AEG Employees Mentor students from Hollenbeck Middle School in Boyle Heights, Calif. through Young Storytellers Script-to-Stage Program

SOURCE:AEG

DESCRIPTION:

AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company in the world, and Young Storytellers, a nonprofit organization that develops creative learning behaviors through the art of storytelling, recently teamed up to mentor a group of students from Hollenbeck Middle School in Boyle Heights, Calif. through Young Storytellers Script-to-Stage program.

Through the Script-to-Stage program, students were paired and met with AEG employees and Young Storytellers volunteers over the course of eight weeks to learn the fundamentals of storytelling through a mixture of creative games and one-on-one writing to write their own original short scripts.

To culminate the program, AEG hosted the “Big Show” at L.A. LIVE’s GRAMMY Museum on March 21 where students experienced VIP treatment including a limo ride from the school to the museum and red carpet prior to casting professional actors to bring their scripts to life in front of packed audience of their family and friends.

"Watching our students walk down the red carpet to a standing ovation at the Clive Davis Theatre in the GRAMMY Museum - while their AEG mentors beamed with pride - was a truly moving experience,” said Young Storytellers Executive Director Bill Thompson. “There is no doubt that every Young Storyteller left the performance today with the confidence of knowing that their voice matters."

“We were thrilled to be able to bring this program which fosters creativity and the exploration of the arts to the students at Hollenbeck Middle School,” said Erikk Aldridge, Director, AEG Community Affairs. “Through the combined efforts of our employee volunteers and the Young Storytellers team, we were able to bring the students’ stories to life in a fun and exciting way.”

Young Storytellers engages creativity through the art of storytelling using the timeless techniques of mentoring, collaboration and live performances, as well as current film technology to provide low-income students with an opportunity to write stories and see them brought to life. Through the combined efforts of volunteer mentors, actors, and professional teaching artists, Young Storytellers serves more than 60 public schools in Los Angeles and New York City, reaching 1,200 students in elementary, middle, and high school each year.

Tweet me:.@AEGWorldwide teams up with @youngstory to mentor students from #BoyleHeights and bring their ideas to life in the #BigShow at @LALIVE’s @GRAMMYMuseum! #EveryVoiceMatters http://bit.ly/2GTmuOk

KEYWORDS: AEG, young storytellers, GRAMMY Museum, LA LIVE, Boyle Heights

SOURCE:NRG Energy

DESCRIPTION:

In a world of diminishing resources, increasingly unpredictable supply chains, and global competition, energy management must become a board-level area of focus. However, HBR research indicates that energy is "often the largest inadequately monitored part of a company’s cost structure."

For many executives, the myriad of ways in which to enact energy savings are too varied and not succinct enough to be actionable. Here, we present four different tried-and-true methods for saving on energy expenditures. 

Load shifting

Load shifting refers to shifting energy consumption to another time period, typically when power prices are lower or demand penalties can be avoided. Approximately 10 to 30 percent cost savings can be achieved this way, according to some estimates. 

Likewise, shifting to off-times allows consumers to increase renewable energy generation (from either solar or wind plants) into their power mix. Load shifting can be easily achieved without any business disruption. This shift can be as simple as rescheduling operations activities, switching off unnecessary equipment, choosing on-site generation or using energy storage. 

Demand response

Load shifting can be developed into demand side response (also known as DR), which can generate revenue for the company. Demand response solutions cover anything from access to on-site generation to turning down power or heating and cooling systems for a few moments. In a 2015 report, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimated the value of demand response plans from the population of supermarkets in Colorado was $32.85 per kilowatt-year (kW-yr). 

Clear understanding of critical business function is paramount for this to be effective, as power consumption needs to be categorized as critical, essential and non-essential. An experienced partner, like NRG, can help with this planning.

Energy efficiency

The potential for energy efficiency is immense in every sector, especially for commercial and industrial consumers, and reducing energy consumption can generate substantial savings on energy related costs. 

HBR found that oil refiner Valero, using fairly inexpensive energy meters and energy intelligence software to capture real-time data, found $120 million in energy savings over a single year of operation. General Mills introduced company-wide efficiency targets in 2005 working with the Department of Energy’s Better Plants Challenge. In one case, a monitoring program that identified leaking steam coils, a bad air flow sensor, and added a steam regulator cut the hourly cost of operating a device by well over half. Overall, the project in this one plant resulted in savings of more than $2.5 million per year.

On-site generation and renewables

The cost of building on-site generation, especially renewables, can be high in the short-term. It does, however, provide forward-looking potential benefits. The costs of renewable energy technologies has fallen rapidly, including everything from solar panels, wind turbines, biofuels, fuel cells, advanced batteries, LED lighting, and advanced metering systems.

Making any of these options work requires an in-depth understanding of where and how your operations, buildings and people consume energy. This means monitoring and gaining insight into energy usage and costs—something many organizations do not regularly do. But with expert partners and strategic, long-term leadership, you can develop energy projects that deliver financial, social and environmental ROI. 

