Tag: 3BL

Key Takeaways

The new solar project will power approximately 43% of Comcast’s operations across Connecticut and Massachusetts.Comcast has set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2035 for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, or the direct and indirect emissions it owns and controls, across its global operations.

BERLIN, Conn., March 1, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Comcast announced an agreement with Constellation to purchase 70 megawatts (MW) of renewable solar electricity from the Gravel Pit Solar project in East Windsor, Connecticut for nearly half of its Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal operations across New England.

The project will provide carbon-free electricity to Comcast’s Western New England Region headquarters in Berlin, NBC Sports in Stamford, and NBC CT in West Hartford.

“We’re proud to be powering nearly half of our regional operations and our Western New England headquarters with renewable solar electricity that will be sourced right here in Connecticut,” said Carolyne Hannan, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Western New England Region.

This project will support New England’s clean energy economy while advancing toward Comcast’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2035.

CAROLYNE HANNAN

Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Western New England Region

The contract for the Connecticut-made renewable energy represents an annual volume of approximately 111,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) – equivalent to one year’s worth of electricity use for more than 15,000 homes.1

“It’s great to see a local business making this large investment in our state and following Connecticut’s lead in working to achieve our zero-carbon emissions goal by 2040,” said Connecticut’s Environmental Committee Chair, State Sen. Rick Lopes.

Gravel Pit Solar is being developed by D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) and is expected to reach commercial operation at the end of 2024. Comcast has signed a corresponding 15-year agreement with Constellation to receive energy and renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Gravel Pit Solar as part of its retail electricity supply contract. Gravel Pit Solar will power approximately 43% of Comcast’s operations across Connecticut and Massachusetts.

“The Town of Berlin, home to Comcast’s Western New England headquarters, is proud to support Comcast’s investment in the Gravel Pit Solar project,” said Mark Kaczynski, Mayor of Berlin. “The project will have a meaningful impact in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions while assisting in New England’s clean energy transition.”

The Gravel Pit Solar project will create approximately 200 construction jobs with at least two permanent positions for operations and maintenance to oversee its total generation of 120 MWs.

“We’re pleased to deliver renewable power to Comcast from one of the largest solar projects under construction in New England,” said Hy Martin, Chief Development Officer of DESRI. “Gravel Pit Solar will support the local community with construction jobs and ongoing tax revenue for years to come.”

“This local solar solution will serve as an important steppingstone toward Comcast’s carbon neutral goal and our nation’s transition to a clean energy future,” said Jim McHugh, Executive Vice President, and Chief Commercial Officer at Constellation.

Comcast has set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2035 for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, or the direct and indirect emissions it owns and controls, across its global operations. In addition to several renewable energy agreements currently in place, Comcast will continue to invest in clean energy solutions through new on- and offsite renewable projects to decrease its carbon footprint. For more information on Comcast’s environmental efforts, visit the environment page on Comcast’s corporate website.

1 https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator

Ver mensaje en español

We are excited to continue our mission of improving the lives of children and communities around the world. But before we go forward, we’d like to take a step back in acknowledge the growth HNF has witnessed over the last year.

In 2022, HNF partnered with nine new Casa Herbalife Nutrition partners, bringing the number of nonprofit organizations we support worldwide to 178. HNF gave $5.12M in grants to support these Casas in 2022, nearly half a million more than the previous year. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we helped over 229,000 children receive healthy meals and nutrition.

”Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have been able to reach children and families who sometimes lack access to basic needs, like daily meals and clean water,” said Jenny Perez, HNF Executive Director. “The dedication of so many to giving back is making a huge impact around the world, and for that, we are truly grateful.”

If you’re curious to how donations specifically support our partners, check out the breakdown below:

$2.59M -> Food Subsidy

$855K -> Nutrition Staff

$285K -> Nutrition Education

$1.39M -> Capitol Support, General Operating, Kitchen Renovations, & Other

Thank you so much for your commitment to contributing to our mission. Because of you, we can help those who need it most, while also giving hope for a better future.

Learn more about how you can give the gift of life-changing nutrition.

View original content here.

