Posts tagged with "vote"

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first Black woman to serve upon the highest court of the United States via 360 MAGAZINE

Jackson Makes History

Thursday April 7 will be remembered as one of the most historic days in American history as Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first Black woman confirmed to serve upon the highest court of the United States. In a 53-to-47 vote, Judge Jackson was confirmed a place upon the Supreme Court as nominated by President Joe Biden in February.

Judge Jackson becomes only the eighth person to sit upon the Supreme Court that has not been a White man. The confirmation continues to make history as this will be the firs time that we see four women upon the court and the majority of justices is not White men.

Of the 53 that voted in favor of Biden’s nomination, three Republican senators joined Democrats in support of Judge Jackson. Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah. Despite Republicans loathing and attempting to prolong the voting process, Judge Jackson was confirmed to replace Justice Stephen Breyer once he officially steps down.

Republican Senator Rand Paul attempted to halt the vote while being the only senator not in attendance for the voting. He stalled the decision from being finalized, and he voted from the cloakroom out of dress code.

When asked about Paul’s lack of dress code for the vote, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated, “I will tell you I’m not spending a lot of time, nor is the president (Joe Biden), thinking about the dress code of Rand Paul today, […] We’re thinking about the historic confirmation of an eminently qualified Black woman to serve on SCOTUS. I’m not really worried about his khakis.”

On April 8, inbound Justice Jackson participated in a ceremony on the lawn of the White House, where she spoke to the weight of the confirmation. The former federal appellate judge spoke to the history that was made the day prior.

Judge Jackson stated, “It has taken 232 years and 115 prior appointments for a Black woman to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, but we’ve made it – we’ve made it – all of us, all of us.”

President and Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black and Asian American woman to hold the title, spoke at the ceremony together while stating, “We’re going to look back and see this as a moment of real change in American history.” 

Judge Jackson referenced the late Maya Angelou, another historic Black woman, when speaking about what this confirmation means to the Black community, while stating, “‘Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave,'”

In my family, it took just one generation to go from segregation to the Supreme Court of the United States.”

Let that sink in.

Written by: McKinley Franklin

Jay Wheeler headshot via NV Marketing & Public Relations, LLC, for use by 360 MAGAZINE

Jay Wheeler Nominated for Premio Lo Nuestro

Urban music’s most charming voice, the artist whose success only increases with the passing of the hours, the digital sensation of reggaeton and the “hopeless romantic,” Jay Wheeler, rises with 2 new nominations for Premio Lo Nuestro 2022.

The year 2021 “painted” very well for Jay Wheeler, since he not only made his music known on an international scale, but he also began to appear at the most important awards ceremonies in Latin music. Such was the case of Premio Lo Nuestro 2021, a historic night in his artistic career, where he was crowned Revelation Artist of the Year, a category that undoubtedly sets the standard in the music industry.

This year, the artist who carries a solid musical career on his shoulders is one of the nominees for Premio Lo Nuestro 2022 in the following categories: Remix of the Year for the song “La Tóxica Remix” feat. Farruko, Sech, Myke Towers & Tempo, and he also stands out in the category Tropical Song of the Year for the song “Cómo Olvidar” feat. Olga Tañón.

And with his sights set on the statuette, Jay Wheeler hopes to have the support of his fans, who will be able to vote for his idol through the web portal HERE.

He spoke on this experience, stating, “It fills me with happiness to know that those who vote are the fans themselves, there is no greater honor than being the favorite of those who really consume urban music.”

About Jay Wheeler

José Ángel López Martínez, artistically known as Jay Wheeler, is an urban latin singer born in Puerto Rico on April 25, 1994. In 2016 he released “freestyle” and created a cover to Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself,” reaching 1 million views on YouTube. In 2018 with Dynamic Records he released his first single and music video “Por Tu Culpa.” His romantic and melodic style provoked amazement among his fans and in 2019 he released “Mensaje De Voz,” captivating his fans with an emotional record. By the summer of 2019, he reached millions of followers along with a viral music video. Due to this success, DJ Nelson became interested in Jay and wanted to meet him. At this time, Dynamic Records and Flow Music united and started working with him on two singles “Te Soñé” and “Otra noche más.”

In November of 2019, he premiered his first album “Platónico” (composed of 13 songs), and within his album the track “Otra noche más” ft. Farruko Remix. In February of 2020, he launched the first digital urban concert Platonico Unplugged, a live acoustic version of his first album. In June 2020 he premiered his second album “Platónicos,” with the participation of various artists such as Dalex, Brytiago, Feid, Nio Garcia, Miky Woodz, Myke Towers, Alex Rose and Casper Megico. Jay Wheeler has participated in collaborations with Cauty, Lenny Tavarez, Bryant Myers and so many more. Among his many collaborations, he joined forces with Onell Diaz for a project highlighting suicide prevention. Jay Wheeler is considered an important phenomenon within the music industry and his talent continue to reach millions making him La Voz Favorita.

