Category Archives: Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

The Latest news about what is effecting those with Disabilities in North America, These PR articles, bring the newest technologies, initiatives and helpful tools to those who need them.

Society of Women Engineers Earns $5 Million National Science Foundation Grant to Fund the Women of Color in Engineering Collaborative


“This award is a testament to the amazing efforts of the Women of Color in Engineering Collaborative’s member organizations,” said Roberta Rincon, associate director of research at SWE and PI for the grant. “With the planning grant that NSF awarded us in 2020, we developed strong partnerships and a sound strategic plan to guide the WCEC’s work in the coming years. We are excited to begin implementing the strategies to address the unique challenges that women of color face in the engineering workforce.”

The grant is made possible through the NSF INCLUDES (Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science) program. Aligning with the NSF INCLUDES program’s goal to advance equity and sustain systemic change to broaden participation in STEM, the WCEC aims to increase the diversity of the engineering workforce at the intersections of gender and race by improving the retention of women of color.

“Professional STEM societies, academic institutions, and employers have developed numerous programs and services for women engineers and engineers of color, but women of color engineers are often left underserved by these efforts,” Rincon said.

According to Rincon, women of color comprise less than 6% of engineering professionals. Research shows women leave the profession at higher rates than men, highlighting real-world experiences of bias and discrimination in hiring, promotion, and compensation decisions, which have particularly dire consequences for women of color.

“SWE has increased its focus on addressing the challenges that women engineers of color face,” said Karen Horting, SWE’s Executive Director and CEO. “We are excited to continue the work of the WCEC and grow a network of support to increase the retention and advancement of women engineers of color. Together, we will make real progress towards our DEIB goals.”

Seeking to increase the retention of women of color in the engineering profession, the WCEC will share case studies of promising practices with member organizations, support women of color in their pursuit of professional development opportunities and increase access and exposure of existing programs and services to women engineers of color and the organizations with which they engage.

The WCEC will expand from its current membership of 29 organizations to include more partners from industry, government, higher education, and professional STEM societies to create a support system that systematically impacts women’s transition from college to career to promotion through their networks in higher education and the public and private sectors.

About SWE
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE), founded in 1950, is the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. The not-for-profit educational and service organization is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. To ensure SWE members reach their full potential as engineers and leaders, the Society offers unique opportunities to network, provides professional development, shapes public policy and provides recognition for the life-changing contributions and achievements of women engineers. As a champion of diversity, SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in their personal and professional lives. For more information about the Society, please visit http://www.swe.org or call 312.596.5223.

Media Contact

Chris Martin, The Society of Women Engineers, 6306702745, [email protected], www.swe.org 

SOURCE The Society of Women Engineers

Guidance And Hope For Followers Of The Church Of Latter-Day Saints


“In my heart, I want to see Mormons come to the real Jesus and leave behind the damaging, false, deceptive beliefs that Mormonism teaches,” said Howell.

Nace Howell is a pastor in an Indian Reservation in the Rocky Mountains where many different faiths are found: Baha’i, Buddhism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, New Age, Atheism, Traditional Religions, and Mormonism to name a few. He has an earned Doctorate in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary; a M. Div. in Apologetics from Luther Rice College and Seminary; and a B. S. in Bible from Lancaster Bible College. He has been teaching apologetics, Bible, and theology for over two decades in church, small group, and high school settings. Aside from ministry, he enjoys riding motorcycles and four-wheelers, shooting, fishing, and carving wooden bowls. He is happily married to an amazing woman and together they have one son.

Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the world’s largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 20,000 titles published to date. Mormonism: Impossible is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com. 

Media Contact

Nace Howell, Salem Author Services, 406-676-5395, [email protected], www.apologeticsandevidence.com

SOURCE Xulon Press

Caring Transitions Signs Agreement for New Location in White Plains, Continues Impressive Momentum


As the nation’s largest provider of senior-relocation services, Caring Transitions is increasingly making waves in the $832.8 billion industry, as there are very few businesses specifically equipped to help seniors move from their homes to a care facility or to manage the relocation or sale of all personal belongings. Caring Transitions helps seniors relocate by spending time at their homes, helping them pack and organize their belongings, then moving those belongings to the new home and setting them up in a way that feels comfortable.

