Guaynabo, Puerto Rico – National University College, a U.S. stakeholder in educating Hispanics by offering courses online and in Spanish, announced on November 9, that it is adding nine degree programs.

Students can begin enrolling today in accredited programs that include four degrees focused in business, four degrees in criminal justice, and a bachelor’s of science in nursing. The new degrees prepare students to be forensic investigators, information systems analysts, human resources specialists, nurses and other high-demand jobs in line with the workforce needs of employers across the country.

“Our mission is to help Hispanics be more competitive in the labor market so they can continue to improve their contributions to their families, their neighborhoods, their cities and ultimately their country,” said Jonathan Morris, Executive Vice President of National University College – Online Division. “Education is pivotal to achieve any of these.”

Many students, Morris said, are motivated to enroll by the 24/7 class schedule flexibility, the expansive options of degrees, and the ability to enroll in classes taught in Spanish.

“A good number of our students have full time jobs but want better careers. Or perhaps they never finished their college education and now their busy lives include caring for family. Our programs have proven to be ideal for them,” said Morris, who has directed the expansion of National University College – Online to reach Hispanic students in 44 states since 2011.

The new programs are:

• Associate Degree in Business Administration
• Bachelor of Business Administration with a Major in General Business
• Bachelor of Business Administration with a Major in Human Resources
• Bachelor of Business Administration with a Major in Business Intelligence
• Bachelor in Criminal Justice with a Major in Homeland Security
• Bachelor in Criminal Justice with a Major in Forensic Investigation
• Bachelor in Criminal Justice with a Major in Human Services
• Bachelor in Criminal Justice with a Major in Cyber Crimes
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)

For more information about National University College – Online offerings and enrollment, go to online.nuc.edu.

National University College – Online is a division of National University College, which has offered accredited degree programs and training for more than 30 years in Puerto Rico. National UniversityCollege is a member of the Eduk Group, the largest private postsecondary education company in Puerto Rico uniquely focused on offering career-oriented programs to students in Spanish.

“Educational attainment is very important for Hispanics,” said Dolymari Garcia Davila, Dean of Academic Affairs for the Online Division. “We have found that by providing programs online, with classes and all student services offered fully in Spanish, we can give them the greatest opportunity for success and take a step at closing the gap both in education and viable employment.”

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New York, U.S.A. – What does it mean to be Hispanic? The final season of Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr., the PBS television series that explores issues of race and identity through the genealogy of some of America’s best-known personalities, seeks to answer this question.

Through the family histories of actors Michelle Rodriguez and Adrian Grenier, and Linda Chavez – an author, syndicated newspaper columnist and political analyst for FOX News — host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. investigates American identities that took shape long before the Mayflower arrived at Plymouth Rock.

The three subjects of Sunday’s episode all share Spanish colonial roots, yet each views him or herself very differently: as Native American, Puerto Rican, Dominican, or simply Latino.

Crisscrossing Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and the American Southwest, Professor Gates reveals underlying connections that show how Hispanic identity has emerged from the tangled histories of European, Native-American, and African peoples.

Such connections drive home the point that Gates makes in this series, as well as in his previous television productions: despite our diverse backgrounds and racial differences, Americans are much more deeply related than we commonly acknowledge.

In the past nine weeks of the series, viewers learned that married couple and award-wining actors Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon are distant relatives. Viewers saw how CNN anchor Dr. Sanjay Gupta, comedian Margaret Cho and media mogul Martha Stewart had similar ancestral stories, though their roots led to completely different parts of the globe.

The series also showed how Harry Connick and Branford Marsalis , musicians and best friends from New Orleans, both had European ancestors who immigrated to the slave-era South in 1850. And viewers discovered that musician John Legend and comedian Wanda Sykes shared dramatic, long-lost stories of freed black slaves in their respective family histories.

For this Sunday’s episode, the Finding Your Roots research teams trace the families of Chavez, Grenier, and Rodriguez back in time to uncover parallel stories about the interactions between Spaniards, Native Americans, and Africans in the New World. Chavez’s roots lead from bootleggers in Depression-era New Mexico all the way back to Spain in the 1500s — by way of the Pueblo Indians who the Spanish sought to suppress.

Grenier’s ancestry also has a strong connection to Native American tribes in the Southwest. His 11th great-grandfather, Hernan Martin Serrano, arrived in New Mexico in 1598 with the territory’s controversial “founder,” Don Juan de Onate — and found himself marrying into the Indians he came to fight.

Similarly, Rodriguez’s family is steeped in the racial politics in the Caribbean, where generations of her ancestors interbred — with cousins marrying cousins — to keep out African and Native American blood. In the end, Gates reveals that none of these families were as racially “pure” as they pretended to be — and that Hispanic identity is far more complex than we imagine.

