Tag: 3BL

Strong employment opportunities and healthy wages have a singular ability to transform the lives of individuals, their families and communities at large. They can boost local economies, create safer neighborhoods, increase civic engagement and foster more prosperous societies.

And while we may be living in a time of global anxiety about inflation and a potential recession, we – as individuals and companies – have the power to change the current status quo on issues like employment and wages. We can use our collective voices, resources, knowledge and time to create a brighter, more financially secure future for all.

“Pressure and expectation for companies to be socially responsible has never been higher,” said Katie Stearns, chief global corporate solutions officer at Points of Light. “Points of Light’s research offers some insights into those expectations and can help business leaders identify where to start as they align employee engagement and retention with CSR and talent development programs.”

Read on to access insights from Points of Light’s research on employment and wages and learn how you and your company can make a difference in these issue areas.

CONCERNS ABOUT EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES BY DEMOGRAPHICS

Gen X Most Concerned With Employment 

Our research found that people are especially concerned about employment (38%) and wages (33%) compared to other issues. Gen X is the generation most concerned with employment (41%), followed by Millennials (40%), Gen Z (38%) and Baby Boomers (35%), with only a six-point difference between the generations most and least concerned.

When it comes to wages, Millennials are the generation most concerned (36%), followed by Gen Z (35%), Gen X (33%) and Baby Boomers (27%). In fact, Points of Light’s 2022 report Civic Life Today: A Millennial Perspective revealed employment (job creation) and wages (increasing minimum wage) as two of the top social issues for Millennials. Respondents that identified as female (30%), Black American (33%) and earning $50,000-$99,999 (33%) were most concerned about wages.

Men and Women Have Different Priorities 

Forty percent of men and 36% of women said early employment, or jobs at the beginning of a career, was one of their top areas of concern, while 34% of women and 31% of men identified wages as one of their top areas of concern. Men rate higher on concerns about early employment compared to women, whereas women rate higher on concerns about wages compared to men. This suggests that for men, gaining and maintaining employment are more top of mind, whereas women are more preoccupied with the pay their employers provide.

These analyses are backed up by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics’ report Women in the labor force: a data book, which found that in 2021, the U.S. unemployment rate was 5.2% for women and a slightly higher 5.5% for men. That same year, full-time working women were paid significantly less than their male counterparts at only 83 cents to the dollar.

“The empowerment of women is all about rights and equitable societies,” said Daily Points of Light honoree Robert Quintero. “Empowerment includes the action of raising the status of women through education, awareness, literacy and training.”

Taking a closer look at the gender pay gap, there was an even greater pay disparity for Black and Hispanic women. While the median weekly income for full-time working women of all races was $912, it was only $776 for Black women and $718 for Hispanic women. Additionally, “Black women and Hispanic women had higher jobless rates (8.0% and 7.2%, respectively) than Asian women and white women (5.1% and 4.6%, respectively). Men’s unemployment rates exhibited a similar pattern. The rate for Black men (9.2%) was higher than those for Hispanic men (6.5%), Asian men (4.9%) and white men (4.8%).”

These are far from the only instances of employment inequity across race and ethnicity. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics report identified that in 2021, the overall unemployment rate for the United States averaged 5.3%, but the rate varied across race and ethnicity groups. The unemployment rate averaged 8.6% for Blacks; 8.2% for American Indians and Alaska Natives; 8.2% for people of Two or More Races; 6.9% for Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders; 5.0% for Asians; and 4.7% for whites. The unemployment rate was 6.8% for Hispanics.”

See how Daily Point of Light Award honoree Robert Quintero promotes gender and cultural diversity in the workplace by advocating for the advancement of historically excluded and underrepresented young women in their careers.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

An intersectional analysis of these generational, gender and racial differences shows that there is widespread concern about employment and wages across all ages for people in their prime working years. Yet, on average, women are paid significantly less than men, especially Black and Hispanic women, a demographic that also sees higher rates of unemployment, as do Black and Hispanic men.

Knowing these data points can help us understand who the issues of employment and wages affect most and where we can best position our resources to create the greatest impact. For those who wish to take action and drive real, sustained change, the Points of Light Civic Circle® is a framework that helps individuals connect to opportunities and understand that doing good comes in many forms from volunteering to voting to using your purchase power.

“Change starts with you,” said The Launch Project founder Sahana Ahuja. “Small steps lead to significant impact, and everyone has the ability to make a difference.”

See how Daily Points of Light Award honoree Sahana Ahuga takes on gender inequality by empowering girls to pursue fields in which women have been historically underrepresented.

TAKING ACTION ON EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES 

Why and How Individuals are Taking Action

Points of Light’s research on employment and wages asked why people are inclined to take action on these issues. Respondents said:

It makes me feel good to do something for others (employment: 43%, wages: 36%).I believe the actions of one person can go a long way in making a difference (employment: 34%, wages: 32%).A close friend and/or family member of mine has been impacted (employment: 27%, wages 32%).

We also looked into how people are choosing to take action.

On the issue of employment, 70% of respondents intentionally helped someone else (volunteered) and this was also identified as one of the most influential actions taken (83%).80% made a charitable donation to a cause or organization.70% took time to learn about the cause or social issue.69% posted or shared content on social media.

As with employment, volunteering was the most popular action on the issue of wages. 64% of respondents intentionally helped someone else (volunteered) and identified this as the most influential action taken (73%). Furthermore:

60% took time to learn about the cause or social issue, which tied with volunteering for the perceived most influential action taken (73%).65% posted or shared content on social media.72% volunteered in person with a cause or organization.

