Tag: 3BL

This past summer a pop culture phenomenon descended upon us in a firestorm of physics and fashion. With both the Oppenheimer biopic and the live-action Barbie movie premiering on the same day, the internet latched on to the portmanteau “Barbeheimer,” creating enough double-feature hype to bounce the summer box office back to pre-pandemic levels.

It’s one thing to stir up chatter and inspire memes online. It’s another thing entirely to see the degree of real-world follow-through that Barbeheimer produced. Broken records don’t lie – there was a significant amount of public interest in what both of these films had to offer.

One of the more fascinating elements of the Barbeheimer phenomenon: the public enthusiastically engaging with these films around their common themes of how humanity grapples with social, environmental, and governance (ESG) issues.

ESG Themes in Barbenheimer 

Sustainability and the existential crisis of Barbenheimer 

From a business perspective, ESG is a framework that evaluates and addresses a company’s environmental, social, and governance performance. It’s a strategic approach that acknowledges the impact a company has on various stakeholders beyond just financial considerations. And yet it is a significant part of an organization’s financial reputation, attracting more investors and yielding greater long-term profits.

That’s the view from the C-suite. The view from the ground is a bit broader.

The intertwining themes in both Barbie and Oppenheimer touch on serious ESG issues, demonstrating how the acronym is – with a nod to the first nuclear test site – three aspects of one singular concept: sustainability.

The core idea of sustainability is to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This means a hundred different things for each person, but as a whole, humanity has a powerful drive to ensure we are leaving a better world for those who follow.

Sustainability is woven deeply into the fabric of both films: death, life, progress, community, and individuality. Each of these subjects touches on that existential question: will there be a world left for tomorrow?

It’s no wonder that people the world over flocked to see these films.

Governance and its impact on social and environmental issues 

Governance was a central theme in both films, with Oppenheimer at the helm of the Manhattan Project and Barbie(s) running their women-can-have-it-all world. Each of these films clearly demonstrated the downstream impact of choices made by those in a position of leadership.

The real-world environmental and social consequences of the nuclear weapons developed by that team of scientists in the 1940s will be felt for countless generations to come. And the social issues faced in the world of Barbie act as a funhouse mirror reflecting very real issues impacting our society right now.

Even though governance comes last in the acronym, it is a fundamental part of the ESG equation due to the extreme power wielded by organizational leaders. In a report by PwC, governance had the greatest impact on both consumers and employees in terms of how they viewed an organization.

In fact, the intersection of governance and social was made clear by consumers citing “addressing the widening pay gap” as a factor that they wish to see more corporations taking action on.

Dollars Reflect Demand, and The People Want ESG 

Only a handful of months after their release, both films have shattered records, with Oppenheimer claiming the spot as the highest-grossing biographical film of all time, and Barbie standing tall as the highest-grossing global release in Warner Bros.’ 100-year history.

This outsized success should be a wake-up call for both Hollywood and corporations at large to take note of what these films deliver – because it is what the people want.

People are not only actively engaging with media that explores these important ESG themes, they are prepared to continue spending on sustainable products. The 2023 PwC report on ESG trends states: “More than 60% of people are basing their purchasing behaviours on sustainability and ethical criteria, and this is growing by 10% each year. They’re also prepared to pay more for ethically sourced, sustainably made products.”

The journey to sustainability begins with a single step. If you’re ready to deliver the future to a public ready to invest in hope, we can help get you started.

Originally published on 3M News Center

3M and Discovery Education named Heman Bekele, a 9th grader at W.T. Woodson High School in Annandale, Va., the winner of the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the nation’s premier middle school science competition. Heman set himself apart with his compound-based Skin Cancer Treating Soap (SCTS). As the grand prize winner, he will receive a $25,000 cash prize and the prestigious title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”

Heman spent the last four months competing against nine other finalists and secured his win during final Challenge events at 3M global headquarters in St. Paul, Minn., on October 9 and 10. Finalists navigated a series of interactive challenges and were evaluated on their ingenuity and innovative thinking, application of STEM principles, demonstration of passion and research, presentation skills, and ability to inspire others.

“The need for scientists and innovators to develop solutions for the world’s biggest challenges has never been greater. This year’s Young Scientist Challenge finalists have demonstrated the skills required to reimagine what’s possible—intelligence, curiosity, collaboration, and resilience,” said John Banovetz, 3M executive vice president, chief technology officer and environmental responsibility. “The magnitude and complexity of the issues these young minds are working to solve is inspiring. Congratulations to this year’s finalists—we can’t wait to see what you do next!”

