Month: February 2023

Introduction

Musim Mas’ plantations operate in Indonesia, home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. As a leading sustainable palm oil corporation, Musim Mas believes that biodiversity can co-exist with its responsible business operations.

Musim Mas’ conservation effort includes forest stewardship, riparian buffer restoration, and active monitoring of wildlife and other environmental indicators within both HCV areas and the surrounding land concessions.

The group has also undertaken a major study to assess its interventions for effectiveness, such as whether its efforts to preserve and enhance biodiversity in the plantations have been effective, as well as ways to improve its efforts. This was done by providing 12 years of biodiversity data accumulated by Musim Mas’ sustainability team, for a study by the UK-based South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP).

Musim Mas Group is one of the world’s largest sustainable and integrated palm oil corporations, and was the first palm major in Indonesia to join the RSPO (in 2004). Musim Mas has undertaken a variety of conservation interventions across the company’s plantations in Indonesia.

Going beyond conservation alone, the group would like to assess its interventions’ effectiveness to ensure they have the intended positive impacts on biodiversity. Musim Mas set out to understand how biodiversity was responding in the plantations, whether its conservation management plan was helping to maintain or enhance biodiversity, and if there are ways monitoring and management could be improved.

Bird Sightings

Over the last 12 years, Musim Mas’ sustainability team followed scientific protocols to record species richness in its concession areas. This was largely done in the form of monthly surveys at designated plots where the team recorded data on the variety of animal and insect sightings. The bird sightings were particularly notable. Below are some of the varieties of bird species captured by the team.

Long-Tailed Shrike

Scientific name: Lanius schach 
Bahasa Indonesia: Bentet Kelabu

Characteristics:

Typically black, brown, and white color, with a body size of ±20 – 25 cmBlack forehead, mask, and a long tailBlack wings with white spotsDark grey crown and napeVery light brown back and upper-tail covertWhite breast and belly

The long-tailed shrike is active in open areas, grasslands, plantations, and other open areas. It forages for food while perching. This bird feeds on insects and vertebrae such as small mammals, lizards, frogs, crabs, and smaller birds, and frequently feeds on grasshoppers and bugs on the ground. They’re also known to steal food from other birds. It reproduces all through the year. This species is distributed in the Sumatran islands, Java, Borneo, and Lesser Sunda (up to Timor Island).

Conservation status:

Long-Tailed Shrike (Lanius Schach) is listed as Least Concern in the “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species”. This species is not yet protected under “Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Nomor.P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018”.

Orange-Bellied Flowerpecker

Scientific name: Dicaeum trigonostigma 
Bahasa Indonesia: Cabai Bunga Api

This bird has a striking orange and blue color, with a small body size. Its preferred foods are fruits or parasitic plants. It is found in Riau Islands, Lingga Islands, Borneo, Sumatra, Natuna, Java, and Bali.

Male Bird Characteristics:

Bluish head, wings, and tailDistinct orange upper-tail covert and bellyGrey throat

Female Bird Characteristics:

Olive back, wings, and tailYellow bellyGreenish-orange upper tail feathers

Conservation status: 
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum Trigonostigma) is listed as Least Concern in the “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species”. This species is not yet protected under “Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Nomor.P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018”.

Black-Headed Bulbul

Scientific name: Brachypodius atriceps 
Bahasa Indonesia: Cucak Kuricang

Characteristics:

Shiny black head and throatYellow-olive upper bodyIts wings and tail are black/dark grey in color, with a distinct yellowish tint on the tipIts lower body is greenish yellowPale blue irisBlack beak and brown feet

This bird carries out its activities on its own or with other birds when visiting forest edges or shrubs. Its preferred diet is fruits especially ficuses, besides feeding on various small insects. Its breeding season is from January through September, but mostly in March-June. This species is distributed in Sumatra, Nias, Mentawai, Java, and Borneo.

Conservation status:

Black-headed Bulbul (Brachypodius Atriceps) is listed as Least Concern in the “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species”. This species is not yet ptotected under “Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Nomor.P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018”.

Sooty-Headed Bulbul

Scientific name: Pycnonotus aurigaster 
Bahasa Indonesia: Cucak Kutilang

Characteristics:

Black crown and whitish upper-tail covertYellowish orange on its under-tail covertBlack chin and black upper headWhite nape, upper tail feathers, breast, and bellyBlack wings and brown tails

This bird is frequently seen in almost all types of habitats, including settlements, open spaces, road edges, yards, gardens, shrubs, and secondary forests. It tends to live together in groups with their own species or with other species.

