Tag: 3BL

HOUSTON, October 7, 2024 /3BL/ – Green Mountain Energy Sun Club is helping a beautiful greenspace in Southwest Houston become even greener. Thanks to a $93,000 grant to fund four new electric utility terrain vehicles and all-electric maintenance equipment, Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy is now emissions-free.

By electrifying its maintenance equipment—including three electric golf carts and one Polaris electric utility vehicle—Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy is leading the way as one of the few regional conservancies to fully transition to electric utility vehicles. This transition, which also includes a riding lawnmower, leaf blowers, and weed eaters, will reduce the nonprofit’s carbon footprint by avoiding 6,000 pounds of CO2 emissions annually and saving 300 gallons of fuel, equating to $2,000 in annual operating costs. Coupled with the 2,000 trees currently on the property, which are projected to absorb 96,000 pounds of CO2 annually, these advancements position Willow Waterhole as an emissions-free space.

“We are thrilled to unveil these vehicles and show how this donation will help us take significant strides toward our sustainability goals,” said Katherine Bravo Newton, Executive Director at Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy. “This grant from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club is helping us reduce our environmental impact and operate more sustainably, which is a crucial part of our mission to protect and preserve urban greenspaces.”

Willow Waterhole was once a flood detention project and has since flourished to become a scenic greenspace amid Houston’s suburban exterior. The Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy was established in 2001 following local residents’ commitment to protect the area and has remained successful due to public and private partnerships. The Conservancy now comprises 608 million gallons of stormwater detention in six lakes and 291 acres of greenspace, which includes 35 acres of wetlands and a 15-acre native coastal prairie preserve. This approach effectively mitigates 100% of rainfall impacting over 50,000 Houstonians living in the immediate 3-mile radius of Willow Waterhole, near Highway 90, halfway between 610 and Beltway 8.

“Greenspaces are the living heart of sustainability, and we’re honored to support Willow Waterhole on becoming emission-free,” said Andrea Ortega-Toledano, senior director of sustainability, Green Mountain Energy. “This location’s role in stormwater detention is vital to our region and their work in preserving the environment is essential to safeguarding our future.”

Green Mountain Energy’s mission is to inspire hope and motivate action through the use of clean energy, and to advance sustainable communities through Sun Club. Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club has donated more than $14 million for 164 projects across Texas and the Northeast. Green Mountain Energy invites its customers and employees to contribute and help support more projects that promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental stewardship.

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About Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy
Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and enhancing Willow Waterhole, a 290-acre greenspace in southwest Houston. With over 7 miles of newly paved trails, six lakes, and extensive green spaces, the Conservancy supports flood control, wildlife habitat, and community recreation while promoting environmental sustainability. Serving as a hub for conservation efforts, nature walks, and public events, the Conservancy partners with local residents and donors to continue improving the area for both ecological and community benefit. For more information, visit willowwaterhole.org. 

About Green Mountain Energy Sun Club
Green Mountain Energy’s mission is to inspire hope and motivate action through the use of clean energy, and to advance sustainable communities through the work of Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club® has donated more than $14 million for 164 projects across Texas and the Northeast. Sun Club collaborates with nonprofit organizations on projects that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship. To learn more about Green Mountain Energy and Sun Club or to apply for a Sun Club grant, visit greenmountain.com/sunclub.

Media Contacts:
Estefanía Joy, Green Mountain Energy
713-537-5735
media@greenmountain.com
X: @GreenMtnEnergy

Katherine Bravo Newton, WWGC
https://www.facebook.com/willowwaterhole
https://www.instagram.com/willowwaterhole/
Katherine@willowwaterhole.org
281-780-9569

We foster employee connections, engagement, inclusiveness and business impact through our seven Employee Resource Groups and Communities of Interest. In FY24, ERG membership grew by 14.4%, with 12.3% of the workforce belonging to at least one ERG. Our goal is to have 20% of SAIC’s workforce as a member of at least one ERG by the end of FY26.

Our ERGS

Accessibility

Supports and encourages open conversations about visible and non-visible disabilities, including mental health and neurodiversity. Last year, the group conducted a series of events focused on educating the workforce on topics related to accessibility including American Sign Language, mental health awareness and implications for security clearances, mindfulness and elder care.

