Clockwise: Dr. Edward Flores, Assistant Professor of Sociology at UC Merced; Michelle Garcia, a nurse practitioner at the Calexico Wellness Center in Calexico; Luis Olmedo, Executive Director, Comité Cívico del Valle Inc,; Armando Elenes, Secretary...
A Filipino American Census Champion Fights to Get All Communities Counted
Ditas Katague, Director of the California Complete Count – Census 2020 Office By Anthony Advincula SAN FRANCISCO, CA — When Ditas Katague was growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, in the 1960s, only 150,000 Filipinos lived in the United States. About five...
Coronavirus Opens a Pandora’s Box of Scams
Also available in Spanish and Korean. By Khalil Abdullah, Ethnic Media Services Indianapolis, IND -- If Willie Sutton were alive, he wouldn’t be robbing banks, more likely he’d be a scam artist, siphoning off a portion of the almost $70 million that...
San Mateo – California’s #1 Census Success Story
Also available in Spanish, Chinese and Korean. Pilar Marrero, Ethnic Media Services San Mateo County has achieved the highest census self-response rate in California by working with local organizations that know their communities intimately and by...
Inmigrantes no acceden a atención por COVID-19 por miedo a la carga pública
Clockwise from top left: Connie Choi, Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign Field Manager and Strategist at the National Immigration Law Center; Luvia Quiñones, Health Policy Director at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; Madison...
Covid-19
Videos
A Conversation with California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara about Covid-19
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara
California’s worker compensation system aims to provide medical and wage benefits to those injured on the job. What happens when workers deemed “essential” get sick from COVID-19 on the job? Many are uninsured or underinsured or are undocumented. What are California authorities doing to keep employers and insurers in check.
What’s in the fourth stimulus package, impact of pandemic on small business owners. Is there a possibility for relief for community newspapers?
Congressman Ro Khanna, CA Congressional District 17
Statewide initiatives to mitigate impact of pandemic.
Assemblymember David Chiu, CA Assembly District 17
The virus in the Central Valley – impact on farmworkers
Genoveva Islas, Cultiva la Salud
Impact of COVID-19 on native Americans, lack of funding, community-specific resources
Virginia Hedrick, California Consortium for Urban Indian Health
Coming
Events
FALLOUT FROM THE PANDEMIC: A TSUNAMI OF EVICTIONS POISED TO HIT U.S.
WHEN/WHERE: July 17, 2020, 11:00 AM -12:00 PM PST, online video conference
WHY: Millions of workers laid off during the COVID pandemic have not been able to pay their rents. State and local politicians have enacted eviction moratoriums. But many of those protections are set to expire in August, setting off a tidal wave of evictions. Speakers will explore who is most at risk, measures to extend the moratoriums, and litigation and advocacy aimed at protecting tenants.
RECENT EVENTS
CALIFORNIA’S HOTTEST SPOT FOR COVID-19: IMPERIAL COUNTY’S LESSONS FOR FIGHTING THE SURGE
WHEN/WHERE: July 10, 2020, 11:00 AM -12:00 PM PST, online video conference
WHY: Imperial county has the highest COVID-19 infection rate in California – six times higher than the state average – and the case load is rising, ICU units are 98% full. One fourth of residents live in poverty, 85% are Latino. The county is a microcosm of the racial and economic disparities that fuel the surge. Why have public health strategies failed so far? What do those advocating for the most vulnerable residents – farmworkers, low wage essential workers – think should be done?
GOOD NEWS IN CHALLENGING TIMES: SAN MATEO COUNTY LEADS STATE IN CENSUS SELF RESPONSE RATES
WHEN/WHERE: June 30, 11 AM-12 PM PST, online video conference
WHY: Leaders of San Mateo’s census outreach discuss how the county wound up leading the state with the highest self-response rates as of mid-June, and spotlight the areas where they are still grappling with high undercounts. Can San Mateo offer lessons for neighboring counties like San Francisco which lag behind the state average?
STRATEGIES FOR KEEPING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES HEALTHY AND SAFE
WHEN/WHERE: June 26, 11 AM-12 PM PST, online video conference
WHY: COVID-19 is having a disparate impact on communities of color and immigrants as widespread fear and confusion fueled by anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies prevent many immigrants from accessing health care and other services. This briefing will provide information about the programs and supports immigrants are eligible for, explain how to access them, and share an on-the-ground view of the impact of the pandemic on immigrant communities. Advocates will also share what is happening to fight for the inclusion of immigrants in future legislation.
