Month: June 2024

At Comcast, we want everyone to get the most out of their connectivity and entertainment experience. But for the disabled community, connectivity can remain a challenge. A study from the Pew Research Center found that disabled Americans are less likely than those without a disability to report using the internet daily (75% vs. 87%). And Americans with disabilities are three times more likely than those without a disability to say they never go online (15% vs. 5%). That’s why we work to advance digital inclusion for everyone from every angle: through our products, our services, our partnerships, and our content.

Last week we celebrated Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) by taking the opportunity to amplify our shared commitment to digital inclusion – no matter your age, ability, or background. For over a decade, our approach has been grounded in the belief that when you make an experience more inclusive, everyone benefits.

At Comcast, inclusion drives innovation. Our goal is to develop solutions to bring people closer to the moments that matter most. From enabling the use of Xfinity services with eye-tracking technology through our web remote for people with physical or speech disabilities to offering voice control to make entertainment easier for everyone — our innovation has advanced a more inclusive entertainment experience for our customers.

These stories keep us inspired and motivated to continue to push the envelope and forge ahead in our work. While chatting with Sheletta Brundidge on her podcast last year, she shared with me the story of her father-in-law, whose home entertainment experience had become frustrating and difficult when he developed some dexterity issues making the small buttons on his remote cumbersome. An avid football fan, he had accidentally enabled Spanish language audio and couldn’t disable it. Sheletta shared that for him, it was “devastating” to not be able to press a button and be independent. His family visited their Xfinity store where they learned about our Large Button Voice Remote; with it, he was finally able to watch his games on Sunday without needing assistance from others.

Sheletta learned about this solution at our retail store, but for many, a visit to any retail environment presents a challenge. Knowing how many of our customers rely on in-person support for technology services, our inclusivity lens led us to explore ways we can make our retail experience more accessible as well. So last year, in partnership with the Communications Services for the Deaf (CSD), we kicked off American Sign Language (ASL) Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) services in select Xfinity retail stores and have expanded this year to additional stores across DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Greater Philadelphia.

Enhancing customer service for deaf or hard-of-hearing customers is a game-changer for those who speak ASL. At our ASL VRI launch event in Philadelphia, Alycia, an Xfinity customer and teacher at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, shared with me that being able to communicate with our retail associates through a live interpreter made her store experience more efficient, more enjoyable, and less stressful.

In addition to focusing on the customer and product experience, we’re also working with community partners to advance digital inclusion for people with disabilities. That’s why we team up with partners like The Arc to help people with disabilities leverage technology to open doors to new experiences and opportunities.

Kris, a 59-year-old man with cerebral palsy, is an active member of his community but needed to deepen his digital skills to broaden his civic service. As a result of their partnership with Comcast, The Arc of Weld County was able to provide Kris with tech coaching and help him in his role of giving back to his community. Through a grant over two years, The Arc will be able to continue providing these critical digital-skills services.

Continuing to better understand the diverse needs of our customers is central to achieving our goal of delivering inclusive products and services. We closed out GAAD by keeping this conversation going with our employees. This year, I was thrilled to welcome Michele Sullivan, a globally recognized disability advocate, leader, and author of the acclaimed autobiography Looking Up, who joined our teammates for a discussion about accessibility, action, and allyship.

Opportunities like the event with Michele Sullivan to engage with the disability community and sharing stories like Alycia, Kris, and Sheletta’s are critical to better understanding what it means to be “inclusive.”

Tom Wlodkowski is Vice President of Accessibility at Comcast

Taco Bell blog

For nine years, the Taco Bell Foundation has fueled students’ boldest ambitions to create good through the Live Más Scholarship, a program rooted in the belief that our youth hold the key to the future. By providing transformative scholarships, valuable networking platforms, and professional development resources, we’re simply adding to the fervor that’s already burning bright in these students. Change starts with them – read on to discover the unique stories of five 2024 Live Más Scholarship recipients who are truly making a difference.

Axel O. – Incoming Freshman, Las Vegas, NV

Axel’s profound connection to mariachi music is more than a hobby; it’s a heartfelt tribute to his heritage. As the Student Director of the acclaimed Mariachi Joya of Las Vegas High School, he’s set to attend the University of Nevada Las Vegas and join their first cohort of the Mariachi Education Program. Having performed at the Grammys and the White House, Axel is committed to sharing the enrichment that mariachi has brought to his life. 

