Saturday, February 26, 2005
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Education Corner
Teens, Let Your Voices Be Heard: Final Call to Sign Petition to Save Music Education
- February 25 is Last Chance to Join Justin Timberlake, Nick Lachey, Amber Tamblyn, Sean Paul, Clay Aiken, and a Host of Others Who Have Signed Nationwide Petition Going to Congress -
CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- A national online petition drive to support music in America's schools is coming to a star-studded Congressional presentation next month, but teens everywhere can still participate by visiting http://www.themusicedge.com/ before the February 25 deadline.
On March 9, talented young performers Justin Guarini, Diana DeGarmo and John Stevens from Fox's American Idol and the legendary Commodores will join other artists and education advocates to deliver the tens of thousands of petition signatures personally to members of Congress and visit Capitol Hill to make their case for saving music education in schools. The non-profit effort to let kids tell the world they want music in their lives and in their schools is an initiative of NAMM, the International Music Products Association, its non-profit affiliate the American Music Conference (AMC) and its teen web site, http://themusicedge.com/, along with TEEN PEOPLE and Fanscape, a youth entertainment marketing company.
The petition to Congress on behalf of music education got its start in June 2002, when Justin Timberlake broke the news on MTV's Total Request Live. Since then, TEEN PEOPLE and themusicedge.com have encouraged thousands of young people to add their names alongside celebrities like Clay Aiken, Nick Lachey, Sean Paul, JC Chasez, Nick Cannon, Yellowcard, Amber Tamblyn, Ashlee Simpson, Pharrell Williams, Fefe Dobson, Ben Jelen, Samaire Armstrong and Adam Brody.
"Hundreds of thousands of kids are losing the opportunity to participate in school music programs because of drastic budget cuts in arts programs," says Joe Lamond, President and CEO of NAMM, which promotes the benefits of music, music research and music education. "Music education offers too many benefits to developing minds for this issue to go unnoticed. We need to give kids the opportunity to have a well-rounded education, and we need to empower more of them and their parents to voice their concerns."
The petition's delivery to Congress highlights NAMM's national activities to advance support of music education during the month of March. TEEN PEOPLE, NAMM and AMC urge teens across the country to sign the petition on themusicedge.com before February 25, and help keep school-based music programs alive.
About NAMM
The International Music Products Association, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $16 billion global musical instruments and products industry. The association's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of nearly 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can visit http://namm.com/ or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).
About AMC
Founded in 1947, AMC is a national non-profit educational association dedicated to promoting the importance of music, music-making and music education to the general public. For more information on the American Music Conference, go to http://www.amc-music.org/.
About TEEN PEOPLE
TEEN PEOPLE, a National Magazine Award winner for General Excellence, is the definitive voice of youth culture. Launched in January 1998, TEEN PEOPLE became the first pop culture magazine for teens that focuses on stars, style and substance. With an editorial mix covering celebrities and entertainment, fashion and beauty, real teens and their accomplishments, TEEN PEOPLE keeps its readers clued in to what's now, what's next and what matters. Published ten times a year with two newsstand special editions, TEEN PEOPLE's guaranteed circulation is 1.45 million. TEENPEOPLE.COM is the magazine's official website.
About Fanscape
Founded in 1998, Fanscape is a leading youth entertainment marketing company focused on Online and Field Marketing through Grassroots Marketing, Fanscape Media Network, Market Research, and Corporate Partnerships. Through entertainment client partners Fanscape keeps an open and active dialogue with over four million 13 - 29-year-olds, specializing in providing an exclusive and dynamic link between young consumers and their lifestyles.
Source: American Music Conference
Web site: http://www.themusicedge.com/
http://namm.com/
http://www.amc-music.org/
Teens, Let Your Voices Be Heard: Final Call to Sign Petition to Save Music Education
- February 25 is Last Chance to Join Justin Timberlake, Nick Lachey, Amber Tamblyn, Sean Paul, Clay Aiken, and a Host of Others Who Have Signed Nationwide Petition Going to Congress -
CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- A national online petition drive to support music in America's schools is coming to a star-studded Congressional presentation next month, but teens everywhere can still participate by visiting http://www.themusicedge.com/ before the February 25 deadline.
