Stereotyping of Israelis and Italians

Stereotyping of Israelis and Italians

BLOOMFIELD, N.J., April 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition ("ONE VOICE"), a nationwide coalition of anti-bias activists, is vehemently opposed to a casting call for perpetuating a negative stereotype of Israelis and Italians.  The casting call, posted on castingnetworks.com, states "Looking for Israelis and Italian Actors that are not ashamed to admit they can be an asshole to others."  The casting call lists the production as a "Documentary" with the title "Assholes: A Theory".

"Here we go again," stated Dr. Manny Alfano, Founder and President of ONE VOICE. "It is unbelievable that such a blatant and damaging stereotype specifically targets Israelis and Italians.  This is totally unacceptable."

The offending casting call was posted by Ken Lazar Casting Company of New York and Los Angeles on the Casting Networks website soliciting "Israelis and Italian Actors (Especially Males)" from "New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia" for a Principal role in "ASSHOLES: A THEORY/ Documentary."

"They seek Israeli and Italian actors and tell them to purposefully act as a-holes to get the part, and then incredibly purport this to be a documentary – that is doubly insulting," commented Andre' DiMino, Communications Director of ONE VOICE.  "The entertainment industry must end its constant perpetuation of negative and damaging stereotypes of all people, and especially in this case, Israelis and Italians."

ONE VOICE has contacted the Anti-Defamation League ("ADL") about the offensive casting call.  "Every person of Israeli and Italian heritage should be outraged over this casting call, and should be even more concerned if such a damaging, pseudo-documentary will be produced," concluded Dr. Alfano.

ONE VOICE is different from all other Italian American groups in that its sole focus and objective is to fight bias, stereotyping and discrimination against Italian Americans.  It is the only national Italian American organization with this mandate.  ONE VOICE's stated mission is to "…secure the rightful representation of Americans of Italian origin and of all peoples whose paths toward social equality have been impeded.  The powers of intellect, wisdom and due process of law will be brought to bear on all inequities."

Super Heroes with #MoreThanATeacher

Ziploc® Brand Honors Teachers as Super Heroes with #MoreThanATeacher

Initiative Includes $100,000 Donation to DonorsChoose.org and Custom Teacher Portraits. 

RACINE, Wis., April 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ziploc® brand is redefining what it means to be a super hero and honoring teachers around the country. In celebration of National Superhero Day April 28 and National Teacher Day May 8, Ziploc® brand is unmasking a new initiative, #MoreThanATeacher, which calls upon everyone to thank the real-life super heroes among us – teachers – by helping to provide resources to empower teachers and encourage students and the public to recognize the heroic impact they have on our lives. 

To give teachers nationwide extra superpowers, Ziploc® brand is pledging $100,000 to DonorsChoose.org, which will provide 100 teachers across the country with funds for various classroom projects. Purchases of Ziploc® brand products, including its new line inspired by Marvel Studios' Avengers: Infinity War, will help support Ziploc® brand's donation. The brand will also drop off Ziploc® brand products featuring Marvel Studios' Avengers: Infinity War designs to each teacher's school.

"The impression teachers make on our world goes beyond anything fictional super heroes do in the movies or comic books – their positive influence sets the stage for generations to come and we're so excited to celebrate real super heroes," said Kelly M. Semrau, Senior Vice President – Global Corporate Affairs, Communication and Sustainability at SC Johnson. "We applaud the great work teachers do every day, and we're looking forward to seeing the recognition students, former students and parents give teachers through this effort."

"Students across America know their teachers are real-life super heroes. DonorsChoose.org is proud to partner with Ziploc to honor these teachers, by bringing their classroom dreams to life on National Superhero Day," said Katie Bisbee, Chief Marketing Officer of DonorsChoose.org.

Ziploc® brand is encouraging people to thank a teacher who changed their life using the hashtag #MoreThanATeacher on social media. To kick off the conversation, Ziploc® brand commissioned portraits to honor three teachers who represent super heroes to former students. The portraits were creatively constructed with Ziploc® brand bags and containers filled with mementos that represent the ways each teacher was a super hero. Ziploc® brand surprised the teachers with an unveiling ceremony alongside these former students, and the teachers will also be featured in a series of videos on Ziploc®brand's social media pages.

