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Access to Meaningful Opportunity is Limited to the Few

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PRINCETON, New Jersey, Jan. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Access to opportunity shaped our nation’s past and defines its future. Opportunity has always been intangible, but for too many Americans, it’s becoming invisible. If access continues to constrict to the few, the affluent and the well-connected, America’s future is at risk. 

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As individuals — and as a nation — we need deeper and more honest conversations about the nature and magnitude of the crisis of opportunity in America and its long-term implications. A new report released today, Choosing Our Future: A Story of Opportunity in America, examines the forces that are constraining opportunities for tens of millions of Americans and calls for a renewed national dialogue about how to address this problem.

For the past several years, ETS — the world’s leading nonprofit educational research and assessment organization — has been convening discussions with a national advisory panel to analyze the dynamics that impact opportunity in America. Along with the release of the report, ETS is also publishing an edited volume, The Dynamics of Opportunity in America:  Evidence and Perspectives, with chapters written by leaders from a range of fields including economics, education, demography and political science. 

“We believe strongly that it is not only time to deepen and broaden the conversation, but to advocate for effective solutions,” says Irwin Kirsch of ETS, an author of the report. “To understand this issue is to be compelled by it, and in publishing these two works, we hope to advance the national conversation about why we must take action now and how best to do so.”

Research indicates that the growing opportunity crisis is not specific to any particular region or racial group — it is truly national in scope. If these disparities were confined to this generation alone, it would be concerning enough. But there is evidence that the accumulation of advantage or disadvantage experienced by one generation is increasingly passed along to the next. As a result, life outcomes are increasingly dependent on circumstances of birth.

“If, as a nation, we do nothing, then we will continue to drift apart, placing an unsustainable strain on the nation’s social fabric and the character of our democracy,” says Henry Braun of Boston College, also an author of the report. “Understanding the dynamics governing the distribution and transmission of opportunity — and transforming this understanding into policies and programs — is critical for not only the life outcomes of individual Americans and their children, but also the country as a whole.”

Both works are being published as part of The ETS Opportunity Project. For more information visit opportunityproject.ets.org. You can also join the conversation on Twitter®@ETSopportunity and Facebook®.

About ETS
At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, and by conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC® tests, the GRE® tests and The Praxis Series® assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org

Irwin Kirsch is Tyler Chair in Large Scale Assessment and Director of the Center for Global Assessment at Educational Testing Service (ETS). Henry Braun is Boisi Professor of Education and Public Policy in the Lynch School of Education and Director of the Center for the Study of Testing, Evaluation and Education Policy at Boston College. Both are authors of the ETS policy report Choosing Our Future: A Story of Opportunity in America and editors of The Dynamics of Opportunity:  Evidence and Perspectives. 

Studies Look at Possible Replacements for Race-based College Admission Policies

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PRINCETON, New Jersey, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — As higher education officials struggled to find race-neutral alternative college admissions policies in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s 2013 Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin ruling, a new series of studies commissioned by Educational Testing Service (ETS), finds that race-neutral approaches fall far short.

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The four studies were commissioned by ETS’s Policy Evaluation & Research Center and conducted in cooperation with the Civil Rights Project at UCLA. In the search for substitutes for race, nationally known researchers looked at:

  • socioeconomic (SES) factors
  • state-sponsored guaranteed college admission programs
  • use of correlates of race, and
  • the University of California’s race-neutral efforts.

In the first study, “Can Socioeconomic Status Substitute for Race in Affirmative Action College Admissions Policies?” Sean F. Reardon, Stanford Graduate School of Education, et al, researchers concluded that even relatively aggressive SES-based affirmative action policies do not mimic the positive effects of race-based policies on racial diversity. They also found that the SES model will not have much effect on who attends college, but only on which college they attend if they do. Moderate levels of race- and/or SES-based affirmative action appear unlikely to result in high-achieving minority or low-SES students enrolling, on average, in colleges where their academic preparation was below the average level for the college in which they enrolled.