Tweet me:READ the tried-and-true methods @NRGenergy suggests for the #Csuite to cut #energycosts http://bit.ly/2uxmAIL @NRGinsight #energyefficiency #renewableenergy

KEYWORDS: NRG Energy

SOURCE:Ingersoll Rand

DESCRIPTION:

Trane, a leading global provider of indoor comfort solutions and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, will join other industry experts as a sponsor of the fifth annual U.S. Department of Energy Race to Zero Student Design Competition (Race to Zero).

The event inspires students from 40 teams, representing 35 collegiate institutions, to become the next generation of building science professionals through a design challenge of zero energy ready buildings; high-performance buildings that are so energy-efficient that a renewable energy system – such as solar panels – can offset most to all of its annual energy consumption.

“Race to Zero inspires innovation and sustainable design in future building industry professionals and allows students to gain hands-on, real-world experience in this field,” said W. Scott Tew, executive director, Center for Energy Efficiency & Sustainability (CEES) at Ingersoll Rand. “Ingersoll Rand and Trane are committed to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) initiatives and Race to Zero is a perfect example of helping students reach their full potential in next-generation building design.”

Future engineers, architects, and construction managers will demonstrate their knowledge of building science principles to design cost-effective, market-ready homes and buildings and compete with fellow students in five contests:

• Suburban single-family
• Urban single-family
• Attach housing (two-to-six unit duplex or townhouse)
• Small multifamily (three or fewer stories)
• Elementary School (new commercial building design contest for 2018)

John Bailey, furnace engineering manager, Residential HVAC and Supply, will serve as a juror for the Small Multifamily contest. At Trane, Bailey focuses on design, development and testing of gas furnaces for residential application, and will also draw on his experience as a refrigeration systems design engineer. Additionally, Mick Schwedler, applications engineer and strategic industry relations manager, commercial HVAC, presented to student teams on effective use of the Advanced Energy Design Guide for Zero Energy K-12 Schools during an educational session for student teams prior to their design submissions.

Each contest has eight finalist teams who submit final reports and designs to their assigned juror prior to the event on April 20-22 at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) main campus in Golden, Colorado. To determine the winners, jurors evaluate each entry after watching in-person student presentations.

Race to Zero is a way for students from all over the U.S. to connect, share educational experiences and collaborate, as well as learn about career experience and opportunities from thought leaders in the green building industry. 

Tweet me:Trane Joins the Department of Energy’s Race to Zero Student Design Competition http://bit.ly/2pPFLb7

KEYWORDS: Ingersoll Rand

World's leading appliance manufacturer marks another milestone in diversity and inclusion

SOURCE:Whirlpool Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., March 29, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Today, Whirlpool Corporation CEO Marc Bitzer announced plans to become the newest member of the Catalyst® CEO Champions For Change. This public confirmation to increasing Whirlpool Corporation's female representation in executive and senior-level positions helps to ensure accelerated inclusion of women, including women of color, in senior roles during the next five years.

Catalyst CEO Champions For Change is a global diversity and inclusion initiative that aims to advance more women into leadership positions. Bitzer's personal commitment will involve: actively sponsoring female employees at Whirlpool Corporation, acting as a role model for positive change, empowering women in their careers, encouraging inclusivity in the workplace, and holding himself and other company leaders accountable.

"More female leaders will only make Whirlpool Corporation stronger," said Bitzer.  "With millions of consumers using our products everyday around the world, our company benefits from a diverse employee base that mirrors those consumers we serve. This public pledge reinforces our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion which has been a core value of the company for decades."

Bitzer was, in part, inspired to join this progressive initiative by company activities in recognition of Women's History Month. The Whirlpool Women's Network (WWN) Employee Resource Group is currently sponsoring an internal program called Challenge for Change, which involves 30 days of activities to raise awareness of how all employees play a role in creating a better workplace for women.

"This announcement speaks volumes about Whirlpool Corporation's commitment to creating a diverse and positive work environment for women. I'm proud to work for a company that today takes a public stance on gender equality but is also serious about incorporating overall D&I into its long-term global people strategy," said Jill Kissack, senior director HR and co-lead of the Whirlpool Women's Network (WWN) employee resource group.

Kristy Proos, investor relations director and co-lead for the WWN added, "By acknowledging the benefits of having women in leadership roles, Marc Bitzer truly exemplifies the company's values and priorities."

Catalyst CEO Champions For Change launched on International Women's Day 2017. More than 50 high-profile CEOs, whose companies represent more than 9 million employees and $1.7 trillion in global revenue, have signed onto the Catalyst CEO Champions For Change initiative, pledging to increase representation of all women in senior positions and on company boards. Participants share corporate data related to the advancement of female employees to encourage transparency and accountability.

Click here to learn more about Catalyst CEO Champions For Change.

About Whirlpool Corporation 
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the world's leading major home appliance company, with approximately $21 billion in annual sales, 92,000 employees and 70 manufacturing and technology research centers in 2017. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, Jenn-Air, Indesit and other major brand names in nearly every country throughout the world. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com, or find us on Twitter at @WhirlpoolCorp.

