Business Journal 152

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

Entrepreneur | Business | Education and Career | Finance | Legal | Real Estate | Technology | Insurance

April 2020

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Inspire, Inform & Educate

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152nd Edition

How Admore

CLOCKWISE Brittanie Deblanc – Lead Case Manager Abigail Wynne – Administrator Alexandra Alonso - Clinical Supervisor Adrianne Williams – Psychotherapist Joe Nair – Director of Operations

Behavioral Therapy is Redefining Mental Health Care in Crises 10-11

INSIDE

26

Senator Borris Miles Letter to the Governor

17-24

Pinecroft Pharmacy’s Mission to Compound a Solution for COVID-19 Patients

08-09 A Message from d-mars.com our President and CEO, Keith “MR. D-MARS” Davis, Sr.

April 2020 | 3

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

MR. D-MARS CERTIFIED:

HMSDC

Publisher’s Messaged-mars.com is proud to share the success stories of African American businesses and civic and community leaders. We know that success does not always come easy and it is not always measured in money. How have you helped your fellow entrepreneur?

Have you supported your locallyowned African American business?

Have you donated to a nonprofit that is working in our underserved communities? Questions to think about and actions to take.

This month’s issue highlights helpful steps to take for your business from the Small Business Association. We want to offer our

Port of Houston

BEHIND THE JOURNAL PUBLISHER & CEO Keith J. Davis, Sr. COO & MANAGING EDITOR Kimberly Floyd ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla STAFF WRITER Carly Hammack ART DIRECTOR Angel Rosa DISTRIBUTION Rockie Hayden PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard Grady Carter CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Adrian Garcia LJ Garfield Dr. Carlie Bell-Biggins Roger Caldwell

“No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”

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– Martin Luther King Jr.

City of Houston

readers vital information on necessary steps to take to protect you and your business.

Our community has been an ideal example of the good that comes from people coming together to helps others, and one example of that is how many of our partners in the community have efficiently and effectively offered timely information on actions to take during this pandemic. Thanks to them, we have remained up-to-date and reassured throughout this crisis.

As always, thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com. When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work.

Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen

HISD

CONTENTS 04 BUSINESS 04 Report: Companies Owned by Women of Color Account for 89 Percent of All New Women-Owned Businesses 05 How Small Businesses Can Boost sales 06 COMMUNITY

06 “Into the Unknown” 08-09 COVER STORY 08-09 A Message from our President and CEO, Keith “MR. D-MARS” Davis, Sr. 10-11 COVER STORY 10-11 Admore Behavioral Therapy: Pioneers of Crisis Response Behavioral Therapy Centers 13-24 HEALTH & WELLNESS 14 During COVID-19, Take Simple Steps to Establish a New Normal 16 1-2-3 Simple Plant-Base Food Swaps to eat Better 22 How and Why to Keep Kids on a Schedule During School Closures 18-19 HEALTH COVER STORY 18-19 Pinecroft Pharmacy’s Mission to Compound a Solution for COVID-19 Patients 26 EDUCATION & CAREER 26 5 Secrets for Landing Your Next Job 26 GOVERNMENT 26 Sen. Borris L. Miles Letter to the Governor: We Must Have More Testing Before State Reopens 27 FINANCE 27 Building credit at 18: Tips for a solid financial foundation 27 Protecting Your Financial Health in These Uncertain Times 29 Create your business and financial plans

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4 | April 2020

Report:

BUSINESS

Companies Owned by Women of Color

Account for 89 Percent of All New Women-Owned Businesses

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

C

rystal Etienne is a businesswoman, wife, and mother of two children.

She’s also the founder of Ruby Love, a $10 million personal care company that she built in just four years.

“My dream was to always work for myself,” Etienne, a New York native, stated in an email to NNPA Newswire.

“However, I did have thoughts about going to law school. Understanding the political side of things, certain laws, and the rights of those around me always excited me, especially if I felt someone was wronged,” she said.

“I ended up going a different route and landed a job in finance,” Etienne continued. “Math, equations, and anything that had to do with business was something I was always good at. It was my strong suit, which is ironic because I disliked accounting and finance as a student.”

But her dreams have come true, she said. “The end goal was to always work for myself,” Etienne stated. “I am now in a position to make my own decisions and take control of my course in life.”

Etienne’s success helps to underscore a growing trend highlighted in the most recent State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, which noted that women of color account for 89 percent (1,625) of the new businesses opened every day over the past year.

The annual report, based on U.S. Census Bureau data adjusted by Gross Domestic Product data, found that women-owned businesses continue to trend above all others.

Over the past five years, the number of women-owned businesses increased by 21 percent, while all enterprises increased by only 9 percent.

Total employment by womenowned businesses rose 8 percent.

At the same time, to all companies, the increase was far lower at 1.8 percent, and total revenue for

women-owned businesses also rose slightly above all others: 21 percent compared to 20 percent, respectively.

The State of Women-Owned Businesses Report also found that as work has trended toward side hustles and the gig economy, so had female entrepreneurship.

Over the last five years, growth in the number of women “sidepreneurs” grew nearly twice as fast as the overall growth in female entrepreneurship: 39 percent to 21 percent.

Minority women are responsible for a large portion of that growth from 2014-2019, where “sidepreneurship” among minority women-owned businesses was two times higher than others: 65 percent compared to 32 percent.

When looking at specific minority groups over the last five years, growth in sidepreneurship is up 99 percent among African American women, compared to 70 percent for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, 63 percent for Asian Americans, 46 percent for Latina/Hispanic women, and 36 percent among Native Americans/Alaska Native businesswomen.

The report concluded that women of color are starting businesses at 4.5 times the average rate, and, in nearly every category, women of color are leading the womenowned business charge.

The rise in businesses owned by women of color could correlate to the power they’ve displayed at the ballot box.

Since 2000, the number of eligible women of color voters has increased by 59 percent – a gain of more than 13 million potential voters, according to the Center for American Progress (CAP). Black, Latina, Native American, Multiracial, and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women voters are emerging as a collective powerhouse, CAP officials stated.

In CAP’s “Women of Color: A Powerhouse in the U.S. Electorate,” report, authors Danyelle Solomon and Connor Maxwell used new survey data to explore the voter eligibility, electoral participation, and distinct interracial and intraracial policy perspectives of women of color.

The report examined a host of issues from health care and economic inequality to public safety, racial and gender discrimination, and immigration.

“In the past decade, the voter-eligible population of women of color increased six times faster than that of white women, yet candidates, journalists, and policymakers rarely acknowledge their ability to affect elections,” stated Solomon, the vice president of Race and Ethnicity Policy at the CAP, and co-author of the report.

“Women of color are the canaries in the coal mine.

When you center them in your policymaking agenda, outcomes for all Americans will improve. Continuing to ignore the policy priorities of this powerhouse of voters will only further undermine the health of our democracy and further exacerbate racial and gender inequalities,” Solomon stated.

