Tag: 3BL

Through lending, investing, grants and volunteerism, we participate in the growth, revitalization and sustainability of the communities we proudly serve. To make a lasting difference, Key teammates make it a priority to engage with community members and community leaders to understand their needs and ideas, develop plans and then act.

In Central Ohio, Key recently awarded nine organizations with grant funds totaling $100,000. The grant funds will be used to support an array of programs from workforce development to creating safe, vital neighborhoods.

The organizations which received funds, ranging from $10,000 to $20,000, from KeyBank include:

Organization Program Boys and Girls Club of ColumbusAcademic SuccessNECICStaffing and Development ServicesYWCA ColumbusWorkforce Development ProgramGoodwill ColumbusWorkforce Development ProgramColumbus Fashion AllianceSummer Education ProgramI Know I CanCollege Tour ProgramLife Care AllianceBasic Needs and Support ServicesChildren’s Hunger AllianceMeals ProgramCEO ColumbusReentry Employment Services For Greater Columbus Area

“These organizations are representative of what we believe in at KeyBank: establishing safe, healthy, affordable and inclusive communities,” said Lara DeLeone, KeyBank’s Central Ohio Market President. “We’re proud to support these organizations and the work they’re doing every day to prepare individuals for thriving futures.”

Learn more about KeyBank’s commitment to helping clients and communities thrive

AUSTIN, Texas, November 28, 2023 /3BL/ – Whole Cities, a project dedicated to broadening community access to fresh food and nutrition education, announced today that it will award 64 Community First Grants to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canada. This year’s grantees will receive an average of $9,000 each for a total investment of over $575k. Launched in 2016, the annual Community First Grant Program supports local partnerships between Whole Foods Market Team Members (employees) and nonprofits with programs focusing on long-term fresh, healthy food access and community health. Team Members nominate eligible, locally led nonprofit organizations for the grant. Throughout the grant year, they volunteer and participate in additional opportunities to support their partner’s goals.

“As residents of their communities, Team Members can make a valuable difference right where they are,” said Dianna Purcell, Director of Programs at Whole Cities. “Team Members participating in the Community First Grant Program have identified partners whose meaningful work improve lives in their own city and whose missions align with our goals to broaden long-term access to fresh, healthy food and nutrition education.”

The 2023 – 2024 Community First Grant partners span 49 cities in 21 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and one Canadian province. Their projects include:

18 urban farms17 community gardens9 nutrition education and healthy cooking classes7 agricultural skills development programs5 farmer’s markets, co-ops and grocery stores4 mobile markets3 SNAP and WIC incentive programs1 pop-up market and CSA

“Relationships are at the heart of the Community First Grant,” said Purcell. “The program helps foster and evolve relationships between Whole Foods Market Team Members and their local nonprofit partners to support sustainable solutions that advance neighborhood health.”

Since launching the Community First Grant Program eight years ago, Whole Cities has awarded 406 grants to 228 organizations in 149 cities, investing over $2.7M. Nearly 240 Team Members from over 140 Whole Foods Market stores and every store support office has participated.

For more information on Whole Cities’ Community First Grant Program, visit wholecitiesfoundation.org.

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ABOUT WHOLE CITIES 

Whole Cities is a project of Whole Kids Foundation, an independent, nonprofit organization founded by Whole Foods Market based in Austin, Texas. Whole Cities has worked alongside more than 290 community-based organizations in more than 130 cities in the U.S. and Canada to improve neighborhood health through collaborative partnerships, nutrition education, and broader access to fresh, healthy food. Through vibrant grant programs, Whole Cities supports community gardens, urban farms, pop-up produce stands, agriculture skills development, farmers’ markets, mobile markets, healthy cooking classes and other community-directed initiatives to build thriving local food systems and improve health. For more information on Whole Cities and its programs, visit wholecitiesfoundation.org. For ongoing news and updates, follow Whole Cities on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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Media Contact: 
Chanta Williams, Interim Executive Director 
Whole Cities  
Chanta.Williams@wholefoods.com

When extreme weather strikes, it hits vulnerable populations the hardest. In the current global climate of stronger and more frequent storms, heat waves, droughts and floods, how do we build more positive environmental and social impact? We have a responsibility to apply our technological expertise, resources and ecosystem to help the world become more resilient to these environmental challenges.

