Tag: 3BL

For the past three years, Lenovo Foundation has offered a special opportunity for Lenovo’s employee resource groups (ERGs). The annual ERG Grant Round gives ERGs the opportunity to make an external impact through partnerships with non-profits serving their respective diversity segments. Whether it’s to support non-profits empowering women, people with disabilities, providing resources for immigrants, or any other diversity-aligned initiative, ERG leaders have consistently applied for these funding opportunities.

During Global Diversity Awareness Month, we interviewed leaders who not only deliver incredible impact through these grants, but also demonstrate the power of aligning their roles at Lenovo to purpose. Even though the leaders are in different countries, different cultures, and help to lead different ERGs, trends in what drives these social impact champions emerged. See their four main tips for engaging in social impact in your workplace or community, and how it can contribute to your workplace satisfaction and wellness.

Bring your authentic self to work through social impact

Social impact leaders are driven through authentic leadership. Leading with authenticity not only powers a sense of purpose, but helps leaders use less energy to posture, making their unique professional approach more sustainable. “Find what you believe in, what is close to your heart, be authentic… find time for this, spread positive energy there – it will return to you multiplied,” shared Petra Hajdukova, a leader of Women in Lenovo in Slovakia who leads the partnership with Aj Ty v IT, an NGO that focuses on helping women enter the STEM field.

For many of us, increasing authenticity in the workplace can simply mean not being afraid to soften our approach or use the relationship building strategies that are most core to us. “I owe this passion for giving thanks to my mother who has instilled in me and my sister this since we were very young, growing up in Romania as it developed,” shares Razvan Bran, the leader of Lenovo All in Romania, a coalition that includes all diversity segments. “Knowing that there is talent that can impact and shape tomorrow’s community or society is enough to keep me motivated to want to do this, regardless of where I am or what I do in my day-to-day role.”

Understand the benefit that social impact brings the business.

Corporate Citizenship and social impact aren’t just about doing good in the community. Research shows that social impact programs can benefit workforce well-being, corporate reputation, consumer perception, and can even deliver competitive insights. Additionally, social impact can attract new talent. “Our current community relationships provide exposure to a larger pool of influential young minds while providing them access to diverse technical resources,” shared Markesha Parker, who leads a partnership with North Carolina Math and Science Education Network as a leader of Lenovo’s Black Leaders Achieving Success in Technology ERG. “The greatest return on this investment would be an increased pipeline of diverse leaders. Being able to see someone that looks like you doing great things provides a level of confidence and motivation that can only set you up for greatness.”

“Social impact work helps to humanize our company to our community and future clients,” shared Luis Trejo, an ally for the Women in Innovation group in Argentina who helps mentor girls in STEM. “It can help people recognize the diverse paths people take to success, and that there are possibilities for everyone when one wants to progress.”

Understand the benefit that social impact brings to you.

Razvan Bran leads a partnership with Fundatia FARA for Lenovo ALL Romania, which connects underprivileged and underrepresented youth with training and education so that they can pursue a career in STEM. For Razvan, it has been a mutually rewarding experience. “I believe that giving back in many ways is the only way we can ensure we can leave a meaningful impact. It is beyond rewarding, it is fulfilling, a unique way to express gratitude; and it can really support our mental health. Giving back keeps us grounded in the day-to-day reality, especially during times of uncertainty. We need to focus on making a positive impact so much, maybe now more than ever.”

Many struggle to take opportunities to volunteer based on bandwidth and personal demands. “If you need more reasons to volunteer, then think of a time when you desperately needed help or support from someone; and maybe you were fortunate to receive it – or not,” shared Razvan. “When someone is there to help you, or when you don’t receive the help you need, it makes a huge impact on you, right?”

Dive in!

“Even the smallest actions can add up to a lot, and there are no excuses not to do them,” shared Luis Trejo. “You don’t need to have a large budget, just a desire to share knowledge and experience with the next generation.”

“It can be difficult to work on both business and ERG activities, but it’s also very fulfilling – especially when you have feedback from people who say that the things you’re doing help them, it actually energizes you so you feel more motivated,” shared Petra.

But while you dive in, Markesha Parker stresses the importance of maintaining authenticity. “Find organizations and missions that you are passionate about so that you are giving genuinely and not to be seen. Start cultivating your relationships one at a time, and of course have fun! There is a lot of work behind the scenes, but it never feels that way when you enjoy what you do.”

