Plus Three's Juan Proaño Brings Expertise to Argentina on State Department Mission

Posted on 09/24/2013 @ 06:00 AM

State Department Contracted @Plus_Three Founder Juan Proaño To Share Online Organizing Best Practices With NGOs and Students Across Argentina

WASHINGTON, DC – Juan Proaño, the co-founder and CEO of Plus Three, the leading online marketing firm for progressive causes and organizations, travelled across Argentina with the U.S. Department of State this August to meet with NGOs and student organizers. Proaño shared his extensive knowledge of online organizing strategy with Argentinians working for social change.

“I am honored that the State Department asked me to help activists and leaders in Argentina to improve how they use technology to improve their communities," said Juan Proaño, co-founder and President of Plus Three.

"At Plus Three, we are passionate about the power of social media and online organizing to make change. To share that passion with our friends abroad on behalf of the United States was an incredible privilege."

Proaño's eight-day trip included workshops at the Universidad del Norte Santo Tomás de Aquino, the Catholic University of La Plata, the Catholic University of Argentina, the University of Palermo, and Astral University along with additional workshops with NGO associations. He spoke on topics including digital strategy for NGOs, the use of social media by political campaigns, and the future of online activism.

In the United States, Plus Three has expertise in navigating the latest in technology, identifying trends and opportunities, and building movements to help clients achieve their goals. To learn more, visit Plus Three’s website at http://plusthree.com, or contact Alice Lincoln at (866) 945-4889 ext. 707.

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Changes in Latino Philanthropy

By Juan Proaño on 04/24/2013 @ 06:00 AM

PLUS THREE CLIENTS:

Latino philanthropy is changing in America. A surge in activism around immigration reform and an engaged electorate in the 2012 Presidential election has changed how Latinos view their role in the political process.

The Futuro Fund raised $32 million dollars on behalf of the Obama 2012 campaign by soliciting fellow Latinos. These contributions came from both high-dollar fundraising events and low-dollar online fundraising. This is a major milestone in American politics and one of the strongest signs yet that Latino power and influence are evolving.

The perception has been that Latinos do not give, or that if they give they give to faith-based organizations, disaster relief organizations in time of need, or to family and friends. In reality, 63% of Latino households now make charitable contributions. As the W. K. Kellogg Foundation writes, "The face of philanthropy is rapidly changing to become as ethnically, culturally and socioeconomically diverse as our country’s population."

As a Latino-owned company, Plus Three has been at the forefront of identity-based philanthropy, developing campaigns and programs for Latino non-profit organizations nationwide.

Today, we manage direct relationships with over 1.2 million Latinos, have sent over 100 million emails to Latinos, and raised over $1.5 million dollars for Latino non-profits online.

See our Latino case studies

So what does this have to do with your Latino non-profit?

Find out how Plus Three can help you develop a program that leverages the unique experience of our team and our track record of success in the field of Latino philanthropy.

No organization is too small or campaign too big. Take the first step today.

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Plus Three Client COPS VOTER GUIDE Wins Pollie Award Highest Honors

Posted on 04/18/2013 @ 06:00 AM

Tags: political, California

Best Website for a State Organization in the 2012 Elections

The American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) recently awarded Plus Three client COPS VOTER GUIDE with two Pollie Awards for the Best Slate Mailer and Best Website for a State Organization in the 2012 elections. The 2013 Annual Pollie Awards Ceremony was held on April 5th in Washington D.C.

Kelley Moran, Director of the COPS VOTER GUIDE said, "We're pleased and grateful to be recognized for our exemplary work as the premier voter guide in California."

“COPS VOTER GUIDE works hard on behalf of our candidates to help get them elected to office. We believe our winning track record and effective organization is second to none. We would like to thank our team including Barry Wyatt Associates, Joan Guelden, and Plus Three for their contributions to these awards.”

The Pollie Awards (Pollies) are bipartisan honors awarded annually by the AAPC to members of the political advertising and communications industry who have demonstrated superior work on behalf of their candidates and causes. A blind jury of their peers judge the entrants and select award winners. Esquire magazine has dubbed the Pollies as “…the Oscars of political advertising.”

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Plus Three Designs State of the Art Website for John Liu for New York City Mayor Campaign

Posted on 04/04/2013 @ 06:00 AM

@Plus_Three Creates Dynamic Web and Social Media Presence For @JohnLiu2013, NYC's First Asian American City Councilman

Plus Three, the leading online marketing firm for progressive causes and organizations, today highlighted its work for pioneering candidate John Liu. Liu, who was New York City's first Asian American elected to city council and the first elected to citywide office, announced his campaign for mayor earlier this month.

"At Plus Three we are immensely proud of our work for minority candidates and progressive causes, and we are delighted to lend our expertise to John Liu as he continues to break barriers in New York City," said Plus Three president and co-founder, Juan Proaño. "Our technology will provide Liu's campaign with robust online fundraising and volunteer engagement tools. The rich multimedia and social media integration, along with Spanish and Chinese content, will help Liu continue to energize his growing base of support."

In addition to the seamless integration of Facebook, Twitter, news, audio and video,JohnLiu2013.com prominently features the John Liu Ambassadors and Women for John Liu grassroots engagement programs and a live scrolling list of new supporters from the five boroughs. The site is hosted on Plus Three's ARCOS marketing platform, the choice software for aggressive fundraising and mobilization campaigns across the country.