On March 9, talented young performers Justin Guarini, Diana DeGarmo and John Stevens from Fox's American Idol and the legendary Commodores will join other artists and education advocates to deliver the tens of thousands of petition signatures personally to members of Congress and visit Capitol Hill to make their case for saving music education in schools. The non-profit effort to let kids tell the world they want music in their lives and in their schools is an initiative of NAMM, the International Music Products Association, its non-profit affiliate the American Music Conference (AMC) and its teen web site, http://themusicedge.com/, along with TEEN PEOPLE and Fanscape, a youth entertainment marketing company.
The petition to Congress on behalf of music education got its start in June 2002, when Justin Timberlake broke the news on MTV's Total Request Live. Since then, TEEN PEOPLE and themusicedge.com have encouraged thousands of young people to add their names alongside celebrities like Clay Aiken, Nick Lachey, Sean Paul, JC Chasez, Nick Cannon, Yellowcard, Amber Tamblyn, Ashlee Simpson, Pharrell Williams, Fefe Dobson, Ben Jelen, Samaire Armstrong and Adam Brody.
"Hundreds of thousands of kids are losing the opportunity to participate in school music programs because of drastic budget cuts in arts programs," says Joe Lamond, President and CEO of NAMM, which promotes the benefits of music, music research and music education. "Music education offers too many benefits to developing minds for this issue to go unnoticed. We need to give kids the opportunity to have a well-rounded education, and we need to empower more of them and their parents to voice their concerns."
The petition's delivery to Congress highlights NAMM's national activities to advance support of music education during the month of March. TEEN PEOPLE, NAMM and AMC urge teens across the country to sign the petition on themusicedge.com before February 25, and help keep school-based music programs alive.
About NAMM
The International Music Products Association, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $16 billion global musical instruments and products industry. The association's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of nearly 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can visit http://namm.com/ or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).
About AMC
Founded in 1947, AMC is a national non-profit educational association dedicated to promoting the importance of music, music-making and music education to the general public. For more information on the American Music Conference, go to http://www.amc-music.org/.
About TEEN PEOPLE
TEEN PEOPLE, a National Magazine Award winner for General Excellence, is the definitive voice of youth culture. Launched in January 1998, TEEN PEOPLE became the first pop culture magazine for teens that focuses on stars, style and substance. With an editorial mix covering celebrities and entertainment, fashion and beauty, real teens and their accomplishments, TEEN PEOPLE keeps its readers clued in to what's now, what's next and what matters. Published ten times a year with two newsstand special editions, TEEN PEOPLE's guaranteed circulation is 1.45 million. TEENPEOPLE.COM is the magazine's official website.
About Fanscape
Founded in 1998, Fanscape is a leading youth entertainment marketing company focused on Online and Field Marketing through Grassroots Marketing, Fanscape Media Network, Market Research, and Corporate Partnerships. Through entertainment client partners Fanscape keeps an open and active dialogue with over four million 13 - 29-year-olds, specializing in providing an exclusive and dynamic link between young consumers and their lifestyles.
Source: American Music Conference
Web site: http://www.themusicedge.com/
http://namm.com/
http://www.amc-music.org/
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Sunday, February 06, 2005
San Juan, Puerto Rico, casa Albizu Campos
Photo by the "docman." Stop in and view his photos at flickr.
Enjoy his and more photos at the Puerto Rico Sun photo group too: http://flickr.com/groups/prsun/
Enjoy his and more photos at the Puerto Rico Sun photo group too: http://flickr.com/groups/prsun/
Community news
MNN COMMUNITY MEDIA GRANTS WORKSHOP (Aqui se habla español)Tuesday, February 8, 6PM
2005 Community Media GrantsAvailable to 501c3 nonprofits and community organizations based in
Manhattan. (Individuals should come too!)
DEADLINE FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS: February 14!
Read the grant description and download forms.
http://mnn.org/cm/grants.html
(Let's get the money for our projects now!)
PRdream/MNN Satellite Community Television Facility
161 East 106th Street, First Floor
(between Lexington and Third Avenues)
For info call: 212.828.0401, between the hours of 3PM and 6PM, or
email us at info@prdream.com.
=======================================
ART EXHIBITION
@ MEDIANOCHE
"The space beyond silence"
--a site-specific collaborative project exploring perception
Artists : Jamie Allen, Helen Dennis, Yoona Kang, Eileen Mack, La Manga
Curated by: Mónica Núñez Laiseca
February 10 - March 3, 2005
OPENING RECEPTION: : Thursday, Feb. 10, 6-8 pm
ARTIST TALK: Saturday, Feb. 19, 4-6 pm
Guided by Spanish curator Mónica Núñez, "the space beyond silence" is a
site-specific collaboration between artists from different cultures and
media. The exhibition examines how distraction affects our ability to
perceive, and seeks to reveal a dimension within reality where we can
"re-enchant" ourselves with our perceptions. This is the dimension
defined in the exhibition as the space beyond silence.
