Page 1938

Saban Music Group And Rising Star Chesca, Release “El Cambio,” A Spanish Interpretation Of Diane Warren’s “The Change,” An Anthem For The Joe Biden And Kamala Harris 2020 Campaign and Beyond!

0
Chesca_El_Cambio

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Puerto Rican singer CHESCA is promoting a message of Change with “El Cambio,” a Spanish language interpretation of “The Change” initially performed by superstar JoJo. “The Change” was written by Diane Warren, whose hits include nine number-one songs and 32 top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Diane Warren is one of the most continuously prolific, successful contemporary, and lauded songwriters of our time. This Grammy, Golden Globe, Emmy, and 11-time Oscar nominee’s iconic songs have garnered countless awards across all platforms. She is revered in the music industry and is an inductee in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has her own star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Warren’s songs have sold over 250 million records worldwide, and her songs are featured in over 150 films.

“I love what CHESCA has done with ‘The Change.’ It’s a powerful record. JoJo did a brilliant job in English, and now we have a fantastic Spanish version. Let ‘The Change’ begin everywhere!” says Diane Warren.

With less than one week left until the November 3 election, “El Cambio” has been officially chosen to be used in a Joe Biden and Kamala Harris 2020 campaign video for their promotional efforts to get out the vote. “El Cambio” makes its debut just in time to make it an anthem and beyond! It embodies the need for Change, using your voice and connecting us all. The video accompanied by the song empowers and inspires reform and getting out the vote!

Listen to “El Cambio”:  HERE

YT: VIDEO

“El Cambio” continues to secure CHESCA as one of the most promising Latinx community singers. Variety honored her as one of 10 Latinxs to Watch in 2020.

“Be the change you want to see,” says CHESCA

CHESCA also recently released a hot new single, “Como Tu Me Querías,” and performed her hit single “Te Quiero Baby (I Love You, Baby)” with Pitbull at the 2020 Latin Billboard Music Awards.

CHESCA’s performance with Pitbull at the 2020 Latin Billboard Music Awards was hailed a huge success. Telemundo rolled out the red carpet to welcome CHESCA and other great stars. “Te Quiero Baby” currently debuts at No. 40 on the Hot Latin Songs chart (dated October 31), which blends airplay, digital sales, and streaming data, peaks at No. 18 on the Latin Airplay chart (dated October 31), Peaks at No. 4 on the Latin Pop Airplay chart (dated October 31), and Peaks at No. 15 on the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart (dated October 31). In terms of app discoverability, “Te Quiero Baby (I Love You Baby)” is the # 1 track on this week’s Shazam Discovery chart in the USA. On TikTok, the viral hit has 14k videos with the sound.

CHESCA’S audience continues to grow, currently sitting at 174K followers on Instagram, 158K followers/2.3M likes on TikTok, 81.5K subscribers on YouTube, 13.4K followers on Twitter, and 19.5K followers on Facebook.

Follow Chesca on social media:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

TikTok

Youtube

 About CHESCA

CHESCA was born and raised in Puerto Rico and grew up around a very musically driven family. She released her first Spanish single, “Azucar” in October 2018 – an urban pop record with the combination of Reggaeton and Latin sounds produced by Grammy-winning producer Jimmy Joker and written by Grammy winners AJ Janussi, Bilal The Chef, I AM Chino, and Jorge Gomez. Along with her music video, this song made a mark in the industry generating over 4m views as an independent release. The song was placed on a scene for the movie “What Men Want” and made it to the Top 10 Radio Airplay Charts in Puerto Rico. In 2020, Chesca was featured in the #1 Hit on Latin radio airplay “Subelo” (Further Up) with Static & Ben El and Pitbull. Her debut single, “Deja De Hablar,” signed under Saban Music Group (SMG), featured top Latin urban artist- Jon Z. In May 2020– Chesca dropped “Hijo De Uff,” which features mega influencer and artist Sebas. Most recently, Chesca’s “Te Quiero Baby (I Love You, Baby)” featuring Pitbull and Frankie Valli reached the milestone of 10 million views on YouTube one month after it premiered on the platform. The Spanish language version/interpolation of the iconic 1967 hit by Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” has resonated with audiences everywhere, reaching #1 Most Added at Radio, just two weeks after its release and scoring Frankie Valli his first appearance on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs charts arriving at No. 40 (dated October 31.)

