Dear Gossips,

On the To Do List this weekend: buy a new golf shirt, play golf, see Maleficent, screen The Morning Show, and read Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life, Ali Wong’s new book!

The conceit here is that she’s writing to her two daughters but…

Damn it, why DOES Helen Mirren have to flex so hard? Dame Helen attended the LA premiere event for her HBO miniseries Catherine the Great last night. Much like the London premiere, Dame Helen told her stylist that she wanted to look, and I’m quoting, “regal as f–k.” Or maybe she said “like a motherf–king empress” or “like the bitch who rules the world.” Helen wore this absolutely gorgeous Badgley Mischka Couture in this gorgeous Russian-art-specific hue. She then flexed even harder with the jewelry, hair and makeup. Empress of All.

Meanwhile, I bet you $10 that Dame Helen is going to be up for tons of awards next year for both Catherine the Great (on the TV side) and The Good Liar, the film which is coming out soon, where Ian McKellan is a con artist trying to worm his way into the life and finances of a rich widow (played by Mirren). Mirren just spoke to EW about the movie. Some highlights:

Why she wanted to do the movie: “It’s a very interesting script, a wonderful, twisty thriller that I thought would be fun to do. It’s nice to do a film about old people that’s not about Alzheimer’s or cancer, if you know what I mean.”

The appeal of con-artist movies: “Because we can all be taken in, as so many of us are so often. Nowadays obviously, with internet scams and fake news, almost everybody who has internet access is the victim of one scam or another. With the development of technology, it’s becoming more and more terrifying how we can have the wool pulled over our eyes.

Whether an actor is a better liar than non-actors: “So many times you see guys on television sobbing and saying, “Please bring my wife back to me, I just want to know she’s all right,” when they know they murdered her a week ago. And yet they are utterly convincing, and they are not actors. They’re not Sir Ian McKellen. [Laughs] Actors, on the contrary, I think would find it very difficult to do that. In the process of acting, actors are always trying to find the truth.

She hates the term “anti-aging.” “I think it’s terrible, the idea that we all have to look the same way. I find it very depressing, the thought of millions of girls wanting to have exactly the same lips as somebody else. So I think it’s important to promote diversity in looks and shapes and sizes and all the rest of it, and stop excluding people. I think that’s happening, incidentally, and I really applaud it.

[From EW]

She also says nice stuff about Ian McKellen, and they’ve known each other for a million years. I’m really looking forward to this movie – I think Helen’s playing a con artist too, don’t you?

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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Much was made about the heavy security detail for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Pakistan trip before they even left Great Britain. What I gathered, at the time, was that security concerns were a main factor in what kinds of events Will and Kate did in Pakistan – there were no walkabouts, very little interacting with the Pakistani public at large, and only a handful of photo-ops where Will and Kate were in the open air, and even then, I’m sure security had the open space on lockdown. But… this is not what I expected. During their big reception in Islamabad, security apparently blocked Pakistani government ministers from meeting Will and Kate. Like, that’s a private event. Everyone there had been vetted and cleared by security. And those ministers still couldn’t get their photo-op with Will & Kate. Hm.

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal tour of Pakistan is delighting their fans – but it appears one event didn’t go down well with officials from the host country. Six Pakistani government ministers walked out of a reception because they weren’t allowed to meet the couple, it is claimed. The officials were said to be “annoyed” by “very stupid” security arrangements, so they decided to leave Monday night’s event hosted by Thomas Drew, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, in the capital Islamabad.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived at the reception, held at the hilltop Pakistan Monument, in a colourful auto rickshaw, with Kate, 37, wearing a glittering green dress and William dressed in a traditional sherwani suit. Jonny Dymond, the BBC’s royal correspondent, tweeted: “Six Pakistani ministers walked out of the #RoyalVisitPakistan British High Commission reception on Monday night @bbcurdu reports. They were reportedly annoyed at their place in the gathering. Commission response to follow.”

He later wrote: “The Commission has replied. It says the Duke and Duchess ‘were delighted to meet a range of people from across Pakistani society’.”

A report by BBC Urdu said half a dozen ministers and close advisers left the event because they were not allowed to meet the duke and duchess. The report claimed the officials were not allowed to go near the royal couple due to “rigid security arrangements”. An adviser to Prime Minister Imran Khan told BBC Urdu that the “very stupid” security measures were made by British officials. Refusing to allow cabinet ministers to meet the royals was “disgraceful,” the unnamed adviser added. The adviser said Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry would make a complaint to British authorities.

