Month: June 2024

In sports, an athlete’s ability to maintain mental focus is what leads to their performance. However, data has shown that there is a high rate of mental health stigma among student athletes.

To help break down these barriers, on May 21, 2024, AEG’s LA Galaxy and LA Galaxy Foundation hosted a panel session “A Global View on Mental Health,” that featured LA Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida and forward Miguel Berry and was moderated by LA Galaxy alumnus Cobi Jones in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.

The session was presented by Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Dignity Health, and Purina and attended by over 140 youth from the LA Galaxy Academy and the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams from Carson High School.

It was designed to help raise awareness among high school soccer athletes about the importance of talking about mental health and how to prepare oneself mentally as an athlete and shared strategies about mental wellness and how to employ positive coping mechanisms.

The event was part of the LA Galaxy’s ongoing commitment to promoting mental health awareness and marked the third annual Mental Health Awareness Month event organized by the club.

“Our aim with ‘A Global View on Mental Health’ was to engage and educate a diverse audience of high school soccer athletes to better understanding about mental health issues and reinforce that it is ok for them to speak about how they are feeling,” said Mariah Rodriguez, Community Relations & LA Galaxy Foundation Specialist. “We are proud to have collaborated with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Dignity Health, and Purina on this event which underscored why it is so important to foster conversations around student mental health and promote their overall well-being.”

The mission of the Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation is to advance the game of soccer and use it as a vehicle for positive change throughout Southern California communities. The organization has three main pillars that serve as the core of their granting and programming efforts: improving access to youth sports and health + wellness resources, while serving as champions for inclusion in their communities. To learn more about the LA Galaxy Foundation please click here.

A hush filled the conference room, as 150 girls directed their excitement and focus to the task at hand: creating their own sugar scrub.

They had just learned about the biology of skin and the science of skin care, and now they concentrated on crafting their own product, applying everything they learned throughout the day.

The Grade-6-through-12 students were part of a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) day of learning held April 13 at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, a city just a few miles south of Chicago and adjacent to the northwest Indiana border.

The yearly event is billed as “a celebration,” says Edie Dobrez, executive director of Homewood Science Center in Homewood, Illinois, which has hosted the day for girls since 2017. “What we’re celebrating is the students, and what is possible in their future.”

Attendees come from 24 middle and high schools, all based in a region of Illinois and Indiana known for being culturally and economically diverse. Participants learn what a career in STEAM could look like—from working in medicine to engineering to physical therapy to the trades, and everything in between.

Mentors from the community are selected to reflect the diversity of the student population to ensure the girls can see themselves represented in STEAM careers, Dobrez explains.

“Many of our girls come from disadvantaged backgrounds. They’ve never been exposed to these types of opportunities,” she continues. “There’s a lot of talk about getting more women in STEAM roles, about a more diverse workforce. But what is happening to make that happen? Girls STEAM Celebration is our answer, thanks to support from sponsors like Enbridge.”

Dobrez believes that to diversify STEAM professions, students need access to opportunities from an early age—which is why the celebration is open to middle school students. The event’s aim is ultimately to spark girls’ interest in STEAM professions and to build their confidence.

“We want them to see that they belong in STEAM careers,” Dobrez says.

Event sponsorships ensure the celebration is free for participants. Enbridge contributed a $10,000 Fueling Futures grant to the center this year—and we’ve supported this event since 2019 because we share the Homewood Science Center’s commitment to giving young women more opportunities to learn about STEAM fields.

We believe diverse workforces, like diverse communities, thrive. Success is fueled by different perspectives, experiences, and cultures coming together.

Homewood Science Center’s efforts are working; the celebration was at capacity this year. To make the event accessible for all, there are no academic requirements for the students; anyone who is interested is accepted to attend, as long as there is space.

“Like good engineers, we do a lot of evaluation and testing,” Dobrek says. “We survey students before and after the event to measure our impact and see what resonates with the girls.”

One student, Fatima, recently received a full scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “After participating at our event and meeting the women mentors, she felt more inspired. She buckled down in her studies . . . and what a success story!” Dobrez says.