About Diane Warren

Diane Warren is one of the most continuously prolific, successful contemporary, and lauded songwriters of our time. This Grammy, Golden Globe, Emmy, and 11-time Oscar nominee’s iconic songs have garnered countless awards across all platforms. She is revered in the music industry and is an inductee in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and her own star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Warren’s songs have sold over 250 million records worldwide, and her songs are featured in over 150 films.  Her most recent song, “Free,” sung by Charlie Puth from Disney +’s “The One And Only Ivan,” is already an Oscar frontrunner. Her 2020 nominated song was “I’m Standing With You,” sung by Chrissy Metz from the film “Breakthrough,” which became an anthem worldwide, as have her last three Oscar-nominated songs. Her “I’ll Fight,” sung by Jennifer Hudson at the 2019 Oscars for the CNN documentary RBG, followed the film “Marshall’s Stand Up For Something” with Warren’s music & lyrics. Before that was “Til It Happens To You,” sung by Lady Gaga at the 2017 Oscars for the Hunting Ground documentaryThat song jump-started the #MeToo movement. Diane penned the Beyonce hit, “I Was Here,” which Beyoncé performed at the United Nations.  Many of Warren’s songs that are entrenched in pop culture include; “Rhythm Of The Night,” “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” “How Do I Live,” “Unbreak My Heart,” “Because You Loved Me,” “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” “If I Could Turn Back Time” and numerous others. Warren wrote the song, “This Is For My Girls,” released in 2016 for First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let Girls Learn” initiative.  Kelly Clarkson, Chloe & Halle, Missy Elliott, Jadagrace, Lea Michele, Janelle Monáe, Kelly Rowland, and Zendaya recorded the song. The song was performed by Michelle Obama and Missy Elliott on James Corden‘s Carpool Karaoke segment, with over 61 million views to date. Diane wrote the original song “You Will,” performed by Jennifer Hudson and Jennifer Nettles as the theme song for Oprah Winfrey’s “Own” network. She also wrote the current theme song for ABC’s The View called “World’s Gone Crazy,” performed by Mary J. Blige. Warren doesn’t stop; she continues to work with artists that include: Jojo, Post Malone, Cher, Justin Bieber, Christina Aguilera, Snoop Dogg, Adele, Carrie Underwood, Jessie J, Keyshia Cole, Demi Lovato, Jason Derulo, Big Sean, Daya, Emeli Sande, LeeAnn Rimes, Ella Mai, Elle King, Mariah Carey, Paloma Faith, Leona Lewis, Weezer, Macy Gray, Lykke Li, Lizzo, Miguel, Chesca among many others. Diane is a longtime committed animal rights activist.  She’s outspoken on numerous social justice causes as well. “The Change” is not only an anthem for the Biden/Harris campaign but is destined to become a forever classic, adding to the long unique list of her phenomenal classics.   

About SMG:

Saban Music Group LLC (SMG) is a global music entertainment company based in Los Angeles, California. SMG was founded in 2019 by Haim Saban, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saban Capital Group LLC and a worldwide pioneer and leader in the entertainment industry. SMG captures the globalization of music by identifying, signing, and developing artists with international appeal. This year, SMG announced a global distribution and marketing agreement with Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment.

Since its launch, spearheaded by industry veteran Gustavo Lopez, SMG has been signing artists and developing content for the global music audiences. The music entertainment firm is committed to providing resources for local and international artists through its 360 model. The company operates in many pillars, including recorded music, publishing, touring, management and acquisitions. SMG’s global artist roster includes Static & Ben El (Israel), Mergui (Israel), Marie Monti (France), Chesca (Puerto Rico), and Reykon (Colombia), and Nakkia Gold (Los Angeles), to name a few. 