The Sooty-Headed Bulbul tends to eat insects and soft fruits. In the morning it’s often seen perching under the morning sun (sunbathing) to maintain healthy feathers. Its nest is cup-shaped and built from woven grass and leaves, leaf stalks, and small branches. This bird has a loud high-pitched warbling call, and it can be found across Java, Bali, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Borneo, and Papua.

Conservation status:

Sooty-Headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus Aurigaster) is listed as Least Concern in the “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species”. This species is not yet protected under “Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Nomor.P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018”.

Black-Winged Kite

Scientific name: Elanus caeruleus 
Bahasa Indonesia: Elang Tikus

Black-Winged Kite has a moderate body size with the following characteristics:

Black spots on its scapulaIt has a distinct, long black primariesAn adult bird has grey crown, back, wings, secondary feather, and upper-tail covertWhite face, neck, and bellyA juvenile bird has brown patternsHovering around when looking for its preyIt flaps its wings when stationaryIt has red iris, black and yellow beak, as well as yellow feet

This species lives in open lowlands and hills up to 2000 meters in elevation. The Black-Winged Kite usually perches on dead trees and hovers around when hunting for prey. It usually hunts for prey in open lowlands with scarce tree cover. This bird feeds on grasshoppers, lizards, caterpillars, mice, and young birds. Its nest is composed of twigs, mixed with leaves, built on trees in the forests. This species can be found in Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Borneo, and Nusa Tenggara.

Conservation Status:

Black-Winged Kite (Elanus Caeruleus) is listed as Least Concern in the “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species”. This species is protected under “Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Nomor.P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018”.

Oriental Pied Hornbill

Scientific name: Anthracoceros albirostris 
Bahasa Indonesia: Kangkareng Perut Putih

This bird has relatively small body size with two colors, black and white. Its characteristics are:

White-yellow big hornBlack feathers all over its bodyWhite patterns under its eyes, belly, thighs, and under-tail covertWhite feathers on its wing tip and the outer part of its tailDark brown irisNo feathers on the skin around its eyesWhite throat, yellowish-white horn and bill, with white spots on its lower mandible and the front of its billBlack feetMakes a continuous squawking sound

This type of bird prefers more open habitats such as forest edges, logged forests, and secondary forests. This species flies in pairs or noisy groups. It likes to flap its wings and perches on trees. It also sometimes gets down on the forest floor. Its diet consists of fruits and small animals. This bird species can be found in Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Borneo, and Bali areas.

Conservation status: 
Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros Albirostris) is listed as Least Concern in the “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species”. However, they are under the protection of Indonesia law, “Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Nomor.P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018”.

Javan Myna

Scientific name: Acridotheres javanicus 
Bahasa Indonesia: Kerak Kerbau

Javan Myna is moderately sized with the following characteristics:

Dark grey feathers (almost black), with white spots on its primariesWhite upper-tail covert and tail tipIt has a small crown on its headIts song is hoarse with a creaking toneThis bird also whistles and has a distinct creak when flyingThis species also has the ability to imitate other species’ sounds

This bird lives in groups, small or large. Most of them forage on the ground, grassland, and rice fields. It often perches on cows or buffalos. This bird feeds on insects. This species is found across several regions, namely Java, Sumatra, and Bali Islands.

Conservation status: 
Javan Myna (Acridotheres Javanicus) is listed as vulnerable in the “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species”. This species might be in risk to extinct in the wild life unless there are good solutions for their safety and reproduction. Widespread and illegal trapping for the cage-bird trade is also apparently resulting in a rapid population reduction. This species therefore qualifies as Vulnerable. However, this species is not yet protected under “Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Nomor.P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018”.

Scarlet-Rumped Tragon

Scientific name: Harpactes duvaucelii 
Bahasa Indonesia: Luntur Kepala Merah

Male Bird Characteristics:

Black headBlue patterns on its beakDark red bellyLight brown backDistinct dark red under-tail covertNo necklace or crescent pattern on its breast

Female Bird Characteristics:

Brown breastOrange bellyFrequently found in swamp or forest areas

This bird has a rather small body (±23cm). Its breeding season is estimated to take place between February-June. It usually builds its nest using decayed tree stump. This species is distributed across several areas: Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo.

