Tag: 3BL

The second episode of the Carton Council’s podcast series, “The Road to Recycling: A School Striving for Zero Waste” is now live.

The episode features Jeremy Drake of Strategy Zero Waste Solutions and Michele Wagner, Carton Council schools and field team member. Schools across the country have been striving to become more environmentally conscious but is zero waste really possible?

This audio-only podcast provides a real-life example occurring in Missoula, Montana. Listeners can learn how schools are recycling food and beverage cartons as well as diverting additional materials from the school waste stream. This is all part of their efforts towards zero waste, which are part of the broader City of Missoula’s plans.

The podcast discusses how even the concept of zero waste needs to be defined before efforts begin and that it’s important to have a solid understanding of what is coming into the stream. One of the first things done in Missoula was conducting an audit of the pilot elementary school. That revealed that 20% of what was in the trash after lunch was food that hadn’t been eaten, including milk cartons that were still sealed. This helped determine four categories for reducing their waste: 1) liquids, 2) recycling, 3) composting, and 4) food capture or “rescuing food” as it became called which is edible, sealed food and whole fruit that could be prevented from going to waste.

Learn more about what happened next and how what started as a pilot, expanded to all of the elementary schools with plans to extend to middle schools and even high schools.

Have an idea for a future episode or a case study to share? Reach out to carton.recycling@hkstrategies.com.

Autumn Bennington is the proud owner of a new home in Findlay, Ohio, thanks to some help from Habitat for Humanity and Marathon Petroleum.Bennington began her journey with Habitat for Humanity Findlay/Hancock County two years before receiving keys to her home and spent numerous hours participating in financial education and working alongside employee volunteers on the project.MPC provided $100,000 to sponsor the home build and 258 people volunteered a combined 1,412 hours on the project.Watch a timelapse video of the home being built.

It was an emotional moment for first-time homeowner Autumn Bennington when Maryann Mannen, EVP and CFO at Marathon Petroleum, handed her the keys to a new home in September. Bennington, the single mother of 3-year-old Briella, works at Sports Clips in Findlay, Ohio. She began her journey with Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County nearly two years ago.

Knowing that Bennington was struggling to make ends meet, a friend and a co-worker encouraged her to apply with Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program. She was selected as a partner family for House #56, which was funded by Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC). To qualify, Habitat homeowners must volunteer 400 hours of sweat equity with Habitat, including participating in financial education from the Habitat Financial Opportunity Center. For six weeks, Bennington was among hundreds of volunteers from MPC who helped build the home. She also received ongoing support from her family advocates Andrea Roth, an HR Manager at MPC, and Linda Wolery, retired from MPC. They met monthly to discuss Bennington’s budget, encourage her saving goals and provide homeownership education. Roth is on the Family Services Committee with Habitat and volunteered to work with partner families.

“What impressed me most about Autumn was her enthusiasm and optimism,” said Roth. “Even when her car would break down or she had unexpected expenses, she continued to remain focused on her goal of being the first one in her family to own a house. She wanted to provide her daughter with a safe, clean and affordable home with a yard for the four gardens her daughter wanted and a place for their dog to play.”

MPC employees volunteered in August and September to help build MPC’s first fully sponsored home for Habitat for Humanity of Hancock County. Employees and crew leaders divided efforts into 4-hour shifts to perform various work from hanging doors to painting and everything in between. There were 258 people who volunteered a combined 1,412 hours on the project. MPC provided $100,000 to sponsor the home build. At the home dedication ceremony in September, Bennington thanked Habitat, MPC, the volunteers and her friends and family for their time and support during the entire process.

“Being a part of the build made me feel like I wasn’t just buying a home, but I was earning it,” said Bennington. “So many memories have already been made. It was an experience that honestly Briella and I will never be able to forget.”

MPC employees were there for the groundbreaking, the wall raising and the home dedication. Through it all, the build served as a reminder of MPC’s commitment to making our communities stronger, safer and thriving places.

“Working with Autumn and Briella and being able to champion her efforts and encourage her through this process has been equally rewarding,” said Roth. “I encourage everyone to consider your passion and to find a way to give, whether it is to Habitat or another organization. Together we can build a better place to live, work and play when we volunteer in our communities.”