See how Daily Point of Light Award honoree Shyla Talluri and her organization PURE (People for Urban and Rural Education) fight poverty by offering educational opportunities to under-resourced children and economic opportunities to their families.

UNPACKING THE DATA 

Our Data Deep Dives show that one-third of people around the world are already concerned about employment and wages, and with ongoing discussions around the possibility of a recession, these issue areas will likely increase in importance on a great scale.

In our research on wages, the more financially inclined actions people can take toward this issue area, like donating and using their purchase power, did not make the list of Top Actions Taken or Most Influential Actions, nor did voting. So, even though a sizable portion of the global population is concerned about wages, and they or someone close to them has been directly implicated by this issue area, it will likely ultimately be up to the government and companies to drive more substantial change.

Take action now through in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities with Points of Light.

THE CENTRAL ROLE OF BUSINESSES IN THE ISSUES OF EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES 

An Edelman article on the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer revealed that “economic optimism has collapsed globally (from 50% to 40%), with half of the countries surveyed showing a year-over-year double-digit decline in the belief that their families will be better off in five years’ time.” Fascinatingly and alarmingly, “Personal economic fears such as job loss (89%) and inflation (74%) are on par with urgent societal fears like climate change (76%), nuclear war (72%) and food shortages (67%).”

“Business is now viewed as the only global institution to be both competent and ethical” the report boldly stated, with business holding a “staggering 53-point lead over government in competence” and “29 points ahead on ethics.” Edelman CEO Richard Edelman declared: “The increased perception of business as ethical brings with it higher than ever expectations of CEOs to be a leading voice on societal issues. By a six-to-one margin, on average, respondents want more societal involvement by business on issues such as… economic inequality and workforce reskilling.”

Another Edelman article, albeit from the height of the pandemic, stated: “employees are now considered to have unprecedented material impact on a business,” even more so than customers, shareholders and communities the business serves. Referencing the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Brands and the Coronavirus Pandemic, the article stated that a staggering “90% of consumers in 12 markets said that brands must do everything they can to protect the well-being and financial security of their employees, even if it meant suffering significant financial losses; otherwise, their brand loyalty would be impacted.”

So, how can companies meaningfully support their employees, who are now at an all-time high value, as well as address the dual issue of employment and wages, of which they are a central player? In our report on The State of Global Civic Engagement, 75% of global respondents and 72% of U.S. respondents agreed that seeing a company treat its employees well and provide fair pay and good benefits, including paid sick and parental leave, would help increase their trust in that company’s social issue efforts.

See how Daily Point of Light Award honoree Victor Rivera is enabling low-to-moderate income people and communities to improve their quality of life through his work with organizations focused on education, financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

SMALL BUSINESSES, OUTSIZED IMPACT 

Small businesses, with their personability and local connections, are particularly well-positioned to move the needle on employment and wages. Points of Light’s report Leading Locally: Small Business & Social Change found that the majority of the public shops at small businesses (nearly two-thirds of respondents purchased from a small business within the last month) and 40% of individuals “often” look for information on a small business’ social issue involvement.

We believe that – regardless of size – companies, their employees and their stakeholders can drive transformative social change when they work at the intersection of community needs, employee interests and company resources and priorities. Small businesses are built to wield influence at this intersection. For instance:

Today’s small business owners are already engaged in supporting social issues.These small business owners are already exceeding whatever expectations the public has of them to be involved in the social issues of our time.Small business owners are highly trusted individuals in their communities.People are open to learning about social issues from small business owners.

Small business owners believe speaking out has the most influence on initiatives important to the public. Half of the public and two-thirds of small business owners ranked speaking out as “pretty important” or “essential.” Providing resources or opportunities for the community to learn about social issues is important to the public and essential to small business owners.

The public and small business owners agree that supporting local issues through both volunteer and non-volunteer (informal) activities is important. Small business owners felt slightly stronger about participating in supportive social issue activities than the public, though both groups said it was important.

The same goes for encouraging others to vote to influence local social issues. Both small business owners (61%) and the public (51%) generally agreed that small businesses should encourage people to vote as a way to influence local social issues, ranking this action as “pretty important” or “essential.”

Learn how your business can take action with Points of Light’s corporate services & solutions for community impact & employee engagement programs.

HOW COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE 

The best way for companies to prove their commitment to the causes of employment and wages is to show, not tell. Raise wages, at the very least enough to cover inflation and provide a living wage to workers. Provide strong benefits that empower employees to learn and grow on the job and to carry out their work responsibilities with peace of mind for their personal lives. Broadcast actions taken and encourage other companies to follow suit. These actions will compound to create competition for high-quality, low-turnover jobs held by productive, engaged and fulfilled employees.

And for individuals: listen and learn, use your voice, donate, volunteer and vote. Every one of us has the ability to be a point of light in creating a better world for employment and wages, and every other issue we care about.

Share Points of Light’s Deep Dives on Employment and Wages with those in your life who want to learn more about these issue areas and join in making a meaningful impact.

Strong employment opportunities and healthy wages have a singular ability to transform the lives of individuals, their families and communities at large. They can boost local economies, create safer neighborhoods, increase civic engagement and foster more prosperous societies.

And while we may be living in a time of global anxiety about inflation and a potential recession, we – as individuals and companies – have the power to change the current status quo on issues like employment and wages. We can use our collective voices, resources, knowledge and time to create a brighter, more financially secure future for all.

