USHLI announces Project SED, a virtual civics classroom slated to reach 1.5 million students in 2012
Posted on 12/14/2011 @ 08:30 AM
Project SED (Students for an Educated Democracy) uses latest in social media and on-line engagement technology to educate and engage new and future voters
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) introduced Project SED, a virtual classroom bringing civics education to the age of social media. The project is the boldest in USHLI’s 20-year history and aims to reach 1.5 million students in 2012 alone. The students will learn about federal and state elections, participate in mock elections, and interact with peers online and with mobile phones.
"We are very excited to launch Project SED. The annual USHLI conference will turn 30 this year—we have seen major technological advances throughout our tenure, and we have seen how successful students can be when we provide them with the necessary tools to stay active and engaged in their communities locally and nationally," said Dr. Juan Andrade, president of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute. "If we want to promote civic engagement and encourage young people to vote we must put the power in their hands—specifically, cell phones and other electronic devices. It's the way the world communicates and USHLI will remain at the forefront."
Dr. Juan Andrade
Project SED (Students for an Educated Democracy) first began as a civics education program in the Chicago area nearly 15 years ago. Today it expands to computers, mobile phones, and social networks spanning the country. After studying gubernatorial, congressional, senatorial, and presidential elections, students will discuss issues and candidates, trade the latest political humor, and then vote in a mock election. Students turning 18 years old by election day will receive information on registering to vote.
“This ambitious project takes participating in our democracy out of the classroom and into the lives of today’s students: on Facebook or Twitter and by text or email,” said Juan Proaño, president and co-founder of technology company Plus Three. “At Plus Three we are delighted to lend our technology expertise to this crucial project. Discussing political issues and casting a ballot are key tenants of American life. The next generation of voters is well served by integrating civics education where they live, learn, and interact—online.”
USHLI is a Chicago-based national non-profit tax-exempt organization whose mission is to promote civic engagement, social integration, research, leadership development, redistricting and financial literacy. USHLI was incorporated in 1982 in Illinois as the Midwest Voter Registration Education Project, and changed its name to the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute in 1996.
Plus Three’s Juan Proaño to speak tomorrow on civic engagement at 2011 LATISM Conference on social media
Posted on 11/10/2011 @ 11:00 AM
Proaño to address the power of social media to drive political change in the United States and around the world
WASHINGTON, DC – Juan Proaño, president and co-founder of leading social media and technology company Plus Three, will be a featured speaker at the 2011 Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) Annual National Conference which is taking place November 9-11 at the Navy Pier in Chicago.
The LATISM conference brings together innovative Latinos who use social media across three tracks: public service, business and leadership, and personal influence and community. Mr. Proaño will participate in the public service track as part of a panel on “The Social Media Movement for Civic Engagement” at 2:00 pm on Friday, November 11.
Mr. Proaño formed Plus Three in 2002 to improve the way nonprofit organizations fundraise and build constituent groups, by deploying cutting-edge technology and his 17 years of political experience. Plus Three has worked with some of the largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organizations including the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), the Friends of the American Latino Museum, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and on issue campaigns which include Sotomayor for Justice, Latinos United for Healthcare and the 2008 Latino Inaugural Gala.
WHO:
Juan Proaño, president and co-founder of Plus Three
WHAT:
“The Social Media Movement for Civic Engagement” panel at the 2011 LATISM Conference
WHEN:
Friday, November 11 at 2:00 pm
WHERE:
The Navy Pier, Chicago, Ill.
FOR INFORMATION:
http://conference.latism.org/
Plus Three Continues to Build National Support for American Latino Museum
Posted on 10/15/2011 @ 12:00 PM
The Hispanic-owned company proudly highlights its work promoting the stories and contributions of American Latinos as Hispanic Heritage Month draws to a close
WASHINGTON, DC – Plus Three, a leader in social media and technology for nonprofit and political organizations, marks the conclusion of Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting their continuing partnership with and services for the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino (FRIENDS).
