New Book – Today’s Annuities by Industry Leader Harry N. Stout Guides Consumers Through the World of Annuities (financialverse.com/annuity)

December 16, 2020

Today's Annuity Products - A Tool to Create Protected Lifetime Income

VERO BEACH, Florida, Dec. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Consumers are facing an income crisis and are scrambling to generate income from their accumulated assets. With low interest rates there are few places to look to generate protected lifetime income streams. The most misunderstood and underutilized available products are annuities. Research has shown that one of the major reasons consumers overlook annuities is that they don’t understand the products. They don’t understand how to use these products as a tool to create protected lifetime income.

In his new book, The FinancialVerse: Today’s Annuities − A Tool to Create Protected Lifetime Income, Stout takes his over twenty-year experience in the annuity industry and presents an objective text to educate consumers on how to use annuity products in income planning and to address longevity risk. The book provides a roadmap on the key questions surrounding annuity products including:

What Are Annuities and How Do They Work?
The Core Benefits of Annuities
Annuity Income Tax Benefits and Negatives
Annuity Product Types
Why Buy An Annuity?
The Major Positives and Negatives to Buying Annuities
How Much Income Should I Plan For?
Financial Strength Behind the Products
Where To Buy and The Buying Process

The FinancialVerse: Today’s Annuities can be ordered at financialverse.com/annuity and through Amazon and major national book distributors.

Harry N. Stout is a published author and former senior executive for several of the nation’s largest annuity companies. He has over thirty years of experience in all aspects of annuity products. A certified public accountant by training, he has industry experience in the U.S. and abroad. He is acknowledged as a national annuity thought leader and has written for numerous financial publications and participated in national media of all types.

He is a past director of the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA), the National Association for Fixed Annuities (NAFA), the Financial Services Council of Australia and the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association.

For more information visit www.financialverse.com/annuity or send an email to [email protected].

Contact Information
[email protected]

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SOURCE The FinancialVerse Organization

Culture Is King For SVOD & Social Media

December 16, 2020

FAIRFAX, Va. , Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — According to a study by the Culture Marketing Council: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing (CMC), subscription video on demand (SVOD) users ages 13 to 49 have become more culturally literate, primarily due to Netflix, YouTube creators and social media featuring increasingly diverse and global content. In fact, more than half of Gen Zers and parents have watched a show in a language they do not speak, with Hispanics over indexing on this trend.

“Culture reflects and amplifies what is happening in our society. Post-9/11, we saw the proliferation of police and military dramas, a reflection of the anxiety we felt as a nation. In 2019, Glee reflected the Millennial values of diversity,” said CMC Research Chair Nancy Tellet, founder, brand & consumer navigator at PureClarity LLC. “Today, our study found the majority of teens—and also parents—are watching a diverse cross-section of cultural content, particularly on Netflix and YouTube, often in a foreign language, reflecting a trend of content globalism acting as a potentially powerful force to build cultural empathy.”

SVOD Becomes The Breeding Ground For Top In-Culture Content

Ninety-six percent of people ages 13 to 49 use paid or unpaid TV streaming services with 91 percent using SVOD (paid services). SVOD yesterday share viewing surpassed live TV viewing with all persons 13-49 in CMC’s study. Even pre-COVID, Netflix was a go-to streaming service for watching TV among 83 percent of 13 to 49-year-olds. Even though Prime, HULU and Disney+ are on the rise, Netflix has adopted an intentional global strategy of great storytelling grounded in local culture, and it is resonating with today’s viewers, with a 49 percent share of yesterday SVOD viewing among Gen Zers surveyed in the study and a 42 percent share among parents ages 25 to 49.

The Rise of Culture Cross-Pollination

People around the world have watched English-language American shows and exported American culture for decades; however, few have embraced foreign language programming in the U.S., until now. Today, driven by Netflix’s programming strategy and YouTube’s global organic content, 58 percent of non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB), 53 percent of non-Hispanic whites (NHW) and 68 percent of Hispanics watch TV in a language they do not speak. For example, Money Heist, a Hispanic heist telenovela on Netflix, was #1 globally in ANY language with season 3 viewed by 34 million households in its first week. Also popular with CMC study participants were Bollywood, Nollywood and Turkish soap operas—in fact, Univision has capitalized on this trend with “Imperio de Mentiras,” its adaptation of the Turkish soap opera “Kara Para, Ask.”