We need a three-pronged approach to long-term sustainability: preparing the workforce with skills for a greener future; forging strategic cross-sector partnerships; and empowering purpose-driven individuals and organizations with the right tools and technology to accelerate action.

Equipping the current and future workforce with green skills

According to new Morning Consult research commissioned by IBM, 71% of business leaders surveyed anticipate their business will emphasize sustainability skills criteria in their hiring in the next two years, with 92% expecting to invest in sustainability training in the next year. There is already a skills gap in technology and sustainability, and these results show that it continues to grow.

But when it comes to training and credentials in green and technology skills, there just aren’t that many options. IBM already has a strong track record of providing free skilling resources to communities that are underrepresented in tech, most recently with a commitment to skill 2 million learners in AI. So, to help prepare the experts of tomorrow with the green and technology skills they need, we are providing free training on IBM SkillsBuild.

Our initial curriculum offerings will include three courses: Sustainability and Technology Fundamentals, Data Analytics for Sustainability and Enterprise Thinking for Sustainability. Through these foundational courses, learners will explore topics like ecology, biodiversity and social impact to help them develop a comprehensive understanding of sustainability.

Lessons will include real-life case studies and opportunities to learn about how AI can assist businesses in achieving sustainability goals and mitigating climate risks. The courses also provide instruction in data analytics contextualized around sustainability use cases. We will also add more advanced courses that take a deeper look at how data analysis and visualization skills can be applied to practical sustainability use cases, such as examining energy consumption in a community.

These courses are available to high school students, university students and faculty, and adult learners worldwide. Learners are free to take as many courses as they want and to study at their own pace. Upon successful completion of some of these courses, learners receive a credential that is recognized by employers.

IBM SkillsBuild has a global reach, and it has already benefited many learners with the inspiration and resources they need to pursue careers in technology. For instance, in Nigeria, Clinton Chidubem Amam found employment as a graphics designer after completing IBM SkillsBuild courses, and his work was displayed at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year. Meanwhile, Oscar Ramirez, who arrived in the US as a child from Mexico, was able to investigate everything from AI to cybersecurity and project management while finishing his studies in Applied Mathematics and Computational Mathematics at San Jose State University.

Uniting sustainability experts in strategic partnerships

Whether it’s closing the green skills gap or tackling environmental challenges, you can’t go at it alone. Addressing big challenges requires collaboration and strategic partnership with experts that intimately understand the nuances of different domains.

That’s why IBM’s award-winning pro-bono social impact program, the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, selects innovative organizations focused on solutions worth scaling. In this program, diverse cross-sector experts in topics such as sustainable agriculture and renewable energy come together from both inside and outside IBM. Using a human-centered approach along with IBM Garage, artificial intelligence, advances in data, cloud and other technologies, these teams collaborate on projects to help vulnerable populations become more resilient to climate change.

Five organizations are now joining this initiative on the path toward clean water and sanitation for all (UN SDG6):

The University of Sharjah will build a model and application to monitor and forecast water access conditions in the Middle East and North Africa to support communities in arid and semi-arid regions with limited renewable internal freshwater resources.The University of Chicago Trust in Delhi will aggregate water quality information in India, build and deploy tools designed to democratize access to water quality information, and help improve water resource management for key government and nonprofit organizations.The University of Illinois will develop an AI geospatial foundation model to help predict rain fall and flood forecasting in mountain headwaters across the Appalachian Mountains in the US.Instituto IGUÁ will create a cloud-based platform for sanitation infrastructure planning in Brazil alongside local utility providers and governments.Water Corporation will design a self-administered water quality testing system for Aboriginal communities in Western Australia.

