Tag: 3BL

Verizon

As a middle school student in Jackson, Mississippi, Ravion Lightfoot’s education went far beyond social studies and math. Over the course of two summers, starting in 2016, Lightfoot participated in the Verizon Innovative Learning summer program at Jackson State University, where he learned HTML coding for websites, explored the intricacies of computer-aided design (CAD) and was introduced to drone technology. He says this hands-on experience with next-gen tech influenced his current career path and continued interest in STEM. “I was interested in AI and the ‘simple’ logic connected to coding,” Lightfoot says. “Before the program, I definitely didn’t know about other career possibilities in STEM. It 100% helped my path up to now.”

Fast forward to today, and Lightfoot, 19, is a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is majoring in behavioral science, with plans to get his master’s degree in management or computer science.

For Lightfoot, the Verizon Innovative Learning program was the catalyst that sparked his interest in STEM. The program aims to empower middle school students in under-resourced communities to explore STEM subjects, learn problem-solving skills and gain exposure to career opportunities in technology fields. “The program was a nice environment for kids to do something at that age,” Lightfoot says. “We had a lot of exposure.”

Charles Moore, who serves as the instructor for Jackson State’s Verizon Innovative Learning program, has been with the program since its inception in 2015 and remembers Lightfoot as an advanced student who was hardworking and disciplined. “Ravion was a very focused student, and he enjoyed thinking outside the box,” he says. “He was very creative, and he loved soccer, too.”

Lightfoot’s favorite part of the Verizon program was attending a three-day summit in San Francisco, where he and about 100 other students saw real-world applications of what they were learning. During the trip, Lightfoot and the other students toured the Verizon Innovation Lab and saw how STEM is used at a film and TV production company, among other STEM-focused activities.

“At the Verizon Innovation Lab, it was pretty cool seeing a robot balance a ball; it was showing future ideas,” Lightfoot says. “We also saw the difference in internet speeds—3G, 4G and 5G. At the end of the trip, they gave us time to go out and explore. It was nice having the freedom to experience that at that age.”

After Verizon Innovative Learning, Lightfoot got more involved in other STEM camps, thanks to the support and encouragement of his family and family friends. “My family kept putting me and my cousin [who also attended the Verizon program] into different programs. That gave me early exposure to STEM and helped me stay interested in it after middle school,” he says. “My family is very excited about what I’m doing now at the Academy.”

In high school, Lightfoot continued his STEM journey through various activities, joining a robotics club and competing in the C Spire Coding Challenge. His dedication was recognized with a $40,000 scholarship from a major tech company for students pursuing computer science or engineering. “I’m pretty tech savvy,” he says. “My tech experience sets me apart.”

Lightfoot’s academic success sets him apart as well. In addition to being a strong student, Junior ROTC cadet, active volunteer and athlete in high school, Lightfoot earned two Gold Keys—the top award—for his art submissions in the Scholastic Art Awards. He also received offers of appointment from the Merchant Marine Academy, the Naval Academy Preparatory School and West Point, though he says he was “most excited” about joining the Air Force Academy.

“I came into the Academy wanting to be a pilot,” he says. “I’d been interested in aviation and planes since I was younger.”

This interest began after Lightfoot participated in an after-school club where we got his first chance to fly. The students were introduced to fields such as art and music, and when they got the opportunity to take flight with local pilots, Lightfoot realized how much he enjoyed it.

“There was an inexplicable sense of joy, excitement and adrenaline when I got up in the air,” he explains. His interest was so apparent that the program leader connected Lightfoot with one of the pilots so he could work toward getting his private pilot’s license.

When it comes to his current time in the Academy, Lightfoot says one of his favorite parts is the people. “From the military personnel to civilians—they possess a breadth of high-quality information and life experience that they are more than willing to pass down.”

As for his future, Lightfoot is exploring the options that an Air Force education will grant him, whether that’s becoming a pilot, working in cybersecurity or considering a career with Space Force, the military branch dedicated to protecting U.S. and allied interests in space. “Overall, I’m not sure yet,” he says. “The job’s not finished, although, to a fault, I don’t really pay attention to the small wins. I’m more focused on the big win of graduating and commissioning.”

Whatever he decides, Lightfoot’s future looks bright. As for advice for younger people hoping to follow in his footsteps, Lightfoot encourages them to take advantage of any opportunity they have to learn about STEM as he did with the Verizon Innovative Learning summer program. “It’s good to have early exposure to STEM fields,” Lightfoot says. “If that’s something you’re interested in, explore it whenever you can.”