Conservation status: 
Scarlet-Rumped Tragon (Harpactes Duvaucelii) is listed as Near Threatened in the “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species”. As it is likely to be declining rapidly, due to the wholesale clearance of lowland forest habitats throughout its range. This species is protected under “Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Nomor.P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018”.

Brown-Throated Sunbird

Scientific name: Anthreptes malacensis 
Bahasa Indonesia: Madu Kelapa

Male Bird Characteristics:

It has a crownShiny green backShiny purple upper-tail covert, secondary and tailOpaque dark brown malar area, chin, and throatYellow belly

Female Bird Characteristics:

Olive green upper bodyLight yellow bellyRed irisBlack beak and greyish black feet

The Brown-Throated Sunbird is a nectar-sucking bird with a relatively small body. Generally found in lowlands, this bird is active in open yards, coconut gardens, coastal shrubs, and mangrove forests. It feeds on nectar from trumpet-shaped flowers of parasitic plants, bananas, and hibiscus. It also feeds on insects. This species breeds all throughout the year. Its nest is sac-shaped and made from grass fibers. This species spreads across Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Borneo, and Bali Island.

Conservation status: 
Brown-Throated Sunbird (Anthreptes Malacensis) is listed as Least Concern in the “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species”. Their population trend is relatively stable. This species is not yet protected under “Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Nomor.P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018”.

Little Green-Pigeon

Scientific name: Punai kecil 
Bahasa Indonesia: Treron Olax

Little Green-Pigeon is a bird species that has a particularly small beak. They are warm-blooded and mostly found in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java and Bali. They have a slightly rounded, chubby frame with a short but strong beak which is used to feed on fruits and nuts.

Their nests are usually made of branches and are flat and rectangular in shape. The male of the species takes the role of building the nests which are usually located 3-4 meters above the ground. Their eggs are white and will usually be incubated by the female birds for 15-20 days. They usually consume water up to as much as 15% of their body weight. The Little Green Pigeon tends to travel in groups in accordance to the season. During fall, they will travel with group of 30-50 birds, while they will travel with 7-10 in a group on rainy season. Area of distribution: Java, Sumatra, and Borneo

Conservation status: 
Little Green-Pigeon (Treron Olax) is listed as Least Concern in the “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species”. This species is not yet protected under “Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Nomor.P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018”. However, its population trend is known to be decreasing.

Scarlet Minivet

Scientific name: Pericrocotus flammeus 
Bahasa Indonesia: Sepah Hutan

Male Bird Characteristics:

Bluish-black breastRed spots on its belly, under-tail covert, and the outer part of its tail feathers

Female Bird Characteristics:

More grey on its backA yellow color spreads until its throat, chin, ear patch, and forehead

The Scarlet Minivet has bright colored feathers. It preys on insects, including caterpillars. Its small nests are built neatly in the shape of cups on tree branches above ground. The distinct characteristic of this bird is that incubation is carried out only by female bird. This species spreads across several areas- Java, Sumatra, Nusa Tenggara, Borneo, and Bali Island.

Conservation status: 
Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus Flammeus) is listed as Least Concern in the “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This species is not yet protected under “Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Nomor.P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018”. However, its population trend is known to be decreasing.

Buff-Rumped Woodpecker

Scientific name: Meiglyptes grammithorax 
Bahasa Indonesia: Caladi Batu Melayu

Key characteristics:

It has a short tail with black and white stripesBlack body with dense white stripes except its white upper-tail covertBrownish-grey head, nape, and throatBlack breast and under-tail covertWhite stripes on its belly side and thighsA male bird has a dark red head with red spots on its malar areaIts crown feathers looks like a crestBrownish-red color on its iris, black beak, and greenish feet

A relatively small bird, this species is frequently found in primary forests, secondary forests, and forest edges. It forages for food under the canopy and small branches. Its diet consists of ants and other insects. Its nest is built on tree branches or fallen tree stumps, and makes squeaking sounds. This bird species can be found across some areas of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and Bali Island.

Conservation status: 
Buff-Rumped Woodpecker (Meiglyptes Grammithorax) is listed as Least Concern in the “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species”. This species is not yet protected under “Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Nomor.P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018”. However, its population trend is known to be decreasing.