We’re excited to partner with organizations that deeply understand the water and sanitization challenges that communities face. IBM has committed to support our sustainability accelerator projects, including our sustainable agriculture and clean energy cohorts, with USD 30 million worth of services by 2025.

Supporting a just transition for all

To build a more sustainable world, we must empower communities with the skills, tools and support they need to adapt to environmental hazards with resilience. By providing access to IBM technology and know-how, we can empower the communities most vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather and climate change. And by democratizing access to sustainability education through IBM SkillsBuild, we help the next generation of experts realize their passion for applying advanced technology to preserve and protect the environment. These efforts, along with our strategic partnerships, will lead us all into a more sustainable future.

Learn how you can collaborate with us to create a sustainable future.

WINSTON DUKE JOINS AS HOST WITH SPECIAL GUESTS ARTHUR NKUSI, ARIEL WAYZ, AZZIAD NASENYA, DJ TOXXYK, JACKIE LUMBASI, AND SHERRIE SILVER

‘Move Afrika’ to Galvanize a Citizen-Led Advocacy Campaign to Promote Health and Equity, Defend our Planet, and Create Economic Opportunity

Take Action and Get Tickets at moveafrika.org

Press Kit: Click here for artwork

NEW YORK, November 28, 2023 /3BL/ – International advocacy organization Global Citizen and creative imprint, pgLang today announced Zuchu and Bruce Melodie are set to perform at Move Afrika: Rwanda, which will be headlined by Grammy Award, Pulitzer Prize winning artist Kendrick Lamar. Actor and global philanthropist Winston Duke will host the event at Kigali’s BK Arena on December 6, 2023, and media personality and entrepreneur Davy-Carmel Ingabire and poet Fred Mfuranzima are also confirmed to take the stage. Previously announced participants include comedian and media personality Arthur Nkusi, musician Ariel Wayz, actor and media personality Azziad Nasenya, DJ TOXXYK, media personality Jackie Lumbasi, and award winning choreographer Sherrie Silver.

Move Afrika: A Global Citizen Experience is a ticketed event, which forms part of a new long-term, large-scale effort to pioneer a first-of-its-kind international music touring circuit throughout the continent of Africa, with pgLang serving as the curator of Move Afrika for the next five years. Tickets are available at moveafrika.org, and can be earned by joining the movement and taking action on the Global Citizen app, at www.globalcitizen.org or text +250 790 008 555 on WhatsApp.

In the lead up to the event, Global Citizen is campaigning for urgent action on major issues across the continent, including the need for increased funding for health, with a specific emphasis on women, girls and community health workers; addressing the climate crisis and its impact on food security, including greater investments in adaptation; tackling the lack of access to economic opportunities for future generations; and encouraging civic participation.

“Move Afrika comes at a pivotal moment, with international assistance budgets in decline, the debts of developing countries rising, and multiple crises consuming global attention,” said Liz Agbor-Tabi, Vice President, Policy & Advocacy, Global Citizen. “Through the Move Afrika campaign and this unique event series, we aim to unlock new opportunities for young people across the Continent. Investing in and supporting entrepreneurs, community health workers and small holder farmers on the frontlines of climate change isn’t just a moral imperative – it’s a path towards healthier communities, a more equitable future for Africa, and the eradication of extreme poverty.”

“The possibilities for Rwanda — and all of Africa — are limitless. I’m proud to take part in the first ever Move Afrika event in beautiful Kigali. This is not just a show — it’s the beginning of a massive shift in the African entertainment industry, which will have a lasting economic impact in Rwanda and right across the Continent,” said Winston Duke, actor, global philanthropist and UN Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism.

Partners of Move Afrika include pgLang, the Rwanda Development Board and TimesLive. The event is supported by BK Arena.

In partnership with the Rwanda Development Board, Kigali, Rwanda will host Move Afrika every year for the next five years. Each year, additional countries will be added to the tour schedule, which aims to expand to five countries by 2025. Producing a world-class experience for fans and artists alike, Move Afrika will set a new gold-standard for entertainment touring events, increasing demand from international and regional artists to tour in the region and building local capacity within host cities across the continent.