SPOTTING AND AVOIDING SCAMS TARGETING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN INDIANAPOLIS + INDIANA
WHEN/WHERE: June 25, 2020, 11:00 AM -12:00 PM EST, online video conference
WHY: Every year, scammers steal hundreds of millions of dollars from people, selling fake services and worthless products. Scammers pretending to be the government threaten people with jail if they don’t pay nonexistent fines or fees. Our briefing will bring together public officials, legal aid providers, community advocates, and those who’ve experienced fraud to talk with local reporters about how to better inform people and help them protect themselves from scams.
GOING BACK TO “NORMAL” IS NOT AN OPTION AS U.S. SYSTEMS FAIL – CAN WE IMAGINE A MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE?
WHEN/WHERE: June 19, 11 AM-12 PM PST, online video conference
WHY: The inadequacy of America’s health care, economic, and policing systems has been laid bare by a perfect storm of crises that are hitting the country at the same time. Four experts in the fields of race relations and criminal justice reform, immigrant integration, the job sector, and health care will share their perspectives on how to reimagine these systems in hopes of building a more equitable future.
WHY ARE OLDER AMERICANS SHOWING THE HIGHEST COVID-19 FATALITY RATES?
WHEN/WHERE: June 12, 11 AM-12 PM PST, online video conference
WHY:8 out of 10 COVID-related deaths in the U.S. have been in adults 65 years old and older, reports the Centers for Disease Control. Up to 70 percent of COVID 19 hospitalizations are of people aged 85 or older in certain communities.
TRACKING THE PANDEMIC: CAUGHT IN THE GRIP OF A TRIPLE CRISIS – HOW DOES AMERICA MOVE FORWARD?
WHEN/WHERE: June 5, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM, online video conference
WHY:The United States is in the grip of a triple crisis: the COVID 19 pandemic, the resulting economic collapse and an eruption of civil unrest over racial injustice. What have we learned and what can we do to address the deep seated structural inequalities these crises reveal. EMS has invited leaders and advocates in the civil rights and racial justice field to share their recommendations.
CALL-TO-ACTION TO SAN FRANCISCO PARENTS: COUNT US IN!
WHEN/WHERE: June 3, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM, online video conference
WHY: EMS announce the winners of an Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA) – sponsored city-wide contest for 14-21 year-olds on “Why My Family Counts” and introduces four of the 100-plus contestants. Census advocates document how San Francisco is behind the state-wide average in self-response rates, possible reasons why and what is to be done.
STRATEGIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE
WHEN/WHERE: May 29, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM, online video conference
WHY:A majority of “mom and pop” small businesses are founded by ethnic Americans. Many have been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic. EMS’s May 29 briefing brings together experts to discuss strategies for recovery and even long-term growth. Overall, 90 percent of minority and women founded business were shut out of the Paycheck Protection Program.
THE SHADOW PANDEMIC: COVID-19’S IMPACT ON WOMEN
WHEN/WHERE: May 22, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM, online video conference
WHY: Experts will present and discuss a UN Women Report that explains how the crisis has exacerbated gender inequality, discuss the history of women and pandemics and track the rise of domestic violence and impact on key women issues going forward.
CENSUS DELAYS – WHAT TEXAS REDISTRICTING MEANS FOR IMMIGRANTS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
WHEN/WHERE: May 20, 1 PM – 2 PM CST, online video conference
WHY: A delay in the census because of COVID-19 pandemic could push Texas redistricting into legislative overtime. Next year’s redistricting round will be the first time in nearly half a century that the Texas legislature can redraw maps without any federal supervision to ensure they don’t discriminate against communities of color.
CORONAVIRUS SCAMS, HOW TO AVOID THEM, RESOURCES FOR DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC’S FINANCIAL IMPACT
WHEN/WHERE: May 15, 11-11:30 PM PST (English) & 11:30-12 PM PST (Spanish), online video conference
WHY: Two experts – both lawyers with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency – will share information on Coronavirus scams they’re seeing, advice on how to avoid them, and resources for getting through the pandemic’s financial impact.
MIDDLE EASTERN NORTH AFRICAN (MENA) AND THE 2020 CENSUS – THE STAKES FOR POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
WHEN/WHERE: May 13, 11 AM – 12 PM PST, online video conference
WHY: An online video conference with ethnic and community media from California to discuss the challenges of engaging Middle Eastern and North African communities in the 2020 census, featuring media, community leaders, and stakeholders.
