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After More than Three Years in Foster Care, Little Boy Finally Has Forever Family

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SOURCE:Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

DESCRIPTION:

Did you know that the average length of time that a child is in foster care before being adopted is about three years? Most children move house-to-house during that time and often fall behind in their school work, aren’t able to make lasting friendships and find it difficult to trust.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption works hard to find forever families for children waiting in foster care because we believe that every child deserves a safe, loving and permanent home.

We are so happy for little Andrew, who spent more than 1,000 days in foster care. He was adopted by the Michaud family and he will forever know the love of a supportive family. He even got a new brother!

There are more than 117,000 children like Andrew waiting to be adopted. Help us find their forever family. Visit davethomasfoundation.org/donate

Tweet me:After more than 1,000 days in #fostercare, Andrew was #adopted will forever know the love of a supportive family. He even got a new brother! http://bit.ly/2IkS9Z7 @DTFA

KEYWORDS: Dave Thomas, foster care, adoption, Recruiter, forever family, Wendy’s


Why EHS Needs a Seat at the Mergers & Acquisitions Table

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SOURCE:Antea Group

DESCRIPTION:

Transactions are exploding as growing organizations look to buy rather than build new offerings or capabilities from the ground up. In 2017, companies announced more than 50,600 transactions with a total value of $3.5 trillion, and the M&A momentum shows no signs of slowing down.

If your organization is contemplating growth, does EHS and sustainability have a seat at your M&A table? If not, you’ll likely miss out on valuable insights that can help ensure a smooth process from start to finish. Read Antea Group’s in-depth blog for details.

About Antea Group

Antea Group is an international engineering and environmental consulting firm specializing in full-service solutions in the fields of environment, infrastructure, urban planning and water. By combining strategic thinking and multidisciplinary perspectives with technical expertise and pragmatic action, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. With more than 3,000 employees in over 100 offices around the world, we serve clients ranging from global energy companies and manufacturers to national governments and local municipalities. Learn more at http://us.anteagroup.com.

Tweet me:.@AnteaGroup Explains Why EHS Needs a Seat At The Mergers & Acquisitions Table http://bit.ly/2FIjlAq

Contact Info:

katie.nordenson@anteagroup.com

KEYWORDS: mergers, acquisitions, M&A, permitting, compliance, international merger, merger liability, acquired liability, business continuity, antea group, ehs

SCE Uses Innovation to Improve the Power Grid

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New projects will create a safer and more reliable system while reducing greenhouse gases to meet California’s clean energy goals

SOURCE:Edison International

DESCRIPTION:

It seems like a simple enough idea — Why can’t the power company identify the place on an electrical circuit that caused an outage so fewer customers are affected and it takes less time to fix?

Until recently, Southern California Edison found the origin of an outage just like it has done for more than 100 years — dispatch a troubleman to patrol the entire circuit until the cause could be identified. 

SCE engineer Christopher Huff and his team in the utility’s Grid Technology & Modernization group set about solving that problem. The result is a self-healing circuit that, using technology, can tell the system where a problem is and isolate it so power can be restored to most customers on the rest of the circuit in less than five minutes.

Huff explained that the new system uses individual controllers in the field to analyze the data on a circuit to make a decision about where to automatically reroute the power. In other systems, the data must be transmitted to the cloud before it can be analyzed.

“This is really unique because it is the only system where the controllers talk directly to each other and make a decision, which saves time,” Huff said.

A pilot program to test the technology has been underway in Santa Ana and could be the template for use throughout SCE’s system.

The remote integrated switch designed by Huff’s team is just one of several projects demonstrated at a recent SCE event in Pomona to highlight how Edison is using technology to create a cleaner, safer and more reliable grid of the future.

“Edison is really on the leading edge of implementing a lot of this technology,” Nestor Martinez, SCE’s vice president of Engineering & Technical Services, told the 600 Edison engineers and other employees at the event. “We want to provide value for our customers and value for our company.”

SCE uses new technology in many ways. During wildfires, analysts draw on information from various sources in the company and combine it using geographic information system technology to map out the perimeter of a fire and its relation to SCE lines, equipment and substations.

“It helps us increase our awareness and collaborate in one space,” said Gavin Jenkins, an SCE technical specialist in the Real Properties Geospatial Analysis Group.

Other SCE innovations include:

“Engineering and innovation are central to our company,” said Pedro Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, SCE’s parent company. “It’s been true for more than 130 years and is even more true now.”

Tweet me:.@SCE tests self-healing circuits in effort to modernize power grid http://bit.ly/2GpZK88 #innovation #energy @edisonintl

KEYWORDS: Edison International, Southern California Edison, grid modernization, sustainability

   

How to Address Gender Equality Through Reporting?

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Use these GRI Standards to get started

SOURCE:GRI

DESCRIPTION:

The United Nations Sustainbale Development Goal number 5 aims to eradicate gender inequality by 2030. If the world is to achieve this, it is essential to eliminate the root causes of discrimination that can impede the advancement of women. Companies, whether large or small, are key actors in the struggle for gender equality. In their role as job creators, they can promote equal opportunities when it comes to issues like salary and parental leave. And, by disclosing their impacts, they can help make the good fight more transparent.

Sustainability reporting can help organizations contribute to gender equality by making information about their impacts and actions public and transparent. This helps show commitment to gender equality, and identify areas where making progress could help attract talent and improve business. 

There are several ways in which the GRI Standards encourage looking into gender measurements. For example, when an organization wants to attract good employees from a diverse pool, they can turn to GRI 401:Employment. This Standard highlights hiring, recruitment, retention and working conditions, both within the company and throughout the supply chain.

Within the Standard, GRI 401-1 tells a company about its efforts and results when implementing inclusive recruitment practices. It not only focuses on gender, but also on age group and region. And it highlights turnover rates, which can help indicate whether policies are incompatible with the needs of specific groups within the company or potential inequity in the workplace.

