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SC Johnson Canada Recognized for Workplace Excellence

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Company Named Best Workplace for 11th Time

SOURCE:SC Johnson

DESCRIPTION:

RACINE, Wis., April 30, 2018 /3BL Media/ – SC Johnson Canada has been recognized as a 2018 Best Workplace by the Great Place to Work® Institute. The organization, which has been included on the list of Best Workplaces 11 times since 2006, ranked No. 45 on this year’s list of companies.

“I congratulate the team in Canada for being recognized as a great place to work,” said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. “Earning a spot on this year’s list is a testament to the policies and procedures the team has put in place to foster a culture of respect, trust and pride.”

SC Johnson Canada’s success can be attributed to its commitment to being a fair employer with progressive policies that create an environment of respect and camaraderie. The Best Workplaces list is the world’s largest annual study of workplace excellence. The ranking is determined by the results of an employee opinion survey and information provided about company culture, programs and policies.

The Canada team joins SC Johnson Italy, Venezuela, Germany, Greece, Mexico and United Kingdom on the 2018 list of Best Workplaces.

In the United States, SC Johnson has been included 29 times in Working Mother magazine’s list of the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” for its programs and benefits that support working parents including paid family leave, schedule flexibility and advancement of women.

Also in 2017, the company received a perfect score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index. This HRC honor marked the 13th time the company earned a perfect score and its 16th year of recognition on the workplace equality list.

###

Contact:

SC Johnson Global Public Affairs

USPublicAffairs@scj.com

262-260-2440

About SC Johnson

SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care, as well as professional products. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, KIWI®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, TANA®, BAMA®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, MR MUSCLE® and RIDSECT®. The 132-year-old company, which generates $10 billion in sales, employs approximately 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

Tweet me:.@SCJohnson Canada named one of 2018's #BestWorkplaces for 11th time http://bit.ly/2FkViW7 @GPTW_US

KEYWORDS: SC Johnson, Fisk Johnson, workplace excellence


Eco-design, Energy Efficiency, CSR Practices, and Good Governance Reported at Bloomberg

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By: Brian Collett, Triple Pundit

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Efficiency and environmental measures have cut carbon dioxide emissions by 834,209 tons in nine years reports Bloomberg, the Manhattan-based financial, software, data and media company.

As a result, operating costs have been reduced by an impressive $103m (£74m, €84m).

The emissions statistics are among the ethical achievements listed in Bloomberg’s 2017 impact report.

Another environmental bouquet is awarded for the company’s new European headquarters in London. The center received the highest design-stage rating of any large office development in the world from the UK Building Research Establishment assessment method for sustainable constructions.

At the same time five new Bloomberg offices were certified by the US Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system, the world’s most widely used rating body for green buildings.

Click here to read the full story. 

Click here to view Bloomberg's 2017 Impact Report. 

KEYWORDS: Bloomberg, Bloomberg London, bloomberg impact

Unlocking ¢hange: BNY Mellon and Ashoka Launch Social Innovation Challenge

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SOURCE:BNY Mellon

DESCRIPTION:

Today, six out of ten Americans will experience financial insecurity in their lifetimes1. While saving money can be a challenge for a variety of reasons, the inability to build a strong financial foundation is often a symptom of a greater, systemic problem. Now, BNY Mellon and Ashoka are launching a collaborative effort aimed at addressing the root causes of financial inequality through innovation—the Unlocking ¢hange Challenge.

Unlocking ¢hange: Innovations for Financial Wellbeing, Resilience and Freedom is a nation-wide competition to seek and support leading social entrepreneurs and innovators across the United States. Individuals can submit their ventures to the challenge until June 13, 2018 for review and peer feedback. The entries most likely to receive awards from BNY Mellon and Ashoka will be original, ground-breaking ideas, demonstrate impact in expanding financial wellbeing to underserved communities and have sustainable models that mobilize resources such as funding, financing, teams, partnerships or support networks.

“Our company is driven by innovation and our approach to philanthropy is no different,” said Daisey Holmes, BNY Mellon Managing Director of Global Philanthropy. “To catalyze social innovation, BNY Mellon lends its resources to accelerate solutions that address some of our society's greatest needs."

BNY Mellon and Ashoka know that transforming society requires a holistic understanding of financial wellbeing—one that includes employment, education, health, human behavior, social currency, gender and race, among other factors. Innovators embedded in communities across the United States, with ideas big and small, have compelling, community-driven solutions that ensure financial wellbeing at an individual, community and societal level. With access to funding, support and networks, these solutions can be scaled to create even broader impact across the country.

"Financial wellbeing is critical to unlocking the potential of emerging changemakers across the country," said Diana Wells, President of Ashoka. "We are grateful for the partnership with BNY Mellon and look forward to seeing the innovations this competition inspires."