In the second study, “Texas Top Ten Percent Plan: How It Works, What Are Its Limits, and Recommendations to Consider” by Stella M. Flores, New York University and The Steinhardt Institute for Higher Education Policy, New York, NY and Catherine L. Horn University of Houston and the Institute for Educational Policy Research and Evaluation, researchers examined guaranteed admission, or “percent plans” currently being used by Texas, California and Florida as race-neutral paths to college admissions. Besides determining that the effectiveness of percent plans may be more attributable to soaring numbers of non-White students, especially Latinos, seeking college, the authors also found that underrepresented students who are percent-plan-eligible are more likely to enroll in a nonselective flagship institution. This is likely the result of concentrated disadvantage both economically and in high schools attended.

In the third study,”The Promise and Peril for Universities Using Correlates of Race in Admissions in Response to the Grutter and Fisher Decisions,” Mark Long University of Washington, looked at the question, “If university admission offices used all the information they could obtain on an applicant (aside from the student’s race), how well would that information correlate with a student’s race?” Long found that using 195 characteristics of ELS students correctly predicted the student’s underrepresented minority status 82% of the time. This might be further improved, the author notes, if universities acquired information on household purchasing habits. However, that might engender adverse behavioral responses and invite political challenges. Thus, replacing underrepresented minority status with the predicted likelihood of being one in the university’s admissions decisions has serious limitations that challenge its workability and might not be deemed race neutral by the courts.

“As a nation it is useful for us to periodically revisit and reconsider college and university admissions policies and standards. This is one way to view the Fisher case. It is of great value to our society to ask whether the criteria and standards that are being applied in the admissions process are appropriate and valid and yielding greater access, academic achievement and sufficient institutional diversity with underserved students, says Michael Nettles, Senior Vice President of ETS’s Center for Evaluation & Policy Research. “These reports illustrate that that using race-neutral approaches may leave us short of these outcomes and describes strengths and limitations of the various alternative criteria for admission to college.”

Later this year three of the four papers will be published through Wiley’s Research Report series. The fourth study will be released in the near future. Free downloads of the studies are available at http://www.ets.org/s/achievement_gap/diversity/

About ETS
At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, and by conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 60 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC® tests, the GRE® tests and The Praxis Series® assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org

About the Civil Rights Project
Founded in 1996 by former Harvard professors Gary Orfield and Christopher Edley, Jr., the Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles is now co-directed by Orfield and Patricia Gándara, professors at UCLA. Its mission is to create a new generation of research in social science and law, on the critical issues of civil rights and equal opportunity for racial and ethnic groups in the United States. It has commissioned more than 400 studies, published 14 books and issued numerous reports from authors at universities and research centers across the country.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Named One Of America’s Top 50 Organizations For Multicultural Business Opportunities

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CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has been named as one of “America’s Top 50 Organizations for Multicultural Business for 2016” by DiversityBusiness.com.

Known as the Div50, the list recognizes the top 50 organizations that differentiate themselves in the marketplace by providing the best opportunities and the most business for companies owned by minorities and women. BCBSA ranks 27th on the 2016 list and is joined by some of the largest and most recognized brands in the U.S.

“We are proud that our record of inclusion has won recognition on the Div50 list, which recognizes the commitment that the Association and its 36 independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensees have in cultivating successful business partnerships with diverse suppliers across the country,” said Jody Voss, vice president of strategic business services for BCBSA. “Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies believe that strengthening business diversity contributes to our organizational success and the overall economic well-being of the communities we serve.”

The 16th annual list was produced by DiversityBusiness.com, the nation’s leading multicultural B2B online website. This year’s Div50 was determined based on responses to an online survey from 1.5 million diverse business owners. The businesses that completed the survey based their responses on factors such as volume, consistency and quality of business opportunities granted to women and minority-owned companies.

For more information on BCBSA’s diversity program, please visit
www.bcbs.com/careers/bcbsas-commitment-to.html.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally-operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for nearly 105 million members – one-in-three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com. We encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and check out The BCBS Blog, for up-to-date information about BCBSA.