Upon entering the gallery, a backdrop of large-scale photographic
drawings reflects the urban streetscape beyond the gallery walls. At certain
times of the day, the views captured in these drawings frame the projection
of a dance piece by La Manga that has been rehearsed in the gallery late at
night. Gallery visitors looking at these images are videotaped by
surveillance cameras that trace their movements in the space. An old TV
monitor juxtaposes the surveillance videos to footage of a video
performance in which a sleepless Yoona Kang gets ready to cook a technological soup. A soundtrack made with pre-recorded, whispering sounds, scores the exhibition.
"The space beyond silence" features works by Jamie Allen (Canada),
Helen Dennis (U.K.), Yoona Kang (Korea), Eileen Mack (Australia) and La Manga
(Mexico). Through common sounds, images and visceral performance each
artist explores the idea of silence in relation to sensory experience,
perception, and location.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The Space Beyond Silence" is presented as part of "PLACE" -- a
year-long series of exhibitions that explore the role of network technologies in
transcultural experience organized by MediaNoche.
ABOUT MEDIANOCHE
MediaNoche provides artist residencies and exhibition space for artists
working in new media. The first of its kind, MediaNoche seeks to
connect Spanish Harlem, a.k.a. El Barrio to all parts of the globe that
recognize its long history of music, art, poetry and dance.
GETTING THERE
MediaNoche is located at 161 East 106th Street, in the cultural
corridor of Spanish Harlem, just blocks from Museum Mile. The gallery is open
Tuesday through Friday, from 3PM to 7PM and by appointment. For more
information, visit http://www.medianoche.us or call 212.828.0401.
# # #
MediaNoche is a project of PRdream.com and acknowledges support from:
NY Foundation, Manhattan Neighborhood Network, Lower Manhattan Cultural
Council, The Fund for Creative Communities, and former NY State Senator
Olga Mendez.
========================================
source: Judith Escalona, director
PRDREAM.COM
161 East 106th Street
(212)828-0401
http://www.prdream.com
Empowering community through technology
========================================
MNN COMMUNITY MEDIA GRANTS WORKSHOP (Aqui se habla español)Tuesday, February 8, 6PM
2005 Community Media GrantsAvailable to 501c3 nonprofits and community organizations based in
Manhattan. (Individuals should come too!)
DEADLINE FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS: February 14!
Read the grant description and download forms.
http://mnn.org/cm/grants.html
(Let's get the money for our projects now!)
PRdream/MNN Satellite Community Television Facility
161 East 106th Street, First Floor
(between Lexington and Third Avenues)
For info call: 212.828.0401, between the hours of 3PM and 6PM, or
email us at info@prdream.com.
=======================================
ART EXHIBITION
@ MEDIANOCHE
"The space beyond silence"
--a site-specific collaborative project exploring perception
Artists : Jamie Allen, Helen Dennis, Yoona Kang, Eileen Mack, La Manga
Curated by: Mónica Núñez Laiseca
February 10 - March 3, 2005
OPENING RECEPTION: : Thursday, Feb. 10, 6-8 pm
ARTIST TALK: Saturday, Feb. 19, 4-6 pm
Guided by Spanish curator Mónica Núñez, "the space beyond silence" is a
site-specific collaboration between artists from different cultures and
media. The exhibition examines how distraction affects our ability to
perceive, and seeks to reveal a dimension within reality where we can
"re-enchant" ourselves with our perceptions. This is the dimension
defined in the exhibition as the space beyond silence.
Upon entering the gallery, a backdrop of large-scale photographic
drawings reflects the urban streetscape beyond the gallery walls. At certain
times of the day, the views captured in these drawings frame the projection
of a dance piece by La Manga that has been rehearsed in the gallery late at
night. Gallery visitors looking at these images are videotaped by
surveillance cameras that trace their movements in the space. An old TV
monitor juxtaposes the surveillance videos to footage of a video
performance in which a sleepless Yoona Kang gets ready to cook a technological soup. A soundtrack made with pre-recorded, whispering sounds, scores the exhibition.
