First Farmer-Owned Online Marketplace Launches in Ecuador

May 28, 2021

La Cosecha del Día (Daily Harvest) will sell food products from 400 small-scale agroecological farmers supported by Heifer Ecuador.

QUITO, Ecuador, May 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, four farmer producer organizations launched La Cosecha del Día, Ecuador’s first farmer-owned marketplace for agroecological food products. The online marketplace will help local farmers that are part of Heifer Ecuador‘s Future of Food program to increase the supply of fresh, safe, healthy food, to families across the country. La Cosecha del Día sells goods produced by 400 mainly women small-scale producers from The Agroecological Solidarity Economy Network of the Kayambi Territory (RESAK) in Pichincha; The Association Pamar Chacrin of the Sigsig canton in Azuay province; The Network of Producers of Guayabillas of the Parish of Pacto in the northwest of Pichincha province; and The Association of Agroecological Producers (APA) in Azuay province.

The online marketplace offers 200 products, including vegetables, fruits, seafood, grains, flours, natural herbs, snacks and baked goods. Customers can see the full history and traceability of the products they purchase, increasing awareness of where their food comes from, while promoting local farmers who are producing high-quality, sustainable food.

“The pandemic revealed the environmental and equity issues with our food system. As an online store built and owned by farmers, La Cosecha del Día guarantees farmers a fair price for their agroecological crops, while providing consumers with fresh, safe food,” said Rosa Rodriguez, country director of Heifer Ecuador. “The marketplace will contribute to building a sustainable local food system that benefits farmers and consumers beyond the pandemic.”

La Cosecha del Día currently delivers to the cities of Quito and Cuenca, with plans to expand delivery to more cities across the country. Customers are able to schedule deliveries, with the food harvested on the day of delivery.

The online store emerged as a response to marketing demands during the COVID-19 pandemic when both farmers and consumers were affected by market disruptions. It was built by farmer producer organizations following standards that support sustainable food systems:

Quality: Food sold on the marketplace is produced on farms practicing agroecology, balancing soil cycles and free from chemicals. Consumers receive fresh fruits and vegetables that are harvested the day orders are received.
Environmental: The distribution and consumption of local food reduces emissions from transportation.
Social Justice: Farmers are paid a fair price for their products that is affordable for consumers, supporting local farming families to improve their incomes.
Data Security: The marketplace is a secure way to shop for food online with a credit card.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the Heifer Ecuador Future of Food program expanded its network, following a request from the Government of Quito, setting up a food delivery service from local farms to urban areas. The program ensured sustainable incomes for farmers, who continued to sell their products while open-air marketplaces were closed, and food security for quarantined families. Designed and run by farmers and their organizations, the program brings harvested crops from local farms to collection centers, delivering fair prices for farmers by providing consumers with the ability to order affordable baskets of fresh, healthy food delivered safely to their doorsteps.

The Future of Food program is established in the Azuay, Pichincha, and Galapagos provinces. In the first two participating cities, 5,500 agroecological baskets have been delivered to-date.

Run by youth of the farmer producer organizations, La Cosecha del Día will strengthen the commercial and technological capacities of the organizations involved in the platform, further supporting small-scale producers to grow their farm businesses.

For more information, visit http://www.lacosechadeldia.net/ or contact Kimberly Barbano at [email protected].

https://www.heifer.org/about-us/news/press/press-releases/farmer-owned-online-marketplace-ecuador.html

ABOUT HEIFER INTERNATIONAL

For 76 years, Heifer International has worked with more than 36 million people around the world to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. Working with rural communities in 21 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, including the United States, Heifer International supports farmers and local food producers to strengthen local economies and build secure livelihoods that provide a living income. For information, visit https://www.heifer.org/.

SOURCE Heifer International

(Español) Let’s Win! ¡Pancreatic Cancer cumple 5 años!

May 28, 2021

Let's Win! Pancreatic Cancer (PRNewsfoto/Let's Win! Pancreatic Cancer)

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Despite being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 Latinos have stepped up for America during the pandemic and are poised to drive the nation’s economic recovery

May 27, 2021

LOS ANGELES, May 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Despite being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, Latinos rebounded and stepped up for America during this pandemic and are poised to drive the nation’s economic recovery according to a recent report, The Latino Community Stepping Up for the Community and How They Will Drive America’s Recovery, commissioned by the Latino Donor Collaborative (LDC). Early data on unemployment rates since the pandemic indicate they will be the driving force of economic recovery.