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with an average annual treatment cost of $8.1 billion. Inspired by this costly and widespread health issue, Heman developed an affordable soap solution that could positively impact skin cancer outcomes. Over the next five years, he hopes to refine this novel innovation and create a nonprofit organization that will distribute this low-cost solution to communities in need.

Young Scientist Challenge finalists are paired with a 3M scientist who mentors and works with them one-on-one over the summer to transform their idea from concept to prototype. This year’s winner was paired with Deborah Isabelle, Product Engineering Specialist, Abrasives, 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division.

The program’s Improving Lives Award gives students, teachers, parents, and other members of the public a chance to cast their vote for the innovation they believe has the most potential to make a positive impact on the world. This year’s winner is Annie Katz, a 9th grader at Leffell School in New Rochelle, N.Y., whose Automated Ultrasound Hamstring Lesion Detection & Diagnosis device offers a more accessible way to detect and recover from hamstring lesions. As the Improving Lives Award winner, Annie will receive a $2,000 prize.

“Over the past 16 years, we’ve had the honor of enabling innovative students to turn their ideas into world-changing solutions through the 3M Young Scientist Challenge,” said Amy Nakamoto, executive vice president of social impact at Discovery Education. “Their work is a rare and impressive accomplishment, and we congratulate each and every one of them.”

In its sixteenth year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge continues to inspire and challenge middle school students to think creatively and apply the power of STEM to discover real-world solutions. America’s Top Young Scientists have gone on to give TED Talks, file patents, found nonprofits, make the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and exhibit at the White House Science Fair. These young innovators have also been named TIME Magazine’s first Kid of the Year, featured in The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, and Business Insider, and have appeared on national television programs such as Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and more. In addition, a 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Network was formed in fall 2022 and welcomed more than 100 former challenge finalists and winners for networking opportunities.

The award-winning competition supplements the 3M and Discovery Education program Young Scientist Lab, which provides no-cost dynamic digital resources for students, teachers, and families to explore, transform, and innovate the world around them. All its resources are also available on Discovery Education Experience, the company’s award-winning K-12 learning platform.

Originally published on 3M News Center

3M and Discovery Education named Heman Bekele, a 9th grader at W.T. Woodson High School in Annandale, Va., the winner of the 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the nation’s premier middle school science competition. Heman set himself apart with his compound-based Skin Cancer Treating Soap (SCTS). As the grand prize winner, he will receive a $25,000 cash prize and the prestigious title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”

Heman spent the last four months competing against nine other finalists and secured his win during final Challenge events at 3M global headquarters in St. Paul, Minn., on October 9 and 10. Finalists navigated a series of interactive challenges and were evaluated on their ingenuity and innovative thinking, application of STEM principles, demonstration of passion and research, presentation skills, and ability to inspire others.

“The need for scientists and innovators to develop solutions for the world’s biggest challenges has never been greater. This year’s Young Scientist Challenge finalists have demonstrated the skills required to reimagine what’s possible—intelligence, curiosity, collaboration, and resilience,” said John Banovetz, 3M executive vice president, chief technology officer and environmental responsibility. “The magnitude and complexity of the issues these young minds are working to solve is inspiring. Congratulations to this year’s finalists—we can’t wait to see what you do next!”

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with an average annual treatment cost of $8.1 billion. Inspired by this costly and widespread health issue, Heman developed an affordable soap solution that could positively impact skin cancer outcomes. Over the next five years, he hopes to refine this novel innovation and create a nonprofit organization that will distribute this low-cost solution to communities in need.

Young Scientist Challenge finalists are paired with a 3M scientist who mentors and works with them one-on-one over the summer to transform their idea from concept to prototype. This year’s winner was paired with Deborah Isabelle, Product Engineering Specialist, Abrasives, 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division.

The program’s Improving Lives Award gives students, teachers, parents, and other members of the public a chance to cast their vote for the innovation they believe has the most potential to make a positive impact on the world. This year’s winner is Annie Katz, a 9th grader at Leffell School in New Rochelle, N.Y., whose Automated Ultrasound Hamstring Lesion Detection & Diagnosis device offers a more accessible way to detect and recover from hamstring lesions. As the Improving Lives Award winner, Annie will receive a $2,000 prize.

“Over the past 16 years, we’ve had the honor of enabling innovative students to turn their ideas into world-changing solutions through the 3M Young Scientist Challenge,” said Amy Nakamoto, executive vice president of social impact at Discovery Education. “Their work is a rare and impressive accomplishment, and we congratulate each and every one of them.”

