Introduction to Ananda Lewis

I, like millions of others who grew up in the 1990s, wanted my MTV. Sure, we were there for the videos. But the video jockeys, known as VJs, elevated the experience with the style and spice you could see, and not just hear, like radio DJs. Ananda Lewis was my favorite MTV VJ. She was more than a trailblazing television host. In many ways, she was an advocate for issues of the day as well as a “TV friend” during my most formative years. Tragically, at the age of 52, she lost her battle with breast cancer on June 11, 2025. While breast cancer deaths are on the decline, the CDC estimates 42,000+ women and 500+ men are expected to succumb to the disease this year alone.

A Star On MTV And Beyond

Ananda Lewis joined the MTV Network in 1997. Known simply by her first name, which means “bliss” in Sanskrit, America got a taste of her style, voice and vibes, and she quickly became a standout host on the uber-popular Total Request Live (TRL), MTV Live, Hot Zone and MTV Jams. In the prime of the network’s cultural heyday, Ananda was able to connect with audiences while introducing the latest music videos, and conducting interviews with a seemingly never-ending list of celebrities. Her storytelling brought authenticity and depth to MTV’s programming. Way before diversity was a department or a buzzword, she brought a unique multicultural look, original name and flawless style to an American youth seeking visual inspiration. In 2000, she was featured in People magazine’s list of the world’s “50 Most Beautiful People.”

Early Life and Career

Ananda was born in Los Angeles, California, and attended the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts before heading to the nation’s capital to matriculate at Howard University. As an activist with the Youth Leadership and Development Institute, she worked with teenagers across customized learning programs designed to support at-risk youth. It was that passion which led her to audition for BET’s Teen Summit, a groundbreaking series focused on social issues affecting young Black Americans. As the host of Teen Summit, Lewis got the opportunity to interview a wide range of special guests, from NBA legend Kobe Bryant to First Lady Hillary Clinton, hitting new angles of journalism that directly addressed and resonated with young viewers.

Her Personal Breast Cancer Battle & A Legacy Of Impact

In 2020, Lewis first revealed she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, sharing the news in an Instagram video with the hope to encourage women to get a mammograms. Eventually, her cancer, progressed to stage 4, yet she reflected resilience and grace as she faced her illness, and her optimism shined through as she found moments of joy in the midst of adversity. As a Black female voice in media, Ananda Lewis’s impact broke many invisible barriers. She challenged stereotypes and in many subtle ways paved the way for the generation that followed. With the outpouring of fans’ reactions to the news of her passing, her life serves as a reminder of the importance early detection and self-care, but also the fragility of life. She is survived by her son, Langston, born in 2011.

Conclusion

As we remember Ananda Lewis, let’s honor her by continuing the work she championed—advocating for equity, amplifying underrepresented voices, and prioritizing pushing the envelope. With Ananda’s passing, her legacy of charisma, intelligence and commitment to social issues should be remembered and reflected on. At a time before social media was commonplace—when only a few voices earned a platform to speak for a generation—she connected with music fans around the world, to both amplify artists’ voices and spotlight critical social topics, through specials like True Life: I Am Driving While Black—all with an understanding of the power of media to drive change across the U.S. There are many reasons that her life deserves to be celebrated.

FAQs

Q: When did Ananda Lewis join the MTV Network?
A: Ananda Lewis joined the MTV Network in 1997.
Q: What was the name of the show Ananda Lewis launched in 2001?
A: The Ananda Lewis Show.
Q: What was Ananda Lewis diagnosed with in 2020?
A: Stage 3 breast cancer.
Q: When did Ananda Lewis pass away?
A: June 11, 2025, at the age of 52.
Q: What is the estimated number of breast cancer deaths in the US this year?
A: 42,000+ women and 500+ men.

Introduction to Elder Financial Abuse

Most of us have probably heard of financial abuse of elders. Stories appear in local media about a caregiver ripping off the person they attend to at the elder’s home. We hear of scammers who call lonely seniors on the phone and persuade them to give the scammer money. We get a bit of news about romance scams on the internet. But are we truly aware of the extent of the worldwide problem of people taking money from vulnerable elders?

The Extent of the Problem

According to AARP, adults aged 60 and older lose an estimated $28.3 billion per year to financial exploitation. According to a report in Forbes and TrueLink Financial from 2015, the figure was $36.48 billion annually. We do know from many sources that the thefts are grossly underreported. That also means that if many cases are never reported to Adult Protective Services or law enforcement, they are never prosecuted. The scammers keep scamming and the thieves get away with it.