GRI 401-3 deals with parental leave policies, which have been identified as a good measure to help manage the challenge of combining work and family life for both men and women. Moreover, equitable maternity and paternity leave, as well as other leave entitlements, can lead to better recruitment, better employee morale and increased productivity.

Another example of how the GRI Standards can help companies explore their policies related to gender is GRI 405: Diversity and Equal Opportunity. This disclosure encourages the reporting organization to describe the legal and socioeconomic environment that provides opportunities for, and barriers to, gender equity. The disclosure also focuses on age, and can include minority or vulnerable groups, so it can help provide quantitative data that helps organizations make decisions to promote diversity, eliminate gender bias and support equal opportunity. This can help retain qualified employees.

In summary, these and other GRI Standards can help organizations address issues of gender equality more broadly. This will help companies identify their impacts on these matters, and act to benefit from a more diverse, equal, and productive workforce. 

Want to find out more? Why don't you download the GRI Standards, for free. For more updates from GRI, you can subscribe to the monthly newsletter

Tweet me:#Sustainability #reporting helps organizations address #genderequality from various perspectives. Read these tips from @GRI_Secretariat, helping organizations identify their impacts, and benefit from a diverse, equal, and productive workforce. http://bit.ly/2GuFZwu

KEYWORDS: GRI, GRI Standards, Women empowerment, SDG 5

Duke Energy Funding N.C. Wood Stove Changeout Program to Improve Air Quality

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SOURCE:Duke Energy

SUMMARY:

  • American Lung Association to administer program in North Carolina

  • More efficient wood stoves will help lower particle pollution emissions

DESCRIPTION:

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 15, 2018 /3BL Media/ -- Duke Energy is committing $500,000 to help fund an American Lung Association program targeting high-emitting wood stoves in North Carolina – replacing them with cleaner, more efficient models.

"Over the past decade, Duke Energy has steadily improved air emissions from its power generation fleet, and we continue to focus on improving air quality in other ways in North Carolina," said David Fountain, Duke Energy's North Carolinapresident. "Replacing older, less efficient wood stoves with cleaner models is yet another way we can all help improve overall air quality and reduce our environmental impact."

The program covers residents of Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Mecklenburg and Swain counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Since 2010, the American Lung Association has successfully implemented a number of wood stove changeout programs across the country.

In addition to lowering particle pollution emissions, the program also supports local retail stove businesses that are working with the American Lung Association. Customers can contact participating retailers.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), wood smoke contains several harmful air pollutants and is made up of a mixture of gases and fine particles. The more efficiently you burn wood, the less smoke is created.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 11.6 million households in the United States burn wood as either a primary or supplemental source of heat. An EPA-certified wood stove uses up to one-third less firewood than an older, less efficient stove. 

Homeowners who live in the project areas and own a non-EPA certified wood stove or qualified fireplace can apply for a voucher. Vouchers are available for:

Up to $750 for replacement of a non-EPA-certified wood stove or qualified fireplace with a new EPA-certified wood stoveUp to $1,500 for replacement of a non-EPA-certified wood stove or qualified fireplace with a new EPA-certified wood-pellet stove, ductless heat pump or new gas stoveUp to $4,000 for a single-story home or up to $4,500 for a two-story home for replacement of a non-EPA-certified wood stove with a new EPA-certified wood or wood-pellet stove, or ductless heat pump with a new heater rated gas stove, for an income-qualified homeownerUp to $6,000, or up to $10,000 for income-qualified customers, for replacement of an older technology hydronic heater with a new EPA-certified wood pellet hydronic heater or other clean technology home heating device

Applications for the vouchers are available online.

In recent years, Duke Energy has focused on lowering air emission. Since 2005, the company's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have decreased by 30 percent, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions have decreased by 94 percent and nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions have decreased by 70 percent. This is primarily due to the addition of pollution control equipment, decreased coal generation, increased natural gas generation and replacement of higher-emitting plants.

Funding for the changeout program was part of a 2015 Duke Energy settlementwith the EPA and environmental groups.

Duke Energy
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States.

Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com

The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online destination for stories about people, innovations, and community and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and insights into the future of energy.

Follow Duke Energy on TwitterLinkedInInstagram and Facebook.

Contact
Randy Wheeless
Duke Energy 
Office:704.382.8379 
24-Hour:800.559.3853 
randy.wheeless@duke-energy.com 
Twitter - @DE_RandyW

Britney Reddick
American Lung Association 
britney.reddick@lung.org 
470.233.7030 

Tweet me:.@DukeEnergy is committing $500,000 to help fund a @LungAssociation program targeting high-emitting wood stoves in North Carolina – replacing them with cleaner, more #energyefficient models. http://bit.ly/2pfHfLD #pollution #emissions

KEYWORDS: Duke Energy, American Lung Association, Air Quality, Emissions, North Carolina, Wood stoves

A Beautiful Shiver in the River ’18 from Keep Virginia Beautiful

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SOURCE:Keep America Beautiful

DESCRIPTION:

The folks at Keep Virginia Beautiful (KVB) had to admit it. They were a bit nervous prior to KVB's 2018 "Shiver in the River."

In late January, Virginia's James River was well above flood stage because of several weeks of rainy weather. But after 10-plus days of gorgeous weather, the James receded, and hundreds of volunteers flocked to Historic Tredegar for the 4th Annual Shiver in the River.

Now that the results have been tallied, more than 500 people gathered well over a ton of trash from in and around the James River. Slightly more than 200 hardy souls stripped down to their bathing suits, tutus, and more (or less!) for the James River Jump, helping to raise much-needed funds to keep Virginia beautiful!

Continue reading here.