Solutions are needed now more than ever. According to the US Census Bureau’s 2013 report, there are over 10 million American families with a full-time worker still living in poverty. And according to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, racial disparities in the accumulation of wealth are a persistent, increasing problem2.

Game-Changing Ideas Wanted

If you have an idea we want to hear from you3. Submit your venture by June 13, 2018 for a chance to scale your impact and help others to create strong financial futures.

If you want to nominate a financial wellbeing innovator, please email Marc Carr at mcarr@ashoka.org.

The Unlocking ¢hange Challenge, a collaboration between BNY Mellon and Ashoka, will support the most promising social entrepreneurs and their ventures with funding, a collaborative digital platform to connect with peers and feedback from a team of BNY Mellon and Ashoka thought leaders. Explore the full suite of Unlocking ¢hange Challenge awards. Champions of the challenge will be announced to the public on September 29, 2018.

Follow along and join the conversation online with #unlockingchange and #financialwellbeing.

 

1 The Financial Clinic, https://thefinancialclinic.org/

2 The Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, September 27, 2017, https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/notes/feds-notes/recent-trends-in-wealth-holding-by-race-and-ethnicity-evidence-from-the-survey-of-consumer-finances-20170927.htm

3Though BNY Mellon employees may participate by nominating and coaching social innovators, they are not eligible to enter the contest. See the full list of contest rules for details. 

Tweet me:Unlocking ¢hange: @BNYMellon and @Ashoka work to find and fund innovative American social entrepreneurs. http://bit.ly/2KpJGVI

KEYWORDS: Unlocking Change, NYSE:BK, BNY Mellon

Utilizing the Power of Technology for Social Good

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SOURCE:USCCF Corporate Citizenship Center

DESCRIPTION:

Innovative partnerships, where businesses can work with and leverage the assets of governments, NGOs, and civil society, can help develop creative, sustainable, and scalable solutions that can create significant impact. The partnerships and the technologies that make this possible is the focus of Digital Empowers: Accelerating Innovation for Business and Social Good, a forum hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Tata Consultancy Services.

At this event, attendees will:

  • Convene with business leaders, technical experts, and on-the-ground partners that are shaping the future of innovation and social impact.
  • Hear from other participants how their organizations leverage new technologies and digital innovations, including blockchain, design thinking, virtual reality, robotics, data collaboratives, and cloud analytics to increase access and equity to individuals and communities.
  • Gain an exclusive opportunity to engage with speakers and thought leaders to learn more about technical elements related to emerging technologies, best practices for cross-sector partnerships, and what shared value means in action.

Additionally, participants from diverse industries will explore how they are harnessing technology to solve a number of issues:

  • Workforce Development and Education
  • Food safety and distribution
  • Microfinance
  • Opioid epidemic
  • Community Recycling
  • Nonprofit Capacity Building
  • Refugee resettlement
  • Natural and human-made disasters

Join us on May 24 in Washington, D.C. and discover the possibilities that exist when we apply the power of technology for social good. Learn more and register here today.

Tweet me:Come see the possibilities that exist when people utilize the power of #tech for social good. Register today for #DigitalEmpowers18 May 24 in DC. https://goo.gl/RdycV4 #ImpactByInnovation

KEYWORDS: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Corporate Citizenship Center, csr, social responsibility, tech for good, Tata Consultancy Services, Social Good, Business, Washington DC

Carnival Corporation Earns Perfect Score in Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index

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World's largest leisure travel company recognized by largest LGBTQ civil rights organization in the U.S. for commitment to inclusive and diverse workforce

SOURCE:Carnival Corporation & plc

DESCRIPTION:

MIAMI, May 1, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest leisure travel company, today announced that it has been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) with a perfect score for the second consecutive year in its Corporate Equality Index (CEI), which rates U.S. companies on their treatment of LGBTQ consumers, investors and employees.

This is the second consecutive year that Carnival Corporation was named as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ equality by HRC, the largest LGBTQ civil rights organization in the U.S. Additionally, it is the fifth time the company has been recognized in the CEI report, which is the national benchmarking tool on corporate policies and practices pertinent to LGBTQ employees.

"Being recognized by the largest LGBTQ civil rights organization in the U.S. underscores our ongoing commitment to equality, inclusion and diversity,” said Jerry Montgomery, chief human resources officer for Carnival Corporation, whose 10 industry-leading brands include some of the world’s most popular and admired cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn. “This perfect score reflects our efforts to promote a positive work environment for our more than 120,000 employees from over 100 countries that work with great passion to provide extraordinary vacation experiences for our guests. Carnival Corporation actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion – a commitment that not only is a core value, but also promotes a productive environment for innovation and leadership that helps provide a competitive advantage in the marketplace. We are thrilled to continue to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign."

This honor aligns with Carnival Corporation's 2020 sustainability goals, including a commitment to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and providing all employees with a positive work environment and opportunities to build a rewarding career to further drive employee engagement.

