Month: July 2023

Recently, Entergy hosted a poverty simulation for over 70 employees where they stepped into the shoes of customers living with limited incomes. The simulation offered a first-person view of the obstacles faced by residents living with little means in our service area of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

“Part of Entergy’s goal is to help our employees better understand the challenges and difficult choices faced by those in need, so that we can better serve our customers and help them succeed,” said Liz Brister, manager of low-income initiatives.

The simulation was developed by the Missouri Community Action Network to help change mindsets about individuals and families confronting poverty. During the simulation, participants were assigned the identities of families based on scenarios from real client case studies. Each participant experienced different situations over four weeks – simulated in 15-minute segments – in the lives of people who recently became homeless, lost their jobs, are navigating the complex social services system and surviving on public assistance and more challenges.

The simulation was conducted in a large room where participants were seated with their assigned “families” in the center. Around the perimeter, there were tables representing community resources and services including a community action agency, a school, an employer, a utility company, a payday and title loan facility and more.

Entergy employee Brandi Smith was assigned the identity of a 25-year-old single mother trying to make ends meet. During the simulation, she experienced the challenges of being evicted, having her utilities cut off and lacking reliable transportation, all while trying to make sure her children were cared for and fed. She went to work every day only to bring home $128 each week.

In addition to balancing budgets with low salaries, identifying and applying for assistance resources and dealing with childcare issues, the simulation also factored in chance “wild cards.” These included illegal evictions, surprise suspensions at school, job losses and random extra expenses. 

“The experience of stepping into the shoes of those who have limited resources and live in poverty was eye-opening,” said Smith. “The simulation helped me better understand the day-to-day struggles our low-income customers endure and the need for us to step up and help.”

To learn more about Entergy’s initiatives that help its customers and communities, visit entergy.com/csr/giving

FAIRFAX, Va., July 13, 2023 /3BL/ – A new CSR and ESG survey released today by the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP), the nation’s leading advocate for corporate social impact professionals, offers exclusive insights into the real-world impact a polarized political environment and increasing demands are having on the ability of corporations to carry out social impact work in communities across the country.

The full survey results and key graphs and data illustrating the findings can be viewed here.

The survey of 149 companies representing more than $1 Billion in community investments, conducted throughout April 2023, found “an important corporate function under intense pressure to produce results in a charged environment, often with fewer resources and continuing post-pandemic challenges.”

“Strong ESG and CSR practices are proven strategies for companies to remain competitive in the global economy, yet results from our survey of professionals in the field show increasing demands to perform with fewer resources.” said Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) president and CEO Carolyn Berkowitz. “The survey results underscore a critical business function experiencing rapid instability and change, impeding a company’s ability to successfully meet critical stakeholder expectations, including those of investors, consumers, and employees.”

Against the backdrop of a polarized political environment impacting the conversation around the implementation of ESG and CSR efforts, the survey released today highlights several key findings in the field:

Practice Fatigue: Increased demands, coupled with a polarized political environment, are resulting in adverse consequences on both the function and ESG and CSR professionals. 86% of respondents indicated increased demands, with 61% reporting longer hours, 50% burnout, and a startling 19% (one in 5) of CSR and ESG professionals reporting mental health concerns.Community Investment Regression: Companies’ grantmaking budgets mostly stayed flat in 2023, with the lowest number of companies (only 29%) increasing community investment budgets in the last year – the lowest increase since the pandemic and a significant drop from a high point in 2021.Changing Priorities: Racial justice/equity as a corporate priority decreased in the last year, while environmental sustainability became the top issue focus. 44% of respondents indicated racial justice/equity as their company’s top issue area focus, a 12% decrease from last year. 56% percent of respondents identified environmental sustainability as a top priority.Impact of a New Work Environment: Participation in employee volunteerism showed significant increases and new adaptations to a changing workplace, rebounding from declines in the last few years. 61% reported an increase in employee volunteerism. 

“Corporate social impact and sustainability professionals are being pushed past their limits as the demand for results increases and resources decrease or remain stagnant. Without the financial and human resources and support from the C-suite that these initiatives require to be effective, the gains companies have made in the last five years will quickly lose momentum. Building back stakeholder trust is far more expensive than not losing it in the first place.” concluded Berkowitz.