Two proposed ballot initiatives targeting transgender youth are one step closer to a spot on the 2026 ballot. A three-member panel of Colorado officials known as the Title Board approved the petitions Wednesday. After completing another technical procedure, proponents can begin gathering signatures in a bid to be on the ballot. One initiative would require […]
Two proposed ballot initiatives targeting transgender youth are one step closer to a spot on the 2026 ballot.
A three-member panel of Colorado officials known as the Title Board approved the petitions Wednesday. After completing another technical procedure, proponents can begin gathering signatures in a bid to be on the ballot.
One initiative would require K-12 and colleges to restrict participation on school sports teams to the participant’s sex, “as determined by certain aspects of their biological reproductive system.” The other proposes banning gender affirming surgery for transgender people under the age of 18.
Similar measures were rejected for the ballot last year because the board ruled they were too broad, violating the single-subject rule, which must be clearly expressed in its title.
Under the first measure, Initiative 70, “Male and Female Participation in School Sports,” K-12 schools and colleges must designate sports teams as male, female or co-ed and only allow students to compete on a team of their “designated sex” that is listed at the time of the student’s birth.
It would effectively prevent transgender students from competing on teams that align with their gender identity. Second, it bans anyone or any organization from filing a complaint, opening an investigation, or “taking other adverse action” against a school for maintaining separate sports for females. Finally, it gives the Commissioner of Education the authority to enforce the initiative at K-12 schools.
The measure is proposed by Rich Guggenheim, legislative director of the Colorado chapter of Gays Against Groomers and Republican strategist Michele Austin.
The initiative’s legislative declaration states that the biological differences between males and females are “immutable” and “manifest prior to birth.” It argues that sex-specific sports teams reduce the risk of physical injury to female athletes, promote equality between the sexes and provide opportunities for female athletes to compete against their female peers rather than against male athletes.
On Wednesday, the board considered arguments from attorney Mark Grueskin, representing a registered elector, that the measure be rejected because it takes on more than a single subject, such as mandating sex-segregated sports teams, but also giving unlimited enforcement power to the Commissioner of Education.
He argued the measure contains “multiple hidden elements” and is problematic because there is no basis for determining an athlete’s sex.
“We know there are certain school districts and certain schools that are simply more conservative and certain districts that are more liberal,” said Grueskin. “There are going to be differences in terms of how this is applied and how it affects individual athletes … This will allow specific schools to do whatever they want without an appeal, without consequence, and without review.”
Attorney Scott Gesler, arguing for the proponents, said it’s not unusual that schools will have different procedures and different forms of proof.
“There is a law, this is a law,” he said. “It contains straightforward definitions and schools are required to follow the law.”
Opponents also argued the definitions of “male” and “female” are ambiguous and not readily understandable to most voters. The measure describes a female as “a person whose biological reproductive system is organized around the production of ova,” and a male is “a person whose biological reproductive system is organized around the production of sperm.”
Some Title Board members struggled over vagueness of the definitions, which one termed “anachronistic” and worried about “invasive, intrusive” examinations for a person presenting as female to determine whether their biological reproductive system is organized around the production of ova.
Gessler argued that a person’s sex could be determined through a cheek swab and DNA testing.
“So, you could swab a child’s mouth to determine whether they can if they appear to be female and they could produce eggs,” he said, adding that the question is not whether they can produce eggs but whether their reproductive system is “organized around the production of that.”
Title Board chair Theresa Conoly wanted to ensure the measure is clear to voters, which is “the benchmark of the single subject rule.”
A member of the public asked if the measure violates Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act, which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. Conoly responded that the Title Board doesn’t rule on matters of constitutionality.
The other measure, Initiative 71, “Prohibit Certain Surgeries on Minors,” was approved on a 2 to 1 vote. It would prohibit surgery altering a minor’s biological sex characteristics and prohibit any health care professional or other person from “knowingly performing, prescribing, administering, or providing any surgery or related medical care on a minor for the purpose of altering the minor’s biological sex characteristics.”
It would also ban state or federal funds, Medicaid reimbursement or insurance coverage from being used to pay for the prohibited medical interventions.
The board’s decisions can be appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court.
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Volunteers from The Cigna Group Bring on Summer Joy, Building Sports Equipment for Nashville-Area Kids and Teens FRANKLIN, Tenn., July 10, 2025 — In an effort to promote social engagement and physical activity among Nashville-area youth this summer, more than 200 volunteers from across The Cigna Group gathered this week to assemble hundreds of jump […]
Volunteers from The Cigna Group Bring on Summer Joy, Building Sports Equipment for Nashville-Area Kids and Teens
FRANKLIN, Tenn., July 10, 2025 — In an effort to promote social engagement and physical activity among Nashville-area youth this summer, more than 200 volunteers from across The Cigna Group gathered this week to assemble hundreds of jump ropes, inflate dozens of basketballs and build much-needed furniture items for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee.
