More Than 23,500 Blue Shield of California Members Reclaim Their Health in First Year of Reimagined Wellvolution Program

July 15, 2020

Rick Fowler, Riverside, Calif. - “I have reversed my Type 2 diabetes and I can eat just about anything I want and especially vegetables, which I love,” said retired Air Force Crew Chief Rick Fowler, 60, of Riverside, Calif. who is using the Virta Health digital app. “I may not be able to get toilet paper, but I can certainly find vegetables that fit with my Wellvolution plan, and lots of cream cheese. Virta had me at cream cheese. As Covid-19 was escalating, my enrollment advisor said that there has never been a better time for telemedicine and seeing doctors virtually. He was so right. If someone my age can start in the middle of a pandemic, anyone should be able to start at any time.”

OAKLAND, Calif., July 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In just one year, more than 23,500 Blue Shield of California members enrolled in Wellvolution – the nonprofit health plan’s innovative digital and community health network – have prioritized their health and well-being, reporting weight loss, reduced stress and reversal in chronic conditions such as diabetes.

The Wellvolution platform uses decades of research and leading technology to deliver personalized support, offering nearly 60 digital apps and 30,000 brick-and-mortar community locations, the largest network of such providers in the nation.

Wellvolution’s algorithm, developed in collaboration with Solera Health, matches members with customized programs and digital coaches. It is available to most Blue Shield members with their benefit plan at no additional cost, and is another example of how the health plan is reimagining health for individuals, families and communities.

“We know that people want options in improving their health, depending on their personal preferences,” said Bryce Williams, vice president of Mind Body Medicine at Blue Shield of California. “Wellvolution puts members at the center of its program and lets them choose the direction they want to take.”

Members said their top reason to join Wellvolution was to lose weight, with about 13,000 participants reporting they lost a total of more than 83,000 pounds in the first six months of starting the program. Other top reasons for joining Wellvolution were to move more, reduce stress and eat more healthily. The average age of participants was 49 with the largest age group between 50 and 59 years old. Women outnumbered men (72 percent vs. 28 percent) in the program’s first year.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more members are tapping into Wellvolution. Engagement has spiked as much as 10 times compared to pre-pandemic levels, and there has been a significant increase in communication between members and their digital coaches online.

“Our providers quickly pivoted when the pandemic began and have adapted their strategies and approaches to address the reality of being indoors for hours each day and with potentially limited access to fresh foods and outdoor exercise,” Williams said.

“I enrolled in Wellvolution just as the pandemic was escalating and during the first days of coronavirus panic-buying, I was worried,” said Hector Acosta, a Los Angeles optician who is enrolled in Wellvolution’s Virta Health program. “But I found that all the food I could eat was available – meat, vegetables, butter, oils and other sources of fat I needed to replace carbs.”

First Year Results
More than half of the program participants in its first year were matched with digital-app high-acuity programs tailored to address specific health conditions or risks such as reversing or preventing diabetes, lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol, and eliminating the need for prescription drugs.

Wellvolution programs that address specific health issues are measured for clinical outcomes, which are established quality assurance and improvement standards in the medical industry. Data from Wellvolution’s best-performing programs show sustained clinical outcomes for members in normalization of A1C numbers* or at least a 5 percent weight loss. Among these programs:

60 percent of members signed up for weight management

31 percent of those members achieved the clinical outcome of 5 percent weight loss.

30 percent of members enrolled for diabetes prevention

27 percent of those members have reached positive clinical outcomes such as normalization of A1C numbers, healthier blood pressure and/or at least 5 percent weight loss.

10 percent of members signed up for diabetes treatment and reversal programs

More than 40 percent of those members achieved clinical outcomes such as normalization of A1C numbers, healthier blood pressure and/or at least 5 percent weight loss.

Program Outcomes
Below are snapshots of member outcomes from three popular, clinically proven digital programs in Wellvolution that helped members address health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma and allergies:

Virta Health: In six months, 93 percent of participants improved their blood sugar levels, with a 1.6 percent average A1C reduction. Research shows that a 1 percent reduction in A1C levels can reduce diabetes complications by 28 percent. Further, 74 percent of patients, in consultation with their physicians, have eliminated at least one diabetes medication, and those on insulin when they started the Virta treatment saw their dosage reduced by an average of 76 percent.
Betr Health: Within 90 days, Wellvolution members using Betr Health saw an average weight loss of 12.6 percent and 1.4 percent reduction in A1C. In addition, 91 percent of members reported lower blood pressure and inflammation with improved sleep, digestion, mood and energy, and 86 percent of members, with the guidance of their physician, reported reducing or eliminating one or more medications.
Digbi Health: Among participants, 72 percent saw an 8.92 percent average weight loss, and members with pre-diabetes or diabetes have seen an average decline of 1.01 percent in their A1C levels. In addition, 75 percent experienced reduced Irritable Bowel Syndrome and acid reflux; 75 percent experienced relief from headaches/migraines; 66 percent decreased their anxiety; and 66 percent lowered their chronic pain.

