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Rahal Rules for Honda at Auto Club Speedway

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Graham Rahal captured the MavTV500 Saturday at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA.





Rahal Rules for Honda at Auto Club Speedway

–Marco Andretti completes 1-3 result for Honda drivers

–Six Honda drivers combine to lead 101 laps

–Series-record 75 lead changes in 250-lap race


FONTANA, Calif., June 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — After knocking on the door of victory circle several times this season, Graham Rahal came through Saturday at Auto Club Speedway, winning a frantic MAVTv500 for his second career Verizon IndyCar Series win and first on an oval.

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Despite starting only 19th, Rahal was confident his Honda would be strong on race day, and made his pre-race prediction come true by moving into the lead pack in the first 25 laps, and continuing to run at or near the front of the field for the rest of the day, leading 15 laps, including the final sprint to the checkers.  That ended on the penultimate when fellow Honda drivers Ryan Briscoe and Ryan Hunter-Reay collided on the front stretch, sending Briscoe tumbling into the infield. 

Fortunately, both drivers escaped injury in the crash, as did four other drivers, including Honda’s Takuma Sato, in three crashes that took place during the 500-mile contest.

Prior to his crash, Briscoe was one of several Honda drivers contending for the victory, leading seven laps as he continued in his substitute role for the injured James Hinchcliffe at Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.  Sato was yet another Honda front-runner, also leading 31 laps before contact from Scott Dixon sent his A.J. Foyt Racing machine into the side of Will Power, ending the race for both drivers.

Marco Andretti had another strong race, leading 31 laps en route to a third-place finish as Andretti remains as the only driver in the series to complete every race lap this season.  Andretti has finished fifth or better in four of the last five races. 

James Jakes moved up in the closing laps to finish seventh, his best result since standing on the podium, third, at New Orleans; while Jack Hawksworth took the checkers in 10th for A.J. Foyt Racing, his fourth top-10 finish of 2015.

Video recaps from this weekend’s Honda activities in Fontana are being posted on the “Honda Racing/HPD” YouTube channel. Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, the video packages can be found in the 2015 HPD Trackside Video Playlist at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV. 

The series now takes a week off before continuing its run of consecutive oval track races with the ABC Supply Company Wisconsin 250 on Sunday, July 12, at the famed Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisconsin.

Graham Rahal (#15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda) started 10th, finished 1st, 1st victory of 2015, 2nd career victory, 1st on an oval: “”You don’t know how good this feels. It’s been so long coming. It’s awesome!  I knew my car was really good. It wasn’t the quickest up front, but those last couple of laps worked. I hung onto the bottom line. I’m just proud of these guys. It’s these guys right here [his crew] that make things happen. I couldn’t be more honored and thankful to have a group like this. It was a hairy race. I was going four-wide and it makes you nervous, for sure. I was racing with Kanaan, and Dixon and Power, and then Hunter-Reay a lot.  So to trust those around you helps a lot. I feel like this year we’ve been so close and I feel like we deserved it before but hadn’t gotten it yet. So to get this one feels unbelievable.”

Steve Eriksen (Vice President, Honda Performance Development) on today’s race:  “There were many encouraging things to note in today’s race.  We had several potential winners today, great reliability in the race, and no injuries in a couple of major crashes.  It was great to see the sheer speed shown by Marco [Andretti], Takuma [Sato] and Ryan [Briscoe] and several other Honda drivers.  Congratulations to Graham [Rahal] for a well-deserved win after coming so close several times already this year, and providing a great boost for our hard-working associates at HPD.  Now we’re looking forward to the new challenges presented by the short ovals at Iowa and Milwaukee.”


(Español) Artspace El Paso Lofts rotura de tierra con apoyo de FHLB Dallas, Wells Fargo

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Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Statement by Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC)/CONEL Regarding the Supreme Court of the United States’ ruling to legalize same-sex marriage

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Statement by Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, President National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC)/CONEL Regarding the Supreme Court of the United States’ ruling to legalize same-sex marriage


SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 26, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — “Today’s SCOTUS decision redefining marriage serves as a defacto and legal catalyst for the marginalization of Americans who embrace a biblical worldview.

National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference logo.