”It’s critically important that we provide kids and teens with opportunities to develop healthy habits at a young age because they will then be much more likely to have stronger health and vitality throughout their adulthood,” said Melissa Skottegaard, head of community programs and board chair of The Cigna Group Foundation. ”Our colleagues are so grateful to come together to build these summer essentials for youth – items that we hope will encourage Club kids to stay active and be more connected with each other this season.”
The Cigna Group has a long history of partnering with nonprofits to help local communities, and last year announced an initaitive that committed $9 million over three years to support youth mental health and well-being. Employee volunteerism is a key part of this effort, providing company-led opportunities during the workday that can aid area youth with their needs.
”Having access to this sports equipment helps kids build strength, bolster their motor skills, as well as develop their socialization skills,” said Eric Higgs, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. “Additionally, the furniture provided by The Cigna Group is coming at a perfect time as we are refreshing our Preston Taylor Club for back to school.”
“Giving back while also spending time with colleagues always puts a smile on my face. I’m picturing these kids using the jump ropes and playing with the basketballs, and I know it’s going to bring them joy,” said Dina Kraus, an employee from The Cigna Group who volunteered at the event. “It’s really meaningful how our company incorporates volunteerism into the normal fabric of our jobs.”
About The Cigna Group
The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) is a global health company committed to creating a better future built on the vitality of every individual and every community. We relentlessly challenge ourselves to partner and innovate solutions for better health. The Cigna Group includes products and services marketed under Cigna Healthcare, Evernorth Health Services or its subsidiaries. The Cigna Group maintains sales capabilities in more than 30 countries and jurisdictions and has more than 183 million customer relationships around the world. Learn more at thecignagroup.com.
Media Contact:
Jocelyn Parker
(313) 510-4173
Jocelyn.Parker@CignaHealthcare.com
Parma Western takes the field during a high school football game at Western High School in Parma on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. J. Scott Park | jpark4@mlive.com PARMA — Cody Bentley has moved from assistant coach to head coach of the Western football team this year, and with the change in coaching, comes a change […]
PARMA — Cody Bentley has moved from assistant coach to head coach of the Western football team this year, and with the change in coaching, comes a change in mindset.
Already a competitive program, Bentley wants his Panthers to have that competitiveness be a positive, and eliminate some of the negative aspects that can come with a competitive mindset.
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Georgia, US, 12th July 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, Anand Lalaji, CEO and cofounder of The Radiology Group, is using his latest feature interview, “Anand Lalaji on Success, Sports, and Leadership Lessons,” to advocate for greater focus on mental health and leadership opportunities in youth sports-two causes that shaped his personal and professional life. In the […]
Georgia, US, 12th July 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, Anand Lalaji, CEO and cofounder of The Radiology Group, is using his latest feature interview, “Anand Lalaji on Success, Sports, and Leadership Lessons,” to advocate for greater focus on mental health and leadership opportunities in youth sports-two causes that shaped his personal and professional life.
In the in-depth Q&A, Lalaji reflects on his journey from Hell’s Kitchen to becoming a healthcare leader. But beyond his career, his focus is clear: encouraging others to take action in their own communities.
Making Mental Health a Priority for Everyone
“Mental health isn’t just a healthcare issue,” Lalaji says in the interview. “It affects everyone-students, athletes, professionals, parents. And most people are struggling quietly.”
According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. lives with a mental illness, and among youth ages 12-17, 42% report feeling persistently sad or hopeless.
Lalaji’s foundation supports mental health programs at Wake Forest University and other organizations. He urges people to get involved, no matter their background.
“You don’t have to be in medicine to care,” Lalaji says. “You can check in on a friend, donate to mental health groups, or just start talking about it openly.”
Building Leaders Through Youth Sports
As a former volleyball player and setter, Lalaji also emphasizes the power of youth sports to build confidence and leadership.
“In volleyball, my job wasn’t to score. It was to set others up to succeed,” he shares in the interview. “That lesson shaped how I lead today.”
His foundation sponsors programs for women’s volleyball and leadership in elite sports. He points to studies showing that girls who play sports are more likely to excel in leadership roles later in life. Yet, fewer than 25% of coaching and athletic leadership positions in women’s sports are held by women.
“We need to create more opportunities for girls to lead in sports,” Lalaji says. “It’s not just about winning games-it’s about life skills.”
Small Steps, Big Impact
Lalaji’s message throughout the interview is simple: success is about consistent, small actions that help others.
