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When Diversity Matters Most. The Strength Lies In Differences, Not In Similarities

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Nursing Homes See Continued Record Number Of New COVID Cases As Community Spread Increases Across The U.S.

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New Nursing Home Cases Continue To Tick Up In Midwest States; 275% Increase In The Region Since September

Calls Continue For Congress To Replenish Emergency Funding For Hospitals And Long Term Care Facilities And For States To Take Additional Measures To Control Community Spread

 The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and assisted living communities across the country that provide care to approximately five million people each year, released a report today showing nursing homes in the U.S. continue to see a record number of weekly new cases this month due to the community spread among the general population, surpassing previous peaks since the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) started tracking cases in nursing homes.

Recent data released by Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) show that with the recent spike in new COVID cases in the general U.S. population, weekly nursing home cases are also on the rise. According to Johns Hopkins University, weekly new COVID cases in the general U.S. population rose by 229 percent to 796,761 new cases the week of November 8. A correlating uptick in new cases in nursing homes occurred when cases in the surrounding community started rising back in mid-September.

As experts have repeatedly noted, COVID-19 cases in a surrounding community is a top factor in outbreaks in nursing homes. University of Chicago’s Tamara Konetzka, a nationally recognized expert on long-term care, recently said, “Trying to protect nursing home residents without controlling community spread is a losing battle.” Dr. David Grabowski, professor of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School recently stated, “The strongest predictor of whether or not we’ll see cases in [a particular setting] is community spread.”

“Our worst fears have come true as COVID runs rampant among the general population, and long term care facilities are powerless to fully prevent it from entering due to its asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic spread,” stated Mark Parkinson, President and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “Our health care heroes are doing everything they can to prevent it from spreading further, but this level of COVID nationwide puts serious strain on our workforce, supplies, and testing capacity. If everybody would wear a mask and social distance to reduce the level of COVID in the community, we know we would dramatically reduce these rates in long term care facilities.”

During the second week of November, nearly half (49 percent) of new COVID cases in nursing homes were from Midwest states with major spikes in community spread in the upper parts of the region. As a result, the Midwest region saw a 275 percent increase in weekly COVID cases in nursing homes since mid-September.

After seven weeks of declining cases in nursing homes through mid-September, nursing home cases began to increase as nearly all 50 states have started to see rising levels of COVID cases. New weekly cases in nursing homes grew by more than 110 percent nationwide between mid-September and the week of November 8.The report also showed COVID-related deaths in nursing homes are starting to rise, 69 percent increase since late September. Nursing home residents are typically older adults with multiple chronic conditions, making them most vulnerable to COVID-19. Residents of long term care facilities account for only eight percent of the nation’s cases, yet 40 percent of its deaths. While mortality rates have decreased compared to the spring due to a better understanding of the virus, better treatments, and government resources to help reduce spread, industry leaders remain deeply concerned that the rising number of new COVID cases in facilities will ultimately lead to an increasing number of deaths.

5 Tips to Celebrate a Virtual Thanksgiving This Year

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With rising case numbers all over the world, the Covid-19 pandemic has guaranteed that Thanksgiving will look different this year. For most of us that means it may be time to host a holiday celebration that unfolds in the same virtual environment as work and school.

So, how are you going to add more to your Thanksgiving experience? What about, say, serving a delicious side dish of virtual fun via a video conferencing solution like ClickMeeting?

Dominika Paciorkowska, Managing Director at ClickMeeting shares 5 tips for hosting a virtual party this Thanksgiving:

  1. Invite distant friends and relatives. Every so often, something pops up that prevents a loved one from being able to come to a party. In these situations, a video conferencing solution is the magic wand that can beam up whoever is missing out on all the fun!
  2. Come together around food and wine. Food and drink offer an obvious opportunity for friends and family members to come together during virtual holidays. This can be as easy as firing up a video chat to run through dinner!
  3. Decorate and dress up. Setting up your table, and adding some flowers or balloons or even a homemade backdrop can definitely get you in the spirit of Thanksgiving. And a video chat allows everyone to enjoy your masterpiece! 
  4. Play some games. If magic isn’t your family’s jam, leveraging technology to play virtual games might be another way to celebrate as an extended group. Virtual charades anyone?! 
  5. Snap a family photo. Even if you’re spending Thanksgiving virtually this year, you can still take a family photo — hopefully one that will make you laugh when you look back at it in years to come.

While Thanksgiving looks a bit different this year, ClickMeeting makes it easy for friends and family to come together and share these moments together.

2020 Bite of Seattle canceled for first time in 38 years!

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Since 1982 when short shorts and big hair ruled at the first Bite of Seattle at Green Lake Park with 75,000 people celebrating food and summer fun, to 38 years later at Seattle Center, 300,000 guests, three live music stages, over 200 vendors, chef battles, and craft beer and cider tasting, the Albert Lee Appliance Bite of Seattle has remained one of the great iconic free-to-attend community festivals in the Northwest.