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Still, we affirm the Court’s recognition to uphold proper protection of religious organizations and persons, under the First Amendment rights, as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered.

As children of the Cross committed to biblical truth, we affirm the biblical definition of marriage as a sacred union between one man and one woman.

At the same time, as Christ followers committed to the loving Gospel of Jesus, we reject and repudiate all vestiges of homophobia, intolerance and bigotry.

Accordingly, we must all work arduously to recognize the image of God in every individual, without exception, while simultaneously building a firewall against intolerance and bigotry toward followers of Christ who preach truth with love.

For at the end of the day, I know for certain, that the moment biblical truth stands defined as hate speech in our nation, America, as we know her, will cease to exist.”

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.


Fight Against Cancer Advances With $1.3 Million In Grant Funding For Innovative Research

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Fight Against Cancer Advances With $1.3 Million In Grant Funding For Innovative Research

The Mary Kay Foundation(SM) Awards Grants to 13 Top Cancer Research Facilities Nationwide


DALLAS, June 26, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With more than 800,000 new cases of cancer among women in the United States expected this year, according to the American Cancer Society, almost everyone is touched by the disease. Cancer knows no boundaries and remains the second leading cause of death in women – two reasons The Mary Kay Foundation supports research of cancers affecting women at top medical schools and research facilities across the nation with a new slate of grants totaling $1.3 million.

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After a meticulous review of more than 60 applicants by The Mary Kay Foundation Research Review Committee, 13 grants in the amount of $100,000 each were awarded to some of the most-respected institutions in the country. The review committee is composed of prominent medical scientists and doctors who select the most promising research projects for the highly competitive grants. Since its inception in 1996, the Foundation has been committed to the cause, investing more than $22 million to date toward research for cancers affecting women.

“Support from The Mary Kay Foundation has enabled promising projects to further cancer research and discovery, ultimately leading to improved longevity and quality of life for thousands of cancer patients,” said Jerry W. Shay, Ph.D., Professor and Vice Chairman of the Department of Cell Biology for The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and Chair of The Mary Kay Foundation Research Review Committee. “Research is at the heart of the relentless pursuit to help prevent, detect and treat cancer each and every day in the United States. From new therapies to early detection tools, grants like these give scientists the opportunity to pursue such goals.”

The 2015 grant slate includes a wide range of critical research areas. At the University of Washington in Seattle, Wash., medical scientists will use the grant funds to explore early detection of ovarian cancer using DNA extracted from routine Pap smears. At the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colo., researchers are studying new tools in preventing and treating cervical cancer. At Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa., the goal of the research project is to identify genetic dissection of breast cancer metastasis.

“While The Mary Kay Foundation’s Cancer Research Grant Program is focused exclusively on cancers affecting women, we know the Foundation’s grants have fueled research benefitting all cancers,” said Michael Lunceford, Mary Kay Inc. Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Chairman of the Board for The Mary Kay Foundation. “By continuing to support top medical scientists at some of the best and most-respected research institutions in the country, we know we are advancing the fight against cancer while continuing Mary Kay’s mission of enriching women’s lives.”

Click here for more information about The Mary Kay FoundationSM cancer grants at work and a full list of the 2015 Cancer Research Grant recipients.

About The Mary Kay FoundationSM
The Mary Kay Foundation was founded in 1996, and its mission is two-fold: to fund research of cancers affecting women and to help prevent domestic violence while raising awareness of the issue. Since the Foundation’s inception, it has awarded $37 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence prevention and more than $22 million to cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States. To learn more about The Mary Kay FoundationSM, please visit www.marykayfoundation.org or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).

Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications
marykay.com/newsroom
972.687.5332 or [email protected]


Educational Testing Service’s HiSET® Program Collaborates with Literacy Assistance Center to Provide Professional Development Services to Adult Educators

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Educational Testing Service’s HiSET® Program Collaborates with the Literacy Assistance Center to Provide Professional Development Services to Adult Educators

Works together to achieve a common goal of helping students succeed


PRINCETON, N.J., June 26, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ –To assist students in achieving college and career ready skills, the HiSET® program by Educational Testing Service (ETS) has teamed up with the Literacy Assistance Center (LAC) to provide professional services to adult educators in hopes of better preparing students for the future.

