Tag: 3BL

At Chemours, we believe that by exposing future generations to the wonders of chemistry, we can change even more lives for the better. To achieve this mission, we continue to invest and engage in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education programs to support future innovators.

Just recently, a group of Chemistry, Biology and Physics students from Middletown, William Penn and St. Elizabeth’s High Schools in Delaware recently visited the Chemours Discovery Hub (CDH)—our state-of-the-art, sustainably designed research and development facility located on the University of Delaware’s Science, Technology, and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus.

The visit was a part of the University of Delaware’s Foundations for Outreach & Recruitment of Great Engineers and Scientists (FORGES) program, which introduces rising high school juniors and seniors to a variety of summer research activities that are happening at the University of Delaware and with local industry partners, including Chemours.

While at CDH the students had the opportunity to tour the process development area, immersion cooling, Opteon™ foam blowing, and hydrogen fuel cell testing labs. After the tours, students had lunch with Chemours employees and apprentices where they discussed education, job experiences and career paths. The day of STEM programming culminated in an interactive hands-on demonstration that allowed students to analyze and identify “mystery” polymers, utilizing several CDH analytical labs and techniques.

“Our goal is to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers by showcasing the innovation that is happening here at Chemours,” said Liz Diaz, Sr. Staff Chemist and CDH Community Engagement Team lead. “We love that we can open the doors to CDH and give local students the opportunity to see the many different and exciting STEM career paths available to them in their own community.”

Chemours and the team at CDH is proud to be involved with the FORGES program, which strives to significantly broaden the participation of women and underrepresented groups in materials science through recruitment efforts and outreach opportunities.

By Gina DiPietro | illumination Staff Writer

In the rolling hills of Asheville, N.C., a transformation is underway. As the community announced a goal to power all of Buncombe County with 100% renewable energy by 2042, Duke Energy set out to construct another solar facility as part of the Western Carolinas Modernization Plan.

The challenge? To find enough space – 20 to 30 acres – to build a 5-megawatt (MW) solar plant in a region with smaller parcel sizes, mountainous terrain and a high cost of buildable land.

Larry Watson, a business developer at Duke Energy who originated the project, saw an opportunity to collaborate with Buncombe County, which wanted to find a way to repurpose a solid waste facility near Interstate 26 and the French Broad River.

The answer: Duke Energy’s first solar plant on a municipal landfill.

“It presented some challenges,” Watson said, “like constructing a solar facility without penetrating the cap, the landfill’s surface. But it also offered new acreage in the North Carolina mountains where open space and flat land is hard to find.”

To offset the higher cost to build Woodfin Solar Facility, Watson’s team drew up an equally creative lease agreement where Buncombe County is compensated in renewable energy certificates (RECs) rather than cash.

One REC is issued when 1 MW-hour of electricity is generated and delivered to the grid from a renewable energy source. They can be bought, sold or traded to organizations or individuals who want to offset their carbon footprint and support clean energy.

It’s a creative regulatory solution that moves both parties forward, said Jennifer Bennett, Duke Energy’s government and community relations manager in the Asheville region.

“It just adds to the uniqueness of this project,” Bennett said. “And I think it’s worth highlighting that it’s taken a lot of people thinking creatively and working incredibly hard to pull this off.”

As owner and operator of the 5-MW facility, Duke Energy will generate enough solar energy to power about 1,000 customers annually, while furthering the county’s renewable energy goals by about 20%.

“Meeting our ambitious goal requires creative thinking and collaboration,” said Buncombe County Sustainability Director Jeremiah LeRoy. “This project is a terrific example of both as it will supply our community with renewable energy for decades to come.”

Also tangible, said Duke Energy Project Manager Nisha Strain, was the opportunity to bring renewed purpose to a site that couldn’t be used for anything else.

“Solar is land-intensive, so the adaptive reuse of this property is key,” Strain said. “It required a lot of creativity in how we’d construct it on an uneven surface, but it also shows the company’s effort to repurpose existing infrastructure as we transition to a zero-carbon future.”

Her role included regular site visits to Woodfin, N.C., where crews constructed a system that’s similar to what you’d see on a rooftop. Concrete ballast blocks, gravel and adjustable racking were brought in to level out the surface, creating a steady foundation for solar panels that suspend above the landfill so as not to penetrate its cap.

“We also needed to keep the cable trays above ground,” Strain said of equipment that carries solar power to the grid to serve customers, “while creating access points for maintenance and vegetation management.”

While the landfill’s been closed since 1996, municipal employees need access to perform state-required monitoring activities. The county retains this responsibility under the 25-year lease agreement, with options for renewal. They also take ownership of any subsurface risks, including waste buried below the surface.

“We are encouraged to see this project come to fruition,” said Dane Pederson, Buncombe County solid waste director. “It’s both a productive use of the closed landfill space and an innovative solution for integrating solar panel systems while protecting the existing cap layer over the landfill, with no surface penetrations.”

Woodfin Solar Facility is backed up by the 560-MW Asheville Combined Cycle Station, a cleaner-burning natural gas plant that is 75% more efficient than the coal plant it replaced (previously at the same site). The grid needs dispatchable resources like natural gas, which can generate electricity in any type of weather, to support greater integration of renewables (like solar, available only when the sun is shining) to maintain reliability for customers.

While this infrastructure is geographically in the Asheville region, energy is fed to the grid to benefit communities in both North Carolina and South Carolina.

