March of Dimes Statement on Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Maternal Deaths

September 5, 2019

ARLINGTON, Virginia, Sept. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — March of Dimes today released the following statement from President and CEO Stacey D. Stewart, in response to the publication of an article in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) documenting persistent racial/ethnic disparities in pregnancy-related deaths.

“Today’s report from the CDC documents that non-Hispanic black and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women older than 30 are four to five times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than non-Hispanic white women. These data should be unacceptable to every American. America should not be the most deadly place in the developed world to give birth. It’s time for us to have an honest conversation about the huge health disparities that exist for women of color and to urgently enact a sweeping series of policy changes to combat this epidemic.

“One of the prevention targets identified in today’s MMWR is addressing implicit bias and structural racism in health care and community settings.  March of Dimes is collaborating with Quality Interactions to create a new, compelling implicit bias training for maternal care providers and health systems. It’s a unique learning opportunity to help providers determine the degree of change that can be adopted to improve the health of moms of color. This training will be available beginning in October 2019. We are also supporting legislation and policies to enhance investment in state and local Maternal Mortality Review Boards, which offer the best opportunity for further identifying strategies to reduce pregnancy-related injuries and death.”

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Pregnancy-Related Deaths — United States, 2007–2016 by Emily E. Petersen, MD and others appears in the Sept. 6 issue of MMWR, Vol. 68 / No. 35.

March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every baby can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 80-year legacy of impact and innovation, we empower every mom and every family. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/513643/March_of_Dimes_Foundation_Logo.jpg

SOURCE March of Dimes

Discover Culinary Delights This Fall In San Antonio

September 5, 2019

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Renowned as the birthplace of Tex-Mex cuisine, San Antonio is in expansion mode, making it harder for foodies to resist its culinary offerings. With warm temperatures ideal for outdoor festivals and patio seating in the fall, visitors will want to experience new chef-driven restaurants as well as join in the celebrations of Culinaria’s 20^th Anniversary food festival and the Culinary Institute of America’s Latin American Cuisine Festival – Arriba Mexico.

Visitors are invited to raise a glasses and say “Cheers to Twenty Years” during the 20th annual Culinaria Wine + Food Festival, September 26-29. For the milestone year, organizers will serve up some of the greatest hits from the last two decades while also preparing exciting twists on past favorites. More than 10,000 people are expected to take part in the weekend festivities held at the beautiful La Cantera Resort & Spa. Signature events include Bubbles, a celebration of champagne, sparkling wine and cocktails, and the festival’s popular smoky finale – Burgers, BBQ and Beer. The festival will introduce a twist on its Best of Mexico event with Arte Agave – an art and tequila extravaganza. After a decade-long absence from Culinaria, organizers are bringing back the Masquerade component of the Grand Tasting, where the best bites from San Antonio chefs and restaurants are paired with wines from across the globe and spirits showcasing creative cocktails.

At the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the vibrant flavors and rich culture of Mexico, as chefs teach how to create some of the country’s most iconic dishes. Eight distinct events October 18-19 will lead participants in a culinary journey of the unique flavors of Oaxaca. Arriba Mexico kicks off with a celebratory dinner on October 18 at the CIA’s new student-run restaurant, Savor. Additional individual classes will take a deep dive into each course of a meal – including appetizers, desserts, live fire grill, favorite and vibrant dishes – as well as a special wine tasting and pairing event and a demo of Mexico’s mother sauce, mole.

Visitors also can look forward to exploring new only-in-San Antonio restaurants for their autumn trip. Southerleigh Coast & Comfort, coming to the growing mixed-used development Brooks, is slated to open at the end of 2019. The menu will focus on family-style, coast-to-coast inspired seafood and fresh Texas Gulf Coast oysters, complemented with unique house-brewed Southerleigh beers. Southerleigh Restaurant Group’s second restaurant will join a growing list of recently opened restaurants and craft distillers from renowned San Antonio locals. Fontaine’s Southern Diner & Bar, an eagerly awaited second restaurant from Chef Tim Rattray of The Granary, opened in June 2019 to great acclaim. Fontaine’s is located in a newly converted 1930s-era gas station and based on Rattray’s Southern heritage and a love for the food and drink traditions of the South. From the great (x3) grandson of Samuel Augustus Maverick, The Maverick for which all others were named, comes Maverick Whiskey. The legend goes, Samuel Maverick left a jug of whiskey to be passed around among the heroes who died at the Alamo after being elected to represent San Antonio in the new Republic of Texas. The Maverick and Alamo Whiskeys live on. All spirits at Maverick are handmade in San Antonio and aged in Texas-made Oak barrels in the tradition of the original Alamo Whiskey from 1836. Maverick Whiskey’s distillery, tasting saloon, restaurant and gathering space are housed in the restored Historic Lockwood Bank Building (1918).

