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Jackson
continued from page 1
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In between media events, Jack-
son was interviewed by GeekWire
at the Seattle campus of North-
eastern University where he
both their workforce and boards
of directors.
Jackson has requested the gen-
der and racial makeup of their
workforce and Microsoft, Apple,
Google, Facebook, Twitter, and
Amazon have released this data.
“There is no shortage of Blacks
and Latinos who can serve on
boards, who can serve in c-suites,
who certainly can serve in
employment,” Jackson said in his
interview
with
GeekWire.
“There’s nothing that you need
that Black or brown people cannot
provide, if equipped to do the
position. Nothing.”
The interview occurred across
the street from the offices of Ama-
zon.com. Jackson had extended an
offer to visit the executives with a
message of inclusion, but they
chose not to meet with him.
The next day, Jackson spoke at
the Microsoft Shareholders meet-
ing in Bellevue, representing both
a Microsoft shareholder and on
behalf of the Rainbow PUSH
Coalition. He referred to the
diversity data of technology firms
and said it wasn’t representative.
“The leadership and workforce
of the technology industry does
not look like America or reflect
the population and consumers that
it relies upon for success,” Jack-
son said, citing the paltry 0-3 per-
cent employment of Blacks in the
tech workforce. The numbers for
African Americans in manage-
ment were even worse with only 3
Black members out of 189 boards
of director members.
At the end of his tour, Jackson
made an appeal to the sharehold-
ers to look at the data he had col-
lected, to commit to include
diverse voices and sow the seeds
of opportunity for those who have
been left out of STEM. He spoke
to the growth of the industry and
untapped potential of new ideas.
And lastly, he expressed a plea
to work through difficult prob-
lems in unity.
“The tech industry has demon-
strated that it can solve the most
challenging complex problems in
the world. Inclusion is a complex
problem – if we put our collective
minds to it, we can solve it, too.
There’s nothing we can’t do,
together.”
new regulations, most child care
providers serving families receiv-
ing government subsidies, even
ones that aren’t required to be
licensed will be inspected. The old
rules only required inspection of
licensed providers.
The rules could improve safety.
For example, Oregon currently
inspects only licensed child care
facilities. The new regulations
will require inspections of most
providers who serve families
receiving government subsidies
for care, even providers that are
not required to be licensed.
Oregon, like other states includ-
ing like Georgia and Oklahoma
(who both provide universal pre-
school,) use child are subsidies
and tax credits to reduce the finan-
cial strain of costs for parents.
Despite some of the uncertainty
around the new regulations, audi-
tors found that state agencies can
still better their preparation for its
oncoming. Auditors recommend
that ODE and DHS initiate admin-
istrative or statutory charges
required to allow inspections of
unlicensed providers.
ODE and DHS also should
determine the costs of the new
regulations and monitor whether
the state is meeting the demand
for fingerprinting services and
inspections.
Secretary Brown commended
ODE and DHS for agreeing to the
audit recommendations to comply
with proposed federal regulations
and potentially reduce their
impact on providers, parents, and
their children.
cation, long-range planning for
STEM diversity and the push to
have large tech companies divulge
their diversity demographics for
He asked the students to stand up
and repeat ‘I am somebody, I am
somebody’ and urged the students
to keep learning
shared his thoughts about the
importance of diversity and inclu-
sion.
“We did not realize how good
baseball could be until everybody
could play,” Jackson said. “We
won’t realize how good tech can
be until everybody can play.”
Jackson added that inclusion
means an expanded base and
growth of the industry.
Jackson’s visit focused on edu-
Childcare
continued from page 1
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providers, the new federal rules
will require more comprehensive
background checks and finger-
printing, increased on-site moni-
toring and more information
posted online at state websites for
parents to reference.
The higher workload resulting
from new inspection require-
ments—up to a 71 percent
increase—may exceed the capaci-
ty of state field offices across Ore-
gon, according to Brown’s audit.
Conversely the new rules could
also improve safety. Under the
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Page 2 The Portland and Seattle Skanner December 10, 2014
For the first time, some of the people up for
renewal will be able to reapply through the federal
insurance marketplace, HealthCare.gov. That
change means Oregonians will learn right away if
they still qualify for OHP; those that don’t will learn
on the spot what their options are for private cover-
age, including any financial assistance available.
To qualify for the Oregon Health Plan people must
meet certain income and residency requirements.
For example, a family of four can earn up to $32,900
a year and may qualify for coverage. To maintain
coverage, OHP members must update their informa-
tion each year.
To purchase private coverage that goes into effect
Jan. 1, 2015 people must enroll by Mon.,Dec. 15,
this year.
OHP members needing assistance renewing or
applying for coverage, should visit OregonHealth-
Care.gov online where people can ask questions for
you, and direct you to the proper federal or local
forms online.
For people who don’t have online access, or oth-
erwise need help filling out an application, there is
local assistance available in their community to
help. To learn more about how Oregonians can find
help, visit OregonHealthCare.gov.
“This year there have been a lot of changes to how
people apply and renew health care coverage, but
here are the most important things to know: If you
get a letter from us take action, and if you need help
there is local assistance available,” Peterson adds.
OHP members should always keep their address
current to make sure they receive messages about
their coverage. Members should call or email
changes to OHP Customer Service at 1-800-699-
9075 or oregonhealthplan.changes@state.or.us.
To learn more about the Oregon Health Plan or
renewing OHP benefits, visit OregonHealthCare.gov.