Historic: Spanish Broadcasting System announces “first connecting bridge between Puerto Rico and Florida” with MegaTV Orlando Channel 21 (MegaTVO21)

September 16, 2020

Historic: Spanish Broadcasting System announces "first connecting bridge between Puerto Rico and Florida" with MegaTV Orlando Channel 21 (MegaTVO21)

ORLANDO, Florida, Sept. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In the midst of the worst crisis in television history due to the impact of a pandemic (COVID-19), executives of SBS, MegaTV television channel owned and operated by Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. (SBS) (OTCQX: SBSAA), the leading Minority certified, Hispanic multimedia and entertainment company in the U.S., announces the “first connecting bridge” literally, between Puerto Ricans from the Island and from Orlando, with the official launch this September 15 of MegaTV Orlando, Channel 21, (MegaTVO21) under the godfathership of superstar, Jennifer Lopez and actor John Leguizamo, among other Puerto Rican artistic figures.

Puerto Rico-based television broadcaster MegaTV is expanding its audience reach to Orlando with the launch of affiliate station MegaTV Orlando Channel 21 embarking on a mission to capture the big Puerto Rican community and Hispanics in Central Florida. An estimated 330,000 Puerto Ricans live in Central Florida. With existing MegaTV stations in Puerto Rico and Miami, the channel’s programming will now be available in more than a third of Hispanic households in the continental United States.

With the theme of “the bridge that joins Puerto Rico with Orlando, without paying tolls,” the station will be led by Richy Miranda-Cortese, who is senior vice president and general manager of the new station. During the inauguration of the new operation in Orlando, local officials, business owners and guests joined in the announcement that comes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our community welcomes MEGATV-Channel 21, another Spanish TV station that will offer information, education and entertainment to our growing and vibrant Hispanic community,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “We are proud that Orlando continues attracting national and international companies to our region to serve our Hispanic community while creating jobs and strengthening our local economy.”

Orlando City Commissioner Tony Ortiz, who hails from Puerto Rico, applauded and celebrated “the courage and vision of this company SBS-MegaTV” and highlighted the potential of this region for many companies to successfully expand their business to the Orlando area.”

“Not only does it bring an innovative communication platform to our community, also creates 20 direct jobs, 30 indirect jobs, for a total of 50. There’s also the economic benefit, especially in these times. I’m more than happy and proud to see that entrepreneurs and business leaders are investing in this region,” said Ortiz, also president of the Florida League of Cities, comprised of 411 municipalities in the state of Florida. “In the challenging times we live in, it fills us with pride to see our executives and business leaders investing and strengthening our local economy,” Ortiz said.

Executives from MegaTV and SBS, and personality and host Ismael Cala were present for the event, along with influencers and celebrities such as Jorge Pabon “El Molusco,” Pamela Moa, Ali Warrington, Jacky Fontanez, Jorge Suarez, Mimi Pabon, Layza Torres, Saudy Rivera Soto, Jose Mateo, Marcos Rodriguez “El Cacique,” and Aniel Rosario, who traveled to Orlando to support the opening.

For Albert Rodriguez, COO of SBS, “MegaTV Orlando, channel 21, is the perfect complement that we expected to continue being the leading company of minorities in the field of entertainment, radio, TV and digital for Hispanics in the United States.”

“We salute the good reception of this channel, which comes at a crucial moment in the history of the television industry and which will provide sources of employment for our Hispanic community, as well as being an important channel for promoting those entrepreneurial businesses that are today giving one hundred percent, through their labor efforts, for the economic growth of this prosperous and thriving city of Orlando. I am very grateful to all of them for the welcome we have had,” emphasizes the c-class executive, who also values the loyalty of his millions of viewers.”

“We are proud to announce that MegaTVO21 reaches the multicultural market of Central Florida with a varied programming that will serve both the Puerto Rican and Latin American communities. Our focus is on providing engaging content and healthy entertainment,” said Richy Miranda-Cortese, senior vice president and general manager of MegaTVO21. In the same way, the executive will work in coordination with the other markets to execute a strategic action plan.

“The company will carry on with its mission to keep building more communication bridges to continue increasing the audience and reaching more homes. It fills us with pride, especially in these times of so many challenges, having achieved such an important expansion plan as it’s important for the long-term development of our company,” said Sixto Pabon, vice president of operations for SBS Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, for Victor Roque, general manager and vice president of sales of SBS, Puerto Rico, “in addition to being a great step for new fields in the Hispanic television market, MegaTV Orlando channel 21, arrives at the right moment, highlighting the value that the Hispanic community in general constitutes for the company.”

Jose Perez, vice president of programming and production for MegaTV, said several Puerto Rican entrepreneurs have opened businesses in Orlando and “were waiting for an opportunity like this to market and exhibit their products.”

The “El Molusco y Los Reyes de la Punta” radio program broadcasted live from Orlando at its regular time slot — from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Jacky Fontánez, host of “What’s Up,” on La Nueva 94 FM will be broadcasting from several locations in Orlando throughout the week.

“Papeleta Rosa” with Saudy Rivera Soto and Magda; and “Informe 79,” with Laiza Torres programs were broadcasted live from Orlando.

