Helping Others Find Their Voice

SOURCE:Cisco Systems Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

by Tae Yoo

Our voice is part of the foundation of how we connect with each other. We voice our needs and share our ideas and feelings. It’s how we’re heard. Having a “voice” is fundamental to being an individual.

Meet Arlyn Edelstein. She has cerebral palsy. This is a neuromuscular condition that limits how Arlyn can interact with the world. Along with other disabilities, cerebral palsy has been described as being trapped in your own body.

Now meet the Voz Box. The Voz Box is a patented speech-generating device (SGD) that brings the benefits of the Internet of Things (IoT) to assistive smart technology. Using a network of wearable sensors, the Voz Box makes it easier for Arlyn to communicate with those around her by removing some of her physical limitations. It has also helped Arlyn give voice to the poet that has always been inside her.

One of the most compelling aspects of the Voz Box is its ability to be customized to match the capabilities of its users. Individuals with neuromuscular conditions possess a wide variety of abilities, and what might be a simple motion for one person may be impossible for another.

Currently, speech-generating devices use touch screens or keyboards with large icons. These systems can be difficult to use for those with limited muscular control as the device predetermines the mapping between movement and speech generation. In addition, systems typically cost more than $10K.

Voz Box is built around wearable sensors that can detect small movements. These sensors can be placed where a user chooses: finger, elbow, knee, foot, eye (blink and/or movement). Sensors are self-calibrated to prevent involuntary selections. Furthermore, sensors can be recalibrated over time, extending the use of Voz Box over the years as the movement capabilities of the user change.

Using Bluetooth wireless technology, these wearable sensors form a network around an individual. This network connects to a portable and comfortable speech-generating device, only 3.2” x 4.3” x 2” in size. The device is multilingual and supports both visual- and auditory-based communication. And microprocessor technology has reached the level where the unit can be self-contained, affordable, and not require an Internet connection to operate.

The Voz Box is the brainchild of Mary McCulloch and the Project Vive team. “Vive” comes from the Spanish verb “to live.” Based out of Pennsylvania State University, Project Vive is dedicated to making affordable technology available to those with disabilities.

Project Vive is definitely a company to keep your eye on: the team just placed first in the 2017 Cisco Global Problem Solver (GPS) Challenge, taking home the Grand Prize of $100,000. Our inaugural GPS Challenge included more than 1100 registrants from over 450 schools around the globe.

These are exciting times. We are witnessing the rise of a new generation of global problem solvers like Project Vive. These individuals will not only survive in our increasingly digital economy but are finding ways to change the world for the better.

Like giving a voice to the voiceless.

Tweet me:Spotlight on @Cisco's Inaugural #GlobalProblemSolver Challenge Grand Prize Winner: @Project_Vive http://bit.ly/2wpxahh

KEYWORDS: Innovation & Technology, Health & Healthcare, speech-generating device (SGD), Internet of Things (IoT), cisco csr, Voz Box, Global Problem Solver Challenge, Tae Yoo

MLBPA is committed to providing youth players from underserved populations with access to expert coaches and playing opportunities

SOURCE:Major League Baseball Players Trust

DESCRIPTION:

In recent years, with the number of African-American players on MLB rosters dwindling at an alarming rate, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), its active and in-active members have become more determined to help eliminate social and economic barriers to playing the game they love.

The players firmly believe that all youngsters deserve a chance to play baseball, and, as importantly, those youth need to learn to play the game through proper coaching and training techniques.  Quite a few former Major Leaguers have taken it upon themselves to help groom future generations of players, and the MLBPA is harnessing some of that knowledge and experience in ways that are sure to help increase the levels of baseball participation across the United States.

In June, the MLBPA and Major League Baseball partnered to host the Breakthrough Series at Curtis Granderson Stadium at the University of Illinois, Chicago.   This first-of-its-kind event provided a select group of about 60 mostly minority high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to develop their skills and showcase their talent before professional scouts and college recruiters.

In July, the focus shifted to Florida where the MLBPA, MLB and USA Baseball hosted their third annual Elite Development Invitational on the historic fields of Dodgertown in Vero Beach.

In Chicago and Vero Beach, the young players were taught the game by more than 25 different former Major Leaguers, representing every position and with hundreds of years of big league experience on their resumes.

Read more about how former Major Leaguers are grooming the next generation of players on MLBPlayers.com.

Tweet me:Current & former @MLB_Players determined to cultivate future stars, especially those from underserved communities http://bit.ly/2hozrGK

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Inclusion, Events, Media & Communications, Major League Baseball Players Association, MLBPA, youth baseball, minority youth baseball

SOURCE:Scotiabank

DESCRIPTION:

Diversity & Inclusion in the corporate setting has long evolved from solely celebrating our differences to building the business case for Diversity & Inclusion. Diversity & Inclusion is one of Scotiabank’s Corporate Social Responsibility priorities, as part of the CSR strategy, Better Future, Better Off.