“Pressure and expectation for companies to be socially responsible has never been higher,” said Katie Stearns, chief global corporate solutions officer at Points of Light. “Points of Light’s research offers some insights into those expectations and can help business leaders identify where to start as they align employee engagement and retention with CSR and talent development programs.”

Read on to access insights from Points of Light’s research on employment and wages and learn how you and your company can make a difference in these issue areas.

CONCERNS ABOUT EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES BY DEMOGRAPHICS

Gen X Most Concerned With Employment 

Our research found that people are especially concerned about employment (38%) and wages (33%) compared to other issues. Gen X is the generation most concerned with employment (41%), followed by Millennials (40%), Gen Z (38%) and Baby Boomers (35%), with only a six-point difference between the generations most and least concerned.

When it comes to wages, Millennials are the generation most concerned (36%), followed by Gen Z (35%), Gen X (33%) and Baby Boomers (27%). In fact, Points of Light’s 2022 report Civic Life Today: A Millennial Perspective revealed employment (job creation) and wages (increasing minimum wage) as two of the top social issues for Millennials. Respondents that identified as female (30%), Black American (33%) and earning $50,000-$99,999 (33%) were most concerned about wages.

Men and Women Have Different Priorities 

Forty percent of men and 36% of women said early employment, or jobs at the beginning of a career, was one of their top areas of concern, while 34% of women and 31% of men identified wages as one of their top areas of concern. Men rate higher on concerns about early employment compared to women, whereas women rate higher on concerns about wages compared to men. This suggests that for men, gaining and maintaining employment are more top of mind, whereas women are more preoccupied with the pay their employers provide.

These analyses are backed up by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics’ report Women in the labor force: a data book, which found that in 2021, the U.S. unemployment rate was 5.2% for women and a slightly higher 5.5% for men. That same year, full-time working women were paid significantly less than their male counterparts at only 83 cents to the dollar.

“The empowerment of women is all about rights and equitable societies,” said Daily Points of Light honoree Robert Quintero. “Empowerment includes the action of raising the status of women through education, awareness, literacy and training.”

Taking a closer look at the gender pay gap, there was an even greater pay disparity for Black and Hispanic women. While the median weekly income for full-time working women of all races was $912, it was only $776 for Black women and $718 for Hispanic women. Additionally, “Black women and Hispanic women had higher jobless rates (8.0% and 7.2%, respectively) than Asian women and white women (5.1% and 4.6%, respectively). Men’s unemployment rates exhibited a similar pattern. The rate for Black men (9.2%) was higher than those for Hispanic men (6.5%), Asian men (4.9%) and white men (4.8%).”

These are far from the only instances of employment inequity across race and ethnicity. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics report identified that in 2021, the overall unemployment rate for the United States averaged 5.3%, but the rate varied across race and ethnicity groups. The unemployment rate averaged 8.6% for Blacks; 8.2% for American Indians and Alaska Natives; 8.2% for people of Two or More Races; 6.9% for Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders; 5.0% for Asians; and 4.7% for whites. The unemployment rate was 6.8% for Hispanics.”

See how Daily Point of Light Award honoree Robert Quintero promotes gender and cultural diversity in the workplace by advocating for the advancement of historically excluded and underrepresented young women in their careers.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

An intersectional analysis of these generational, gender and racial differences shows that there is widespread concern about employment and wages across all ages for people in their prime working years. Yet, on average, women are paid significantly less than men, especially Black and Hispanic women, a demographic that also sees higher rates of unemployment, as do Black and Hispanic men.

Knowing these data points can help us understand who the issues of employment and wages affect most and where we can best position our resources to create the greatest impact. For those who wish to take action and drive real, sustained change, the Points of Light Civic Circle® is a framework that helps individuals connect to opportunities and understand that doing good comes in many forms from volunteering to voting to using your purchase power.

“Change starts with you,” said The Launch Project founder Sahana Ahuja. “Small steps lead to significant impact, and everyone has the ability to make a difference.”

See how Daily Points of Light Award honoree Sahana Ahuga takes on gender inequality by empowering girls to pursue fields in which women have been historically underrepresented.

TAKING ACTION ON EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES 

Why and How Individuals are Taking Action

Points of Light’s research on employment and wages asked why people are inclined to take action on these issues. Respondents said:

It makes me feel good to do something for others (employment: 43%, wages: 36%).I believe the actions of one person can go a long way in making a difference (employment: 34%, wages: 32%).A close friend and/or family member of mine has been impacted (employment: 27%, wages 32%).

We also looked into how people are choosing to take action.

On the issue of employment, 70% of respondents intentionally helped someone else (volunteered) and this was also identified as one of the most influential actions taken (83%).80% made a charitable donation to a cause or organization.70% took time to learn about the cause or social issue.69% posted or shared content on social media.

As with employment, volunteering was the most popular action on the issue of wages. 64% of respondents intentionally helped someone else (volunteered) and identified this as the most influential action taken (73%). Furthermore:

60% took time to learn about the cause or social issue, which tied with volunteering for the perceived most influential action taken (73%).65% posted or shared content on social media.72% volunteered in person with a cause or organization.

See how Daily Point of Light Award honoree Shyla Talluri and her organization PURE (People for Urban and Rural Education) fight poverty by offering educational opportunities to under-resourced children and economic opportunities to their families.