The HiSET exam, an alternative high school equivalency test, allows for those who have not completed high school the opportunity to demonstrate their high-school level proficiency and readiness for the future. An accessible and affordable alternative to the GED® test, the HiSET exam allows those to earn a state-issued credential needed to advance in the job market or continue their education.

ETS is excited to collaborate with the LAC to provide professional development and technical assistance to programs in states that have adopted the HiSET program. The programming consists of webinars, workshops, on-site services, coaching for increasing instructor efficiency as well as technological integration into course instruction. The main goal is to assist in facilitating a community of effective education professionals helping prepare students to earn their high school equivalency certificates.

The new competitive high school equivalency testing market has created confusion among test takers and educators. Many are unaware that alternative tests lead to the same end result – a state-issued credential. The partnership between ETS and the LAC is to ensure educators have the right tools and information needed to help students succeed.

“At the LAC, we envision a future where everyone has the opportunity to actively participate in civic affairs, achieve economic security, support their children’s schooling and more,” said Ira Yankwitt, Executive Director of the LAC. “By teaming up with ETS, we can help more adults achieve this.”

The services will be available in HiSET-approved states, including California, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wyoming, along with U.S. territories Guam, Northern Marianas, American Samoa and The Republic of Palau.

“This is a great opportunity for us to help those who are at the forefront of education – teachers,” explains Jonn Oswald, Vice President & General Manager, K-12 Student Assessment Programs at ETS. “We’re looking forward to assisting the community in preparing their students for future success.”

For more information about ETS’s HiSET program, please visit http://hiset.ets.org/. For information about the LAC, visit http://www.lacnyc.org/.

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

About the LAC
The LAC is a non-profit professional development and technical assistance organization dedicated to improving the quality of adult literacy and opportunity youth programs. Located in New York City, the LAC has been working to strengthen the efficacy and expand the capacity of adult basic education, high school equivalency and English for speakers of other languages practitioners and programs since 1983. The LAC is a national leader in integrating college and career readiness standards into high school equivalency curriculum and instruction. www.lacnyc.org

GED is a registered trademark of the American Council on Education. The HiSET Program is not endorsed by, affiliated with or sponsored by ACE or GED Testing Service.


Los Angeles Public Library And Read Conmigo Team Up To Give 10,000 Free Bilingual Books To Kids During Summer Vacation

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Los Angeles Public Library And Read Conmigo Team Up To Give 10,000 Free Bilingual Books To Kids During Summer Vacation


Book Giveaway Prevents Learning Loss by Placing Free Resources in the Hands of Young Readers


LOS ANGELES, June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — For kids on summer break, academics often take a backseat to camps, vacations, and television shows. But research shows that children who continue to engage in educational activities during the summer are more likely to avoid the “Summer Slide,” a phenomenon in which kids fail to retain the academic knowledge and skills that they learned during the school year. Read Conmigo, the national award-winning bilingual literacy program, is teaming up with all 73 branches of the Los Angeles Public Library to encourage recreational reading among youngsters this summer.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150625/225770

Beginning July 13, Read Conmigo will give away 10,000 free bilingual books to children pre-K through 5th grade who sign up for or already have a library card*.  This effort is part of Read Conmigo’s 50,000 Bilingual Book giveaway that began during Bilingual Literacy Month this past May. Through this effort, Read Conmigo and the Los Angeles Public Library hope to provide disadvantaged children with valuable access to learning resources while they are away from the classroom for the summer.

“Reading is essential as students combat ‘Summer Slide,’ and we encourage all children to take advantage of the tremendous free resources available at the Los Angeles Public Library,” stated City Librarian John F. Szabo.  “In addition to programs including coding workshops, craft projects and story times, the Los Angeles Public Library is pleased to work with Read Conmigo to provide children with free bilingual resources this summer when they get their library card.”

In addition to unlimited access to English-Spanish children’s books, activity kits and an array of online resources for computer and mobile devices, Read Conmigo also includes useful “Summer Slide” prevention suggestions for parents to help prevent reading erosion during the summer break.