Think back to elementary school with me. You walk into class each morning, dreading the monotony of the day. Math…reading…writing. Hey, at least there’s lunch and recess to look forward to. Let’s go play four-square for the 100th time this year! But then, one magical morning, your teacher utters two words that shatter the repetitious haze permeating your classroom. You hear them, you smile, and the classroom erupts with joy. Those two words?

Field trip!

Atlanta’s Alternative to Curbside Recycling

I don’t know why we stop taking field trips after our schooling days are done. They’re fun, educational, and still a welcome departure from whatever we would call a typical day. And so, I found myself quite happy to be on one a couple of weeks ago. A colleague of mine and I took a trip to the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials, located just southwest of Zoo Atlanta. It sits on a nondescript piece of property, dotted with an odd assortment of tents, trailers, and variously sized bins. While it may not look like much, this diamond-in-the-rough nonprofit organization offers tremendous value to the City of Atlanta.

Affectionately called by its acronym CHaRM, this center operates under the auspices of a nonprofit called Live Thrive. It began as a sustainability blog in 2010, and that was also the year when it organized its first household hazardous waste collection. They diverted more than 75,000 pounds of waste in that one event. Nine more waste collection events would follow in the next four years, proving the need for a permanent waste collection center. CHaRM opened in 2015, and it’s been growing ever since.

Our host for the field trip was the founder and executive director of Live Thrive, Peggy Whitlow Ratcliffe. I’ve known for years that the heartbeat of Atlanta’s environmental community comes from amazing women leaders, and Peggy is one of them. She lives the work of waste diversion, and like any successful entrepreneur, she has had to scratch and claw to earn the success of her organization. Sitting down together before touring the site, her enthusiasm and warmth shone through. I consider myself well versed in environmental issues, and she still filled in multiple gaps in my knowledge.

A Trip Around CHaRM

I’ll get to what I learned, and what I want you to learn as well, but first let me bring you virtually along on that field trip. It began with styrofoam, and lots of it. CHaRM accepts both styrofoam for packaging and food grade styrofoam (so long as it’s been cleaned of food residue and any grease). In a shed nearby, an employee feeds styrofoam into a machine that first chips it into small pieces and then compresses the styrofoam down into incredibly dense blocks. These can then be used for insulation in building materials.

Our next stop is electronics recycling. One cardboard box is stuffed with televisions, and a large drum holds who-knows-how-many-linear-feet of old cables and wires. These and other electronics will be sent off to a recycling partner who will either refurbish them or break them down to access the valuable materials inside.

Chemicals and paints are next. With pride, Peggy shows off the remarkably simple machine that safely disposes of fluorescent rods and lightbulbs. These products have mercury in them, which is toxic to human health, so they are loaded in a sealed drum that has heavy chains inside. These spin around and shatter the lightbulbs, freeing the mercury which then settles into a separate container.

Organics are next. CHaRM partners with Compost NOW to allow local residents without their own composting membership to drop off any and all compostable material. Cooking oil is collected separately, and it will go to a partner who will synthesize biofuels out of it. Next is a truck filled with old mattresses. Just think about how many beds are in our city, much less the entire world. Most are going to landfills when they begin to wear down, but so long as they are spring-based, CHaRM can recycle them. Unfortunately, all of those foam mattresses out there don’t seem to have a path to recycling, at least not that CHaRM can identify.

Glass is next. Food grade glass is separated by color – clear, green/blue, and brown/amber. They also collect flat glass, like that used in shower doors or some coffee tables. One exception is mirrors – most mirrors aren’t recyclable because of the reflective coating and the type of glass used. For any wine lovers out there, you can also recycle corks in the glass area, so long as they are made of real cork and not a synthetic material.

We pass by a truck that collects old clothing, dumpsters containing different metal types, a bin for old books, and even one for cigarette butts. We then arrive at the busiest side of CHaRM’s operations – Plasticville. Each and every different type of plastic is collected. There are bins for different numbered plastics, specifically numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. Those are the ones that have viable recycling streams, with number 3 (PVC) and number 7 (an “other” category for plastic) not being easily recyclable. There are also bins for films, bags, and straws. You can even recycle corrugated yard signs like those used in political campaigns (yes, those are made of plastic too). I felt two things walking through Plasticville: disgust at just how much plastic is used in our society, and gratitude to CHaRM for helping to do something with it.