MPC has been a supporter of Habitat for Humanity of Hancock County for more than 20 years. MPC helped build House #6 in 2002 and continues to support the organization financially and through volunteer opportunities.

“We are deeply grateful to Habitat for Humanity for the critical work they do. This build offered MPC the chance to strengthen the resiliency of our community, help address basic needs and create an opportunity for economic vitality,” said Maryann Mannen, EVP and CFO at MPC.

In recognition of Veterans and Military Families Month, we check in with a military spouse we first interviewed after she was hired by T-Mobile in 2020. While the conversation then was around her experience of the company’s commitment to hiring veterans and military spouses, today she shares how the company has provided her, and others in a similar situation, support when military families are given the order to relocate.

When we first met Logan Mcintosh, she was celebrating her one-year wedding anniversary as a military spouse. She also happened to be celebrating solo. It was the first inclination of how complicated this world can be. Her husband, Morgan, an active-duty Special Operations soldier in the Army, was serving a tour of duty in a place that was confidential and therefore unknown even to her.

She shared the myriad challenges of being a military spouse, a big one she said she only discovered after becoming married to the military: finding a supportive employer.

Logan revealed she quickly learned that companies are habitually wary of hiring people like her because of active military post relocation needs, and some military spouses she talked to even recommended she not disclose her husband’s occupation. But she said that noticeably changed when she found a job opening with T-Mobile and applied.

A lot has happened for Logan since we last spoke. Currently finishing up her third year in T-Mobile’s corporate communications organization, her husband indeed had to travel to other military bases since she was hired. She also started a family and navigated returning to work with a newborn. Now a well-versed military spouse, we checked back in with Logan to ask her what she has learned to be most important when it comes to helping military and veteran families thrive.

You told us when you were first hired you were unaware of T-Mobile’s dedication to building lasting careers for veterans and military spouses, including a commitment to hiring 10,000 veterans and military spouses by end of 2023, but felt an immediate difference in the way your military connection was treated from previous interviews. Can you elaborate on what that difference was?

I’ve been a military spouse for four years now. When my husband finished training, he was assigned to a team in Washington State, so we were picking up and driving across the country in February of 2020 after getting married. I had lost my job before we left because my employer was not supportive of the military lifestyle where we could be up and moving at any moment’s notice. I spent months just scouring the internet for job postings. But, as soon as I would say that my husband is in the military, they immediately would ask, “Oh, well how long are you stationed for in the state?”

I saw a listing for a communications position at T-Mobile and reached out. During the interview, I just said straight up, “I’m a military spouse. I’m always going to be a military spouse. I’m not going to hide that. I’m a really hard worker, I’m dedicated and I’m stationed here for now. I’m just looking for an employer that is willing to work with me.” And luckily that is exactly what happened.

I am still impressed with how much this company does with the help of the T-Mobile Military & Diversity Sourcing team and also through partnerships with Hiring Our Heroes (HOH), Carry The Load and One Tribe Foundation.

The company has formalized its practice of recognizing military spouses by implementing a companywide benefit. You’ve mention that this is also important to you and your family. How so?

Well, here I am in a different location, still working at T-Mobile. My husband wrestled at one of the best college programs in the country at Penn State before enlisting. In early 2022, he was given the opportunity to go back and train on behalf of the military through their world-class athlete program, or WCAP. We received military orders to move to Pennsylvania and I’ll never forget, I was so anxious having to go talk to my managers about it because we were only given a month’s notice before we had to pick up and move. I remember I went into the office at 6:30 in the morning. I wanted to be the first one there. I just sat them down and I said, “Listen, I so badly want to still work here and I really value my job and all the benefits and support I’ve received for being a military spouse. So, is it possible to maintain that while moving back across the country?” And they were like, “Of course! Why wouldn’t we want to support the military?” It’s a reason why I’ve been so grateful for this company because I don’t know what I would be doing if I wasn’t able to keep my job. Knowing that the T-Mobile employee handbook has this benefit called The Military Spouse Portable Career Option, which formalizes the company’s commitment to military spouses under these circumstances, lifts a lot of uncertainty and stress.

