Alejandra Y. Castillo

A milestone beyond Puerto Rico: #FOMBPR Deputy Executive Director Arnaldo Cruz explains how the #CivilServiceReform and a new hiring platform, developed with the Government and the Oficina de Administración y Transformación de los Recursos Humanos (OATRH), integrates AI and skills-based hiring to transform the recruitment of government employees.   The new and innovative pilot seeks to reform talent acquisition and talent management processes to ensure the government has an agile and flexible recruitment system to attract and retain the best talent. The platform uses AI to evaluate applicants’ and employe’s full capabilities rather than focus only on credentials and hierarchy to broaden the talent pool and lower barriers to entry for government jobs.

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Falta de Respeto. It means "Lack of Respect". On one side of the Net Metering debate in Puerto Rico, you have every single elected official, including: * All members of the Puerto Rico Senate, * All members of the Puerto Rico House, * Governor Pierluisi, who together passed a law to protect Net Metering until 2031, giving hundreds of thousands of families the opportunity to install lifesaving solar & batteries, * Resident Commissioner & gubernatorial candidate Jennifer Gonzalez, Puerto Rico's sole elected leader representing Puerto Rico to the entire federal government * A nationwide coalition of 15 leading environmental and solar advocacy nonprofits On the other side, there is only one entity in the world: the Financial Oversight & Management Board for Puerto Rico. It's called Falta de Respeto.

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MEET ECHAR PA’LANTE (EPL)!!....Puerto Rico’s Multisector Alliance focused on helping to build the Island’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and strengthen innovation capacity. EPL convenes for collective initiatives to improve socio-economic conditions in Puerto Rico. EPL integrates Puerto Rico’s five main sectors: Private, Public/Government, Knowledge Organizations, NGOs, and Community & Alternative. EPL just became a new non-profit entity for expanded impact. The bedrock philosophy guiding EPL efforts incorporates inclusivity, resilience, sustainability, and a bias towards reflecting all viewpoints of Puerto Rico’s demographic and socio-economic sectors. EPL can be considered as an ambassador and system leader. "Nowhere else I have seen such a successful partnership between business, government, and educational sectors to drive change. EPL has been laser focused on its goal to prepare the next generation of Puerto Rican's enthusiastic and successful entrepreneurs that will fuel the resurgence of the Island's economic development for years to come. Its ever-expanding circle of influence and engagement is a textbook example of grassroot organizing." Dr. Rafael L. Bras, K. Harrison Brown Family Chair and former Provost of the Georgia Institute of Technology “EPL’s impact on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation among Puerto Rico’s youth is unparalleled and is key in growing our entrepreneurial activity. EPL has done an incredible job sitting people at the same table and enabling collaboration to build a vibrant ecosystem.”  The Hon. Manuel Cidre, Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce – Government of Puerto Rico “ Puerto Rico is the most special place in the U.S.A. #gecplus-puertorico #islaemprendedora #enterprisingisland #gen #gec #discoverpuertorico #puertoricoissoeasytolove #puertoricoyeah

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Over the last 30 years, growth in Central Europe, much of Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa has outpaced that in Latin America. In my latest for Project Syndicate, I argue today’s geopolitics and commercial trends create an opportunity for a long-delayed takeoff.⁠ https://lnkd.in/e9cq3sDE

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Today, the Department of Homeland Security announced the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board to advise the secretary on critical infrastructure risks. While a worthwhile initiative, the design of our current critical infrastrucure policy structure is a fundamental disservice to such efforts. Today, critical infrastrucure encompasses 16 industrial sectors, an unwieldy 60% or more of the U.S. economy, and a grab bag of non-critical assets including casinos, ride share vehicles and the cosmetics industry. For a small committee of 22, this unwieldy scope will strain priorities, waste time, and distract focus from the core systems that really matter. Effectively securing our critical infrastrucure demand we set the priorities, shrink policy scope, and finally determine what is indeed the most critical and the most deserving of DHS’s limited resources. https://lnkd.in/eXdRveWB

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Step by step we continue to build the support and momentum for big change to happen…