Saban Music Group

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1323590/Chesca_El_Cambio.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1063157/saban_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Saban Music Group LLC

(Español) Horario de verano: haga tiempo para la seguridad durante la pandemia del COVID-19

0
US_Consumer_Product_Safety_Commission_Logo

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

(Español) Las Noches de Luces comenzarán más pronto este año en San Agustín

0
Las famosas Noches de Luces en San Agustín regresan el 14 de noviembre hasta el 31 de enero. Y, por primer vez, se ofrece recorridos en español con música navideña de países Latinos.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

ROCCAT’s Ridiculously Fast Titan Optical Switch Launches Tomorrow In The Vulcan Pro Keyboards & Burst Pro Mouse

0
Turtle_Beach_Corporation_Logo

The Titan Optical Switch Delivers a Response Rate up to 100 Times Faster Than Standard Mechanical Switches, Plus Double the Lifespan with 100 Million Clicks

Vulcan Keyboards, Burst Pro Mouse, & Elo Headsets Set ROCCAT Pre-order Record

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — ROCCAT, Turtle Beach’s (Nasdaq: HEAR) Hamburg, Germany-based PC peripheral brand, today announced the new Vulcan Pro and Vulcan TKL Pro PC gaming keyboards, and the all-new Burst Pro PC gaming mouse, will be available at participating retailers worldwide tomorrow, Friday, October 30, 2020. ROCCAT’s latest Pro products feature the brand’s all-new Titan Optical Switch – groundbreaking technology that registers response rates over 100 times faster than standard mechanical switches and offers double the lifespan with 100 million clicks. For serious PC gamers who require the best, the fastest, and the most precise equipment, the Vulcan Pro and TKL Pro keyboards offer ROCCAT’s award-winning design and innovation with the ridiculously fast responsive speed of the new Titan Optical Switch. The full-size Vulcan Pro will be available for a MSRP of $199.99, while the popular, compact tenkeyless Vulcan TKL Pro will be available for a MSRP of $159.99. The all-new Burst Pro PC gaming mouse also takes advantage of the Titan Optical Switch technology to register mouse clicks faster than the competition and will be available for a MSRP of $59.99. The community has shown strong demand for ROCCAT’s latest Vulcan keyboards and Burst Pro mouse, which join the recently launched Elo series PC gaming headsets, as all have set pre-order records for the growing PC brand. 

Turtle_Beach_Corporation_Logo

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8726152-roccat-launches-vulcan-pro-vulcan-tkl-pro-keyboards-burst-pro-mouse-for-pc-gaming/

“It’s a very exciting time for  ROCCAT as our Elo series headsets, new Vulcan keyboards, and Burst Pro mouse were our most pre-ordered products ever, and tomorrow PC gamers can experience the advantage of Titan Optical Switch technology firsthand in the Vulcan Pro keyboards and Burst Pro mouse,” said René Korte, ROCCAT Founder and General Manager for PC Products at Turtle Beach. “We spent three years developing the Titan Optical technology to take full advantage of the speed, precision, and durability benefits of optical while retaining that familiar ‘click’ feeling our fans love.

Korte continued, “We’re confident PC gamers will truly appreciate the advantage ROCCAT’s Titan Optical Switch technology brings to the table. And what better way to introduce this new tech than in our fan-favorite Vulcan keyboard design, also now available in the compact tenkeyless format, and in a new mouse with an all-new shape and design all its own.”

Additional details on the latest additions to ROCCAT’s award-winning Vulcan series PC gaming keyboards, and the all-new Burst Pro mouse below.

The Vulcan Pro features the same sleek, award-winning design as the Vulcan 121 and features ROCCAT’s all-new Titan Optical Switch with linear actuation. The optical switch technology replaces the physical contact of a regular mechanical switch with a beam of light that gets interrupted by the optical switch once the key is pressed, leading to a more responsive reaction time and longer lifespan. The Vulcan Pro, comes with an Ash Black anodized aluminum plate, connects via a wired USB-A connector, and offers low-profile ergonomic key caps. The Vulcan Pro is part of ROCCAT’s AIMO-enabled family of products offering a vivid RGB light scheme, and it also comes with a removable magnetic wrist-rest. The Vulcan Pro will be available for a MSRP of $199.99/199.99€.

