Month: September 2025

Covia’s Ahuazotepec, Mexico, site exemplifies a strong commitment to environmental, social, and community responsibility, as demonstrated by its Community Action Plan. The facility’s outstanding programs have fostered partnerships and initiatives to enhance local biodiversity and conservation efforts. As part of a multi-year collaboration with the Zacatlán Municipal Government, the State Government of Puebla, the National Forestry Commission, and the Drinking Water Operating System, the site has donated 30,000 trees to local communities and participated in 60 reforestation events. Donating trees means a lot to the team at Planta Ahuazotepec, and we see the difference it makes in the community. For me, it’s a special way that we give back to help the environment and the people around us. 

-Andrea Camacho, Environmental Coordinator (Ahuazotepec)

For more information about Covia’s Corporate Responsibility efforts, please visit us today.

At kate spade new york, mental health is recognized as a cornerstone of empowering women and girls around the world. In alignment with this belief, over the summer, the brand hosted its annual Women’s Mental Health event in Kigali, Rwanda, and – with its signature kate spade joyful twist – brought together over 350 attendees to celebrate the powerful intersection of women’s mental health, sport, and fashion.

On Purpose is the brand’s social enterprise initiative. As part of On Purpose, kate spade has been funding women’s empowerment work in Masoro, Rwanda since 2013 in collaboration with Abahizi CBC, a local handbag production facility. As the partnership began, and as the program grew, the need for empowerment and mental health resources within the community became increasingly clear.

Its mission is to use the On Purpose supply chain to empower the women who make these collections, and in turn invest in the communities they call home. Through this work, kate spade has seen that investing in a woman’s mental health positively impacts her voice, choice, and power.

Hosted in partnership with Abahizi Rwanda and Issoko Community Development, this year’s Women’s Mental Health event titled “Her Mind. Her Game. Her Style.”, took place at the newly constructed sports and entertainment venue, Zaria Court Kigali. The gathering featured a powerful lineup of speakers:

• The Honorable Nelly Mukazayire, Minister of Sport​, Government of Rwanda
• Clare Akamanzi, CEO, NBA Africa ​
• Norette Turimuci, Kate Spade Social Impact Council​
• Stacy Charlène Usanase, APR Women’s BBC
• Taryn Bird, Executive Director, Social Impact, Kate Spade New York

kate spade new york has set a global goal to give 250,000 women and girls access to mental health resources by 2030. The brand will host its annual Global Summit on Women’s Mental Health in New York City on Friday, October 10^th, aligning with World Mental Health Day.

Learn more about kate spade’s social impact work here.

On August 15^th, Paramount welcomed early career professionals from the following two organizations as part of the Unlimited Potential (UP) program, which helps build pathways into media and entertainment:

• LaunchPad – A nonprofit organization dedicated to creating life-changing career opportunities in entertainment, sports and finance for young adults facing barriers.
• Don’t Follow the Wave (DFTW)- A foundation started by NBA star Anthony Edwards with the mission to inspire, empower and uplift youth by providing educational, athletic and social programs.

Participants from Atlanta, Minnesota and New York gathered for a full day of career exploration. The day began with opening remarks by Makeda Green, SVP, Paramount Cultural & Digital Consumer Insights, who shared “Collaborating with community partners to inspire a new generation of industry professionals is impact in action.”

Additional remarks were provided by Jon Winkel, President of Launchpad: “LaunchPad is honored to be part of such a meaningful and impactful day. The young adults in our program were lifted in a way that would never be possible without the combined efforts of an iconic institution in Paramount and two high-profile impact organizations all joining forces.” Justin Holland, co-founder of Don’t Stop the Wave, introduced a video from Anthony Edwards himself! Anthony gave thanks to all of those who helped create this opportunity and drummed up excitement for the day ahead.

The program opened with a powerhouse career panel moderated by Harold Anderson of Paramount’s Corporate Social Responsibility team. Panelists provided an overview of their day-to-day responsibilities, career journey, and advice on how to find your own path and more.

The panelists were:

• Genisha Metcalf, Partnership Lead, NBA
• Adam Robinson, VP, Corporate Social Responsibility, Paramount
• Garrett Beltis, Senior Producer, Nickelodeon Digital Studios
• Luke Kwon, Senior Financial Analyst, Paramount Tech Finance

Gianni Wong from Paramount’s Emerging Talent team later joined and offered best practices, tips and advice for aspiring young professionals searching for job/internship opportunities.

