Daily Business Report-Nov. 12, 2019
From left, Tracks Public Relations’ Workplace Strategies Director Karim Bouris; Angela Rivera, director of people + creative for Tracks; Jamie Hampton, founder and CEO of Tracks.
Newly launched Tracks Public Relations
agency aims to bring diversity to the
mostly white public relations industry
Imagine there’s a public crisis in Barrio Logan, where 51 percent of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latinx. Who would be the best spokesperson to communicate with citizens on what to do and how to stay safe? Research indicates people prefer to hear news and information from individuals similar to themselves.
In San Diego, like most of the country, the public relations industry remains a majority-white profession. A 2018 Harvard Business Reviewanalysis of federal labor statistics found the industry is 87.9 percent White, 8.3 percent African American, 2.6 percent Asian American, and 5.7 percent Hispanic or Latinx. Industry leaders are still trying to figure out how to improve those numbers. How?
Say hello to Tracks Public Relations (Tracks), a social enterprise agency launched by San Diego’s Mixte Communications, holder of the 2019 PR Team of the Year Award from the local chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. As formed, Tracks will provide paid, work-based training jobs for refugees and immigrants (New Americans) to help create a new career pathway for this population, and welcome diversity into the industry.
“For years, the public relations industry has discussed its lack of diversity, but we’ve made little progress in welcoming new voices,” said Tracks CEO and founder Jamie Hampton. “Without an inclusive workforce, the industry of public relations simply cannot offer the creativity and services needed to help companies sync with communities across America. As the messengers for brands, products or services, it’s not just a good thing to do: it’s just good business.”
“Everyone should have an equal opportunity to pursue a thriving livelihood for themselves and their family,” said Angela Rivera, who transitioned from Mixte to lead Tracks in June as director of people + creative. “That doesn’t send a message to someone like me that you’re welcome in this industry. We’re changing that.”
Hampton said Tracks won’t stop at a locally based training program. With the vision of its Workplace Strategies Director Karim Bouris, the company is developing partnerships to measure effectiveness and to make the case to scale its impact. Tracks is in talks with a local adult education program to create English as a second language curriculum aligned to meet the needs of companies hiring communications staff. The company is also exploring a pilot partnership with a national nonprofit with a specialty in placing New Americans into the country’s workforce.
Hampton said the idea for Tracks began during Mixte Communications’ strategic planning in March of 2017. Mixte, which turns eight next year, follows the business model of traditional agencies, but with unwavering dedication to community-driven values, such as fighting for equity and cultural humility. Hampton’s team suggested the company reinvest its profits back into the communities that it served, leading to the incubation of Tracks, which has operated since late 2018.
“We have a lot of work in front of our team at Tracks, and we have a lot of work to do within our industry,” said Hampton, who hopes to be voted into a three-year position on the board of directors for the local PRSA chapter. She aims to chair the diversity committee. “We have to redefine how we operate as an industry – small changes in our traditional practices can translate to more applicants representing a more diverse talent pool.”
__________________________
Joint powers authority formed to govern
East County water purification program
Appointed representatives from Padre Dam Municipal Water District, City of El Cajon and County of San Diego held the formation meeting of the East County Advanced Water Purification Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to serve as the governing body for the East County Advanced Water Purification project.
The creation of the JPA marks a key milestone in moving forward the project that will create a new, local, sustainable and drought-proof drinking water supply using state-of-the-art technology to purify East County’s recycled water. In its initial action, the board elected Gary Kendrick, representing the City of El Cajon, to serve as chair of the JPA for the first year. Supervisor Dianne Jacob, representing the County of San Diego, was elected as vice chair. August Caires, representing Padre Dam, serves as the third member of the JPA Board.
Once complete, the $528 million program will generate up to 11.5 million gallons per day of new drinking water – approximately 30 percent of current drinking water demands for residents in East County. The project uses four advanced water purification steps to produce water that is near-distilled in quality.
__________________________
Piranha-proof fish scales offer
inspiration for better armor
The scales of the massive Amazonian freshwater fish, Arapaima gigas, are so tough that they do not tear or crack when a piranha—which has one of the animal kingdom’s sharpest bites—attacks. Material scientists have discovered the secret to the fish’s impermeable armor: each scale is made up of a highly mineralized outer layer that resists penetration and a soft, yet tough, inner layer of collagen that deforms and absorbs pressure, preventing damage from spreading.