PepsiCo’s Richard Montanez Named to NHCLC/CONEL Board

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SACRAMENTO, California, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), announced the appointment of Richard Montanez, PepsiCo’s director of multicultural sales and marketing across North America, to the NHCLC board.

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“Montanez is a truly inspiring individual to the Hispanic community,” said Rev. Rodriguez. “His innovative leadership and Kingdom influence make him an incredible asset to NHCLC.” 

Montanez began his career with PepsiCo as a janitor in 1976; today, he is known as a visionary leader who has developed new systems and products for PepsiCo. Montanez also started a foundation called Onelite, which provides new shoes for children going back to school and feeds hundreds of thousands of families each year.

In 2012, Montanez was recognized by Hispanic Lifestyle magazine for being one of the most influential Hispanics in corporate America.

“I am honored and excited to join the NHCLC board,” said Montanez. “It is a privilege to serve alongside Rev. Rodriguez and the other great men and women of God. I fully believe this is the timing and alignment of God. I look forward to furthering His agenda.”

NHCLC/CONEL is the world’s largest Hispanic Christian organization. It serves as a representative voice for the more than 100 million Hispanic Evangelicals assembled in over 40,000 U.S. churches and another 500,000 congregations spread throughout the Spanish-speaking diaspora through its worldwide entity CONEL. For additional information, visit http://www.nhclc.org.

San Antonio’s Newly Transformed Henry B. González Convention Center Unveiled

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SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, Mayor Ivy R. Taylor, District 1 City Councilman Roberto C. Treviño and City Manager Sheryl Sculley welcomed San Antonio residents to the newly transformed Henry B. González Convention Center. The $325 million expansion marks the largest capital improvement project in the City of San Antonio’s history and increases the footprint to 1.6 million square feet.

“Today, we are celebrating the beginning of a new era for the convention and hospitality sector of our local economy,” Mayor Taylor said. “While this fabulous new facility impressively transforms the San Antonio skyline, it is only the beginning of the more far-reaching transformation that our entire community is experiencing. Infusing new life to the southeast portion of downtown, this project encourages people to discover the amazing things that are happening right here in the heart of our city. Whether people visit locally or they travel in from around the state or the country, our convention center is a gathering place to meet with colleagues, friends and family in a safe, beautiful space.”

By expanding and modernizing the Convention Center, the City of San Antonio moves into a higher tier of the convention market, bolstering the city’s ability to attract larger conventions.  The expansion also dramatically changes the way downtown looks and operates.

“We are proud to unveil the City’s single largest capital project to date, which was accomplished on time and on budget,” City Manager Sculley said. “Not only does this project transform our convention center and convention industry, it is the first domino in a series of major projects that will reshape downtown, including Hemisfair and Alamo Plaza.”

Today’s festivities were celebrated with the unveiling of “Liquid Crystal,” a public art installation by artist Jason Bruges that is located in the Center’s expansive new lobby atrium. Its 3,510 LCD interactive panels create a digital fountain effect where the flow depends upon the amount of people and activity filling the atrium. It is one of three new art installations in the center, showcasing San Antonio’s diverse arts scene.

“Architecturally, the newly transformed Henry B. González Convention Center brings a dynamic and innovative façade to downtown,” Councilman Treviño said. “With the largest ballroom in Texas, the only meeting room of its kind cantilevered over two lanes of traffic, and its outdoor terrace offering dramatic views of downtown, visitors will get a truly memorable experience from the building.”

The Henry B. González Convention Center, originally built in 1968 when San Antonio hosted the World’s Fair, has welcomed numerous additions and renovations throughout the years. The project provided a clear opportunity to further secure the convention center’s position as a top destination for conferences and events, while challenging the convention center design team to find a creative way to integrate the convention center into the surrounding downtown area and Hemisfair.

“Building on our rapidly growing downtown and vibrant culture, the transformation of the Center was focused on flexibility, connectivity and the creation of the unique experience of San Antonio,” said Michael Sawaya, Executive Director of Convention and Sports Facilities for the City of San Antonio. “The new facility is immediately one of the finest in the U.S., incorporates innovation and technological advancements and solidifies San Antonio’s position as one of the nation’s top convention destinations.”

