Posts tagged with "hispanic"

Jessica Alba to Receive Hispanic Heritage Business Award

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he Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) announced today that Actor and Entrepreneur Jessica Alba will receive the Business Award during the October 6^th PBS broadcast of the 33rd Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards. The Business Award will be presented by Nationwide, who returns as the Broadcast Sponsor of the Hispanic Heritage Awards for the third year. Alba will join music artist and activist Bad Bunny and farmworkers, who are being honored with the Vision and Heroes Awards, respectively. Additional Honorees and performers will be announced over the following weeks.

“The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is thrilled to recognize Jessica Alba with the Business Award,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of HHF. “As an international star, Jessica’s talents as an actor are obvious but as an entrepreneur and philanthropist, Jessica has made an even greater impact. She represents the vision and ganas of Latina entrepreneurs through the Honest Company as well as a role model for youth. We are also energized to announce, for the third year, that our year-round partner Nationwide will be the Broadcast Sponsor. Thanks to Nationwide and PBS and our other sponsors, we look forward to celebrating Hispanic accomplishment, vision, and culture with all of America.”

Jessica Alba, Founder of The Honest Company and Honest Beauty, is a globally recognized business leader, entrepreneur, advocate, Golden Globe Award-nominated actress and New York Times bestselling author. Jessica gained worldwide recognition in James Cameron’s “Dark Angel,” and she has made over 25 feature films that have earned a combined box office total of over $800 million, including “Fantastic Four” and “Sin City.” She and Gabrielle Union star in and executive produce “L.A.’s Finest,” a one-hour, action-packed drama series which will premiere all 13-episodes of its second season exclusively to Spectrum video subscribers on September 9, followed by its network broadcast premiere of season one on FOX, September 21.

Founded in 2012, The Honest Company is a mission-driven consumer products company dedicated to empowering people to live happy, healthy lives. Thoughtfully formulated, safe and effective baby, personal care and beauty products are available via honest.com, in North America at more than 26,000 retail locations, in Canada through Shoppers Drug Mart and in Europe at select Douglas and Boots retail locations. In 2013, Jessica released her first book, the New York Times bestseller, The Honest Life, a how-to handbook based on her mission to create a natural, authentic and non-toxic life for her family. Upcoming projects include “Parents Without Borders,” a docuseries she will host and produce for Disney+. Jessica’s activism endeavors are extensive, and her passion for social justice, particularly for women and children, has led to several trips to Capitol Hill. She is on the board of directors of Baby2Baby, which provides low-income children and families with diapers, clothing and basic necessities every child deserves.

“It is always an honor for Nationwide to help showcase this annual celebration of Hispanic culture, accomplishment and leadership,” said Ramon Jones, chief marketing officer at Nationwide. “This year, it will be a pleasure to present the Business Award to Jessica Alba in recognition of her tremendous entrepreneurial achievements and equally meaningful community impact.

Dominican Day Parade

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This Sunday, thousands of New Yorkers and visitors would usually be flooding Sixth Avenue to celebrate the culture and heritage of the Dominican Republic at the Dominican Day Parade.

While the event is going to be celebrated a bit differently this year, Presidente beer and Presidente Chairman, Alex Rodriguez, are giving fans nationwide a way of observing this day with those who share their passion for the DR’s rich culture with a virtual celebration where all are welcome!

Tune in on Sunday, August 9th at 3 PM EST as Presidente hosts an online celebration in partnership with Que Lo Que, a traditional Latin dance party created by the legendary APT.78, whose intention is to celebrate Latino culture through its gatherings. Participants will find themselves in attendance with former-New York Yankees legend and Chairman of Presidente, Alex Rodriguez! Activities will include:

A live, digital set from LA MEGA’s 97.9FM DJ Aneudy that will air on Presidente’s Instagram channel
Chances for fans to win Presidente swag for their attendance throughout the program
Including an exclusive line of NY-inspired Presidente T-shirts, hats, bandanas, and Drizly codes

Hispanic Heritage Awards

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The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) announced today that the 33rd Hispanic Heritage Awards, presented by Target for the eight year, will be broadcast on October 6th on PBS stations and stream on PBS.org. The historic program, which was created by the White House in 1988 to commemorate the establishment of Hispanic Heritage Month in America, is among the highest honors by Latinos for Latinos and supported by 40 national Hispanic-serving institutions.