Over lunch, participants networked with panelists and Paramount employees before touring the CBS Mornings studio. And in the afternoon, participants created 30-second ads for Paramount+, mapping out their innovative ideas on large storyboards.

The day concluded with a fireside chat with CJ Miles, a retired 17-year NBA star now capturing all that life (and the NBA) has to offer as a photographer. Moderated by Jay Ross, SVP of Growth at Professional Athlete Community, CJ reflected on life after basketball. “I think my favorite part was the access given [to the professionals] which allowed [for] beautiful conversations face to face. The event [was] great because of its creative and forward thinking but it does not overlook [providing] the traditional and foundational skills needed.”

Participants ended their day at Wheelhouse NY for additional networking as the sun set. It was clear the day opened long-term pathways for participants to envision careers in media entertainment. Paramount looks forward to continuing to support community partners through workforce development programming.

Uploaded by Action Against Hunger.

Contact media@actionagainsthunger.org for inquiries.

School Feeding and Nutrition in Uganda: How Students Are Leading Change 

At just 17 years old, Patience Namuju is already changing lives in her community. She lives in Uganda’s Karamoja region, known for its harsh, unpredictable weather and widespread food insecurity. People living there face a difficult reality: 45% of the population is facing crisis levels of food insecurity, and over 112,000 children under five were malnourished last year, according to an Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report. But Patience is not sitting back—she’s leading a movement to turn things around.

Patience is the chair of the Health and Nutrition Club at Lolachat Seed Secondary School. The club established a school garden where they grow vegetables, cassava, and eggplant. In a region where food can be scarce, this is a lifeline. Students benefit from access to fresh produce, as well as learning why diversified, nutritious diets are important and how to make good food choices. “The garden supplements our school meals,” Patience says, her pride evident. “It’s making a real difference.”

In places like Karamoja, school lunch might be the only meal a child eats in a day. It is a crucial opportunity to help kids stay nourished and instill strong dietary habits. School feeding programs have been found to improve the height and weight of students in low- and middle-income countries, as shown in a recent study (Wang et al., 2021), as well as leading to better school attendance. With a healthy meal to sustain them, children can concentrate on their studies and fully engage in the school day, rather than being distracted by hunger.

Patience’s club does more than provide nutritious food at school; it also empowers students with the ability to make sound dietary decisions on their own. Nutrition education is especially critical in places like Karamoja, where food is scarce and families face difficult choices about what to eat. Without the right knowledge, many struggle to meet their dietary needs even when some food is available. Research in eastern Uganda confirms this, showing that a lack of nutritional knowledge is one of the leading causes of malnutrition (Filipponi et al., 2024).

Educated club members are able to act as agents of change in their local food systems, helping their friends and families make dietary decisions with confidence. As nutritional information is shared, it can create a ripple effect throughout the community that will last long after graduation. In this way, Health and Nutrition Clubs “build a new culture that will improve nutrition outcomes in this region while enhancing food security in the long run,” says Michael Ngiro, Food Security & Livelihood Extension Officer with Action Against Hunger.

Climate Resilience in Karamoja: Tackling Hunger in a Changing Environment 

As stated by the Food and Agriculture Organization, school offers a unique opportunity to teach children about good nutrition and shape healthier food patterns. Health and Nutrition Clubs established by Action Against Hunger take this one step further, teaching students not only what healthy foods are, but also how to grow them.

Patience and her fellow club members are growing produce in their garden using climate-smart agriculture techniques. They plant drought-resistant crop varieties that will have a better chance at surviving Karamoja’s lengthening dry spells. They also learn about crop rotation and using manure as an organic fertilizer, two agroecological practices that preserve soil health and boost crop yields. With this hands-on experience, students gain an understanding of nutrition, sustainability, and food system resilience.

Improving Uganda’s climate resilience is of primary importance. The World Bank recently published the Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) for Uganda, which warns that climate change could cut Uganda’s economic growth by up to 3.1% by 2050 unless strong action is taken. If this were to happen, it would push more than 613,000 people into poverty and displace 12 million more. By equipping students with knowledge of climate-resilient practices, Action Against Hunger is not only strengthening their capacity to adapt but also investing in a generation prepared to safeguard Uganda’s future.