​It was recently Green Careers Week in the UK and as sustainability recruitment and development specialists, we’re receiving more and more requests from people at all stages of their careers asking, “How can I get into sustainability?”

The path to a green career is seldom linear, and we are keen to shed light on how individuals from different backgrounds can move into roles with the remit to create and maintain a more sustainable, resilient society and environment.

As part of this endeavour, my colleague Ruth Smith and I joined forces with Catalyse Change for its Your Green Career course, where we joined other passionate changemakers to help guide and inspire young women who are pursuing a career in sustainability. Our involvement was organic as I sit on the advisory board for Catalyse Change and Acre has worked with the social enterprise for some time now, supporting their green careers drive.

Throughout this process, we’ve received all kinds of green careers questions. So, we thought we’d share those in hope of helping inspire the next generation of sustainability professionals.

How can I start a green career?

For some, starting a green career begins with formal education. Sustainability degrees and qualifications continue to emerge across the globe and are endowing more and more people with the skills and understanding needed to help build a more sustainable future. For others, a green career starts by taking transferable skills from previous jobs and applying them to a sustainability-related organisation or remit.

The challenges that we face environmentally and socially are vast, and we need all kinds of skills, ideas and ways of thinking. We recommend focusing on the skills that you have, your interests, and which areas of a green career most attract you. Once you’ve honed in on your strengths and areas you want to develop, it becomes easier to search for roles that meet those objectives.

Do I need a degree to work in sustainability?

For highly technical or specialised roles like legal or engineering positions, relevant qualifications will be required. For the most part, however, while a degree can be helpful, it isn’t always necessary.

Whether you’ve gained significant transferable experience through employment, an apprenticeship, or via a different certification, there are opportunities to work in sustainable businesses or in roles that do not require an educational background specifically tied to sustainability.

What background do I need to work in sustainability?

You can get into green jobs from a range of backgrounds. The world needs people with all different skillsets to identify, articulate, and tackle the problems that we face, and everyone has a part to play. Whether you’re coming from an environmental science, finance, business, communications or…dare I say…art history (like me!) background, skills from these different spaces all come into play across green jobs. The climate crisis bleeds into just about every facet of society, so it will take a diverse set of skills, experience and thought to solve it.

Can I get a green job if I don’t have any experience in sustainability?

It is possible to secure a green job without prior experience, and focusing on businesses that are oriented towards sustainability might be a good first move.

For example, it might be worth focusing on organisations that look at different aspects of sustainability and applying for entry-level roles in those spaces. Additionally, if you have recently received a degree or certification in a ‘green’ field, there will be ways into green jobs based on that knowledge.

How important are soft and hard skills?

Both soft and hard skills are key to pushing the sustainability agenda forward. We hear a lot about how ‘hard’ technical skills play a role in the energy transition, whether that’s through engineering, financial analysis, legal review, etc. Soft skills are, however, also critical to effectively communicating and delivering messages so that they can be understood and adopted by diverse audiences. Influencing behaviour and helping people to understand how and why certain approaches are preferable is key to driving change and implementing sustainability strategies, and the soft skills tied to winning hearts and minds should not be underestimated.

What advice do you and Ruth give young women regarding sustainability-related jobs?

We encourage young women to think hard about what they’re passionate about and where their strengths lie. When you have a sense of what you can bring to a job, and are passionate, it’s much easier to focus on roles and organisations that meet your needs. There are so many skills that can be transferred into sustainability, so it’s worth highlighting your experience and explaining how it can translate into a green context. Additionally, we like to flag that young women shouldn’t be put off by job descriptions that are a laundry list of ‘required’ skills and experience. You don’t have to tick every box to get an interview or the job! Think about how you can best frame your experience and the areas that you want to develop.

Finally, we would both flag persistence. It takes time to land that first or next job, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t get the first role you apply for. Keep at it, request feedback and ensure that you’re positioning yourself appropriately for each role you’re considering.

About Acre

At Acre, we work with the most aspirational businesses with potential to make real change; from those who are just starting out to those who are well on the journey to crafting a legacy.

Our 18 years’ experience in sustainability recruitment, combined with our extensive global network, enables us to provide talent solutions that are designed to deliver this change.

Through our unique behavioural assessment technology, we understand the types of people, skills and behaviours required to create impact. We can develop these qualities within your existing teams too.