Tweet me:Whirlpool Corporation CEO Marc Bitzer announces plans to become newest member of Catalyst CEO Champions For Change @WhirlpoolCorp http://bit.ly/2E8OhaE

KEYWORDS: whirlpool corporation, Marc Bitzer, Catalyst CEO Champions For Change, Women's History Month, whirlpool women's network, Challenge for Change, International Women's Day

By: Colleen Vien, Sustainability Director, Timberland

SOURCE:Timberland

DESCRIPTION:

I recently had the pleasure to attend Ethical Corporation’s 6^th Annual Responsible Business Summit in New York City. The event, touted as the premier brand-focused forum on responsible business in the U.S., brought in 90+ speakers over two days with rich dialogue focused on driving transformational change for society and industry. 

Timberland was invited to contribute to a panel focused on partnership models, moderated by Paul Hoeffel, founder and director of Rain Barrel Communications. I was joined by Gina Tesla – vice president corporate citizenship at IBM, Barry Koch – associate at Rain Barrel Communications, and Scarlet Cronin – senior director of private sector partnerships at Tent. Each panelist shared examples of partnerships between their business and civil society organizations (CSOs) that address social and environmental issues. 

I shared the story of Timberland’s successful partnership with the Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA) to plant trees and improve the social and economic livelihood of 3,400 smallholder farmers in Haiti by increasing the health and productivity of their crop land. The partnership, now fully self-sustaining, continues to plant one million trees a year and relies upon its own sustainable revenue streams vs. donations. Building on that success, we launched a second initiative with the SFA to replicate the model for cotton. Through this new effort, we will engage over 30,000 farmers, plant of over 25 million trees, and reintroduce cotton growing to Haiti after a 30-year hiatus.  This also sets the stage for Timberland to evolve from being a supporter to a customer of the SFA, as we use quite a bit of cotton in our products. We’re excited about this opportunity, and received a great reaction from the crowd as well.

After the panel presentation, session attendees continued to share and learn from each other in breakout groups. The group conversations explored keys to successful partnerships and potential solutions for various partnership challenges. Members of the group I joined agreed that the most successful initiatives are structured to bring shared value to the business. Also, buy-in from senior leaders and having internal champions for a partnership are critical. 

When companies assess CSOs as potential partners, there is no one right way to determine the best opportunity. Many variables play into that decision – larger CSOs may require less hands-on involvement and may produce faster results. Meanwhile, smaller CSOs that are just getting started may require more patience and involvement, as well as tolerance for the risk of working with an unproven partner. That said, there can also be great reward in helping new organizations launch if you’re willing to invest the time to make it happen. Timberland has often opted to serve as a catalyst to help new CSOs get started and it’s been exciting to watch those organizations grow and evolve over the years 

Our discussion group touched on many topics and concluded with a conversation about pre-competitive collaborations and how co-investing in initiatives with others in your industry can accelerate funding and lead to systems-based changes. Such collaborations, however, can also require navigating multiple goals, objectives, and expectations, which can sometimes lead to slower activation. 

Many great ideas were shared and, judging by the number of attendees who lingered after the session to continue their dialogues, I sensed that new collaborations were forming in real-time all around me. 

Tweet me:.@Timberland Shares Collaborative Approach at Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Summit http://bit.ly/2pQhP7O

KEYWORDS: Responsible Business Summit, Ethical Corporation, Timberland, Partnership, Smallholder Farmers Alliance, cotton, Haiti

SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton

DESCRIPTION:

For the second year in a row, Booz Allen Executive Vice President Karen Dahut has been named to FedScoop’s prestigious list of “Top Women in Tech” for 2018.” The list “honors the elite, talented, intelligent and successful women influencing and shaping the federal government’s use of modern technology.”

Dahut leads Booz’ civil agency and commercial business portfolio. In June she will take over Booz Allen’s defense business after longtime head Joseph Logue retires. She says, “The demand for technical and STEM related jobs are extraordinary, and the gap between the supply of this talent and its demand is increasing every day. We need everyone to consider jobs in these skill areas — not just the engineers and computer scientists. We need music majors, physics and science majors to consider these roles as well. We know that people from all backgrounds can be successful in technology related jobs.”

To determine the Top Women in Tech List, FedScoop seeks out a diverse list of women from all walks of life, perspectives and backgrounds — from Capitol Hill and the White House to Fortune 500 technology firms — who each have one thing in common: a passion for driving digital transformation to better serve the American citizenry.

To view the full list of winners, click here.

Learn more about Booz Allen Hamilton’s commitment to attract women to careers in STEM, here.