Tallulah M. – Incoming Freshman, Omaha, NE

Tallulah juggles roles as a photographer, community volunteer, athlete, and an aspiring trauma surgeon. Her dedication as a soccer goalkeeper has fueled her desire to enter the medical profession, drawing parallels between the decisive nature of both fields. Raised in a Hispanic community, she observed the rarity of Latina surgeons and is determined to prove that big dreams are attainable. With plans for pre-med at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Tallulah aims to continue her hospital volunteer work and nurture her photographic artistry.

Ritisha L. – Incoming Freshman, Atlanta, GA

Ritisha’s zeal for neuroscience has propelled her to champion mental health awareness. Her volunteer work ranges from providing companionship at a hospice to supporting a suicide prevention hotline. She has also shared her insights on mental health technologies through a TEDx talk. Ritisha is continuing her education at Emory University, determined to deepen her impact by conducting research and furthering the dialogue on mental health and suicide prevention. 

Gracie S. – Incoming Freshman, Perris, CA

Inspired by athletics from a young age, Gracie founded the nonprofit ‘Girls on the Mound’ to support young women navigating the male-dominated sports business industry. Gracie is a Taco Bell team member and received a once in a lifetime surprise from her sports idol Davante Adams when the wide receiver surprised her with the scholarship at his Las Vegas football camp in April. Gracie aspires to further her education in business management and marketing, while also breaking barriers for women passionate about sports.

Ethan C. – Incoming Junior, Garden Grove, CA

Ethan is a passionate storyteller studying Film Production at Chapman University. Growing up in a multicultural household, he developed a keen eye for untold stories in everyday life. From personal family documentaries to a film shedding light on racial injustice, his broad scope of work aims to share narratives other than just his own.

The Taco Bell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity. For more information visit tacobellfoundation.org. 

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

Small businesses are the lifelines of many communities, and the U.S. Bank Foundation* has invested in nonprofit organizations providing small business support for years through its Community Possible grant program and, now, the U.S. Bank Foundation Opportunity Fund**.

“Supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses helps drive economic growth and build thriving communities, and we’re proud to support organizations that are creating access and opportunities for more people to make their business dreams a reality,” said Erica Opstad, managing director of the U.S. Bank Foundation.

The foundation recently distributed more than $6.5 million in Opportunity Fund grants to nonprofits that are helping to increase access to capital and services for entrepreneurs in low- to moderate-income communities, including rural and Native American communities and communities of color. That includes two organizations in different parts of the country, but with similar goals to boost economic development and equity within the communities they serve.

Fostering small businesses in North Dakota

Developing an ecosystem of small businesses can be difficult in rural areas, but the Red River Regional Council in northeast North Dakota recognizes the opportunities to build community connections and drive economic growth through something everyone needs – food. While many emerging “food-preneurs” often start by selling their goods from home or through farmers markets, they often need access to a commercially licensed kitchen to scale their businesses. The cost of securing that space can be a barrier.

With support from a U.S. Bank Foundation Opportunity Fund grant, the council’s Red River Community Housing Development arm is aiming to renovate an historic building called 532 Hill in Grafton, North Dakota, to become a regional innovation lab. The building will include a shared-use commercial kitchen and spaces for retailers, offices, co-working and community gatherings. The organization also plans to convene a network of small business advisors, funding partners and mentors to provide support to entrepreneurs, in addition to creating programming with input from artists, educators, foodies and others.

“We’re looking to provide a space that welcomes newcomers, celebrates diversity and creates new connections,” said Dawn Mandt, executive director of the Red River Regional Council. “The investment from the U.S. Bank Foundation affirms our vision and enables our organization to support leaders who are critical to building equitable and inclusive rural prosperity – as well as building an environment that supports people in trying new things and even failing.”

