WSSN Stories

By Lou Yeboah

Listen… If you think the “Corona-virus” is something—I tell you, but, Nay, except you REPENT… ALL of you will likewise perish… That’s right… I’M FED UP… I’m sick of your sin and disobedience. I’m sick of your rejection, your injustice, and your complaining. Think you can flaunt your sin in My face and nothing happens. Think you can continually take My Grace for granted and nothing happens… I tell you what….Yield yourselves to Me, and serve Me, ONLY THEN, will I let you live and not bring on you any of the diseases which I put on the Egyptians.  Because from the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have rebelled against Me, so much so, that I am ready to destroy you.  I tell you, IF YOU DO NOT REPENT, All of you will likewise perish! I have for along time held my peace; I have been still, and restrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once… No more will I relent if you do not repent! You have been warned, says the Lord.”

I want you to know that both the Old and New Testaments display a God who doesn’t tolerate sin, he punished it.  A few stories from the Old Testament: The Garden: God didn’t tolerate Adam and Eve’s sin. He didn’t accept their lifestyle choice to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He banished them from Eden and left an angel with flaming swords to guard the entrance so they couldn’t return. Noah and the Flood: His anger was provoked against the sin of Noah’s day and He brought on the flood that changed the face of the world. Uzzah: One of the most uncomfortable accounts of divine intolerance found in [2 Samuel 6]. This story recounts Uzzah’s attempt to steady the ark of the Lord after an oxen stumbled on the journey back to Israel. When he reached out and touched the ark, Uzzah’s instinctive response was met with God’s intense anger, and Uzzah was immediately struck down. I could go on and on throughout the Old Testament, considering Achan, Korah, Aaron’s sons, the Canaanites, and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, just to name a few. All perished by the very hand of God. He did not tolerate their sin; he punished it.

I tell you, God is very patient and loving with us. He gives us many chances to repent and turn from our wickedness. One day, however, His toleration of sin will cease. That is the lesson of the Old Testament, that God waits, longing for people to repent. However, He will not delay punishment forever and when it does arrive, it will be without recourse. The lesson to humanity today is to repent while there is time. 

“The people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them… The king made proclamation… “Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence which is in his hands.” [Jonah 3:5, 7-9]

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. So choose life, so that you and your descendants may live, 20and that you may love the LORD your God, obey Him, and hold fast to Him…” [Deuteronomy 30:19].

Scripture Reference:

Luke 13:2-5

Isaiah 65:2

2 Chronicles 30:7-8

Exodus 15:26

Numbers 11: 1-34

Romans 1:18

Isaiah 42: 23-25

By Chida Rebecca | Editor-in-Chief, Black Lifestyle Magazine

The idea of working from home has always been a glamorized one.  Rolling out of bed whenever you’d like, sitting poolside with your favorite drink at noon.  Man! That sounds like a day anyone would enjoy.  Especially if you find yourself working for a company that you may not particularly like physically going to.   In the last few weeks, we’ve seen corporations big and small come to a major halt due to COVID-19.  Businesses have essentially locked their doors and are requiring employees to work from home.  While some may have been excited, others are realizing that working from home is not for everyone.

I grew up in a family business and was accustomed to working for long hours at my desk. I had an innate discipline that helped me stay glued to my seat and maybe a little too much.  But as times changed and opportunities arose for me to work from home, I realized that I had to implement some different habits at home than that of my former office space.  For those of you that are new to “working from home,” here are a few tips I’ll share with you to help you in your transition.

1.    Pick a Designated Work Area

When I started working from home, I thought I could sit on my bed, spread out documents and my laptop and have at it. Well, I soon found that I would start off sitting up, legs crossed and attentive, then progressively move into a slouched position, followed by a full-on fetal position with complete attention on the television while my computer and papers were strewn off to the edge of the bed.  Talk about a reality check.  After being in denial about the obvious distractions, I opted to get an actual desk with a chair and sit there. I went from papers all over the house to everything being in one central location. The desk and chair in a designated part of the house started me off with the structure I need to work efficiently.

2.    Structure Your Time

This is a must. Try to keep the same hours you had when you were physically going to work. Working from home can be one of the biggest distractions there is.  From the television to the kitchen to the laundry and even YOUR BED! These are all things that will beg for your attention during the times you should be working.  When I first started working from home, my house seemed magical. It just had a different feeling on Wednesday at 11 am than a Saturday or Sunday at 11 am did.   If you don’t structure your time you won’t get anything done. The great thing about going to work is that your office was, for the most part, a space designated purely for work. It pretty much shaped how you worked and to what degree.  Your home is usually considered a place for rest and relaxation – a place you escape to. So, understand your brain is going to need some slight rewiring and some patience.