Tweet me:Congrats to @BoozAllen EVP Karen Dahut, named a Top #Woman in #Tech by @Fedscoop http://bit.ly/2pP4aO8 #WomenInTech

KEYWORDS: Booz Allen Hamilton, FedScoop, Karen Dahut, Women In Tech, women in leadership, women in stem

SOURCE:World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

DESCRIPTION:

Water is not only key to the world’s stability, prosperity and peace, but is also essential for business to operate. WBCSD’s new CEO Guide to Water makes the case for executive business action on water and outlines key steps for business to take. The Guide, whose foreword is signed by executives from Olam, Diageo, Firmenich, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Veolia, aims to encourage widespread action by companies across the world, regardless of their sector and size. The Guide was launched at the 2018 World Water Forum, which hosted a Business Day for the first time. The Forum also saw 18 locally-based businesses, alongside WBCSD’s Global Network partner CEBDS, launch the Brazilian Business Commitment to Water Security, which aims to change the relationship between business and water in Brazil.

Recognition of responsibly sourced concrete
Concrete is the world’s most widely used building material. The Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC), of which WBCSD is a key contributor, created an easy tool which allows companies to measure and reduce their impacts, saving costs and increasing sustainability awareness across the concrete value chain. CSC has now been recognized as a responsible sourcing certification system for concrete, cement and aggregates by the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) and by Envision, a US infrastructure certification. CSC-certified companies will have an advantage when supplying development projects seeking BREEAM and Envision certifications.

Microsoft and Circular Economy on Panorama
Have you heard this month’s Panorama Podcasts? To mark International Women’s Day, we published WBCSD Managing Director Maria Mendiluce’s recent TedX speech on Circular Economy. Later this month, WBCSD President and CEO Peter Bakker sat down with Toni Townes-Whitley of Microsoft for a special edition podcast on sustainability at the tech giant. And for our 10th Panorama release earlier this week, we discussed how to feed nine billion people by 2050 within planetary Boundaries with Joanna Kane-Potaka of ICRISAT. Check them out now!

Dive into corporate governance @ the Reporting Exchange
We’ve come a long way on environmental regulations & workplace safety – but there’s more to do. Earlier this week WBCSD and the Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB) released our second report as part of a series called Insights from the Reporting Exchange. The new research takes a closer look into opportunities for alignment in sustainability reporting, with a deeper dive into corporate governance requirements across 60 countries, building on the strong need for further harmonization that the first report in this series outlined. How will you respond?

Nominate your candidate for 30Under30
Do you know a rising star in sustainability? Greenbiz and WBCSD are looking for nominations for the 2018 class of "30 Under 30", showcasing the next generation of sustainable business leaders. The initiative aims to feature a diverse group from around the world, shining a light on up-and-coming young professionals working in sustainability inside large and small companies as well as government and the nonprofit sector. Nominate someone in your organization now!

Click here to sign up for WBCSD's monthly Sustain newsletter!

Tweet me:Catch up on the latest news from @WBCSD in this month's Sustain Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2GhNeXy #SDGs #sustainability #sustainabledevelopment

KEYWORDS: The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), REporting Exchange, Microsoft, Greenbiz, 30under30

SOURCE:GRI

DESCRIPTION:

Women can be a force for change, for example, by helping drive more and better sustainability reporting. We explore some areas in which women are already making a difference. ​

​During International Women’s Day 2017, UN Secretary General António Guterres pointed out that “Sustainable Development Goal 5 calls specifically for gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, and this is central to the achievement of all the 17 SDGs.”

Women can be powerful forces for change, and their contribution should not be understated. Fulfilling the right to gender equality may be the best shot we have to meet the challenges of our time, from climate change to internal and international conflict, to economic disparity.

The field of sustainability reporting is no different. Research has shown that when more women work in management positions within an organization, more sustainability reporting tends to be done. So it would appear that women are key in encouraging the practice of sustainability reporting, particularly in countries where there is already a higher level of gender equality.

This trend holds among sustainability professionals who have taken the GRI Standards exam. Since the launch of the online Standards Exam in July 2017, 65% of successful Exam takers have been female. And, in spite of potential gender and economic gaps, women from non-OECD countries are well-represented among the successful candidates, with 54%.

Support for reporting on gender

Of course, sustainability reporting as a practice goes beyond gender issues. However, it is true that gender inequality remains a major barrier to human development more generally and that, while much progress has been made, much remains to be done to gain true gender equality. Sustainability reporting can help by encouraging more transparency about the effects of the gender gap in value chains.

To address the main issues that affect women and girls, sustainability reporting professionals, regardless of gender, should be able to recognize the main issues that women face, the challenges to fix them, and what concrete actions are being undertaken within companies, by civil society and in the policy field. For example, quality reporting can help achieve more transparency about hiring numbers by gender, or parental leave policies, diversity and equal opportunity, and discrimination.

It is often said that raising the education level of women is one of the most effective investments for increasing wellbeing worldwide. At GRI we believe that training and education on sustainability reporting can help increase transparency, and therefore we have partnerships with trainers in 53 countries around the world. GRI also offers an online Gender Equality course. It enables reporters to make the case for action and transparency and change within and organization, and apply the GRI Standards to explore the topic. 

Interested in finding out more about GRI's training opportunities? Click here to find out how to take your own expertise further. 