How to Use Your Blue Bin Best

There’s even more to the CHaRM operations that I didn’t cover, and good news that they’ll be opening a second location later this year (at 1225 Columbia Drive in Decatur for any locals who might be interested). For now though, I want to get to the main takeaway from my visit with Peggy at CHaRM. This is something I learned, and if it was news to me, I bet it is to you too.

There are only five materials that you should be putting in your curbside blue bin. Note the word “should” there, and that I didn’t say “can.” The City of Atlanta and many other municipalities will accept a wide range of material types in those bins. Heck, even if you put straight garbage in those bins, it’s not like there’s an enforcement mechanism to hold you accountable. So remember, just because you put something in a blue bin, that doesn’t mean it will end up being recycled. In our region, and across the country generally, it’s only the “big five” materials that you can be confident will be recycled if you put them in your curbside blue bin. Here they are:

Aluminum, like soft drink and tuna fish cans;Other metals, like tin soup cans;Paper, like newspapers, cereal boxes, and paper towel rolls;Cardboard, like shipping and moving boxes, and;Plastics that are number 1 (PET) and 2 (HDPE) only, like plastic bottles, milk jugs, and detergent bottles.

Other things like higher plastic numbers and glass bottles are technically recyclable, but the practical realities of single stream recycling mean they won’t be. Glass, for instance, tends to shatter into unrecoverable pieces and even contaminate other materials with their shards when dropped in a blue bin. And separating out cheap plastic types that don’t have a marketable use when recycled is simply not worth it. These items need to be self-sorted, the way they are at CHaRM, to have any chance of actually staying out of landfills and the environment.

One last public service announcement. Even if you abide by the big five above, there’s one more thing you have to do. These materials must be (a) clean, (b) dry, and (c) not in a plastic bag. If you use a garbage bag to line your recycling bin at home, please please please please please do not tie that bag off and drop it in your curbside blue bin. It’s liable to be thrown away, because those plastic bags gum up some of the sorting machinery that recycling companies use.

Please recycle. It’s important. But just as important as doing it is doing it right. The most important job that Peggy and the amazing people at CHaRM have isn’t taking people’s stuff – it’s educating people about how best to properly dispose of that stuff. So make sure you’re recycling correctly, and consider sharing this post with your friends and family. And if you live in Atlanta, consider taking a field trip to CHaRM one of these days! And maybe bring all the junk that’s sitting in your garage with you.

Originally published by Medical Device + Diagnostic Industry

Clinical trials are an early step in device and therapy development which have significant impact on the types of products available to patients. The demographics of patients in these trials carries an impact on products, making diversity in clinical trials key to ensure all patient needs are being evaluated, and targeted for treatments. Medtronic and Boston Scientific share the efforts the companies have undertaken to broaden the patients in their clinical trials.

“We cannot provide the best therapies across the world unless we fully represent the range of people who are affected,” said Laura Mauri, MD, senior vice president, chief scientific, medical, and regulatory officer at Medtronic. “Diverse representation in our research and development is not only a social imperative that is needed to interrupt the cycle of health inequity, but also a clinical necessity to fully understand our products. Diversity allows us to better reflect the entirety of the population we’re trying to serve, improve device efficacy across that entire population, and ultimately improve outcomes for a broader group of patients and communities.”

Continue reading here.

Imagine being told something doesn’t exist, then stumbling across it in nature. 

During a research trip to the Oaxaca Valley in Mexico in 1980, plant scientist Howard-Yana Shapiro observed a strain of corn twice as tall as any he’d ever seen. Its roots dripped a gel that piqued Shapiro’s curiosity. Puzzled by how corn could grow this tall in a place without access to modern agricultural conveniences, the man who tended the fields told him, “There’s no fertilizer in this community.”

What Howard observed changed everything.

For a plant to grow and thrive, it needs sufficient nitrogen. It is vital and serves as an engine for plant growth. However, most crops don’t produce their own nitrogen but must be fertilized. Synthetic fertilizer production — popularized in the early 20th century — supports the food systems for about 1/3 of today’s global population. But the process is responsible for about 3 percent of global greenhouse gasses. So, while we can’t change the fact that most of our crops need food, we can change how we think about feeding them.