The work could serve as inspiration for stronger, lightweight and flexible synthetic armors. Researchers published their findings Oct. 16 in the journal Matter.
The project was led by Marc Meyers, a professor of nanoengineering and mechanical engineering at the University of California San Diego, and Robert Ritchie, a professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at the University of California Berkeley.
__________________________
Illumina, Lexent partner on
NGS-based cancer IVD kit
genomeweb
Liquid biopsy firm Lexent Bio announced a non-exclusive partnership with Illumina to develop an in vitro diagnostic kit for cancer.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lexent will develop its Confera Dx assay, a next-generation sequencing-based kit for monitoring response to therapy or minimal residual disease in patients with certain solid tumors, to run on Illumina’s NextSeq 550Dx system. Lexent will be responsible for obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals and for commercialization.
Financial and other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
__________________________
Chamber’s Legislative Lounge awards
recognize elected leaders and staff
Five individuals from across the county were recognized for their work in keeping the San Diego region moving forward at last Thursday’s Legislative Lounge event, a lighthearted reception and awards ceremony sponsored by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“The chamber’s goal of making San Diego a great place to live and work depends on strong partnerships with our region’s elected officials and their staff who work hard to make our region the best it can be,” said Jerry Sanders, chamber president and CEO. “In today’s increasingly polarized environment, taking a moment to say thank you and recognize the good work they do is much needed.”
Each Legislative Lounge winner was presented with a personalized caricature as their commemorative award. This year’s Legislative Lounge awards are (click award winner’s name to view caricature):
“Bridge Builder” — Coronado City Councilmember Bill Sandke
“City Hall Savant” — Venus Molina, Chief of Staff to San Diego City Councilmember Jennifer Campbell
“Innovator” — Omar Passons, Director of Integrative Services for the Health and Human Services Agency at the County of San Diego
“Sunshine” — Imperial Beach City Councilmember Mark West
“Staffer Who Gets Sh*t Done” — Jessica Lawrence, Director of Finance Policy and Council Affairs, Office of Mayor Kevin Faulconer
__________________________
Registration for spring semester and intersession
classes at SD Community College District
Students interested in attending San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges, and San Diego Continuing Education can start registering for spring semester and intersession classes as early as today.
Registration for eligible students, such as members of the military or those involved with Disabled Student Programs and Services, takes place November 12 and 13. Students who have already made arrangements to register by appointment will start signing up for classes two days later. Open registration begins December 9.
The 16-week spring semester at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges begins Feburary 3 and continues through June 1. Students can register by visiting classschedule.sdccd.edu.
The spring semester at Continuing Education begins January 27. Students can visit sdce.edu for more information.
A condensed, four-week intersession runs from January 2 – 29.
At $46 per unit, enrollment fees are among the lowest in the country for a higher education system in the nation. Most students attending City, Mesa or Miramar College, however, do not have to pay for tuition, thanks to the San Diego Promise, the California College Promise Grant, and other financial aid opportunities. Continuing Education classes are free. As many as 15 percent of SDCCD courses will be fully online, opening the doors of education to more working adults or those raising a family.
__________________________
New veterans center opens as major part of
Cuyamaca College’s renovated Student Center
The grand opening of Cuyamaca College’s renovated Student Center last week included the first look at the new veterans center on the first floor that brings all veterans-related services under one roof.
For the estimated 300 veterans enrolled at Cuyamaca College, the new center promises to be a home away from home. With nearly 2,500 square feet, the new center nearly triples the amount of space previously available for veterans services. A major improvement is being able to provide the tracking, bookkeeping and certification required for VA benefits, and to serve the unique needs of student veterans and their dependents in a central location.
“Student veterans and military-affiliated students can now access a ‘one-stop shop’ to get their questions answered and to have a haven of their own to study, relax and talk to other veterans,” said veterans counselor Osvaldo Torres.
With s state grant funding a veterans center coordinator, new computers, a food pantry for veterans and their families, a textbook library, and school supply kits, the veterans center plans to expand outreach and services.