Move Afrika builds on Global Citizen’s previous campaigns and events across the continent that include: Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, which brought Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Ed Sheeran, Usher, Eddie Vedder and Chris Martin of Coldplay to Johannesburg, South Africa in 2018; Global Citizen Live: Lagos that featured Davido, Femi Kuti, and Tiwa Savage at Fela Kuti’s New Afrika Shrine in 2021; and Global Citizen Festival: Accra, which brought Usher, SZA, Stormzy, and TEMS to the iconic Black Star Square in 2022.

Move Afrika is supported by Aflimba, African Food Fellowship, Amahoro Builders, Blue Oceans, Chancen International, Dukataze SAYE Company Ltd., EcoRota Rwanda, Future First Kenya, Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology, Safi Life, SmallStepsEveryday, Solid’Africa, Rwanda Development Organisation, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Inkomoko, Partners In Health, Restless Development, Rising Above the Storms (RAS), Rotary International, The Green Protector, YouthConnekt Africa Hub, Westerwelle Foundation, and Ineza Umuhoza Grace, Co-Founder of the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition and 2023 Global Citizen Prize winner.

Global Citizen is grateful for the support of leading media companies including: AIM Group, Arena Holdings, Bella Naija, City Radio, Eagle Production, Ltd., EIB Network, Radio 1, Radio Flash, Royal FM, The New Times, UpScale Media, Vanguard Media and Zikoko.

For more information visit moveafrika.org, or via text on WhatsApp at +250 790 008 555. Follow Global Citizen on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

– Ends –

About Global Citizen 
Global Citizen is the world’s leading international advocacy organization on a mission to end extreme poverty NOW. Powered by a worldwide community of everyday activists raising their voices and taking action, the movement is amplified by campaigns and events that convene leaders in music, entertainment, public policy, media, philanthropy and the corporate sector. Over the past 10 years, $43.6 billion in commitments announced on Global Citizen platforms has been deployed, impacting nearly 1.3 billion lives. Established in Australia in 2008, Global Citizen’s team operates from New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Berlin, Geneva, Melbourne, Toronto, Johannesburg, Lagos and beyond. Join the movement at globalcitizen.org, download the Global Citizen app, and follow Global Citizen on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

About the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) 
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is a Government agency in Rwanda with a vision to transform Rwanda into a dynamic global hub for business, investment, and innovation. Its mission is to fast-track economic development in Rwanda by enabling private sector growth. Learn more at www.rdb.rw.

Press Kit: Click here for artwork

Media Credentials 
Applications are now open for media outlets to attend and cover Move Afrika: Rwanda on December 6. Please complete this application form.

Contact 
Global Citizen media inquiries: media@globalcitizen.org

Three miles from SEE’s headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, a new community is giving families a new start and new hope. And SEE team members helped make it happen.

Over five days, 40 SEE employees worked alongside hundreds of other volunteers as part of Habitat for Humanity’s 2023 Carter Work Project to build 27 single-family affordable homes. The proximity of the site gave SEE the chance to donate time, talent, and resources directly to those who are now the company’s neighbors.

Donning hard hats and tool belts, SEE team members cut lumber, installed floors, painted walls, and laid sod among other construction tasks. Each day a new team of eight employees stepped out of their corporate roles and into the shoes of the family who will live in the new home they helped to build.

“SEE’s purpose is to make our world better than we find it. Providing a family with a roof over their heads and a safe place to make memories – I can’t think of any bigger purpose than that,” said Tiffani Burt, SEE’s Executive Director of Marketing for Americas Smart Packaging and Graphics.

“Hearing the stories of the people who will be moving into these homes is really motivational,” said Timi Fadiran, a manager on SEE’s Sustainability Technology Innovation team. “It was a really positive experience for all of us.”

SEE was honored to be a sponsor of this year’s Carter Work Project, which was hosted by country music power couple Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, longtime Habitat for Humanity supporters who were on site each day helping build homes.