Duke Energy believes solar, and energy storage, will play an important role in how more diverse, clean energy is delivered to Carolinas customers. North Carolina is already fourth in the nation for solar and the company is targeting to have more than 6,400 MW of new solar on the system by 2031. The company is also targeting solar procurement in the Carolinas of over 1 gigawatt annually later this decade.

Woodfin also delivers on Duke Energy’s commitment to deploy 15 MW of solar and at least 5 MW of battery storage as part of the Western Carolinas Modernization Plan, which aims to meet the region’s growing power needs with safe, reliable and affordable energy. And at each step of the process, public input laid the foundation for what came next.

“From letters of support,” Bennett said, “to advocating for the construction of projects, the Asheville region was active in bringing this plan to life. And that kind of grassroots community advocacy still remains for Duke Energy’s infrastructure investments in the region.”

View original content here.

Originally published on National Park Foundation

To further the National Park Foundation’s (NPF) commitment to ensure that all people can fully experience the benefits of the outdoors and build lifelong relationships with national parks, NPF’s program ParkVentures will increase its investment in equity-focused outdoor projects this year.

From some of the most-visited national parks like Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Gateway National Recreation Area, to the secluded tropical paradise at the National Park of American Samoa, the 63 projects selected for funding this year span 59 parks and focus on representation, accessibility, and interpretation – all things that leaders in outdoor recreation and equity spaces identify as barriers for communities that have been historically excluded from parks.

“The value of national parks extends beyond the preservation of landscapes and historic sites – they can also be an outlet to sustain our mental and physical health, space to connect with our loved ones and communities, and environments that inspire care for our planet,” said Lise Aangeenbrug, NPF’s Chief Program Officer. “But for those who have been historically excluded from parks and outdoor recreation, that doesn’t resonate. By supporting local leaders and community-based organizations, our goal is to give more people a chance to feel connected to parks.”

Community Building and Representation

Offering joy-filled, meaningful experiences in parks for people and communities who have been historically excluded from these spaces can be an important first step in building a lifelong relationship with parks and the outdoors. When people can see themselves represented in these spaces, they’re much more likely to feel welcome and to come back – and in turn, help protect parks for the future.

“We must support our youth to see themselves as park rangers, managers, and superintendents within the National Park Service because it is people with significant connections to these lands that will do their absolute best to protect them,” said Tahlia Natachu, Executive Director of the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project. “We appreciate Grand Canyon National Park for respectfully working with us and understanding that our projects with them are not typical tourist visits; these are significant identity and leadership development experiences. We hope that these are the first steps in upholding a reciprocal relationship between the park and Indigenous communities so we can preserve the sacredness of these spaces.”

With a ParkVentures grant, the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project will facilitate trips to culturally significant sites – including the Grand Canyon – to explore our history, art forms, and agricultural practices and learn about contemporary ways the National Park Service is preserving Zuni heritage. Their ultimate mission is to promote resilience among Zuni youth, so they will grow into strong and healthy adults that are connected to Zuni culture.

Additional projects focused on community building and representation will take place at:

