Creating opportunities for

small and diverse businesses

Covestro introduces new supplier diversity program in North America  
Program builds on company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, strengthens innovation

PITTSBURGH, Apr. 9, 2019 -- Today, Covestro LLC announced the launch of its North American supplier diversity program, building on its continuous commitment to create a more diverse, inclusive and innovative culture. The new program opens the door for small and diverse organizations that have an interest in doing business with the global high-tech materials provider, which has operations throughout the United States and Mexico.

To learn more about Covestro’s supplier diversity program, visit the website at:
https://www.covestro.us/ company/diversity-and-inclusion/supplier-diversity.

“We believe that our supply base should reflect our company values and the diversity of the communities where we live and work. Our supplier diversity program paves the way by giving us a platform to connect with smaller, historically disadvantaged firms that share our passion for sustainability and innovation,” said Stacey Vigliotti, head of business procurement services at Covestro LLC.

That initial connection is made through an online portal, where potential suppliers can register for the opportunity to compete for Covestro’s business. The Supplier Diversity Portal acts as a hub of supplier information, which Covestro will use when considering new vendors for a product or service.

“Through this program, we hope to forge strategic alliances that allow us to better serve our customers, strengthen our culture of innovation and promote the growth of diverse businesses,” explained Micah Caporali, supplier diversity manager at Covestro LLC.

Covestro has long recognized diversity and inclusion as integral to its business and innovation strategies. That commitment extends throughout every aspect of its operations, including the supply network.

“We often look to our suppliers and business partners to bring new ideas and fresh insights to the table. And we believe that everyone should have a seat at that table,” said Haakan Jonsson, president and managing director of Covestro LLC. “By formalizing our commitment to supplier diversity, we aim to build relationships with forward-thinking, collaborative suppliers that want to grow with Covestro.”

“We’re early in this journey, but we’re committed to further developing our supplier diversity program through feedback and ongoing collaboration with suppliers,” he added.

Learn more about why the company is investing in supplier diversity: https://youtu.be/GhASU1vbjxA.

About Covestro LLC:
Covestro LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance polymers in North America and is part of the global Covestro business, which is among the world’s largest polymer companies with 2018 sales of EUR 14.6 billion. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, electrical and electronics, and healthcare industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 16,800 people at the end of 2018.

Find more information at www.covestro.us.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro’s public reports which are available on the Covestro website at www.covestro.com. Covestro assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

This press release is available for download from our website. Click here to view all our press releases.

Editor’s Note: Follow news from Covestro on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CovestroUS

2 Semesters, 6 Ongoing Roles, 5 Organizations, 3 Conferences, 3 Scholarships and ONE INSPIRATIONAL LATINA! 

(Interview  & Contact Information Below)

Mariajose Figueroa is a Colombian/Honduran, Pittsburgh Native. This Penn State (Main) freshman was accepted in to the Engineering program. In only her first year she has taken on becoming a Teaching Assistant and Grader for Computer Science course, Freshman Representative Chair for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Social Media Chair for the Society of Women Engineers, Director of Communication for the Society of Women Engineers (elect August 2019/May 2020), Sophomore Women Ambassador Team Envoy (fall 2019-spring 2020) and ambassador for the college of engineering.

She is a member of the Collegiate and National member of the Society of Women Engineers, Collegiate and National member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Women Engineering Program, Participant of Women Engineering Program Orientation and the Society of Women Engineers Benefitting THON.

Mariajose has attended the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers National Conference (Cleveland, Ohio), Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Regional Leadership Conference (Washington D.C.), Society of Women Engineers Local Conference (Baltimore, Maryland).

As a result of her first year activities Ms. Figueroa has accepted the Bunton Waller Merit Award Scholarship, Engineering Scholarship and the Society of Women Engineers “Most Active Member” Scholarship.

University: Pennsylvania State University, University Park(main campus)

Degree: Computational Data Science Engineering

Favorite College Course: CMPSC 132 (Python language)

Why did you choose this career path? I chose to study Computational Data Science Engineering because of my interest in computer science and artificial intelligence. Throughout High School I learned Java, HTML and later Python. With these skills and my knowledge for math and science I knew that this field was the perfect fit for me.

What is your dream job? My dream job is to one day be a Data Scientist. I want to hold a position where I would be responsible for interpreting large amounts of data using statistics, and machine learning to collect, organize and clean through data.