Liu’s campaign website is just one example of Plus Three’s expertise in navigating the latest in technology, identifying trends and opportunities, and building movements to help clients achieve their goals.

To learn more, visit Plus Three’s website at http://plusthree.com, or contact Alice Lincoln at (866) 945-4889 ext. 707.

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At National, State, and Local Levels, Plus Three’s Clients Celebrate Major Election Victories

Posted on 11/16/2012 @ 06:00 AM

From Fundraising to Re-elect President Obama to Building Parks in Houston, @Plus_Three Is Proud of Its Clients and Their Success

WASHINGTON, DC – Plus Three, the leading online marketing firm for Hispanic causes and organizations, today recognized the achievements of its national, state, and local clients in last Tuesday's elections.

“We are so proud of our clients and the work we do for them,” said Plus Three president and co-founder, Juan Proaño. “This year, the Latino vote increased to 10% of the overall electorate, hitting double digits for the first time in American history. As the leading online fundraising and marketing firm for Latino nonprofits, Plus Three has produced some of the highest profile national campaigns and raised more money online for Latino nonprofits and candidates than any firm in the country.”

At the top of the ticket, Plus Three played a key role in rallying Latinos to support President Obama's reelection. The company worked with The Futuro Fund to raise $30 million for the Obama-Biden campaign, and worked with the Charlotte in 2012 Democratic National Convention host committee to raise $5 million and engage the citizens and media who made the 2012 Democratic National Convention a rousing success.

At the state level, Plus Three's clients made great strides across the country. New York State Senate Democrats regained their majority, the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters elected 43 of its endorsed candidates to the state Senate and House, and the Arizona Democratic Party engaged more voters than ever before. In addition, Plus Three's friend and client Joe Garcia will be the new Congressman from Florida's 26th district.

Plus Three clients won local ballot initiatives as well. In Houston, Parks By You passed a $166 million bond to transform the city through a system of connected trails and green spaces along its bayous and neighborhood parks. The Los Angeles Police Protective League also successfully fought back efforts by a billionaire businessman to undercut the strength of organized labor.

These election successes are just a few examples of Plus Three’s expertise in navigating the latest in technology, identifying trends and opportunities, and building movements to help clients achieve their goals.

To learn more, visit Plus Three’s website at http://plusthree.com, or contact Alice Lincoln at (866) 945-4889 ext. 707.

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Equality NC Launches New Websites Designed to Better Serve LGBT Community & Allies

Raleigh, N.C. — Equality NC and Equality NC Foundation today launched two dynamic new websites to better serve the informational and interactive needs of North Carolina’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community and allies. The revamped online presences mark the first major website redesign for Equality NC, North Carolina’s leading LGBT advocacy organization, and the organization’s educational arm, Equality NC Foundation.

The new sites, www.equalitync.org and www.equalityncfoundation.org, both feature access to an array of fully-shareable LGBT news (“The Latest”), multimedia projects (“Know + Love”), easy access to a vibrant Twitter feed of the latest LGBT commentary, resources, and information, as well as a robust set of online tools to organize and mobilize grassroots education and activism (“Take Action.”)

“Over the past year, we’ve seen a surge in online activity surrounding the Amendment One campaign, and now Equality NC has a website that really allows us to amplify the voices of North Carolina’s newly-energized LGBT community and allies,” said Jen Jones, Equality NC’s Communications Director. “This new website is not only an online companion to our education and advocacy work on the ground, it compliments the new and exciting work we’re doing in multimedia, interactive media and social media.”

The new website launch corresponds with Equality NC’s ever-increasing online membership base, which has now grown to over 50,000 online supporters. In only one year, Equality NC has also become the second-most popular state equality site on Facebook, quadrupled its Twitter followers, amassed thousands of online video and image views and shares on YouTube and Flickr, and added new presences on popular social networking sites like Pinterest and Tumblr.

“The launch of these websites is an exciting development for North Carolina, as it will provide every fair-minded individual or group, working towards LGBT equality, to have the tools to strengthen our various networks and the ability to benefit from each other’s work,” said Stuart Campbell, Executive Director of Equality NC. “Our coalition partnerships are our most important asset moving forward after Amendment One, and these new online channels allows us to communicate, educate and mobilize those communities and allies—like never before.”

To rebrand the website, Equality NC worked with Plus Three—the online engagement team behind many of the nation’s most engaging web presences—to build an entirely new site, better serve the organization’s pre-existing online channels, and expand on current statewide LGBT fundraising, activism and educational efforts.

With the unveiling of the new Equality NC site, the organization also launches its latest political action committee fundraising campaign, the Equality NC Action Fund “PAYBACK CHALLENGE,” encouraging fair-minded North Carolinians angered by the Amendment One outcome to contribute from now until September 20, to support pro-equality candidates, oppose anti-LGBT politicians, and sponsor grassroots activism leading up to the 2012 general election. Learn more at equalitync.org/pac_challenge.

Read the full article here.