For trip planning and more on San Antonio’s culinary scene, go to VisitSanAntonio.com.

Images available at media.visitsanantonio.com.

SOURCE Visit San Antonio

TRESemmé Launches #WomenLeadTheWay Pledge at NYFW to Advance Women in Leadership

September 5, 2019

NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — This season at New York Fashion Week, TRESemmé, the official haircare sponsor of NYFW for 23 seasons, is launching its #WomenLeadTheWay Pledge, a commitment to advance women into leadership. Only 6.6% of leadership positions in Fortune 500 companies are held by women.¹ The gender leadership gap is especially problematic in fashion, where women make up more than 70 percent of the total workforce yet hold less than 25 percent of leadership positions in top fashion companies.²

Together with Vital Voices Global Partnership, Girlboss, as well as designer partners, Cushnie, Jason Wu, Jonathan Simkhai, Rebecca Minkoff, and Studio One Eighty Nine, TRESemmé invites the fashion industry and beyond to join in helping #WomenLeadTheWay.

The #WomenLeadTheWay Pledge is a commitment to not only advance women into leadership, but to accelerate it in two tangible ways:

Strive for gender balance across their organization through balanced slates with respect to recruiting and promotion
Establish formal development and mentorship opportunities for women at all levels of their organization

“We know that women have the drive and experience to lead but their opportunities for leadership continue to lag, and we see a need for change,” said Esi Eggleston Bracey, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Beauty and Personal Care at Unilever North America. “Women should have access to training, mentorship and resources that can help support and propel them forward and we as companies and organizations in the industry should be accountable for providing those. It’s time we come together and take bold action to accelerate the pace of change.”

For 70 years TRESemmé has helped women express themselves with confidence, ensuring they look good and feel good as they make their mark on the world. But confidence only gets you so far in a broken system. TRESemmé believes that when women lead the way, everyone benefits.

TRESemmé will help companies and organizations that sign onto the pledge by supporting them in the following ways:

Providing pledge participants with access to subject matter experts working in the women’s empowerment and leadership spaces to support development of customized programs.
Holding one-on-one conversations with pledge participants to understand their unique needs in delivering on their commitment.
Facilitating closed door meetings among pledge participants for open and honest conversations around gender equality, shared challenges and best practices.
Actioning progress reporting among pledge participants to ensure accountability and progress.

In addition to supporting the partners of the #WomenLeadtheWay pledge, TRESemmé remains committed to providing women with investment, resources and networking they need to become the leaders our world needs. Earlier this year, TRESemmé helped to provide the Girlboss community of nearly 4 million women with access to resources and community building content to help them achieve their goals. More recently, TRESemmé introduced a Leadership Incubator program with Vital Voices to support women on their leadership journey. Looking ahead, TRESemmé will establish and fund a formal mentorship program within Unilever as it continues to strive for opportunities to accelerate women into leadership roles through hiring and recruiting practices.

For individuals interested in supporting the pledge, visit tresemme.com/pledge for more information and to access a letter template that can be filled out and issued to employers, encouraging them to take action to support all women leaders – current and future.

For more information on the pledge, how to join in, and TRESemmé’s various initiatives to support women leaders, visit tresemme.com/pledge and follow TRESemmé on Instagram.

About Unilever United States, Inc.

