safe+Sound campaign in collaboration with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, including screen addiction, cyberbullying, sextortion, and exposure to harmful content. The need for action has never been greater:

1 in 4 children encounters mental health challenges linked to social media use59% of teens  report experiencing cyberbullying, with long-term impacts on mental healthTwo thirds of parents express concerns about their children’s screen time habits

Dr. Marisa Azaret, co-chair of the DSA Advisory Board and Director of Clinical Psychology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, emphasized the urgency of the initiative:

“The digital world offers remarkable opportunities but comes with equally significant risks for young people. This Alliance is a platform to champion change, create awareness, and provide solutions and resources that protect our children’s emotional and psychological well-being.”

Introducing the Digital Safety Virtual Assistant

As part of its ongoing commitment to empower families, the DSA is launching the Digital Safety Virtual Assistant, a free and accessible resource that provides instant, evidence-based advice to parents on managing digital safety issues. From setting age-appropriate device boundaries to identifying the signs of cyberbullying, the chatbot offers parents practical guidance and support –anytime, anywhere.

“This Virtual Assistant is a game-changer for parents who need immediate, reliable resources and guidance to navigate the complex challenges of the digital world,” says Lee Phillips, Co-founder of the Digital Safety Alliance and CEO of digital health firm Bluedoor Group. “By combining cutting-edge technology with expert insights, we are giving families a powerful, evidence-based tool to protect their children while fostering healthy digital habits.”

Teen Voices at the Forefront

The Teen Advisory Board, a cornerstone of the DSA’s strategy, will play an instrumental role in shaping programs, resources, and campaigns. Their insights ensure that initiatives remain relevant and impactful for their peers.

Here’s what Aadya Chaudhary, 17, from Cypress Bay High School had to say: “Growing up in a digitally-dependent world, I’ve witnessed the negative effects of technology on youth, including my own experiences. After testing a few days without a phone, I noticed improved physical and mental well-being and deeper connections with family and friends. Things like technology addiction, combined with other serious issues that affect me and my peers daily, such as predatory online behavior, cyberbullying and combating misinformation, have fueled my passion for digital safety awareness.”

Reflecting on Year One

Since its launch in January 2024, the DSA has made significant strides in creating a safer digital environment for families:

Launched the Safe+Sound Campaign in collaboration with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital – a comprehensive program designed for pediatric hospitals and health systems offering free resources for parents, educators, and caregivers on age-appropriate technology use.Partnered with schools through initiatives like iNvicta for Kids, an interactive digital safety certification program.Convened leaders across healthcare, education, and technology to advocate for stronger digital safeguards and industry standards.

Looking Ahead

Cindy Hallberlin, co-chair of the Digital Safety Alliance and Chief Collaboration Officer at the non-profit Digital Health Institute for Transformation, outlines the DSA’s plans for the coming year: “In 2025, the DSA aims to expand its impact through community and corporate partnerships, advocacy efforts, research, and innovative programs that address emerging digital challenges. Key initiatives include integrating the latest research into youth-focused campaigns and leveraging technology to provide real-time digital safety guidance.”

About the Digital Safety Alliance
Under the umbrella of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and the non-profit Digital Health Institute for Transformation, the Digital Safety Alliance serves as a “think-and-do tank” comprising parents, educators, healthcare providers, hospital administrators, national corporate partners, policymakers, and law enforcement officials to raise awareness, share best practices, and create a safer digital environment for kids. Forming an alliance of key stakeholders, the organization is committed to shining a national spotlight on this important issue and provides information, tools, educational programming, and resources to empower parents to make informed decisions when it comes to the digital safety of their children and advocate for digital safeguards and industry standards. For more information, visit digitalsafetyalliance.org.

