Month: July 2023

“Doing what you love, and loving what you do.” Listen to Keith Dula, supply chain manager at our Dixie plant in Lexington, Kentucky, explain the importance of being a lifelong learner, exploring your passions and pushing yourself while creating value personally, for the company and your community.

Georgia-Pacific

Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose, specialty fibers, nonwoven fabrics, building products and related chemicals. Our familiar consumer brands include Quilted Northern®, Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Sparkle® and Vanity Fair®. Georgia-Pacific has long been a leading supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Its Georgia-Pacific Recycling subsidiary is among the world’s largest traders of paper, metal and plastics. The company operates more than 150 facilities and employs more than 30,000 people directly and creates approximately 89,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: gp.com/about-us . For news, visit: gp.com/news

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Words make Worlds. That’s why I’m continuing this blog series to raise awareness about the power of Inclusive Language.

Having a sense of identity is critical to all of us. In sharing our identities with the world, we seek to feel seen and accepted. This is certainly the case for the LGBTQ+ community.

I’m joined by two colleagues in this conversation: Jennifer Rideout (Global Co-Lead, Pride Inclusive Community) and Abhinav Shikhar (APJC Co-Lead, Pride Inclusive Community). They share stories and thoughts about identity, acceptance, and the power of words.

Jennifer: “When people feel that their identity is threatened, it’s human nature to react negatively.

Remember, for people for whom language has always been inclusive — notably heterosexual, cis-gendered people — the shift to non-gendered words can feel challenging at first.

For example, I know someone who attended a conference where, in conversation, someone asked about their spouse. This person was upset because they had a husband and were used to always being asked about their husband. Specifically, the word “spouse” was used.

To them, it felt as though their identity wasn’t seen. It was eye opening to realize that this person — and others who have enjoyed the privilege of language that caters to their identity — could feel excluded. Now their identity wasn’t the only one being acknowledged through words.”

While the feeling of being excluded because of language may have been a unique experience for that person, it’s unfortunately common for those in the LGBTQ+ community.

Suppose you grew up and lived in a society with language consistent with your identity. Now you’re asked to change how to speak and incorporate inclusive language. You may feel newly excluded or threatened.

Jennifer: “Inclusive language is not intended to remove anyone’s identity.

Instead, the point is to expand respect and inclusion from some people to everyone. In individual conversations, you can be more specific and talk about your wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, or being single — whatever aligns with who you are.

Your identity out to the world does not change, and you are still part of the whole; with inclusive language, we, the LGBTQ+ community, are simply saying: “We want the same thing. We want language to include us, too.”

Abhinav: “I’ve experienced and witnessed multiple situations where people make gender-based assumptions about a significant other. I encourage people to think about how those assumptions developed over time and to question what they assume before they speak.

Language missteps from assumptions occur in other situations, such as when people mentally assign gender based on a person’s job title, role, appearance, or voice. It’s not hard to check someone’s identity, and it can make such a difference toward that person’s feeling of acceptance.”

It’s more helpful to self-check our assumptions and work to rephrase discussions until we can verify identity and pronouns.

It may seem small or unimportant, but it’s huge for those on the receiving end who are consistently misunderstood.

Jennifer: “Yes, I was told recently by a colleague that they were laughed at after sharing their pronouns in a meeting. That type of response is completely inappropriate, unprofessional, and cruel.”

It’s dehumanizing to be mocked after sharing an important aspect of your personal story. What if you shared a personal story about a parenting challenge, for example, and the listener laughed at your situation?

Respecting all identities creates a more welcoming and positive environment — personally or in the workforce. Two simple steps make an incredible difference:

Don’t assumeVerify

Before you meet for the first time, take a moment to look someone up in your corporate directory or on LinkedIn to verify their name and pronouns.

As of May 4, Cisco’s employee directory includes pronouns. We encourage you to publish your pronouns and verify the pronouns of your coworkers. If you don’t know or can’t find out, just ask.

Abhinav: “As you learn more about and practice using inclusive language, think of yourself as an ally. Don’t think of achieving perfection because there’s always more to learn. For example, when talking with a leader a few weeks ago, talking casually about families, he did not assume that the man’s partner was a woman.

He showed inclusive behavior by using “they” when referring to the partner, which was greatly appreciated. Being an ally is a journey. You can be anywhere along the journey and continue to learn more.”

Language is one of the most tangible ways to have us all feel seen. As we celebrate PRIDE month, extend your allyship with the LGBTQ+ community. It’s more than rainbow stickers and apparel, rather it’s about the everyday practice of being an ally all year long!

Explore additional resources to boost your understanding and use of inclusive language:

Inclusive Leadership via Language – Cisco Blogs

Undertsanding Inclusive Language: A Framework Berkeley Haas

A perspective on “Words make Worlds”

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If LinkedIn is anything to go by, general interest in all things sustainability related has clearly reached an all-time high. At any given moment, my newsfeed is full of posts advocating for new solutions to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.