"The space beyond silence" features works by Jamie Allen (Canada),
Helen Dennis (U.K.), Yoona Kang (Korea), Eileen Mack (Australia) and La Manga
(Mexico). Through common sounds, images and visceral performance each
artist explores the idea of silence in relation to sensory experience,
perception, and location.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The Space Beyond Silence" is presented as part of "PLACE" -- a
year-long series of exhibitions that explore the role of network technologies in
transcultural experience organized by MediaNoche.
ABOUT MEDIANOCHE
MediaNoche provides artist residencies and exhibition space for artists
working in new media. The first of its kind, MediaNoche seeks to
connect Spanish Harlem, a.k.a. El Barrio to all parts of the globe that
recognize its long history of music, art, poetry and dance.
GETTING THERE
MediaNoche is located at 161 East 106th Street, in the cultural
corridor of Spanish Harlem, just blocks from Museum Mile. The gallery is open
Tuesday through Friday, from 3PM to 7PM and by appointment. For more
information, visit http://www.medianoche.us or call 212.828.0401.
# # #
MediaNoche is a project of PRdream.com and acknowledges support from:
NY Foundation, Manhattan Neighborhood Network, Lower Manhattan Cultural
Council, The Fund for Creative Communities, and former NY State Senator
Olga Mendez.
========================================
source: Judith Escalona, director
PRDREAM.COM
161 East 106th Street
(212)828-0401
http://www.prdream.com
Empowering community through technology
========================================
Thursday, February 03, 2005
IMG_0157
Photo by "jammpr." Go view his photos of El Tren Urbano at flickr.
While at flickr, check out the Tren Urbano photo group too. http://flickr.com/groups/trenurbano/
While at flickr, check out the Tren Urbano photo group too. http://flickr.com/groups/trenurbano/
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Community News
STUDY FINDS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SPANISH-SPEAKING LATINOS SEEKING ACCESS TO MEDICAL BENEFITS AT D.C. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
80% of Spanish-Language Testers Faced Major Hurdle at DHS
Washington, DC - An independent study commissioned by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Latino civil rights organization in the U.S., found that language barriers and related discriminatory practices at the District of Columbia's Department of Human Services (DHS) have drastically limited access to medical services, such as Medicaid, for the District's large Spanish-speaking community. According to the report, 80% of Spanish-speaking Latinos who participated in on-site visits and telephone testing faced at least one serious hurdle in obtaining vital medical benefits at DHS.
"This is the first study to compare the treatment of Spanish-speaking Latinos and English-speaking non-Latinos seeking medical insurance, and the results are appalling. The enormous disparity in the medical services and personal treatment these Spanish-speakers received from the District of Columbia's Department of Human Services is unacceptable and clearly violates federal and city law," said Janet Murguia, President and CEO of NCLR. "People are at their most vulnerable when seeking medical help for themselves and their children. They deserve better, as does everyone in our city. Any time a group of people is shut out of accessing basic medical care, it becomes a public health crisis for all of us."
The Equal Rights Center (ERC), a nonprofit civil rights organization that was commissioned by NCLR to conduct the testing, sent matched pairs of Protected (Latino Spanish-speaking) and Controlled (non-Latino English-speaking) testers at the end of 2003 to the DHS centers located at 508 Kennedy Street N.W. and 645 H Street N.E. The matched testers also made telephone calls to the appropriate DHS centers. Both the Protected and Controlled testers sought information about obtaining medical benefits for their U.S.-citizen children. The testers rated their experiences according to five factors, including whether DHS staff provided services and benefits applications and responded to requests for supporting documentation in the appropriate language, and whether DHS staff made any discouraging comments or asked questions that were not related to benefits eligibility. Follow-up telephone tests were conducted at the end of 2004.
"Our analysis found that the Spanish-speaking Latino testers faced a 20% to 30% discrimination rate on each factor evaluated when visiting DHS facilities," said ERC's Executive Director, Bruce E. Kahn. "Some were asked inappropriate questions that were not relevant to their requests for benefits. In our follow-up phone calls, we found that approximately two out of three times a call was made there was no available Spanish-speaking DHS representative. Given that people's health is at stake, this points to a serious lapse in the provision of necessary mandatory service."
"Having a federal law in place for 40 years should have led the District to comply with language requirements that make it possible for Spanish-speaking Latinos to access DHS medical benefits," said Dr. Juan Romagoza, Executive Director of La Clínica del Pueblo, a nonprofit bilingual, bicultural community medical clinic in the District. "Having the City Council pass the Language Access Act a year ago should have finally addressed the situation. While there have been some improvements, this testing shows that the problem is far from resolved. When will the District's Department of Human Services take this problem seriously? We are talking about people's health and their right to obtain appropriate medical care as specified by the law."
