By Mabel Pais

Graduation is one of life’s most important and memorable milestones in the life of a student….. and teacher!  Congratulations, Class of 2023!

Seton Hall University (shu.org), while congratulating its 2023 graduates for a job well done, celebrates its 167th baccalaureate commencement ceremony on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 9 a.m. at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Delivering the commencement keynote address will be His Excellency Borys Gudziak, the Metropolitan-Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. At the ceremony, Archbishop Gudziak receives an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters alongside Indra Nooyi, former CEO and chairman of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2019.

HIS EXCELLENCY BORYS GUDZIAK

Learn more  about the Archbishop at ukrarcheparchy.us/most-rev-borys-gudziak/archbishop-borys-gudziak-biography

INDRA NOOYI

A role model for women and immigrants, Nooyi is celebrated for her empowering messages on inclusivity. She is the author of the New York Times best-selling book ‘My Life in Full: Work, Family and Our Future,’ a memoir that offers insight and a call-to-action on how our society can blend work and family — and advance women — in the 21st century. At PepsiCo, she was the chief architect of ‘Performance with Purpose,’ the company’s mission to deliver sustained growth by making more nutritious products, limiting the company’s environmental footprint, and empowering its associates and people in the communities it serves. Nooyi served as a member of the PepsiCo Board of Directors from 2001 to February 2019, and is now a member of the board of Amazon, where she chairs the audit committee.

MORE INFORMATION

For links to livestream and more information about the speakers and Seton Hall’s 167th baccalaureate ceremony, visit shu.edu/commencement/index.cfm.

SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

Learn more at shu.edu.

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LIFT YOUR SPIRITS WITH SPA DAY:  A DAY OF PAMPERING & RENEWAL

By Mabel Pais

Would you like to lift your spirits with a free Spa Day…. those living with breast or ovarian cancer? A Free Day of Pampering and Renewal?

This Annual Spa Day is available in-person for part of the day or all day virtually on Sunday, May 21, 10 am to 4 pm, and is hosted by the JCC Manhattan. The offer is presented by the

Shirley Kohn Spa Day for Individuals Living with Breast or Ovarian Cancer (mmjccm.org/programs/virtual-jcc-shirley-kohn-spa-day-women-living-breast-or-ovarian-cancer-free-day-pampering).

The free virtual spa day is designed to lift the spirits of those with cancer, and the lineup includes a sampling of spa experiences, including mindful movement, as well as nutrition and self-care.

PROGRAM

JCC Shirley Kohn Spa Day for Women Living with Breast or Ovarian Cancer: A Free Day of Pampering and Renewal

Sunday, May 21 from 10AM–4PM

Keynote: Author Maria Sirois

Drop in for part of the free, virtual event, or tune in for the whole day

Schedule highlights include Meditation, Zentangle, Positive Psychology, Self Care Massage, Health Harp Music + Yoga.

RSVP

If you’d like to attend, RSVP Lauren Magy: lmagy@mmjccm.org.

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BROADWAY’S BEST FOR PD INVOLVES IN THE CHALLENGE

By Mabel Pais 

Broadway’s Best for Parkinson’s: When PD Enters the Relationship, is a free in-person event, with virtual streaming option, hosted by the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan (MMJCCM) on Wednesday, May 24 at 6:00 PM. The final Broadway’s Best event of the season will feature a panel of experts on how Parkinson’s impacts a relationship, from intimacy to balancing needs of care partners, to communication strategies, and even the importance of dance in a relationship.

The experts joining the panel for May’s Broadway’s Best for Parkinson’s include David Loud, Broadway actor, musical director, arranger (vocal arrangements: New York, New York), and author, who is living with Parkinson’s; Rebecca Gilbert, M.D., chief scientific officer, American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA); and Gloria Lebeaux, LCSW, director of social work services at the Barry + Florence Friedberg JCC.

PROGRAM

Moderator: Caroline Kohles, MMJJC senior program director of Health + Wellness

David Leventhal, program director of Dance for PD, featuring a movement segment, demonstrates how to improve communication and connection through dance.

Matt Castle, Broadway actor – conversation & musical performances and his husband

Frank Galgano, director, musical arranger, and actor

Both are two years into their PD journey.

Musical Performances

Ziyang Zhou and Xavier Cornell of David Loud’s Manhattan School of Music give musical performances

Discussion

The lively discussion will also feature personal stories from Rhoda Cahan and Sam Rudick, a couple living with PD for nearly a decade.

REGISTRATION

Register for attendance in-person at (mmjccm.org/programs/person-broadways-best-parkinsons-when-pd-enters-relationship) and for virtual attendance at (mmjccm.org/programs/virtual-broadways-best-parkinsons-when-pd-enters-relationship).

Broadway’s Best for Parkinson’s

This free hybrid event is part of a groundbreaking MMJCCM Parkinson’s program

(mmjccm.org/parkinsons) founded 15 years ago to improve the lives of those impacted by Parkinson’s.

Broadway’s Best for Parkinson’s: When PD Enters A Relationship begins at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, May 24 at the MMJCCM, in person, as well as online.

The initiative helps improve the lives of those impacted by Parkinson’s. Through education, exercise, and other programs, and in collaboration with the medical and local communities, people impacted by Parkinson’s remain active, connected, and empowered.

Bios of Co-Hosts and Participants

Learn about each co-host and participants Rhoda Cahan and Sam Rudick, Matt Castle, Frank Galgano, Rebecca Gilbert, M.D., Gloria Lebeaux, David Leventhal, David Loud at mmjccm.org/parkinsons.

Caroline Kohles is the senior program director, Health + Wellness, at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. In her 19 years at the JCC, she has spearheaded a progressive slate of fitness programming, creating 100-plus group fitness class schedules and health and wellness programs for populations ranging from tweens/teens to prenatal/postnatal moms and seniors. Her signature work includes developing a range of cancer care programs and she  designed the nationally and internationally recognized Edmond J. Safra Parkinson’s program at the JCC, now in its 16th year. She is also co-founder of NIA New York, a holistic lifestyle and fitness practice.

The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Learn more at mmjccm.org. Follow the JCC on

Instagram –    instagram.com/mm_jccmanhattan,

Facebook –     facebook.com/jccinmanhattan, and

Twitter –       twitter.com/MM_JCCManhattan

(Mabel Pais writes on Health & Wellness, Education, The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Cuisine, Spirituality, and Business)