We find talented people and develop their skills to ensure they make a true impact in ambitious, progressive organisations.

Acre. Making companies ready for tomorrow.

The global delivery company presented representatives from The Salvation Army’s South East division with a new Incident Response Unit (IRU) at Rochester Fire Station, the 23rd vehicle FedEx has donated to charities across the world since 2006.

The Salvation Army has been supporting emergency services for more than 50 years, providing on site refreshments and emotional support to responders at major incidents.

The new vehicle will operate across Kent and Sussex, where Salvation Army teams have previously provided more than 20,000 meals to NHS staff during the pandemic, helped out when an earthquake hit Folkestone and fed stranded lorry drivers. Team members also provided support to people in London after the Queen’s death as well as the tragic Grenfell Tower fire.

Captain Gary Robb from The Salvation Army’s South East Divisional Headquarters said he was delighted to receive the new vehicle and thanked Alun Cornish, FedEx Express Operations Managing Director who was also present.

Gary said: “FedEx has worked with The Salvation Army for many years across the globe and together we have been able to provide vital support to communities at times of crisis. Thank you for putting your faith in The Salvation Army and for supporting our work in such a tangible way.”

Alun Cornish said FedEx Express was honoured to be associated with The Salvation Army.

He said: “We’re pleased to support the tireless work you do to help our communities. We hope our gift will allow you to help people in the dark hours following a disaster, and to help others in need throughout the year.”

Guest blog from The Salvation Army UK

***Photo credit Salvation Army

January 16, 2024 /3BL/ – The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, a sister organization of the World Economic Forum (WEF), announced at WEF’s annual meeting in Davos today that Ruchika Singhal, president of Medtronic LABS, is the 2024 “Corporate Social Innovator of the Year.”

For nearly a decade, Medtronic LABS, an independent nonprofit organization supported by Medtronic, has been bringing together health systems, governments, local innovators, companies, and non-governmental organizations to remove healthcare barriers. Medtronic LABS uses data, technology, and partnerships to address some of the world’s most pressing health issues – like hypertension and diabetes – in underserved communities in Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Bangladesh, the United States, and Bhutan.

“When we started LABS, the team was challenged to consider how to use Medtronic’s expansive business and health technology resources to find ways to expand access to the nearly half of the world that lacks access to essential health services,” Singhal said.  “We had lots of ideas early on, and it took us years to engage local stakeholders and truly understand ground level needs and constraints to refine our solutions. Achieving scalable and sustainable impact requires long-term commitment to the mission and our work at LABS is a testament to what’s possible. We are truly grateful for the support and recognition.”

Since its inception, LABS has screened 1.6 million patients, enrolled more than 237,000 people in healthcare programs, improved more than 100,000 lives, and trained more than 8,000 community health workers.

“The LABS model that Ruchika and her team created dramatically extends our Mission by offering meaningful health solutions to patients we otherwise would not reach with our traditional products and therapies,” said Geoff Martha, Medtronic CEO and Chairman. “I’m proud of Ruchika for harnessing her passion and entrepreneurial spirit for the greater good.”

The 2024 Schwab Foundation Social Innovation Awards recognize 16 organizations, joining a global community of 477 change-makers directly improving the lives of 891 million people. The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship was founded in 1998 by Hilde and Klaus Schwab. In partnership with the World Economic Forum, the Schwab Foundation is the foremost global community of pioneering social innovators driving systemic change.

About Medtronic
Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people across more than 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow @Medtronic on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic’s periodic reports on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

Originally published on TriplePundit

The global population is predicted to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. To feed everyone, it is estimated that global food production will need to increase by up to 70 percent in the next 30 years.

Meanwhile, rapid urbanization is reducing the availability of agricultural land, and climate change is expected to make the land that’s left less suitable for staple crops like wheat, rice, corn and oats.

What’s more, food systems produce around a third of global greenhouse gas emissions from human activities and account for 70 percent of the world’s freshwater withdrawals. Traditional agriculture also contributes to deforestation, soil erosion and over-reliance on pesticides around the world.

So, how do we help feed more people?

Moving outdoor agriculture indoors

Growing crops indoors is not new. Greenhouses have been around for centuries, and hydroponics — growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil — has roots going back to at least the early 1900s. Now, renewed interest in this space is rising quickly.

