Month: April 2023

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

For three consecutive weeks in celebration of financial literacy month, seven Nashville-area U.S. Bank employees teamed up to teach financial literacy topics to middle school girls.

The volunteer outreach to the students participating in Play Like a Girl’s 2023 Leadership Academy are one of the many ways U.S. Bank employees help to increase financial literacy awareness across the country. The 15 students are part of the inaugural leadership class selected for a six-week hybrid program of mentorship from female volunteers and male allies to inspire them to become the next generation of STEM leaders.

U.S. Bank District Manager Maci Reaves said, “Seeing the engagement of these girls and listening to their dreams and goals has been super impactful. We are able to help them make their dreams a reality by making smart choices in their savings goals. When the first leadership mentoring call was done, my cup was overflowing.”

Danya, a sixth-grade charter school student at STRIVE Collegiate Academy in Nashville, said the lessons taught her about the importance of earning and saving. “The mentors taught me why and how to save my money, which is something that I was having trouble with. Now, I know saving is an important skill.” Danya is a Mexican immigrant who relocated to Nashville at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She knew no English and tended to spend her time in isolation until school resumed and her mother enrolled her in a Play Like a Girl program.

“We understand that to prepare our students for the future workforce, they need to have practical knowledge and experience with money along with access to tools and resources to help level the playing field,” said Dr. Kimberly Clay, founder and CEO of Play Like a Girl. “We’re thrilled by the opportunity to partner with U.S. Bank on this pilot program and are grateful for the support of U.S. Bank employee volunteers who serve as mentors, working with us to close the gender gap in STEM while prioritizing financial literacy and leadership development for our most talented students.”

During Financial Literacy Month every April and beyond, U.S. Bank is committed to financial literacy across the country in cities of every size. In 2022, approximately 1,400 U.S. Bank employees served nearly 80,000 people by teaching financial literacy.

The U.S. Bank Foundation awarded Play Like a Girl a grant of $17,500 to support the Leadership Academy, which is a free program designed to build middle school girls’ confidence and leadership skills. The financial education sessions take place virtually to accommodate schedules and locations of the student participants and their mentors. Students in the Leadership Academy come from more than 10 schools across Nashville and about 90 percent identify as Black, Latina, or Asian American. The girls also participate in a give back project, where they apply what they have learned through a pitch competition with peers and U.S. Bank employee volunteers.

U.S. Bank Small Business Specialist Steve Ernster enjoyed the smaller group discussions the drop-in flash mentoring format offers. “I was impressed with their understanding of the importance of savings for their future goals and their eagerness to ask questions and be involved with our conversation. Our breakout group was very hands on with 100% participation. I even learned that one individual aspires to become a professional basketball player!”

U.S. Bank employees volunteer at financial education events across the country. Here’s one example of financial literacy for adults transitioning from college-to-career in Santa Ana, California.

As part of our Earth Day celebration, Regions is highlighting ways that our associates, customers and community partners are making life better by helping to protect our environment.

More than one-third of our country’s food supply is wasted.

That’s according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report. Another government agency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, weighs in with another statistic:

Food waste is the single most common material found in landfills in the country.

Decaying organic waste in landfills produces methane emissions, which rise into the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse gas effect. Reducing food waste would have a significant impact in reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions and the negative effects of climate change.

Local food banks across Regions’ footprint are helping to reduce food waste in our landfills while putting nutritious meals on family tables throughout our communities.

For example, in 2022 alone, the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama (CFBCA) saved more than 7.7 million pounds of food from being discarded. In fact, reducing waste was a founding tenet of the organization.

“When the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama was formed 40 years ago, it was at the request of leaders of local grocery, food distribution and produce companies,” said Clyde Tisdale, Commercial Banking leader at Regions and member of the board of directors of the CFBCA. “Those businesses recognized they were throwing away food, while people in the community were going hungry.”

The CFBCA has maintained those close relationships with grocery companies. Of the 20 million pounds of food a year the organization receives today, half is donated by retail partners. This in-kind giving serves two purposes: helping to solve the hunger problem and reducing the environmental impact of food waste in landfills.

Nicole Williams, chief executive officer at the CFBCA, emphasizes that sustainability is key.

“Our fleet of refrigerated trucks is on the road five days each week picking up donated food from our retail partners to distribute throughout our 12-county service area in central Alabama,” Williams said. “The fresh produce, meats, dairy products and more are distributed to our neighbors experiencing food insecurity rather than wasted in landfills.”