Acadia National Park | The Wabanaki Cultural Foods Access Summit, hosted by the Eastern Woodlands Rematriation, will bring together leaders of Wabanaki food and land projects, tribal youth, and Wabanaki families to share successes in food access, and allow Wabanaki families to reengage with culturally significant places within Acadia to support healing and community building.Arches & Canyonlands National Parks | Working with local organizations, the parks will connect Latinx youth to public lands and provide a professional pathway into public land management by offering meaningful, paid internships that link culture, language, and conservation. The larger community will receive the benefits of culturally relevant, multilingual educational programming.Big Bend National Park | Black Outside Inc. will host trips with Brothers with the Land, an outdoor leadership development program for Black and African American boys; the Charles Roundtree Bloom Project, an outdoor healing justice program for youth impacted by incarceration; and Boyz N Da Wood, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting Black men to healing spaces in nature.Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park | Boston high school students will be invited to participate in the Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center’s Green Ambassadors program: a six-week outdoor learning and youth employment opportunity including Outward Bound challenges and expeditions to develop leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.Cabrillo National Monument | Female-identifying youth will participate in ongoing outdoor learning and mentorship opportunities, community engagement and career development, and an immersive environmental stewardship apprenticeship with the EcoLogik Leadership Academy.Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park | The Student Conservation Association will connect urban youth to the wonders of the park during a three-day end-of-season program, where members will hike, bike, and camp along the C&O Canal Towpath, learning from National Park Service staff about the natural and historical assets in the region and empowering them to explore and appreciate their own backyard.Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area | The Camping to Connect program by the Young Masterminds Initiative provides urban youth with mentorship and outdoor adventures, fostering leadership, brotherhood, and inclusion while empowering young men – specifically those who identify as people of color – to transcend stereotypes and realize their full potential.Denali National Park | Working in partnership with the Denali Education Center, the park will offer backcountry adventures and field camp programs for underserved youth and young adults across Alaska to learn about the park, bond with their peers, and experience the mental and physical benefits of the outdoors.Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine | A partnership with the Living Classrooms Foundation will bolster the park’s largest annual event, Defenders’ Day, by expanding its programming to better represent and appeal to the diversity of Baltimore and strengthen community ties to the park.Grand Portage National Monument | The National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation is offering a camp program for indigenous youth from local Anishinaabe tribes to build relationships and gain confidence as they explore Grand Portage National Monument and Isle Royale National Park – one of the most remote national parks, accessible only by boat or seaplane.Grand Teton National Park | Coombs Outdoors aims to dismantle barriers to outdoor recreation culture for local families – especially Spanish-speaking, immigrant families – by providing year-round, multi-generational programs that foster a sense of belonging, community connection, and confidence through adventure.Great Smoky Mountains National Park | As one stop of their National Park Tour, Black People Who Hike will host 2-3 days of adventurous and restorative activities, aimed at engaging the local black community and creating a safe, welcoming space where people can build community and create everlasting relationships with the outdoors.Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park | Working in partnership with Kupu, the park will offer comprehensive youth programming for students from local rural, under-represented communities and inspire them to explore natural resources careers, take an active role in their community, participate in hands-on learning in nature, and engage in Hawaiian cultural practices that promote social-emotional health.Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park – Seattle Unit, Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Olympic National Park | Outdoor Asian will work alongside the Seattle Parks Foundation to expand its programming – including guided snowshoe walks, park cleanups, community science programs, and beginner backpacking and camping trips – to build relationships across Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) cultures, with other communities of color, and with the natural world.Mississippi National River and Recreation Area | Mississippi Park Connection will boost support for its affinity groups, allowing them to increase their capacity and connect more people from historically underrepresented communities – including people of color, veterans, people living with physical disabilities, and LGTBQ+ individuals – with the opportunities to recreate and explore their public lands.National Park of American Samoa | Hosted by the Boys and Girls Club of American Samoa, Expedition NPSA will connect high school-aged students with National Park Service staff to shadow, learn about employment opportunities and career paths, and make connections. At the month’s end, participants will also have a chance to apply for a stipend volunteer position to gain more experience.Olympic National Park | The Washington Trails Association will host a volunteer trip for female-identifying young people, ages 14-18, where participants will develop their leadership skills and find space in an inclusive community of environmental stewards and outdoor champions as they work, hike, and camp in a beautiful national park.Point Reyes National Seashore | Led by the Point Reyes National Seashore Association and working closely with over 20 nonprofit organizations, Youth in Parks (YIP) fosters accessibility and community engagement, offering repeat outdoor recreation and science experiences to build environmental literacy and strengthen connections between participants and the natural world.Rock Creek Park | With their second ParkVentures grant, Pride Outside will build on their Nurture & Nature program with eight additional community workshops and hikes at Rock Creek Park for members of the local LBGTQ+ community to celebrate queer joy; increase physical, mental, and social health; and cultivate connections.Rocky Mountain National Park | Environmental Learning for Kids – a Denver-based nonprofit – will give underrepresented Denver youth opportunities for educational and professional development, enabling them to serve as community ambassadors and educators through their Urban Ranger Program. Also at Rocky Mountain National Park, Santo Domingo Pueblo’s “Learning Through Nature” program will host monthly activities for youth and tribal leaders to gain hands-on outdoor learning experiences and build relationships, culminating in an extended overnight trip.Saguaro National Park | Park leadership and partners at Friends of Saguaro National Park, Inc. hope to engage historically excluded communities – low-income, Latinx, Indigenous, and disabled youth – through outdoor recreation and community events that will build a lasting and genuine relationship.San Juan Island National Historical Park | To inspire stewardship, On Sacred Ground will bring underrepresented youth from Seattle to explore the San Juan Islands and its rural coastal prairie and temperate rainforest ecosystem, learn about conservation advocacy and careers, and build connections in an environmental education program.St. Croix National Scenic Riverway | Led by the Wild Rivers Conservancy of the St. Croix & Namekagon, the Hmong Ambassador Program addresses needs for better access, representation, and opportunities for positive engagement with the riverway through a sustained partnership with Hmong outdoor leaders, with the goal of building a diverse community of recreational users and stewards.Western Arctic National Parklands | The Iglauyumaaq: Arctic Travelers program, created by Alaska Geographic, will facilitate outdoor adventures for teens in the traditional and current homelands of the Inupiat people, fostering connections to national parks and the outdoors among youth in a remote, underserved community.Yosemite National Park | Yosemite Conservancy’s United in Yosemite is a multi-day climbing event intentionally designed by and for diverse communities, featuring free climbing clinics, affinity group spaces, art workshops, and environmental stewardship projects to celebrate diversity, foster stewardship, build community, and promote a sense of belonging in Yosemite.

Identifying and Eliminating Barriers

Ensuring access to parks is crucial for fostering inclusivity and diversity in outdoor recreation, and it starts with understanding the spectrum of information and accommodations needed for people to participate in the outdoors.

As a recipient of one of the inaugural ParkVentures grants in 2022, the leaders and participants at Wilderness Inquiry can attest to this.

“Our goal is to increase access to outdoor spaces and activities so that everyone, specifically those whose identities have been historically underrepresented and excluded from national parks, can experience the holistic benefits of time in nature,” said Erika Rivers, Executive Director of Wilderness Inquiry. “With our first grant in 2022, we connected more than 100 individuals to accessible adventures in the outdoors, including a guided canoe trip, “ASL Day on the River,” for members of the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing community at the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. As we build on the impact of our partnership with National Park Foundation through our Affinity Travel program and completion of an accessible connector trail in collaboration with the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, we are excited to reach more members of this community and others who identify as people of color, LGBTQ+, and individuals experiencing disability so all people can form lasting connections to these wonderful parks.”