Scotiabank’s inclusive workplace empowers employees and demonstrates the Bank’s commitment to productivity, innovation, employee engagement and client retention by bringing out the best of its workforce’s talent.

Our new CSR Video on Diversity & Inclusion encapsulates our commitment to building a culture of trust and reflecting the customers and communities we serve to build pride in Scotiabank and create value for society.

Tweet me:.@ScotiabankViews video: inclusive workplace empowers employees http://bit.ly/2vw9xqP #diversity #CSR

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Inclusion, inclusive workplace, empowering employees, csr, Scotiabank

By Amy Elisa Jackson

SOURCE:Whirlpool Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

James Brown famously sang, “This is a man’s world.” However, perhaps the most notable part of that chorus and song is the second verse: “…But it wouldn’t be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl.”

And the refrain is perhaps no truer than in the male-dominated industry of manufacturing. Sure, most Americans think of men toiling on assembly lines, swinging machinery to craft everything from automobiles to appliances, but Whirlpool “wouldn’t be nothing” without the women. Just ask Kristin Day, Manufacturing Operations Director of Clothes Dryers at Whirlpool Corporation.

Click here to read the full story

Tweet me:Inside The Rising Trend of Female Leaders in Manufacturing w/ @WhirlpoolCorp http://bit.ly/2u8mCWU

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Inclusion, women, whirlpool, whirlpool corporation, female leader, manufacturing, Kristin Day, Industry, whirlpool women's network, gender gap, career

By Tony Wittkowski

SOURCE:Whirlpool Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:Whirlpool Corporation interns join employees to volunteer, build homes for Habitat for Humanity @WhirlpoolCorp http://bit.ly/2u8sFei

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, whirlpool, whirlpool corporation, Intern, internship, Habitat for Humanity, leadership program, Benton Township, volunteer, community service

SOURCE:Eastman Chemical Company

DESCRIPTION:

August 3, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Eastman (NYSE:EMN) today announced the release of its 2017 sustainability report, Innovating with purpose. Building on the company’s progress, the report provides a review of Eastman’s sustainability strategy and goals as well as highlights from the past year.

“At Eastman, we recognize that the world is facing enormous complexity and challenges,” said David A. Golden, senior vice president, chief legal & sustainability officer, and corporate secretary. “We know we must create far more value than the resources we use or the future is not sustainable. We have outlined a sustainability strategy to address these global issues through steering a sustainable portfolio, driving resource productivity and rendering focused good acts by employees and the company for the simple sake of doing good. I’m pleased to share this year’s report and the progress we continue to make. I’m optimistic about the future and Eastman’s ability to drive positive change.”

Highlights include the company’s transformational shift in its sustainability strategy; increased focus on innovation, including examples where sustainability and innovation intersect to address global macro trends and enhance quality of life; continued focus on responsible management of natural resources; and strengthened collaborations to drive positive change through Eastman’s corporate responsibility efforts.

The report is available online at www.eastman.com/sustainability.

Tweet me:.@eastmanchemco focuses on sustainable innovation in its new 2017 sustainability report: "Innovating with purpose." http://bit.ly/2vwY5v5

KEYWORDS: Research, Reports & Publications, Diversity & Inclusion, Purpose, Eastman, sustainability, Responsibility

SOURCE:Pfizer

DESCRIPTION:

For nearly 65 years, the Pfizer Foundation has been working to expand health care access for people around the world. The impact of this work is significant and far-reaching, helping underserved individuals from diverse backgrounds in remote corners of the globe.

Through the Pfizer Foundation’s global health strategy, we provide grant and investment funding to support organizations and social entrepreneurs in an effort to improve health care delivery in low- and middle-income countries and increase access to health care for the most underserved communities. These grants and investments focus on three key areas:

• Improving health care delivery by supporting innovative and sustainable approaches to improving health systems
• Addressing key barriers that prevent women and children from receiving the care they need, with a focus on improving access to immunization and family planning services
• Supporting efforts to lessen the burden ofnon-communicable diseases (NCDs) by improving prevention and early diagnosis capabilities and increasing the capacity of community health centers  

Learn more about how the Pfizer Foundation uses grant and investment funding to improve global health: http://on.pfizer.com/2vm6BN0

The Pfizer Foundation is a charitable organization established by Pfizer Inc. It is a separate legal entity from Pfizer Inc. with distinct legal restrictions.

Tweet me:Learn how #PfizerFdn is reaching millions through grants & investments to improve #health access: http://bit.ly/2vzObZN

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Health & Healthcare, Pfizer, Pfizer Foundation, Health, Healthcare, entrepreneurs, non-communicable diseases, philanthropy, access, medicines, Corporate Social Responsibility, sustainability, Goal 3: Good Health & Well-Being

SOURCE:Arbor Day Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

Clean water is often taken for granted, until we’re faced with a tampered water supply. There are numerous cases in recent years where critical water sources became threatened. Toledo, Ohio shut down its water supply after poisonous algae toxins developed in Lake Erie. In North Carolina, a storage basin failure at a Duke Energy power plant sent more than 35,000 tons of coal ash flowing into the Dan River, a drinking water source. And then there’s the Flint water crisis, possibly the most severe water pollution case of the past decade.