“The goal of Read Conmigo is to help bridge the resource gap between families and their access to enriching bilingual literacy resources, like those offered by our program, especially during the summer when kids are out of school,” said James Gober, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation, the parent company of Infinity Auto Insurance.

To learn more about Read Conmigo and receive or download free bilingual reading books, visit www.ReadConmigo.org.

* – While supplies last at each branch

 


Ismael Cala Reminds Authors about Upcoming Amazon Literary Contest

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Ismael Cala Reminds Authors about Upcoming Amazon Literary Contest

Writers can submit works from July 1 to August 31


MIAMI, June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Second Literary Prize Contest for Indie Authors in Spanish, organized by Amazon, will run this year from July 1 to August 31.

“This is a unique opportunity for new writers,” said Ismael Cala, ambassador for the contest for the United States and Latin America.

From July 1 to August 31, authors can upload their work to Amazon’s KDP platform (https://kdp.amazon.com). They will have control over the entire publishing process, from designing the cover to setting the price, and can even make a print copy available to their readers by using Createspace.

Books will be assessed based on creativity, originality and quality of writing, and five finalists will be selected. The winner will then be chosen, who will have the opportunity to be published in a print edition by the publishing house “La Esfera de los Libros,” and to be translated and published in English in digital, audio and print format by AmazonCrossing.

“I am delighted to work with Amazon to extend the reach of authors and books in Spanish in the United States and Latin America,” said Ismael Cala on announcing the contest. “I have interviewed hundreds of writers on the CALA show in CNN en Espanol, and I am committed to the written word in all of its formats.”

About Ismael Cala

Ismael Cala, host of the CALA show in CNN en Espanol, has more than 25 years of media experience in Cuba, Canada, the United States and Mexico. His books “El poder de escuchar” [The Power of Listening] (2013) and “Un buen hijo de P” (2014) have become best sellers in Latin America and the United States. Ismael directs the digital magazine “Cala 3.0” and publishes a weekly column in more than 30 newspapers and magazines.

For more information, please visit: www.amazon.com/concursoindie


El Sexo Debil – A Daring, Revealing Mexican Series Starring Mauricio Ochmann, Itati Cantoral And Khotan Fernandez – Debuts July 6 On NBC UNIVERSO

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El Sexo Debil debuts July 6 on NBC UNIVERSO





El Sexo Debil – A Daring, Revealing Mexican Series Starring Mauricio Ochmann, Itati Cantoral And Khotan Fernandez – Debuts July 6 On NBC UNIVERSO


As the Powerful “Los Camachos” Lose All the Women in Their Lives, Both Sexes Evolve and Adapt to Their New Realities, and the Question Arises, “Who is the Weaker Sex?”


Series Set to Air for the First Time on a U.S. Cable Network, Monday to Thursday at


7 p.m. ET/PT; Available Across NBC UNIVERSO Viewing Platforms Including TV, Online, Mobile Devices and Video on Demand


MIAMI, June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — NBC UNIVERSO, the modern sports and entertainment cable channel for Latinos, today announced the premiere of El Sexo Debil, the provocative Mexican series that will air for the first time on a cable network in the U.S., beginning Monday, July 6, at 7 p.m. ET/PT. 

A hit in Mexico, which generated a passionate social dialogue across Latin America, the series centers around the Camacho family, led by Agustin Camacho (Arturo Rios) and his four sons Alvaro (Khotan Fernandez), Julian (Mauricio Ochmann), Dante (Raul Mendez) and Bruno (Pablo Cruz) – all of them doctors, who seem to have everything going for them. In the series premiere, they quickly find out that professional prestige, sexual conquests, charisma and economic status are not enough to keep the women in their lives from walking out on them – on the same fateful evening.

As the men face their worst fears, in comes Helena (Itati Cantoral), a decisive and strong woman, who right after leaving her own fiance at the altar, is ready to take the Camachos’ lives by storm. Over time, the series illustrates how both sexes evolve and adapt to their new realities, turning traditional stereotypes on their head.

“El Sexo Debil is a fun, daring, eye-opening, and very real series that exposes the ‘machismo’ in human beings… both men and women,” said Mauricio Ochmann. “It is a series that brings reality and honesty, so people will relate to both the Camacho brothers, as well as with the strong female characters.”