The Why Behind What T-Mobile Does To Support Military Families

Just this year, the Chamber of Commerce reported that military spouses have faced an unemployment rate of 22%, compared to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which states that the national average sits at 3.6%. That makes service member spouses one of the highest unemployed demographics in the United States

A lot has happened since we spoke in 2020. Can you catch us up on what’s been going on with your family and how T-Mobile has supported you through it?

Almost eight months ago we welcomed our beautiful daughter, Brooke, to our family. She has been so great, except of course when she’s teething! When I was back from maternity leave, my husband Morgan had to start traveling again for the military. I was at home trying to juggle being a first-time mom and going back to work and everyone was just so unbelievably patient at T-Mobile. Even before we had Brooke, when Morgan would be deployed, I remember my managers would be supportive in so many ways, big and small, that made an impact on me. They even sent me a gift card to Whole Foods when Morgan was still overseas during Thanksgiving.

I also have to mention that the company’s exclusive phone plan discounts for military families on its regular Go5G plan rates made a big difference when my husband was deployed overseas for six months. It’s not like we just get to talk on the phone whenever we want when he’s deployed, especially when we’re in opposite time zones. It’s made a huge difference not having to worry about racking up exorbitant charges. It’s a true benefit for active military, veterans and their families — and ours!

*It was recently announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has chosen T-Mobile as its primary wireless provider through 2032, to provide free wireless service for the VA’s telehealth app, making healthcare more accessible to millions of veterans. Read more HERE.

Many of us hear about Hustle Culture, but what does it entail? According to TalkSpace, Hustle culture is a mentality that embodies increased productivity, ambition and success, typically shared with little to no regard for one’s mental and physical well-being. So many people view this as a bad thing, however, I tend to thrive off this state of mind – or at least a version of it. As Oscar Wilde once said, “everything in moderation, including moderation”.

Finding Success Within Hustle Culture

Hustle Culture can be intimidating, but I’ve managed to find a system that works for me, which embraces the values of hustling in moderation. It wasn’t easy to get to this point, but now I couldn’t imagine functioning any other way. For the past few years, I’ve started nearly every day the same way. I wake up at 5:30 a.m. and go to the gym for an hour. When I get home, I spend 10 minutes writing in my gratitude journal, and then I listen to a podcast that makes me feel empowered as I get ready for work. This may not seem like anything extraordinary, but by doing these activities I feel refreshed and ready to dive into the hustle of work.

It will be easy to fall off the wagon, which is why it’s important to surround yourself with people who support and care for you. It’s critical to determine what you are willing to “hustle” for, because not everything needs 110% effort. For me, I want to hustle in my professional life so I can enjoy my personal life to the fullest. I’ve determined to do this, I need to prioritize my selfcare and work routine, so I can use my time after work to fill my social cup.

Where Hustle Culture Can Go Astray

So, if hustle culture works for me, you may be thinking what’s the negative connotation is with it? Well, burnout is often associated with this phenomenon, resulting in negative sentiment. Many lose track of what requires a “hustle mindset” and overexert themselves in the process. It is my belief that this can be avoided by taking responsibility and strategically managing your time.

It’s easy to get addicted to the feeling of hustling – the euphoric high of completing your goals and being a top performer. However, it’s just as easy to forget to take a step back and find ways to nourish your mental and physical health. At the end of the day, we are all accountable for our own lives, and how we go about them; so, as the owner of your life, you need to determine what to prioritize.

As someone who has figured out what works for me, I try to coach my friends and employees on ways they can have the best of both worlds. As an employer, I’ve learned it is critical to support your team and coach them for when they may feel like they are spiraling. Which is why my company covers the costs of therapy for our employees, to encourage them to take care of their health. However, through my own therapy sessions, I’ve learned that seeing a therapist is only one step in the process and accountability is needed to succeed. Personally, I need a mix of exercise and mental stimulation in my day-to-day life to balance my accelerated career.

I’ve also determined that it’s important for me to align myself with likeminded individuals, this includes coworkers and professional partners. Creating peaceful surroundings includes my professional life as well. Working with a brand like Lenovo who recognizes the importance of inclusivity and representation has been fulfilling for me. Knowing that there are large organizations who care and want to see their employees succeed is something I value and instill in my office as well.