“Latinos’ wellbeing and successful recovery from this pandemic have great implications for a strong American economy,” said Sol Trujillo, Chair, Latino Donor Collaborative. Latinos account for a substantial share of the working age population. Paired with higher productivity rates and younger ages, they are the driver of future workforce growth and their outcomes will determine the success of the future American workforce. Their wellbeing and success are important not just for Latinos, but for all Americans.”

The report also found that Latino workers were vital to the core functions of society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their contributions are particularly significant in industries like agriculture, food processing, commercial cleaning services, health care, and construction. And not only in states where Latinos account for higher shares of the population (California, New Mexico, Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Texas, etc.), but in what we call ‘driver states’, which are states where Latinos now amount for 10-20% of the workforce, of the voters, and of the GDP production. Such ‘driver states” are Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Ohio, Maryland, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Louisiana.

The pandemic created a special job class – frontline essential workers who had to carry out their job functions to keep essential services online. Many of those essential worker positions were filled with Latinos who had to work to support their families.

Essential workers were most vulnerable to health risks, and many of these workers earned lower wages and were less likely to have health insurance than non-essential office workers.

Throughout the pandemic, Latinos have served on the frontlines as essential workers—from the fields in the Central Valley to the corridors of our hospitals in Los Angeles and they have stepped up for all Americans. In fact, two in three undocumented workers who file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Number (ITIN) work in an industry deemed essential.

Early on Latinos were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic

From the onset of the pandemic, Latinos were most negatively impacted by the pandemic. In fact:

Latinos were three times as likely as whites to become infected with COVID-19 and nearly twice as likely to die from it.
The high number of Latinos employed as essential workers and the strong employment rebound, along with other socio-economic characteristics, contribute to the high rate of COVID-19 infection and significant death toll among Latinos.
Latino essential workers were more than three times as likely than non-Latino essential workers to be uninsured (25% versus 8%) — a fact that is especially devastating during the pandemic, when aggressive testing, early quarantining, and rigorous contact tracing is essential in containing COVID-19.
Latino essential workers had to confront limited ability to work from home, workplace overcrowding, inadequate workplace protections, reliance on public transportation to get to work, lack of paid sick leave, and crowded living conditions
Latino-owned businesses had less cash on hand during the pandemic, and when applying for funds from the Payroll Protection Program, Latinos had their loan applications approved at half the rate of white business owners.
Latinas suffered the biggest loss of jobs compared to any other cohort during the pandemic, with a decrease in employment of 24%. But, according to The New York Times, as of last month that 24% has been reduced to 7.5%.^vi

The pandemic had a severe impact on the nation’s economy as businesses were shuttered, workers were laid off and commerce ground to a halt. Despite the economic and emotional hit, Latinos stepped up for America and saved the day. Nearly one year into the pandemic, Latino employment, especially that of immigrant Latino males, improved significantly. Their strong work ethic, commitment to family and their lack of access to unemployment and other government help compelled them to find other ways to support their families.

They continued to look for ways to work and provide for their families and contribute to the country, and statistics show that the level of Latino employment recovered at a remarkable rate. Latinos who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 shifted to essential industries to make up for income loss. They also found new jobs and created new businesses to the point that, as of March 2021, Hispanic males had the highest share of the working-age population who are employed in the United States. Unemployment for all Latinos decreased from 18.5 percent in April 2020 to 8.5 percent in October 2020, compared to 14.4 percent to 6.6 percent among all workers.

Early data on unemployment rates since the pandemic indicates Latinos will be the driving force of the nation’s economic recovery. Case studies of Latino entrepreneurs also demonstrate the flexibility to pivot and innovate faced with unprecedented challenges, a deep commitment to their community, and optimism about the future despite having fewer resources at hand and receiving fewer government-backed loans.