Mel Quagrainie for use by 360 Magazine

People’s Choice Awards

The 2021 “People’s Choice Awards” were held on December 7, 2021, where the best in movies, television, music and pop culture were awarded exclusively by the votes of fans. The “People’s Choice Awards” were hosted by actor and comedian Kenan Thompson, and the award show broadcasted live from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA on both NBC and E! at 9PM ET/PT.

Some performances that took place included a medley of Christina Aguilera’s top hits. The medley concluded with music from her new upcoming awaited Spanish-language album. Blake Shelton, too, performed his latest song “Come Back As A Country Boy,” and H.E.R. gave a melodic tribute to the Motown icon Marvin Gaye.

Honorees of the night included the Academy Award-winning actress, director and producer Halle Berry, who was named “The People’s Icon.” The one and only Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was honored with “The People’s Champion” award, and icon Kim Kardashian West received “The Fashion Icon” award. For the first time, the “Music Icon” award was given out and honored to Aguilera.

The 2021 “People’s Choice Awards” winners are as follows:

THE MOVIE OF 2021

Black Widow

THE COMEDY MOVIE OF 2021

Free Guy

THE ACTION MOVIE OF 2021

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

THE DRAMA MOVIE OF 2021

Cruella

THE FAMILY MOVIE OF 2021

Luca

THE MALE MOVIE STAR OF 2021

Dwayne Johnson

THE FEMALE MOVIE STAR OF 2021

Scarlett Johansson

THE DRAMA MOVIE STAR OF 2021

Kevin Hart

THE COMEDY MOVIE STAR OF 2021

Dwayne Johnson

THE ACTION MOVIE STAR OF 2021

Simu Liu

THE SHOW OF 2021

Loki

THE DRAMA SHOW OF 2021

Grey’s Anatomy

THE COMEDY SHOW OF 2021

Never Have I Ever

THE REALITY SHOW OF 2021

Keeping Up With the Kardashians

THE COMPETITION SHOW OF 2021

The Voice

THE MALE TV STAR OF 2021

Tom Hiddleston

THE FEMALE TV STAR OF 2021

Ellen Pompeo

THE DRAMA TV STAR OF 2021

Chase Stokes

THE COMEDY TV STAR OF 2021

Selena Gomez

THE DAYTIME TALK SHOW OF 2021

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

THE NIGHTTIME TALK SHOW OF 2021

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

THE COMPETITION CONTESTANT OF 2021

JoJo Siwa

THE REALITY TV STAR OF 2021

Khloé Kardashian

THE BINGEWORTHY SHOW OF 2021

Squid Game

THE SCI-FI/FANTASY SHOW OF 2021

Lucifer

THE MALE ARTIST OF 2021

Lil Nas X

THE FEMALE ARTIST OF 2021

Adele

THE GROUP OF 2021

BTS

THE SONG OF 2021

Butter

THE ALBUM OF 2021

Sour

THE COUNTRY ARTIST OF 2021

Blake Shelton

THE LATIN ARTIST OF 2021

Bad Bunny

THE NEW ARTIST OF 2021

Olivia Rodrigo

THE MUSIC VIDEO OF 2021

Butter

THE COLLABORATION SONG OF 2021

STAY

THE SOCIAL STAR OF 2021

Britney Spears

THE POP SPECIAL OF 2021

Friends: The Reunion

THE COMEDY ACT OF 2021

Chelsea Handler: Vaccinated and Horny Tour

THE GAME CHANGER OF 2021

Simone Biles

THE POP PODCAST OF 2021

Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain

Award illustration done by Mina Tocalini of 360 MAGAZINE.

PCA Nomination Voting has Begun

The countdown is on to the 2021 People’s Choice Awards

In order to kick things off, the PCAs is calling for fan nominations. What movies have you obsessed over this past year? Which TV shows had you planted on the couch for an hours-long binge session? Who are the celebrities you just can’t get enough of? Which albums have you been playing on a loop since the day they were released?

Submit your top picks in TV, movies, music and pop culture during the fan favorite nomination phase starting today, Tuesday, Oct. 12 through Thursday, Oct. 14.

This means you’ll get to nominate your favorites before official voting even begins! Each day during this special phase, you’ll be able to submit up to 25 nominations per category, per platform—AKA the official PCAs voting site, Twitter or Facebook.

Participating is the perfect way to increase the likelihood that your pop culture picks make the cut, landing a spot on the PCAs ballot when official voting for the 40 award categories begins on Oct. 27.

Then, before you know it, the 2021 PCAs will be here on Tuesday, Dec. 7!

This year is particularly exciting as the PCAs will air simultaneously on E! and NBC. While the 2021 ceremony marks the fourth consecutive year the show has been broadcast on E!, this year will be the first time ever that the show will also be on NBC. 

Head to the PCAs voting site now to help the artists, movies, TV shows and pop culture moments you love get that much closer to the ballot!

To learn more, click HERE.

About the People’s Choice Awards

The People’s Choice Awards is an awards show currently run by E! News, recognizing people in the entertainment industry since 1975. Unlike other awards shows, anyone can vote for their favorite celebrity/entertainer.

