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Officially Authorized Luis Miguel Life Story Series To Premiere on Telemundo

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MIAMI, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and Gato Grande Productions, a new joint venture between MGM and Mexican entrepreneurs Miguel Alemán Magnani and Antonio Cué Sánchez Navarro, announced an agreement giving Telemundo exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to the officially authorized TV series based on the life of the internationally renowned music super star and Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum recording artist, Luis Miguel. 

“For decades I have been asked to tell my story, many have created their own versions, now I have decided to tell the true story of my life,” said Luis Miguel. “I am ready to revisit my past and its many aspects that have sparked so much curiosity and speculation.  People will travel alongside with me through a surprising, unexpected and emotional journey that has shaped the artist and the person that I am today.”

The TV series will have its world premiere on Telemundo, the innovative Spanish-language network that introduced hit bio-musicals such as “Celia” and “Hasta Que Te Conocí,” and will be produced by Gato Grande Productions. MGM’s President, Television Group and Digital, Mark Burnett, will help develop the series and lead Gato Grande in its first scripted project designed to tackle the growing U.S. Hispanic market. 

This is not Burnett’s first foray into Spanish-language programming. Burnett (The Voice, Survivor, Shark Tank) and MGM are in their third season with Lucha Underground a professional wrestling series. Burnett produced the Spanish-language version of Son of God, which was shown in more than 400 theaters in the U.S. “Luis Miguel has become a close personal friend of mine and my wife Roma. He is a wonderful human being and a bonafide superstar whose authentic story deserves to be told. I am grateful he selected us for this production and I know that Telemundo is the perfect and biggest home for the Luis Miguel story,” said Mark Burnett.   

“We are proud to partner with Gato Grande and Mark to bring Luis Miguel’s official and authorized life story for the first time to U.S. Hispanic audiences,” said Cesar Conde, Chairman, NBCUniversal International Group and NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. “Our Telemundo teams have established themselves as the leaders in finding the best stories and developing innovative genres for the U.S. Hispanic market. We are thrilled to add such a legendary music icon to our primetime bio-musicals lineup.”

Overseeing the production of the series is Gato Grande’s head of development, Carla González Vargas, who was an independent filmmaker in Mexico and author of several books on film history. 

About NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises:
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises encompasses Telemundo, a Spanish-language television network reaching 94% of Hispanic TV households and featuring original scripted and non-scripted productions, theatrical motion pictures, specials, news and first-class sports events; Telemundo Studios, the leading producer of original Spanish-language primetime content in the U.S.; the Telemundo Station Group, reaching U.S. Hispanic viewers in 210 markets, through its 17 owned stations and 54 broadcast affiliates in the US and Puerto Rico; Universo, the fastest growing Spanish-language entertainment cable network in the U.S. bringing immersive original programming and the world’s top sports franchises to more than 40 million households; Telemundo International, the second largest distributor of Spanish-language content in the world, reaching more than 120 countries in over 40 languages; and its Digital Media unit, which creates and distributes original content across digital and emerging platforms including mobile devices, apps, www.telemundo.com and www.nbcuniverso.com, and operates Fluency Productions, the company’s multi-format, multi-platform production studio. NBCUniversalTelemundo Enterprises is a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

About Luis Miguel
Considered one of the top male singers worldwide today, selling over 100 million records worldwide. Winner of 5 Grammy Music Awards – A child prodigy who won his first Grammy at the age of fourteen – and continuing until today – the recipient of a continuous stream of awards generated from the American Grammy’s; Latin Grammy’s; Billboard Awards; and various foreign governments, including Mexico and Spain. His musical career spans the genre of the music world; from pop, bolero, mariachi and romantic ballads, to recording a duet with Frank Sinatra “Come Fly With Me” and being personally invited by Frank Sinatra to appear with him on Frank Sinatra’s show: 80 Years My Way -along with Bruce Springsteen, Natalie Cole, and Bob Dylan.

About Gato Grande Productions
Gato Grande is a joint venture between Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and high profile Mexican entrepreneurs, Miguel Alemán Magnani and Antonio Cué Sánchez Navarro. The newly founded company develops and produces high-quality Spanish-language content.

About Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett is a ten-time Emmy Award winning television producer and MGM’s President, Television Group and Digital. Burnett has produced more than 3,200 hours of television programming, which regularly airs in more than 70 countries worldwide. Currently, Burnett is currently executive producing six network television shows and a cable show: The Voice (NBC), Survivor (CBS), Shark Tank (ABC), Beyond the Tank (ABC), Lucha Underground (The El Rey Network) and the upcoming Steve Harvey’s Funderdome (ABC) and Beat Shazam with Jamie Foxx  (FOX). In December 2015, Burnett was named MGM’s President, Television Group and Digital numerous scripted television series to his oversight including Fargo (FX), Vikings (HISTORY) and Teen Wolf (MTV). MGM Television’s The Handmaid’s Tale recently premiered on Hulu and its upcoming series, Get Shorty, will launch on EPIX and Condor will be seen on AT&T’s Audience Network this year.