“Society needs to recognize the remarkable work ethic and sacrifice of Latinos during these difficult times, as well as ensure equal access to government programs supporting workers and business owners and continue to invest in health care access in the Latino community.,” said Ana Valdez, Executive Vice President, Latino Donor Collaborative. “And anyone interested in restoring the United States’ Gross Domestic Product growth rate to healthy levels should care deeply about the well-being and invest in the fastest-growing segment of the nation’s GDP: the U.S. Latino Gross Domestic Product. Afterall. our nation’s future is intertwined with the health and welfare of this community and an investment in Latinos will pay major dividends in our full economic rebound and recovery”.

A copy of The Latino Community Stepping Up for the Community and How They will Drive America’s Recovery can be downloaded at:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/n53ivrhh9fdlfcl/Report-%20The%20Latino%20Community%20Stepping%20Up%20for%20America.pdf?dl=0

About the Latino Donor Collaborative
The Latino Donor Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to reshaping the perception of Latinos as part of the American social mainstream. We are self-funded and independent, and created by an accomplished group of Latino national leaders that generously donate their time to promote friendly high-level dialogue, with the goal of finding best ways to grow revenue and market share – by targeting and serving the Latino audiences.

We do this through a nonpartisan agenda that includes outreach to influential people in media, advertising, politics, corporate America, and civil society by confronting stereotypes with data that brings understanding and appreciation of the actual roles being played by Latinos in society, politics, and commerce. The board is passionate about empowering every Latino to be the best they can be, and know that by empowering Latinos, they create a rich, united, and more powerful United States of America.

Contact:	Robert Alaniz
	(626) 437-3354
	[email protected]

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SOURCE Latino Donor Collaborative (LDC)

Pro Mujer furthers its commitment to the Northern Triangle by joining the Partnership for Central America in response to Vice President Kamala Harris’ Call to Action to promote inclusive economic opportunity in the region

May 27, 2021

NEW YORK, May 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Programs that address the immediate needs of vulnerable populations and offer hope that a secure and better future is possible for themselves and their children are essential to help stem migration due to need. Since its founding, Pro Mujer has targeted its social impact and development programs to precisely those segments of the population that are most likely to emigrate.

In remarks before a meeting with private sector leaders in which Pro Mujer participated to discuss economic development in the NCAC, Vice President Harris said today, “The call to action is to bring these leaders and others together so that we can do what I think we can do best, which is make a commitment to get something done and then see it through, understanding that giving hope is not about just having a dream of giving hope, it is about action that results in tangible benefit that gives people a sense of what is possible for themselves and for their families.”

For over 30 years, Pro Mujer has been at the forefront, driving inclusive economic opportunities for women in Latin America, and providing millions of families with access to finance, healthcare services, entrepreneurship support, and digital inclusion. By joining the Partnership for Central America in response to Vice President Harris’ Call to Action, Pro Mujer commits to reaching three million people in the Northern Triangle by bringing these services, directly and with the collaboration of local partners, to vulnerable communities, including low-income families, and rural and indigenous populations. In addition, Pro Mujer is structuring and launching blended finance vehicles to provide capital, technical assistance and capacity building support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Northern Triangle. This critical support to MSMEs and the services Pro Mujer intends to bring to individuals and families will generate economic opportunity for these communities and directly address a major cause of migration from the region.

“We are honored to join Vice President Harris’ Call to Action to send a message of hope to millions of people, in particular to women, who must be given reason to believe that their immediate needs are being addressed and reason to expect that a secure and better future is possible for themselves and their children,” said Maria Cavalcanti, President and CEO of Pro Mujer. “We look forward to a close collaboration with the Partnership for Central America to design, deploy and scale solutions addressing systemic problems that take time to solve.”

Pro Mujer’s commitment to Central America extends back to 1996 when it established operations in Nicaragua, becoming a point of reference in the region and serving as a model for organizations delivering financial inclusion and health services to underserved families. Pro Mujer’s teams in Nicaragua and Mexico have long functioned as hubs for expansion into neighboring countries by collaborating with local partners in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

“With its deep knowledge and connection to the most marginalized segments of the population, and through three decades creating meaningful programs, Pro Mujer is uniquely positioned to rapidly create and implement the right programs. Pro Mujer’s presence in the region, will facilitate the execution of these initiatives, while its reputation as a trusted operator will facilitate critical partnerships with local civil society and the private sector,” added Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Carmen Correa.

