Month: August 2023

Last week, Comcast, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, and Women in Sports Tech (WiST) partnered to celebrate the beginning of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™, which started on July 20.

Together, a group of 50 students from various chapters of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia came to The Plaza at the Comcast Center to participate in a variety of soccer-related activities, like foosball and a soccer net that measures how fast you can kick a soccer ball, as well as a photobooth that contained a replica of the tournament’s trophy that will go to the winning team.

Following the activities on The Plaza, the students headed over to Lift Labs, our entrepreneurial and innovations space inside the Comcast Technology Center. There, the students heard from a diverse group of female leaders who are breaking barriers for women in the sports and technology industries.

The “Discover Sports Tech Career Panel” was moderated by Christina Kolbjornsen, SVP, Corporate and External Affairs at Telemundo Enterprises and featured Emma Henzes, Manager, Marketing and Content at WiST; DJ Heat, the official in-game DJ for the Washington Wizards and Washington Mystics; Olivia Wang, Business Development at Perch; and Valeria Aponte Feliciano, Anchor and Reporter at Telemundo62 and NBC10.

These talented women spoke about the challenges they all had to overcome while pursuing their careers and gave thoughtful advice on how to pursue jobs in the sports and media industries. They also emphasized how important it is to use the Internet and develop digital skills to help identify interesting and fulfilling careers. Following the panel, the students were surprised with their very own free Dell laptop as well as a soccer ball, and other Women’s World Cup goodies, before visiting our in-house, pop-up ice cream bar.

We are thrilled to partner with Comcast and WiST as we believe in supporting initiatives that can create and celebrate more opportunities for girls and women and inspire future generations.

CHRISTINA KOLBJORNSEN

SVP, Corporate & External Affairs at Telemundo Enterprises

“This partnership and our continued work in this space aims to combat the inequities in access and representation that exist among communities of color and gender across the U.S. We look forward to our continued partnership with Comcast and WiST in helping to expand our collective reach across this diverse and rich community,” said Christina Kolbjornsen, SVP, Corporate & External Affairs at Telemundo Enterprises.

These events were all part of Comcast’s Project UP, our $1 billion commitment to advance digital equity through programs and community partnerships that help connect people to the internet, advance economic mobility, and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers, and creators.

Women in Sports Tech (WiST), a not-for-profit organization that drives transformative growth opportunities for women in sports tech and innovation at all stages of their careers, also officially launched their video series: Discover Sports Tech: How to Go Pro. It was created to introduce more students and young professionals to the wide range of exciting careers in sports tech. The on-demand video series is also being distributed through Comcast’s Internet Essentials program and is accessible at Comcast Lift Zones across the country. Lift Zones are local community centers where the company has provided free WiFi for all to enjoy for school, work, and play.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR PANELISTS:

“Because of technology, we can all be connected at once at such a high speed,” said Emma Henzes, Manager, Marketing & Content at WiST. “Our WiST Community is a global network of people in the sports tech industry that you can easily access through your laptop. The Internet opens you to opportunities all over the world so don’t let where you live limit your dreams.”

“The young woman next to you, that’s your sister, she’s your community and it’s important to stay connected with her and uplift each other,” said Olivia Wang, Business Development at Perch. “Technology is constantly evolving and growing, and with the Internet, you can expand your network, research your curiosities and the companies you have interest in, and stay informed.”

“Not only do we want more women in the sports and technology fields, we need them,” said DJ Heat, the official in-game DJ for the Washington Wizards and Washington Mystics. “Keep shaking the table, keep breaking down barriers, and keep pushing the boundaries. Make your voices heard and make an impact in these spaces.”

“Our industry is changing every day with the advancements of technology. There are going to be obstacles, I had them, but you can’t let it stop you from achieving your dreams,” said Valeria Aponte Feliciano, Anchor and Reporter at Telemundo62 and NBC10. “It’s scary at first, but it gives you opportunities to broadcast and share stories in ways we haven’t before which is really exciting.”

How can I show up as my most authentic self at work? After successfully marketing an Emmy-nominated series, what is your advice for aspiring industry changemakers? Have you ever met Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants?

Students asked these questions and more at Paramount Global’s second annual Reel Works Career Day. On July 12th, Paramount welcomed sixteen impressive Career Lab students to our headquarters for a full day of personal and professional development. A longtime partner of Paramount, Reel Works mentors, inspires and empowers underserved NYC youth to share their stories through filmmaking – creating a springboard to successful careers in media and beyond. Career Lab is a cross-departmental initiative within Reel Works under their MediaMKRS workforce program, which aims to create a more diverse talent pool across the entertainment industry. Career Lab students explore different careers, build personal networks and learn skills to succeed professionally through sequential, paid internships.

