Dr. Erica Pan, California’s State Epidemiologist and Deputy Director of the Center for Infectious Diseases By EMS Staff Vaccines are an important tool in mitigating the spread of Covid-19, said Dr. Erica Pan, California’s State Epidemiologist and Deputy Director of...
Q&A: ‘It’s like a fire smoldering under the surface’ – Chinese media respond to Times Sq. fatal attack
Two recent fatal attacks on Chinese in New York City allegedly by Black assailants have heightened the sense of fear and distrust within both communities, misgivings that have grown sharper amid the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, protests against police violence and...
Los nuevos mapas de redistribución de distritos en los estados del sur excluyen a los votantes de color
De izquierda a derecha: Sean Morales-Doyle, director interino del Programa de Democracia, Centro Brennan para la Justicia; Charles Mann, pasante de redistribución de distritos, CROWD, Carolina del Sur; Mitchell Brown, Consejero de Derechos Electorales, Coalición del...
New Redistricting Maps in Southern States Shut Out Voters of Color
From left to right: Sean Morales-Doyle, Acting Director in the Democracy Program, Brennan Center for Justice; Charles Mann, redistricting intern, CROWD, South Carolina; Mitchell Brown, Voting Rights Counsel, Southern Coalition for Social Justice; Deborah Chen,...
BLACK FAMILY CAREGIVERS ENDORSE VACCINES AND BOOSTERS AS CALIFORNIA BATTLES COVID
From left to right: Noella Buchanan, Caregiver Coordinator, Southern California Conference AMEC Ministerial Alliance; Kennedy King first place winner of a rap contest promoting vaccines; Ruth Rembret, caregiver; Donna Benton, PhD, Research Associate Professor of...
CA Affirmative Action
Prop. 16
Videos
Prop. 16
Videos
California’s Affirmative Action Ban Shutdown Analysis of Racial and Gender Disparities in the State
Thomas Saenz, President and General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund says the passage of Prop. 16 will reopen discussions on race and gender disparities in California, which were shutdown by the 1996 ban on affirmative action (Proposition 209).
Businesses Owned by People of Color and Women Lose Billions as a Result of Affirmative Action Ban
Eva Paterson, President and Founder of The Equal Justice Society, says systemic racism has undermined the political and economic power of people of color. She says reinstating affirmative action will help in “very concrete ways,” including providing more educational opportunities for girls and students of color. Paterson notes that affirmative action policies based on class and poverty fail to desegregate our communities.
Race and Gender Conscious Programs Allow Us to Address Discrimination
Vincent Pan, Executive Director of Chinese for Affirmative Action, discusses barriers face by the Asian American community and says affirmative action is about equal pay and representation for women and people of color. He also notes that many small, Asian-owned businesses were left out of the Paycheck Protection Program and says that affirmative actions measures would have allowed the government to more specifically tailor programs to make sure all business owners were able access the support they were entitled to.
Affirmative Action – Can It Reduce Racial & Ethnic Inequities?
24 years ago California voters passed Proposition 209 banning racial preferences in admission to public universities, inspiring similar changes in nearly a dozen states. This November, affirmative action is again on the ballot in California (Proposition 16) at a time of growing protests over racial injustice. Meanwhile, opponents of affirmative action have challenged race-based preferences in the Supreme Court and last month the Department of Justice accused Yale of illegal admissions discrimination against white and Asian American students. A panel of veteran civil rights leaders makes the case for affirmative action as a tool for improving racial opportunity gaps in higher education, the work place and the culture.
Event Calendar
COMING EVENTS
FROM PANDEMIC TO ENDEMIC – ARE WE THERE YET?