Member Experiences
“I have reversed my Type 2 diabetes and I can eat just about anything I want and especially vegetables, which I love,” said retired Air Force Crew Chief Rick Fowler, 60, of Riverside, Calif. who is using the Virta Health digital app. “I may not be able to get toilet paper, but I can certainly find vegetables that fit with my Wellvolution plan, and lots of cream cheese. Virta had me at cream cheese. As Covid-19 was escalating, my enrollment advisor said that there has never been a better time for telemedicine and seeing doctors virtually. He was so right. If someone my age can start in the middle of a pandemic, anyone should be able to start at any time.”

“I never knew I was eating foods – for years – that aggravated my asthma and allergies until I started Wellvolution,” said Abebi Bain, 47, an elementary school teacher in Covina, Calif. using the Betr Health app. “After just a few weeks on my digital app plan I didn’t need all the meds for my allergies and my asthma inhaler. People tell me I look younger and I feel it. Especially in my ability to manage stress. And my aches and pains are gone. I can actually wear my high heels again without feeling pain.”

“The gut-biome and genetics results I got were critical to keeping me motivated and they also provided some surprises,” said Emily Morales, 32, an intake therapist in Pasadena, Calif. working on a PhD in clinical psychology. “I have a Mexican heritage and learned that eating a European diet (meat-heavy, small vegetable portions) wasn’t good for my body. I also learned I was allergic to several types of foods, which I ate often. Now I’m eating the right foods for my genetics and I have a lot more energy and greater focus for my work and academic goals.”

*AIC is a blood test that measures a person’s average blood sugar levels over the past three months; it is used to diagnose risk for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

About Blue Shield of California
Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. Blue Shield of California is a tax paying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association with over 4 million members, 6,800 employees and more than $20 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $500 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation since 2002 to have an impact on California communities.

For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com.

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CONTACT:	Mashi Nyssen
	Blue Shield of California
	510-607-2359
	[email protected]

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SOURCE Blue Shield of California

While Taxes are Due Today United Ways of California Says ‘It May Not be Too Late to Do Your Taxes, for Free, with Expert Guidance’

July 15, 2020

United Ways in California offer free tax filing services, even at this late date. Read this story for exact details and visit MyFreeTaxes.org to get started or call 866-698-9435, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, or text TAXES to 211211.

LOS ANGELES, July 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — This past week United Ways of California has been running a Tax Countdown Informational Series in the media to inform low to middle-income hardworking Californians about critical tax information, key deadlines and free solutions at United Way’s MyFreeTaxes.org site. Today (July 15) is the deadline to file a tax return and pay federal taxes. If filers don’t owe taxes above what has been withheld from their paychecks already, they receive an automatic additional extension to file federal and state taxes until October 15. If filers think they owe taxes but aren’t ready to file a return, they must request an extension, or they may be hit with penalties and interest due on the amount owed. In either case, it is still a good idea to file and pay sooner than later.

Several Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites, partners, subgrantees, and MyFreeTaxes.org will continue to operate until October 15, 2020. The website helps people get connected to services that provide free, virtual assistance to those who still need to do their taxes. Any immediate tax questions can be answered by calling 1–866-698-9435, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, PST. Additionally, you can text TAXES to 211-211 to get guidance.

“Filing taxes is nobody’s favorite thing, and it’s an especially daunting task during the complexities of COVID-19,” says Peter Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California. “We’re trying to break down the information into actionable items so individuals and families don’t lose money through unnecessary interest payments and may even find additional money through tax credits,” Manzo added.

Through MyFreeTaxes.org California United Ways help users to put unspent tax preparation money back into necessities and to find tax credits. With the help of a free, expert tax provider and armed with the knowledge that taxes can be amended for up to three years, filers could soon discover significant tax credits. For example, a federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is up to $6557, a federal Child Tax Credit is up to $2000, our state’s CalEITC is up to $2982, and our state’s Young Child Tax Credit is up to $1000. These are per year totals so amending filings for up to three years could mean getting up to three times these amounts. Absolutely no cost to the participant, these credits can be life-altering for families. A claim can be filed and a refund received for up to three years for the federal and four years for the state from the due date. Visit MyFreeTaxes.org, select “in-person” and work with a virtual volunteer to file not only this past year’s federal and state tax returns, but to work with that same virtual volunteer to file taxes (or amend filed returns) for the last three years.