Although it took two decades for science and technology (and skeptics) to catch up with Howard’s ideas, genomics and technology like CRISPR means it’s possible to take what Howard observed and breed those traits into other plants so they use less fertilizer. That’s good news for the air, the soil and the water.

Human activity is often seen as the culprit in the story of climate change. But it’s ideas like Howard’s that illustrate how human activity also holds the key to changing course.

“We absolutely have to drive agriculture as a climate smart solution,” said Jessica Christiansen, Head of Sustainability, Bayer Crop Science. “We are going to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest lever to create positive change. To do that, we need to work together with several different partners across the industry.”

“The biotechnology of programming cells will be essential to the response to climate change.” Jason Kelly, Ginkgo Bioworks CEO

One of those partnerships undertaken by Bayer and Joyn Bio is with Boston-based Ginkgo Bioworks. CEO Jason Kelly and fellow MIT graduates created a DNA printing and editing platform that he believes will create cleaner, more efficient ways we produce everything from plant-based foods to chemicals. The partnership hopes to uncover its own holy grail of plant sciences.

“I think the biotechnology of programming cells will be essential to the response to climate change because biology figured this out. When a leaf falls off the tree it is magically recycled back into sub-components. This is how we should make everything. We should grow everything,” said Kelly. “We can go look at the genome of the microbe on the soy, read the DNA code, find the part of it that says, ‘Hey, here’s how you run Haber-Bosch. Here’s how you produce fertilizer. Go on the computer, redesign it, hit print and then install that code into the microbes that live on the roots of corn, for example, and give them the ability to produce fertilizer for the crop.”

Shapiro’s colleague at UC Davis, distinguished professor Eduardo Blumwald, published a study in July 2022 showing how he used CRISPR-engineered rice to enhance nitrogen production in rice. The discovery has the potential to save farmer’s billions and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers. That’s good news for the environment.

“Today we put so much in the soil without thinking, we didn’t know either. But now we have to remediate,” said Blumwald. “And the first way of remediation is lower your input, do not disturb anymore and try to instrument that for your advantage. We can play judo with our adversary. We can use that strength in our favor.”

View original content here

Selma, Alabama, is a community that has had its share of tragedy, and the historic city suffered another one on January 11, 2023, when a devastating tornado tore through the town.

Georgia-Pacific’s Naheola Mill is one of the few mills with a “cook team” that crisscrosses the state to provide a variety of meals for various celebrations and events and to help in times of need. When the tornado struck Selma, the GP cook team, made up of mill employees eagerly asked if they could head to Selma to help those impacted by the destruction. And that’s what they did.

The team cooked sausage, beans, hamburgers, and hot dogs, and served chips, water and soft drinks. They also provided Angel Soft® bath tissue, and Sparkle® paper towels in the parking lot of the Fairview Baptist Church.

Hundreds of residents enjoyed a hot meal and fellowship to take their minds off the devastation, even if for a short time. Emergency response teams were also served.

“I’m proud that my colleagues stepped up to show that they care enough about my friends and neighbors of the community where I live,” said Ed King, utilities manager and Selma resident. “Caring folks like those on the cook team and many others who have shown compassion to the citizens of Selma have been a silver lining in this tragedy.”

After the storm, residents of Selma shared photos and videos of the significant damage, some showing entire streets where multiple buildings were demolished. But the spirit of Selma is strong and the community is coming together to rebuild.

“My heart was broken for Selma when I heard about the tornado,” said Mickey Irvin, GP employee and member of the cook team. “We cook meals for festivals, Christmas events and other community events, but this hit home by having an act of mother nature rip apart businesses, homes, and uproot trees. We wanted to show how much we care and that we are Selma Strong and stand to help in whatever way we can. I’m thankful Georgia-Pacific allows us to step in and help our friends and neighbors during this time of need.”

STAMFORD, Conn., March 1, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Webster Bank, together with Eagle Academy Foundation, today launched the opening of the Webster/Eagle Academy Finance Lab, a program created to provide students in their schools to gain the skills needed for economic empowerment and financial success. The program is funded by a $100,000 Webster Bank Charitable Foundation (WBCF) grant.

The Webster/Eagle Academy Finance Lab expands a signature initiative of Webster Bank designed to help Webster’s partners in low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities expand financial empowerment opportunities for youth. The grant funds finance software and curriculum for students enrolled in Eagle Academy’s six schools – one in each New York City borough and one in Newark, N.J.