 

LUIS MIGUEL - Credit: Gato Grande Productions

 

LUIS MIGUEL_002 - Credit: Gato Grande Productions

 

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Officially Authorized Luis Miguel Life Story Series To Premiere on Telemundo

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MIAMI, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and Gato Grande Productions, a new joint venture between MGM and Mexican entrepreneurs Miguel Alemán Magnani and Antonio Cué Sánchez Navarro, announced an agreement giving Telemundo exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to the officially authorized TV series based on the life of the internationally renowned music super star and Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum recording artist, Luis Miguel. 

“For decades I have been asked to tell my story, many have created their own versions, now I have decided to tell the true story of my life,” said Luis Miguel. “I am ready to revisit my past and its many aspects that have sparked so much curiosity and speculation.  People will travel alongside with me through a surprising, unexpected and emotional journey that has shaped the artist and the person that I am today.”

The TV series will have its world premiere on Telemundo, the innovative Spanish-language network that introduced hit bio-musicals such as “Celia” and “Hasta Que Te Conocí,” and will be produced by Gato Grande Productions. MGM’s President, Television Group and Digital, Mark Burnett, will help develop the series and lead Gato Grande in its first scripted project designed to tackle the growing U.S. Hispanic market. 

This is not Burnett’s first foray into Spanish-language programming. Burnett (The Voice, Survivor, Shark Tank) and MGM are in their third season with Lucha Underground a professional wrestling series. Burnett produced the Spanish-language version of Son of God, which was shown in more than 400 theaters in the U.S. “Luis Miguel has become a close personal friend of mine and my wife Roma. He is a wonderful human being and a bonafide superstar whose authentic story deserves to be told. I am grateful he selected us for this production and I know that Telemundo is the perfect and biggest home for the Luis Miguel story,” said Mark Burnett.   

“We are proud to partner with Gato Grande and Mark to bring Luis Miguel’s official and authorized life story for the first time to U.S. Hispanic audiences,” said Cesar Conde, Chairman, NBCUniversal International Group and NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. “Our Telemundo teams have established themselves as the leaders in finding the best stories and developing innovative genres for the U.S. Hispanic market. We are thrilled to add such a legendary music icon to our primetime bio-musicals lineup.”

Overseeing the production of the series is Gato Grande’s head of development, Carla González Vargas, who was an independent filmmaker in Mexico and author of several books on film history. 

About NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises:
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises encompasses Telemundo, a Spanish-language television network reaching 94% of Hispanic TV households and featuring original scripted and non-scripted productions, theatrical motion pictures, specials, news and first-class sports events; Telemundo Studios, the leading producer of original Spanish-language primetime content in the U.S.; the Telemundo Station Group, reaching U.S. Hispanic viewers in 210 markets, through its 17 owned stations and 54 broadcast affiliates in the US and Puerto Rico; Universo, the fastest growing Spanish-language entertainment cable network in the U.S. bringing immersive original programming and the world’s top sports franchises to more than 40 million households; Telemundo International, the second largest distributor of Spanish-language content in the world, reaching more than 120 countries in over 40 languages; and its Digital Media unit, which creates and distributes original content across digital and emerging platforms including mobile devices, apps, www.telemundo.com and www.nbcuniverso.com, and operates Fluency Productions, the company’s multi-format, multi-platform production studio. NBCUniversalTelemundo Enterprises is a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

About Luis Miguel
Considered one of the top male singers worldwide today, selling over 100 million records worldwide. Winner of 5 Grammy Music Awards – A child prodigy who won his first Grammy at the age of fourteen – and continuing until today – the recipient of a continuous stream of awards generated from the American Grammy’s; Latin Grammy’s; Billboard Awards; and various foreign governments, including Mexico and Spain. His musical career spans the genre of the music world; from pop, bolero, mariachi and romantic ballads, to recording a duet with Frank Sinatra “Come Fly With Me” and being personally invited by Frank Sinatra to appear with him on Frank Sinatra’s show: 80 Years My Way -along with Bruce Springsteen, Natalie Cole, and Bob Dylan.

About Gato Grande Productions
Gato Grande is a joint venture between Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and high profile Mexican entrepreneurs, Miguel Alemán Magnani and Antonio Cué Sánchez Navarro. The newly founded company develops and produces high-quality Spanish-language content.

About Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett is a ten-time Emmy Award winning television producer and MGM’s President, Television Group and Digital. Burnett has produced more than 3,200 hours of television programming, which regularly airs in more than 70 countries worldwide. Currently, Burnett is currently executive producing six network television shows and a cable show: The Voice (NBC), Survivor (CBS), Shark Tank (ABC), Beyond the Tank (ABC), Lucha Underground (The El Rey Network) and the upcoming Steve Harvey’s Funderdome (ABC) and Beat Shazam with Jamie Foxx  (FOX). In December 2015, Burnett was named MGM’s President, Television Group and Digital numerous scripted television series to his oversight including Fargo (FX), Vikings (HISTORY) and Teen Wolf (MTV). MGM Television’s The Handmaid’s Tale recently premiered on Hulu and its upcoming series, Get Shorty, will launch on EPIX and Condor will be seen on AT&T’s Audience Network this year.

 

LUIS MIGUEL - Credit: Gato Grande Productions

 

LUIS MIGUEL_002 - Credit: Gato Grande Productions

 

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SC Johnson Central America Named the Top 2017 Best Multinational Workplace

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The SC Johnson Central America team celebrates their top ranking as 2017 Best Multinational Workplace (PRNewsfoto/SC Johnson)

RACINE, Wisconsin, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — SC Johnson, maker of trusted brands like Glade®, Raid®, Mr Musculo® and Baygon® today announced SC Johnson Central America has been recognized as the top 2017 Best Multinational Company by the Great Place to Work® Institute. This is the second time the company earned the No. 1 spot in the rankings which includes Costa Rica, Central America and the Caribbean.

The SC Johnson Central America team celebrates their top ranking as 2017 Best Multinational Workplace (PRNewsfoto/SC Johnson)

This is SC Johnson Central America’s 10th consecutive appearance in the ranking. The company was also the No. 1 rated Best Multinational Workplace in 2016.

“Congratulations to the people of SC Johnson Central America for building a culture of respect and inclusion,” said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. “The ranking is a testament to their efforts in building a great environment for the people who make SC Johnson a success.”

The Central America team joins SC Johnson Venezuela, France, Germany, Poland, Greece, Mexico, Canada and the United Kingdom on the 2017 list of Best Workplaces.

The Best Workplaces list is the world’s largest annual study of workplace excellence. The ranking is determined by the results of an employee opinion survey and information provided about company culture, programs and policies.

In the United States, SC Johnson has been included 28 times in Working Mother magazine’s list of the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” and last year received a perfect score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index.

Also in 2016, SC Johnson was named one of the 25 World’s Best Multinational Workplaces by the Great Place to Work® Institute, earning the 20th spot in the ranking. It was the company’s fifth year to be included on the list.

About SC Johnson

SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care, as well as professional products. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, KIWI®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, TANA®, BAMA®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, MR MUSCLE® and RIDSECT®. The 131-year-old company, which generates $10 billion in sales, employs approximately 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

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SC Johnson

Diverse and growing Hispanic/Latino populations in New York City share a common risk: Alzheimer’s disease

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Alzheimer's Association : NYC Chapter Logo - http://www.alz.org/nyc/

NEW YORK, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Mexican celebration of Cinco de Mayo, the Puerto Rican Day and Dominican Day parades are just a few of the colorful and highly anticipated community events that recognize the diverse and unique Hispanic/Latino populations in New York City. The Puerto Rican population of New York City is the largest outside Puerto Rico, and according to the NYC2010 Census, the Hispanic population in New York City grew by 8.1 percent in the past decade, reaching 2,336,076 and accounting for 28.6 percent of the city’s population.

Alzheimer's Association : NYC Chapter Logo - http://www.alz.org/nyc/

Hispanics everywhere take pride in their individual cultures, but they all share an unwelcome statistic: Hispanics are one-and-a-half times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s and other dementias than their white neighbors, and their numbers are growing every year.

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that although the rate of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in Hispanics is higher than in whites, they are less likely than whites to have a diagnosis of the condition. According to the 2006 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), both African-Americans and Hispanics with cognitive impairment are less likely than whites to say that a doctor has told them they have a “memory-related disease.”

When they are diagnosed, Hispanics and African-Americans are typically diagnosed in the later stages of the disease, when they are more cognitively and physically impaired – and therefore need more medical care. As a result, both groups use substantially more hospital, physician and home health services – and incur substantially higher costs for those services – than whites with Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association reported that Medicare payments for Hispanics with Alzheimer’s and other dementias were 37 percent higher than those for their white counterparts.

Genetic factors do not appear to account for the greater prevalence of – or the greater risk for developing – Alzheimer’s disease in Hispanics. However, high blood pressure and diabetes are substantial risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other dementias among all groups, and diabetes is more prevalent in the Hispanic community. These conditions, among others, may contribute to the greater prevalence of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Better management of these conditions – especially if treatment were begun in people who have these conditions in midlife – may help reduce Alzheimer’s and dementia risk among Hispanics.