“Taxes can be incredibly stressful, so luckily there is an extension for us procrastinators,” says a MyFreeTaxes.org user.

No one should pay to prepare and file their federal and state tax returns during a pandemic which has left millions unemployed. Two out of five Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act recipients with $500 or less in the bank spent half of their stimulus monies within 10 days of receipt. Tax preparation and filing cost families already struggling to meet basic needs several hundred dollars or more. Free tax preparation helps those struggling to balance budgets. As a nonprofit, United Way’s mission is to help low to middle-income households earn, keep, and save more.

About United Ways of California:
United Ways of California improves health, education, and financial results for low-income children and families by enhancing and coordinating the advocacy and community impact work of California’s 29 local United Ways. United Ways of California was formed in 2008 by California’s local United Ways seeking to work together to educate state and national leaders about policy issues affecting community impact goals in health, education, and financial stability.

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SOURCE United Ways of California

Florida Community Associations Must Take Immediate Action to Preserve Hurricane Irma Property Damage Claims

July 15, 2020

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The deadline to file a new or supplemental claim, or to reopen a previous insurance claim regarding Hurricane Irma damages is fast approaching on September 10th, 2020.

Time is of the essence for Community Associations as any claim not filed, supplemented, or reopened by the deadline, may be forever barred pursuant to Florida Law. It is imperative that Community Associations seek legal guidance regarding the upcoming statutory deadline, as well as the specific provisions of their insurance policies that may directly affect any potential claims.

To facilitate this process, the Law Firms of Katzman Chandler and Farrell Patel Jomarron & Lopez (FPJL) have established an informational website, WWW.IRMADEADLINE.COM. Volunteer Board Members and Community Association Managers throughout Florida are invited to visit WWW.IRMADEADLINE.COM to learn about the upcoming statutory deadlines, and to request their Association’s Free, No Obligation Hurricane Irma Property Damage Inspection.

Katzman Chandler’s and FPJL’s goal is to increase Community Association awareness of impending statutory and contractual deadlines before it’s too late, and to conduct as many FREE Property Damage Inspections and Evaluations as possible prior to the upcoming deadline.

If your Association never filed a claim following Hurricane Irma, there is still time to file. If your Association did file a claim and your claim was denied, the Free Inspection offered could serve as your Association’s Free “Second Opinion” on the “Below Deductible” determination made by your insurer. Finally, if your Association filed a claim and received some insurance proceeds, you may still be entitled to more.

Take the first step to fully understanding your Association’s legal rights today by visiting WWW.IRMADEADLINE.COM or calling Toll-Free (844) 794-7603 to request your Association’s Free, No Obligation Hurricane Irma Property Damage Inspection.

Katzman Chandler is a Full Service Florida Law Firm devoted to all aspects of Community Association representation. We are truly “Committed to Community” and evidence this commitment each day through Passion, Experience and Technology. Regardless of the size of your community, Katzman Chandler is dedicated to meeting your needs, achieving your goals and exceeding your expectations. Our services include General Corporate Representation, Delinquent Account Collection, Litigation, Covenant Enforcement, Document Amendment/Rewrite, Property Insurance Damage Claim Recovery, and Construction Defect Representation.

Katzman Chandler can be reached by calling Toll Free 800-987-6518 or via email at [email protected]. Information about the Law Firm can be requested through their website which can be found at www.KatzmanChandler.com.

Farrell, Patel, Jomarron & Lopez (FPJL) is a national Law Firm with offices in Florida, Puerto Rico and Texas. Our Firm has successfully recovered numerous multimillion-dollar awards for Condominium Associations in Florida, represented over 3000 business, hotels and families damaged by the BP oil spill (the largest environmental disaster in the history of the United States), and after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, worked closely with Legislators to adopt legislation to curb potential abuse and unfair trade practices by insurance companies.

FPJL’s lawyers have been recognized by Super Lawyers, America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators, The National top 100 Trial Lawyers and Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent.

FPJL can be reached by calling (305) 300-3000 or via email at [email protected]. Information about the Law Firm can be requested through their website which can be found at www.Justice360.com.