People from all walks of life coming together to celebrate summer, with three days of festivities, great food, entertainment, chef demonstrations, Bite Movie Night, kids activities, and so much more, all made possible by invaluable partnerships with sponsors like Albert Lee Appliance, BECU, Emerald Queen Casino, NW Beverages, Xfinity, and, many more.

Festivals Inc. the event production company behind the Bite of Seattle, had been trying to reschedule the Bite for a later date, and, had successfully secured a tentative date in late August, however most recently had been notified that the City of Seattle Special Events Committee voted and approved the following:

“The City of Seattle is not issuing permits for major events until further notice – adhering to guidance from the State of Washington and Public Health – Seattle & King County.  These include major cultural events, run/walk events, street events, festivals, and vendor fairs.”  This lasts in a best-case scenario through Labor Day.

Furthermore, recently the State Public Health Department and Governor Inslee issued the following guidance which states in part:

“The changes between Phase 3 and Phase 4, especially with regards to gathering size and occupancy rates, could further increase the spread of COVID-19 in our state, even in communities that have very low rates of disease. The progress we’ve made thus far is at risk, therefore we are making the prudent choice to slow down our phased approach to reopening.”

The vote by the City of Seattle Special Events Committee, in addition to Public Health mandates, and the Governor’s continued restrictions on gatherings into the unforeseeable and unpredictable future, and, for the safety of all involved, the 2020 Albert Lee Appliance Bite of Seattle will be forced to cancel.

“Despite this devastating news, not only for the Bite of Seattle, but for the hundreds of thousands of guests who attend the Bite each year, our top priority remains the health and safety of our guests, vendors, employees, bands, chefs, and all who help make the Bite of Seattle the summer festival of the year,” said Brett Gorrell, President of Festivals Inc.

Behind the scenes, the Albert Lee Appliance Bite of Seattle takes months of planning including securing sponsors, media partners, food and craft vendors, chefs, craft breweries, cider houses, over 90 entertainment acts, in addition to the extensive onsite infrastructure that sprawls across the Seattle Center campus.

The Bite of Seattle has become “the” free-to-attend community food and entertainment festival of the summer, and recently featured as part of the Food Paradise “Best of the Fests” across America series, on The Cooking Channel.

In its 38-year history, the Bite of Seattle has won numerous ‘best of’ awards, and in 2019, founder Alan Silverman was inducted into the Washington Festival and Events Association Hall of Fame.

The Bite of Seattle has secured itself as one of the best food festivals in the world; a long way since 75,000 people attended the first Bite of Seattle at Green Lake Park in 1982.

Seattle’s ‘Original Foodie Festival’ the Albert Lee Appliance Bite of Seattle, would like to thank all who have supported the Bite over the years, and although will miss celebrating this year, look forward to the day when live festivals and events can be celebrated again.

Family Scholar House Stories That Define Us: Meet Dr. Aleshia Thompson

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Each year since its inception in 1995, Family Scholar House (FSH) has served disadvantaged residential and nonresidential single moms, dads, and their children with a comprehensive, holistic continuum of care that meets them where they are and empowers them toward their educational, career and family goals. All of these individuals and families have experienced poverty, unstable housing, and most often, domestic violence.

Those who come to FSH often rise above the circumstances they’ve been dealt with, and they deserve a great deal of recognition. And one of the most accomplished FSH alumni who most certainly merits that recognition is Aleshia Thompson.

When Aleshia and her young daughter Trinity arrived at Stoddard Johnston Scholar House in January 2012, she was already on her path towards a better life and career. Studying night and day, she graduated with her Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees from Jefferson Community & Technical College in 2013.

Aleshia originally wanted to be a nurse, but several of her professors encouraged her to take more challenging courses, and that’s when she fell in love with Anatomy, Biology, and Medicine. “Once I helped deliver a baby with the doctor who delivered Trinity, and I was nearly brought to tears by the magic of that moment,” she says. “It was then that I knew that I wanted to help bring healthy babies into this world and take care of women. My goal, in fact, my mission, then as it remains now, is to give back to women like me who are underserved and need a familiar face that can relate to their concerns and situations.”

While Aleshia and Trinity continued to reside at Stoddard Johnston Scholar House, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Louisville (U of L) in 2016. And to top off that accomplishment, she and her daughter then secured their own living arrangements off-campus thanks to the help of FSH. From that point forward there was no stopping Aleshia! She worked hard personally and professionally to achieve her ultimate goal of becoming a doctor and was able to care for patients from her previous work as an EMT and Dialysis Technician once she enrolled in the U of L’s School of Medicine.