A new addition was built to the east, which will allow for the demolition of the original 1968 structure to the west. In place of the original structure will be an expansion of neighboring Hemisfair, providing enhanced opportunities for outdoor events.

“We are so excited to welcome everyone to San Antonio with the beautifully transformed Henry B. González Convention Center,” said Casandra Matej, Executive Director of the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This transformation has been truly phenomenal. Throughout the design process, we made sure to incorporate client feedback to supersede meeting needs for the next generation. The Center’s architecture is indicative of San Antonio’s personality with a gorgeous limestone exterior, enhanced by public art installations. The layout is flexible and easy to navigate, all while placing attendees in the heart of one of the nation’s top travel destinations. It’s an absolute gem and we’re very excited that this allows us to grow with our meetings and conventions.”

The expanded Center is set on the River Walk in historic downtown, placing attendees within walking distance to so much of what drives meeting and convention attendance in San Antonio: historic sites including the Alamo, local restaurants, museums, theaters, shops and thousands of hotel rooms. Walls of windows bring in tremendous downtown views including the 750-foot-tall Tower of the Americas. This offers a distinct sense of place, setting the center apart as one that forges with the atmosphere beyond its borders.

Transformation at a glance:

  • 1.6-million-square-foot footprint
  • 514,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space
  • 86,500 square feet of column-free multi-purpose space
  • 70 meeting spaces including divisible breakout rooms
  • 54,000-square-foot Stars at Night Ballroom
  • Enhanced circulation, way finding and accessibility of spaces
  • Innovative design, flexible spaces and advanced technology
  • Eco-friendly design using energy reduction measures
  • Public art installations that exude the history and culture of San Antonio
  • Upcoming expansion of neighboring Hemisfair Park

The construction project was made possible by Hunt-Zachry, Populous/Marmon Mok Architects, Project Control of Texas and the City of San Antonio Transportation & Capital Improvements Department.

One San Antonio
Diverse, internationally connected and globally competitive, San Antonio has a vibrant culture and economy and is consistently ranked among the fastest-growing cities in the United States. America’s seventh-largest city offers opportunities in industries ranging from bioscience, financial services, aerospace, cybersecurity, energy and transportation manufacturing to healthcare. We are “Military City USA,” home to crucial military commands supported by a patriotic citizenry. We welcome 31 million visitors annually who inject $13.4 billion annually into our economy, and UNESCO recently designated the city’s Spanish colonial missions as a World Heritage Site. Celebrating its 300th anniversary in 2018, San Antonio is a city with a storied past and an even brighter future. For more information, go to meetings.visitsanantonio.com.

Cal/OSHA Cites Two Employers for Serious Meat-Grinder Accident

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, California, Jan. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Cal/OSHA has cited Vitco Meats and temporary employment agency Volt Workforce Solutions a combined $74,500 following a nearly fatal accident at a San Luis Obispo meat processing plant that left a worker with a crushed right hand, a broken arm, and nerve damage. Neither company had trained the employee to safely operate or clean the industrial meat grinder he was operating.

“When companies hire temporary employees they do not sign away their responsibilities to protect workers from industrial accidents,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “Both temporary employment agencies and host employers are required to ensure workers are trained and understand safety procedures.” 

On July 16, 2015, the worker was attempting to remove ground beef stuck inside the hopper of a meat mixer, which moves beef into the grinder. When he reached into the hopper, the power was still live. Paddles that move the beef rotated twice, causing severe injuries to the employee. Had the paddles rotated a third time, the accident could have been fatal.

Cal/OSHA’s investigation found that Vitco Meats did not require employees to disengage the power on industrial equipment prior to cleaning.  Additionally, the company lacked specific procedures for powering down the meat grinder, which also lacked a required cover with interlock. Cal/OSHA issued a total of nine citations to Vitco Meats with proposed penalties of $63,900.