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SOURCE Katzman Chandler

The Best Exciting Action Movies This Summer on Cine Mexicano

July 15, 2020

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., July 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Cine Mexicano, the country’s top-rated Spanish-language movie network featuring contemporary and commercial-free programming including Mexican rancheras, comedies, drama and action, presents the best exciting action movies this summer with several elements in common: Mexican actors, effects, plots, performances and visual style to represent different stories as the season’s top package movies.

Legión: A drug trafficker pretends to start a new normal life in a city built around a port, where he meets a woman to whom he confesses all his transgressions without seeing how far she is prepared to go to get a reward.

Bellezas Diabólicas: A police officer must unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a law enforcement coworker. Some disturbing incidents seen to indicate that a group of beautiful, but malevolent women are behind the crime.

A la Casa del Chacal: A Commander recruits some of the most dangerous intelligence to save the country from a cruel killer. Just as the operation begins, some strange and frightening events take place.

Atentado Terrorista: During a dangerous operation an officer must defuse a bomb, which is not infrequently. There were more than 400 bombs last year, and after all he experiences, he finds the therapeutic and unconditional love only a companion animal can bring.

Terrorismo Radioactivo: A detective has to form an unlikely alliance with an outcast character when a radiative uranium enhanced villain threatens the future of the Riviera Maya residents with a dangerous explosion idea.

Travesía Infernal: A group of people in a room are awake enough to realize that they are part of an experiment to measure the effects of feelings of past guilts, which opens the gates of the hell where nobody will be safe.

Cine Mexicano is owned and operated by Olympusat, Inc., and it’s currently available nationwide on most cable providers.

For more information on Cine Mexicano’s programming, including tune in dates and times, please visit Olympusat networks cine mexicano.

Olympusat – Media Contact:
Jesús Piñango
Senior Director of News
[email protected]

SOURCE Cine Mexicano

Celebrity Slots Free-To-Play App Offers Instant Wins And Launches in Latinx and Hip-Hop Markets

July 14, 2020

LOS ANGELES, July 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Celebrity Slots (www.celebrityslots.com), brought to you by BlingKa, is a one-of-a-kind, star-studded influencer monetization platform that allows fans and players the chance to win celebrity experiences through Sweepstakes. The already-popular format now gives players the opportunity to rack up “Instant Wins.” By lining up five icons in a row, fans can instantly earn up to $25 in gift cards or win an Instagram shoutout tag from their favorite celebrity.

Celebrity Slots connects players with celebrities from all over the world, so they are ecstatic to launch in the Latinx market this month with actor and restaurateur Julián Gil. Gil’s new mobile game is now available in more than 10 new countries, including Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico. Argentine-Puerto Rican star Julián Gil has appeared in over 20 telenovelas, hosts the Univision sports program República Deportiva, and owns the popular Miami hotspot La Placita. Gil is excited to branch into fresh markets and connect with new adoring fans. About partnering with Celebrity Slots, Gil said, “This is another dream come true, and more so being the first Latino to have his own app / mobile slot game, which will give me the opportunity to connect with people all over the world. We’ll play together and have fun and the players will have chances to win a lot of prizes!”

Gil’s game joins a glittering collection of slots experiences with major-wattage stars, including scheduled game releases for the following fan favorites:

Ric Flair
Roy Jones Jr.
Mario Batista
Beau “Casper” Smart
Trina
Rob Van Dam

Celebrity Slots founder Chandler Rapson said, “We are thrilled to move BlingKa / Celebrity Slots into the thriving Latinx market. We believe the celebrity talent we have lined up will be well received by that sector of the market. We are so happy to support Julian’s as the first to lead the way. His fans are going to LOVE it!”

Latinx fans will be thrilled to see games with actor/dancer Beau “Casper” Smart and musician Mario Batista. Celebrity Slots will also launch in the hip-hop market with games featuring rapper and TV personality Trina as well as WWE manager and former wrestler Ric Flair, who inspired the song “Ric Flair Drip” by 21 Savage, Offset, and Metro Boomin. Alongside those will be games from wrestling icon Rob Van Dam and legendary boxing champion Roy Jones Jr.

Celebrity Slots’ platform currently has over 122 million aggregate social media followers and their exclusive celebrity experiences include VIP meet-and-greets, virtual meet-and-greets, signed memorabilia, personalized video messages, gift cards, and more. Fans will be treated to unique celebrity sound bites, graphics, challenges, and big wins on this free-to-play mobile game.

Be on the lookout for additional games from BlingKa and Celebrity Slots.