3.    Take Your Breaks

‘In the workforce, breaks are mandated. According to Psychology Today, “A ‘break’ is a brief cessation of work, physical exertion, or activity. You decide to give it a rest with the intention of getting back to your task within a reasonable amount of time.”  Did you know that sitting for long periods of time is said to put you at a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, depression, and obesity? Simply stepping away from your desk and taking a walk, stretching or some form of activity can reduce the negative effects of too much sitting. If you have other individuals in the house, taking breaks affords you the opportunity to connect with them and shift your mind from any stressful thinking you may be engaged in.

4.    Create an End Time

Knowing when to start working is just as important as knowing when to stop.  When I initially started working from home, I found that when I got into a good flow, it was hard to stop. So, I wouldn’t. I would sit from 7 am until 11 pm at times with minimal breaks. I was determined to ride out the wave of productivity, sometimes working beyond midnight. My dad would always encourage me not to work past the midnight hour because I was cheating myself out of the next day.  He was right. Pushing yourself beyond an established cut off point can lead to burnout quickly.  Ultimately, it’s about setting boundaries with yourself. Give it your all within the time allotted and then stop. Put all your focus and energy into the hours you set, the same way you did when you physically clocked in at work. When you’re done – then you’re done.  Save work for the next day.  There will ALWAYS be something to do. Time is the one thing we cannot replace. Remember to unplug and regroup.

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Chida Rebecca is the Editor-in-Chief is San Diego’s only digital Black lifestyle magazine called “Black & Magazine”. www.blackandmagazine.com

LOS ANGELES, CA— The Diaspora Dialogues is an unmatched platform and space founded and Executive Produced by Koshie Mills, to bridge the gap and connect Africans in the continent with its global descendants in the diaspora. The power of excellence was displayed in the entertainment quality and program. Illustrious women of power and inspiration came from Africa, West Indies, UK and other parts of the globe to attend the event. The diversity of black women in the room created a magical environment of inclusion, hosted by veteran Author, Comedian, Co-Host of “The Real”, Loni Love.

The star-studded event commenced with an Ancestral Welcome and Affirmation led by the illustrious Host Loni Love. The declarations and sounds of “I AM A DAUGHTER OF THE SOIL….I AM A SON OF THE SOIL permeated the air and set the tone for the palpable love, camaraderie and positive energy in the ballroom. The standing room only crowd was a testament to the need and the reason why Founder Koshie Mills created a space where black women can connect and see each other as a global force.

The elegant, afternoon affair featured its Signature Throne Room, Cultural dancers from the Congo, Spoken word Artist, Actress, Author, Jamaican Born Jozanne Marie, Musical performance from Fox “American Idol” finalist and First generation Nigerian, Adanna Duru and the Afrobeats sounds curated by the DJ  further punctuated the culturally fragrant atmosphere. Spontaneous dancing from attendees erupted at intermission which further underscored our similarities and love of African music.

Four women who are Innovators and Change Agents from various industries were honored; Afro Latina Musical Artist, Actress and Cultural Activist, Amara La Negra was the Goddess Beauty Honoree. Shine on Sierra Leone

Founder, Tiffany Persons, was The Diaspora Dialogues Honoree, Media Maven Kimberly Paige was awarded with the Lionheart Business Honoree and finally Actress Yvette Nicole Brown, received the Entertainment ROAR Honoree.

Actress Ryan Michelle Bathe presented the Entertainment ROAR Award to Actress Yvette Nicole Brown. Google Executive Annie Jean Baptiste presented The Lionheart Business Award, sponsored by BET Networks to Media Maven Kimberly Paige CMO of BET Networks. Cree Summer presented to “Shine On Sierra Leone” Founder Tiffany Persons with The Diaspora Dialogues Sankofa Award and Actress/Director Nana Ghana presented to Afro-Latino Musical Artist Amara La Negra with the Goddess Beauty DUAFE Award.

VIP guests in attendance include; Actress Monique Coleman (High School Musical), Actor Kwame Boateng (The Plug), Actor Kwesi Boakye (Claws) Actress Stacy Dash (Clueless),  Erica Peeples (All American), (BET Plus, Ruthless Young), Nzinga Blake (Influencer and Red Carpet Host), Actress/Artist V. Bozeman (Empire).