Also known as controlled environment agriculture (CEA), the earliest modern reference to hydroponics was by plant nutritionist William Frederick Gericke in 1929, who popularized the idea that plants could be grown in a solution of nutrients and water instead of soil. Such solutions are known as growing media.

“The role of growing media is to provide physical support for plant growth by facilitating optimum water management, air and nutrient availability, and distribution for the plant,”said Monica Navarreto, Ph.D., horticulture research and development program leader for Owens Corning’s Vidawool, a mineral wool growing medium made of 70 percent recycled content. “Today, there are a ton of such alternatives that are commercially available.”

CEA offers unique opportunities around local food, safe food and supply chain resilience, according to a recent WWF analysis. Indoor farming helps farmers adapt to a warming planet and allows them to grow more food in less space with less water whilst avoiding pesticides.

Agriculture irrigation accounts for 70 percent of water use worldwide and is a major polluter of water. Improving agriculture’s water management is essential to a sustainable and productive agro-food sector.

Hydroponic systems use as much as 10 times less water than traditional field crop watering methods because water in a hydroponic system is captured and reused rather than drained into the environment or evaporated. It can also be more land efficient, reduce the use of fertilizers and save on other resources, research shows.

Using mineral wool as a growing media

Mineral wool is one type of growing media used in hydroponics that serves as a water management solution in the process.

“Mineral wool is highly porous, and it provides consistent water absorption, distribution and drainage. That results in optimum water management that directly impacts nutrient availability, because water is the carrier for the nutrients,” Navarreto said. “If you have good water distribution through the media, then you’re going to have good nutrient distribution throughout the media, too.”

In hydroponics, nutrients need to be added to the water for plants to grow. Porous media makes those nutrients readily available to the plant and decreases the amount of water evaporating out of the system.

Rock and mineral wool products are traditionally created by melting and fiberizing basalt rock. In search of alternatives that are not directly taken from the environment or are recycled,a waste material called slag was discovered to make soilless media, VidaWool.

“Slag is stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting or refining of ore that is usually thrown into landfills,” Navarreto said. “Owens Corning remelts this slag and then uses it in the fiberization process. So, instead of using 100 percent basalt rock to make our mineral wool, we’re using a little bit more than 70 percent recycled slag.”

VidaWool has innovative benefits over alternative growing media options like other rock wools, peat, moss, and coconut coir, to name a few. “When you look at our organic growing media counterparts, there is a lot of inconsistency and variability from one batch to another,” Navarreto said. “So, growers must relearn and make adjustments every time. However, with VidaWool we have managed to achieve a great amount of consistency in our products. When growers use Vidawool, once they have worked out their own recipe of irrigation and nutrients, their process can be repeated.”

However, such indoor agriculture methods come with their own issues. Powering LED lights, software, and sophisticated growing systems can be more expensive than the sun and rain.

“Hydroponic practices also face some obstacles that need to be addressed to ensure their long-term viability and environmental compatibility. One of these challenges is the proper disposal of the growing media.” Navarreto says. “Another challenge is the energy consumption and carbon footprint of the specialized grow lights that many growers use, which require investment and maintenance costs. These spaces pose opportunity for innovative solutions that can reduce their environmental impact and enhance their economic feasibility.”

Despite the obstacles around energy and waste, indoor farming is a relatively young industry with technologies that continue to improve. The cost of LED lights, for example, has dropped dramatically over the past decade, and modern LED bulbs generate far more light per kilowatt-hour of energy consumption.

Even today, indoor farming is a viable solution in many contexts. The global indoor farming tech sector is projected to be worth more than $32 billion by 2028, compared to just over $20 billion this year. As demand for fresh, nutritious food rises — and pressure intensifies to produce high yields using limited space and water — innovative methods of growing food that don’t rely on land or climate, like hydroponics, aquaponics and aeroponics, could help to fill the gap.

This article series is sponsored by Owens Corning Mineral Wool, LLC and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team

Originally published by TriplePundit

Storytelling is central to sustainability and social impact. Issues like warming temperatures or gender equity gaps may sound complex and difficult to understand. But when communicated through the lens of story — and through the eyes of the people and communities affected by these issues and working to solve them — they take on new meaning for engaged audiences.