The location of this year’s Carter Work Project is the site of the former Plato Price School, which closed in 1966 as part of the city’s desegregation plan. The land sat vacant for more than 50 years before being donated to Habitat for Humanity by the City of Charlotte.

“This is a part of town that has a particularly low homeownership rate,” said Laura Belcher, Habitat Charlotte Region President and CEO. “We wanted to bring affordable homeownership to the table to anchor families into this community. We want the Meadows at Plato Price to have a sense of place and a sense of neighborhood.”

“I’ve lived all over the world, and I haven’t been anywhere where there is enough housing,” said Lucy Basaldua, SEE’s Director of Global Learning and Development. “Everyone here has come together for the same reason – for the love of humanity. It feels good to give back.”

Content originally posted on SEE’s website. 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, November 28, 2023 /3BL/ – Ahead of COP28, the UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), The Global Methane Hub (GMH) and Delterra are proud to announce their partnership to reduce methane emissions in the Global South. Methane is a prominent topic on the COP28 agenda, and the three organizations are well positioned to support this promising opportunity to tackle global warming.

While most climate conversations focus on carbon dioxide, methane has an even more potent warming effect in the short term — up to about 80 times more potent in its first 20 years in the atmosphere. At least a quarter of current global warming is driven by anthropogenic methane, and 20% of that methane comes from wastewater and landfills, where organic waste produces methane as it decomposes in a low-oxygen environment. This means that methane reduction is arguably the most effective strategy for slowing global warming in the near term, and diverting organic waste from landfills is one of the easiest ways to do so.

In Global North countries, many municipalities divert food scraps, yard trimmings and other organics from landfill into a separate waste stream that can be processed into compost, biogas or other products. In the Global South, however, billions of people lack access to regular trash collection, to say nothing of organized waste management systems that separate and treat organics. Delterra, CCAC and GMH have partnered to build capacity in the region and help meet global methane reduction goals.

Through the new partnership, the three organizations will combine efforts on organic waste projects in Argentina, Indonesia and Brazil, three markets where Delterra already has strong connections with numerous stakeholders in local waste management systems. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the joint projects will create new offtake markets for organic material, improve ecosystem health and quality of life, and provide an entry point to the circular economy.

Dr. Shannon Bouton, President & CEO at Delterra remarked, “We are thrilled to be partnering with CCAC and GMH to tackle methane emissions in Asia and Latin American and shine light on this important opportunity to mitigate climate impacts. Delterra’s systems approach to integrated recycling and waste management has already driven significant material recovery in a number of municipalities in the Global South. We are excited to expand our impact with this new work with a particular focus on achieving organics separation in residences and businesses, increasing organics processing, engaging municipalities and up-skilling workers.”

Ms. Martina Otto, Head of UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition, stated “The global waste crisis is now firmly on the climate agenda. There is growing recognition that, left unaddressed, short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) from waste will accelerate global warming and significantly contribute to deteriorating air quality in cities. It is essential that we invest in alternatives and demonstrate the viability of circular economies – from household behavioural change to the development of markets through the valorisation of waste. This multi-year project, in partnership with Delterra and the GMH, will offer valuable insights into the creation of circular and inclusive waste systems by providing lessons for those countries seeking alternatives to their current waste predicaments.”

“We are proud to partner with Delterra and CCAC to reduce methane emissions from the waste sector in the Global South,” said Carolina Urmeneta, Waste Program Director at The Global Methane Hub. “The Global South is disproportionately impacted by climate change, and it is vital that climate efforts address the barriers and unique challenges the region faces in a way that benefits and supports local economies and communities. Through this partnership, we will accelerate capacity in waste management in countries like Argentina and Indonesia, advance better practices for data collection, and provide support to local governments for circular economy efforts and methane emissions reduction.”

Technology and Innovation is one of the cross-cutting themes of COP28, and the vanguard of climate technology will soon be on display in Dubai’s Expo City. Delterra, CCAC and GMH are setting out to prove that a surprisingly low-tech solution — organic waste diversion — can also be a powerful tool against global warming.