Culture cross-pollination also extends to YouTube, where the #1 creator is from India and #2 is from Sweden, and social media where, surprisingly, 26 percent of all people regardless of ethnicity have global social media networks. Where their friends reside, however, does fall along cultural lines with NHW having contacts in Europe, Canada and Australia, NHB with contacts in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, and Hispanics with contacts in Mexico and Central/South America.

In-Culture Content Remains Strong, Including Spanish-Language Programming

Many marketers mistake Hispanic marketing for Spanish-language marketing, despite the vast majority of Hispanics not being Spanish-reliant. Today, Spanish is a powerful connector to culture, particularly among Hispanic teens, 94 percent of whom were born in the U.S.—and that is reflected in language viewing habits:

Three quarters of Hispanic teens ages 13 to 17 and 83 percent of Hispanic parents ages 25 to 49 watch SVOD content originally in Spanish—71 percent prefer the original Spanish while 29 percent opt for English dubbing/sub-titles.
Eight in 10 Hispanics ages 13 to 49 watch TV in Spanish on traditional channels like Univision and Telemundo.
More than three quarters of Hispanic Gen Zers and adults under 50 watch English SVOD using Spanish dubbing or subtitles. For 76 percent of them, they do this for practical reasons such as co-viewing in a language everyone in the family can speak. For the other 24 percent, they enjoy having new Spanish content to watch, beyond traditional Spanish-language TV.

But this is not just a Hispanic story. STARZ began specifically targeting Black viewers in 2017 with relevant, in-culture and overall content—in fact, two-and-a-half times as many NHB Gen Zers and parents surveyed by the CMC watch STARZ compared to non-Blacks. In addition, 67 percent of NHB and 73 percent of Hispanics ages 13 to 49 spend time on in-culture web sites.

Methodology & Funders:

This study builds on more than 20,500 consumer touchpoints to date, the CMC released the third part of a comprehensive study on Gen Z (ages 13 to 17), IT’S TIME: Ready (or Not) for the Multicultural Majority, analyzing social media consumption, streaming video habits and the escalating power of culture in content.
The study received financial or operational support from Kantar, ThinkNow, ViacomCBS and Univision.
Quantitative research came from 2,418 13-17s (Gen Z) and 25-49 parents of kids 8-12 (65% Millennials/ 35% Xers) with equal sample representation of Hispanics (HISP), non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB) & non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) from January 2020 to February 2020.
Qualitative interviews with 54 respondents (36T/18P), in-home pairs (HISP/NHB/NHW) and two Gen Z multicultural workshops (HISP/NHB/NHW/Asian-American/Other)

For more information, visit culturemarketingcouncil.org and follow the CMC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @cmchispanic.

About CMC: Founded in 1996 as the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies, the Culture Marketing Council: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing is the national trade organization of all marketing, communications, and media firms with trusted Hispanic expertise.

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SOURCE Culture Marketing Council: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing

DJ Khaled Announces “Another One” with his Entrance into The CBD Lifestyle & Wellness Sector

December 16, 2020

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Music magnate, mega producer and GRAMMY® Award-winning artist DJ Khaled announces his entrance into the CBD industry. Inspired by his personal wellness journey, Khaled, in partnership with Endexx Corporation (OTC: EDXC), a leading producer and manufacturer of hemp-derived CBD wellness products, will introduce his new company and debut the first collection in 2021.

Although most well-known for his contributions to the music world, the self-made businessman turned international music icon is also a dedicated family man- committed to instilling the importance of health and wellness into everyday life. Grateful to be a father, he released two albums in honor of his children, Father of Asahd in 2019 and Grateful in 2017. With all these blessings, Khaled continues building his legacy and success by focusing his energies on the health and wellness sector.

“As a father, an entrepreneur, a music exec and visionary I am blessed with daily inspiration, a drive to work hard and a passion for success. CBD has become a part of my daily routine and allows me to focus myself and my energies, while striving to better myself every day,” says DJ Khaled. “I was drawn to Endexx Corporation because they’re an innovative company that has proven they have the keys to deliver consistent, top of the line, high-quality products.”