In its sixteenth year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge continues to inspire and challenge middle school students to think creatively and apply the power of STEM to discover real-world solutions. America’s Top Young Scientists have gone on to give TED Talks, file patents, found nonprofits, make the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and exhibit at the White House Science Fair. These young innovators have also been named TIME Magazine’s first Kid of the Year, featured in The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, and Business Insider, and have appeared on national television programs such as Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and more. In addition, a 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Network was formed in fall 2022 and welcomed more than 100 former challenge finalists and winners for networking opportunities.

The award-winning competition supplements the 3M and Discovery Education program Young Scientist Lab, which provides no-cost dynamic digital resources for students, teachers, and families to explore, transform, and innovate the world around them. All its resources are also available on Discovery Education Experience, the company’s award-winning K-12 learning platform.

NEW YORK, October 17, 2023 /3BL/ – The Fedcap Group announced it has received $250,000 from Bread Financial™ to make the Single Stop benefits screening platform available when Civic Hall at Union Square opens this fall. The grant will also support the launch of a financial literacy program at Civic Hall as well as job fairs to connect individuals to jobs in the tech sector. 

The Single Stop platform provides easy, seamless access for individuals to check their eligibility and begin the application process for dozens of essential government benefit programs. The generous financial support by Bread Financial will ensure Single Stop is accessible to every individual who walks into Civic Hall, including those in educational partner programs, community meetings, and other public events, including job fairs.

Civic Hall at Union Square will provide a comprehensive offering of digital skills and tech training programs to meet the New York City tech sector’s growing workforce needs and serve as a hub for tech innovation and entrepreneurs.  In collaboration with training providers that include LaGuardia Community College and the Data School New York, the facility will primarily train individuals from underserved communities to place them in well-paying, sustainable tech jobs, to provide financial stability and well-being. 

“We are grateful for the support from Bread Financial to help us achieve our mission to have Civic Hall serve as New York City’s leading tech training, innovation, and entrepreneurial hub,” stated Christine McMahon, president and CEO of The Fedcap Group. “We believe supporting our students and the Union Square community extends beyond the classroom and want to ensure that anyone who walks through our doors gets the support they need to grow and live their dreams. Having Single Stop as part of our suite of wraparound services has always been a core part of our plan for Civic Hall, and we are looking forward to launching this fall.”

“Bread Financial is proud to partner with The Fedcap Group to create pathways to economic equity for underserved populations of New Yorkers,” said Dana Beckman, vice president and chief sustainability officer at Bread Financial. “This groundbreaking new facility will provide community members with valuable support that further ensures the likelihood of completing job training programs and securing employment. From job fairs to childcare, these programs will help individuals gain access to higher wages, and build a more competitive, inclusive workforce. We look forward to seeing the positive impact these programs make in the community.” 

Bread Financial is proud to partner with The Fedcap Group to create pathways to economic equity for underserved populations of New Yorkers. This groundbreaking new facility will provide community members with valuable support that further ensures the likelihood of completing job training programs and securing employment.”

Dana Beckman – Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Bread Financial

“Civic Hall will be the driver of NYC tech ecosystem serving as a hub of innovation, entrepreneurism, and high-quality tech training especially for communities too often left behind,” said Seema Shah, Civic Hall Executive Director. “By pairing our training with Single Stop’s comprehensive benefits screener and job fairs we will help our students persist through to completing their training—the first step in building long-term financial stability. We are honored to receive this grant from Bread Financial to help make that happen.” 

“Single Stop is honored to be part of this transformative initiative at Civic Hall. We believe that access to essential government benefits and community supports can be a lifeline for individuals striving for economic stability,” said Martin Hanna, President & CEO of Single Stop. “Thanks to the generous support from Bread Financial, we are excited to make Single Stop services readily available to everyone who walks through Civic Hall’s doors. Together, we’re not only building a competitive tech workforce but also ensuring that no one is left behind on their journey to financial well-being.” 

In 2022, Single Stop connected 87,500 individuals to $374 million in eligible benefits. Below are the grants on the Single Stop platform:

Federal 
1.    Pell Grant 
2.    Lifetime Learning Credit 
3.    Free Tax Preparation 
4.    Affordable Connectivity Program (Broadband) 
5.    Child Tax Credit 
6.    Earned Income Tax Credit 
7.    School Lunch Program 

State/City 
1.    Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
2.    Earned Income Tax Credit
3.    Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) 
4.    Women, Infants & Children (WIC)
5.    Free Essential Plan II
6.    Low-Cost Essential Plan I 
7.    Emergency Medicaid 
8.    Medicaid 
9.    Free Child Health Plus 
10.    Subsidized Qualified Health Plan 
11.    NYC Earned Income Tax Credit 
12.    Low-Cost Child Health Plus 
13.    Medicaid for Aged, Blind & Disabled 