Tweet me:#FF @kabtweet Affiliate Stories: @KeepVABeautiful #volunteers take the plunge & clean up VA's James River at 4th annual "Shiver in the River" #cleanup and #fundraiser. http://bit.ly/2Ir7Dee #DoBeautifulThings #cleanYOURblock

Contact Info:

Mike Rosen
Keep America beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3008
mrosen@kab.org
http://www.twitter.com/kabtweet
http://www.facebook.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.instagram.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.youtube.com/kabnetwork

Larry Kaufman
+1 (203) 659-3014
lkaufman@kab.org

KEYWORDS: Keep America Beautiful, Keep Virginia Beautiful, Shiver in the River, volunteerism, James River, community cleanup

  

Timberland X Thread: Meet Mirlande

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SOURCE:Timberland

DESCRIPTION:

Global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland recently released three new Timberland X Thread men’s footwear styles for spring, made with Thread’s recycled Ground to Good™ fabric. Each product made with Thread™ fabric supports a vibrant network of dignified jobs in the developing world - jobs for Haitian entrepreneurs like Mirlande Joseph.

Mirlande lives in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Haiti, right next to the Truitier landfill, but recycling plastics is an integral part of her community. After taking the advice of her brother, Mirlande became involved in collecting plastics 10 years ago. “He said it is really profitable and he taught me how to get into it,” she says.

Collectors pick up plastic bottles and bring them to Mirlande, where she weighs the load and pays the collectors. She then sorts by color and puts the bottles in super sacks for a truck to deliver to a recycling facility. With a steady stream of collectors, she can have a super sack ready in 8 days.

The most significant thing Mirlande has been able to do since starting her business is send her daughter to school, as well as help her family when needed. When asked what she hopes for the future, Mirlande says: “I would like to see my daughter go to school, go to university, and become someone important in the country.”

To learn more about the positive social and environmental impact generated by the Timberland X Thread collection, visit timberland.com.

Tweet me:Meet the people behind the @Timberland X Thread collection #Mirlande http://bit.ly/2pj9oBk

KEYWORDS: Timberland

Taco Bell Partners With Guild to Expand Education Support to Its Entire System of Team Members

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A pilot of the program resulted in a 34 percent increase in retention for those enrolled over the first six months, supporting Taco Bell’s growth and hiring plans over the next five years.

SOURCE:Yum! Brands

DESCRIPTION:

IRVINE, Calif. March 15, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Taco Bell today announced that it’s partnering with Guild Education to provide education support for all 210,000 team members in its system of 7,000 restaurants in the U.S. As one of Guild’s largest partners to offer education benefits across its entire system, Taco Bell team members will have access to personalized college advisors and tuition discounts for thousands of classes, certificates and degrees from day one of their career at Taco Bell.

“When we surveyed our employees, education support was one of the top three things they asked for,” said Frank Tucker, Global Chief People Officer at Taco Bell. “The barriers to achieving their education goals were time, money and support. Our partnership with Guild delivers on all of these needs for our employees through access to online classes, financial aid guidance, tuition assistance and a personal counselor to support each student in real time.”

All Taco Bell corporate and franchise employees will have access to Guild’s academic and financial aid coaches and discounts to Guild’s education partners – a network of 80 online non-profit universities and learning providers, offering Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, programs such as high school completion and English-as-a-second-language and a wide selection of certificates. Taco Bell corporate employees, along with employees of participating franchisees, will also have access to up to $5,250 per calendar year in tuition assistance including books and supplies, paid up front so that employees don’t have any out of pocket costs. Additionally, all employees can get college credit for on-the-job restaurant training, which could save an employee up to an additional $5,000, bringing their potential total savings to more than $10,000.

Taco Bell piloted its partnership with Guild in 2017 in about 700 corporate-owned restaurants, and more than 2,000 employees have since worked with a Guild coach to go back to school. Those who enrolled in a course, program or degree through Guild had a 98% retention rate over six months, a 34% increase over employees not enrolled. This added benefit will support Taco Bell’s plans to create 100,000 new jobs in the U.S. as part of the company’s 2022 growth goals. In 2018 alone, Taco Bell plans to open more than 250 new restaurants in the U.S., creating thousands of new jobs and increasing the company’s need to attract and retain top talent.

“Taco Bell’s emphasis on employee development made them an ideal partner for us,” said Guild Education CEO Rachel Carlson. “Taco Bell’s ‘Start With Us, Stay With Us’ philosophy aligns perfectly with Guild’s value of giving employees education pathways to advance their careers – both at Taco Bell and beyond in future roles. We’re delighted to help each Taco Bell employee find the right university or program to pursue their education, and our team at Guild will be with them every step of the way as they pursue their academic and career goals.”

Taco Bell doesn’t require employees to put in any time before signing up for these new Guild benefits, so employees can take advantage of the education benefits on day one. The Guild partnership joins existing education offerings such as the Live Más Scholarship and GED programs, that provide employees support no matter where they are in their education journey. All of these programs are part of Taco Bell’s “Start With Us, Stay With Us” platform, which encourages employees to leverage the career-building and education programs that Taco Bell offers no matter how long they’ve been with, or plan to stay with, the company.

Taco Bell employees can learn more about the partnership and services available to them at www.guildeducation.com/partners/tacobell.