Sharneitha Bradford spends her days helping people access cancer diagnostic care, a role she embraces as a nurse navigator. Sharneitha, and the team at Prevention on the Go, a mobile screening service offered by the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (Mary Bird Perkins), a Gilead grantee – have a clear goal to make sure all are welcome.

“Everybody should have access to care,” says Sharneitha. “I don’t care how much money you have or how little money you have, everybody should be treated the same and everybody should get what they need to take care of themselves.”

In Louisiana and Mississippi communities where they offer no-cost cancer screening, cancer is more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage than in other parts of the United States, leading to a higher mortality rate.

“If we save one life by catching a cancer early, or if we save a thousand, it’s made a difference,” says Renea Duffin, Vice President of Cancer Support, Outreach and Clinical Research.

The video above shows how the Mary Bird Perkins team meets people where they are in an effort to detect cancers earlier. In 2006, they launched their first mobile clinic. Now, these clinics cover 30 parishes in Louisiana and four counties in southwest Mississippi.

The mobile clinic offers screenings for several types of cancers such as prostate, skin and breast and now includes a mobile mammography unit as well. If there’s an abnormal finding, the team makes sure to follow up with support including transportation to appointments.

On World Cancer Day this year, Mary Bird Perkins joined 24 organizations across the United States as the newly announced grantees of the Gilead Toward Health Equity Oncology GrantTM. The funds will support Mary Bird Perkins’ work to provide access and appropriate care coordination through patient-centered interventions focused on Black people impacted by breast cancer in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Originally published by Gilead Sciences.

Climate change is the most pressing global issue of our time, and businesses’ financial costs will become increasingly linked to the impact they have on the environment.

We know that in little more than seven years, we need to halve our emissions to limit the worst effects of climate change. We know good intentions don’t cut it any more.

Our customers, investors, and employees demand urgent action and VMware has a deep commitment to making a difference. We have been a carbon-neutral company since 2018 and sustainability is a core part of our 2030 Agenda.

At the same time, governments and regulators are lifting requirements for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting, emissions trading markets are developing and carbon taxes are becoming a more regular part of doing business.

According to the World Bank, 68 countries have implemented carbon pricing.

Last year the OECD reported that G20 economies priced 49% of energy-related carbon emissions, compared to 37% in 2018. Korea is showing the way globally, pricing 97% of emissions, and other G20 nations in our region are also playing a leading role, with Japan pricing 79% of emissions, India 58% and China 48%.

Regulation is set to becoming more global. The IMF has proposed an international “floor” carbon price for big emitters. In Europe, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will require some importers to show the carbon costs paid in the production of goods outside the EU as part of an effort to stop “carbon leakage” of production to countries with less stringent rules.

Globally, the regulations are still evolving, but the direction is unmistakable. Emissions will carry an increasing cost.

Counting carbon costs

To assess their liabilities, companies need to have accurate information on the carbon footprint of their own operations, and increasingly, on the Scope 2 emissions that result from their supply chains.

But compliance is complex, with the necessary data living in systems including manufacturing, procurement and logistics platforms, which could operate in on premise data centers, or in a cloud or multi-cloud environment, as well as systems owned by suppliers.

Modern, adaptable multi-cloud IT infrastructure makes this task more manageable.

As businesses become more and more digital, they also need to account for the carbon footprint of the IT infrastructure itself.

Much of the potential cost of that infrastructure, both to the environment and to bottom lines, is in energy consumption. In its Data Centers and Data Transmission Networks report published last year, the International Energy Agency reported that global data center electricity use in 2020 was around 1% of global final electricity demand.

This can vary by market. In Singapore in 2020, during the pandemic, data centre power usage jumped to 7% of total national energy consumption. Yet while global data center use is exploding, the IEA reports that overall data center electricity use has been largely flat since 2010, “owing in part to virtualisation software that enables data center operators to deliver greater work output with fewer servers”.

We’re extremely proud that VMware has been a pioneer in this area, helping companies make their computing infrastructure more efficient since we launched our ESX virtualisation platform (now ESXi) back in 1998.

From 2003 to 2020 our virtualisation solutions enabled customers to collectively avoid using 142 million servers, 2.4 billion megawatts of energy, and 1.2 billion tonnes of GHGs.