With many core and pro gamers preferring a more compact keyboard when they play, the Vulcan TKL Pro is the tenkeyless version of the Vulcan Pro, achieved by reducing the size of the chassis as well as removing the number pad. The TKL Pro comes with a removable USB-C cable, and like the other Vulcan variants it offers a game mode allowing gamers to set macros for their favorite games. The Vulcan TKL Pro also supports the AIMO lighting system, making it the perfect companion for the other products in the AIMO range. The Vulcan TKL Pro will be available for a MSRP of $159.99/159.99€.

The Burst Pro mouse also uses ROCCAT’s Titan Optical Switch technology to make it one of the most responsive gaming mice available, promising speed, performance and reliability to gamers looking for a lightweight, symmetrical yet ergonomic mouse. To deliver the best possible performance, the Burst Pro also features ROCCAT’s Owl-Eye Optical Sensor with DPI adjustable up to 16,000. The Burst Pro comes with a solid shell covering its honeycomb structure making it an extremely lightweight mouse at only 68 grams, and its translucent shell showcases ROCCAT’s AIMO intelligent lighting like never before. The Burst Pro will be available at the MSRP of $59.99/59.99€.

In addition to the Burst Pro, ROCCAT has developed the Burst Core at a more affordable price. The Burst Core mouse also features the Titan Optical Switch, plus an 8,500 DPI PMW3331 PixArt sensor and a solid honeycomb shell. The Burst Core will be available beginning November 16, 2020 for a MSRP of $29.99/29.99€.

The all-new Vulcan Pro and TKL Pro keyboards and Burst Pro mouse join ROCCAT’s recently launched and Elo series PC gaming headsets, as well as the new Vulcan TKL mechanical gaming keyboard, and the Sense AIMO XXL mousepad. Each feature ROCCAT’s AIMOintelligent lighting that adds organic light to create a vivid, state-of-the-art desktop aesthetic.

For more information on the latest ROCCAT PC gaming products and accessories, visit ROCCAT.org and be sure to follow ROCCAT on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

About Turtle Beach Corporation
Turtle Beach Corporation (www.corp.turtlebeach.com) is one of the world’s leading gaming audio and accessory providers. The Turtle Beach brand (www.turtlebeach.com) is known for pioneering first-to-market features and patented innovations in high-quality, comfort-driven headsets for all levels of gamer, making it a fan-favorite brand and the market leader in console gaming audio for the last decade. Turtle Beach’s ROCCAT brand (www.roccat.org) combines detail-loving German innovation with a genuine passion for designing the best PC gaming products. Under the ROCCAT brand, Turtle Beach creates award-winning keyboards, mice, headsets, mousepads, and other PC accessories. Turtle Beach’s shares are traded on the Nasdaq Exchange under the symbol: HEAR.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Except for historical information contained in this release, statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events. Statements containing the words “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “estimate”, “target”, “project”, “intend” and similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current belief, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management.

While the Company believes that its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurances that its goals and strategy will be realized. Numerous factors, including risks and uncertainties, may affect actual results and may cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company or on its behalf. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, risks related to the substantial uncertainties inherent in the acceptance of existing and future products, the difficulty of commercializing and protecting new technology, the impact of competitive products and pricing, general business and economic conditions, risks associated with the expansion of our business including the implementation of any businesses we acquire, our indebtedness, the outcome of our HyperSound strategic review process, the Company’s liquidity and other factors discussed in our public filings, including the risk factors included in  the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Company’s other periodic reports. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company is under no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement after the date of this release whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/663498/Turtle_Beach_Corporation_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Turtle Beach

UP Entertainment, in partnership with PixL Dos, has launched the Spanish-language movie channel Cine Romántico on Samsung TV Plus and XUMO

0
UP_Entertainment_Cine_Romantico_Logo

ATLANTA, Oct. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — UP Entertainment has launched Cine Romántico in partnership with PixL Dos. Targeted to Spanish speaking television viewers and dual language households, Cine Romántico features the best of Hollywood TV romance movies exclusively in Spanish. The free ad-supported television (FAST) channel is now available on Samsung TV Plus and XUMO with plans to expand to other platforms in the future. Samsung TV Plus is available on select Samsung Smart TVs and eligible Galaxy mobile devices and delivers instant access to 145 free channels without a subscription.