About Delterra

Delterra is a global environmental NGO on a mission to solve the world’s most complex systemic environmental challenges—on the ground, at scale, and with urgency. Founded by McKinsey & Company, Delterra uses a systems-change approach to redesign entire ecosystems by developing innovative, scalable solutions for the good of people and the planet. Learn more at: https://delterra.org and connect with us on LinkedIn & Instagram.

About CCAC

The UNEP-Convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is a voluntary partnership of over 160 governments, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations. It is the only international body working to reduce powerful but short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) – methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone – that drive both climate change and air pollution.

About GMH

The Global Methane Hub organizes the field of philanthropists, experts, nonprofits, and government organizations to ensure we unite around a strategy to maximize methane reductions. We have raised over $200 million in pooled funds from more than 20 of the largest climate philanthropies to accelerate methane mitigation across the globe. Visit our website to learn more about organizations that supported the commitment.

As a Cisco channel leader, I recognize the importance of understanding our partners’ sustainability endeavors in the Americas, as collaborative efforts and mutual support are imperative in addressing the significant sustainability challenges we confront. In this regard, I had the privilege of conducting interviews with several Cisco partners to discuss their challenges, uncover opportunities, and explore how Cisco can offer support.

Throughout these discussions, a common theme emerged: the need to bring our partners together for collaborative engagement, knowledge sharing, and in-depth conversations on building sustainable business models and offerings. The aim is to ensure not only the success of our partners but also the achievement of our mutual customers’ sustainability goals.

Prioritizing sustainability is also a business imperative

A key revelation from these conversations is the recognition that prioritizing sustainability is not just an ethical choice; it’s also a vital business imperative. While there may be situations where the choices between speed and convenience conflict with what is morally right, aligning our efforts with the objective of creating an inclusive and environmentally responsible future is not only ethically sound but also central to Cisco’s overarching mission.

To help us share insights for the better good, the Americas partner sustainability community now convenes on a quarterly basis with a dedicated leadership team committed to helping customers realize their sustainability objectives. These gatherings provide valuable insights from Cisco leaders on the broader sustainability strategy. They also serve as a platform for introducing the latest Cisco programs and tools centered on sustainability, hosting industry and ecosystem partners to share their go-to-market strategies and offerings, discussing sustainability funding, and encouraging partners to share their own experiences and lessons learned.

Inclusive engagements

Sustainability is a concept that calls for inclusivity. It acknowledges that no single individual or group can bring about the needed changes on their own. What we require is a concerted effort that actively engages individuals empowered by organizations to create a culture of sustainability.

At Cisco, we strongly encourage everyone to engage with their local communities in ways that hold personal significance. This can take various forms, such as participating in beach cleanups, contributing to habitat restoration, supporting wildfire prevention, or engaging in organic waste and edible food recovery initiatives, among others. These efforts must address both the current sustainability challenges our planet faces today and inspire and educate future generations to carry this work forward.

Partnering for purpose

In addition, leadership plays a crucial role in driving these sustainability efforts. Leaders must lead by example, inspire others to join the cause, and ensure that everyone participates. It is a collective endeavor, and leaders must be at the forefront of the solution, making tangible commitments, both in financial terms and in the way their businesses operate, to become more sustainable entities.

At Cisco, our objective is to facilitate collaboration, create scalable solutions, and enable the sharing of best practices with partners globally. The “Partnering for Purpose” initiative aligns perfectly with Cisco’s vision of an inclusive future. I’m thrilled to announce that in fiscal year 2024, Cisco will introduce sustainability offerings across our services portfolio in four key areas: Sustainable Data Centers, Smart Buildings and Workspaces, Internet of the Future, and Industry Solutions and Ecosystems.

Reducing our carbon footprint necessitates a shift in mindset, challenging us to think differently about how we design technologies, support our employees, and help our customers address challenges. For instance, through Cisco Refresh, we remanufacture and certify used network routers, switches, phones, and collaboration products, extending the value of our customers’ budgets while reducing the environmental impact associated with old technology. This is a win-win solution for all parties involved.