Celebrity Slots is available on the App Store and Google Play. Celebrity Slots – Download Now

For additional information, please contact us at [email protected].

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SOURCE Celebrity Slots

NCOA partners with Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ organizations to address growing economic insecurity amid pandemic

July 14, 2020

(L-R) Vivian Nava Schellinger, NCOA; Lonita Muñoz, Ledbetter Eagle Ford Community Organization; Abigail Zapote, Latinos for a Secure Retirement; Carl Burlbaw, The Senior Source; Edith Rodriguez, Texas LULAC; Alfonso Franco, Proyecto inmigrante; Miriam Sanchez, Mexican Consulate & Amigos Sin Fronteras; Carmen Guzman, LegalShield.

Grassroots effort will expand access to benefits programs for older adults

ARLINGTON, Virginia, July 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, the National Council on Aging (NCOA), a trusted national leader working to ensure that every person can age well, announced partnerships with several leading local and national nonprofits to connect diverse older adults, their caregivers, and their families to benefits programs to help them pay for food, prescription drugs, and health services.

The COVID-19 pandemic is pushing a growing number of older adults, especially those who are Black and Latinx, into poverty. Even before the coronavirus, eligible older adults left $30 billion in federal and state benefits unused because they didn’t know about them or how to apply. These programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps), Medicare Savings Programs, Medicare Prescription Drug Low-Income Subsidy, and more.

Community-based organizations—who know and are best positioned to serve their local citizens—are crucial to helping eligible older adults understand and apply for these life-changing benefits.

“Community is everything, now more than ever,” said Vivian Nava-Schellinger, NCOA Director, Community Partnerships & Network Activation. “There are systemic and racial obstacles that keep nearly 3 million eligible older adults and people with disabilities from accessing benefits designed to help them pay for basic needs. These new partnerships will bring the message of benefits access to the communities that need them most.”

NCOA is proud to partner with the following nonprofits:

Alliance for African American Health of Central Texas, Austin, TX
The Borderland Rainbow Center, El Paso, TX
The Juanita C. Grant Foundation, Capital Heights, MD
Latinos for a Secure Retirement, Washington, DC
League of United Latin American Citizens, Washington, DC
San Ysidro Health, San Diego, CA

Together, NCOA and these partners will work to shift programming and resources to virtual formats to support social distancing, decrease social isolation, and think creatively about ways to communicate with older adults who are not digitally connected, but still need critical information to help them stay financially secure. NCOA also will center conversations around aging as an equity issue and ensure that our partnerships are reflective of the people we serve.

“The Juanita C. Grant Foundation is proud to enter into a partnership with NCOA working towards the common goal of improving the lives of older adults,” said S. Orlene Grant, Founder and President & CEO of The Juanita C. Grant Foundation. “In particular, we look forward to collaborating on community engagement and developing strategies with resources on the ground that will enhance economic security, disrupt social isolation of older adults increased by the pandemic, and address long-standing inequities experienced by older adults in communities of color.”

“The suffering our low-income seniors are experiencing during COVID-19 has worsened this crisis,” said Ana Melgoza, Vice President of External Affairs for San Ysidro Health. “When you see headlines stating income and race are major predictors of coronavirus infections, you realize economic relief is needed for our seniors to survive and live through this emergency pandemic. We are honored to work with NCOA in serving the disproportionate amount of grandparents raising grandchildren, seniors with chronic illnesses in overcrowded housing, and seniors with limited access to healthy foods.”

NCOA houses the Center for Benefits Access, funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, to support organizations in enrolling older adults and younger adults with disabilities with limited means into the benefits programs for which they are eligible. This week, July 13-17, 2020, NCOA is sponsoring Boost Your Budget™ Week to educate older adults about benefits programs and direct them to www.ncoa.org/Boost to take a free online screening to see if they’re eligible.

About NCOA
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is a trusted national leader working to ensure that every person can age well. Since 1950, our mission has not changed: Improve the lives of millions of older adults, especially those who are struggling. NCOA empowers people with the best solutions to improve their own health and economic security—and we strengthen government programs that we all depend on as we age. Every year, millions of people use our signature programs BenefitsCheckUp®, My Medicare Matters®, and the Aging Mastery Program® to age well. By offering online tools and collaborating with a nationwide network of partners, NCOA is working to improve the lives of 40 million older adults by 2030. Learn more at ncoa.org and @NCOAging.