Eamonn Burke illustrates a rock music video article for 360 MAGAZINE

2022 Interstate Music Award Nominations

Nominations For 2022 Interstate Music Awards Now Open

U.S. solo artists, garage bands, songwriters, and musicians can submit a music performance in six award categories thru Nov. 30, 2021. Educators and small music venues can be nominated for a recognition award.

Interstate Music announced today that nominations for the annual Interstate Music Awards (IMA) are now being accepted. In its second year, the online event features up-and-coming musicians, singers, songwriters, and artists from around the country.

The IMAs are way more than just selecting the best. These music awards are about giving everyday artists and industry influencers a chance to showcase their talent, inspire others, and prove that anything is possible, said Jeff Peterson, CEO at Interstate Music. We are ready to help these musicians, educators, and venues get noticed. Could it be you?

All genres, artists, musical talents, and influencers such as educators and small U.S. music venues are encouraged to submit nominations at Interstate Music Awards’ website now thru Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. Public voting will begin on Jan. 3, 2022, and end on Jan. 31, 2022. Online votes will then be tallied to choose the top contender in each category.

Nominees can self-submit in one or more of the six categories and be considered for multiple Interstate Music Awards.

Best Cover Song, Best Original Song, Best Band or Group, Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Artist of the Year

New this year is the inclusion of two recognition award categories to support music educators and music venues, Music Educator of the Year and Best Small Music Venue

Educators should be nominated for their impact on students, the industry, or through music innovation. In addition, nominations to honor small U.S. music venues that have positively shaped the music community, entertainment, and support music artists will also be welcomed.

2021 awardees included Card Reader (Long Island, New York), The Stephen Hull Experience (Racine, Wisconsin), and Billie Jo (Grand Saline, Texas).

Winning the IMAs last year was a massive accomplishment for Card Reader. The experience has opened new doors and puts our goals as musicians within reach – two things we don’t take for granted, said Card Reader band leader Tom Petito. We are ready to be on the road, playing at festivals and concerts, and living out our dreams. When that happens, we’ll be proud to say it all started when we entered the Interstate Music Awards.

The 2022 Interstate Music Award Show is scheduled for Thursday, March 3, 2022, and will be live-streamed at their website. The event will include live performances by music influencers and interviews with nominees and awardees, with support from more than 20 sponsorship partners.

Interstate Music 

The roots of Interstate Music were founded in 1946 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, earning a five-star reputation by musicians and educators for over 75 years. Today, Interstate Music embodies both social and experiential opportunities for music lovers and musicians. We do this through information, instruments, and all things trending and with a relentless mission to develop a movement of people, ideas, cultures, and, most importantly, connect artists with everything they need to feel creative, supported, and needed.

Politics illustration by Heather Skovlund for 360 Magazine

Eric Adams × NYC Term Limits

Eric Adams Refuses Pledge to Protect NYC Term Limits

If Eric Adams is elected New York City’s next Mayor, the city’s beloved 8-year term limits law could soon be out the door. Adams is the only major candidate who has refused to pledge to protect the existing 8-year term limit for mayor and city council.

The pledge reads: “I pledge as mayor to veto any legislation to repeal or lengthen the 8-year term limits to which elected officials in New York City are subject.”

Adams’ rivals in the Democratic primary, Maya Wiley, Kathryn Garcia, Andrew Yang, Shaun Donovan and Raymond McGuire all have signed the term limits pledge.

“As a New Yorker, I can’t believe Eric Adams won’t protect term limits,” said Howie Rich, Chairman of U.S. Term Limits. “The last time the council attacked term limits in 2008, it was a disgrace. We shouldn’t have to deal with another self-serving power grab.”

According to a recent poll, term limits remain a key issue for New York City voters ahead of the upcoming mayoral election. The citywide poll, which was conducted in December by RMG Research, found that 77 percent of voters say it is important that the next mayor of New York City protect and defend the city’s eight-year term limits law. Additionally, by a margin of 73 percent to 9 percent, voters say they are more likely to support a candidate for mayor who promises to protect the current eight-year term limit. RMG Research is owned and operated by Scott Rasmussen.

In 2008, the City Council—on the advice of then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg and influencers such as future President Donald Trump—weakened term limits from 8 years to 12 years, allowing Mr. Bloomberg to seek a third term. The measure proved contentious and city voters restored the eight-year limit by a landslide margin in 2010.

New Yorkers have a long history of backing term limits referenda. In a 1993 initiative led by philanthropist Ronald Lauder, voters established eight-year term limits in an 18-point landslide. Then, in 1996, voters rejected a measure which would have lengthened the limit to 12 years. In 2010, voters restored the eight-year limit the Bloomberg Council had repealed. And in 2018, voters resoundingly adopted an eight-year limit for members of community boards.

U.S. Term Limits is the largest grassroots term limits advocacy group in the country. We connect term limits supporters with their legislators and work to pass term limits on all elected officials, particularly on the U.S. Congress. Find out more at U.S. Term Limits.

