Tag: 3BL

Ahead of its popular music festivals, Just Like Heaven Festival and Cruel World Festival, AEG and Goldenvoice hosted two AEG Futures career exploration events for high-school students from the Pasadena Unified School District and local non-profit, Adelante Youth Alliance, at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA on May 12 and May 17, 2023.

The events were designed to engage students about career opportunities in the live entertainment industry. More than 50 students were provided an inside look at music festivals from Nic Adler, VP, Goldenvoice Festivals, Michael Ilves, Director, Goldenvoice Festivals, Martha Saucedo, Chief External Affairs Officer, AEG and industry executives from TenFifty Entertainment.

Students participated in speed-mentoring sessions led by industry executives and were given behind-the-scenes tours of each festival prior to their openings.

Following the tours, the students had the chance to design their own music festivals and pitch their ideas to the executives, including selecting the music genres and festival names, staging the grounds layouts and choosing participating vendors.

“As festival producers, we are charged with making it look simple, but there’s so much that goes into planning a festival,” said Nic Adler, VP, Goldenvoice. “I hope that these programs provided these students with an idea of all the work that goes into creating an event like a music festival and reminds them that it’s not how you start but how you finish. If you work hard and put your all into it, you’re going to end up with a great product.”

Opening remarks for the AEG Futures sessions were given by City of Pasadena Mayor, Victor Gordo and City of Pasadena Councilmember, Tyron Hampton.

“So many young people are passionate about music,” said Martha Saucedo, Chief External Affairs Officer, AEG. “It is incredibly rewarding to go into a career that you are passionate about and that impacts people’s lives in a positive way. This program is important because it introduces students to a wide range of career opportunities in an area that they care about.”

The AEG Futures offers high school and college age students the chance to learn first-hand from industry professionals about career opportunities in sports and live music. Over the years, AEG has hosted multiple in-person and virtual events in conjunction with its music festivals including Goldenvoice’s Day N Vegas, Arroyo Seco Weekend and the BET’s BET Experience Youth Program at L.A. LIVE, among others.

June 1, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Inogen Alliance is proud to announce that we will be an official sponsor exhibitor at The Global Summit on ESG reporting for the Energy & Extractive Industries! The conference will be held in Brussels, Belgium on June 20th. Our global Alliance team will be represented by six co-sponsoring Associates, including Antea Group Belgium, Ayrton Group in Ireland, Baden Consulting in Switzerland, denxpert in Hungary, HPC Germany and HPC Italy.

According to the Global Summit on ESG Reporting website, “The conference aims to bring together the senior decision-makers from the Energy, Mining and Oil & Gas Industries for a business networking-oriented event. The attendees will have the opportunity to witness a program that focuses on insightful case studies and panels which will promote in-depth exchanges and discussions that address the industry’s challenges.”

This conference aims to promote transparency and accountability in the extractives sector by providing a forum for discussing key ESG issues such as climate change, biodiversity, and human rights.

Program highlights include:

ESG Metrics and KPIsESG Commitments that are “Greenwashing Proof”Reporting RequirementsCollecting Quality DataAccurate Visibility Across your Carbon FootprintData TransparencyMisinterpretation of ESG DisclosuresGreen Bonds and Sustainability-Linked FinanceInvestor Relations and SustainabilitySocial Issues in the Context of ESG Reporting Standards

Bill MacDonald, Antea Group USA, Energy Working Group leader states “The collective energy project experience of the Alliance membership rivals any global consulting firm. Our mission is to collaborate with each other to expand our consulting capabilities geographically, and to win multinational client opportunities.”

This is a unique opportunity to exchange experiences with energy and mining industry leaders and build connections with members of the wider community. Check out more on the event and request a brochure to register on the site here and make sure to connect with our Associates in attendance at the table exhibit! Or watch for more content to come from our team that will be attending representing the Global Energy Transition Working Group and Sustainability Working Group.

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local consultancies with more than 6,000 team members and experts skilled in delivering solutions and supporting client success across the globe. Click the links below to learn more about us and how we can use our global expertise to meet your local needs. Explore our Associates, News & Blog updates, Contact Us or follow us on LinkedIn.

Originally published on Built From Scratch

June 1 officially marks the start of hurricane season in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a “near-normal” season, with an estimated 12 to 17 named storms. If you live in areas prone to hurricanes, it’s important to start preparing now.

Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, recently built more than 5,500 disaster relief kits to restock Home Depot distribution centers in Georgia and Texas. These 5-gallon buckets contain items like garbage bags, paper towels, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, gloves and N95 masks. After assembly, they are shrink-wrapped and stored for disaster response efforts as needed.

In the past year, thousands of relief kits were shipped into disaster zones in the immediate aftermath of storms to help impacted communities with clean-up efforts. As we approach the start of another hurricane season, these new kits are now ready when disaster strikes.

The Home Depot Foundation is committed to supporting communities with natural disaster preparedness, short-term response and long-term recovery. With the help of several nonprofit partners, The Foundation is able to provide immediate support, resources and relief supplies to communities in need. Visit HomeDepotFoundation.org to learn more.

Keep up with all the latest Home Depot news! Subscribe to our bi-weekly news update and get the top Built from Scratch stories delivered straight to your inbox.

View the full LyondellBasell 2022 Sustainability Report.

Interview With Our Chief Sustainability Officer Andrea Brown

Q: What have been some of the biggest drivers of change impacting LyondellBasell’s sustainability efforts over the past year? 

A: Our biggest shift has been increasingly viewing sustainability as an opportunity rather than a risk. More than ever, we are putting sustainability at the heart of how we can create more value moving forward. That’s more value for our customers, our shareholders, our employees, and society. We have increased our level of ambition and reoriented the company around achieving ambitious goals with the new structures we have put in place. We realize these changes create an opportunity to be ahead of the curve, gain early mover advantage in the market and help shape the future rather than react to it. Q: How is LyondellBasell aligning its core business strategy with its sustainability strategy? A: We used to talk about our sustainability strategy and our corporate strategy as two separate items. However, now we have pulled the sustainability strategy into our core business strategy as one of the key pillars. We believe this move will help drive value for the company moving forward. This means sustainability is now ‘built-in’ and not a ‘bolt-on’, which is a significant shift for our company. In tangible terms, this means everybody in the company has a role to play in helping to achieve our overall sustainability goals and deliver value for our company. 

Q: What do you think are the biggest achievements for sustainability at LyondellBasell over the last year? 

A: We have made significant progress in creating the best structures for success.  We have set up a new strategic business unit focused on accelerated delivery of circular and low carbon solutions, with Yvonne van der Laan as executive vice president. This structural change will help us be more agile and focused on delivering value from our portfolio of sustainable solutions. We also have a new unit within our business, dedicated to delivering the reductions we need to meet our 2030 and net zero scope 1 and scope 2 emissions targets. In December of 2022, we accelerated our GHG emissions reduction targets and established a scope 3 target, which is aligned with the best available science. We have signed the Letter of Commitment to the Science-Based Targets initiative, and are seeking validation of our 2030 goals. It’s a significant and forward-leaning step for LyondellBasell and one that we believe puts us at the forefront of our industry. 

We are also now in our second year of tying our short-term compensation incentives to our ESG performance metrics, of which 20% is safety performance and 10% is progress aligned to our sustainability efforts including our GHG reduction goals and our goal to produce and market at least 2 million metric tons of recycled and renewable-based polymers annually by 2030. 

In short, we have put in place the necessary structures to lead and deliver. Outside of the company, these changes are not always visible, but the actions are important to our future success in delivering value from sustainability to our stakeholders. 

Q: How are you accelerating the circular economy? 

A: As a leading polymer producer, we want to make sure we are keeping valuable materials in use for as long as possible and fostering a circular economy. We want to ensure plastics continue to enable greater sustainability across so many challenges – from helping to avoid food waste to being essential components in the energy transition. We are finding new opportunities to access waste feedstocks, developing new partnerships to expand mechanical recycling and developing game-changing advanced recycling technology that will take hard-to-recycle plastic waste and turn it into feedstock for new polymer materials. Together, these activities will drive value and address the growing demand we see in the market for circular and low carbon solutions. 

Q: From your perspective as Chief Sustainability Officer, how does LyondellBasell view its role and responsibility to create a more sustainable world? 

A: As a large global company producing materials millions of people around the world use in everyday living, we have an important role to play. The polymers we produce are used in applications such as food packaging and vital medical supplies, and in applications that enable the energy transition such as wind turbines, solar panels, and lightweight parts that improve vehicle efficiency. We view our role as a fundamental solution provider who can unlock possibilities today and for future generations.  

