Articles by Josh McCormack

How the Census Bureau is Pushing Forward Despite Coronavirus Chaos

June 24, 2020

Census Bureau Pushing Forward Coronavirus Chaos

Every 10 years, the U.S. Government performs its duty of collecting a full count of the people residing in America. This decade’s survey is well underway. This initiative, mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, provides the necessary data to allocate critical funds, assess the greatest needs of that moment, and gather other information that impacts people’s daily lives. Here’s what all Latinos need to know. While the outbreak of the COVID-19 outbreak has impacted the U.S. Census Bureau’s work, the agency is pushing forward to garner as many completed surveys as possible. “As we resume operations delayed by the —, [we recognize] that our data collections are becoming increasingly complex and rely upon new technologies, innovations and reforms, it is ...

Latinos Stand in Solidarity with ‘Black Lives Matter’

June 18, 2020

Black Lives Matter Solidarity Latinos Stand

Since the founding of this country, Latinos, African-Americans, and all people of color have experienced harm at the hands of an unjust system. With the death of George Floyd at the hands of those meant to protect and serve, millions have taken to the streets to protest systemic racism across the U.S. Latinos, who are experiencing a rising burden of hate crimes, discrimination, and anti-immigrant sentiment, have joined in the Black Lives Matter cause to advocate for change — not just in African-American neighborhoods, but in all communities of color. “It’s not just black people being murdered by police. Hispanics are dying, too,” Fernando Garcia, executive director of the Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR), told El Paso news station WWLP 22. “It’s not only one bad ...

Mental Health, COVID-19, and Their Impacts on Latinos

June 11, 2020

The current novel coronavirus afflicts more than just the lungs. For Latinos and other people of color, COVID-19 has caused disproportionately higher rates of cases and death, job loss, and other inequitable impacts. These groups are also experiencing more mental health issues than in previous eras, according to Dr. Madeline Aviles-Hernandez, the Outpatient Services Director at the Gándara Center. “This crisis is making life much more difficult for [Latinos, African-Americans and other culturally diverse populations] we serve, including those in recovery and people who have yet to be treated for such problems as anxiety and depression,” Aviles-Hernandez said in a statement. “Minorities have been—and continue to be—less likely to receive mental health ...

Data: COVID-19 Unemployment Highest among Latinos, Immigrants

June 8, 2020

COVID-19 Unemployment Highest Latinos Immigrants

The American economy has been in freefall since the outbreak of the current novel coronavirus — and Latinos face the most widespread unemployment. Update 6/18/20: 45.7 million people have filed for unemployment in the past 13 weeks. Job loss is impacting Latinos and immigrant communities at higher rates than their peers during the pandemic, according to recently published data from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). The pandemic is not only forcing more Latinos out of work, but it will have long-lasting ripple effects across the nation, according to Dr. Rogelio Sáenz, a professor in the Department of Demography at the University of Texas at San Antonio. "Over the last several decades, Latinos have represented the engine propelling the U.S. economy," Sáenz ...

Salud Talks Podcast Episode 33: “Black Lives Matter”

June 4, 2020

People around the country are joining together and speaking out about systemic racism, police brutality, and the unhealthy culture that passive racism has cultivated in America. In fact, more people are supporting the #BlackLivesMatter movement than ever before. In light of these events, we are aiming to have a different conversation for today’s episode: How everyday individuals can act to address these tragedies and the system of which they are a symptom. Check out this discussion on the Salud Talks Podcast, Episode 33: "Black Lives Matter"! WHAT: A #SaludTalks discussion about the murders of Black Americans at the hands of systemic injustice. Co-Hosts: Tenoch Aztecatl, the Video Producer of Salud America!, and Josh McCormack, Digital Content Curator at Salud ...

Jason Rosenfeld: Using Healthcare Messaging to Inform His Community about Coronavirus

May 28, 2020

Jason Rosenfeld in Africa Ethiopia spreading health awareness communication knowledge

Communication is a critical aspect of the human experience, and, for Dr. Jason Rosenfeld, it is the key to making any societal shift. From working with small communities in Africa to helping rural towns in the Rio Grande Valley, he has devoted his career to crafting the right phrase or infographic that can effect change. This work in healthcare communications has led to numerous victories over countless threats. With the spread of the current novel coronavirus, COVID-19, Rosenfeld, his colleagues, and a team of medical students at UT Health San Antonio are addressing this new danger by creating health messaging to help people understand what this illness is, how it spreads, how to stay safe, and other critical pandemic information. Rosenfeld, DrPH, MPH—an Assistant Professor of ...

Salud Talks Podcast Episode 32: “Creating Through Crisis”

May 27, 2020

Creativity is something that can be hard to define. Someone can paint with numbers and solve complexities with words. Still, with the current spread of the current novel coronavirus, many with passions that can range from painting to woodworking to storytelling are facing new difficulties, especially in their ability to produce work. Today, Tenoch Aztecatl, the newest producer of this podcast and video producer at Salud America, joins Salud Talks to discuss inspiration, innovation, and imagination — as well as how the global crisis has impacted those pursuits. Check out this discussion on the Salud Talks Podcast, Episode 32, "Creating Through Crisis"! WHAT: A #SaludTalks discussion about creativity during a global pandemic. GUEST: Tenoch Aztecatl, the Video Producer of ...

Is Secondhand Smoke and Thirdhand Smoke Linked to Coronavirus Transmission?

May 22, 2020

Coronavirus Transmission Thirdhand Smoke Secondhand

Researchers are worried about COVID-19 transmission from asymptomatic smokers and vapers to others in their household via secondhand and thirdhand smoke and aerosol. Let’s explore what this means. Why Are Researchers Concerned about COVID-19 and Smoking? Smokers are already at risk of more severe cases of coronavirus. But even in the homes of asymptomatic but infected smokers and vapers, coronaviruses can attach to secondhand smoke and secondhand aerosol particles and droplets. These viral secondhand exhalations, coughs, and sneezes can travel up to 27 feet, land on surfaces, survive for hours, and may increase transmission of COVID-19 to older and younger non-smokers in the home, according to researchers in Environmental Science and Technology. The risk remains even up to ...

Salud Talks Podcast Episode 31: “Communicating COVID-19”

May 20, 2020

How we process information can impact significant aspects of our lives: The choices we make, issues we or do not support, or even if we care to tackle a problem. When it comes to health, how information is spread can save lives — or it can lead to further sickness and harm. As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps throughout the U.S., medical experts say that mixed messaging coming from civic leaders in Washington has led to worse outcomes for everyday individuals and a successful stop to the spread. Today, Dr. Jason Rosenfeld, the Assistant Director of Global Health at UT Health San Antonio, joins Salud Talks to discuss his career in health communications, and how that experience is informing his work to disseminate knowledge about the outbreak. Check out this discussion on the ...

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Josh McCormack

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