Page Kennedy illustration by Heather Skovlund for 360 Magazine

Q×A with Page Kennedy

ACTOR & RAPPER PAGE KENNEDY JOINS 360 MAGAZINE FOR SOME Q&A

By: Heather Skovlund-Reibsamen

Page Kennedy is well known as a rapper and actor within our entertainment industry. Kennedy’s recent acting skills brought him to play “Duck” on Netflix’s “The Upshaws”, one of their newest series to hit streaming platforms starring alongside Kim Fields (Regina Upshaw), Mike Epps (Bennie Upshaw), and Wanda Skyes (Lucretia). He is also known for his roles in “Blue Mountain State”, “Weeds” and his comedic genius skits shared on Instagram and TikTok.

Kennedy’s self-titled album ‘Page’ was released in February 2021 featuring heavyweight rappers Xzibit and Method Man is available now on all streaming platforms – make sure you go check it out!

360 Magazine had the pleasure of interviewing Page Kennedy where we discussed “The Upshaws”, his character ‘Duck’, music, and his fitness journey. We had an amazing conversation about his media roles, the love for Eminem, and also found out that we both favor Cardi B because of the way she represents herself: “Cardi B makes me feel like I know her”, said Kennedy.

Read on to hear about our conversation with Page!

Your Netflix series, “The Upshaws”, came out today- how do you feel about working with it?

PK: I love it, you know I was a part of it, and I still watch the series multiple times. I can’t get tired of it. I can just go to any episode and watch it- it has so many great jokes and the characters are diverse, and they bring their own style, energy and creativity. I think it’s the funniest show on TV.

How is it working with the cast?

PK: Working with the cast is great. You know, you got legends there. You’ve got Kim Fields, the ultimate foremost legend, Mike Epps who is a comic genius, Wanda Skyes- comic genius. They are good people, and everybody is happy to be here, so it makes it fun.

Do you feel that you have any similar traits to your character Duck within yourself?

PK: I’ve been asked that question and, let me see, I look at Duck as a different character than what I typically play. The only similarity that I see between me and Duck is his loyalty. He is loyal to a fault. You know, he spent 7-10 years in jail where he could have gotten less time where he could have ratted out his friend who could have been his co-defendant, but he just took it. I think I have a loyalty like Duck. Other than that, he’s a little different than me.

Let’s talk about your latest album. How did you feel about the creative direction within the videos for “Fear” and “Safe”? How did you work through the process of such a real and raw album?

PK: I wanted to make use of all of my talents to create an art- that was my goal. My goal was to take the amalgamation of talents that I have to coalesce to create art that could be ubiquitous forever. You know, that’s what I feel I accomplished because things are great 20 years from now and it’s still going to be great. You can still listen to Biggie because it’s incredible, it’s timeless and that’s what I wanted to do. I feel like I accomplished that.

Can you tell us about the song “Shine”?

PK: I think that the album needed some respite because it’s very heavy and after you listen to Fear and Safe, it’s so cumbersome that you need some respite. And so that’s what Shine provides. It still takes a look at how difficult 2019 was personally for me and then 2020 was for everyone. The face of darkness, there is light after, and I wanted to show that the Devil will not take that light away. We will shine.

Can you tell us about your album cover?

PK: The cover of the album is confluence of tragic incident of black Americans who have had their lives taken from them at the hands of police brutality. That confluence is to show that they are me. You know, they all make up me; I am the same as them and so I wanted to, through me, show them. Wait until you get to the song “Flowers”, that is my favorite song on the album.

At the end of some of your videos, there is mention of voting- what are you trying to show viewers?

PK: So, creating Fear was so I could galvanize the troops to go vote because we can’t just yell from the rafters “We are being disrespected”, “We are being overlooked”. We have to actually get in the dirt and, you know, do things that cause change. Our biggest voice was our vote. The virality of those videos was to have the embolism of to vote throughout the video. To help people want to get out and vote after they see the deleterious effects of what fear can do on both sides so that’s why you see that throughout the videos.

Let’s talk about your fitness journey. What motivated you to get started?

PK: I got tired of looking at myself in movies and TV fat as hell and I was more attractive in my head than I was externally, so I wanted to match that.

So, there’s a lot of excuses that I think many people use such as “I can’t afford to go to the gym” or “I hurt too much to do this”. How did you push past your own excuses?

PK: I have an additive personality so once I get into something, I’m locked in and I got my mind right and ready. I had help, a tool to help me out with the point of why I was overweight which was my addiction to food. And so, I got gastro sleeve surgery which made my stomach smaller so that I couldn’t overeat. That helped. That was like the catalyst to help me and the working out thing- I already had that down. I had challenges where I would workout 100 straight days and another challenge where I went a straight year of working out without missing any days. My mind was already set to go to the gym, I just needed to get the food stuff right.

Do you still workout consistently?

PK: Yep, I’m still in it. Even when the gyms were closed, I found a way to get the workout in.

What advice would you offer somebody as far as starting out on their journey? If they were with you and undecided about their journey because of lack of motivation.