About The Fedcap Group 
For 87 years, The Fedcap Group has developed scalable, innovative, and potentially disruptive solutions to some of society’s most pressing needs. Serving 340,000 people this past fiscal year, The Fedcap Group provides educational services to every age group, vocational training and job attainment in high-growth industries, as well as support services such as behavioral health services—all targeted to helping people achieve long-term self-sufficiency. The Fedcap Group also invests its time and resources in broader system change—working in partnership with federal, state, and local government to improve the way services are designed, funded, and delivered. 

About Civic Hall
Civic Hall is a member of The Fedcap Group. Civic Hall’s mission is to support and enable best-in-class programs that help close the digital skills divide and plan for the needs of tomorrow’s workforce. Located in the heart of the NYC tech community at Union Square, Civic Hall will be a new, 85,000-square-foot learning and training center at the new state-of-the-art Zero Irving building. Civic Hall will facilitate groundbreaking partnerships among high-impact tenants and workforce training partners to work collectively to meet the needs of all New Yorkers, especially those from communities too often left behind.

About Bread Financial™
Bread Financial™ (NYSE: BFH) is a tech-forward financial services company providing simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions. The company creates opportunities for its customers and partners through digitally enabled choices that offer ease, empowerment, financial flexibility and exceptional customer experiences. Driven by a digital-first approach, data insights and white-label technology, Bread Financial delivers growth for its partners through a comprehensive suite of payment solutions that includes private label and co-brand credit cards and Bread Pay™ buy now, pay later products. Bread Financial also offers direct-to-consumer products that give customers more access, choice and freedom through its branded Bread Cashback™ American Express® Credit Card and Bread Savings™ products.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Bread Financial is powered by its 7,500+ global associates and is committed to sustainable business practices. To learn more about Bread Financial, visit breadfinancial.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

NEW YORK, October 17, 2023 /3BL/ – The Fedcap Group announced it has received $250,000 from Bread Financial™ to make the Single Stop benefits screening platform available when Civic Hall at Union Square opens this fall. The grant will also support the launch of a financial literacy program at Civic Hall as well as job fairs to connect individuals to jobs in the tech sector. 

The Single Stop platform provides easy, seamless access for individuals to check their eligibility and begin the application process for dozens of essential government benefit programs. The generous financial support by Bread Financial will ensure Single Stop is accessible to every individual who walks into Civic Hall, including those in educational partner programs, community meetings, and other public events, including job fairs.

Civic Hall at Union Square will provide a comprehensive offering of digital skills and tech training programs to meet the New York City tech sector’s growing workforce needs and serve as a hub for tech innovation and entrepreneurs.  In collaboration with training providers that include LaGuardia Community College and the Data School New York, the facility will primarily train individuals from underserved communities to place them in well-paying, sustainable tech jobs, to provide financial stability and well-being. 

“We are grateful for the support from Bread Financial to help us achieve our mission to have Civic Hall serve as New York City’s leading tech training, innovation, and entrepreneurial hub,” stated Christine McMahon, president and CEO of The Fedcap Group. “We believe supporting our students and the Union Square community extends beyond the classroom and want to ensure that anyone who walks through our doors gets the support they need to grow and live their dreams. Having Single Stop as part of our suite of wraparound services has always been a core part of our plan for Civic Hall, and we are looking forward to launching this fall.”

“Bread Financial is proud to partner with The Fedcap Group to create pathways to economic equity for underserved populations of New Yorkers,” said Dana Beckman, vice president and chief sustainability officer at Bread Financial. “This groundbreaking new facility will provide community members with valuable support that further ensures the likelihood of completing job training programs and securing employment. From job fairs to childcare, these programs will help individuals gain access to higher wages, and build a more competitive, inclusive workforce. We look forward to seeing the positive impact these programs make in the community.” 

Bread Financial is proud to partner with The Fedcap Group to create pathways to economic equity for underserved populations of New Yorkers. This groundbreaking new facility will provide community members with valuable support that further ensures the likelihood of completing job training programs and securing employment.”

Dana Beckman – Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Bread Financial

“Civic Hall will be the driver of NYC tech ecosystem serving as a hub of innovation, entrepreneurism, and high-quality tech training especially for communities too often left behind,” said Seema Shah, Civic Hall Executive Director. “By pairing our training with Single Stop’s comprehensive benefits screener and job fairs we will help our students persist through to completing their training—the first step in building long-term financial stability. We are honored to receive this grant from Bread Financial to help make that happen.” 