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

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

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

For more information on Unilever U.S., its brands, and the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan visit: www.unileverusa.com

¹Rockefeller Foundation 2019 report
² Business of Fashion 2015 survey

MEDIA CONTACT
Caitlin Gronski
Edelman
[email protected]

SOURCE TRESemmé

Hogg Foundation to Award $2 Million in Grants for 2020 Census, Latinos a Key Focus

September 5, 2019

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health is accepting proposals for the Texas Communities Count initiative, which will support complete count efforts in Texas for the 2020 U.S. Census. The foundation plans to award grants totaling $2 million.

The primary focus is to aid collaborative approaches that aim to reach traditionally hard-to-count (HTC) populations, communities and geographic areas throughout the state. The goal is to promote active participation in the 2020 Census so that every person in Texas is counted.

Without a complete count during the 2020 Census, Texas will face unprecedented challenges, losing both resources and representation for at least a decade. An accurate and complete census is necessary to determine fair allocation of federal dollars for resources, services and infrastructure that support our everyday quality of life.

Latino communities are especially likely to be concentrated in hard-to-count areas of the state. The Census Bureau estimates that Latinos were undercounted by about 700,000 in the 2010 Census, and that approximately 400,000 Latino children between the ages of 0 and 4 were overlooked. A significant undercount of this population would have a seriously negative impact on their communities and the state as a whole.

“An undercount of Texas’ population by even one-percent could result in a $300 million loss in federal funding, and about 25 percent of Texans—over 6 million people—live in hard-to-count neighborhoods,” said Dr. Octavio N. Martinez, Jr., executive director of the Hogg Foundation and senior associate vice president for diversity and community engagement at The University of Texas at Austin. “So the stakes, particularly for Latinos and other historically excluded communities, couldn’t be higher.”

The foundation seeks proposals that support (1) direct, local, on-the-ground complete count efforts or (2) statewide coordination of these local efforts. Preference will be given to strategies that focus on HTC populations and communities or geographic regions in Texas that are designated as health professional shortage areas.

Hard-to-count populations are defined as persons who typically do not get captured by census data, according to the Census Bureau’s research. Examples are children under the age of five, highly mobile people, racial and ethnic minorities, non-English speakers, low-income and persons experiencing homelessness, and undocumented immigrants. People with mental health conditions are also a HTC population. A useful guide to HTC populations can be found here.

“Due to the fact that many of the hard-to-count populations live in health professional shortage areas in Texas, federal funding is even more paramount to closing the gap of what health care is available to support well-being and mental health,” said Emily Bhandari, strategic learning and evaluation program officer for the Hogg Foundation.

In addition to ensuring an accurate count, this initiative is also an opportunity to promote new forms of community collaboration and civic engagement that yield benefits for Texans over the long-term.

The deadline for submitting proposals is September 23, 2019. Details about the initiative and how to apply can be found at hogg.utexas.edu/texas-communities-count.

ABOUT THE HOGG FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH
Established in 1940, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health envisions a future in which the people of Texas thrive in communities that support mental health and well-being. Using a variety of approaches, including grantmaking, convening, research and public policy, the foundation works collaboratively to transform how communities promote mental health in everyday life.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/970196/Hogg_Foundation.jpg

SOURCE Hogg Foundation

HOLA! USA Presents Its First LatiNEXT Issue Featuring Cover Stars Isabela Moner, Denise Bidot, Juanpa Zurita, Marielena Davila, Franco Noriega

September 5, 2019

NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — HOLA! USA is proud to present the first LatiNEXT Issue. Gracing the October cover is the new generation of Latino media superstars: plus-size model Denise Bidot, who is changing the concept of female beauty to make it more inclusive; actress Isabela Moner, who is inspiring youth with her entrepreneurial spirit; Peruvian chef, singer, model, and restaurateur Franco Noriega, who drives us to explore our passions; actress and singer Marielena Dávila, who promotes body positivism; and actor, model, and businessman Juanpa Zurita, who promotes his humanitarian agenda.

In this issue, it is important to celebrate the thriving sociocultural group that is the new and powerful generation to carry the torch— the young Latinos who have been born and raised in the digital era and for whom technology is second nature. “The combination of youth, connectivity, and digital savviness has positioned the next generation of powerful Latinos a force evident in all areas of their lives,” Miguel Sirgado, editor-in-chief says.