Reducing food waste is a priority for another Regions Foundation and Regions Bank-supported hunger-relief agency, Second Helpings. For 25 years that organization has put donated food to work by preparing nutritious meals for thousands of children and adults every day. The meals are distributed free of charge through local social service agencies in Greater Indianapolis.

“At Second Helpings, we believe waste is wrong,” said CEO Linda Broadfoot. “In fact, that is one of our organizational principles. Whether it is food, money or people, we strive to put all resources to their best use and potential.”

That commitment was evident during the 2022 College Football Playoffs, when Second Helpings rescued 18 tons of food that would have otherwise gone to waste. But that’s just one example. Each year, Second Helpings rescues more than 3.6 million pounds of food.

And this organization takes it one step further. Using that same rescued food, Second Helpings’ Culinary Job Training program prepares adults with barriers to employment for careers in the food service industry. More than 980 adults have graduated from this program, which recently received a $20,000 grant from the Regions Foundation, a nonprofit primarily funded by Regions Bank.

“Inflation has been hard for many families, with rising grocery costs and other expenses,” said Broadfoot. “It’s more important now than ever that we eliminate as much food waste as possible, and instead use this food to create nutritious meals and stable jobs. This work is good for our neighbors and it’s good for our planet.”

Get Involved!

Regions Bank and Regions Foundation support food banks across all our markets. Those community partners always need more volunteers to help rescue food and provide healthy meals for families. Find a Regions Bank-supported organization in your area below.

ALABAMA

Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, BirminghamProdisee Pantry, MobileWest Alabama Food Bank, Tuscaloosa

ARKANSAS

Project HOPE Food Bank, Hot SpringsFood Bank of Northeast Arkansas, JonesboroHarvest Texarkana Regional Food Bank, Texarkana

FLORIDA

Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Fort Myers*Community Food Bank of Citrus County, OcalaSecond Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Orlando**Feeding the Gulf Coast, PensacolaUnited Food Bank and Services of Plant City, TampaKids Pack, Tampa

INDIANA

Second Helpings, Indianapolis*

KENTUCKY

Family Service Society, PaducahPaducah Cooperative Ministries, Paducah

LOUISIANA

Terrebonne Churches United Food Bank, Houma**Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, New Orleans and LafayetteFood Bank of Northwest Louisiana, Shreveport

MISSISSIPPI

Extra Table, HattiesburgMississippi Food Network, Jackson*Stewpot Community Services, Jackson

MISSOURI

St. Louis Area Food Bank, St. Louis

NORTH CAROLINA

Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays, CharlotteFood Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Raleigh

TENNESSEE

Manna Café Ministries, ClarksvilleLoaves & Fishes, ClarksvilleSecond Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Nashville

TEXAS

Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Austin and San Antonio

 

*supported by Regions Bank and Regions Foundation

**supported by Regions Foundation

Entrepreneurship provides a vital component of today’s global economy, creating a platform for innovation, job creation and economic growth. According to GoDaddy’s Venture Forward research initiative, for every one microbusiness per 100 people in a community, two new jobs are created (not including the business owner). And for every additional microbusiness founded, the median household income in the immediate area rises $195 over a one-year period. However, many aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly those from underserved communities, face significant obstacles in accessing resources, networks and opportunities to build and scale their businesses.

In response to this challenge, inclusive entrepreneurship aims to create an ecosystem that supports and encourages opportunity for all. One social impact program making strides in this area is Empower by GoDaddy, which provides entrepreneurs in underserved communities with the resources and tools they need to succeed.

Kicking off the month of May, which recognizes Small Business Month, Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, and Mother’s Day in the U.S., GoDaddy wants to recognize and amplify the achievements of talented women and AANHPI entrepreneurs with the goal of inspiring future generations to achieve their full potential. This month, GoDaddy caught up with Empower by GoDaddy graduate, Chong Mi Land, founder and owner of Land of Moon, a bespoke fashion and costume design business based in San Diego, California.

Chong Mi started her business by creating unique dresses for her daughter (who her business is named after) that were not readily available in stores. She went back to school to sharpen her sewing skills, started creating costumes and eventually landed a project designing sets for a major online retailer’s in-person experience at San Diego Comic Con. This success gave her the confidence to start her own business, and she began passing out business cards and using social media to showcase her work.

“Going into this opportunity, I had reservations. But I believed in myself and my skills and just went for it as any entrepreneur would,” said Chong Mi. “It went very well and I learned that I liked being my own boss. And from there, my business launched.”

But, when the pandemic hit, Chong Mi’s work dried up, so she went back to school to study cybersecurity, which she found interesting but didn’t love. After work started again post-pandemic, Chong Mi received a call from the Better Business Bureau of the Pacific Southwest (BBB) offering to help her with establishing a better online presence for her business through the Empower by GoDaddy program. With her busy schedule, she was hesitant to join the program, but later decided to take advantage of the opportunity to improve her business and network with likeminded entrepreneurs.