“This report affirms what we already know: Women of color are an important – and growing – a catalyst for change in our democracy,” said Aimee Allison, the founder and president of She the People. @StacyBrownMedia

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April 2020  |  5 BUSINESS

How Small Businesses Can Boost sales By d-mars.com News Provider

W

ith over 30 million small businesses in the U.S., it's tough to stand out from the crowd. Successful small businesses turn first-time customers into repeat business, building momentum and growing sales.

How can you achieve this? Marketing. Finding effective, easy-to-execute marketing strategies can boost your business by helping you engage your customers while attracting new ones. Here are some proven ideas to help your business thrive:

the email marketing platform CM Commerce, says small businesses can change their fortunes with this approach.

"Our most successful small business customers don't just send a reminder email to shoppers about items left in their carts," said Pienaar. "They take it a step further and include positive reviews and ratings about that product with the follow-up, knowing how much importance buyers place on others' experiences. By featuring personalized product reviews for abandoned cart items, there can be a recovery rate of 5-10%."

Spark interest with Engage first-time customers special Show new shoppers that they matter. Send welcome offers emails and recommend products to complement what they bought. Offer special deals to keep them coming back.

Utilize positive customer reviews Did you know over 60% of consumers read reviews before buying? Reviews can include ratings, testimonials, photos, videos and more.

Treat reviews as marketing gold, sharing them with customers and prospects to build trust and increase sales.

You can generate and integrate them into your website, on social media and other marketing efforts.

Turn shopping carts into opportunities Let's face it, plenty of potential customers add items to their online shopping carts and never check out. While these "abandoned carts" seem challenging, they're an opportunity.

An effective way to convert abandoned carts into sales is by drawing on the power of customer reviews. Adii Pienaar, vice president of commerce product strategy for

Entice new a nd ret u rning business by offering discounts, encouraging shoppers to give your business a try.

Also, if you don't have one already, create a loyalty program for frequent shoppers, or a referral special for those inviting friends to your website or social media.

Personalization matters Shoppers don't want mass emails treating them like just another number. Small businesses that tailor emails based on each customer's shopping experiences and interests are far more successful in driving sales.

Creating customized content may sound complex, but it all comes down to how you organize your customer list.

For example, segment your customers by which products

they've purchased, then use this information to inform them how to best use their products or remind them when it's time to re-order.

Personalization really pays off when you incorporate dynamic content - information that changes based on a person's interests - in promotional emails. Use a customer's previous purchases and shopping interests to generate ideas on products to complement items they already bought. For example, recommend a similar flavor of cupcakes to ones they ordered before.

Get started These proven marketing approaches can springboard your business to success. But, how do you get started?

Marketing has greatly evolved, with many new, easyto-use tools. You don't need to be a marketing expert, technical whiz or creative designer to use them.

For example, CM Commerce is an email marketing platform designed for small ecommerce businesses. It can easily create professional email campaigns to enhance and grow your business.

To help small business owners, CM Commerce features pre-built email marketing recipes for everything from welcome emails and newsletters to abandoned cart reminders and more. Business owners can follow these guidelines and put their email marketing plans in place with a single click.

"I always recommend small business owners invest in email marketing," said Pienaar. "It's a cost-effective way to establish your brand and regularly reach your customers and prospects. Most importantly, email marketing has the potential for huge returns and can truly make your business stand out."

For more tips and ideas to grow your business, visit The Marketing Resources Hub.

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6 | April 2020

“Into the Unknown”

By Noel Pinnock Contributing Writer

M

erriam-Webster (MW) defines “mind,” in the noun tense, as the element or complex of elements in an individual that feels, perceives, thinks, wills and reason. Furthermore, MW defines “set” as to put, lay or stand (something) in a specified place or position. When you concatenate these words, we arrive at mindset. This compound word is so powerful that it can drive countries as well as individuals, alike, into mass turmoil or elevate them to great prosperity. The interesting thing about mindset is that it vacillates because its nature is predicated on situations and circumstances. We all have internal processes that govern our growth and development. Some may have a fixed mindset; therefore, growth and development can be limited. While others have a learning mindset and adjustments are made along our life’s journey. Whether fixed or learning, a mindset is a set of assumptions, methods or notations held by one or more people or groups of people and can also be seen as arising out of a person's world view or philosophy of life.

Our mindset or logic box is our collection of knowledge, attitudes, skills and habits (KASH) that often limit our perception and acts as a restriction on objective thought and creative expression. What is in your mindset? What are your views and perspectives that have eroded some of your best intentions with unintended consequences?

In 1972, one of the best-known slogans in publicservice was “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” The United Negro College Fund ran this slogan in print,

COMMUNITY

radio and television as an intentional campaign to close a persistent gap between African Americans and other groups in college completion. They understood then as we know today that in a land that is constantly going through entropy only the learned will survive. We can no longer rest on the scaffold of mediocrity and not take the leap into the unknown.

The animated movie Frozen 2 was a mega-billion dollar hit at the box office and the soundtrack was equally successful on the music charts. One song, most notably, Into the Unknown, aligns with the perspectives of this article, in huge part because we fear what we don’t know, and many don’t ever like asking questions because it will make others believe that we don’t know thus the paradox.

Check out the first to verses of the song:

to be surrounded by the people of Arendelle, Elsa finds herself strangely unsettled. After hearing a mysterious voice call out to her, Elsa travels to the enchanted forests and dark seas beyond her kingdom -- an adventure that soon turns into a journey of self-discovery. Synoptically, Elsa discovers that the voice calling to her was the memory of young Iduna's call; that her powers were given to her by nature because of Iduna's selfless act of saving Agnarr; and that Elsa herself is the fifth spirit who would break the water dam that would save their kingdom.

To be continued…but still #getatit! www.noelpinnock.com

“I can hear you but I won't Some look for trouble while others don't There's a thousand reasons I should go about my day And ignore your whispers which I wish would go away.

You're not a voice, you're just a ringing in my ear And if I heard you, which I don't, I'm spoken for I fear Everyone I've ever loved is here within these walls I'm sorry, secret siren, but I'm blocking out your calls I've had my adventure, I don't need something new I'm afraid of what I'm risking if I follow you” These words are very powerful for a seminal audience to comprehend but if you dissect its meaning, you will understand the humanistic nature of individuals whose mindset has been hindered or restricted because they don’t want to leave the porch, get out of the boat or take the leap into the unknown. The unknown is scary and unpredictable. It isn’t something that we are used to.

We prefer routine and certainty but as I have always told my staff, certainty is the enemy and uncertainty an ally.

Our 10-year old daughter sang this song so much during the Frozen 2’s hey-day, and I became so curious that I woke one early Saturday morning to watch it for myself.

The movie’s plot was rich, and it captivated me. Elsa the Snow Queen has an extraordinary gift -- the power to create ice and snow. But no matter how happy she is DID YOU KNOW AND OLD FOLK SAYINGS

U

ntil recently, many didn't know the name Dr. June Bacon-Bercey.

A pioneer in the field of meteorology, Bacon-Bercey, an African American, broke barriers by becoming the first woman meteorologist. Previously, she became the first African American woman to earn a degree in science in the 1950s.

Earlier this month, word spread that Bacon-Bercey had died last summer.