A Commitment to Sustainability

My aspiration is for all of us to lead happy, healthy lives and enjoy our planet in a way that ensures future generations can do the same. As a leader, I encourage others to integrate sustainable practices into every facet of their lives and endeavors. Building a culture of sustainability requires the commitment of all individuals to make choices today that will protect us from bearing the consequences of poor decisions tomorrow. Whether it’s protecting our oceans, nurturing emerging leaders, or running our businesses in a manner that safeguards the future, sustainability is a shared endeavor that benefits us all.

To learn more about what commitments Cisco has made to ensure a better tomorrow, read our 2022 Cisco Purpose Report.

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Municipal bonds issued by school districts can have a direct impact on helping kids stay in school, especially in communities where they’re most likely to drop out. But the need isn’t always easy to spot. This makes it challenging to know if a bond will effectively target the problem. So, how can muni investors know where or whether their bond will make an impact? Here’s how we figure that out early on, and it starts with data. For example, school districts generally offer free or discounted meals to students who qualify. Understandably, schools within underserved communities experience higher participation in such programs.

But if we overlay meal program participation rates with enrollment trends from 2017 to 2021, another troubling pattern emerges: the same communities that heavily rely on subsidized school lunches—60% and up—also struggle the most to keep their students in classrooms. Enrollment declines in these districts were almost five times greater than those with the lowest lunch program participation.

Declining enrollment can have concerning developmental consequences for students and financial consequences for schools, which rely on enrollment-based state and federal support. The reasons behind enrollment losses can vary, from outward migration to the rise in homeschooling. But disturbingly, over one-third of enrollment declines in recent years can’t be accounted for by increases in private or home schooling or by changes in demographics. These students have simply gone missing from the system.

Clearly, a bond that targets struggling districts with programs to support higher attendance would stand the best chance of making a meaningful impact. Early data are the key, not only for focusing a bond’s goals, but also for helping muni investors know whether proceeds are likely to reach their objectives in the end.

The views expressed herein do not constitute research, investment advice or trade recommendations and do not necessarily represent the views of all AB portfolio-management teams. Views are subject to revision over time.

Learn more about AB’s approach to responsibility here.

ATLANTA, November 28, 2023 /3BL/ – Georgia-Pacific and Curley Dossman, president of Community Programs, Georgia-Pacific, and vice president, Koch Company Charitable Fund, were honored by the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta (ISB) during its annual ISB Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion Gala. Georgia-Pacific was recognized for its initiatives facilitating diversity and inclusion, served as an Ambassador Sponsor for the gala, and donated $25,000 to the organization. Dossman was honored with the ISB Distinguished Leadership Award for his work throughout the community, along with his long relationship with ISB and role on the Advisory Council.

The ISB gala is an inspiring evening celebrating leaders and corporations who work to make the community better through diversity and inclusion. More than 500 leaders from Atlanta’s business, nonprofit, civil rights, education, and faith sectors attended the event to celebrate the Muslim community’s contributions. ISB facilitates opportunities for people to learn about Islam and Muslims in an objective and educational manner through dialogue and outreach programs.

Georgia-Pacific President and CEO Christian Fischer accepted the corporate award on behalf of the company. During the acceptance speech, Fischer thanked ISB Atlanta’s founder and executive director, and former Georgia-Pacific employee Soumaya Khalifa. Learn more about Georgia-Pacific’s support for ISB and diversity and inclusion by clicking on the video below.

Georgia-Pacific was recognized for its initiatives facilitating diversity and inclusion, served as an Ambassador Sponsor for the gala, and donated $25,000 to the organization.

Dossman was honored by ISB Atlanta with the ISB Distinguished Leadership Award. He has served on the ISB Atlanta Advisory Council since 2016. Dossman expressed thanks not only for the recognition, but the opportunity to give back to the community by serving on one of the most diverse groups in the city and leading impactful initiatives and discussions that invite differing opinions and points of view and highlight Atlanta’s diversity. Click on the video below to learn more about his contributions to ISB and the Atlanta community.