To meet the urgent need for education and support in the Hispanic communities, the Alzheimer’s Association offers a wealth of Spanish-language courses on the Training and Education Center at www.alz.org/espanol and on www.alz.org. These courses share important information about healthy aging, how to “Know the 10 Signs® – Early Detection Matters”, clinical trials, and legal and financial planning tips for families once a diagnosis is confirmed. The Alzheimer’s Association also offers free care consultations, both in person and confidentially online, with trained, bilingual social workers who can be reached anytime, day or night at the Helpline 800.272.3900.

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Small Business Owners’ Confidence About U.S. Economy, Own Business Soars To Record Highs

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PITTSBURGH, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Optimism among business owners about the U.S. economy and the outlook for their own businesses has reached levels never-before seen in the 15-year history of the PNC Economic Outlook, a biannual telephone survey of small- and medium-sized business owners.

Eighty-eight percent of those surveyed are optimistic about the near-term outlook on the national economy, up from 71 percent in the fall and 56 percent last spring. Eighty-nine percent are optimistic about their local economy, up from 77 percent in the fall of 2016, the survey showed.

“The hope we noted in the fall survey, has for many, turned into enthusiasm and is consistent with other indicators of improved confidence,” said Gus Faucher, chief economist of The PNC Financial Services Group. “It remains to be seen, however, if this increase in optimism will convert into improvement in real economic activity.”

Economic Optimism Translates to Personal Positivity

Among survey participants, expectations for the performance of their own company also markedly have improved. Ninety-four percent are optimistic about their own company’s outlook for the next six months, compared to 85 percent in the fall and last spring.

Further, 62 percent of the business owners surveyed anticipate sales increases in the next six months, the highest since spring 2007; 57 percent anticipate an increase in profits, the highest since spring 2005 and 28 percent expect increased full-time hiring, the highest proportion of businesses since spring 2012.

“Though economic fundamentals have not changed appreciably since the fall, it is encouraging that business owners are anticipating greater sales and profits,” Faucher said. “These are key indicators we look for when predicting broader economic growth.”

Businesses Casting Hopeful Eye Toward Washington

The survey also examined business owners’ thoughts on the new Congress and Administration in Washington, and their view is somewhat mixed. Overall, four in 10 (42 percent) say they expect the policies of the new administration and Congress, in general, to have a positive impact on their business this year. One-third (32 percent) say it’s too early to predict and 17 percent say it will have no impact. Only nine percent anticipate a negative effect.

“Business owners are hopeful about the pro-business stance they are seeing from Washington, and are eager to see what regulation and policy changes may be ahead,” Faucher said. “But they seem to be taking a wait-and-see attitude, as it takes time for these kinds of changes to generate longer-term impacts.”

In fact, only 44 percent of business owners surveyed say they would anticipate a bump in profits if regulations were eased or eliminated. When it comes to hiring, one-third (32 percent) say reductions in regulations would have a positive impact.

Corporate Tax Reform Tops Business Owners’ Agenda

When asked specifically about potential policy reform, survey respondents cited corporate tax reform as the single most anticipated change, viewed favorably by nearly seven in 10 business leaders.

But business owners are more evenly divided when it comes to the impact of potential trade restrictions or tariffs: 33 percent are in support, 32 percent oppose and 31 percent are unsure.

A digital package containing national and regional survey results is available on PNC’s website at http://pnc.mediaroom.com/digital-packages.  

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.

Methodology

The PNC Economic Outlook survey was conducted between February 9 to March 31, 2017, by telephone within the United States among 1,843 owners or senior decision-makers of small and mid-sized businesses with annual revenues of $100,000 to $250 million. The results given in this release are based on interviews with 500 businesses nationally, while the remaining interviews were conducted among businesses within the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania plus Washington, D.C. Sampling error for the national results is +/- 4.4 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. The survey was conducted by Artemis Strategy Group (www.ArtemisSG.com), a communications strategy research firm specializing in brand positioning and policy issues. The firm, headquartered in Washington D.C., provides communications research and consulting to a range of public and private sector clients.

This report has been prepared for general informational purposes only and is not intended as specific advice or recommendations. Information has been gathered from third party sources and has not been independently verified or accepted by The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. PNC makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of the information, assumptions, analyses or conclusions presented in the report. PNC cannot be held responsible for any errors or misrepresentations contained in the report or in the information gathered from third party sources. Any reliance upon the information provided in the report is solely and exclusively at your own risk.

CONTACT:

Alan Aldinger
(412) 768-3711
[email protected]

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U.S. at Risk of Not Reaching 90 Percent Graduation Rate Goal by 2020

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The GradNation campaign, led by America's Promise Alliance, Civic Enterprises, Everyone Graduates Center and the Alliance for Excellent Education, focuses on raising the on-time high school graduation rate to 90 percent by the Class of 2020 and increasing postsecondary enrollment and completion.