Young leaders looking to accelerate their work in this area have a new opportunity to learn how to tell impactful stories. Launched by the nonprofit organization Girl Rising, the Future Rising fellowship selects 10 leaders annually between the ages of 17 and 25 who are working on gender equity and climate justice issues interchangeably. The fellowship provides financial support, a stipend of $5,000, access to networks of advisors and experts, and skills training such as leadership development, storytelling workshops, speaking opportunities, and other professional opportunities.

Girl Rising was established to explore how empowering women and girls with education can combat global poverty, CEO Christina Lowry told TriplePundit. Originally, Girl Rising launched as a film, which later became an organization. Along the way, the founding team kept up with research and trends on girls’ education and consistently discovered girls and women are disproportionately impacted by climate change, Lowry said.

Girls and women are more susceptible to climate-induced disasters

Globally, women represent 43 percent of the agricultural workforce, a rate that grows higher in parts of Asia and Africa. As such, women play a critical role in environmental sustainability and food security. Yet due to a combination of factors such as cultural gender norms, lack of access to education and resources, poverty, and limits on decision making, they are disproportionately impacted by climate disasters. Women are also susceptible to climate-induced exploitation such as organized trafficking because climate disasters uproot local security and safety for women and children, according to the United Nations Environment Program.

“We believe, at this moment in time, it is imperative to hand the mics over to girls and young women for us to be able to elevate the voices of those people, young women and young men who really are on the front lines of this work,” Lowry said. “So, we decided to create a fellowship program.”

During their cohort, Future Rising fellows complete a narrative media project that tells the story of their own work or the work of girls and women within the climate and environmental justice space. Fellows also learn the elements of impactful storytelling and are empowered to develop their own stories to tell.

The Future Rising fellowship teaches effective storytelling strategies and provides access to a global network

Ayomide Solanke is a 2021 Future Rising fellow from Lagos, Nigeria. For her media project, she created a graphic novel that highlights how societal practices and norms such as child marriage affect girls and women and worsen poverty and climate change. The novel has since published locally in Lagos as well as online. “[The fellowship] was an opportunity at the time to be able to see and get my message on a larger and … wider platform,” she said.

Solanke first discovered the fellowship via X, previously known as Twitter, and applied. “My original manuscript was probably maybe 10 pages at most,” she told us. “At the end, I have like 45 to 50 pages.”

During the fellowship, Solanke and her cohort participated in a series of training sessions and workshops to learn more about storytelling. She learned to incorporate the voice of survivors in her story by speaking with them, while navigating the delicate line of not making them feel re-victimized. And the time spent drafting her story taught her how important using easy-to-understand language can be to getting a message across.

“I would say that the Future Rising fellowship helped me not just in my project, [but] also in my work as an activist,” Solanke said. “I’m able to have a wider platform to grow and evolve and meet other people and share my work with people, and also hear, and see what other people are doing and incorporate and collaborate.”

Like Solanke, 2022 fellow Geela Garcia of Manila, Philippines, said the fellowship connected her to a global network of individuals to learn from and engage. “I wanted to be in a diverse community with shared goals and perspectives about people and our home,” she told TriplePundit. “Since the cohort is global, it exposes me to stories and experiences of people from different cultures and parts of the world. The fellowship reminds me that despite our differences, we are similar in wanting to make a safer and more livable place for all.”

Girl Rising and HP continue their work to advance digital equity and eliminate challenges to girls’ education

Girl Rising has partnered closely with the tech giant HP for nearly a decade — from HP’s support of the original Girl Rising film, to a multi-year partnership to advance technology education in the U.S, India and Nigeria, said Michele Malejki, the company’s global head of social impact.

“In 2021, HP made a commitment to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people, and the Girl Rising Future Fellows program, also launched in 2021, was a natural next step in our collaboration — squarely rooted in our Sustainable Impact focus areas of climate action, human rights and digital equity,” Malejki told TriplePundit.

Digital equity — meaning equal access to technology and knowing how to use it — is essential for combating poverty as education, healthcare and economic opportunities increasingly move online. Women and girls, people with disabilities, aging populations, and other marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by gaps in digital literacy and technology access. HP and the HP Foundation aim to change that by bringing technology solutions and funding to nonprofit partners like Girl Rising.