“We are excited to announce our partnership with DJ Khaled,” stated Todd Davis, CEO of Endexx Corporation. “Khaled’s knowledge and passion for CBD is bountiful and we realized we are aligned in our approach towards product quality and business acumen. We understand and share the values that a brand goes beyond physical products; its needs to help people feel good about themselves and be part of a day-to-day lifestyle.”

Miami based IMPACT Brokers, the third party in the joint venture, will be spearheading sales and integrated marketing efforts on behalf of the brand. “We are committed to accelerating innovation and diversity throughout this developing industry while offering strategic guidance to best-in-class CBD suppliers. IMPACT Brokers sits at the forefront of culture and has the ability to predict industry trends. We look forward to taking this newest business nationwide,” says Ryan Stender, CEO of IMPACT Brokers.

The hemp-derived, cannabidiol-rich collection is anticipated to launch in early 2021.

About DJ Khaled

For over two decades, the very mention of DJ Khaled has implied an elevated level of musical greatness, entrepreneurial excellence, and cultural impact. You’ve heard him across a GRAMMY® Award-winning multiplatinum catalog, seen him in blockbusters such as Bad Boys For Life, caught him on the cover of Rolling Stone, watched him on numerous television programs, and felt his presence from the streets all the way up to the Barack Obama White House. He has achieved dozens of multiplatinum and gold certifications, including the sextuple-platinum Billboard Hot 100 #1 “I’m The One” [feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, & Lil Wayne], quadruple-platinum “Wild Thoughts” [feat. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller], and double-platinum “No Brainer” [feat. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, & Quavo]. The latter propelled his 2019 album, Father of Asahd [We The Best Music Group/Epic Records], to the top of the charts. Not only did it garner a platinum certification, but it also became his third consecutive Top 2 debut on the Billboard Top 200 and emerged as the “#1 Most-Streamed Record” upon release. To date, he has moved 20 million singles and 6 million albums in addition to gathering 4 billion-plus streams. Not to mention, he launched We The Best Music Group—a record label, management, publishing, and production company and in-demand studio. As a committed philanthropist, he founded his 501(c)3 organization The We The Best Foundation. It uplifts individuals throughout underserved communities across the United States and supports various non-profits. He has supported the fight against COVID-19. U2 frontman Bono recruited him as the first social media ambassador for Project Red, and he serves as the national spokesperson for Get Schooled. Now, the power of this legacy defines his thirteenth full-length album—which bears his birth name—Khaled Khaled [We The Best Music Group/Epic Records], preceded by two chart-busting bangers alongside frequent collaborator Drake, namely “POPSTAR” and “GREECE.”

About Endexx Corporation

Endexx Corporation, through its operating division CBD Unlimited, develops and distributes all-natural CBD products derived from cannabis sativa plant (Hemp), containing less than 0.01% THC. Its products range from oils, capsules, topicals, and pet products, all with the shared purpose of therapeutic and pain relief for humans and pets. Phyto-Bites are CBD soft chews for animal use that are formulated to promote health and support the reduction of separation anxiety, pain, and inflammation. The science behind these products involves over half a decade of clinical research in the field and lab work to provide accuracy in dosage and delivery of optimal absorption per serving.

About IMPACT Brokers

Founded in 2020, IMPACT Brokers provides total brand management services that deliver authentic connections between clients and the consumer. Through innovative strategies IMPACT provides unmatched access to an expansive network of over 300,000 unique retailers across North America. With over 75 years of collective experience in consumer-packaged goods, beverages, wine and spirits, hospitality, and entertainment, the company turns products into legacy high value brands. The long-standing relationships ensure best in class CBD suppliers get their products on and off the ever-evolving retail shelf.

Media Contacts:

IMPACT Brokers
Jessica Meisels
Email: j[email protected]

Endexx Corporation:
Todd Davis
[email protected]
480-595-6900

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SOURCE Endexx Corporation

Berta Paredes’s new book ¿Habla Dios en Poesía? is an inspiring collection of poems that share God’s comforting love that touches the soul

December 16, 2020

N. MIAMI, FL, Dec. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ –The book ¿Habla Dios en Poesía? was created by Berta Paredes. Berta Paredes is an author, a passionate poet, and a devoted follower of God.