Clean water may be the most significant resource in the world. Entire ecosystems depend on it for survival. We, depend on it for survival. It’s easy to forget how privileged we are to have clean, safe water until our water source becomes jeopardized. Unfortunately, it takes incidents like the above for people to become more aware of where their water comes from.

August is National Water Quality Month. Numerous factors are involved in producing clean water, including trees. Many people don’t realize just how much water comes from forested areas. In fact, forested watersheds and wetlands supply 75 percent of the world’s accessible freshwater.  More than 180 million Americans depend on forested watersheds for their drinking water. When forests become compromised, it affects the quality of surrounding watersheds, threatening the health of millions of people. Protecting and increasing forested watersheds is critical to providing safe, reliable, and clean water.   

Read From Forest to Faucet: the importance of trees to your drinking water

How do forests clean water?

Trees may not seem relevant when you’re living in an urban setting, after all, if you’re not near a forest how can it impact your water supply? Sixty-six million people in the U.S. rely on a National Forest as their primary water source. Nearly half of the population in the state of New York depend on the forested Catskill and Delaware watersheds for their drinking water. Even the most urban areas rely on forests for their most basic need.

Forests are the safest means to prevent mass erosion of soil and nutrients into waterways. When trees line rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water, their roots serve as a filter, absorbing extra sediments and pollutants like nitrates, phosphates, metals, pesticides, and oils.  As a result, streams with forested banks have more insects, these insects process more organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorous, resulting in cleaner water.

How do we protect water quality?

Watersheds carry water runoff downhill from land into a body of water. This means every time you wash with anti-bacterial soap, use fertilizer, flush old pills down the toilet, or drain cleaning products, it collects into the same water source. Becoming more conscious of the products you use and how you discard them can help eliminate excess toxins. Rain can help dilute polluted water, and trees can help filter it, but humans are the culprits of polluting healthy water sources. Reducing the use of harmful products helps reduce the amount of toxin that wash up. You don’t have to go to a forest to help improve your water quality. Simply having trees in your yard and your neighborhood helps filter some of these toxins before they reach watersheds.

A healthy urban forest benefits the residents of the community in more ways than one. Community forests help clean water, reduce stormwater runoff, purify air, cool cities, reduce crime, and lower stress. Additionally, planting and maintaining urban trees saves the city money, which in turn, saves you money.  

Read Brook Trout are Signs of a Clean Watershed

People depend on water for their health, food, and livelihood. It is important to protect our nation’s forests to deliver clean, safe, water; planting trees is an important part of doing that. We’re currently restoring nearly 20 watersheds across the country through reforestation projects.

Happy National Water Quality Month! Visit Replanting our Forests to learn how you can help restore watersheds in our nation’s forests.

Tweet me:Happy National Water Quality Month! Do you know where your water comes from? Read here: http://bit.ly/2uaLZaA

KEYWORDS: Environment, Green Infrastructure

SOURCE:PayPal

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:.@PayPal employees stretch imaginations at in-house #innovation lab http://bit.ly/2t1paFS #creativity #diversity

KEYWORDS: Innovation & Technology, Diversity & Inclusion, PayPal, professional development, team building, Leadership, Creativity

By: Lindsay Scholten

SOURCE:Sodexo, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Internships are a great way to prepare for your future. They can help you discover if the job path you’ve chosen is the right one for you, expose you to the professional world, and equip you with skills, experience and knowledge for a successful career. Since internships are usually one of the first experiences for students in the professional working environment, they can seem a bit daunting. To help ease the nerves, here are five tips I learned during my summer internship to ensure you get the most from your experience.

1. Be Professional. Maintaining a professional appearance and attitude is extremely important as you want to make sure you leave your internship with a strong reference. Make sure to show up on time for work, complete your tasks by the deadline, dress appropriately, and act properly. You only have one chance to make a first impression, so be sure that you are sending the right message.

2. Meet Your Coworkers. You are going to be spending your days surrounded by people who have lots of knowledge and experience, so fully engage with your coworkers. Those who are working in the same field as you can provide you with new skills/information that will aid you during the internship and later in your career. Even if someone is not working in your exact field, you never know how they might be able to help you later down the line. If you have a more introverted personality, focus on building one or two meaningful relationships, which can “trump superficially knowing 10 or 15 people.” Internships are a great opportunity to grow your professional network so don’t be afraid to socialize with and get to know people in the office.

3. Stay Busy. Internships are opportunities for you to grow your skills and learn new things that will be helpful later in life. Don’t be afraid to ask for work if things are slow; take advantage of the time you’re given, you never know when you’ll get an opportunity like this again. However, be careful to not over extend yourself – you need to produce quality work, especially if want to receive a strong recommendation. Simply accept the assignments you’re given, complete them to the best of your ability, and ask for more work when assignments are finished.