Connect & Grow

Connects early-career and tenured professionals for networking, professional development, community service and environmental stewardship. This group sponsored more than a dozen events nationwide for employee engagement and development, which included raising more than $7,500 for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and collecting more than 1,600 pounds of e-waste for handling and disposal.

Equality Alliance

Champions lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and allied employees who celebrate and raise awareness for the LGBTQ+ community. This ERG created resources for our LGBTQ+ workforce focused on access to benefits, guidance for gender transitioning employees and training on our commitment to respect and understanding so everyone can be their authentic selves. It also sponsored and supported LGBTQ+-focused community events and volunteer opportunities.

Military/Veteran

Serves as an advocate and resource for employees who are former or active-duty service members and their families. With nearly 30% of our workforce being a U.S. military veteran, this group raised more than $50,000 in donations for military charities nationwide during FY24. It created and maintains a network for veterans to share stories, express appreciation, access resources and give back to their communities and coworkers.

Multicultural

Celebrates and champions employees’ ethnic and cultural differences and encourages the development, engagement and retention of SAIC’s underrepresented minorities. This group created, hosted and facilitated multiple engagements recognizing Black History, Diwali, Lunar New Year, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanic Heritage.

STEM

Supports STEM programs in the communities where SAIC operates, and employees reside, as well as opportunities for current and future STEM professionals. Last year, this group of employees sponsored, facilitated and judged more than 17 robotics-, rocket- and science-based events inspiring young people to engage in science, technology, engineering and math. They also created and coordinated a program to refurbish and donate lightly used SAIC laptops and other electronics to multiple schools nationwide.

Women’s

A place for employees to champion growth, create networking and outreach opportunities and educate others about the unique challenges women face at work. In FY24, the largest of our resource groups, provided nationwide support to organizations supporting women including Girls Inc, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Women in Aerospace, Women in Technology and The Women’s Center ― and raised over $250,000 in support of these organizations.

Learn more about Employee Resource Groups in SAIC’s 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report.

NBCUniversal Local’s award-winning My New Favorite multiplatform podcast franchise returned to spotlight Paralympians for the first time. My New Favorite Paralympian debuted new audio and video episodes on Aug. 14 and Aug. 21 ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

An extension of the five-episode My New Favorite Olympian series launched in June, My New Favorite Paralympian is led by 12-time Olympic medalist swimmer Natalie Coughlin and Zena Keita, an NBC Sports Bay Area reporter, host and analyst. The episodes profile a pair of inspiring American athletes who have overcome adversity, broken barriers, and committed to helping others as they pursue Paralympic glory, and includes interviews with the athlete, experts, and those closest to them.

This franchise showcases athletes who inspire others through their remarkable perseverance, resilience and dedication, and nobody embodies these characteristics more than these Paralympians. We’re privileged to share Nick and Sarah’s stories and proud of the impact this series has made over its five seasons.

Lora Dennis

EVP of Multiplatform for NBCUniversal Local

My New Favorite Paralympian episodes:

Aug. 14 – Nick Mayhugh: Losing my best friends, my grandparents

Paralympic sprinter Nick Mayhugh shares the lessons he learned from his grandfather Bill Mayhugh, a popular radio host, and his grandmother Shirley Culpeper Mayhugh, a performer who was signed by the same agency that represented Marilyn Monroe.

Aug. 21 – Sarah Adam: ‘Murderball’ is for women, too

Sarah Adam, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, attempted to become the first woman to ever represent Team USA at a Paralympics in wheelchair rugby, a sport so violent it is nicknamed ‘murderball.’

Coughlin is a three-time Olympian who captured 12 Olympic medals (three gold, four silver, and five bronze) over the course of her decorated career, which ties her with two athletes as the most decorated American female Olympian in history. The most decorated female athlete of the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the California native concluded her stellar Olympic career at the London 2012 Games. Coughlin, who won the World Swimmer of the Year Award in 2002 and American Swimmer of the Year Award in 2001, 2002 and 2008, won sixty total medals in major international competition and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2022.

