Let’s Talk SDMNEWS wants to encourage Black San Diegans to take this time to talk to each other 5 Habits of Highly Effective Communicators
Recently some new science studies have backed up their claims and I feel it makes for a very compelling case to overhaul my own communication efforts and maybe it’s some inspiration for you too!
Have you ever walked away from talking with someone that you’ve just met and thought to yourself “Wow, this was one of the best conversations I’ve ever had!”? I’ve recently had one of those and at first I quite selfishly concluded “Wow, I’m a great communicator”. But then I realized, hang on a second, I think this other person was the reason I felt so good about this talk, how did he do that?
Let’s dig in: 1. They listen first – then focus on being Active and Constructive
I started to think about a few of the things this person did, that made me feel so comfortable and open to speak with him. In usual Buffer blog manner, I thought of finding some real science to back up some of the simple habits this newly found friend had so ingrained when talking with me. So what I’ve come up with are 5 of the most effective habits famous communicators have used for hundreds of years.
The word conversation generally brings to mind talking—at least for me. However, if you’ve ever seen two people trying to talk to each other at the same time, you’ll know that listening is just as important. In fact, listening is half of a successful conversation—you take turns to talk, and everyone feels heard. This is great communication. You might have heard of active listening before. It’s something we often get confused with passive, silent listening. Active listening, in fact, means taking part in the conversation and working on the rapport between you and your partner. It’s made up of three parts: paraphrasing, inquiry and acknowledgement.
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The San Diego Monitor
RE-BRANDING
BLACK AMERICA Black Americans Are Living Longer, C.D.C. Reports Black Americans still have a higher death rate over all than whites, but the gap is closing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday.
Black Americans who are younger than 65 tend to die more often than whites from chronic diseases like diabetes, strokes and heart disease. As a result, Dr. Cunningham said, black Americans who make it to 65 are comparatively healthier than their white peers, because many of those who are most susceptible to chronic diseases have already died.
Black Americans who live to 65 may now expect to live longer than whites of the same age, the federal researchers also found.
This disparity, and the differences in death rates generally, involve social factors as much as medical ones, Dr. Cunningham added.
The narrowing gap in death rates first emerged at the start of this century, and it shows no signs of abating. Both black and white Americans are living longer, but the death rate among blacks has been dropping faster than that among whites. In fact, heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, now kills blacks and whites at about the same rates.
Black Americans as a group have lower levels of education and homeownership as well as higher rates of poverty and unemployment, all factors linked to poorer health.
Fifteen years ago, black Americans had a life expectancy at birth of 71.8 years. For whites, the figure was 77.3 years. Blacks now have a life expectancy of 75.6 years, and whites can expect to live on average for 79 years. But disparities remain, the researchers found. Blacks aged 35 to 64 are 50 percent more likely than whites to have high blood pressure. The homicide rate among blacks aged 18 to 34 is nine times as high as the rate among whites. Among blacks aged 35 to 49, the homicide rate is five times as high as it is among whites. Why, then, do blacks who are older than 65 live longer than whites? Timothy J. Cunningham, the lead author of the report, said the lower death rate among older black Americans first emerged in 2011. He attributed it to “weathering.”
Individual behaviors like smoking are more common among younger blacks, compared with whites, and they contribute to higher death rates in younger age groups.
“It is important to invest in the places where people live,” Dr. Cunningham said, “so they can eat healthier food and get physical activity in safe spaces and quit smoking if they started.”
Sdmonitornews.com
What do they Want you to KNOW? What Everyone Needs to Know About 2020 Census Questions
By law, the U.S. government is required to count the number of people living in the United States every 10 years. Getting an accurate count is important because census numbers impact daily life in the United States in many ways. For example, census data are often used to determine how much federal funding is allocated for important projects and services that benefit local communities. The census also plays a vital role in our nation’s system of government by determining how many representatives will be sent to Congress from each state. Because getting an accurate count is so important, the process is designed to be fast, easy, and safe. On average, it takes no more than 10 minutes to answer the questions on the census. How Are Census Data Collected?
During the first census in 1790, census takers visited nearly every U.S. home to gather data. In 2020, households will have the option of responding online, by mail, or by phone. The Census Bureau expects many households to complete the questionnaire online, using instructions received in the mail. These instructions will also include information about how to respond by phone. Some households will receive a printed questionnaire which they can mail, postage-free, back to the
Be Counted! SDMNEWS’S Motivation Information
Census Bureau. A small percentage of households, primarily located in remote areas of the country, will be visited by a census taker who will help collect the necessary information to complete the form. Who Receives the Census Questionnaire and How Is It Filled Out? Most housing units in the United States that receive mail at their physical location will receive a letter by mail with instructions on how to complete the census questionnaire. Housing units include houses, apartments, cabins, mobile homes—pretty much any place where people live in the United States. In areas where the majority of housing units do not have mail delivered to their physical location, census workers will leave questionnaire packages at every identified housing unit. The census process also includes special provisions to count people who are homeless and those in other types of living quarters, such as college dorms, military barracks, ships, prisons, nursing homes, and homeless shelters. The person in the housing unit who fills out the census questionnaire or talks to the census taker is known as Person 1. Typically, Person 1 is the owner/co-owner or renter/corenter of the housing unit. READ MORE sdmonitornews.com
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The San Diego Monitor
How to Maintain a Healthy Immune System The human body's immune is in-charge of fighting off organisms that are a threat to your health such as bacteria and viruses that cause sicknesses like a cold or flu. However, there is a problem – the immune system can get limited at certain points in time due to various reasons. Let's say, you consume alcohol a lot or you are a smoker, your immune system is exposed to being compromised and thereby not performing its function which leads to bacteria and viruses having a field day in the body. The functioning of your immune system depends on the food you consume as well as nutritional supplements and a few other ways.