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Shakira and Ronaldo Top Plus Three's 2012 Latino Social Media Ranking

Posted on 05/03/2012 @ 06:00 AM

Tags: Hispanic strategy

Musicians and athletes dominate @Plus_Three’s semiannual analysis of leading Latinos in social media #2012LatinoRanking

WASHINGTON, DC – @Plus_Three, the leading online marketing firm for Hispanic causes and organizations, today released its 2012 Latino Social Media Ranking (#2012LatinoRanking) analysis. The list was dominated by singers and soccer stars with singer Shakira, who boasts over 49 million Facebook likes and 15 million Twitter followers, leading the way. Real Madrid soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, singer Selena Gomez, FC Barcelona soccer player Lionel Messi, and singer Enrique Iglesias rounded out the top five Latino celebrities, totaling over 223 million followers and likes.

The international list of 40 influential Latinos spans nine countries. Half of the social media icons were born in the United States, including six Puerto Ricans, while seven were born in Spain and six in Brazil.

"The list showcases the extraordinary reach of Latino celebrities who, together, have over 600 million followers on Facebook and Twitter,” stated Plus Three President and Co-Founder, Juan Proaño. “That is a fanbase larger than the populations of the United States, Spain, and Brazil combined. With the celebrities adding at least ten thousand new followers each day, the power of Latinos in social media is vast and expanding."

Plus Three’s 2012 Latino Social Media Ranking:

Rank	Celebrity		Likes	Follows	Total
1		Shakira	49,625,034	15,799,014	65,424,048
2		Cristiano Ronaldo	43,304,330	9,243,571	52,547,901
3		Selena Gomez	29,715,261	11,493,252	41,208,513
4		Lionel Messi	33,777,955	268,838	34,046,793
5		Enrique Iglesias	28,100,724	1,989,419	30,090,143
6		Bruno Mars	22,676,969	8,848,139	31,525,108
7		Ricardo Kaka	16,194,399	10,215,421	26,409,820
8		Pitbull	19,248,556	4,691,710	23,940,266
9		Demi Lovato	12,881,940	6,738,858	19,620,798
10		Jennifer Lopez	12,018,588	6,388,156	18,406,744
11		Daddy Yankee	11,690,226	2,790,294	14,480,520
12		Mariah Carey	7,773,544	6,652,384	14,425,928
13		Wisin Y Yandel	11,900,800	852,864	12,753,664
14		Andres Iniesta	9,596,634	3,102,100	12,698,734
15		Rafael Nadal	10,445,345	2,030,560	12,475,905
16		Paulo Coelho	8,249,259	4,074,194	12,323,453
17		Luciano Huck	6,437,443	5,042,611	11,480,054
18		Don Omar	10,409,599	850,000	11,259,599
19		Charlie Sheen	2,558,502	7,209,805	9,768,307
20		Fernando Torres	9,272,710	276,297	9,549,007
21		Kid Cudi	8,649,403	490,747	9,140,150
22		Ricky Martin	3,227,620	5,909,468	9,137,088
23		Ricardo Arjona	7,354,192	1,598,722	8,952,914
24		Luis Fonsi	6,064,983	2,858,370	8,923,353
25		Juanes	3,918,731	4,945,510	8,864,241
26		George Lopez	6,947,527	1,391,171	8,338,698
27		Christina Aguilera	6,767,820	1,356,441	8,124,261
28		Taio Cruz	7,215,665	859,047	8,074,712
29		Ivete Sangalo	1,806,329	6,176,243	7,982,572
30		Alejandro Sanz	1,900,313	5,652,963	7,553,276
31		Gerard Piqué	4,036,412	2,730,864	6,767,276
32		Claudia Leitte	657,710	5,085,893	5,743,603
33		Tony Dize	5,327,128	352,556	5,679,684
34		Iker Casillas	5,566,298	51,555	5,617,853
35		Anahi	1,272,211	4,138,673	5,410,884
36		Victoria Justice	3,144,226	2,026,846	5,171,072
37		Rey Mysterio	4,721,917	403,219	5,125,136
38		Camila	4,055,527	1,025,832	5,081,359
39		Michel Teló	3,393,175	1,570,498	4,963,673
40		Chayanne	2,734,292	2,031,621	4,765,913

The 2012 Latino Social Media Ranking is one example of Plus Three’s expertise in navigating the latest in technology, identifying trends and opportunities, and building movements to help clients achieve their goals.

To learn more, visit Plus Three’s website at plusthree.com, or contact Alice Lincoln at (866) 945-4889 ext. 707.

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Plus Three Sponsoring Half-Day Training Session for Nonprofits at Hispanicize 2012

Posted on 04/06/2012 @ 07:00 AM

Tags: Hispanic strategy, Social media

American Latino Museum will be the Featured Case Study on Non-Profit Social Media Innovation led by Plus Three Co-Founder, Juan Proaño

WASHINGTON, DC — The Friends of the American Latino Museum, a 501(c)(3) created to support the American Latino Museum initiative, has joined as a sponsor in presenting the 3rd annual convening of Hispanicize 2012. The yearly gathering, held this year at Miami’s JW Marriot Marquis from April 10-13, will bring together Latino trendsetters and newsmakers in social media, marketing, entertainment and innovation. The events will include a half day training session for nonprofits co-sponsored by Univision and Plus Three, a leading website and social media company that with The Raben Group currently directs the social media strategy for the Friends.