The Eagle Academy location is the second in a series of Finance Labs Webster is funding throughout its footprint from New York to New England in the coming months.

“Following the successful launch of our first Finance Lab in Yonkers earlier this year, Webster is pleased to invest $100,000 with Eagle Academy Foundation to further extend our existing relationship to educate and empower more youth in the communities we serve,” said Marissa Weidner, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer and president of the WBCF. She added, “Webster’s commitment to programs such as the Finance Lab gives students a unique opportunity to learn about finance, foster youth leadership and helps build our future workforce.”

To celebrate the launch, Eagle Academy students and alumni heard from Donald Ruff, President & CEO of the Eagle Academy Foundation, John Ciulla, President & CEO of Webster Bank, Javier Evans, Chief Human Resources Officer and Matthew Smith, Head of Banking as a Service and Digital Banking about their paths into the banking industry, careers in finance and why creating opportunities for financial empowerment matters.

Webster’s partnership with Eagle Academy is reflective of its continuing support of programs that address financial empowerment, workforce development, community development and human services and basic needs. Webster’s volunteerism initiatives also will play a key role in the partnership.

“The partnership that The Eagle Academy Foundation enjoys with Webster Bank and its predecessor, Sterling, is an ideal model for corporate engagement. EAF’s expanded vision for young men of color, “Eagles Soaring Beyond,” includes financial empowerment, and Webster has committed to developing pathways for Eagle students through awareness, education, and career pathways. Eagle Nation is grateful for all the ways that we partner with Webster, and we look forward to even further collaborations,” said Ruff.

The Eagle Academy Foundation develops and supports a network of all-male, grades 6 -12, college-preparatory schools in challenged, urban communities. The Eagle Academies consist of six traditional public schools in New York City and Newark, New Jersey and serve over 4,000 scholars and alumni.

About Webster

Webster Bank (“Webster”) is a leading commercial bank in the Northeast that provides a wide range of digital and traditional financial solutions across three differentiated lines of business: Commercial Banking, Consumer Banking and its HSA Bank division, one of the country’s largest providers of employee benefits solutions. Headquartered in Stamford, CT, Webster is a values-driven organization with $68 billion in assets. Its core footprint spans the northeastern U.S. from New York to Massachusetts, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Webster Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including our latest annual report, please visit our About page. To find our latest press releases, visit the Webster Newsroom.

About Eagle Academy Foundation

The Eagle Academy Foundation is a game-changing non-profit organization, dedicated to improving educational, career, and life outcomes for young men of color in New York City and across the country through education, mentoring, and post-secondary support. The foundation developed and supports the Eagle Academy schools—a network of six traditional public schools serving young men from marginalized communities across the five boroughs of New York City and Newark, N.J. For more information, visit eafny.org and follow The Eagle Academy Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. 

Contact Information

Media Contact:
Alice Ferreira
acferreira@websterbank.com
203-578-2610

Investor Contact:
Emlen Harmon
eharmon@websterbank.com
212-309-7646

View original content here.

The Chemours Company is proud to announce that Chemours China has been certified as one of the Best Workplaces in Greater China™ 2022 by Great Place to Work®, the global authority on workplace culture and employee experience.

This year, Chemours emerged from over 250 companies with a combined more than 140,000 employees in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan to be one of 92 organizations recognized by Great Place to Work® as Best Workplaces in Greater China™ 2022, based on a comprehensive assessment of corporate leadership, culture, and trust from their workers. Of the Chemours’ employees based in China who participated in the survey, 90% rated Chemours as a great place to work. The company’s scores are summarized on Chemours’ Great Place to Work™ profile, with key highlights including:

96% of employees said Chemours is a physically safe place to work.96% reported that they are treated as a full member of the company regardless of their position.95% said that they are treated fairly regardless of their race.94% shared that they are able to take time off from work when they think it’s necessary.

“We’re honoured to be named to the Best Workplaces in Greater China™ for the second consecutive year, in high recognition of Chemours culture and talent strategy. At Chemours, our people are our most valuable asset, and we will keep driving talent development to create a diverse, inclusive, and fair workplace. We support employees’ sustainable growth through a broad professional platform and diverse training mechanisms, making unwavering attempts to create a better workplace,” said Lily Li, the HR Head of Chemours Asia Pacific.