“Single Stop is honored to be part of this transformative initiative at Civic Hall. We believe that access to essential government benefits and community supports can be a lifeline for individuals striving for economic stability,” said Martin Hanna, President & CEO of Single Stop. “Thanks to the generous support from Bread Financial, we are excited to make Single Stop services readily available to everyone who walks through Civic Hall’s doors. Together, we’re not only building a competitive tech workforce but also ensuring that no one is left behind on their journey to financial well-being.” 

In 2022, Single Stop connected 87,500 individuals to $374 million in eligible benefits. Below are the grants on the Single Stop platform:

Federal 
1.    Pell Grant 
2.    Lifetime Learning Credit 
3.    Free Tax Preparation 
4.    Affordable Connectivity Program (Broadband) 
5.    Child Tax Credit 
6.    Earned Income Tax Credit 
7.    School Lunch Program 

State/City 
1.    Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
2.    Earned Income Tax Credit
3.    Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) 
4.    Women, Infants & Children (WIC)
5.    Free Essential Plan II
6.    Low-Cost Essential Plan I 
7.    Emergency Medicaid 
8.    Medicaid 
9.    Free Child Health Plus 
10.    Subsidized Qualified Health Plan 
11.    NYC Earned Income Tax Credit 
12.    Low-Cost Child Health Plus 
13.    Medicaid for Aged, Blind & Disabled 

About The Fedcap Group 
For 87 years, The Fedcap Group has developed scalable, innovative, and potentially disruptive solutions to some of society’s most pressing needs. Serving 340,000 people this past fiscal year, The Fedcap Group provides educational services to every age group, vocational training and job attainment in high-growth industries, as well as support services such as behavioral health services—all targeted to helping people achieve long-term self-sufficiency. The Fedcap Group also invests its time and resources in broader system change—working in partnership with federal, state, and local government to improve the way services are designed, funded, and delivered. 

About Civic Hall
Civic Hall is a member of The Fedcap Group. Civic Hall’s mission is to support and enable best-in-class programs that help close the digital skills divide and plan for the needs of tomorrow’s workforce. Located in the heart of the NYC tech community at Union Square, Civic Hall will be a new, 85,000-square-foot learning and training center at the new state-of-the-art Zero Irving building. Civic Hall will facilitate groundbreaking partnerships among high-impact tenants and workforce training partners to work collectively to meet the needs of all New Yorkers, especially those from communities too often left behind.

About Bread Financial™
Bread Financial™ (NYSE: BFH) is a tech-forward financial services company providing simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions. The company creates opportunities for its customers and partners through digitally enabled choices that offer ease, empowerment, financial flexibility and exceptional customer experiences. Driven by a digital-first approach, data insights and white-label technology, Bread Financial delivers growth for its partners through a comprehensive suite of payment solutions that includes private label and co-brand credit cards and Bread Pay™ buy now, pay later products. Bread Financial also offers direct-to-consumer products that give customers more access, choice and freedom through its branded Bread Cashback™ American Express® Credit Card and Bread Savings™ products.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Bread Financial is powered by its 7,500+ global associates and is committed to sustainable business practices. To learn more about Bread Financial, visit breadfinancial.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

For this Puerto Rican family, family is everything. Luis Rodriguez-Sepulveda joined American in the 1960’s working at San Juan Airport in Tech Ops, helping mechanics find the right parts and tools for the job. His children grew up watching him come home from his job each day with a smile and pride in his work. Soon after, four of his children followed in his footsteps to continue his legacy. creating the “Rodriguez Five.”

PHOENIX, October 17, 2023 /3BL/ – On Oct. 12, Arizona Helping Hands renovated its foster resource shopping center. Three organizations joined forces with Arizona Helping Hands to provide complementary essential resources to children on a foster care journey and to make the experience warm, comforting and provide a relaxed environment. Thanks to funding from the Motorola Solutions Foundation, volunteers from Motorola Solutions and the Phoenix Police Department and the support of Sundt Construction, the organization’s office space was transformed into a newly designed service boutique.

“This exciting new project celebrates our focus to support the foster community and our commitment to be the organization this community needs us to be,” said Bethany Eggleston, Arizona Helping Hands’ vice president of marketing and development. “We want to do everything we can to make sure that foster children thrive during every step of their journey. Our goal with this renovation project was to provide a compassionate place of hope and sanctuary.”