The company has also shown support through: 

  • Offering welcoming environments with LGBTQ cruises, onboard activities and special events, including hosting the 2017 Annual Seattle Men's and Women's Chorus Gala Dinner on Holland America Line;
  • Participating in the Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce coalition to end LGBTQ discrimination in the state's businesses;
  • Serving as a supporting member of the National LGBTQ Task Force and the San Diego LGBT Community Center through Holland America Line;
  • Participation and sponsorship of annual Pride events to raise awareness and funds for LGBTQ organizations, including the Seattle Pride Parade and Southampton Pride; and
  • Partnering with equal opportunity champions such as the Human Rights Campaign, Executive Leadership Council, Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, Catalyst, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics and CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion.

Available online, the CEI has been the nation's preeminent benchmarking tool for LGBTQ equality in the workplace since 2002. This year, the top score was awarded on the basis of detailed criteria in four key categories: non-discrimination policies across business entities; equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families; internal education and accountability metrics to promote LGBTQ inclusion competency; and public commitment to LGBTQ equality.

# # #

About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is the world’s largest leisure travel company and among the most profitable and financially strong in the cruise and vacation industries, with a portfolio of 10 dynamic brands that include nine of the world’s leading cruise lines. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard, as well as Fathom, the corporation’s immersion and enrichment experience brand.

Together, the corporation’s cruise lines operate 103 ships with 234,000 lower berths visiting over 700 ports around the world, with 18 new ships scheduled to be delivered between 2018 and 2023. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.

In 2017, Fast Company recognized Carnival Corporation as being among the “Top 10 Most Innovative Companies” in both the design and travel categories. Fast Company specifically recognized Carnival Corporation for its work in developing Ocean Medallion™, a high-tech wearable device that enables the world’s first interactive guest experience platform capable of transforming vacation travel into a highly personalized and elevated level of customized service.

Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.seabourn.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com, www.cunard.com, and www.fathom.org.

Carnival Corporation Media Contacts:
Roger Frizzell, Carnival Corporation, rfrizzell@carnival.com, (305) 406-7862
Mike Flanagan, LDWW, mike@ldwwgroup.com, (727) 452-4538

Tweet me:.@CarnivalPLC earns a perfect score for the second year in a row in @HRC's Corporate Equality Index, solidifying its commitment to a more inclusive and diverse workforce http://bit.ly/2Fyd5tc

Contact Info:

Claire West
+1 (214) 208-3718
claire@ldwwgroup.com

KEYWORDS: Human Rights Campaign, Civil Rights, corporate policies, non-profit, Carnival Corporation & plc, NYSE:CCL

Melissa Ben-Ishay to Keynote the 2018 Tri-State Diversity and Leadership Conference

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SOURCE:National Diversity Council

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, May 1, 2018 /3BL Media/ – The Tri-State Diversity Council is proud to welcome Melissa Ben-Ishay as a keynote speaker for the 8th Annual Diversity and Leadership Conference. The conference will take place in New York, NY at the New Yorker Hotel on August 23, 2018. The theme of this year’s annual conference is “Inclusion: The Source of Innovation.”

“It is such a privilege to have Melissa Ben-Ishay join us at the Diversity and Leadership Conference,” said Dennis Kennedy, Founder and Chairman of the National Diversity Council. “Her undeniable passion and determination for success proves that women are a force to be reckoned with in the workplace and beyond.”

Melissa Ben-Ishay is a mom, baker, and founder of Baked by Melissa, the New York City-based brand famous for its signature, bite-size cupcakes and treats. Passionate about baking since childhood and with the idea that people should be able to taste more flavors without a post-dessert guilt trip, she decided to do what she loved and launched Baked by Melissa in 2008 after being let go from her job in advertising. Today, the company operates 14 stores and ships nationwide. Melissa currently serves as the company’s President and Chief Product Officer. In October of 2017, she released her first cookbook, Cakes by Melissa.

The 8th Annual Tri-State Diversity & Leadership Symposium will open at 8:00 AM with breakfast, registration and networking. Attendees will have the opportunity to attend various informational sessions covering topics such as “Leading with Emotional Intelligence,” “Best ERG/BRG Practices,” “Destination C-Suite,” and more. Awards such as the Tri-State area’s Most Powerful and Influential Women and Leadership Excellence will also be presented to some of the most notable diversity and leadership advocates in the area. If you know a leader deserving of recognition for their success, please submit your nominations for the Most Powerful and Influential Women and Leadership Excellence awards as soon as possible.

Registration for the Tri-State Diversity & Leadership Symposium is ongoing and can be completed at www.tristatediversityconference.com. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Sofia Reed at sofia.reed@nationaldiversitycouncil.org.