Keita is a host and analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area’s Golden State Warriors postgame show Dubs Talk Live. She is also a host and contributor to The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show, part of The Athletic Podcast Network. A native of Paris and raised in North Carolina, Keita has also worked as a sideline reporter and analyst for NBA G-League’s Santa Cruz Warriors on NBC Sports Bay Area and hosted other basketball shows for the network. She has also contributed to various podcasts across The Athletic Podcast Network and co-hosted several episodes of Peacock’s Brother From Another.

My New Favorite Paralympian is part of the fifth season of a franchise that launched in June as My New Favorite Olympian. The last two seasons, titled My New Favorite Futbolista, showcased international soccer stars competing in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup. The first season, covering Tokyo 2020, was hosted by Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad. The second season featured Olympic legend Apolo Ohno as co-host preceding Beijing 2022.

The My New Favorite franchise’s first four seasons have earned several awards and accolades. My New Favorite Futbolista covering the FIFA Women’s World Cup recently earned a Digiday Video & TV Award for ‘best video podcast’ and won ‘best spoken word series’ at the 2024 Cynopsis Sports Media Awards. The season on the FIFA Men’s World Cup was named ‘best spoken word series’ at the 2023 Cynopsis Sports Media Awards, earned bronze for ‘best limited sports series’ at the Signal Awards and was a finalist for ‘Best Soccer Podcast’ at the 2023 Sports Podcast Awards.

In 2022, My New Favorite Olympian won Signal Awards for ‘best limited sports series’ and ‘best LGBTQ+ episode’ for its season covering the 2022 Winter Olympics. The first season of the series was also named ’best podcast series’ as part of the 2022 Cynopsis Sports Media Awards.

Nissan is a supporter of NBCUniversal Local’s coverage of Paris 2024, including My New Favorite Paralympian.

Where to Listen & Watch:

My New Favorite Paralympian is available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple, Spotify, TuneIn and iHeartVideo versions of each episode were be presented on NBC-owned stations’ television, streaming and digital platforms, including the 24/7 local news streaming channelsContent was also featured on NBC Sports Regional Networks’ platformsListeners can follow to the series here.

October 7, 2024 /3BL/ – Daily, PFAS or per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances are in the news or are the subject of regulatory or technical developments. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has been active since the beginning of the year furthering initiatives outlined in their PFAS Road Map. States have quickly upped the pace of regulations and have progressed their own PFAS programs. The scientific community has also been active in advancing PFAS treatment technologies and has even returned to evaluating the potential of microbes to degrade PFAS.

The pace and volume of PFAS information flow can seem overwhelming. To help focus that information down to key developments, join Antea Group on October 30, 2024, at 1pm ET for a 30-minute webinar. This short webinar will include:

An update on regulations and how to track regulationsKey steps for businesses to take to manage environmental, worker exposure and brand riskA summary of new treatment technologies including fire suppression system cleanout processesA Question-and-Answer session

By attending this webinar, you can expect to learn:

Where to find timely regulation information by state, by countryRisk management steps to understand “true” PFAS risk and how to gather the information needed for Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) reportingThe latest PFAS technologies and status of their development

Register Here!

5 youth-led initiatives driving equitable transition and skills training selected from Asia Pacific.

PARIS, October 7, 2024 /3BL/ – The Schneider Electric Foundation has announced the five winners of its global “Youth Innovation for a Sustainable Future” Call for Projects, launched in celebration of the Foundation’s 25th anniversary. The winning initiatives, selected from over hundreds of applications across 2 continents, are spearheading innovative solutions for a more sustainable world through a just transition, skills training, and entrepreneurship.

“Youth Innovation For A Sustainable Future”: A Global Call for Contributions 

The call for contributions, titled ‘Youth Innovation For A Sustainable Future’ organized with Ashoka’s program Changemaker Companies, aims to identify the 25 most impactful and innovative youth-serving projects, from each regions participating in the project (Africa & Middle East, Europe, America, Asia). This global call for contributions focuses on professional training, entrepreneurship, and a fair transition, with a 50,000-euro prize. The selected projects will also gain enhanced visibility through Schneider Electric’s Foundation and Ashoka’s global channels and networks.

Gilles Vermot-Desroches, Senior Vice President of Schneider Electric Corporate Citizenship and Institutional Affairs and General delegate of the Schneider Electric Foundation declared: “The younger generation is playing an influential role in how we shape tomorrow’s innovative solutions. From the outset, our Foundation has valued the contribution of youth, and therefore, considers the importance of supporting young people to nurture both future generations and our planet.”