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SOME QUOTES FROM PRESENT AND PAST HONOREES

“I feel the bridge coming together and this event that Koshie Mills has created is the EPICENTER. Please never let the Dialogues Dialogues die, It Is a necessary platform”. – Tiffany Persons, Founder Shine On Sierra Leone

“Koshie and I had a real conversation and that is the UNLOCK for us, it leads to easier collaboration”. – Kimberly Paige, CMO BET Networks

“Women are the Backbone and the Future, That is why we need THIS!” – Actress Ryan Michelle Bathe

“I’m so excited and honored to host this event. We need to take the time to break bread, that’s

why it’s a great event and congrats Koshie You are doing a wonderful job!”. – Comedian, Author and Co-Host of The Real, Loni Love

“I’ve always felt like an African living in America. I believe we are sisters by bloodline and that makes us family”.

– Actress Yvette Nicole Brown.

“The Cross Pollination is long overdue.” Actress Nomzamo Mbatha

“I left the event feeling Euphoric and Empowered.” – Guest, Natalie Beasneal

Lobbyists and industry stakeholders are racing around DC asking Congress for virus pandemic funding. Meanwhile, consumer advocates may be the only organizations not begging for money these days in Washington. They are asking for solutions for consumers and ways that will use taxpayer dollars intelligently. 

What consumer groups want is improved customer service from airlines. We want this crisis to change the lack of planning ahead and having insurance for major problems that has resulted in the virus pandemic funding issues.

Immediate funding is needed to save jobs. Long-term funding is an opportunity to reset the aviation industry.

While most funding bills take months to develop, this virus pandemic funding has taken on a life of its own. True, Congress needs to fund an immediate response to deal with the pandemic. However, Congress has time to consider “Phase Two” of funding for the longer-term survival of the airline industry.

Before, the second phase of loans are sent to airlines, taxpayers (airline passengers) should be able to get several changes to the current airline/customer relationship. Changes like the following are suggested. After all, according to the airlines, passengers are the lifeblood of their industry. (Today they are also the insurance providers).

• No stock buybacks until the loans are paid in full.
• No aviation executive bonuses (or increased salaries) until loans are paid in full.
• Agreement that passenger safety and health will be prioritized over airline profits.
• During the time of the national emergency, passengers should be able to change flights without fees. Rebooking should be done for no extra charges. Call centers should be staffed to handle increased call volume.

After this pandemic crisis, reset the airline/passenger relationship

During the second phase loans, airline should agree to common sense customer service rules that should be included in both airline and ticket agent contracts of carriage.

• Restore the use of state and local courts for customer service disputes.
• Stop further constraints on passenger seating dimensions.
• Allow families to sit together for no extra charges.
• Change airline rules that force sick passengers to fly or face exorbitant costs.
• Ensure access to all airfare and ancillary fees so that passengers can comparison shop.
• Standardize customer service rule across airlines and ticket agents.

None of these are new ideas. They have been debated for decades. However, airline passengers and their representatives in Congress will never again have the financial power to demand that airlines treat passengers humanely. This is the time for a reset to the balance between the aviation industry and its passengers. 

It is about time that airlines begin treating passengers like human beings rather than self-loading cargo. This is not too much to ask for $50 billion.

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is announcing $250 million in grants from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to help communities provide meals for older adults. California received a grant for $25,086,381. 

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, signed into law by President Trump on March 18, 2020, provided the additional funding for the nutrition services programs authorized by the Older Americans Act (OAA) of 1965. These programs provide meals to more than 2.4 million older adults each year, both through home delivery and in places like community centers. The need for these services, particularly home-delivered and packaged meals, has increased as community measures to slow transmission of COVID-19 have closed meal sites and have left many family caregivers unable to assist their older loved ones.

“The Trump Administration recognizes that the measures needed to protect older Americans from the serious threat of COVID-19 have been disruptive for many of our most vulnerable,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “Getting more funds to community organizations that deliver meals to older adults, such as Meals on Wheels, is another example of the Trump Administration’s whole-of-government, whole-of-America approach to combating the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In addition to meals, Older Americans Act programs provide a wide range of services, such as help with bathing and dressing, rides to doctors’ offices, education on managing chronic illnesses, support for family caregivers, and much more. Provided by a network of community-based organizations, such as Area Agencies on Aging, local community and senior centers, faith-based organizations, and other non-profit service providers, these programs work together to help millions of older adults each year stay healthy and continue living independently.