Juan Proaño, Co-Founder of Plus Three and website designer for the Friends, will lead a panel during the Latino Social Media for Social Good Half-Day Training session. The panel is entitled: “The Ultimate Guide for Non-Profit Organizations Serving Hispanic & Multicultural Communities,” and it will examine as a case study the Friends’ remarkable success in social media outreach. On March 22, the Friends announced that it had surpasses 100,000 followers on Twitter and had accumulated 70,000 fans on Facebook and 67,000 supporters through its website, bringing its total reach to over 237,000 supporters. Current supporters surpass 240,000.

Click here to register for Latino Social Media for Social Good @ Hispanicize 2012.

The intensive half-day session, held on April 10 from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, will be hosted exclusively for non-profit organizations, and is provided free of charge for the first 100 nonprofits that register. The session will explore how communications can help non-profit organizations serving Latino and multicultural communities maximize their use of public relations and social media. The training will have a deep focus on social media, including Facebook, Twitter, blogs and other popular outlets.

Panelists include: Estuardo Rodriguez, Principal at The Raben Group and Friends Staff; Patricia Perez, Principal, VPE Public Relations; Eva Smith, Partner, Latina Mom Bloggers; Audrey Ponzio,Senior Vice President, Edelman Multicultural; and Juan Proaño, Co-Founder of Plus Three and the Friends website designer.

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Noncitizens Sue Over U.S. Gay Marriage Ban

Five legally married same-sex couples filed a lawsuit on Monday to challenge the 1996 law that bars the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, arguing that its impact is particularly harsh on couples that include an American citizen and a foreigner.

The lawsuit, filed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, was brought by Immigration Equality, a gay rights legal organization that focuses on immigration issues. Same-sex marriage advocates said it was likely to become the most prominent suit seeking to overturn the law, known as the Defense of Marriage Act, based on its effect on gay or lesbian immigrants who want to gain legal residence through marriage to American citizens.

Under immigration law, a citizen can apply for a foreign spouse to obtain legal permanent residency, with a document known as a green card. Since unlike many other visas, there are no limits on the number of green cards available to spouses of citizens, those applications are among the fastest and most straightforward procedures in the immigration system.

Under the marriage act, which is called DOMA, federal authorities do not recognize same-sex marriages, even from states that allow them. In recent years, as same-sex marriage became legal in several states, gay and lesbian couples have come forward to say they were facing a painful choice: either deportation for the immigrant or exile to life in a foreign country for the American.

“I’m a citizen of this country just like anybody else,” said Heather Morgan, 36, a plaintiff in the lawsuit together with her spouse, María del Mar Verdugo Yañez, 42, who is from Spain. After a 13-year friendship that evolved into a romance, the couple was married in August 2011 in New York City, where they live.

“I’m very proud of this country,” Ms. Morgan said in an interview. “I don’t want to feel like I have to leave here in order to be with the person I love. I shouldn’t have to choose.”

Rachel B. Tiven, the executive director of Immigration Equality, said the group tried during the past year to persuade the federal government to put a hold on consideration of green card applications from same-sex couples, while several challenges to the marriage act made their way through the courts. But federal authorities did not agree to the hold and had continued to deny the applications, she said, prompting the group to proceed with the lawsuit.

In February 2011, the Obama administration announced that it regarded the central provision of the marriage act as unconstitutionally discriminatory, and said officials would no longer defend it in the courts.

On Wednesday, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston will hear arguments in the first marriage act case to advance to the appeals level. That case contends that the act is unconstitutional because it denies federal benefits to same-sex couples married in Massachusetts, the first state to make same-sex marriage legal.

Justice Department officials have said that they will not defend the core provision of the marriage act in that hearing, but will dispute other claims in the case. A conservative legal group appointed by the House of Representatives will argue in favor of the act.

Amid legal jargon, the unusual complaint filed Monday recounts five love stories, describing people who married after years of courtship. Most of the immigrants have been here legally on temporary visas that will soon expire.

Ms. Morgan said she and Ms. Verdugo would like to raise children. “But we live every day with the uncertainty that we will be separated because the government didn’t recognize that we are a family,” she said.

Read the full article here.

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Friends of the American Latino Museum Surpasses 100,000 Followers on Its @LatinoMuseum Twitter Account

Posted on 03/22/2012 @ 04:30 AM

Tags: Hispanic strategy, Social media

Led by the web-based technology and social media leaders at Plus Three, the Friends of the American Latino Museum continue to lead among museum related social media sites

Washington, DC – The Friends of the American Latino (Friends), a 501(c)3 created to support the American Latino Museum initiative, surpassed 100,000 followers on Twitter and has accumulated 70,000 Fans on Facebook, 67,000 through its website, bringing its total reach to over 237,000 supporters. A renewed energy and hope for the museum is increasing rapidly since the introduction of the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act earlier this year in the House and Senate. The Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act would designate and hold the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building as the official site for the museum.

"The history of Latinos is woven into American history going back to a time before the first pilgrim ever set foot on this land," said Emilio Estefan, Commissioner, National Museum of the American Latino Commission and President of Estefan Enterprises. "This is the story we want to tell. These are the gaps in American history that we are trying to fill, so that all Americans have a better understanding of our shared history and legacy. It is wonderful to know, through our social media efforts, that there are thousands that support our telling this story."