Farzana Rahman, the franchise owner behind the new White Plains signing, says they are excited to bring these much-needed services to their community. The deal was closed by Shawn Harrison, Director of Franchise Development.

Rahman has a Bachelor’s in accounting and economics and has worked for 17 years in the corporate world focusing on international taxation. Caring Transitions was appealing to Rahman because of the impact it has on those navigating major life transitions and the support that is offered.

Now, with more and more qualified and passionate franchisees like Rahman signing on to join the system, Fabik says Caring Transitions shows no signs of slowing down.

“We know that we have a great brand and that Caring Transitions ownership can be a great fit for someone who is tired of their corporate job and wants control of their own destiny, wants to own a business that is truly making a difference in communities, or wants to apply their skill set to working in the senior or auction space,” Fabik said. “Now, we want to accelerate growth because we believe there should be a Caring Transitions location in every market to serve seniors and their families through life’s stages.”

Caring Transitions has identified these states as priorities for franchise development: Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont.

Fees to open a Caring Transitions range from $58,912 to $84,612. To learn more about franchising with Caring Transitions, visit https://strategicfranchising.com/caring-transitions/.

ABOUT CARING TRANSITIONS:

Caring Transitions provides older adults and their families with the most trusted, respected and comprehensive downsizing, right-sizing, estate sales and online auctions, and move management solutions in the industry. Founded in 2006, the brand is committed to helping people in a compassionate and caring manner during life’s many transitions while providing a total and easy solution for clients in their time of need. Through their proprietary online sales platform, CTBIDS, Caring Transitions also prepares clients for the process of liquidating assets through their own online estate sales auction site. With over 300 locations, Caring Transitions’ compassionate, experienced professionals minimize stress and relieve the burdens of life’s transitions. To learn more visit https://www.caringtransitions.com/

Media Contact

Jasmine Lee, Mainland, 312-526-3996, [email protected], www.hellomainland.com

SOURCE Caring Transitions

National Museum of the Surface Navy Names Fiona Ma Recipient of 2023 Freedom of the Seas Humanitarian Service Award


As the primary banker for the State of California, Treasurer Ma’s office acted quickly to provide resources to small businesses and expand access to healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to growing and revamping California’s affordable housing and homeless housing programs, Treasurer Ma has funded clean energy projects, which resulted in the creation of new jobs, and dramatically increased the ability of Californians to save for college and retirement, live with a disability, and achieve a better quality of life.

“Throughout her career, Fiona Ma has proven her dedication to protecting and improving the lives of the citizens of California, and in her current role as State Treasurer, she has been instrumental in helping individuals and businesses navigate through, survive, and recover from an extraordinarily challenging time in our state’s history,” stated retired Navy Rear Admiral Mike Shatynski, Chairman of the Board of the National Museum of the Surface Navy. “We are honored to be able to present Treasurer Ma with this award in recognition of her invaluable contributions and efforts to provide relief and assistance to the citizens of the state of California.”

The annual Freedom of the Seas Awards event is held in honor of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II. Attendance at the award event, which is by invitation only, includes top leaders from the education, veteran, community, industry, government, and military sectors. For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Kyle Aube, Director of Development at [email protected].

About the Freedom of the Seas Awards

The Freedom of the Seas Awards is the premiere annual event of the National Museum of the Surface Navy at the Battleship IOWA. The event is held in honor of the anniversary of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in the history of the world, which occurred during World War II. The Awards honors those that embody the core principles of the American Surface Navy’s mission to protect and defend our oceans for the benefit of the free world.