4. Be Organized. An important part of internships is demonstrating solid organizational and prioritization skills. Whenever you have meetings or calls, take notes to help remember your tasks and deadlines. Organize your time wisely to meet all deadlines and ensure that you’re producing valuable work, not rushing projects at the last minute. Make sure to keep track of each project you work on so when it comes time to discuss your progress with your supervisor, you can give a clear report. The earlier your start your organization process, the easier it will be to prioritize and the better off you will be.

5. Seize Opportunities. Your internship is “one of the most important pieces of the foundation you are laying for a successful career,” therefore take advantage of as many opportunities as you can. In the beginning, use the transition time to ask lots of questions—you’ll be new to the environment and people will be happy to help you adjust. Also, don’t be afraid to take on more responsibilities that go beyond your job description; being a committed, hard-working employee will be greatly appreciated. An internship is your time to acquire valuable experience, so put in as much as you want to get out of it.

I understand how scary the first day of your internship can be, but if you follow these five basic guidelines, walking into the office won’t be as intimidating. Hopefully, these tips will help you feel confident and prepared for the professional world so you can fully enjoy your summer internship.

Lindsay Scholten is a Marketing Intern for the summer at Sodexo in the United Kingdom. During the academic year, Lindsay is full-time student-athlete at Juniata College pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Integrated Media Arts & Marketing and is a member of the Juniata Field Hockey team.

Tweet me:5 tips to ensure you get the most out of your #internship https://goo.gl/nCDDvz @sodexoUSA #career

KEYWORDS: Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Employee Engagement, workplace, skills, career, internship, opportunity, Intern, Sodexo

Charles Collins Award given for distinguished service and commitment

SOURCE:UPS

DESCRIPTION:

August 4, 2017 /3BL Media/ - UPS (NYSE:UPS) announced that Myron Gray, President, U.S. Operations, is the recipient of the Charles Collins Distinguished Trustee award from the National Urban League for his service and mentorship upholding the work and ideals of the National Urban League.

Presenting at the Whitney M. Young, Junior Awards Gala on July 28, 2017, Mr. Gray spoke on his involvement and impact with the National Urban League.

“This award is possible because of the tireless efforts of my fellow National Urban League Board Members and all of the volunteers, staff, donors and friends who give unselfishly to change people’s lives for the better,” said Gray. “Thank you to the National Urban League for this honor, and most importantly, for being the powerful change agent your organization is today.”

The Charles Collins award was created more than ten years ago to commemorate its namesake’s distinctive service and commitment to the work and ideals of the National Urban League.

“Myron Gray has always been a supportive partner and outstanding thought leader,” said Marc H. Morial, president and CEO, National Urban League. “He chairs the Programs Committee of the National Urban League Board of Trustees and has served on the National Urban League Board of Director's Executive Committee. He continuously mentors other Trustees while also remaining a diligent supporter of the overall mission of the National Urban League.”

The National Urban League is one of UPS’s most enduring partnerships, spanning more than 56 years. UPS supports the National Urban League through leadership engagement, local chapter board service, employee volunteerism and with The UPS Foundation programmatic support. UPS has provided $22 million in funding to the National Urban League to support the organization’s Entrepreneurship Centers, conference and capacity building initiatives. Mr. Gray has been on the National board since 2010.

Tweet me:Myron Grey of @UPS wins @NatUrbanLeague ‏paway for Distinguished Service and Commitment http://bit.ly/2ujt3BP

Contact Info:

Kristen Petrella
UPS
+1 (404) 828-4182
kpetrella@ups.com

KEYWORDS: Awards, Ratings & Rankings, Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, UPS, united parcel service, National Urban League, Myron Gray

SOURCE:Boeing

DESCRIPTION:

August 4, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will flight-test Long-range Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology next year. This remote-sensing technology could help commercial airplane pilots better detect and avoid weather disturbances to improve flight safety.

Boeing and JAXA have been collaborating on the integration of LIDAR technology into a commercial airplane platform since 2010. The JAXA LIDAR technology offers the potential to accurately measure winds as much as 17.5 kilometers in front of airplanes and provide pilots with sufficient time to take appropriate action to avoid wind shear and clear air turbulence, which does not have any visual cues such as clouds.

"Boeing is very pleased with the collaborative relationship we have had with JAXA," said Naveed Hussain, Boeing Research & Technology vice president, Aeromechanics Technology. "We look forward to demonstrating the benefits of LIDAR technology, which offers significant opportunities for aircraft safety and performance."

This next phase of the JAXA-Boeing LIDAR research collaboration is possible thanks to Boeing's ecoDemonstrator flight-test research program. In 2018, Boeing and FedEx Express will work together for six weeks to flight-test more than 30 technologies including LIDAR aboard a new FedEx-owned 777 Freighter. FedEx and Boeing are committed to reducing the environmental impact of their products and advancing technology that will improve performance.

"Boeing's ecoDemonstrator flight-test programs accelerate innovation that enhances the safety and efficiency of commercial flight," said Doug Christensen, ecoDemonstrator program manager. "We're eager to continue working with JAXA so that we can both learn more about LIDAR technology."