UNPACKING THE DATA 

Our Data Deep Dives show that one-third of people around the world are already concerned about employment and wages, and with ongoing discussions around the possibility of a recession, these issue areas will likely increase in importance on a great scale.

In our research on wages, the more financially inclined actions people can take toward this issue area, like donating and using their purchase power, did not make the list of Top Actions Taken or Most Influential Actions, nor did voting. So, even though a sizable portion of the global population is concerned about wages, and they or someone close to them has been directly implicated by this issue area, it will likely ultimately be up to the government and companies to drive more substantial change.

Take action now through in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities with Points of Light.

THE CENTRAL ROLE OF BUSINESSES IN THE ISSUES OF EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES 

An Edelman article on the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer revealed that “economic optimism has collapsed globally (from 50% to 40%), with half of the countries surveyed showing a year-over-year double-digit decline in the belief that their families will be better off in five years’ time.” Fascinatingly and alarmingly, “Personal economic fears such as job loss (89%) and inflation (74%) are on par with urgent societal fears like climate change (76%), nuclear war (72%) and food shortages (67%).”

“Business is now viewed as the only global institution to be both competent and ethical” the report boldly stated, with business holding a “staggering 53-point lead over government in competence” and “29 points ahead on ethics.” Edelman CEO Richard Edelman declared: “The increased perception of business as ethical brings with it higher than ever expectations of CEOs to be a leading voice on societal issues. By a six-to-one margin, on average, respondents want more societal involvement by business on issues such as… economic inequality and workforce reskilling.”

Another Edelman article, albeit from the height of the pandemic, stated: “employees are now considered to have unprecedented material impact on a business,” even more so than customers, shareholders and communities the business serves. Referencing the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Brands and the Coronavirus Pandemic, the article stated that a staggering “90% of consumers in 12 markets said that brands must do everything they can to protect the well-being and financial security of their employees, even if it meant suffering significant financial losses; otherwise, their brand loyalty would be impacted.”

So, how can companies meaningfully support their employees, who are now at an all-time high value, as well as address the dual issue of employment and wages, of which they are a central player? In our report on The State of Global Civic Engagement, 75% of global respondents and 72% of U.S. respondents agreed that seeing a company treat its employees well and provide fair pay and good benefits, including paid sick and parental leave, would help increase their trust in that company’s social issue efforts.

See how Daily Point of Light Award honoree Victor Rivera is enabling low-to-moderate income people and communities to improve their quality of life through his work with organizations focused on education, financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

SMALL BUSINESSES, OUTSIZED IMPACT 

Small businesses, with their personability and local connections, are particularly well-positioned to move the needle on employment and wages. Points of Light’s report Leading Locally: Small Business & Social Change found that the majority of the public shops at small businesses (nearly two-thirds of respondents purchased from a small business within the last month) and 40% of individuals “often” look for information on a small business’ social issue involvement.

We believe that – regardless of size – companies, their employees and their stakeholders can drive transformative social change when they work at the intersection of community needs, employee interests and company resources and priorities. Small businesses are built to wield influence at this intersection. For instance:

Today’s small business owners are already engaged in supporting social issues.These small business owners are already exceeding whatever expectations the public has of them to be involved in the social issues of our time.Small business owners are highly trusted individuals in their communities.People are open to learning about social issues from small business owners.

Small business owners believe speaking out has the most influence on initiatives important to the public. Half of the public and two-thirds of small business owners ranked speaking out as “pretty important” or “essential.” Providing resources or opportunities for the community to learn about social issues is important to the public and essential to small business owners.

The public and small business owners agree that supporting local issues through both volunteer and non-volunteer (informal) activities is important. Small business owners felt slightly stronger about participating in supportive social issue activities than the public, though both groups said it was important.

The same goes for encouraging others to vote to influence local social issues. Both small business owners (61%) and the public (51%) generally agreed that small businesses should encourage people to vote as a way to influence local social issues, ranking this action as “pretty important” or “essential.”

Learn how your business can take action with Points of Light’s corporate services & solutions for community impact & employee engagement programs.

HOW COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE 

The best way for companies to prove their commitment to the causes of employment and wages is to show, not tell. Raise wages, at the very least enough to cover inflation and provide a living wage to workers. Provide strong benefits that empower employees to learn and grow on the job and to carry out their work responsibilities with peace of mind for their personal lives. Broadcast actions taken and encourage other companies to follow suit. These actions will compound to create competition for high-quality, low-turnover jobs held by productive, engaged and fulfilled employees.

And for individuals: listen and learn, use your voice, donate, volunteer and vote. Every one of us has the ability to be a point of light in creating a better world for employment and wages, and every other issue we care about.

Share Points of Light’s Deep Dives on Employment and Wages with those in your life who want to learn more about these issue areas and join in making a meaningful impact.

After a four-year hiatus, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition returned to hosting in-person Manufacturer Forums with the “Catalyst for Change” event in Shenzhen, China. SAC Manufacturer Forums are a series of action-oriented events aimed at bringing together business leaders and stakeholders for solution-centered discussion on how to drive sustainability improvements throughout global supply chains.

The event gathered 180 participants at the Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel for sessions on policy, supply chain dynamics, decarbonization, standardizing facility data collection, verification, and more. Attendees learned about how the SAC and its member organizations collectively work together to drive improvements in the apparel, footwear, and textile industry.