Additional projects that aim to identify and eliminate barriers will take place at:

Anacostia Park | Friends of Anacostia Park will host respite summits and nature-based activities for seniors, returning citizens, teachers, and veterans that address their unique needs and promote park accessibility.Biscayne National Park | To improve connections between the local community and the parks, the park will provide afterschool programming and summer school for underserved neighborhoods through a local community empowerment organization, Touching Miami with Love.Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail | Working in collaboration with Richmond-based nonprofit Beyond Boundaries, the park will offer outdoor adventures and environmental education opportunities to individuals with disabilities, youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, veterans, and individuals in substance recovery.Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark | Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation’s “Cultivate Carrie” initiative aims to break down barriers that have estranged local communities from this iconic heritage site by incentivizing partnership, promoting community learning, and building trust and respect with communities.Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park | Soul Trak Outdoors’ Whitewater Kayaking Program aims to diversify whitewater kayaking on local waterways through guided instruction and hands-on training, breaking down barriers to ensure accessibility and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sport to enrich the community of paddlers.Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Families in Akron and Cleveland – particularly those from neighborhoods that score poorly using the EPA’s environmental justice screening tool and communities overburdened by pollution with disparate health and education outcomes – will have access to in-park experiences like camping, fishing, and arts.Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Gateway National Recreation Area | The Appalachian Mountain Club’s Educators Outdoors program will host outdoor experiences for New York-based students, educators, and youth development professionals; facilitate workshops and trainings for educators; provide resources to support outdoor trips, including free outdoor gear and equipment loans; and engage volunteers in program implementation and gear maintenance.Devils Postpile National Monument | To help young people from communities that have been impacted by social inequities, San Diego-based nonprofit Outdoor Outreach is planning a development opportunity where chosen participants will receive 300 hours of outdoor education, leadership development, and civic engagement training – culminating in a 5-day backpacking trip.Gateway National Recreation Area | Jamaica Bay Rockaway Parks Conservancy will offer safe, inclusive, and adaptive recreation opportunities that are free and accessible for all ages and abilities – including accessible surf and standup paddleboard clinics and an adaptive cycling program.Glacier National Park | American Association of State Colleges and Universities will provide impactful training to higher education practitioners to increase accessibility of national parks through university experiences that center around sustainability, indigenous community members, and building civic skills.Great Basin National Park | The Great Basin National Park Foundation will offer immersive camping experiences – including a scaffolded 8-month experience for select youth from Las Vegas – for Indigenous and urban youth of color, leveraging resources and partnerships with local community organizations to address identified barriers.Joshua Tree National Park | Outdoor Outreach is looking to expand on the success of their “Climbing Over Barriers” program, which was supported by one of the inaugural grants awarded by ParkVentures, by using rock climbing and camping activities to provide a culturally relevant and joyful introduction to the park to increase access, awareness, and stewardship.Kenai Fjords National Park and Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area | Together, the parks will support a series of low-cost and free outdoor education programs that remove barriers, promote access, and instill in kids an enduring stewardship ethic for the spaces they live and recreate in.Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens | To build on their successful WELLderness program – which was supported by one of the first ParkVentures grants – the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens will expand their program offerings for non-native English speakers using technology, paid interpreters, and staff support.Lassen Volcanic National Park | To encourage participation in the youth camping program at the Volcano Adventure Camp, the Lassen Park Foundation and Lassen Volcanic National Park will cover costs for young people from local tribes and nearby communities who were impacted by the pandemic, the 2021 Dixie Fire, and higher costs of living.Lincoln Home National Historic Site | To bolster inclusive access to a new youth exhibit at the park, the Lincoln Presidential Foundation will provide accessibility training to staff on-site and give pre-and-post-visit materials, audience evaluation, and staff training to local organizations and schools.Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park | An alternative transportation shuttle system, new benches along park trails, and improving access to park buildings will address longstanding challenges posed by the park’s topographic layout.New River Gorge National Park and Preserve | Acknowledging the barriers that have prevented residents in gateway communities from accessing activity and led to the belief that parks are only for tourists, the Get Active in the Park (GAP) partnership between New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and Active Southern West Virginia, Inc. will offer free beginner-level activities for all ages led by trained volunteers from within the community in hopes of building a more positive relationship between the park and the local community.Olympic National Park | Easterseals Washington will give 36 summer campers a memorable experience tailored to their needs and abilities at Camp Stand By Me.Ozark National Scenic Riverways | The Ozark Riverways Foundation, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and the Wheatley Tutoring Program will work together to increase access to park amenities and programs by offering a series of Junior Ranger Day Camp experiences to African American and low-income students, as well as establishing a lending closet with camping supplies available to low-income families.Rocky Mountain National Park and Rocky Mountain Conservancy | Rocky Mountain National Park, in partnership with Estes Valley Invests in Community Success Family Resource Center, will co-create interpretive and educational programming for Spanish-speaking members of the park’s gateway community, Estes Park. The intentional programming will eliminate barriers, promote access, and cultivate connections to the social, mental, and physical health benefits for program participants.Valley Forge National Historical Park | The Centro de Cultura, Arte, Trabajo y Educación will launch a new initiative called “Bridging Landscapes,” which provides youth employment opportunities to encourage community participation, enhances local bicycle programs to mitigate transportation issues, and supports collaborative programs with Valley Forge to foster a deeper connection between local Latino immigrant families and the park.White Clay Wild and Scenic Watershed | Working closely with other local organizations, the Stroud Water Research Center will facilitate access to the park for community members who face barriers to outdoor engagement and offer recreational programming designed to enhance enjoyment of nature, foster a sense of connection with the land, and promote social connection within the community.Yellowstone National Park | Yellowstone Forever offers financial support to ensure that Indigenous youth can participate in the Indigenous Generations initiative – a unique educational program that emphasizes connection to the land with both youth and elders to foster healing and renewal.

Diversifying Perspectives in Parks

Telling comprehensive and accurate stories that reflect diverse perspectives is essential for fostering a sense of belonging in and connection to national parks among visitors and local communities alike. But who should tell these stories? And how can we give them a platform to be amplified?