Paredes said this about his book: “This book is divine inspiration. One afternoon I was alone in my house, waiting for my husband and children to have dinner, while they arrived I lay down on the bed for a moment and closed my eyes, after a while I began to read words that passed through my mind, all I saw was so beautiful, that it inspired me to write poems, that’s how this stage of life began. These poems will take you as in a journey of daily life, but at the same time, it will confront you with the truths that God teaches us in his Word.”

Published by Page Publishing, Berta Paredes’s new book ¿Habla Dios en Poesía? will fill the readers with divine wisdom and thanksgiving for the Lord’s graciousness and mercy.

Consumers who wish to be uplifted with spiritual poems inspired by the Word of God can purchase ¿Habla Dios en Poesía? in any bookstore or online at Apple iTunes, Amazon.com, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries, you can contact Page Publishing, through the following number: 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional full-service publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in publishing its authors’ books, including distribution in the world’s largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex, and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at www.pagepublishing.com.

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SOURCE Page Publishing

Clarisa Casals-Castillo’s new book Memorias de un Secuestro, a gripping recounting of the author’s harrowing experience of being kidnapped

December 16, 2020

MEDLEY, FL, Dec. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The book Memorias de un Secuestro was created by Clarisa Casals-Castillo. Clarisa is an author who hails from Acarigua, Venezuela. She is a lawyer from the University of Zulia, with specialties and master’s degrees at the Rafael Urdaneta and Rafael Belloso Chacín Universities respectively. She is also an aviation pilot, broadcaster, and host of radio and television programs

Clarisa said this about her book: “The narrative contained in this book largely constitutes the author’s memories stitched together after her rescue from the place where she remained for two months, twenty-two days, eighteen hours, and forty minutes. In it, the author weaves her routine of life after leaving and returning to normality with the events that occurred since she left her home on the day of the kidnapping with those raised in the place of confinement until the day of her rescue. There is no talk of that day because from there, it is only possible to speak of apprehension, confinement, or retention and rescue, understanding the latter as the product of a commando operation made up of officials belonging to various police forces of the Venezuelan state at the national and regional levels, causing fatal consequences for The Guardian.

In a very simple and moderate way, it refers to the mistreatment and threats suffered and the videos made by the kidnappers to present them as proof of life to the family members. Her nightmares, some more excruciating than others, given the emotional impact caused when waking up from them. In the same vein, it refers to the decision of the courts of justice before some of the participants in this event and their return to normal life, their work as a television presenter, and their passion for studying and traveling, all without leaving to play according to her customary style. Other events of greater or lesser relevance, she has had to witness or simply observe through the written press or radio, television, or what she already considers her long life.”

Published by Page Publishing, Clarisa Casals-Castillo’s new book Memorias de un Secuestro conveys the author’s grueling and unnerving circumstances while being kidnapped that affected her emotional and mental state, leaving scars and wisdom about life and freedom.

Consumers who wish to learn about a woman’s real-life troubles while being kidnapped can purchase Memorias de un Secuestro online at Apple iTunes, Amazon.com, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries, you can contact Page Publishing, through the following number: 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

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SOURCE Page Publishing

Every Step Counts – Toyota Releases its 2020 North American Environmental Report

December 16, 2020

Toyota is helping monarch butterflies by offering these colorful commuters several pollinator “pit stops” on their trip south in the Fall and north in the Spring.

PLANO, Texas, Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Toyota endeavors to help address major environmental issues facing the global community, such as climate change, water scarcity, resource depletion and habitat loss. To minimize environmental impact across its business and maximize positive outcomes, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) has focused its 2020 environmental sustainability efforts on five key areas – carbon, water, materials, biodiversity and outreach.

North America highlights include:

Reduced absolute greenhouse gas emissions by nine percent in Fiscal Year 2020 compared to Fiscal Year 2019. This improvement is attributed to energy efficiency improvements, investments in renewable energy and changes in production volumes and model mix.
New electrified product launches including the 2021 Toyota Mirai, RAV4 Prime Plug-In Hybrid, and Sienna Hybrid and Venza Hybrids. In keeping with our aim to offer an electrified version of our entire lineup by around 2025.
Water stewardship efforts at two prioritized locations – Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California, Inc. in Tijuana, Mexico and a west coast regional sales office. Over the next year, Toyota will address water conservation, water quality, local water conditions, and outreach activities with suppliers and local communities.