So, this June, in the very unprecedented year of 2020, Aleshia received her Medical Degree (M.D.) from U of L and has secured a residency at Kansas University Medical Center’s OB/GYN department as an Obstetrician and Gynecologist for the next 4 years. She remains active with FSH and wants everyone to know this: “Never give up no matter how hard life may seem. And never be afraid to ask for help. Without the guidance I received from FSH, I don’t know where I would be now, eight years after I first met with them. They truly helped make my dreams come true.”

COVID-19 in the Workplace: What Employers Need to Know about PPPFA Employment expert Rob Wilson shares top tips for leveraging Paycheck Protection Program

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As the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the national economy, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPPFA) provides employers with updated options for managing their loans. However, it’s important to know the best way to leverage these options and protect your company during this time of upheaval. 

“Under changes to the PPPFA signed on June 5, employers will now be eligible for loan forgiveness equal to the amount the borrower spent on rent, utilities, and mortgages during the 8-week or 24-week covered period or alternative covered period,” says Rob Wilson, President of Emplocyo USA and human resources expert. “Up to 40% of payroll costs can also be covered under these loan terms.”

What is considered a covered payroll cost under the guidelines of the PPPFA?

“Payroll costs can include salary, wages, commissions, or similar compensation, sick leave or medical leave, group insurance, retirement benefits, and cash tips among other possibilities,” says Wilson. “But there are a few exceptions like compensation of an employee whose residence is out the United States.” 

Below Wilson also explains the difference between the covered period and the alternative covered period under PPPFA.

“The covered period is the only option for companies with semi-monthly or less frequent payroll periods,” explains Wilson. “Under PPPFA, borrowers will have an 8-week (56 days) or a 24-week (168 days) period starting on the same day as the PPP loan proceeds were received. But companies with bi-weekly or more frequent payroll periods can fall under the alternative covered period, and have an 8-week (56 days) or a 24-week (168 days) period starting on the first day of their first pay period following PPP disbursement date.” 

Here, Wilson offers his top tips for maximizing forgiveness: 

  • Adjust your payroll schedule (temporarily) to fit within the 8 or 24-week window.

  • Don’t forget to include employer-paid benefit amounts in the payroll costs, including group medical, dental, vision, FSA and 401(k) plans.

  • Keep track of hours worked for each employee – the forgiveness is based on FT and FTE counts (based on a 40-hour workweek).

  • Pay a bonus or increase compensation for employees if you’re tracking too low near the end of the 8 or 24 weeks.

Still Embracing Diversity in the Workplace

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Ricardo Charlton, Port of Tacoma’s maintenance director, and Pat Patterson, assistant director of facilities maintenance.

 Embracing Diversity in the Workplace – Part II

by John A. Huguley – Community Writer

For a second year, the NW Facts Newspaper is proud to do a feature article on the Port of Tacoma on the subject of diversity in the workplace. This year we are highlighting two port employees; Ricardo Charlton, Port of Tacoma’s maintenance director, and Pat Patterson, assistant director of facilities maintenance.

Originally from the Bahamas, Ricardo Charlton came to the Port of Tacoma four years ago with over 20 years of experience. Before moving to the Pacific Northwest, he worked at ports in Louisiana and Florida. During his years in the industry he experienced many diversity changes, but none of the changes were as positive as he has seen at the Port of Tacoma. When he first came to the port he said he was given a blank slate and was granted the power to hire staff whom he felt were most qualified. He made it his goal to exhaust all avenues to find his new team. Ricardo says, “I made it my personal business to have total diversity … I wanted to create a work environment that reflects what the city of Tacoma looks like.”

Ricardo tells us he’s blessed to work in such a great work environment and to be living in the most beautiful part of the country right now. Among his many jobs, he says working for the Port of Tacoma is, “by far, unequivocally the best job he’s ever had.” Ricardo explains that the leadership as well as the people he works with daily are all outstanding. Ricardo has worked for several other ports around the country and says, “what we have here in Tacoma/Seattle is bar-none the best port there is.”

We also spoke with Pat Patterson, assistant director of facilities maintenance. 

Pat is responsible for the facilities side of the day to day operations at the Port of Tacoma properties owned or managed by the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA). He oversees a staff of 38 individuals of diverse backgrounds.

Pat came to the Port three years ago from the Tacoma Housing Authority where he served as the director of property management. The Port’s leadership team told Pat that they hired him to help make a difference. Pat has seen a conscious effort from the top down to make the workplace more diverse, including changes to the hiring process. Pat sees positive changes continuing based on the objectives of the current leadership at the Port and the goals of the NWSA.

Pat adds these wise words, “We have to keep moving – we cannot go backwards. As long as we have an agenda to move forward we are making progress.”

Today the Port of Tacoma employs about 250 people consisting of administration, maintenance, security, and skilled trades. The Port respects and values the rich diversity of its employees, customers, partners, and the community it serves. The Port is also committed to building an inclusive work environment that reflects the demographics of our community.