In the October issue you will also find:

The “Best In Beauty” Awards – Over 200 winning products tried and tested – We imagine our readers as knowledgeable and innovative in all things beauty— recognizing that we have different skin tones and hair textures— and we are not a one-size-fits-all audience. In the spirit of celebrating beauty inclusivity, we’ve curated an array of products that caters to all women and speaks to modern-day trends.
Insightful Interviews

An exclusive interview with Dominican Paola Santana, one of Silicon Valley’s most influential Latinas, the founder of the first company in the world to create and use commercial drones for transportation.
Sofia Carson opens up about where she is in her professional and personal life.
Andrés Felipe Mosquera and Elayne Mosquera, Colombian models with the same last name but no relation, show off fall trends while candidly speaking about diversity in the fashion world.

In H! Living we take a look at the rebirth of Puerto Rico.
All access inside L’Attitude – The founders, Solomon ‘Sol’ Trujillo and Gary Acosta, discuss the groundbreaking event designed to empower Latinos to reclaim their contributions to the growing U.S. economy.

HOLA’s cover stars on LatiNEXT:
Isabela Moner on being a proud Latina: “I have to thank my mom because she’s the one who made me value my roots and where I come from. I grew up in Ohio, and in school they made fun of my accent. I wanted to stop speaking Spanish, so my mom sent me to Peru to go to school for a semester, and that’s where I learned to value my roots. [In terms of my music,] I really admire Rosalía. I’ve been recording for a year now, and I took that Latin pop I really love and added Peruvian instruments in the melodies.”

Juanpa Zurita on resonating with his 22 million + followers: “I gained a voice by accident. I slowly started to be a voice. There was a moment when I asked myself what would happen if I use all this for something bigger. Bigger than entertaining… trying to literally change the life of someone. For me social media is also kind of a personal autobiography. I almost have two different faces—either I’m serious or funny.”

Denise Bidot on how the fashion industry has changed: “When I started, fashion for curvy women was very ugly. Then they realized [and said]: ‘Oh wait, they are not buying only fashion for plus girls until they lose weight; they are not all on a diet. They are women comfortable with themselves and strong, who just want to dress like the others.’ When fashion caught up I was so excited!”

Marielena Davila on being real with her followers: “People respond when you’re real. When I talk about what is going on in Venezuela or about the fact that I have Hashimoto’s disease, that’s when people respond because it humanizes you. Growing up with celebrity parents, I learned to see through the façade, and I don’t buy into the hype. I want people to see I’m just human.”

Franco Noriega on his Latin background influencing his career: “I truly believe that [your country’s] flavors and spices are not only for food but should also be part of your [expressions] and personality.” Franco Noriega continues on advice for this new LatiNext generation: “Be yourself and work only with people who really believe in you.”

**More quotes from all stories available upon request**

Available to subscribers on September 5 and on newsstands September 13th

Photo Credit: Matt Doyle

Hi-Res Cover Image: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/af01TflCDf

Digital Cover: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/nJPEpkMMyw/files/fi-040785fb-d4f2-469d-8827-0852bd89da11/fv-a49b7954-efb5-4c14-93b3-6fb3526b48c5/LatiNextDigitalCover.mp4

Anything used must be linked back to: https://us.hola.com/celebrities/2019090527653/latinext-cover-stars-hola-usa-exclusive-interview-video/

About ¡HOLA!:
Founded in 1944, ¡HOLA! magazine has become one of the world leaders in its field. Its long history of publishing the best photographs of celebrities and royalty has made it an international icon of glamor, informative precision and superb quality. The Spanish company HELLO! & ¡HOLA! Media, Inc. publishes 30 international editions in 10 languages on five continents. ¡HOLA! reaches 25 million readers worldwide, has 24 million unique monthly visits and more than 13 million followers on social networks, and is seen by 21.5 million on its transmission channel, ¡HOLA! TV.