Disclaimer: The appearance of Department of Defense personnel does not imply or constitute DOD endorsement. The Department of Defense [nor a respective Military Service or any other DOD Component] does not approve, endorse, or authorize this company, its products or services.

In celebration of Black History Month, Bath & Body Works is spotlighting perfumer Gwen Gonzalez and designer Katria Judkins and offering an exclusive candle collection they brought to life. Through her use of dreamy colors and golden accents, Judkins captured Gonzalez’s vision for four new fragrances inspired by Gonzalez ’s personal memories. This special collection is available at Bath & Body Works stores and online, and features these unique fragrances:

“You, Me & the Sea”—notes of blue orchid, fresh eucalyptus and saltwater“Gwen’s Note”—notes of creamy sandalwood, sage and soft lavender“Anna’s Garden”—notes of orange blossom, white tea and jasmine“My Sweet Sisters”—notes of sugared cinnamon, toasted hazelnut and cake batter

We believe that it’s important to spotlight underrepresented professionals in fragrance to raise awareness for their contributions and stories while signaling what’s possible for the next generation.

In support of that effort, the Bath & Body Works Foundation has donated $200,000 to support the American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholars Program and the ACS Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Respect’s mission. Our three-year partnership began in 2023 to help open doors for the next generation of leaders in chemistry-related fields, like perfumers and more.

Learn more about Gonzalez’s and Judkins’ creative process in the video above.

Originally posted by Progressive Grocer.

By Bridget Goldschmidt.

Inspired by the achievements of mothers throughout its market area of Illinois, Indiana and Iowa, Jewel-Osco and diaper brand Huggies have rolled out the MOMents at Jewel-Osco contest. Aiming to recognize deserving moms and nourish families, the contest will award surprise grocery deliveries valued at more than $500 each.

See original post on Progressive Grocer and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

Since 1994, M·A·C Cosmetics has raised over $520,000,000 and counting to support healthy futures and equal rights for all through its iconic, philanthropic VIVA GLAM campaign. Thirty years later, M·A·C VIVA GLAM Lipsticks have been modernized with a makeover, with a silky matte finish and good-for-lips formula that looks richer, feels better, and lasts longer.

Meet M·A·Cximal Silky Matte VIVA GLAM Lipstick – the lipstick that still gives back 100%, but even better! We have refreshed the existing VIVA GLAM lipsticks that you know and love, and added a new shade to expand M·A·C VIVA GLAM’s fundraising efforts:

Intense brownish blue-red shade VIVA GLAM I is now VIVA HeartCreamy subdued pinkish-beige mauve shade VIVA GLAM II is now VIVA PlanetMuted brownish-plum shade VIVA GLAM III is now VIVA EmpoweredAnd deep neutral shade VIVA Equality is totally new!

These new lipstick names also reflect VIVA GLAM’s celebration of 30 years of VIVA GLAM with a wider charitable scope that reflects the challenges we face as a global community today. With a mission to promote equality for all, VIVA GLAM now focuses on four key pillars to further societal change and better the lives of everyone who calls our planet home.

SUPPORTING SEXUAL EQUALITY: M·A·C VIVA GLAM partners with local organizations to change policies, eliminate stigmas, and provide resources that promote healthy and happy futures for all.

EMPOWERING GENDER EQUALITY: M·A·C VIVA GLAM advocates for the rights of all people to have autonomy over their own bodies so they can live fully as their most authentic selves.

CHAMPIONING RACIAL EQUALITY: M·A·C VIVA GLAM builds on our long-standing conviction of representation, inclusion and equity for All Ages, All Races, All Genders by advocating for change and providing resources that advance racial justice.

PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL EQUALITY: M·A·C VIVA GLAM continues our pledge to do good for the planet by investing in safe, good-for-skin ingredients and innovative packaging designs that support a sustainable Earth.

You have the power to support healthy futures and equal rights for all by purchasing the four shades of M·A·Cximal Silky Matte VIVA GLAM Lipstick that give back 100%.

Learn more about M·A·C VIVA GLAM

Congratulations on successfully completing another year of disclosure! Utilizing CDP’s platform for disclosure empowers you and your organization to embark on ambitious corporate action. This practice helps monitor global advancement towards an economy that serves the well-being of both people and the planet.