What is your Hispanic background? Colombian (mothers side) Honduran (fathers side)

How did you get involved with the Chamber? I started volunteering for PMAHCC my freshman year of High School, my first event being the Gala in the fall. I loved being around people from different countries around the world and listening to everyones incredible story. I later got my sisters involved and made it a fun thing that I liked to do with them.

What motivates you? Every time I learn something new and find a way to apply that knowledge I feel motivated to keep learning, and acquiring new skills to become better student, thinker, and future engineer.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? I see my future self having a job where I love doing what I do possibly with a family.

Tell us about a cultural experience you have had./ What is your greatest achievement? My greatest achievement is studying abroad in Colombia when I was younger. I was very fortunate to be given this opportunity at a very young age. It opened my eyes to a new culture and outlook on life. I learned how to speak the language, more about my background, and family.

What do you like about volunteering for PMAHCC? Every time I volunteer for PMAHCC I love how every event feels like a family/friend gathering where people come together to catch up while meeting new people and have a nice time.

What do you like to do if your downtime? In my downtime at Penn State I like to take advantage of all the resources given to me. I go to the gym, sporting events, and I am involved in many of the clubs and organization around campus. I am the Treasurer of the first STEM sorority on campus that I am in the process of building and a Chair for the Society o Hispanic Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers. I will  also be a SWAT (Sophomore Women Ambassador Team) Envoy next year in the College of Engineering.

Tell us one interesting thing about you: I thought I’d never be interested in being an engineer. My father is a Mechanical Engineer so I always thought I had to find what I loved and wanted to study and for some reason I never thought it would be the same as his. I guess it’s in our blood.

Connect with Mariajose on LinkedIn

Email Mariajose: mjf6007@psu.edu

International Cultural Exchange Services is an international nonprofit youth exchange organization committed to educational study abroad programs. For almost three decades ICES has promoted a more peaceful world by advancing international awareness and cultural understanding to thousands of American families and exchange students from all over the world. Volunteers in the Pittsburgh area are needed to host an international student for the upcoming 2019/2020 academic year. There are currently over 20 students that requested to spend their exchange year in Pennsylvania, like Giulia from Italy who specifically chose to come to Pittsburgh!

Giulia is from northern Italy and will turn 17 this summer.  She lives with her parents, older brother, and dog, Pluto, and says family is the most important thing in her life.  She loves having a loyal and protective brother and would love to have host siblings and pets!  Her parents say she is kind, respectful and thoughtful, making sure to include others in conversations and activities.  She describes herself as lively, inquisitive, a bit of a dreamer and sure of herself!  Giulia loves to dance and has danced since the age of 6, participating in dance competitions at both national and European levels.  Dance helps her relax and express herself, and she would love to continue to dance and train this year, if possible.  Her greatest passion is fashion, and she hopes to study fashion and become a stylist.  Shopping and makeup are two other favorite pastimes, and she’s considering becoming an actress or working in Hollywood. When she’s just hanging out with friends she likes to ski in winter and spend summer days at the lake or going for motorbike rides. She likes to travel and loves the ocean.  She is thrilled about the possibility of making new friends in the U.S.! Will she be a good fit for your family?

 Our students come from 39 countries and are supervised by trained coordinators and compassionate student counselors.  Students are arriving in mid-August and have their own spending money, insurance, great English skills, and hands-on local support. All host family dynamics are welcome and you do not have to have teenagers in your home to host. You can host for a few weeks, a semester, or a school year. If you’re interested in enriching your life and becoming a host family, please contact Yazmin Peña at ypena@icesusa.org or visit our website at www.icesusa.org. 

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

STEEL RIVERS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Notice is hereby given that sealed proposals will be received by the Steel Rivers Council of Governments office

located on the first floor of the Steel Valley Human Service Center, Room 100, 1705 Maple Street, Homestead

PA 15120. Bid proposals will be received until 10:00 A.M. prevailing time on May 15, 2019 whereupon bids

will be publicly opened and read immediately thereafter for the following project:

1) CD 44-3.10.5 – Street Reconstruction Phase 2, Dravosburg Borough: The project consists of asphalt

milling, 1990 SY binder asphalt, 1990 SY wearing asphalt, 600 LF wedge curb, keyway, utility

adjustments, miscellaneous work items as specified.