“UP Entertainment is thrilled to partner with PixL Dos to launch Cine Romántico on Samsung TV Plus and XUMO,” said Charley Humbard, CEO and founder, UP Entertainment. “We look forward to introducing a new audience to this streaming channel featuring entertaining high-quality romance movies that Spanish language households are sure to love.”

With a vast array of star-driven movies featuring contemporary storylines, some of titles on the service include Brimming With Love, Love Throws a Curve, Hopeless Romantic, Groomzilla, Instant Nanny and The Wedding Do-Over. New titles will be added on an ongoing basis.

About UP Entertainment
UP Entertainment, home to UPtv, UP Faith & Family and AspireTV, is the destination for positive and authentic storytelling that is relevant to each network’s audience. UPtv, the trusted network for uplifting entertainment, offers exclusive premiere movies, uplifting theatricals and beloved series. UP Faith & Family, America’s favorite streaming service for families, gives instant access to the best in family and faith-friendly entertainment, and AspireTV is the leading network for Black and urban lifestyle programming.

Follow UPtv on the Web at www.Uptv.com on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Uptv, Twitter on @Uptv and Instagram at UP_TV. 

About PixL Dos
PixL Dos, owner of Cine Romántico, is a subsidiary of PixL Entertainment.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1321479/UP_Entertainment_Cine_Romantico_Logo.jpg

 

SOURCE UP Entertainment

CVS Health Expands COVID-19 Testing Services with Plans to Add Nearly 1,000 Rapid-result Test Sites at Select CVS Pharmacy Locations

0
CVS Health (PRNewsFoto/CVS Health)

WOONSOCKET, Rhode Island, Oct. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — As part of CVS Health’s (NYSE: CVS) ongoing effort to increase access to COVID-19 testing and help slow the spread of the virus, the company today announced plans to expand COVID-19 testing services currently offered at select CVS Pharmacy locations to include rapid-result testing at nearly 1,000 sites by the end of the year.

CVS Health (PRNewsFoto/CVS Health)

Rapid-result COVID-19 diagnostic tests are available at no cost to patients who meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria.1 In addition, rapid-result tests may also be available as a testing option for eligible employees or students affiliated with an organization that has adopted CVS Health’s Return Ready™ return-to-work COVID-19 testing solution.

To date, CVS Health has administered more than 5 million COVID-19 tests since March, and currently manages more than 4,000 drive-thru test sites at CVS Pharmacy locations in 33 states and Washington, D.C. Most results from these existing test sites are generally available within 2 – 3 days. The company is adapting some of these sites and adding new locations to be able to deliver rapid results at nearly 1,000 sites by the end of the year. Nearly 100 of these rapid-result test sites will be operational this week.

“Access to rapid-result tests enables us to help minimize community spread of COVID-19 by being able to more quickly identify active COVID-19 infection,” said David Fairchild, MD, Chief Medical Officer, MinuteClinic. “In addition, we can test and treat symptomatic patients who test negative for COVID-19 for seasonal illnesses such as flu or strep and provide appropriate treatment and care.”

Patients must register in advance at CVS.com to schedule an appointment. Testing is also available for patients ages 12 – 17; a parent or legal guardian must complete the online registration and must accompany minors ages 15 and younger for testing.

When arriving for testing, patients are asked to follow signage or the instructions of the staff onsite. Procedures vary by location and patients may be directed to stay in their vehicle and proceed to a designated testing structure located in the parking lot or, in very limited locations, to enter a CVS store through a doorway specifically allocated for this purpose. Patients will be provided with a test kit, given instructions, and a CVS Health team member will observe the self-swab process. Patients will be directed to wait outside the store in their vehicle for results. The process, from the collection of the swab to the delivery of the results, will generally take approximately 30 minutes.