About the National Museum of the Surface Navy

Scheduled to open in 2025 aboard the historic Battleship USS IOWA Museum, the National Museum of the Surface Navy is the museum for America’s Surface Navy. The museum’s mission is to raise America’s awareness of the importance of the United States Surface Naval Forces’ role in international relations, free trade, humanitarian assistance, and technological innovation, not just in the past but today and into the future.

Located in the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, Calif., Battleship USS IOWA Museum is one of the top five museums and attractions in Los Angeles, bringing the ship’s history to life through in-person and virtual tours and educational programs for youth. In addition to providing a natural platform for veterans and patriotic civilians to come together as a community, Battleship USS IOWA Museum provides a wide array of impactful programs and resources that support the critical needs of our military and veterans.

Media Contact

Ken Hagihara, Battleship USS Iowa, 1 9497684423 101, [email protected], https://pacificbattleship.com/

SOURCE Battleship USS Iowa

Connie Health Expands Medicare Advisory Services to Georgia


Healthcare expenses cost seniors up to $100,000 per year*, and with nearly 4,000 Medicare plans being offered this year, choosing the right plan is a critical financial decision. Unfortunately, many older adults have little to no knowledge about the policies available in their area, and according to a recent survey from Connie Health, about a quarter (24%) of Georgia seniors on Medicare or Medicaid say they have no one helping them navigate the complicated system. As a result, many older adults miss out on the critical coverage, benefits and cost-savings available to them.

With Connie Health, older adults are connected to local advisors with expertise in their area to find the right plan to meet their unique healthcare needs. Best of all, Connie services are provided at no cost to the individual. Unbiased advice is assured as Connie’s team of local agents receive the same commission regardless of the insurance company or plan selected.

While other providers are known to disappear after plans are selected, Connie Health will continue to provide support throughout the Medicare journey, which can last more than 20 years. Individuals receive proactive reminders of key enrollment dates, help in finding specialists, and advice on how to maximize their benefits to get the most out of each and every plan.

Connie Health was founded in 2019 by Oded Eran, David Luna, and Michael Scopa to address the challenges and frustrations faced by older adults when navigating the complex healthcare and insurance landscape. With their collective decades of experience in healthcare, they recognized the need for a service older adults can count on to help guide them throughout their Medicare journey, from selecting a plan to resolving billing challenges and more. Connie Health’s mission is to empower individuals to take control of their health and navigate the complexities of the Medicare system with confidence.

The company’s expansion into Georgia follows success in Illinois, Florida, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Indiana, where the company offers tailored solutions that cater to the unique needs of each local population. Connie Health will continue its expansion to more states in the future.

For more information on Medicare plan options in Atlanta and Fulton County, Georgia please visit: https://www.conniehealth.com/medicare-near-me/medicare/georgia/fulton-county/atlanta/.

ABOUT CONNIE HEALTH

Connie Health empowers older Americans to make confident, worry-free healthcare decisions. Established in 2019, their Medicare consumer platform combines a tech-driven recommendation engine with local agents for personalized plans and healthcare navigation. The company currently operates in Illinois, Florida, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Indiana, Louisiana, and now Georgia. The technology and concierge-level service helps consumers find the Medicare plan that meets their health and economic needs, take advantage of the benefits covered by that plan, and find the best providers in their network. For more information, visit conniehealth.com.

*RBC Wealth Management. “The real cost of healthcare in retirement.”RBC Wealth Management, https://bit.ly/45f7V0R

Media Contact

Maryia Krauchanka, Pitch Public Relations, 1 520-425-6363, [email protected], www.pitchpublicrelations.com

SOURCE Connie Health

U.S. Women's Health Alliance Hosts Payer Provider Summit–Creating an Affordable Healthcare System that Saves Lives Through Stakeholder Collaboration



WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Women’s Health Alliance (USWHA) is committed to transforming to a system that provides consistently high quality, affordable health care to all women through value-based payment models for maternal health. On September 21, members of USWHA…

Greenberg Traurig’s Chinh H. Pham Named to Boston Business Journal’s Prestigious 2023 Power 50: Movement Makers List


Chinh H. Pham, shareholder and co-chair of the Venture Capital & Emerging Technology Practice at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, was named to the Boston Business Journal’s (BBJ) 2023 Power 50: Movement Makers list.