PK: I would say to make it something that is a part of your daily life that you don’t have a choice of. You don’t have a choice if you need to go to the bathroom or not, you don’t have a choice whether you like eating or not. These are things that must happen regardless of what you want or not. So, if you make the gym or workout a part of that, you take the lack of motivation away. We can have things taken away for us and see how resilient we could be. If you’re in jail or in a weight loss camp or anywhere that caused your free will to be taken away and you are forced to do something, you can do it because you have to. So why have to be in a situation where some other exterior force forces you to when you have a mind and brain that is going to be the thing to make you do it anyway.

Do you have a specific meal plan?

PK: Sometimes, yes. I go in spurts. Some weeks I have no carbs and no sugar. Then some weeks I am a little looser. I just try to be moderate because I could easily go really far one way or really far the other way. It’s not until I’m actually preparing for something that I go super crazy. Other than that, I just try and stay in striking range.

Do you allow yourself to have treats?

PK: Yep, probably more than I should.

What kind of workouts do you do?

PK: Well, when I get off the phone with you, I have a trainer, so I am going to the gym. Wednesday is leg day, which sucks. I work out with a trainer 3-4 days a week and then two other days I have an Oculus virtual reality thing that I do a supernatural workout on or I ride my bike for 20 miles to the beach on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Is there anything else that you’d like to talk about or anything that you’d like to share with our readers?

PK: I just want them to the importance of the album “Page” and how it’s important to everyone in the world right to be aware of everything that happening right now and everything that’s going on. And that if this album was released by a bigger artist, it would be a Grammy-nominated type of album – that’s how important this album is. I just implore everyone to continue to listen to it and check it out because I think it’s necessary. That’s the main thing that I want- and watch “The Upshaws” on Netflix streaming now.

Digital Divide illustration by Heather Skovlund for 360 Magazine

Digitally Disconnected

DIGITALLY DISCONNECTED

13 TIPS FOR HELPING BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE FOR CHILDREN DURING COVID-19

While social, racial, and economic disparities have always existed within the educational system, the COVID-19 pandemic is exasperating these inequities and widening gaps between students at a drastic rate. For families who can’t afford home computers, laptops, or high-speed internet access, remote learning is nearly impossible, and for students who already found themselves struggling before the pandemic, the prospect of more than a year of lost classroom time is a devastating blow. However, there are steps parents can take to shrink this digital divide, and there are resources available via schools, non-profits, and government initiatives that can help children access the technological tools they need to succeed. Indeed, Dr. Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra, President and Founder of Children and Screens, notes that “the inclusion of 17.2 billion dollars for closing the ‘homework gap’ in the recently passed American Rescue Plan is a watershed moment for digital equity.”   
 
Several of the leading figures in the fields of public health, education, psychology, and parenting have weighed in with their suggestions on the best ways to combat the digital divide, and many will participate in an interdisciplinary conversation and Q&A hosted by Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development on Wednesday, March 24, at 12pm ET via Zoom. Moderated by the Director of Internet and Technology Research at the Pew Research Center Lee Rainie, the panel will engage in an in-depth discussion about the digital divide and actionable steps we can all take to bridge the gap. RSVP here.
 
1. DON’T WAIT, ADVOCATE 

While schools across the country are doing everything they can to make sure that children have access to the technology and connectivity they need for remote learning, the unfortunate reality is that many families still lack adequate resources. If your family is among them, says author and MIT Assistant Professor of Digital Media Justin Reich, know that you’re not alone and that there are steps you can take to advocate for what your children need. “Start with your school staff,” Reich recommends. “They’re often overwhelmed during this challenging time but be polite and persistent. If you run into a dead-end with your school system, consider reaching out to school libraries and youth organizations like The Boys and Girls Club or the YMCA to see what kind of support they might be able to offer.”
 
2. SCALE DOWN 

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Professor Dr. Wayne Journell agrees, pointing out that sometimes, despite their best efforts, teachers and administrators may not always know which students are struggling with connectivity issues. “Let teachers know if you have slow internet at home,” says Journell. “Sometimes detailed graphics and animations that look cute but have little relevance to the actual lessons being delivered can cause problems for students with unreliable internet. If teachers are aware, then they can scale down the ‘frilly’ stuff and still get the important content across.”
 
3. STAND UP FOR YOURSELF  

While it’s important for parents to speak up on behalf of their children, RAND Senior Policy Researcher Julia Kaufman, Ph.D., highlights the importance of encouraging children to express their needs, as well. “If your child does not have access to technology at home and is falling behind, make sure your child’s teacher knows the obstacles they’re facing and ask what accommodations will make it easier for your child to do assignments offline,” says Rand. “At the same time, help your child feel comfortable expressing any technology concerns or confusion to their teachers, including cases where they have the technology but cannot use it well.”
 
4. CHECK YOUR ASSUMPTIONS 

One critical step that educators and policymakers can take in addressing the digital divide is to check their assumptions. They cannot – and should not – assume that students do or do not have access based solely on demographics such as family income level. “In addition, they cannot assume that providing access alone creates equity,” adds Dr. Beth Holland, a Partner at The Learning Accelerator (TLA) and Digital Equity Advisor to the Consortium of School Networking (CoSN). “This is a complex and nuanced challenge that needs both a technical and a human solution to ensure that students not only have access to sufficient high-speed internet and devices but also accessible systems and structures to support their learning.”

