Universal Music Latin Entertainment Creates First U.S. Latin Cultural Festival
Universal Music Latin Entertainment Creates First U.S. Latin Cultural Festival
TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY FOR THE 2-DAY CELEBRATION FEATURING MULTIPLE STAGES, FOOD FROM ALL OF LATIN AMERICA, ART EXPERIENCES AND A MULTI-GENRE LINE-UP OF MORE THAN 25 TOP MUSIC PERFORMERS
JUAN GABRIEL, ENRIQUE IGLESIAS, LA ARROLLADORA BANDA EL LIMON & JULION ALVAREZ ARE THE FIRST SUPERSTAR HEADLINERS ANNOUNCED TO PERFORM
HOLLYWOOD, Calif., July 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — UNIVERSAL MUSIC LATIN ENTERTAINMENT (UMLE), the world’s leading Latin music label, has announced that it will launch L Festival – Feria Cultural Latinoamericana on October 24 and 25 of 2015 at the OC Fair & Event Center. The first of its kind, L Festival will celebrate the best of Latin America’s art, cuisine and music. International star Enrique Iglesias, Juan Gabriel, La Arrolladora Banda El Limon and Julion Alvarez are the first superstars announced to headline the four main stages at the event.
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150713/235481LOGO
Download photos, logo, and press materials here: L Festival Art
Performances will include more than 25 acts representing 10 countries, Pop, Regional Mexican, Urban, Tropical and EDM genres and include Juan Magan, Zion y Lennox, La Santa Cecilia and Far East Movement. Additional headliners and artists from the top of the Latin charts will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, July 15, at www.lfestival.com. Two day access passes will be available, starting as low as $99, plus unique VIP upgrade opportunities to bring fans even closer to their passion for music, food and art. Children under 6 are free and children 7-10 are half price.
Created by UMLE in partnership with concert leader CMN Events, and sponsored by Bud Light, Pepsi and Verizon, the all day festival marks the first time that two 100% Latin music entertainment companies have created an event on this scale. It also marks the first time in OC Fair and Event Center history that an all-Latino community event is showcased.
In making the announcement, Jesús López, Chairman of Universal Music Latin America & Iberian Peninsula, said: “The Hispanic community represents an important share of music consumption and more of the live concert business. UNIVERSAL MUSIC LATIN ENTERTAINMENT as the leading company in Latin music will once again make history by expanding its entertainment business to offer the Hispanic family a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience. Music, Art, and Gastronomy are part of a lifestyle and the Hispanic family will take center stage of the L FESTIVAL – FERIA CULTURAL LATINOAMERICANA.”
Victor Gonzalez, President of Universal Music Latin Entertainment, said, “As Universal Music Latin Entertainment and market leaders, it fills us with pride to present the first version of L FESTIVAL – FERIA CULTURAL LATINOAMERICANA, an event crafted for the Hispanic family where music, art and gastronomy will converge to provide festivalgoers with a unique 2-day entertainment experience. Being the first in its kind we want to ensure that this event sets a new precedent for the Hispanic community by offering a best in class show and cultural experience.”
L Festival – Feria Cultural Latinoamericana will celebrate the wide diversity of Latin culture in the US, with interactive music, art, history and cultural experiences for the entire family. With a projected buying power of $1.5 trillion by the end of this year, the US Hispanic population has a powerful voice in the culture. Hispanics are diverse, speak multiple languages, and straddle multiple cultures, and L Festival – Feria Cultural Latinoamericana is an opportunity for families to experience their shared values while celebrating what makes them unique.
Since 2002, CMN Events has leveraged its multicultural expertise to produce and execute some of the most engaging lifestyle events around the globe, including music tours, experiential marketing events and international soccer matches. CMN now takes on the task to produce and stage the event.
“I am excited to partner with Universal Music Latin Entertainment to create an experience that the Hispanic community can enjoy and cherish,” said Founder and CEO of CMN, Henry Cárdenas. “We at CMN pride ourselves in producing experiences that really engage and speak to music fans. We like to be a part of memorable events that are celebrations of our culture. That’s what it’s all about!”
THE ART EXPERIENCE – A curated art experience will include multiple galleries spotlighting artists from numerous Latin American countries in an explosion of color, emotions and expressions of social justice.