By moving the foster resource center into the reimagined office space, Arizona Helping Hands is able to organize the offerings as well as create a more enjoyable boutique experience. Each room will house items for different age groups, which will also make it easier for foster parents and advocates to shop for the children in their care.

“Together we thrive as a community through partnerships with valued organizations like Arizona Helping Hands,” said Executive Assistant Chief Sean Connolly of the Phoenix Police Department. “Our goals align with the best interests of the most vulnerable of our community at heart. We look forward to where this partnership takes us.”

At the Phoenix facility, foster families can come and pick out brand-new items including shoes, clothes, back-to-school supplies, toys, footlockers, beds and more. These items are generously donated by the community and made available completely free of charge to people caring for children in foster care.

“Arizona Helping Hands is making a difference in the lives of children and foster care families every day,” said Karem Perez, executive director of Motorola Solutions Foundation. “We are grateful for the opportunity to volunteer alongside local community, corporate and first responder partners to help Arizona Helping Hands continue to deliver on their incredible mission.”

This renovation is a continuation of Arizona Helping Hands’ efforts to make getting essential items easy for foster families. Earlier this year, the organization replaced its appointment system with walk-in accommodation, tripling the number of families served. In 2022, the organization served 3,000 foster kids; to date, 6,000 kids have been served in 2023.

“Sundt Construction is happy to lend our support to Arizona Helping Hands. It’s a fulfilling experience to use our skills and give our time to make a difference for Arizona foster families,” said Emily Dwosh, Sundt Construction community relations manager and Sundt Foundation executive director. “Opportunities to lift up others and give back to our community is part of Sundt’s purpose and values, and we hope Arizona Helping Hands enjoys its new space.”

Arizona Helping Hands is dedicated to ensuring that foster children thrive on every step of their foster care journey. To learn more about their work, visit azhelpinghands.org. 
 

About Arizona Helping Hands 
Founded in 1998, the mission of Arizona Helping Hands is to support the foster care community, by providing essentials to benefit children in foster care. As Arizona’s largest provider of essential resources, we offer foster care families beds, cribs, clothing, diapers, and personal care items. Arizona Helping Hands also provides backpacks with school supplies to help children succeed in school and fulfills birthday dreams to help raise self-esteem by showing children they are special and loved. Additionally, we provide state-required home safety items to help families become licensed providers by ensuring they can offer a safe home environment. To learn more, visit www.azhelpinghands.org.

About Motorola Solutions Foundation 
As the charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola Solutions, the Motorola Solutions Foundation partners with organizations around the globe to create safer cities and equitable, thriving communities. We focus on giving back through strategic grants, employee volunteerism and other community investment initiatives. Our strategic grants program supports organizations that offer first responder programming and technology and engineering education, and align to our values of accountability, innovation, impact, diversity and inclusion. The Foundation is one of the many ways in which the company lives out its purpose of helping people be their best in the moments that matter. For more information on Motorola Solutions corporate and foundation giving, visit our website: www.motorolasolutions.com/foundation

About Sundt Construction Sundt Construction, Inc. (https://www.sundt.com/) is one of the country’s largest and most respected general contractors. The 133-year-old firm specializes in transportation, industrial, building, concrete and renewable power work and is owned entirely by its approximately 2,000-plus employees. Sundt is distinguished by its diverse capabilities and experience, unique employee-ownership culture and depth of self-perform expertise in nine major trades. Much of Sundt’s workforce is comprised of skilled craft professionals who, together with the company’s administrative employees, enable Sundt to fulfill its mission to be the most skilled builder in America. Sundt has 13 offices throughout California, Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, Washington and Utah and is currently ranked the country’s 62nd largest construction company by ENR, the industry’s principal trade magazine.

About Phoenix Police Department 
The Phoenix Police Department is committed to providing the citizens of Phoenix with quality and professional law enforcement services. Our vision is to make Phoenix the safest major city in the nation. The Department is dedicated to PRIDE: protection, respect, integrity, dedication and excellence.

Corporate executives and board members may wonder what specific factors are shaping the scores and ratings assigned to their companies by the major ESG ratings agencies. These include MSCI, Sustainalytics (part of Morningstar), Refinitiv (owned by London Stock Exchange group), Bloomberg, and Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) – one of the last ratings agencies to adopt ESG research and ratings for companies.

The clients of these ratings agencies are institutional investors, important fiduciaries, and others in the capital markets. The same questions may also be on the minds of these clients, who depend in various ways on the ESG agencies’ ratings systems for portfolio management and ESG product construction. Each of the agencies uses different methodologies that focus on various ESG data and information provided by companies.