As a result of the study commissioned by NCLR, the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (WLC) is reaching out to the Latino community in Washington, DC to further document the extent and consequences of discriminatory denial of access to government health benefits. During the next few months, Hispanics in the District will be urged to contact WLC with accounts of their own experiences in seeking medical benefits through the District's DHS.
"If Mayor Williams and the City Council do not take action to correct this serious problem once and for all, we will be forced to examine all of our legal options under District and federal law," said Denise Gilman, Director of the Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project of WLC. "We encourage individuals who have experienced this type of discrimination at DHS to contact the Washington Lawyers' Committee. At a minimum, we will look to file civil rights complaints with the relevant local and federal government agencies."
###
source: NCLR release
STUDY FINDS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SPANISH-SPEAKING LATINOS SEEKING ACCESS TO MEDICAL BENEFITS AT D.C. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
80% of Spanish-Language Testers Faced Major Hurdle at DHS
Washington, DC - An independent study commissioned by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Latino civil rights organization in the U.S., found that language barriers and related discriminatory practices at the District of Columbia's Department of Human Services (DHS) have drastically limited access to medical services, such as Medicaid, for the District's large Spanish-speaking community. According to the report, 80% of Spanish-speaking Latinos who participated in on-site visits and telephone testing faced at least one serious hurdle in obtaining vital medical benefits at DHS.
"This is the first study to compare the treatment of Spanish-speaking Latinos and English-speaking non-Latinos seeking medical insurance, and the results are appalling. The enormous disparity in the medical services and personal treatment these Spanish-speakers received from the District of Columbia's Department of Human Services is unacceptable and clearly violates federal and city law," said Janet Murguia, President and CEO of NCLR. "People are at their most vulnerable when seeking medical help for themselves and their children. They deserve better, as does everyone in our city. Any time a group of people is shut out of accessing basic medical care, it becomes a public health crisis for all of us."
The Equal Rights Center (ERC), a nonprofit civil rights organization that was commissioned by NCLR to conduct the testing, sent matched pairs of Protected (Latino Spanish-speaking) and Controlled (non-Latino English-speaking) testers at the end of 2003 to the DHS centers located at 508 Kennedy Street N.W. and 645 H Street N.E. The matched testers also made telephone calls to the appropriate DHS centers. Both the Protected and Controlled testers sought information about obtaining medical benefits for their U.S.-citizen children. The testers rated their experiences according to five factors, including whether DHS staff provided services and benefits applications and responded to requests for supporting documentation in the appropriate language, and whether DHS staff made any discouraging comments or asked questions that were not related to benefits eligibility. Follow-up telephone tests were conducted at the end of 2004.
"Our analysis found that the Spanish-speaking Latino testers faced a 20% to 30% discrimination rate on each factor evaluated when visiting DHS facilities," said ERC's Executive Director, Bruce E. Kahn. "Some were asked inappropriate questions that were not relevant to their requests for benefits. In our follow-up phone calls, we found that approximately two out of three times a call was made there was no available Spanish-speaking DHS representative. Given that people's health is at stake, this points to a serious lapse in the provision of necessary mandatory service."
"Having a federal law in place for 40 years should have led the District to comply with language requirements that make it possible for Spanish-speaking Latinos to access DHS medical benefits," said Dr. Juan Romagoza, Executive Director of La Clínica del Pueblo, a nonprofit bilingual, bicultural community medical clinic in the District. "Having the City Council pass the Language Access Act a year ago should have finally addressed the situation. While there have been some improvements, this testing shows that the problem is far from resolved. When will the District's Department of Human Services take this problem seriously? We are talking about people's health and their right to obtain appropriate medical care as specified by the law."
As a result of the study commissioned by NCLR, the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (WLC) is reaching out to the Latino community in Washington, DC to further document the extent and consequences of discriminatory denial of access to government health benefits. During the next few months, Hispanics in the District will be urged to contact WLC with accounts of their own experiences in seeking medical benefits through the District's DHS.
"If Mayor Williams and the City Council do not take action to correct this serious problem once and for all, we will be forced to examine all of our legal options under District and federal law," said Denise Gilman, Director of the Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project of WLC. "We encourage individuals who have experienced this type of discrimination at DHS to contact the Washington Lawyers' Committee. At a minimum, we will look to file civil rights complaints with the relevant local and federal government agencies."
###
source: NCLR release
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