City officials present at the event

Orange County Commissioners Mayra Uribe, Maribel Gómez-Cordero and Kissimmee Mayor Jose Alvarez celebrated the theme of the station. Gómez said the addition to the Spanish-language media is “great and many friends of the island are as excited” as her to have this kind of programming. “I’m mega, super excited with this great news. This is going to be an A+ between Puerto Rico and Orlando,” she said.

The channel will air iconic programs that many “boricuas” are watching from Orlando, connecting with their culture and to keep updated about what is happening in the island. For many Puerto Ricans, a program like “La Comay” is part of their memories of the island.

MegaTV Channel 21 Orlando will offer a varied programming proposal adjusted to the multicultural market of Central Florida. The mission of the channel will be to provide attractive and fun content with a positive impact and healthy entertainment.

Channels–MegaTV Puerto Rico
18.1 In all Puerto Rico
5.3 Mayagüez
Liberty Metro 12 y 212
Liberty Suroeste 11 y 211
DirectTv 169
Claro TV 16
Dish Network 18
Mega TV Orlando:
Channel 21

About Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.
Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. owns and operates 17 radio stations located in the top U.S. Hispanic markets of New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco and Puerto Rico, airing the Spanish Tropical, Regional Mexican, Spanish Adult Contemporary, Top 40 and Latin Rhythmic format genres. SBS also operates AIRE Radio Networks, a national radio platform which creates, distributes and markets leading Spanish-language radio programming to over 275 affiliated stations reaching 95% of the U.S. Hispanic audience. SBS also owns MegaTV, a television operation with over-the-air, cable and satellite distribution and affiliates throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. SBS also produces live concerts and events and owns multiple bilingual websites, including LaMusica, a mobile app providing content related to Latin music, entertainment, news and culture. For more information, visit us online at www.spanishbroadcasting.com.

MEDIA CONTACT SBS:

Vladimir Gomez
VP, Corporate Communications
[email protected]
(786) 394-9000 Ext. 1144
Michelle Torres

Corporate Communications SBS Puerto Rico

Licencia R-1021
[email protected]
[email protected]
(787) 960-9230

Mayra Ramos Miro
Mega TV Orlando
[email protected]
(407)-234-0306

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SOURCE Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. (SBS)

Pandora LIVE El Pulso con Sech

September 16, 2020

OAKLAND, California, Sept. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Pandora announced today that Latin Urban-Reggaeton sensation Sech will perform for Pandora LIVE El Pulso on September 22^nd at 8:45pm ET. This is the third installment of the popular free live event turned virtual series that features top artists from all genres including country, rock, R&B and more. Pandora LIVE El Pulso is the live extension of El Pulso, the number one Latin musical destination on Pandora. RSVP for the free event HERE.

Sech, who hails from Panama City, released his debut album Sueños last year, which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums charts and earned him a Latin Grammy nomination. Sech kicked off 2020 with five Billboard Latin Music Award nominations, and collaborated with reggaeton heavyweights on some of the hottest tracks of the year, including the #1 radio singles “Definitivamente” with Daddy Yankee and “Sigues con el” with Arcangel and on Bad Bunny’s “Ignorantes” which broke into the Top 50 of Billboard’s Hot 100 and surpassed the 166 million views on YouTube. As one of the hottest artists in Latin music today, Sech followed his continued success with the release of “Confia” with Daddy Yankee and followed with the release of his sophomore effort 1 of 1. The album’s lead single, “Relacion” quickly resonated with fans and peaked #1 in 9 countries. Off the heels of his global smash #1 hit single “Otro Trago”, “Relacion” helped break Sech, once again, into the Top 25 of global viral streaming charts.

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to team up with the Pandora team, and honored to be a part of this new digital series” said Sech. “I respect and admire all those who worked to make this virtual concert performance a reality, especially during these difficult times. I’m proud to be able to tell my story and share my music with fans through this unique and special experience.”

The evening will be hosted by Marisol “El Bombón” Vargas, the on-air personality from SiriusXM’s Caliente (ch. 158) who will also do a quickfire “hot seat” game as well as an in-depth interview with Sech. An animated short on a real event from Sech’s life and a surprise guest during the performance will round out the evening. Also, select fans of Sech on Pandora will have the opportunity to participate in a virtual meet and greet with him prior to the performance.

Event sponsor Boost Mobile will upgrade the fan experience with an virtual after party on Instagram Live, hosted by a social influencer and fellow Sech superfan. Additionally, a limited amount of exclusive Sech merch will be available for attendees based on a first come, first served code redemption basis, with thanks to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

About Pandora
Pandora, a subsidiary of SiriusXM, is the largest ad-supported audio entertainment streaming service in the U.S. Pandora provides consumers a uniquely-personalized music and podcast listening experience with its proprietary Music Genome Project^® and Podcast Genome Project^® technology. Pandora is also the leading digital audio advertising platform in the U.S. Through its own Pandora service, its AdsWizz platform, and third party services, such as SoundCloud, the Company connects brands to the largest ad-supported streaming audio marketplace in the country. Pandora is available through its mobile app, the web, and integrations with more than 2,000 connected products.

