From Conflict to Compassion: Divided Homeland Inspires Author to Build Bridges Through Stories of Love

For Michael Weiss, a Jerusalem-born author and entrepreneur, the journey from a land of deep divisions to a mission of storytelling rooted in compassion has been anything but ordinary. Growing up amid conflict, Weiss has chosen a different path—one paved with love, empathy and cultural understanding. His debut novel, A Thousand Gates of Prayer, transports…

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The Cost of Coerced Confessions: Freed Member of Marquette Park 4 Gets Candid About Wrongful Incarceration

Troshawn McCoy was just 17 when his life was irreversibly altered by a coerced confession. After hours of relentless interrogation without legal representation, McCoy says he confessed to a double murder he didn’t commit—believing cooperation would set him free. Instead, it sealed his fate. “It was a situation where they wore you down,” McCoy said.…

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The Frick Collection Debuts First-Ever Café, Westmoreland

For the first time in its storied history, The Frick Collection is offering visitors and members a place to dine. On June 6, the museum unveiled Westmoreland, an elegant café nestled on the second floor of its newly renovated Fifth Avenue home. Part of the Frick’s ambitious revitalization project, Westmoreland represents a new chapter in…

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Empire Training Center for the Arts Hosts First-Ever Poughkeepsie Songwriters’ Salon Featuring Crystal Monee Hall

Empire Training Center for the Arts (ETCA), in partnership with New York Stage and Film (SAF), lit up The Chance Theater with an unforgettable evening of music, talent, and community celebration on June 27. The inaugural City of Poughkeepsie Songwriters’ Salon will feature acclaimed singer-songwriter Crystal Monee Hall in concert, marking SAF’s first event of…

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2025 Good Soil Forum Unveils Finalists for $500K Seed Capital Pitch Competition, Presented by Wells Fargo

The 2025 Good Soil Forum, presented by Wells Fargo, has officially announced the finalists for its Seed Capital Pitch Competition. It took place on June 14, during the forum’s closing day in the vibrant Dallas Arts District, the competition offers a life-changing opportunity for entrepreneurs to secure up to $500,000 in non-dilutive funding, along with…

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