“HP and Girl Rising share a common belief that to drive positive, lasting change in the world, women and girls must have access to quality education, which includes amazing learning materials,” Malejki said. “Educating women and girls is fundamental to addressing our climate crisis, to strengthening our communities and global economy, and to solving other related issues like population growth and human rights violations.” Since 2019, the company and nonprofit have enabled 14.4 million students and teachers in India, Nigeria, and the U.S. with technology solutions and new curriculum, she said.

Meanwhile Girl Rising announced the third cohort of Future Rising Fellows in September in its latest bid to help young people tell their stories on a global platform and have access to power.

“One of the things we know is that young people often don’t have a seat at the table, and as critical discussions and decisions are being made about how countries and multilateral institutions are going to address climate change, where investments are going to go, we believe these young people need to be at the table and have their voices heard and their demands heard,” Lowry said.

This article series is sponsored by HP and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Image courtesy of Girl Rising

Tata Sons North America and First Book, the largest online network of educators serving children in need, have been working together since 2008 to eliminate existing barriers to education. Over the last 15 years of this partnership, they have distributed about 600,000 books to educators serving kids in need.

When Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and other Tata group companies team up with nonprofit First Book to celebrate reading and get books to K-12 students who need them, it’s with a single intention. They’re partnering to establish a foundation for future student success.

Recently TCS and other Tata Group volunteers joined up with First Book in Philadelphia and Atlanta to read books aloud to K-5 students. The events were opportunities for Tata professionals to serve as mentors and role models and encourage a love of reading. The company is now planning additional celebrations of reading across the U.S.

“TCS volunteers see reading to K-12 students as a high priority because it enables them to explore their sense of purpose,” said Lina Klebanov, head of TCS’ Corporate Social Responsibility programs in North America. “In looking to ensure young people are connected to opportunities in the digital economy and the 21stcentury workforce, TCS volunteers know their efforts are impactful, especially in how they can instill curiosity, which is a key pillar of learning and innovation.” 

As technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) advance rapidly, TCS believes in preparing students for future careers that may not even exist yet.

“Today’s students will need exceptional capabilities in design and computational thinking to meet the needs of the not-so-far-off future,” said Klebanov. “However, it all starts with the basics. They must be motivated to read.” 

The Tata group of companies regularly supports First Book and its mission. In spring 2023, the Tata group took this partnership with the nonprofit to the street with a “Truck of Books” event held at Jaguar Land Rover headquarters in Mahwah, New Jersey. The event drew educators, librarians and other supporters of children’s learning from across New York and New Jersey and resulted in the distribution of 37,000 books to over 200 educators in the tristate area. Additionally, earlier in the spring, TCS’ Tech4HOPE program resulted in about $31,000 worth of pro bono IT consulting to support advancements in First Book’s data governance efforts.

“Since the founding of our group, we have upheld the commitment of giving back to the community,” said Michael McCabe, Resident Director, Tata Sons North America. “We are proud to continue to build on that commitment and share the power of reading with students across the country. Our longstanding partnership with First Book, supported by numerous Tata volunteers, continues to have a positive impact on educators and students across North America.”

Now is an important time to focus on books. Think Impact’s recent report on literacy reveals that 21% of adults in the U.S. are illiterate in 2023, and 54% of adults have below a 6th grade literacy level. Think Impact further states that low levels of literacy cost the U.S. up to $2.2 trillion per year.

The need for reading was also highlighted by the results of the National Center for Education Statistics’ (NCES) most recent long-term trend reading and mathematics assessment. The report dealt Americans an unwelcome surprise this year with scores declining yet again, indicating literacy and numeracy may be at risk in some U.S. communities. The test, administered to 13-year-old students from October to December of the 2022–23 school year, revealed that the average scores for 13-year-olds had declined four points in reading and nine points in math compared to the previous assessment conducted in the 2019–20 school year. A decade ago, the average scores had declined even more: seven points in reading and 14 points in math.

First Book and companies like TCS are eager to help turn that around. For more information, visit on.tcs.com/CSR and https://www.tatasustainability.com/SocialAndHumanCapital/FirstBook.

CBRE

By Sara Johnston Director, Mktg & Comm

A growing number of local U.S. jurisdictions are implementing building performance standards (BPS) to combat carbon emissions in the real estate sector, creating new financial and reputational considerations for building owners, according to a new report by CBRE.

Ten local jurisdictions across the U.S. launched BPS policies in 2023, including cities, counties and states. New Jersey joined California and Colorado in enacting a statewide policy in 2023 with Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Washington scheduled to do the same over the next three years.