About SiriusXM
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is the leading audio entertainment company in the U.S., and the premier programmer and platform for subscription and digital advertising-supported audio products. Pandora, a subsidiary of SiriusXM, is the largest ad-supported audio entertainment streaming service in the U.S. SiriusXM and Pandora together reach more than 100 million people each month with their audio products. SiriusXM, through Sirius XM Canada Holdings, Inc., also offers satellite radio and audio entertainment in Canada. In addition to its audio entertainment businesses, SiriusXM offers connected vehicle services to automakers. For more about SiriusXM, please go to: www.siriusxm.com.

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, products and services; and other statements identified by words such as “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimated,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “outlook” or words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is adversely impacting our business; our substantial competition that is likely to increase over time; our efforts to attract and retain subscribers and listeners, or convert listeners into subscribers, which may not be successful, and may adversely affect our business; our Pandora ad-supported business has suffered a loss of monthly active users, which may adversely affect our Pandora business; privacy and data security laws and regulations may hinder our ability to market our services, sell advertising and impose legal liabilities; we engage in extensive marketing efforts and the continued effectiveness of those efforts are an important part of our business; consumer protection laws and our failure to comply with them could damage our business; a substantial number of our Sirius XM subscribers periodically cancel their subscriptions and we cannot predict how successful we will be at retaining customers; our ability to profitably attract and retain subscribers to our Sirius XM service as our marketing efforts reach more price-sensitive consumers is uncertain; our failure to convince advertisers of the benefits of our Pandora ad-supported service could harm our business; if we are unable to maintain revenue growth from our advertising products, particularly in mobile advertising, our results of operations will be adversely affected; if we fail to accurately predict and play music, comedy or other content that our Pandora listeners enjoy, we may fail to retain existing and attract new listeners; if we fail to protect the security of personal information about our customers, we could be subject to costly government enforcement actions and private litigation and our reputation could suffer; interruption or failure of our information technology and communications systems could impair the delivery of our service and harm our business; we rely on third parties for the operation of our business, and the failure of third parties to perform could adversely affect our business; our business depends in part upon the auto industry; our Pandora business depends in part upon consumer electronics manufacturers; the market for music rights is changing and is subject to significant uncertainties; our ability to offer interactive features in our Pandora services depends upon maintaining licenses with copyright owners; the rates we must pay for “mechanical rights” to use musical works on our Pandora service have increased substantially and these new rates may adversely affect our business; failure of our satellites would significantly damage our business; our Sirius XM service may experience harmful interference from wireless operations; failure to comply with FCC requirements could damage our business; economic conditions, including advertising budgets and discretionary spending, may adversely affect our business and operating results; if we are unable to attract and retain qualified personnel, our business could be harmed; we may not realize the benefits of acquisitions or other strategic investments and initiatives, including the acquisition of Pandora; our use of pre-1972 sound recordings on our Pandora service could result in additional costs; we may from time to time modify our business plan, and these changes could adversely affect us and our financial condition; we have a significant amount of indebtedness, and our debt contains certain covenants that restrict our operations; our facilities could be damaged by natural catastrophes or terrorist activities; the unfavorable outcome of pending or future litigation could have an adverse impact on our operations and financial condition; failure to protect our intellectual property or actions by third parties to enforce their intellectual property rights could substantially harm our business and operating results; some of our services and technologies may use “open source” software, which may restrict how we use or distribute our services or require that we release the source code subject to those licenses; rapid technological and industry changes and new entrants could adversely impact our services; existing or future laws and regulations could harm our business; we may be exposed to liabilities that other entertainment service providers would not customarily be subject to; our business and prospects depend on the strength of our brands; we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NASDAQ listing rules and, as a result, qualify for, and rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements; while we currently pay a quarterly cash dividend to holders of our common stock, we may change our dividend policy at any time; and our principal stockholder has significant influence, including over actions requiring stockholder approval, and its interests may differ from the interests of other holders of our common stock. Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and available at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.

Source: SiriusXM

Media contact:
Heidi Anne-Noel
[email protected]

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SOURCE Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

Union Plus, Truth4Life, and Visa Announce New Union Plus All-In-One Prepaid Visa® Card

September 16, 2020

GRANITE BAY, California, Sept. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/– Today, Union Plus (UP), Truth4Life (T4L), and Visa announced a new partnership to offer enhanced benefits to union members and their families with the introduction of the Union Plus All-In-One Prepaid Visa^® Card. Through this unique partnership, cardholders will be afforded access to new tools to manage their finances.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Union Plus and Visa to provide union members and their families a truly unique financial management and empowerment tool that goes beyond other prepaid cards,” said Hunter Wolfe, CEO of Truth4Life. “We are a community-first organization and know the Union Plus All-In-One Prepaid Visa Card will empower people, change lives, and strengthen communities — especially during this pandemic that has disproportionately affected the vulnerable. It is our mission to expand access to reliable, affordable, flexible financial services to those who aren’t served by the current banking system or are looking for other options. This partnership is a major milestone in our ongoing effort, and we are proud to be able to offer more financial freedom to millions of hard-working Americans through this effort.”