This project was supported, in part, by grant #90MINC0001-03-01 from the U.S. Administration on Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services, Washington DC 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

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SOURCE National Council on Aging

BLACK GIRLS LEAD™ 2020 Goes Virtual in Partnership with emerge™

July 14, 2020

NEW YORK, July 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — BLACK GIRLS ROCK! announces its annual BLACK GIRLS LEAD conference, in partnership with hair care brand emerge, taking place July 31-August 1, 2020. This year’s conference has been re-imagined as a virtual event and is designed to bring together young girls across the nation for two days of self-discovery, reflection and celebration.

The partnership between BLACK GIRLS ROCK! and emerge, a line of moisture-rich textured hair care products for Gen Z polycultural women, was born from the understanding that there is an urgent need to provide the resources and tools needed for young women of color to succeed.

“As a hair care brand rooted in self-expression and creativity, emerge is committed to unlocking opportunity for young girls of color so they can successfully pursue their creative passions,” said Cara Sabin, CEO, Sundial Brands. “With the impact of COVID-19 on Black and Latinx communities, and the continued fight against systemic racism, we are honored to partner with Beverly Bond and BLACK GIRLS ROCK! to empower, inspire and support the next generation of creative trailblazers.”

The BLACK GIRLS LEAD conference was created by BLACK GIRLS ROCK! to amplify leadership skills, critical thinking, ingenuity and creativity for girls ages 13-18. The conference will welcome 1,000 young women from communities across the United States and its territories to join in on a variety of panels, keynotes, workshops and masterclasses led by prominent thought leaders and speakers who will discuss social justice, women in STEM, financial literacy, career exploration, health and wellness, creativity, sisterhood and more.

“I created BLACK GIRLS LEAD to support young women’s holistic development. The program is designed to help girls find their voices, define their truths, own their agencies and forge the futures they envision,” said BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Founder/CEO, Beverly Bond. “I am grateful for this partnership with emerge and their dedication to joining our efforts to engage and inspire Black girls to thrive.”

Hosting BLACK GIRLS LEAD virtually will provide an opportunity for even more deserving young girls to participate. Girls who are US residents and ages 13-18 are encouraged to apply for the conference by going to lead.blackgirlsrock.com.

For more information about BLACK GIRLS ROCK! and BLACK GIRLS LEAD visit www.blackgirlsrock.com. For Twitter and Instagram use handle: @BlackGirlsRock + hashtags: #BlackGirlsRock and #BlackGirlsLead.

For more information about emerge, visit emergeBeautiful.com, follow emerge on Instagram and Twitter, and become a fan on Facebook.

Press Contacts:
Carissa Smith
BLACK GIRLS ROCK!
[email protected]
862-202-6822

Samantha Colton
Edelman
[email protected]
315-720-3592

ABOUT BLACK GIRLS LEAD™ AND BLACK GIRLS ROCK! ®
BLACK GIRLS LEAD was created to advance young women’s leadership development, critical thinking skills, academic achievement, civic engagement, and philanthropy. Since its inception BLACK GIRLS ROCK! has been committed to empowering girls to lead by giving them the tools needed to find their voice, define their truth, own their agency, and honor their calling. Founded by celebrity DJ and philanthropist, Beverly Bond, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! is a multifaceted movement dedicated to shifting the culture of media images and empowering women and girls. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of the multifaceted movement that has been committed to enriching girls through leadership, education, and positive identity development programs since 2006.

About emerge™
emerge™ is a new brand of clean beauty care products for a new wave of creative naturalistas created in collaboration by Unilever and Sundial Brands. Infused with almond milk and pequi oil, emerge keeps your curls and coils moisturized and defined. Free from sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicones, mineral oil, petrolatum or dyes – our products love your hair back. Visit your local Target store or Target.com to shop emerge™ products.

About Unilever North America
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2.5 billion consumers a day. In the United States and Canada, the portfolio includes brand icons such as: Axe, Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Degree, Dollar Shave Club, Dove, Hellmann’s, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Love Beauty and Planet, Magnum, Nexxus, Noxzema, Pond’s, Popsicle, Pure Leaf, Q-tips, Seventh Generation, Simple, Sir Kensington’s, St. Ives, Suave, Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto, TAZO, TIGI, TRESemmé and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies.

Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) underpins the company’s strategy and commits to:

Helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being by 2020.
Halving the environmental impact of our products by 2030.
Enhancing the livelihoods of millions of people by 2020.

The USLP creates value by driving growth and trust, eliminating costs and reducing risks. In 2018, the company’s Sustainable Living Brands grew 69% faster than the rest of the business, compared to 46% in 2017.