She was 90.

"I was discouraged (from becoming a meteorologist), and other women were discouraged," Bacon-Bercey told The Washington Post in 1977.

"If they feel they've got some money behind them, it might be better."

Bacon-Bercey's career included working for NOAA, the National Weather Service (NWS), and eventually an NBC TV station in Buffalo in 1970 as a scientific news correspondent, according to a tribute posted this month on AccuWeather.com.

Bacon-Bercey started as an emergency replacement as a weathercaster but became NBC Buffalo's chief meteorologist.

"She wasn't in Buffalo very long, but she made Buffalo broadcasting history as the first woman of color to be on a TV news anchor team

IN MEMORIAM: T railblazing Meteorologist Dr. June Bacon-Bercey Remembered

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire here," Buffalo-area historian Steve Cichon told AccuWeather.

"She was also the first scientist to have the job here. She was an important trailblazer in many ways," Cichon stated.

Dail St. Clair, Bacon-Bercey's daughter, told AccuWeather that her mother was her mentor and role model.

"I always speak about my mom in my life whenever I have a chance to speak in different venues.

There's no question that my career, while different, the work ethic and discipline

and persistence and uncompromising goal to be excellent at all costs is what I learned from my mom," stated St. Clair, who is the Chief Operating Officer at Park Avenue Finance.

A pioneer who blazed many a trail, Bacon-Bercey was also the first woman and African American woman to win the American Meteorological Society's "Seal of Approval" honor for television weather broadcasting.

She was named Minority Pioneer for Achievements in Atmospheric Sciences in 2000.

Born in Wichita, Kansas, on October 23, 1932, Bacon-Bercey attended the University of Kansas, University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California.

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She helped to found the AMS Board on Women and Minorities to increase the number of women and minorities in the atmospheric sciences.

In 1977, she won $64,000 on the television game show, "The $128,000 Question," using those earnings to start a scholarship fund for women studying atmospheric sciences.

Eventually, a dozen women received scholarship assistance, and each landed senior positions at various television stations and weather outlets across the country.

"Education was No. 1, so scholarship was a passion, and she always wanted to share it with those who were less fortunate," St. Claire said in the Washington Post interview.

Excerpt:

A pioneer in the field of meteorology, Bacon-Bercey, an African American, broke barriers by becoming the first woman meteorologist.

Previously, she became the first African American woman to earn a degree in science in the 1950s.

April 2020  |  7

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8 | April 2020

Protecting and supporting small businesses is essential in this time. The owners are our family, and as community leaders, it is our duty to see them through this crisis and Experts at the Small Business Association have offered helpful tips to consider wh best for your business, including:

By d-mars.com News Provider

A

t d-mars.com, it has always been our mission to inspire, inform and educate our community, and in this time of uncertainty and change, it is imperative for us to continue to uphold that statement and serve in a way like never before.

As a business founded on serving and supporting the needs of our community, we want you to know that we are still here for you, ready to deliver important news, tell the stories of those in our community and support our entrepreneurs and locally owned businesses.

We want to offer our readers vital information on necessary steps to take to protect you and your business. Our community has been an ideal example of the good that comes from people coming together to helps others, and one example of that is how many of our partners in the community have efficiently and effectively offered timely information on actions to take during this pandemic.

Thanks to them, we have remained up-to-date and reassured throughout this crisis.

Protecting and supporting small businesses is essential in this time. The owners are our neighbors, our friends, our family, and as community leaders, it is our duty to see them through this crisis and let them know we are here.

• Capital access.

Incidents can strain a small business’s financial capacity to make payroll, maintain inventory and respond to market fluctuations (both sudden drops and surges in demand).

Businesses should prepare by exploring and testing their capital access options so they have what they need when they need it.

• Workforce capacity. Incidents have just as much impact on your workers as they do your clientele. It’s critical to ensure that your workers have the ability to fulfill their duties while protected.

• Inventory and supply chain shortfalls. While the possibility could be remote, it’s a good preparedness measure to ensure you have either adequate supplies of inventory for a sustained period and/or diversify your distributor sources in the event that one supplier cannot meet an order request.

In addition to providing steps to take, the President also signed into law the CARES Act, which contains $376 billion in relief for American workers and small businesses. This Act included several temporary programs to address the COVID-19 including: • Paycheck Protection Program: This loan program provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program.

• EIDL Loan Advance: This loan advance will provide up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties.

• SBA Express Bridge Loans: Enables small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.

• SBA Debt Relief: The SBA is providing a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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• Facility remediation/ clean-up costs.

Depending on the incident, there may be a need to improve the protection of customers and staff by increasing the frequency and intensity that your business cleans surfaces that are frequently touched by occupants and visitors.

• Insurance coverage issues.

Many businesses have business interruption insurance. Now is the time to contact your insurance agent to review your policy to understand precisely what you are and are not covered for in the event of an extended incident.

Check your maintenance contracts and supplies of cleaning materials to ensure they can meet increases in demand.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to our community, our businesses, our employees, etc., but it is essential to remain positive, being that this is something beyond our control. We should take this time to refocus, reanalyze our business and work to strategize a solution. This is the time to equip yourself with tools to be a stronger leader. Reevaluate your business structure. See how you can remain in business and connected with customers online. Relationships are a necessity right now.

As a man of faith, prayer has been my peace during this turmoil, and I encourage you all to join me.

America is a great country, and though we have never seen anything like this, we are a resilient people. I know our city and our country will return to some sense of normalcy. I wish you all the best of luck. Though we will continue to be a resource during this crisis, I look forward to seeing you all once we make it through this and can celebrate together once again.

April 2020 | 9

e our neighbors, our friends, d let them know we are here. hen thinking about what is • Changing market demand.

Depending on the incident, there may be access controls or movement restrictions established which can impede your customers from reaching your business.

Additionally, there may be concerns about public exposure to an incident, and customers may decide not to go to your business out of concern of exposing themselves to greater risk.

• Marketing.

It’s critical to communicate openly with your customers about the status of your operations, what protective measures you’ve implemented, and how customers will be protected when they visit your business.

Promotions may also help incentivize customers who may be reluctant to patronize your business.

• Plan. As a business, bring your staff together and prepare a plan for what you will do if the incident worsens or improves.

As always, thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com. When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

As a business founded on serving and supporting the needs of our community, we want you to know that we are still here for you, ready to deliver important news, tell the stories of those in our community and support our entrepreneurs and locally owned businesses.

Sincerely, Keith “MR. D-MARS” Davis, Sr.

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10 | April 2020

Pioneers of Crisis Response By d-mars.com News Provider

I

n the midst of a global pandemic, the strain on the medical field is quite obvious. However, one sector that is experiencing equal demand yet grossly overlooked by many is the mental health sector. During this time of crisis and uncertainty we are in, changes to people’s mental well-being is inevitable with parents losing jobs, kids staying home with few options for outdoors, first responders working long shifts, businesses shutting down and more. There is also a surge of domestic violence, children exacerbating behavioral issues, frontline crisis workers experiencing anxiety and nervous breakdowns, surge in drugs and substance abuse, etc.