The Union Plus All-In-One program provides a powerful combination of financial solutions for America’s working families. It combines unique member benefits, including Mobile Device Protection, which covers all phones, tablets, and hotspots on a cardholder’s mobile carrier account if they are damaged or stolen; Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance with up to $10,000 in coverage; delivered with all the features and functionality of prepaid Visa cards. The card provides these benefits for a monthly fee of $4.95 with a direct deposit of $750 or more and $7.95 without a direct deposit. There are no overdraft or activation fees.¹

“We are excited to partner with Truth4Life and Visa to offer the innovative Union Plus All-In-One Prepaid Visa Card to union members and their families,” said Mitch Stevens, President of Union Plus. “This product was specifically designed to help modest income and underserved families without requiring a credit check. We are now able to provide members with expanded access to financial services and electronic payments while protecting their families in a time of need.”

“We as a company work with and support unions and their members. We worked hand-in-hand with union representatives and leadership to truly understand the challenges facing America’s workers and, more importantly, how we could effectively serve the more than 12.5 million working people represented by the AFL-CIO affiliated unions,” Wolfe added.

Recognizing that lower-income workers and communities of color are particularly affected by the lack of transparent and affordable financial services and tools that improve financial health, the Union Plus All-In-One Prepaid Visa Card offers an accessible banking platform that provides meaningful benefits to union members from these communities. Terrence L. Melvin, Chairman of the Labor Council for Community Action (LCCA), an organization of AFL-CIO affiliated constituency groups advocating on behalf of Asian, Black, Latino, women, and LGBTQ+ workers, and President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) said, “Too often our communities have been treated as a banking desert. It’s not often a financial tool can truly change lives and lift communities; this prepaid card can do just that.”

In addition to the program’s one-of-a-kind features, union members can engage in contactless and digital commerce, directly deposit their paychecks, and remotely deposit a check, all without a credit check. Members can immediately take advantage of account features with digital banking and access to a virtual card. Funds are FDIC insured up to $250,000 to provide cardholders peace of mind, while Visa’s Purchase Security and Zero Liability benefits protect against fraud, unauthorized use, and loss. These features make the Union Plus All-In-One Prepaid Visa Card a perfect, unique solution for union members and their families who need financial options and want the convenience of paying with plastic in our increasingly cashless society.

“We are pleased to be partnering with Truth4Life and Union Plus to support the introduction of this unique Prepaid program, which will provide critical financial services and insurance benefits to Union Plus members and family,” said Brian Cole, Visa’s Head of Product for North America. “This combination of features translates into an attractive program that may benefit those who may be un/under banked. Visa is proud to be working with both organizations, who are committed to providing cost effective, impactful programs to America’s working families.”

“The Union Plus All-In-One Prepaid Visa Card is ingenious in that it provides cardholders with access to retail banking services in retail shopping and other non-traditional settings,” said Jeanne Milliken Bonds, Chair of the South Carolina Community Capital Alliance. “Cardholders can use direct deposit or over 100,000 retail locations in the communities where they live and work to put money on the card, creating paths to economic prosperity and community development. Communities need access to multiple safe and reliable financial pathways.”

Starting today, union members can visit www.UnionAllInOne.com to learn more about the card’s benefits and request their Union Plus All-In-One Prepaid Visa Card by filling out a simple request form.

BY USING THIS CARD YOU AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE CARDHOLDER AGREEMENT AND FEE SCHEDULE, IF ANY. The Union Plus All-In-One Prepaid Visa Card is issued by Metropolitan Commercial Bank (Member FDIC) pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. “Metropolitan Commercial Bank” and “Metropolitan” are registered trademarks of Metropolitan Commercial Bank ©2014.

¹Other fees, terms and conditions may apply, see cardholder agreement’s fee schedule.

About Union Plus
Union Plus, founded by the AFL-CIO in 1986, uses the collective buying power of America’s 12.5 million union members to deliver top-quality benefits and services at competitive prices to working families. Union Plus offers a wide range of programs, including credit cards, home mortgages, discounts on wireless service from AT&T, insurance protection, and travel, recreation and entertainment discounts. To learn more, visit unionplus.org.

About Truth4Life
Truth4Life’s Truth Platform™ provides comprehensive financial services to communities and affinity groups whose members are typically shut out from basic financial services most of us take for granted. We know people work hard for their money, and we recognize that financial stability goes beyond having a place to cash a check. We deliver meaningful financial services that actually improve the lives of everyday Americans. To learn more, visit https://www.truth4life.io.

SOURCE Truth4Life

BOSS Revolution Launches “Stories of the American Dream” Video Series

September 16, 2020

NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT), a global provider of communications and payment services, announced today the launch of its BOSS Revolution “Stories of the American Dream” video series.

The video series features compelling stories told by men and women who have immigrated to the United States in pursuit of the “The American Dream.” Their journeys originate in countries across the globe including Bangladesh, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, India, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Sierra Leone, Spain and Venezuela.

Each story vividly portrays the individual’s experience while beautifully illustrating the courage, sacrifice and hard work characteristic of the US immigrant experience. Each storyteller has risked nearly everything to build a better life in the US while finding ways to help their families back home.

“Through these videos, we celebrate diversity, applaud hard work and most importantly, recognize a driving force that unites us all: the desire to have a better life and provide for our families,” said Shmuel Jonas, IDT’s CEO.

These vignettes also bear witness to the many ways in which immigrants from diverse geographies and walks of life contribute to their adopted country. They have found new homes in cities and towns across the US and are successful in a wide variety of industries including construction, sales, music, and education.