Efforts to Stop Elder Abuse

Government, nonprofit organizations, and elder-focused resources continually attempt to stop abuse by warning and educating consumers. They focus on the population that is targeted most: people over 60. There is a failure from that effort in that more recent reports suggest that the problem is growing, not decreasing. From my point of view, having personally interacted with, cared for or legally represented hundreds of elders, I can see why education of elders by itself has many limitations. Among them are the fact that the average older person is unlikely to visit the Federal Trade Commission website to learn about the latest scams and how to avoid them. This site is great at informing anyone about tech support scams, investment scams, business imposter scams, and romance scams. Good information but mostly never seen by the likely victims.

Raising Awareness

Then we have events designed to raise awareness on the day designated, normally June 15 each year. In connection with that date, elder abuse awareness is promoted by numerous organizations. For example, the American Bar Association is sponsoring World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Call-in Event Friday, June 13. Lawyers and the public may call in and ask questions of Weinberg Center staff. The call-in event is hosted by The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Justice and co-sponsored by The ABA Commission on Law and Aging, Elder Law Committee. The date is Tuesday, June 17 | 12-1 p.m. EDT. Anyone can join on zoom.

Who Needs to Become More Aware?

Elders may develop memory loss over time. It can be subtle at first. But eroding memory makes anyone more vulnerable to scams. Families may not immediately see the connection. They may not realize that an aging parent, living alone, socially isolated and perhaps with a few signs of dementia creeping in is a perfect target for scammers. They find these elders. They buy lists of names and contact information. They send those emails or make those phone calls. The effort is big business with organized, managed, paid people doing the dirty work.

Warning to Families

My warning is to families. Pay attention. Know how cleverly the thieves exploit loneliness, and any vulnerability they can find. They are well practiced at this. Your own aging loved one is not immune because of background, education, intelligence, nor experience with finances. Thieves get to them at an emotional level, such as. “It’s an emergency, this is your grandson”.

The Role of AI and Deep Fakes

The “emergency call” from a relative triggering an emotional response is sometimes thwarted by the elder who does not recognize the caller’s voice. Now that deep fakes can be created by artificial intelligence, the fake caller can use the actual relative’s voice, copied from any source, such as the relative’s social media or other source. It’s a terrifying prospect! Every family with an elder needs to be aware of this newer tactic, among the many successful tactics used in our country and around the world to steal billions from elders.

The Takeaways

Stories of older folks being ripped off are common. If you have an aging loved one, educate yourself. It is my belief that families may be able to stop exploitation better than public education about it, aimed at elders. Some aging parents don’t use the internet. Some think it can’t happen to them, they’re too smart. Some have no awareness of the issue and how they, themselves can be targeted. On this moment of public focus on elder abuse awareness, it is wise for anyone with a close connection to an elder to get the latest information on how elder exploitation works. I can imagine a face-to-face talk with an aging loved one telling that person in one’s own words about scams and raising awareness so that you, yourself become a trusted source of these warnings.

Conclusion

Elder financial abuse is a significant problem that affects millions of people worldwide. It is essential to raise awareness about this issue and to educate families and caregivers on how to prevent it. By working together, we can reduce the incidence of elder financial abuse and protect our loved ones from exploitation.

FAQs

Q: What is elder financial abuse?
A: Elder financial abuse is the exploitation of older adults for financial gain, often through scams, theft, or coercion.
Q: How much do elders lose to financial exploitation each year?
A: According to AARP, adults aged 60 and older lose an estimated $28.3 billion per year to financial exploitation.
Q: What can families do to prevent elder financial abuse?
A: Families can educate themselves and their loved ones about the risks of elder financial abuse, monitor financial transactions, and be aware of potential scams and exploitation tactics.
Q: What is the role of AI and deep fakes in elder financial abuse?
A: AI and deep fakes can be used to create convincing scams, such as emergency calls from a relative, making it more difficult for elders to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent requests.
Q: How can I report suspected elder financial abuse?
A: Suspected elder financial abuse can be reported to Adult Protective Services or law enforcement.

Introduction to Sustainable Pride Celebrations

We gather together during Pride Month every June to celebrate love and care for our community. This year, it’s time that sentiment extends to include not only people, but the planet, too—which can be as easy as integrating a few of these eco-friendly Pride party tips.

The Impact of Pride Celebrations on the Environment

From small private parties to sprawling public parades, Pride celebrations can take many forms and—as with any communal festivities—they usually involve some snacks, drinks and decorations. Though these things can be a source of joy, unfortunately, they can also have negative environmental impacts that long outlast our celebrations. This holiday comes with a proliferation of single-use plastics—from water bottles and balloons to cocktail straws and bags of rainbow sprinkles—some of which can take up to 500 years to break down and may never completely decompose, as reported by the United Nations.