“We have a responsibility to help achieve a net positive impact on the environment and to promote a culture of improvement inside and outside our organization,” said Kevin Butt, director of environmental sustainability at Toyota Motor North America. “These activities help scale up conservation efforts and drive educational awareness across our operations, partners and our communities.”

Toyota’s North American environmental efforts are anchored to Toyota’s Environmental Challenge 2050* and demonstrate respect for the planet by managing priority issues speciﬁc to the United States, Canada and Mexico and engaging in outreach by promoting awareness, developing strategic partnerships and sharing know-how with business partners and other stakeholders to create positive change.

*Unveiled in September 2015, Toyota’s Environmental Challenge 2050 consists of six goals that seek to make a game-changing contribution to some of the critical environmental issues facing the world today, including climate change, water scarcity, resource depletion, and species and habitat loss. Challenge 2050 was developed by Toyota Motor Corporation and applies to all Toyota affiliates globally.

To view the full report, visit Toyota.com/USA/Environment

Media Contact:
Tania Saldana
[email protected]
859-815-9968

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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America

Brentwood School Leads Independent K-12 Schools with Racial Equity and Inclusion Initiative

December 15, 2020

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — On Monday, December 14, Brentwood School (BWS), a private K-12, kicked off a year-long diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiative with an online keynote event. The project includes multiple segments: community forums; surveys of students, staff, parents/guardians and alumni experiences; dialogue sessions; a curriculum review; and DEI consulting. It will culminate in a multiyear strategic plan that includes new staff training, accountability systems, and further initiatives at the Southern California independent school.

“We want Brentwood to be a place of safety, equity, and respect for every single student,” Brentwood Head of School Dr. Michael Riera said, “Where our differences can make us better and where all feel welcome.”

This summer, with a national backdrop of racial justice activism, momentum for change at Brentwood School accelerated. Social media postings from alumni and families via #NoBlackoutBrentwood, active engagement from the school’s Black Family Association, and an open letter to the school evolved into on-campus dialogue and action. In the last five years especially, private U.S. schools like Brentwood have experienced DEI flashpoints where a bias event spilled into social media, often going viral and creating demand for change.

The Brentwood School initiative’s first phase will gather the perspectives and experiences of students, parents and guardians, faculty, staff, and alumni. It will also assess Brentwood’s social environment, curricula, communication practices, and disciplinary policies. Based on analysis of this data, the second phase will create a multi-year strategic plan to improve the experiences of all students, faculty and staff in a manner that is informed by data, evidence, and social science in this area. That plan will begin implementation in fall of 2021.

Brentwood’s initiative represents another major step to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at the highly regarded independent school. “This project is a direct response to DEI-related concerns and calls to action that have been raised by members of the Brentwood School community,” Riera said.

Previously launched DEI initiatives include creating a full-time Director of Equity and Inclusion position in 2016, adding a full-time Assistant Director of DEI in 2019, DEI-focused professional development, increased financial support for families with demonstrated need, successful hires of diverse staff and faculty, and DEI specialists embedded in each school division.

Said Brian Lee, Chair of the Brentwood School Board, “From a board perspective, we want Brentwood School to be a strategic leader in this work. This initiative is an important next step for our entire community, and we are excited for the journey that will follow.”

This summer, Brentwood’s board commissioned a new DEI committee to help advance their work and to ensure successful integration of this new initiative with existing DEI efforts taking place at the school. Co-chaired by Erica Lockhart, a Brentwood School alumna and parent of past Brentwood School students, and Walter Delph, a current parent to Brentwood School students, this committee considered 19 diversity consultant proposals, eventually choosing The Center for Strategic Diversity Leadership and Social Innovation (CSDLSI), of Atlanta, Georgia to spearhead the initiative. Founded in 2009 by award-winning diversity pioneer and author of the best-selling books Strategic Diversity Leadership and The Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Damon A. Williams, the Center brings a diverse team of seasoned educational and DEI professionals to the project.