“We hope that these powerful narratives underscore for all Americans the diverse ways in which immigrants continue to build our country and make it a beacon of hope for the world,” Mr. Jonas added. “Through our BOSS Revolution communications and payment services, we work every day to help new Americans share their successes with, and remain close to, their loved ones back home.”

Each week, beginning on September 16, 2020, viewers can enjoy a new story on BOSS Revolution’s website storiesoftheamericandream.com. For more information regarding this campaign or to speak with a BOSS Revolution brand representative, please contact Havas FORMULATIN at: [email protected].

About IDT Corporation:  

IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT) provides communications and payment services to individuals and businesses primarily through its flagship BOSS Revolution^® and net2phone^® brands.  IDT’s wholesale Carrier Services business is a leading global carrier of international long-distance calls. For more information on IDT, visit www.idt.net.

About Boss Revolution:

BOSS Revolution services are available at more than 40,000 retailers across the United States, through the BOSS Revolution Calling and BOSS Revolution Money apps (available free on iTunes and Google Play) and through the BOSS Revolution website https://www.bossrevolution.com/en-us/. Follow BOSS Revolution on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

SOURCE IDT Corporation

Voto Latino Foundation Launches 2020 Impact Council with Chairs Sec. Julían Castro, Rosario Dawson, Selena Gomez, Wilmer Valderrama, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Zoe Saldana, Sec. Alex Padilla and María Teresa Kumar

September 15, 2020

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, Voto Latino Foundation (VLF) – the nation’s largest and most successful Latinx voter registration organization – launched the VLF Impact Council, a national group harnessing the power of major brands, celebrities, politicians, and influencers with hundreds of millions of social followers across industries and sectors to educate, engage and empower the Latinx community to register to vote and cast their ballots on or by Election Day on Tuesday, November 3.

To date, Voto Latino Foundation has raised more than $18 million – the most in its history – to support its 2020 voter registration and advocacy efforts, which has led to the organization registering more than 300,000 voters so far for this year’s election cycle. As part of this push, the Impact Council will roll out the “En La Lucha” (“In The Fight”) campaign, featuring high-visibility Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and social media activations with Council members to discuss the importance of understanding the issues impacting the Latinx community and voting to affect change. The new campaign is designed to accelerate the organization’s goal to reach 500,000 registrations before the election and mobilize 2.2 million low propensity voters in key states.

Voto Latino co-founders Maria Teresa Kumar and Rosario Dawson serve as chairs of the VLF Impact Council, along with Zoe Saldana, Sec. Julian Castro, Selena Gomez, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Wilmer Valderrama, and Sec. Alex Padilla. Individual members include Camila Morrone, Luis Fonsi, Los Tigres Del Norte, Buzzfeed’s “Pero Like” cast, Arizona State Representative Daniel Hernandez, Marc Anthony, Jackie Cruz, Maná, former Colorado Speaker Crisanta Duran, Hispanic Executive publisher Pedro Guerrero, Poder Pac founder Ingrid Duran, Brandon Hernandez, LAMC founders Josh Norek and Tomas Cookman, Jorge Insua, AEM President Ivette Rodriguez Nevada State Senator Yvanna Cancela, and a host of others. The Council is also supported by major brands and corporate sponsors including Sony Music, Univision, Bank of America, Major League Baseball, Zumiez, Twitter, Warner Music Group, Steve Madden, Fuse, Universal Music Group, Chispa and more.

“We have such a wide and diverse group of businesses and Latinx leaders with tremendous power and influence who are rolling up their sleeves to help Voto Latino engage hard-to-reach voters and fence-sitters who can make a world of difference in this election with their vote,” said María Teresa Kumar, co-founding president and CEO of Voto Latino Foundation. “The VLF Impact Council is making it clear to the 32 million eligible Latinx voters out there that we cannot sit this year’s election out – our entire community and lives are predicated on making our voices heard in November.”

“I am honored to be joining the Voto Latino Foundation Impact Council to make sure that every voter is empowered to cast their ballot come November,” said Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. “The Latino community needs to know that our voice has the potential to make the difference in November, but only if we register and mobilize every single Latino voter. In Nevada alone, the VLF has already registered nearly 10,000 new voters. This election is too important for us to sit it out, and I’m glad to join efforts to ensure the voice of the Latino community is heard.”

“When we launched Voto Latino 16 years ago, I knew we were doing something special. I continue to be inspired by the energy and power that this organization has leveraged in collaboration with the community,” said Rosario Dawson. “Being so close to one million voters registered is beyond exciting and will be one of the proudest achievements of my life. The Impact Council, filled with so many wonderful individuals, will provide us with the extra energy and opportunities that we need to get over the finish line.”

“In this time of tremendous uncertainty and struggle, it’s critical we all come together and do everything we can to empower voters to exercise their rights and make their voices heard,” said Secretary Julían Castro. “Voto Latino Foundation is working with a diverse group through the VLF Impact Council to expand and continue to scale their programs registering voters online, amidst a worldwide pandemic. I’m proud to be a part of this tidal wave of voter engagement, I hope others will join us in this important mission.”

For more information on the VLF Impact Council, a full list of members, and to join, please visit https://votolatino.org/impactcouncil/.