About Pro Mujer
For over 30 years, Pro Mujer has empowered women through an all-inclusive mix of services, enabling them to better provide for their families and play a critical role in the economic development of Latin America. Pro Mujer is a preeminent purpose-driven social enterprise and an industry leader in financial inclusion, impact investing, entrepreneurship, workforce reskilling, and healthcare with a women-centered approach in its innovative programs.

Across its platforms and programs, Pro Mujer engages the most disadvantaged people, whose access to healthcare, education and financial services is often the most tenuous. Its programs and policies address the multiple interlocking systems of inequities women face at both macro and socio-structural levels, recognizing that a woman’s level of empowerment will vary, sometimes enormously, according to other criteria such as class or caste, ethnicity, relative wealth, age, education and family position among others. Pro Mujer leads thought leadership in gender lens investing in Latin America and plays an important role as an aggregator of blended capital focused on catalytic investment through innovative investment vehicles and financial products.

Pro Mujer’s work is closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), delivering tangible results in eight SDGs: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, and 16.

SOURCE Pro Mujer

Little Free Library Brings Diverse Books to Tulsa and Beyond, Promoting Equity and Inclusion

May 27, 2021

Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading and builds community.

HUDSON, Wis., May 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Little Free Library® (LFL) nonprofit organization launched Read in Color™ today in Tulsa, Okla. This marks the national rollout of the timely initiative, which brings diverse books to LFL book-sharing boxes to help grow understanding, equity and inclusion.

Twenty-six new Little Free Libraries will be established at Tulsa schools, with the first unveiled at Eugene Field Elementary this morning. The libraries are filled with books that provide perspectives on racism and social justice, and amplify BIPOC, LGBTQ and other diverse voices.

LFL and HarperCollins Publishers partnered to bring Read in Color to Tulsa and will launch the initiative in four more cities this year: Washington, D.C., Detroit, Atlanta and Phoenix. Additional Read in Color cities launching in 2021 are New York, Boston, Kalamazoo, Mich. and Ferguson, Mo. Scholastic is also providing generous support for the 2021 Read in Color efforts.

“Little Free Library believes that sharing diverse author perspectives across our nation’s communities deepens empathy and awareness,” said LFL Executive Director Greig Metzger. “This task is large but when advocates join together, significant gains can be made.”

“We are honored to be in Tulsa to launch the national rollout of Read in Color in collaboration with HarperCollins Publishers’ Read in Full Color and Scholastic Books’ The Power of Story,” he continued. “These robust, diverse book offerings combined with the local programming and placement assistance of Reading Partners Tulsa, will bring our Read in Color program to 26 local elementary schools this year. We are excited to mark the start of our national expansion with such great allies.”

As part of the initiative, HarperCollins Publishers is offering 100 copies of I Promise by LeBron James, with illustrations by Nina Mata, for a national giveaway. Artwork from I Promise, part of their “Read in Full Color” initiative, decorates the Tulsa Little Free Library unveiled today. Readers across the country can enter to win a copy of I Promise here.

“HarperCollins is thrilled to be partnering with Little Free Library in conjunction with our own ‘Read in Full Color’ initiative, which spotlights diverse creators and inclusive stories,” said Nellie Kurtzman, VP Marketing & Publicity, HarperCollins Children’s Publishing. “The books under our ‘Read in Full Color’ umbrella reflect the narratives of the young readers picking them up for the first time and serve as a reminder that these books are important, necessary and in demand.”

Lizette Serrano, Scholastic’s VP Educational Marketing, said, “When Read in Color launched last year, we were honored to play a part to align with Scholastic’s initiative, ‘The Power of Story’. At its core, Read in Color will encourage book ownership in more communities and help to grow lifelong readers. Our joint effort in choosing the books that reflect the experiences of young readers of color will inspire them to be true to themselves, embrace who they are and empower them to tell their own stories.”

‘Read in Color’ in Tulsa

The Reading Partners Tulsa region is a vital partner in Tulsa’s Read in Color rollout. Reading Partners, a nonprofit organization that tutors children in reading skills, participated in the planning and placement of the Little Free Libraries, and will help keep them filled with books.

As the Tulsa community commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, organizers of The Black Wall Street Legacy Festival support partnerships that are bringing resources to the community and amplifying voices that share similar experiences to local students.