5. SURVEY AND MODIFY  

For teachers who are on the ground and in the classroom, checking your assumptions can be as simple as asking a few basic questions at the start of the term. “Survey students to determine the percentage of your population that doesn’t have home Internet access,” recommends former AAP President Dr. Colleen A. Kraft, MD, MBA, FAAP. “Once you know the divide, you can address it,” adding, “When planning 1:1 projects and choosing devices, for example, you can consider a device’s capacity for offline use. For those without Wi-Fi, a public library in the child’s neighborhood can also be an excellent resource.”

6. VOTE FOR CHANGE 

That parents and teachers need to worry about the digital divide at all is a failure on the part of our elected leaders, says Bates College Associate Professor of Education Mara Casey Tieken. “Contact your elected officials—local, state, and federal—and complain,” she suggests. “Write letters, call their offices, attend their legislative sessions, and make your voice heard. Join with other families whose children are impacted by this divide to amplify your message and use your vote to support lawmakers who understand the impacts of this divide, have a clear plan to address it and are willing to take action.”
 
7. MAKE BROADBAND A UTILITY  

Reich agrees, reminding those families who already have their needs met that they share in the responsibility to advocate for the less fortunate. “It’s our job as citizens to demand that we as a society give families and children the tools and resources that they need for remote learning now and in the future,” says Reich. “We need to advocate for a society where broadband is treated as a utility rather than a luxury good, and young people enrolled in schools and educational programs have access to computers for learning.”

8. CONCRETE INITIATIVES  

Angela Siefer, Executive Director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, advocates four concrete initiatives. “Establish a permanent broadband benefit, increase access to affordable computers, digital literacy and technical support, improve broadband mapping (including residential cost data), and support local and state digital inclusion planning.” By implementing these changes, Siefer says, policymakers can start to mitigate the digital divide. 

9. USE TECH FOR GOOD 

There are many reasons to consider equitable solutions along a “digital continuum” rather than the “digital divide;” a binary description leaves less room for nuanced and customized interventions. It may be imperative to fortify existing institutions, implement new governance structures and promulgate policies to confront disparities regarding working families. Antwuan Wallace, Managing Director at National Innovation Service, suggests that legislators consider a Safety and Thriving framework to increase family efficacy to support children with protective factors against the “homework gap” by utilizing technology to train critical skills for executive functioning, including planning, working memory, and prioritization. 
 
10. LEVEL THE FIELD 

Emma Garcia of the Economic Policy Institute emphasizes that guided technology education will be of great value after the pandemic. She says, “it will need be instituted as part of a very broad agenda that uses well-designed diagnostic tests to know where children are and what they need (in terms of knowledge, socioemotional development, and wellbeing), ensures the right number of highly credentialed professionals to teach and support students, and offers an array of targeted investments that will address the adverse impacts of COVID-19 on children’s learning and development, especially for those who were most hit by the pandemic.”
 
11. APPLY FOR LIFELINE 

Research also shows that the digital divide disproportionately affects Latino, Black, and Native American students, with the expensive price of internet access serving as one of the main obstacles to families in these communities. “Eligible parents can apply for the Lifeline Program, which is a federal program that can reduce their monthly phone and internet cost,” suggests Greenlining Institute fellow Gissela Moya. “Parents can also ask their child’s school to support them by providing hotspots and computer devices to ensure their child has the tools they need to succeed.”
 
12. GET INVOLVED 

Learning remotely can be difficult for kids, even if they have access to all the technological tools they need. Research shows that parental encouragement is also an important aspect of learning for children, notes London School of Economics professor and author Sonia Livingstone. “Perhaps sit with them, and gently explain what’s required or work it out together.” She adds that working together is a great way that parents with fewer economic or digital resources can support their children. “And if you don’t know much about computers, your child can probably teach you something too!”
 
13. NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL 

When it comes to encouraging your children, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. “Reflect on the more nuanced ways your children learn and leverage accessible resources (digital and non-digital) to inspire their continued curiosity,” says University of Redlands Assistant Professor Nicol Howard. Leaning into your child’s strengths and interests will help them make the most of this challenging time.
 
While the move to remote learning may seem like an insurmountable obstacle for families that can’t afford reliable internet or dedicated devices for their kids, there are a variety of ways that parents can help connect their children with the tools they need. For those privileged enough to already have access to the necessary physical resources, it’s important to remember that emotional support is also an essential piece of the puzzle when it comes to children’s educational success, especially during days as challenging as these. Lastly, it falls on all of us to use our time, energy, and voices to work towards a more just world where the educational playing field is level and all children have the same opportunity to thrive and succeed, regardless of their social, racial, or financial background.
 
About Children and Screens
Since its inception in 2013, Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, has become one of the nation’s leading non-profit organizations dedicated to advancing and supporting interdisciplinary scientific research, enhancing human capital in the field, informing and educating the public, and advocating for sound public policy for child health and wellness. For more information, visit Children and Screens website or contact by email here.
 