In keeping with current COVID-19 mitigation guidance and with the safety of participants in mind, the Hispanic Heritage Awards and PBS broadcast will not include a live ceremony but will feature more intimately filmed performances and Honoree segments filmed on location across the United States and Latin America.

“The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is thrilled to once again partner with Target and PBS to collectively celebrate and share the great promise, accomplishments, and cultural pride of the Latino community through the 2020 Awardees and powerful performances during Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. “More than ever, it’s important to shine the spotlight on the tremendous value Latinos provide this great country we all share, especially during this pandemic which has tragically impacted the Latino community and other communities of color at a higher rate.”

The 2020 Honorees will be announced over the coming months followed by the performers, hosts, presenters and other sponsors (visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C92ZiK5MxAs).

“Target is excited to be the presenting sponsor of the Hispanic Heritage Awards for the eighth year in a row. We’re proud to be a part of a program that highlights the amazing accomplishments of the Latinx community and the lasting contributions it has had on our country and the world, especially those working on the frontlines during this pandemic,” said Laysha Ward, Target’s Executive Vice President and Chief External Engagement Officer. “We congratulate and thank all of this year’s honorees and we are inspired by their tireless commitment to service of others.”

“While it would have been great to come together in person, we are delighted to join the Hispanic Heritage Foundation in this virtual celebration of Latino Americans and their extraordinary contributions to our country,” said Paula Kerger, President and CEO of PBS. “Building on our longstanding commitment to diverse stories and storytellers, we look forward to sharing the Hispanic Heritage Awards with our viewers during the sixth broadcast on PBS.”

The Hispanic Heritage Awards serve as a launch of HHF’s year-round, award-winning programs which inspire, prepare, and connect Latino leaders in the classroom, community, and workforce to meet America’s needs as well as promoting cultural pride. HHF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For more information, visit www.hispanicheritage.org.

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at nearly 1,900 stores and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5% of its profit to communities, which today equals millions of dollars a week. For the latest store count or more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom. For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter.

PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’s premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV— including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.

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Goya Boycott

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By Eamonn Burke

A boycott of Goya foods, a major producer of beans and an essential good for many families, has launched after its CEO Robert Unanue praised President Trump in a speech at the White House on Thursday:

“We are all truly blessed … to have a leader like President Trump who is a builder,” said Unanue.

Immediately, many prominent Hispanic figures such as Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez denounced Goya and Unanue, and hinted in a tweet she would boycott the company. Julian Castro, a former Housing and Urban Development Secretary, urged people do to the same despite the prominence of Goya in Latin American homes. The resistance comes from the public as well, as the hashtags #boycottGoya and #Goyaway have trended in recent days. Meanwhile, President Trump took to Twitter saying “I LOVE @GoyaFoods!”

Unanue, however, is not apologizing for endorsing Trump and is labeling the boycott as a “suppression of speech”. He was proud to support Trump, and also to say that Goya would be donating 2 million cans of food to American Food Banks. He also stated that he would be “honored” to be a part of the Hispanic Property Initiative, which was signed by Trump at the event with a goal of expanding “access by Hispanic Americans to educational and economic opportunities.” The CEO also has a extensive history of donating to Republican candidates and initiatives.

“If you’re called by the president of the United States, you’re going to say, ‘No I’m sorry, I’m busy, no thank you?’ I didn’t say that to the Obamas and I didn’t say that to President Trump.” said Unanue in an interview with Fox News on Friday. Republicans like Ted Cruz and Matt Schlapp and publicly defended the CEO while denouncing “cancel culture” on Twitter.

The unwavering support of Unanue is perplexing, when considering Trump’s history against Latinx people. In 2016, his presidential campaign was largely structured on restricting immigrants, especially from Mexico. In one speech he referred to the people coming from Mexico into the U.S. as “rapists.” He has relentlessly tried to end DACA, a program which protects immigrants, and offered little support to Puerto Rico in the midst of hurricane devastation. The Trump administration works closely with ICE and has detained immigrants at the US-Mexico border in concentration camps with inhuman men conditions.