Copies of the Contract Specifications, Instructions to Bidders, General Conditions, Form of Proposal and

Agreement can be obtained at the offices of the Steel Rivers Council of Governments, Room 100, 1705 Maple

Street, Homestead PA 15120 upon payment of a non-refundable fee of $50.00 made payable to the Steel Rivers

COG. Documents will be mailed upon receipt of an additional $10.00 postage and handling fee. Each proposal

shall be delivered in a sealed envelope bearing the name and address of the bidder on the outside, addressed to

the Steel Rivers COG and marked with the project name. Proposals to receive consideration must be

accompanied by a Certified Check or Bidder’s Bond from a Surety Company authorized to do business in

Pennsylvania, made to the order of the Steel Rivers Council of Governments and/or Municipality in an amount

equal to ten percent (10%) of the Proposal as a guarantee that, if the Proposal is accepted, the successful Bidder

will immediately enter into Agreement after the Notice of Award of the Contract and commence start of

construction immediately thereafter.

Predetermined wage rates as established by the U.S. Department of Labor apply. “Compliance is required with

the Davis-Bacon Act and other Federal Labor Standard Provisions; Title VI and other applicable provisions of

the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Department of Labor Equal Opportunity Clause (41 CFR 60-1.4); Section 109

of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974; Executive Order 11625 (Utilization of Minority

Business Enterprise); Executive Order 12138 (Utilization of Female Business Enterprise); in compliance with

Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Allegheny County

MBE/WBE Program enacted July, 1981, which sets forth goals of 13 percent Minority and 2 percent Female

Business Enterprise; and the Allegheny County Ordinance #6867-12, setting forth goals of 5 percent Veteran-

Owned Small Businesses. Further, notice is hereby given that this is a Section 3 Project under the Housing and

Urban Development Act of 1968 (as amended), and must to the greatest extent feasible, utilize lower income

residents for employment and training opportunities and Section 3 Business concerns and all contracts and

subcontracts for this project shall contain the “Section 3 Clause” as set forth in 24 CFR, Part 135.38. Moreover,

compliance is required by the prime contractor and all subcontractors with Federal General County Conditions

included in the contract documents between ACED and the operating agency. These Federal General County

Conditions are to be incorporated by reference into all construction contracts between operating agency and

contractor, contractor and subcontractor(s), and subcontractor(s) and lower tiered subcontractor(s).”

The Steel Rivers Council of Governments reserves the right to waive any informalities or to reject any or all

proposals, or any part thereof. No Bidder may reject his/her bid for the period as specified in the project bid

documents after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids.

AN LEWIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Pittsburgh Post Gazette Local Xtra - Advertisement Dates:

April 19 and April 26, 2019

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced additional guidance regarding the adjudication of spousal petitions involving minors, following up on the agency’s February update to its policy.

The guidance, published as an update to the USCIS Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM), instructs officers to conduct an additional interview for certain I-130 spousal petitions involving a minor. Generally, the bona fides of the spousal relationship are assessed in person by USCIS when the alien spouse applies to adjust status, or by the Department of State when the alien spouse applies for an immigrant visa. However, I-130 spousal petitions involving a minor party warrant special consideration due to the vulnerabilities associated with marriage involving a minor. As such, USCIS is modifying its policy to require in-person interviews at this earlier stage for certain I-130 petitions involving minor spouses.

“As part of our continued efforts to strengthen guidance for spousal petitions involving minors, we have instructed USCIS officers to conduct an additional in-person interview earlier in the immigration process for certain petitions that warrant additional scrutiny,” said USCIS Director L. Francis Cissna. “While USCIS has taken action to the maximum extent possible to detect and closely examine spousal petitions involving a minor spouse, Congress should address this issue by providing more clarity under the law for USCIS officers.”

Interviewing earlier at the I-130 petition stage provides USCIS with an additional opportunity to verify information contained in the petition and assess the bona fides of the claimed spousal relationship. USCIS officers will now conduct interviews for the following I-130 spousal petitions as part of the adjudication of any I-130 spousal petition where:

• The petitioner or the beneficiary is less than 16 years old; or
• The petitioner or the beneficiary is 16 or 17 years old and there are 10 years or more difference between the ages of the spouses.

While there are no statutory age requirements to petition for a spouse or be sponsored as a spousal beneficiary, USCIS published guidance earlier this year detailing factors that officers should consider when evaluating I-130 spousal petitions involving a minor. USCIS considers whether the age of the beneficiary or petitioner at the time the marriage was celebrated violates the law of the place of celebration. Officers also consider whether the marriage is recognized as valid in the U.S. state where the couple currently resides or will presumably reside and does not violate the state’s public policy. In some U.S. states and in some foreign countries, marriage involving a minor might be permitted under certain circumstances, including where there is parental consent, a judicial order, emancipation of the minor, or pregnancy of the minor.