About the Tri-State Diversity Council
A non-profit organization committed to fostering a learning environment for organizations to grow in their knowledge of diversity. The council affords opportunities for organizations to share best practices and learn from top corporate leaders in the areas of diversity and inclusion.

More information about the Tri-State Diversity Council is available at: www.tristatediversitycouncil.org

Media Contact:
Jasmine Mack
Communications Specialist
National Diversity Council
Jasmine.mack@nationaldiversitycouncil.org    

Tweet me:.@tristatedc is proud to welcome Melissa Ben-Ishay from @bakedbymelissa to keynote the 2018 Tri-State Diversity and Leadership Conference. Join them to hear Melissa share her journey to becoming a phenomenal business leader. Reserve your seat today: https://buff.ly/2JIGGml

KEYWORDS: National Diversity Council, Tri-State Diversity Council

Celebrating Small Businesses with PayPal Small Business Month

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SOURCE:PayPal

DESCRIPTION:

Small businesses play a critical role in the global economy. Entrepreneurs create jobs and foster healthy local economies, which leads to a more vibrant national economy. They contribute to local causes, have relationships with their neighbors and are the foundation of the community. We also recognize that not all small businesses have the same issues or dynamics. Some work 9-to-5 while others operate outside traditional business hours. With all of this in mind, it is vital that the public and private sector work to foster an environment where technology and innovation help deliver small business success around the world. 

Today, PayPal is announcing the inaugural PayPal Small Business Month. Taking place throughout the month of May and continuing the momentum of National Small Business Week, we are working with non-profits, trade associations and other companies that share our mission of empowering small businesses and helping them grow. We are working with organizations across the country to bring a new level of engagement to small and underserved businesses and their communities. We want to share what we’ve learned from our 19 million merchants - most of whom are small businesses -  and help them learn from each other in order to succeed. 

As part of PayPal Small Business Month, we will be hosting and sponsoring several events in partnership with organizations that prioritize unique small business communities – including the Association for Enterprise OpportunityBunker LabsKivaSharpHeels, and Walker’s Legacy. We will be hosting and sponsoring events across communities including Atlanta, Chicago, HoustonMinneapolisOmahaOaklandPortland (Ore.), Washington D.C. and more. Each event will include workshops that will educate small businesses on a range of issues, like getting access to finance, leveraging digital tools that can enable growth, and sharing strategies for competing globally. We will also create a space to enable thoughtful discussions on how to improve the small business experience and address the barriers that continue to impede entrepreneurial success. Along with our partners, we will highlight the major opportunities for small businesses in the digital economy while identifying positive policies that can encourage growth. 

PayPal is proud to be a partner and platform for U.S. small businesses as they launch, scale and grow. For nearly 20 years, the PayPal platform has enabled small businesses to grow and become longstanding citizens, which in turn can create positive impact on communities. PayPal Small Business Month campaign is an effort to put small businesses at the forefront of the conversation, and to highlight the positive impact that they are having on their communities. We encourage you to join us in showing support and appreciation for small businesses in your community and around the world.

Bill Ready, EVP, COO, PayPal

Tweet me:.@PayPal is celebrating its inaugural #SmallBusiness Month by working with #nonprofits, trade associations and other companies committed to empowering small businesses and helping them grow. Find a workshop in a city near you! http://bit.ly/2KuRjtZ

KEYWORDS: small business week, Small Business Month, PayPal, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Bunker Labs, kiva, SharpHeels, Walker’s Legacy

Guest Blog: Nature’s Hidden Lessons and How My Favorite Teachers Taught Me How to Find Them (the Tangential Magical)

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This post was originally published in the Biomimicry Institute's Ask Nature Blog

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

SUMMARY:

In this week's #Ecocentricity blog, Adiel Gavish, Social Media and Communications Manager at the Biomimicry Institute discusses nature's many hidden lessons.

DESCRIPTION:

 
The Creatively Disorganized Scientist
 
Mentors come in all forms, shapes, and sizes and communicate in uniquely diverse ways. I’ve been fortunate to have several mentors who have shaped my life—from the profoundly eloquent and sharp, to the rambling, and tangential, and even the completely silent. When I was in college, I had a professor named Mike. Professor Mike (who is still teaching) taught Fluvial Geomorphology—the dynamics of how rivers and lakes change and evolve over time, on their own. He was the kind of teacher who was more of a person than a professor and treated students like peers, rather than pupils. His staple attire consisted of casual blue wool sweaters, with khaki pants and black New Balance sneakers—his hair askew in every direction, much like his lectures (which he often tried to pat down, but never quite stayed “put”).
 