At the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, there is hope that the next generation will be the ones to shine a light on a story that must be told. A ParkVentures grant awarded to the Emmett Till Interpretive Center will give local high school students the opportunity to travel through the Mississippi Delta and receive mentorship from professional filmmakers in a two-week filmmaking academy.

“We are excited for the opportunity to bring high school students to the new Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument to visit and engage with these historic sites in the Mississippi Delta–and to learn about the role our community played in shaping the nation’s history,” said Patrick Weems, Executive Director of the Emmett Till Interpretive Center. “This filmmaking workshop will provide young people with the tools to reflect on our community’s past and the skills to tell their own stories of life in the Delta today.”

Additional projects will take place at:

First State National Historical Park | The Brandywine Community Resource Council will introduce a multi-generational program to teach residents about Delaware through creative use of nature, art, and storytelling.Fort Laramie National Historic Site | “Embassy on the Plains” will be a pilot program for tribal youth to reflect and heal as they learn about the history and legacies of the 1851 Horse Creek and 1868 Fort Laramie Treaties on the sacred ground where their ancestors met with the United States government and negotiated these agreements.Fort Vancouver National Historic Site | An outdoor education project led by the Confluence Project – a community-supported nonprofit based in the Pacific Northwest – will connect youth from underserved communities with Native educators and tradition keepers to learn Traditional Ecological Knowledge about the Columbia River system; share its cultural history with future generations; and create meaningful art projects that connect people to place.Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park | A new tour offered by the Fredericksburg Area Museum in partnership with Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields National Military Park and the Stafford Museum and Cultural Center will highlight powerful stories of enslaved resistance and immerse participants in regional African American history.Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve | The Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area Youth Programs, including the Heritage Camp and Caminos del Valle Youth Walking Tours, aim to educate local middle and high school students on the history, heritage, culture, and traditions of the area, fostering a legacy of protecting and sharing the region’s unique heritage for generations to come.Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site | To foster strong partnerships between the local community and surrounding national park sites, the Western National Parks Association will offer a series of programs that integrate Native American and local knowledge, build social connections, and promote access.Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail | The Joy Trip Project will bring together Black educators, youth, and activists to paddle, hike, and camp along the same rivers where the Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled 200 years ago as they discuss York – the enslaved African American member of the Corps of Discovery – and what his story means for people of color in the outdoors today.Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument | Musicians Christopher Parker and Kelley Hurt are working with the Oxford American Literacy Project, Inc. To engage a diverse, multi-generational community and inspire stewardship of our civil rights history by bringing the No Tears Project – a touring civil rights education and arts outreach program – to Jackson, Miss.Petroglyph National Monument | With the need for comprehensive improvements to the Boca Negra Canyon area, the park will engage tribal representatives to collaborate on the plan and ensure that the improvements are sensitive to traditions and values of the Monument’s 29 traditionally associated Pueblos and Tribes.Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail | Resilient Village LLC and Alabama Association for the Arts are organizing the 60th Anniversary Commemoration for the Voting Rights March, featuring a Heritage Picnic and Outdoor Theater event aimed at symbolizing unity and resilience through traditional foods and emotionally engaging performances, alongside “The Civil Rights Canvas” Art Exhibition curated to honor the civil rights movement.

ParkVentures is made possible thanks to funding from founding partner Nature Valley, and Outdoor Exploration initiative premier partner Subaru of America and supporting partners Niantic and Sun Outdoors, Winnebago, and Winnebago Industries Foundation. Additional support is provided by Apple, American Airlines, EVOLVE Plant-Based Protein, Expedia, Kohl’s, and Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold.

Learn more about ParkVentures here.

In June, Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, welcomed over 200 attendees and 25 industry speakers to the Manufacturer Forum: Shanghai. The day-long event, held in collaboration with ISPO Shanghai, is part of Cascale’s ongoing event series that amplifies the voices of manufacturers around the globe.

Building on the “Catalyst for Change” theme, which has linked the organization’s recent manufacturer-led events in Bangalore, Dhaka, and Shenzhen, Cascale’s Manufacturer Forum: Shanghai featured targeted programming designed to address local challenges faced by manufacturers. This included solutions provided by the Higg Index, as well as Cascale’s growing list of impact initiatives, including the Manufacturer Climate Impact Program (MCAP).

It was the first Cascale event for Colin Browne, who became Cascale’s CEO in May. His attendance is a testament to his commitment to engage with manufacturers, understand their concerns and challenges, and elevate their voices on the global stage. This mission-critical approach from Cascale was further supported by the attendance of Board Member Dr. Delman Lee, vice chair at TAL Apparel Limited, and Scott Raskin, CEO of Worldly, the leader in environmental and social impact data for the apparel and footwear industry, which provides the exclusive platform for Cascale’s Higg Index tools.

In his opening address to the manufacturer-heavy crowd, Browne commented: “Part of my job is to amplify the voices of the experts and the manufacturers are the key experts in helping to solve many of the challenges we face today. […] I chose this as my first place to come and speak because it is so incredibly important to me that we work with manufacturers to find a way to bring your voices to the table.”