Advice for Managing Your Time

When employees come to me seeking guidance and seemingly overwhelmed, I also ask them the same question, “What do you need to improve your situation?”. I am more than willing to work with my team members to find ways to balance their lives, but that requires them to have a solution orientated mindset. I’ve learned that we can’t expect others to solve our problems, but we can lean on mentors, friends, and family to help guide us to our destination.

For example, if someone comes to me saying they are overwhelmed with work and can’t find time to go to the gym or hangout with friends, I will work them to set a plan in place. The answer isn’t necessarily less work, as they are obligated to work a set number of hours, however, it can be finding the energy to wake up a little earlier and meditate or blocking off time for lunch during the day to unwind. By taking care of our minds and bodies, we can allow ourselves to fully indulge in our professional goals.

Hustling To End Stereotypes

Being a self-proclaimed female hustler, comes with an endless number of stereotypes. I’ve made it a personal goal of mine to redefine being a female CEO, by staying true to myself and embracing the change around me. I’m a proud young, Latina woman who isn’t always the most polished and manicured – I’m a real person.

Many times, you see photos in magazines highlighting women business leaders who look stern and serious, noticeably lacking personality. While I know how to be professional and can turn that switch on when needed, I find joy in being unapologetically myself.

At the end of the day, you determine your own happiness and success. It’s your responsibility to know what gives you peace and decide what you need to flourish.

To see me fully embracing hustle culture or to learn more about my #LenovoInnovators journey, follow me on Instagram @karlahuertav.

In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and shifting consumer preferences, supply chains across the food manufacturing and retail sectors are undergoing a transformation. As these industries evolve towards a more customer-centric approach, product enrichment emerges as a revolutionary tool in reshaping the retail landscape. Here’s why.

The Changing Face of Supply Chain

The evolution of the supply chain over the years is not just an outcome of technological innovations. External pressures, such as increased customer expectations, global competition, and an overarching demand for sustainability, play an equally compelling role. As a result, businesses must face financial implications, protect brand equity, enhance operational efficiency, strategically position themselves and manage risks.

Future competitive edge hinges on supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, digital, transparent, and, above all, customer-centric. Such chains can respond with agility, provide hyper-personalised products and services, and offer a holistic customer experience proposition that goes beyond the product. Whether it’s ensuring food safety, leveraging real-time analytics, or reducing food waste, supply chains are now intertwined with customer values and preferences more than ever.

Product Enrichment: A Paradigm Shift

Traditional product data has been limited, siloed, underused, and primarily focused on upstream processes. However, in the heart of this transformation lies product enrichment, which extends this data to the ‘shelf edge’, ensuring customers get tangible, measurable value – be it improved satisfaction, clarity on product provenance, or insights on sustainability. At its core, enrichment transforms product data from a traditional supply chain focus to a holistic customer view.

It’s not just about adding value to existing data but also refining values and improving data quality. This paves the way for “Identity Retailing,” where the shopping experience is dynamic, personalised, and reflects a customer’s unique needs, preferences, and values.

The Dawn of Identity Retailing

Identity Retailing is not just a buzzword; it’s the next phase in retail evolution. It demands a comprehensive understanding of customers’ preferences and shopping patterns. The enriched product data lies at the centre of this experience, enabling a journey that recognises a customer’s values, diets, and lifestyle. From personalised recipes to proactive product warnings, the retailing dialogue is now more interactive, engaging, and aligned with the customer’s identity.

Objectives and Outcomes

By maximising the value of enrichment services, retailers can not only differentiate themselves but also drive loyalty, increase basket size and synchronise shopping channels. It’s about shifting the paradigm from a transactional focus to an interactive, dialogue-driven relationship that puts the customer first.

The Road Ahead

Product enrichment is not an isolated strategy. It intertwines with every facet of a business, demanding a rethinking of traditional demand chain challenges. By centering strategies around the customer and adding value at every stage, businesses can transition from a linear demand chain to a holistic, resilient, and profitable value chain. In so doing, they can recognise true demand signals based on what customers really want, to drive the entire supply chain.