Bilai Joa Silar, Senior Vice President, Programming & Production, NBC UNIVERSO, said, “El Sexo Debil defies typical dramatic portrayals of Latino characters in Spanish television. It’s a provocative series that challenges the traditional roles played by Latinos, and puts them in a modern light.

“This fresh, edgy programming is representative of the quality entertainment NBC UNIVERSO is committed to offering our Hispanic viewers,” she added.

El Sexo Debil will air Mondays through Thursdays on NBC UNIVERSO from 7-8 p.m. ET/PT. The series consists of 120 episodes.

Subscribers of NBC UNIVERSO on participating cable, satellite, and telco services can also view episodes on Video on Demand, as well as nbcuniverso.com and the NBC UNIVERSO NOW app by entering the subscriber’s log-in information. El Sexo Debil is an Argos Television and Sony Pictures Television production.

For more information on El Sexo Debil, visit www.NBCUniverso.com

About NBC UNIVERSO: 
NBC UNIVERSO (www.nbcuniverso.com) is a modern general entertainment cable channel for Latinos, bringing the world’s top sports franchises and edgy, emotional programming to more than 40 million households in the U.S. As one of the most widely available modern cable channels for U.S. Latinos, NBC UNIVERSO delivers a thrilling mix of exclusive sports action – including FIFA World Cup™, NASCAR, NFL, Premier League and The 2016 Rio Olympics – along with signature series, blockbuster movies, music, must-see live events and strategic acquisitions, on TV, online and mobile devices. NBC UNIVERSO is part of Hispanic Enterprises and Content, a division of NBCUniversal (www.nbcuniversal.com), one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (www.comcastcorporation.com). 

Follow us on Twitter at: 
@NBCUNIVERSO @NBCUNIVERSOPR

Video: https://goo.gl/2bVhZ7 

NOTE TO EDITORS: A high-resolution image is available at: http://hispanicprwire.com/en/multimedia/


March of Dimes Hails King v. Burwell Decision

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March of Dimes Hails King v. Burwell Decision


Maintaining tax subsidies for health coverage will benefit women of childbearing age and families


WASHINGTON, June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The March of Dimes, the nation’s leading advocacy organization for maternal and child health, today hailed the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the Constitutionality of tax subsidies provided to those who purchase health insurance through Health Insurance Marketplaces, regardless of whether those Marketplaces are established and maintained by states or the federal government.

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“This decision is a victory for women and families,” stated March of Dimes President Dr. Jennifer L. Howse.  “The tax credits provided under the Affordable Care Act are enabling millions of women and families to purchase affordable health insurance in Health Insurance Marketplaces.  We’re gratified that the Supreme Court accepted the arguments put forth by the March of Dimes and our allies supporting the legality of the ACA tax subsidies.”

In King v. Burwell, a group of individuals challenged the availability of tax credits to purchase health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), arguing that one phrase in the voluminous law limited the availability of tax credits only to coverage purchased through Health Insurance Marketplaces established by states.  If this case had succeeded, tax subsidies to make coverage affordable would have been denied to the millions of Americans who have purchased plans through Health Insurance Marketplaces operated by the federal government.

“Women need to have coverage throughout their lives, both to maintain their own good health and to ensure healthy pregnancies,” Dr. Howse added.  “If women can only obtain coverage while pregnant, or not even then, the evidence is overwhelming that both they and their infants suffer poor health outcomes.  We need to do more to ensure women and families have access to affordable, quality coverage, not take it away from them.”

In January, the March of Dimes joined other organizations in filing an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court urging rejection of the petitioners’ arguments, making three key legal arguments:

  • The ACA made specific connections between Exchanges and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that do not function as intended if the petitioners’ argument is accepted.
  • The express purpose of the ACA was to provide access to affordable health insurance for all Americans.  A legal interpretation that ends access to tax credits, and therefore affordable coverage, for millions of Americans contradicts that purpose.
  • A key goal of the ACA was to provide access to coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions, such as pregnant women.  Without affordable coverage, they will be unable to access vital health services, an outcome that was clearly not intended by the law.  