[From The Daily Mirror]

It’s more than likely that the Cambridges had no idea the lengths their security people had gone to, and they probably didn’t know that certain government ministers were not on the “must shake hands with” list. And that’s all this was – it’s an opportunity for all of those smaller political players to get a photo-op or a handshake from the British royals. That’s bare-bones soft diplomacy. But, as I said, it’s more than possible that William and Kate didn’t know that they were inadvertently “snubbing” some ministers. Still, if that was the case… the British High Commission could have done a better job organizing the meet-and-greet so no one stormed out in a hissy.

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Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Getty.

In August, we learned that Pete Davidson had begun dating Margaret Qualley, the 24-year-old daughter of Andie MacDowell. Margaret is still very much on the come-up, and while casting directors knew her name, a little romance with a famous guy didn’t hurt at all. But did it have to be Pete? I don’t know. Their romance was brief, in any case. Just a late summer fling, with one nice trip to Venice (where she was promoting a movie). Now it’s over:

It’s over for Pete Davidson and Margaret Qualley. The twosome have called it quits after a whirlwind romance, Us Weekly can exclusively reveal.

“They remain friends,” a source close to the former couple told Us on Thursday, October 17.

Us broke the news in August that the Saturday Night Live star, 25, and the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actress, 24, were dating.

[From Us Weekly]

The youths today are a lot like the youths in my day, in that it’s rarely over the first time. They had a two month romance, my guess is that they’ll probably go back for more at least once. And it’s fine. Even though I dislike Pete and I think he seems like an a–hole boyfriend, I’ll praise him for not going crazy-fast with Margaret and hell, at least this one didn’t end with a sudden engagement. Maybe he’s figuring out how to have healthier relationships or figuring out how to just “date.” As for Margaret… this got her some headlines, but I got the vibe she actually liked Pete a lot. But yeah, I’m happy for both of them that they’re moving on.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

The press and the paparazzi made Princess Diana’s life hell for years. In an attempt to “manage” the narratives around her, Diana would often work with members of the press as well – over the years, she had her favorite journalists and favorite photographers, and she would often call them up to personally give them exclusives. My point is not “Diana worked with the press so she should have never criticized her treatment.” Not at all – I’m just saying there was more nuance to the situation around Diana entirely, and the media landscape was SO different in the 1980s and 1990s too. My point is also… while the paparazzi trailing Diana and Dodi Fayed had a hand in Diana’s death in 1997, Diana died because Henri Paul was drunk as a skunk AND speeding. Diana died because Dodi Fayed couldn’t decide where they should go and what they should do, and the Fayeds’ security team were doing a sh-tty job of protecting her. Again, there’s a lot of nuance there. It was never “the press killed Diana” case closed.

So…I’m not trying to tell Prince Harry or Prince William how to feel about their mother’s death. They can and should feel however they want, and of course they both have every right to talk about Diana and find inspiration from her memory. But I think they’ve both been sold a major lie, a lie they’ve clung to all of these years: the lie that their mother’s death is solely the fault of the press. It’s just not true. This came up again in Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, the documentary which will air this Sunday in the UK on ITV, and it will air next Wednesday on ABC here in America. Here’s what Harry said in a newly released clip:

In a newly released clip from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s upcoming ITV documentary, Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, the world-famous royal describes his late mother’s passing as a “wound that festers.” In discussing the media’s impact on his personal life, Harry remarked, “I think [of] being part of this family, in this role, in this job every single time I see a camera, every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash. It takes me straight back, so in that respect it’s the worst reminder of her life as opposed to the best.”

Prince Harry was just 12-years-old when Princess Diana died in a 1997 car crash while attempting to escape the paparazzi. The Duke has made it his life’s mission to continue Diana’s philanthropic efforts, and did so during the Africa trip by walking through the same active minefield Diana famously did to help raise awareness for landmine clearing. “Being here now 22 years later, trying to finish what she started will be incredibly emotional but everything that I do reminds me of her,” Prince Harry explained. “But as I said, with the role, with the job, and the sort of the pressures that come with that, I get reminded of the bad stuff usually.”