Sing Bin Lim, Head of Hub Asia at Bluesign Technologies, kicked off the event with a keynote that emphasized the need to address climate change at the country level — as well as the challenges faced by facility owners and even individuals who are unsure how to tackle such a vast objective. Lim highlighted solutions found through increased knowledge and collaboration — both upstream with financial institutions and downstream with customers — which is demonstrated by SAC’s collaboration with the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), Textile Exchange, and ZDHC on the Apparel Alliance, as well as the SAC’s ongoing partnership with Worldly, which helps brands report on essential data, including carbon emissions, through use of the SAC Higg tools.

The critical need for data was echoed by the SAC’s Angela Ng, Director of Higg Facility Tools, who introduced the Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP)’s new WE Tech worker engagement program. Ng highlighted the difference between the SLCP’s Converged Assessment Framework (CAF) and the Higg Facilities Environmental Module (FEM) and how scoring is applied to make the industry fair together. SAC’s Betty Li, Senior Manager of Membership Engagement for Asia-Pacific (APAC), honed in on how increased scrutiny and regulation allow companies to analyze data and show progress year over year.

Moran Zhang, a Research Analyst at the World Resources Institute’s China Climate and Energy Program, detailed the relevant policies that will impact manufacturers, including the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan and the Green Deal, and introduced the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) as a tool that can be used to track emissions. Zhang shared information from the Roadmap to Net Zero: Delivering Science-Based Targets in the Apparel Sector report that was published in 2021 by WRI and the Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), a SAC partner.

Jessica Jia, the SLCP representative in China, shared how the program is actively expanding to more industries such as accessories, furniture, and home decor. With 4.7k users and over 400 verifiers, China is the SLCP’s biggest user base by far. Jia shared information on the CAF 1.6, emphasizing how the updates have simplified the steps and optimized the data.

Attendees were also briefed on updates to the Higg Index suite of tools, including FEM 4.0, scheduled to launch later this year, and the SAC’s new Decarbonization Program. Discussions emphasized how important brands are to drive tools adoption.

“We were honored to have hosted industry stakeholders at our Manufacturer Forum,” said Jeremy Lardeau, Vice President, Higg index. “As an organization committed to transforming business through groundbreaking tools and collaborative partnerships, we believe through initiatives such as the Manufacturer Forums, we can help solve the industry’s most urgent and systemic challenges.”

The SAC’s next Manufacturer Forum will take place this December in Bangalore, India. Click here for more information and to save the date!

From food drives and beach clean-ups to school supply drives, volunteering is one way Medtronic employees live the Medtronic Mission and honor the tenet that calls us to maintain good citizenship as a company. 

Through volunteering and community engagement beyond our day jobs, we can improve lives and opportunities for people across our global communities.

And part of maintaining good citizenship is how we engage the community when we volunteer, do advocacy work, and fundraise.

There is a danger of unconsciously perpetuating stereotypes that disempower the communities we serve, said Mandy Iverson, employee experience manager for the Medtronic Foundation.

“If we truly want to make change, we also have to make space for education,” she said.

That’s why the Medtronic Foundation and the Global Inclusion, Diversity and Equity team worked with employee social impact firm Realized Worth to build a toolkit for how to engage responsibly in the community.

Here are three ways to transform corporate community engagement:

First, make sure you’re partnering with organizations that share community-centric values. There are a few things you can look for, such as an organization’s mission and values explicitly mentioning a commitment to equity and inclusion and having diverse staff and leadership.When volunteering, it’s important to approach the work with humility, respect, and a willingness to listen and learn.Volunteers should aim to collaborate with local communities, focus on sustainable, community-led solutions, and continually reflect on and challenge their own power and privilege.

“We’re not going to solve all of these issues simply by putting out a resource guide, but it’s a way to start the conversation,” Iverson said. “And knowing what I do of our employees, they’re up for it.”

Every summer, we kick off our community engagement efforts with Project 6, commonly called P6, named in honor of Tenet 6 of the Mission. This year, 12,748 employees around the world participated in volunteer events and 3,801 employees donated to their favorite nonprofits.

Learn more about how Medtronic is making an impact in communities around the world.

SkysTheLimit.org, a leading organization dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs, is thrilled to announce the release of the entire first season of its new podcast, The First Buck. Hosted by Sky’s the Limit Co-Founder, Nic Cary, this captivating podcast aims to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit and equip business leaders at every phase of their journey to reach their full potential.

The First Buck invites its audience to dive into the stories and wisdom of accomplished entrepreneurs and business leaders who have blazed trails, unraveling the pivotal moments that marked the earning of their first dollar. Each episode is a treasure trove of valuable insights, practical tools, and unerring inspiration, all meticulously designed to help individuals transform their entrepreneurial aspirations into concrete realities.

Nic Cary, a seasoned serial entrepreneur and lifelong technologist, brings a wealth of experience to The First Buck. As the Co-founder and President at Blockchain.com, Nic has secured over $300 million in investments from esteemed backers. Honored as the European Digital Leader of the Year in 2015, Nic’s accolades span far and wide. He is also the Founding Commissioner of the Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development and a co-author of the groundbreaking book The Future is Decentralised. Nic’s accomplishments have been featured in prestigious publications such as the New York Times, TEDx, NPR, Financial Times, Forbes, and many more.