“We’re so excited that through the Little Free Library and Reading Partners partnership students, families and the greater community will have more access to texts that feature diverse characters, cultures and content,” said Dr. Tiffany Crutcher, Founder of the Terence Crutcher Foundation and the Black Wall Street Memorial.

LFL’s national Read in Color initiative, which was introduced in Minneapolis last year in response to George Floyd’s murder, has four key components:

Read in Color pledge, allowing everyone to show their support for diverse books and access downloadable resources.
Little Free Library installations full of culturally relevant books, placed in high-need communities.
Free diverse books for applying LFL stewards, purchased from independent and BIPOC-owned bookstores when possible.
Recommended reading lists representing Black, Indigenous, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Latinx, Muslim, LGBTQ+ and other communities.

Get involved: To learn more and sign the Read in Color pledge visit LittleFreeLibrary.org/Read-In-Color.

About Little Free Library:
Little Free Library® (LFL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds community, inspires readers, and expands book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries. LFL received the 2020 World Literacy Award as well as honors from the Library of Congress and National Book Foundation. There are more than 100,000 registered Little Free Library book-sharing boxes worldwide in all 50 states, 110 countries and 7 continents; through them, more than 200 million books have been shared. LittleFreeLibrary.org.

About HarperCollins Children’s Books:
HarperCollins Children’s Books is one of the leading publishers of children’s and teen books. Respected worldwide for its tradition of publishing quality, award-winning books for young readers, HarperCollins is home to many timeless treasures and bestsellers such as Charlotte’s Web, Goodnight Moon, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Where the Wild Things Are, and The Hate U Give; series including The Chronicles of Narnia, Ramona, Warriors, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Pete the Cat, Fancy Nancy, Divergent, and Red Queen; and graphic and illustrated novels such as Nimona, Invisible Emmie, and New Kid. Consistently at the forefront of digital innovation, HarperCollins Children’s Books delights readers through engaging storytelling across a variety of formats and platforms, including the largest young adult (YA) book community, Epic Reads. HarperCollins Children’s Books is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, which is the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, has operations in 17 countries, and is a subsidiary of News Corp. You can visit HarperCollins Children’s Books at www.harpercollinschildrens.com and www.epicreads.com and HarperCollins Publishers at corporate.HC.com.

About Scholastic:
For more than 100 years, Scholastic has been a partner to schools. Today, it is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books, a leading provider of literacy curriculum, professional services and classroom magazines, and a producer of engaging children’s media. www.scholastic.com

Media Contact: Margret Aldrich
612-203-6856 / [email protected]

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SOURCE Little Free Library

Direct Relief Prepares Hurricane-Prone Communities for the 2021 Hurricane Season

May 27, 2021

Direct Relief staff load critical medicines and supplies onto a helicopter in San Juan following Hurricane Maria in 2017. The medicines went to Health ProMed Health Center on the island of Vieques. (Photo by Donnie Hedden for Direct Relief)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season officially starting on June 1, Direct Relief is prepositioning emergency medical supplies along the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic Coasts and throughout the Caribbean and Central America.

The humanitarian effort comes as global temperatures keep rising and the frequency and intensity of hurricanes and other disasters continue to increase. The 2020 hurricane season was the most active on record, producing 30 named storms, 14 of them hurricanes. Two were Category 4 storms, Eta and Iota, that crashed into Nicaragua two weeks apart, causing catastrophic damage and triggering a massive wave of displacement.

Direct Relief’s prepositioned modules contain the medical items most needed in the wake of a disaster, including trauma supplies, antibiotics, and medications for diabetes, hypertension and other chronic conditions. The supplies are made available through local health organizations serving communities most vulnerable to natural disasters. The modules vary in size from 112 pounds for individual clinics to larger 1,680-pound modules for international destinations.

Direct Relief this year is staging the emergency modules at health facilities in every Southeastern and Gulf Coast state from Virginia to Texas, as well as in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Saipan.

Internationally, Direct Relief is prepositioning the modules throughout Central America and the Caribbean, including in Anguilla, the Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as in Bangladesh, Fiji, and India.

Increasing Health Infrastructure Resilience

Where hurricanes go, power outages follow. Most notably, in 2017’s Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico went dark for months. Much of the island’s temperature-sensitive medication spoiled, electronic health records were inaccessible, essential medical equipment was inoperable, and vital health services ceased. Hurricane Maria proved that power is a prerequisite for health.