Dr. Williams previously served as Senior Vice President for Youth Development and Educational Achievement for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Associate Vice Chancellor for DEI at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He noted, “We look forward to partnering with Dr. Riera, with Director of Equity and Inclusion Dr. Trina Moore-Southall, and with the entire Brentwood community of students, families, faculty, staff, board, and administrators to create an environment that is inclusive and excellent for all.”

Updates on the initiative’s progress will be publicly accessible on the Brentwood School website, at www.bwscampus.com. For more information about CSDLSI, please visit https://DrDamonAWilliams.com.

Contact Information:

Shirley Blake, Director of Communications, 310-889-2708, [email protected]
Gennifer Yoshimaru, Assistant Head of School, 310-889-2752, [email protected]

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SOURCE Brentwood School

2021 Mazda CX-30 Earns Highest IIHS “TOP SAFETY PICK+” AWARD

December 15, 2020

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) today announced that the 2021 Mazda CX-30 has been added to the list of Mazda vehicles that earn its highest award, the 2020 TOP SAFETY PICK+. The 2021 CX-30, built after September 2020, joins the 2021 Mazda3 Sedan and Hatchback, Mazda6, CX-3, CX-5 and CX-9 as 2020 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award recipients. Mazda leads the industry with more TOP SAFETY PICK + awards than any other auto brand.

To qualify for the 2020 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, the CX-30 earned good ratings in all six IIHS crashworthiness evaluations, including the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. It also achieved superior ratings for both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, and is equipped with standard good-rated headlights when built after September 2020.

“With safety a top priority for Mazda, we are proud to have the CX-30 earn the 2020 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award,” said Mazda North American Operations President Jeff Guyton. “Mazda is committed to providing the most advanced safety technologies in all of our vehicles. We continually strive to challenge ourselves to create products and technologies, that provide our customers a confident and joyful driving experience.”

To learn more about Mazda’s advanced safety technologies, please visit the MazdaUSA.com website – https://www.mazdausa.com/why-mazda/safety.

The IIHS is an independent, non-governmental safety-testing organization, funded by the insurance industry. For more information, visit https://www.iihs.org/ratings/top-safety-picks.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through approximately 620 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

Follow MNAO’s social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.

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SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

Alcohol Justice Asks California AG Xavier Becerra to Investigate Anticompetitive Anheuser-Busch InBev Takeover of Ace Beverage LLC

December 15, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Alcohol Justice sent a letter to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra requesting a full-scale investigation of recent actions in the state by Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI). Alcohol Justice believes ABI is in violation of California’s Cartwright Act and federal antitrust statutes, case law, and a 2018 federal court consent agreement.

“Anheuser-Busch InBev is not content with its global, national and state dominance of beer manufacturing and is now seeking anticompetitive market power in California by buying up distributors like Ace Beverage LLC of Los Angeles,” stated Bruce Lee Livingston, Executive Director/CEO of Alcohol Justice. “Alcohol Justice has asked for a full-scale investigation by California AG Xavier Becerra of anticompetitive and unfair trade practices by ABI, led by their out-going CEO Carlos Brito.”

Alcohol Justice’s letter to Becerra outlines in detail its concerns, including:

“The monopoly power potential of ABI in California is already great. With significant control in the distribution network as well, ABI can:

Potentially get inside information on retail activity at nearly every store, on-sale ABC licensee, or small producer.
Lower and raise beer prices at will.
Offer generous promotions and swag to retail tier purchasers to force out competitive brands.
Make it difficult for craft brew producers to get onto their trucks, while under lock-down conditions the craft brew industry is already suffering great economic stress.
Diminish distribution market share for any remaining independent distributors, forcing them out of business or forcing them to sell their assets and routes to ABI at deep discounts.”

Alcohol Justice Board President Richard Zaldivar, the founder of The Wall – Las Memorias (a community-based health prevention non-profit), said, “The diverse population of Los Angeles is already suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic and does not need cheap beer products in our neighborhoods or struggling mom and pop small business retailers under the thumb of a global corporation like Anheuser-Busch InBev. The middle tier of beer distribution in Los Angeles needs protection from unfair business practices.”