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🌟 Our Partners Forum is underway! Today and tomorrow at the IDB, we welcome our partners and donors from the public, private and philanthropic sectors who contribute to advancing inclusive growth and sustainable development in #LatinAmerica and the #Caribbean. 🤝 Why partnerships matter: • Collective strength: Together, we wield greater influence and impact. By collaborating, we can address complex issues more effectively. • Advancing the #SDGs: Our shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) drives us forward. Partnerships are the vehicle that propels us toward these vital targets. • IDBImpact+: as the IDB Group embarks on a new chapter to accelerate the impact and scale of our work from the public and private sides, partners are key for promoting better investments and collaborations. Stay tuned for more updates! #IDBPartnerships #SDG #IDBImpact+ #Development - 🌟 ¡Nuestro Foro de Socios está en marcha! Hoy y mañana en el BID, damos la bienvenida a nuestros socios y donantes de los sectores público, privado y filantrópico que contribuyen al avance del crecimiento inclusivo y el desarrollo sostenible en #Latinoamérica y el #Caribe. 🤝 ¿Por qué son importantes las alianzas? • Trabajo Colectivio: Juntos, tenemos mayor influencia e impacto. Colaborando, podemos abordar problemas complejos de manera más efectiva. • Avanzando en los #ODS: Nuestro compromiso compartido con los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) nos impulsa hacia adelante. Las alianzas son el vehículo que nos propulsa hacia estos objetivos vitales. • BIDImpact+: a medida que el Grupo BID inicia un nuevo capítulo para acelerar el impacto y la escala de nuestro trabajo desde los lados público y privado, los socios son clave para promover mejores inversiones y colaboraciones. ¡Mantente atento para más actualizaciones! #AlianzasBID #ODS #BIDImpact+ #Desarrollo - 🌟 Nosso Fórum de Parceiros está em andamento! Hoje e amanhã no BID, damos as boas-vindas aos nossos parceiros e doadores dos setores público, privado e filantrópico que contribuem para o avanço do crescimento inclusivo e do desenvolvimento sustentável na #AméricaLatina e no #Caribe. 🤝 Por que as parcerias são importantes? • Trabalho Coletivo: Juntos, temos maior influência e impacto. Colaborando, podemos abordar problemas complexos de maneira mais eficaz. • Avançando nos #ODS: Nosso compromisso compartilhado com os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS) nos impulsiona para a frente. As parcerias são o veículo que nos impulsiona em direção a esses objetivos vitais. • BIDImpact+: à medida que o Grupo BID inicia um novo capítulo para acelerar o impacto e a escala de nosso trabalho do lado público e privado, os parceiros são chave para promover melhores investimentos e colaborações. Fique atento para mais atualizações! #ParceriasBID #ODS #BIDImpact+ #Desenvolvimento IDB Invest IDB Lab

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Questioning the Intentions of the Financial Oversight & Management Board for Puerto Rico (FOMB) on Net Metering Javier Rúa-Jovet, director of SESA Puerto Rico, pointed out that the FOMB is inconsistent in saying it supports renewable energy while seeking to repeal Law 10. Javier Rúa Jovet, SESA's policy director, stated, "It is completely inconsistent for the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board to say it supports renewable energy and net metering while simultaneously seeking to repeal Law 10 that protects it. I cannot recall a single concrete instance where the board has supported renewable energy, but I can recall multiple occasions where it has attacked it, from proposing solar taxes to prosumers, massive cancellations of hundreds of megawatts in solar farms, and now this direct attack on net metering." He referred to statements by the board in its newsletter on June 18. In this document, the board indicated - according to SESA - that "it supports 100% the renewable energy goals of Puerto Rico and that the debate over Law 10 of 2024 is not about net metering, but about the independence of the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau." The board has issued ultimatums to the government to repeal Law 10. Rúa Jovet added that "repealing Law 10 would have disastrous results for the progress of renewable integration. Solar energy is the best alternative for the thousands of Puerto Ricans suffering from the fragility and instability of the energy system. Without net metering, solar systems with batteries would become prohibitively expensive, and people, particularly our most needy citizens, would be left without an option to protect themselves." He added that "net metering was created by the Legislature in 2007 and extended until 2030 through Law 10. Law 10 is entirely aligned with the renewable energy goals that the Energy Bureau is called to promote. Law 10 has nothing to do with the independence of the regulator, a principle we defend. In fact, FOMB is interfering with the independence of the country's officials by threatening them with lawsuits and pressuring the regulator to ignore a law of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, unanimously approved by the House and Senate and enacted by the Governor. Moreover, the Energy Bureau itself expressed during the legislative process of Law 10 that 'in its practical application,' it would benefit the net metering program." "The entire country is united in indignation at this agenda of the Board and demands that it change its course through concrete actions in favor of renewable energy. Its first step is to respect the will of the People of Puerto Rico to defend their right to solar energy and the net metering that makes it possible," concluded Rúa Jovet.