Admore Behavioral Therapy recognizes the need for additional mental health services and has taken the initiative to pioneer the conversion of their agency into a crisis response behavioral health agency to assist individuals, families and frontline medical staff dealing with the potentially devastating mental health effects of the COV ID-19 virus.

“I know this has brought a lot of anxiety to families, schools, medical staff and the community at large.

These are all natural responses to crises and there is no shame in it,” Abigail Wynne, administrator at Admore Behavioral Therapy, said. “We took upon this initiative

because we identified a gap in the mental and behavioral health support system during times of crisis. Currently no other independent mental health agency is doing what we are doing in our community to bridge this gap. Many have shut their doors and their employees laid off. We are doing the exact opposite. We don’t run away from a problem but find an implementable solution to bring urgent needs of our beloved community. We have a full range of staff that includes psychiatrists, psychotherapists and mental health case managers who are ready to serve.”

In order to serve in the capacity needed during this time, however, Admore will require additional funding to make available mental health care at no cost to everyone who needs help whether insured or uninsured. They recognize and acknowledge the fact that anyone can be affected in ways they never imagined in times like this, and that it is very okay to have those feelings. Everyone

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deserves to seek help and receive help without worrying about the financial impact it will have on them. Additional funding will allow the agency to hire more staff, provide additional necessary telehealth equipment and assure that every employee has all the tools they need to provide the best possible care to the community.

Currently they are serving approximately 300 clients, but as a crisis response center, they would be able to provide over 1000 telehealth sessions per day.

“Several population groups have been effected by this crisis. One example is kids.

When all the schools shut down and the kids went home, parents didn’t want to leave their homes to bring their kids to therapy,” Alexandra Alonso, Clinical Supervisor at Admore, said. “Thankfully, we already have things set up in place for Telehealth therapy. So, our mission is to try and get additional funding so we can actually hire more staff to provide

April 2020 | 11

Behavioral Therapy Centers

more sessions and services to a population that is really in need right now.”

An advantage that Admore has over other similar facilities is its flexibility to make this conversion into a mental health crisis center.

A simple readjustment to its operations and manpower will allow them to provide therapy to thousands of people, both near and far. They are able to do wellness checks to individuals and families who are not coping well with being isolated or in quarantine, provide specialized counseling for suicide prevention, domestic violence prevention, therapy for the frontline medical staff dealing with anxiety, depression, insomnia and posttraumatic stress disorder. Furthermore, regular follow-up

is done for those with previously diagnosed mental health illness and those at risk of relapse while in lockdown, isolation or quarantine. They also have dedicated staff to provide counseling for newly diagnosed COV ID-19 patients whether symptomatic or asymptomatic.

Another major advantage of this initiative is that Admore is also bringing back employment and economic stability by providing jobs as they hire extra employees to fulfill the mental health needs of the community.

“Our desire to give back to the community in this time of need is what mo—Wynne said. tivated us to become a convertible mental health crisis center,” Wynne said.

“And hiring additional therapist, psychiatrists, psychologist, wellness coaches and community outreach specialists

“Our desire is to get not only our facility, but many more like it in the state of Texas, the USA and the world to be convertible in critical times. It is our duty to not only give back to the community but to genuinely join in the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

a llows us to play our ow n role in reviving our economy by reducing the number of unemployed.”

The additional cost related to this conversion is a heavy burden that Admore cannot carry without the support of community and governmental leaders. However, Admore has very high hopes of getting the necessary approval to make this happen.

“It is imperative that our local and national government take advantage of mental health agencies like ours that are capable of handling crises during this period of critical need. Moving forward, it is important to have more agencies like ours with the fluidity to convert to a crisis support center in the event of a crises because as we all know it is simply a matter of time before we are faced with the next crisis or disaster,” Wynne said.

“Our desire is to get our facility and many more in the state of Texas, the USA and the world to be convertible in times of crisis. We feel strongly that it is our duty to give back to the community and to genuinely join in the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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12  |  April 2020

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d-mars.com

April 2020 | 13

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HEALTH & WELLNESS JOURNAL

BIOTECH | BUSINESS | CAREER | EDUCATION | HEALTHY LIFESTYLES | MEDICAL | MENTAL HEALTH | POLICY | RESEARCH | SPORTS MEDICINE

April 2020

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Inspire, Inform & Educate

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95th Edition

Pinecroft Pharmacy’s Mission to Compound a Solution for COVID-19 Patients Marline Okwen

18-19

INSIDE

16

1-2-3 simple plant-based food swaps to eat better

14 During COVID-19, Take Simple Steps to Establish a New Normal Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

22

So, what’s the deal with beef and heart health?

14 | April 2020 HEALTH

During COVID-19, Take Simple Steps to Establish a New Normal By d-mars.com News Provider

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t’s always the right time to commit to healthy habits, behaviors and steps to improve your physical and mental health. With the COVID-19 pandemic creating so much uncertainty and upending so many routines, experts say that focusing on the things within your control is particularly important.

“At this particular moment -- challenging as it may be -- it is very important for all of us as individuals to recognize that our actions can and do have a collective impact,” says Dr. Patrice A. Harris, president of the American Medical Association (AMA).

“A lot of people are grieving at this moment.

Tr a g i c a l l y some a re grieving loss of loved ones; but people can also grieve the loss of employment, routines or the ability to be with family and friends.

Everyone should know that these feelings are normal, and they should allow themselves to experience them.”

Heresome somesimple simplesteps stepsfrom from Here the AMA to maintain your the AMA to maintain your physicaland andmental mentalhealth health physical during the unusual times during the unusual times ofof COVID-19: COVID-19:

1

. Channel your feelings of anxiety or helplessness into action.

Practicing physical distancing and making sure to wash your hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds are two steps that protect your health and the health of others. Create a safety action plan for you and your family. Also consider how small gestures – like offering to pick up groceries for an older or at-risk neighbor who may be anxious about leaving home -- can make a big difference. . Take care of yourself physically.

Get as much sleep as you can, try to include fruits and vegetables into your

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diet, and make sure you move. With many gyms and parks closed and physical distancing in place, it may seem harder to work out, so consider options at home, including dancing, to stay active. . Create new routines. With more people working from home and/or caring for school-aged children, the daily lives we had before COVID-19 are a distant memory. But building routines -- time for work, time for meals, time for decompressing -- is critical to creating a new normal. In the world today, there are so many things we can’t control, but our schedules are something we can. . Take time to turn off social media and the news. It is critical at this moment to know what is happening in the world and to stay connected with family and friends, but if social media and 24-hour news are making you anxious, consume them in doses. . Feel your feelings.

It’s natural to worry and be afraid at a moment like this. It is also important to remember there are physicians, public health officials at all levels of government, as well as experts in the private sector, working tirelessly to limit the spread and impact of COVID-19. . Stay connected. Social media gives us a common connection point during times of isolation, but there is real opportunity at this moment to stay connected via phone calls and video chats with friends, family, and even people you haven’t heard from in a while. Physical distancing is important, but it’s still okay to socialize. . If you have children, talk to them in an age-appropriate way, and avoid ascribing feelings to them.