WASHINGTON, May 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Since 2001, 2.8 million more students have graduated from high school rather than dropping out. In an economy that prizes educational attainment more than ever before, these rising rates have created enormous benefits for individuals, communities and our entire nation. But even now with the current national graduation rate at 83.2 percent, it is becoming more evident that the nation will be unable to meet its high school graduation rate goal without intensifying efforts to reach the students who have historically faced the greatest challenges.  The country remains off-pace to reaching its goal for the second year in a row. 

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Today, Civic Enterprises and the Everyone Graduates Center at the Johns Hopkins University, in partnership with America’s Promise Alliance and the Alliance for Excellent Education, released the 2017 Building a Grad Nation report, the eighth annual update on the progress and challenges in raising high school graduation rates. The four organizations lead the GradNation campaign, a nationwide effort to boost on-time high school graduation rates to 90 percent by the Class of 2020. The 2017 report is presented by lead sponsor AT&T and supporting sponsor State Farm. 

This year’s report marks five years since states have used the Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR), a common formula for collecting graduation statistics across states, and among a variety of subgroups. With just five years of federal data remaining until 2020, the data also make it clear that the rate of progress must increase significantly if the country is to reach its goals. Only half of America’s states are on track to reach a 90 percent graduation rate by 2020.

“National high school graduation rates increased four percentage points from 2010 to 2015. That’s more than just a data point – it means hundreds of thousands more young people are in a better position for post-secondary enrollment. These increases, reflected across all states and student subgroups during that five-year period, are a profound achievement for our nation,” said Robert Balfanz, director of the Everyone Graduates Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education and co-author of the report. “Now, as we move into the last leg of the campaign, we must double our progress if we are to meet our goal. This report offers a blueprint for how to get there.”

“In 2015, about half of the country reported high school graduation rates of 85 percent or higher, putting more states on track to reach a 90 percent graduation rate by 2020,” said John Bridgeland, president & CEO of Civic Enterprises and co-author of the report. “But our country must do more to achieve equity across state lines. It’s time to sharpen our focus on the hardest to reach populations and work to elevate them to success.”

Skepticism Over the Authenticity of Graduation Gains. Rising rates have been met with heightened scrutiny.  Issues range from the collection and reporting of data, the increase in the number of alternative schools with lower graduation standards, multiple high school diplomas with varying standards of excellence and the question of whether increasing high school graduation rates are actually translating into gains in post-secondary enrollment and attainment. These pockets of concern for specific states or particular types of schools are cause for careful review. But the data also show that these challenges do not outweigh the rising national trend. 

“More must be done to curtail errors in data collection, states and school districts must continue be held accountable for the students in their care, and a watchful eye must be kept on alternative high school programs that are often working with the most disadvantaged students,” said Jennifer DePaoli, senior research and policy advisor at Civic Enterprises and co-author of the report. “This year’s report should drive key stakeholders to renew their commitments and invest in best practices to improve educational outcomes for the most marginalized student groups.”

Key Findings. The Building a Grad Nation report is based on the most recent comprehensive data from the National Center for Education Statistics at the U.S. Department of Education (2014-15).  A close look at the data shows disparities in graduation rates in five key areas.

  • Low-income students: Nearly half of the country’s 2015 graduating cohort – 48.2 percent, a slight increase from 2014 – came from low-income families. Nationally, the gap between low-income students and their middle- and upper-income peers now stands at 13.7 percentage points. In nearly half of all states, the gap between low-income students and their more affluent peers is 15 percentage points or greater, and in 18 additional states the gap is at least 10 points.
  • Black and Hispanic/Latino Students: Graduation rates for Black students have increased 7.6 percentage points and 6.8 percentage points for Hispanic/Latino students since 2011 – some of the highest gains of any student subgroup. However, Black and Hispanic/Latino students comprise 54 percent of all students who did not graduate on time.
  • Students with disabilities: Thirty-three states reported high school graduation rates for special education students below 70 percent, and nearly half of those 33 states had graduation rates for students with disabilities below 60 percent. Four states – South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Nevada – graduated less than half of their special education students.Nationally, the graduation rate gap between students with and without disabilities now stands at 21.1 percentage points. In 29 states, students in the general education population graduate at rates of 20 percentage points or more than their special education peers.
  • English Language Learners: The number of ELL students in America’s public schools is climbing, increasing from 8.8 percent (an estimated 4.2 million students) in 2003-04 to 9.2 percent (an estimated 4.5 million) in 2013-14. The 10 states with the highest proportion of ELL non-graduates comprised 66 percent of all ELL non-graduates in the country, while over one-third of English Language Learners who did not graduate on time are located in California alone.
  • Low-Graduation-Rate High Schools: Since 2002, the number of large, low-graduation-rate high schools (enrolling 300 or more students) has been cut in half and there are now fewer than 900,000 students enrolled in them – down from 2.5 million. There were 2,249 low-graduation-rate high schools (enrolling 100 or more students) in 2015, making up just 12 percent of all public high schools enrolling 100 or more students. Two out of three students in low-graduation-rate high schools are Black or Hispanic/Latino. Six in ten students in low-graduation-rate high schools qualified as being low-income in 2015, meaning that there is little economic diversity in the nation’s most challenged high schools.