The regulations are aimed at reducing buildings’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The stipulations vary by jurisdiction with many imposing financial penalties for policy violations. CBRE’s Econometric Advisors analyzed the potential financial impact for a 500,000 sq. ft. office building that failed to meet energy- or emissions-reduction mandates in cities with active BPS policies. The analysis found non-compliance could reduce a building’s net operating income (NOI) by 5.1 to 5.8%.

“The financial penalties associated with BPS regulations could be significant for building owners, but collecting fines is not the goal. The policies are designed to incentivize investing in the improvements needed to reduce a property’s carbon impact. Those investments also have an upside in protecting a building’s reputation and helping to attract tenants. As regulations become more widespread, a strategic approach to sustainability will become a prerequisite for any major capital investment,” said Dennis Schoenmaker, executive director and principal economist, CBRE Econometric Advisors.

Actions to aid compliance

Improving a building’s energy efficiency and overall performance requires the cooperation of building owners and tenants. While the building owner is liable for financial penalties, how tenants operate their individual spaces significantly impacts a building’s ability to meet performance targets. Two actions to aid cooperation and compliance are green lease clauses and submetering.

Green lease clauses outline specific obligations and commitments related to sustainability measures like energy efficiency, renewable power procurement, water consumption, waste management and more. Such clauses can feature cost-sharing measures to help distribute building improvement costs among tenants and the owner, as well as stipulations to track and reward tenants who reduce their energy usage.

Submetering is the process of measuring and monitoring individual tenants’ energy consumption and billing them accordingly. It can also be applied to large electrical equipment, such as HVAC, lighting and building automation systems. The use of submetering provides more accurate data, allowing a building owner and its property management team to focus on areas with the highest impact. Research has shown the use of submetering in multi-tenant buildings can lead to an energy savings of up to 15% (U.S. General Services Administration).

“Momentum is growing for more BPS implementation. Building owners operating across multiple markets are facing tremendous amounts of complexity in navigating the various regulations. The good news is the solutions to help simplify the complexity and accelerate decarbonization are advancing every day, as does the industry’s understanding of the urgent need to act. Owners and tenants are becoming more aligned on the importance of sustainability, and this shared responsibility will be key to driving progress,” said Rob Bernard, chief sustainability officer, CBRE.

View the full report here.

About CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2022 revenue). The company has approximately 115,000 employees (excluding Turner & Townsend employees) serving clients in more than 100 countries. CBRE serves a diverse range of clients with an integrated suite of services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.

Originally published on HARMAN Newsroom

CES 2024, LAS VEGAS, January 16, 2024/3BL/ – JBL, global leader in portable audio, unveils the latest evolution of its fan-favorite PartyBox series. Introducing the JBL PartyBox Club 120, JBL PartyBox Stage 320, and JBL PartyBox Wireless Mic, JBL unlocks limitless possibilities for entertaining with exciting features. These state-of-the-art speakers open endless possibilities for electrifying gatherings, featuring thrilling sound and immersive lighting effects. With extended playtime powered by a replaceable battery and upgraded Bluetooth capabilities, JBL reaffirms its position as the global leader in portable audio, raising the bar for every occasion and continuing to be a part of fans’ most memorable moments.

Packed with JBL Pro Sound, the JBL PartyBox Club 120 features powerful sound, and deeper bass, along with a symmetric and themed light show guaranteed to offer an amazing visual experience with starry lights, cool light trails, and strobe light effects all synced with your music. The new JBL PartyBox Club 120 can pair unlimited JBL PartyBoxes together and can connect with other JBL Auracast-enabled portable speakers via Auracast™. With 12 hours of playtime, and double the party time with an easy-to-swap replaceable battery, the JBL PartyBox Club 120 joins the lineup with two mic inputs and one guitar input and is compatible with the JBL PartyBox App. The JBL PartyBox Club 120 incorporates post-consumer recycled materials for 70% of its plastic. It’s also packaged in FSC-certified paper printed with soy ink.