Follow ¡HOLA! USA
Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest: @usahola
Facebook.com/RevistaHolaUSA
Web: http://us.hola.com/
Hashtag: #HOLAUSA

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SOURCE HOLA! USA

Cyber Readiness Institute Extends Cyber Readiness Program to Spanish and Portuguese Speakers

September 5, 2019

Free Cyber Hygiene Tools Expand Non-Profit’s Global Reach

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI) continued its global expansion today with the release of Spanish and Portuguese versions of its Cyber Readiness Program for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The Cyber Readiness Institute offers free tools and resources to help SMEs build a cyber readiness culture and educates employees about cyber secure behaviors that will protect the enterprise, customers and partners.

“Cybersecurity and cyber readiness have no borders. They are global issues that every company faces regardless of geographic location,” said Kiersten Todt, managing director of CRI. “Cyber readiness, hygiene and resiliency are critical in an interdependent world where global companies rely on small businesses as critical partners in integrated supply chains. We will continue to expand the availability of our Cyber Readiness Program in other languages.”

CRI is currently translating its Cyber Readiness Program into Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, French and German.

CRI’s Cyber Readiness Program addresses four primary cybersecurity issues: passwords, phishing, software updates and USB use. Developed with input from leading security experts at global companies and feedback from SMEs, the program is free, self-guided and online.

Throughout the program, users are provided with resources and tools — including policies, posters and workforce education materials — that align with each step of the program’s five-stage process. Companies are asked to designate a cyber leader, who already works within their organization, to take ownership of the program.

About the Cyber Readiness Institute
The Cyber Readiness Institute is a non-profit initiative that convenes senior business leaders from across sectors and geographic regions to share resources and knowledge that inform the development of free cybersecurity tools for small and medium-sized enterprises. The Institute seeks to advance the cyber readiness of small and medium-sized enterprises to improve the security of global value chains. The free, self-guided Cyber Readiness Program for small and medium-sized enterprises was launched in December 2018 and is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

SOURCE Cyber Readiness Institute

eMerge Americas Insights Reports Record Year For Investment And Venture Activity In South Florida

September 5, 2019

Inspiration, Innovation, and a Nod to the Future Take Center Stage at eMERGE Americas 2016

MIAMI, Sept. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — eMerge Americas, a platform which fosters innovation and serves as a catalyst for transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas, published its biannual “eMerge Insights” report on South Florida venture activity and investment trends in partnership with Florida International University, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and former Miami Herald business writer Nancy Dahlberg.

“This year is shaping up to be another record year for investment and venture activity in South Florida, and we are just getting started,” said Felice Gorordo, CEO of eMerge Americas. “Startups across South Florida attracted $1.54 Billion in VC funding in the first half of 2019, surpassing all of 2018 combined, and ranking us seventh in the U.S. – outpacing Austin, Chicago and Washington, D.C.“

Amongst other noteworthy highlights in the published report:

Startups based in the greater Miami–Ft. Lauderdale metro area snagged three quarters of the state of Florida’s venture capital in dollar value of deals, and more than half of the number of deals.
Health tech, medical device and life science startups encompassed one-third of the deals in South Florida – up from 23 percent in 2018, showing a significant spike for the industry and helping establish Miami as an emerging healthcare innovation hub.
63 percent of the 2019 deals in South Florida thus far are angel or seed stage deals, about the same pace as last year, but 28% greater than nationally.

“We always envisioned Miami would be a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity, and we now have the comparative data to trace how much this ecosystem has evolved and the transformational impact we are making as a community,” said Melissa Medina, President of eMerge Americas.

In April 2019, eMerge Americas published its first installment of investment insights with an overview and analysis of South Florida venture activity of 2018. To download the eMerge Insights 2019 Mid-Year Report, click here.