But more needs to be done. Technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, blockchain and virtual reality all have the potential to significantly increase data center energy consumption in the coming years, adding both to operating and GHG compliance costs.

“Strong government and industry efforts on energy efficiency, renewables procurement and RD&D will be essential to curb energy demand and emissions growth over the next decade,” the IEA says.

Cleaner clouds

As more workloads move into the cloud, it’s vital that decarbonization efforts keep up. Cloud is already efficient from a compute-resources perspective, but the most energy efficient IT process by far is the one you don’t have to run at all. It’s important we reduce IT workload inefficiencies and compute resource wastage. And we want to power workloads from renewable sources wherever possible.

Last year VMware launched the Zero Carbon Committed Initiiative (ZCCI) which backs our vision that by 2030, all VMware public clouds will have zero carbon emissions, through energy-efficient and 100% renewable-energy powered data centers. The program also helps our customers find cloud-provider partners that share these goals.

Our multi-cloud management solutions are also adding carbon reporting and management. For example, the latest update to vRealize includes carbon management capability that counts the carbon-footprint reduction from workload virtualisation, while offering more ways to reduce output, such as tracking down and stopping “zombie” compute processes that keep running when the applications they’re linked to stop.

In our 2022 ESG Report, we announced that we’ve added 30 partners to the program, including Google, Amazon Web Services, Oracle, and IBM.

As part of ZCCI, VMware has also made a commitment that all VMware software will be running on data centers powered by 100% renewable energy by 2030.

Efficient apps

Data center and cloud efficiency is clearly important in addressing carbon footprint, but there is a growing realization that the apps and processes that call on these resources are also designed for optimum efficiency and minimal emissions impact.

In January VMware announced it had become a member of the Green Software Foundation, a non-profit group that advocates for software written and managed in ways that minimize the amount of greenhouse gas emitted as a consequence of its operation.

We’re working on apps that can monitor and report on their own carbon footprint, including downstream emissions caused by their load on data centers and clouds, which can be benchmarkxed against industry standard green KPIs.

Five key strategies for achieving sustainable computing

1. Visualizing energy use and carbon footprint 
2. Maximizing productive host utilization 
3. Operating energy-efficient IT hardware 
4. Designing compute-efficient and carbon-aware applications 
5. Powering workloads with renewable energy

Source: Advancing Sustainability Innovation at VMware

Taking action

We work with customers every day to make their operations more efficient. Historically, they’ve been concerned with the direct costs of running the technology. But as governments and regulators begin to impose real costs on activities that affect our climate, and investors demand action, accounting for the cost of GHG emissions is growing in financial importance.

Companies need a clear and accurate picture of the carbon footprint of their operations and this picture must include the impact of the IT resources and processes.

Getting IT operating as efficiently as possible will reduce operating costs and GHG emissions bills. But it is also a genuine, practical step towards emissions reduction and a more sustainable future.

Whatever taxes regulators may impose, the true cost of our failure to become more sustainable is one none of us can afford.

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HATFIELD, Mass., February 17, 2023 /3BL Media/ – The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has received a community impact grant from KeyBank Foundation in the amount of $225,000 payable over three years.  The funding will support the Food Bank’s goal of increasing the availability of culturally appropriate food at its 25 Mobile Food Bank distribution sites. The Mobile Food Bank delivers a truck full of free fresh and non-perishable groceries from The Food Bank’s warehouse directly to a community site for immediate distribution to residents. The program reaches under-served populations throughout western Massachusetts that do not have access to healthy foods, including families, seniors and children. Much of The Food Bank’s culturally appropriate inventory for underserved communities must be purchased with funding raised from private foundations, businesses and individuals.

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts leads the region’s emergency food network, partnering with 167 independent local member, food pantries and meal sites across all four counties of western Massachusetts – Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire Counties.  The Food Bank also operates 76 bi-weekly and monthly direct-to-household food distribution sites across the region – the Mobile Food Bank and 51 Brown Bags sites for elders at local senior centers. Last year, The Food Bank distributed 13.9 million pounds of food – the equivalent of 11.6 million meals — to an average of 92,000 people every month.

“This is a shift in food banking, it’s a whole other level,” said Shirley Del Rio, Director of Food Operations at The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. “Up until now, most of the focus of this initiative has been on providing food for Caribbean and Slavic communities. With grant funds from KeyBank Foundation, The Food Bank will increase its budget to purchase culturally relevant and diet friendly food as well as provide nutritional outreach and education based on input received from, and in participation with community partners.” 