View the full LyondellBasell 2022 Sustainability Report.

For information about the factors that could impact our forward-looking statements, please see page two of the LyondellBasell Sustainability Report.

Welcome to a very special episode of the Climate Confident podcast, brought to you in partnership with SAP!

Today, we’ve got a truly fascinating conversation for you. We’re sitting down with Bhushan Nigale, the dynamic Lead for SAP’s Sustainability Development Program. He is at the forefront of SAP’s innovative Green Ledger project, an ambitious undertaking that is poised to revolutionize the way businesses handle their environmental and sustainability data.

In our chat, Bhushan explains how SAP is leveraging technology to create a sustainable future. He provides an in-depth view of the Green Ledger project – it’s not just about calculating carbon emissions, but also making this data easily accessible and actionable for businesses to help them make meaningful changes.

We delve into the ins and outs of ESG data, looking at different themes like emissions, water, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Bhushan shares how SAP aims to establish a common set of ESG themes to create a robust ESG data foundation. He talks about the importance of customizing solutions to specific organizations and regions, emphasizing that “one size does not fit all.”

Bhushan also gives us a glimpse into the future of the Green Ledger project, discussing its ongoing development and the vision to expand into other categories like water, land, and biodiversity. He highlights how crucial it is to keep a focus on the social side of sustainability – tackling issues like modern slavery, child labor, and creating a more equitable workplace.

I encourage you to give this episode a listen – it’s an enlightening look into how technology can help us tackle some of our most pressing environmental challenges. Bhushan’s passion for sustainable development and his deep understanding of the subject matter makes this an episode you won’t want to miss!

In the podcast Bhushan mentioned a paper that SAP published along with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development – you can find that here.

Enjoy the show – and don’t forget you can check out the video version of this podcast at https://youtu.be/uuUsV8owRNI!

Support the show

Podcast supporters
I’d like to sincerely thank this podcast’s generous supporters:

Lorcan SheehanHal GoodJerry SweeneyChristophe KottelatAndreas WernerRichard DelevanAnton Chupilko

And remember you too can Support the Podcast – it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.

Contact
If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast – get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn.

If you liked this show, please don’t forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show.

Credits
Music credit – Intro and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

Thanks for listening, and remember, stay healthy, stay safe, stay sane!

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

Abby Losordo started her career at U.S. Bank five years ago as one of the original accessibility consultants.

Since then, Losordo has been instrumental in developing the U.S. Bank accessibility program (commonly abbreviated as “A11Y”) and building a strong collaboration model with her peers, director and the bank’s Experience Design team.

Today, she leads a team of some 15 consultants, spanning the consumer segment, who help ensure that the U.S. Bank Mobile App and other digital banking tools are accessible to all users, including those who need assistive technology.

Designers creating a digital product may not always be aware of potential roadblocks – such as color contrast not being high enough or pictures conveying meaning and don’t have alternative text – so screen-reader users have access to the information. That is where the Design Accessibility team provides feedback to remedy those concerns early in the process.

“A11Y consultants coach designers on how to design accessibly so our customers have a best-in-class experience,” Losordo said.

Losordo’s journey into accessibility started when she was providing counseling and support to cancer patients navigating the thickets of the American healthcare system.

After earning her master’s degree in counseling psychology and her license in mental health counseling, Losordo focused on helping cancer patients remove barriers to their treatment – whether it was connecting people through complex medical systems, arranging transportation to daily radiation appointments or helping to secure insurance coverage.

“My job was to ensure that my patients had access to all of the elements that are suddenly very important when you’re going through a medical crisis,” she said. “It can sometimes be overwhelming to deal with all of that, and one of these barriers can sometimes be what prevents someone from getting treatment.”

As a part of that work, Losordo consulted on the accessibility of many digital properties across the healthcare system and discovered that digital barriers exist in addition to the other common obstacles her patients encountered.

When she joined U.S. Bank, digital accessibility was still an emerging concept in the financial services world. But that changed as more banking tools shifted online.

In 2019, U.S. Bank unveiled an entirely rebuilt U.S. Bank Mobile App and has continued to add hundreds of new features ever since, and the digital accessibility team has been part of that journey the entire way.

Today, there are consultants working on accessibility across the bank, and they are regarded as a world-class practice and model for other companies to follow.