About Guild Education
Guild Education is transforming the way companies offer Education as a Benefit to their workers. Guild Education's technology makes offering education benefits and tuition reimbursement an easy choice for leading companies, with a platform that helps HR leaders turn their education cost centers into a positive ROI. The company’s diverse network of online, nonprofit universities offers a range of programs from GEDs through bachelor's and master's degrees, along with advising and retention coaching to help each student navigate the worlds of work and college. In 2016, Guild Education was one of only a small number of women-led companies to receive a share of total venture capital funding when they raised their Series A round. As of today, Guild Education has raised a total of $31.5 million in funding from Bessemer Ventures, Redpoint Ventures, Harrison Metal, and Cowboy Ventures. To learn more about Guild Education, visit www.Guildeducation.com

Tweet me:.@TacoBell has partnered with @GuildEducation to expand #education support to its entire system of team members http://bit.ly/2FYQo5S @YumBrands

KEYWORDS: Taco Bell, Yum! Brands, Guild Education, Live Más Scholarship, employee development, financial aid


Fighting e-Waste with Dell Corporate Savvy and Art

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by Paul Wallis

SOURCE:Dell

DESCRIPTION:

A mix of Dell’s international e-waste recycling and the very expert Benjamin Von Wong’s artistic skills can make a big point about a big issue. E-waste is one of the big new plagues in the environment, and it MUST be managed well.

I’ve covered Von Wong’s work before. He and his friends make a habit of doing extraordinary things with whatever topic he’s working on, whether it’s socks or buildings. I had the chance to interview him, and through him, Dell, about this major, very necessary, initiative.

Continue reading on Digital Journal >>>

Tweet me:See how #BenjaminVonWong turns #ewaste from @Dell’s #recycling program into #art via Paul Wallis @digitaljournal @thevonwong

KEYWORDS: ewaste, Recycling, benjamin vonwong, digital journal, Dell, paul wallis, art, SXSW

Final 2 Weeks for Early Bird Pricing!

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SOURCE:USCCF Corporate Citizenship Center

DESCRIPTION:

We're in the FINAL two weeks of Early Bird pricing to attend the 2018 Sustainability and Circular Economy Summit May 9—10 in Washington, D.C.! Register before March 30 to get the lowest rates.

Join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation May 9—10 in Washington, D.C. for the fourth annual Sustainability and Circular Economy Summit, Translating Value to Ignite Action.

During the event, attendees will:

  • Gain the practical knowledge, skills, and applications needed to most effectively implement circular economy communication strategies, both within and outside their organization.
  • Connect with top sustainability professionals through unique networking opportunities.
  • Hear from our lineup of speakers sharing their stories on what has (and hasn’t) worked within their organizations.
  • Discover emerging trends around these issues, and how to best communicate the value of sustainability and circularity as a business strategy to a wide array of business units and consumers.

Early Bird prices end March 30, so make sure to register now before it's too late! Click here to save your spot.

Tweet me:Early Bird registration for #USCCFcircular ends March 30! Join @USCCFBiz4Good May 9—10 in Washington, DC for its fourth annual Sustainability & Circular Economy Summit, “Translating Value to Ignite Action.” Register today: https://goo.gl/ibsniU

KEYWORDS: translating value, circular economy, sustainability, business community, USCCF Corporate Citizenship Center

   

Essity Launches Essential Initiatives to Empower People Around the Globe to Overcome Hygiene Barriers

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SOURCE:Essity (Formerly SCA)

SUMMARY:

There is an undeniable connection between hygiene and better health and wellbeing. As one of the world’s largest companies offering hygiene solutions, Essity has the knowledge, experience and dedication to help raise hygiene standards in the world, and we are fully committed to making it happen.

DESCRIPTION:

Essity has gathered insights and ignited the conversation around the role and importance of hygiene in a global perspective through our Hygiene Matters initiative since 2008. 

To emphasize our commitment to health as well as hygiene, we’re renaming Hygiene Matters to become the Essentials Initiative, because for us, hygiene and health are essential for improving well-being for everybody, everywhere.

To learn more about the Essity Essentials Initiative: https://www.essity.com/company/essentials-initiative/

Tweet me:Essity Essentials Initiative empowers people to overcome hygiene barriers in their everyday lives and live life to the fullest. @Essity_US @torkusa http://bit.ly/2HDOfcS

KEYWORDS: tork, Essity

CBRE Named to Center for Companies That Care's Honor Roll for Eleventh Consecutive Year

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SOURCE:CBRE Group, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

LOS ANGELES, March 16, 2018 /3BL Media/ - CBRE Group, Inc. announced that it has been named to Center for Companies That Care’s Honor Roll for the 11th consecutive year. Center for Companies that Care recognizes employers for outstanding workplace practices and active community involvement.

Honor Roll employers are selected for their adherence to all 10 Characteristics of socially responsible employers. Each consistently makes meaningful investments in its employees and in society through community service.

“Respect, integrity, service and excellence are the foundations of our company values, and it shows in our dedication to our clients and in the way we volunteer our time and resources in the communities we serve,” said Jennifer Ashley, Global Director of Human Resources. 

“Since the Honor Roll’s inception 16 years ago, many things have changed in our country and our business climate, but what hasn’t changed is that the companies on this list, like those before them, exemplify the best of the best,” says Marci Koblenz, co-founder and president, Center for Companies That Care. “We hear about companies seeking employee engagement. Well, we believe employee engagement begins with engaged employers, such as CBRE. All have remained connected with and committed to their employees and communities and to take into account the human toll when making business decisions.”

Earlier this year CBRE was recognized as one of the 100 Most Sustainable Companies in the U.S. by Barron’s and was named one of the 2018 World’s Most Ethical Companies® for the fifth year in a row. Both FORTUNE and Forbes also recently named CBRE one of the best U.S. workplaces for diversity.

About CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2017 revenue). The company has more than 80,000 employees (excluding affiliates), and serves real estate investors and occupiers through approximately 450 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. CBRE offers a broad range of integrated services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.

Tweet me:.@CBRE named to @CosThatCare's Honor Roll for eleventh consecutive year http://bit.ly/2IsJILu #CSR

KEYWORDS: CBRE, Center for Companies That Care, Companies that Care Honor Roll

Vetiver Together: Our Efforts, Continued

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SOURCE:International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

In 2016, IFF and Unilever, in collaboration with Oxfam Great Britain, Heifer International and the Ford Foundation, launched Vetiver Together, a two-year pilot program aimed to improve the livelihoods of the vetiver farming communities, strengthen IFF’s vetiver supply chain and increase environmental conservation.