“Youth Innovation For A Sustainable Future”: Winners in Asia

The 2024 “Youth Innovation for a Sustainable Future” Asian’s winners are:

The Women’s Foundation (Hong Kong) – Improving the lives of women and girls, by challenging gender stereotypes, increasing the number of women in leadership roles, and empowering women in poverty.Yayasan Solar Chapter (Indonesia) – Empowering remote communities through education and development initiatives, building resilience to climate challenges, one step at a time.Sambhav Foundation (India) – Addressing critical social issues such as unemployment, lack of quality education, inadequate healthcare, and the need for sustainable community development through targeted programs and impactful interventions.SDSN Youth (Philippines) – Mobilizing youth to shape a sustainable world for future generations, it is one of the world’s biggest networks of young leaders working together to accelerate solutions towards the Sustainable Development Goals.Connecting Dreams (India) – Empowering youth to drive entrepreneurial actions that enhance livelihoods in sustainable ways, economically, socially, and environmentally.

‘25 Years Young’: A Celebration of Youth and 25 Years of Action 

Founded in 1999 under the aegis of the Foundation de France, the Schneider Electric Foundation supports changemakers driving just transition, promoting social inclusion, and empowering communities worldwide. Throughout 2024, the foundation celebrates the world’s youth by raising awareness of their social and environmental impact and mobilizing the support of company employees. Looking to the future, engaging youth, promoting and supporting solutions for tomorrow towards a fair energy transition, are the goals of the call for projects launched across 5 continents in partnership with Ashoka. Following its initial edition in Europe and the Middle East Africa, and a second one recently concluded in Asia Pacific, the campaign continues in South and North America in October 2024.

About the Schneider Electric Foundation 

In a world where social and environmental challenges are more widespread and more urgent than ever, the Schneider Electric Foundation supports innovative and forward-looking initiatives to give as many people as possible the energy they need to succeed.

Always forward-looking and optimistic, the goal of the Schneider Electric Foundation is to play a part in creating a fairer, less carbon-intensive society that gives future generations the tools to transform our world.

About Ashoka

Ashoka is the largest global network of leading social entrepreneurs — individuals with new ideas to systemically address the world’s biggest challenges and the entrepreneurial skill to transform those ideas into national, regional and global social impact. Over 40 years, Ashoka has supported more than 3,800 social entrepreneurs in 90 countries with solutions addressing society’s most pressing issues. Ashoka’s vision is a world in which Everyone is a Changemaker — a society that responds quickly and effectively to challenges, and where everyone has the freedom, confidence and societal support to address any social problem.

For more information, visit ashoka.org.

About Schneider Electric 

Schneider’s purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability. At Schneider, we call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be the trusted partner in Sustainability and Efficiency.

We are a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation and digitization to smart industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes. Anchored by our deep domain expertise, we provide integrated end-to-end lifecycle AI enabled Industrial IoT solutions with connected products, automation, software and services, delivering digital twins to enable profitable growth for our customers.

We are a people company with an ecosystem of 150,000 colleagues and more than a million partners operating in over 100 countries to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders. We embrace diversity and inclusion in everything we do, guided by our meaningful purpose of a sustainable future for all.

www.se.com

Discover the newest perspectives shaping sustainability, electricity 4.0, and next-generation automation on Schneider Electric Insights.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Praxis Impact Bond Fund, which gives faith-based and other investors access to a broadly diversified core bond portfolio with a focus on green, social and other types of impact bonds. Over the years, the fund’s appeal has broadened from faith-based investors to include sustainability and social-impact focused investors. Its assets have grown from $11 million in 1994 at the fund’s inception to nearly $1 billion today. 

GreenMoney Journal founder Cliff Feigenbaum recently spoke with Benjamin Bailey, CFA, Vice President of Investments and Senior Fixed Income Investment Manager for Praxis Mutual Funds, on a variety of topics. Here’s the interview – 

Cliff: How Does Praxis Define “Positive Impact Bonds”? 