Perhaps most surprising of all, Chavez’s ancestry links her to “Crypto-Jews” — Spanish Jews who converted to Catholicism to survive the Inquisition, yet continued to practice their religion in secret.

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New York, U.S.A. – The PATS survey confirms that teen boys are leading the overall increases in marijuana use. Past year use among teen boys is up 24% (from 34% in 2008 to 42% in 2011) and past month use among teen boys is up 38% (from 21% in 2008 to 29% in 2011).

Additionally, boys’ heavy use – smoking marijuana at least 20 times a month – is higher than that of their female counterparts (11% for teen boys versus 6% for teen girls) and boys’ heavy marijuana use is up an alarming 57%, from 7 percent in 2008 to 11% in 2011.

According to the new data, half of Hispanic teens (50%) report that they have used marijuana in the past year (versus 40% for African Americans and 35% for Caucasians). This means Hispanic teens are nearly twice as likely (43%) as Caucasian teens to have smoked marijuana in the past year (50% versus 35%) and 25% more likely than African-American teens.

The study also found that fewer teen girls are abusing Rx medications. Teen girls’ abuse of a prescription drug “to get high or alter your mood” is down 30% since 2010 (from 23% in 2010 to 16%in 2011) and is down a total of 24% since 2009 (21% in 2009). Rx drug abuse among teen boys has remained relatively flat over the same time period.

Teens are starting to view medicine abuse as less socially acceptable and the percentage of teens who “strongly disapprove” of peers using prescription drugs to get high has gone up significantly – from 52% in 2010 to 58%in 2011. Fewer also say it’s “very” or “fairly” easy for teens to get prescription pain relievers, down 25%from 57% in 2008 to 43% in 2011.

“This data set the scene for a ‘perfect storm’ that will threaten the health of a generation of American teens” said Pasierb. “Science has shown that adolescent brains are still developing and are more easily harmed by drug and alcohol use than fully developed adult brains.

Dramatic increases in teen marijuana use, coupled with entrenched behavior of abuse of Rx and OTC drugs, puts teens at greater risk for substance use disorders, academic decline and other problems. With government budgets slashing the national prevention infrastructure and many prevention programs already eliminated, parents must step up to fill those voids, to protect their children’s health and futures.”

New Resource for Parents to Help Prevent Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Use in Their Families
The Partnership at Drugfree.org, in collaboration with the Philadelphia-based Treatment Research Institute (TRI), has released a new tool to help parents and caregivers possibly prevent adolescent drug and alcohol problems. The ” Six Components of Effective Parenting,” based on scientific research, is the product of the new Parents Translational Research Center – a National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded center involving The Partnership at Drugfree.org and TRI.

The resource is comprised of “how-to” parenting tips organized around six principles specifically designed for parents, guardians and other caregivers who can play an active role in helping prevent substance abuse in their families.

The Partnership at Drugfree.org is launching a first-of-its-kind, week-long public education and mobilization campaign, “Wake Up to Medicine Abuse,” in the fall 2012. This initiative will bring the public and private sectors together in a national education effort and call to action to curb the abuse of medicine, one of the biggest drug problems in the United States today.

“Wake Up to Medicine Abuse Week” will take place September 23-29, 2012, and will both encourage and help parents and the public-at-large to take action: first, by talking with the kids in their lives about the dangers of abusing Rx and OTC medicines, and second, by safeguarding and properly disposing of unused medications.

Image Courtesy of  arindambanerjee / Shutterstock.com

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Some skin lotions and antiseptic soaps claim to clean and lighten skin while removing freckles and wrinkles. Instead, these illegally imported cosmetic products make consumers ill from exposure to high levels of mercury.

The U.S. Government is warning consumers about these products after dozens of people in at least seven states were diagnosed with mercury poisoning. Victims include a woman in California who was hospitalized after using an unlabeled skin lotion for three years. Several members of her family also had high levels of mercury in their bodies, even though they didn’t use the lotion.

“Exposure to mercury can damage your kidneys and nervous system. It also interferes with brain development in unborn babies and very young children,” said Gloria Sanchez-Contreras, a spokesperson for the Food and Drug Administration.

Immigrants Are at High Risk

The FDA has identified dozens of products that contain high levels of mercury, and has taken steps to deny shipments of these products into the United States. However, many of these lotions and soaps are brought into the country by mail or by international travelers. Once here, they often end up on store shelves that cater to immigrants, including Hispanics, Asians, Africans and people from the Middle East.