It is also confusing when considering Goya’s history as a company. Goya is currently the largest Hispanic-owned company in the nation, but it began as a small store in Manhattan run by Spanish immigrants

As for President Trump, who is already unpopular with Hispanic voters, it is possible that he sees a reduction in the 26% of Latinx voters who support him.

Tainy × J Balvin – Agua

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Boundary-pushing producer and artist, Tainy, and globally renowned artist J Balvin release “Agua,” the first single off of the official soundtrack from the upcoming animated film The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run. The song is out on NEON16/Interscope Records and available on all streaming platforms today.

The multiple Latin GRAMMY winning producer collaborated with J Balvin to create a song that captures the true essence of the beloved animated children show’s new feature film. The video which is set to release in the coming weeks, was directed by 36 Grados and filmed using the same cutting-edge animation seen in the film to help further bring to life the infectious beat created by Tainy that perfectly pairs with J Balvin’s signature silky smooth flow. The song further showcases Tainy’s incredibly skillful ability and talent as a producer and artist as he uses SpongeBob’s signature flute sound as the base for the beat of the track. Tainy then adds his unique style of sound to the track, cementing it as a certified summer anthem.

In the lyric video that is accompanying the song release today, we get a glimpse of SpongeBob and his best friend Patrick Star embarking on a journey to the Lost City of Atlantic City as J Balvin’s lyrics take us through the deep sea celebration.

Both Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon partnered with Tainy and Lex Borrero of NEON16 and Interscope Records to help them create a soundtrack that was innovative, bubbly and lively much like the title character of the animated film. The album is executive produced by the award-winning producing duo and was especially curated to help bring the film to life. The soundtrack will feature a strong collection of global artists from across different genres like Tyga, Swae Lee, Lil Mosey, Weezer, Snoop Dogg, The Flaming Lips, Kenny G., Cyndi Lauper and more.

The Murder of Fort Hood Soldier, Vanessa Guillen

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By Emmet McGeown

“How can this happen on a military base? How can this happen while she was on duty? How can this just happen and then let it go under the rug like it was nothing?” These were the words of Mayra Guillen, sister of Pfc. Vanessa Guillen, who has been missing for months and is now confirmed dead.

On April 22nd, Pfc. Vanessa Guillen, a 20-year-old Hispanic Small Arms and Artillery Repairer, went missing. She was last seen alive at a parking lot at squadron headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. For months, Pfc. Guillen’s family held out hope that their beloved was still alive, yet the discovery of remains near the Leon River, north of Austin, has vanquished that hope. While the FBI is still awaiting a positive DNA analysis, the family believes that the remains belong to Vanessa.

Yet, this story does not begin with her disappearance nor does it end with her death. Prior to her vanishing, Pfc. Guillen, according to her sisters, was having difficulties with sexual harassment while stationed at Fort Hood, outside Killeen, Texas. The attorney representing the family in the case revealed that Guillen had confided to her sisters and several other soldiers that a superior had walked in on her while taking a shower and that he proceeded to sit down and watch her. Other relatives and Pfc. Guillen’s boyfriend have noted on social media that something is “not right” and that Vanessa felt unsafe at the military base.

However, during a press conference on Thursday, July 2nd, senior special agent for the Fort Hood Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID), Damon Phelps, reported that there was no evidence backing the claim that she had been sexually harassed. He affirmed that “there has been no information — and we have interviewed hundreds of people… There is no credible information about that.” Despite this rebut by CID, family attorney, Natalie Khawam said, in an interview with PEOPLE, that she believes Pfc. Guillens was sexually harassed by Spc. Aaron David Robinson.

Spc. Robinson was the leading suspect in Vanessa Guillen’s disappearance, and as authorities caught up with him on Tuesday evening, he shot himself. It has since been revealed that Robinson was, in fact, responsible for the murder of Pfc. Guillen’s. Guillen’s was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in the armory where she worked, according to the family’s attorney. They made this discovery through an extensive investigation, in which witnesses divulged that they saw Robinson transporting a large box labelled “very heavy in weight.”