WHEN: Friday, Jan. 21, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT / 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET
WHY: The Centers for Disease Control has temporarily postponed its briefing with Ethnic Media Services, as the Administration is expected to make a major announcement Jan. 21. Instead, experts this week will join us for a roundtable discussion, with a focus on possible new variants in the pipeline, what form they are likely to take, whether we are moving towards an endemic, and the role of therapeutics.n
*POSTPONED* THE CDC RECOMMENDS — HOW TO GET THROUGH THE OMICRON SURGE: FOUR PREVENTIVE MEASURES AND WHY THEY WORK
WHEN: TBD
WHY: This news briefing is the third in a series by the CDC, the nation’s top public health agency, to expand its communications about COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines with the diverse audiences served by ethnic media. Subject matter experts from the CDC will provide the latest information on four preventive measures and why they work:
• masks
• vaccines and boosters
• testing
• quarantine and isolation
RECENT EVENTS
CALIFORNIA’S TOP EPIDEMIOLOGIST ADDRESSES MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 20, 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm PT
WHY: Join California State Epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan as she addresses the most frequently asked questions around Omicron, COVID-19 vaccines, boosters, testing and more. During this media briefing, Dr. Pan will share actual questions received from Californians who call the Statewide COVID-19 Hotline, and respond to them live. Callers into the hotline frequently ask about testing and vaccination, as well as the latest travel and school guidance. Dr. Pan is the state’s top-ranking epidemiologist and was appointed by Governor Newsom to the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, which is responsible for independently reviewing the FDA’s actions related to COVID-19 vaccines. As part of the California Department of Public Health’s “Week of Action” (Jan. 17-21), this briefing will be hosted by the Vaccinate ALL 58 campaign in English and simulcast in Spanish, Mandarin and Korean.
HOW REDISTRICTING MAPS IN SOUTHERN STATES ERODE DEMOCRACY – REDUCING AND DISMANTLING ELECTORAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITY COMMUNITIES
WHEN: Friday, Jan. 14, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT / 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET
WHY: Redistricting is now finished in over half the states and may not significantly change the overall distribution of seats between the parties nationwide. But less noticed and deeply pernicious for democracy, according to Michael Li of the Brennan Center for Justice, is that redistricting has reinforced existing gerrymanders in many states that are deeply biased against voters of color. Nowhere is this trend more pernicious than in the South, where communities of color account for almost all the population growth over the last decade.
CAREGIVERS ACROSS THE GENERATIONS – GETTING THROUGH COVID-19 PANDEMIC, RAPPING TO PROMOTE VACCINES, ACCESSING BOOSTERS AND TESTS, AND OTHER CHALLENGES
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 13, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm PT
WHY: As COVID 19 infection rates surge again with the highly transmissible Omicron variant, how are caregivers getting through this latest phase of the pandemic? What are they doing to combat isolation and fatigue? How accessible are vaccines, boosters, and tests for them and for those they care for? We learn most from listening to stories from caregivers in our communities who make up an invisible workforce of some 5.3 million people nationwide—an indispensable backbone for health care services in the U.S. Join this one hour community conversation over Zoom and live streamed on Facebook.
FLORIDA REDISTRCTING LOCKS OUT STATE’S LARGEST ETHNIC GROUP — LATINO ACTIVITS CALL FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY BEFORE LEGISLATURE PASSES NEW MAPS
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 13, 2 pm-3 pm ET (11 am-12 noon PT/1 pm-2 pm CT)
WHY: Census data show Florida’s largest growth over the last decade has come from Latinos and other communities of color. Latinos no comprise over 25% of the state’s population. Yet within the next couple of weeks, the Florida legislature is poised to approve new political maps that will deny Latinos fair and equitable representation at the state and federal levels for the next decade, further widening the socio-economic disparities that already exist within the state.
POOR ONCE MORE! AMERICA’S LOW INCOME CHILDREN SUFFER AS CHILD TAX CREDIT EXPIRES
WHEN: Friday, Jan. 7, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT / 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET
WHY: Millions of children were lifted out of poverty last July as the Biden Administration provided checks of up to $300 per child per month to low-income families. The child tax credit expired Dec. 31, leaving low-income families struggling to buy groceries and pay rent in the midst of a bleak winter and a global pandemic.
Speakers will discuss the impact of the child tax credit on low-income families, what it means to have the temporary support withdrawn, resources attempting to fill in the gaps, and whether a permanent solution is possible amid a currently contentious Senate.