[From E! News]

I’m including the clip below. I get that Harry is legitimately worried about how the press is treating his wife, and I completely understand the parallels between the press harassment of Diana and the racist smear campaign against Meghan. That’s legit. It also doesn’t help that Meghan is a lot like Diana – a photogenic, glamorous, philanthropic people-person with a lot of emotional intelligence. Of course there’s media interest in Meghan, just as there was interest in Diana. Meghan has become “the big show” in the Royal Family, much like Diana was the biggest headline in her lifetime. But again, the press didn’t kill Diana. I feel like… Harry needs to actually read some of the sh-t from all of the official inquiries into his mother’s death, honestly.

Watch Harry & Meghan: An African Journey on Sunday at 9pm on @ITV#HarryAndMeghan https://t.co/FEy37XVASW pic.twitter.com/zIligJpmrv

— ITV News (@itvnews) October 17, 2019

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red and Backgrid.

From Hecate: I’ve been complaining for a while about the toll menopause is taking on me. I’ve got my progesterone prescription and my mental exercises to grapple with it. But taking off the weight has been rough. When I started perimenopause, my energy nosedived. I went from running four miles a day to barely able to make it two blocks almost overnight. Two years and 15 pounds later, I needed to do something, so I made a few changes and here is what helped me.

From Hecate: Affordable High waist running pants with pockets:

Although I invest in good running shoes and jogging bras, I don’t spend a lot of money on the rest. But my old running pants were all falling down because they were too small, and my stomach was no longer flat. So I read up and running sites said to go high waisted to avoid the pants slipping down. These pants run between $19-$25 a pair, fit great, look good and have pockets! They come in a variety of colors and in sizes xx-small to xx-large. They have a 4.6 star rating and an A from Fakespot. I also got these based on recommendations. They are the same style, price and rating, just a different company (I wanted to compare). Both pants come in the capri length but the second pair also comes in a short.

From Hecate: A GPS SmartWatch to track your heart rate, play music and more

This is an investment at $250. I got the Fitbit Ionic because I needed the music function. (Of course, right after I started running again, my 2007 iPod classic die/d) So I can personally attest to this watch. It’s got a three and a half star rating but I love it. I was stunned by how few steps I take a day – and that’s with my run. I like that this vibrates to remind me to get up every once in a while. Plus, I bought a bunch of bands in different colors to match to my outfits. If you don’t need the music option, many Best Of sites list the FitBit Versa that costs about $200 as a great sports watch. Or, if all you need is a basic tracker, try the FitBit Inspire for under $100.

From Hecate: A portable elliptical to keep active while you’re working

I got this after I read CB’s Desk Cycle recommendation! Between my desk job (that I love!) and my shorter run, I’m not getting the activity in I should. I’d never even considered a portable option until I saw CB’s post. I’m not a big cyclist/spinner so the elliptical appealed to me, plus it was smaller, so it fit better under my desk. Plus it’s pretty reasonable at $90. It’s made a difference. It is less activity than working out so if this is your only exercise, you will only lose about a pound or two a month. But hey – it’s still a pound! I’m combining it with my morning two mile run and my pants are starting to fit a little better. But what I didn’t expect is that I’m sleeping better. Just make sure you get the ergonomically correct position while using it or your knees will pay. Also, if you use a rolling chair, you need to find a way to anchor it or it’s annoying. This particular model does not track with your fitness tracker, although you can enter it manually. If you want that technology, the $350 Cubii pro does that.

From Hecate: Butt lifting shapewear that doesn’t roll down

None of the above works overnight, unfortunately. So if you need a little help in the meantime, this smoother is really comfortable and does not roll down. You’re not going to go down a size when you put it on, but at least you can breathe comfortably for under $20. It’s got a four and a half star rating on Amazon and a B from Fakespot. I also got these shaping underwear to help with my muffin top. It’s very light support but for $10, it gets the job done well enough.

From CB: Progesterone cream may help curb menopausal symptoms and hunger

I don’t want to make any incredible claims about this cream, but I do think it worked for me. I have been so hungry lately in perimenopause and, like Hecate, I’ve had trouble balancing that with exercise. Since using this cream nightly on my thighs (read the reviews you’re supposed to do that) for just a week I’ve noticed that I’m less hungry! It’s been almost effortless to lose those three pounds that I was struggling with for months. I feel calmer, less anxious and much more peaceful. What’s more is that I used to be on synthetic progesterone and it didn’t work this well. So I highly recommend this cream, which we featured a few weeks ago. It has 4.2 stars, 1,500 ratings and an A from Fakespot. I really think it has worked for me. Other women say it works wonders on their anxiety and has helped get their libido back. Please consult your doctor before taking this or any other otc progesterone product.