Then, after consenting to an examination of his cellphone records, court documents reveal, it was discovered that Robinson made several phone-calls to his girlfriend Cecily Aguilar on the night of Apri 22nd and into the early hours of the April 23rd. After being interviewed multiple times, Aguilar finally told investigators that her boyfriend had murdered Guillen. She also revealed how she and her boyfriend had met up and dismembered Guillen’s body together with a “hatchet or machete type knife” and, after attempting to set her corpse on fire, buried Guillen’s body parts in three different holes. Texas Rangers have since arrested Aguilar and she now faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The issue of sexual harassment within the Army remains a problem in this case, given that Guillen’s family, according to their attorney, claimed that Vanessa was planning on reporting Robinson the day after she was murdered, and had delayed over fear of reprisal and inaction. Yet the Army says there exists no credible evidence that she was sexually harassed before her disappearance, and in a statement from the Fort Hood Press Center, officials said that the criminal investigation “has not found any connection between sexual harassment and Vanessa’s disappearance.” They plan to continue their investigation in light of new revelations.

Lupe Guillen, another sister of Vanessa’s, told NPR that her sister wanted to be in the military since she was a little girl, “she wanted to be a fighter. She wanted to be a hero. She wanted to be someone in life. … The military failed her.“

The family is now pushing for legislation to create an independent agency for soldiers who are victims of sexual harassment and assault.

Not Me App

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Women of color experience harassment at greater rates than other women –studies show that 25% of all black women are harassed. Blacks also reported a 60% higher rate of discrimination compared to whites.

Ninety percent of employees who are the victims of harassment never file a formal complaint, now with the #NotMe App, safety is literally in everyone’s hands.

#NotMe is a free mobile misconduct solution that supports anyone who needs help. The open platform empowers anyone to safely report misconduct they’ve witnessed or experienced, in real time, right on their mobile device in as little as 3 minutes. Reporting can also be anonymous, eliminating fear of retaliation in the workplace.

RJ WORD – Báilame

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Chart-topping American pop-artist RJ Word and renowned Latin DJ Juan Magan have teamed up to create their latest electro-pop single “Báilame.” The single is laced with the live instrumentals of a sultry Spanish guitar and enriched with lively trumpets. The lyrics convey the seduction of getting carried away by the music and dancing the night away. As is RJ’s signature style, he takes an out of the box funk-infused approach to pop music, while Juan spices the track up with a Latin flare mixed into his electric beats.

The single was recorded and produced by RJ Word, Juan Magan, Austin Music, Fingazz and Karel Psota. The recordings took place across Los Angeles, Miami and Barcelona – picking up flavors of each of the cities it traveled through.

RJ and Juan recently collaborated on a few other electro-pop singles, including the 2018 summer Latin-trap anthem “Echa Pa’ Aca” with Pitbull and Rich The Kid. Upon release, the track soared across Spotify ‘New Music Friday’ playlists worldwide and the Apple Music charts. While the accompanying animated music video has since garnered over 21-million views on YouTube alone.

The two artists are sure to get fans up on their feet and moving with them on “Báilame” between their lustful multi-lingual lyrics, hip-swaying beat, and the smoothly pieced together contrast of their silky and raspy vocals.

Isabel Merced × Papi

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“‘Papi’ goes hard. Another Latin banger for the books.” – 360 MAGAZINE

Isabela Merced introduces her solo music with the brand new single “Papi.” Get it HERE via Republic Records.

“It’s a blend of everything that inspires me,” Isabela describes her music. “I’m very influenced by Latin music like salsa, reggaeton, cumbia, and bachata. I’m experimenting with instruments and sounds from Peru, because they’re beautiful yet untouched by the mainstream. There’s also an energy and edge that comes from urban and rhythmic. It’s a new take on Latin pop with my own Peruvian spice and attitude. I’m welcoming everyone into my story.”

The new single was co-written by Isabela, who worked with Andrés Torres and Mauricio Rengifo [“Despacito”] as co-writers and producers, co-writer Kennedi Lykken [Ariana Grande, Jonas Brothers], in addition to being co-written and executive produced by none other than powerhouse Justin Tranter [Justin Bieber, Julia Michaels]. Isabela arrives with an undeniable anthem topped off by Latin flavor and passionate pop prowess. Integrating Spanish and English, she fluidly writes lyrics similar to how she speaks—in bilingual fashion—making the music reflective of her voice and fitting what feels right in the moment.