This constant call for action to shape a sustainable future is a good thing. But sometimes it can be really hard to picture what such solutions actually look like.

Not so in the case of agriculture. The future of farming lies in regenerative agricultural systems. Put simply, regenerative agriculture aims to increase production with fewer inputs while leaving more of our natural world intact. The goal is to allow farmers to benefit from higher yields, higher incomes, and improved livelihoods – and for nature to recover and thrive.

In fact, what I find exciting about this transformation in farming is that a number of solutions are already there for everyone to see. When different innovations are put together to form an entire system of solutions and tailored to the specific conditions of each farm, they can have real impact on the ground. And when brought to scale, they could have the potential to radically transform how we grow and produce our food – ultimately, making our food system more resilient and sustainable and regenerative.

The following farming solutions are currently five of my absolute favorite innovations in agriculture. And here’s why.

1. Carbon Farming

Carbon farming is a method aimed at reducing carbon concentrations by sequestering it in the soil. The Bayer Carbon Initiative is a carbon farming program created in 2021 that has been going from strength to strength. The idea behind it is to reward growers for adopting climate-smart farming practices like using cover crops, tillage reduction, crop rotations and precision nitrogen applications.

Such methods not only reduce carbon emissions but can pull carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil where it benefits soil health, crops and the environment.

It’s really motivating to see the difference that practical tools and real-life solutions like this one can make in the lives of farmers and for the well-being of our planet. At Bayer, we’re working with our partners to bring them to scale and make them more widely available to more farmers around the world.

2. CoverCress

Cover crops – which are crops planted between seasons – have enormous potential for regenerative agriculture. They limit erosion and keep valuable nutrients from blowing away. At the same time, they are vital in making sure that carbon that was stored in the soil remains there when no other crop is growing – for the benefit of microorganisms as well as our planet.

For all these reasons, CoverCress belongs on my list of favorite agriculture innovations. What sets CoverCress apart from other cover crops is that it can be also harvested as a renewable fuel feedstock. Some farmers are hesitant to use cover crops due to the lack of financial incentive to plant something that doesn’t generate revenue. CoverCress addresses this issue and offers a potential revenue stream without using new land, new equipment, or new resources. It’s a win-win both for farmers and the planet and I would be happy to see more CoverCress fields on my runs during the off-season.

3. Hybrid wheat

Climate change, extreme weather and disease increasingly pose a threat to harvests around the world. Wheat, for example, contributes to about 20 % of dietary calories and proteins of the world population, but harvests are taking a hit in a hotter, drier climate. That’s why farmers are increasingly looking for crops that can withstand the impact of climate change. This brings me to another one of my favorite Ag Innovations: hybrid wheat.

State of the art genomic tools have enabled us at Bayer to develop a new crop that is expected to provide higher yield and yield stability as well as to be more resilient. This form of resilience will help farmers save inputs like fuel, fertilizer, and crop protection while contributing to global food security at the same time. Hybrid wheat is a great example of how innovation in agriculture can secure business for farmers, support the global food production, and promote sustainability at the same time. It’s about helping farmers produce more with less, and to make agriculture part of the solution to restore nature along the way.

4. Biologicals

Biological alternatives to conventional crop protection products are another important tool in our suite of sustainability solutions. Biologicals have a better environmental profile and a lower impact on natural habitats than conventional products, and that’s why they feature on my list of favorite agriculture innovations.

To keep it simple, biological crop enhancement products act like nutritional supplements for soil, providing nourishment while boosting health and performance. At Bayer, we are proud to be a leader in agricultural biologicals with global expertise in field testing and registration, moving innovation to products quickly and efficiently.

5. Digital solutions

Last but by no means least, I’d put digitalization down as a favorite agricultural innovation of mine. Digitalization will transform our industry more profoundly than any other technology of the past 40 years. It will contribute to a more innovative, more efficient, and more sustainable form of agriculture – enabling a regenerative transformation.

Digital farming tools help farmers work smarter by combining their expertise and knowledge of their land with modern, digitally enabled tools that collect and organize more data, enabling farmers to make the best decisions possible for every acre of land they farm. The FieldView platform, for example, helps farmers use weather data, field-level analysis, and satellite imagery to optimize decision making.

All five of these innovations are part of a bigger picture. In order to advance regenerative agriculture and make our global food system more sustainable and resilient, we need different tools and solutions at different points of the agricultural value chain and tailored to the specific condition of each farm.