Curley Dossman was honored by ISB Atlanta with the ISB Distinguished Leadership Award. He has served on the ISB Atlanta Advisory Council since 2016.

Georgia-Pacific is committed to supporting education and investing and supporting programs that enrich the community. Learn more about our initiatives here.

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Whirlpool brand announces its eighth and biggest year of the Care Counts™ Laundry Program, which provides access to washers and dryers in schools primarily located in underserved communities. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the program has expanded to 154 schools across 40 states, including new schools in Connecticut, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon. The program now provides an estimated 50,000 students with clean clothes, a driver of absenteeism in the United States. Chronic absenteeism remains a national education crisis, impacting an estimated 16 million students across the country1, or approximately one in three students.

“We are immensely proud of the profoundly positive impact that the Care Counts™ Laundry Program has had in decreasing absenteeism in participating schools; not only has the program had a direct impact in increasing student attendance, but also their grades,” said Nelly Martinez, senior brand leader for Whirlpool brand. “At the core of our brand’s values lies a deep commitment to improving the lives of families, and this program continues to reflect our purpose with a meaningful impact on a critical issue.”

We are immensely proud of the profoundly positive impact that the Care Counts™ Laundry Program has had in decreasing absenteeism in participating schools; not only has the program had a direct impact in increasing student attendance, but also their grades,” said Nelly Martinez, senior brand leader for Whirlpool brand.

With support from Teach For America, the Care Counts™ Laundry Program by Whirlpool brand has increased attendance rates and grades since the program’s inception in 2015. Based on findings from the 2022-2023 academic year, nearly 80% of participating high-risk elementary school students2 where the program is active saw an increase in attendance.

“As a former teacher, I’ve seen what the lack of basic resources would have on my students and how something as simple as a clean shirt could make a major difference,” said McKenzie Roney, Managing Director of Corporate Partnerships at Teach For America. “Since TFA began supporting the Care Counts™ Laundry Program by Whirlpool brand, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in attendance, grades and even student engagement within their classrooms.”

In analyzing the impact of the Care Counts™ Laundry Program since its inception, Whirlpool brand has observed:

Participating high-risk elementary school students3 saw an average increase in attendance rate that would result in 16 more days in school across a full academic year.Nearly 68% of participating high-risk elementary school students4 decreased their level of chronic absenteeism while in the Care Counts™ Laundry Program.Nearly 61% of participating high-risk students5 were no longer at risk for chronic absenteeism at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year.

By 2028, Whirlpool brand is committed to expanding the Care Counts™ Laundry Program to all 50 states and doubling the number of participating schools in the fight to eliminate chronic absenteeism. Beyond Teach For America, Whirlpool will continue to work with schoolteachers, administrators and researchers to monitor the impact of the program.

“There is an undoubtable research-based correlation between access to clean clothes and attendance given the lack of resources available to students nationwide” said Richard Rende, Ph.D., a developmental psychologist and researcher supporting the program. “Whirlpool has made tremendous strides in combating the issue of absenteeism with this successful, hands-on approach, and this is set to continue on a positive trajectory as the program grows.”

For a visual representation of the program’s impact, Whirlpool brand has also released Care Counts Continued, a short film that features students, teachers and other partners who have benefitted from the Care Counts™ Laundry Program since its start. To learn more about the Care Counts™ Laundry Program by Whirlpool brand, visit https://www.whirlpool.com/care-counts.

1 Source: A Review of State Attendance Data Policy and Practice in School Year 2022-23

2 High-risk elementary school students are defined as elementary students who have missed 10% or more days of school during a reporting period.

3 High-risk elementary school students are defined as elementary students who have missed 10% or more days of school during a reporting period.

4 High-risk elementary school students are defined as elementary students who have missed 10% or more days of school during a reporting period.

5 High-risk elementary school students are defined as elementary students who have missed 10% or more days of school during a reporting period.

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