Tweet me:Gender equality may be the best means to meet the challenges of our time - this applies to #sustyreporting as well. The more women work in #biz #management, the more sustainability reporting tends to be done. Here are tools to get there: http://bit.ly/2GFNAec

KEYWORDS: GRI, global reporting initiative, GRI Standards, Women empowerment, corporate transparency

By Carmen Perez, Director of Data Insights, CECP

SOURCE:CECP: The CEO Force for Good

DESCRIPTION:

Whenever I dive into the landscape of reporting standards, guidelines, ratings, rankings, indices…. I get dizzy very quickly. The ecosystem of companies measuring and reporting on how they are a force for good in society is alive and well. The nuts and bolts of how companies accomplish reporting can be a major operational challenge, not to mention the resource investment. How will companies’ tough choices on where to focus their efforts change over the years? A counter-balance to ratings and rankings is improvements to how a company reports and measures itself, such as through a Strategic Scorecard.

Rankings and awards are loved, but for how long?

CECP did a Pulse survey in November 2017 and found that the majority of companies feel ratings and rankings add value to the field overall. Some reasons given include that they inspire competitive spirit, they garner attention from senior colleagues, and “tell us how we’re doing.” As a current state of affairs, we can’t disagree with these reasons.

When we peer into our corporate societal engagement measurement and reporting looking glass, there is a challenge our industry will face if the reliance on ratings and ranking (R&R) continues to grow and expand as *the* measure of good or bad work. There are also a variety of R&Rs out there including those that require the company to submit information versus those which are determined by publicly available information.

Not every company can achieve

An obvious issue with rankings and indices specifically (not ratings) is that there have to be winners and losers. Senior executives that rely on a ranking as their measure of whether the company is doing a good job may in the future find themselves doing an excellent job creating value for the society and business, but end up outpaced on the ranking by other companies. They then will face critiques which would be unwarranted. Yet, how can we blame senior executives who aren’t engaged in the details of the work that are used to hearing solely about a ranking? In this case, senior executives more focused on the company’s measures, such as through a Strategic Scorecard, could counter-balance this viewpoint.

Continue reading at CECP Insights Blog. 

Tweet me:Latest from @CECPTweets Insights Blog: Understanding the “S” in an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) world w/ Data Insights Director @CarmenJSPerez http://bit.ly/2pJ9EL7

KEYWORDS: CECP

SOURCE:Consumers Energy

DESCRIPTION:

by Consumers Energy CEO Patti Poppe

Whether it’s water rushing over our hydroelectric dams, the sun shining on a summer afternoon, or the wind blowing through the countryside, Consumers Energy has long relied on our state’s clean natural resources to power the communities, homes and businesses we serve.

We have a track record of doing more than is required to ensure Michigan’s air, water and land are cleaner for future generations to enjoy.

For years, we’ve worked to cut emissions, save water and use more renewable energy to serve our customers. In fact, we’ve reduced our carbon emissions by 38 percent, reduced our water usage by 35 percent and avoided over one million cubic yards of landfill disposal. Even so, we are not satisfied.

Click here to read the full article.

Tweet me:.@ConsumersEnergy #CEO Patti Poppe: #Michigan Deserves #CleanEnergy http://bit.ly/2J18ZN8 @DetroitNews

KEYWORDS: Consumers Energy, wind farms

SOURCE:Cisco Systems Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

When a crisis occurs, the people who are affected can use Ushahidi's open-source platform to report what is happening around them via social media, email, and text. Their reports are compiled into real-time maps, which enable others to reach and help them more quickly.

Learn more about Cisco’s work with Critical Human Needs and Disaster Relief here.

About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that has been making the Internet work since 1984. Our people, products and partners help society securely connect and seize tomorrow's digital opportunity today. Discover more at newsroom.cisco.com and follow us on Twitter at @Cisco.

Tweet me:VIDEO: @Ushahidi's #crowdsourcing software gives people a voice in times of crisis http://bit.ly/2GjBjZy @CiscoCSR #humanitarianaid #refugeecrisis #disasterrelief

KEYWORDS: Ushahidi, Cisco Foundation, Social Impact

SOURCE:Las Vegas Sands

DESCRIPTION:

The national non-profit Teach for America (TFA) consists of a corps of leaders who commit to teaching in low-income schools and work to increase their students’ opportunities in life to make a meaningful impact. As a community partner with Las Vegas’ local sector, Las Vegas Sands supports this organization to provide high-need schools with diverse leaders. During a welcome dinner at Lagasse’s Stadium at The Palazzo, Las Vegas Sands executives and TFA alumni were able to network, provide opportunities for mentorship, and discuss their experiences in the classroom and around the city with new teachers.

“Having the opportunity to meet and welcome new teachers to the Valley is a privilege and also, I think, a responsibility the business community has to our residents,” said Stephanie Stanton, director of operations for Sands Cares for The Venetian. “We want teachers to engage and immerse themselves here so that we can retain talent. TFA takes the time to invest in these young, bright and eager educators so we should as well.”