Simple Ways to Show Love for the LGBTQ+ Community and the Planet

However you’re celebrating Pride Month this year, here are some simple ways to show your love for the LGBTQ+ community and the planet we all share. For those looking to support queer-owned businesses, consider snacks and drinks from these enterprises for your Pride party.

Suggestions For Sustainable Sipping

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organization, which has tracked weather patterns for 175 years, reported June 2024 as the warmest June on record for the globe, and the World Meteorological Organization predicts “above-normal temperatures for nearly all land areas” in June 2025. So, staying hydrated this Pride Month is important, especially for those of us experiencing summer in the northern hemisphere. If there’s one thing you do to prepare for this year’s festivities while minimizing your environmental impact, let it be this: Bring your own reusable water bottle. Beside the fact that a plastic water bottle takes hundreds of years to degrade, the energy used to produce, transport and dispose of these bottles also has consequences for the quality of our air and water, according to the National Institutes of Health. Instead, opt for a reusable bottle, like this one from the Human Rights Campaign, a nonprofit that supports LGBTQ+ rights.

When you’re looking to drink something a little stronger, reusable cups are the way to go. If you’re hosting or attending an at-home party, mason jars are an easy and affordable option. However, if glass isn’t advisable for safety reasons, choose paper over plastic and keep an eye out for sustainability labels, like the Forest Stewardship Council, which “ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests”—including these colorful cups. Lastly, when it comes to sustainable sipping, skip the straw, unless you need it for medical reasons. If your cocktail simply wouldn’t be complete without one, stock up beforehand on reusable straws.

Advice For Eco-Friendly Eating

Many of the sustainability practices for drinking can also be applied to eating. If you don’t have enough plates and utensils at your house to accommodate all of your guests, you can find extras for a decent price at a secondhand shop—though this can be challenging afterward if you have limited storage space or you’re hosting an event in a public space, like a park. When single-use is the best option for your gathering, be sure to choose compostable tableware, like these, which can biodegrade in just a few days. Most paper napkins, such as these festive ones, can be composted, but consider getting reusable towels for cleaning up, or washable napkins to elevate your tablescape.

This time of year, bakery displays are brightened by an abundance of rainbow treats, but food dyes and the containers they come in—both of which may be made of petroleum-based chemicals—can have dark consequences for the environment, as synthetic dyes and plastics can contaminate our soil and waterways through their manufacturing and disposal, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. If you’re baking something special for Pride Month, check out Color Kitchen. Its rainbow food dyes and sprinkles are vegan, gluten-free and made with plant-based materials. (The sprinkles also come in home-compostable packaging.) For kitchen composting convenience, pick up your own composting bin and compostable trash bags in advance of your party so that you’re prepared for a quick and planet-conscious cleanup.

Tips For Making Your Rainbow Decorations More Green

Delightful as they may be for a day, balloons can take years to decompose, during which time they pollute our environment and pose a threat to wildlife. This Pride, add color and whimsy to your celebratory setting with biodegradable crepe paper streamers instead—extra points for selecting FSC-certified ones, like these. It wouldn’t be Pride Month without rainbow flags. Consider buying yours from Flags for Good, which uses minimal packaging during the shipping process and donates a portion of sales to organizations that advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, such as GLAAD and The Trevor Project.

Conclusion

While you might not be able to try all of these eco-friendly Pride party tips this year, keep in mind that every small gesture has a big impact—which is all the more reason to celebrate! By making a few simple changes to how we celebrate Pride, we can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of our festivities and show our love and care for both the LGBTQ+ community and the planet.

FAQs

• Q: Why is it important to use eco-friendly products during Pride celebrations?
  A: Using eco-friendly products during Pride celebrations is important because it helps reduce the environmental impact of the festivities, which can include large amounts of waste and pollution from single-use plastics and other materials.
• Q: What are some eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics?
  A: Some eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics include reusable water bottles, paper straws, compostable tableware, and biodegradable crepe paper streamers.
• Q: How can I support LGBTQ+ rights while also being eco-friendly?
  A: You can support LGBTQ+ rights while being eco-friendly by purchasing products from organizations that advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, such as Flags for Good, and by making sustainable choices in your daily life.
• Q: What are some ways to reduce waste during Pride celebrations?
  A: Some ways to reduce waste during Pride celebrations include using reusable products, choosing compostable tableware, and avoiding single-use plastics.