Karamoja is among the regions most vulnerable to climate change. For generations, pastoralism has been the backbone of life, with families relying heavily on rainfall patterns and natural resources for food and income. But in an era of increasing climate volatility, this dependence has become increasingly difficult. Between 2018 and 2023, the region endured repeated droughts that decimated resources and fueled rising conflict. Climate shocks, conflict, and hunger form a self-reinforcing cycle, and once it begins, it is difficult to break. Strengthening Karamoja’s climate resilience is urgent, before dwindling resources trigger even deeper crises in the years ahead.

Patience cares deeply about climate resilience and its role in improving food security. In 2024, she represented her school at the Karamoja Green School regional climate-change debate competition, an event that empowers young people to engage with climate change issues. Competing against peers from across the region, Patience and her team took home first place – a testament to their passion for the cause and the impact of their school’s climate-smart garden.

The Future of Nutrition in Uganda 

Since the Health & Nutrition club started in 2023, Patience has grown its membership to over 30 students, all excited to spread the word about healthy eating. Now, the club is looking ahead with ambitious plans to expand its garden. As Patience explains, “We hope to increase the size of our gardens to grow more nutritious foods for school use and sell the rest to generate income for the club.” With this new initiative, students can gain an introduction to business planning, equipping them with valuable financial management and entrepreneurial skills that will serve them long after graduation.

Action Against Hunger is also expanding its garden program. Since 2023, the organization has supported 18 schools across Karamoja in establishing school gardens and Health and Nutrition Clubs, with another 32 clubs soon to launch in primary schools across the region. At the national level, Action Against Hunger is drawing on its expertise in school feeding and nutrition to advocate for a standardized school feeding program. The program is aimed at combating malnutrition and improving academic performance for students across Uganda.

Patience’s story is a powerful reminder of what these efforts can achieve. “Once I finish secondary school, I look forward to studying a course related to nutrition and food security and coming up with innovative ways to enhance food security in my community,” she says. Her commitment demonstrates the power of young leaders to drive change at the grassroots, making a hunger-free future in Uganda look more achievable than ever.

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Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 26.5 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,500+ dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Originally published on U.S. company blog

On Sept. 17, the Federal Reserve announced a quarter point interest rate cut, it’s first of the year. To understand how this rate reduction may impact both homebuyers and homeowners, we sat down with John Hummel, head of retail home lending at U.S. Bank.

Let’s start with the homeowners. What does this interest rate cut mean for homeowners looking to borrow against their home equity?

Home equity has been in the headlines lately as increased home price appreciation over the last several years has resulted in record levels of home equity. For homeowners, this equity can be borrowed using a or to fund major expenses such as home improvements or repairs, college tuition or to consolidate debt.

With the prime rate now reduced, home equity borrowers may see lower interest rates available to them, depending on the home equity solution they chose. HELOCs, for example, allow borrowers to make multiple draws at a variable rate up to their pre-determined limit. New and existing HELOC borrowers may see a small reduction in interest rates on new draws.

For home equity loans, which allow you to borrow a lump sum at a fixed rate, new applicants may see a slight reduction in the interest rate being offered.

What about aspiring home buyers. Does the recent interest rate cut mean mortgage rates will come down? 

In early September we experienced our highest daily applications for the year. That’s because even before the Federal rate cut, we have seen some pockets of easing mortgage rates over the last few months. This has already provided some relief to buyers actively house hunting and making offers. For homeowners who bought a home in the last few years, this also presented an opportunity to refinance, especially for larger balance loans where a slight drop in rates can have an impact.

The recent gradual decline is in large part because mortgage rates are more closely tied to bond markets and the 10-year treasury yield than the prime rate. This correlation means that in many cases, future interest rate cuts are baked into current mortgage rates. That’s why when the Fed reduces the prime rate, we often don’t see any immediate movement on mortgage rates.

What’s your best advice right now for homebuyers?

If you are in a position to buy a home or plan to be in the months ahead, meet with a knowledgeable mortgage loan originator first. A mortgage professional can help you understand what you can afford, what potential payments could look like inclusive of taxes and insurance and any special programs you might qualify for, such as downpayment assistance.

There are nearly 2,500 downpayment assistance programs available throughout the U.S., including programs offered by state and local agencies, as well as mortgage lenders. For example, U.S. Bank offers the in 31 states and the in 10 markets.

Any advice for homeowners?

It may be a good time to explore your home equity lending options for upcoming expenses. Talking to a mortgage loan professional can help you understand your options and borrowing power using your home equity.