Expanding economic equity in Oregon

The Warm Springs Community Action Team (WSCAT) is a community development organization working to empower individuals and groups of people on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, in north-central Oregon, to realize their potential, become self-reliant and effect positive change for themselves, their families and their community. The organization offers programs focused on small business development, homeownership, workforce and youth development and more to about 1,000 people each year, and is building a small business incubator for tribal entrepreneurs.

The U.S. Bank Foundation Opportunity Fund grant will help WSCAT grow its small business coaching and counseling program, provide financial education and skills training for teens and young adults, and further develop its technology workforce program. WSCAT plans to utilize its small businesses, such as the Painted Pony Café and Twisted Teepee food cart, and work with local organizations, such as the Tananawit arts organization, to enhance its workforce training and mentoring opportunities. The grant also will support the American Indian Business Leaders club and financial education programs for Native youth at Madras High School, the local high school attended by tribal youth.

“Organizations like ours have to fight for every dollar to sustain our operations and to serve our community. For us to succeed, we have to be lean and mean,” said Chris Watson, executive director of Warm Springs Community Action Team. “Support like this gives us a little breathing room and enables us to provide broader, deeper services.”

*U.S. Bank Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation is funded primarily through contributions from U.S. Bank National Association and its affiliates and subsidiaries. The Foundation’s mission is to close the gaps between people and possibility in the areas of work, home, and play.

**The Opportunity Fund represents a financial commitment of the U.S. Bank Foundation; it is not a traditional equity fund, nor does it represent a form of ownership.

In a world where technology is rapidly shaping the future, access to education and training programs is crucial to expanding opportunity. Recent research by UNESCO found that women make up only 35% of STEM graduates, and this number has not changed in the past 10 years. At the same time, women are more concerned about being replaced by AI than their male colleagues, according to an IBM IBV study.

This is why, in support of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Upskilling Initiative, in 2022 IBM pledged to train 1 million women and girls in the Asia-Pacific region over five years. As announced by the U.S. Department of Commerce today in Singapore, I’m pleased to share that our progress towards this commitment has been remarkable. Nearly 650,000 women and girls have already been empowered through IBM’s efforts to promote education, skill development, and career opportunities for women across the region.

Fostering partnerships for impact

At IBM, we know that partnerships are key to making a real difference in people’s lives, and we take a holistic approach focused on providing education and training for everyone. From India to Japan, to Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, among others, we’re collaborating with organizations across the region to increase access to technology education via IBM SkillsBuild.

To cite just a few examples:

In Japan, we’re collaborating with ReBit and empowering LGBTQ+ individuals facing employment bias through skill-building.We’re offering AI and cybersecurity education via our partnerships with Malaysia’s Penang State Education Department and Indonesia’s Ministry of Education.In the Philippines, we’re working with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to provide cybersecurity training for trainers and trainees.In India, we continue strengthening partnerships with organizations such as the Haryana State Board of Technical Education and various foundations and government bodies.

Stories of impact through IBM SkillsBuild

What inspires me most are the stories of individuals who have faced challenges and benefited from our work. People like Ashley Pojol from the Philippines, whose completion of the IBM SkillsBuild cybersecurity credential honed her problem-solving and critical thinking skills and piqued her interest in a career in cybersecurity.

In India, there’s Shilpi Pachauri, whose journey from a technology-disconnected village to a successful web developer in Indore exemplifies the impact of IBM SkillsBuild in bridging the digital divide and empowering women from economically disadvantaged communities. Also in the country, Heena Aggarwal’s story is one that shows resilience as she has worked to overcome financial constraints in pursuit of her dream of becoming an education entrepreneur with the help of IBM SkillsBuild.

Ashley, Shilpi, and Heena remind me why our work is so vital and illustrate the impact we can have when we build strategic partnerships and invest in education.

Empowering the next generation for global advancement

We’re at a pivotal moment for inspiring and equipping the next generation around the world with the resources they need for careers in technology, which can offer a unique opportunity for social and economic advancement. IBM’s pledge to empower women in the Asia-Pacific region is aligned with our commitment to create equitable impact through the expansion of opportunities for everyone. This pledge is also part of IBM’s global commitment to skill 30 million people by 2030, with over 11.5 million trained learners so far.

As the journey continues, one thing remains clear: when women are given the opportunity to thrive, entire societies prosper.