Don’t say, “I know you’re scared.”

Kids are observant and they’re wise.

They may know things are different, but they may not be afraid. Let them know smart people are working on ways to keep us all safe. Model healthy coping.

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Source: Statepoint

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16 | April 2020 HEALTH

How and Why to

HEALTH

Keep Kids

on a Schedule During School Closures By d-mars.com News Provider

S

By d-mars.com News Provider

H

ow hard can it be to eat better? Go vegetarian or vegan? Give up deliciousness? Eat more greens? Purge the pantry?

Whether you're considering plant-based diet options for health reasons, or to have a lighter footprint on our environment or "just because" you want to eat foods that don't come from animals, it's simple to make the swap in a few small steps that will have a big impact. In fact, there are likely basic food staples already in your kitchen fridge that can be swapped out for plant-based foods that taste great, are better for you and the planet, and for which you don't have to change your lifestyle.

Here are three non-dairy, plant-based food swaps to get you started.

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Plant-based spreads - eat better, not butter Dairy butter may be delicious, but it is full of saturated fats and has a huge impact on our environment. The good news is that today's margarines are better than butter from dairy cows and there are plant-based, non-dairy spreads that are great substitutes for dairy butter. Think of these like butters from another mother - Mother Earth. They contain no animal products and no trans fats.

After a decade of innovation - and a lot of taste testing with consumers - today's dairy-free plant-based spreads are made with oils from nuts, fruits and plants. They spread, melt, cook and bake like dairy butter. The upside is that plant-based is lower in saturated fats and are lower in cholesterol than dairy products.

Plant-based spreads, like I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!(R), contain no trans fats and no hydrogenated oils. I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! is made with good fats from plant-based oils such as omega-3 ALA. Eating foods with good fats is part of a healthy diet. I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Original also carries the American Heart Association(R)'s Heart-Check mark. The iconic Heart-Check mark helps take the guesswork out when reading Nutrition Facts and label information, giving consumers peace of mind that what they are consuming meets the nutritional requirements of the American Heart Association.* Today's great-tasting and better-for-you-and-theplanet plant-based spreads are not your grandmother's margarine or the high cholesterol, saturated fat dairy products of today.

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Vegan cheese - non-dairy tastiness of cheese Cheese is one of the most common food garnishes used in the world.

Sprinkled on pizza, melted into lasagnas and grilled sandwiches, or sliced atop a cracker - the good news is that consumers can enjoy plant-based vegan cheeses without giving up their love of the delicious taste of dairy cheese.

The vegan cheese market is exploding as more consumers

demand tasty plant-based options. Popular in vegan circles, plant-based cheese brand Violife is breaking into mainstream supermarkets with block, slices, grated and creamy products that look, smell, feel, taste and melt like dairy cheese. From grated mozzarella and sliced cheddar to cream cheeses and specialty cheeses like feta and parmesan, plant-based foodies can now enjoy the tasty goodness of plants with the bonus that they are 100% vegan - free of animal products, preservatives and GMO ingredients.

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Non-dairy milk - healthy choices from plants Non-dairy milks have long been the choice for those who are lactose intolerant. But that's changed. Beyond being environmentally friendly to produce compared to milk from dairy cows, non-dairy milks also have health benefits, including no cholesterol and a healthy combination of mono- and polyunsaturated fats.

They also don't have the antibiotics, hormones or other additives of their dairy counterparts. These plant milks can generally be used in nearly every recipe where milk is needed, from baking chocolate chip cookies to your morning protein fruit smoothie. A few options include: * 5-Minute Vegan Breakfast Smoothie * Oat Milk Pumpkin Pie with Oatmeal Cookie Crust * Dark Chocolate Tart Almond milk has high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids and may also help reduce chance of cardiovascular disease. Oat milk is an option for those suffering from food allergies, plus it contains fiber that can help lower cholesterol. Soy milk is cholesterol free and contains all the essential amino acids our bodies need.

Eat better with one plant-based food swap step at a time Eating better has never been easier for the healthconscious and environmentally sensitive eater. Still not convinced? Too hard? Keep it simple. Swap in one plantbased food at a time - a splash of oat milk in that afternoon latte, a nibble of a plant buttery chocolate chip cookie just out of the oven, or a grilled cheese sandwich made with vegan cheddar slices and pulled apart to start from the melt-y middle. Finding healthy plant-based foods has never been easier or tastier. You'll notice how deliciously simple it is to make the swap.

Heart-Check certification does not apply to other products or product information.

chool closures have forced families nationwide to readjust to the current reality.

However, a sense of structure is important for children’s developmental growth. To create a routine for your kids that sticks, consider the following tips: • Just because there is no formal school day doesn’t mean kids should sleep in or stay up late at night. Keep the same bedtimes, wake-up routines and mealtimes you always maintained during a regular school week.

Doing so will bookend the mornings and evenings with a sense of normalcy.

• Mimic a school day to the best of your ability.

Use the distance-learning tools your child’s teachers offer as well as other educational apps and resources to have kids focus on different school subjects. This will help break up the day into little chunks just as would happen in the classroom. Be sure to build in time for art projects, exercise and music. Most importantly, don’t forget “recess.” If possible, allow children to play in the backyard where they can socially distance from neighbors, or set up an area of your home for playtime.

• Evenings are a good time to relax and unwind together. Play board

games, watch your children’s favorite movies or even use the many resources available online to enjoy a virtual walking tour of a museum, botanical garden or zoo.

This is also a good time to allow children to connect with their friends using video chat or with family members they are not currently able to see in-person.

• For many children, screens are their greatest distraction. For this reason, one of the best ways to ensure your children stay focused on the schedule you create for them is by managing their screen time.

One easy way to do so with less direct intervention from you (since you are likely busy yourself!) is by using a screen time monitoring and scheduling tool like the OurPact app. Get started by signing up for a free account and pairing your children’s devices.

From there, you will be able to manage devices remotely to create a schedule that keeps kids offline when they need to be focused on other things. It can also be customized to allow children to visit and use only certain learning sites or apps during particular hours of the day. Because this schedule lives on the children’s devices as well, you’ll be giving them the comfort of a routine. To learn more or download, visit OurPact.com.

During these challenging times, it can be tempting to let your family routine fly out the window. By using new tools such as distance-learning programming and schedule management apps, you can keep kids to a schedule that makes them ultimately happier and healthier.

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April 2020  |  17

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18 | April 2020

Pinecroft Pharmacy

Pinecroft Pharmacy would like to partner with the community and the community leaders” Okwen said. “That way we can all come together to fight this crisis and get back to some sort of normalcy.

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April 2020 | 19

Serving Solutions and Bringing Balance in Uncertain Times By d-mars.com News Provider

A

lthough the therapeutic treatment for the COVID-19 virus seems fuzzy to most, there has been some recommended medication therapies that are showing positive results in patients with the COVID-19 virus. The downside is that pharmacies do not have a large enough supply to accommodate for the surplus demand since hydroxychloroquine, for example, is normally used to treat patients with chronic illnesses.