Voto Latino is a grassroots political organization focused on educating and empowering a new generation of Latinx voters, as well as creating a more robust and inclusive democracy. Through innovative digital campaigns, culturally relevant programs, and authentic voices, we shepherd the Latinx community towards the full realization of its political power.

Contact:
Danny Turkel, [email protected]

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SOURCE Voto Latino

Brad Audet Named Chief Marketing Officer For Mazda North American Operations

September 15, 2020

IRVINE, California, Sept. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced the appointment of Brad Audet as Chief Marketing Officer. Based out of the company’s Irvine, Calif., headquarters, Audet will report to Jim Lievois, Executive Vice President. His appointment is effective September 15, 2020.

In his role, Audet will be tasked with leading a nimble, responsive marketing organization that builds Mazda’s brand value and drives meaningful, personal connection between Mazda and its customers. As a part of the U.S. leadership team, he’ll engage expertise across the organization to deliver products and campaigns that will propel the company into its next 100 years. He’ll also partner with Mazda’s exceptional dealer network to create an engaging customer experience that is uniquely Mazda.

“Brad has been leading the Marketing team as interim CMO since March and has successfully guided our marketing operations during this time of unprecedented uncertainty and volatility,” MNAO President Jeff Guyton said. “Looking ahead, I am confident Brad will continue this trajectory, leading a seamlessly integrated marketing division that adapts quickly and intelligently to the ever-changing consumer landscape.”

“Brad stepped into the interim role at a challenging time for our industry as we were all figuring out how to navigate Covid-19,” NDAC Chairman Jim McDonald said. “He has been a good listener to the needs of dealers and has brought fresh perspective to Mazda’s marketing approach. We look forward to partnering with him in his new role.”

Audet joins MNAO with more than 29 years of considerable marketing experience. Most recently, Audet spent seven years as the EVP of Garage Team Mazda (GTM), WPP’s bespoke integrated marketing agency for Mazda. Audet led marketing transformation for GTM and served as a strategic counselor to the Mazda executive team.

Prior to GTM, Audet served as EVP of Team Detroit, a WPP-based company, serving clients such as White Castle, Bosch, United Way, Dollar General and Sports Authority, among others. Audet has also worked at some of the industry’s most respected agencies, including J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, Mullen, Arc Worldwide, McCann and BBDO.

“Mazda is a brand on the move, and I’m excited about what the future holds for our employees, customers, partners and dealers,” Audet said. “Over the coming months, I look forward to working with the team at Mazda and with our WPP agency partners to continue building on our growth and momentum.”

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 nearly 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.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1274816/Mazda_CMO_Brad_Audet.jpg

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/53154/mazda_north_american_operations_logo.jpg

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

Award-Winning Latina Filmmaker Lands Her First Cover Story

September 15, 2020

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Shelly Ro, CEO of Cuyo Productions, was the cover story for the August edition of Celebrando Latinas Magazine in honor of her nine film festival nominations for her short film White Ink, and Ro’s win for Outstanding Performance at the Best Actor Awards.

Produced and acted in her original screenplay, White Ink, Ro tells the story of best friends, Lou (Ro) and Sophie (Erika Rose), on their annual camping trip where the truth comes out about Lou’s real feelings towards Sophie right before Sophie’s wedding.

“‘White Ink’ explores issues of love, female friendships, identity, sexuality and most importantly following one’s truth no matter what awaits on the other side,” says Ro, “It was important for me to have complicated and dynamic relationships portrayed by women.”

The film was chosen as an official selection for best short film in the Katra Film Series, the LBGT LA Film Festival, the San Diego Latino Film Festival, San Diego Film Week, the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival, and the Seattle Latino Film Festival. White Ink has also been nominated for best drama and best lead actress for the Hitchcock Film Award and won for best original score at the NICE International Film Festival. The most recent win of the Diamond Award for Outstanding Performance at the Best Actor Awards was specifically for Ro.

“I am honored to have my work, my labor of love recognized by these festivals and award shows. It is truly a dream come true,” says Ro.

Celebrando Latinas Magazine chose to feature Ro for its cover story as the publication focuses on female leaders in the Latino community. In the article, Ro takes the readers through her life leading up to filmmaking and her fight for equal representation for women and minorities in the film industry.

“I am committed to gender equity and inclusion in the workplace through the 50-50 x 2020 initiative. We were lucky to have a team of female producers, a female writer (86% of writers are male), a Latina female director (four percent of directors are LatinX), and an inclusive and diverse cast and crew. Over 80% of our cast is female, since it is a story written by women for women,” says Ro.

For Further Contact:
Isabella McDonald-Brent
Publicist
[email protected]
(818) 489-2978

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1232062/Cuyo_Productions_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Cuyo Productions

Peacock Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month With Premiere Of First Original Latino Short Form Documentary Series True Colors featuring Alex Rodríguez, John Leguizamo, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mario Lopez, Ellen Ochoa, Laurie Hernandez, Lele Pons And Ángela Aguilar

September 15, 2020

Also Premiering for the First Time, Snackable Versions of Iconic Telemundo Series El Chema, El Cuerpo del Deseo, La Doña And More

NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Peacock today announced a collection of new content premiering on the platform to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. In addition to a new Peacock Original short-form series True Colors, Peacock will feature new Telemundo programming including special micro editions of hit series and sports content from Telemundo Deportes, including two-part special Top 10 Mundial counting down the top moments from FIFA World Cups featuring athletes Pelé, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and more.