According to Nielsen, Hispanic consumers spend on average $135 annually on music of which $72 is on live music, far more than the average US consumer. Much of this difference is explained by Hispanics’ love of live music and a culture that values communal celebration.
The L Festival is being spearheaded by Gustavo Lopez, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Universal Music Latin Entertainment. An executive with four children, Lopez was inspired to create a music and cultural festival because he wanted to take his children to an event that he was going to be proud of, where they’d be safe, and where they would have a rich cultural experience. That didn’t exist until now.
Gustavo Lopez concluded, “We‘ve crafted two wonderful days filled with great music, art, food and the rich offerings from our culture that we will be proud to share with our families and friends.”
Janet Jackson Announces 2nd North American Leg To “Unbreakable World Tour”
Janet Jackson Announces 2nd North American Leg To “Unbreakable World Tour”
– Due To Overwhelming Fan Demand, 27 New Cities Added –
– Tickets For 2nd Leg Of Tour On Sale Starting July 20 at JanetJackson.com –
LOS ANGELES, July 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Janet’s Jackson’s tour is not only UNBREAKABLE, it is now unstoppable thanks to her fans across North America. The recent BET Awards’ Ultimate Icon honoree, multiple GRAMMY® Award-winner and multi-platinum selling artist announced a 2nd North American leg to her UNBREAKABLE WORLD TOUR with an additional 27 new cities added to what has become one of the most highly-anticipated international tours. Janet has been listening to her fans and their overwhelming response to both her new music and her tour. They’ve asked her to bring the UNBREAKABLE WORLD TOUR to their city and now she’s giving even more fans a chance to be part of this year’s most exciting tour.
Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150712/235398
The 2nd leg of the North American tour will kick off on January 12, 2016 in Portland, OR and will visit 27 cities including dates in New York City, Washington DC, Boston, Houston, Dallas, Philadelphia and more! A full list of dates on the 2nd leg of the UNBREAKABLE WORLD TOUR is below. All dates on the tour are being co-produced by Miss Jackson’s Rhythm Nation. Additional worldwide concerts will be announced at a later date.
Fans who pre-order the album on JanetJackson.com will receive presale access for premium seating beginning July 14 at 10:00 a.m. until July 19 at 10:00 p.m. before tickets are available to the public. Janet is very appreciative of everyone who purchases tickets, but also wants to thank the fans that purchase her music with a special enhanced experience at the show. Janet believes that music is the livelihood of not only the artist but also songwriters, studio musicians, back-up singers, producers, editors, engineers, stage hands, road crew, tour managers and more. By purchasing music, fans are showing their support for the industry as a whole, and for everyone involved in bringing music to life both in the studio and live on tour.
American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday, July 14 at 10:00 a.m. local through Sunday, July 19 at 10:00 p.m. local.
The UNBREAKABLE WORLD TOUR will return one of this world’s most influential entertainers back to the live stage in support of her upcoming album due out this Fall on Rhythm Nation/BMG. The first single from the new album, No Sleeep, has already entered the Top Ten on the Urban AC and Billboard Hot R & B Songs charts, only two weeks after being released.
The Unbreakable World Tour’s first leg, a 39-date tour, starts Aug. 31 in Vancouver, BC, and includes stops in cities such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Nashville, Cincinnati and San Diego.
In addition to Live Nation and Rhythm Nation, other concert promoters will include Nederlander Concerts, Jam Productions, Another Planet Entertainment, and such promoters as Bamp and Tommy Meharey.
Janet Jackson, iconic music artist, multi-award-winning songwriter, producer, singer, Oscar and Golden Globe nominee and winner of the NAACP Best Sporting Actor award, publisher, choreographer, dancer, Number One New York Times Best Selling Author, businessperson, and philanthropist, is one of the biggest-selling, most influential artists in popular music history. Having won 6 GRAMMY® Awards, along with dozens of American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, BET honors, and Billboard Music Awards, Janet Jackson stands as one of the most prolific artists of all time with a string of hits that have left an indelible impression on pop culture. With sales of over 160 million records worldwide, her music and artistry have opened doors through which other top artists have followed, while acknowledging her impact on their musical perceptions.