The museum would be devoted to the preservation, presentation, and interpretation of American Latino art, cultural expressions, and experiences. It would take its place among the treasury of museums within the Smithsonian Institution and would establish a new model in its integration of programs, training, research and personnel within the family of Smithsonian museums. The goal of Friends is to create a museum truly national in operational scope as well as prominent in Washington to educate the public and support the Latino community.

“It is amazing and heartening how much support this museum is getting from across the country. It shows how important it is for us to share all of the important and, many times, untold stories of the history of Latinos in building this great nation,” stated Maria Cardona, Friends Board Member and CNN Contributor. “The public is excited about the progress of the American Latino Museum initiative, and now that support can be seen in our 100,000 followers on Twitter and over 70,000 on Facebook. All supporters of the museum should join with us in asking Congress to pass the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act now.”

“Latinos are using social media to stay connected to family, friends, and their cultural identity. Through Facebook and Twitter Friends has immediate access to one of the largest Latino communities online in the country. Friends is redefining what a successful media strategy looks like for a diverse audience.” stated Juan Proaño, President and Co-Founder, Plus Three.

The Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act was introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and has been co-sponsored by 17 other Senators including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) also introduced the bill in the House. In addition to growing public support through social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, celebrities such as Eva Longoria and Emilio Estefan have lead efforts to pass the bill.

Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino (www.americanlatinomuseum.org) Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, Inc., a 501(c)(3) incorporated in Washington, D.C., strives to create a museum in our nation’s capital to educate, inspire and encourage respect and understanding of the richness and diversity of the American Latino experience within the U.S. and its territories by highlighting the contributions made by Latino leaders, pioneers and communities to the American way of life.

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Working Poor: Almost Half Of U.S. Households Live One Crisis From The Bread Line

What does it mean to be poor?

If it means living at or below the poverty line, then 15 percent of Americans -- some 46 million people -- qualify. But if it means living with a decent income and hardly any savings -- so that one piece of bad luck, one major financial blow, could land you in serious, lasting trouble -- then it's a much larger number. In fact, it's almost half the country.

"The resources that people have -- they are using up those resources," said Jennifer Brooks, director of state and local policy at the Corporation for Enterprise Development, a Washington, D.C., advocacy group. "They're living off their savings. They're at the end of their rope."

The group issued a report today examining so-called liquid asset poverty households -- the people who aren't living below the poverty line, but don't have enough money saved to weather a significant emergency.

According to the report, 43 percent of households in America -- some 127.5 million people -- are liquid-asset poor. If one of these households experiences a sudden loss of income, caused, for example, by a layoff or a medical emergency, it will fall below the poverty line within three months. People in these households simply don't have enough cash to make it for very long in a crisis.

The findings underscore the struggles of many Americans during what has often seemed like an economic recovery in name only. While the Great Recession officially ended more than two years ago, unemployment remains high and wages have barely budged for most workers. For more people, whether they draw a paycheck or not, a life free of deprivation and financial anxiety seems perpetually out of reach.

That's not to say that everyone who is liquid-asset poor spends all their time fretting. On the contrary, because many have regular paychecks coming in, they may not grasp the precariousness of their situation.

"They don't necessarily realize how close people can be to one interruption to income or one interruption to health benefits," said David Rothstein, the project director for asset building at the non-profit Policy Matters Ohio. "They're one paycheck away from being in debt."

Rothstein, who also serves on a steering committee at the Corporation for Enterprise Development, told The Huffington Post that payday lenders -- who loan money to desperate borrowers at high interest rates, drawing people into hard-to-escape cycles of debt -- are "a huge problem" in Ohio, as in many other states. People often turn to payday lenders to cover one-time, unexpected expenses, but can end up in a long and costly relationship.

"People say things like, it's just one mechanical problem with their car," said Rothstein. Before they know it, he said, "every other week, they're back at the payday lending shop."

The Corporation for Enterprise Development findings echo other recent studies showing that many Americans are ill-prepared for financial emergencies. Analysts said the reasons include flat wages, the high cost of medical treatment and the nationwide drop in housing values leaving homeowners with less wealth than they believed they had.

Andrea Levere, the president of Corporation for Enterprise Development, told HuffPost that greater financial literacy might have helped prevent the current situation.

People can "graduate high school and not know how to write a check," Levere said, adding that an increased emphasis on personal responsibility for budgeting and spending should be an important part of any step forward.

At the same time, Corporation for Enterprise Development officials were quick to argue that public policy needs to address the scope of the problem. Levere cited the example of asset limits in public benefit programs, which restrict services like food assistance and public health insurance to households with few or no assets -- a policy that critics say denies help to many people in need.

"In some cases," said Levere, "it means they can't even own a car that is in good enough shape to get them to work."

Brooks agreed. "A family that loses its job, that was maybe solidly middle class, in a state where they have restrictive asset tests, is going to have to liquidate all their assets, all their savings for the future" in order to qualify for benefits.

The report maintains that there are a number of measures that could alleviate liquid asset poverty, from strengthening consumer protections against payday lenders to making greater assistance available to first-time homebuyers. Levere said even minor policy adjustments could have "revolutionary implications."

"There's a lot of ways forward. It doesn't mean it's not tough," Levere said. "I'm a great believer in one step at a time."