“Papi” also kicks off her career as a solo musician under the name Isabela Merced—a tribute to her grandmother Yolanda Merced and her Peruvian heritage.

Merging a bold attitude, uncompromising spirit, unassuming pop appeal, and Latin melodies, 18-year-old singer and songwriter Isabela Merced turns up with an undeniable, unmatched, and universal sound of her own. Born in Ohio to a Peruvian mother and American father, she learned to speak Spanish before English and gravitated to Latin as well as classical and pop. Around the same time, she fell in love with The Wizard of Oz, watching it on repeat and developing an ambition to act. She fulfilled this ambition at 10-years-old with her Broadway debut in Evita under her birth name Isabela Moner. Critically acclaimed roles followed in everything from blockbusters such as Sicario: Day of the Soldado and Instant Family to a starring turn as the title character of Dora and the Lost City of Gold and in NETFLIX’s much-anticipated Let it Snow. Simultaneously, she honed her chops as a vocalist and picked up piano and ukulele. Making waves throughout 2018, Isabela contributed “I’ll Stay” to the Instant Family soundtrack and joined Sebastian Yatra for “My Only One (No Hay Nadie Más),” which amassed over 27 million Spotify streams. Signed to Republic Records, she makes her official debut as Isabela Merced with “Papi” in 2019.

Majority of Adults Stressed by Mass Shootings

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ONE-THIRD OF U.S. ADULTS SAY FEAR OF MASS SHOOTINGS PREVENTS THEM FROM GOING TO CERTAIN PLACES OR EVENTS

Hispanic adults more than twice as likely as white non-Hispanics to say they experience mass shooting-related stress often or constantly

A large majority of adults in the United States are stressed by mass shootings, and a third of U.S. adults say that fear of mass shootings stops them from going to certain places and events, according to a new survey on stress and mass shootings by the American Psychological Association. “It’s clear that mass shootings are taking a toll on our mental health, and we should be particularly concerned that they are affecting the way many of us are living our daily lives,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, APA’s chief executive officer. “The more these events happen in places where people can see themselves frequenting, the greater the mental health impact will be. We don’t have to experience these events directly for them to affect us. Simply hearing about them can have an emotional impact, and this can have negative repercussions for our mental and physical health.”

To better understand the impact of mass shootings on stress and health in the aftermath of the recent tragic El Paso and Dayton shootings, APA commissioned the nationally representative survey. It was conducted online by The Harris Poll between Aug. 8 and 12 among 2,017 adults ages 18 and older who reside in the U.S. The survey found that more than three-quarters of adults (79%) in the U.S. say they experience stress as a result of the possibility of a mass shooting. Additionally, many adults report that they are changing their behavior due to fear of mass shootings. Nearly one in three adults (32%) feel they cannot go anywhere without worrying about being a victim of a mass shooting, while just about the same number (33%) say fear prevents them from going to certain places or events. Nearly one-quarter (24%) of adults report changing how they live their lives because of fear of a mass shooting.

When asked which places they are stressed about the possibility of a mass shooting occurring, adults most commonly say a public event (53%), mall (50%), school or university (42%) or movie theater (38%), with only one in five (21%) saying they never experience stress as a result of the possibility of a mass shooting. “Mass shootings are a public health issue, and we need to take a comprehensive public health approach to understand and devise lasting policy solutions,” Evans said. “It is important that people and policymakers realize that this is not an insurmountable issue; it is something we have the power to change.”

Hispanic adults (32%) are more likely than white non-Hispanic adults (15%) to say they experience stress often or constantly related to the possibility of a mass shooting. Hispanic adults and African American adults also are more likely than white non-Hispanic adults to say they do not know how to cope with the stress they feel as a result of mass shootings (44% of Hispanic adults and 43% of African American adults vs. 30% of white adults). Black adults are more likely to feel that they or someone they know will be a victim of a mass shooting (60% compared with 41% of white adults and 50% of Hispanic adults). Women report feeling stressed more often than men about the possibility of a shooting (85% vs. 71%), and parents of children under the age of 18 are nearly twice as likely as those without children under 18 to say they experience stress often or constantly because of the possibility of a mass shooting (28% vs.16%). Further, 62% of parents say they “live in fear that their children will be victims of a mass shooting”.