About eMerge Americas

eMerge Americas is the premier technology event connecting the Americas held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center. By connecting global industry leaders and investors with corporate business executives, government leaders, and entrepreneurs, eMerge Americas is transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas. In 2019, eMerge Americas attracted over 16,000 attendees and more than 400 participating companies from over 40 countries. eMerge Americas serves as a catalyst in order to foster innovation and investment in South Florida and Latin America. The eMerge Americas founding partners include: Medina Capital, A Rod Corporation, Greenberg Traurig, Knight Foundation, Miami-Dade County, and the Miami Herald. The upcoming eMerge Americas conference is scheduled for March 30-31, 2020. For more information about eMerge Americas, please visit: www.emergeamericas.com.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/357556/eMERGE_2016_Logo.jpg

SOURCE eMerge Americas

MBDA Announces 2019 National MED Week Award Winners

September 5, 2019

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) proudly announces recipients of the 2019 Minority Enterprise Awards. The Minority Enterprise Award is the highest level of national recognition that a U.S. minority-owned firm can receive from the Department of Commerce. These prestigious awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of minority entrepreneurs, as well as the individuals and organizations that have demonstrated their commitment to advancing minority business enterprises.

“During Minority Enterprise Development Week, we honor exceptional business leaders, and their contribution to a strong and healthy American economy. Minority-owned businesses are growing at a faster rate than non-minority owned businesses. It is a national imperative that the United States continues to invest in MBEs,” said MBDA National Director Henry Childs, II. “I congratulate the 2019 Minority Enterprise Award winners and invite the minority business community to join us for a week-long celebration of Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week, as proclaimed by the President of the United States.”

The Minority Enterprise Awards Ceremony is the kick-off event for the annual observance of Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week). Other MED Week events scheduled the week of September 8 include: Growth Equity M2M Investment Summit, Global Markets Roundtable, Enterprising Women of Color Forum, MBE Policy Symposium, and MBDA Digital Day.

The 2019 National Minority Business Award recipients are:

MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE AWARDS

Minority Business Enterprise of the Year is presented to Management and Engineering Technologies International (METI). METI provides information technology and engineering support services to the federal sector and private industry throughout the United States and several other countries. Established in 1994, METI has a presence in more than 20 states and an international presence that spans more than 80 countries

Minority Construction Firm of the Year is presented to NEZ/FCI Native American, LLC.
a premier construction company primarily serving Native American Country in the greater Southwestern United States. The company has grown exponentially over the last four years and has employed nearly 1,200 workers through sub-contracts with approximately one-third being of Native American heritage.

Minority Professional Services Firm of the Year is presented to MPACT Strategic Consulting an emergency management and disaster recovery firm that assists public and private sector organizations to prepare, respond, and recover from natural and man-made disasters. Founded in 2007, MPACT has emerged as one of the fastest-growing emergency management and disaster recovery firms in the nation with a 390% growth from 2014-2017.

Minority Technology Firm of the Year is presented to V-Soft Consulting. Known as an agile innovative technology services company, V-Soft has been recognized among the Top 100 fastest growing staffing companies in North America. Today, they operate in eight locations across North America, with more than 1,500 global employees.

CHAMPIONS OF MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Access to Capital Award is presented to DreamSpring, a community development organization that provides financing and support to under-represented and under-capitalized entrepreneurs in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. DreamSpring helps bridge the “credit gap” that can prevent hardworking and visionary entrepreneurs from reaching their full potential and creating jobs in their communities.

The Advocate of the Year Award is presented to Cindy Ramos-Davidson. President and Chief Executive Officer of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She began her career with the chamber of commerce more than 40 years ago, serving more than 20 years in a leadership role in El Paso. Ramos-Davidson’s passion for entrepreneurship and business development in the southwest border region has defined her career as steadfast advocate for minority, veteran, and women-owned businesses.

Distinguished Supplier Diversity Award is presented to Ingersoll Rand. Under the leadership of Jackie LaJoie, Ingersoll Rand is building world class programs and driving results for diversity and inclusion. Since 2013, Ingersoll Rand has spent more than $2.4 billion with minority-owned businesses. They are committed to operating a successful and sustainable program that creates jobs for supplier partners, economic growth for local communities, and customers for life for Ingersoll Rand.

INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION

The Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award, inspired by the late U.S. Secretary of Commerce, recognizes an individual who has shown exceptional leadership and achieved significant success in supporting diversity in the public or private sector. This year’s awards recipient is Denise Burgess, president and CEO of Burgess Services, LLC, a Denver-based construction management firm. Burgess’ work in the construction community led to her appointment to the Construction Empowerment Initiative advisory board and under her leadership, certified firms expanded from 500 to over 1,500.