Professor Mike was brilliant, affable and easy going, and he loved to teach. His class seemed more like a weekly fireside chat in physics and fluid dynamics (as if that’s even possible). He loved sharing everything he knew. His brain worked at light-speed—fluid and steady, yet constantly changing like a rapid current. I never stopped listening. In most of my classes I would drift into daydream, but not in Professor Mike’s. I learned the most when he went completely off on a tangent, and into various branches and fractals of cutting edge research, and his own finely crafted theories—the tangential magical.
 
 “The river had much to teach, and we had much to learn.”
 
The Flowing River
 
Under his tutelage, I learned that rivers and streams evolved through a complex process by which every input had an output—every action had a reaction—and every change in the physical structure of these fluid bodies resulted in the system instinctively correcting itself. He taught us that the river knew “how”—how to self-balance, how to optimize change, how to adapt and evolve, survive and thrive.
 
While writing a paper for class I realized that rivers were alive. Rivers, lakes, and streams were self-balancing, living entities, and if something like a river—without any external management or third-party imposition—could sustain itself ad infinitum, then the river had much to teach, and we had much to learn. The river could also be our mentor, as these natural processes of self-correction, adaptation, and eventual evolution were ancient practices . For example, in fluid dynamics, rivers take the path of least resistance and follow Murray’s Law in order to optimize flow—could we learn from these time-tested patterns and naturally occurring strategies, I wondered? There must be principles of self-equilibrium that can be extrapolated and applied to man-made products and systems as well—such as businesses and buildings. I realized these processes could be applied not just to the physical “thing” itself, but to the system as a whole—a living entity far greater than the sum of its parts.
 
The Philosopher Biologist
 
It wasn’t until a few years later that I was introduced to the term “biomimicry”, and a woman who soon became another life-changing mentor: biologist Janine Benyus (who had coined the term in her book). I was thrilled to learn that people were already doing this! She was a scientist who was also a philosopher—a poet, really, and gifted observationalist. Profoundly eloquent, her writing ebbed and flowed between the current, unsustainable state of our man-made systems, and the dynamic world it could be if we opened our eyes to the brilliance embedded in natural ecosystems. Her ideas were uplifting--messages of hope, rising above the doom and gloom.
 
“…nature-made principles we can emulate and embed to “create conditions conducive to life.”
Because at the end of the day, what else are we all working towards?”
 
From that point forward, buoyed by the promise of biomimicry— innovation inspired by nature ,  ancient strategies that are time-tested and nature-approved—every man-made challenge I encountered was colored in ombré with new possibilities.
 
A year later I was in a coastal nature preserve in Costa Rica for a week-long immersive with Janine and 30 other students and professionals from around the world who had also come to the same conclusion—nature is teaching, it’s time we listen. Janine and Biomimicry 3.8 co-founder, Dr. Dayna Baumeister taught us “Life’s Principles” of innovation and design in the tropical rainforest—the nature-made patterns, strategies, and principles we can emulate and embed to “create conditions conducive to life.” Because at the end of the day, what else are we all working towards?
 
The Friendly Forest Ecologist
 
When you’ve entered the world of being mentored by nature, you begin to learn about the fascinating ways in which organisms and even ecosystems communicate, including a new science called “interkingdom signaling”. Janine often talks about what forest ecologist, 
Dr. Suzanne Simard has dubbed the “wood-wide-web”—a symbiotic network of fungi connected to their tree neighbors that allows trees to communicate with one another, sharing information about nearby predators, and the surplus or deficit of nutrients in the soil such as phosphorus and nitrogen. Trees speak to one another. We can’t hear it, but we can certainly observe and learn from this elegant mechanism of relaying real-time information. After all, the forest doesn’t spread false information.
 
Recently, I did a quick search for my affable professor, and was surprised to read less than positive remarks a few students had given on his teaching style. No one else seemed to appreciate those wonderful digressions that led to a theory that changed my life forever. To them it was a confusing chaos, not a beautiful mosaic of insights and discoveries cultivated over a lifelong career of careful observation, contemplation, and a deep understanding of natural phenomena—the patterns and processes that shape the planet as we know it today. It saddened me to read such negative, judgmental remarks.
 
“Let’s appreciate not how information is presented,
but that wisdom is imparted in many diverse and fantastical ways.”
 

In a world filled with not even 15 minutes, but perhaps the elusive promise of 15 seconds of fame, coupled with ever-shortening attention spans, it’s more important now than ever to slow our minds for a moment, pause, and appreciate not how information is presented, but that wisdom is imparted in many diverse and fantastical ways. From skillful communicators like Janine Benyus and Suzanne Simard, to those who are capable of keen observation, but may not have the gift for presenting--should we not open our minds to observing lessons from a wide spectrum of teachers? And unfortunately, rivers and trees, with their micorrhizal networks, and 3.8 billion years of sustainability wisdom to bestow, cannot take the stage either, but their embedded wisdom is worth listening to all the same.

