Articles by Josh McCormack

Texas Advocates Fight for Clean Oceans

March 10, 2021

Latinos across the US are reminding leaders and businesses of one simple fact: There is only one Earth and everyone must play a part in protecting it. It’s why advocates are doing all they can to make a difference in the lives of those impacted by the severe impacts of climate change — including urging for greater protection of the world’s oceans. Without immediate action, the effects of global warming will continue to wreak havoc across the globe, especially for commentates of color and other disadvantaged groups. It’s facts like these that are causing Latinos to develop a strong voice for environmentalism, according to a recent report from the Hispanic Access Foundation. “We know that the U.S. Latino connection to the ocean and coast is strong, historical and ...

Two States Move Closer to Adopting Sugary Drink Taxes

March 4, 2021

Sugary drinks can have a detrimental impact on people of all ages, which is why civic and health leaders across the US are working to curb consumption. How are they doing this? One of the main ways is through increasing taxes on soda, fruit juice, and other sugary drinks. These measures boost the price of sugary drinks to reduce consumption and create revenue for community health programs. Two states—Washington and Rhode Island—have just proposed sugary drink taxes in hopes of improving public health, according to Dr. Amy Nunn, the executive director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute (RIPHI). “This important legislation will help alleviate hunger and promote healthy eating across Rhode Island,” Nunn told Rhode Island FOX affiliate WPRI12. “We are committed ...

Latinos Urge for Environmental Action Amid Climate Change, COVID-19

March 3, 2021

As the impacts of climate change continue to wreak havoc on communities across the globe, US Latinos are calling on leaders in Washington to do something. The new Biden presidential administration—one that has voiced its support for science and wants to do something about this issue—is working to make headway, despite four years of environmental rollbacks and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Still, communities of color, who will face the most significant harm, need wide-sweeping and immediate change, according to Ben Monterroso, a board chair of the national non-profit, Corazón Latino. “The strong support for the environment and climate action among Latinos continues a trend that has been building for years,” Monterroso writes in a recent USA Today op-ed. “Our elected ...

The Future is Gloomy for Many Latino Students in Arizona and Beyond

February 25, 2021

Among the many inequities impacting young Latinos in Arizona, wide gaps in education not only affect those students now but could harm their future. A recent report from Arizona for Latino Leaders in Education (ALL in Education) shows that Latino students are facing significant disparities, despite the fact that they make up nearly 50% of the state’s student population. The data should be a catalyst for change, according to Stephanie Parra, the executive director of ALL in Education. “The data doesn't lie, the fact of the matter is Latino students are following behind and they have been for two decades,” Parra said. “More affluent communities are able to raise dollars and provide additional programming, retain quality educators, all of those things help our students ...

Food Insecurity Rocks Communities of Color Amid COVID-19

February 24, 2021

A lack of access to healthy, nutritious foods has harmed countless minorities for years. This problem has only gotten worse during the coronavirus pandemic. One in 10 Black and Latino families struggle with food insecurity, which is being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food, according to a recent report from the Census Bureau. While different nonprofits and businesses have made attempts to help, wide-reaching gaps remain to make significant headway in food disparities. "We are seeing families every week, and, unfortunately, the need is not going to go away because these issues were here before COVID," Antonio Santos, co-founder and executive director of the Gage Park Latinx Council in Chicago, told Block Club Chicago. "We are also ...

Kids Eat More Vegetables When Exposed to School Gardens

February 23, 2021

Kids aren’t always eager to eat their broccoli, asparagus, or peas. But community gardens and school gardens can change all that, according to researchers from the University of Texas at Austin who recently found that implementing gardens at schools can positively impact students’ feelings about vegetables. In fact, their data showed that those who took classes in gardening, nutrition and cooking ate an extra half a serving of these foods each day. "A lot of the families in these schools live with food insecurity. They live in food deserts and face a higher risk of childhood obesity and related health issues," Jaimie Davis, the lead author of the paper and an associate professor of nutritional sciences at UT Austin, said. "Teaching kids where their food comes from, how to ...

Businesses Aim to Help Latinos Suffering Amid COVID-19

February 11, 2021

As the coronavirus continues to surge across the US, Latinos are also still enduring its worst impacts. While there was a notable lack of support from officials in Washington over the last year, many businesses, as well as their leaders, have stepped in to help those in need. Through charitable donations, some Latinos throughout the country are finally getting the assistance they deserve. This assistance has been a long time coming, according to San Francisco’s Latino Community Foundation (LCF) Vice President of Programs, Masha Chernyak — whose organization will pay forward a $2 million dollar donation to specifically provide support to Latinos. "We have taken that incredible American generosity and given it to a community that has been locked out of philanthropic resources," ...

Oakland Students Gain Greater Access to Clean Water with Filling Stations

February 4, 2021

In Oakland and other California cities, education leaders have launched a new initiative to provide students with clean water through water bottle filling stations in schools. These filling stations aim to provide not only filtered drinking water to students, they also combat unnecessary plastic waste. In the era of Climate Change, these kinds of programs can often be the first step in making wide-sweeping changes in communities. Water bottle filling stations can make a big impact on student health and academics, according to water bottle filling station group, FloWater. “Well-hydrated students have a better chance of performing better in school due to increased focus, improved energy, and added health benefits for the body,” the group writes. “A more sanitary place to fill ...

#SaludTues Tweetchat 1/26: The COVID-19 Vaccine

January 22, 2021

The hope that the coronavirus pandemic could come to an end is alive and well as medical officials begin to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. Still, there are those who are hesitant about such interventions — including Latinos and other people of color. These concerns, while in some cases valid, could hinder America’s progress in stopping the spread of this deadly disease. Let’s use #SaludTues on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, to tweet about the COVID-19 vaccine, why Latinos can trust it, and how it can help bring about the end of the pandemic. WHAT: #SaludTues: The COVID-19 Vaccine TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. EST (Noon-1 p.m. CST), Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOST: @NursesWhoVax ADDITIONAL HASHTAGS: ...

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Josh McCormack

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