In addition, per regulation, USCIS may use its discretion to issue a request for evidence (RFE) where appropriate.  As with any benefit, the burden is generally on the petitioner to demonstrate the validity of their petition and the bona fides of their spousal relationship.

These AFM updates are part of USCIS’ continuing efforts to ensure that our policies and processes remain current and are compliant with existing immigration law. USCIS also created a flagging system that sends an alert in an electronic system at the time of filing if a minor spouse or fiancé is detected. After the initial flag, the petition is sent to a special unit that verifies that the age and relationship listed are correct before the petition is accepted. If the age or classification on the petition is incorrect, the petition will be returned to the petitioner for correction.

INVITATION FOR BIDS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that specifications and proposal forms for furnishing labor, materials, and construction for

Electrical, HVAC and Plumbing trades for the following project entitled:

Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation Incubator Build Out - 2018-CITF-0058

may be obtained at the offices of the Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation (PHDC) located at 1660 Broadway

Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15216, from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, beginning April 26, 2019.

Electronic copies of specifications for this project can be provided at no cost upon request by prospective bidders. Hard

copies of bid specifications requires a non-returnable fee of $50.00 (plus $ 7.00 postage & handling). BIDS FOR ALL

PROJECTS WILL BE RECEIVED until 5 P.M. on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Bids will be publicly opened at 1 PM Wednesday,

May 22, 2019 at the PHDC offices at the location indicated above.

Bids must be on standard proposal forms in the manner therein described and be enclosed in a sealed envelope, bearing

the name and address of the bidder on the outside, addressed to the Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation,

1660 Broadway Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15216 and marked with the project name.

Bids must be accompanied by a certified check upon a National or State bank, drawn and made payable without

condition to Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation in an amount not less than five percent (5%) of the bid, or a

bid bond of not less than 5%, and be delivered to the place and hour named.

The Build Out site, located at 1555 Broadway Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15216, will be open for inspection 9 AM to Noon,

May 7. All questions must be submitted by e-mail.

Compliance is required with the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act of 1961, P.L. 987, No. 442; Title VI and other

applicable provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Department of Labor Equal Opportunity Clause (41 CFR 60 -1.4);

Executive Order 11625 (Utilization of Minority Business Enterprise); Executive Order 12138 (Utilization of Female

Business Enterprise); in compliance with Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of

1990; the Allegheny County MBE/WBE Program enacted July, 1981, which sets forth goals of 13 percent Minority and 2

percent Female Business Enterprise; and the Allegheny County Ordinance #6867-12, setting forth goals of 5 percent

Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.

If there are additional questions, please contact Guillermo Velazquez, Executive Director, at Pittsburgh Hispanic

Development Corporation at info@phdcincubator.org

Ameya Bhat, a 2017 Pittsburgh Business Times 30 Under 30 awardee, is a Carnegie Mellon University graduate and entrepreneur in residence at the Venture Development Center at UMass Boston. 

Mr. Bhat is native of Mumbai, and has no Latinx background but enjoys volunteering at PMAHCC events and contributing to a cause that involves both business and a diverse population. He has been volunteering for  the chamber for two years.

"As an entrepreneur, you have to make decisions around uncertainty. The key is not to worry about making the right decision but to quickly learn and adapt from failures in order to make better decisions."

While all entrepreneurs like to talk about changing the world, one could easily say that Ameya Bhat actually saves lives. Ameya grew up in India where he got his bachelor’s in Electronics and worked as a software engineer at an online gaming startup after graduation. Now he is the Cofounder of RistCall — a healthcare startup made possible by the GEIR program at UMass Boston. We recently talked to Ameya about his experience with moving to the US and starting a company here.

On coming to the US

Ameya moved to the US in 2013 in order to study Engineering at Carnegie Mellon. While there he got to know some of the best engineering minds in the university, and soon they decided to combine their vision and embark on an entrepreneurial journey by creating AlertCall — an app that helped improve safety for students, and would later pivot to become RistCall. After working on the new startup for more than a year, Ameya faced a challenge — the company was succeeding but his work authorization was about to expire*. That’s when a contact of his told him about the GEIR program and introduced him to William Brah. The rest, as they say, is history.

On becoming an entrepreneur

Bhat had always imagined himself starting a company. In fact, he was attracted by the startup environment in the US that encourages risk-taking and fast failures. He enjoys solving real-world problems, empowering people through technology, and is ready to take on the challenge of disrupting industries that have seen little innovation in the past.