Here are a few tips to maintain a healthy immune system: Diet Your immune system can benefit from you consuming foods that have natural antioxidants like blueberries. Also, other foods like spinach, garlic, oranges, green tea, bread, cereals are also good to help boost the function of the immune system. Foods that are fatty, especially the ones with polyunsaturated fats should be avoided.
Exercise At least, moderate exercise is a very good way to keep your immune system functioning properly, even if it's just walking once in a day. Exercise allows proper circulation which helps in removing any toxins present in the organs and muscles; the immune system gets strengthened through this. 3. Sleep: Proper sleep is very good to keep the immune system running. Lack of sleep increases stress hormones, which could compromise the immune system.
Hydration Taking 10-12 glasses of water is of great benefit to the immune system to retain moisture in the body. The mucous membranes of the mouth and nasal passages are required to remain hydrated so the immune system would be able to fight off organisms that pose danger to one's health. Another function of water is that it flushes toxins out of organs such as the kidneys and liver, as well as aid oxidation in the bloodstream for the promotion of better health.1,271,000 people from 2017. Reduce alcohol Yes, a lot of men might find this difficult to believe but it's the plain truth. Although, alcohol has its own benefits but when it becomes too much, it could pose a problem. The immune system could become weak if there is too much alcohol in the body.
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The San Diego Monitor
SDMNEWS Must Read 2020 CA Census Guide Table of Contents Section 1: General Information (PDF) •
Initiative and Referendum Qualification Requirements
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Candidate Qualifications and Information
Section 2: Nomination Requirements (PDF) •
Presidential Candidates
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United States Representative in Congress, and Member of the State Legislature Candidates
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Nomination Documents – Nomination Papers and Declaration of Candidacy
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Signatures In Lieu of Filing Fee
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Signatures In Lieu of Filing Fee and/or Nomination Papers
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Ballot Designations
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In General
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Campaign Filings and Responsibilities
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Candidate Intention Statement
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Campaign Contribution Account
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Exceptions
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Additional Filing Information
Section 3: Candidate Filing Information (PDF) •
Required Filing Fees, Nomination Signatures
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Write-In Candidates for the Office of President
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Write-In Candidates for Voter-Nominated Offices
In-Lieu
Signatures,
Section 4: Candidate Checklist (PDF) •
President of the United States
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United States Representative in Congress
For download please go to www.sdmonitornews.com
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The San Diego Monitor
The Best Hand Soap for Washing Your Hands Non-Stop Even in the midst of a pandemic, you can make every hand-washing session an aromatic, life-affirming moment.
The best hand soap is probably something you’ve been thinking about a lot lately, as the coronavirus continues to spread. To prevent its transmission, the CDC recommends washing your hands with soap (bar or liquid) and water for at least 20 seconds as frequently as possible.
(If you’re on a grocery run and want to quickly clean your hands after check out, it's cool to use hand sanitizer.) But what kind of soap should you use? Well, according to the U. S. Food and Drug Administration plainly there’s no science to show that antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than just plain soap and water. So, during this time where washing hands can actually save lives, any soap is good soap. But think about it: if you’re going to be washing your hands more frequently than you might otherwise, what better time to invest the best hand soap available? The kind of soap you might find in a rich and stylish friend's apartment, or a nice cocktail bar. The kind of soap that looks beautiful, smells great, and leave your hands feeling actually hydrated instead of all dried out. In a world where everyone is wearing masks and social distancing, the act of washing your hands can be something more than a chore. Here are our top picks, from the high-end stuff you've probably seen at hip restaurants and on interior-design blogs to the simple, available-everywhere soaps that you can still usually pick up from the ransacked shelves of your local grocery store.
Seven More Hand Soaps We Like
byHumankind hand soap byHumankind makes products that employ as little packaging as possible (its bar shampoo—something you'd usually have to get in a bottle—comes in bar form, for example). The brand's hand soap comes in three gentle, luxurious scents.