From CB: A cozy pet bed that your furry companion will love

I saw a similar “comforting” pet bed on Instagram and sure enough it exists cheaper on Amazon. This cozy pet bed comes in small and medium sizes and in pink and tan. It’s lined with faux fur to make your furry friend feel comfy and relaxed. It has 586 ratings, 4.7 stars and a B from Fakespot. Both cat and dog owners say say it has a lot of cushioning in it and that their pet loves it and took to it immediately. There are so many cute photos of pets in it too!

From CB: A microblading eyebrow pen for a polished look

I’m still searching for the holy grail of eyebrow pens/pencils/powders. I like that eyebrow-gel dispensing brush I featured a few weeks ago, the Revlon Colorstay Brow Mousse, and I’m still using that. It gives a full and natural look and goes on quickly. However I’m looking for something more polished and I keep seeing ads for these microblading pens on Instagram. This microblading eyebrow pen by Lusucat is just $10 and comes in four colors. It has 4.1 stars, almost 90 ratings and a C from Fakespot. Women say it saves time, that it stays on but is easily washed off with soap and water, and that it blends well and looks natural.

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Angelina Jolie and Disney are on the same page for Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Disney seems to love this collaboration because Angelina goes all-in to sell the movies, and because she can talk about feminism while still staying on Disney-message. Disney’s feminism is definitely on the lighter, more consumer-driven side. I mean, little kids still want to be princesses, but maybe they also want to have horns and wings and wear all-black. Disney is giving them that choice = feminism. I have a point here! The point is that I love how Angelina and Elle Fanning put their own spin on Disney’s feminist-lite talking points:

Angelina Jolie has championed the role men can play in shaping the personalities of young girls. The actress, who stars in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, also said female characters in films should not have to be portrayed as physically tough in order to be considered strong.

“I think that, so often, when a story’s told which says ‘this is a strong woman’, she has to beat the man, or she has to be like the man, or she has to somehow not need the man,” Jolie told journalists at the film’s launch.

Referring to her own character in the film and Princess Aurora, played by Elle Fanning, Jolie said: “We both very much need and love and learn from the men. And so I think that’s also an important message for young girls, to find their own power, but to respect and learn from the men around them. We have strong women, but the character that is wrong in the film and has to be taken out is also a woman. We show very diverse types of women between our characters, but also we have extraordinary men in the film, and I really want to press that point.”

Fanning, who reprises her role of Princess Aurora in the film, echoed Jolie’s comments and said her character’s strength is not necessarily physical, unlike many princesses in children’s films.

“Aurora’s strength is her kindness, and she stays very true to herself, which is something I wanted to keep in the film. She is soft and feminine and wants to be a wife and have babies, and that’s a beautiful, strong thing that isn’t portrayed a lot on screen. A lot of the princesses are like ‘we’re gonna make her a strong princess! And make her tough, so we’re gonna make her fight!’ And it’s like, is that what being a strong woman means? Like, we just have to have a sword and have armour on and go fight? Aurora can do that in a different way, in a pink dress, and it’s beautiful that she keeps her softness and vulnerabilities.”

[From BBC]

“She is soft and feminine and wants to be a wife and have babies, and that’s a beautiful, strong thing that isn’t portrayed a lot on screen.” Can we argue about this? Almost every romance and rom-com is based on the idea that yes, every woman wants a husband, a wedding and babies. Every magazine and every message from the media is that women want those things too. It’s not groundbreaking to portray a young woman wanting those things. It’s not feminist or anti-feminist either (it’s just a neutral choice). That quote is from Elle and I think she’s just trying to defend her character. But this quote from Angelina was just too much as well: “That’s also an important message for young girls, to find their own power, but to respect and learn from the men around them…” Yeah but when are boys going to get the message to respect and learn from the women around them. Ugh.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had quite a terrifying final 24 hours in Pakistan. Yesterday, they were Lahore for a day of activities, and they were supposed to fly back to Islamabad in Thursday evening. They got on the plane and got in air… only the pilots were forced to turn back to Lahore to spend the night after an electric storm made it impossible to land the plane in Islamabad. Emergency hotel accommodations had to secured for William, Kate, the members of the media and their security in Lahore. The photos in this post are of Will and Kate leaving Lahore this morning and they were finally able to fly to Islamabad today.