People who buy these products are not putting only their own health at risk, small children can also be exposed to mercury by breathing in the vapors of a skin lotion or by touching someone who has used the cream and then putting their fingers in their mouth.

“That’s why it’s so important for consumers and sellers to know about the dangers of possible mercury poisoning associated with the use of or exposure to these skin products,” said Sanchez-Contreras.

The FDA prohibits the use of mercury in skin lotions and cosmetic soaps manufactured abroad. To avoid skin lightening and anti-aging products tainted with mercury.

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The percentage of U.S. citizens screened for cancer remains below national targets, with significant disparities among racial and ethnic populations, according to the first federal study to identify cancer screening disparities among Asian and Hispanic groups.

The report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, was published in the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

In 2010, breast cancer screening rates were 72.4 percent, below the Healthy People 2020 target of 81 percent; cervical cancer screening was 83 percent, below the target of 93 percent; and colorectal cancer screening was 58.6 percent, below the target of 70.5 percent, according to the study, “Cancer Screening in the United States – 2010.”

Screening rates for all three cancers were significantly lower among Asians (64.1 percent for breast cancer, 75.4 percent for cervical cancer, and 46.9 percent for colorectal cancer) compared to other groups, the study found.  Hispanics were less likely to be screened for cervical and colorectal cancer (78.7 percent and 46.5 percent, respectively) when compared to non-Hispanics (83.8 percent and 59.9 percent, respectively).

“It is troubling to see that not all Americans are getting the recommended cancer screenings and that disparities continue to persist for certain populations. Screening can find breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers at an early stage when treatment is more effective,” said Sallyann Coleman King, M.D., an epidemic intelligence service officer in CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control and lead author of the study.

“We must continue to monitor cancer screening rates to improve the health of all Americans.” Healthy People 2020 sets national objectives for improving the health of all Americans. Such objectives include the use of screening tests recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers.

Women aged 50-74 years should be screened for breast cancer with a mammogram every two years. Women who have been sexually active for three years or are aged 21-65 years should be screened for cervical cancer with a Pap test at least every three years.

Colorectal cancer screening is recommended for average-risk men and women aged 50-75 years, using high-sensitivity fecal occult blood test (FOBT), done at home every year; sigmoidoscopy every five years, with high-sensitivity FOBT every three years; or colonoscopy every 10 years.

To assess the use of currently recommended cancer screening tests by age, race, ethnicity, education, length of residence in the United States, and the source and financing of health care researchers analyzed data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey, which tracks progress toward the achievement of  Healthy People 2020 objectives.

For the ethnic subgroups, Asians were classified as Chinese, Filipino, or other Asian and Hispanics as Puerto Rican, Mexican, Mexican-American, Central or South American, or other Hispanic.

Significant findings include:

• Screening rates for breast cancer remained relatively stable and varied no more than 3 percent over the period 2000-2010.
• From 2000-2010, colorectal cancer screening rates increased markedly for men and women, with the rate for women increasing slightly faster so that rates among both sexes were nearly identical (58.5 percent for men and 58.8 percent for women) in 2010.
• From 2000-2010, a small but statistically significant downward trend of 3.3 percent was observed in the rate of women who reported getting a Pap test within the last three years.
• Considerably lower breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening use was reported by those without any usual source of health care or health insurance.

The authors note that this study reinforces the need to identify and track cancer screening disparities. Additionally, the report provides guidance for the development programs to increase the use of screening tests in order to meet Healthy People 2020 targets and simultaneously reduce cancer morbidity and mortality.

“Healthy People objectives are important for monitoring progress toward reducing the burden of cancer in the United States. Our study points to the particular need for finding ways to increase the use of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening tests among Asians, Hispanics, as well as adults who lack health insurance or a usual source of health care” said Carrie Klabunde, Ph.D., an epidemiologist in NCI’s Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences and a co-author of the study.

According to the authors, the Affordable Care Act is expected to reduce financial barriers to care by expanding insurance coverage. Other efforts are needed such as developing systems that identify individuals eligible for cancer screening tests, actively encouraging the use of screening tests, and monitoring participation to improve screening rates, they say.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/christianacare/

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The Hispanic Leadership Network (HLN), a center-right advocacy action group, announced that former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, and former Senator Rick Santorum will address its “Inspiring Action” conference to be held January 26-27 at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, Florida. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez will serve as conference co-chairs.

“We are incredibly honored to have such a stellar group of leaders addressing the diverse and vibrant Hispanic community that calls Florida home. Our conference is a chance for center-right Hispanics to take an active role in the policy debate currently taking place around the country,” said HLN Executive Director Jennifer S. Korn.