If you are nearing retirement, applying now for a HELOC can be a smart financial move. With U.S. Bank there is no fee to apply and doing so pre-retirement allows you to factor in your current employment income, which can impact your application outcome.

To learn more about U.S. Bank home lending solutions, visit usbank.com/homeloans

This article is authored by Riaz Raihan, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, Trane Technologies

Despite breakthrough innovation over the last several years, buildings still can’t speak to us. They do, however, constantly give us non-verbal cues through technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous controls.

These solutions for digitalization of the built environment can significantly reduce a building’s operating cost and its carbon footprint by allowing you to listen to its cues.

Thinking beyond trends

AI and autonomous controls are enhancing productivity, efficiency and decision making across every sector. Considering their applications in the built environment, it is easy to get excited about them.

As I’ve seen in my role as chief digital officer at Trane Technologies, AI and automation are being practically applied in HVAC systems to support outcome-based performance. And for good reason, as more than 50% of a building’s operating cost can be attributed to its heating, ventilation and cooling.

Implementing AI tools because they’re trendy is faulty logic, though. Digital technologies require significant power and increase strain on our energy grids. They must be used thoughtfully and efficiently.

The true allure of digitalization and AI in the built environment lies in their ability to deliver operational cost savings, emissions reductions and optimal performance, which I see as their most discreet cool factor.

Listening to your building

Buildings can’t speak, but they can send nonverbal cues, and “listening” to them is crucial.

AI technologies, like autonomous control systems, allow us to look at structured data (building layout, indoor temperatures, equipment specifications) and unstructured data (weather patterns and forecasts, pollution data, occupancy patterns) to optimize buildings’ energy performance.

AI-enabled building controls learn to respond to changing conditions, such as energy pricing fluctuations, to automatically optimize energy performance and enable cost-effective predictive maintenance.

Consider the analogy of streaming platforms, which regularly show new and interesting content, proving the value of monthly subscription fees. When we are satisfied with the programming, we may set them to auto-renew. But if the content becomes stale, we might start doubting its value and consider canceling. We need consistent performance to feel we’re getting our money’s worth.

The same mindset can be true for the built environment, but that’s also where digital enablement drives significant value—by reading and acting on a building’s non-verbal cues. Building automation systems and autonomous controls capture real-time data and advanced analytics and use them to optimize performance.

Leveraging these solutions can help building owners and operators understand their building operations while enabling energy and cost savings, demonstrating their ROI and economic viability.

Creating successful outcomes from potential challenges

A comprehensive approach is required to implement digital solutions. To create your building’s digital twin (a virtual representation of it), data requirements, computing capabilities and internal skills are factors to consider.

Data and information necessary to create a digital twin:

• Historical energy use
• Operational HVAC systems
• The building’s architectural plans and layouts

You also need a robust cloud infrastructure to process large volumes of data, along with reliable and secure communication protocols for data transmission and storage.

More important than these elements, though, is a skilled talent pipeline that knows how to analyze data and machine learning techniques to find actionable insights and reduce latency. While innovative digitization technologies are changing the game for reducing energy demand and emissions across the built environment, prioritizing the talent to advance them is vital.

Of course, implementation can still bring challenges, including data integration and system interoperability. Integrating data from a variety of sources (sensors, historical records, occupancy and weather patterns) into a unified system can be complex and time-consuming. Different systems may also use varying formats, making it harder to standardize and harmonize data for analysis.

But these potential challenges can be turned into successful outcomes. Having a centralized platform capable of aggregating data into a single repository, where it is more easily accessed, managed and analyzed, is a critical component.

Transitioning from equipment to outcomes

Fifty years ago, the only thing customers cared about was the capital investment needed to install a high-quality HVAC system. Eventually, that progressed to high-quality and well-maintained systems, with good indoor air quality.

Today, things look drastically different. Customers demand outcomes, not just equipment that meets their day-to-day heating and cooling needs. They require high-quality, well-maintained, smart and adaptable machines that help reduce emissions, cut costs and optimize energy consumption.

This change in mindset affirms the growing demand for purpose-driven, sustainable technology that drives energy efficiency and decarbonization.

AI and digital technologies have the potential to harness the information provided by a building and its surroundings to achieve desired outcomes. This underscores the crucial need to pay attention and respond to the signals it’s sending.