The specific teachers honored include:

• Reginald Wills, History teacher at Washington Latin Public Charter School in Silver Spring, Maryland
• Kelli Morrill, Speech teacher at Blue Springs South High School in Pleasant Hill, Missouri
• Paul Peterson, Technology teacher at Harpursville Middle/High School in Harpursville, New York

Wills is just one example of a super hero who has inspired and changed the lives of his students as a 25-year history teacher at Washington Latin Public Charter School in Silver Spring, Maryland. One of his students, Raval, became a writer after Wills gifted her a poetry book. Others found a new perspective on the Civil Rights movement after Wills took them on a field trip to mimic the iconic Freedom Rider experience. Morrill and Peterson's students have equally moving stories about the impact these real-life super heroes have had on their lives.

Ziploc® brand has a longstanding commitment to create innovative, high-quality products and support communities around the country. #MoreThanATeacher is another way the brand is connecting with these communities, specifically teachers, students and parents, to enrich their educational and classroom experiences.

For information on Ziploc® brand products, visit the official Ziploc® brand Facebook fan page at facebook.com/Ziploc

Arborjet Launches "Saving America's

Arborjet Launches "Saving America's Iconic Trees" Campaign

Company to donate treatment to trees across the country for insect and disease prevention and overall tree health; citizens and municipalities invited to nominate beloved trees. 

WOBURN, Mass., April 23, 2018/PRNewswire/ -- Arborjet Inc., a revolutionary plant health care company, today announced the launch of "Saving America's Iconic Trees," the company's latest initiative to ensure the health and longevity of the country's trees. The campaign targets America's most beloved trees – from the most awe-inspiring in terms of size and age, to those that dazzle us with their beauty and provide shelter and comfort to a community – offering complimentary treatment to prevent insects, disease and poor health. Throughout 2018, Arborjet will donate high-profile treatments and host educational events across the country. The company invites private homeowners and state, city, town and municipal leaders to nominate iconic trees in their communities for potential recognition and treatment by visiting Arborjet.com/SavingAmericasIconicTrees.

 Arborjet will donate environmentally responsible, fast-acting and long-lasting trunk injection treatments to these trees. These are the same treatments forward-thinking certified arborists and over 150 municipalities use to ensure the country's neighborhoods and urban forests remain beautiful for generations to come. Trunk injections are delivered directly into a tree's vascular system and sealed in the tree, limiting environmental exposure and allowing for responsible treatment on both public and private properties.

While trees may appear imposing and strong, even the most amazing are vulnerable to disease, drought and invasive and devastating pests like the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). To date, EAB has been found in 31 states and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and is wreaking havoc on urban forests, already having destroyed hundreds of millions of ash trees. Arborjet is committed to expanding its efforts to save America's iconic trees, ash and beyond, including the following already under the company's care:    

• The 41 ash trees at the Grove of Remembrance, New Jersey's living memorial to victims of the September 11th attacks, overlooking the Statue of Liberty
• The 20 stately ash trees at the New England Holocaust Memorial in Boston, Massachusetts
• A nearly 300-year old sycamore tree in Buffalo, New York, the city's oldest tree 
• The oldest, largest ash tree in Illinois, which is at least 150 years old and stands over 91 feet high
• The New Jersey white ash state champion tree, which at 21 feet and 3 inches in circumference, standing 115 feet high with a 111 foot crown, is the largest ash tree in the United States 
• 7 ash trees at the IndianaGovernor's residence, all 100 years old
• The Hawaiian "Ohana" Banyan tree,planted nearly a century ago by the Hawaiian Ohana (family) representing their attachment to the Aina (land), with a diameter of 150 inches and a canopy spread of nearly 145 feet 
• The Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, California
• The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardensin San Marino, California 
• 115 trees at the Boy Scout Camp in the Bastrop State Forest in Central Texas
• 35 majestic ash trees lining Cleveland, Ohio's West 50th neighborhood between Bridge Avenue and Franklin Boulevard 
• The iconic, nearly century-old Chinese Banyan tree at the Naples Zoo in Naples, Florida

For a closer look at Arborjet's tree-saving philanthropic efforts, watch the video at: Arborjet.com/Philanthropy

"Arborjet is dedicated to helping communities maintain their forest canopy, treating more than one million trees since we started more than a decade ago," said Russ Davis, President and COO of Arborjet. "This year we're making a big push to find and preserve trees that are truly special, whether it's for their age and size, their impact on the area around them or their historical importance. If we act now, we can ensure that future generations will be able to reap the benefits of these special trees."