The flight demonstration of LIDAR technology will involve emitting pulses of laser light, which will scatter off of small dust and other particulates. Observing the reflected light in segments from the start, the pulse provides measurement of the wind speed at increments all along the direction of the laser. 

"We are very pleased to take part in Boeing's ecoDemonstrator program. The onboard clear-air turbulence detection system to be tested in the program next year was established by JAXA as part of our SafeAvio R&D project on avionics safety technology to prevent turbulence-induced aircraft accidents," said Fumikazu Itoh, director general, JAXA Aeronautical Technology Directorate. "Boeing's ecoDemonstrator program provides us with valuable opportunity to evaluate our system's capability on large commercial aircraft, which will help accelerate practical implementation of our system in a real environment."

Since 2012, the ecoDemonstrator program has used a series of flying testbeds to develop and test aviation technologies that enhance safety and environmental performance. The Boeing ecoDemonstrator program plays a key role in the company's environmental strategy by using flight testing to accelerate new technologies that can reduce emissions and noise, improve airlines' gate-to-gate efficiency and help meet other environmental goals.   

Tweet me:.@Boeing, JAXA partner to improve aviation safety on #Boeing's ecoDemonstrator flight-test research program http://bit.ly/2wq7cKl

KEYWORDS: Innovation & Technology, Boeing, csr, esg, ecodemonstrator, JAXA, safety, Lidar

Contreras goes to bat for Illinois special needs athletes

SOURCE:Major League Baseball Players Trust

DESCRIPTION:

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras found himself on quite the ride in 2016 – catching for the eventual World Series Champions, being part of a fun, and energetic clubhouse, and learning more about his position from a seasoned veteran in David Ross!  Sounds like the perfect way to begin a career.  He was a jack-of-all-trades for the Cubs in 2016, making appearances in left field and first base in addition to his duties behind the plate.

He also provided the Cubs with some timely hitting.  It was Contreras’ pinch-hit, game-tying, two-run single in the top of the 9^th inning in Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the San Francisco Giants that helped propel the Cubs to the NLCS before going on to capture their first World Series title in 108 years.

Now the team’s starting catcher, Contreras is hitting .276 with 18 homers  and 65 RBIs – second highest total on the team.

As he settles in behind home plate at Wrigley Field, Contreras, a native of Venezuela, is embracing his home-away-from-home, by supporting those who support him.

This year, Contreras has stepped up to the plate in support of the Special Olympics Illinois, by becoming the nonprofit’s Celebrity Ambassador for its recent Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby.  The annual race, which was held on Thursday, August 3, once again drew thousands of spectators to watch over 50,000 yellow rubber ducks race down the Chicago River, according to the charitable organization’s official website.

Continuing reading on PlayersTrust.org.

Tweet me:.@WContreras40 of @Cubs & his rubber duck brigade are #GoingToBat for @SO_Illinois #CareActInspire http://bit.ly/2werirR

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Events, Media & Communications, Special Olympics, special needs athletes, chicago cubs, Willson Contreras, Major League Baseball Players Association, Major League Baseball, athletes giving back, Players Trust, Major League Baseball Players Trust, rubber ducks

SOURCE:University of Michigan: Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability

DESCRIPTION:

EarthEd: Rethinking Education on a Changing Planet (2017)

With global environmental changes locked into our future, what we teach must evolve. All education will need to be environmental education, but environmental education cannot focus solely on teaching everyone to live just a bit greener. Instead, it will need to both teach students to be bold sustainability leaders as well as equip them with the skills necessary to survive the turbulent century ahead.

"Where the past incarnation of business sustainability education incorporated the issue within existing business logics and models, the next iteration focuses on changes within those logics and models themselves.  The first mode of teaching, termed "enterprise integration," focuses on helping individual companies increase profits by translating sustainability into preexisting business considerations.  The second mode, termed "market transformation," focuses on systemic changes in the business environment and prompts a reexamination of the role of the corporation in society.  The first is focused on reducing unsustainability, the second is focused on creating sustainability."

For purchase here.

Tweet me:.@HoffmanAndy of @erbinstitute featured in 'EarthEd: Rethinking #Education on a Changing Planet' http://myumi.ch/JdrWV #sustainability

KEYWORDS: Research, Reports & Publications, Education, university of michigan, Erb Institute, Andy Hoffman, EarthEd, State of the World, Corporate Social Responsibility, Market Transformation, Business Sustainability

SOURCE:Cone Communications

DESCRIPTION:

In 2016, we saw nontraditional sustainability reports gain traction with Patagonia's report, which swapped the text-heavy format for an image-laden report focusing on action and the outdoors. But the stand-out activation was Heineken’s video featuring a Dutch rapper and spoken word artist who delivered the report stats in a concise and compelling way. This year, the brewing company is taking an even more interactive approach – serving up data in a fun and entertaining way.