The conference kicks off on Thursday night with a welcoming reception and debate watching party. HLN is co-host with CNN and the Republican Party of Florida of Thursday night’s Republican presidential debate in Jacksonville. CNN will provide live coverage from the HLN debate watching party. Speaker Gingrich, Governor Romney and Senator Santorum will address the HLN conference on Friday.

“America is in a jobs crisis and Hispanic Americans have been hit especially hard. I look forward to outlining how a conservative jobs and growth strategy of lower taxes, less regulation, a stable dollar and more American energy will help us rebuild the America we love,” said Gingrich.

“Over 2.5 million Hispanics are unemployed today, with the unemployment rate at 11% for Hispanics. In order to free the private sector and provide jobs and opportunity for Hispanic families, we must getWashington out of the way of the American entrepreneurial spirit,” said Romney.

The conference’s Friday program also features discussions on job creation, immigration, and the power of the Hispanic vote. In addition, there will be three training sessions focusing on grassroots advocacy, media, and policy issues. Overall, the two-day gathering will bring together more than 20 distinguished speakers and panelists.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/

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In a Texas case that could have implications for other voting rights cases nationwide, the Supreme Court on Friday Jan 20, rejected a lower court’s redistricting plans for the state’s new electoral seats, which could pose constitutional concerns.

According to the 2010 Census, Texas’ population grew by more than four million people in the last decade – 65% of which is attributed to Hispanics – giving the state four additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and requiring changes in the election districts for the State Legislature.

Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, jurisdictions labeled as historically discriminatory in electoral procedures (including Texas) must submit plans for changes affecting voting to the Attorney General or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The Texas Legislature’s initial set of election maps had not been approved at the time of Texas’ first primaries, leading the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas to create its own map for use in the interim.

The Texas court’s map gives greater voting power to the new population, which is largely minority, whereas the Legislature’s map seems to dilute the electoral power of the Hispanic and African American voters. The Supreme Court determined that the lower court had overstepped its authority, and ordered it to adhere more closely to the original plan.

“Election redistricting is an extremely important and delicate undertaking, with many opportunities for the empowerment or disenfranchisement a particular group of citizens,” said Benny Agosto, HNBA National President and Texas resident. “The HNBA is concerned about the constitutional implications of this decision, and the potential ripple-effect on redistricting disputes in which Latino voters’ rights are at stake.

As a national advocate for Latino voting rights, the HNBA will continue to follow these developments closely to ensure that democracy is not being compromised.”

“Protecting the Hispanic community’s electoral voice and the right to elect their candidate of choice is paramount. HNBA stands behind efforts to ensure that redistricting maps comply with the Voting Rights Act. Maps in Texas, and throughout the country, must account for the growth in the Hispanic population,” added Celeste Villarreal, HNBA Vice President of External Affairs.

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Doctors at Children’s Hospital Boston are just another step closer to securing a cure for sickle cell disease thanks to a little help from some superstar friends.

More than $1 million was raised in support of their research efforts Sunday, January 15 during the ‘Play Without Pain: Children’s Sickle Cell Benefit,’ a partnership with international megastar Celine Dion, Caesars Entertainment, AEG Live and Children’s Hospital Boston. Held at Caesars Palace, the evening included a performance of Celine Dion’s glamorous show directed by Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich, including a touching tribute to sickle cell victims during her rendition of Billy Joel’s “Lullabye.”

“As a parent, I’ve been touched by the stories that were shared with me about the impact sickle cell anemia has on millions of children around the world,” said Dion. “We know that doctors with Children’s Hospital Boston are very close to discovering life-saving treatments for these children, and I wanted to help.

No child should have to live a life filled with pain and, hopefully, tonight’s benefit show moves us one step closer to ending their suffering.” Sickle cell disease is a debilitating condition that causes excruciating pain, organ failure, stroke and early death. It is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States, affecting 100,000 Americans and the number of sufferers is in the millions worldwide.

Affected populations are mainly of African descent, but the disease also strikes individuals of Hispanic, Mediterranean and Caribbean heritage. And its treatment is costly: an estimated $1.1 billion a year in the U.S. alone. ”Even though sickle cell is one of the most common inherited disorders, research on the disease is historically under-funded,” said Gary Fleisher, M.D., Physician-in-Chief at Children’s Hospital Boston.

“The team at Children’s is making important progress toward developing new gene therapies that could help millions of sickle cell sufferers across the globe. We are incredibly grateful to Celine Dion and Gary Loveman, with Caesars Entertainment, for helping us work toward our fundraising goals and inching us ever closer to achieving a cure.”

Researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston have found a genetic switch that overrides the sickle cell defect and have identified the gene that controls the unhealthy form of hemoglobin, the protein responsible for sickle cell disease. Treatments to flip the switch promise to deliver lifelong relief.