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Puerto Rico’s power crisis illustrates the consequences of putting essential services in the hands of a private entity. Reliable electricity is not just a convenience; it is essential for economic stability and public health. Yet residents are paying exorbitant rates for a service that repeatedly fails them. Enough is enough. Puerto Ricans deserve a power grid that works for them, not against them. Puerto Rico Will Not Go Quietly Into the Dark https://lnkd.in/eemjKM3X

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🌉 Elevating Border Infrastructure Amidst Presidential Elections With the presidential elections in Mexico and the USA coinciding this year, there's a golden opportunity to push border infrastructure to the forefront of our bilateral agenda. As we consider nearshoring as a pivotal strategy for economic resilience, the state of our border facilities plays a crucial role. 🗳️ This election season, let's advocate for enhanced cooperation on border infrastructure between Mexico and the USA. Upgrades in technology, harmonization of customs regulations, and improvements in physical infrastructure will not only streamline the movement of goods but also bolster economic ties and supply chain efficiency. 🔗 The commitment to strengthen our border facilities is essential for businesses considering nearshoring. It promises to reduce operational costs, enhance supply chain reliability, and build a more integrated economic region. 📈 As voters and leaders focus on economic recovery and growth, prioritizing border infrastructure investment is key. This election is the perfect moment to champion policies that support robust, efficient, and secure borders. Let’s use our votes and voices to ensure that nearshoring and border cooperation are top priorities for our next leaders. #Nearshoring #PresidentialElections2024 #USAMexicoPartnership #EconomicDevelopment #SupplyChainInnovation

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If you are a company or organization currently paying or looking for government relations, public affairs, or lobbying help in the Washington, DC area, don't pay the additional premium for the firm with the unnecessary office image in DC to support. Doing so is like Jim Croce continuing to put dimes into a pay phone to keep the connection going with the operator while a growing digital era takes hold. Instead look at smaller firms, like Avison Strategies, LLC, with similar experience, a much smaller fee structure and a business model focused on results, the latest AI and ML technology, and personal attention to reach people where they are and when it is needed. Retainers average $4,000-$5,000/month for firms like mine compared to $10,000-$15,000/month for firms like those. Office costs and the impact through association fallacy will make you overpay and results will frequently under deliver. Support a small business instead and see the difference.

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Transformative Partnership Announced to Empower Colombian Youth: Fundación Innovación para el Desarrollo (I+D) and Sereniti Foundation Join Forces   (June 11, 2024, Miami, FL.) I+D and Sereniti Foundation, Inc. (SERENITI) are pleased to announce a new strategic partnership aimed at supporting and strengthening the development of young leaders and professionals in Colombia. The primary goal of this collaboration is to contribute to sustainable growth and the progress of individuals and their communities.   Both organizations share a common vision: supporting communities in developing business leaders, social innovators, and professionals. This alliance will focus on training in social entrepreneurship, leadership skills, and social responsibility, providing a space for young people to develop capabilities oriented towards facilitating digital transition, stimulating entrepreneurship, and fostering the creative economy.  " Andres Franco and I, as co-founders, are excited to collaborate with Fundación Innovación para el Desarrollo. Together, we are committed to creating a lasting impact, empowering young leaders with the tools and skills necessary to face challenges. We will foster professional and personal growth that will not only change and impact the lives of these young people but also those of their families and communities. The ripple effect will be enormous,” says Jennifer Heegaard President, Sereniti Foundation. To read the full press release, head over to www.sereniti.org #SerenitiFoundation #NewPartnership #GlobalCollaboration #NonProfitPartnership #IvanDuque #SocialImpact #Colombia #CommunityDevelopment #ColombianLeadership #TogetherForChange

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Honduras 🇭🇳🌿is expanding its share of #renewableenergy The United States Energy Association and USAID through the #EUPP partnerships are committed to raising institutional and human capacity in Honduras to help expand the reliability and maintenance of #powergrids and integration of alternative #energy sources in turn expanding Honduras’s energy sector’s capacity to help maintain uninterrupted power. #USAIDTransforms #PoweringLives Climatelinks USAID Honduras