Pinecroft Pharmacy has devised means to stretch the supply and help both the chronically ill and those who have fallen ill from the COVID-19 virus.

Pinecroft Pharmacy, a neighborhood specialty pharmacy, serves the medication needs of medical centers, clinics, hospitals, residential facilities, walk-ins and online patients.

While Pinecroft pharmacy offers an array of services, a couple of important ones that sets them apart during this pandemic is firstly their ability to compound commonly used COVID-19 virus treatment medications with customized dosages and delivery forms and secondly their ability to supply protective equipment against the COVID-19 virus such as masks, gloves and gow ns to both medical and non-medical population.

Recent research re ports, though in small numb e r s , h ave shown the drug Hydroxychloroquine as having significant positive results when given to patients diagnosed with COVID-19, by itself or in combination with Azithromycin. However, Hydroxychloroquine is a common drug used for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and malaria. At this point, pharmacies are faced with the dilemma of deciding which patients get access to the limited supply.

“Currently we are are having trouble keeping enough medicine for the COVID-19 patients and the patients with chronic illnesses,” Marline Okwen, a pharmacist with Pinecroft Pharmacy, said.

This prompted Pinecroft Pharmacy to seek out a solution.

“So, part of the solution to the problem is that Pinecroft Pharmacy has created an alternative

medication source by compounding,” Okwen said. “And by compounding, we are significantly increasing the available quantities and creating that balance of dispensing the medication evenly to both the chronically ill and COVID-19 patients.”

This system providing both compounding and retail medications has enabled Pinecroft Pharmacy to become a crisis response pharmacy that is able to assist the community and larger hospitals with fulfilling medication needs to combat the COVID-19 virus. Pinecroft Pharmacy’s goal is to have the ability to provide these medications and supplies for free to the community once the necessary funding is made available to cover the cost of production.

Pinecroft Pharmacy facility is designed to mass produce medications in a matter of days with minimal alteration to its operations and an increase in manpower. In addition to the cost of hiring more pharmacists, technicians, medication aides, delivery aids and administration personnel, they must also consider the initial drug and raw material orders that can be costly and must be paid upfront.

“Pinecroft can provide up to 3,000 COVID-19 onsite compounded prescriptions per day, prompt script fulfilment with a 24-hour turnaround time and provide m e dic ation regimen counseling and management,” Edna Ngu, Pharmacist representative for Pinecroft Pharmacy s aid . “ We have also m a d e th e necessary arrangements to supply various quantities of protective equipment as needed. Furthermore, we are committed to doing our part to help fight this very unfortunate pandemic in whatever capacity we are called to serve” Having more pharmacies with the flexibility that Pinecroft offers should be the wave of the future because the community will be better served in times of crisis “Through our operation ‘Combat COVID-19’, Pinecroft Pharmacy’s desires to partner with the community and the community leaders altogether to fight this crisis and get back to some sort of normalcy.” Okwen said.

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20  |  April 2020

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April 2020  |  21

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22 | April 2020 HEALTH

So, what’s the deal with beef and heart health?

By d-mars.com News Provider

A

s Americans think about eating for a healthy heart, many feel they're forced to choose between a healthy diet and their love of beef.

But, contrary to some misinformation on this topic, you can have both. The Mediterranean diet was just ranked the #1 Overall Diet in 2020 and the #2 Best Diet for Heart Health by U.S. News & World Report.

And according to a report from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, many Mediterranean countries eat as much, or more, red meat than the U.S. While coverage of this popular diet can include recommendations to limit red meat, research from a recent 2018 Purdue University study found that following a Mediterranean-style eating pattern that includes lean red meats, like lean beef, is just as effective in supporting a healthy heart as a Mediterranean-style diet that limits red meats. This finding is the latest in the growing body of scientific research demonstrating lean beef can be part of healthy eating patterns to support heart health. This research also means people have more flexibility and options when it comes to healthy eating.

A cut of cooked fresh meat is considered lean when it contains less than 10 grams of fat, 4.5 grams or less of saturated fat and less than 95mg of cholesterol.

More key findings include: * Following a Mediterranean-style eating pattern including 7 to 18 ounces of lean, fresh

red meat per week was shown to improve cardiometabolic disease risk factor profiles. * Including 18 ounces of lean, fresh red meat per week as part of a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern was found to be more effective in lowering LDL cholesterol than a similar eating pattern that only included 7 ounces of lean, fresh red meat. The average American consumes 18 ounces of red meat per week. * Study participants following a Mediterraneanstyle dietary pattern including up to 18 ounces of lean, fresh red meat per week saw reductions in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and blood pressure.

"The big takeaway from the growing body of evidence is that Americans who are trying to eat healthier and improve their heart health can still enjoy lean beef while improving cholesterol and blood pressure," said Shalene McNeill, Ph.D., R.D. at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff. "By having

this additional flexibility in their diets, Americans are more likely to stay the course and adopt healthy eating patterns long-term."

Here are a few easy tips for integrating red meat into a Mediterranean-style eating pattern from the Beef Checkoff.

1. Look for lean cuts of fresh beef - When it comes to lean cuts the options are endless. Some fan favorites include: * Top sirloin * Strip steak (top loin) * Tenderloin steak * 95% lean ground beef Still feel lost? When shopping lean beef, look for the word "round" or "loin." These words are a telltale sign of a lean cut.

2. Pay attention to portion size - To reap the benefits of including lean beef in a Mediterranean-style diet, focus on eating up to 18 ounces of lean beef over the course of a week. For reference, a 3-ounce cooked serving of lean beef is about the size of a deck of cards.

3. Aim for a complete plate Mediterranean-style eating patterns are often characterized with high consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts/seeds and olive oil. Be sure to complement the lean red meat at the center of the plate with these Mediterranean musts.

Looking for satisfying recipes that can help you incorporate lean beef into a Mediterranean-style eating pattern? Visit BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.

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April 2020  |  23

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24  |  April 2020

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April 2020  |  25

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26  |  April 2020 EDUCATION & CAREER

GOVERNMENT

Senator Borris Miles Letter to the Governor:

We Must Have More Testing Before State Reopens

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

Today I wrote the Governor that he should not consider reopening the state until widespread testing is done in African American neighborhoods. Testing sites have been located in hard to reach areas away from communities of color like Northeast and Southeast Houston. There is a data gap, and our neighborhoods will suffer if the state reopens while African American neighborhoods are still battling COVID-19.

W

e've all been there: You embark on the job hunt and you're full of excitement for what's ahead - but you sometimes feel like one name in a sea of candidates, trying to figure out the hacks to break through, get noticed, and land that interview (and job offer!).

If this sounds all-too-familiar, you're not alone - but the good news is LinkedIn is letting us in on the top 5 secrets to getting noticed and snagging that new job opportunity.

Get ahead of the pack: There are 100 million job applications on LinkedIn every month. This may sound overwhelming as a job seeker, but remember this: getting a head start can make all the difference. In fact, LinkedIn research shows that being one of the first to apply to a job can increase your chances of landing a job by 4x. Tip: Sign up for LinkedIn Job Alerts which will send you a notification within minutes of a relevant job posting.