For Janet Jackson news, please follow www.twitter.com/JanetJackson.
JANET JACKSON – UNBREAKABLE WORLD TOUR – SECOND LEG
All dates, cities and venues below subject to change.
All dates below on sale July 20.
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Tuesday, January 12, 2016 |
Portland, OR |
Moda Center |
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Wednesday, January 13, 2016 |
Seattle, WA |
KeyArena |
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Friday, January 15, 2016 |
Sacramento, CA |
Sleep Train Arena |
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Saturday, January 16, 2016 |
Anaheim, CA |
Honda Center |
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Tuesday, January 19, 2016 |
Tucson, AZ |
Tucson Arena |
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Thursday, January 21, 2016 |
San Antonio, TX |
AT&T Center |
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Saturday, January 23, 2016 |
Houston, TX |
Toyota Center |
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Sunday, January 24, 2016 |
Dallas, TX |
American Airlines Center |
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Wednesday, January 27, 2016 |
Tulsa, OK |
BOK Center |
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Friday, January 29, 2016 |
Indianapolis, IN |
Bankers Life Fieldhouse |
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Saturday, January 30, 2016 |
Lexington, KY |
Rupp Arena |
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Monday, February 01, 2016 |
Columbus, OH |
Schottenstein Center |
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Tuesday, February 02, 2016 |
Cleveland, OH |
Quicken Loans Arena |
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Friday, February 05, 2016 |
Detroit, MI |
The Palace of Auburn Hills |
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Saturday, February 06, 2016 |
Pittsburgh, PA |
CONSOL Energy Center |
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Wednesday, February 17, 2016 |
Newark, NJ |
Prudential Center |
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Friday, February 19, 2016 |
Bethlehem, PA |
Sands Bethlehem Events Center |
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Monday, February 22, 2016 |
Brooklyn, NY |
Barclays Center |
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Wednesday, February 24, 2016 |
Philadelphia, PA |
Wells Fargo Center |
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Friday, February 26, 2016 |
Boston, MA |
TD Garden |
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Monday, February 29, 2016 |
Baltimore, MD |
Royal Farms Arena |
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Tuesday, March 01, 2016 |
Washington, DC |
Verizon Center |
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Thursday, March 03, 2016 |
Atlanta, GA |
Philips Arena |
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Friday, March 04, 2016 |
Winston-Salem, NC |
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
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Sunday, March 06, 2016 |
Columbia, SC |
Colonial Life Arena |
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Tuesday, March 08, 2016 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena |
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Wednesday, March 09, 2016 |
Fort Lauderdale, FL |
BB&T Center |
About Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Live Nation Media & Sponsorship and Artist Nation Management. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.
Follow us @twitter.com/LiveNationInc
The Weeknd, Skrillex, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne To Headline First-Ever Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival Along With Very Special Guest Justin Bieber
The Weeknd, Skrillex, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne To Headline First-Ever Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival Along With Very Special Guest Justin Bieber
Billboard Announces Line-Up and Additional Details for Its Inaugural Weekend Festival, Produced in Partnership with Live Nation, Set for August 22-23 at Jones Beach, NY
Kygo, Jason Derulo, American Authors, Betty Who, The Chainsmokers, Cold War Kids, Fetty Wap, Halsey, Holy Ghost!, Kiesza, Little Mix, Santigold, ZZ Ward And Over 40 Of Today’s Hottest Hitmakers Set to Perform
NEW YORK, July 12, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Weeknd, Skrillex, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne will headline the first-ever Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival that will also feature a very special performance by Justin Bieber. The highly anticipated festival, produced by Billboard, the leading global destination for charts, news, trends and innovations in music, in partnership with Live Nation, the world’s leading live entertainment company, will bring together some of the biggest chart-topping artists on August 22 and 23 at New York’s Nikon at Jones Beach Theater and surrounding beach areas for a weekend of epic music performances. More than 40 of today’s hottest hitmakers, including Kygo, Jason Derulo, American Authors, Betty Who, The Chainsmokers, Cold War Kids, Fetty Wap, Halsey, Holy Ghost!, Kiesza, Little Mix, Santigold and ZZ Ward, along with exciting breakthrough artists will perform on one of the festival’s three stages throughout the weekend. A full line-up is below. Fans should check back at www.billboard.com/hot100fest for the latest festival news and line-up information.