Thanks to these sage advisors, I've learned to look for the brilliance inside of everyone, and everything. In fact, the most salient lessons don’t always come rehearsed and wrapped in beautiful, well-tied bows. I've learned to look for and follow the tangents just as much as the outlines. A rambling professor, a winding brook, the tree outside your window, an entire mountain range … it’s up to us to find a way to listen.

This post was originally published on biomimicry.org/askingnature.
 
About the author:
Adiel Gavish is the Social Media and Communications Manager for the Biomimicry Institute, which seeks to empower people to create nature-inspired solutions for a healthy planet. She is also the founder of the BiomimicryNYC regional network, working to bring together and cultivate a diverse network of nature-inspired students and professionals in the NYC metro region. 
 

Tweet me:"Let's appreciate not how information is presented, but that wisdom is imparted in many diverse and fanstastical ways." #Ecocentricity @BiomimicryInst @AskNatureTweets https://bit.ly/2reDrfm @johnalanierRCAF @janinebenyus

Contact Info:

Valerie Bennett
Ray C. Anderson Foundation
+1 (770) 317-5858
valerie@raycandersonfoundation.org

KEYWORDS: biomimicry, Biomimicry Institute, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Janine Benyus, Suzanne Simard, Adiel Gavish, #Ecocentricity, Biomimicry Global Design Challenge

   


Astellas' Nahrin Marino Named a 2018 Healthcare Businesswomen's Association Luminary

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SOURCE:Astellas

DESCRIPTION:

NORTHBROOK, Ill., May 1, 2018 /3BL Media/ -- Astellas has announced that Nahrin Marino, Deputy General Counsel, Legal, will be recognized as one of the most inspirational people in the life sciences industry by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA).

The HBA will honor Nahrin as a 2018 Luminary at its 29th Woman of the Year awards ceremony in New York City on May 3, 2018. HBA Luminaries are industry veterans who serve as role models in their company, actively mentor and sponsor others and help advance the careers of businesswomen.

"Nahrin is widely known for her dedication to integrity, her desire to collaborate with colleagues and her vigilant focus on supporting the needs of our patients. These are among the values we embrace and actively promote at Astellas," said Catherine Levitt, vice president, Legal. "The HBA Luminary recognition is a testament to Nahrin's leadership and commitment to others. She inspires her colleagues to live the values that are fundamental to our Astellas culture."

Nahrin joined Astellas in 2010 as senior corporate counsel, rising to her current position following several promotions and increasing responsibilities within the company. She began her career in the pharmaceutical industry as a professional healthcare representative in 2000. Nahrin is an active member of Astellas' Stellar Women Employee Resource Group, whose mission is to create an environment of empowerment and advocacy to advance and inspire women at Astellas.

About Astellas Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.us. You can also follow us on Twitter at @AstellasUS, Facebook at www.facebook.com/AstellasUS or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/astellas-pharma.

About the HBA The Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) is a global nonprofit organization, with chapters in the US and Europe, committed to: achieving gender parity in leadership positions; facilitating career and business connections and providing effective practices that enable organizations to realize the full potential of their female talent. The HBA accomplishes its mission through strong business networks, education, research, advocacy, and recognition for individuals and companies. For more information, visit www.HBAnet.org.

For further information
Jennifer Saputo
Office: 224-205-5364
Cell: 847-686-1806
jennifer.saputo@astellas.com

KEYWORDS: astellas, HBA, Healthcare Businesswomen's Association

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Publishes 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report

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SOURCE:ReportAlert

DESCRIPTION:

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has published its ninth Corporate Responsibility Report, covering the year 2017. It is available online at http://reports.emdgroup.com/2017/cr-report/. At Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, responsible conduct has been embedded in our fundamental principles for 350 years and is an integral element of our global strategy. In this vein, we meet global challenges in a variety of ways.

In living our corporate responsibility, we focus our strengths on those areas where we can have the greatest impact. We pursue three strategic spheres of activity, namely health, environment, and education & culture. Our activities are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