In 2022, CDP had 23,592 companies disclose through the climate change, forests, and water security questionnaires. However, only 3,908 (17%) companies submitted a water security questionnaire. Whether business operations are located within a watershed that has sufficient supply to meet demand or not, it is integral for companies to submit the Water Security questionnaire. Water is a shared resource that impacts companies, big and small, and the communities in which they operate. Without water, it is essentially impossible to continue business operations.

Below are five key areas to think about to improve your score or begin responding to the CDP Water Security questionnaire:

Establishing a Baseline 

A critical step in submitting your water security questionnaire is to establish a baseline. By identifying and quantifying your current water withdrawal, consumption, discharge, water sources, and associated risks, you lay the foundation for accurate reporting and meaningful progress assessment. This baseline not only aids in responding effectively to CDP’s Water Security questionnaire but also provides a starting point against which future improvements can be measured. It’s a proactive approach that not only enhances your company’s understanding of its water-related impacts but also positions you to contribute meaningfully to global sustainability efforts.

Water Risk Assessments 

After collecting data on your water usage, a recommended next step would be to perform a Water Risk Assessment (WRA). Just as companies completing the Climate CDP questionnaire perform Climate Assessments, those tackling the Water CDP questionnaire should consider conducting either a water risk screening or a more comprehensive and detailed WRA. A WRA can be used for multiple purposes and can provide insights that help identify and manage water risks and associated mitigation measures. The WRA generally has three main goals:

To identify potential key risks to protect operations in the short to medium term.To help inform business objectives and decisions in the medium to long term, such as acquisitions or expansions.To begin water stewardship strategy development.

An effective WRA can significantly improve your Water CDP score by bolstering the comprehensiveness and accuracy of your responses. By addressing and mitigating identified risks, you not only enhance your company’s overall performance but also demonstrate your commitment to sustainable water management. This, in turn, positively influences how your company is perceived by stakeholders, including investors, customers, and regulatory bodies.

Additional Resources: Download our full Water Risk Assessment Methodology

Developing A Corporate Water Strategy 

Integrating the water risk assessment findings into your water resource management strategy not only aligns with the essence of responsible corporate stewardship but also serves as a catalyst for elevating your Water CDP score. As you navigate the complexities of water usage and its associated challenges, harnessing the insights gleaned from a WRA empowers you to make informed decisions, promote sustainable practices, and ultimately contribute to a more water-secure and resilient future.

Crafting a strategic engagement plan that seamlessly incorporates water management into your overarching company strategy is a crucial step. This strategic integration is essential for making water considerations an integral part of your business’s core objectives and operations, signaling a commitment to sustainable practices that resonate with stakeholders.

Implementing this strategy involves translating your goals into actionable practices. Internally set water reduction targets and re-use initiatives can serve as practical benchmarks, fostering a culture of accountability and contributing to water conservation efforts. Additionally, focusing on operational water efficiency is pivotal. By scrutinizing water usage across various functions and embracing efficient technologies, you not only exemplify responsible resource management but also potentially achieve substantial cost savings.

Expand Data Collection and Monitoring to the Supply Chain 

Expanding data collection, water monitoring, and water risk screening to the supply chain also represents a vital progression in the journey toward comprehensive water management. As the interconnectedness of global commerce becomes increasingly evident, understanding the water footprint of your supply chain is paramount.

By extending data collection and monitoring practices to encompass suppliers and partners, you gain insights into the holistic impact of your operations. This transparency enables the identification of potential risks and inefficiencies, improving business resiliency, and fostering collaboration with stakeholders to implement sustainable practices throughout the supply chain.

Furthermore, such an approach not only strengthens resilience but also showcases your commitment to responsible water stewardship, positioning your organization as a leader in sustainable business practices.

Looking Forward 

Evaluating the CDP Water Security questions in the questionnaire that are not presently scored is a strategic move that forward-thinking companies should consider. While these questions might not contribute to your current Water CDP score, they offer valuable insights into emerging trends and priorities within the realm of water management. Engaging with these questions prompts companies to proactively address water conservation, risk management, and sustainable practices that may weigh more heavily in the future.

By taking these questions into account and preparing for their potential inclusion in scoring mechanisms, you can position your organization to be at the forefront of evolving sustainability benchmarks. This approach demonstrates adaptability, foresight, and a commitment to staying ahead of industry trends, ensuring that your company remains poised for success in the ever-evolving landscape of water management and reporting.

