"Got Health?"

Hello all...hope everyone is well! On my end, I am still looking to revamp this site for you, but in the meantime its important to keep talking about issues that are important to us.

That is a long list for me of course :) .... but in the meantime, talk to me, I want to hear your thoughts on healthcare reform...you are probably fired up one way or the other. I interviewed David Lazarus, our LA Times business columnist who is a brilliant guy and has studied this monster bill for months. His take on the big factors are that 1) It makes it a mandate for all to have health insurance 2) It eliminates pre-existing condition exemptions 3) In order to subsidize health insurance for lower income families, those earning over 200k will be taxed more.

Listen, I think everyone should have access to health insurance, the question here is, is this bill a good start??? Lazarus says YES. What do you think??

Teri !!

You're probably asking who is Teri? Well, many of you may already know I am very passionate about issues surrounding the special needs community. In fact, many of you may also already know the reason for it is because of my brother. You see my little brother suffered brain damage due to lack of oxygen at the time of birth. I know firsthand how challenging it is to navigate through life while looking after a severely disabled loved one. For those of you who walk in these shoes, you know exactly what I’m talking about...and for those who don’t, please know the special needs community cannot thank you enough for showing us compassion and understanding! It’s a tough road, but as my mother reminds me “what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger”. So with that mantra in mind, I have taken it upon myself to create as much awareness as possible of services, places, and people that make a difference for the disabled.



Teri is not a hot chick, although the founder is a beautiful woman... Teri Inc. is a home and school for people with intellectual and or physical disabilities. Not only do they service some of the most behaviorally challenged special needs folks in different day programs, but there is a residential component and most exciting....the construction of the “Charles Cono Center for Research and Life Planning Campus”....the campus will sit on 20 acres!



Teri is located in Oceanside, and the Campus mentioned above will be in San Marcos which will include a 23,000-square-foot recreation and aquatic center. Can you imagine? A village for people with disabilities to play, shop, and eat...to feel comfortable, understood, in a familiar setting where everyone knows and will expect to be around the special needs population! I'm excited because it will also provide opportunities to employ people with disabilities. Of course, this will require a substantial amount of money to complete. I am told $42 million is needed to complete the project. So, TERI has launched a $500 buy-a-brick campaign to raise funds.



Can you help spread the word? In a country where some folks will spend millions on a home they only see in the summer, I am optimistic centers/schools with a vision to help the disabled will not be overlooked and a helping hand will step in. :)



Do you have any ideas for Teri? Do you know someone who may need their assistance?



For more info, you can also contact Laura White, Teri Inc.’s Director of Development at 760-721-1706.



Thanks Everybody!

Elizabeth Espinosa

Bryant's Bravery

"Bryant"s Bravery"
KTLA 10 PM NEWS EXCLUSIVE with ELIZABETH ESPINOSA:
Maria Rodriguez will never forget that day in May when two men showed up at her door. Her husband Raul was at work. Maria and four of her children were forced at gunpoint to lie on the floor while the men ransacked the house. Then, they were shoved into another room, and tied up. The intruders didn't find what they wanted. And as they left, took three year old Bryant with them.

Few people could forget the kidnapped boy with the long, curly brown hair, and for two weeks, they prayed for his safe return. But when he was brought back, questions still remained. Had the kidnapping been payback for a drug deal gone wrong, or had the kidnappers hit the wrong house? Ktla's Emmy Award winning Reporter/Anchor Elizabeth Espinosa sits down with Bryant's family and the FBI for answers. Tune in tonight (Nov 12, 2009)at 10 pm on Channel 5 KTLA.

www.ElizabethEspinosa.net
www.ktla.com

Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival 2009

Hello everybody! I hope you are all great! So this week I was blessed with the opportunity to be on the red carpet with some of Hollywood's most caliente celebs! I ran in to my friend Eva Longoria, Kikki Melendez, and Edwards James Olmos. I got a chance to use my mini stealth ipod camcorder to share a little insight with you about the biz, the stars, and all of the fun...I hope you enjoy! (the video is coming soon)
P.S. I saw Pedro Almodovar's new film, "Broken Embraces"...my review: it rocks! :)
...and in case you didn't know, Almodovar is a super famous screenwriter and director from Spain. Ole!

What do you think about movies, and which films do you believe should be sequels??
Thanks!

2009 Maloof Money Cup Skateboarding Championships

Here it is, results from the biggest and richest payout skateboarding event in the world put on by our friends the Maloofs, Etnies and Monster Energy! Enjoy!!!

EMPOWER TECH!

“1,000.00 EMPOWERING MOMENTS!”…

Louise loved to talk, in fact her friends say she talked to strangers as if they were old friends. But Louise’s life took a drastic turn when she suffered a stroke. Tragically, Louise’s heart condition left her paralyzed and unable to speak. Fortunately, for Louise her ability to communicate her basic needs and wants were not cut off for life due to her illness. Lousie now uses an augmentative communication device to communicate her basic needs. But that’s not all, Louise has been able to use this small computer to write children stories. She tells us, without the assistance, and training she has received from Empower Tech, none of this would be possible.

Empower Tech is described as a lifesaver for disabled persons in Los Angeles. According to L.A. County statistics, there are 1.8 people living with disabilities in Los Angeles. Empower Tech is the only non-profit organization that teaches persons with disabilities basic computer skills and assistive technology. As part of their program, the agency also identifies the most appropriate technological device to enable communication for developmentally, and physically challenged non-verbal persons.

However, Empower Tech like many non-profits has not been immune to the global recession. The Westchester based non-profit has been serving the community for over twenty-five years is facing extinction. Empower Tech’s executive director Joan Anderson says, “Corporate donors, and other donations have severely declined over the past year, and make no mistake Los Angeles cannot afford to lose the vital services of this agency”. Refusing to give up, Empower Tech is pushing forward with a grassroots movement to save the non-profit organization. Anderson tells us they have launched a fundraising campaign called, “100 Empowering Moments” in hopes of raising $1000, 000.00 so that Empower Tech can keep its doors open. Empower Tech instructor John, says “this is the only place that can lead disabled persons who were either born disabled, or became disabled because of an accident, or illness, to have independent lives, the freedom of communication, and the opportunity to learn, laugh, and live through the use of technology and education is priceless”.

Empower tech staff says they have a chance at survival if 1000 people donate $100.00. Having said that, Anderson insists no donation is too small, and that is why they are asking the public for donations, any amount is welcome.

Empower Tech--Every Dollar Counts—if you’d like to donate please visit them at

www.empowertech.org “1,000.00 Empowering Moments”

Thanks everybody for getting involved!!!

Michael Jackson Public Memorial...

For those of you who have not had a chance to be at Staples Center, believe me it's filled with media trucks and visitors from around the world. We had a chance to walk around after our live broadcast and experience history in the making. Turn out will be monumental.

Here is a tour of the location of the Michael Jackson memorial services.