“The network of community-based organizations that provide Older Americans Act services has an exceptional capacity to coordinate services, bring together service providers, and adapt to overcome challenges, and they are employing innovative solutions to continue meal services,” said ACL Administrator Lance Robertson. “This additional funding will help communities across the country provide older adults, especially those at greatest risk, with the healthy meals they need.”

Funding has been provided to states, territories, and tribes for subsequent allocation to local meal providers. Grant amounts are determined based on the population-based formulas defined in the Older Americans Act.

Older adults who need assistance can contact the Eldercare Locator to find services available in their community. The Eldercare Locator can be reached at 1-800-677-1116 or https://eldercare.acl.gov/.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. For more information about the Older Americans Act nutrition programs, please visit ACL.gov.

The NAACP is focused on ensuring a full and accurate count amid the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic through their Black Census Week efforts. The week will consist of various activities to ensure communities of color, specifically Black populations, are informed about the Census and fill it out in its entirety. 

The primarily based social media campaign will encapsulate everything from Celebrity influencer census promotional videos  (Ruth E. Carter, Marcel Spears, Yvette Nicole Brown, Ethan Herisse and Loni Love) to a webinar on Thursday, March 26, 2020, which will feature Dallas City Councilman Casey Thomas, a representative from the Links Incorporated and a speaker from Spellman College. Interested individuals can join the conversation by registering in advance. The Webinar will also focus on the frontline workers who are severely impacted by COVID-19 and what the Census means for them. 

Each day of the week will focus on a specific initiative within the Black community. The various topics include: 

• Monday – NAACP Feature of the day – Education Advocacy Tuesday – NAACP Feature of the day – Environmental and Climate Justice Advocacy
• Wednesday – NAACP Feature of the day – Health Advocacy
• Thursday – NAACP Feature of the day – Economic Advocacy
• Friday – NAACP Feature of the day – Voting Rights/Civic Engagement
• Saturday – NAACP Feature of the day – Criminal Justice Advocacy
• Sunday – NAACP Feature of the day – Faith Organizing

In addition to the full week of activities, the NAACP is welcoming two Senior Democracy Fellows to the Civic Engagement team who will co-lead on the 2020 Census Campaign. Brittany Smith and Myisha Patterson Gatson will work with NAACP units, members, and partner groups to develop and implement innovative programs that provide targeted advocacy, training and mobilization to reach our Democracy inclusion goals.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has called into question how we as a nation ensure that the 2020 Census counts all persons living in the States so that we can continue as a Democracy, said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO, NAACP. “This moment in history requires all of us to face this health crisis and ensure that all communities, especially those systematically left behind, are included. The NAACP is focused on pushing forward to provide a complete Census count now more than ever.” 

By Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

To comply with health officials’ recommendations regarding COVID-19, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is allowing customers a 60-day extension for license or registration renewals.

Stay away from our offices, stay home and be safe, the DMV is telling Californians.

The DMV says it has informed law enforcement departments that some drivers may be driving around the state with expired licenses or registrations due to COVID-19.

“This 60-day period for driver license and vehicle registrations is intended to protect the health and safety of DMV customers who would otherwise have to come to a DMV office to take care of business, but are concerned during this coronavirus pandemic,” the DMV press release read.

The extension period goes into effect March16 and will cover all appointments that require physical office visits.

“Transactions that fall within this category include driver license renewals for those 70 years of age and older who are required to take a knowledge test; individuals who are required to renew in the office (their last DMV visit was 15 years prior); individuals subject to vision testing; and individuals with a complex driving history,” the press release continued.

The extension also applies to those who aren’t able to seek alternatives to office visits under certain conditions.

The grace period also applies to vehicle registration renewals for customers “who are not eligible to use an alternative service channel because of the following reasons: Outdated insurance information, registration expired for 90 days or more, smog issues, and recent transfers,” stated the press release.

The DMV also described what kind of appointments would require an in-person visit.

“Those transactions that require a DMV office visit include new driver licenses, duplicate driver licenses, some driver license renewals, new license plates, complex vehicle registrations or title transfers and off-highway permits,” stated the press release.

The DMV will remain open to handle transactions such as getting a REAL ID, which requires an office visit. According to the press release, the DMV will improve their systems to help increase efficiency.

The DMV says it is taking the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, especially since Gov. Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency.

“The DMV is taking this action so that at-risk populations, including seniors and those with underlying health conditions, can avoid required visits to DMV field offices for driver license or vehicle registration renewals,” according to the statement.