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150710/234962
The Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival is presented by MasterCard, Sour Patch Kids, Nordstrom Rack and SinfulColors®. Citi MasterCard cardmembers who use Citi Wallet connected to MasterPass will have exclusive access to tickets beginning July 13 at 9:00 a.m. EDT through July 15 at 10:00 p.m. EDT before they are available to the public. For more information and to sign up for Citi Wallet, be sure to visit: www.citi.com/citiwallet. Tickets for the general public go on sale July 16 at 10:00 a.m. EDT at www.livenation.com.
Collectively, the festival headliners have 197 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and have sold a combined 116.3 million albums and songs in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music. They also represent some of this generation’s biggest social media influencers, with a massive fan following across Twitter, Facebook and other platforms. Joining them will be dozens of Billboard-charting artists spanning multiple genres, from pop and rock to R&B and dance, representing one of the most electrifying and diverse festival line-ups this summer. Fans will see some of their favorite artists at one of the festival’s three stages, including the famed amphitheater Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, as well as two additional stages with one located on the beach.
“It’s an honor to be able to extend the Billboard brand into the festival space, and we feel that Jones Beach is the perfect location to create something truly unique and unforgettable,” said Billboard co-president John Amato.
“The Hot 100 Music Festival will be one of those truly memorable summer concert events. We are very excited to bring fans some of summer 2015’s chart toppers in a venue that will showcase the best these artists have to offer,” said Live Nation President and CEO, Michael Rapino.
Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival Line-Up
The Weeknd, Skrillex, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Very Special Guest Justin Bieber
Kygo, Jason Derulo, American Authors, Betty Who, The Chainsmokers, Cold War Kids, The Faint, Fetty Wap, CRUISR, Halsey, Holy Ghost!, ILoveMakonnen, Justin Baron, Kiesza, Lights, Lindsey Stirling, Little Mix, Main Attrakionz, The Maine, Markam, Matoma, Michael Brun, Michael Woods, Misterwives, MKTO, Natalie La Rose, New Politics, Party Thieves, Ryn Weaver, Santigold, X Ambassadors, ZZ Ward and more!
Join the Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival conversation by using #hot100fest.
Be sure to visit the following for the latest news and updates:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Billboard
Twitter: @Billboard
About Billboard
Billboard is the world’s most influential music brand, built on the most complete and well-respected database of charts across all music genres. The Billboard charts define success in music. From the iconic Billboard magazine to Billboard.com which is the ultimate consumer-facing destination for millions of passionate music fans, to the industry’s most elite conference series and influencer events including the Power 100 and Women in Music – the Billboard brand has unmatched authority among fans, artists and the industry alike.
About Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Live Nation Media & Sponsorship and Artist Nation Management. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.
A Flame We All Carry:
A Flame We All Carry:
Opening Ceremony Celebrates the History of a Land, the Heart of a People and a Games to Remember
TORONTO, July 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Opening Ceremony, produced by Cirque du Soleil, Official Creative Partner for the Opening Ceremony, spoke to the enduring legacy of First Nations, the welcoming of cultures from around the world, the inspirational power of athletes and the proud legacy of Canadian sport heroes — in front of a sold-out live audience of 45,000, with hundreds of millions of households watching the broadcast across the world.
The Canadian 4 x 100-metre relay team that brought a nation to its feet with a gold-medal performance at the 1996 Olympic Games, took part in a historic torch run that concluded atop the CN Tower, which, until 2010, was the world’s tallest tower, building and freestanding structure. The audience then saw Canadian track legend Donovan Bailey turn, torch in hand, and BASE jump from the CN tower before descending from the ceiling and delivering the flame to the Opening Ceremony.
Following the raising of the Pan Am Games and the Olympic Games flags, Saäd Rafi, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) chief executive officer, spoke of the excitement of the Games and the legacy they will leave. “The memory of these Games, and the beautiful venues left behind, will say to our youth for years to come: To try is worthy. To be hopeful is right. To be idealistic is wise,” said Rafi.