One of these agencies – ISS (majority owned by Deutsche Börse Group) – is now seeking input from stakeholders through a structured ESG survey to refine what ESG data and information they should focus on in their rating methodology.

In the inaugural survey effort, ISS ESG is asking key stakeholders – defined as investor clients, publicly-traded companies, academics, professional services firms – what information they are seeking in a “rapidly-evolving” ESG regulatory landscape.

The survey, explains ISS, “underscores ISS ESG’s commitment to both transparency and engagement with stakeholders.” This starts with inviting feedback regarding ISS ESG’s “global approach” and the foundation of drawing on international normative reporting frameworks, voluntary disclosure standards, and regulatory regimes that will inform ISS ESG methodology.

The survey asks for stakeholder input on materiality, use-cases for ISS ESG corporate ratings, and the scores and data making up such ratings. The survey also drills down on individual sectors and topics to draw stakeholder views on the relevance of existing and emerging ESG issues.

Topics that ISS ESG is asking stakeholders for feedback on include climate change; freshwater use; biodiversity loss; regenerative agriculture; the circular economy; labor; human rights; customer health and safety; and data protection. The survey asks for feedback on governance risks and assessments in the ISS ESG Corporate Rating methodology.

What would you say to ISS in responding to the survey questions? You can access the survey to examine questions and provide responses at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WZKBVJ3

Corporate managements are very familiar with ISS scores and ratings in corporate governance, the historical focus of its business. Clients include pension funds (state and municipal, organized labor, etc.) and other clients such as mutual funds advisors, providing opinions and recommendations for their consideration in proxy voting decisions and portfolio management, beginning almost 40 years ago.

The ISS ESG ratings platform was launched in August 2020 by the ISS organization’s investment arm, initially to assess the ESG performance of investment funds. ISS ESG ratings are now issued for corporations, countries, and green bonds.

The G&A team continues to monitor the various methodologies used by all of the ESG ratings agencies, assisting our corporate clients in understand the work of the ESG raters. We welcome your questions regarding any of the agencies or the differences between them. Send your questions to info@ga-institute.com.

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

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

Robots. Astronauts. Space centers.

For most of us, these are the subjects of a sci-fi thriller. For Adam Sanders, they were the thrill of daily work. In 2006, the college grad launched his career as an engineer with General Motors, which quickly led to his selection to participate in a partnership with NASA for more than six years.

“Have you ever seen the movie Armageddon? There was a scene where they tested the rover in this huge vacuum chamber in the Johnson Space Center,” Sanders said. “That was the building that I worked in.”

Sanders’ cosmos didn’t coincide with Ben Affleck or Bruce Willis during his tenure as a roboticist, but he did make a name for himself in the space of engineering – racking up 11 patents (connected to the Robonaut technology) and the title of inventor for his resume.

“I was fresh out of college, so this was absolutely astounding,” he said. “There’s no other word to describe it. It was a wonderful experience. I was working with some of the smartest people in the world.”

Now a principal engineer with U.S. Bank, Sanders was among a group of inventors and former colleagues recently recognized by NASA with the Commercial Invention of the Year award for Robo-Glove, a wearable robotic technology Sanders helped build during his time at the NASA Johnson Space Center.

“In assembly plants, one of the common injuries is from repetitive strain,” Sanders said. “With Robo-Glove you can pick something up, actuate the Robo-Glove so it relieves pressure on your hand, and it helps reduce fatigue and tendon strain ergonomically.”

The technology, inspired by NASA’s Robonaut humanoid robot, was patented in 2010 and 2011, and has since been bought and rebranded for commercial use, which landed it the award for Commercial Invention of the Year in 2020. Covid delayed the recognition ceremony until this year.

“At NASA, we believe technology drives exploration, and our talented innovators are key to our continued leadership in space and technology,” Douglas Terrier, NASA’s chief technologist, said in an announcement about the awards. “Each year, we evaluate our inventions based on how they’ve benefitted NASA and other industries and recognize the great people behind the technologies. The technologies we recognize with these awards will have lasting impacts on the way we transport goods, build cars and space stations, and enable audacious missions to accomplish NASA’s most ambitious goals.”

From builder of robots to transformer of banking

Landing a career in banking after building robots with NASA may seem like an unusual path, but Sanders said the two industries are fewer light years away than you may think.

“In robotics, we deal with a lot of real-time data,” Sanders said. “You say ‘Hey, robot, try to do these steps on your own but work with a human for direction.’ That’s a surprisingly close synergy with what we do in capital markets.”

At U.S. Bank, Sanders works on foreign exchange technology for Global Capital Markets.