Recently Heineken released its 2016 Annual Report which, for the first time, combined the company’s annual and sustainability reports into one document. Not to be outshined by last year’s delivery, Heineken launched the report using an interactive website featuring an entertaining chatbot that presents viewers with ‘Would You Rather’ scenarios in the form of GIFs. For example, would you rather only be able to ask for a promotion in a sauna, or read the Heineken 2016 Sustainability Report? By engaging consumers in this fun and unexpected way, the company hopes to see a higher level of engagement with the report’s content. 

To continue reading, please click here.

Tweet me:.@Heineken utilizes an interactive website to engage w/consumers & share insights from 2016 Sustainability Report http://bit.ly/2u8lHSm

KEYWORDS: Research, Reports & Publications, Heineken 2016 Report, Heineken GIFs report, Heineken sustainability report

SOURCE:International Living Future Institute

DESCRIPTION:

The International Living Future Institute's Early Bird registration deadline for the Living Product Expo has been extended to Monday, August 7th. This is your opportunity to purchase discounted tickets to the Expo, the place to be to get the tools for your next big idea. 

Join the International Living Future Institute this September 12-14 in Pittsburgh to:

• Meet keynote speakers including Paul Hawken, Ken Cook, and Suzanne Lee. Their award-winning work has included changing the relationship between business and the environment, changing U.S. food and farm policy around the nation’s broken approach to protecting families and children from toxic substances, and creating innovative design solutions for the next generation of healthy materials.

• Discover exhibitors changing the landscape for Living Products. Shake the hand of individuals who could provide the materials for your next project.

• Attend sessions dedicated to groundbreaking ideas like minimizing footprints through handprints, the traceability of wood, sustainable PVC, transparency labels, and leveraging the Living Building Challenge.

• Join the movement of people from every part of the supply chain dedicated to providing healthy products for everyone. 

Don’t miss your last chance to save! Register by August 7th at 11:59pm PST. 

Tweet me:The Early Bird discount for @Living_Future's Living Product Expo ends August 7th! Purchase your ticket today! http://bit.ly/1UmhlMx

KEYWORDS: Events, Media & Communications, Energy, International Living Future Institute, Living Product Challenge (LPC), Living Product Expo

SOURCE:Keystone Human Services

DESCRIPTION:

HARRISBURG, Pa., August 7, 2017 /3BL Media/ – Pennsylvania Treasurer Joe Torsella hosted a discussion on August 3 with Keystone Human Services, Susquehanna Service Dogs, families from within the disability community, and legislators to discuss the Pennsylvania Achieving a Better Life Experience Act Savings Program (PA ABLE), which provides tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with qualified disabilities and their families.

“The PA ABLE program finally provides an option that allows people with disabilities and their families the flexibility to save for the future without jeopardizing their current benefits,” said Torsella. “In just a few months since PA ABLE was launched, there has been a tremendous response, and we want to continue to help make sure Pennsylvanians are aware that this program is available to them.”

Launched in April, the PA ABLE Act follows passage of federal legislation by Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senator Bob Casey that authorized states to create ABLE programs. Modeled after college savings accounts, ABLE accounts allow individuals with qualifying disabilities and their families to save for a wide range of disability-related expenses tax-free and provides investment options offered to encourage saving private funds to support health, independence, and quality of life.

ABLE saving accounts are excluded from eligibility determinations for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits (savings up to $100,000), other means-tested federal programs, Medical Assistance, and other state means-tested disability and health benefits programs on which individuals with disabilities must often depend.

Under the PA ABLE Savings program, eligible individuals can:

• Save up to $14,000 each year.
• Grow accounts tax-free.
• Use account to pay for a wide range of disability-related expenses.
• Make federal and state income tax-free withdrawals when used for qualified disability expenses.
• Open accounts that are exempt from Pennsylvania inheritance tax.

“With the PA ABLE program, people with disabilities and their families have another avenue to achieve greater financial independence and self-sufficiency without jeopardizing their benefits,” said Charles Hooker, President and CEO, Keystone Human Services. “We welcome all opportunities for people with disabilities to pursue their dreams and live an independent meaningful life in the community, and are pleased to help raise awareness about this program,” says Charles Hooker, President and CEO of Keystone Human Services.

Following the roundtable, Susquehanna Service Dogs provided a service dog demonstration.

Today’s roundtable comes after Treasurer Torsella announced last month that in just over three months, PA ABLE account holders have collectively saved more than $1 million in assets. 

“Our ability to provide the PA ABLE program as an option to Pennsylvanians with disabilities comes after the support and dedicated efforts of Senator Lisa Baker and Representative Bernie O’Neill,” said Torsella. “I thank them for their work in helping to change the lives of thousands of Pennsylvanians.”

For more information about the PA ABLE Savings Program, and to sign up, please visit paable.gov or call 1-855-529-ABLE (2253).