Episodes of The First Buck feature prominent guests, having riveting discussions, engaging narratives, and pragmatic advice tailor-made for entrepreneurs and business leaders. The nine episodes boast an impressive roster of accomplished leaders and entrepreneurs spanning diverse industries:

Mary Mack, retired CEO of Consumer & Small Business Banking at Wells Fargo and a strong advocate for entrepreneurs and small businesses nationwideFabio Rosati, Chairman at Snagajob, a platform designed to help people find hourly work suited to their skills, maximizing their potentialRick Wade, Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Outreach for the US Chamber of CommerceJesse Haines, Managing Director of Grow with Google, the company’s $1 billion initiative that has helped over 10 million Americans grow their skills, careers, and businesses.Paul Solli, Co-founder and former Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer of Aperio Group, an investment management firm customizing wealth portfolios based on market exposure, taxes, personal values (ESG), factors, and riskSeth Levine, Co-founder of Foundry Group, a venture capitalist agency focused on making early-stage technology investments, participating in select growth rounds, and identifying and supporting the next generation of venture fund managersMichelle Parsons, Product Executive in Residence at Product School, the global leader in product training with a growing community of 2 million product professionalsJuanita Gonzalez-Uribe, Associate Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where she focuses her research on entrepreneurship, innovation, and private equityJeff Lynn, Co-founder and Chairman of Seedrs, a company that connects investors with growth-focused European startups

Tune in – now streaming on Spotify, iTunes, and wherever you listen to podcasts – to gain the tools, insights, and motivation needed to thrive in the dynamic world of business.

Explore all the episodes of The First Buck podcast here.

Sky’s the Limit offers opportunities for traditionally marginalized entrepreneurs – typically those who identify as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, women, veterans, disabled people, and people from low-income backgrounds – to connect with mentors to come together to foster, grow, and shape modern and future enterprise. The organization has also provided over $450,000 in startup grants and educated tens of thousands of diverse entrepreneurs.

For more information about partnerships and how to get involved, please visit skysthelimit.org/partnerships.

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About SkysTheLimit.org: SkysTheLimit.org is a digital platform that connects young, historically excluded entrepreneurs with one-on-one support from experienced business advisors and mentors, entrepreneurship training, and community-voted startup grants. SkysTheLimit.org is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. 

SkysTheLimit.org, a leading organization dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs, is thrilled to announce the release of the entire first season of its new podcast, The First Buck. Hosted by Sky’s the Limit Co-Founder, Nic Cary, this captivating podcast aims to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit and equip business leaders at every phase of their journey to reach their full potential.

The First Buck invites its audience to dive into the stories and wisdom of accomplished entrepreneurs and business leaders who have blazed trails, unraveling the pivotal moments that marked the earning of their first dollar. Each episode is a treasure trove of valuable insights, practical tools, and unerring inspiration, all meticulously designed to help individuals transform their entrepreneurial aspirations into concrete realities.

Nic Cary, a seasoned serial entrepreneur and lifelong technologist, brings a wealth of experience to The First Buck. As the Co-founder and President at Blockchain.com, Nic has secured over $300 million in investments from esteemed backers. Honored as the European Digital Leader of the Year in 2015, Nic’s accolades span far and wide. He is also the Founding Commissioner of the Blockchain Commission for Sustainable Development and a co-author of the groundbreaking book The Future is Decentralised. Nic’s accomplishments have been featured in prestigious publications such as the New York Times, TEDx, NPR, Financial Times, Forbes, and many more.

Episodes of The First Buck feature prominent guests, having riveting discussions, engaging narratives, and pragmatic advice tailor-made for entrepreneurs and business leaders. The nine episodes boast an impressive roster of accomplished leaders and entrepreneurs spanning diverse industries:

Mary Mack, retired CEO of Consumer & Small Business Banking at Wells Fargo and a strong advocate for entrepreneurs and small businesses nationwideFabio Rosati, Chairman at Snagajob, a platform designed to help people find hourly work suited to their skills, maximizing their potentialRick Wade, Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Outreach for the US Chamber of CommerceJesse Haines, Managing Director of Grow with Google, the company’s $1 billion initiative that has helped over 10 million Americans grow their skills, careers, and businesses.Paul Solli, Co-founder and former Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer of Aperio Group, an investment management firm customizing wealth portfolios based on market exposure, taxes, personal values (ESG), factors, and riskSeth Levine, Co-founder of Foundry Group, a venture capitalist agency focused on making early-stage technology investments, participating in select growth rounds, and identifying and supporting the next generation of venture fund managersMichelle Parsons, Product Executive in Residence at Product School, the global leader in product training with a growing community of 2 million product professionalsJuanita Gonzalez-Uribe, Associate Professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where she focuses her research on entrepreneurship, innovation, and private equityJeff Lynn, Co-founder and Chairman of Seedrs, a company that connects investors with growth-focused European startups

Tune in – now streaming on Spotify, iTunes, and wherever you listen to podcasts – to gain the tools, insights, and motivation needed to thrive in the dynamic world of business.

Explore all the episodes of The First Buck podcast here.

Sky’s the Limit offers opportunities for traditionally marginalized entrepreneurs – typically those who identify as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, women, veterans, disabled people, and people from low-income backgrounds – to connect with mentors to come together to foster, grow, and shape modern and future enterprise. The organization has also provided over $450,000 in startup grants and educated tens of thousands of diverse entrepreneurs.

For more information about partnerships and how to get involved, please visit skysthelimit.org/partnerships.

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About SkysTheLimit.org: SkysTheLimit.org is a digital platform that connects young, historically excluded entrepreneurs with one-on-one support from experienced business advisors and mentors, entrepreneurship training, and community-voted startup grants. SkysTheLimit.org is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. 