Los Angeles native Flor Flores is a ninth-grade English teacher at Sunrise Mountain High School, who started the school year focusing on getting to know her students and building a great classroom culture. Flores grouped her students into little “families” and called them “Together We Can” groups. These groups are designed for the “families” to meet up and discuss their goals for the year, how they are achieving them, checking in on the status, and if anyone needs help. Flores said feedback from her students have been positive and many of the families have been hanging out together outside of the classroom.

“I’ve seen a lot of progress with some of the students who started out unmotivated,” Flores said. “One of my students actually came up to me and said ‘I was planning on skipping your class, but because I love you, I’m coming to class.’ And I can see they’re getting used to me, whether they like me or not.”

Flores said for the second semester, she’s starting to focus on how she delivers her content and instructions. If they need help, she is making sure she steps back and tries to find different ways her students can accomplish an assignment.

TFA alumna Lizzie Rider, a special education teacher at Cimarron Memorial High School, recalled her first years teaching in Las Vegas as a learning process for herself as a teacher and a new resident.

“You have to get comfortable with failure, no matter how small,” she said. “Instead of seeing it as something negative, try seeing it more as an opportunity.”

Tweet me:.@LasVegasSands hosts @TeachForAmerica #teachers and alumni http://bit.ly/2FPosNM #SandsCares @PalazzoVegas @VenetianVegas

KEYWORDS: Las Vegas Sands, The Venetian, The Palazzo, Teach for America

SOURCE:CBRE Group, Inc.

SUMMARY:

Richard Morgan named 2018 CBRE Urban Photographer of the Year. 

Competition received record-breaking number of entries in its 11th anniversary.

DESCRIPTION:

LOS ANGELES, March 30, 2018 /3BL Media/ - With more than 80,000 entries from 180+ countries, CBRE’s Urban Photographer of the Year competition’s 11th year was its largest and broadest reaching. Richard Morgan, from the United Kingdom, has been named the overall winner of the competition. Mr. Morgan’s image, “What are you looking at?” captures a fascinating street side scene in Poznan, Poland, of a group of onlookers, entranced by a tourist attraction, disrupted by one, direct stare.

Mel Chennell from the United Kingdom was named as the overall winner of the Mobile Category. Her winning mobile image, “Truly Connected?” captures a scene in a London train station and encourages the viewer to question the true meaning of connections in our digital and physical worlds.

Regional winners were also named. The Americas prize was awarded to Alec Herrera from the United States for his entry, “Good morning, Auckland,” depicting the New Zealand city’s skyline from a camper’s perspective. The Asia Pacific prize went to M Yousuf Tusha from Bangladesh for his entry, “Betel Nut,” a striking image of a farmer amongst a sea of betel nuts in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. The EMEA prize was awarded to Ian Harper from the United Kingdom for his entry, “Barcelona from Above,” a photograph capturing the beauty and symmetry of Barcelona from dizzying heights.

The competition, which delivers powerful views into urban life, is run annually by CBRE, the world’s leading commercial real estate services and investment firm. This year, amateur and professional photographers were challenged to capture moments of urban connectivity and interactivity through the brief, “Cities of Connections: People, Places, Perspectives.”

Martin Samworth, Group President and Chief Executive Officer of CBRE in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), said, “The competition continues to grow in terms of influence and impact, with this year delivering a record number of entries and importantly, a tremendous amount of high quality work.”

“The images we received truly embody the spirit of city life and human interaction around the world, and I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this year’s record-setting competition.”

The top prize is a special photography trip to a destination of the winner’s choice for themselves and a friend. Regional winners will receive photography drones and the mobile winner will receive a GoPro package.

Paul Suchman, CBRE’s Global Chief Marketing Officer, noted, “The competition continues to extend the CBRE brand’s reach and relevance into territories and audiences beyond our core. Its growing influence underscores CBRE’s role as a thought leader on the urban environment and within the cities we serve.”

“The quality and composition of the photos continues to get stronger every year. The body of work we reviewed was exemplary and a wonderful testament to the passion of the human spirit.”

In acknowledgement of all photographs submitted, CBRE will donate £10,000 to global children’s charity Plan International, CBRE’s EMEA charity partner. CBRE has been supporting Plan International since 2014, raising over £1 million to fund a program in Sierra Leone to help girls to complete their education. CBRE has recently embarked on a new two-year project in Nairobi, Kenya with the charity called Safer Cities. This program aims to transform urban centers from potentially dangerous spaces into places of inclusion, tolerance and opportunity for everyone, especially girls.

About CBRE Group, Inc.

CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE), 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.

About Plan International

Plan International UK is an independent development and humanitarian charity that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And its girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries. www.plan-uk.org

Tweet me:.@CBRE announces winners of 2018 Global Urban Photography competition; company to donate £10,000 to global children’s charity @planuk in acknowledgement of all photographs submitted http://bit.ly/2GYnBMu #UPOTY

KEYWORDS: CBRE, Urban Photographer of the Year, Plan International, Richard Morgan, Alec Herrera, M Yousuf Tusha, Ian Harper, Mel Chennell, CBRE Urban Photographer Of The Year, Urban Life

Initiative focuses on improving patient transitions between primary and specialty care for populations affected by stroke, atrial-fibrillation and venous thromboembolism.