Kim Gallagher, SHOWTIME’s VP of Marketing Operations, played an instrumental role in making Career Day a success. She believes this program is a “great opportunity for Paramount to collaborate with Reel Works in exposing high school students to a variety of career paths within the entertainment industry. I was honored to work with the Social Responsibility team, the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME team and the Nickelodeon team to put together a great day of presentations and activities. And it gives us a chance to meet future talent and collaborators!”

SHOWTIME’s Yellowjackets Marketing team kicked off the day by presenting their buzzworthy Season 2 campaign. A fan of the show herself, student Emma Page shared “hearing the thought process and intentionality behind the marketing decisions was eye-opening and captivating.” While the team presented their inventive, elaborate promotional strategies – like wrapping NYC train cars and collaborating with Alanis Morrisette – they also encouraged students looking to market their own films this summer.

Nickelodeon then joined Reel Works for a candid session about breaking into the media industry. Students appreciated the opportunity to learn about each panelist’s daily life, favorite projects and artistic inspiration. When asked about forging a path to Nickelodeon, Production Coordinator Matther Frazier shared that students should feel free to be weirdos. “Embracing my inner weirdo got me to where I’m at in my career, especially in animation. I appreciate that one day they will get to do what I do, and I hope it’s in part because they allowed themselves to be weirdos.”

Following a lively lunch break, students split into teams for a storyboarding workshop led by Paramount Social Responsibility’s Rita Papadogiannis. Alongside volunteers from the SHOWTIME Production team, each group dreamed up a new advertisement for Paramount’s brands, often incorporating social and environmental justice themes. Teams presented their storyboards, each with their own unique humor, action and warmth. Reel Works concluded their visit with an exclusive tour of the CBS Mornings and MTV’s Fresh Out Live studio. 

Student Olivia Hansen shared that “visiting Paramount was the most surreal experience,” full of “fun and fascinating stories.” Fellow participant Kyle Webster agreed, saying he will remember Career Day “when running an entertainment conglomerate of my own” one day. 

Ultimately, Paramount Global is proud to support the next generation of storytellers through unparalleled access to leaders in entertainment and media. We know these students’ creativity and curiosity will carry them far in their careers.

AUSTIN, Minn., August 3, 2023 /3BL/ – Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) has had a longstanding commitment to education for its team members, their families and the communities where it operates. Today, the Fortune 500 global branded food company is announcing a new opportunity open to eligible team members in the United States to earn their degree or complete non-degree programs for free.

Hormel Foods is partnering with Workforce Edge, a complete employee education management platform powered by Strategic Education, Inc., on this benefits expansion. This program is part of the extensive educational benefits offered to team members, including its already successful tuition reimbursement program, which has allowed thousands of Hormel Foods team members in the United States to continue their education after joining the company.

This new program, which is open to all full-time Hormel Foods team members in the United States, provides team members the opportunity to receive a company-funded associates, bachelor’s and master’s degree with Capella University and Strayer University, as well as discounts on tuition at hundreds of well-known colleges and universities throughout the United States. The program offers a wide variety of educational opportunities in various fields of study including science, technology, engineering, math, business, fine and liberal arts, psychology, criminal justice and legal, including bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. The program also includes access to 50 + general education-level courses through Sophia Learning, which are ACE recommended for college credit and are designed to be transferred to many colleges and universities.

“Hormel Foods has long supported education as an important investment in our people,” said Katie Larson, senior vice president of human resources at Hormel Foods. “Our team members are the most important part of our company, and we are excited to be able to offer them even greater access to education. It’s an opportunity for us to continue to make a real difference and further invest in the lives and careers of our people.”

In addition to this program, Hormel Foods was one of the first major companies to offer the opportunity of free college education to the dependent children of its team members. Through the Inspired Pathways program, the company provides community-college tuition while also furnishing free one-on-one college advising, financial aid support and career development opportunities. More than 1,200 students have utilized these benefits since the program’s inception in August 2020.

“Workforce Edge continues to be the education benefits administration platform of choice for many premier companies looking to gain a competitive edge by providing options for career mobility to their workforces,” said Karl McDonnell, CEO of Strategic Education. “We are excited to begin our partnership with Hormel Foods and look forward to seeing the progress of its talented employees.”