Case IH, a brand of CNH Industrial, recently lead the way in earning Inverell a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title with the 100 years of Farmall tractor parade.

Inverell recently hosted the centenary celebrations for the much-loved Case IH Farmall tractor, with tractor enthusiasts from across Australia bringing their tractors to the town to participate in two days of festivities.

110 Farmall tractors went 3.2km around the trotting track at the Inverell Showground, setting a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the largest parade of Farmall tractors, with tractors from the 1930s, right up to current model Farmalls participating in the record attempt.

Tom Horwood, an Inverell business operator who has been collecting tractors for more than 40 years has dozens of vintage Farmalls in his collection — the oldest a Farmall Regular from the late 1920s. Tom was proud to be a part of the record attempt and have it set in his home of Inverell.

“It was really exciting to be out there with so many other Farmall enthusiasts, and while we were hoping we could succeed in setting the record, you can never be sure, particularly when you’re dealing with so many vintage machines. So, when the adjudicator told us we’d done it, we were over the moon,” said Tom, who was behind the wheel of one of his Farmalls from 1929.

“For Case IH to select Inverell as the place to hold the 100th birthday celebrations for this amazing tractor is a great honour for our community and it’s something I’ll always remember.”

Aaron Bett, General Manager of Case IH Australia/New Zealand, said the adrenaline was running for all the participants as they started the record attempt.

“This tractor really changed the face of global agriculture when it was launched in 1923 and has continued to evolve over the past 100 years to meet the demands and expectations of farmers here, and around the world. We’re proud of the fact the celebrations in Inverell have honoured the Farmall’s incredible legacy in Australia and New Zealand and I thank everyone who has been involved.’

Case IH, a brand of CNH Industrial, recently lead the way in earning Inverell a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title with the 100 years of Farmall tractor parade.

Inverell recently hosted the centenary celebrations for the much-loved Case IH Farmall tractor, with tractor enthusiasts from across Australia bringing their tractors to the town to participate in two days of festivities.

110 Farmall tractors went 3.2km around the trotting track at the Inverell Showground, setting a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the largest parade of Farmall tractors, with tractors from the 1930s, right up to current model Farmalls participating in the record attempt.

Tom Horwood, an Inverell business operator who has been collecting tractors for more than 40 years has dozens of vintage Farmalls in his collection — the oldest a Farmall Regular from the late 1920s. Tom was proud to be a part of the record attempt and have it set in his home of Inverell.

“It was really exciting to be out there with so many other Farmall enthusiasts, and while we were hoping we could succeed in setting the record, you can never be sure, particularly when you’re dealing with so many vintage machines. So, when the adjudicator told us we’d done it, we were over the moon,” said Tom, who was behind the wheel of one of his Farmalls from 1929.

“For Case IH to select Inverell as the place to hold the 100th birthday celebrations for this amazing tractor is a great honour for our community and it’s something I’ll always remember.”

Aaron Bett, General Manager of Case IH Australia/New Zealand, said the adrenaline was running for all the participants as they started the record attempt.

“This tractor really changed the face of global agriculture when it was launched in 1923 and has continued to evolve over the past 100 years to meet the demands and expectations of farmers here, and around the world. We’re proud of the fact the celebrations in Inverell have honoured the Farmall’s incredible legacy in Australia and New Zealand and I thank everyone who has been involved.’

SZEGED, Hungary and TAIPEI, Taiwan, August 31, 2023 /3BL/ – Acer Inc. announced that it is powering the 35th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) in Hungary by providing PC solutions for all the contestants and onsite staff. Acer has been a constant partner of the IOI contests since 2018, enabling young computer scientists to formulate algorithms and programming tasks using Acer laptops and for staff members onsite to conduct pre-event tests and evaluate algorithms submitted by contestants, ensuring a smooth-running competition throughout the week-long event.

In collaboration with the Hungarian Ministry of Economic Development, the Acer laptops will be donated to local schools after the contest to continue supporting students and teachers in fostering a positive learning environment and stimulating innovation. Approximately 400 participants, including contestants and helpers, from 90 countries around the world are attending the IOI 2023.

“Acer has always believed in the transformative power of education and technology, working tirelessly to break barriers and connect people through our products and solutions,” said Emmanuel Fromont, Corporate Vice President and President of EMEA Operations, Acer, “As the official sponsor of this year’s Olympiad, we are thrilled to equip the contestants once again with our PC solutions including the latest line-up of powerful Aspire notebooks, enabling them to tackle challenging algorithms with ease.”

Acer is committed to contributing toward social responsibilities with education as one of its key focuses. As a global technology company, Acer seeks to promote digital equity, and continue breaking the barriers between people and technology.

About Acer 

Founded in 1976, Acer is one of the world’s top ICT companies with a presence in more than 160 countries. As Acer evolves with the industry and changing lifestyles, it is focused on enabling a world where hardware, software and services will fuse with one another, creating ecosystems and opening up new possibilities for consumers and businesses alike. Acer’s 7,700 employees are dedicated to the research, design, marketing, sale, and support of products and solutions that break barriers between people and technology. Please visit www.acer.com for more information.

Media Contacts

press@acer.com

DUBLIN, August 31, 2023 /3BL/ – Alkermes plc (Nasdaq: ALKS) today announced the recipients of the 2023 Alkermes Inspiration Grants® program. Grants were awarded to 11 nonprofit organizations working to address the needs of people living with addiction, serious mental illness or cancer. The selected programs are also focused on addressing unmet needs in historically under-resourced or underrepresented communities with longstanding and widespread health disparities.