In this ever-evolving market landscape, businesses that harness the transformative power of product enrichment will undoubtedly emerge as frontrunners, reshaping the future of retail, food manufacturing, and supply chain management.

Product data enrichment is not merely about improving product attributes; it’s about rethinking the entire retail value chain for the customer, enabling transition to a more holistic, resilient, and profitable value chain. Furthermore, it is a transformative lever that enhances customer experiences, leverages technology, and streamlines operations. As retailers harness its power, they position themselves for greater success. Embracing product data enrichment is not just a choice; it’s a necessity for thriving in today’s retail world.

With the potential for product data enrichment to reshape the retail industry, it’s crucial for businesses to recognise its importance and make it a central part of their strategy. As customer expectations continue to rise, those who prioritise enrichment will be the ones to lead the way into a bright retail future.

By embracing this paradigm shift, businesses can move beyond traditional demand chains, transforming into dynamic, customer-centred value chains. This shift will not only enhance customer experience but also drive profitability and sustainability, ultimately securing a lasting place in the competitive world of retail.

Covia strives to build a welcoming environment where Team Members with unique backgrounds and experiences feel comfortable, safe, and encouraged.

Recently, Covia Team Members led an initiative to build a support network for veterans of the United States military. Their goal is to build a volunteer-led support network to connect veterans at Covia, as well as assist in career development and community engagement. Let’s take a closer look at the veteran support network and how Covia is taking steps to build a welcoming environment for veterans.

Establishing a Veterans Network

When military service members transition to the civilian workforce, they often miss the camaraderie and closeness of the military culture. To help combat that, Covia Team Members have created a veteran support network. The Veterans Network helps veterans feel more connected while also giving them a community where they can grow their careers, share their experiences, give back, and grow as leaders.

The project is championed by Covia Team Member and US Army veteran Joe Migyanko, as a way to advocate veteran voices in the organization.

The Veterans Network at Covia features four main pillars:

Recognition – to improve the recognition of veterans at Covia.Engagement – to increase the level of employee engagement with military and veteran activities in the community.Reputation – to highlight Covia’s Team Members as members of the veteran community.Recruiting – to encourage more veterans to seek out employment at Covia.

Covia veterans who participated in the kickoff meeting for the Veterans Network were enthusiastic about the group’s goals and potential and shared some of the ways their military experiences have shaped them.

Covia’s Veteran Initiatives

The Veterans Network is supported by Team Members throughout the organization, including Covia leaders. While the efforts are being led by the veterans, Covia is taking steps to encourage, support, and expand their efforts.

Covia is continuing to work on building a holistic environment that empowers veterans and encourages their career growth. We believe it is critical to foster and support a proud community for members to connect while building our programs for veteran recruitment efforts, career development, outward engagement, and professional growth and retention.

To push this initiative forward, Covia is hosting ongoing meetings to help the growing collective of veterans establish resources, roles, and responsibilities needed for the group’s success. This includes building a council of veterans to lead and champion the priorities of the Veterans Network.

Many of our Team Members actively support veterans’ organizations in their communities. At the company level, Covia also engages with the veteran community through an annual golf outing. We hosted our 9th annual Stars, Stripes & Links golf outing this past October to support and engage with veterans in the greater Cleveland community. This unique event provided a day of golf specifically intended for injured combat veterans and gave Covia the opportunity to show our immense gratitude for their service and sacrifices.

This year, we hosted more than 30 veterans, representing all five branches of the military. They enjoyed a morning of camaraderie and one-on-one golf instruction, followed by on-course team play and a lunch reception to conclude the event.

We look forward to the further development of the Veterans Network at Covia, as well as new opportunities to continue building a welcoming workspace where every Team Member can prosper and grow.

Building a Community for All

Empowering all Team Members to perform at their best while being themselves is fundamental to the Covia Values and Culture. Covia is proud to honor veterans both inside and outside of the organization. We are deeply committed to further building out our veteran initiatives and continuing to support the veterans in our communities.