Wrap-Up 

In conclusion, as we celebrate another successful year of disclosure, it’s evident that utilizing CDP’s platform for disclosure is a powerful tool for fostering corporate responsibility and sustainable action. The importance of water security cannot be understated, as it is a shared resource critical to business operations and community well-being.

By embracing the above strategies, your organization not only enhances its understanding of water-related impacts but also positions itself to make meaningful contributions to global sustainability efforts. Proactive engagement with emerging trends and priorities ensures that your company remains a leader in the ever-evolving landscape of water management and reporting, demonstrating adaptability, foresight, and a commitment to a more water-secure and resilient future.

Need more help? Reach out to our Water Stewardship team for guidance on your Corporate Water Strategy today!

The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth

BY VICKI HYMAN

In India, smallholder farmers are reducing their harvest loss and increasing their selling prices through the use of cold storage, which is connected to a mobile app that tracks the shelf life of produce in real time for digital inventory management.

In Mozambique, many laborers advertise for work by painting their phone numbers on planks nailed to trees. Now they’re getting labor market insights delivered directly to their phones and access to tools to improve their marketing and business management skills.

And when auditing lending records from banks in Colombia, Mexico and India, researchers found a high risk of future bias against women applicants. The low representation of women in the existing data skewed the algorithms used to spot creditworthy applicants. So they built a new one that’s gender-fair.

None of this would have been possible a decade ago. But the rise in connected devices and exponential growth in the data produced, combined with rapid advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, has unleashed the potential of data science. Until recently, however, governments, nonprofits and civic organizations have lacked the budgets, staff and capacity to take full advantage of data science to help more people.

Founded by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and the Rockefeller Foundation in 2020, data.org democratizes data by forging partnerships around the world to harness data science to tackle society’s most pressing issues. Among its initiatives: the Inclusive Growth and Recovery Challenge, which funded breakthrough data for social good concepts, including the three above, and the Capacity Accelerator Network, which aims to train a million data professionals by 2032 through hubs in more than 20 countries and counting. Mastercard continues to support data.org as it accelerates impact through data science at scale.

“Data has the potential to widen the gap between the haves and have-nots,” says Shamina Singh, founder and president of the Center for Inclusive Growth. “We need to continue to do the work that’s necessary to ensure that data science for social impact creates inclusive growth.”

The Mastercard Newsroom spoke to Singh and Danil Mikhailov, the executive director of data.org, about tackling the challenges facing the nascent field of data for social impact, why diversity is crucial in developing the talent pipeline and where they’re seeing success.

Shamina, your work at the Center aims to reduce economic inequality and narrow the digital divide that perpetuates that inequality. There’s also information inequality. What is the “data divide” and how does that manifest itself in the communities in which the Center works?

Singh: Data is power, and the enormous race we’re seeing around AI right now is proof of that. What we need to keep top of mind is that the people who are losing the race are also those people who could benefit the most from data access. Information inequality is the idea that information is incredibly powerful, incredibly useful, and those who have access to it could really accelerate their growth, while those who don’t have access or capacity could be left behind. This tracks with what we’ve seen in the financial inclusion space, where as more people entered the digital economy, we saw more people being left behind.

We’re trying to address these gaps that are forming through data-driven initiatives and the intentional implementation of new technologies with inclusion at the forefront. What we’re doing at the Center is creating capacity for the social sector to realize the power of their own data to put it to use for social good. That’s the basis of this partnership and the creation of data.org — to actually create a new institution, a new way of doing this work using new technology and new data resources.

Danil, a year ago data.org released a report on the key trends and tensions as the field of data for social impact matures. What are some of the challenges that organizations still face? Has there been any progress? Has anything new popped up since generative AI has taken hold in the last year?

Mikhailov: Shamina, I love your framing of information inequality: the data haves and the data have-nots. That is still a reality. The gap isn’t shrinking. The gap is increasing. We are making progress to try and reduce the rate at which the gap is increasing. We’ve been using data in different fields for decades, centuries. The current generation of data science technologies, including gen AI, is so new and is changing so fast, that it leads to a field that is very fragmented. Everyone is launching their startups or their new tools and approaches, which means it’s hard to bring the field together around some of the common challenges. And the definition of what data for social impact is, or impact AI — they’re new terms and the field hasn’t yet coalesced around by what we mean by that. What data.org is doing is bringing together many of the actors in the space — social impact organizations, tech companies and startups, academic institutions, etc., around what we mean by them.

Can you give me an example?