The new therapies would turn off the unhealthy form of hemoglobin and turn a healthy form back on. These therapies promise to reverse disease rather than simply treat symptoms. ”Children’s physician-researchers have done what others have tried to do for decades; they’ve found a way to override the sickle cell defect,” said Gary Loveman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Caesars Entertainment and a member of Children’s Hospital Boston Board of Trustees.

“I am pleased that tonight’s benefit has placed these doctors on a path toward delivering life-saving treatments to patients and proud that Caesars could play a part in helping meet their goals. I hope that tonight’s benefit will inspire others to join me, Celine and the doctors of Children’s Hospital Boston in the fight to find a cure.”

Prior to Celine’s benefit performance guests were treated to dinner at Restaurant Guy Savoy, where they enjoyed a menu personally created by the acclaimed French chef who flew in from France especially to participate in the benefit. Guests enjoyed Savoy’s signature artichoke soup, turbot and black truffle mouselline, beef Wellington and, for dessert, chocolate fondant with chicoree sauce. Guests were also treated to an exclusive meet and greet with Celine Dion prior to the show.

The benefit concluded with a VIP cocktail reception at PURE Nightclub featuring a special performance by Las Vegas-based entertainer A.J. Green, a 19-year old sickle cell patient. Green’s performance at PURE included hits from his debut album ‘Whatever You Need’ including ‘Jump,’ ‘I’ll Be There’ and ‘Superstar,’ a Luther Vandross cover. The reception was sponsored by Angel Management Group and Southern Wine & Spirits.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcfly1er/

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Hispanic Group, an independent, minority-owned agency specialized in offering customized approaches aimed at targeting specific nationalities within the U.S. Hispanic market, is reaching a major milestone:  its 10-year anniversary.  To celebrate its decade-long trajectory, Hispanic Group is rolling out the red carpet, literally, for the VIP guests:  its clients.

Clients were invited to a cocktail reception that will take place on Wednesday, January 18 at the iconic, newly renovated Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne.  Guests will be treated to a night of music and live entertainment with Miami’s most amazing skyline views as a backdrop. Hispanic Group credits its staggering growth and overwhelming success to its loyal clients, for whom this anniversary celebration is all about.

“Ten years ago we embarked on a journey, we have walked a long path, never slowing down and only stopped to check our baggage…and now we celebrate 10 years of relentless commitment as we gear up for the challenges the next 10 years will bring,” reflected Jose Luis Valderrama, President and Founder of Hispanic Group.

The celebration warrants highlighting the top achievements of the last decade:

• Trailblazer as an independent, minority-owned agency aimed at ultrasegmentation within the U.S. Hispanic market.
• Restructured operations to spin off three business units: Hispanic Group, LatinAmerican Ethnic TV (LAETV) and Broadcast Productions.
• Amassed expansive rolodex of clients that now includes DISH Network, LAN Airlines, XOOM and Discovery en Espanol, to name just a few.
• Ranked #12 in Advertising Age’s Hispanic Fact Pack 2007 list of Top 50 Hispanic Agencies in the U.S. and among the top 10 independent Hispanic Agencies on the same list.
• Employs forty-communications professionals specializing in marketing, branding, advertising, television and media buying.
• Pioneer in its ability to offer immediate access to street marketing research teams in 42 cities throughout the U.S.
• Unique capability to leverage more than 700 individuals working on specific campaigns, tailored to meet the individual needs of the company’s clients.

“The entrepreneurial spirit is born from adversity, gets fertilized with ideas and flourishes with hard work.  That has been the recipe for the last decade that enables us today to fill up with pride and say we have earned the confidence of our clients, esteem of our colleagues and credibility from the media,” noted Valderrama.

“Our tenth anniversary event is a celebration of our culture, what we represent and all those who have supported us from our humble beginnings to share in our success today,” added Valderrama.

Hispanic Group (www.hispanicgroup.net) has a keen ability to identify the behavior, location, culture and colloquialisms for each Hispanic group within the United States and reach them by speaking in their own language, customs and cultures.  An Argentine will not generally be a regular customer for tacos and a Mexican will not be a fan of Colombian soccer teams.

This know-how and market segmentation enables Hispanic Group to be effective and innovative reaching this demographic in the U.S. ”In this our 10th anniversary, I want to thank each and every Hispanic in the U.S., regardless of legal status, language preference or education, because beyond all the classification we (Hispanics) represent 50 million people living in the U.S.,” added Valderrama.

“I want to thank them all for this roller coaster ride.  Cheers to the next 10 years,” concluded Valderrama.

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