The celebration’s successes are both small and large. Not every participant’s story will end like Fatima’s, but there is much to be proud of.

Says Dobrez: “Even if the students’ improvement in STEAM subjects is incremental, if the students are inspired to work harder, if they feel more confident in themselves, those are outcomes worthy of celebration.”

POSORJA, Ecuador and LIMA, Peru, June 3, 2024 /3BL/ – DP World, a global leader in supply chain solutions, is making significant investments in its port terminals in Peru and Ecuador to enhance capacity and operational efficiency, reinforcing its strategic vision for Latin America and providing additional trade opportunities for its customers.

The expansions come amidst an increasingly complex global supply chain landscape, as leaders are seeking ways to mitigate risks and enhance resilience. Situated on the West Coast of South America, Peru and Ecuador are pivotal to DP World’s global strategy, serving as key gateways to international trade.

Carlos Merino, CEO of DP World in Peru and Ecuador, said: “DP World remains committed to creating resilient and efficient logistics solutions. Peru and Ecuador’s strategic locations provide reliable connections from the west coast of South America to major global markets. This substantial investment in port infrastructure and state-of-the-art equipment underscores DP World’s dedication to enhancing capacity, operability, and economic contributions in this vital region.”

The company is set to celebrate two major milestones in the next few months: the inauguration of the completed Bicentennial Pier expansion project at its operations in the Port of Callao in Peru, and the initiation of a berth expansion project at the Port of Posorja in Ecuador.

In Peru, the Bicentennial Pier expansion at DP World Callao will significantly increase the terminal’s capacity by 80%, transforming it into a premier logistics hub on the west coast of South America. The $400 million project extends the pier to 1,050 meters, enabling it to accommodate up to three vessels simultaneously and increasing its annual capacity to 2.7 million TEUs (20-foot containers).

The expansion also includes state-of-the-art electric-powered equipment and the first electric charging station for trucks in Latin America, promoting sustainable logistics solutions.

DP World Callao handles 60% of the country’s containerized cargo, solidifying the port’s position as the economic heart of Peru. In addition, DP World operates the Port of Paita in northern Peru, enhancing the country’s connectivity to global markets.

In Ecuador, DP World is planning to expand its berth at the Port of Posorja to enhance capacity and operational efficiency. Earlier this year, the deepwater port received three key service routes from Maersk, strengthening its strategic role in connecting Latin America with global markets. The $140 million expansion will extend the port to 700 meters of berth space and integrate advanced port equipment to ensure that Posorja remains a competitive, secure, and sustainable public terminal.

DP World operates a Special Economic Zone located next to the port of Posorja, further bolstering the nation’s trade capabilities.

Merino added: “DP World’s investments in Latin America encompass private capital infusion, job creation, and social and environmental initiatives. These investments align with global market trends where clients demand efficient, safe, and sustainable ports and logistics solutions.”

The company’s investment extends to Chile as well, where DP World San Antonio is undergoing a pilot project to test the MoorMaster NxG, a mooring system that consists of automated vacuum pads that moor and release vessels within seconds. DP World San Antonio will be the first terminal in the Americas to utilize this system.

These strategic investments reflect DP World’s commitment to advancing Latin America’s role in global trade, enhancing regional connectivity, and fostering sustainable economic growth.

– END –

DP World Americas Media Contact:

Melina Vissat, Head of Communications 
M: (+1) 704-605-6159 
E: melina.vissat@dpworld.com

About DP World 

Trade is the lifeblood of the global economy, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for people around the world. DP World exists to make the world’s trade flow better, changing what’s possible for the customers and communities we serve globally.

With a dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 108,100 employees from 161 nationalities, spanning 74 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that’s fit for the future.

We’re rapidly transforming and integrating our businesses — Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology – and uniting our global infrastructure with local expertise to create stronger, more efficient end-to-end supply chain solutions that can change the way the world trades.

What’s more, we’re reshaping the future by investing in innovation. From intelligent delivery systems to automated warehouse stacking, we’re at the cutting edge of disruptive technology, pushing the sector towards better ways to trade, minimising disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.

WE MAKE TRADE FLOW 

TO CHANGE WHAT’S POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.