Mikhailov: We’ve done a lot of work in defining a role we think is missing in the field — a data ecosystem designer. We think, fundamentally, what we need to make much healthier data ecosystems is to find people who will focus on bringing organizations together around certain principles. Just as in urban planning — building a healthy city that has good public spaces and private spaces, a good balance of architecture —you need somebody who is in charge. So we’ve been doing work with other organizations to unite around this concept of ethical data ecosystem design. Then we need to fix funding. There is a lot of work that needs to go into this, and Mastercard has been building sustainable funding streams for this kind of work. Technology is expensive. There’s no way to avoid it. When you build data science techniques, you’re competing with other big tech companies in the world. So what we’ve being doing is actually flipping this on its head by partnering with big tech giants, to connect them with the social impact sector, providing a channel to help the sector and for them to use their muscles to help lift others.

The report also called out the need for more data scientists, particularly in developing countries where the work can have great impact but also where there’s perhaps not the educational infrastructure to train data scientists. What are you doing to address this?

Mikhailov: We need more data scientists. We need them to be different. We need them in different places. First of all, numbers. We’re not training enough data scientists for the new economy, not in the private sector let alone the social impact sector. So we need more investment in universities, more informal training, more professional training for those who already have jobs to retrain and add the desired skills to their existing skillsets. But we also need those people to be different. So we need to invest more in making sure that there are more women data scientists, and that there are more data scientists from different, currently disenfranchised, backgrounds, particularly in the Global South. We also need the skills to be different. So at the moment, we’re teaching data science just as a technical discipline — mathematics, coding, which are hugely important. But often, to solve problems and create social impact, you need to understand the subject matter. So you need to understand, for example, when you talk about climate or health or financial inequality, what are the causes behind those problems? If you only have technical skills, you often can do more harm than good when you try to create solutions. So teaching data scientists to have the interdisciplinary skills of both the tech knowledge and understanding of the subject matter is something that we focus on in our Capacity Accelerator Network.

Singh: At Mastercard, we’ve always said the customer is at the center of our innovation, but the truth is that if you’re coding or creating technologies or solutions, you’re going to do so based on what you know, who you are and your life experiences. What we’ve intentionally tried to do with the Capacity Accelerator Network is expand the pool of tech talent in the development phase to ensure that the inputs represent the diversity of the communities, countries and regions we’re operating in.

“We want to ensure emerging technology, things like generative AI, are a part of the development from the outset. That inclusion is prioritized from the beginning.”

Shamina Singh

To accomplish this, we are working to ensure that we are providing training and building diversity in data science through engagements with things like HBCU networks and Hispanic-serving institutions to make sure we are building with — not just for — those who these solutions are meant to support. This is a divergence from the norm where the data haves or technology haves typically gain first access and then the technology makes its way to the rest of the population and they have to engage with something that’s not necessarily built with them in mind. We want to ensure emerging technology, things like generative AI, are a part of the development from the outset. That inclusion is prioritized from the beginning.

When you think about the initiatives you’ve supported through data.org, what is one that you feel epitomizes the power of data for good?

Mikhailov: I’ll cheat and go for two. So one example is really kind of high-end, global, and one example is much more local. So on the high-end scale, it’s Epiverse, a global collaborative developing a data analysis ecosystem that can help everyone get ahead of the next public health crisis. It’s about creating a set of open-source tools for public health analysts and data scientists, epidemiologists, that kind of community. Obviously it’s inspired by the pandemic; we need to act globally, and we need to be able to share insights quickly. It’s now in a half dozen countries, and over the next few years, it’s projected to scale to another 10 to 20 countries. Then I’d go for our Inclusive Growth and Recovery Challenge, where we supported nine great projects around the world, each of those in a very specific local setting, driven by local communities and having a lasting impact. For example, helping communities in the U.S. use data on brownfield sites in their cities to help communities regenerate that land.

Singh: Let me build on that. The importance of the Inclusive Growth and Recovery Challenge was that we wanted to create the demand and the supply for data science for social impact, a relatively new concept. Our intention is to utilize financial backing in selected winners to help them scale and yield further investment, growing their mission and our mission at the same time. The way you know it’s successful is if that prize yields even more investment. And we’ve been thrilled to see this come to fruition, where notably the challenge winners have actually generated something like $30 million in additional investment. When others become invested in the capacity building, that’s when you know change is happening.

