Month: August 2023

Originally published on Nielsen Insights

After the triumph of Everything Everywhere All At Once at the Oscars this year, many people from the Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community were left feeling incredibly proud of that historic night. For one night, the community saw a moment of triumph, for a story and characters that reflected so much of their real-life experiences.

The AANHPI audience has made it clear – through their voices and dollar spend – that they desire for their stories to be seen and heard. In the 2022 Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the U.S. (STAATUS) study — an assessment of attitudes and stereotypes toward Asian Americans — 88% of Asian Americans say they want to see more Asian American characters on TV and in movies, compared with 77% of the total population. Brands and media need to do more to engage the Asian population, and content with Asian representation is winning: Squid Game topped the streaming chart in 2021, Everything Everywhere All At Once dominated the Oscars this year, and in advertising, P&G’s campaign “The Name” and Honda’s “Through the Window” campaign for its CR-V focuses on the Asian American consumer and their unique experiences. Yet, the question lingers: Will the media and marketing industry embrace more AANHPI representation?

With anti-Asian hate crimes on the rise in the U.S.,1 advertisers and media companies have a unique opportunity to change hearts and minds. Representation is not only the right thing to do; it makes tremendous business sense.

Connecting with America’s fastest-growing population and their buying power

Among racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., Asian Americans are the fastest growing, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

As the AANHPI population grows, so does its buying power — as well as the demand for representation in both content and advertising. When a company’s ads are seen in Asian-inclusive programming, it illustrates that the brand sees the Asian consumer, and that it values them. Nielsen’s Attitudes Toward Representation research found that Asians are the most likely identity group to say that they are more likely to buy from brands that advertise in content that represents them.

The advertising dollars from brands help fund the content that gets created. Prioritizing spend in Asian-inclusive content is an opportunity to influence the media and marketing industry; it can also affect how audiences see themselves portrayed.

Our study found that a quarter of brands are investing just 6% or less in the programs with Asian share of screen at or above the representation of Asians in the U.S. population. Brands with the most Asian-inclusive ad spend invest almost four times as much.

Affinity within AANHPI community

As AANHPI audiences are drawn to content that represents their community in appropriate, accurate and respectful ways, brands that increase their advertising investment in such content stand a better chance of increasing their awareness within the community. Increased investment in advertising is driving affinity for those categories in the AANHPI community.

For example, Asian Americans are spending more than the general population in fashion, electronics and travel—three of the top categories where brands are investing above-average ad dollars in Asian-inclusive content. Brands in those categories can differentiate themselves through advertising, reaching consumers who are already spending more, but may not already have an affinity for a particular brand.

AANHPI representation drives audience engagement

Winning eyeballs is still a key metric when media publishers are deciding what content to greenlight. When it comes to attracting the Asian American audience, viewers are looking to TV to be entertained and informed just as much as they’re tuning in to feel seen, connected and inspired. About 30% of AANHPI audiences felt more engaged when a show features a cast member who looks like them, Nielsen’s Attitudes Toward Representation 2022 study found. Evaluating Asian representation overall in the top 1,000 TV programs in 2022, we see that streaming video on demand (SVOD) is leading the way, with more than three times the representation of Asians compared with broadcast and cable. No wonder that in January 2023, Asians in the U.S. streamed more content than any other group – 43% compared with 32.8% for the total U.S. population. With people in the U.S. watching more than 19 million years’ worth of streaming video content in 2022 alone, this also opens new opportunities for all audiences to engage with TV programs that include Asians.

In addition, streaming shows with AANHPI representation are engaging all audiences. In 2022, the top streaming programs with high bingeability score that the total U.S. audiences can’t stop watching, also have high Asian share of screen.

With the ongoing racial reckoning in the U.S., where and how brands show up in content matters even more to communities that have historically been left out of American media. Asian audiences who are still reeling from the effects of anti-Asian hate are continuing to search for content that connects with their experience, showing “people like me” — and are more likely to buy from brands they encounter once they find it. Industry investment in inclusive content opens the doors to a more engaged audience ready to watch content and to buy products and services.

For additional insights, download our 2023 Asian American Engagement Report

Note

1 In March 2023, the FBI reported that anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S. were up dramatically from the year earlier (746 incidents in 2021 – the most recent data available – compared with 249 in 2020.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

On a chilly spring day at the state capitol in Minneapolis, U.S. Bank executive vice president of consumer lending products, Werner Loots, helped local lawmakers and government officials rediscover the joy of recess.

Recess on the Hill, as it’s known, is hosted by local nonprofit Playworks and was created to raise awareness of the power of play. Loots, who serves as board member of Playworks Minnesota, joined the afternoon awareness campaign.

“This was a great way to remind people of the power of play. It was fantastic to watch very meaningful leaders and professionals immediately enjoy play,” said Loots. “When you play games together, it sets the tone for how we work off the playground.”

The idea that play can have a positive impact both on and off the playground is at the core of Playworks’ mission to bring out the best in every child, through play. By partnering with teachers, principals and parents, Playworks provides opportunities for children to contribute on the playground, in the classroom and in the community – creating a sense of belonging.