  • Health: To broaden access to health, we research innovative solutions, develop new approaches and improve existing programs to help people at the point of care. Moreover, we strive to make health solutions affordable, raise awareness of diseases and their treatment. One striking example of our commitment is the fight against the tropical disease schistosomiasis. Since 2007, we have been donating tablets to the World Health Organization (WHO) every year – enabling the treatment of more than 150 million patients to date, primarily school children. In 2017 alone, approximately 150 million donated tablets were distributed across 26 African countries. In 2017, we furthermore founded the Global Health Institute of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which aims to develop innovative, integrated solutions to improve the health of underserved populations in the developing world. Through this institute, we’re engaged in projects such as the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium, a research alliance that we initiated. Within this consortium, we are partnering with fellow actors to develop a suitable pediatric praziquantel formulation for treating schistosomiasis in children under six.
  • Environment: We see it as our duty to not only conserve resources in developing our own products, but also to help our customers increase the sustainability of theirs. To do so, we integrate sustainability right from the earliest stages of product development. For instance, we offer materials for innovative organic photovoltaic modules. These printable, state-of-the-art high-performance polymers enable flexible, semi-transparent, lightweight solar cells; they can be used not only on rooftops, but also on building facades, on curved or straight surfaces, and even in clothing. Moreover, our liquid crystals in smart windows can reduce the energy use of air conditioned buildings by up to 40%. We therefore invested € 15 million in the construction of a new production plant in the Netherlands. In our Life Science business sector, we offer more than 750 products that align with Principles of Green Chemistry, making them a greener alternative to conventional products. Take for instance our solvent Cyrene™, which is bioderived from waste cellulose.
  • Education & Culture: We seek to promote curiosity. In 2017, our company invested € 5.1 million in educational and cultural activities worldwide. Under our global volunteer program SPARK, our employees share their skills and experience with students to motivate them towards a STEM-related career. In 2017, more than 2,500 of our people volunteered over 13,700 hours to provide exciting insights into the world of science. Beyond continuing SPARK, in 2017 we furthermore initiated an international pilot project to build teacher capacities and provide them with the tools to ignite their students’ curiosity in science. Having already launched one such project in India in 2017, others are scheduled to follow in Chile, Kenya and Tanzania in 2018.

Our 2017 CR Report is being published in 2018, the year in which we’re celebrating a remarkable 350 years of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Driven by curiosity, we have been contributing to the advance of science for 350 years, doing so by engaging all our stakeholders in an open, constructive dialogue that underpins our 2017 CR Report. As well as giving external stakeholders a prominent voice, this Report also involves readers on an interactive level using a variety of innovative digital formats to bring the dialogue to life (http://reports.emdgroup.com/2017/cr-report/magazine.html).

We have prepared our CR Report in accordance with the GRI Standards: “Comprehensive” option. Moreover, we have taken into consideration the requirements of the capital market for assessing companies' sustainability performance. Our 2017 CR Report is the first time we've met the requirements for a combined separate non-financial report as defined in the CSR Directive Implementation Act that took effect in Germany in 2017. The CR Report also documents the progress we’ve made in implementing the principles of the United Nations Global Compact (Communication on Progress) and meets the criteria of the German Sustainability Code (DNK).

About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Almost 53,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2017, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of € 15.3 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, holds the global rights to the „Merck” name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

Media Contacts:
Judith Rahner:
+49 6151 72 7694

Friederike Segeberg:
+49 6151 72 6328

Read the Report

Tweet me:Responsible conduct is an integral part of @EMDGroup’s global strategy. Read their 2017 #CorporateResponsibility Report to learn about how they are working to advance the #SDGs: http://bit.ly/2Fv67VS via @ReportAlert

KEYWORDS: ReportAlert, Merck KGaA Darmstadt Germany, sustainability, STEM

Gilead Publishes 2017 Year in Review

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SOURCE:Gilead Sciences

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FOSTER CITY, Calif., May 2, 2018 /3BL Media/ — Gilead Sciences, Inc. today announced the release of its 2017 Year in Review, composed of its Annual Report and Corporate Social Responsibility report. The Year in Review provides a comprehensive view into the company’s achievements and highlights how it has continued to deliver on its mission to improve the lives of people living with life-threatening diseases.

Highlights of the 2017 report include:

Our Mission: Gilead’s product portfolio of more than 25 innovative medicines contains a number of category firsts, including complete treatment regimens for HIV and chronic hepatitis C virus infection available in once-daily single pills. Additionally, the strategic acquisitions of Kite Pharma, Inc. and Cell Design Labs, Inc. moved Gilead into a leadership position in the field of cell therapy.

Community Impact: Gilead provided approximately $400 million through various corporate giving programs to more than 2,000 nonprofit organizations around the world. In December, it announced the Gilead COMPASS (COMmitment to Partnership in Addressing HIV/AIDS in Southern States) Initiative™, a 10-year, $100 million commitment to support organizations working to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Southern United States.

Workplace: Gilead launched two new diversity-focused employee resource groups, Gileados, whose members are committed to embracing, fostering and sharing the multifaceted Latino culture within their professional communities, and GVET, which aims to recognize, appreciate and support veterans, active duty military and their families. In 2017, Gilead received a top score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign 2018 Corporate Equality Index, a national benchmarking tool on corporate policies and practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Practices and Environment: Gilead introduced a Supplier Code of Conduct to integrate social, environmental and governance criteria into its procurement and supply-chain process. Since implementation, more than 100 of its strategic suppliers, representing more than $1 billion dollars in spend, have signed the Supplier Code of Conduct.

To read the full 2017 Year in Review, visit: www.gilead.com/yir2017

About Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative therapeutics in areas of unmet medical need. The company’s mission is to advance the care of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases worldwide. Gilead has operations in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California.