Patients who access rapid-result testing and receive a negative COVID-19 result will have the opportunity to schedule an appointment at the on-site MinuteClinic for further assessment and to determine if a rapid-result test for flu and strep would be appropriate. The MinuteClinic provider will then be able to provide counsel on a treatment plan and prescribe medications if clinically appropriate.

Nearly 100 of the planned rapid-result test sites will be operational at select CVS Pharmacy locations in 22 states as of this week. States include Ariz., Calif., Conn, Fla., Ga, Ill., Ind., Kan., Mass., Md., Mich., Minn, Mo., N.C., N.J., N.M., Ohio, Pa., R.I., S.C., Texas and Va. Patients seeking a COVID-19 test at CVS Pharmacy can find a complete list of locations and options offered here.

More information on steps CVS Health has taken to address the COVID-19 pandemic is available at the company’s frequently updated COVID-19 resource center.

For downloadable COVID-19 testing media assets, including photos and video, please visit the Media Resource Center.

About CVS Health
CVS Health employees are united around a common goal of becoming the most consumer-centric health company. We’re evolving based on changing consumer needs and meeting people where they are, whether that’s in the community at one of our nearly 10,000 local touchpoints, in the home, or in the palm of their hand. Our newest offerings – from HealthHUB® locations that are redefining what a pharmacy can be, to innovative programs that help manage chronic conditions – are designed to create a higher-quality, simpler and more affordable experience. Learn more about how we’re transforming health at www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact
Joe Goode
(401) 378-5220
[email protected]

1COVID-19 tests are no cost to patients with insurance or through a program for the uninsured funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/487051/CVS_HealthLogo.jpg  

SOURCE CVS Health

Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan Provides Nearly $1 Million Investment to Support Los Angeles County Youth Mental Health and Well-being

0
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan today announced it is providing $950,000 to two nonprofit organizations that aim to improve health outcomes of the youth in Compton and Antelope Valley by developing innovative programs that support behavioral health and well-being.

Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan

The efforts will support the California Surgeon General and Department of Health Care Services’ Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) protocol “Screen, Treat, Heal, which focuses on creating resources that address childhood abuse, neglect and household challenges that impact health and well-being as youth and adults.

Blue Shield Promise is providing $900,000 to ScaleLA Foundation to fund a two-year initiative to destigmatize challenges associated with behavioral health; help school officials, families and teens identify key indicators to better support youth mental health; and improve care coordination and service delivery for families affected by trauma.

Blue Shield Promise is providing an additional $50,000 to the Center for Youth Wellness (CYW) to work with Blue Shield Promise clinics in Lancaster and Palmdale. CYW is part of a national effort to change pediatric medicine and transform the way society responds to kids with significant adverse childhood experiences and stress. The work is aimed at assisting the staff of the clinics with identifying best practices, increasing screenings and building a referral system for healing and treatment services in the community. 

“It is imperative that we find ways to better support youth mental health, particularly during these times when many are dealing with COVID-19, health and social disparities, and wildfires, among other issues,” said Susan Fleischman, M.D., chief medical officer at Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan. “We want to ensure the availability of resources to support mental health and behavioral needs and are thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with these nonprofits. The work they do is directly aligned with our mission that everyone deserves access to quality health care.”

The ScaleLA initiative begins this month with a design thinking challenge for students at Compton Unified School District’s Dominguez High School. In December, a winning solution will be selected by a panel of judges and developed in 2021 with a goal of implementing the program within the Compton community to support the health of students and their families for years to come.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan for this initiative and inspire more youth to leverage entrepreneurship and become agents of change in their communities.” said India Williams, executive director, ScaleLA Foundation. “We’re looking forward to seeing the innovation developed by our teams of mentees and mentors, all designed to increase access to behavioral health and wellness resources to support our South LA community.”

“The prevalence of ACEs and toxic stress is a public health crisis. We are honored to work with Blue Shield and ScaleLA to ensure we are building on and extending the groundbreaking work Los Angeles is already doing,” said Bre Gentile, Ph.D., Director of Product Design at Center for Youth Wellness.