Cal/OSHA also issued a serious citation to Volt Workforce Solutions for failing to ensure that Vitco Meats had an injury and illness prevention program or safety training for meat grinders. A serious violation is cited when there is a realistic possibility that death or serious harm could result from the actual hazardous condition.  The company was also issued one regulatory and two general citations for proposed penalties of $10,600.  

Workers can be electrocuted or suffer permanent disfigurement due to inadvertent activation of a machine while it is being maintained, repaired or adjusted. Failure to develop and follow lockout / tagout procedures before working on machinery is one of the major causes of serious injury and death in California. Lockout / tagout procedures refer to the use of devices to ensure equipment cannot be operated until the devices are removed. Use of these devices, and developing procedures to ensure their use, are required by the California Code of Regulations. Employers can find sample lockout / tagout methods and procedures on the DIR website.

Cal/OSHA, officially known as the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, is a division of DIR. Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch provides free and voluntary assistance to employers and employee organizations to improve their health and safety programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services.

Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734). The California Workers’ Information line at 866-924-9757 provides recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics. Complaints can also be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices.

Members of the press may contact Julia Bernstein or Peter Melton at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR’s press releases or other departmental updates.

https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDIR 
https://twitter.com/CA_DIR 
https://www.youtube.com/user/CaliforniaDIR 
http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1      

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR’s Communications Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

 

Dieste promotes Ciro Sarmiento to Chief Creative Officer

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DALLAS and NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Dieste Inc., a leading multicultural communications agency in U.S., has named Ciro Sarmiento its new Chief Creative Officer (CCO), effective February 1st. Dieste’s previous CCO Paco Olavarrieta will remain with the agency, as a ‘Craft-Maestro”, adding his experience to specific creative projects.

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“Ciro is one of the most accomplished creative executives in our field. And we felt like he was ready to take the helm of CCO, giving continuity to the great momentum we have as an agency,” said Dieste’s CEO Greg Knipp.

Sarmiento joined Dieste in 2013 as an executive creative director under Olavarrieta’s creative guidance. “When I invited Ciro to join the agency I knew that I had found a potential candidate to succeed me. And for the last year Greg, Tony Dieste, Ciro and I worked together on a succession plan, giving Ciro all the tools and support needed for a harmonious and successful transition,” said Olavarrieta. 

Dieste celebrated its 20th anniversary on last December and according to the agency’s leadership team, it is going through one of its best moments. “I’m extremely excited about the opportunity of helping to shape the agency’s next 20 years,” said Sarmiento. The agency was recently recognized with two Cannes Lions, two Clio awards, 2016 Ad Age Standout and several other awards for platforms developed for its clients.

About Dieste, Inc. 

Dieste, Inc., the company for the new multicultural connected age, develops creative solutions and services to grow our clients’ businesses. As an innovator in our field and the most awarded agency in its class, Dieste, Inc. is a three-time Ad Age Multicultural Agency of the Year winner. We are at the crossroads of technology, design and addressability, and our work spans from business consulting and product innovation to mobile/social communications and brand development. Dieste was established in 1995 and is part of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC). www.dieste.com

About Diversified Agency Services

Diversified Agency Services (DAS), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), manages Omnicom’s holdings in a variety of marketing communications disciplines. DAS includes over 200 companies, which operate through a combination of networks and regional organizations, serving international and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

For more information contact:
Carla Eboli +1 (214) 259-8039
[email protected]

Texas luxury home sales continued to grow in 2015, though some high-end buyers looked for smaller lots and more amenities

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AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Luxury home sales continued to be one of the fastest growing housing segments in Texas’ largest markets in 2015, according to the 2016 Texas Luxury Home Sales Report released today by the Texas Association of Realtors. The report cited sales volume increases from 4.5 percent to 36.4 percent for homes sold at $1 million or more in Texas’ four major markets.

Leslie Rouda Smith, chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors, commented, “Texas’ economic prosperity continues to make luxury home sales one of the strongest sectors of the Texas housing market, particularly in the

$1 million to $1.5 million range. In some neighborhoods, the lot alone is well worth $1 million and up.”