WHAT FINAL REDISTRICTING MAPS MEAN FOR CALIFORNIA’S DIVERSE RACIAL & ETHNIC GROUPS
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 28, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: After months of intense activity, the 14 member Citizens Redistricting Commission finalized the new political boundaries that will dictate representation in California for the next 10 years. On Dec. 27, the new maps will be officially transmitted to the Secretary of State. EMS’s Dec. 28 news briefing will report on how the maps will impact historically underrepresented communities of color, and where California fits in the fight for fair maps in the country as a whole.
THE GHOSTS OF COVID: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
WHEN: Friday, Dec. 17, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: 2021 ushered in a new chapter to the story of the Covid-19 pandemic. Even as vaccines became available, the world battled the more lethal and transmissible Delta and Omicron variants. Five experts will provide perspectives on where we are in the pandemic, and what to expect in 2022.
L.A. KOREAN MEDIA ROUNDTABLE WITH L.A. DPH COVID-19 EXPERT
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 16, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm PT
WHY: Jang Lee, a public health nurse with the LA County Department of Public Health, will be discussing COVID-safe holiday gathering tips, travel guidance, the latest on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, and provide information on the Omicron variant. He will also be available to answer questions about latest case rates and vaccination data.
STAYING SAFE FROM COVID-19 THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: “WEEK OF ACTION” MEDIA BRIEFING FOR CALIFORNIA ETHNIC AND COMMUNITY NEWS OUTLETS
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 14, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm PT
WHY: On the one-year anniversary of the first vaccine dose administered in the state, join California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly for an update on the state’s vaccination milestones, Omicron and the best steps Californians can continue to take to keep themselves and their loved ones safer this holiday season.
THE KIDS ARE NOT ALRIGHT: YOUTH SELF HARM SPIKES AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC
WHEN: Friday, Dec. 10, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: The Covid-19 pandemic had an enormous impact on teen and young mental health. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released an advisory Dec. 7 noting that symptoms of depression and anxiety have doubled during the pandemic, with 25% of youth experiencing depressive symptoms and 20% experiencing anxiety symptoms. Emergency room visits for youth experiencing psychosocial issues have also jumped by 20%.
Speakers will present an overview of the crisis, along with perspectives from some especially vulnerable populations. This news briefing is presented in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health.
CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS TO COVID-19 VACCINES – A CDC ROUNDTABLE WITH REFUGEES FROM IRAQ, SYRIA & AFGHANISTAN
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 9, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: Since Homer’s Odyssey, the migrant’s story of fleeing war and persecution has been among the world’s most powerful narratives. And it doesn’t end once the migrant has resettled. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, recognizing that health policies must reflect the social realities of the populations they serve, will hold the second of three roundtables to listen to representatives of refugee populations about their experiences with the COVID 19 pandemic and the factors impacting their attitudes about vaccines. The Dec. 9 roundtable focuses on community representatives from Syrian, Iraqi and Afghan refugee populations.
Some 600,900 refugees have been admitted to the U.S. between 2010 and 2020, of whom Iraqis are the second largest group (109,000). Although Syria ranks as the largest source country for global refugees, only 22,163 Syrian refugees have been admitted to the U.S. since 2010, including 481 in fy 2020 and 414 as of June, fy 2021. Some 97,000 Afghan refugees were admitted since the US war in Afghanistan began in 2001. Approximately the same number is expected to be admitted in 2021 alone. Roughly one-third of all refugees have settled in Texas, California, New York, Michigan and Arizona.
BUTTE COUNTY GRAPPLES WITH LOW VACCINE RATES: WILDFIRES, HOUSING CRISIS, GROWING HOMELESS POPULATION, ANTI-VAX SENTIMENT
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 7, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: Butte County ranks among northern California’s predominantly rural counties with a relatively large population (227,000) and a low vaccination rate – only 46.6% of residents are fully vaccinated (51.16% have received one dose). Chico highlights the county’s challenges – a large influx of wildfire refugees, a growing population of unhoused people, a sizable Latino immigrant population, a strong anti-vax, anti mandate sentiment in the political and business leadership. How are public health advocates and community advocates dealing with the challenges? Nearby Gridley, a smaller city with a strong, pro-vax Latino leadership, offers alternative models with a much higher vaccination rate.