On RistCall

The idea for RistCall was born when one of the co-founders of AlertCall had to be hospitalized, but was unable to effectively communicate with the nurses during his stay in the hospital. The founding team realized that the communication system between the patients and the nurses had not been updated for over 30 years, and decided to pivot. By bringing IoT and healthcare together, the company helps patients easily communicate with care-givers via a smart device strapped to the patients’ wrists and avoid potential incidents. After raising an initial funding of $250, 000, RistCall is currently being deployed in hospitals in Pittsburgh and employs a total of ten people.

On the challenges of being an immigrant entrepreneur

Ameya knows first-hand how hard entrepreneurship can be, especially if you’re developing a hardware device, which is a lot more capital intensive and takes a long time to perfect. As such, he finds the visa extension given to international students after the completion of their studies insufficient. The lack of a startup visa complicates things by not giving entrepreneurs the time to develop their ventures fully. Ameya credits the GEIR program for a good part of his success because it allowed him to stay in the US and work on RistCall. He is especially grateful for the fact that the Founder and Executive Director of the VDC, William Brah, has the entrepreneurs’ best interest in mind, and is sincerely looking for ways to help them.

On choosing the US

Despite the fact that India has a robust startup scene and a large market, Ameya thinks that the US is the best place for RistCall. He believes that the healthcare technology is more advanced in the States, and people’s openness to it can accelerate the adoption rate. He’d like to see the RistCall device become popular on the American healthcare market first, as he believes that hospitals and healthcare providers here are more prone to embracing innovation.

His advice to foreign-born entrepreneurs

When asked what advice he’d give other immigrant entrepreneurs, Ameya says that they should never give up. He views tenacity and persistence as the key to being a successful founder.

On entrepreneurship

“As an entrepreneur, you have to make decisions around uncertainty. The key is not to worry about making the right decision but to quickly learn and adapt from failures in order to make better decisions.

“Any new idea/innovation has to go through a series of iterations (failures) before it becomes successful. The key to entrepreneurial success is to persist through the failures with a long-term view [vision] of building the future.”

*Ameya hopes to remain in the USA working for tech companies and making the world a better place through his entrepreneurial endeavors and is therefore seeking immediate permanent work. For interviews, job openings or general networking you may connect with Ameya on LinkedIn, at ameyapbhat@gmail.com or call him at 412-482-0106.

University/ Degree: Carnegie Mellon University / Masters in Engineering & Technology Innovation management

Favorite College Course: Human Centered Design

Why did you choose this career path: Passion to solve relevant problems with innovative technologies

What is your dream job: Taking a product from idea to scale

What sets you apart from other recent graduates (a skill or experience): Multidisciplinary perspective to solve challenging problems

Tell us about a cultural experience you have had: Coming to US to pursue Masters and working talented people from across the world.

How did you get involved with the Chamber: Inspired by the work chamber does for Pittsburgh community

What motivates you: Belief that each one of us has the ability to impact the course of humanity positively

Where do you see yourself in five years / ten years: Solving a critical problem in healthcare

What is your greatest achievement: Building a healthcare start up that improves patient safety, experience and quality of care

What do you like about volunteering for PMAHCC: Meet interesting people in Pittsburgh community and celebrating Hispanic culture

What do you like to do if your downtime: Read non-fiction books, volunteer, explore nature

Tell us one interesting thing about you: Ameya can communicate in 4 languages

Portions of this article were originally published on Medium.com at https://medium.com/@ellisproject/entrepreneur-spotlight-ameya-bhat-from-ristcall-26ae077dfabb

PMAHCC Small Business Member, Casa Brasil has been featured in both the Pittsburgh Post Gazette (Restaurant Week 2019) and Next Pittsburgh this month!

"... unlike a Brazilian steakhouse that’s all about meat on a stick, Casa’s menu is a small assortment of appetizers, side dishes and entrees that highlight underrepresented regions of the South American country. Nearly all menu items are gluten-free and the main courses, which change periodically, can be made vegan-friendly or with beef or chicken."

-Next Pittsburgh

A Note From Casa San Jose: We all know the desperate conditions and challenges immigrants face at our border, and we know that some of our Amigos have already traveled down to the border or are planning on going soon. If you would like to join the effort, Mary Nell Cummings, a volunteer member of Casa's Emergency Response Team, and a Pittsburgh attorney and law professor, is coordinating arrangements. Please see the information below if you would like to join them.