Benjamin: Positive impact bonds are bonds that make a specific positive impact to the climate and/or communities. A specific part of this market is in bonds called green bonds, social bonds and sustainability bonds. These have generally accepted guidelines from the International Capital Market Association on what projects are acceptable in each of these categories and establish general expectations for future reporting and signoffs from management and auditors. As investors, we want the bonds to have a level of rigor and depth to them in terms of impact, but we also don’t want to discourage potential issuers with too many firm regulations and rules.

The interview continues here, with questions on – How Has the Positive Impact Bond Market Changed? How Do You Go About Ensuring Diversification? How Has Investor Interest/Investor Makeup Changed Over the Years? And more, all at- https://greenmoney.com/30-years-of-impact-bonds-qa-with-benjamin-bailey-of-praxis

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Whether for financial, legal, ethical, religious, or humanitarian reasons, it’s critical for companies today to keep their employees safe. This is true across all industries, but it’s especially important in sectors like manufacturing, where people operate large and potentially dangerous machinery.

Imagine you’re a global health and safety manager for a multinational automotive supplier. You’re not responsible for just one factory in one country, but rather for many types of facilities across various countries. Each has different regulations, cultural norms, and risks. Safety is a fundamental requirement, and the challenge is how to elevate machine safety practices to meet rigorous international standards across all these regions.

This is one example from one industry that demonstrates the complexity and the need for local knowledge when addressing occupational health challenges. Plus, the landscape and the risks continue to evolve.

In our Podcast Episode, Bridging Occupational Safety Across Borders, EHS experts Alizabeth Aramowicz Smith from Antea Group US, Bruno Zapata from Tonkin + Taylor in New Zealand, and Sofiane Kessouar, from Baden Consulting in Switzerland discuss this multifaceted landscape of occupational health and safety, spanning regions and industries. Read some key experts below or listen in to the full podcast episode above.

Q: How do you define occupational health? 
Alizabeth Aramowicz Smith: In the U.S., we often lump everything under “health and safety,” covering a broad range of topics from industrial hygiene to machine guarding. Occupational health here usually refers to medical surveillance, worker’s compensation, and injury and illness rates. However, other countries, especially in Europe, define occupational health more strictly and often have mandatory requirements.

Bruno Zapata: I like to see it holistically. Occupational health is about keeping people safe and healthy at work. It involves managing risks—physical, chemical, biological—that could lead to accidents or illnesses. The goal is a workplace where everyone can thrive without compromising their well-being.

Q: How does occupational health vary across regions? 
Alizabeth: Even in the U.S., different states have different regulations. For instance, California has stringent workplace violence regulations, while Washington focuses more on ergonomics. Globally, we see even more variation. Some countries, like Spain and Germany, require certified firms to handle occupational health, while in the U.S., it’s left to companies to formulate their own plans.

Bruno: Here in New Zealand, we’ve seen major changes since the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. Companies are now more focused on preventing accidents rather than just reacting to them. Mental health is also a growing focus, with companies offering support and training to manage issues like stress and anxiety.

Q: How do local cultures influence safety practices? 
Bruno: In New Zealand’s forestry sector, we developed safety programs by incorporating local conditions like rough terrain and weather, as well as Māori values. This led to significant improvements in safety outcomes. It’s a great example of how understanding local culture can make global safety programs more effective.

Alizabeth: Australia also stands out with its prolific guidance documents. Some countries are more prescriptive in their regulations, while others leave room for companies to manage risks as they see fit. Fitting safety programs to a company’s culture can really make a difference.

Q: What about the impact of local culture in Europe? 
Sofiane Kessouar: In Europe, the cultural approach to work is changing rapidly. For example, many companies are improving employee well-being by adopting practices like extended paternity leave and providing family-friendly facilities. Some companies haven’t yet embraced these benefits, but those that have see it as an investment in their employees’ well-being. This cultural shift shows how integrating local perspectives and employee feedback is crucial for building a more positive workplace.

Q: What are the common workplace hazards you encounter in Europe? 
Sofiane: The most common occupational hazards I’ve seen include falls or accidents during emergencies, often due to a lack of preparedness. In some cases, the absence of a dedicated safety manager leads to employees being put at risk. It’s vital to ensure teams are trained and safety measures are implemented, especially in high-turnover environments. Spending time on-site to understand these challenges and addressing them based on local feedback can greatly reduce risk.