“I’ve been with Covia for about 22 years, and I’ve met and worked with great people. The camaraderie you feel when you’re working together for a purpose is special, and once you’ve experienced it, you know how important it is.” – Joe Migyanko, Covia Team Member and US Military veteran.

Learn more about Joe and Covia’s Veterans Network.

LONDON and NEW YORK, November 9, 2023 /3BL/ – The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the global authority for driving market transformation through healthy buildings, organizations and communities, and City Sanctuary Developments announced today that the London-based boutique residential developer became an early adopter of IWBI’s WELL for residential program, which is now open for enrollments. The first-of-its-kind, WELL for residential is an evidence-based, third-party verified certification program designed to transform the way homes are designed, built and maintained to support human health and well-being. This collaboration will allow City Sanctuary to renovate its Albion Court project using WELL strategies designed to positively impact resident health.

Grounded in the science-backed principles of the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and its 10 WELL concepts, the WELL for residential program consists of more than 100 health strategies that support new and existing residences and are applicable to both single-family homes and multifamily buildings. During the launch phase of the program, IWBI is partnering with leading architects, builders, developers, operators and owners – such as City Sanctuary- to transform the global residential market to make healthier and more resilient homes more accessible to more people in more places.

“City Sanctuary is excited to join IWBI as an early adopter of the WELL for residential program as this collaboration evidences our vision to build toward a radically healthier future,” said Alex Uregian, Managing Director of City Sanctuary. “Evidence-based WELL strategies will reinforce our design principles for Albion Court, a protected historic building on the UK’s National Register of Historic Places, that will both honor the heritage of the building and reimagine the space to nurture resident health.”

City Sanctuary, which is supported by consultancy Ekkist, is eager to explore how to best apply the WELL Air, Light, and Mind elements, among others, from the pilot WELL for residential program within the historic building context, where the number of design solutions can be far more limited.

“IWBI applauds City Sanctuary for joining the WELL for residential program at this early stage” said Ann Marie Aguilar, IWBI’s senior vice president and head of Europe, Middle East and East Africa. “By adopting WELL strategies for homes that can positively impact resident health and well-being, City Sanctuary exemplifies health-focused leadership in the residential sector.”

The development of the WELL for residential program drew upon two years of industry input, market insight and expert recommendations from IWBI’s WELL for residential advisory, a working group of over 100 globally renowned subject matter experts including leading builders and developers, architects and engineers, public health and building scientists, government officials and academics, as well as other real estate professionals. Companies can earn the WELL Residence seal for residences upon completion of third-party review and verification of selected strategies. To be certified as a WELL Residence, a home must achieve at least 40 points. Projects also have an opportunity to earn precertified WELL Residence status for participating units upon preliminary design review, a milestone step forward that allows participants to communicate achievement before construction is completed.

Today, in the U.S. alone, the residential sector spans more than 120 million homes totaling roughly 224 billion square feet of real estate. The importance of creating healthier environments in the residential sector has become a top priority among homeowners.

The WELL for residential program adds to the WELL ecosystem and provides a new pathway for creating people-first residences. This program builds upon the work IWBI has already done within the multifamily sector through its WELL Certification and WELL ratings. IWBI applauds the leadership demonstrated by the multifamily residential developers and owners who have pursued WELL Certification. Their experiences have helped inform and inspire the development of the new WELL for residential program.

While numerous studies show healthy homes are increasingly in demand, regulations and standards focused on resident health in homes are largely lacking. The WELL for residential program seeks to provide a solution that helps transform the global residential market and ensure that everyone, no matter their backgrounds, has access to a home that enhances their health and enables them to make healthier decisions.

The WELL ecosystem comprises WELL Certification under the WELL Building Standard, a library of building and organizational strategies focused on health, the WELL Health-Safety Rating, WELL Performance Rating, WELL Equity Rating and certification under the WELL Community Standard. WELL’s holistic, evidence-based approach has provided a roadmap for organizations to promote human and social capital performance and enhance their ESG strategy. As a result, thousands of organizations including nearly 30% of Fortune 500 companies across nearly 130 countries have adopted WELL strategies in more than 40,000 locations totalling almost five billion square feet of space.