SOURCE:Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

DESCRIPTION:

BALTIMORE, March 30, 2018 /3BL Media/ —The American Heart Association today announced the receipt of a $1.7 million grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation that will address patient care across the care continuum. With this grant, the AHA will convene a task force representing the myriad of stakeholders in the patient care journey: cardiology specialty care providers, primary care providers, government, payer groups, and representatives of the patients we seek to serve. This work will complement the existing strategies being implemented through the Accountable Health Community work, spearheaded by the Baltimore City Healthy Department.

The AHA is launching a collective impact strategy: Community Health in Action. The Community Health in Action Taskforce (CHAT) aims to develop and implement strategies to address disparities and inequities that impact a patient’s ability to effectively access and navigate the healthcare system and that also impact the healthcare system’s ability to effectively reach out to and serve poor and medically underserved patients. This initiative will focus on improving the health outcomes of the most venerable Baltimore communities disproportionately affected by cardiovascular diseases including stroke, atrial-fibrillation (AFib) and venous thromboembolism (VTE).

“No collective impact model or action should be enacted without key stakeholders and patient voices at the helm. That is why this CHAT is so important,” said Dr. Athol Morgan, American Heart Association of Greater Maryland Board Member and CHAT Co-Lead. “We have as much to learn from our community as we have to give.”

“Heart disease and stroke are the number one and three causes of death in Baltimore and figure heavily into the city’s age-adjusted mortality rate being 40 percent higher than the rest of the state,” said John Damonti, president, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. “The AHA and its diverse set of partners in Baltimore are urgently seeking to change that picture for those at highest risk and bearing the greatest burden of disease, and we are very pleased to support this work.”

The strengthening of the provider and stakeholder network through the Community Health in Action Taskforce will help build lasting relationships and foster sustainable impact. Feedback from data captured in our quality improvement programs will help inform protocols for transitions of care and management of AFib, VTE, hypertension, and stroke, these solutions can be developed with a subset of partners and delivered to the wider taskforce group to foster longterm systems change in care delivery and coordination.

The CHAT will work to integrate primary and specialty care, increasing capacity for providers, and linking the wide array of stakeholders in Baltimore’s health community that will ultimately strengthen the continuum of care for those who are most in need. This is a three-year initiative with a vision of health equity and equal access to quality healthcare resources for all.

About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation
The mission of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation is to promote health equity and improve the health outcomes of populations disproportionately affected by serious diseases and conditions, by strengthening community-based health care worker capacity, integrating medical care and community-based supportive services, and mobilizing communities in the fight against disease. For more information about the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, please visit www.bms.com/foundation or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

For Media Inquiries: (301) 399-3256 Kerry Johnston, kerry.johnston@heart.org, (301) 399-3256

Tweet me:Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports @American_Heart with multi-year grant to help Baltimore patients vulnerable to #heartdisease transition between primary and specialty care http://bit.ly/2GZnyQQ @BMSnews

KEYWORDS: Bristol-Myers Squibb, American Heart Association, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Stroke, baltimore, Patient Experience

SOURCE:Keep America Beautiful

DESCRIPTION:

To ensure local neighborhoods remain beautiful, safe and fun, Jameson® Irish Whiskey is teaming up with Keep America Beautiful for the Jameson Love Thy Neighborhood Block Party. One hundred percent of the proceeds from ticket sales will be used to improve and beautify community environments.

Like Jameson, Keep America Beautiful is passionate about the support of local communities. Launching in San Diego, California, the Jameson Love Thy Neighborhood Block Party in support of Keep America Beautiful and local affiliate I Love A Clean San Diego, is followed closely by a block party in Nashville, Tennessee, and Austin, Texas (Keep Austin Beautiful) on the following dates: San Diego, California, Sunday, April 8; Nashville, Tennessee, Sunday, April 29; and Austin, Texas, Sunday, May 20.

Tickets for the Jameson Love Thy Neighborhood Block Party in support of Keep America Beautiful in San Diego are officially on sale for $35 and available for purchase at JamesonBlockParty.com. (You must be over 21 to enter this site.) One purchased ticket covers admission into the festival, and includes food and tasting experiences.

Continue reading here.

Tweet me:#FF @kabtweet Affiliate Stories: @iloveacleansd, @KAB_Austin, #Nashville teaming up with @jameson_us for the Jameson #LoveThyNeighborhood #BlockParty Tour. http://bit.ly/2FIzsgw #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
Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3014
lkaufman@kab.org

KEYWORDS: Keep America Beautiful, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Jameson Love Thy Neighborhood Block Party, I Love A Clean San Diego, Nashville, Keep Austin Beautiful

SOURCE:America's Charities

DESCRIPTION:

This World Wish Day, we are bringing star power to the table with the help of some of our celebrity wish granters, and our amazing wish children, like our very own Super Kaheem. We have created exciting assets for sponsors to utilize on your marketing channels and invite you to join us in making World Wish Day an epic event!