Blue Shield Promise recognizes the importance of working with community-based organizations to prevent diseases and make healthy living options more accessible especially in underserved communities. Promoting healthy living can result in better health for more people as well as improving health outcomes, especially among the most vulnerable populations.

This announcement is the latest example of Blue Shield’s Health Reimagined initiative that uses latest innovations to improve health of individuals and communities; and also supports the health plan’s BlueSky initiative that promotes mental health for California’s middle and high school students.

About Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan is a managed care organization, wholly owned by Blue Shield of California, offering Medi-Cal, Medicare-Medicaid Plans, and Medicare Advantage HMO and Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans. It is led by healthcare professionals with a “members-first” philosophy and committed to building a quality network of providers and partnering with community organizations for more than 400,000 members. For more information about Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, please visit www.blueshieldca.com/promise.

For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com. Or follow us on LinkedInTwitter, or Facebook.

About the ScaleLA Foundation
A 501 c(3) non-profit, ScaleLA Foundation’s mission is to inspire purpose in our community by leveraging entrepreneurial thinking to solve for society’s greatest challenges. The Foundation’s flagship program, Mentor2Mentor, works with high school students, college students, and executives in a 4-2-1 mentorship ratio to tackle systemic issues within the communities of the participants. In past years, the Foundation has worked to positively impact challenges ranging from foster care to youth homelessness.  For more information, visit https://scalela.org.

About Center for Youth Wellness
The Center for Youth Wellness is part of a national effort to revolutionize pediatric medicine and transform the way society responds to kids exposed to significant adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress.

Founded by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris in 2012, we were created to respond to an urgent public health issue: early adversity harms the developing brains and bodies of children. Now led by Gatanya Arnic, an executive with more than fifteen years of experience in leadership development and healthcare, Dr. Burke Harris’s mission continues through the Center’s current work. 

CONTACT:

Erika Conner

Blue Shield of California

510-607-2359

[email protected]

 Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/958511/Blue_Shield_of_California_Promise_Health_Plan_Logo.jpg

 

SOURCE Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan

Leading Organizations Urge Policymakers and Higher Education Leaders to Improve Higher Education Transfer Policies and Practice

0
ScalingPartnersNetwork_Logo

Urgent action is needed to tackle the largest anticipated wave of students transferring due to COVID-19, economic­ recession and sig­nificant racial justice implications

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Anticipating a larger-than-ever wave of students transferring across higher education institutions due to COVID-19 and the economic recession, today a diverse group of 25 policy, advocacy, research and institutional membership organizations issued a call to action to policymakers and higher education leaders to improve transfer policies. Highlighting the racial justice implications at stake, the organizations elevate the urgency of addressing practices and policies that result in credit loss.

The signatories are all members of the Scaling Partners Network convened by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The organizations work together under the principle that greater connection and coordinated action will enable the higher education field to scale innovations faster, more efficiently and with deeper impact.

“Calls for systemic change demand a hard look at practices and policies in higher education that continue to produce inequitable student outcomes by race and ethnicity,” said Nyema Mitchell of JFF. “Among those that contribute most to inequity in postsecondary outcomes are transfer policies and practices.”

Because they are most likely to begin in community college, Black, Latinx and Indigenous students are hardest hit by practices and policies that result in credit loss when they transfer (or contemplate doing so). Transfer student outcomes are deeply inequitable by income as well. Challenges with transfers in the higher education systems are primary drivers of serious inequities and injustices by income, race and ethnicity.

“I understand how burdensome it can be to servicemen when courses don’t apply and you lose time and benefits taking them over again,” said Russell Otway, a father of two who served in the U.S. Navy. “Like many veterans managing injuries, my kids’ learning and my online courses during the pandemic, when I hit roadblocks with applying credits, I can get discouraged.”

The call to action is particularly relevant because the national movements toward providing two free years of college and increasing dual enrollment for high school students could lead many more students to enter college with credits earned in community college. Four-year colleges and universities often refuse to apply credits earned at community colleges toward degree requirements.