About City Sanctuary Development
City Sanctuary Developments is a boutique London based real estate developer focused on building beautiful living spaces designed to boost the health and mental wellbeing of its occupants.

We’re building towards a radically healthier future where a house is more than a home. It’s a sanctuary. Our progressive designs seek to combine the latest neuroscientific research in areas like air quality, natural light and sleep, with observations of how people use spaces. As we create, we add incremental enhancements throughout the space, calibrated to amplify a sense of wellbeing.

These calculated enhancements add up to create spaces that profoundly change the way people feel. They’re more than spaces to co-exist in. They redefine what a home can be. Spaces that are not only smarter and more integrated, but resonate on a deeper, more human level. Places that make us feel at home.

About the International WELL Building Institute
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the world’s leading organization focused on deploying people first places to advance a global culture of health. IWBI mobilizes its community through the administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and its WELL ratings, management of the WELL AP credential, the pursuit of applicable research, the development of educational resources, and advocacy for policies that promote health and wellbeing everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL EP, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Equity Rated, WELL Equity, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

Media contact:
City Sanctuary: media@citysanctuary.com
IWBI: media@wellcertified.com

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By Kim Borges

Ever had a close friend who can talk you into anything?

Kristina Jones has. Her name is Jenny Walker.

“Jenny called me while she was on vacation and said, ‘Never mind all those go-karts in the background, listen to this,’” Jones recalled of the pitch that started it all. “When she asked, ‘What do you think?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m in.’”

Walker’s big idea? Asking Jones to leave her job at Texas A&M University’s Texarkana campus where the two previously worked together as Student Engagement coordinators to join her at the Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties and launch 100 Families. Walker saw how the program was helping people move from crisis to career by bringing together multiple agencies to serve families’ essential needs could work in her community while at a nonprofit conference.

In 2020, Walker had talked someone else into making her own move to lead the Literacy Council – her husband.

“He said, ‘You’re telling me you’re going to leave a stable job you love to go to a small nonprofit?’” Walker said. “I replied, ‘Yes, that’s what we’re doing, and it’s going to be great.’”

Three years later, it’s more than great with the Literacy Council quadrupling the number of clients it serves. Mac Carrell, manager of Regions Bank’s Ashdown branch on the Arkansas side of the Ark-La-Tex, sees that greatness each time he teaches financial education or meets one-on-one with an agency client. Regions has also financially supported the nonprofit in 2023 through a $5,000 donation.

“What’s so amazing about 100 Families is it’s a network,” said Carrell. “That’s exactly what is needed, a network. Clients may come to the Literacy Council and be hungry; or, they may go to the food bank but not be able to fill out an application.”

Carrell’s youth resembled some of those challenges.

“We grew up in federal housing on food stamps,” he said. “I know what it’s like to take a SNAP card to the grocery store and feel a little bit of shame. We didn’t have 100 Families when I was younger. You had to put out 100 different feelers to get what you needed.”

Today, Carrell shares his experience to help put agency clients at ease.

“I may be the most non-traditional banker you’re ever going to meet,” he said. “My mom was a single mother raising three boys. I’ve been there where I’ve had to take the hand up, where somebody helps you.”

Jenny Walker faced similar childhood challenges.

“I grew up in generational poverty, and I understand the power of what an education can do,” she said. “But when life is hard, learning is hard.”

It’s the philosophy at the root of 100 Families. And it’s what sparked Walker’s lightbulb moment at that conference.

“Our clients face transportation issues, childcare issues,” she said. “I can’t solve transportation; I can’t solve childcare, but I realized I didn’t have to solve those problems. I could count on people in our community leading other organizations to help me solve the problem. We’re all serving the same people; we’re just serving different pieces of what they need.”

We’re all serving the same people; we’re just serving different pieces of what they need. 
Jenny Walker

Kristina Jones oversees in-house and community case managers and works with 60-plus community partners in her role coordinating 100 Families. The demand for services makes it a full-time-plus job.

“By year end, we should be serving 1,000 students,” Walker said.

Jones points to the Literacy Council’s collaboration with the local probation and parole department as an example for any remaining skeptics.

“We’re really helping these men and women reach their full potential, regardless of what their past has been,” she said. “That’s not a place you’d think of to go for warm and fuzzy feelings, but it is.”