To enhance the livelihoods of the vetiver farmers, the Vetiver Together initiative addresses three main areas of need, which are food security, women’s empowerment and reforestation. Addressing these needs will avoid premature harvest, and thereby increase the quality of life of the local farmers. By partnering with Heifer International, IFF is working with smallholder farmers within our vetiver supply chain to implement the proven methodology and the unique approach of the Placement of the Animals ceremony. 

Read the entire story here.

As part of Heifer’s practice of Passing of the Gift (POG), the first female offspring of each livestock, along with training and seeds, will be passed on to another family in need, doubling the impact of the original placement. This cycle will continue with the POG recipients, who then pass their offspring on to others in the community.

Now, we are happy to say that the “Passing of the Gift” ceremony took place in Haiti last month. Our efforts with Vetiver Together will continue to expand, reaching other members of the vetiver farming community. Scroll through the pictures to see the recent ceremony.

Tweet me:.@IFF continues efforts in Haiti through the #VetiverTogether project. http://bit.ly/2pk6zRx

KEYWORDS: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., Vetiver Together, food security, environmental conservation

    

What Purpose-Driven Leaders Can Learn from SXSW

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SOURCE:Cone Communications

DESCRIPTION:

This week, individuals, executives and world figureheads convened in Austin for SXSW Interactive – a mammoth event where leaders shared ideas, solutions, innovations and a positive outlook for the future.

Although the conference features a Social Impact track where activists, social enterprises and entertainers shared how they are creating solutions, the theme of Purpose extended far beyond this singular track. From VR, to AI and IoT, the concept of creating a better, more equitable and eye-opening world was a common thread throughout sessions, activations and even parties during the week. For those who weren’t able to be on the ground at SXSW here are three takeaways business leaders can apply to their social impact and Purpose work:

  • A Strong Mission Shows Your Brand When to Act…and When Not To: On Sunday, during a panel entitled “Fighting Back with CSR: How Companies are Uniting,” panelists shared key learnings for the evolution of CSR in complex times. James Lynch, Director of Executive Communications at Airbnb, explained how having a strong company mission helped them know when to act during landmark moments over the past year. Lynch commented, “If you live your mission, moments in time where your mission is on the line is when you speak out.” This allowed Airbnb to quickly activate following 2017’s travel ban. Fellow panelist Mohan Ramaswamy, Founding Partner at Work & Co., echoed this statement and added that a strong mission can help a brand understand when not to act as well. “The idea of focus is really important. Right now you can get distracted, having a clear mission helps you know when and how to communicate.”
     
  • Pair Good Data With Emotion and Relevance to Break Through: Saleem Alhabash, Assistant Professor of Public Relations and Social Media at Michigan State University's Department of Advertising + Public Relations and Marcus Collins, SVP, Executive Director of Social Engagement at Doner, hit the stage for “Emoticulture: How Data & Science Create Happiness” to share some stunning data. Every minute there are 317,000 new Facebook status updates, 448,000 tweets and 66,000 Instagram posts. So how can a brand break through? The key, explained Collins, is not just the vast amount of data marketers have at their fingertips, but taking this data and infusing it with one thing: humanity. Alhabash built upon this, stating content that sticks “is relevant to me and something that ignites my emotion.” Collins closed the session by insisting marketers must be “radically empathetic.”

To continue reading, please click here.

Tweet me:What Purpose-Driven Leaders Can Learn from SXSW http://bit.ly/2Ix6Jgo

KEYWORDS: SXSW, Social Impact, Purpose, csr, Cone Communications

VMware Diversity and Inclusion Update 2018

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SOURCE:VMware

DESCRIPTION:

By Amber Boyle, VMware Diversity and Inclusion Director 

This year, the conversation around diversity has been amplified. While progress is being made in the area of diversity and inclusion (D&I) from Hollywood to the C-suite, company diversity report releases alone won’t move the needle in our communities. Conversation – and action – need to take place every day.

A little over a year ago, we shared the VMware diversity and inclusion (D&I) journey. We believe that as a community, we must harness the power of human difference in order to continue to deliver the best solutions for our customers. That’s why we created our VMinclusion initiative: when our employees thrive, innovation does too.

Since last year we’ve taken numerous steps to yield the best results for our employee base, the industry and society. Additionally, with a new year comes new data. Hence, in the spirit of transparency and accountability, we’d like to update you on our progress.

Leadership and Accountability
In 2017, VMware built on our learnings over the past four years. We focused on incorporating D&I best practices into all of our processes and decisions — from diversifying the applicant pool, to supporting employee participation in D&I and leadership development programs.

All VPs now have clear goals designed to foster inclusive leadership and diverse representation. To achieve this, business and HR leaders partner to develop specific action plans for their organizations to improve hiring and retention efforts. The VMware leadership team will hold our VPs accountable for attaining these goals at each quarterly business review.

Promoting an Inclusive Culture
In 2017, VMware continued to invest in a wide variety of communities to welcome and connect diverse groups and allies. Our Power of Difference Communities (“PODs”) are designed to strengthen networks for women and underrepresented groups, and are open to anyone in the company. Global inclusion PODs are thriving across our key sites, empowering our employees to be champions of inclusion in action.

In partnership with the Stanford University Clayman Institute for Gender Research, our DIALOGUE Circles program has provided more than 600 employees with research-based strategies for advancing women in the workplace, and being an effective ally to female colleagues.

Additionally, we regularly review and update our global benefits offerings and have added same-sex partner benefits in countries where LGBTQ rights are not yet recognized by the local government. We’ve increased the length of U.S. parental leave to 18 weeks and extended our U.S. Military Leave from 30 days to 18 months.