Earlier this year Deque gave the bank a Native Mobility Accessibility Award for its commitment to ensuring the U.S. Bank mobile app is easy for people with disabilities to use. U.S. Bank also ranked as a 2023 DiversityInc Top Company for people with disabilities.

While Losordo’s counseling background may be an unconventional path to her role, she has found it to be invaluable – especially in the area she is most enthusiastic about: managing her team.

“My passion is growing people, shining a spotlight on them and their accomplishments, and helping them understand the strategy behind what we are doing and why we are doing it,” she said. “I love what I do so, so much. It is especially important to me that people find meaning in their work and they are happy here.”

Be empowered to create your own path and accelerate your career by visiting the U.S. Bank career site.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, June 1, 2023 /3BL Media/ — Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately held international spirits company, announces the appointment of Alicia Enciso to the Company’s Board of Directors.

Alicia brings more than 30 years of experience with multinational Fortune 100 Companies in the Food and Beverages sectors with roles as General Manager, President, Chief Marketing Officer, and E-Business Officer. Since 2017, she has served as Chief Marketing Officer of Nestlé USA and previously served as President of the Beverages Division. She recently announced her retirement from Nestlé. Prior roles include Principal Consultant and Managing Director of Zyman Group, a subsidiary of MDC Partners and various marketing leadership roles at Procter & Gamble and Estée Lauder.

“Alicia is a well-rounded business leader and global marketer who has presided over some of the world’s best-known brands,” says Facundo L. Bacardi, Chairman of Bacardi Limited and fifth-generation family member. “Her enthusiasm for modern marketing and building sustainable brands are a great complement to our long-term business ambitions and to continuing the family legacy for generations to come.”

Originally from Mexico, Alicia has been recognized as one of “Most Influential 100 Latinas” by Latino Leaders Magazine and named “Latino Marketer of the Year” by the Hispanic Marketing Council. Alicia also serves on the Executive Board for the Association of National Advertisers and the Board of the Alliance for Multicultural & Inclusive Marketing. She previously sat on the Advisory Board of Google 21st Century Marketing.

The Bacardi Limited Board of Directors is comprised of 13 members.

About Bacardi Limited
Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held international spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, PATRÓN® tequila, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF® vodka. Founded more than 162 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 10 countries, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter.

Media Contacts:
Jessica Merz, VP Global Corporate Communications, jmerz@bacardi.com

Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric unique among energy management companies in extent of recognition receivedEcoXpert Partner Program awarded five-stars for a seventh consecutive year, while the Panel Builders Program receives a third straight five-star ratingRecognition reflects the company’s enduring commitment to nurturing robust channel partnerships for a more digitized and sustainable future

BOSTON /3BL Media/ – Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has been has been recognized by CRN with four prestigious five-star ratings in its 2023 Partner Program Guide.

The annual guide offers essential information to solution providers such as managed service providers (MSPs), value-added resellers (VARs), systems integrators, and strategic service providers as they explore technology manufacturers’ partner programs to identify the vendors that will best support their business needs. The five-star rating is awarded to the companies that go above and beyond in their commitment to nurturing strong, profitable and successful channel partnerships.

The programs awarded five-star recognition are:

mySchneider Panel Builders Program: supports partners to evolve by enabling and training them to sell the latest Schneider Panel Building Solutions and industry-leading innovations.mySchneider Contractor Program: provides all the necessary tools to build, install, commission, and deliver solutions that allow contractors to collaborate with other electrical peers and scale-up their business.EcoXpert Partner Program: an industry-unique global, cross-expertise ecosystem of solution providers which delivers best-in-class automation and digital solutions for efficiency and sustainability.mySchneider IT Partner Program: supports IT partners across diverse business models, including by simplifying benefits and requirements, capturing new opportunities, upholding channel-centric practices, and providing agility for future growth.

In addition, Schneider Electric’s mySchneider Designers, Engineers & Consultants Program was selected for recommendation in the Program Guide. The program provides tools and support to enable engineering consultants and designers to simplify jobs and save time, as well as consultancy to help their clients achieve sustainability and efficiency goals.

Cumulatively, these recognitions reflect Schneider Electric’s ongoing commitment to nurturing enduring channel partnerships and to providing partners with the knowledge and tools required to drive growth, enhance sustainability, and accelerate digital transformation. The Partnering for Sustainability initiative, an aspect of the Partnerships of the Future program, similarly attests to the organization’s ongoing dedication to leveraging its ecosystem in service of a more sustainable future.