By Elizabeth Castillo, CalMatters

In what seems now like another lifetime, in the birthplace of California wine production, Angie Sanchez was tasked one day with census outreach in Sonoma. The Latino community organizer decided that standard presentations and handouts wouldn’t cut it. Instead, she reimagined Lotería, a Bingo-like game that’s a staple in many Latino households.

Her version, Censotería, received more than 300 Instagram likes and piqued the interest of census officials in Alabama, Illinois and Texas. The civic participation group that Sanchez works for, the La Luz Center, partnered with the Latino Community Foundation and printed about 500 copies and distributed them throughout the community. The Latino Community Foundation even made Sanchez’s game downloadable for free. 

Now, for all of Sanchez’s creativity, it’s unclear whether this colorful game, which is part of the state’s $187.2 million census effort, will move the needle even slightly. As the coronavirus pandemic upends every aspect of life as Californians know it, it is far from clear what, if anything, will help motivate 11 million hard-to-reach Californians to respond to their questionnaires.

In the next few weeks — between moments of panic — residents across the nation will be asked to respond to nine basic questions about their household as part of a decennial population count and respond largely online. State and community organizers are particularly concerned about this year’s survey. California faces powerful headwinds, not only from the mounting threat of COVID-19, the infection caused by the virus, but also from widespread distrust sowed by the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies, including a failed push to include a citizenship question on the census. 

For California, the stakes have never been higher: A low turnout could jeopardize one of the state’s 53 congressional seats, along with billions in federal funding.

No one knows yet how much these developments will impact California’s count but they are widely expected to depress turnout.

“It’s been a challenge because we have to take precautions on how we conduct outreach,” said Melissa Vergara from the San Mateo County Office of Community Affairs.

A major census event the county planned for March 26 will now be a virtual one, she said. San Mateo County has been ordered to shelter in place, and census plans are changing by the day.

The county plans to do more social media outreach. And Vergara said San Mateo County will create a TikTok video to help inform the public.  

Nationally,  the U.S. Census Bureau has suspended field operations until at least April 1. “Any type of person-to-person contact, that’s what’s being eliminated,” said spokesperson Patricia Ramos.

Presentations from census workers at local churches and town-hall meetings have been suspended. The count of people experiencing homelessness has also been postponed a month. It will now take place from April 29 to May 1.

The bureau has also adjusted how it counts people living in group quarters such as on college campuses, in group homes and in nursing homes.

Census workers are still scheduled to visit homes in late May, and online census operations continue. Nationwide, more than 11 million households had responded to the census as of Wednesday morning. A map of response rates will be available to the public Friday.

Emilio Vaca, a spokesperson for California Complete Count, the state’s own census department, said the state is “shifting toward virtual phone banks, webinars and events where they can continue to give our state’s hard-to-reach communities the information and the support they need to participate in the census with confidence.”

He reiterated that the census can be completed online or over the phone. 

On the same day census notices began landing in people’s mailboxes, the governor clamped down on public gatherings in an effort to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak, disrupting months of planned outreach events and door-to-door appeals. 

And allies have unintentionally sent mixed signals. Civil rights activists, who spent last year training immigrants to ignore federal agents knocking on their door during nationwide raids, are now encouraging people to open the door to census workers, who are an extension of the federal government.

The Public Policy Institute of California characterizes 29 million Californians at risk of being undercounted. These can be people who are hard to reach because they are homeless, rent, or live in nonstandard housing, such as garages and trailers. They can also be young men who may not respond or children who aren’t properly counted in a questionnaire. Many often lack a reliable internet connection.

Moreover, it’s race and ethnicity. California is a majority minority state. Nearly 39% of California’s population identifies as Latino or Hispanic and there’s concern that government distrust will reduce responses — even among residents with legal status. This year, Jacqueline Martinez Garcel with the Latino Community Foundation said it has been difficult to assure people that census information will be kept private.

“I think historically we’ve thought about non-citizens or unauthorized immigrants as particularly hard to count,” said Sarah Bohn of the Public Policy Institute of California. “But I think there is concern about whether this environment we’re in right now with regard to immigrants, is going to dissuade even legal immigrants from responding — just because of fear or distrust of the government.”

That’s why the state has allocated more than $106 million on census outreach efforts to fund efforts like Sanchez’s Censotería game, according to state census reports. Mercury Public Affairs LLC won a $46 million contract to lead a media campaign. Overall, California is spending more than any other state. 