Dr. Julio C. Maglione, president, Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) then welcomed athletes and visitors to the Games. A video tribute honoured the 2015 passing of Mario Vázquez Raña, who was PASO’s president at the time of his death. Canada’s Governor General David Johnston then said the words everyone had been waiting to hear: “Tonight, I solemnly declare open the 17th Pan American Games.”
In an emotional family moment, Marita Payne-Wiggins, team member on the 1984 Canadian Olympic silver medal 4 x 400-metre relay team, passed the torch to her son, Canadian-born NBA basketball star Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins ran up the stadium steps to meet the final torchbearer, Steve Nash, two-time winner of the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award and current general manager of Canada’s senior men’s basketball team. With the Games cauldron lit, 6,100 athletes from 41 countries and territories will begin competing in 36 sports as the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games get underway.
To see photos from the Opening Ceremony, please visit http://toronto2015.mediaroom.com/pad.
For further information, please contact:
Main Press Centre: [email protected] 416-957-3414
Media Team: [email protected] or 416-957-3409
Judge Rules Family of Mexican Teen Shot By Border Patrol Can Sue
Judge Rules Family of Mexican Teen Shot By Border Patrol Can Sue
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, July 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Yesterday, a federal judge in Arizona, the Honorable Raner C. Collins, ruled that the mother of a Mexican teenager who was shot and killed across the border by a U.S. Border Patrol agent may maintain her lawsuit in federal court.
Araceli Rodriguez filed suit on behalf of her son, 16-year-old Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez, after Agent Lonnie Swartz shot and killed the boy in the cross-border shooting. Attorneys for Swartz contended that Elena Rodriguez was not entitled to constitutional protection because he was in Mexico at the time of the shooting. In support, Swartz’ attorneys cited Hernandez v. United States, 785 F.3d 117 (5th Cir. 2015) (en banc), where the Fifth Circuit ruled that a Mexican teen killed by a Border Patrol agent in El Paso was not protected by the Constitution.
Judge Collins disagreed with the ruling in Hernandez, “The Court finds that, under the facts alleged in this case, the Mexican national may avail himself to the protections of the Fourth Amendment and that the agent may not assert qualified immunity.”
Robert C. Hilliard, attorney for the plaintiff in the Hernandez case, believes Judge Collins reached the correct decision. “Judge Collins’ opinion underscores the legal loopiness of the Hernandez decision. The fundamental thought process allowing for the conclusion that border patrol agents are free to shoot across an international border with the intent of killing an innocent person, yet whether the agent will face civil consequences for their actions is dependent on the nationality of the person murdered is beyond the pale. As the agent has no way to know if he is shooting an American citizen or not, the Hernandez opinion allows for that determination to control the right to justice.”
ABOUT HMG http://www.hmglawfirm.com/
Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP (HMG) specializes in mass torts, personal injury, product liability, commercial and business litigation, and wrongful death. Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP has been successfully representing clients in the United States and Mexico since 1986. Bob Hilliard obtained the Largest Verdict in the country in 2012 and the #1 verdict in Texas in 2013.
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Latino Conservation Week Kicks Off This Weekend (July 11 – 19)
Latino Conservation Week Kicks Off This Weekend (July 11 – 19)
WASHINGTON, July 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — This weekend, the second annual Latino Conservation Week will kick off and continue through July 19, 2015. The week is an opportunity for Latinos to demonstrate their passion for enjoying and protecting public lands. During the week, the Latino community will go on outings, volunteer in clean-ups, and other community events – more than 40 have been scheduled from California to New York, designed to show their support for permanently protecting our public lands, water and air.
“This week is about sharing the Latino community’s perspective on the environment like the need to protect our public lands and natural surroundings for future generations,” said Maite Arce, president of Hispanic Access Foundation, which launched Latino Conservation Week in 2014 as part of its growing environmental program. “Hispanics are passionate about enjoying the outdoors and hold a strong belief that we have a moral obligation to protect it for future generations.”
Latino Conservation Week is an opportunity for community-based organizations, churches, local, state, and national parks and agencies to plan events for the Latino community to have fun, learn, and advocate for the great outdoors. Events will be held celebrating new monuments such as San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, Browns Canyon National Monument and Basin and Range National Monument, which was just designated today. Other events include opportunities to explore local and state parks, to learn about habitat restoration and to discuss the cultural heritage of the outdoors. A list of events is available here.