BOSTON, Sept. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Chinh H. Pham, shareholder and co-chair of the Venture Capital & Emerging Technology Practice at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, was named to the Boston Business Journal’s (BBJ) 2023 Power 50: Movement Makers list. According to the publication, the list recognizes leaders who are “making actionable change towards fostering diversity, inclusion, and blazing a trail for a better Boston“. Nominated by their peers, honorees are considered to be the region’s 50 most influential people across a variety of industries who use their influence to advance the community. Pham and his fellow honorees will be honored at a reception Nov. 15. The full list of honorees can be found here.

“Congratulations to Chinh Pham on this prestigious and well-deserved honor,” said David J. Dykeman and Terence P. McCourt, co-managing shareholders of the Greenberg Traurig Boston office. “In addition to being an outstanding attorney, Chinh is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and makes a positive impact on our law firm, the legal industry and the Greater Boston business community. Chinh is a true champion of positive change.”

Pham was recognized for his many key roles within the Massachusetts business and charitable communities as well as with affinity/legal industry groups. Championing and mentoring others are some of Pham’s key traits. Decades after he fled Vietnam following the fall of Saigon, he continues his fight for freedom and opportunity, pushing forward diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Having served as co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Asian American Affinity Group for 10-plus years, he was elected the 2022-2023 president of the Boston Bar Association, becoming the first Asian American to hold the post. In that role, he led nearly 16,000 lawyers, and 140 institutional partners consisting of law firms, corporations, government agencies, legal aid organizations, and law schools, in bolstering a new generation of leaders who are confident in their diversity and leadership abilities.

At Greenberg Traurig, Pham focuses his practice on the strategic creation, implementation, and protection of intellectual property rights for technology and life science clients, ranging from venture-backed companies to multinational corporations. He works with his clients to leverage their key innovations for strategic commercial and business opportunities. In addition, Pham assists startup clients with strategies for leveraging their IP portfolio for high-value commercial opportunities and serves as a mentor to entrepreneurs and early-stage ventures, including those in various incubator and accelerator programs.

Pham has previously been named to the National Law Journal’s “Technology Law Trailblazer” list, TechCrunch’s “Top Emerging Tech Lawyer” list, IAM Strategy 300’s “Leading IP Strategists” list, the Asian American Business Development Center’s “Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business” list, the Get Konnected! List of Boston’s 50 Most Influential Asian-American Pacific Islanders, and the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly “Go To Intellectual Property Lawyers” list. Pham currently serves as a member of the board of trustees of the Museum of Science, Boston, and as a member of the Museum of Science DEI Task Force. Pham is also a board member and past president of the National Conference of Vietnamese American Attorneys (NCVAA), which honored him as its 2023 NCVAA Trailblazer. Additionally, Pham is a company mentor at Harvard iLab, Northwestern University’s The Garage, MassChallenge, MassDiGi, and Northeastern University’s IDEA, among others.

About Greenberg Traurig’s Boston Office: Established in 1999, Greenberg Traurig’s Boston office is home to more than 85 attorneys practicing in the areas of banking and finance, corporate, emerging technology, energy, environmental, gaming, governmental affairs, intellectual property, labor and employment, life sciences and medical technology, litigation, public finance, real estate, restructuring and bankruptcy, tax, and white collar defense and investigations. An important contributor to the firm’s international platform, the Boston office includes a team of nationally recognized attorneys with both public and private sector experience. The team offers clients the value of decades of helping clients in complex legal matters and hands-on knowledge of the local business community, supported by the firm’s vast network of global resources.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2650 attorneys in 47 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2022 BTI “Highly Recommended Law Firm” for superior client service and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 500. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e® Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com.

Media Contact

Elaine Walker, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, 3055790832, [email protected], www.gtlaw.com/en

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SOURCE Greenberg Traurig, LLP