You are part of the muscle that makes life-changing wishes possible for children battling critical illnesses in the U.S. and around the globe.

Help us communicate to the world that a wish is more than nice... it’s necessary to transform the lives of wish kids and give them the mental muscle to keep fighting!

Need a platform to raise money? Contact America’s Charities about our suite of online giving and funds management solutions. As Make-A-Wish’s workplace giving partner, we can help you and your employees make World Wish Day an epic event!

Please let us know if you will be able to support World Wish Day and if you have any questions.

Already an America’s Charities client? Contact your account manager and we’ll help you promote World Wish Day through your employee giving site.

Click here for a PDF copy of this post and to enlarge the image above. 

Tweet me:.@AmerCharities: Granting wishes takes more than magic - it takes muscle! This April, support #WorldWishDay by helping @MakeAWish grant as many wishes as possible. Here's how your company can make this an epic event: https://impact.ac/2E699Ps #WorkplaceGiving #EmployeeEngagement

KEYWORDS: America’s Charities, workplace giving, employee giving, Corporate Social Responsibility, charity vetting, Fundraising, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, World Wish Day

GameSense sparks more than 160,000 responsible gambling conversations with guests in its first months

SOURCE:MGM Resorts International

DESCRIPTION:

LAS VEGAS, March 30, 2018/3BL Media/ - MGM Resorts International is hitting a major, unprecedented milestone during this year’s Problem Gambling Awareness Month.

Tweet me:GameSense sparks more than 160,000 responsible gambling conversations with guests in its first months http://bit.ly/2uyvF49

KEYWORDS: GameSense, MGM Resorts International, RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING, Problem Gambling Awareness Month

Wells Fargo volunteers renewed a springtime tradition: delivering thousands of Easter baskets to children in hospitals, shelters, and other locations.

SOURCE:Wells Fargo & Company

DESCRIPTION:

Berenice Martinez wasn’t expecting her son Joshua to have such a joy-filled day as a patient at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. But on March 28, he was surprised with a personal visit from the Easter Bunny, an Easter basket, and his first ride in a Wells Fargo stagecoach.

Tweet me:.@WellsFargo #HopsforHope volunteers delivered thousands of #Easter baskets to children in hospitals and other locations throughout the U.S. https://bit.ly/2E8bGZt

KEYWORDS: Wells Fargo, Easter, volunteer, Children's Hospital, Miami, Hops for Hope, WFC

SOURCE:AEG

DESCRIPTION:

Earlier today, AEG’s StubHub Center Foundation and LA Galaxy Foundation hosted the 12th Annual Easter Egg Hunt for more than 1,000 children and families from surrounding communities at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

The event took place at the StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium, where guests spent the afternoon hunting for Easter eggs with team mascot, Cozmo in addition to LA Galaxy Star Squad members, the StubHub Center Street Team and the Easter Bunny.

Activities included music by 102.3 KJLH, arts and crafts, face painting, a balloon artist, a visit from the LA County Fire Department ¬ Engine Co. 116 fire truck, Southbay Pavilion Mall, Wildlife Learning Center, Ramp Tennis, City of Carson Kiwanis Club and Chancho’s Tacos Food Truck.

Tweet me:The Easter Bunny makes a special visit to @StubHubCenter for the 12th Annual #EasterEggHunt hosted by @LAGalaxy Foundation and #StubHubCenter Foundation! http://bit.ly/2GlsqCB

KEYWORDS: AEG, Easter, Easter Egg Hunt, Easter Bunny, LA Galaxy, StubHub Center, LA Galaxy Foundation, StubHub Center Foundation, Good Friday

SOURCE:Cone Communications

DESCRIPTION:

February is Black History Month, and many companies celebrated the month by hosting events and highlighting African American employees and icons that have inspired us and shaped history. Yet, nearly two months after the close of Black History Month, Spotify has announced that "Black History Is Happening Now.” The streaming service is debuting a multi-approach effort aimed at challenging the limited timeframe celebrating the achievements of black creators and instead encouraging their creativity year-round.

Spotify is no stranger to using its platform to amplify and celebrate social causes, and this month the streaming service amped up its efforts to showcase artists of color with the launch of Black History Is Happening Now. The initiative is centered around a new content hub that highlights artists and storytellers of color using curated playlists, videos and podcasts to share their stories not just in February, but throughout the year. This month’s curator, Janelle Monáe, will share playlists featuring her musical inspirations, as well as emerging talent, her take on Black History Is Happening Now and a documentary on the history of Afrofuturism. But the initiative goes beyond just content – Spotify aims to support up-and-coming creatives through a series of programs. 

To continue reading, please click here.

Tweet me:.@Spotify Celebrates Black History Month Every Month http://bit.ly/2GoECi5

KEYWORDS: black history month, Spotify, Black History Month is Happening Now, Cone Communications