The Shanghai event reinforced the organization’s commitment to support an open exchange between manufacturers and better understand their needs and ongoing challenges to jointly develop solutions. With attendees reflecting the entire value chain – including manufacturers, service providers, industry stakeholders, strategic partners, brands and retailers, NGOs, academia, and government officials – the event facilitated pre-competitive collaboration in order to share best practices and collectively address critical challenges. Key discussions included:

Exploring Decarbonization Strategies and Climate Change MitigationEstablishing Effective Science-Based TargetsNavigating Future Legislation: Implications for ManufacturersExamining Critical Data: A Comparison of Higg FEM 3.0 and 4.0Prioritizing Workplace Health and Safety InitiativesSharing Insights: Best Practices from Cascale Members and Stakeholders

Event sponsors included Benchmarks, TÜV Rheinland, Worldly, ESTS Global, GreenPont, and Stantec. Click here to learn more about Cascale’s Manufacturer Forums.

SCS Global Services is ringing in the summer season with the launch of a highly anticipated new water stewardship standard and certification service (see below), based on input from key industry stakeholders and our many years of water certification and verification work. In this edition, we also feature several new customer stories highlighting their environmental and social responsibility success stories and a new eBook that can support food companies on your food safety journey. Read on for details.

New Water Stewardship Certification and Webinar

In the wake of the publication of the Certification Standard for Water Stewardship and Resiliency (SCS-116) by SCS Standards, SCS Global Services announces a new certification program to showcase and support water stewardship actions for organizations of all sizes. Certification helps organizations gain deep understanding of site-specific water data, pursue continuous improvement, and increase consumer awareness of your water stewardship achievements with transparent on-product claims. Above all, certification highlights organizational achievements and provides a framework to help organizations consider the uncertainty and ever-changing conditions of your water supply.

Details of the certification program will be presented in an upcoming webinar on July 17. Companies that want to demonstrate leadership in water stewardship are encouraged to attend. Those unfamiliar with water stewardship practices can benefit from watching the recording of our latest webinar, Benchmarking Water Stewardship in a Shifting Global Regulatory Landscape here.

EUDR Support Services

The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) goal is to help mitigate forest and biodiversity loss and prevent land degradation. For global companies producing and importing the seven commodities impacted by the regulation – soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa, coffee and rubber, and their derived products – into EU countries, EUDR might lead to significant logistical, reporting, and financial challenges. SCS Global Services and SCS Consulting Services have teamed up to offer a portfolio of solutions for those affected by EUDR, including:

Comprehensive compliance and due diligence integrity assessmentsEUDR consulting servicesTraining servicesSupport services relating to existing certification schemes

For more information, watch Navigating the European Deforestation Regulation, an insightful webinar unpacking the EUDR Regulation and answering your questions about how EUDR may affect you or click here to get EUDR Support.

SCS Global Heat Reduction Initiative

The fight against global warming is a sprint and a marathon at the same time. In the long run, we must get to net zero on carbon dioxide (CO2). But we also have an increasingly pressing short term goal: drastically reduce emissions of methane, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and other supercharged, short-lived climate pollutants that are causing 45% of all global warming.

The Global Heat Reduction Initiative (GHR), launched recently by SCS Global Services, is focused on that sprint. Through a groundbreaking climate registry, the most comprehensive footprinting program available, and tailored advisory services all peer-reviewed and backed by the latest IPCC science, GHR helps organizations of all kinds determine their full footprints, achieve their climate and SDG goals in a cost-effective manner, and contribute quantifiably to near-term reductions of excess atmospheric heat.

To learn more, visit www.heatreduction.com or read GHR’s whitepaper “The Missing Link in Effective Climate Action.”

SCS Consulting Announces Carbon Footprint Accounting Software

This month SCS Consulting Services announced a partnership with leading carbon footprint accounting platform developer, Workiva Carbon (formerly Sustain.Life). As a comprehensive carbon management solution for organizations of all sizes, Workiva Carbon’s suite of tools are now available to SCS clients seeking to simplify their carbon measurement, management, and reporting functions. Customers now have an easy entry-point to calculate their annual carbon footprint, track changes over time, and report results in line with CDP, ISSB, and ESRS standards, which underpin new global climate regulations.

SCS Consulting will integrate the Workiva Carbon technology into existing services supporting clients with their emissions reduction strategy, including setting Science-Based Targets, providing a more sophisticated method of supplier engagement, and tracking progress over time against their climate transition plans. Learn more!

Case Study: Pompeian Olive Oil’s Move to Sustainably Grown Certification

Sustainability looks different across the planet depending on the industry, business, and local environment. But for Pompeian, one of the world’s leading suppliers of olive oil, the choice was clear: SCS Sustainably Grown® Certification offered the most rigorous agricultural framework to elevate the company’s sustainability performance.

Pompeian collaborated first with growers at Sunrise Olive Ranch in California to implement Sustainably Grown Certification. In the process, Pompeian set new standards of accountability, transparency, and sustainability while building resilience in the olive groves and increasing productivity. In our new case study, we explore Pompeian’s efforts to achieve the Sustainably Grown Certification – a commitment that highlights the company’s role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices within the olive oil industry. Pompeian leadership hopes this certification will set a benchmark for other producers, encouraging the broader adoption of sustainable farming methods in the olive oil industry. Download the case study here.

eBook: Food Safety Labeling Compliance

Over the past four decades working within the food and agriculture sector, SCS has helped thousands of organizations better manage their food safety and labeling initiatives. In this eBook, Understanding the Top 10 Food Safety Labeling Compliance Issues, we detail some of the major pitfalls that regularly complicate businesses’ labeling operations. We also offer recommendations for achieving food safety labeling compliance and discuss some of the major regulatory themes emerging in 2024 that could impact your company. Download eBook.