If you are interested in volunteering at the border, please contact Mary Nell Cummings (mncummings@mncummingslaw.com)

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) seeks your input to prioritize strategies which will help guide the way our region grows and invests now and in the future. You can provide your input, via our new MetroQuest survey, here, and through this link. 

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) and Carnegie Mellon University’s (CMU) Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy have partnered to award scholarships to CHCI alumni pursuing master’s degrees at Heinz College. This unique opportunity provides emerging Latinx leaders with the financial support they need to access education that will advance them in their path towards careers in Public Policy and STEM.

Through the CHCI-Carnegie Mellon University partnership, qualified CHCI alumni will receive scholarships that cover a minimum of 30% of tuition per semester when enrolling in Heinz College’s master’s programs. The nationally acclaimed programs provide students with the analytics, technology, and policy skills necessary to solve complex societal problems in an increasingly connected world.

For more information Click Here

"Filling out applications is stressful to me. In addition to the tedium of filling out the same answers over and over again, I have an identity crisis every time I have to check one of the race boxes. As a person of multi-ethnic heritage – both white and Hispanic – I don’t know which box to check.

While it may seem like a trivial detail, it has actually caused me to ask some big questions. When an application does not allow me to check multiple boxes and asks me to choose between the specific options “White (not hispanic)” and “Hispanic (not white),” I have to choose between two equally important sides of my ethnic identity."

"According to the Pew Research Center, in the 2010 census, 97 percent of respondents who checked the box “some other race” were Hispanic, and 37 percent of all Hispanic respondents checked that box. In fact, in the past two censuses, the “some other race” category has become the third-largest race group. This data shows I am not alone in the confusion: Many people of Hispanic origin struggle to identify with the race options offered to them. 

Adding a more accurate race option for Hispanic people is a necessity. Pew Research indicates that two-thirds of Hispanic adults believe their Hispanic origin should be related to race, not just ethnicity. Since Hispanics are a significant percentage of the population, America should include all types of diversity." Read More

If one thing is clear as we start 2019, it's that America is changing. According to a Claritas report (registration required), in the United States today, there are 131 million multicultural Americans, making up 37.5% of the U.S. population, with Hispanics accounting for the largest portion at 19.6%.

Minority groups now represent the majority of the population in more than 400 U.S. counties. There can be no doubt that America is becoming multicultural and that Hispanics are a significant part of this change.

Novus Group seeks a Payroll professional with at least two years of experience to join our Moon Township operation. This position requires you to be reliable, very detail oriented and a quick learner.

This is a Part-Time position with Flex Hours & Excellent Pay! Minimum 2 years’ payroll experience, payroll certification a plus.

Click Here to Apply

Call for Proposals Now Open!

Got ideas? Inspiration or lessons to share? Bring them to the 2019 Community Development Summit!

PCRG's Community Development Summit has become the place where ideas are shared, lessons are learned, and partnerships are formed in the name of creating accessible, thriving communities for all. We hope that you consider submitting a session. We seek outstanding sessions on all topics relating to community development. This year, we are putting a particular focus on access to capital and building capacity within communities.

Past sessions have covered everything from land banking to workforce investment, from education to arts in the community. Presenters can include anyone from individuals who work in business, nonprofits, and government to activists and residents - from ages 8 to 80! Sessions should generally discuss how people and systems interact with land, capital, and/or access and mobility.

Even if you don’t have a fully developed session, feel free to submit whatever ideas you have. We encourage you to think outside the box! Interested in learning more? .

Proposals are being accepted through February 22.

Submit your session idea today! Click here.

The UPMC Health Plan Member Services Team is currently hiring full-time Bilingual Customer Service Concierges to be an advocate for our English and Spanish speaking members and to proudly wear the badge of UPMC Health Plan. With a close-knit work environment and a dedicated culture of service excellence, our Member Services Team educates and guides our customers through coverage, claims, and other program inquiries.

Click Here for Info

Allegheny county is hiring an Epidemiology Research Associate Supervisor for Environmental Issues. The person in this position conducts epidemiologic surveillance and special studies of public health conditions, provides quantitative input on program implementation and evaluation, and supervises public health personnel involved in disease investigations.  The objectives are to monitor the incidence of public health conditions, to measure and understand associated risk factors, to provide epidemiologic input to develop best practices for prevention and control, and to evaluate the impact of interventions that are implemented to address these conditions, with added goal of mentoring professional and technical staff.