Spruce up your online presence: A picture might say 1,000 words, but a strong LinkedIn profile can say a million. Refresh your profile photo, relevant skills, experience and summary section so that you show up in hiring managers' searches. It's a good idea to put in this work ahead of time because once you capture a recruiter's interest, you want your profile to showcase why you're the best for the job. Tip: Check out LinkedIn's new "Featured" section, which allows you to showcase samples of your work on your profile.

Brush up on your skills - and let the world know: Showcasing your skills can make all the difference when it comes to being considered for a job. Everything you've learned from your past experience, education, courses and more make up who you are and how you shine as a professional - including hard skills, soft skills and transferable skills that round out everything you bring to the table. Tip: LinkedIn Learning offers 15,000 courses to help you brush up on or learn new skills, and taking a Skill Assessment validates your skills and displays them on your profile (according to LinkedIn, people who complete Skill Assessments are up to 30% more likely to get hired).

Use your secret weapon (people you know): You never know where reaching out to a connection on LinkedIn might lead. Getting introduced to someone through people you know and are connected to on LinkedIn can increase your chances of getting hired by 9x. And the best part is, you have this invaluable tool right at your fingertips! Tip: Start with your family and friends first (you never know who they're connected to online) and consider joining LinkedIn Groups, where professionals in the same industry or with similar interests can share their insights and experiences, ask for guidance and build valuable connections.

Put in the practice: According to LinkedIn, 54% of job seekers say the interview phase is "moderately to extremely challenging" due to two reasons: uncertainty and lack of confidence. The trick? It's all about preparation. Get ahead of the interview jitters by putting in the time, research and practice sessions to be sure you're on your A-game when you walk through the door. Tip: Sign up for LinkedIn's Premium Career Subscription and get the most out of it by using Interview Prep tools which offer videos and tips from experts and hiring managers to answer the most common interview questions. And, if you're interviewing for a sales or finance-related job, LinkedIn has interview preparation tools that you can use for the nearly 2 million jobs in sales and finance on LinkedIn*.

LinkedIn has millions of jobs and the right one for you. And remember all the tools you have right at your fingertips to land the opportunity of your dreams! *Methodology: research was conducted using LinkedIn Talent Insights that found 1.8 million open jobs on LinkedIn in sales and finance functions as of January 2020.

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April 2020 | 27 FINANCE

BUILDING CREDIT AT 18: Tips for a solid financial foundation payments). Discover what works best for you to ensure that you always pay bills before the due date.

By d-mars.com News Provider

W

hen a young person turns 18, it’s an exciting time full of possibilities. Being able to vote and no longer adhering to a curfew is just the beginning. Now an official adult, it’s time to begin a new chapter that sets the foundation for the rest of their life, including their financial wellness.

“How you manage your money today will impact your financial future because at 18, you’re now building a credit history that matters for many years to come,” Jeff Richardson, head of Marketing and Communications at VantageScore Solutions. “Getting bank accounts, using credit wisely and taking out loans thoughtfully all are important aspects of building and maintaining a good credit report and score.”

Richardsonrecommends recommendsyoung youngadults adultstake Richardson take these five steps to building start building a these five steps to start a positive positive credit history: credit history: Check your credit score for free VantageScore credit scores were introduced in 2006 and the credit scoring model was initially developed by the three nationally recognized credit reporting companies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Over 12.35 billion VantageScore credit scores were used between July 2018 and June 2019 alone. Know your credit score, manage it well and take steps to improve it. Visit your.vantagescore.com/free to learn where you can go to get your credit score at no cost.

Pay bills on time every time Paying bills on time or even ahead of time is one of the best things you can do to build a positive credit report and raise your credit score. Find a system for managing your bills and expenses that works well for you. Some people keep a spreadsheet, others use online programs or digital apps. In fact, your current bank may offer online bill pay options so that you can set up your payments automatically (just make sure you always have enough in your account so that you don’t bounce

Budget and create an emergency fund Start a viable budget by analyzing wants versus needs for each month. When creating a budget, you should also make sure to use your net income after taxes rather than your gross income before taxes so that you will get a realistic idea of what you can afford and where you should make cuts. Furthermore, if you don’t already have a savings account, consider opening one up. While a savings account won’t show up on your credit report, it does provide you with a simple way to save in case of an emergency. That way if you’re hit with an unexpected bill, you will still be able to pay it on time, and that timely payment can protect your credit report and score.

Take out loans wisely Taking out a loan and paying monthly installments diligently helps build good credit. However, you shouldn’t take out more than the amount you need or can afford. For example, if you need to get a car loan, consider a moderate car that does the job rather than an expensive upscale one that will take much longer to pay off. Likewise, school loans are a necessity for many people. While you likely won’t have to start making payments on these loans until after graduation, you should try to keep student loan debt at a minimum. Take out what you need for tuition and associated school expenses, rather than borrowing additional amounts for things like vacations. That way you will have a smaller loan to pay off when you start working so you never have to stress about making a payment on time.

Every other financial transaction while you are in college is an additional chance to build and enhance your credit history and you should treat them as such.

Pay your bills on time, especially those with your name on them, such as utilities.

“Smart steps at 18 can help you achieve a great credit score and set you up with a lifetime of good financial habits,” says Richardson. “Even if you’re older than 18, there’s no better time than the present to make wise financial decisions that will help you build a credit history that will benefit you long term.”

Source: Brandpoint

FINANCE

Protecting Your Financial Health in These Uncertain Times By d-mars.com News Provider

W

ith expected delays in bill payments, unprecedented layoffs, hiring freezes and related hardships, many Americans are facing new financial challenges.

“COVID-19 has impacted all industries and individuals from all walks of life,” says Rod Griffin, senior director of Consumer Education and Advocacy for Experian. “With all of these rapid changes, you might not be thinking about how your credit report may be impacted yet, but you likely will soon.”

As you adapt to life in this unprecedented time, the experts at Experian are sharing strategies and resources for protecting your financial health and credit history.

• Check your credit report. While checking your credit report regularly is always a good idea, this is especially true now. You can get a free copy of your report from Experian every 30 days with a free account. In addition, you can get a free credit report from each of the three national credit reporting agencies annually by visiting annualcreditreport.com.

• Maintain your score. Making credit payments on time and in-full and keeping your utilization rate (balance-to-limit ratio) as low as possible are the best ways to maintain your credit score. At a maximum, you should try to keep your credit card balances below 30 percent in total and for each individual card. For many reasons, maintaining these habits might not be possible right now. However, paying your minimum monthly payments and anything additional you can afford will go a long way.

• Talk to your lenders. Keep in mind, lenders don’t want you to fall behind on your payments any more than you do. If you’re facing trouble making monthly payments, contact your lender or creditor. They may have options for helping you cope with COVID-19related financial hardships. For example, lenders can place your accounts in forbearance or deferment for a period of time.

• Use credit as a financial tool. While debt is a problem, credit can be a financial tool that can help improve your overall financial health in the long run.

As always, avoid making rash decisions when it comes to credit and your financial health.