About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Where Your Child Matters Most™
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South Florida’s #1 nonprofit, freestanding specialty licensed hospital exclusively for children. With more than 850 physicians, including over 500 pediatric subspecialists, the hospital and its network of outpatient centers and offices serve close to 70% of children in the Miami market. The only hospital “where your child matters most™,” Nicklaus Children’s is home to the region’s most advanced Kenneth C. Griffin Surgical Tower, and its centers of excellence Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute, the Nicklaus Children’s Orthopedics, Sports Health and Spine Institute, Nicklaus Children’s Brain Institute and Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute. The Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Transfer Center, Nick4Kids, and LifeFlight are responsible for transporting and saving close to 5,000 lives a year. Our 325-bed hospital, which is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine, has many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. Nicklaus Children’s is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org

For more information, visit digitalsafetyalliance.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Nathalie Medina
nathalie.medina@nicklaushealth.org
305-663-8556

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SOURCE Nicklaus Children’s Hospital

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HKAGE Showcases Gifted Students’ Learning Journeys at InnoCarnival 2026

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Promoting “Technology for Good” Through Innovation and Creativity 

HONG KONG, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) has been invited to participate in InnoCarnival 2026, organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission. Under the theme “Technology for Good, Innovation for All”, HKAGE will showcase the learning journeys of gifted students who have completed programmes on AI robotic arms, underwater archaeology, etc., demonstrating how technology can be harnessed to address societal needs.

Having proactively aligned its work with the education development strategies of the Education Bureau (EDB), HKAGE fully supports the EDB’s Blueprint for Digital Education in Primary and Secondary Schools, which seeks to advance the digital transformation of school education in Hong Kong. Building on its Talent Development Model, HKAGE systematically develops programmes, provides diversified learning experiences and engages in cross-sector collaborations to nurture gifted talents equipped with innovative capabilities, technological literacy, and a strong sense of social responsibility. At the exhibition this year, HKAGE will present how students applied knowledge gained through gifted education programmes and learning experiences in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, environmental science, underwater archaeology and sustainable development to design socially conscious solutions. These experiences reflect the students’ ability to serve society with knowledge and respond creatively to diverse challenges.

Among the highlights is the learning journey of students in the “Artificial Intelligence Course: Creative AI Robotic Arm for Inclusion”. After acquiring foundational knowledge in artificial intelligence, robotics and sensor applications, students designed, tested and refined intelligent robotic arm prototypes through real-time data analysis and algorithms. With the aim of improving the quality of life for the elderly and caregivers, students explored various application scenarios for intelligent robotic arms. Another showcase features the “Environmental Science Course: Bat Echoes – Voices of the Night”. Through acoustic monitoring, the exhibition demonstrates how students recorded bat voices and analysed related activity data and characteristics. The programme enabled students to gain a deeper understanding of local biodiversity and explore practical approaches to ecological conservation.

The HKAGE exhibition booth also features an interactive photo-taking device, allowing visitors to take photos with different gifted programme themes and share the joy of learning.

On the first day of the exhibition, a “Build Your Own Glider Parent-Child Workshop” is specially organised by HKAGE for the visitors. Under the guidance of instructors and assisted by HKAGE students, participants will learn the basic principles of aerodynamics, including lift, gravity, thrust and drag. They will also learn to design, assemble and decorate their own gliders by using lightweight and durable materials, experiencing the joy of science and engineering.

Mr WONG Chung Po, Acting Executive Director of HKAGE, said: “The Academy is committed to providing gifted students with diversified learning platforms and encouraging them to transform knowledge into innovative practices that generate positive social impact. Participation in this exhibition not only provides students with a valuable learning experience that helps consolidate the knowledge acquired in gifted programmes, but also enables the public to better understand how gifted education nurtures a new generation of creative and socially responsible talents to jointly advance the philosophy of ‘Technology for Good’.”

InnoCarnival 2026 – The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education

Date:

24 Oct – 1 Nov

Venue:

The Hong Kong Science Park

Booth:

C08-09

Time:

10:00 – 17:00 (Mon to Fri)

10:00 – 18:00 (Sat & Sun)

 

About the HKAGE

Established in 2008 and subvented by the Education Bureau, the HKAGE offers gifted education services actively to local primary and secondary school students to unleash their potential. It also provides gifted education-related information and support for teachers, parents, and other relevant stakeholders.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/hkage-showcases-gifted-students-learning-journeys-at-innocarnival-2026-302918606.html

SOURCE Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

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SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stephen-a-smith-addresses-white-house-dinner-attendance-reaffirms-commitment-to-hbcus-and-protecting-corporate-investment-in-black-education-302918547.html

SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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