“At Alkermes, we have come to appreciate that medicines, no matter how innovative, are only one component of comprehensive care. We created the Alkermes Inspiration Grants program to support a broad spectrum of innovative approaches to addressing educational gaps and supporting the needs of people living with serious chronic diseases, as well as their caregivers and family members. This year’s recipients have shown the potential, through unique and meaningful ways, to positively impact diverse communities across the United States,” said Richard Pops, Chief Executive Officer of Alkermes.

Nearly 200 applications were submitted for this highly competitive program. Submissions were evaluated based on a set of criteria outlined in the request for proposals, including clearly defined needs, objectives, activity format, mode of delivery and intended audience, and relevance to historically under-resourced or underrepresented communities. Grant recipients were selected by a committee that included senior leaders from Alkermes and individuals from outside the organization chosen to represent the perspectives of people with lived experience, caregivers and patient advocates.

Since 2016, the Alkermes Inspiration Grants program has awarded more than $5 million in funding to innovative programs that support the needs of those impacted by serious diseases in our areas of focus. For more information on the Alkermes Inspiration Grants program, please visit https://www.alkermes.com/responsibility/alkermes-inspiration-grants.

2023 Grant Recipient Organizations and Programs:

The 12-24 Club‘s Fresh Start Cafe Job Training Program offers employment in the Fresh Start Cafe kitchen. Participants will learn restaurant and food service industry skills, to be dependable team members and to provide customer service while advancing their recovery and healing their mental and emotional health. As part of the program, employees become members of recovery groups, are sponsored and sponsor others, attend meetings regularly, and serve as ambassadors for the 12-24 Club’s recovery environment.

The American Psychiatric Association Foundation‘s (APAF) Caregivers’ Mental Wellness Support Project will leverage a network of psychiatrists, corporate executives and community leaders to raise awareness of the impact that caring for people with serious mental illness and substance use disorders has on the mental well-being of family caregivers. This includes developing and disseminating self-assessment resources to caregivers and tools for those interacting with caregivers in the workplace and community.

Cancer Legal Care will assist Minnesotans facing ovarian cancer and their loved ones by partnering with key ovarian cancer community groups and providers to focus on outreach, community education and the provision of free, direct legal services to increase clients’ quality of life and help mitigate the financial stress often associated with ovarian cancer.

Caregiver Action Network will develop culturally appropriate content and messaging for diverse family caregivers of teens with serious mental illness and use that content to expand their existing resource: Blueprint for Families of Loved Ones with Mental Health Issues.

The Council of State Governments Justice Center will expand its community-led First Response Self-Assessment Tool, a product previously funded through Alkermes Inspiration Grants, to Spanish-speaking communities. Community response programs are designed to improve outcomes for people in need, including people with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders, by reducing police contact and increasing connections to care for these underrepresented communities.

Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) will expand the reach and frequency of MoveTheMessage, a national campaign designed to motivate high-risk and historically marginalized communities to take preventive action against the five gynecologic cancers by increasing awareness through dissemination of FWC educational resources and understanding the needs of those at risk for ovarian, cervical, vulvar, vaginal and endometrial cancer.

NAMI Mobile (Alabama) will expand the use of virtual reality headsets to offer a first-person immersive experience used in the training of law enforcement to improve their ability to safely and empathically deal with individuals with mental illness who are in crisis. The headsets will allow officers to experience some of the distress individuals feel when in crisis, thus equipping them to choose appropriate de-escalation skills.

Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation aims to equip employers in Ohio with the necessary resources to address the opioid epidemic in the workplace. Employers will receive guidance on identifying and responding appropriately to opioid addiction, as well as addressing mental health and emergency response issues in the workplace. By empowering employers to tackle the opioid crisis, the program aims to create healthier workplaces and contribute to the overall well-being of employees and communities.

Ovations for the Cure will expand its Helping Hands Program, which provides meals to support the regaining of strength loss that occurs in chemotherapy for women undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer. The grant will be used to support women and their families during these times of significant stress by decreasing the burden of planning, grocery shopping and preparation of healthy meals.

The Recovery Community Network (RCN) will provide a peer recovery specialist to work with Camino Contigo to identify individuals living with addiction and provide peer support. Camino Contigo (Spanish for “walk with you”) is a support group for Hispanics in the community with mental health concerns, helping them better understand their concerns while connecting them to available resources.

She Recovers Foundation will reach, educate and inspire diverse women ages 18-35 who are experiencing mental health issues, trauma and substance use. The grant will be used to create opportunities for women to develop their own holistic recovery patchworks, share their experience with other young women, and celebrate success.

About Alkermes plc 
Alkermes plc is a fully-integrated, global biopharmaceutical company developing innovative medicines in the fields of neuroscience and oncology. The company has a portfolio of proprietary commercial products focused on alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder, and a pipeline of product candidates in development for neurological disorders and cancer. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Alkermes has a research and development center in Waltham, Massachusetts; a research and manufacturing facility in Athlone, Ireland; and a manufacturing facility in Wilmington, Ohio. For more information, please visit Alkermes’ website at www.alkermes.com.

ALKERMES INSPIRATION GRANTS® is a registered service mark of Alkermes, Inc.

Alkermes Contacts: 
For Investors: Sandra Coombs, +1 781 609 6377 
For Media: Gretchen Murphy, +1 781 609 6419