With Playworks on campus, trained recess ​coaches​ teach students to use “butterfly fingers” to tag lightly in tag games to reduce playground scrapes and bruises. And fun variations of traditional playground games can be introduced to make recess more inclusive—like Crossover Dodgeball, where the goal is to get everyone to the other side and no one is “out.”

Loots got involved with Playworks in 2020, noting that the organization’s mission and the science behind the approach and programming resonated with him. Not only is he a father of two children, ages seven and 10 years old, but he spent time during his college years running playground activities at a low-income school.

Joining the Playworks Minnesota Board as the COVID-19 pandemic was unfolding, Loots took an active role in helping the organization pivot to the virtual world, to ensure students still received opportunities to play. He’s also helped re-envision how the board functions, creating executive committees and an executive leadership board – a concept that is now being adapted by Playworks regions across the country.

​​Werner also brought his playground skills to the recent Playworks Minnesota Annual Kickball Tournament as a member of one of two U.S. Bank teams who were there “kickin’ it for kids​.” Proceeds from the tournament will help subsidize the cost of Playworks programming in low-income schools in the Minnesota metro area.

Across the company, a number of U.S. Bank employees also give their time to Playworks​ regions​​​, including Dorian Brugger, branch banking market leader for Colorado and New Mexico. Brugger has prioritized volunteerism throughout her 15-year career at U.S. Bank, joining the Playworks Colorado young professional board in 2018 and now serving on the fundraising board.

Through her involvement with the board, Brugger has helped shape creative, low-cost fundraising ideas to engage young professionals and increase awareness of Playworks’ impact in the community. Just one example is a rock paper scissors tournament hosted at a local brewery.

Brugger says data from Playworks shows that when Playworks programming is in place at a school, there are 77% fewer incidents of bullying reported.

“We hear much more now than we used to regarding the issue of bullying. It’s something many of us can relate to – whether we were bullied or have a child, friend or family member who was,” Brugger said. “That’s where this program really comes to life.”

For more information on Playworks, visit https://www.playworks.org/.

CINCINNATI, August 31, 2023 /3BL/ – Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) has been recognized as one of Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces 2023.

The award distinguishes the best workplaces in the United States based on employees and non-employees’ familiarity with the company, their knowledge of the company’s workplace environment and their likelihood of recommending the company to others.

“Our corporate culture emphasizes the importance of our employee-partners in our business, incentivizes their success, and prioritizes their ongoing development,” said Todd Schneider, Cintas President and CEO. “Being recognized for fostering a great workplace is meaningful to us, especially because this particular recognition took into account thoughts and perspectives of a variety of members of the U.S. workforce.”

Newsweek and data firm Plant-A Insights Group conducted a large employer survey of more than 61,000 people living and working in the U.S. for companies that employ at least 1,000 workers. The study collected more than 389,000 reviews that ranked and evaluated companies in eight categories: company image, corporate culture, working environment, work-life balance, training and career progression, compensation and benefits, sustainability awareness and proactive management of a diverse workforce.

Over the last year, Cintas has been widely honored for its workplace and employment practices, including

Forbes’ Best Large EmployersForbes’ Best Employers for DiversityForbes’ Best Employers for WomenForbes’ Best-in-State EmployersNewsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces for DiversityNewsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces for WomenDisability Equality Index “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion”Selling Power 50 Best Companies to Sell ForSelling Power DEI in Sales

“We place tremendous importance on treating our employee-partners fairly, including them in our decisions, and creating meaningful professional and growth opportunities,” said Max Langenkamp, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer. “This recognition showcases how important our culture is to our employee-partners and how successful our approach to managing and developing our workforce has been.”

More information about Cintas’ approach to human capital and its workforce – including the company’s approach to talent recruitment and retention, compensation and benefits, performance and advancement, training and development, DEI and employee-partner engagement – is available in the 2022 Cintas ESG Report.

About Cintas Corporation

Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers’ facilities and employees clean, safe, and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, towels, restroom supplies, workplace water services, first aid and safety products, eye-wash stations, safety training, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and alarm service, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday®. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index.

Media Contact:

Michelle Goret, Vice President of Corporate Affairs | goretm@cintas.com, 513-972-4155

Nasdaq

ABOUT THIS SERIES

ESG Trendsetters

Over the past several years, environmental, social and governance (ESG) has become more firmly integrated into investment strategies, and global regulators are increasingly scrutinizing corporate ESG disclosures. As the focus on ESG intensifies, Nasdaq’s ESG Trendsetters series looks to highlight the top ESG professionals and teams around the world to discover how they are incorporating ESG factors into their corporate strategy, achieving meaningful impact and communicating with their stakeholders.

In this episode of ESG Trendsetters, we highlight Orbia, a purpose-driven company, working to deliver sustainable growth and returns to shareholders and sustained value to customers.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., August 31, 2023 /3BL/ – During September’s College Savings Month, Discovery Education is supporting students by providing free digital resources to promote financial literacy and planning. These resources, ranging from an immersive entrepreneurship game to self-paced online lessons, help to make higher education and career planning more accessible and equitable. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art K-12 digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place.