COVID-19’S IMPACT ON THE DEVELOPING WORLD
WHEN/WHERE: May 8, 11 AM – 12 PM PST, online video conference
WHY: The UN World Food Program predicts “hunger pandemics”; migration flows have ground to a halt; desperate people seek survival in the forests, putting the rainforest at risk. Experts review the trends as the pandemic spreads to the developing world. Global leadership will have to address these crises as an integral part of the pandemic.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC – CAN AMERICA SAFELY GO BACK TO WORK IN MAY?
WHEN/WHERE: May 1, 11 AM – 12 PM PST, online video conference
WHY: An online video conference discussing the COVID-19 pandemic, the California government’s response to the crisis, health disparities among Latinos and African Americans, and the impact on children and education.
HOW TO DETECT AND REPORT ON DISINFORMATION
WHEN/WHERE: April 24, 11 AM – 12 PM PST, online video conference
WHY: Ethnic media are trusted messengers but we are inundated with mis- and dis-information about issues crucial to our communities – from the 2020 census to the pandemic to elections. EMS is honored to host a seminar with two of the country’s leading disinformation experts. The zoom conference call will cover real-world examples of census disinformation and offer recommendations for how to report on disinformation responsibly.
TRACKING THE PANDEMIC – A CONVERSATION WITH CALIFORNIA INSURANCE COMMISSIONER RICARDO LARA
WHEN/WHERE: April 22, 11 AM – 12 PM PST, online video conference
WHY: California’s worker compensation system aims to provide medical and wage benefits to those injured on the job. What happens when workers deemed “essential” get sick from COVID-19 on the job? Many are uninsured or underinsured or are undocumented. What are California authorities doing to keep employers and insurers in check.
COVID-19 VIDEO CONFERENCE: PANDEMIC IMPACT ON ETHNIC POPULATIONS
WHEN/WHERE: April 17, 11 AM – 12 PM PST, online video conference
WHY: An ethnic media briefing on the ongoing COVID-19 situation, including an update on the pandemic and briefing on statewide initiatives to mitigate the impact.
ACCESSING HEALTHCARE AND OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES DURING THE PANDEMIC
WHEN/WHERE: April 8, online video conference
WHY: This will be EMS’s third online briefing for ethnic news media to hear from Medical and legal experts and advocates about the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the health and wellbeing of their communities EMS will host these telebriefings on a weekly basis over the next eight to ten weeks.
CALIFORNIA COMPLETE COUNT – CENSUS 2020 BRIEFING
WHEN/WHERE: April 1, online video conference
WHY: The telebriefing gives you direct access to California’s leading expert on the census, Ditas Katague, Director of California Complete Count office for the 2020 census.
COVID-19 BRIEFING – THE BASICS FOR ALL COMMUNITIES
WHEN/WHERE: Mar 27, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PST (English) / 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM PST (Spanish)
WHY: Public health officials, frontline health care providers, legal experts & advocates addressed major concerns for all communities regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
THE HIGH STAKES FOR FLORIDA’S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN THE 2020 CENSUS
WHEN/WHERE: Mar 24, 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM EST online video conference
WHY: An online video conference with ethnic and community media from Miami-Dade & Broward Counties to discuss the challenges of engaging Florida’s diverse communities in the 2020 census. Learn why advocates see the census as a tool of empowerment for their communities.
CENSUS BRIEFING: THE STAKES FOR PACIFIC ISLANDERS
WHEN/WHERE: Mar 14, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM PST, Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, San Mateo
WHY: The population of Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians in California has grown dramatically over the last decade, yet the community remains largely invisible. The census is an ideal opportunity to strengthen communications with these groups.
ADDRESSING SECURITY OF INFORMATION AND PRIVACY ISSUES
WHEN/WHERE: Mar 13, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST
WHY: Leading civil rights advocates and states census officials will host a telephone press briefing to discuss the start of the 2020 census, protections around census data confidentiality, and the work being done to encourage participation across the country.
CALIFORNIA CENSUS ROUNDTABLE FOR NATIVE AMERICAN MEDIA
WHEN/WHERE: Mar 9, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM PST Pala Casino Spa and Resort, Pala
WHY: A roundtable on the 2020 Census in California featuring representatives from the Census Bureau, Native American media and community leaders, and stakeholders and experts.
THE HIGH STAKES FOR SOUTH, SOUTHEAST, & CENTRAL ASIANS IN THE 2020 CENSUS
WHEN/WHERE: Mar 5, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM PST Chinese for Affirmative Action, San Francisco
WHY: A focus on South, Southeast, and Central Asian populations, to amplify the voice & activities of community leaders working to promote the Census and strengthen communications outreach by building connections to nonprofits and ethnic media.
Stay tuned for our exclusive event coverage on these events.