He encourages readers to:
Volunteer for local sports programs or youth mentorship groups
Support mental health initiatives in their schools or workplaces
Donate to causes like pediatric cancer, ALS, or mental health research
Start conversations about these issues with friends and family
“Success isn’t only about what you achieve,” Lalaji says. “It’s about what you do to help others succeed too.”
To read the full interview, visit the website here.
About Anand Lalaji
Anand Lalaji is the CEO and cofounder of The Radiology Group. He is a dedicated advocate for mental health awareness, women’s leadership in sports, and community-focused philanthropy.
This release was published on openPR.
#ZipEmUp: Clockwork Youth Academy turns sports into a lifeline for youth Published 10:00 am Saturday, July 12, 2025 BY JEFF MOORE Editor’s Note: This feature originally ran in the April/May 2025 edition of the LaGrange Living magazine, a publication produced bi-monthly by the LaGrange Daily News. If you would like to pick up a copy […]
Published 10:00 am Saturday, July 12, 2025
BY JEFF MOORE
Editor’s Note: This feature originally ran in the April/May 2025 edition of the LaGrange Living magazine, a publication produced bi-monthly by the LaGrange Daily News. If you would like to pick up a copy of the LaGrange Living magazine, please visit our office at 115 Broad Ste 101.
At Clockwork Youth Academy, the mission isn’t simply about teaching children how to shoot a basketball or throw a football. It’s about changing lives.
And for founder and Executive Director Kane Bradfield, it’s personal.
“Firstly, we believe that sport changes and saves lives,” Bradfield said. “We just don’t say that “ We believe that. It was important for us to make sure we have what the kids need.”
Clockwork Youth Academy, which serves students ages seven to 18 in west Georgia and east Alabama, is more than just an athletic program. It’s a comprehensive, year-round support system that integrates education, athletics, mentorship and personal development.
Bradfield said the organization is dedicated to empowering youth through a comprehensive year-round support model integrating education, athletics and mentorship.
“That was important for us… to make sure that we have what kids need,” he said.
Launched officially in 2022, the academy has grown rapidly.
Bradfield said the first year was spent planning, building the structure of the program to ensure it could be both impactful and sustainable. In 2023, they held their first summer camp with 32 children, offering full scholarships thanks to community support and food donations.
“In 2024, we went from 32 kids to 50 kids and the program went from 8:30 to 4 PM,” Bradfield said. “We also started our after-school program.”
By 2025, the program is on track to serve 60 children during its summer session, which now runs 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. — a full school-day model that includes two days of academics, two days of financial literacy, two days of group therapy and even a gardening component.
“We got two days of garden with kids go out and nurture our garden at our facility,” Bradfield said. “We run it just like a school-time vibe.”
The program’s expansion includes a middle school and high school initiative designed to keep youth engaged as they grow.
“We want to make sure that once a kid turns 12, we don’t lose them,” he said. “We want to make sure that we lead them to college. That’s the ultimate plan behind this.”
A key tenet of Clockwork Youth Academy is its data-driven and holistic approach, summarized in the acronym HEMS: Health/wellness, education, mental health and spirituality.
“Those are the things we support to ensure the student athlete develops holistically,” Bradfield said.
Bradfield is quick to clarify that athletics is the hook — but not the whole story.
“We recognize the power of athletics — it’s a powerful catalyst,” he said. “Sports bring things like discipline, motivation, and confidence.”
He calls sports “a sneaky way of teaching life,” saying it subtly builds critical skills like teamwork, resilience and accountability.
“It teaches you how to be a great teammate… teaches you how to pull for each other and teaches you how to just keep going when you don’t wanna go.”
The academy’s slogan is #ZipEmUp, which also provides folks with more information on social media.
Every student is assessed individually upon entering the program. The academy partners closely with schools, coaches and families to identify children who may benefit from the additional support.
“We try to stay in contact with schools,” Bradfield said. “We have an open conversation with the parents to say, ‘How can we help you?’”
From single-parent households to children being raised by grandparents, each case is treated with care.
“We figure out what they need… is it academically, behavior, communication, therapy?” he said.
Once assessed, students are placed in age-appropriate programs, whether it’s the summer camp, after-school support or the AAU-level sports training that teaches competitive-level skills and values.
Bradfield said the academy operates under a “village philosophy,” a belief that raising and guiding children is a shared responsibility.
“It takes the village to raise a kid,” he said. “It takes the teachers, it takes coaches, it takes all the organizations.”
That collaboration includes local nonprofits, schools, churches and volunteers.
Bradfield said he wants to go back to the old days where the community, different people and various organizations would help children get to where they need to go.
This collaborative model also exposes students to different viewpoints, values and role models, enriching their social development.
In just three years, Bradfield has already seen lives changed.