A popular trend for homebuyers in this price class is to purchase homes on smaller lots but in more desirable locations and with higher-end amenities.

Jim Gaines, Ph.D., economist at the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University said, “Rising land and development costs are changing what today’s luxury market looks like, and many developers are now entering the high-end custom homebuilding market due to more expensive lot costs. Rising home prices across the state are also pushing more higher-end homes into the luxury market. Many homes priced in the $800,000 – $900,000 range a few years ago will now sell for more than a million.”

According to the report, the price-per-square-foot for luxury homes is often double or triple that of a typical single-family home, due to higher-end building materials and amenities. Furthermore, some homebuyers are purchasing older homes in prime locations for less than $1 million to demolish and rebuild a new home in its place.

The following describes trends in specific markets of Texas real estate.

The Houston market saw the highest amount of luxury home sales at 1,284 from January to October 2015, an increase of 4.5 percent compared to the same period in 2014. These sales represented almost two percent of overall home sales in this market.

Sales of $1M+ homes in Austin represented more than two percent of the overall housing market and saw a 16.3 percent increase in sales volume year-over-year. The median price for Austin homes in the luxury price class was $1,381,252, and the average amount of time it took to sell a luxury home was almost two months longer than the typical home.

In Dallas-Fort Worth, luxury sales grew 12.4 percent, rising to 1,088 homes sales from January to October 2015. The median price for luxury homes in Dallas reached $1,400,000. It took 37 more days for a luxury home in Dallas to sell compared to a typical home.

In San Antonio, $1M+ homes saw a 36.4 percent increase compared to the same time period in 2014. Although luxury homes accounted for less than one percent of the market, active listings increased 33 percent and median price was $1,298,375, the lowest compared to Austin, Houston and Dallas.

About the Texas Luxury Home Sales Report
Data for the Texas Luxury Home Sales Report is provided by the Data Relevance Project, a partnership among local REALTOR® associations and their MLSs, the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, and the Texas Association of REALTORS®. The report analyzes trends in homes sold for $1 million or higher from January through October 2015 in the Metropolitan Statistical Areas for Austin, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio. The Texas Association of Realtors distributes insights about the Texas housing market each month, including quarterly market statistics, trends among homebuyers and sellers, condominium and townhome sales, international trends, and more. To view these reports, visit TexasRealEstate.com.

About the Texas Association of REALTORS®
With more than 100,000 members, the Texas Association of REALTORS® is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. We advocate on behalf of Texas REALTORS® and private-property owners to keep homeownership affordable, protect private-property rights, and promote public policies that benefit homeowners. Visit TexasRealEstate.com to learn more.

CONTACT: Danielle Urban
Pierpont Communications
512-448-4950
[email protected]  

OneLife LA Unites More Than 15,000 In Celebration Of The Beauty And Dignity Of Every Human Life In Downtown Los Angeles

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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — More than 15,000 Southern Californians, and a diverse roster of local and international speakers and celebrities, joined Archbishop Jose H. Gomez at OneLife LA, on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles. OneLife LA, the only large-scale event that celebrates the beauty and dignity of every human life from conception to natural death, drew thousands throughout Southern California.

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“OneLife LA means sharing the love of God with others – especially those who are poor and forgotten, and those who are alone and excluded,” said Archbishop Gomez. “With God’s love – there are no boundaries, no borders, no barriers. Let’s keep building our friendships and together let us build a Los Angeles that welcomes life and serves life and celebrates life.”

Inspired by the example of Pope Francis, OneLife LA seeks to promote a culture of life, where every human life is valued, especially the marginalized. Events marked the 43rd anniversary of Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

The second annual event, themed “Who do you live for?” kicked-off at La Placita Olvera with a welcoming from Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, remarks from Bishop Charles Blake of the West Angeles Church and an address from Bishop Gerald Barnes of the Diocese of San Bernardino.