At Bayer, we are addressing agriculture as a whole and are committed to transforming the industry from end to end. Our journey towards a regenerative future in agriculture is in full swing and I’m excited to be a part of it. Perhaps you might be too. 
If you’re curious to learn more and join our efforts, find out more here: Regenerative Agriculture | Bayer

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Funding will support organizations in Bartholomew, Carroll, Clark, Huntington and Wayne counties working to improve quality and accessibility of child care services

PLAINFIELD, Ind., July 21, 2023 /3BL/ – The Duke Energy Foundation and the Indiana Economic Development Association (IEDA) Foundation today announced $115,000 in grants will be awarded to five organizations working to assess and address child care gaps in Indiana communities.

In recent years, the cost of child care has skyrocketed, and the number of licensed child care providers has shrunk. These challenges have put a strain on working parents and their employers. In response, Duke Energy and IEDA launched a first-of-its-kind child care innovation grants program to provide financial support to communities willing to approach this issue in new and innovative ways.

“A lack of affordable, high-quality child care can prevent parents from advancing in the workforce, hinder children’s access to structured learning at an early age, and burden employers with absenteeism and employee turnover,” said Erin Schneider, managing director of Midwest economic development for Duke Energy. “These grants will help local communities begin to confront this challenge head-on and support working parents.”

More than 40 state and local government entities, local and regional economic development agencies, and public and private nonprofit organizations responded to Duke Energy and IEDA’s request for proposals, collectively requesting more than $1.1 million in funding.

“High-quality child care is an investment we can’t afford to ignore,” said Lee Lewellen, IEDA’s chief executive officer. “Through this infusion of grant funds, we hope to make measurable progress toward closing the child care gap in Indiana communities – supporting children, families, child care workers, employers and the economy.”

IEDA has convened a diverse task force of community leaders and organizations from across the state to develop policy recommendations and educate others on the impact of child care gaps in Indiana. Organizations that applied for grant funding have been invited to join this coalition to share their learnings and to guide future policies and recommendations.

Grants were awarded to the following organizations. Quotes from each on the impact of the grants can be found here.

Carroll County Economic Development Corporation and the Early Learning Alliance for Carroll County – $6,000

The Carroll County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) and the Early Learning Alliance for Carroll County (ELACC) will develop a network of child care providers through a series of trainings and educational opportunities for new and existing providers. These trainings will focus on babysitting basics; CPR and first aid; and professional development and licensure. In addition, CCEDC and ELACC intend to organize an Early Learning Expo to provide resources, networking and educational training, accreditation and certification opportunities for local child care providers. These efforts aim to increase child care capacity within the county, bridge the gap for parents and child care providers, and heighten the quality of local child care options.

Community Education Coalition – $39,500

The Community Education Coalition, in partnership with Su Casa, Learn by Heart and the Indiana University ServeDesign Center, will pilot a six-month coaching and business accelerator program to support the growth and development of high-quality child care programs in the Columbus area, with an emphasis on recruiting within the Latino community. The organizations will provide approximately 250 hours of direct on-site coaching, tailored to each prospective child care provider’s unique skills, education and experiences, to guide them through the licensure process.

In addition to coaching support, the Indiana University ServeDesign Center will connect the faculty and students of the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design with current and prospective child care providers seeking to design or redesign their spaces for optimal learning and to meet licensing standards.

Community Foundation of Huntington County – $30,000

The Community Foundation of Huntington County intends to stand up a Child Care Business Lab, which will serve as a platform for developing and connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with turnkey models, training support, and access to capital investment and start-up opportunities. The goal is to attract and support sustainable, high-quality child care businesses that, over time, will bridge the child care gap for working families in Huntington County.

Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County – $21,500

The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Wayne County intends to partner with local employers to create and support a child care subsidy program to help offset the high cost of child care for the local workforce. In addition, the EDC of Wayne County intends to leverage a new digital platform to manage child care subsidies and tax credits, and connect the local workforce to child care options. Providers in the community will have the ability to register available seats in their facilities, and working parents will have the ability to search for available child care options that accommodate their schedules.

One Southern Indiana and Ivy Tech Sellersburg – $18,000

One Southern Indiana and Ivy Tech Sellersburg will conduct various community meetings, surveys and focus groups with stakeholders, parents, employers and local child care providers to better understand the child care gaps in the community. The organizations will analyze the data collected and develop a comprehensive plan to improve the quality and accessibility of child care options in Southern Indiana.

For more information about the grant program, visit ieda.org/Foundation.

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $2 million annually in charitable gifts to Indiana and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the Foundation can be found at duke-energy.com/Foundation.

Indiana Economic Development Association (IEDA)

IEDA is the voice of economic development for Indiana. Made up of economic developers, utilities, attorneys, consultants, financial institutions, higher education professionals, engineers, architects and construction professionals, our members are passionately dedicated to attracting and retaining jobs for the great people of Indiana.

Duke Energy: McKenzie Barbknecht 
Phone: 800.559.3853 
Email: mckenzie.barbknecht@duke-energy.com

IEDA: Lee Lewellen 
Phone: 317.313.8365 
Email: llewellen@ieda.org

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