The following no-cost digital resources were created in collaboration with Discovery Education’s social impact partners:

Future Financial Success: Educators can help teach students about managing money and preparing for future financial decisions in the series Pathway to Financial Success, a program developed with Discover Financial Services. Students will be taught the ins and outs of financial planning and given the tools necessary to make big decisions after K-12 education in the lesson Choosing Your Path After High School and Financing Your Future. Each lesson features classroom activities, family connection resources, self-paced learning modules, educator support content, and relevant links. Take the learning further with ready-to-use resources and activities that will equip middle school and high school students with the skills and habits needed to reach their financial and personal goals.Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship Skills: Immerse students in the essentials of finance and entrepreneurship with Discover Venture Valley resources, created in partnership with the Singleton Foundation for Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy. Then, extend the fun with Venture Valley, a free fast-paced business-building simulation game where students apply the business concepts they’ve learned to the challenges of entrepreneurship. The game guides entrepreneurs through an immersive journey, starting from humble beginnings with business ventures such as dog walking or llama care, and progressing to managing diverse enterprises like mini-golf courses and pizza parlors. See how their choices affect their businesses and ultimately their life.Understanding the Fundamentals of Risk: Cultivate student interest in finance. Explore the ins and outs of futures contracts and trading futures with new economics-based educational activities, created in partnership with Futures Fundamentals. Learn about price risk, what it means, and how to manage it, and dive into futures trading with real-world examples. Designed for grades 9-12, these activities encourage an interest in finance, offering a unique insight into the evolving economic landscape.

“Of all the boundaries to entering college, cost is one of the biggest factors a student considers when planning for their future. With these free resources in hand, educators and families can empower students to actively ponder and plan for life after K-12 education,” said Amy Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of Social Impact at Discovery Education.

These financial literacy resources for College Savings Month are also available within Discovery Education Experience on the Financial Literacy channel. Connecting educators to a vast collection of high-quality, standard-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, intuitive quiz and activity creation tools, and professional learning resources, Discovery Education provides educators an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging, daily instruction.

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning services visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn.

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About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts 
Grace Maliska 
Discovery Education 
Email: gmaliska@dicoveryed.com

An investment by KeyBank is driving efforts to assist the business community in New York’s Capital Region become more diverse, access resources in an equitable way and grow.

In 2022, KeyBank invested $500,000 in a new “Accelerating Inclusive Economic Opportunity“ Initiative by the Capital Region Chamber in Albany, New York to provide no-cost business growth services to Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned enterprises and to support the implementation of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in the greater business community. Since its inception, the program has yielded the following results:

In 2023 from January-June, 26 additional businesses have been onboarded for one-on-one technical assistance. In addition, the initiative served 89 small businesses through educational programming and networking events, of which 59 were BIPOC-owned.Since the start of the project in May 2022, more than 120 unique BIPOC-owned businesses have been engaged. Of that, 63 have been served with one-on-one support, with 28 receiving on-going, project-based, technical assistance and consulting services.Six of the chamber’s BIPOC businesses completed its 10-week Entrepreneur Bootcamp course this past winter/spring.

In May 2023, KeyBank and SCORE also took part in a Business Finance workshop in partnership with the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce. The event titled ‘Are you making money or not?’ covered: building business credit, how to use credit properly, the 5 Cs of credit, what lenders look for, how to create financial projections and the profit and loss statement.

“Our partnership with KeyBank with delivering meaningful results for BIPOC-owned businesses through targeted, customized assistance and growth acceleration support, which is helping drive inclusive economic growth,” said Mark Eagan, President and CEO of the Capital Region Chamber.

One specific success story the chamber highlighted involved a BIPOC-owned restaurant that began operations in 2022 without a business plan. They bought a building and did some renovations but needed funding, a business plan, marketing, and business processes. The owners were referred to possible sources for funding. Through the “Accelerating Inclusive Economic Opportunity” Initiative, the chamber spent considerable time providing one-on-one assistance on the restaurant’s business plan, financial projections, tax filings, menu pricing, setting up point-of-sale (POS) system, as well as helping the owners obtain licenses and permits specific to the restaurant industry. The owners attended the chamber’s educational workshops and summits to expand their business knowledge. This business was able to secure a $84,000 loan and had revenue of $86,000 in its first three months of operation.

“We are excited to learn of the successes that have come out of the Capital Region Chamber’s program and the many businesses in our community that have benefitted from their efforts” said Fran O’Rourke, KeyBank Capital Region Market President. “Our investment and commitment to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion in the communities we serve is making a difference now and in the future.” 

Learn more about the Capital Region Chamber’s Accelerating Inclusive Economic Opportunity“ InitiativeLearn more about how KeyBank can help small businessesLearn more about KeyBank’s commitment to helping clients and communities thrive