HHF & CVS Health Convene Latinos at Brown University

US Sen. Jack Reed, Providence Mayor Angel Tavares, and Brown University President Christina Paxson Participate in the Latest Element in the LOFT (Latinos On Fast Track) Healthcare Track

PROVIDENCE, RI (November 7, 2014) – The Hispanic Heritage Foundation and CVS Health hosted an inaugural, annual forum designed to provide an interchange of perspectives between top young Latino healthcare students from across the country and CVS leadership on pressing health care and career access issues through HHF’s award-winning LOFT (Latinos On Fast Track) leadership and workforce development program. Additionally, this program introduced the students to the various career opportunities within the healthcare field including at CVS through internships, externships, mentorships or careers.  HHF and CVS also presented case studies of current and future initiatives to the LOFTies for their input and potential participation.  CVS Health also worked to secure a specific number of CVS internships as reserved for top HHF Youth Award winners and members of the LOFT Network or LOFTies.

The event took place at CVS Health headquarters on Friday, November 7, CVS Drive, Woonsocket, RI. US Senator Jack Reed, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, and Brown University Associate Provost Dr. Liza Sariaga-Lo addressed the students along with HHF President and CEO Jose Antonio Tijerino.

“We are inspired and energized to work with our healthcare partner CVS Health in engaging top-thinking, innovative young minds on how to ensure the healthcare field looks like the changing population of America,” said Tijerino. “It’s important we leverage these young accomplished leaders for their perspective since they are the audience we’re trying to reach and motivate.  At the same time, the young leaders will receive invaluable advice and guidance from a leading healthcare company.  I applaud CVS Health for working with HHF to have a thoughtful, two-way dialogue with youth on how to improve the industry – that is true leadership.”

The LOFT network (ages 15-35) is fed by the 16 year-old Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards which vets and recognizes hundreds of high-achieving Latino high school seniors across 11 markets focused on seven categories including Health & Science sponsored by CVS Health.

In October 2014, CVS Health, and Navarro Pharmacy launched a pilot program to deliver training and improved strategies to select School Based Health Center partners of CVS in greater Miami which will reach approximately 100,000 students and their families over the next 12 months.  The pilot will be replicable and scalable across the country and will leverage the LOFT Healthcare Track to also engage Latino students to assist in the effort and provide them with practical experiences as they provide:

• Asthma screenings, action plans and compliance,
• Increased flu immunization rates
• Smoking cessation strategies

About Hispanic Heritage Foundation and LOFT

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) was originally established by The White House in 1987 and inspires, prepares, and connects minority leaders in the classroom, community and workforce to meet America’s priorities.  HHF also promotes cultural pride, accomplishment, and the great promise of the Latino community through public awareness campaigns seen by millions (Visit www.HispanicHeritage.org).  HHF’s programs have been recognized by The White House, US Congress, Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and even the government of Mexico.

LOFT (Latinos On Fast Track) is HHF’s award-winning, leadership and workforce development program focused on 10 “Tracks” or fields including healthcare, science, technology, engineering, education, public service, entrepreneurship, media and entertainment, finance and Latinas.  Tens of thousands of students and young professionals are connected to each other through the LOFT Network;  thousands are prepared through trainings, priority-field-tailored symposia, workshops, and Charlas (online Google hangouts with experts); and hundreds are placed into internships, mentorships, fellowships and full-time positions with Fortune 500 companies and government agencies.  Join and follow LOFT on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/hhfloft/ and Twitter – @LOFTInstitute.

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Contact: Santiago Melli-Huber, SantiagoMH@HispanicHeritage.org