Policy recommendations. The report recommends policymakers: 1) Create high-quality Every Student Succeeds Act implementation plans; 2) Create evidence-based plans to improve low-graduation-rate high schools; 3) Get the cohort rate right by improving uniformity and transparency in the ACGR; 4) Report extended-year graduation rates; and 5) Strengthen accountability for non-traditional high schools.

In a recent letter to the U.S. Department of Education, GradNation campaign leaders offered some of these same recommendations in the wake of the recent repeal of ESSA regulations by Congress. 

“Graduation rate progress is primarily a state and local responsibility, but federal oversight remains a critical component of making sure that traditionally underserved students receive the support they need,” said Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education and former governor of West Virginia. “By implementing and supporting policies that strengthen accountability and transparency, we avoid potential loopholes that can be devastating to many young people.”

The Road to 90.  The 2014-15 school year marks the second year that the country is not on track to reach its goal.  To stay on track, the national graduation rate must increase by 1.4 percentage points annually. For 2015, the rate went up just 0.9 percent.

“We need a real breakthrough on equity if we are going to get more young people across the graduation stage over these next few years,” said John Gomperts, president and CEO of America’s Promise Alliance. “To help accelerate progress, the campaign going forward will focus more on supporting targeted strategic statewide and local plans that will work toward leveling the playing field and moving the needle to help more young people and schools succeed.”

Authors and sponsors. The 2017 Building a Grad Nation report is co-authored by Jennifer DePaoli, John Bridgeland, Erin Ingram and Matthew Atwell of Civic Enterprises and Robert Balfanz and his team at the Everyone Graduates Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. AT&T, lead sponsor, has supported the Building a Grad Nation report series through AT&T Aspire, the company’s $400 million commitment since 2008 to graduate more students from high school ready for college and career. State Farm is a supporting sponsor. 

Full report. To read the full report, access graphics, state-by-state data and other resources, visit: www.gradnation.americaspromise.org/report/2017-building-grad-nation-report.

Join the Livestream. A livestream of the Building a Grad Nation report release event will be available on May 3 from 3-4:30 PM ET.  The event will showcase the release of research by Civic Enterprises and The Everyone Graduates Center, followed by a moderated panel conversation to address the key challenges associated with raising graduation rates, featuring voices from leaders on the ground and researchers in the field. Join the conversation here: http://www.americaspromise.org/event/state-our-gradnation-what-will-it-take-get-90-percent-grad-rate-all-students.

Civic Enterprises is a public policy and strategy firm that helps corporations, nonprofits, foundations, universities and governments develop and spearhead innovative public policies to strengthen our communities and country. Created to enlist the private, public and nonprofit sectors to help address our nation’s toughest problems, Civic Enterprises fashions new initiatives and strategies that achieve measurable results in the fields of education, civic engagement, economic mobility, and many other domestic policy issues. www.civicenterprises.net

The Everyone Graduates Center at the Center for Social Organization of Schools at the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University seeks to identify the barriers to high school graduation, develop strategic solutions to overcoming these barriers and build local capacity to implement and sustain the solutions so that all students graduate prepared for adult success. www.every1graduates.org

America’s Promise Alliance leads the nation’s largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth. As its signature effort, the GradNation campaign mobilizes Americans to increase the on-time high school graduation rate to 90 percent by the Class of 2020 and prepare young people for postsecondary enrollment and the 21st century workforce. www.AmericasPromise.org 

The Alliance for Excellent Education is a Washington, DC-based national policy and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that all students, particularly those who are traditionally underserved, graduate from high school ready for success in college, work, and citizenship. www.all4ed.org

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Kathleen McMahon

Civic Enterprises

703-868-6981

[email protected]

Amanda Martorana

Everyone Graduates Center

410.516.8810

[email protected]

Daria L. Hall

America’s Promise Alliance

202.657.0621/718.404.7448

[email protected]

Jason Amos

Alliance for Excellent Education

202.828.0828

[email protected]

 

The GradNation campaign, led by America's Promise Alliance, Civic Enterprises, Everyone Graduates Center and the Alliance for Excellent Education, focuses on raising the on-time high school graduation rate to 90 percent by the Class of 2020 and increasing postsecondary enrollment and completion.