With the increase of climate change-driven disasters, building resilient health infrastructure has become a core element of Direct Relief’s response activities. The organization has installed solar power arrays and battery backup systems at community health centers across the U.S.

In Puerto Rico, Direct Relief, with support from AbbVie and others, is equipping health facilities with 1.2 megawatts of solar production capacity and 2.6 megawatts of battery storage. Projects include outfitting 89 health centers across the island with 164 FDA-compliant pharmaceutical and laboratory refrigerators and freezers capable of storing roughly 6 million vials of vaccines; furnishing 22 community water pumps with backup solar and battery storage; installing full backup solar power and battery storage on a fire station that lost grid power for months; and providing home-based generators to 32 children who depend on powered equipment to breathe and for other medical needs.

Data-Driven Disaster Preparation

Whether responding to storms, fires, or disease outbreaks, data increasingly guides Direct Relief’s work.

Using various data sources, including the CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index and Facebook Disaster Maps, Direct Relief can identify areas at greatest risk from hurricanes, predict whether people will evacuate, and gauge the impact on local healthcare providers.

“We’re increasingly able to get a real-time, high-resolution view of evacuation dynamics, medical needs, and the pressure placed on healthcare infrastructure,” said Andrew Schroeder, Direct Relief’s VP of Research and Analysis.

Direct Relief is also looking at long-term displacement of people those livelihoods have been destroyed by hurricanes, such as those in parts of Central America hit sequentially last year by Hurricanes Eta and Iota. “There’s a geography to poverty that corresponds with physical risk,” Schroeder said.

Covid-19 + Summertime Disasters: Why This Year May Be Different

This hurricane and wildfire season is the second to overlap with the Covid-19 pandemic. While disease prevalence in the U.S. is down sharply from its 2020 peak, the summer of 2021 presents an additional challenge. Last year, emergency management agencies and aid groups could maintain social distancing by relocating disaster evacuees into hotels and motels, largely empty due to the steep drop in domestic travel. This summer, with travel rebounding sharply, those rooms will no longer be available, making it more challenging to safely shelter evacuees.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1519695/DHEDDEN_DR_1712190176.jpg

SOURCE Direct Relief

Royal Caribbean Group sets June return for sailing from the U.S.

May 27, 2021

MIAMI, May 26, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) has received approval to resume sailings from the United States after more than a year of suspended operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 26, the cruise company will mark a long-awaited return with Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge departing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

“Cruising from the U.S. is back!” said Richard D. Fain, Royal Caribbean Group chairman and CEO. “After months of working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other government officials, our Healthy Sail Panel and industry partners, we can again offer cruise lovers the chance to enjoy the wonders of cruising. We are truly thankful to reach this special milestone.”

The cruise company’s return is heralded with a sailing on its much lauded, state-of-the-art, luxury ship Celebrity Edge. The ship was given the go-ahead by the CDC to be the first ship back in the water, meeting all new standards for delivering a safe and healthy cruise experience for guests and crew. The inaugural sailing from Fort Lauderdale sets the stage for Royal Caribbean Group to announce additional itineraries, reviving local U.S. port economies and kick-starting the rebound in cruise tourism around the world.

All sailings will depart with vaccinated crew and everyone over the age of 16 must present proof of vaccination against COVID-19; as of August 1, 2021, all guests ages 12 and older must present proof of vaccination.

About Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean Group is the operating business name for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Royal Caribbean Group is the owner and operator of three global cruise vacation brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. Royal Caribbean Group is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, our brands operate 59 ships with an additional 15 on order as of March 15, 2021. Learn more at www.royalcaribbeangroup.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

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SOURCE Royal Caribbean Group

(Español) Descubra Las Raíces Hispanas de los EE.UU. Este Verano

May 27, 2021

Si buscas una escapada perfecta en Florida, unas vacaciones familiares memorables, si añoras estar al aire libre y en contacto con la naturaleza, es explorar la Costa Histórica de la Florida.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Blue Shield of California Announces Dr. Arthur Chen joins its Board of Directors

May 27, 2021

OAKLAND, Calif., May 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Blue Shield of California today announced Arthur Chen, M.D., has joined its Board of Directors, lending his national leadership and expertise in community health and health equity to the nonprofit health plan.