Originally published by The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth

Check out more content from The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth

According to UNICEF, about 10% – approximately 236.4 million – children aged 0-17 years have moderate-to-severe disabilities globally. Lenovo believes every child, regardless of ability, should have access to enriching opportunities to learn, grow and feel empowered. Recognizing this responsibility, Lenovo strives to partner with organizations that are inspiring and advancing efforts to make the world more accessible and inclusive.

For over 47 years, Somos do Bem Indaiatuba, a non-profit organization in Brazil, has been working to improve the quality of life for those with disabilities, including children and their families. The organization provides 8,700 services per month in its outpatient clinic – assisting 790 people, educating 195 students in the Special Education School and treating 95 people in its therapeutic office. Lenovo’s partnership with Somos do Bem began in 2023 when Lenovo provided 7 of PCs to the organization to help advance its digital capabilities, laying the foundation for a meaningful relationship. Lenovo’s technology is used by the organization’s occupational and psychological therapists to support children with disabilities, in addition to powering the administrative operations of the NGO.

During Lenovo’s Love on Global Month of Service, employees across the globe are encouraged to spend time giving back to their communities. This year, 35 Lenovo employees volunteered with Somos do Bem students to paint and renovate the organization’s sports court, used for sports activities, physical education and general recreation. In addition, Lenovo invited 15 students to a Lenovo factory in Indaiatuba. Throughout the visit, the students had an immersive experience by learning about manufacturing, seeing how Lenovo notebooks are made, and how Lenovo creates smarter technology with an inclusive workforce. Students had the ability to see how people with disabilities are part of Lenovo’s inclusive workforce in Indaiatuba, inspiring them for a future where they can be part of Lenovo’s innovation.

Claudinei Oliveira, a Lenovo employee whose daughter is a student at Somos do Bem, was excited to welcome her and her classmates to Lenovo. “My daughter will continue to be a source of inspiration for me, spending the afternoon with her at Lenovo was an incredible moment”, said Claudinei. “It’s important to understand that we all have something to learn from each other, and she teaches me something every day. This initiative by Lenovo is very important, contributing to making the world more inclusive for children like my daughter.”

Lenovo continues to strive to be a champion for disability inclusion and prides itself on creating space that is inclusive of people with all unique abilities. Beneficiaries of Somos do Bem are regularly part of Lenovo’s recruitment process for manufacturing.

“I witnessed a unique moment – when people donated their precious time to do good! More than just painting the sports court, Lenovo employees interacted with the children and painted their hearts with respect and affection” – Luis Claudio Lupoli – Director of Education at ‘Somos do Bem’”

Looking ahead, Lenovo is eager to continue its partnership with Somos do Bem. Most immediately, Lenovo supports and participates in opportunities to raise awareness of Somos do Bem in the workplace through fundraisers, merchandise sales and other campaigns. Lenovo’s commitment to empowering people with disabilities is a testament to the power of inclusivity and accessibility to help create a better world – for everyone.

Welcome to a unique knowledge-sharing experience where the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) opens the doors to a dynamic series of webinars. In just 30 minutes, immerse yourself in industry best practices, collaboration opportunities and valuable lessons in building trust across social and environmental standards worldwide.

Our first webinar on 5 February 2024 , “Driving sustainability excellence: Insights from Dr. Yogendra Chaudhry, SSCI Benchmark Leader” will showcase the SSCI benchmarking process from the perspective of one of our third party experts.

Watch the webinar to unlock:

Knowledge Sharing: Uncover the latest trends and strategies shaping sustainable supply chainsCollaboration Opportunity: Connect with industry experts and like-minded professionals around the worldIndustry Best Practice: Learn from the best in the field and implement proven approaches in your organisation

Whether you’re at your desk or on a walk, the SSCI Webinar Series provides a convenient platform to enhance your understanding of crucial topics in social and environmental standards. Don’t miss this chance to be part of a community dedicated to driving positive change.

If you are interested in using the SSCI, are a CGF member or a future Benchmark Leader and are ready to join us at the forefront of sustainable supply chain practices – register now and tune in on 5 February from 1600 – 1630 CET / 1000 – 1030 EST for the chance to ask your questions to Yogendra in our Q&A session.

REGISTER NOW

Can’t make it? If you register, you’ll receive the webinar recording when it’s available on-demand so you don’t miss out.

Dr. Yogendra CHAUDHRY
Vice President, Professional Services & ESG, ECO Canada

For over 25 years of his career in the Environment, Human Rights, and Sustainability, Yogendra (Yogi) has delivered projects across Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. Yogi holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and an MBA from the University of Alberta. He also supports many Canadian and international academic institutions, standard-setting organizations, and industry associations in various professional capacities.

