Celebrating Science Journalism, Legislative Victory for California Students, and 15 Years of Animal Welfare Services
Michelson Philanthropies
Working on behalf of people and pets in Los Angeles and beyond.
We recently returned from the University of Colorado Boulder, where Michelson Philanthropies and the Michelson?Medical Research Foundation sponsored ScienceWriters2023, the annual conference of the National Association of Science Writers and the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing. The meeting delved into issues and challenges facing the scientific community and the journalists who cover their work.
Among the?highlights?of?the four-day?gathering?were presentations by Michelson Laureate?Dr. Jenna Guthmiller?of CU Anschutz?on her Michelson Prize-winning research?and?Michelson Philanthropies Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Thomas Conlon ,?who?led a session on a?breakthrough sterilant for female cats, work the Michelson Found Animals Foundation has been leading for more than a decade. Michelson Philanthropies also joined in recognition of WIRED’s Maryn McKenna,?this year’s Victor Cohn Prize Winner for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting.?
In an age of misinformation and distrust, connecting the work of the scientific community to the general public has rarely been so vital.
Finally, in breaking news, several important legislative initiatives championed by the Michelson Center for Public Policy (MCPP) have been signed into law. In a major win for students,?California?Governor Gavin Newsom?signed AB 607, which will help students plan and budget for college by providing clear and comprehensive information about the cost of textbooks, online homework codes, and other course materials for each class. MCPP was a sponsor of the bill authored by Assemblymembers Ash Kalra,?Sabrina Cervantes, and?Isaac Bryan. A more comprehensive update on this year’s legislative session will be shared in the next newsletter.
On behalf of Alya and Dr. Gary K. Michelson, our sincerest thanks for your interest and partnership as we work together to make life less unfair during very challenging times.
Executive Director?
?
Recent News
Leap Venture Studio & Academy , the world's first pet care startup accelerator, is celebrating its five-year anniversary. In that time, Leap has invested in 45 dynamic early-stage companies and built a 65% diverse portfolio in 15 countries, helping to transform the future of pet care.
Dr. Gary Michelson and Alya Michelson donated to two nonprofits dedicated to improving education for young students in Africa. Micato-AmericaShare supports the education of seven young learners in Mukuru, Kenya, and upgrades the resources of a local computer center. Huru International will tackle period poverty by providing girls in Kenya with sanitary products and access to reproductive and sexual health education.
领英推荐
Dr. Gary Michelson ?joined the Michelson Found Animals Foundation (MFA) Better Neighbor Project?to bring?a Pet Wellness Day at the Hollywood United Methodist Church in partnership with Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur. Members of the community received free services and supplies for their pets. MFA CEO Brett Yates accepted a certificate of recognition for MFA’s commitment to providing animal welfare services to the Los Angeles community for over 15 years.?
The Michelson 20MM Foundation hosted the Forging Equitable Futures for Student Parents in California Summit in September. The two-day event united advocates, practitioners, philanthropists, system leaders, student parents, and allies from across California to focus on initiatives that address the challenges encountered by pregnant and parenting students. Keynote speaker Hildegarde Aguinaldo , Vice President of the California Community College Board of Governors, emphasized the importance of providing childcare resources on college campuses to allow students to fully engage in and be present during classes.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, November 9th - Saturday, November 11th
The Michelson 20MM team will be presenting and sponsoring the National Conference on Higher Education in Prison (NCHEP) held from November 9-11th in Atlanta, which brings together educators, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to share and learn about the latest developments in higher education in prison.
Tuesday, December 5th - Wednesday, December 6th
The Michelson Found Animals team will attend the Petcare Innovation Summit held from December 5-6 in Los Angeles, CA. The conference showcases the most exciting innovations in the pet industry, connecting attendees with investors and strategic partners to improve pet health and owner experience.