2022 was an eventful yet extraordinary year. Faced with various external uncertainties, Chemours insisted on a “people-oriented” development strategy to provide each employee with full trust and support. By carrying out “Flex for Your Day,” one of the flexible work mechanisms in the post-pandemic era, Chemours provides a supportive and caring workplace for employees where they can balance personal needs, physical and mental health at work.

As a different kind of chemistry company, Chemours is committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive workplace, attracting and cultivating more female talent for the industry. As part of this commitment, Chemours is working to fill 50% of all director level positions and above with women, and 35% of all global roles with women by 2030. With the vision of achieving full gender parity at all levels of the organization globally as soon as possible, Chemours will actively empower women for long-term career growth and lead the industry in change through practical action.

About the Best Workplaces™ in Greater China List

Since 2012, Great Place to Work® has identified the top organisations that create great workplaces in Greater China in which they operate through the publication of the Best Workplaces™ in Greater China list. The objective of publishing the list is to acknowledge organizations and Great Workplaces from diverse industries and sizes that deliver and establish a great culture among the colleagues and associates, so as to sustain and enhance the competitive edge of the region.

Early in her career, Sharmyn Kayani was waiting to be interviewed for a role at a technology company when a male fellow interviewee made what he thought was a light-hearted remark.

“I might as well leave now,” he said. “They probably have a female quota to fill, and you’re going to get the job anyway.”

It was an upsetting early introduction to the gender bias that is prevalent in the technology industry. That someone might consider her gender more important than her skills and passion for tech was eye-opening for Sharmyn.

Her interest in technology was nurtured in her childhood by her father. They would break apart old computers to study their components. Today, she is a VMware Solution Engineer based in Sydney.

Passion and knowledge

Despite the gender bias Sharmyn has faced, she is still passionate about her career in technology and is proud to represent an increasingly gender diverse workforce in the industry.

According to research by Deloitte, large global technology firms, on average, will reach nearly 33% overall female representation in their workforces in 2022, an increase of two percentage points from 2019. This increase, though small, is indicative of real progress.

“I’m the technical conscience behind a lot of the decisions that our customers make,” says Sharmyn. “I meet clients all around Australia, understand what their business objectives are and work out how to help them with VMware technology.”

She believes organizations that have more women in tech roles benefit from diversity in thinking and newer approaches to problem solving.

With research showing diversity in teams fuels better performance and innovation, more leaders in technology are recognizing the business benefits of a gender-diverse workforce and are nurturing a more inclusive culture.

Culture is a key enabler

Building an inclusive and supportive organizational culture is critical to help advance women in tech. Training programs for employees across the organization to raise awareness on gender-based bias and discrimination is important in building this inclusive culture. The training should also focus on educating employees about unconscious bias — behaviors that can seem neutral but are harmful.

“Companies should invest in awareness training for everyone, including managers and leaders,” says Sharmyn. “There needs to be more awareness on the bias and discrimination women have experienced in the past and steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

Showing the way for other women

Women leaders in technology play an important role in inspiring more women to pursue careers in the industry. These role models can share their pathway with others and make “getting there” more visible to younger women or women aspiring to switch to a career in technology.

So, what does Sharmyn have to say to women considering a career in tech?

“Try not to be pigeonholed into a particular type of role. Tech is so broad, so stay open to different opportunities,” says Sharmyn. “If you feel you’re not enjoying something right now, don’t feel constricted by it. There are many opportunities and avenues to pursue in the ocean that is tech.”

“Before joining a tech organization, consider how progressive its culture is. The company may be growing, but do you see yourself growing in that business? Do you see women being supported and being recognized? There are so many companies out there. Choose an organization that is making a difference in the world and adding to the community as well.”

Click here to view the original content

PROUDER TOGETHER is Tapestry’s Employee Resource Business Group for LGBTQIA+ employees and allies. The mission of the group is to celebrate LGBTQIA+ employees and allies at Tapestry by building an inclusive community across all brands; encouraging, supporting, and mentoring others at work; connecting our identity with brand products that speak to us; and supporting our local communities through philanthropic volunteering.