As Vice President, Professional Services & ESG at ECO Canada, Yogi oversees the development and delivery of professional services to support the rapidly growing network of the Canadian environment and sustainability workforce. He provides strategic insight and technical support for environmental and sustainability programs. He works closely with various stakeholders including government, industry, Indigenous partners, and environment & sustainability professionals. Yogi oversees ECO Canada’s Certification and Accreditation Programs, Corporate Training, Technical and Professional Services, ESG & strategic initiatives, and ECO Canada’s Indigenous programs.

With over 1,000 audit days in Environment, Social Compliance, and OHS audits, Yogi has worked on >30 International Standards on Environment & Social Compliance and Responsible Business across the globe.

As a leader in Social Impact, Fidelity’s commitment to community is clear: to create positive social change by actively partnering with community leaders and nonprofit organizations. Fidelity esteems nonprofits and their leaders as experts with invaluable insight into their communities’ needs. In 2022 alone, Fidelity offered financial backing and programmatic support to over 150 nonprofits serving Black and Latino youth, building on Fidelity’s long-standing commitment to community and work with local organizations. In early 2023, Fidelity also pledged to invest an astounding $250 million through a new Invest in My Education (ME)SM initiative to provide access to education, support, and financial mobility for up to 50,000 historically underserved students over the next five years.

Fidelity’s initiatives extend beyond monetary contributions. They actively develop financial wellness programs in partnership with nonprofit organizations, support nonprofits dedicated to Communities of Color, and leverage their associates’ diverse skills and talents for social good. For example, to address the operational challenges many nonprofit organizations face, Fidelity partners with Common Impact to create skills-based volunteering initiatives addressing nonprofits’ unique operational needs. Since the start of the partnership, Fidelity’s committed volunteers have collectively generated an impressive social return on investment, amounting to a remarkable $20.7 million from 2004 to 2023, with a notable contribution of $1.6 million in the year 2023 alone. Setting themselves apart, Fidelity is dedicated to cultivating transparent, trust-based relationships with these partner nonprofits, fostering mutual learning and collaboration.

Commitment in Action

An exceptional example of their commitment to these principles is their enduring 20-year partnership with Common Impact, which began in 2004. Common Impact designs innovative programs that help turn Fidelity’s principles into tangible impact. These programs offered high-quality, customized social impact, volunteer, and training solutions geared towards generating tangible outcomes for nonprofit organizations.

With a clear mission to channel their resources and talents towards supporting underserved communities, Fidelity prioritized BIPOC-led nonprofits, recognizing their historical underfunding. Fidelity also actively engaged Aspire, their Black and Latino employee resource group, to harness the expertise and dedication of its diverse employees to ensure nonprofits receive tailored solutions.

High-Impact Days of Service in Honor of Martin Luther King Jr. 

In early 2023, Fidelity and Common Impact organized a virtual skills-based volunteering event in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, an event driven by a strong commitment to express solidarity with nonprofits dedicated to social justice. More than 30 volunteers were thoughtfully matched to a nonprofit, each selected based on the unique business challenges faced by the five participating organizations. Each nonprofit received tailored solutions and strategies to strengthen critical operational challenges, including enhancing website user experiences, formulating social media growth strategies, and optimizing vendor selection framework.

Twyla Prindle, the CEO and Founder of Us & Our Children Inc, and the visionary behind Kash Kids, expressed her appreciation for the invaluable support provided by Fidelity’s volunteers. She noted, “Through the volunteer work with Fidelity, we have gained valuable insights into different technologies, cost exploration, and how to deploy them for maximum benefit. They also provided a great tool for working with different vendors.” Notably, 100% of nonprofits concur that the work achieved during this virtual volunteering day has had a substantial and positive impact on their organizations, underscoring the significance of this collaboration.

Empowering Latin and Hispanic-led nonprofits

During Hispanic Heritage Month 2023, 45 enthusiastic volunteers from Fidelity supported six Latin and Hispanic-led nonprofits: Boston Higher Education Resource Center, El Centro Hispano, Hyde Square Task Force, La Alianza Hispana, LatinX Ed, and STREAM Foundation.