Media contact:

Heidi Havens, Treasury, 717-787-2991 or hhavens@patreasury.gov

Melissa Kreidler, Keystone Human Services, 717-232-7509 or mkreidler@keystonehumanservices.org

PENNSYLVANIA TREASURY DEPARTMENT

JOE TORSELLA, STATE TREASURER

www.patreasury.gov | Facebook | Twitter

The Pennsylvania Treasury is an independent department of state government led by the state treasurer, who is elected every four years. The department's primary duty is to safeguard and manage the state's public funds. It invests state money to generate income on behalf of the citizens of Pennsylvania, reviews and processes payments for state government custodian of more than $100 billion in state funds. Key Treasury programs include Unclaimed Property, PA 529 College Savings Program and the Board of Finance and Revenue. To learn more visit patreasury.gov.

Tweet me:PA Treasurer @JoeTorsella joined individuals from @Keystone_KHS & @SSDOGS to discuss the #PAABLE savings program: http://bit.ly/2vzZ9hA

Contact Info:

Heidi Havens
Pennsylvania Treasury Department
+1 (717) 787-2991
hhavens@patreasury.gov

Melissa Kreidler
Keystone Human Services
+1 (717) 232-7509
mkreidler@keystonehumanservices.org

KEYWORDS: Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment, Diversity & Inclusion, Keystone Human Services

G&A's SustainabilityHighlights (3.8.2017)

SOURCE:Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

"Operating under the radar" -- that is, various categories of institutional investors getting active in the "investor activist" game?  Bruce Goldfarb, CEO of Okapi Partners, describes a sea change that he sees that is underway, the trend in how large institutions are approaching in the [investor] push for corporate change.  The lens is the annual corporate proxy season and the many campaigns therein, including the 2017 campaign.  Okapi is one of the influential proxy advisors for both investor and companies, working on some 48 campaigns during 2017.

What did the firm's leader see as patterns?  Well, for starters, large mutual fund advisories and ETF complexes (like Vanguard, Fidelity, BlackRock, State Street) -- these organizations with many trillions' of dollars in corporate holdings in their portfolios, "...have become increasingly intent on holding public company boards and management teams accountable in higher ESG standards," CEO Goldfarb notes in our Top Story (published on the digital Forbes Investing platform).

As many of us well know, the first iteration of ESG was about the "G" -- for several decades, the focus was on corporate governance issues.  (Such as: investors pushing for separation of Chair and CEO, the often described example of a popular campaign in the G space).  Over time, the emphasis on environmental and social issues ("E” and “S") broadened the approach to the familiar ESG measurements because the E and S issues are tied to share performance and confidence (or lack of) in management.

The CEO in the interview points out that a climate change proposal at ExxonMobil recently was passed by a wide margin (investors supported the demand that the company publish an annual assessment of the impact of global warming policies) while a decade ago a push by investors in proxy campaigning to separate chair and CEO positions and a few environmental proposals failed by a very large margin.  Things are a-changin' in the proxy arena.

In 2017, there have been (so far) 430 resolutions filed that address "S" and "E" issues, compared to 370 a year earlier.  Investors, says CEO Goldfarb, see the connection between ESG policies and stock performance more clearly now.

In our conversations with corporate managers (at all size enterprises) it is clear that the managers want to press the Investing Case upward to their bosses in the C-suite and board room.  Why should we make the investment in a sustainability effort, the question often goes, and the answer is that among other things, corporate performance and a scorecard of sorts on top management has a proxy, too -- that is, the ESG performance of the enterprise! 

This is just the introduction of G&A's Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week.Click here to view the full issue.

Tweet me:G&A: Broadening Activism Among Institutional Investor Classes on ESG Issues -Here to Stay, Says Proxy Advisor CEO http://bit.ly/2vykSXu

KEYWORDS: Media & Communications, Corporate Social Responsibility, business & trade, csr, G&A Institute, GRI, Governance & Accountability Institute, G&A, SRI, SWF, socially responsible investing, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Corporate Citizenship

SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton

DESCRIPTION:

Natural disasters cost billions in infrastructure repairs and claim tens of thousands of lives each year. In 2016, there were 91 weather, climate or geological disasters in the U.S.—including severe storms, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, heat waves and droughts. Globally, there were 750 disasters in 2016, the highest number in four years.¹

This summer, five teams of Booz Allen Summer Games interns are using technology to address some of the biggest challenges around disaster response – from helping evacuate people with functional needs, to pinpointing regions in urgent need for emergency responders, to enabling people to judge the depth of standing water.

Below, read about the teams’ transformative work in their own words:

• Speeding Emergency Care to People with Functional Needs
  “The elderly, and people with access or functional needs are often at higher risk than other populations during a disaster situation,” said Hannah Bruening from Booz Allen Summer Games Team Access. “With our Functional Needs Preparedness App, we hope to streamline emergency management and give those with access and functional needs the peace of mind and safety that they deserve during a crisis.” The app can be accessed through a mobile web browser.  
   
• Putting Crowdsourcing to Work for Emergency Responders
  “During weather disasters, emergency responders often have limited information about where help is most needed. To tackle this head on, we developed a crowdsourcing app that allows responders to gather information efficiently from the public and execute emergency response where it’s needed most,” said Marisa Machlis from Team CROWD (Crowdsourcing Response Optimization for Weather Disasters).
   