Read the full article here.

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USHLI's Project SED Will Spark a New Generation of Voters

The United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) today launched Project SED (Students for an Educated Democracy), which aims to generate a new generation of voters.

Project SED already is offered to high school students, but in this new phase, students will learn civic education via social media.

"Now, students everywhere will be able to become involved in the democratic process through Project SED, which includes an instructional curriculum, a mock election and the option to register to vote," said USHLI President Juan Andrade Jr. "This is arguably the most challenging, exciting and innovative initiative I have been involved in, in my 40 years of promoting civic education and participation.

"While USHLI will continue registering voters in more traditional ways, we are mindful of the fact that with an estimated 50,000 Latinos turning 18 years of age every month we must learn to utilize technology to create ways to effectively reach, educate and empower more people in less time," Andrade continued. "To that end, in addition to an interactive curriculum that will make civic education fun and engaging, Project SED incorporates multi social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. We are putting electoral power into the hands of students -- literally -- through mechanisms such as smartphones, cell phones, PDA's and laptop computers."

Likening the project to a "virtual classroom," USHLI aims to reach 1.5 million students in 2012.

Through a partnering with the technology company Plus Three, Project SED is expected to launch in time for the 2012 Iowa Caucusus, scheduled for Jan. 3.

"Yes, we are ambitious," said Juan Proaño, president and co-founder of Plus Three. "Dr. Andrade came to me with a 10-year plan that would benefit the future of the Latino community -- this rarely happens. I am enthusiastic about this project because it's selfless."

Project SED welcomes the participation of nonpartisan groups, the education community and students of all grades and ages, according to a news release.

"This is about community and civic engagement," Andrade said. "Organizations such as the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers agree that we must continue to encourage our youth to become and stay active within their communities, and political engagement is one great way."

USHLI is a Chicago-based national nonprofit tax-exempt organization that was incorporated in 1982. Initially known as the Midwest Voter Registration Education Project, it changed its name in 1996. Its mission is to promote civic engagement, social integration, research, leadership development, redistricting and financial literacy.

Read the full article here.

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USHLI announces Project SED, a virtual civics classroom slated to reach 1.5 million students in 2012

Posted on 12/14/2011 @ 03:30 AM

Tags: Hispanic strategy

Project SED (Students for an Educated Democracy) uses latest in social media and on-line engagement technology to educate and engage new and future voters

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) introduced Project SED, a virtual classroom bringing civics education to the age of social media. The project is the boldest in USHLI’s 20-year history and aims to reach 1.5 million students in 2012 alone. The students will learn about federal and state elections, participate in mock elections, and interact with peers online and with mobile phones.

"We are very excited to launch Project SED. The annual USHLI conference will turn 30 this year—we have seen major technological advances throughout our tenure, and we have seen how successful students can be when we provide them with the necessary tools to stay active and engaged in their communities locally and nationally," said Dr. Juan Andrade, president of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute. "If we want to promote civic engagement and encourage young people to vote we must put the power in their hands—specifically, cell phones and other electronic devices. It's the way the world communicates and USHLI will remain at the forefront."

Project SED (Students for an Educated Democracy) first began as a civics education program in the Chicago area nearly 15 years ago. Today it expands to computers, mobile phones, and social networks spanning the country. After studying gubernatorial, congressional, senatorial, and presidential elections, students will discuss issues and candidates, trade the latest political humor, and then vote in a mock election. Students turning 18 years old by election day will receive information on registering to vote.

“This ambitious project takes participating in our democracy out of the classroom and into the lives of today’s students: on Facebook or Twitter and by text or email,” said Juan Proaño, president and co-founder of technology company Plus Three. “At Plus Three we are delighted to lend our technology expertise to this crucial project. Discussing political issues and casting a ballot are key tenants of American life. The next generation of voters is well served by integrating civics education where they live, learn, and interact—online.”

USHLI is a Chicago-based national non-profit tax-exempt organization whose mission is to promote civic engagement, social integration, research, leadership development, redistricting and financial literacy. USHLI was incorporated in 1982 in Illinois as the Midwest Voter Registration Education Project, and changed its name to the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute in 1996.

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Plus Three’s Juan Proaño to speak tomorrow on civic engagement at 2011 LATISM Conference on social media

Posted on 11/10/2011 @ 06:00 AM

Tags: Hispanic strategy

Proaño to address the power of social media to drive political change in the United States and around the world

WASHINGTON, DC – Juan Proaño, president and co-founder of leading social media and technology company Plus Three, will be a featured speaker at the 2011 Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) Annual National Conference which is taking place November 9-11 at the Navy Pier in Chicago.

The LATISM conference brings together innovative Latinos who use social media across three tracks: public service, business and leadership, and personal influence and community. Mr. Proaño will participate in the public service track as part of a panel on “The Social Media Movement for Civic Engagement” at 2:00 pm on Friday, November 11.

Mr. Proaño formed Plus Three in 2002 to improve the way nonprofit organizations fundraise and build constituent groups, by deploying cutting-edge technology and his 17 years of political experience. Plus Three has worked with some of the largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organizations including the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), the Friends of the American Latino Museum, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and on issue campaigns which include Sotomayor for Justice, Latinos United for Healthcare and the 2008 Latino Inaugural Gala.