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How effective would the labels for consumer broadband for #wired as well as #wireless mandated by the Federal Communications Commission in the #US be? This is a question that has been on the minds of many. Just like #foodlabels, these aim to empower #consumers with actionable #information about the #broadband service they are purchasing, such as #speed, #price, and #data caps. The idea is to enhance #consumerwelfare through #competition, #choice and #transparency, including but not limited to the Quality of Service. However, the effectiveness of these labels in achieving their intended goals remains to be seen. Would it enable or stifle #innovation in terms of #traiff plans? Should Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) consider something like this in #India? What do you think? Anil Kumar Lahoti; Neeraj Mittal; Pradip Baijal; Harsha Vardhana SINGH; Rajat Kathuria; A. K. Bhargava; Lt Gen Dr SP Kochhar; Vikram TIWATHIA; Mahesh Uppal; V Sridhar; Rohit Kumar Singh; Anil Tandan; Pradeep Mehta; Nikhil Pahwa; Rajnesh Singh; Prasanto Kumar Roy; Shubhendu Parth; Dr. Lara Srivastava; Scott Wallsten; James Pethokoukis; Jhalak Kakkar Federal Trade Commission; Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI); Department of Telecommunications ( DOT ) Centre for Social and Economic Progress; Cellular Operators Association of India - COAI; ITU-APT Foundation of India; Broadband India Forum; Consumer Unity & Trust Society; Internet Society; MediaNama; Internet Society; Technology Policy Institute; Centre for Communication Governance; #FCC #broadbandlabels #QoS #mobilebroadband

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A new report produced by the Center for New York City Affairs in partnership with the Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy at The New School and the Center for Community Uplift The Brookings Institution reveals racial and economic inequities in New York City’s public transportation subsidies. Examining subsidies across the city’s ten transit systems by race and income, the report finds inequities between subsidies for the NYC Ferry service compared with the Fair Fares program for the MTC’s subway and bus riders, and underscores the importance of assessing policies and budgets through a #racialequity lens. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/ekE6Y-R9 #FairFares #TransitEquity #NYCSubsidies #EconomicMobility #TransportationEquity

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My piece in today's The New York Times outlines what's necessary from Congress & the Biden administration to make sure that rural communities benefit from the investments available in the #IIJA, #IRA, & #CHIPs. The opportunities are immense, but we have to be intentional if we are to help rural places maximize the public benefit - and we shouldn't let politics get in the way. #RuralMatters #RuralDevelopment #ReimagineRural https://lnkd.in/eSEQWztv

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As part of our public policy to increase and promote R&D activities on the island, the Departamento de Desarrollo Económico y Comercio commissioned a survey that had not been performed since 2014, to understand what is state of R&D on the island, including information about spend, FTEs working on R&D, profile of companies, etc. The survey, who was led by Dr. Manuel Lobato , in collaboration with our DDEC economic team, found among other things, that not only has R&D spend increased (~45%), but that it was driven by local companies (increase from 30% of the spend in 2014, to 40% now). The results are encouraging, giving us confidence that innovation on the island is growing, and that policies put in place over the years, are having positive results. We will continue to monitor this as we continue to invest on building R&D capabilities and infrastructure on the island in our pursuit of having an innovation based economy.

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Here's the summary of our new paper calling for greater effort at dismantling inequity: DC’s Local Fund budget (the portion of the budget that reflects spending supported through our three broad based taxes—income, sales, and property) has been steady for decades when taken as a share of the economy (a key measure of our fiscal capacity). In other words, we’ve largely just kept pace with growth in the economy and that’s a good thing—we have to be able to keep up with growing needs for public services broadly and also specific things like competitive public sector wages and parts of the budget that grow faster than others or serve populations with higher cost needs. Our spending as a share of the economy has at times been higher than it is now—in fact it is actually lower now than it was in the very last year of the Control Board era. We’ve made some really important investments for racial and economic equity with that spending, especially in the last decade or so (we share a few examples that are not meant to be an exhaustive list). Revenue is projected to decline as a share of the economy in the coming years, which could cause us to backtrack when we really should be pushing forward toward more progress on tackling longstanding racial and economic inequity. More progress would strengthen our economy as a whole. To move forward and achieve more transformative change, we will need to raise revenue and increase our collective effort (we offer just a handful of examples where we should fulfill commitments already made and forge ahead with additional public investments).

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