Dr. Bronner’s "Peppermint" sugar soap
The Grocery Store Pick Mrs. Meyer’s "Lemon Verbena" hand soap Most cheap supermarket soaps tend to dry out your hands and/or don't smell all that nice and/or are just plain ugly, with bottles that look like they belong more in a kid's bathroom than a grown man's. Thankfully, Mrs. Meyer's is different. The fragrances, especially the Lemon Verbena, are refreshing and pleasant rather than potpourri-esque. The consistency and foaming power is good. The packaging is simple and adult. All without costing more than a few bucks.
Another good option you can find at the supermarket with a price tag that won't raise your eyebrows. It's as invigorating and cleansing as their wellloved castile soap, and a tiny bit goes a long way.
Public Goods hand soap New Jersey-based Public Goods makes soaps with all the olfactory notes of a delicious spice cake like orange, cinnamon, and nutmeg, plus a few other traditional scents you'd actually expect from a fancy soap, like vetiver.
The Coming Wave of COVID-19 Entrepreneurs The COVID-19 crisis has sparked a lot of discussion about the importance of small businesses and entrepreneurship. The allocation of $350 billion by Congress to provide small business relief, the avalanche of expressions of concern as pictures of shuttered main street storefronts are circulated across all media, and thousands of community-led initiatives designed to support local entrepreneurs and small businesses only serve to validate the importance of small businesses and entrepreneurs in our economy. How the pandemic will affect us in the long-term is not yet known, but we can already see immediate impacts to our ecosystems. The United States has experienced an unimaginable pivot in just a few short weeks. With unemployment consistently trending downward since the Great Recession, and experiencing a rate as low as 3.5% as recently as February , nearly anyone who wanted a work and earn a steady paycheck could almost certainly find an opportunity. Entrepreneurs could pursue a business opportunity with discretion, often keeping their day jobs and working on their startup on evenings and weekends in their proverbial garage. [1]
Fast forward to today’s unprecedented scenario, and suddenly we’re experiencing record unemployment rates are estimated at more 13% and continue to climb, and the situation looks radically different. People who are struggling to find work are more likely to resort to entrepreneurship in an effort to generate quick income, and with today’s gig economy there are many ways for them to do so.
During good economic times, entrepreneurs motivated by a perceived opportunity are the norm. They are in it because they want to solve a problem or because they want the autonomy of being their own boss. When push comes to shove, they’ve got a job and perhaps some money in the bank to get started with and a way to survive financially until the business gets to the point where it can sustain an owners' draw. The most critical constraint for these “opportunity entrepreneurs” is finding the time to work on their venture. In contrast, “necessity entrepreneurs” typically start their business out of a lack of options in the labor market. They need to put food on the table and support their families, and if given a choice they would much prefer a less risky option. Their most critical constraints are a lack of access to startup funds, challenged by an immediate need for cash flow. During the Great Recession, we saw growth in the representation of necessity entrepreneurs who sought support from community colleges, SBDCs, and business incubators. As the economy improved, opportunity entrepreneurs became more common, a trend that has been backed by reliable research. Necessity entrepreneurs have often not thought of starting a business before it became essential, and often lack many of the skills entrepreneurs need in order to succeed. As we work to help them navigate their challenges, here are some things to consider to ensure you are providing the correct support: •
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Supporting entrepreneurs during difficult economic times is more important than ever before. “COVID-19 Entrepreneurs” seeking immediate economic relief will face different challenges than those pursuing a business opportunity, and will need different types of assistance and a deep understanding of their motivation.
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Increase the availability of e-commerce, digital marketing and business model generation courses. These skills will help entrepreneurs start quickly with minimal upfront costs. Encourage entrepreneurs to fully vet their idea before they start. An idea that does not fill a need or have a market will deplete resources and waste time. Fully explore their ideas with them, and ask a lot of questions. What seems like a good way to make a quick buck may actually be the opposite. Help entrepreneurs find a way to balance their cash flow to meet both personal and business needs. Without a supplemental source of income, entrepreneurs may not be able to reinvest in their businesses as much as they’d like to or need to. Address an entrepreneurs’ true motivation and make sure they understand what they are getting into. Keep a list of employment resources, like the local one-stop office that uses WIOA funding to provide training and help dislocated workers find jobs. Refresh your mentor roster. In this rapidly changing environment, having mentors on hand to help entrepreneurs make decisions in real-time will be invaluable
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The San Diego Monitor
State Findings: California, 2019 Strengths: Low prevalence of smoking Low premature death rate Low infant mortality rate
Challenges: Low percentage of high school graduation High levels of air pollution Large difference in health status by high school education Highlights In the past year, excessive drinking decreased 8% from 19.2% to 17.6% of adults In the past year, disparity in health status decreased 14% from 37.1% to 31.8% Since 2012, physical inactivity increased 10% from 19.1% to 21.0% of adults Despite decreasing since 2012, air pollution increased 12% over the past three years from 11.4 to 12.8 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter In the past 10 years, chlamydia increased 43% from 388.3 to 553.4 cases per 100,000 population Since 1990, cardiovascular deaths decreased 37% from 377.0 to 236.7 deaths per 100,000 population
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