I guess we know now that Kate and her entourage are always prepared for this kind of thing, because even though Kate had no idea she’d be staying overnight, she had an emergency kurta at the ready. This kurta is is from the Pakistani brand Elan. She paired it with slim white pants, beige pumps (probably Rossi) and a big black bag. Once again, Kate looks incredibly chic in these Pakistani clothes. I hope she’s learned something about the kinds of silhouettes which actually look good on her body. For too many years, she’s been paying a fortune to “bespoke” clothing to the point where everything looks oddly proportioned and twee. And almost be accident, she’s just now learning that actually, she should have been wearing loose-waisted tunics, peasant blouses and simple slim-cut trousers.

Because of the flight drama, Will and Kate’s schedule had to be rearranged, and I guess they’re no longer going on a helicopter trip over the Khyber Pass (an ancient route between Pakistan and Afghanistan, used by Osama bin Laden among millions of other people over centuries). They are doing one more event before they leave Islamabad though. And then they’ll be leaving Pakistan in several hours and heading back home.

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Oh, here are some shots of Kate and William in Islamabad, doing their final event at the Army Canine Centre, where British military train bomb-sniffing dogs.

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Photos courtesy of Getty.

Finally here! In the flesh!! Personal stories, meditations, poetry, crystals, recipes and more..I talk about my life as a dancer, love and finding strength through great change, and all my hippie self goodness! ?????? out 10/22, link to pre order in bio! #gracefullyyou

A post shared by Jenna Dewan (@jennadewan) on Oct 11, 2019 at 1:23pm PDT

Do you remember how Ashton Kutcher responded to Demi Moore’s memoir with the sentiment “I could say more but I won’t?” There’s something so lame about that, and yet Jenna Dewan is essentially doing it in her book and coming across like an angel and a badass at the same time. You have to respect that. E! has details from Jenna’s new book, Gracefully You: Finding Beauty and Balance in the Everyday, which partially covers the end of her marriage to Channing Tatum at the beginning of 2018. I’m relying on E!’s excerpts because it’s only just been released and I haven’t read it yet. Jenna has been open about her spirituality, she’s called herself a hippie, and she dealt with the pain of her divorce by leaning into that. She says that she was devastated when she learned that Channing was dating Jessie J. It’s possible there was overlap and that Channing was cheating, but if so she’s only hinting about it.

“[Divorce] was never on my docket of dreams, but alas, here I am, learning and growing through one,” she wrote. “In the beginning I turned to the typical remedies. I drank a whole lot of wine with friends. I had many moments of deep, painful, big cries. And both were very necessary in getting me to the next hour, through the day, on to another week.”

“In the beginning of my separation, it felt as though I were in a dark closet, desperately trying to find the light or the way out,” she revealed. “I was in a state of shock. One week I’d be doing really well and the next I was slammed with a whole new slew of emotions. The rumor mill was churning out story after story. There were many times I hid under the covers, wondering what was next. The pain hit me like a tumbling avalanche. I was completely overcome with fear and sadness. It took many moments of sitting alone with my grief to force me into surrendering to my roller coaster of a situation.”

But every setback comes with it’s fair share of lessons for growth. “The separation tested me in ways I hadn’t thought possible,” she shared “I started to wonder if everything I believed in and always talked about was real. Could anyone or anything ever be trusted?”

The most painful part of the divorce may have come when Jenna revealed that she found out about her exes relationship with music sensation Jessie J alongside the rest of the world.

“I was learning things about my ex most people wouldn’t have to face–and over the internet, as it was happening,” she revealed. “There I was, on a plane, alone, finding out about his new relationship. I felt blindsided. Choosing grace as I learned everything about my personal situation along with the rest of the world was really difficult.”

However, like the name of her book implies, it was an opportunity for the actress to practice what she preached. “It was quite a challenge to remain graceful; to say the least. That’s when your real character comes out,” she explained. “Instead of reacting the way I wanted to…I asked myself this: How do I choose grace in this moment? Had I not been practicing this way of life beforehand, I definitely wouldn’t have handled this news very gracefully.”

Although it wasn’t an easy situation to navigate, Jenna had already found someone new during this time. “When I was ready, I started dating someone amazing,” she wrote of her relationship with Steve. “It was this cosmically great thing where we circled back around each other after a moment of instant recognition years ago.”