In the February 2023 issue of LOUDLY, Prouder Together’s newsletter for Tapestry employees, Jesse DeBusk, Coach Store Manager, caught up with the lead supervisor and social media influencer for Coach, located in Portland, Oregon, Curtlynn Gonzalez (she/her). Together, Jesse and Curtylynn discussed everything from their favorite things about Tapestry, Zero Discrimination, and Trans Visibility Day, and took a deep dive into Curtlynn’s life as a drag performer. Safe to say, Curtlynn is a fantastic representative of the brand and a phenomenal advocate for people of trans experience.

Learn more about life at Tapestry here: https://www.tapestry.com/responsibility/our-people/

What’s your story?

“I was born in Los Angeles, the youngest of 10 children. Growing up I wanted to be on Broadway for as long as I can remember. I was always an eccentric kid, randomly dancing and being the loudest in the room. When I turned 14 I decided to come out to my parents and was kicked out of my home. With some help from my sibling, I made it up to Portland where I was placed in Foster Care as my parents made it clear to me and to the courts that they did not want an LGBTQIA+ child. Being in multiple different foster homes and putting myself through high school wasn’t easy but made my journey oh so rewarding. I am now 26 years old and am so proud of the obstacles I’ve overcome, and am so grateful to be living in my truth and getting to share my story.”

What’s your favorite part about your city/ community?

“I am very fortunate to live in a city where diversity is celebrated and encouraged. And while Portland has its fair share of issues, it has always been a city with an openness to new ideas and a safe place for LGBQIA+ people.”

What have been the most joyful parts of your transition journey for you?

“Living in my truth unabashedly has been so healing to me because like any endeavor, you don’t truly know what it’s like until you’re there, all you show up with is excitement, expectations, and often fear. For me, one of the most joyful parts of my transition journey has been seeing what truly loving myself has done to my smile. I used to not show many teeth when cracking a smile and now I can’t help but smile wide from ear to ear. Seeing my fears be answered with love and support has been incredible.”

What were/are the challenges you faced as you began your transition?

“When I began my transition, EVERYTHING felt like a challenge, but like all challenges, they come with a sense of excitement and reward when overcome. Some of the challenges I faced were people misgendering me and people struggling to remember/use my new Chosen name, subsequently using my DEADNAME. For those that do not know, a dead name is the birth name of someone who has opted to change their name as part of THEIR gender transition. In many cases, this name stays their legal name, but it no longer resonates or feels comfortable to them.”

What are some of the things that allies and those within the LGBTQIA+ Community could do to better support transgender employees at work?

“When a child says they’re in pain, we don’t question whether they’re telling the truth, we simply believe them and help how we can. Similarly, Transgender people are among some of the most vulnerable within our community, so it is that much more important to listen to us when we’re asking for help. We often don’t get the same support outside of our regular support systems. Show up for us and play your part in creating a space where ALL feel welcome and all feel supported.”

Who is your biggest role model? 

“My biggest role model is my Drag Mom, Sheniqua Volt. She is a BIPOC Transgender woman who has been doing drag for over 20 years. She taught me to walk tall and confident and to be proud of what I bring to the table as the woman that I am.”

What are some of the microaggressions transgender people face in the workplace?

A lot of the microaggressions transgender people face at work often revolve around our appearance and our bodies. Transgender people, even transgender women are not monolithic. Not everyone is going to vie for the same transition journey. Some may choose to medically transition, and some don’t, for myriad reasons from personal choice to lacking financial access.

What makes you proud to be a part of Tapestry?

“The thing that makes me the proudest of working for Tapestry is getting to have the confidence to show up to work every day and never having to worry about what my company or my direct coworkers think of me as a Person of Trans Experience. When I started here I remember I was given a pin that said “Open To All” and that truth could not have been more accurate. Getting to show up as my authentic self every day had a huge impact not just on me but within our community. Getting to host a Pride happy hour last year and seeing the impact and exposure we had was iconic. I have had the privilege since coming out to meet many members of the LGBTQIA+ within our store many of which are in awe at seeing a woman like me at work just living my best life. That’s the greatest gift of all.”

A big thank you to Curtlynn for her willingness to educate and share her story! To keep up with Curtlynn, follow her on Instagram.