Walker knew from day one her friend was the right choice for the 100 Families role.

“Kristina is persistent, and people love her,” she said. “She has a personality that people want to be part of anything she’s doing.”

That imagination includes adding three staff members beyond Jones and significantly expanding their volunteer base with regular helpers like Carrell.

“Mac has been wonderful,” said Walker. “He’s helping our students learn things they never would have learned otherwise.”

Carrell welcomes every opportunity to offer clients something that doesn’t cost a cent: hope.

“There are so many people who feel defeated,” he said. “If you have setbacks, you may not know what you’re fighting for. What I say is you have to be persistent. One, two, five, ten times may not be enough. But if you keep working at it, you’ll get there.”

Carrell is living proof.

“I had every disadvantage in the world like our clients. I tell them, ‘Hey, I’ve struggled too.’ When you make that connection and share with someone on that level, you’ve made a lifelong friend. I am so happy to share what I am. I just want to be a resource to them.”

Jenny Walker understands that desire to serve. And she has no regrets about her decision three years ago.

“Even on the hardest day, I would take this job over any other I’ve done in my life,” she said. “There’s so much responsibility in the work we do, and I don’t take that lightly. If someone rests easier tonight because of the work we do, I can sleep better.”

Given the lives she and team are transforming daily, there’s no doubt Walker is sleeping soundly.

From Client to Peer Mentor: Logan Garza Shares the Literacy Council’s Impact.

“What I appreciate most about the Literacy Council is so hard to answer because there is so much to be grateful for! Participating in this program has taught me I can overcome barriers, reach out for help, be genuinely loved and love myself and I can change and break the generational curses that have haunted me for so long. The Literacy Council has taught me I am worth it, and I am strong enough to achieve anything.”

Read more about Garza’s journey.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., November 9, 2023, /3BL/ – Today, three giant pandas, including 25-year-old Mei Xiang, 26-year-old Tian Tian, and their three-year-old cub, Xiao Qi Ji, arrived in Chengdu, China on a FedEx Express charter flight from Washington, D.C. Working with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, the giant pandas began their journey on November 8 and traveled via a FedEx Express Boeing 777F, dubbed the “FedEx Panda Express.”

The shipping and logistics company has long worked with the Chinese government and zoos around the world to safely ship giant pandas to and from China. FedEx is proud to donate the cost of transporting the pandas as part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility and environmental conservation efforts.

On their journey to China, the pandas were accompanied by animal care experts from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and traveled in custom-built transport enclosures provided by FedEx. The pandas were the only cargo on the trans-Pacific flight from Washington’s Dulles International Airport to China’s Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, aside from supplies such as bamboo, water, and their favorite treats, including sugar cane, apples, and pears.

“We are deeply honored to again serve as the transportation provider of giant pandas. The safe delivery of Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Xiao Qi Ji is a testament to the company’s commitment and ability to securely ship precious cargo,” said Richard Smith, president and chief executive officer, Airline and International, FedEx. “I remember fondly when we brought Mei Xiang and Tian Tian over decades ago, and we are proud to once again be entrusted with transporting these beloved animals through our global network.”

Before their trip, the pandas spent time getting familiar with their enclosures to ensure a safe and comfortable flight. Upon arrival in Chengdu, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Xiao Qi Ji were greeted on the tarmac by their new keepers before moving to the Shenshuping facility in Wolong, where they will quarantine for approximately 30 days.

edEx also provided trucking and logistical support in Washington, D.C. to safely transport the pandas from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo to the airport. Including this move, FedEx has had the privilege of transporting 15 different pandas on 10 separate flights over the past two decades, including transporting Mei Xiang and Tian Tian to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo from China in 2000 and their cubs from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo to China, including:

Tai Shan in 2010Bao Bao in 2017Bei Bei in 2019

The other previous deliveries of giant pandas to and from China include:

2023: from USA to China2013: from China to Canada2012: from China to France2011: from China to Scotland2003: from China to USA

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About FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenue of nearly $90 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively and innovating digitally as one FedEx. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 500,000 employees to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit fedex.com/about.

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