“Do you know how many times I’ve wanted to go online and write exactly what’s on my mind? Thousands,” she shared in the book. “My instinct is to fight back, set the record straight. What stops me every time is: ‘Choose to say what you would want yourself to live with a week from today.’ Or ‘Choose what you would want Everly to read when she’s older.’”

[From E! Online]

So is she saying she thinks Channing cheated because he moved on so quickly, but she’s not sure? I’ve been through something similar and likely did not handle it as well. However I knew from this job that there was no way I could write anything about it and that there were only certain people I could talk to. Once you know the power of gossip, you know how to wield it when you’re telling your own story. Jenna is doing that expertly here. I like how she is focusing on her child too. Compare this to how Jaime Pressly recently said that favoring her oldest son would not matter to her toddler twins. They’re going to grow up and google her! Also compare it to Ashton Kutcher saying he was focusing on his wife and daughter and wouldn’t respond. That’s just what Jenna said, only she planned and crafted it a million times better.

This is a sponcon but I thought the photo was cute. Then I just watched it and it’s by Young Living. That’s such a scammy MLM company!

A post shared by Jenna Dewan (@jennadewan) on Oct 15, 2019 at 4:12pm PDT

Becoming a mother is quite simply the absolute best most incredible thing that has ever happened to me ? @stevekazee you are a gift from above and i couldn’t be more excited to be expanding our family together…! Thank you guys for all the love!!

A post shared by Jenna Dewan (@jennadewan) on Sep 24, 2019 at 4:30pm PDT

You hat me at hello ??

A post shared by Steve Kazee (@stevekazee) on Sep 14, 2019 at 10:02am PDT

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Celebrities have often donated funds or paid for classroom supplies for teachers who desperately need the help: Earlier this year, Lady Gaga donated to classrooms in Toledo, El Paso, and Gilroy following the mass shootings in those cities. in 2015, Stephen Colbert funded all $800,000 worth of teachers’ projects on DonorsChoose. Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan are the latest big names to help out teachers across the country with a whopping $1.2 million donation via their Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. They will fund all professional development projects through Donors Choose.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, launched by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan to give back, has announced a $1.2 million grant benefiting hundreds of teachers across the country.

The gift will fund nearly 700 different professional development projects meant to empower teachers in 36 different states, according to a press release.

The projects were initially created by teachers on the nonprofit crowdfunding platform DonorsChoose, which allows educators to make requests for classroom resources that are then sent directly to them once enough money has been raised.

“As an educator, I know that teachers want professional development opportunities to both improve their instructional practice as well as meet their immediate needs in the classroom,” Chan, 34, said in a statement. “That is why we’re partnering with DonorsChoose to help teachers apply the latest findings on how students learn best within their classroom practice and funding the individual professional development asks of teachers across the country.”

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) also announced that it will match donations to new professional development projects on DonorsChoose while funds last, and will also provide teachers access to NeuroTeach, an online tool that allows them to work the latest education research into their own classrooms.

[From People]

People shared stories from some of the teachers whose projects will be funded: Madeline Mason is a “mindfulness and social learning coach,” who has used DonorsChoose to fund numerous projects. The CZI will help her purchase “books and journals to better support teachers in their mindfulness practices.” People highlighted two other educators who will benefit from Mark and Priscilla’s donation: “an elementary school teacher in San Francisco who wants to attend a literary conference, and a middle school teacher in Baltimore looking to become board-certified.”

As someone who knows and loves many educators, I really respect and appreciate Mark and Priscilla so much for donating some of their wealth to help teachers. So many of my friends who teach open their own wallets to buy supplies because they don’t want to short-change their students, but that’s not sustainable over years or decades of teaching. We have an absolutely disastrous Secretary of Education, and school funding is dropping.

Mark and Priscilla founded the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative in 2015 after their eldest daughter, Max, was born. It’s stated mission “is to find new ways to leverage technology, community-driven solutions, and collaboration to accelerate progress in Science, Education, and within our Justice & Opportunity work.” With this donation, Mark and Priscilla are standing behind their belief that teachers and students matter, that education matters. Good for them. So many people are going to benefit from their generosity.

That’s why we partnered with @DonorsChoose to fund all professional development projects — helping 600 teachers across the country gain new training and skills to meet their students’ needs. We’re also doubling donations to professional development projects on DonorsChoose.org/CZI. #teacher #DonorsChoose #Teachersofinstagram #education #teachergoals #Donate

A post shared by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (@chanzuckerberginitiative) on Oct 17, 2019 at 7:51pm PDT

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