This program with no-cost degree opportunities and expanded tuition reimbursement is just one in an extended list of benefits that Hormel Foods offers its valued team members. The company has a long-standing reputation as one of the most successful food companies in the world and has received numerous honors and accolades for its integrity, philanthropy and other aspects of social responsibility. Recently, it was named one of the Best Companies to Work For in America by U.S. News & World Report, one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune, one of America’s Most Responsible Companies for a fourth consecutive year by Newsweek, one of the World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes and one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies by Newsweek for the second straight year.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

The amount of animal waste produced in the U.S. every year is more than 1,000 times the weight of the Empire State Building, and the greenhouse gases from that waste can significantly impact the planet. But what if there was a way to treat the wastewater to help reduce carbon emissions? That’s what Bianca Bailey, Ph.D., the founder and CEO of Agriwater, aims to accomplish.

Agriwater, which Bailey started in 2021 while finishing her doctorate in agricultural engineering at the University of Illinois, is developing electrolysis-based technology to treat wastewater, which often is stored in hazardous lagoons that can pollute nearby natural water sources and create strong fumes throughout nearby towns and farming communities.

“It becomes a social justice issue when it relates to people who live around these areas who can’t have clean air,” said Bailey, who also points out that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also can fine farmers who don’t manage animal waste properly.

Instead, her innovative technology removes contaminants from wastewater, decreasing the likelihood of pollution in rural areas, reducing greenhouse gases and even creating clean water for reuse and recycling.

The promise of such technology has led Bailey to participate in various business accelerator programs. In 2022, Agriwater secured a spot in the Innovations Crossroads Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP). This two-year program will allow Agriwater to work toward commercializing its technology in collaboration with lab space and mentorship from Oak Ridge Laboratory in Tennessee.

“We’ve proven out the technology on a small scale, and now we’re looking to scale the technology from inside the lab to on-site at a farm,” Bailey said.

Bailey is the winner of the 2023 U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Inclusion Award, which supports female and minority entrepreneurs who are building innovative companies that benefit the environment, create jobs and drive economic development. The U.S. Bank Foundation works with Evergreen Climate Innovations to present the award, which includes a $25,000 grant and a year of mentorship. The funding will help Agriwater facilitate its first industrial-size pilot with farms.

“Entrepreneurs like Bailey, who tackle big challenges with such drive and passion, are working to build a more sustainable future for all of us,” said Reba Dominski, chief social responsibility officer at U.S. Bank and president of the U.S. Bank Foundation. “We are proud to support Agriwater as it continues to refine its technology and expand the scale of its business.” 

“We’re excited to continue our work with U.S. Bank Foundation to support early-stage startups working on solutions for environmental and social impact,” said Erik Birkerts, chief executive officer at Evergreen Climate Innovations. “We look forward to working with Agriwater and supporting their vision of creating a closed-loop water system for livestock farmers that yields an array of environmental, social and economic benefits.”

Agriwater is Bailey’s first commercial venture, but her interest in water treatment began years ago as an undergraduate studying chemical engineering at Howard University. As part of her work leading the campus Engineers Without Borders chapter, she facilitated a student-led water-filtration project in a small village in Kenya. This work, along with her involvement in the nonprofit Girls Inc. as a student and mentor, led to recognition from the White House Champions of Change program in 2011 for helping to recruit and retain girls and women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Her goal is to create a more sustainable environment for the children of the future as they will be, in her words, “stewards of the Earth.”

Now, as an engineer and business owner, Bailey welcomes the guidance she’ll receive through the Cleantech Inclusion Award program and encourages others building businesses in similar fields to broaden their knowledge beyond science and technology.

“Being a smart entrepreneur when it comes to technology is also knowing that you can’t just focus on the technology, but you also need to focus on the intellectual property and business implementation of the technology,” said Bailey. “You can have great technology, but if the business model and everything else doesn’t work out, then it’s simply just a good idea.”

This is the fourth year of the U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Inclusion Award. Information on how to apply for the 2024 award will be available later this year.

Our Approach

As one of the world’s leading financial services companies, MetLife plays an important role in communities. All MetLife regions, lines of business and colleagues contribute to community engagement and outreach, including through volunteerism and pro bono work. Throughout the company, executives and senior leaders engage in and encourage community work via organizational volunteer goals. MetLife Foundation helps connect MetLife colleagues with nonprofits and opportunities to make a difference.

Governance

As a separate legal entity, MetLife Foundation has its own Board of Directors, chaired by MetLife, Inc.’s Head of Corporate Affairs. MetLife Foundation’s President and Chief Executive Officer reports directly to the Foundation’s Board Chair. As a fully integrated role, MetLife Foundation’s President and CEO also serves as MetLife, Inc.’s Head of Corporate Giving and Employee Volunteerism, a function overseen by the Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee of MetLife’s Board of Directors.

1 This is inclusive of the $35.7M in grants contributed to support underserved and underrepresented communities.

2 This includes a $1 million commitment to the United Negro College Fund to help finance scholarships at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.