“When I joined Empower by GoDaddy, I didn’t even have a website. But through the program, I learned a lot about marketing and search engine optimization,” said Chong Mi. “I’m glad that I went through with the program because it was also a way to network with other small business owners who experience a similar journey as yours and know the types of situations you may encounter.”

While going through the program, Chong Mi picked up a new contract. Even with her busy schedule, she decided to take on the work. It was the first time she had touched her sewing machine in eight months. She recalls having to modify a big, beautiful sparkly gown, and the thought hit her, “Wow, this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”

From there, Chong Mi started receiving more jobs and even getting contracted by entertainers. It reaffirmed that she was on the right path.

Women and people of color who own businesses can face unique challenges, including bias and discrimination, but they are also making strides and achieving success in their communities.

According to GoDaddy’s Venture Forward research initiative, women entrepreneurship is on the rise overall. Pre-pandemic, only 47% of business owners were women, but this number has increased to 60% post-pandemic. As a woman business owner herself, Chong Mi wasn’t surprised by this trend.

“When you have to spend a lot of time by yourself as we did during the pandemic, you contemplate and try to find things to do because you can’t socialize with other people. And I think that often, people, women especially, suffer from imposter syndrome,” said Chong Mi. “But when you are basically by yourself with no outside influence, who is to judge you but yourself? Maybe a lot of these women were able to convince themselves into finally taking control of what they want to do, and finally had the confidence to push forward on their dreams.”

GoDaddy’s Venture Forward research initiative also identifies that AANHPI business owners are 15% more likely to start their own businesses and have success on their own compared to other demographics. Chong Mi believes that this could be attributed to the strong work ethic instilled in many AANHPI families, as well as the American dream that is so heavily emphasized in these cultures per her own experience growing up.

For other entrepreneurs eager to start a business of their own, Chong Mi offers a few key pieces of advice:

“Just try – because you never know until you try. Learn all you can with whatever it is that you’re deciding to do. What you need to know when starting a business may be different across industries, so get out there and network and keep trying.”
 “No job is too small. If it’s something within your wheelhouse, all of that is a starting point.”
 “If you have imposter syndrome, don’t be an imposter. I went into this not knowing a whole lot. I tried to teach myself some things, and tried to glean information from other people, but I did most of it on my own because you have to learn the way that things work when running a business. And I just kept trying, even when things weren’t so good. Sometimes you have to take a step back to take a step forward.”

Chong Mi’s story of resilience and determination is a reminder that being a small business owner can be challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. It takes hard work, dedication and perseverance. And, with the right mindset and support, it is possible to succeed. Her willingness to take advantage of the help offered by the BBB and Empower by GoDaddy is an example of how organizations can support entrepreneurs in their journey and in creating a more inclusive and equitable business environment.

Empower by GoDaddy Spotlight Series: By partnering with diverse local nonprofits and community organizations around the world, Empower by GoDaddy aims to reach those who haven’t otherwise had access by offering skills training, resources, and mentoring to help accelerate their business journeys. This article is part of the Empower by GoDaddy spotlight series that shines a light on the individuals who make this unique initiative possible. 

Originally published on bloomberg.com

Access to education and improving social mobility continue to be pressing needs in India. To help create pathways in finance, Bloomberg developed The Fundamentals of Finance: College to Careers initiative in partnership with Asha Trust Mumbai. It provided 18 underrepresented junior college students with 9 weeks of financial literacy training, mentoring and networking opportunities, including access to the Bloomberg Terminal and Bloomberg Market Concepts (an e-learning course that provides an interactive introduction to the financial markets).

“The exposure to the Bloomberg Terminal and Bloomberg Market Concepts course was amazing! Initially I was a bit apprehensive about the program, having come from a science background but because of the regular learning sessions with Bloomberg, I started enjoying learning about finance and loved experimenting with the different functions of the Terminal for our research project within the program. I now understand that there are various opportunities within the financial industry for me to explore.” – Kunal Singh, Student, Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan

The initiative aimed to provide students who are aged 15-18 and mostly pursuing science, technology, engineering and maths subjects with a greater exposure to the world of finance so they can progress in their future careers. It forms part of Bloomberg’s global Corporate Philanthropy program: working with a network of non-profit partners to ensure more individuals from under-served communities have the relevant skills and experience for employment and entrepreneurship; and supporting global efforts to make the world’s economy fairer and more inclusive for all.

To find out more view the video above.