With grant funds from KeyBank Foundation, The Food Bank will increase its budget to purchase culturally appropriate food as well as provide nutritional outreach and education based on input received from, and participation with, its community partners. 

“KeyBank is committed to partnering with community organizations whose mission it is to improve the lives of underserved populations and neighborhoods where we do business,” said Matthew Hummel, KeyBank Connecticut and Western Massachusetts Market President. “The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts works tirelessly to reach the populations having the highest rates of food insecurity and poverty, including some of the most culturally diverse areas in the state. We are proud to support their Mobile Food Bank program to help reach all residents in need with nutritious and culturally sensitive food supplies.” 

KeyBank Foundation grants are made under Key’s National Community Benefits Plan established in 2017, which has already delivered more than $29 billion in lending and investments across Key’s national footprint supporting affordable housing and community development projects, home, and small business lending in low- and-moderate income communities, and philanthropic efforts targeted toward education, workforce development, and safe, vital neighborhoods. 

On February 13th, KeyBank leaders and employees met with The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts staff for a check presentation and to help distribute food at its Mobile Food Bank site in Chicopee, Massachusetts.   

About The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts:  
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts believes that everyone has a right to healthy food regardless of their circumstances. Serving Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties, The Food Bank leads the region’s emergency food network of 160+ independent, local food pantries and meal sites, distributing nutritious food to households with lower incomes. Since 1982, The Food Bank has been providing individuals facing hunger with the food they need to survive and leading communities towards lasting solutions to food insecurity by addressing its underlying causes. The Food Bank is committed to creating a western Massachusetts where no one goes hungry, and everyone has access to nutritious food. For more information, visit foodbankwma.org.

About KeyBank Foundation: 
KeyBank Foundation serves to fulfill KeyBank’s purpose to help clients and communities thrive, and its mission is to support organizations and programs that prepare people for thriving futures.  The Foundation’s mission is advanced through three funding priorities – neighbors, education, and workforce – and through community service. To provide meaningful philanthropy that transforms lives, KeyBank Foundation listens carefully to understand the unique characteristics and needs of its communities and then backs solutions with targeted philanthropic investments. KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation, funded by KeyCorp.

About KeyBank/KeyCorp:
KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $189.8 billion as of December 31, 2022. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC. 

Media contacts:
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts: Deb Ondo, Communication and Engagement Manager | 413-419-0170 | debo@foodbankwma.org 

KeyBank: Karen Crane, Communications Manager | 203-789-2752 | karen_crane@keybank.com 

When Katherine Parks’ furnace started to fail, she knew replacing the unit was nonnegotiable. She needed heating to endure Chicago’s frosty winters — and to continue operating her home day care center.

Estimates she received were cost prohibitive. Fortunately, she knew about the climate justice organization Elevate, which installed energy-efficient electric heat pumps and upgraded Parks’ sealing and insulation to prevent heat loss from her home.

Parks, who’d been covering her windows with plastic sheeting to keep in heat, felt a variety of emotions: overjoyed, grateful, blessed. “I don’t have to worry about if my furnace is going to explode. It removed a lot of stress and worry for me on a day-to-day basis.”

“Because of the partnership and the generosity of the Wells Fargo Foundation, we were able to do a complete upgrade for Katherine’s home, making it energy efficient and comfortable,” said Anne Evens, Elevate CEO.

Evens estimates that Parks’ utility bills will decrease by about $800 a year — a significant amount that, she said, “means you go from just barely scraping by to having a little bit of a cushion.”

Eliminating the struggle of deciding which bills to pay

Earlier this year, Wells Fargo donated $3.15 million to Elevate for a two-year project to decarbonize 100 Chicago homes for low- and moderate-income families and to build the capacity and expertise of 24 contractors of color to participate in the green economy.

“One of the most significant remaining contributions to greenhouse gas emissions is related to the energy we consume to heat or cool or power our homes,” Evens said. “What we aim to do is make sure these clean energy upgrades are happening in affordable housing first and not last.”

Elevate’s vision matches well with Wells Fargo’s commitment to supporting sustainability.

“Wells Fargo’s climate commitment includes climate-aligned philanthropy to ensure that the most vulnerable communities are not left behind,” said Robyn Luhning, chief sustainability officer.