“We’ve got kids who came out first summer camp and they’ve been coming ever since,” he said. “Parents are bragging how they have matured in the classroom, how they’re doing better… they grew so much as far as behavior, as far as manners, as far as they wanna read more.”
That kind of feedback, Bradfield said, makes everything worthwhile.
They hold the children to a standard, he explained.
“We know eventually as they get older what colleges are looking for. So we start that standard early.”
A former football player with more than 20 years of experience mentoring youth, Bradfield’s passion is rooted in personal experience.
“My family’s support was incredible, led by my mother Mary Truitt and my siblings. As I continued playing, I realized that sports opened doors for me — just being around the game truly changed my life.”
Now, he’s committed to doing the same for others.
Bradfield is quick to share credit with the people around him.
“Mike Angstadt and Felisha Handy have been great at bringing my thoughts to paper over the years,” he said. “My board has been amazing.”
Destiny Fitzpatrick, Katie Beth Bedingfield and Joshua Sheppard have served as team leaders for our summer program for several years. They play a vital role in the organization. Dekoriah Simpson, their videographer, captures every moment for our YouTube and social media platform, he noted.
“These are the kind of people that you want in your organization — the ones who have a passion for kids,” he said.
Clockwork Youth Academy relies heavily on community engagement—both in financial and volunteer terms.
“The more money we raise, the more the kids can experience,” Bradfield explained. “You can give one donation, be a monthly partner, sponsor something… all of that helps.”
Volunteers are also welcomed, especially former athletes or professionals interested in mentoring.
“We bring back former athletes to talk to the kids, spend time with the kids,” he said.
Community members can also help by identifying at-risk youth.
“If you come across a kid that you think will benefit… that’s super important because we don’t know what we don’t know,” Bradfield said.
Clockwork is expanding this summer with a new location in Roanoke, Alabama, where they will start with a summer camp.
The academy has bold plans. In addition to the current summer and after-school programs, Bradfield is preparing to launch a year-round school-time model in fall 2025.
The academy is now approved for Childcare and Parent Services, known as CAPS, a state-funded program in Georgia that provides financial assistance for childcare. It is also approved by DECAL, the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, which administers the CAPS program and helps qualifying low-income families cover the cost of childcare.
“We are officially a year-round program,” Bradfield said. “So now kids can actually grow up through our program.”
The sports offered continue to expand as well. While staples like basketball, football, softball and volleyball are already offered, Bradfield is looking to add golf and tennis this year, along with track.
“Everybody can’t play professional sports—that’s not our goal,” he said. “But we know everybody has to be a professional in something, right?”
Ultimately, Bradfield wants to use sports to help youth secure scholarships and a better future.
“Let’s see how we can use sport to get you a free education… so that you don’t have to pay for that,” he said.
Families interested in enrolling can visit Clockworkyouthacademy.org. Applications are open for the summer camp and school-year programs for students ages 7 to 18.
Bradfield encourages community members to donate, volunteer or simply spread the word.
“We’re here to help the parents. We’re here to be a part of the village,” he said. “We really, really make it super clear that we take a holistic approach to kids.”
As Clockwork Youth Academy gears up for its busiest summer yet, one thing is certain: for many students in west Georgia and east Alabama, Bradfield’s vision is already delivering far more than just wins on the scoreboard.
Rishin Tandon, a high school junior from Issaquah, is set to receive the prestigious Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles for his innovative work in promoting sustainability in youth sports. Tandon, who plays soccer and is preparing to get his driver’s license, created the ‘Youth Eco Sports Scorecard’ […]
Rishin Tandon, a high school junior from Issaquah, is set to receive the prestigious Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles for his innovative work in promoting sustainability in youth sports.
Tandon, who plays soccer and is preparing to get his driver’s license, created the ‘Youth Eco Sports Scorecard’ (YESS), an online survey designed to help youth sports teams evaluate their sustainability practices.
“The questions are kind of behavioral nudges to spark change and spark reflection with teams,” Tandon explained. “So, it’s like ‘oh, we encourage carpooling’…rather than necessarily the big system changes because that may not be feasible to every team.”
The Youth Eco Sports Scorecard is broken up into six categories and users are designated into four different tiers based on their answers to multiple choice questions.
Tandon was inspired to create the scorecard after attending a soccer tournament in Las Vegas, where he noticed the environmental impact of teams flying in from across the country.
“Once we get a lot more teams scored and a bigger dataset, we can kind of see how maybe teams in Washington State versus the other side of the country may compare in certain areas,” Tandon said. “Or, which specific areas of sustainability and the environment need to be focused on more.”
Tandon’s efforts to promote eco-friendliness in youth sports are gaining recognition, and his upcoming trip to Los Angeles for the ESPY Awards highlights the impact of his work.
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