FRIENDS seeks to create a museum in our nation’s capital dedicated to the history, culture, and contributions of Latino leaders, pioneers and communities to the American fabric. Plus Three began its work with the Congressionally mandated National Museum of the American Latino Commission, which presented its Congressional Report in May of this year, and within a few months built national support for the museum to 50,000 people. Now, under the banner of the FRIENDS, Plus Three has designed and helped launch americanlatinomuseum.org and the organization is now on the verge of surpassing 200,000 supporters—already more than any of the existing Smithsonian museums.
“At Plus Three we are privileged to work with so many virtuous non-profit organizations and important political causes, and this Hispanic Heritage Month we are especially proud of our work with the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino,” said Juan Proaño, president and co-founder of Plus Three. “With our help, the effort to build a Latino museum in Washington, DC has found thousands of supporters across the country. The museum will one day inspire a new generation of Latino leaders, and we are delighted to take part in the effort to build it.”
Plus Three has also recently launched the website of the HBO special The Latino List, which tells the American Latino story through the eyes of some our nation’s most celebrated Latino icons, elected officials and celebrities. This month also saw the launch of a project for the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) to raise awareness of its Insider Game documentary project on diversity in the highest echelons of corporate America. Finally, Plus Three is proud to continue its work to enhance the online presence and outreach of the oldest Latino civil rights organization in the nation, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). With over 700 chapters in the U.S., Plus Three is working to ensure that LULAC has the capabilities to promote its public policy priorities and mobilize its members.
These are just a few among a host of examples of Plus Three’s capabilities. To learn more, visit Plus Three’s website at www.plusthree.com, or contact Alice Lincoln at (866) 945-4889 ext. 707.
October Newsletter
Posted on 10/15/2011 @ 10:00 AM
In this issue:
- Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Highlights of Plus Three's continuing work to promote the stories and contributions of American Latinos - Visit Us in Denver Nov. 6-8
Plus Three is sponsoring the Jewish Federation of North America (JFNA) General Assembly. Come see us at the Sheraton Denver Downtown.
Plus Three builds feature-rich online fundraising system for “DASH FOR DAD” endurance team races
Posted on 09/19/2011 @ 12:00 PM
Cutting-edge tools boost fundraising for ZERO, The Project to End Prostate Cancer
WASHINGTON, DC – Plus Three, a leader in social media and technology for nonprofit and political organizations, built an extensive new online fundraising system for ZERO—The Project to End Prostate Cancer and its DASH FOR DAD and Great Prostate Cancer Challenge race series. The system allows race participants to raise money using customized individual and team online fundraising tools.
“DASH FOR DAD is a fantastic program that promotes men’s health while raising money for a vital cause,” said Juan Proano, president and founder of Plus Three. “We are proud to partner with ZERO in their work to end prostate cancer, and we are excited that the system we built has already expanded ZERO’s fundraising. This ambitious project is built on new components of our ARCOS technology that allows DASH FOR DAD racers to more easily their fundraising goals.”
This year, ZERO’s Great Prostate Cancer Challenge strives to raise $1 million dollars through 27 running and walking events across the country. Using the new ZEROCancer.org and GreatProstateCancerChallenge.com, the community of participants—including athletes, cancer survivors, physicians, caretakers, family members and friends—can use personalized individual and team pages to raise money and track their progress toward their fundraising goals. The ARCOS system lets fundraisers easily engage with friends and family through online social networks, accepts online and offline contributions, sends email alerts to fundraisers, and allows users to search for teams and racers. The sites will also honor top fundraisers.
“Plus Three’s fundraising software is an excellent and important resource for our organization and the race participants,” says Skip Lockwood, CEO of ZERO. “The work of Plus Three helps us to boost our fundraising efforts for our DASH FOR DAD and Great Prostate Cancer Challenge events, and ultimately helps us reach our goal of ending prostate cancer.”
Plus Three’s work for ZERO is just one among a host of examples of their capabilities. To learn more, visit Plus Three’s website at http://www.plusthree.com, or contact Alice Lincoln at (866) 945-4889 ext. 707.