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National Alliance for Hispanic Health Announces Support for CDC’s Televised Línea de Ayuda Smoking Cessation Events

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WASHINGTON, May 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — “With tobacco companies estimated to spend $9.1 billion this year to addict new customers, the CDC’s Línea de Ayuda and Tips Campaign are critical tools to make sure all our communities know the real costs of tobacco use, nicotine addiction, and how to get help to quit,” said   Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance), the nation’s leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

This month CDC is airing Línea de Ayuda (Helpline), a telethon-style event on 15 Telemundo television network affiliate stations around the country. Línea de Ayuda will air in prime time and feature four 90-second spots where Dr. Ralph Caraballo, CDC Chief Epidemiologist, will be interviewed about smoking-related illnesses, health benefits from quitting, and accessing free help to quit. Each segment directs callers to the Spanish-language Quitline, 1-855-DÉJELO-YA (1-800-QUIT-NOW), for support.

Línea de Ayuda will air in Philadelphia, Dallas, Tampa and Atlanta (May 4); Orlando, El Paso, Las Vegas and Phoenix (May 11); Puerto Rico, McAllen, TX and Denver (May 18); and, New York, Chicago, Houston and Albuquerque (May 25). The 2017 Spanish and English language Tips Campaign ads are also airing nationwide on television and radio through July to bring attention to the risks of smoking. The ads feature former smokers who describe the health consequences they have suffered, motivate others to quit, and promote free cessation support available through Quitlines.

The Alliance is promoting the Línea de Ayuda television events and the broader Tips Campaign through its Nuestras Voces (Our Voices) Network, spearheaded by 11 regional partners around the country, which works to reduce tobacco use and cancer incidence in Hispanic communities. Activities to support these efforts include individual cessation support, bilingual social media, and local media outreach.

“The individual stories told in the Línea de Ayuda and Tips campaigns represent similar experiences of the over 16 million Americans suffering from illnesses caused by smoking and give encouragement to smokers to quit and others not to start. We are proud to support these efforts, including through the Alliance’s Su Familia Helpline at 1-866-783-2645 where callers can get information in Spanish and English on quitting smoking, talking to a loved one about smoking, or connecting to health services in their communities,” emphasized Dr. Delgado.

About the Nuestras Voces Network. Nuestras Voces is a national network of over 200 members working for a tobacco-free world and to eliminate disparities in cancer prevention and treatment services. You can be part of this effort being led by the National Alliance for Hispanic Health! Join us at www.nuestrasvoces.org/join.
About the National Alliance for Hispanic Health. The Alliance is the nation’s foremost science-based source of information and trusted advocate for the health of Hispanics in the United States with a mission to achieve the best health outcomes for all. For more information visit us www.healthyamericas.org.

 

Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LLP: UBS Financial Services Inc. And UBS Financial Services Of Puerto Rico Ordered To Pay Millions To Some Investors After Claims Involving UBS’s Proprietary Puerto Rican Bond Funds

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Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LLP. (PRNewsFoto/Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LLP)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — UBS Financial Services Inc. and UBS Financial Services of Puerto Rico (collectively “UBS”) have been ordered to pay several investors in Puerto Rico millions of dollars in compensation by several FINRA arbitration panels for losses the investors suffered in Puerto Rico bonds and UBS’s Closed-End Puerto Rico bond funds (the “Funds”). 

Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LLP. (PRNewsFoto/Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LLP)

Many investors have claimed UBS improperly invested their money into UBS Bond Funds.  These funds, which were not traded on any exchange, were typically leveraged 2 to 1, resulting in them being concentrated geographically and highly leveraged, greatly increasing the risk.  To make matters worse, some investors claim that they were advised to borrow additional money from UBS and use that money to buy yet more bond funds and other Puerto Rico bonds (using leverage to buy leveraged funds).  This type of investing, which was forbidden yet, apparently so rampant that UBS has given it a name – “loan recycling” – greatly increases an investor’s risk and profits to the firm.  Ultimately, these investors, along with many other Puerto Rico investors, lost millions of dollars of their savings when the market for Puerto Rico bonds collapsed in 2013.

Many of these investors have filed claims against UBS seeking recovery for those losses.  Lawyers with the law firm Shepherd, Smith, Edwards, & Kantas LLP recently obtained an award on behalf of one Puerto Rican client ordering UBS to pay approximately $9 million for losses the investors incurred.  Other arbitration panels have ordered UBS to pay awards of roughly $9 million and $15 million.

If you are or were a client of UBS, or suffered losses in any other municipal bond investments made at the recommendation of your broker, contact the law firm of Shepherd, Smith, Edwards & Kantas LLP for a free, confidential evaluation of your account.  We have a team of attorneys, consultants and staff with more than 100 years of combined experience in the securities industry and in securities law. More information can also be found on our blog at http://www.stockbrokerfraudblog.com/2013/10/puerto_rico_municipal_bonds.html.