Please visit their WEB SITE, www.alleghenycounty.us/healthdepartment, CAREERS for an online application form and job announcement.   

The Red Cross is currently seeking a Disaster Program Specialist. This position will work 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, and some weekends and evenings will be required during times of business need. Travel will also be involved up to 10% of the time.

The Disaster Program Specialist (DPS) is responsible for either providing functional expertise to the Disaster Program Manager (DPM) and Volunteer Leadership at a territory or regional level, or, taking full cycle responsibility to provide service delivery programs within a subset of the Disaster Program Managers assigned geography and under the supervision and authority of the DPM. The DPS will accomplish this responsibility largely through the support, development and operational guidance of a team of trained volunteer leaders, volunteers and partners, as well as participate in the implementation and development of initiatives to increase Red Cross visibility through program/service delivery.

To apply and for more information Click Here

To view more than 8,000 jobs in South Western PA 

CLICK HERE

February 19

Pittsburgh Career Fair 

Pittsburgh provides the job seeking candidates with the opportunity to meet top employers and to interview for several positions during the course of the day. There will be a variety of vendors attending and there will be many positions available. You are encouraged to dress professionally and bring multiple copies of your resumes.

For more information Click Here

February 7

Get Behind the Numbers & Increase Your Profits

Do you want to grow your business? Are you considering hiring a new employee? Do you want to invest in new equipment? Are you seeking new clients? Would a “yes” to any of these be a profitable decision? No one has a crystal ball to know for sure, but successful business owners analyze their current financial situation and project the impact of their decisions. You can too and you don’t have to be an accountant - just a smart entrepreneur. Own your numbers!

A representative from Wilke & Associates, CPAs will offer clear examples for using these statements to make informed decisions, identify potential problems within your business and set realistic financial goals.

REGISTER NOW

February 16

Good Vibes Latin Social, February Edition

Come spread some good vibes and leave with more than you came with at the Good Vibes Latin Social!

Music is played by DJ Tay and will be a delectable mix of your favorite Latin genres (and sometimes Kizomba): Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Cha Cha & Bolero Campesino

For more information Click Here

February 28

Best Techniques to Build a Website for Your Business

This workshop is designed to help entrepreneurs build and create a cost-effective website for their business. Building a website has now become an essential step for businesses to increase their sales. Although building a website can be complicated, this workshop will help you help with a few tips and tricks.

Chris Vendilli from ProFromGo will be our guest!

Register Now

February 27

Pittsburgh Rotary Ethics Excellence Awards & Luncheon

Attend Pittsburgh's annual awards luncheon and ceremony honoring our region's top leaders in business ethics. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh, in partnership with PBX, we invite you to join us for this special regional event! Award finalist will include the large, medium, and small company categories, as well as large and small non-profit organizations. The luncheon Master of Ceremonies will be Dr. Chris Howard, President of RMU and the event will also include a keynote from Kurt J. Lesker IV, CEO of Kurt J. Lesker Company.

Info/Registration

Newsletter By: Melanie Marie Boyer

PMAHCC thanks you for your continued support and hopes to see you at one of our upcoming events! For information on memberships, scholarships and more please visit:

www.pmahcc.org

Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 

One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, Suite 4300 ● Pittsburgh PA 15219 U.S.A.

Please Like, Follow and Subscribe us at:

     

PMAHCC Newsletter

January 2018

February 15, 2019 

Celebration of Love

Celebrate Valentines day in style at our exclusive Valentines Day Dinner and After Party! 

Featuring world-class entertainment straight from Puerto Rico,  Luis Angel Cortes (Puerto Rican vocalist with experience playing with El Gran Combo) and Luis Adrián (one of the “Top 12 Finalists” on "Idol Puerto Rico" and one of the top 20 Global Finalists in the “2014 FIFA World Cup TM SuperSong competition”) who will be providing live entertainment as well as a Latin America DJ!

This festive two-part event includes a cocktail hour, four course dinner, complimentary Valentines Day toast and an exciting After Party!

Where? Mansions on Fifth Hotel, 5105 Fifth Avenue, Shadyside.

When? February 15 (Friday), 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m

With only 80 seats available, be sure to purchase your tickets now before they sell out!

For more information about our events please CLICK HERE

2019 Annual Members Meeting (Members Only)

February 12

Please join us for our Annual Member meeting. This is a members-only event and is FREE to attend.

At the Annual Members' meeting, you'll have the opportunity to vote in the board election results and discuss PMAHCC's past, present and future! Hear about our plans for the upcoming year and share your questions, comments and ideas!