Q: How do industries differ in their approach to occupational health? 
Bruno: It varies by industry. For example, asbestos removal in New Zealand has clear, immediate risks, so safety measures are very strict. In contrast, office environments might deal with more invisible risks like burnout or harassment, which don’t always get the same level of attention but can still have serious long-term effects.

Q: Can you share a success story from your work in health and safety? 
Alizabeth: We worked with a tech company that used a graphic novel to communicate their safety programs. It was a creative way to engage younger employees who wouldn’t have responded to a traditional manual. Later, one employee credited the novel with helping him save a life in an emergency—a real testament to the impact of creative safety solutions.

Bruno: During COVID-19, I worked for a freight company that was essential for delivering medical supplies. We had to adapt quickly to keep people safe. It was a stressful time, but through collaboration and communication, we were able to make our team feel safe and supported.

Sofiane: One of my projects involved conducting satisfaction surveys to gauge how employees felt about their well-being at work. Unfortunately, the results were negative, highlighting the lack of engagement from the management in addressing employee concerns. This experience reinforced how crucial it is to actively listen to employees and address issues in a meaningful way.

Q: What are the key takeaways for leaders in occupational health today? 
Bruno: There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. You need to understand your company’s culture and collaborate with the right people to create tailored solutions. Always ask for feedback and avoid making assumptions.

Alizabeth: Leave your ego at the door and listen to your team. Sometimes the concerns aren’t just about work but about the culture or the times we’re living in. Engaged employees lead to a stronger safety culture.

Sofiane: It’s important to be present in the workplace to fully understand the issues. Solutions need to be tailored to each location, and local consultants can be invaluable in ensuring that safety programs are effectively adapted to specific needs.

What should leaders focus on for the future of occupational health?

Local context matters: Occupational health programs must be adapted to reflect local practices, conditions, and cultures.Listening is essential: Gathering feedback through cultural surveys or open dialogue helps build a unified safety culture.Be proactive, not reactive: Focusing on prevention and learning from incidents leads to better long-term outcomes.

For more insights and tools, check out the global resources available on the Inogen Alliance website. Together, we can continue to innovate, inspire, and rethink EHS for healthier workplaces worldwide.

Learn more about our Health and Safety Consulting Services.

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn.

When first responders are called to a building, and come face to face with a locked door, they need to get past it—fast.

Beyond that locked door wait people in distress. A child trapped, unable to reach the doorknob. An unresponsive adult with a medical emergency. An employee working alone who is injured and incapacitated on the job.

“All of these scenarios are ones we deal with on a daily basis,” explains Gary Wagner, assistant fire chief for the city of Westbrook, Maine, located seven miles inland from Portland, the state’s largest city.

“It’s this simple,” he emphasizes. “When you’re inside a building that you want to get out of, and there’s people on the outside of the building who want to reach you, then knowing how to get through a door is the difference between life and death.”

But forcible entry is a skill first responders need to practice. Unlike movie portrayals, they can’t use their bodies alone to barrel through; they need to apply force carefully, using the right tool, to break through a door in mere seconds.

Practicing forcible entry has been a challenge for the small fire department. For years, Westbrook Fire Rescue has been able to work on the skill only in rare circumstances, such as when a community member donates a building slated for demolition to the cause.

Although sporadic training is better than nothing, there are indestructible training prop doors that can be purchased that allow first responders to practice regularly.

“What a prop door does is allow responders to simulate making a rescue as quickly and effectively as possible,” Wagner says.

But with a price tag of nearly $12,000, the Westbrook fire department simply could not afford to use its meagre training budget to purchase the device.

Safety is our top priority at Enbridge; it’s the foundation of everything we do. When we heard about the need for this training prop to advance safety in the Westbrook community, we awarded the fire department a Fueling Futures grant of $7,500 to put toward the door.

Through our Safe Community First Responder Program, we are able to extend our commitment to safety and help organizations and first responders take vital steps to protecting their communities.

“What Enbridge asked us is, ‘What is your community need?’ This was our answer—the training door,” Wagner says.

Now the first responders can practise this critical skill at the station whenever they have time between calls—they respond to nearly 6,000 per year.

Remarks Wagner: “Everyone in the city benefits from our ability to get into buildings quickly to help them in an emergency.”