Contact Info: 800-259-9010

713-580-8914 to speak to Spanish fluent staff

Sam Edwards [email protected]

Kirk Smith [email protected]

Luis Acevedo [email protected]

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Zika Care Connect website offers families access to medical specialists

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March of Dimes Foundation Logo

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., May 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Zika Care Connect, a new resource developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the March of Dimes to help families affected by the Zika virus find specialty medical providers who can care for them, has been launched for 10 high-risk jurisdictions throughout the United States and its territories.

March of Dimes Foundation Logo

Access it online at www.zikacareconnect.org or via the March of Dimes website at marchofdimes.org/zika.

“Moms and families may feel overwhelmed by Zika infection in pregnancy or by the complex medical needs of a baby born with a Zika-related health problem,” says Paul E. Jarris, MD, chief medical officer of the March of Dimes. “Zika Care Connect helps parents find services and medical providers in their location who take their insurance and speak their language.”

The Zika Care Connect (ZCC) Healthcare Professional Network is a searchable database of medical specialists who provide care for pregnant women and infants affected by Zika in these 10 high-risk jurisdictions: California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. ZCC plans to expand to 5-10 additional jurisdictions in the near future, Dr. Jarris says. Specialties include maternal-fetal medicine, mental health, audiology, radiology, pediatric ophthalmology, pediatric neurology, developmental pediatrics, infectious disease, and endocrinology.

The toll-free ZCC phone HelpLine, 1-844-677-0447, is staffed live from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time by professionals who can help answer questions and provide referrals. The ZCC website also provides resources such as downloadable Zika prevention checklists, fact sheets and charts, and answers to the most frequently asked questions.  

The Spanish-language version of ZCC is scheduled to launch in a few weeks; when it goes live, it will be linked from the March of Dimes Spanish-language website nacersano.org.

Dr. Jarris said babies born to women who tested positive for Zika should be evaluated thoroughly after birth, including with brain imaging, and regularly as they grow. Some babies do not show signs of being infected with the Zika virus at birth, but may have developmental problems as they get older.

Pregnant women and families also may ask the March of Dimes questions via email at [email protected].

Zika Care Connect also is seeking to include more medical providers who can offer clinical services recommended by the CDC; receive new patient referrals; and maintain up-to-date profile information on the ZCC website. Learn more on the website or by calling the toll-free phone number.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. For the latest resources and health information, visit our websites marchofdimes.org and nacersano.org. If you have been affected by prematurity or birth defects, visit our shareyourstory.org community to find comfort and support. For detailed national, state and local perinatal statistics, visit peristats.org. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

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OBERD presents at ICHOM’s 2017 Value-Based Healthcare Australasian Forum

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Oberd, a leader in outcomes data collection. (PRNewsFoto/OBERD)

COLUMBIA, Mo., May 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) will feature Columbia, MO-based OBERD at its 2017 Australasian Forum. The Forum, “Catalysing the Value Agenda,” will explore and advance the global transition to a more transparent, value-based approach to healthcare. OBERD’s presentation is entitled “Technology and Infrastructure: Enabling Outcomes Measurement.”

Oberd, a leader in outcomes data collection. (PRNewsFoto/OBERD)

OBERD will discuss the transformational impact technology is making on patient-reported outcomes data collection. OBERD will also preview emerging data analysis technologies that demonstrate the power of predictive healthcare tools.

“We are on the cusp of revolutionizing how physicians can leverage massive amounts of information that comes directly from the patient,” says Ali Hussam, Founder and CEO of OBERD. “We recognize the critical importance of rich data sets in advancing patient-centered healthcare.”

To facilitate a unified collection of data across multiple specialties, OBERD is aligning its registries with ICHOM along with other consortia to assemble an evidenced-based framework built on consensus-based standardization. Already featuring the world’s largest database of orthopaedic patient-reported outcomes, OBERD looks to the harmonization of outcome measurement to expand the depth and richness of its healthcare database offerings, and the value this can provide to the industry.

OBERD will also be represented by their South Pacific distribution partners, Logic Plus Pty Ltd. Based in Adelaide, LogicPlus provide sales, marketing, hosting and support services for OBERD in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore.

About Universal Research Solutions (OBERD)
OBERD ‘s mission is to improve the quality and efficacy of care, through the collection and presentation of data that improves clinical decision-making and patient understanding. OBERD’s database has over 10 million scored forms, from over 2 million patients. For more information, visit www.oberd.com or follow the company on Twitter @oberdnews.

About LogicPlus Pty Ltd
LogicPlus is an Adelaide-based ICT company with decades of IT managed services systems experience, specialising in Cyber Security and IT Risk Management. LogicPlus delivers its managed services expertise across a wide range of industries, including the Corporate, Medical, Financial, Mining & Legal markets.

About ICHOM
The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) is a non-profit organization founded by individuals from three esteemed institutions: Harvard University’s Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, The Boston Consulting Group and The Karolinska Institutet. ICHOM’s purpose is to transform health care systems worldwide by measuring and reporting patient outcomes in a standardized way. www.ichom.org

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