• Putting Smart Phones to Work: Tracking Populations During Disasters
  “When delivering emergency supplies to people in need during a disaster, responders are challenged by a reliance on non-conclusive satellite imagery and slow communication with people on the ground. Our app, IoT SAP, uses existing technologies like phones, Bluetooth devices, RFID and NFC systems to track population movement during an event, enabling responders to know where people and supplies are and where they are going,” said Shane Teig from Team IoT SAP.
   
• Predicting Where Emergency Relief will be Needed Most
  “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers calls the Mosul Dam in Iraq, ‘The Most Dangerous Dam in the World.’ If a breach occurs, as many as a million and a half people will be at risk. We are working to create an agent-based model which would accurately predict the movement of people in this region and in the event of a breach would cause a city-wide emergency evacuation. Our ultimate goal is to create a distribution network for relief and medical aid that can be quickly and effectively employed in that geography,” said Nick Bodner from Team Most Dangerous Dam.
   
• Using Phone Cameras to Empower Smart Driving
  “More than half of deaths during a flood are vehicle-related—people inaccurately perceive the danger in what they believe is just a few inches of standing water. Our app allows users to visualize street flood levels using their phone camera and an interactive augmented reality display. Our goal is to inspire homeowners to confidently plan for flood events, help homebuyers choose houses that are resilient to a region’s changing landscape, influence drivers to make wiser road travel decisions, and protect entire communities from avoidable tragedy,” said Nicole Woolcock from Rising Waters: Coastal Zone Flood Team.

Want to learn more about the ways Booz Allen Interns are working to solve the world’s toughest challenges? Visit: https://www.boozallen.com/e/careers-content/booz-allen-summer-games.html

Tweet me:Learn how @BoozAllen #interns are using #tech to aid & protect communities during #disasters http://bit.ly/2uyTOlK

KEYWORDS: Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Innovation & Technology, Booz Allen Hamilton, summer games, Disaster preparedness, climate change, crowdsourcing

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

SUMMARY:

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper announces the 2017 Climate Change Conference with presenting sponsors Cox Enterprises and The Ray C. Anderson Foundation. 

DESCRIPTION:

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper announces the 2017 Climate Change Conference with presenting sponsors Cox Enterprises and The Ray C. Anderson Foundation. The conference is set to take place on September 27-28, hosted by the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center.

More than 40 local and national scientists and sustainability experts will explore the effects of changing climate conditions to human, infrastructure and ecological interests in the Chattahoochee watershed and offer solutions for a resilient future for all who depend on the river system. Paul Hawken, Executive Director of Project Drawdown, and Dr. Marshall Shepherd, Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor and Director, UGA Atmospheric Sciences Program, are keynote speakers.

“The Chattahoochee River is the reason Atlanta is where it is,” said Cox Enterprises’ Chief Operating Officer Alex Taylor. “The Chattahoochee River is the foundational lifeblood of Atlanta, and its health and future is synonymous with the health and future of our great city. Cox Enterprises is committed to ensuring that future.”

John Lanier, Executive Director, of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation said, “The Ray C. Anderson Foundation is proud to stand with Cox Enterprises in sponsoring Chattahoochee Riverkeeper's Climate Change Conference. We believe that climate change is the most pressing issue of our time, and this conference will help illuminate the opportunities we have in our region for impactful climate action.”

Mary Anne Lanier, President of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation and member of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Board of Directors, serves as Chair of the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper 2017 Climate Change Conference.

“Chattahoochee Riverkeeper is proud to present the first-ever conference focused exclusively on climate change effects in our watershed and invite dozens of leading scientists, engineers, community leaders, policy makers and others to explore solutions for a resilient future for all who depend on the Chattahoochee River,” said Juliet Cohen, Executive Director.

Cox Enterprises is a previous recipient of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s River Guardian award for the company’s efforts toward generating awareness of important water issues. Cox’s support of the Climate Change conference is part of the company’s national Cox Conserves sustainability program that is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

To register for the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper 2017 Climate Change conference, click here.

About Chattahoochee Riverkeeper

CRK’s mission is to protect and preserve the Chattahoochee River, its lakes and tributaries for the people, fish and wildlife that depend upon it. For more information, visit www.chattahoochee.org.

Tweet me:Proud to be a sponsor of the @CRKeeper Climate Change Conference with @CoxEnterprises 9/27-28 in Atlanta. http://bit.ly/2vHXGG4

Contact Info:

Valerie Bennett
Ray C. Anderson Foundation
+1 (770) 317-5858
valerie@raycandersonfoundation.org

Melanie Baird
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
+1 (404) 352-9828ext. 29
mbaird@chattahoochee.org

KEYWORDS: Environment, Climate Action, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Cox Enterprises, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Paul Hawken, Dr. Marshall Sheppard, #ProjectDrawdown, #climate change