About the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week

MBDA is the only Federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority business enterprises through the mobilization and advancement of public and private sector programs, policy, and research. Our services better equip minority-owned firms to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues and expand regionally, nationally and internationally. In 2019, MBDA commemorates 50 years of economic empowerment through entrepreneurship and recommits to Winning the Future for all U.S. minority-owned businesses. For more information visit www.mbda.gov.

Since 1983, every U.S. president has issued a Presidential Proclamation designating National MED Week to recognize the contributions of the minority business community to the U.S. economy. MBDA has hosted the National MED Week celebration since its inception. The 2019 National MED Week events are sponsored by Facebook, The Coca-Cola Company, Raytheon, AT&T, and IBM. Learn more at https://medweek.mbda.gov.

Contact: Velicia D. Woods
Website: www.mbda.gov
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

$69 Million Settlement for California Consumers and the State At Large Regarding Provigil®, Nuvigil®, and its Generic Equivalent Modafinil Announced by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra

September 4, 2019

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —

If You Purchased PROVIGIL^®, NUVIGIL^®, or Generic Provigil^®(Modafinil) a CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL Settlement Could Affect You

INFORMATION ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL SETTLEMENT

A proposed $69,000,000 Settlement has been reached in a lawsuit regarding the prescription drugs Provigil^®, Nuvigil^®, and generic Provigil^®(modafinil). The California Attorney General’s lawsuit asserts that defendants violated antitrust and consumer protection laws by delaying the availability of less expensive generic versions of Provigil^®. Defendants have denied any wrongdoing.

No one is claiming that Provigil^®, Nuvigil^®, or modafinil is unsafe or ineffective.

Who Is Eligible To Make A Claim?

You are eligible to make a claim if you:

Purchased and/or paid for Provigil^®, Nuvigil^®, and/or generic versions of Provigil^®(modafinil),
Were a resident of California at the time each purchase was made,
Purchased by you as a caregiver or for your personal consumption, and
Purchased between June 24, 2006 and December 31, 2012.

You are eligible even if your purchase was reimbursed fully or partially by insurance.

What Does The Settlement Provide?

The Defendants will pay a total of $69 million into a Settlement Fund to settle all claims in the California Attorney General’s lawsuit brought on behalf the State of California and its consumers.

$25,250,000 of the Settlement Fund has been allocated for claims by eligible consumers. This portion will be distributed to consumers who file a valid Claim Form. The amount of money you might receive will depend on the total number of eligible purchases made of Provigil^®, Nuvigil^®, or modafinil you claim multiplied by a fixed dollar amount per prescription.

The California Attorney General Settlement is independent of, and in addition to, a $65,877,600 Settlement in a multistate Class Action Lawsuit involving Provigil^® and modafinil. For more information about the Class Action Lawsuit and its multistate Settlement, please visit www.ProvigilSettlement.com. Please note that, if eligible, you may submit a claim in both the California Attorney General Settlement and the Class Action Lawsuit.

How do I get a payment?

You must submit a Claim Form by January 15, 2020 to be eligible for a payment. The Claim Form, and instructions on how to submit it, are available at www.ProvigilSettlement.com or by calling 1-877-241-7503.

What are my other rights?

If you do not want to be legally bound by the Settlement, you must exclude yourself. The exclusion deadline is December 6, 2019. If you do not exclude yourself, you will not be able to sue the defendants for any claim relating to those in the lawsuit. If you stay in the Settlement, you may object to the Settlement by January 15, 2020. Please review the requirements for exclusion and objection by visiting www.ProvigilSettlement.com/CA or calling 1-877-241-7503.

The Court will hold a hearing at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on February 26, 2020 to consider whether to approve the Settlement, any objections, and any other issues related to the Settlement. You or your own lawyer may ask to appear and speak at the hearing at your own expense. All deadlines may be amended by the Court, so please check the website noted below for updates.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A CLAIM FORM:
VISIT WWW.PROVIGILSETTLEMENT.COM/CA OR CALL 1-877-241-7503.