The state aims to make over 100 million “impressions” which will capture who is looking at the content and how they’re consuming it, whether that’s via mobile or desktop. It will assess its success by comparing targeted populations to live census returns. As completed forms come in, the state will allocate more funding to areas with low returns.

“It’s really critical to get it right,” said Bohn. 

California residents benefit from dozens of federal programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, affordable housing and funding for roads, school lunches, early childhood education and foster care. Andrew Reamer, research professor at George Washington University, estimates California receives $172 billion in federal money based on its population.

County and state organizers are now pivoting to social media outreach and ramping up a digital ambassador program, a group of preselected online influencers including actor Danny Trejo, mixed martial artist Urijah Faber, and Sacramento Kings basketball player Harrison Barnes. Beyond celebrities, ambassadors include activists as well, such as Rian Buhacoff, who advocates for queer and disabled rights.

Advocates continue to urge people to respond online, by phone, or mail

WASHINGTON – The co-chairs of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ Census Task Force — Arturo Vargas, CEO of NALEO Educational Fund; John C. Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference — issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Census Bureau’s extension of  2020 Census operations from July 31, 2020 to August 14, 2020:

“As all of us, including vulnerable communities, deal with the impact of COVID-19. This extension gives the Census Bureau and advocates the flexibility we need to expand and modify outreach. The Census Bureau understands the public health challenge it is up against and is properly adjusting in real-time. As the situation continues to evolve, we encourage the Census Bureau to make any necessary adjustments in coordination with community partners and stakeholders. We are not backing down in our efforts to ensure our communities are counted — in fact, we are doubling down. We all need to work together to ensure a full and accurate count. People can, and should, continue to respond online, by phone, or by paper form. Essential rights, funding, resources, and political power are still at stake.”
 

Background
 

The co-chairs of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ Census Task Force previously expressed support for shifts in timing of certain U.S. Census Bureau operations. That statement is availablehere.
 

Extending census operations is not the same as delaying the census or changing the statutory reporting deadlines. The co-chairs have also urged Congress to closely monitor the progress of the census to determine if the Census Bureau will be able to meet the statutory deadlines of December 31, 2020 for the reporting of the final apportionment counts, and April 1, 2021 for the transmission of the redistricting files to the states. Congress may well need to consider adjustments to those deadlines once it has sufficient information on the status of the 2020 Census operations. This issue has deep and broad implications, primarily political and conceivably partisan. It must be approached carefully and knowledgeably for those reasons.
 

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice is a national affiliation of five leading organizations advocating for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and other underserved communities to promote a fair and equitable society for all. The affiliation’s members are: Advancing Justice – AAJC (Washington, D.C.), Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco), Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, Advancing Justice – Atlanta, and Advancing Justice – Chicago.
 

NALEO Educational Fund is the leading non-profit, non-partisan organization that facilitates full Latino participation in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.

For all the things we touch throughout the day, we touch our phones more than anything else. And multiple studies have shown that our phones are germier than a toilet seat. Yuck. And on top of that, according to recent studies, Americans are checking their phones anywhere from about 50 to 100 times a day, and actually pressing and swiping more than 2,500 times per day.

Proper device hygiene has never been more important. Here are T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile’s tips for keeping the germs away:

1. Don’t use your phone in the restroom.When toilets flush, they can spread germs all over the place, including the surface of our phones. And as long as we’re having the bathroom talk, make sure to always wash your hands after visiting the facilities and, of course, throughout the day. The CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds — about the amount of time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. We know, singing “Happy Birthday” several times a day can get annoying. Check out Seattle Times’ list of 10 awesome songs to sing while you wash your hands.

2. Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize. 
Hand sanitizer isn’t an exact substitute for washing your hands, but for general germ battling throughout the day, it’s a decent, reliable backup. Spend about the same 20 seconds covering your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer until they’re dry. And here’s a bonus pro tip: avoid touching your face with your phone. Rather than sneezing or coughing into your screen when you’re sick — and turning your device into a germ breeding ground — think about using earbuds, AirPods or speakerphone.

3. Last but not least, clean your device.Different device manufacturers have different do’s and don’ts for cleaning your phone; check the booklet that came with your device or visit the manufacturer’s website for specifics. We suggest cleaning your device with a damp microfiber cloth, and wiping down your phone and case completely. Be cautious of using alcohol and household cleaners as they may damage your phone. (Some further information on that can be found here.)

Remember, if you want a relatively germ-free device, your phone can never be too clean.