Dr. Chen is a practicing family physician at Asian Health Services, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Oakland, providing care to low-income, recent immigrants with limited English proficiency for three decades. As a former public health officer, he also serves as a coach and advisor at the Center for Health Leadership & Practice of the Public Health Institute and has collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help improve community health through intersectional and inter-sectoral collaboration.

“As the child of immigrants, I have spent my career advocating for health equity for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved populations,” Dr. Chen said. “I am honored to join Blue Shield’s board of directors and look forward to helping create a healthcare system that delivers accessible, high-quality care that addresses social determinants of health and is sustainably affordable for everyone.”

Chen’s appointment follows the appointment of Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan in January to the health plan’s board and last fall’s election of Kristina (Kris) Leslie as the first woman to chair the board. Blue Shield’s board of directors is now comprised of seven women and seven men, nearly half of which are comprised of people of color.

“Dr. Chen is a mission-driven family practitioner and leader in public health, who drives strategic alignment and systems change while promoting public-private collaborations,” Leslie said. “His expertise and knowledge will help us greatly, and we all look forward to working with Dr. Chen to help reimagine a more equitable health care system worthy of our family and friends.”

In addition to his family practice in Oakland, Dr. Chen has served as the Chief Medical and Population Health Officer at Applied Research Works Inc., assisting with Whole Person Care Management and the development of decision-support tools. He also has previously served as the Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director at the Alameda Alliance for Health, organizing data reports to identify and track racial and ethnic health disparities while promoting prevention and improved quality care. Dr. Chen received his medical degree from the University of California, Davis, and completed his residency at the Residency Program in Social Medicine, Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York City.

Blue Shield of California is a leader in diversity and gender equity, with the Board of Directors leading the way: four of the five standing board committees are now led by women. The health plan also achieved pay equity for its employees across gender and ethnicity in 2018 and has a balanced representation of women and men in leadership roles (Director and above). Blue Shield was recently recognized as a top U.S. company on the 2021 National Diversity Council Index and ranked #1 on DiversityInc.’s Top 50 Regionals list for the second year in a row.

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 Shield Association with over 4.5 million members, over 7,500 employees and more than $21 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 $150 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation in the last four years to have an impact on California communities.

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

Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

CONTACT:	Mark Seelig
	Blue Shield of California
	510-607-2359
	[email protected]

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SOURCE Blue Shield of California

Kia America Presents Rare Opportunity To Pre-Order “First Edition” EV6 All-Electric Vehicle

May 27, 2021

IRVINE, Calif., May 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Following the electrifying EV6 debut in Times Square, Kia America is offering buyers the opportunity to pre-order an exclusive EV6 First Edition model. Beginning June 3 at 10am PST, customers can place a $100 fully refundable deposit for the limited run of just 1,500 EV6 First Editions at Kia.com. Delivery expected in Q1 2022.

First Edition upgrades include Augmented Reality (AR) Head-Up Display, Remote Smart Parking Assist, sunroof, 20-inch wheels, premium 14-speaker Meridian audio system, dual-motor AWD power delivery and 77.4 kWh battery. Three limited color combinations are Urban Yellow with black seats, Glacier (white) with dark green seats, and Steel Gray Matte with black seats. The Urban Yellow exterior color and dark green seats on the Glacier variant will be exclusive to the First Edition. Illuminated door sills with “First Edition” designation and a numbered interior badge highlighting the limited production volume complete this rare opportunity.

“The all-new EV6 represents the future of Kia and this special edition celebrates our first dedicated electric vehicle’s remarkable debut,” said Russell Wager, vice president, marketing, Kia Motors America. “We want to celebrate drivers that are ready to take this exciting road with Kia and offer something truly special and unique to complement their EV lifestyles.”

Kia is also making the choice of one of three special gifts available to the first 1500 customers to further celebrate this historic moment and opportunity. Buyers can select from an at-home charger for convenient overnight charging, a credit within a national charging network, or an Apple iWatch for connecting to the EV6’s suite of Kia Connect services.

Kia America – about us

Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia 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 more than 750 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America.*

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Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1519719/17379_2022_EV6.jpg

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1442697/Kia_New_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Kia America

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