Since 2010 we have been taking action through the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan to help more than a billion people improve their health and well-being, halve our environmental footprint and enhance the livelihoods of millions of people as we grow our business. We have already made significant progress and continue to expand our ambition – most recently committing to ensure 100% of our plastic packaging is fully reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. While there is still more to do, we are proud to have been recognized in 2018 as sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and as the top ranked company in the GlobeScan/SustainAbility Global Corporate Sustainability Leaders survey, for the eighth-consecutive year.

For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit: www.unileverusa.com

For more information on the USLP: www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/

About Sundial Brands:
Sundial Brands, a leading skincare and haircare manufacturer renowned for its innovative use of high-quality and culturally authentic natural ingredients, is the maker of emerge™, SheaMoisture, Nubian Heritage, nyakio™ and MCJW. A certified B Corp, the company’s Community Commerce purpose-driven business model creates opportunities for sustainable social and economic empowerment throughout its supply chain and communities in the United States and Africa, focusing on entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, education and wellness. Widely credited with introducing the “New General Market” inclusion concept to the beauty and retail industries, Sundial Brands is led by CEO Cara Sabin and a majority Black and inclusive executive team, operating as a subsidiary of Unilever.

SOURCE Unilever; Sundial Brands

2021 Telluride Nightfall Edition Arrives This Summer

July 14, 2020

IRVINE, California, July 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Following a debut year defined by phenomenal sales success and an unprecedented number of industry accolades, including being named MotorTrend’s SUV of the Year, World Car of the Year, “North American Utility Vehicle of the Year” and Car and Driver’s 10 Best, Kia’s bold and capable Telluride ups its appeal with a special Nightfall Edition package. The Telluride Nightfall Edition package is available on the Telluride EX AWD (with Premium package), SX AWD and SX Prestige package. In addition to a number of gloss black elements which give the Telluride a more aggressive yet sophisticated character, the Nightfall Edition is offered in eight eye-catching exterior colors. This includes seven established Telluride color schemes – Snow White Pearl, Everlasting Silver, Gravity Gray, Ebony Black, Sangria, Black Copper and Dark Moss – plus Wolf Gray, a newly introduced exterior hue exclusive to the Nightfall Edition. Imagined in America, designed at Kia’s design studio in California, and assembled in Georgia, the Telluride provides comfortable seating for up to eight, a powerful 291-hp 3.8-liter V6, available active on-demand all-wheel drive¹, and an inspiring view of the world when exploring a concrete jungle…or a real one.

Darkness Prevails

Exclusive Nightfall Edition exterior elements include:

Newly designed radiator grill in black finish (Nightfall Edition exclusive)
Unique 20-inch wheels in black finish with black lug nuts and center caps (Nightfall Edition exclusive)
Gloss black roof rails
Gloss black greenhouse trim/lower door side molding
Gloss black skid plates
Gloss black front bumper side air-duct garnish
Gloss black emblems, including unique “Kia” logos
LED headlamps and fog lamps with black inner bezel (LED headlamps already standard on SX and SX Prestige package. LED fog lamps N/A on EX)
Body color door handles (already standard on EX)

“The Telluride Nightfall Edition offers a new choice to our customers who prefer a more assertive and premium look to their family hauler or weekend adventurer,” said Sean Yoon, President & CEO, Kia Motors America, Kia Motors North America. “Our biggest and boldest offering’s already lofty appeal elevates with the addition of this special package.”

The 2021 Telluride Nightfall Edition will arrive in showrooms beginning in the second half of the year.

About Kia Motors America

Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America continues to top quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands. Kia serves as the “Official Automotive Partner” of the NBA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly assembled in West Point, Georgia.*

For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.

*The Telluride, Sorento and K5 are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

¹ No system, no matter how advanced, can compensate for all driver error and/or driving conditions. Always drive safely.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1214078/Kia_Motors_America_Telluride_Nightfall_Edition.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/714298/Kia_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Kia Motors America

Coalition of Food, Justice, Climate and Environmental Groups Calls on Consumers to #BoycottBigMeat

July 14, 2020

IOWA CITY, Iowa, July 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Organic Consumers Association (OCA), Forward Latino, Socially Responsible Agricultural Project (SRAP), Dr. Mercola and U.S. Farmers & Ranchers for a Green New Deal, today launched the “Boycott Big Meat” national consumer education and lobbying campaign.

The campaign is endorsed by 50+ groups, including Cedar Rapids, Iowa Sunrise Hub and Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture.