“Programs such as Elevate’s help low-income families and historically underrepresented communities access the benefits of a reliable, equitable, and sustainable economy,” Luhning said. “This is especially important because heating and cooling cost savings can significantly impact monthly budgets.”

Evens explained that people living in affordable housing tend to struggle with energy bills — often having to prioritize which bills to pay. This effort will reduce or eliminate that struggle.

“Facing disconnection notices and living through this huge stress of wanting to keep your electricity on and your gas on, it’s absolutely not necessary because we have the technologies to reduce their energy consumption by over 50%,” Evens said.

Retraining a workforce in clean technologies

In addition to providing economic solutions for homeowners, Elevate is also training women, veterans, and people of color to install emerging technologies.

Energy efficiency installations and the transition to clean technologies also create job opportunities. Elevate’s Contractor Accelerator Program “provides opportunities in job training and contractor engagement for people who have had limited access to this fast-growing sector,” said Luhning.

The Contractor Accelerator Program has trained and certified 200 contractors. Elevate also teaches them how to bid on projects and develop a business growth plan.

Luhning, who attended a roundtable discussion with Elevate contractors, was moved by what she heard.

“It was incredibly compelling to hear from this community of contractors. One person said: ‘We get left behind in every economic opportunity. For once, we’re not going to be left behind.’”

Enduring extreme heat with adequate cooling

As critical as heating is in cold climates, cooling is also becoming a must-have, according to Evens.

It’s rare for people to have cooling in places where high temperatures are atypical, she said. “With climate change bringing extreme heat, folks who don’t have cooling can’t be expected to survive multiple days of 110+ degree weather. I view that as an injustice.”

Fortunately, the heat pumps Elevate is installing serve a dual purpose, providing both heating and cooling. Evens said there’s a lot of excitement from residents about having cooling for the first time — especially in households with children, seniors, and people with respiratory health issues. Parks is likewise enthusiastic, as the kids in her day care will enjoy respite from the heat in the summer.

“In addition to having reliable heating equipment and less stress in her life,” said Evens, “Katherine also now has cooling, which is increasingly important as we all face increasing extreme heat.”

Wells Fargo hopes to learn from its partnership with Elevate and replicate it in other communities, Luhning said.

“We’re boosting access to clean, affordable energy. We’re boosting access to jobs. And we’re lowering carbon emissions — all at the same time. It’s a win-win-win,” Luhning said. “There’s no trade-off here, just winning.”

Originally published on 3M News Center

3M has been named a Top 100 Global Innovators™ 2023. The annual list from Clarivate™, a global leader in connecting people and organizations to intelligence they can trust to transform their world, identifies organizations at the pinnacle of the global innovation landscape by measuring excellence focused on exceptional consistency and scale in innovativeness. 3M is one of 19 companies globally that have been included every year since the list’s inception in 2012.

“Science and innovation are at heart of what we do at 3M. We are honored and proud to receive this prestigious annual recognition as a top global innovator for the 12th consecutive year,” said 3M Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and Environmental Responsibility, John Banovetz. “Game-changing innovations require vision, imagination, inspiration and collaboration. Our commitment to innovation is just one way we live our purpose to unlock the power of people, ideas and science.”

3M’s portfolio of more than 60,000 products includes some of the world’s most iconic brands, such as Post-it® Notes and Scotch® Brand Tape, as well as vital science and innovation that continuously solves its commercial and industrial customers’ problems and advances products and technology worldwide. The company invests more than $2 billion in R&D annually and has been awarded over 131,000 patents over the course of its history, including 2,600 last year. Recent 3M innovations include a technology that could help make the development of green hydrogen more cost-effective and efficient.

“At Clarivate, we aim to bring clarity to the complex. Our focus is to pore over what humanity knows today and to put forward the insight that explores all possible horizons; that enables transition and transformation,” said Clarivate Chief Product Officer, Gordon Samson. “We acknowledge the Top 100 Global Innovators 2023 – companies and organizations that know that innovative ideas and solutions to current challenges not only bring rewards to their businesses but also foster genuine improvements in society.”

The Top 100 Global Innovators uses a complete comparative analysis of global invention data to assess the strength of every patented idea, using measures tied directly to their innovative power. To move from the individual idea strength to identify the organizations that create them more consistently and frequently, Clarivate sets two threshold criteria that potential candidates must meet and then adds a measure of their patented innovation output over the past five years.

