2
Weekend
BALITA
ABNER GALINO, Fil-Am News Editor
Fil-Am
Community Visit www.Balita.com
Saturday-Friday | December 5 - 11, 2020
Free internet to homeless; foster youth and children with disabilities
M
ayor Eric Garcetti today announced the creation of the Angeleno Connectivity Trust (ACT), an initiative to help deliver internet access to vulnerable young people — including students experiencing homelessness, those in foster care, and youth with disabilities. Working with T-Mobile’s Project 10Million, the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, and several community-based organizations, ACT will offer 100 GB of free internet connectivity to students who need it the most. The agreement would provide that level of connectivity to 18,000 students for five years, renewable on an annual basis. “The COVID-19 crisis has created extraordinary challenges for our most vulnerable young people,” said Mayor Garcetti. “ACT will help ensure connectivity for students who face some of the highest hurdles, by deploying a community-led response to help close the digital divide for students too often shut out of quick or easy internet access.” “T-Mobile’s Project 10Million is all about helping students AND educators, and we are proud to support Mayor Garcetti as he works to provide the tools and resources kids need to keep up with their connected peers,” said Mike Katz, executive vice president of T-Mobile for Business. “Especially in today’s remote COVID-19 learning environment, students without reliable internet face a total disconnection from their virtual classroom. Connectivity opens doors to opportunity and a brighter future, and we at T-Mobile believe every single child is deserving of that access.” ACT builds upon the work of Mayor Garcetti’s Telecommunications and Digital Equity Forum, a regular convening of City agencies and private sector telecommunications actors that focuses on ways to improve internet access equitably across the City. The initiative will identify students in need through partnerships with the
City’s YouthSource and FamilySource Centers, the Los Angeles Unified School District (L AUSD), L . A . Public Librar y, and local organizations including Brotherhood Crusade, School on Wheels, North Valley Caring Services, and the Coalition for Responsible Community Development. This effort comes after the Mayor’s recent announcement of a separate program to provide free internet to L.A. residents living in public housing developments. "The pandemic has exacerbated the inequities that some students face, and connectivity and accessibility affected our students — unhoused students — tremendously,” said Charles Evans, Executive Director of School on Wheels. “Our students went too long without the basics: no computer, no wifi, no home, and very little hope. So we are fully committed, moving forward, to lessening the digital and connectivity divide that our students face and providing them with as many resources as possible to keep up with their studies." To find more information about ACT, families and students can visit LAMayor.org/Connectivity or call 311. Angelenos can also visit the Get Connected Los Angeles site at GetConnectedLosAngeles.LACity.org — a partnership with the Mayor’s Office, California Emerging Technologies Fund, Everyone On, Human-IT, and the City’s Information Technology Agency — to learn about free and low-cost options for Angelenos to get internet access and devices. Mayor Garcetti is leading Los An-
geles through the pandemic with a focus on ensuring equity and access to resources for all Angelenos — offering free COVID-19 testing citywide, delivering tenant protections and rental relief funds, and providing cash assistance to some of the city’s hardest-hit households.
PINOYS... fROm PagE 1 Consistent with previous years, the highest incidence of Valley fever in 2019 was reported in counties in the Central Valley and Central Coast regions of California, including Kern, Kings, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Tulare, Madera, and Monterey counties. "With the continued increase in Valley fever cases, people living and working in the Central Valley and Central Coast regions of California should take steps to avoid breathing in dusty air outside," said Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH Acting State Public Health Officer. “Although the symptoms of Valley fever can be similar to those of COVID-19, it’s important that individuals with lingering cough and fatigue also talk to a healthcare provider about Valley fever, especially if they have been outdoors in dusty air. People who work primarily outdoors such as construction workers and others that dig or disturb soil should especially learn more about the prevention of Valley fever.” Valley fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, or “cocci”, is caused by breathing in the spores of a fungus that grows in the soil and dirt in some areas of California. The fungal spores, which are too small to see, can be present in dust that gets into the air when it is windy or when soil is disturbed, such as digging during construction. This fungus usually infects the lungs and can cause respiratory symptoms including cough, fever, chest pain, and tiredness. In most people, the infection will go away on its own, but anyone who has these symptoms for more than a week should ask their healthcare provider if their symptoms could be Valley fever. While anyone can get Valley fever, those most at-risk for severe disease include people who are Black or Filipino, adults 60 years or older, pregnant women, and people with diabetes or conditions that weaken the immune system. In severe disease, the infection can spread to other parts of the body, and in these serious cases, prolonged antifungal medicine is required. A person can reduce their risk of Valley fever by taking steps to avoid breathing in dust in areas where Valley fever is common: When it is windy outside and the air is dusty, stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed. While driving, keep car windows closed and use recirculating air conditioning, if available. If individuals must be outdoors in dusty areas, they should consider wearing a properly fitted N95 mask. To raise statewide awareness of Valley fever among the general public and healthcare providers, CDPH posts data monthly, issues periodic updates, and provides educational materials on the CDPH website. During 2019-2020, CDPH implemented a multimedia Valley fever awareness campaign to reach more people and providers, including people living in areas with moderate to high rates of Valley fever and those at risk for severe disease. Lessons learned from this awareness campaign will be used in CDPH’s continued efforts to address Valley fever in California. For more information on Valley fever, please visit CDPH’s “Could Be Valley Fever” webpages.