Event sponsors and partners include National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Natural Resources, National Wildlife Refuge System, California State Parks, Por la Creacion: Faith-based Alliance, Latino Outdoors, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, Sierra Club, COFEM, Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, Healthy Parks Healthy People Bay Area, REI, The Boeing Company, Environment for the Americas, Mujeres de la Tierra, Urban Semillas, Amigos de los Rios, and Los Angeles County of Parks and Recreation.
“Latino Conservation Week shines a spotlight on just how important Latinos consider the outdoors and our natural resources,” said Arce. “Not only does it demonstrate in practice what public opinion polls show – Latinos are highly supportive of conservation – but it also provides more understanding why Latinos are active in policy efforts to establish national monuments, protect public lands or secure reauthorization of tools like the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which expires in less than 100 days.”
In its inaugural year, Latino Conservation Week saw more than 17 events held across six states take place as part of the celebration. Events for 2015 are listed at www.LatinoConservationWeek.com.
For media that would like to participate in any of these events, request interviews or need additional information, please contact Robert Fanger at [email protected].
About Hispanic Access Foundation
Hispanic Access Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that improves the lives of Hispanics in the United States and promotes civic engagement by educating, motivating and helping them access trustworthy support systems. Our vision is that all Hispanics throughout the U.S. enjoy good physical health, a healthy natural environment, a quality education, economic success and civic engagement in their communities with the sum improving the future of America. For more information visit www.hispanicaccess.org.
Contact: Robert Fanger
P: 317-410-7668
E: [email protected]
National Hispanic Christian Leaders Speak Out Against a Nuclear Iran
National Hispanic Christian Leaders Speak Out Against a Nuclear Iran
SAN FRANCISCO, July 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The following is a statement from Rev. Samuel Rodriguez and Rev. Mario Bramnick:
We stand at the brink. As leaders in the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and the Hispanic Israel Leadership Coalition, we speak on behalf of more than 40,000 Hispanic evangelical churches.
The United States and other members of the “P5+1” – Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China – are currently negotiating with the Islamic Republic of Iran on an agreement to curtail its nuclear program. For more than 20 years, the United States and many of our allies have warned of Iran’s secret interest in building a nuclear weapons capability. The question today is whether we have the will to stop them.
Iran today threatens the United States, our ally Israel and others in the Middle East. America is our country; Israel is our spiritual home. As Americans and Christians, we care deeply about both, and these two great nations represent the greatest hope for the future of the world.
The Iranian regime is an enemy of the very values we hold dear. Its venom spreads far and wide. At home, the Iranian government persecutes Christians, denying them the basic right to worship and often punishing them for doing so. Iran spews forth anti-Semitic lies, crassly denies the Holocaust and calls Israel a cancer that must be destroyed. Beyond its borders, Iran is the chief state sponsor of terrorism, impacting both America and Israel. Iran supplied Iraqi insurgents with the weapons that killed and maimed American soldiers, and Iran-backed Hezbollah killed more Americans than any foreign terrorist group prior to 9-11.
An Iran with the ability to build nuclear weapons – even if it does not actually do so – is a global game-changer that puts all of us at risk. It is not acceptable.
The P5+1 agreement must prevent Iran from having any pathway to nuclear weapons. They must not waver at this precipitous moment. Rather, they must gather their strength and insist on an agreement that meets this goal. The Administration has said that no deal is better than a bad deal. Let’s hold them to their word.
Iran cannot be trusted. It has proven this again and again. It will make an agreement and then reinterpret it; it will break its promises on a pretense. Iran has a long history of manipulation and cheating – often playing a game of hide and seek with international atomic inspectors. Even after clandestine nuclear work has been discovered, Iran has sought to cover it up.
We represent millions of evangelical Hispanic Christians across the United States who, like us, have a moral duty to fight anti-Semitism, support Israel and defend America. We have an obligation to speak out and tell the president and Congress not to allow Iran to have the ability to produce nuclear weapons. This is not a partisan issue; it is a moral imperative.
Any agreement with Iran must include five critical elements.
First, any agreement must provide the ability to know what Iran is doing through anywhere, anytime inspections. International inspectors must be able to access suspected nuclear sites, including military installations, on short notice. Otherwise, the entire agreement will fall apart, leaving Iran with safe havens for nefarious nuclear work.