REDISTRICTING MAPS TARGET COMMUNITIES OF COLOR – SOUTHERN STATES SPOTLIGHT TREND
WHEN: Friday, Dec. 3, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: Midway through the redistricting process, partisan map makers are drawing maps aimed at undercutting the potential influence of communities of color, even as state legislatures pass new voter restriction laws. This is particularly dramatic in the South, even as new multiracial coalitions are emerging to push for more equitable representation. Speakers discuss the latest trends and community efforts to counter them.
UPDATE ON REDISTRICTING PROCESS AND IMPACT FOR LATINO COMMUNITIES / ACTUALIZACIÓN SOBRE EL PROCESO DE REDISTRIBUCIÓN DE DISTRITOS Y EL IMPACTO PARA LAS COMUNIDADES LATINAS
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 2, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm PT
WHY: Please join this special one hour Spanish language media Zoom roundtable with advocates and community members who will discuss where the redistricting process is at in Harris County and what that means for Latino communities both locally and state wide. This roundtable is cohosted by Mi Familia Vota, Houston in Action and Ethnic Media Services. The discussion will be in Spanish. Simultaneous English language interpreting will be provided. | Únase a esta mesa redonda especial de una hora por Zoom con defensores y miembros de la comunidad que discutirán dónde se encuentra el proceso de redistribución de distritos en el condado de Harris y lo que eso significa para las comunidades latinas tanto en lo local como en lo estatal. Esta mesa redonda está organizada por Mi Familia Vota, Houston en Acción y Ethnic Media Services. La discusión será en español. Se hará traducción al inglés simultánea.
REDISTRICTING IN LOUISIANA – THE FIGHT FOR FAIR MAPS
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 30, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CT
WHY: What’s happened so far, what’s at stake for Louisiana’s communities of color, why more community voices are needed.
MENTAL HEALTH RESILIENCE, HOLIDAY BLUES AND COPING WITH LOSS
WHEN: Monday, Nov. 22, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm PT
WHY: A high level discussion of the importance of mental wellness as we enter the holiday season and many people face their first holiday without a loved one. Speakers will provide an overview of DMH’s services and discuss tips for identifying and coping with stress — one’s own or that of a family member or friend; a client will share personal testimony on overcoming some of her own mental health struggles. Dr. Gonzalez will also offer latest data on COVID-19 and vaccination rates.
LESSON FROM GLASGOW – CLIMATE CHANGE REQUIRES ADDRESSING THE “CLIMATE GAP”
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 19, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT / 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET
WHY: Fresh off the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference just celebrated in Glasgow, environmental leaders and experts will examine what was achieved and what was not, including the charge that developed countries blocked reparations to pay for the devastating impact climate change has already had on developing countries. As global migration swells with climate refugees, the lack of resources in these countries will only accelerate the pace of climate change rather than reversing it.
HOOPA ELDERS: HOW THE PANDEMIC CHANGED OUR LIVES
WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 18, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm PT
WHY: Join us for a one-hour discussion about how the pandemic and vaccines affected tribal elders in the Hoopa community.
CALIFORNIA’S NEW REDISTRICTING MAPS – HOW FAIR FOR BLACK CALIFORNIAN’S?
WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 18, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: Draft maps outlining the new political boundaries for California’s electoral districts are now open for public comment before being finalized by the California Redistricting Commission. How do the new maps impact political representation for African American communities at all levels? The Commission needs to hear feedback and Black media could amplify community concerns and offer a crucial voice of its own
UNPACKING THE REDISTRICTING SESSION AND WHAT’S NEXT IN THE FIGHT FOR FAIR MAPS
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 16, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CT / 9:00 am – 10:00 am PT
WHY: Media briefing unpacking the redistricting session and what’s next in the fight for fair maps.
VACCINATING 5-11 YEAR OLDS: VOICES FROM THE FRONT LINES — A SCIENTIST, PEDIATRICIAN, PARENT ORGANIZER, SCHOOL NURSE WEIGH IN
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 12, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: Last week, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that children 5 to 11 years old be vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccinating 28 million 5 to 11 year olds could help the U.S. turn the corner in reaching 75% immunization, according to health experts. What are those on the front lines seeing one week after the CDC recommendation, and what impact could these vaccinations have on the pandemic?