The Alcohol Justice letter offers the possibility that ABI’s recent acquisitions in the state and its dramatically expanded market position could violate the spirit, if not the actual letter, of the October 2018 US District Court for the District of Columbia final judgement and order. By agreeing to that consent decree, ABI was allowed to purchase the world’s second major beer producer, SAB Miller-Coors. The court-approved settlement decree is supposedly monitored by the federal government to prevent over-concentration and undue influence by the behemoth manufacturer.

“Alcohol Justice believes that California’s antitrust law – the Cartwright Act, other statutes and case law – are relevant and being violated,” added Livingston. “And therefore, it is appropriate for Attorney General Becerra to investigate and prosecute, even if a federal response does not occur from the Department of Justice.”

CONTACT:	Michael Scippa (415) 548-0492
	Jorge Castillo (213) 840-3336

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SOURCE Alcohol Justice

Savvas Learning Company Partners with Turnitin to Give Florida Students More Personalized Support to Take Their Writing to the Next Level

December 15, 2020

PARAMUS, N.J., Dec. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Savvas Learning Company, a next-generation learning solutions leader for K-12 education, announced it is partnering with Turnitin® to give teachers using its myPerspectives Florida English Language Arts (ELA) an AI-powered, standards-aligned tool that empowers students to improve their writing skills.

New this year, Savvas is bundling its popular myPerspectives Florida with Turnitin’s Revision Assistant®, an online revision tool that allows students to receive immediate, personalized, and actionable feedback on their writing assignments for every skill level before submitting them to their teachers.

A student-centered, teacher-inspired 6-12 literacy solution developed to meet Florida’s new Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards for ELA, myPerspectives Florida creates engaging, interactive, and real-world learning environments that promote higher achievement. Offering materials in print, digital, and blended formats, the program gives teachers the highest-quality instructional resources to support their students, no matter where learning takes place.

The addition of Turnitin’s Revision Assistant to myPerspectives Florida makes for an even more robust ELA program, with reading and writing tasks aligned to Florida’s B.E.S.T. Standards so that students learn to write for any situation and are better prepared for the demands of high-stakes testing.

“Learning the craft of writing can be challenging for students, especially now in an age of text messaging. Becoming a strong writer takes practice, and yet students are often not naturally inclined to revise their work,” said Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company. “That is why we have teamed up with Turnitin. Students using myPerspectives Florida can now be inspired to revise their work, with state-of-the-art machine learning technology that makes the revising and editing process much more engaging and instructive.”

Turnitin’s Revision Assistant uses artificial intelligence to analyze student writing and quickly identify students’ strengths and struggles. It motivates students to continually revise their compositions by providing them detailed, holistic and sentence-level comments. It also provides colorful, easy-to-understand icons, representing the four key areas of “Clarity,” “Development,” “Organization,” and “Language,” to gauge how well students convey their ideas.

Revision Assistant is integrated directly into Savvas Realize™, one of the edtech industry’s most versatile learning management systems, to enable a seamless experience with content and online writing tools, as well as simplified single sign-on access. Districts are also able to bundle myPerspectives Florida with SimCheck, Turnitin’s advanced plagiarism checker.

Revision Assistant doesn’t just empower students, it also empowers teachers by saving them time so they can focus on instruction and easily grade student writing. With myPerspectives Florida, teachers can view their students’ submitted work and drafts in the Revision Assistant dashboard, provide feedback, and grade the work. Detailed reports provide in-depth, real-time data on students’ writing skills, offering insights to inform differentiated instruction and track and measure their growth as they become stronger writers.

ABOUT SAVVAS LEARNING COMPANY

At Savvas, we believe learning should inspire. By combining new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new ways of interacting, we design next-generation learning solutions that help prepare students to become global citizens in a more interconnected, digital world. To learn more, visit www.Savvas.com.

ABOUT TURNITIN

Turnitin is a global company dedicated to ensuring the integrity of education and research and supporting the development of original thinking skills. For more than 20 years, Turnitin has partnered with educational institutions to promote honesty, consistency, and integrity. Our products are used by educators to guide their students towards higher standards of integrity and by students and researchers to do their best, original work. Turnitin is headquartered in Oakland, Calif., with international offices in Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. Over 15,000 academic institutions, publishers, and corporations use our products: Feedback Studio, Gradescope, iThenticate, Revision Assistant, Turnitin Originality, Turnitin Similarity.

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SOURCE Savvas Learning Company

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