“Everyone engaged in delivering and setting policies for higher education should aspire to 100% of students’ credits applying to a credential when they transfer,” said Martha Ellis of the Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin. “To ensure we are ready for the coming wave of student mobility, policymakers and higher education leaders must be laser-focused on dismantling barriers to the applicability of all credits and verified learning.”

Scaling Partners Network members identified essential transfer actions informed by research and exemplary credit applicability practices.

Actions for policy leaders include, among others:

  • interrogating policies related to transfer with a racial equity lens;
  • designing state aid to be portable when students transfer; and
  • incentivizing institutions to develop, scale and sustain programs that promote collaboration between institutions.

Actions for higher education leaders include, among others:

  • prioritizing transfer through disaggregating, analyzing and regularly distributing data from both sending and receiving institutions to community colleges to facilitate understanding of current student outcomes;
  • developing tuition price guarantees and scholarships for transfer students that replicate similar-situation students who began at the institution in their first year; and
  • creating clear pathways for students by developing and formalizing robust dual-admissions agreements that map student pathways, build a sense of belonging for transfer students and guarantee applicability of credits upon transfer.

“State and institutional policies and practices should recognize that traditional inequities are exacerbated in the current pandemic crisis,” Scaling Partners members reflected in the call to action. “We must focus on closing equity gaps that have taken on increased urgency as the health, education and workforce impacts of COVID-19 have disproportionately affected low-income communities and Black, Latinx and Indigenous populations.”

Scaling Partners Network member signatories to the transfer call to action include:

  • Achieving the Dream (ATD)
  • American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
  • American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
  • American Institutes for Research (AIR)
  • Aspen Institute College Excellence Program
  • Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)
  • Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin
  • Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT)
  • Complete College America (CCA)
  • Excelencia in Education
  • Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce
  • HCM Strategists
  • Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP)
  • JFF
  • JKW Consulting
  • Miami Dade College
  • NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education
  • National Student Clearinghouse (NSC)
  • New America
  • Paul Quinn College
  • SOVA
  • University Innovation Alliance (UIA)
  • VentureWell
  • WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET)
  • Young Invincibles (YI)

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1320624/ScalingPartnersNetwork_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Scaling Partners Network

Avoid a House of Horrors this Halloween

0
NSF_Halloween_Infographic

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Trick-or-treating is a high-risk activity according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Yet, even during the pandemic, 57 percent of U.S. adults still plan to hand out candy.i As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country, public health experts at NSF International are calling on families and communities to find safer ways to celebrate the season.

To support healthy practices across the country, NSF International is encouraging anyone who wants to actively opt-out of trick-or-treating to display a ghost in their window – a seasonal symbol that revelers should avoid that household.

To further help households, NSF has created a series of simple ghost graphics that can be downloaded from its website for free. By placing these graphics on doors or windows, households can limit their own risk of exposure this Halloween – and possibly save lives in the process.

Paul Medeiros, Managing Director of Consulting and Technical Services at NSF International, commented: “Halloween is a fun time of year, but the coronavirus is truly scary. You can still enjoy Halloween without putting yourself and others at risk. Remember there are alternate ways to celebrate, safely. To help families and communities stay safe this Halloween, we recommend avoiding trick-or-treaters and keeping doors closed. We hope that displaying these fun, downloadable ghost graphics in windows will help reduce the COVID-19 transmission risk on October 31.”

NSF International is playing an important part in reducing the spread of COVID-19 across America through its Checked by NSF program, an independent verification of COVID-19 preventive measures, providing reassurance that the highest level of procedures and protocols are implemented.

Notes to Editors
About NSF International
NSF International (nsf.org) is an independent, global organization that protects human health by facilitating the development of public health and safety standards, and providing certification and testing services. Separately, we also offer auditing, education, risk management and consulting services. Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. With operations in 180 countries, NSF International is a Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality and Indoor Environment.

Press Contacts
Zeno Group
[email protected] 
+1 (650) 597-7133

NSF International 
Thomas Frey, APR
[email protected]
+1 (734) 214-6242

i https://infogram.com/1pj56wz5v7dw2xa6lz1011nkvksmwj0wpe6

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1321129/NSF_Halloween_Infographic.jpg

 

SOURCE NSF International