International pop star Alexander Acha took the stage at OneLife LA and introduced keynote speaker, Nick Vujicic, who travels around the world sharing his powerful story of challenges and blessings despite being born without limbs, spoke about his passion for life and achieving victory over his struggles through faith. “If God can use a man without arms and legs to be his hands and feet, then he will certainly use any willing heart,” said Vujicic. His deep-rooted faith helped him see his disability as a blessing and formed the nonprofit organization Life Without Limbs when he was 17 years old.

Local hero, retired LAUSD school teacher, Millicent “Mama” Hill spoke about founding Mama Hill’s Help out of her living room in Watts to keep kids off the streets and focused on education.

Latin Grammy nominated Trio Ellas performed throughout the program, which featured a special tribute to baby Shane and his parents Jenna and Dan, who shared their story about learning of Shane’s dire diagnosis while they were expecting and celebrating his life through a lifetime worth of adventures and love before he was born.

The public also enjoyed a special sneak peek of “The True Meaning of Love,” a short film written, produced and directed by international Latina actress and pro-life advocate Karyme Lozano. She is also a co-founder of the Vida Initiative through which she is publishing a pro-life magazine entitled Dare to Be…Mother. Karyme Lozano was one of the event’s presenters.

Other OneLife LA speakers and presenters included:

  • Emmy award winning actress Patricia Heaton, who is an outspoken advocate for life. She currently stars as Frankie Heck in the ABC sitcom, The Middle. Her brilliant career includes starring roles in film, television, and stage.
  • James J. Hanson, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, husband and father to a two-year-old son, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, and has survived long after his doctors predicted. He is an advocate for public policy changes on behalf of patients and assists with fundraising efforts to support cutting-edge clinical research that is crucial for finding a cure to this terrible disease.
  • Emcees of the event were international speaker Lianna Rebolledo, founder of Loving Life, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent domestic violence and abuse, and actor Danny Jacobs, best known as the voice of King Julien on The Penguins of Madagascar and its sequels, and the Netflix series All Hail King Julien.

In solidarity with Pope Francis’ call to show love to others during this Year of Mercy, OneLife LA united with more than 20 community partners to encourage event attendees to get involved in community activities such as feeding the homeless, finding families for foster children, supporting pregnant women, and visiting the elderly. Attendees had the chance to donate their hair to an organization that creates hairpieces for disadvantaged children with medical hair loss. Other organizations present were those dedicated to create human trafficking awareness and education, as well as service projects sign-ups, and collection of clothing and toiletries for victims. For more information about OneLife LA community partners visit http://onelifela.org/sponsors-and-partners/.

OneLife LA was followed by the “One Life, One Light Requiem for the Unborn” Mass celebrated by Archbishop Gomez at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. This special Mass included a candlelight memorial with 220 candles representing each unborn baby of Los Angeles in 2015.  

OneLife LA, spearheaded by the Archdiocese’s Office of Life, Justice and Peace, was first celebrated on January 17, 2015.

Follow OneLife LA on social media and for more information visit www.onelifela.org, https://twitter.com/1lifela, or https://www.facebook.com/1lifela.

NOTE: EVENT PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

CONTACT:
Adrian Marquez
(323) 682-1770 | [email protected]
Doris Benavides
(310) 221-2948 | [email protected]

DIR Studying Impact of Domestic Workers Bill of Rights

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OAKLAND, California, Jan. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) is seeking input from personal attendants on the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights.

Telephone surveys are planned to hear directly from those workers who help a child, older person, or person with physical, intellectual or developmental disabilities with daily activities. Personal attendants are encouraged to call (855) 264-3468 toll free before February 12 to learn more about how they can participate and share their experiences.

The survey sessions are taking place in multiple languages and will inform research about how AB 241, the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, has affected personal attendants in California. This research is being carried out with the Labor Occupational Health Program at UC Berkeley.

Members of the public are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR’s press releases or other departmental updates.   

https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDIR 
https://twitter.com/CA_DIR 
https://www.youtube.com/user/CaliforniaDIR 
http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1     

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR’s Communications Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

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