“Peacock is proud to add True Colors to our Peacock Originals library during this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Jen Brown, SVP of Topical Programming and Development for Peacock. “We believe all audiences will connect with these inspirational stories from trailblazers and thought leaders in the Hispanic community.”

Peacock Original documentary series True Colors tells the stories of Hispanic trailblazers and thought leaders in various fields, including Alex Rodríguez, John Leguizamo, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mario Lopez, Ellen Ochoa, Laurie Hernandez, Lele Pons and Ángela Aguilar. Presented in English, and developed in partnership with Telemundo, the series allows all audiences the opportunity to experience the reality and celebrate the richness and beauty of Hispanic culture. The series will feature episodes weekly and premieres exclusively on Peacock September 29 with a spotlight on Alex Rodríguez, the famed baseball player and entrepreneur. True Colors is being produced by Telemundo for Peacock.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Peacock on this exciting and innovative new series during Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Peter Blacker, Executive Vice President, Revenue Strategy & Innovation, Telemundo. “These intimate stories highlight Hispanic leaders with fresh and motivating perspectives for our bilingual and multicultural audiences.”

As part of True Colors, muralist Jonas Never simultaneously created works of art that portray their journeys from humble beginnings to larger-than-life successes. This month Telemundo is also kicking off multiplatform campaign “Nuestras Voces Cuentan”,(“Our Voices Matter”) to celebrate the strength of the Latino community through a series of powerful murals to be featured in PSAs airing on the network. Fans can share their versions of a painting using the hashtag #UsaTuVoz and #NuestrasVocesCuentan.

For viewers looking to relive the twists and turns from their favorite shows, but prefer drama in snackable doses, Peacock will stream five special editions of bingeable short formats of iconic Telemundo series. These will be released from September 15^th including:

El Chema: El Chema, tells the story of José María Venegas’ fight to earn a place and a name in the world of drug trafficking as seen in “El señor de los cielos”. The main cast includes Mauricio Ochmann, Itatí Cantoral, Julio Bracho, and Fernando Noriega.
El Cuerpo del Deseo: Pedro José Donoso (Mario Cimarro) has wealth and the love of his wife, Isabel Arroyo (Lorena Rojas). After a sudden death, he reincarnates as Salvador Cerinza uncovering the secrets, truths, and deceptions of his past.
Pasión de Gavilanes: Hit telenovela that tells the story of The Reyes siblings and their desire to avenge the death of their younger sister. Danna García, Mario Cimarro, Paola Rey and Ana Lucía Domínguez play the lead roles in this exciting drama full of passion, and betrayal.
Más Sabe el Diablo: JenCarlos Canela, Gaby Espino and Miguel Varoni play Manuela, Ángel and Martín as they find themselves in an entanglement of love, crime, betrayal, vengeance, and passion.
La Doña Season 1: La Doña is a story of revenge and ambition, seduction, and betrayal. Told from the point of view of outraged Altagracia Sandoval, played by Araceli Arámbula. Representing women who have been victims of violent acts by faceless men, La Doña will reunite with her abusers and claim her justice.

In addition, the following Telemundo current season series premieres will also stream on Peacock the next day:

Todo Por Mi Hija (9/2): Starring Beren Gökyıldız and Behiç Buğra, this is the heartwarming story of a father and a daughter separated by fate.
Falsa Identidad S2 (9/23): Shot in Mexico City and in the northern state of Sonora, the new season picks up two years after the finale of its first installment, which ended with the escape of Diego (Luis Ernesto Franco) and Isabel (Camila Sodi) with her children to the United States after an intense persecution by Mateo (Eduardo Yáñez).
El Domo de Dinero (Coming Soon): The latest and most dynamic competition show combining athleticism, wits, and teamwork. With two teams of determined contestants, heroes will be born and up to $500K will be won.

Highlights from news, sports, pop culture and more covering Hispanic Heritage Month including will also be featured in the service’s Trending section, a hub for short-form content that is updated on a daily basis. Additionally, viewers can look forward to new short form specials coming to Peacock all month long from NBC News Latino, Pop on Peacock, Latinx Now, and more.

Fans can sign up for Peacock for free at peacocktv.com. Peacock is currently available on Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD; Google platforms and devices, including Android, Android TV devices, Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices; Microsoft’s Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One S and Xbox One X; Sony PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro; and VIZIO SmartCast TVs and LG Smart TVs. Comcast’s eligible Xfinity X1 and Flex customers, as well as eligible Cox Contour customers, enjoy Peacock Premium included with their service at no additional cost.

About Peacock
Peacock is NBCUniversal’s new streaming service. Peacock delivers a world-class slate of exclusive originals, on-demand libraries of hit TV shows, plus critically acclaimed films from the vaults of Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation, Illumination and Hollywood’s biggest studios. In addition, Peacock taps into NBCUniversal’s unmatched ability to deliver a broad range of compelling topical content across news, sports, late-night, Spanish-language and reality. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1274673/TrueColors_Peacock.jpg

SOURCE Peacock

Simply Put Partners With Disney’s Moana, Auli’i Cravalho, To Raise Awareness Of Undercounted Children in 2020 Census

September 15, 2020

NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Starting September 17, 2020, through the census’ end, simply put, a nonprofit that creates media with marginalized communities, and early childhood educators, caregivers, and librarians across the U.S., will hold virtual pajama parties where families take the census and watch the animated WE COUNT! A 2020 Census Counting Book for Young Children (and the Grownups who Love Them) starring Disney’s Moana, Auli’i Cravalho. These parties support families’ census participation with two million children still uncounted for the 2020 census.

