Hispanic Leaders Will Address COVID-19 Crisis Monday June 29th, 5:00 PM at Pasco Farmers Market

(PASCO, WA)

What? Hispanic leaders from across the state, Franklin PUD and the Benton-Franklin Health District have partnered to address the COVID-19 crisis affecting the Latino community in Benton and Franklin counties. The speakers will encourage people to wear masks, encourage social distancing and educate residents on the health risks of COVID-19.

When? Monday, June 29^th at 5:00 p.m.

Where? Pasco Farmers Market on 4^th and Lewis in Pasco, Washington adjacent to Viera’s Bakery and across the Pasco Specialty Kitchen.

Why?  Our goal is to encourage mask-wearing & good social distancing practices in the Hispanic community. COVID-19 is spreading rapidly through the Hispanic community for various reasons. Many are essential workers, thousands are part of the agricultural industry and many come from large families where social distancing is a challenge. We are not blaming the Hispanic community for the spread. Everyone must do their part to defeat COVID-19.

Who will speak? Pasco Mayor Saul Martinez, Dr. Amy Person (BFHD), Dr. Raul Garcia (ER Doctor Lourdes), Martin Valadez (TCHCC President) Gabriel Portugal (President DPDA) LBA, WA State Legislator Alex Ybarra, Ana Peralta (Pasco Community Leader).

What will be said? Leaders will ask people from the Hispanic community to wear masks, practice social distancing and educate them on the risks of COVID-19.

Will it be conducted in English and Spanish? Yes all speakers are bilingual and will speak in English and Spanish.

Will there be Q & A when the news conference is over? Yes each speaker is available, except for Dr. Garcia, he has to leave for a scheduled engagement.

Energy Industry's Diversity Problem (Politico)

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- In the immediate aftermath of the protests that shot up across the country following the killing of George Floyd, many energy and industry groups have made public gestures of support. Oil giants like ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP and the industry group American Petroleum Institute came out with statements condemning racism, as did leaders of the wind and solar energy sectors.

But those statements came from leaders in an industry that is still predominantly white, especially in the highest management positions, Pro's Gavin Bade and Ben Lefebvre report this morning.

One 2016 study from API found nearly three-quarters of oil and gas industry workers were white. The rank and file of the wind and solar sectors are slightly more diverse, according to a 2019 report for state energy officials, but many of the highest paid jobs are dominated by white workers. The oil and gas industry as a whole also has long generated complaints that it has been hostile to women and minorities.

"Those who have statements have good statements, but from where I sit, what we want to know is what happens after your statement," said Paula Glover, head of American Association of Blacks in Energy. "Because [a statement] that says we abhor racism and inequality, it's not that it rings hollow, but if you do nothing to back that up by making change in your organization, then it's just words on the page."

Industry groups seek diversity rising. API says a majority of new oil and gas jobs through 2040 will be filled by women and people of color — though that portion is smaller for managerial and C-suite positions. Leaders in the wind and solar sector have said they plan to redouble their diversity efforts in the wake of recent protests.

But protesters from the energy sector said they want companies to not only hire more black and Latino employees but to focus business development on their communities and transform an industry culture that is often hostile to non-white workers.

"The system is not broken — it's working exactly how it should for a certain population," said Jamez Staples, a clean energy entrepreneur in North Minneapolis who attended Floyd's funeral last week. "Now that there's more people of color coming up through these systems, they're realizing that they're broken or aren't functioning well and they need to be demolished and rebuilt ... to create economic models that are more inclusive."