“We use information from the market and environment in real time,” he said. “What’s the market doing, the pricing, what’s going on in the news, in the world, where do we think things are going. There’s more overlap than you would expect.”

In both banking and robotics, Sanders said technology is created that allows humans to interact with it, interpret what’s occurring because of it and use the information to adjust as needed to help drive a business’s goals and strategic direction.

Prior to joining U.S. Bank in 2022, Sanders spent 10 years in the financial sector and led a team of engineers. And he’s impressed with what U.S. Bank is doing with technology.

“One of the things I think is great about U.S. Bank is they give you the tools and let you explore. I really appreciate the emphasis and support driven by leadership in upskilling,” Sanders said. “We’re investing in our people and investing in them in a way that makes sense for the people. Paying for tools for us to learn about new technologies – it’s a particularly important thing that I’m most proud of working here.”

In his current role at the bank, Sanders is supporting the migration of foreign exchange technology to the cloud as part of the bank’s ongoing technology transformation. The new, modern platform replaces vendor systems that have a collective 50-year history in the bank.

“What we’re now using at the bank is at the forefront of tech modernization. It’s built using some of the latest technology. It allows us to adapt and scale with the business in unparalleled ways,” Sanders said.

Many teenagers have some idea of what they want to do for a career – but few are as crystal clear as Sandra Patterson was. From a young age in Guatemala, Sandra was naturally good at math and accounting, and decided she wanted to spend her life using them to solve complex issues.

“Since high school, I just somehow knew that my goal was to be the corporate controller of a multinational company and provide financial advice to help make difficult decisions,” says Sandra. “I thought I was going to do this in Guatemala. I never imagined I would end up living in the United States and becoming the corporate controller of a Fortune 500 company.”

Striving to Address Health Inequity 
Sandra’s life trajectory shifted when she moved to the United States as a result of political instability in her home country. She was surprised to encounter the many healthcare inequities that exist across the U.S.

These healthcare inequities were part of what drew her to Gilead 12 years ago. “I loved the fact that the company was not only working on developing therapies for people with life-threatening conditions, but was also committed to addressing barriers to healthcare access around the world,” she explains. 

Shortly after Sandra joined Gilead, this company ambition touched close to home. She worked on an acquisition that ended up being the backbone of Gilead’s work to develop a cure for hepatitis C.

“I had an aunt and a cousin who were living with hepatitis C,” Sandra shares. “My aunt died about two years after I joined Gilead, but my cousin was cured from the disease – she believes it was a result of one of our medicines. The work that Gilead does has always been very personal to me.”

Leading With Passion and Purpose 
Today, Sandra is the Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller at Gilead. As controller, she’s a critical part of the company’s operations. Sandra’s team provides financial advice and services that support strategic decision-making, helps the company meet its legal and regulatory obligations, and ensures the accuracy and integrity of financial records. During her tenure at Gilead, she’s held five different roles, steadily increasing her responsibilities.

“I’ve been asked how I navigated to the position I’m in,” Sandra says. “My key advice is to seek work on whatever drives your passion. If you’re passionate about what you do, not only are you going to be happier every day, but you’ll also deliver your best every day – people will recognize that.”

Sandra believes that her ethnic background plays an important role in who she is as an employee. “I bring certain cultural elements that connect very well to the Gilead culture,” she explains. “I was raised in a traditional Latino family. For me, family values are reflected in my strong belief in teamwork.”

Gilead’s commitment to diversity in leadership is something Sandra also sees as a vital part of her career path. “According to public data, less than 30% of senior vice president roles in corporate companies are held by women and that percentage gets smaller for women of Latino heritage – at 6%. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to Gilead’s inclusion and diversity initiatives and to open the path for others who will come after me,” she says. “At the same time, I appreciate that at Gilead, I feel valued for my skill set and capabilities and for what I bring to the company.”

In her time at Gilead, Sandra has participated in various initiatives to increase diversity in hiring and to mentor incoming employees. She’s also the Executive Co-Sponsor of Gileados, an Employee Resource Group committed to embracing and sharing the Latino culture within the company. Outside of work, she’s a national board member for the Association of Latino Professionals for America. Authentically having diversity and inclusion at a company, Sandra believes, is a journey.

“I don’t think that there’s ever an end point,” she says. “To me, diversity is a commitment to a way of working. It’s a belief that working with people who have different styles, approaches and thoughts can lead to better ideas and solutions. So, we have to constantly strive to nurture a diverse and inclusive environment. It’s not easy, but we are improving every day.”

Originally published by Gilead Sciences