Learn more about Top 100 Global Innovators 2023, click here.

Tapestry believes that everyone does their best work when we embrace differences and champion diversity at all levels, and the Employee Business Resource Groups (EBRGs) at Tapestry are a critical piece of that effort.  At Tapestry’s recent EBRG Fair, representatives from each group were onsite to welcome new members and share how they are making Tapestry a stronger, more dynamic place to work. 

Tapestry maintains a global EI&D Champion Network that supports and engages the company’s professional community by creating an environment where all are welcomed. This network includes five ERGs, two task forces, and regional inclusion councils to support and engage employees. EBRGs continue to be a source of inspiration and leadership throughout Tapestry and its brands. In FY2022, ERGs became an integral part of Tapestry’s mentorship program strategy, helping to further build deep and powerful connections between employees of different generations and backgrounds. Since the launch of Tapestry’s first EBRGs in 2020, membership has grown by 63%. 

Learn more about Taestry’s culture here: https://www.tapestry.com/responsibility/our-people/

BALTIMORE, February 16, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Coppin State University, today, unveiled the Eagle Achievement Center (EAC), a centralized hub for resources that will support the academic, personal, and professional success of students, as well as enhance their experience on campus. The Eagle Achievement Center will feature collaborative workspaces, innovative technology, and new processes that will assist Coppin in improving holistic student development, student retention, and student success.

“The Eagle Achievement Center will allow us to be more proactive and strengthen efforts that support student success,” said Coppin State University President Anthony L. Jenkins, Ph.D. “The new process and structure that comes with Eagle Achievement Center invites stronger student-focused collaboration and coordination that will drive better student retention outcomes and allow for more students to realize a return on their investment, by leaving Coppin with a degree, and an education that sets them up for success.”

During the unveiling, President Jenkins also highlighted a $2 million grant from Truist to establish the Truist Hub for Black Economic Mobility. The hub, located inside of the EAC, will enhance the quality of advising, programming, and technology related to educational opportunities and career pathways for Coppin students, as well as opportunities to engage members of the community.

“At Truist, we aim to create sustainable wealth-building opportunities and level the playing field by investing in strong organizations and institutions, like Coppin,” said Truist Maryland Regional President Greg Farno. “This grant by Truist reflects the commitment we have to West Baltimore and to our purpose, to inspire and build better lives and communities. It also reflects our steadfast belief that all individuals and communities should have an equal opportunity to thrive.”

The $2 million grant by Truist is the largest corporate commitment in Coppin’s history.

“Now more than ever, there is a growing need to reinforce the academic journey for our students and the community in West Baltimore,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Joshua E. Humbert. “This partnership with Truist will advance students’ and community members’ ability to receive support in navigating career pathways, professional development, and upskilling initiatives to make positive progress and achieve success.”

The EAC will be housed on the fourth floor of the Parlett L. Moore Library. The newly renovated space will serve as a convenient, comfortable, and inviting space for students to study, access academic and career resources, and collaborate with one another.

The EAC is designed to provide more accessibility and support for students as they navigate life and learning at Coppin State University through a number of services, including:

Military Student Support Services;International Student Support Services;Career and Professional Services;Math Lab;Writing Lab;Academic Advising Coordinators;Academic Outreach Coordinators;First Year Experience;Second Year Experience;New Student Orientation; andMentoring Programs

In addition to providing a modern academic common for students, the EAC will develop new plans and programming to boost student engagement and involvement on campus from the time students are accepted, until they graduate.

“When I talk about the Eagle Achievement Center, I want students, faculty, and staff to know this is the place where they can come for help,” said Associate Vice President for Student Development and Achievement, James G. Stewart, Ph.D. “When the journey gets a little rough, as it does for us all sometimes, the EAC and our staff are here for them.  We are the team designed and dedicated to empowering our students, so they can succeed.”

About Coppin State University

Coppin State University, a Historically Black Institution in a dynamic urban setting, serves a multi-generational student population, provides educational opportunities, and promotes life-long learning. The university fosters leadership, social responsibility, civic as well as community engagement, cultural diversity, inclusivity, and economic development.

About Truist

Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $555 billion as of December 31, 2022. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.

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