Emilia Ismael, Manager for Civic & Community Participation at El Centro North Carolina, expressed her enthusiasm, “This is of great value to nonprofits. The volunteers’ diverse skills contributed to a well-rounded consultation that met the core issues. The delivery was efficient and immediately applicable.” All nonprofits echoed this sentiment, 100% acknowledging that the project had a substantial, positive impact. Additionally, they all affirmed their ability to use the work created by the corporate volunteers in the next 12 months, highlighting the immediate practical benefits.

One Fidelity volunteer, Sandrea Moore, Workplace Education Manager, describes her experience, “It was a pleasure to learn about the extraordinary things this nonprofit is doing in their communities. It was an honor to serve them.” Notably, 95% of her fellow volunteers affirmed the tangible impact they made on their nonprofit partners. This day of service aimed to empower Hispanic and Latino community leaders, providing vital community programs such as support for first-generation students, workforce programming, and scholarships and internships for underrepresented youth.

Investing in Knowledge Sharing and Long-Term Impact 

Fidelity fully embraces the transformative power of skills-based volunteering, recognizing its potential to provide specialized expertise, cost-effective solutions, capacity building, and innovative solutions to nonprofit organizations. As a result, Fidelity and Common Impact facilitate opportunities for nonprofits to discover the potential of skills-based volunteering through tailored training sessions, particularly for those unfamiliar with this concept.

Fidelity’s commitment goes beyond the short-term by proactively tackling challenges demanding deeper understanding and dedication. In 2023 alone, Fidelity undertook twelve long-term consulting projects and five advisory programs in collaboration with Common Impact. These initiatives connect Fidelity associates with nonprofits seeking more comprehensive and in-depth solutions over the span of three months.

A Common Thread of Impact:

At the heart of all of Fidelity’s programming is a resolute commitment to uplifting underserved and under-resourced communities. Across all skills-based volunteering initiatives with Common Impact, 68% of the 70 participating nonprofits are BIPOC-led, a clear testament to Fidelity’s dedication to promoting equity and diversity in its efforts to support those who have historically faced greater challenges and barriers.

Fidelity’s commitment and Common Impact’s expertise in crafting social impact programs have created a powerful force for good in the nonprofit sector. The enduring partnership is a shining example of how cross-sector collaborations can play a pivotal role in addressing society’s most pressing challenges.

# # #

About Fidelity Investments

Fidelity’s mission is to strengthen the financial well-being of our customers and deliver better outcomes for the clients and businesses we serve. With assets under administration of $11.5 trillion, including discretionary assets of $4.4 trillion as of September 30, 2023, we focus on meeting the unique needs of a diverse set of customers. Privately held for 77 years, Fidelity employs more than 73,000 associates who are focused on the long-term success of our customers. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit https://www.fidelity.com/about-fidelity/our-company.

# # #

About Common Impact 

Common Impact is a national nonprofit that fosters meaningful partnerships between purpose-driven Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits worldwide to propel social good. Since 2000, Common Impact has generated over 205,000 hours of skills-based volunteering and $40 million in resources. Common Impact is dedicated to helping nonprofits expand their capacity, improve efficiency, and deliver on their mission with customized and impactful projects through corporate partnerships. Learn more about Common Impact’s services, impact, and clients.

# # #

Media Contact 
Elizabeth Cross, Obviouslee Marketing 
common-impact@obviouslee.com

Listen to this on the Fritz For Future podcast on Spotify

To find sustainable solutions for the future, we need to support all the good ideas that people around the world have, and we need to encourage them to put these ideas into practice. This is the idea behind “the Do School”. They work with companies to create business opportunities, experiment with concrete ideas for sustainable action and network with like-minded people and experts to drive sustainable change. This has resulted in Henkel’s Sustainability Incubator Lab – an online learning program for selected participants within Henkel to develop and work on sustainable business ideas.  
In this episode, Janine talks to Anna Rojan, Senior Program Designer at “the Do School”, and Aleksandra Zolkowska, Digital Marketing Specialist at Henkel, about how we can explore new opportunities, create impact and drive sustainable change.

In this episode, you will learn:

Why “the Do School” was foundedWhat the Henkel Sustainability Incubator Lab isHow we can become more creative and solution-oriented

Guests:

Anna Rojan, Senior Program Designer at “the Do School”Aleksandra Zolkowska, Digital Marketing Specialist at Henkel

For further reading and information on this topic:

Website from “the Do School”

You enjoyed this episode and don’t want to miss any future episodes of Fritz for – then subscribe to our podcast. You can find us on all podcast platforms or at henkel.de/podcast. Feel free to leave us a review or write to us at fritzforfuture@henkel.com.