SOURCE Office of the California Attorney General

$65.8 Million Class Action Settlement for Purchasers of Provigil®, and its Generic Equivalent Modafinil Announced by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, Spector Roseman & Kodroff, P.C. and Criden & Love, P.A.

September 4, 2019

NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —

If You Purchased PROVIGIL^®, NUVIGIL^®* Or Generic Provigil^® (MODAFINIL), A Class Action Settlement And A California Attorney General Settlement* Could Affect You

INFORMATION REGARDING CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT

A proposed $65,877,600 settlement has been reached in a Class Action Lawsuit on behalf of consumers and third-party payors regarding the prescription drug Provigil^® and its generic equivalent modafinil. The Class Action Lawsuit claims that Defendants violated state antitrust and consumer protection laws by delaying the availability of less expensive generic versions of Provigil^®. Defendants deny any wrongdoing.

No one is claiming that Provigil^® or its generic equivalent modafinil is unsafe or ineffective.

Who Is Included?

You are a Consumer Class Member if you are:

In Alabama, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin, and you
Purchased Provigil® or modafinil (e.g., by paying the full purchase price or a co-payment)
For consumption by yourself or your family
From June 24, 2006 through August 8, 2019.

You are NOT a class member even if you satisfy the above criteria if you were also insured and paid a flat co-pay that was the same dollar amount for generic as for brand drug purchases, or were insured and purchased only generic modafinil pursuant to a fixed co-pay applicable to generic drugs. In addition, employees of the defendants are not class members.

Please note that consumers may file a claim in this case even if the consumer previously participated and recovered money in the earlier State Attorneys General Settlement concerning Provigil^®.

What Does The Class Action Settlement Provide?

The defendants will pay $65,877,600 into a Settlement Fund to settle all claims in the lawsuit brought on behalf of consumers and health insurers (known as third-party payors). The Settlement Fund will be distributed pursuant to a Plan of Allocation that can be reviewed at www.ProvigilSettlement.com.

Class Counsel will ask the Court to award attorneys’ fees in an amount not to exceed one-third of the Settlement Fund, plus interest, litigation expenses and incentive payments to the Class Representatives. After these deductions, the remainder of the Settlement Fund will be distributed pro rata to Class Members who file a valid claim form. The consumer portion of the settlement fund will equal approximately $20,000,000, before deductions for fees and expenses. The precise amount that you might receive from the net settlement fund will depend on how much you (and other consumers) paid for Provigil^® and modafinil.

How Do I Get A Payment?

You must submit a Claim Form by January 15, 2020 to be eligible for a payment. You can obtain a Claim Form by visiting www.ProvigilSettlement.com or calling 1-877-241-7503.

What Are My Other Rights?

If you do not want to be legally bound by the Settlements, you must exclude yourself. The exclusion deadline is December 6, 2019. If you do not exclude yourself, you will not be able to sue the defendants for any claim relating to the lawsuit. If you stay in the Class, you may object to the Settlements by January 15, 2020. Please review the requirements for exclusion and objection by visiting www.ProvigilSettlement.com or calling 1-877-241-7503.

The Court will hold a hearing on February 26, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to consider whether to approve the Settlements, counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees, expenses and incentive awards, any objections, and any other issues related to the Settlements. The Court has appointed Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, Spector Roseman & Kodroff, P.C. and Criden & Love, P.A. to represent the Class. Although not required, you or your own lawyer may ask to appear and speak at the hearing at your own expense. All deadlines may be amended by the Court, so please check the website noted below for updates.

INFORMATION REGARDING CALIFORNIA
ATTORNEY GENERAL SETTLEMENT

*CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS: You may also be eligible to claim from the CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL’S $69,000,000 proposed settlement for purchases of Provigil^®, NUVIGIL^®, or modafinil, of which $25,250,000 will be available to eligible California consumers even if they have already recovered money from other related settlements. See www.ProvigilSettlement.com/CA for more information. You may recover for an eligible claim in both the California Attorney General Settlement and the Class Action Settlement described above.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A CLAIM FORM:
VISIT WWW.PROVIGILSETTLEMENT.COM OR CALL 1-877-241-7503.

SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, Spector Roseman & Kodroff, P.C. and Criden & Love, P.A.

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