Contributing to a Diverse Tech Industry
Our commitment to progress goes beyond VMware, and 2017 was no exception. VMware continued to invest in many programs in order to help drive industry-wide change and support the communities in which we live and serve. Today, we collaborate with organizations such as: Code 2040Out in STEM (oSTEM)IEEE Women in Engineering, the Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford and Women Who Code.

We’re excited about the launch of Seeds of Change, our second year of CodeHouse, and our upcoming Women Transforming Technology (WT2) event – our third year running. We hope you’ll join us in May to inspire and connect with women from across the technology industry.

Sustained Change with Metrics
Our approach to diversity and inclusion is similar to other strategic business goals–we set targets, commit to actions and measure our progress. Highlights of this year’s results include:

Representation

  • Women: 1 percentage point increase in representation globally, with a 2 percentage point increase in leadership representation
  • Underrepresented Minorities[1]: 1 percentage point increase of overall representation in the U.S., with gains in leadership and non-tech
  • LGBTQ: Currently, 2% of our employees identify[2] as LGBTQ, with our commitment to supporting LGBTQ employees helping earn a score of 100% on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Corporate Equality Index (CEI)

Striving for Pay Equity

  • Women globally earn 99% of their male counterparts’ salary, accounting for multiple factors that influence pay such as tenure, geographic location and performance
  • Racial and ethnic minority employees earn 100% of their white counterparts’ salary in the U.S., accounting for multiple factors that influence pay such as tenure, geographic location and performance

While we are encouraged by our progress, we recognize that there is much more to do, especially around diversity in our technical talent. In a world where diversity is top of mind, we cannot claim to have all the answers, but we can commit to doing work that will result in change and sharing our learnings to advance the conversation.

For more information, check out our updated VMware Diversity Data 2018.

 

[1] Underrepresented minorities include Black/African American, Latino/Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Native American or Alaska Native

[2] Option to identify as LGBTQ

Tweet me:When employees thrive, #innovation does too. How @VMware promotes #diverse and #inclusive culture within the company and in the #tech industry http://bit.ly/2pg4tRW

KEYWORDS: VMware, Women Transforming Technology

   


Meet the Scientist: Zaven Kaprielian, Director of Research in Neuroscience at Amgen Massachusetts

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SOURCE:Amgen Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

This profile is a part of the Amgen Foundation’s “Meet the Scientists” series, where we invite students and teachers to learn more about a scientist at Amgen and the work they do to create lifesaving medicines. Join the conversation by sharing your own experiences with @AmgenFoundation and @Amgen.

What do you do in a typical day?
I manage a team of Amgen Neuroscience Discovery Research scientists dedicated to developing new therapeutics for ALS and Parkinson’s disease. As part of this, I set the scientific strategy for my team, and identify and foster collaborations with academic labs/start-up biotech companies to strengthen our pipeline of innovative therapies and technologies. I also play a role in recruiting the next generation of Amgen scientists.

What made you want to pursue this career?
I lost my mother to a brain tumor and my dad to Alzheimer’s disease. After 18.5 years as a basic neuroscientist running a lab in academia, I was compelled to carry out more translational research that could someday lead to the development of new and effective therapeutics for neurological disorders.

What motivates you each day?
The opportunity to serve patients and rid humanity of devastating and debilitating neurological disorders.

What are some exciting things you have done/are doing at Amgen? 
I am always excited to work with highly talented, enthusiastic and driven scientists of all levels and to help convey Amgen science and culture to the outside world. At the same time, I get to investigate how human genetics can unlock a myriad of disease mechanisms and lead to new and effective therapeutics. It’s also exciting to work closely with dynamic start-ups to identify strategies for developing new drugs and to intimately participate in drug discovery efforts that could eliminate human suffering.

What was your favorite subject in school?
It varied – as an undergraduate, I enjoyed physics, specifically quantum mechanics and electrodynamics. However, in graduate school I enjoyed developmental biology and later developmental neuroscience when I was a post-doctoral fellow and faculty member.

What kinds of skills do you use in your job?
A combination of scientific and interpersonal skills. The key skills are primarily quantitative/statistical assessment, time management and communication.

What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing biotech?
There are a few things that I recommend aspiring scientists keep in mind, including:

  • Always strive to do the best science and publish the most impactful papers.
  • Network with industry scientists.
  • Do a postdoc in the industry.
  • Deeply investigate disease biology and learn all that you can about how industry scientists carry out experimental investigations.
  • Familiarize yourself with existing therapeutics and new trends in drug development.
  • Gain a deep understanding of human genetics and its applicability to drug discovery.

To learn how the Amgen Foundation brings biotechnology to students, visit the Amgen Foundation website. Follow @AmgenFoundation to stay up to date with all STEM-related news from the Amgen Foundation.

Tweet me:.@AmgenFoundation introduces you to Zaven Kaprielian, Director of Research in Neuroscience at @Amgen Massachusetts http://bit.ly/2IlY5B7

KEYWORDS: Amgen, Amgen Foundation, Scientist, STEM, STEM mentor, Education, neuroscience, Research, als, Parkinson’s disease

Good Sports, FOX Sports Supports and FOX Sports "Magnify" Series Team up to Bring Sports Equipment to Chicago Youth

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21st Century Fox Will Match Every Donation to Good Sports Made Through www.goodsports.org/shotinthedark, Dollar-for-Dollar, Up to $25,000

SOURCE:21st Century Fox

DESCRIPTION:

LOS ANGELES, March 16, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Good Sports has teamed up with FOX Sports Supports and FOX Sports Films’ MAGNIFY documentary “Shot in the Dark,” providing sports and fitness opportunities to the youth of Chicago. Supporters of the initiative can visit www.goodsports.org/shotinthedark to personally handpick sports equipment that will be directly donated by Good Sports to the youth programs in Chicago. In addition, all donations made through the “Shot in the Dark” webpage will be matched up to $25,000 by 21st Century Fox.