Join the virtual press conference July 14, 7 p.m. CDT.

“Consumers must lead the just transition to a decentralized system of organic regenerative pasture-raised/grass-fed meat production, run by a diverse network of local/regional independent farmers, ranchers, processors and retailers who are committed to fair pay and safe working conditions, and environmental and climate justice,” said Ronnie Cummins, OCA’s international director.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who introduced the House version of the Farm Systems Reform Act, said: “Consumer demand and policy reform must go hand-in-hand to level the playing field for independent diversified producers so they can provide a dependable and sustainable food Consumers deserve to know where their meat comes from, and farmers deserve a fair shot in the marketplace.”

“From the growing number of meatpacking plant workers suffering from COVID-19, to families mourning the loss of loved ones, we are witnessing the human cost associated with the profits of our nation’s largest meat processors,” said Darryl Morin, Forward Latino president. “Predominantly people of color, these essential workers have the right to the same workplace protections most of us take for granted.”

“With price fixing, injustices to farmers and meatpacking plant workers, a lack of food security and infrastructure, and environmental and public health concerns that hurt us all, the industrial livestock system has long been rife with abuse,” said Sherri Dugger, executive director of SRAP. “Our future depends on our taking action.”

Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is a national grassroots nonprofit advocating on behalf of millions of consumers for safe, healthful food and a clean environment.

Forward Latino is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy and service organization dedicated to assisting Latinos pursuing the American Dream. Forward Latino fulfills its mission through advocacy, civic engagement, education and service delivery.

Socially Responsible Agricultural Project (SRAP) helps rural communities replace industrial livestock production with ecologically sound, socially equitable, and economically viable animal agriculture.

SOURCE Organic Consumers Association

Starting Monday, July 20, Ismael Cala will have a new fun show on MegaTV prime time

July 14, 2020

From Monday to Friday at ten in the evening, the program will have guests, analysis, discussions on current events, fascinating stories, and a forum to put our current reality into context. It will be broadcast throughout the entire United States.

MIAMI, July 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — On Monday, July 20, the communicator Ismael Cala will debut his new show CALA on MegaTV throughout the United States.

From Monday to Friday at ten in the evening, the program will have guests, analysis, discussions on current events, fascinating stories, and a forum to put our current reality into context.

“It will be one hour of information, not saturation. An intimate space where we go over what is happening currently, with an absorbing, taboo-free vision of the future. Positive journalism and entertainment in an audacious, agile, analytical, and bold combination. We want to create awareness and inject hope in a world that so desperately needs it, and to be astonished by the adventure,” Ismael Cala explained.

For MegaTV, this new project of televised and digital content with Ismael Cala “marks a before and after.”

“Ismael has many skills in the world of entertainment that the world does not know about, and in this program they will have the chance to see and personally experience a variety show with an innovative format that captures the magic and great journalistic maturity of this veteran communicator. Having someone like CALA in our SBS/MEGA TV family is really another key piece in the solid growth of our stellar evening block of shows,” said José R. Pérez, vice president of programming of MegaTV.

Amer Mercado, the executive producer, said: “Working with Ismael Cala is a dream come true. It is a privilege and a huge responsibility to manage such an ambitious project in the midst of the challenge we are experiencing globally. Through the show we hope people will see and get to know Ismael in his most genuine state, and we hope to bring viewers a breath of hope in a friendly, fun and entertaining format.”

In his invitation to television viewers, Amer added: “Prepare to be surprised every night, since the playfulness, journalistic experience, sense of humor, and the genuine personality and humanity of Cala will be the best choice to go to bed in the best way.”

CALA will be broadcast Monday to Friday, at the following times:

Miami: 10:00 pm
US National: 10:00 pm ET / 9:00 pm CT/ 7:00 pm PT

ABOUT ISMAEL CALA

Life and business strategist. For five and a half years, Ismael Cala hosted the show CALA at prime time on CNN en Español. Businessman and social entrepreneur. Author of eight best-selling books in the areas of leadership, enterprise and personal development, including “El poder de escuchar,” (The Power of Listening), and “Despierta con Cala” (Awaken with Cala). Cala was born in Santiago de Cuba (1969) and has a degree in Art History from Universidad de Oriente. He is coauthor of the book “Beat the Curve,” with Brian Tracy. He graduated from the School of Communication at the University of York in Toronto, and has a diploma from Seneca College in Television Production. He is president and founder of Cala Enterprises Corporation and the Ismael Cala Foundation.

SOURCE Cala Enterprises

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