Case Study: Food Is Medicine Coalition

Grounded in the latest nutrition and medical science, the Food Is Medicine Coalition (FIMC) is a national collective of non-profit organizations across the United States that has provided medically tailored meal (MTM) and tailored grocery (MTG) services for almost 40 years. As a coalition of leading MTM service providers, FIMC realized the importance of defining their foundational intervention. FIMC partnered with SCS Standards to identify and measure the specific, yet diverse functions, customized services, and components of care offered through FIMC agencies. A new case study from SCS Standards tells the story of this remarkable collaboration, which resulted in the FIMC Medically Tailored Meal Intervention Accreditation Criteria and Requirements (ACR). View case study here.

Case IH, a brand of CNH, attended this year’s AgroBrasília, a fair held at the Ivaldo Censi Technological Park, in the federal capital.

The brand presented, together with its dealership in the Pivot region, machines and solutions designed for the region’s producers.

Among the highlights was Case IH’s latest release, the Axial-Flow Series 160 Automation. With 60% of the machinery renewed, the new grain harvester highlights the Automation System and factory connectivity. Through machine learning and artificial intelligence resources, the entire operation has been reduced to four harvesting modes that provide simplicity and productivity in the operation. With 12 sensors that collect data from the industrial system and then self-regulate, the machine automatically controls 90% of the operations, being able to perform up to 1,800 daily interventions during the harvesting operation, a number that the operator would not be able to perform alone.

Another innovation presented at the fair was the Case IH Spraying Drone. This pre-launch was presented during Agrishow and is imported and distributed in Brazil by the brand. As a solution to complement Case IH’s spraying portfolio, the drone will be offered in two models, 30 liters and 70 liters – the latter the highest capacity currently available on the market.

And those who visited the Case IH booth at AgroBrasília were also able to see the Farmall, Puma, Magnum AFS Connect and Steiger AFS Connect tractors; the Fast Riser 6100 planter; the Patriot 250 sprayer; and the Axial-Flow Series 250 Automation harvester.

CINCINNATI, July 11, 2024 /3BL/ – The Fifth Third Bank Financial Empowerment Mobile, commonly known as the eBus, brings financial access, social services and education directly into communities across the Bank’s 11-state footprint, especially in underserved areas. Since the eBus began its 2024 tour on May 3, it has traveled nearly 3,000 miles, visited 18 communities and served nearly 1,100 community members.

“At Fifth Third, we believe that financial empowerment is an important first step in helping to transform lives and communities,” said Kala Gibson, chief corporate responsibility officer. “Fifth Third’s eBus delivers financial tools and resources to communities that may not have easy access to such resources. This is part of our commitment to build strong communities and to keep customers at the center of everything we do.”

For 2024, the eBus has been reimagined to offer enhanced experiences including immediate checking account opening, face-to-face consultation pods for private conversations, and access to credit counseling and community social service agencies. Fifth Third has partnered with community organizations to bring the eBus to areas that may not have access to not only financial education resources, but statewide and national financial wellness resources as well.

Since early May, the eBus has traveled to more than a dozen communities across Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. The eBus will return to Ohio in early August for a statewide tour, with stops planned across the Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland regions.

The increased offerings of the eBus include the services of SpringFour, a leading financial health fintech, that connects visitors to more than 24,000 free local, statewide and national financial wellness resources from nonprofit and government agencies.

Through its digital self-service financial wellness solution, community members can access support in 14 categories including food savings, rental resources, childcare, employment services, small business support and more:

Visitors enter their zip code and search for assistance in the specific category where assistance is required.SpringFour provides instant, localized results for human and social services organizations.Through the collaboration, the Bank and SpringFour will provide tablets on the eBus for visitors to access the service or give instructions for use on personal mobile devices.

About SpringFour

Founded in 2005, SpringFour is the first-of-its-kind, leading financial health fintech that empowers banks, credit unions, fintech lenders, employers, mortgage servicers, nonprofits, and organizations across all industries to connect consumers with vetted, local nonprofit and government financial health resources. Trusted by more than 40 leading organizations including Capital One, BMO, M&T Bank, Fifth Third, OppFi, KeyBank, Avant, Enova, Oportun, Mission Lane, and more, SpringFour’s product suite includes an innovative contact center tool, digital self-service products, and APIs that increase payment performance, add brand value, strengthen customer relationships, drive ESG and social impact, support consumer financial health, and improve bottom lines. SpringFour has received many prestigious awards including American Banker’s Most Influential Women in Fintech, Inc. Magazine’s Female Founders 250, Real Leaders’ Top Impact Companies, Fast Company’s Brands that Matter, Finovate’s Innovator of the Year, and more. SpringFour is a Certified B Corporation and WBE. To learn how SpringFour can benefit your organization, visit www.springfour.com.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

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CONTACTS

Amanda Nageleisen (Media Relations) 
amanda.nageleisen@53.com | 
Matt Curoe (Investor Relations) 
matt.curoe@53.com | 513-534-2345

Covia prioritizes responsibility and sustainability in our operations, focusing on environmental and social impacts. “Being a Good Neighbor” has long been a guiding principle at Covia, and, as an outcome of our updated materiality assessment that was completed in 2023, we are introducing Responsible Operations as a new material topic. This is a topic with broad reach and significant impact, and we bring it to life by operating with an unwavering commitment to minimizing environmental impact, fostering community relationships, and proactively addressing challenges. This is What Inspires Us. Our Responsible Operations commitment is integrated into our strategic decision-making, daily operations, collaboration with Team Members and stakeholders, relationships with value chain partners, and engagement with government officials, community leaders, and our neighbors. We are focused on continuous improvement to reduce air emissions, noise, dust, waste, truck traffic, and any other potential negative effects on the communities in which we operate. Team Members at various levels of our organization have clearly defined responsibility for oversight of these issues and our actions.