WHO:
Juan Proaño, president and co-founder of Plus Three

WHAT:
“The Social Media Movement for Civic Engagement” panel at the 2011 LATISM Conference

WHEN:
Friday, November 11 at 2:00 pm

WHERE:
The Navy Pier, Chicago, Ill.

FOR INFORMATION:
http://conference.latism.org/

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Plus Three Continues to Build National Support for American Latino Museum

Posted on 10/15/2011 @ 07:00 AM

Tags: Hispanic strategies, National Museum of the American Latino

The Hispanic-owned company proudly highlights its work promoting the stories and contributions of American Latinos as Hispanic Heritage Month draws to a close

WASHINGTON, DC – Plus Three, a leader in social media and technology for nonprofit and political organizations, marks the conclusion of Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting their continuing partnership with and services for the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino (FRIENDS).

FRIENDS seeks to create a museum in our nation’s capital dedicated to the history, culture, and contributions of Latino leaders, pioneers and communities to the American fabric. Plus Three began its work with the Congressionally mandated National Museum of the American Latino Commission, which presented its Congressional Report in May of this year, and within a few months built national support for the museum to 50,000 people. Now, under the banner of the FRIENDS, Plus Three has designed and helped launch americanlatinomuseum.org and the organization is now on the verge of surpassing 200,000 supporters—already more than any of the existing Smithsonian museums.

“At Plus Three we are privileged to work with so many virtuous non-profit organizations and important political causes, and this Hispanic Heritage Month we are especially proud of our work with the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino,” said Juan Proaño, president and co-founder of Plus Three. “With our help, the effort to build a Latino museum in Washington, DC has found thousands of supporters across the country. The museum will one day inspire a new generation of Latino leaders, and we are delighted to take part in the effort to build it.”

Plus Three has also recently launched the website of the HBO special The Latino List, which tells the American Latino story through the eyes of some our nation’s most celebrated Latino icons, elected officials and celebrities. This month also saw the launch of a project for the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) to raise awareness of its Insider Game documentary project on diversity in the highest echelons of corporate America. Finally, Plus Three is proud to continue its work to enhance the online presence and outreach of the oldest Latino civil rights organization in the nation, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). With over 700 chapters in the U.S., Plus Three is working to ensure that LULAC has the capabilities to promote its public policy priorities and mobilize its members.

These are just a few among a host of examples of Plus Three’s capabilities. To learn more, visit Plus Three’s website at www.plusthree.com, or contact Alice Lincoln at (866) 945-4889 ext. 707.

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October Newsletter

Posted on 10/15/2011 @ 05:00 AM

In this issue:

• Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
  Highlights of Plus Three's continuing work to promote the stories and contributions of American Latinos
• Visit Us in Denver Nov. 6-8
  Plus Three is sponsoring the Jewish Federation of North America (JFNA) General Assembly. Come see us at the Sheraton Denver Downtown.

Click to read »

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Plus Three builds feature-rich online fundraising system for “DASH FOR DAD” endurance team races

Posted on 09/19/2011 @ 07:00 AM

Cutting-edge tools boost fundraising for ZERO, The Project to End Prostate Cancer

WASHINGTON, DC – Plus Three, a leader in social media and technology for nonprofit and political organizations, built an extensive new online fundraising system for ZERO—The Project to End Prostate Cancer and its DASH FOR DAD and Great Prostate Cancer Challenge race series. The system allows race participants to raise money using customized individual and team online fundraising tools.

“DASH FOR DAD is a fantastic program that promotes men’s health while raising money for a vital cause,” said Juan Proano, president and founder of Plus Three. “We are proud to partner with ZERO in their work to end prostate cancer, and we are excited that the system we built has already expanded ZERO’s fundraising. This ambitious project is built on new components of our ARCOS technology that allows DASH FOR DAD racers to more easily their fundraising goals.”

This year, ZERO’s Great Prostate Cancer Challenge strives to raise $1 million dollars through 27 running and walking events across the country. Using the new ZEROCancer.org and GreatProstateCancerChallenge.com, the community of participants—including athletes, cancer survivors, physicians, caretakers, family members and friends—can use personalized individual and team pages to raise money and track their progress toward their fundraising goals. The ARCOS system lets fundraisers easily engage with friends and family through online social networks, accepts online and offline contributions, sends email alerts to fundraisers, and allows users to search for teams and racers. The sites will also honor top fundraisers.

“Plus Three’s fundraising software is an excellent and important resource for our organization and the race participants,” says Skip Lockwood, CEO of ZERO. “The work of Plus Three helps us to boost our fundraising efforts for our DASH FOR DAD and Great Prostate Cancer Challenge events, and ultimately helps us reach our goal of ending prostate cancer.”

Plus Three’s work for ZERO is just one among a host of examples of their capabilities. To learn more, visit Plus Three’s website at http://www.plusthree.com, or contact Alice Lincoln at (866) 945-4889 ext. 707.

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Plus Three Migrates Production Infrastructure to Windstream Hosted Solutions

Posted on 09/08/2011 @ 09:00 AM

Raleigh Data Center to Provide IT Services for Company's Campaign to Support the Democratic National Convention Host Committee "Charlotte in 2012"

RALEIGH, N.C., Sep 8, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Windstream Hosted Solutions, a premier provider of enterprise-class managed hosting solutions, today announced that Plus Three has chosen to colocate the production infrastructure for its "always on" fundraising and member management systems at Windstream's SAS-70, Type II data center in Raleigh.