Founded in 1918, the Port is located on the Tacoma waterfront at the south end of Puget Sound. As the major economic engine for Pierce County, the Port of Tacoma supports more than 29,000 jobs and generates $3 billion in annual economic activity. Together, the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma make up the fourth-largest container gateway in North America and a major center for automobile shipments, bulk, and heavy-lift cargo.

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If you enjoyed reading this article please like and share.

You can read last year’s article by clicking this link:
https://www.nwfacts.com/embracing-diversity-workplace/

 

 

What to Know About Tacoma’s Marketing and Music Powerhouse Sky Creative

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Learn about local nonprofits like Inspirational Workshops that are doing work to cultivate local youth into agents of change and future professional leaders. Inspirational Workshops has been working with youth of color within the King County community for the past two years and is a catalyst when it comes to racial and social justice. The local nonprofit is focused on youth development, all of which are executed with curating social and racial justice in mind.

Inspirational Workshops targets youth development by using innovative ways to prepare them for success. This March, Inspirational Workshops will be launching a digital professional development program focused on Racial Trauma. This digital program is a student-led training that will be sent to schools in King County at no cost and will allow them to see youth execute professional training on the topic to educators. The program will include resources for educators to learn how they can create a positive culture in the classroom, defining trauma, and the youth sharing stories of experiences in the classroom.

Another successful program from Inspirational Workshops is titled “Trailblazers – youth of color blazing the trail for others to follow”. Join Inspirational Workshops through volunteering, giving, and spreading the word about their incredible work with the next generation of youth of color.

About Inspirational Workshops: The nonprofit organization was established in 2017 by Founder and Executive Director, Theresa Hardy. IW is currently partnering with Talbot Hill Elementary School and providing services to youth in the King County area. For more information, visit: https://www.inspirationalworkshops.org/

Revenue offers free tax workshop Feb. 19 in Renton

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Business owners in Washington are responsible for knowing which taxes to report. To help them, the Washington State Department of Revenue (Revenue) is hosting a free workshop for new and small business owners on Feb. 19 in Renton.

Call 425-656-5100 or go online to register on Revenue’s education page

Participants will learn about Washington excise taxes, reporting classifications, deductions, tax incentives, sales tax collection and record-keeping requirements. Attendees receive a workbook and helpful reference guide to Revenue’s rules and regulations. Also, attendees may earn two continuing professional education (CPE) credits. Contact the workshop instructor for details.

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 19

Time: 1 – 4 p.m.

Location: Fairwood Library, 17009 140th Ave. SE, Renton

Contact Revenue’s Rick Stedman with any questions about the workshop: 360-705-6624 or rickst@dor.wa.gov.

Revenue offers several ways for businesses to learn about taxes. Visit the education page to view a complete schedule and to register for upcoming workshops. Business owners can also watch a short streaming video version of the workshop online.

Sickle Cell Disease Disproportionally Impacts the Black Community: Hear How African American Doctors are Changing the Landscape

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Black History Month provides an opportunity to shed light on African American medical pioneers who have made important contributions in sickle cell disease (SCD), a devastating inherited blood disorder that disproportionally impacts the black community and historically lacked innovative treatment options.

Trailblazers that broke barriers and made important discoveries in an effort to bring hope to the SCD community include: Dr. Roland Scott; considered the father of SCD and instrumental in passing the Sickle Cell Anemia Control Act of 1971; Dr. John K. Haynes; whose research demonstrated that sickle cells are rigid and sickle-shaped due to having too much calcium and not enough water; and Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston; known for her study of sickle cell anemia resulting in a nationwide test for newborns.

Inspired during childhood by a black doctor in his local community of Huntsville, AL, Dr. Ted Love has been a leader in the biopharmaceutical industry over the past two decades following nearly 10 years of experience as a practicing physician. Dr. Love re-joined the industry after an early retirement to help usher a new era of advancements for people with SCD.

SCD occurs in 1 out of every 365 African American births, impacting more than 100,000 people in the U.S.[1]A genetic blood disorder that affects people whose ancestors came from sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia, South America and the Middle East, SCD is a lifelong disease that attacks every organ in the body and can cause a wide range of complications, including inflammation, multi-organ damage and failure and early death. Despite the staggering impact of SCD, innovation has lagged for decades, leaving patients with few treatment options and inadequate access to needed healthcare.

Now Dr. Love and the SCD community are excited that the landscape is changing with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of the first medicine specifically targeting the root cause of SCD – allowing patients to enter the new decade filled with newfound hope.

On Tuesday, February 18, join Ted W. Love, M.D. president and chief executive officer of Global Blood Therapeutics, to discuss the impact that African Americans have made in the treatment of SCD, the changing landscape and what people in the community need to know about the disease.

Karatbars Wealth Building Event

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