Food and drinks will be provided.

Register no later than 2/8 at: https://pmahcc.wildapricot.org/event-3229895

Thursday, January 31

You are invited to enjoy a FREE event with appetizers and drinks at Savoy on Thursday, January 31 at 5:30 pm. This event is to raise awareness for about the Middle School Mentor Program, a program by the United Way.

Click above to RSVP for the Mentoring Event!

January 19th -Feb 24th

With pulsing rhythms and original rhymes set to a live, looped soundtrack, Brian Quijada stages a hip-hop autobiography about falling in love with performance, the power of family, and growing up Latinx in a world that categorizes everyone in black and white.

The City Theatre's "Where Did We Sit On The Bus" is a MUST SEE

To see more reviews from Armando Ocando and Kenya C. Dworkin 

CLICK HERE

Tuesday, February 5th

This high-energy group is a joyous celebration of Cuban music and dance styles. The Havana Cuba All-Stars are some of Cuba’s greatest musicians. With rhythms and melodies from the cha cha to the rumba, from “Son Cubano” style to the salsa, the All-Stars will showcase a wide variety of Cuban beats. The group is inspired by and dedicated to promoting the entire tapestry of Cuban music through a fresh, contemporary lens.

Get 25% off by using the code "Chamber25" when purchasing tickets.

Hispanic Heritage Month Gala Celebration

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2019

PMAHCC's primary funding for our Scholarship is our Biennial Gala. The Gala features live Latin music, a casino, silent auction, casino prizes and more!

Celebrity Charity Basketball Game

January 12, 2019

The game was filled with local celebrities, food, and fun for the whole family and was a huge success helping to raise over $14,000 dollars that will go to fun scholarships funded by both the university and the chamber.

Despite the threat of snow outside, nearly 300 fans packed the Wunderly Gymnasium to watch the festivities and have some fun. PMAHCC treasurer Jesus Torres, who helped organize the event, was very happy with the turn out saying that the event was a huge success.

“What an amazing experience,” said Torres via Facebook. “I don’t know where to begin but thank you to the fans, our sponsors, the players, coaches, and many more. Thanks to them we raised close to $14,000 dollars and both [Penn State Greater Allegheny] and [Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce] are thankful for their support.”

Donning the court inside the Wunderly Gymnasium included names like Pittsburgh Pirates 1979 World Series Champion Omar Moreno, Pittsburgh Bullets CEO Marcus Robinson, District Attorney Zappala, Pirates president Frank Coonley and third base coach Joey Cora, and members of the Steel City Yellow Jackets to name a few.

During the game the PMAHCC honored Rosana Guernica with a humanitarian achievement award for her work helping Puerto Rico after hurricane Maria. Between October and December of 2017, Guernica complete five relief trips delivering over 76,500 pounds of supplies to the island while evacuating nearly 300 people.

A special thanks to our sponsors: UPMC, Northwest, Torres Probooks, LinkTech, Jackie & Michael Edmonson, Davis Financial Group, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation, Daniel Carinci Agency, Latin American Cultural Union, Petland Irwin, Big Frog Greensburg and The Mon Valley Independent

Also thank you to all of our Volunteers, Players and everyone who had a hand in making this event possible!

LATINX LEADERS GATHERING

January 18, 2019

A Special Thanks to the City Theatre for sponsoring our Latinx Leaders Gathering on January 18th.

Representatives from Pittsburgh Latinx-related nonprofits gathered to discuss to discuss our the Hispanic populations, organizations and how we can best work together to benefit our people and the city as a whole. It is our firm belief that there is strength in numbers and that we can find growing prosperity through partnership.

Following the meeting attendees were invited to view a showing of "Where Did We Sit On The Bus?".

"It was a tour de force it was an incredible, energetic presentation of some very funny, but some very serious material" - Kenya Dworkin, LACU/ Coro Latinoamericano

"It tells a universal story in a unique way. It has something for everybody. Even if you are like that your great grandparents came here or your grandparents came here or of your parents came here, I think it has something to say to everybody." - Show Attendee

"I truly felt the first time in a long time in Pittsburgh. It was greatly refreshing and uplifting to see stories of Latin people, latinx people represented here in Pittsburgh. I don't see that often enough and I am so happy that it's here."

"It is absolutely for everyone young, old, brown, white, black, everyone should see this show!"

 - Laura Coyt Zavala of La Escuelita Arcoiris

To get tickets for "Where Did We Sit On The Bus" Click Here