Second, any agreement must require the Iranians to come clean, finally, on their past research and development efforts on nuclear weapons. Without this information, we won’t have a baseline from which to judge whether they are cheating (again) in the future.
Third, any agreement must provide sanctions relief over time and only after full, sustained compliance by Iran. The Supreme Leader and his cronies should not get a signing bonus just for making promises, and Iran should not have access to billions of dollars to continue to fund anti-American and anti-Israel terrorism.
Fourth, any agreement must last for decades to ensure that Iran not become a nuclear threshold state. The ten-year timeframe suggested in the framework agreement would simply start the clock towards Iran becoming a nuclear weapons power.
Fifth, Iran must be required to dismantle, not merely mothball, its nuclear infrastructure. Leaving the equipment intact creates a built in opportunity for Iran to cheat before we can discover it.
I encourage our Hispanic evangelical community across America to call their members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and urge them to use these five critical elements as guideposts in evaluating any agreement. Let them know that we want a diplomatic solution that actually solves the problem – no nuclear weapons pathway for Iran now or in the future.
As our numbers grow in the evangelical Hispanic community, our determination will grow as proud Americans and as pro-Israel Christians to stand up against anti-Semitism and hatred toward Israel and America.
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez is the President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference 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. For additional information, visit http://www.nhclc.org
Rev. Mario Bramnick is the President of Hispanic Israel Leadership Coalition (HIL). The Hispanic Israel Leadership Coalitions vision is to build a firewall against anti-Semitism and the Campaign to Delegitimize the Nation of Israel, raise awareness of the critical intersection of Israel and America’s future, and activate Hispanics as the most “Pro Israel, Pro Jewish” demographic.
Western Dental Announces Daniel D. Crowley as Executive Chairman of Premier Dental Services, Inc.
Western Dental Announces Daniel D. Crowley as Executive Chairman of Premier Dental Services, Inc.
ORANGE, California, July 9, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Western Dental, one of the nation’s leaders in accessible, affordable oral healthcare, today announced that Daniel D. Crowley was named Executive Chairman of Premier Dental Services, Inc., Western’s parent company.
Mr. Crowley is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dynamic Healthcare Solutions, a Sacramento-based consulting and investment firm that he founded in 1997 to advise and invest in healthcare service companies. Through Dynamic, he has had extensive experience leading a wide variety of healthcare services companies. Specifically, Mr. Crowley has successfully led multi-site companies in dental, orthodontic, and medical practice management, including one of the nation’s largest clinic-based medical group practices with more than 200 offices in 20 states and nearly 800 medical providers.
“I am pleased to welcome Dan to the leadership team,” said Tom Erickson, the Chairman of Western Dental. “I am confident that Dan’s experience and skills will be tremendous assets as we continue to build the exceptional quality of care and service that we provide to our patients every day.”
Prior to founding Dynamic Healthcare Solutions, Mr. Crowley was the Chairman of Health Systems International, now known as Health Net, and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of one of its predecessor companies, Foundation Health Corporation. Mr. Crowley oversaw the growth of Foundation Health, then known as Americare, from a small regional health plan to a successful Fortune 500 company. Mr. Crowley joined Foundation Health from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio, then the fifth-largest “Blues Plan” in the U.S.
“I’m very excited to be working with the team at Western Dental to optimize quality, service, and value for patients,” said Mr. Crowley. “Western Dental has a terrific value proposition, an enviable footprint, and great potential to grow and prosper. As one of the largest dental service organizations in the country with 220 affiliated offices in five states, it is a vital part of healthcare in America.”
About Western Dental
Western Dental (with its affiliate, Brident Dental & Orthodontics) is one of the nation’s largest dental providers and is the leader in accessible, affordable oral health care, serving nearly one million patients annually in 220 affiliated clinics throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas and Colorado. Informed by the latest research, Western Dental is committed to delivering high-quality general, orthodontic and specialty dental services in state-of-the art facilities. All of Western Dental’s services are backed by a unique quality assurance system that electronically monitors all patient visits, treatments, dental staff and clinical performance to enable high-quality care.
For more information please visit WesternDental.com and Brident.com.