The views and opinions that are expressed in this article belong to the experts to whom they are attributed, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, or its staff. 

Illustration for 360 Magazine by Rita Azar

Montana’s Anti-Transgender Bills’ Negative Impact

On Thursday, Leader Kim Abbott, the ACLU of Montana, the Free and Fair Coalition, local Montanans, and the Human Rights Campaign detailed their opposition to two anti-transgender bills (HB 112, a bill that would ban the participation of transgender women in women’s sports, and HB 113 which would restrict transgender access to medical care) being rushed through the legislative process in Montana.

HB 112 passed the House Judiciary Committee and HB 113 is expected to see the same result, with both likely to be voted on by the full House within the week after preliminary hearings were held on the federal holiday of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Opponents of the bills on today’s press call discussed the discriminatory nature of both bills and the adverse personal, social, economic, legal, and medical impacts the passage of these bills have had in other states. Those opposed include local legislative voices and those that would be personally impacted by the legislation in question.

“Montana is the first state this year to be giving serious consideration to anti-transgender legislation and unfortunately we don’t expect it will be the last,” said Cathryn Oakley, Human Rights Campaign State Legislative Director. “Last year was historic for anti-transgender bills and we expect this year will be as well. These bills went through a rushed legislative process. Why the rush? These are made up issues. As a federal court has already recognized, bills like these are unconstitutional and motivated by anti-transgender animus. This — not COVID or economic relief legislation — is their priority and their motivations are 100% political.”

“This bill would harm pediatricians and other medical professionals by levying steep fines,” said Dr. Lauren Wilson, from the Montana Chapter of the American Association of Pediatrics. “House Bill 113 represents one of the most extreme political attacks on transgender kids in history. Transgender kids are kids. They don’t deserve a ban against participation in sports. We know that transgender kids who can  live with gender they identify with have a lower rate of suicide. These bills undermine the work and rules that schools already have. It would also violate federal law and threaten federal funding. Transgender kids have the best chance to thrive if they can get the care they need and are allowed to be an active part of their community.”

“I am the proud daughter of two kids. My son is transgender. Being transgender is not a choice, and being transgender is not negotiable,” said Jaime Gabrielli, the parent of a transgender child in Montana. “Impulsivity is not part of the equation of transgender affirming health care. These are necessary, planned, informed, thoughtful processes that do not happen quickly. It’s a choice that often comes as one of two remaining options: end your life or transition. When suicide is an option, you do everything you can as a parent to help. I see him beginning to thrive because he’s finally able to be who he is. Making necessary medical care that transgender kids rely on illegal does not make them more safe. My plea to lawmakers is to protect trans youth in Montana by voting ‘no’ to HB 112 and HB 113.”

“I am among the more than 160 businesses in Montana that stand against these bills,” said Chelsie Rice, Owner of the Montana Book Company. “It’s projected that the loss from the North Carolina bathroom bills was upwards of $3 billion. Montana businesses do not support these bills. We face a loss of revenue that we can’t afford. More than that, we want to be businesses that are welcome to all in our state.”

Public policy polling by the Human Rights Campaign in partnership with the Hart Research Group across swing states in the 2020 election showed that support for transgender access to medical care had more than 90% support, including significant support among conservative voters. Idaho, which was the first and so far only state to pass  legislation banning transgender women from participation in sports, has been enjoined from implementing that law pending the final determination of the case as a federal district court found the transgender athlete challenging the law has a significant likelihood of winning her case.

Analyses conducted in the aftermath of previous divisive anti-transgender bills like the bathroom bills introduced in Texas and South Carolina show that there would be devastating economic fallout. The Associated Press projected that the North Carolina bathroom bill would have lost the state $3.76 billion over 10 years. During a fight over an anti-transgender bathroom bill in 2017, the Texas Association of Business estimated $8.5 billion in economic losses, risking 185,000 jobs in the process due to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and professional sporting event cancellations, a ban on taxpayer funded travel to those states, cancellation of movie productions, and businesses moving projects out of state. Together, these real-life previous implications of attacking transgender people put Montana’s economy and reputation at risk.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organizations working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

Georgia Comes Alive Virtual Music Festival

On Saturday, December 26th, Live For Live Music in partnership with HeadCount presented Georgia Comes Alive. The one-day virtual music festival presented performances by 50+ artists and aimed to promote voter participation in the upcoming Georgia runoff elections, taking place January 5th, 2021. Conceptualized to support local grassroots organizations like Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda and CivicGeorgia, the event garnered over one million viewers, and raised over $170,000 through 8,000 individual donations (averaging $20 per donation).

The event, powered by Nugs.net and Plus1, was the latest virtual festival from the team behind Democracy Comes Alive, Quarantine Comes Alive, and Justice Comes Alive, events which collectively raised close to $300,000 for various charitable causes and garnered nearly two million views.