Plus Three, a state-of-the-art web design and technology company that helps nonprofit, membership and political organizations promote social change in America, decided to move to Windstream Hosted Solutions from another company's facilities in New York to help continue its rapid growth as one of America's fastest growing Latino-owned companies. "Our business is growing rapidly, but it was too crowded at the other facility in New York," said Juan Proaño, Plus Three's president & co-founder. "We could have installed additional racks in another area, but it would not have allowed us to keep up with our growth while still delivering low cost services to our clients."

Proaño said Plus Three needed the additional capacity to support the company's steady growth and to handle the online traffic expected from its fundraising and member management for the Democratic National Convention Host Committee "Charlotte in 2012" leading into the 2012 presidential election. Since its founding in 2002, the company has sent out more than two billion opt-in emails to more than 12 million enrolled members and has raised more than a quarter of a billion dollars in contributions.

Windstream Hosted Solutions' "Hi-Touch" consultative approach was a key factor in Plus Three's decision. Team members from both companies worked closely, designing and implementing the transition. "They understood our specific needs, the logistics of transfer, and the cutover," Proaño said. "Website control transferred without any downtime and our front end never went down." He notes the flawless transition was needed to maintain consistency to Plus Three's clients and their donors.

"Companies require consistent reliability that enables them to deliver their services to customers," said Kip Turco, senior vice president of data center operations at Windstream Hosted Solutions. "By providing our clients with state-of-the-art facilities and capabilities, coupled with unparalleled uptime, we help them meet their objectives. This proves beneficial to them and to the companies with whom they do business."

"If companies are serious about growing their business and scaling their infrastructure, but conscious about cost, there isn't a better partner than Windstream Hosted Solutions," Proaño said.

About Windstream

Windstream Corp., headquartered in Little Rock, Ark., is an S&P 500 communications and technology solutions provider with operations in 29 states and the District of Columbia and about $4 billion in annual revenues. Windstream provides IP-based voice and data services, MPLS networking, data center and managed hosting services and communication systems to businesses and government agencies. The company also delivers broadband, digital phone and high-definition TV services to residential customers primarily located in rural areas and operates a local and long-haul fiber network spanning approximately 60,000 route miles. For more information about Windstream, visit www.windstreambusiness.com .

The Windstream Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7044

SOURCE: Windstream Corporation

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Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee Launches New Democratic National Convention Website CharlotteIn2012.com, Relying on Plus Three's Design Team and ARCOS System

Posted on 09/07/2011 @ 09:00 AM

Website kicks off preparation for the 2012 convention in Charlotte, North Carolina

WASHINGTON, DC – Plus Three, a minority-owned business that is a leader in social media and technology for nonprofit and political organizations, designed and implemented CharlotteIn2012.com, which was launched last week by the convention’s host committee. The site will allow convention organizers to share information with attendees and reach their $37 million fundraising goal with the backing of Plus Three’s industry-leading ARCOS system.

“The beautiful, diverse, and dynamic city of Charlotte is a fitting host for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. We hope the social media and fundraising tools Plus Three has honed will reflect the vibrancy of the city and the excitement that is already building for the 2012 presidential race,” said Juan Proaño, president and founder of Plus Three. “Through the tools that we have built for the committee, over the next year CharlotteIn2012.com will become the hub of information for the millions who will follow and attend the convention. We are proud that the site continues to build on our success of creating a state-of-the-art presence for many important political and progressive causes.”

CharlotteIn2012.com includes Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ integration. The site combines tools for volunteers and donors with information for delegates and the thousands who will flock to Charlotte in just over a year. The site also features a “Making History” multimedia archive of past Democratic National Conventions, an online store, and a vendor directory that will help national organizations connect with local and regional businesses in order to meet their Democratic National Convention-related needs. Business owners can register and create a company profile that can be searched by categories including services, company size and other demographics.

The Convention will draw an expected 35,000 visitors to the Charlotte area, including 15,000 media, 600 – 700 delegates, members of both the U.S. House and Senate and other significant figures in public life from around the world. It is anticipated that there will be more than 1,000 events held in Charlotte during the convention, in addition to official DNC activity.

Plus Three’s work for the Charlotte in 2012 Host Committee is just one among a host of examples of their capabilities. To learn more, visit Plus Three’s website at http://www.plusthree.com, or contact Alice Lincoln at (866) 945-4889 ext. 707.

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July Newsletter

Posted on 07/19/2011 @ 06:00 AM

In this issue:

• New Tools Coming This Summer
  Watch for updates in the weeks ahead about these new tools that make it easier for you to raise more money and engage your supporters online through your website and social networks.
• Selena Gomez Fans Surpass Barack Obama Fans on Facebook, Plus Three Social Media Survey Finds
  In one year, Latino Facebook users grew 167% compared to 21% among non-Hispanics.
• Plus Three Revamps 68-Year-Old National Peace and Social Justice Organization’s Online Presence
  The new fcnl.org merges Plus Three’s cutting-edge web tools with FCNL’s half-century of peace and social justice advocacy work.

Click to read »

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