To further accelerate these efforts, Schneider Electric also recently launched its Sustainability School, which enables partners to access critical resources needed to accelerate climate action.

– ### –

About Schneider Electric

Schneider’s purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.

We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.

We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.

Life moves very fast for everyone, but it sometimes feels like warp speed to many moms. In 2016, Pamela Pekerman was a busy entrepreneur and mom trying to find the balance between her career and kids. One day she woke up and thought, “Why doesn’t this feel great? I was active in the creation of this life I have, so why doesn’t it fit anymore?” This thought transferred to a realization that something needed to change, which is how Hustle Like A Mom started. This multi-media and events-driven brand is focused on empowering, educating and supporting moms who want to align personal and professional aspirations.

Recently, KeyBank’s Key4Women sat down with Pamela to find out more about Hustle Like A Mom and its goal of helping others navigating the between drop off and pick up mompreneur lifestyle or figuring out how to align personal and professional aspirations in their chosen path.

Who is the audience for Hustle Like A Mom?

Myself! I wanted to know that I wasn’t alone, that other moms were trying to not really find balance, as that’s a false claim, but other moms that found themselves searching for harmonious career and lifestyle flows. So in 2016, I started to reach out to my professional friends and those around my age with kids and started asking questions. I began to put these conversations up on YouTube and essentially the brand was started. In 2019, I decided to bring together like-minded female entrepreneurs for an event in Manhattan. Of course, after the event wrapped, I quickly realized it was not convenient for these hustling mompreneurs to get to the city. That clarity led me to recognize it was time I started going to the suburbs to find our real audience and community. I am what I call “a suburban mom with an urban mindset,” meaning I left the high-rises of midtown Manhattan, but didn’t go too far.

What is the key to your success with Hustle Like A Mom?

The key was quickly realizing who I am. Who was my audience, client and community? I had to figure out what I like to do and how it fit with my dreams, but also with my schedule. I wasn’t chasing a customer; I was understanding my community. This is what got me through COVID. I narrowed my focus and did the work to find what mom entrepreneurs really needed. This is when Hustle Like A Mom really boomed. We got to know who our customer was. I even named her… Kristen. Throughout the process, I understood what Kristen’s morning routine looked like, what newsletters she liked to read, what she wanted to see on social media and much more. This allowed me to really connect and build the community I was trying to support. It allowed me to recognize a “Kristen” from a mile away, so I could immediately say, “That’s my girl.”

What are some challenges you faced?

Any small business comes with unique and not-so-unique challenges. My biggest challenge was knowing my worth, which I know many business owners struggle with, but women in particular. You have to take time to sit down and write out what you bring to the table. When you see it for yourself, you will determine what your product or service should be worth. If you undersell yourself, it will be hard to gain and retain the clients you deserve. Knowing your worth will help you and your business grow. I truly believe that we are our own doorstop. All too often, it is fear that holds us back from taking the leap, knocking on the door, or asking the questions. Go where the money is and do it! Moving past your doorstop can unlock unlimited potential.

How do you strategize your day now that you work less hours?

I have become a fiercely protector of my precious time. Thru COVID, I oversaw and supplemented virtual learning for nearly two years. At the same time, Hustle Like A Mom boomed – virtual summits, 1:1 coaching, group coaching programs. I took note of what time management and goal setting strategies worked for me, as well as my clients. I developed the Edit to Expand Method and Quarterly Planning Parties which considered your reality, financial needs, & professional plus personal desires. The Edit to Expand Method began to change lives and lead to not only business growth for clients, but an uptick in joy. In 2023, I published the Edit to Expand Planner, which sold out and was featured in Entrepreneur Magazine. We’re currently working on the 2024 planner and can’t wait to share it with women across the country!

How did you get introduced to Key4Women? 

I was on a panel with Elona Shape, a Co-Chair of Key4Women in the Hudson Valley. While I had been in business for over 18 years, I had always viewed my bank interaction as transactional, rather than a chance to build a relationship. But her talk made me curious, so we met for lunch, and it really showed me the value a group like Key4Women can offer. I believe Key4Women and Hustle Like A Mom align in that we want to empower female small business owners. We are walking the walk and not just talking the talk. We are holding hands with them to truly support our local economy by supporting women in business. So, I am working alongside Key4Women and together we host panels, events, Instagram Live chats, newsletters and more. Saying “yes” to a collaboration with Key4Women was easy because it was just so right in every aspect. I introduced my clients to Key4Women and KeyBank right away. The services KeyBank provides ideally fit our needs, and so I wanted to share these possibilities. It is a valued relationship, and I am so happy to put our tools and resources together to enhance our entrepreneurs’ success.