• Check out resources. Use new educational resources that can help you protect your financial health in these uncertain times. For example, Experian is hosting a series of #CreditChat conversations surrounding COVID-19 on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. ET on Twitter. The program covers important personal finance topics. The next several #CreditChats will be dedicated to items like methods and strategies for bill repayment, paying down debt, emergency financial assistance and preparing for retirement during COVID-19.

You can also visit Experian’s blog post, “COVID19and Your Credit Report,” for updated information pertaining to how COVID-19 may impact your creditworthiness. Additionally, the “Ask Experian” blog shares immediate and evolving resources on its COV ID-19 Updates page. To obtain a free Experian credit report and other free services, enroll at Experian.com.

While staying safe and healthy should be everyone’s number one priority, it is also important to protect your financial health at the same time. Be sure to leverage all the resources available to you that can help you emerge from this crisis in good financial standing.

Source: Statepoint

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28  |  April 2020

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April 2020 | 29 FINANCE

By Dr. Dennis Kimbro NNPA News Provider

Write up your plans for a targeted, profitable business.

Starting a business can be exciting, but that excitement may be overshadowed by anxiety if you start this new adventure without detailed research and plans to guide you along the way. In addition to guidance, a business and financial plan can help to attract investors and open up more options for funding your idea.

After you’ve determined that you have a viable business idea and your market research has given you enough insights, it’s important to apply this information to your business planning — especially as it relates to money.

Create your business and marketing plan Using the results of your market research, you can outline: • Details for your service or product: This means a description of what it is and what the market is for it.

• Branding: This is the personality and messaging behind your business. Maybe you want the public to see your business as innovative and cutting-edge or maybe your business is more about establishing a trusting relationship with customers.

• Market trends: These are the challenges facing your potential industry, what’s most popular with your competition, and how you plan to address those factors.

• Objectives: What is your top priority in each aspect of your business, including, funding, marketing, and day-to-day operations?

• Strategies: How do you plan to accomplish everything? Remember to be very detailed.

By incorporating the results of your market research into the overall vision of your business, you can better align your marketing efforts to drive sales and give yourself a competitive edge.

For instance, if your target market is everyday families with toddlers, you’ll have to create a marketing plan to reach them in places they’ll be. This could mean physically locating to where they are, like down the street from a school or park, or paying for ads on websites they use most.

Another example could be dealing with your competition. If you plan to compete based on price, you’ll need to see how price cuts might impact your income. There’s no use making sales while losing money, since your business likely won’t be able to survive it.

Your business plan may also be useful when you reach the stage of hiring staff. You will want to hire people that fit the personality of your business and whose values align with it. Referring to your plan can help guide you in that process.

Understand the financials Next, analyze what it’ll take to start, grow, and manage your company. A great source for business finance insights is the Hands on Banking® website. Fundamentally, you should know: • Startup costs: How much you’ll need to pay to get your idea going. Free resources like the S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can help you calculate these costs.

You should also consider speaking with current professionals in your industry, such as vendors, suppliers, and industry groups.

• Break-even point: When your business brings in just enough money to cover expenses. If you need help figuring that out, The Balance offers a good rundown. Setting up a consultation with an accountant to help you estimate costs could also be helpful in the long run.

• Projections for profitability: Predictions about future income. It’s important to be realistic with these: Forbes gives a helpful guide on how to best forecast the revenue your business will likely bring in. This is also where the market research you’ve done can play a big role by helping you determine market size and the demand for your business.

Once you have these estimates, it will be much easier to pin down whether this is a worthy business opportunity.

Evaluate your financing options There are many ways to fund your business, but you have to choose the one that works for you. “You can put in sweat equity, use credit, raise venture capital, or even solicit funds with crowdfunding,” says Dr. Dennis Kimbro, a business professor and best-selling author.

“But which way is best for your business?”

The SBA suggests considering both your personal and business resources to help you arrive at the right financing strategy.

For instance, do you have: • Savings that you can draw from to get started?

• Depending on your situation, you may think about investing your own savings. Although this may not pay for everything, doing so shows lenders how much you believe in your own idea.

• Collateral to secure a business loan request?

• If yes, you could be ready for a loan or line of credit from a financial institution. For this option, you’ll want to have a good relationship with your banker so they can assist you in setting it up.

When starting out, all of these questions may not apply to your business just yet. However, if you approach a bank or investors, these are the questions they’ll likely ask.

They’re also factors to keep in mind should your business outgrow your initial plan.

As you get closer to launching, your financial and business plans may change, and that’s OK. Regardless of how they evolve, having a plan in place to guide you on this venture could make all the difference for your success. © 2019 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved

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30 | April 2020 HOMETOWN HEROES

Slim Thug

Donates 1,000 Bottles of Hand Sanitizer To Metro Police Department & Metro Bus Drivers By d-mars.com News Provider

H

ouston-based rapper Slim Thug is in quarantine recovering after recently testing positive for the Coronavirus.

Although in quarantine, his love for his community has not disappeared. The multi-platinum artist has teamed up with Smoke Shield to donate 1,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to Metro Police Department & Metro Bus Drivers as they continue to service Houston and surrounding areas.

“I want our Police Officers and Bus Drivers to know that we appreciate their service during this tough time. They have always been a huge part of keeping Houston going,” says Slim Thug.

Smoke Shield, Slim Thug and Baby Bash plan to donate an additional 1,000 bottles of hand sanitizer by April 15th. They will also provide

health care workers with hand sanitizer during the month of April.

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Source: METRO

April 2020  |  31

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TECHNOLOGY

3 Technologies

to Help You Feel Connected to Far Away Loved Ones By d-mars.com News Provider

W

hen it’s not possible to be near loved ones, being connected becomes more important.

Here are three technologies to feel closer to friends and family, wherever they may be:

watch’s main dial and date display “Home Time” (the time and date in the current location), while an inset dial at 3 o’clock displays “World Time” (the current time in over 300 major cities) in a 12-hour format. Its operations are easily managed via a connected smartphone, and its “Phone Finder” feature causes your phone to sound a tone even if it’s in silent mode.

3

Workout, Together Have a gym buddy or workout partner who is suddenly remote? New tools can help you motivate one another and stay fit together, even if you are far apart.

Some of the latest stationary bikes and treadmills on the market now allow you to connect to classes and coaches in real-time and have

features that allow you to enjoy realistic city and countryside scenery as you sweat.

Join the same class as a friend and compete against each other, or take a virtual tour of a city together.

1

Stream in Sync Streaming services like Netflix are introducing new features allowing users to watch programming in sync with their friends. Whether it’s the latest episode of your favorite reality game show or a movie you’ve all been excited to see, now you can host a virtual movie night or watch-party and share your reactions to the show in a real-time chat room.

2

Keep the Time A globally-minded timepiece can help you feel more connected by displaying the time of where your friends and family are located. And the Casio Edifice EQB1000 is especially informative. The

Thanks to new technologies, the world doesn’t need to feel so big. Embrace the tools that let you feel close and connected.

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TH E

E X P E R T

N E TW O R K

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