As with past Comes Alive events, the lineup of performers throughout the day spanned an eclectic range of genres, presenting everything from bluegrass to singer-songwriters, neo-soul to rock n’ roll, funk, R&B, electronic, and more. Highlights included the debut of The Lame Ducks, a one-off supergroup project featuring Bob Weir (Grateful Dead), Dave Schools (Widespread Panic), Jeff Chimenti (Dead & Company), and Jay Lane (Wolf Bros, Primus); collaborative sets including Phil Lesh & Friends and R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills with BIG Something; long-running musical institutions like Blind Boys of Alabama and Preservation Hall Jazz Band; dance music sets by Diplo and Big Gigantic; and a range of hit-making artists, Grammy winners, and cult favorites from across the musical spectrum including Dave Matthews, Foo Fighters, Big Freedia, Nathaniel Rateliff, Ben Folds, The Revivalists, Chuck Leavell (The Rolling Stones), Tank and the Bangas, Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul and Mary), Musiq Soulchild, Amos Lee, Bobby Rush, Warren Haynes, Portugal. The Man, Samantha Fish, Grouplove, and Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers).

While live music dominated the nine-hour event, some of the day’s biggest highlights came during the many illuminating guest conversations with host Ari Fink (SiriusXM). Featured speakers included Jake Sherman (Politico, MSNBC), Helen Butler (Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda), Kevin Shanker Sinha (CivicGeorgia), MaryPat Hector (HeadCount), Andy Bernstein (HeadCount), Kam Franklin (The Suffers, HeadCount), Rachel and Jessica Jackson (HeadCount), Dayna Frank and Dave Weingarden (National Independent Venue Association), Marc Brownstein (The Disco Biscuits), and more.

Americans turned out in record numbers to vote during the 2020 elections, largely thanks to dedicated activism of grassroots organizations and the historic participation of underrepresented communities in battleground states like Georgia. Neither Georgia Senate seat garnered the 50% +1 majority vote during the general election, triggering a runoff election set to take place January 5th, 2021. While the Georgia runoffs will be decided by local voters, the results will have national implications by deciding which party controls the Senate. For more information on the specifics and implications of the Georgia Senate runoff elections, click here. Georgia residents can find information on polling places, early voting, mail-in ballots, and more here.

“Georgia Comes Alive was a work of art encapsulating the year 2020 for live music that I believe will go down as a defining moment of this period,” shares the founder of Live For Live Music and the Comes Alive event series, Kunj Shah. “The artists put so much creativity, time, and precaution into recording these segments during a pandemic whether from their own homes, by sending each part to one another remotely, carefully playing outside six feet apart with masks on, or in empty venues around the country observing safety measures like COVID testing and masking for video operators. We will hopefully never need to host an event in this manner again, but in the context of rock and roll history, Georgia Comes Alive will be remembered as the embodiment of the fortitude of live music during this unprecedented time.”

“This was an amazing end to a challenging but unforgettable year,” adds HeadCount co-founder and executive director, Andy Bernstein. “Each of the livestream performances were unique moments in history. The artistry was really apparent in each segmentߞthe musicians really put their hearts into every performance and the cause itself was at the forefront. I hope every viewer got a sense of the grassroots organizations getting the vote out in Georgia and why they are such worthy recipients of the charitable funds raised.”

Georgia Comes Alive was produced by Kunj Shah (founder, Live For Live Music), Don Strasburg(president, AEG Rocky Mountains), and Paul Peck (president, Fandiem; co-founder Okeechobee Music Festival, formerly Bonnaroo) in partnership with HeadCount, the non-partisan organization focused on voter empowerment. Committed to promoting involvement in democracy, HeadCount uses the power of music to register voters, reaching both young people and music fans where they are. Since 2004, it has registered over 600,000 voters through partnerships with touring musicians like Ariana Grande, Dead & Company, and Beyonce, to name a few, at events like Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and more.

Connect with Georgia Comes Alive

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Georgia Comes Alive Featured Performances By:

The Allman Betts Band

Allman Brothers Band (archival set)

Amos Lee

Andy Frasco and the U.N.

Ben Folds

Big Freedia

Big Gigantic

Big Head Todd

Billy Strings

Blind Boys of Alabama

Bobby Rush

Chuck Leavell

Dave Matthews

Diplo

Dragon Smoke

The Foo Fighters

Fruition

Futurebirds

G. Love

Galactic

Grace Potter

Grouplove

Horseshoes & Hand Grenades

Houndmouth

Jackie Venson

Judith Hill

The Lame Ducks ft. Bob Weir, Dave Schools, Jeff Chimenti & Jay Lane

Lawrence

Lee Fields

Los Lobos

Midnight North

Mihali

Mike Mills ft. BIG Something

Moon Taxi

Mt. Joy

Musiq Soulchild

Nathaniel Rateliff

Nicki Bluhm

Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers)

Phil Lesh & Friends

Peter Yarrow

Portugal. The Man

Preservation Hall Jazz Band

The Revivalists

Roosevelt Collier

Samantha Fish

Shah

The Soul Rebels

The Suffers

Tank and the Bangas

Taylor Goldsmith (DAWES)

Warren Haynes