“In connection to these powerful, sports and community narratives, we’re committed to meaningfully working, within our FOX Sports Supports organization and alongside others, to help neighborhoods and schools capitalize on the awareness that ‘Magnify’ brings to the stories,” says Charlie Dixon, Executive Vice President, Content at FOX Sports.

“We are excited to kick off this partnership with FOX Sports. This is such a wonderful opportunity for the kids we serve,” said Christy Keswick, Good Sports Chief Operating Officer. “Chicago is a key market for Good Sports and we are thrilled to be able to address the high need in the area through this new partnership. The match is going to be instrumental in getting a significant number of Chicago kids in the game.”

“Shot in the Dark” is produced by Los Angeles Media Fund, executive produced by Dwyane Wade and Chance the Rapper and directed by Dustin Nakao-Haider for Bogie Films, and in association with ZZ Productions . The film follows Orr Academy’s high school basketball team and its stars Tyquone Greer and Marquise Pryor as they aspire for greatness under inspirational head coach Lou Adams, facing systemic inequities that threaten to claim their future.  Through incredible on and off-the-court challenges – from championship and collegiate aspirations to violence and incarceration -- they assess the daily voices and influences of teammates, friends and family on their next steps as young men. 

Following its original February 24 airdate, “Shot in the Dark” is available via the FOX NOW app and video-on-demand. Re-airs are also scheduled on FS1 and various FOX Regional sports networks.

FOX Sports Supports has contributed millions of dollars to previous partners through the production of public service announcements, broadcast and cable air time, special event activations, verbal and special messages during FOX Sports programming and in-kind support, including monetary and gift donations. It has become the industry leader in raising awareness for worthwhile causes associated with youth, sports, education and military. In the last nine years, FOX Sports Supports has supported more than 40 charities, from tackling youth sports and environment issues to assisting military personnel and their families. Through its various media channels and on-site support, FOX Sports Supports has successfully helped generate millions of dollars in donations to these organizations. In addition, the PSAs have received tens of millions of dollars’ worth of air time across all 21st Century Fox channels, helping to support causes such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of AmericaPositive Coaching AllianceFolds of HonorGirls on the RunNational Alliance on Mental Illness and many more. For more information, visit FOXSportsSupports.com.

Contact
Christy Keswick, Chief Operating Officer
T: 617-934-0545         
E: ckeswick@goodsports.org

About Good Sports
Good Sports gives all kids the lifelong benefits of sport and physical activity by providing equipment, apparel and footwear to those most in need. Since 2003, Good Sports has provided more than $26 million worth of equipment to more than 3,700 youth programs, impacting over FIVE MILLION kids. Good Sports has also been awarded a coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest charity evaluator, for sound fiscal management, transparency and accountability; is a Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance accredited charity; and is listed on Social Impact Exchange’s S&I 100, an index of top American nonprofits creating meaningful social impact. For more information on how you can support Good Sports, please visit www.goodsports.org

About FOX Sports
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing 21st Century FOX’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets.  Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FOX Sports includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships.  FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; FS1, FS2; FOX Sports Regional Networks, their affiliated regional web sites and national programming; FOX Soccer Plus; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports.  In addition, FOX Sports also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, which includes FOXSports.com and FOX Sports GO.  Also included in the Group are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.

Tweet me:.@FOXSports' "Shot in the Dark" documentary teams up with @goodsportsinc to provide sports equipment to Chicago youth, with 21CF matching all donations up to $25,000: http://bit.ly/2IqlgKF @21CF_Impact

KEYWORDS: Documentary, Sports, fitness, nutrition, Youth, fox sports, 21st century fox, Donations

   

Business Sustainability 2.0: Market Transformation (Adapted from “The Next Phase of Business Sustainability” by Andy Hoffman)

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SOURCE:University of Michigan: Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability

DESCRIPTION:

The concept of sustainability in business has become mainstream, and market forces have driven sustainability strategy. But, in its current form, business sustainability will not solve the root causes of the problems it is intended to address, says Andrew Hoffman in “The Next Phase of Business Sustainability,” recently published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review. Hoffman is the Holcim (US) Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan and a faculty member of the university’s Erb Institute for Sustainability in Business. To enact change on a larger scale, business must transform the market. The Erb Institute calls this “market transformation,” and it is the next phase of business sustainability.

Hoffman explains that the previous phase, which the Erb Institute calls “enterprise integration,” has involved businesses responding to shifts in the market by integrating sustainability into what they already know how to do. But market transformation looks further forward—it involves business transforming the market to make it more sustainable.

And businesses are equipped to make it happen. “The market is the most powerful institution on earth, and business is the most powerful entity within it,” Hoffman writes. “Business transcends national boundaries, and it possesses resources that exceed those of many nation-states.”

To combat climate change more substantially, for example, companies have to do more than reduce their environmental footprint. As Hoffman explains, “the market must go carbon neutral and eventually go carbon negative. We don’t yet know how to do that, but we know that it cannot be done by one company or one product. It requires a change in the overall market.”