Bring the party anywhere, anytime with the JBL PartyBox Stage 320, featuring superior JBL Pro Sound. With two high-sensitivity woofers and dual tweeters, users can listen to all the details of their favorite tracks, even at the loudest volumes. The telescopic handle and wide, sturdy wheels, ensure the JBL PartyBox 320 can be easily transported to transform any space into the ultimate party, with its multi-dimensional light show. Featuring 18 hours of playtime which can be doubled with an easy-to-swap-out replaceable battery, and FastCharge where a 10-minute charge boost delivers 2 hours of playtime, users won’t have to worry about the party stopping mid-song. The new JBL PartyBox Stage 320 can pair unlimited JBL PartyBoxes together and can connect with other JBL Auracast-enabled portable speakers through Auracast™. The JBL PartyBox Stage 320 incorporates post-consumer recycled materials for 60% of its plastic. It’s also packaged in FSC-certified paper printed with soy ink.

Both models feature HARMAN’s industry leading technology AI Sound Boost which analyzes audio in real time with an AI algorithm to optimize the acoustic output level, leading to more powerful and less distorted sound.

The must-have PartyBox accessory joins the fun with the release of the JBL PartyBox Wireless Mic. Featuring clear voice and crisp sound, the JBL PartyBox Wireless Mic comes in a plug-and-play two-mic pack guaranteed to deliver the best performance with JBL PartyBox Cardioid pattern pickup main sound. Minimize all unwanted noise with JBL’s shock mount system that minimizes handling and breathing noise. This easy-to-use, plug-and-play is compatible with all JBL PartyBox speakers and comes with 20 hours of playtime and a rechargeable battery that can be charged while using. The JBL PartyBox Wireless Mic incorporates post-consumer recycled materials for 30% of its plastic. The Wireless Mic Dongle incorporates post-consumer recycled materials for 70% of its plastic and is packaged in FSC-certified paper printed with soy ink.

“Every party needs music and you can now embrace being the life of the party with JBL’s newest PartyBox speakers,” said Dave Rogers, President, HARMAN Lifestyle Division. “Light up your listening experience with the latest and greatest additions to JBL’s PartyBox family by bringing the party outside, take it on-the-go, or plug and play with our new Wireless Mic.”

Model: JBL PartyBox Club 120

Loud and powerful sound

Specs:

Foldable handleIPX4 certified splash proofAI Sound BoostBluetooth v5.3 with LE audioMulti-speaker connection by Auracast™Stereo pairing via JBL PartyBox app2 mic inputs and 1 guitar inputCustomizable elements via JBL PartyBox appSymmetric and themed light showMade with recycled plastic and FSC-certified paper packaging

Battery Life: 12-hour playback + replaceable battery (FastCharge: 10 min for 80 min playtime)

Price: $399.95

Model: JBL PartyBox Stage 320

Bring the party anywhere

Specs:

240W RMS power output, 2x 25mm dome tweeter + 2x 6.5” wooferTelescopic handle and wide, sturdy wheelsIPX4 certified splashproofAI Sound BoostBluetooth v5.3 with LE audioMulti-speaker connection by Auracast™Stereo pairing via JBL PartyBox app2 mic inputs and 1 guitar inputMade with recycled plastic and FSC-certified paper packaging

Battery Life: 

18-hour playtime +replaceable battery (FastCharge: 10 min for 2 hours of playtime)

Price: $399.95

Model: JBL PartyBox Wireless Mic

Plug and play two mic pack

Specs:

Compatible with all PartyBox speakersStable 2.4GHz connection over 30MMade with recycled plastic and FSC-certified paper packaging

Battery Life: 

20-hour microphone playtime; 12-hour dongle playtimeRechargeable battery (10 mins charging for 2 hours microphone playtime)

Price: $149.95

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The new additions to the PartyBox lineup will be available on JBL.com in April 2024.

ABOUT JBL
For over 75 years, JBL has shaped life’s most memorable moments at the intersection of music, lifestyle, gaming and sports. JBL elevates listening experiences with superior audio quality and product designs that encourage individuality and self-expression. With unmatched professional credentials and industry-leading innovation, JBL is a trailblazer in the audio industry because of passionate and talented engineers and designers around the globe. JBL Pro Sound is the foremost technology pushing culture forward through major pop culture events and partnerships with the world’s top talent across music, sports and esports. 

ABOUT HARMAN 
HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and services supporting the Internet of Things. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. More than 50 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems. Our software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In March 2017, HARMAN became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics.

For more information:

HARMAN Americas Consumer Lifestyle

Denise Daly, Director of Communications & PR 
JBL@dkcnews.com

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