NUTS & BOLTS OF CALIFORNIA’S VAX ROLLOUT FOR KIDS 5-11
WHEN: Monday, Nov. 8, 10:30 am – 11:00 am PT
WHY: A media briefing featuring Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, to answer questions related to the rollout, efficacy, and safety of COVID-19 vaccines for individuals ages 5-11. Especially as the holidays approach, it’s more important than ever to ensure our families are vaccinated and our community is protected against this deadly virus. Learn more about how the COVID-19 vaccine can protect you and your family.
This conversation is hosted by the Vaccinate All 58 and Stop the Spread COVID-19 public awareness campaigns.
FIGHT TO SAFEGUARD VOTING RIGHTS AT TURNING POINT
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 5, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: Senate action is expected this week on the John L. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act which includes the Native American Voting Rights Act. Experts and advocates will update reporters and share perspectives on next steps in the struggle to safeguard voting rights even as more than 20 states have passed laws to restrict voter access.
IMMIGRANT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GAIN NEW HOPE? UPDATE ON ASYLUM AND VISA RULES
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 29, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: For many female victims of domestic violence in the world, migration constitutes a primary survival strategy but during the last few years, the likelihood of finding protection in the US was lower than ever. Over the summer, Attorney General Merrick Garland reversed a decision taken by the previous administration that closed the door to many women asylum seekers on domestic violence grounds. Has that change improved the odds of these women? We will discuss the situation of asylum seekers as well as the visa options for abused women inside the US.
NEW FTC REPORT — HOW CONSUMER FRAUD IMPACTS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 22, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: A just released report by the FTC called “Serving Communities of Color” reveals differences in the way that fraud and other consumer problems affect communities of color. Speakers will highlight, for example, how majority Latino and Black communities report more issues with car buying, banks and lenders, credit issues and debt collection than do white communities. Speakers will also highlight cases brought by the FTC in the last five years where the unlawful conduct either targeted or disproportionately affected communities of color.
KERN COUNTY FARMWORKERS, FOOD PROCESSORS STILL AT RISK – PANDEMIC REACHES TURNING POINT
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 20, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: Kern County is at a turning point with the pandemic — access to vaccines is widespread, but there is still distrust and misinformation among workers in the farm fields and food processing plants. People worry about turning the electricity on, paying grocery bills, getting evicted, more than they worry about COVID. The complexities of the landscape in Kern reflect what decision makers need to know about the reality for ag workers across the Central Valley.
IRS BRIEFING ON ADVANCED TAX CREDIT PAYMENTS & UPCOMING TAX FILING SEASON
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 15, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: IRS experts will provide an update on the Advance Child Tax Credit Payments, including who qualifies, payment dates for the remainder of the year, and online tools to help taxpayers signup for and manage their payments. They will also provide information for the upcoming filing season.
A CDC ROUNDTABLE WITH CONGOLESE DIASPORA COMMUNITY INFLUENCERS
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 14, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT/ 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET
WHY: This interactive discussion will focus on:
• Latest CDC recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination
• Challenges and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination in Diaspora communities
• Suggestions for how to engage Diaspora communities in building vaccine confidence
• Questions and answers with CDC experts
Approximately 2.0 million migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa now live in the United States, a population that has grown dramatically from just 110,000 in 1980. Some are asylum seekers and refugees from conflict ridden countries; others seek work or education; others come on diversity lottery visas or to reunite with families. With few local media platforms, many rely on trusted community voices — from faith-based, non-profit, and civic agencies — for news and information critical to their own and their family’s wellbeing. The CDC is holding the first of three roundtables to meet and talk with these community influencers about how to overcome challenges and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination.
AT STAKE IN GEORGIA’S REDISTRICTING PROCESS – FAIR REPRESENTATION FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 13, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: Every decade Georgia legislators come together to draw new district lines to reflect demographic shifts in the state’s population based on Census data. The goal is to ensure equitable representation for all Georgians. Two weeks before the state’s special redistricting session begins, get the latest Census data, learn what’s happening so far with the redistricting process as it impacts communities of color, and hear what activists with the Georgia Immigrant Rights Association (GIRA) are doing to demand fair representation for the state’s growing immigrant and refugee groups.
THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF CALIFORNIA’S REDISTRICTING PROCESS – HOW DRAWING NEW ELECTORAL MAPS IMPACTS DIVERS COMMUNITIES
WHEN: Monday, Oct. 11, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm PT
WHY: As California grows ever more diverse, how will the state redraw electoral boundaries to keep pace with 2020 Census data on demographic shifts and ensure that every Californian has equal representation at all branches of government. The briefing will look at how the redistricting process works, who draws the lines not only for state and federal election districts but for hundreds of municipal districts, and why public input about the communities and issues that matter to them is so critical.
WHY WOMEN ARE PRIMARY TARGETS OF XENOPHOBIC HATE
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 8, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: A new report on Islamophobia/anti-Muslim hate crimes documents that women, not men, are the primary targets. Anti-Asian/Pacific Islander hate crimes against women also exceed those against men. As women and women with children comprise an ever growing percentage of migrants from Latin America, they too are on the receiving end of xenophobic assaults. Our speakers will discuss the rise in hate-based violence against women, along with historic perspective.
A 60 MINUTE ROUNDTABLE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PANDEMIC-RELATED SCAMS YOU SEE AND REPORT ON IN YOUR COMMUNITIES
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 7, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm PT
WHY: Scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic are everywhere–from fake cures and fake vaccine cards to job scams and evictions. As it prepares for its first investment in an ethnic media advertorial campaign aimed at alerting your audiences to these scams, FTC colleagues are anxious to get your perspectives on what’s happening in your community and the effective ways to counter the misinformation and fraud.
TO BOOST OR NOT TO BOOST: THAT IS THE QUESTION
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 1, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: Boosters, also known as the third shots, are among the most hotly-debated issues of the moment. The White House plan for expanded eligibility contradicts the Centers for Disease Control, which has advocated a tiered approach, prioritizing immunocompromised individuals and high-risk workers. Public health experts are also divided on the issue of who should get the third shot and when. Currently, only those who took the Pfizer vaccine for their first two shots are eligible for a third shot. Boosters are not yet available for people who got the two-dose Moderna vaccine or the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Two panelists will make repeat appearances at this Friday’s briefing, offering their own views first, followed by a lively Q/A with reporters.
ETHNIC VOTERS’ DECISIVE ROLE IN CALIFORNIA RECALL
WHEN: Friday, Sep. 24, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: Polling and post-election analysis show that a majority of California’s ethnic voters overwhelmingly rejected the governor’s recall and, in some cases, helped turn large counties and suburbs in the governor’s favor. At the same time, many voters of color did not participate.
Experts and activists discuss:
What does detailed analysis say about the Latino vote, the largest of the ethnic voting blocks in the state. What were some of the missing narratives that can help the parties attract more of the growing BIPOC vote. What are the issues that Latinos, African Americans and Asians on the ground were talking about when outreach workers knocked on their door?
LATINOS IN DURHAM JOIN KITCHEN CONVERSATION– “WHAT WE WANTED TO SAY ABOUT REDISTRICTING”
WHEN: Wednesday, Sep. 22, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm PT
WHY: Veteran organizer Ivan Almonte of Rapid Response invites four Latino residents of Durham, NC, to his home for a kitchen conversation about why they wanted to speak at the legislature’s public hearings on redistricting and what they weren’t able to say. EMS associate editor Pilar Marrero will moderate. The event will be in Spanish with simultaneous interpretation in English.
ARIZONA’S COMMUNITIES FIGHT FOR FAIR REDISTRICTING
WHEN: Wednesday, Sep. 22, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: Arizona has an independent commission overseeing the redistricting process but a coalition of community organizations are protesting the lack of access, diversity and transparency of the hearings so far. The briefing will spotlight the groups mobilizing to fight for fairer redistricting and representation, and the issues at stake for each.
FEAR, HESITANCY, LACK OF ACCESS — OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO VACCINES IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
WHEN: Tuesday, Sep. 21, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: Hesitancy about the health care system, not hesitancy about vaccines, is part of why vaccine rates remain low among African Americans, as are fears about the vaccines and misinformation about the COVID pandemic itself. Speakers will discuss approaches that are slowly increasing Black vaccination rates in California, especially among young adults, and some will share the reasons why they delayed getting vaccinated until very recently.