Continue reading systems and strategies for change at erb.umich.edu

Tweet me:READ: Why is Market Transformation the next big thing in #business + #sustainability and is your business ready? A summary of @erbinstitute + @MichiganRoss Professor @HoffmanAndy's article in the @SSIReview http://myumi.ch/JgpzA

KEYWORDS: Erb Institute, university of michigan, Andy Hoffman, Market Transformation, Sustainable Business

Global Trends Report on the Women’s Empowerment Principles Gender Gap Analysis Tool Launched by UN Global Compact, UN Women and IDB Invest at 2018 WEPs Forum

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SOURCE:United Nations Global Compact

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, March 15, 2018 /3BL Media/ — Unleashing the full potential of women and girls by empowering them to be equal members of society has a multiplier effect on families, businesses, communities, and nations and is essential to achieving sustainable development. Today, in the spirit of advancing the crucial role of the private sector in achieving Goal 5: Gender Equality, the United Nations Global Compact, UN Women and the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP) joined forces to organize the 2018 Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Annual Forum — the premier event on gender equality for the private sector held each March as part of the annual session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

The WEPs Forum was attended by nearly 500 high-level speakers, experts and champions for gender equality and women’s empowerment within the private sector, as well as Governments, civil society and the UN. The Forum also provided a platform for presenting ongoing, successful business initiatives that aim to advance women’s empowerment, economic inclusion and entrepreneurship globally.

In her welcome remarks, Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, noted, “gender equality is both an objective and a driver of sustainable development, and [business] is really keen on achieving not only Goal 5 on gender equality, but all the Sustainable Development Goals.” Speaking to the role of the finance community, she added, “We must close the financing gap — without adequate resources, many of the essential services upon which women and girls depend will remain unavailable. But we also need to think of innovative ways to make funding work harder for us, whether it is micro financing, crowdfunding or strong partnerships with the private sector and international financial institutions.” 

To move the needle forward on gender equality, in 2017, the UN Global Compact together with UN Women and IDB Invest launched the WEPs Gender Gap Analysis Tool (WEPs Tool). The WEPs Tool is an online platform that helps global business leaders identify strengths, gaps and opportunities to improve gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace and within the markets and communities they serve. At this year’s Forum, the first Global Trends Report on the WEPs Tool was released by the partners, highlighting key findings from the first 100 companies that took the self-assessment tool.

Lise Kingo, CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact shared high-level results from the Global Trends Report with participants during the Forum, saying “from the first 100 companies, the average at the moment is 26%. So the average shows that many businesses are past the ‘beginner’ stage, but still very much in the ‘needs improvement’ area. And where we see the highest scores among companies is that 69% have a leadership commitment in place, which is a good start, but now that hard word begins.” She continued: “The WEPs must put the focus for companies on advancing gender equality from the boardroom to the factory floor.”

Ms. Kingo’s remarks were given as part of a fireside chat-style conversation with Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women and BBC World’s Laura Trevelyan. “We are excited to work with all stakeholders to engage businesses in signing, implementing and publicly reporting on the WEPs. Together with the UN Global Compact, we hope that these corporations will lead by example and engage women more strategically in core business operations, governance structures and corporate value chains,” said Ms. Phumzile.

This year’s Forum, held in conjunction with the 62nd CSW, showcased new actions from the private sector in fast-tracking women’s equal participation in the workforce. Representatives from business shared their personal experience as women entrepreneurs and leaders, and led discussions on how business can help ensure women’s access to finance and empowerment across the value chain. 

###

About the Women's Empowerment Principles

The Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) — a joint initiative between the UN Global Compact and UN Women — provides companies with an integrated and approach to invoke transformative change for women in business and society. The WEPs provide a proven framework for business to advance women’s empowerment and elaborate the gender dimension of corporate sustainability. To date, nearly 1,900 business leaders have endorsed the WEPs, signaling their support for equality between men and women and the guidance provided by the Principles.

About the United Nations Global Compact

The United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN Global Compact is a leadership platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible corporate practices. Launched in 2000, it is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 9,500 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 70 Local Networks.

For more information, follow @globalcompact and visit www.unglobalcompact.org.

About UN Women

UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to implement these standards. UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system’s work in advancing gender equality.
unwomen.org

Tweet me:UN @globalcompact, @UN_Women and @BIDInvest launched the Global Trends Report on the @WEPrinciples Gender Gap Analysis Tool at the #2018WEPsForum: unglobalcompact.org/news/4377-03-15-2018 @Empower_Women @fominbid @BSRnews #CSW62

Contact Info:

Colleen Connors
UN Global Compact
+1 (212) 907-1301
media@unglobalcompact.org
@globalcompact
https://www.facebook.com/UNGlobalCompact
https://www.linkedin.com/company/united-nations-global-compact/
https://www.instagram.com/globalcompact/

KEYWORDS: UN Global Compact, Global Goals, Local Networks, 2018 Women's Empowerment Principles Forum, UN Commission on the Status of Women, CSW62, Global Trends Report

International Committee of the Red Cross Uses AR to Show Reality of War

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SOURCE:Cone Communications

DESCRIPTION:

Over the past few years, the topic of refugees has dominated the news. Despite the widespread conversation, the realities of wars in faraway places are still hard to grasp for most people. To help them better realize the effects of conflict, a few companies have recreated scenarios to give consumers a glimpse into how war affects people’s every day. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) just launched a new campaign to create an experience using today’s latest technology, allowing everyone, everywhere to immerse themselves in what is happening thousands of miles away.

The organization created “Enter the Room,” an augmented reality (AR) experience in which participants witness the impacts of war by exploring a little girl’s room. After downloading the app, a doorway appears allowing the user to leave behind their familiar world and enter a colorful, toy-filled girl’s room. As the scenario unfolds, the room begins to change and reflect the turmoil outside. Drawings of war, medical supplies, and even a wheelchair appear in the room which slowly darkens from lack of electricity and falls into ruin. Seeing everyday objects most people have in their homes, aged by war or repurposed in disturbing ways and paired with the soundtrack of explosions makes the experience more relevant and leaves a haunting impact on viewers. The experience challenges people’s traditional image of war as users don’t see any violence, soldiers or other people. 

To continue reading, please click here.

Tweet me:International Committee of the Red Cross Uses Augmented Reality to Show Reality of War http://bit.ly/2FRtTMU #ar @McMasterICRC

KEYWORDS: augmented reality, Enter the Room, Red Cross, Cone Communications

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