Any last thoughts? 

If someone would have told me I would eventually model my career on what I call the “drop-off and pick-up lifestyle,” that is, working smarter, not harder between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., I would have said they were talking to the wrong person. However, time changes you in many positive ways. Before, I was in a constant juggle of working, but also wondering who would pick up my kids if I was running late? What I someone gets sick and I have to cancel a TV shoot? This struggle wasn’t a life I was able to thrive in. I needed a new path, and I created it. I want to continue to support women and their dreams, and with the help of Key4Women, it just helps to make that path a little easier.

Pamela Pekerman- Hustle Like A Mom CEO- www.hustlelikeamom.com

There’s nothing quite like the sticking power of hands-on education – even when “hands-on” means sifting through fistfuls of red worms and composting material.

For some people, that’s enough to make the skin crawl. But at Wichita’s Riverside Leadership Magnet Elementary, it’s getting students excited about science through an experiment made possible by fourth-grade teacher Darla Brown and an educational grant from Koch.

Hands-on STEM education hits close to home for Darla – it’s what led her to a career in education, inspired by some of the teachers who made a difference in her sons’ lives as they experienced their struggles adjusting to traditional classroom instruction.

“I had a son who was not very big on school at all, and it was a real struggle to get him through school,” she says. “And a big part of that was because he was a little boy who didn’t want to come in and sit down at a desk.”

In her eight years of teaching, Darla has witnessed the power of hands-on, experiential learning and says, quoting acclaimed educator Maria Montessori, “What the hands do, the mind remembers.” In Darla’s own experience, she has seen students – especially the younger ones – retain information better when scientific principles are made tangible beyond just lessons and photos in a textbook.

So, when Darla wanted to introduce the concept of vermiculture composting to her students, she did her own digging and applied for a Koch Classroom Grant, a program created in partnership with Wichita Public Schools to fund STEM and entrepreneurial projects in the Wichita school district. Now, her project is actively teaching the school’s students principles in both science and entrepreneurship.

With her classroom’s $3,000 grant, Darla was able to seed the project by purchasing three composting bins, starter materials and 6,000 “red wigglers” – worms that are ideal for composting due to their ability to consume half their body weight in food scraps every day. Because they’re also fast reproducers (able to reproduce once every 30 days), Darla estimates the school’s colony is already up to about 30,000 worms.

The worm composting program is not only teaching the kids about recycling and sustainability, they’re also able to experience these principles firsthand by emptying their lunch scraps into the composting bins. In the process, Darla says it’s raising awareness of students’ impact on the natural world around them while also encouraging them to take ownership.

“It was really a way to bring the science in but also show the kids the leadership side of things and that they can make a difference even at their age. So instead of throwing our trash away and it going to a landfill, it’s turned into a product we can use,” she says, adding, “That’s something that I’m hoping … if it inspires them to start their own tiny garden and do something small for the environment and their community, then it will have accomplished its goal.”

The composting project is a self-sustaining project that’s also teaching the students about topics like marketing and entrepreneurship. As the worms are composting, they’re creating “castings” – an organic form of manure fertilizer produced by the worms – that the students can collect and sell by the bag to local gardeners. Profits from the sale of these castings are then put back into the composting project.

“I’ve never seen so much excitement over worms,” Darla says. “The kids are involved at almost every level. They help build the worm bins for me. They put them together. They’re the ones who feed them. They’re the ones who gather up leaves. And when we get ready to bag castings, they’ll be the ones bagging them.”

And there’s a local market for these organic castings. In Wichita’s Riverside neighborhood, where the school is located, gardening is part of the community. Many yards have their own gardens, and the school itself is just a half mile from Botanica, a Wichita botanical garden. So the kids are making a positive impact serving their community, and the profits will help the project continue to grow.

“This is something that’s not just a project for this year,” Darla says. “We are continuing it for as long as we can, so it’s going to be something that other kids will get to experience for years. But we couldn’t have done it without Koch and the Classroom Grant program.”