IS EASE OF GUN ACCESS LINKED TO A RISE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
WHEN: Friday, Sep. 17, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: 4.5 million women in the U.S. have been threatened with a gun by their domestic partner. 1 million have been shot during a domestic dispute, and at least 600 women are shot to death each year during a domestic dispute, according to data from the Giffords Law Center. Children in the home are often victims in domestic disputes involving a gun, and, increasingly, perpetrators of such crimes.
Gun sales and domestic violence both increased by more than 20 percent during the Covid pandemic, according to Brady: United to End Gun Violence.
Speakers this week will discuss the rising prevalence of guns in domestic disputes, whether there are adequate law enforcement resources available to women facing gun violence, why federal gun control measures have largely failed to date, state measures to restrict access to guns, and what may be in the Congressional pipeline.
A domestic violence victim, who was shot four times in the head by her husband, will share her story of survival.
CALIFORNIA’S ZONING LAWS AT HEART OF HOUSING CRISIS
WHEN: Tuesday, Sep. 14, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
WHY: COVID has exacerbated California’s housing crisis. But the urgent need to build more affordable and low income housing has run up against an implacable foe — zoning ordinances that are among the most restrictive in the most progressive cities. Speakers look at the implications of COVID-19 on housing equality and community development, how opportunity and restrictive zoning laws are closely connected, and policies and legislations to increase affordable housing stock.
IMAGINING THE FUTURE OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER: A RIVER FOR ALL OF US
WHEN: Friday, Sep. 10, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm PT
WHY: For decades LA County leaders and residents have dreamed of restoring the 51-mile river that gave Los Angeles its name. With the completion of a 480-page Master Plan commissioned by the LA County Board of Supervisors and new funding from the state of California and local agencies targeting environmental restoration projects, the moment for turning the dream into reality is now. The briefing will inform new media serving LA’s diverse populations – and interested media nationwide – about current and long-term projects and goals for revitalizing the river, and share perspectives about the future of the river from a representative poll of more than 600 residents interviewed in four languages.
NORTH CAROLINA’S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES FIGHT FOR FAIR REDISTRICTING
WHEN: Thursday, Sep. 9, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET | 10:00 am – 11:00 am PT | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CT
WHY: What would fair political representation look like for North Carolina’s historically underrepresented populations as well as the newly settled immigrant groups in the state? A coalition of activist organizations fighting for an equitable voice in the state’s once-a- decade redistricting process will share their perspectives at this briefing for ethnic and community media and stakeholder groups.
A SPECIAL NEWS BRIEFING TARGETS NONPROFITS, MICRO-BUSINESSES AND SMALL BUSINESSES
WHEN: Tuesday, Sep. 7, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm PT
WHY: Applications have just opened for new funding rounds from the California Small Business and Nonprofits COVID-19 Relief Grants program which recently received an additional $1.5 billion in funds. Unlike many government grant programs, this program emphasizes small nonprofits and small businesses, including sole proprietorships and all- volunteer nonprofits. The application process is simple. CalNonprofits and others can provide phone support (multilingual) and other help to people filling out applications. The deadline for applications is Sept. 30.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RECALL ELECTION – ASK THE EXPERTS A SPECIAL MEDIA AVAIL WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICIALS
WHEN: Tuesday, Sep. 7, 10:30 am – 11:00 am PT
WHY: Less than a week to go before the Sept. 14, many questions remain – from what to do if you lost your mail in ballot, whether or not you have to answer both questions, how to vote if you have had to evacuate due to wildfires.
CDC UPDATE ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC – VACCINATION RATES, BOOSTER SHOTS, BREAKOUT INFECTIONS
WHEN: Thursday, Sep. 2, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT | 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CT| 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET
WHY: This news briefing is the second in a series by the CDC, the nation’s top public health agency, to expand its communications about COVID-19 vaccinations with the diverse audiences of ethnic media. CDC subject matter experts will provide updates about vaccination rates and respond to questions from reporters.
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