Complimentary Webinar

Navigating the EU Deforestation Regulation’s Due Diligence Requirements

October 23, 2024 | 11:00 AM ET/8:00 AM PT

REGISTER HERE

For global companies exporting goods into the EU, the landmark Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) will kick into high gear on December 30, 2024 when non-SME operators and traders will be required to comply with the regulation by submitting due diligence reports through the EU Information System, which becomes available for report uploads on December 16, 2024.

However, the European Commission’s recent proposal includes an extra 12 months of phasing-in time for companies; if approved by the European Parliament and Council, it would make the law applicable on 30 December 2025 for large companies and 30 June 2026 for micro- and small enterprises.  

Regardless of a potential change in timeline, it’s important for companies to pull their data together in the appropriate reporting framework. What will ensure that the data being reported is consistent, calculated correctly and compliant with the regulation?

Third-party due diligence verification is one solution that can support companies in their EUDR journey. Join SCS Global Services’ lead EUDR Sales Executive in Europe, Gustavo Bacchi, and EUDR Program Manager, Iris van Hal, who will host a 45-minute webinar on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 11 a.m. ET (5 p.m. CET, 8 a.m. PT) to detail the many advantages of having EUDR due diligence reports verified. During this discussion, you will learn:

How to meet the EUDR’s strict supply chain due diligence requirements and avoid costly penaltiesThe validation and verification process, including the key steps for transparency and risk mitigationHow to navigate the complexities of EUDR compliance: tools and strategies to efficiently verify product origins and ensure your business remains sustainable and competitive in the EU marketThe answers to your questions in real time from SCS EUDR experts ensuring you are prepared to meet upcoming regulatory deadlines

Register today to secure your spot!

By registering, you will get access to the webinar recording.

For inquiries, contact:

Madhumita Mohan 
Marketing Manager, SCS Global Services 
mmohan@scsglobalservices.com

CHRLOTTE, N.C., October 7, 2024 /3BL/ – Cooperative Minds – an educational initiative from Discovery Education and the CHS Foundation – presents new, free resources for students in grades 6-12 to explore careers in agriculture and agricultural cooperatives. Cooperative Minds shows students firsthand how collaboration and creativity are combined in agricultural co-ops to nourish communities, overcome challenges, and grow success.

Designed to help students explore the wide variety of careers in the agricultural industry, these new resources include a gamified immersive experience and three career profiles. The immersive learning experience “HARVEST: From Seed to Success” empowers students to step into the role of a farmer and discover what it takes to grow a successful harvest. In the experience, students consult agricultural professionals to analyze a soil sample, select crops and fertilizers, identify the right moment to harvest, and simulate operating a combine to harvest crops. An accompanying educator guide and ready-to-use student activities make it easy for educators to plug and play the resource into any lesson plan.

In addition, Cooperative Minds now offers new career profile videos featuring CHS professionals, including an electrician, a strategic sourcing specialist, and a flour production manager. Through the videos and accompanying resources, students discover the breadth of opportunities available in agriculture.

“The agricultural cooperative business model connects communities and inspires innovation every day. As we celebrate National Co-op Month and National Farmer’s Day in October, there’s no better moment to inspire and prepare students for a future in agriculture,” said Megan Wolle, president of the CHS Foundation. “We are excited to see students dive in and grow into the next generation of agricultural professionals.”

Learn more about these new free resources from the Cooperative Minds program at cooperative-minds.com and within Discovery Education Experience.

“Discovery Education proudly partners with the CHS Foundation to inspire student curiosity through real-world career connections,” said Beth Meyer, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships. “With gamified learning, we put students in the driver’s seat so they can experience what it’s like to work in the agricultural industry, broadening their horizons and career possibilities.”

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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About CHS Foundation 
The CHS Foundation is funded by charitable gifts from CHS Inc., a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives. The CHS Foundation is focused on developing ag leaders for life. We are achieving our goals through strategic initiatives including advancing understanding of the ag cooperative business model, cultivating student success through university partnerships, and growing high-impact ag leadership programs. For more information on our programs, visit chsfoundation.org.

About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts 
Grace Maliska 
Discovery Education 
Email: gmaliska@dicoveryed.com