The amicus brief was also signed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Children’s Health Fund, Children’s Hospitals Association, First Focus, and National Physicians Alliance, as well as several individuals with health conditions who have been able to obtain affordable coverage with tax credits provided under the Affordable Care Act.

About March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose volunteers and staff work to improve the health of infants and children by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org.  Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

 


Dominicanos USA unveils 1st year accomplishments, and results of ground-breaking first-of-its-kind research on the political perceptions and attitudes of Dominican-Americans in New York, Rhode Island

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Dominicanos USA unveils 1st year accomplishments, and results of ground-breaking first-of-its-kind research on the political perceptions and attitudes of Dominican-Americans in New York, Rhode Island


NEW YORK, June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Following a successful first year as the nation’s first and only voter registration, mobilization, and education organization geared towards Dominican American voters, Dominicanos USA (DUSA) on Thursday revealed it had registered more than 75,000 Dominican Americans in their first year of voter registration efforts, tripling the number of registrants since the organization’s launch last year. 

DUSA also unveiled the findings of a groundbreaking political research project and focus groups on Dominican-American political perceptions and attitudes. The poll was conducted in partnership with Latino Decisions, a top Latino political opinion and research firm. The top findings include:

  1. The most important issues to Dominican American voters and potential voters are jobs and the economy (29%), school reform and improvement (23%), and housing affordability (20%).   Additionally, Healthcare (7%), and Immigration (13%) were also issues of concern. Priority issues also varied depending on specific geographic area.
  2. Many of those surveyed believe there are considerable barriers to participation that keep them from fully integrating into civic life and that more advocacy would help in that regard.  91% of registered voters believe that more local Dominican-focused civic advocacy groups that help raise the voice of Dominican Americans are needed.  
  3. News consumption attitudes found that the majority (70%) of Dominican Americans surveyed, even those that had assimilated, preferred Spanish-language and bilingual news outlets to only English language outlets. Specifically 36% of Dominican American voters prefer to consume their information equally in both languages, while 34% prefer exclusively Spanish language.
  4. There is a very strong transnationalism in the U.S.-based Dominican American community.  70% of Dominican-Americans surveyed feel a deep-rooted connection with the Dominican Republic that keep them interested in and knowledgeable about issues that are happening on the island nation.  43% have a medium level of engagement with island affairs while 27% are highly engaged.  

“This first-of its kind, ground-breaking research commissioned by DUSA and executed by Latino Decisions, comes at the perfect time for our organization to prioritize and maximize our resources in order to educate and mobilize Dominican Americans on the issues they care most about,” said Manuel Matos, attorney, community leader, and DUSA board member who serves as the group’s spokesperson.  “It also gives us an opportunity to continue learning the best and most effective ways to communicate to this vital and potentially powerful community who is hungry for better and more robust advocacy and help in navigating the democratic process so they can become full fledged participants in civic life.”

The survey findings, coupled with the unprecedented 75,000 voters DUSA has already registered in the last year, underscore the potential that exists for Dominican-American voters to become much more involved in local, state, and national elections.  

“DUSA is answering this call to elevate the voice of Dominicans and we recognize that the work does not end with voter registration alone.  We look forward to engaging many more Dominican American voters, helping them become the architects of their own futures and that of their families in this great country,” said Matos.  

“According to the study, wages, jobs and the economy, education, and housing are the top issues of critical importance to our community, which underscores the misperception that Latino communities are only concerned with issues of immigration,” said Eddie Cuesta, DUSA’s New York State Director. “Moving forward, DUSA is committed to helping the community find meaningful ways of having their voices heard on these issues, and of holding their elected officials accountable to fully represent their community.”

Natalia Rosa, DUSA’s Rhode Island State Director noted that, “The research has presented a new lens through which we can understand both barriers and opportunities for our community in Rhode Island and New York.  DUSA is committed to expanding this operation to ensure more Dominican American voters in feel like they have a seat at the table in our democratic process.”  

About Dominicanos USA: Dominicanos USA is a 501C-3 non-profit and nonpartisan organization that seeks to empower, educate and mobilize Dominican American voters. We are the first ever Dominican-American Voter model to yield more than 75,000 registered voters in America.

 


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