‘Being a Good Neighbor’ in Action

Every Covia facility is expected to follow our “Being a Good Neighbor” commitment. This philosophy has been with us, and our predecessor companies, for over 100 years. Three facilities’ exemplary efforts are profiled below.

Tunnel City: Designing for Responsible Operations When our Tunnel City, Wisconsin, facility opened in 2013, it was planned and developed with a focus on the community. The site was set up to rely only on rail transportation for all finished goods, which has limited emissions, noise, and congestion from truck traffic. The facility was also built below grade, promoting operational efficiency and minimizing the visual impacts of our operations on the surrounding community. A formal semiannual check-in with the community leaders also ensures ongoing dialogue and partnership.NSO: Championing Noise Prevention Measures Because of our proximity to the surrounding community, our NSO operation in Ontario, Canada, has implemented several key initiatives to reduce noise levels over the years. Among these efforts is the installation of equipment silencers to dampen the noise produced by heavy machinery. The site also responded to community feedback by changing the backup alarms on its equipment, creating sound that does not travel as far but still adequately signals our Team Members. Additionally, NSO has adjusted its operational practices by reducing rock-breaking hours on weekends and has reduced operating hours on long holiday weekends.Chardon: Exemplary Dust Management Practices In 2023, Covia’s Chardon, Ohio, facility implemented multiple dust management initiatives that reduce dust exposure for Team Members and mitigate nuisance dust for the community. We employ best-in-class methods such as vacuuming and hosing, and we use dust collection devices in key operational areas such as the screen house, rotary area, and bulk bagging sections.

Click to learn more about Covia’s all-in approach to Responsible Operations.

In conversations with corporate clients we often point out three important factors driving their sustainability journey: (1) the steady increase in investor interest in corporate ESG performance; (2) internal stakeholders pressuring their employer to start or enhance the journey, and (3) competitive forces as peer companies in their respective industries or sectors enhance their ESG efforts.

Here’s another force for corporate boards and C-suites to now consider: in this year’s Deloitte survey of corporate leaders and M&A leaders examining key trends in M&A and private equity (PE), ESG is in sharper focus. In the introduction, Deloitte states:

“Across the deal life cycle, better data, improved measurement, and deeper understanding of ESG are key factors shaping dealmaking for M&A leaders. The results of our 2024 ESG in M&A trends survey show a bold embrace of the role of ESG in M&A strategies that seize opportunity and create additional value.”

According to the findings of Deloitte’s survey, which is our Top Story below, corporate and private equity (PE) leaders have a growing appreciation for the ways that ESG factors can drive value.

The annual survey that began in 2022 is supervised by Sarah Corrigan, Managing Director of MYA and Restructuring Services, and Brian Lightle, Deloitte Partner overseeing M&A Transaction Services. Highlights of the 2024 survey include:

The growing proliferation of accurate, reliable, comparable ESG data, and more comprehensive ways of parsing the data, is helping in assessing valuations, portfolio management, and strategic targeting in M&A practices.Being able to have more confidence in ESG profiles and better understanding of the acquirer’s own ESG profile can provide more confidence in the transaction being considered. (From the first survey conducted in 2022 to the 2024 results, survey respondents reported now have a “very high” or “high” confidence, moving to a 91 percent level in 2024.)While the consideration of ESG factors in transactions is low (the percentage of M&A leaders having a dedicated approach for management of ESG factors is only 12%), 19% see ESG as now important in the regulatory context. Financial services organizations lead in adopting ESG approaches and PE respondents are working to address ESG factors.

Respondents told Deloitte that while consideration of ESG factors in M&A activities can drive the process, the approach can also help acquirers build and enhance their own ESG strategies and goals. What ESG data should an acquirer look at in their analysis of the target? Start with a better understanding of the organization’s own ESG data.

According to Deloitte: ESG in M&A strategy is becoming a rationale to influence which deals to seek; 74% of companies say they have looked at possible targets while considering their own portfolios or their own investments from the ESG perspective; 67% says the same about their divestiture strategies.

At G&A Institute our team isr assisting our corporate clients enhance their ESG profiles as they set their respective acquisition, divestiture, or exit strategies. This is now another key driver for addressing risk and opportunities through increasing focus on a firm’s sustainability journey.

This is just the introduction of G&A’s Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue.

While Colt Seavers is no stranger to chaos on his film sets, in real life the team behind Universal’s The Fall Guy was much more intentional with their behavior behind the scenes when it came to sustainability. The film was awarded the Environmental Media Association Gold Seal, the highest rating given by the organization for sustainable production practices.

During filming, the crew partnered with GMC, using an electric Hummer as one of their main picture cars featured in the film’s climactic sequence and handling all of the action without missing a beat. Other fuel and energy saving efforts included a hybrid basecamp generator, which burns about 75% less diesel than a conventional generator, and the majority of set lighting was energy efficient LED.

Mindful of food and material waste throughout production, more than 1,400 meals were donated to those in need through Oz Harvest and over 15 metric tons of set materials and props were distributed to local charities and community initiatives.

On ‘The Fall Guy’, the goal for us is to try to be as thoughtful as possible, all the way from development to post. It’s important for the film industry to be leaders in the sustainability conversation.

KELLY MCCORMICK
Executive Producer

87North Productions continues to partner closely with Universal’s GreenerLight program, focused on incorporating sustainability throughout the filmmaking process.