NEW YORK— Transitions Optical announced the addition of three new members to its Diversity Advisory Board bringing the total membership to 11. The addition is meant to guide and strengthen the board’s ongoing efforts through the Transitions Connections initiative which seeks to provide insight into how to effectively reach at-risk minority populations who might not be receiving the care that they need, according to an announcement from Transitions.  

The new board members include: Mila Ferrer, co-founder of Familias con Diabetes and blogger for Jaime, mi dulce guerrero; Margo Wade LaDrew, National board member for the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and founder of the Black Beauty Shop Health Foundation; and Dan Suarez, MA, RN, president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN).

“As Transitions Optical continues to amplify its efforts to raise eye health awareness among at-risk ethnic populations, we wanted to involve more representatives from leading cultural and educational organizations as a way to expand our reach and promote more unified messaging about the importance of regular eyecare,” said Manuel Solis, marketing manager, trade communications and strategic retail accounts, Transitions Optical.

Since 2010, Transitions has partnered with NCNW to raise eye health awareness among African American communities on a national and grassroots level, and in 2014, they partnered with NAHN to raise awareness among Hispanic populations. By recognizing the influence of social media and bloggers, Transitions also partnered with Latina Mom Bloggers and through those efforts, learned about the blog, Jaime, mi dulce guerrero and began working with Mila Ferrer to share eyecare information with those affected by diabetes.

“As a blogger and mother of a child with type one diabetes, Mila Ferrer is our first Board member who can truly speak from the family perspective and provide insights into reaching Hispanic families about the link between diabetes and eye health,” Solis said. “We are honored to have Mila, Dan and Margo on our Board and look forward to working with them throughout the year.”