“There’s been misinformation and anxiety about who counts in the census. Auli’i and the pajama parties celebrate that young and old, we all count in the census and in the story of America,” said simply put Executive Director Lisa Bernstein.

Over 600,000 copies of WE COUNT!, in 15 languages, have been sold or donated to organizations across the country. The book uses diverse artists representing their own cultural heritage to help tell the story of who, how, and why children and families who live in complex households and reflect the real demographics of America all count in the census.

“In Moana, the people of my island were counting on me to make a difference. Now our communities are counting on each and every one of us, young and old, to make a difference by taking the census,” said Auli’i Cravalho.

More than $160 billion a year in federal funding for programs that help young children and families is allocated based purely on the census count. When young children are miscounted, federal funds meant to help them and their communities thrive are distributed incorrectly or not at all, including Children’s Medicaid and SNAP.

“As of September 3, 2020, only 59 percent of young children in census tracts with a high risk of undercount have been counted, leaving out nearly two million young children living in the most vulnerable situations.” said demographer Bill O’Hare, Ph.D.

The WE COUNT! book, animated video and pajama party tools are free at www.wecountkids.org.

About Simply Put
Simply Put is a 501(c)3 focused on social-impact publishing, programming, and distribution that reaches neglected communities in the U.S. and worldwide with critical information and innovative learning opportunities.

Media Contact
Leland Radovanovic
Conscious Communications
845-200-5249
[email protected]

Gia Morón
GVM Communications, Inc
718-913-2990
[email protected]

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PmGcpsiEXM

SOURCE Simply Put Media

New Charter High School for At-risk Students Coming to Austin in August

September 15, 2020

A Learn4Life student learns in a one-on-one interaction with her supervising teacher while holding her baby

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Austin has thousands of residents who are considered Opportunity Youth, young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not in school or participating in the workforce. High school dropouts are more likely to live in poverty, burden public resources, be incarcerated or parent a child as a teenager. The children of dropouts are more likely to drop out themselves, perpetuating a generational chain of poverty.

“We are grateful for the confidence expressed by the Texas State Board of Education members in our ability to re-engage the students of Austin,” said Kenya Jackson, the chair of the board of Texas First Education, the Austin-based nonprofit organization opening the Learn4Life-Austin program. “We are pleased to be bringing a proven model of education to Texas.”

Click to tweet: Opportunity youth in #Austin will soon have a new option for a flexible and personalized high school education. Learn4Life opening next summer! #SchoolChoice #Learn4LifeSchools #TraumaInformedCare

For 20 years, Learn4Life has committed to breaking the dropout cycle by creating classrooms of one for at-risk students who have struggled in traditional schools or are so far behind, they won’t be able to graduate with their class. Though a personalized learning model, students receive one-on-one support, a flexible schedule, wrap-around services and job training – all with trauma-informed practices.

Many of its 49,000 at-risk students in California, Michigan and Ohio have endured traumas such as foster care, homelessness, hunger, abuse, bullying, illness, political/religious refuge and even human trafficking. Eighty percent are low-income, many are pregnant or parenting teens, and most enroll after dropping out, more than a year behind in credits. Learn4Life’s trauma-informed approach helps teens develop resilience to support a positive transition to adulthood after they earn their diploma.

Learn4Life is successful with 90% of its students – reengaging them in their education, helping them graduate, and preparing them for a life beyond high school with job training and placement. Nearly half enroll in post-secondary education after graduating from Learn4Life.

Understanding even small interruptions to a student’s momentum can derail their educational progress, Learn4Life has kept students engaged during the pandemic. One-on-one meetings with teachers and tutors have continued using technology such as Google Hangouts, a private YouTube curriculum channel and instant messaging. Each teacher at Learn4Life is responsible for about 35 students – unlike most high school teachers who have as many as 180 students. Learn4Life provided more than 20,000 hot spots and devices to students who needed it to stay connected to school.

Putting students back into schools means putting money back into the state. Instead of creating a lifelong drain on public resources, the thousands of dropouts saved go on to become productive, contributing members of society. Every dropout who earns their diploma is six times more likely to vote; 67 percent less likely to be unemployed and eight times less likely to be incarcerated. Watch this video to learn more about Learn4Life’s model to change students’ stories.

About Learn4Life
Learn4Life is a network of nonprofit public schools that provides students personalized learning, career training and life skills. Each school is locally controlled, tuition free and gives students the flexibility and one-on-one attention they need to succeed. Serving more than 49,000 students – including full-time and intersession students – we help them prepare for a future beyond high school. For more information, please visit www.learn4life.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Ann Abajian, Learn4Life
(844) 515-8186
[email protected]

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1274131/L4L_16.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082802/Learn4Life_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Learn4Life

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