Tweet me:#Innovations in #healthcare and #community impact - @GileadSciences releases 2017 Year In Review http://bit.ly/2Hr0Fcf #CSR

KEYWORDS: Gilead Sciences, Gilead COMPASS, HIV, AIDS

INFOGRAPHIC | Subaru of America and Center for Pet Safety Unveil the Safest and Most Dangerous Spots for Pets in an SUV

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Automaker and Center for Pet Safety Continue Partnership to Help Pet Parents as Temperatures Rise and Road Trip Season Begins

SOURCE:Subaru of America

DESCRIPTION:

Camden, NJ – May 2, 2018 – As the 3-row SUV segment becomes increasingly popular for growing families, which in many cases include our four-legged friends, Subaru of America, Inc., and the Center for Pet Safety (CPS), a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit research and consumer advocacy organization, unveiled today their recommendations for safe pet travel in SUVs and the dangers of improperly securing our furry family. In a crash, a pet who is not properly secured can become a projectile, resulting in serious injury or worse for both them and the human passengers. That is why Subaru and CPS are working together again to raise awareness around vital safety measures for man’s best friend, so entire families can adventure together safely.

As larger, 3-row SUVs have become more prominent in the market, Subaru and CPS analyzed the design and spacing in these larger vehicles and have identified the safest, and most dangerous, places for pets to travel based on the unique design of 3-row SUVs. To ensure safety for all travelers in a 3-row SUV with captain’s chairs, pets should ideally be secured in the second or third row, and follow this simple guide:

  • Pets 20 lb. or less can be harnessed or secured in carriers in the 2nd row Captain’s Chair
  • Larger pets, more than 20 lb., should be properly secured and travel in the 3rd row bench directly behind one of the Captain’s Chairs
  • NEVER place your pet on the floor between the Captain’s Chairs in 3-row SUV models, as this could result in the pet becoming a projectile and cause serious injury to both the pet and vehicle passengers
  • When traveling with both children and pets in a 3-row vehicle with Captain’s Chairs, secure the child in the 2nd row and secure the pet in the 3rd row, on the opposite side of the vehicle as the child

“Following these simple tips will help to minimize the risk of injury in the event of a crash and in all cases, pets should be properly secured to prevent distractions for the driver and prevent serious injury to both the pet and vehicle passengers,” said Lindsey Wolko, Founder and CEO, Center for Pet Safety. “Thanks to partners like Subaru, we can bring awareness to the safest ways for pets to come along on family adventures, while preventing potentially devastating accidents.”

“Given that a majority of Subaru drivers are also pet parents, education around pet travel safety is crucial,” said Thomas J. Doll, President and CEO of Subaru of America, Inc. “As part of our continued support for pet safety, we are proud to once again team up with longstanding partner, Center for Pet Safety, and shine a light on proper practices for traveling with pets in 3-row SUVs like the all-new Ascent.”

Subaru recently introduced the all-new 3-row Subaru Ascent, which is the biggest Subaru ever built. Expanding on renowned Subaru strengths, the Ascent delivers an unparalleled driving experience with a spacious interior, comfortable and flexible seating options and a host of new safety, driver assist and in-vehicle technologies. The Ascent offers three rows of seating, with available bench or captain’s chairs in the second row.

Subaru always strives to develop vehicles with safety in mind. The 2019 Ascent comes standard with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology that includes Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure and Sway Warning, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, and new, available EyeSight Assist Monitor (EAM) which provides a heads-up display of EyeSight system warnings and system status data on the windshield.

The partnership continues the work that began in 2013 with the testing of pet harnesses by CPS. The resulting Harness Crashworthiness Study uncovered major differences in performance of popular pet restraints, with many resulting in catastrophic failure that could cause serious injury to both the pet and vehicle passengers. The goal of the study was to highlight the importance of driving safely with pets and to complete the first formal test protocol and independent ratings guidelines for pet travel harnesses, published by CPS in 2014. In 2015, Subaru and CPS highlighted the top pet safety products in the 2015 Crate and Carrier Crashworthiness Studies, a collaborative initiative to examine the effectiveness and safety of pet crates and carriers in the event of a crash. Formal test protocols and independent ratings guidelines for pet travel carriers and crates were published by CPS in 2016.

For more information and resources, please visit http://www.centerforpetsafety.org/ and http://www.subaru.com/pets.

About The Center for Pet Safety

The Center for Pet Safety (CPS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and advocacy organization dedicated to consumer and companion animal safety. Based in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, the Center for Pet Safety’s mission is to have an enduring, positive impact on the survivability, health, safety and well-being of companion animals and the consumer through scientific research, product testing and education. For additional information visit www.CenterforPetSafety.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 620 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $120 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 40,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do.

For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Tweet me:.@Subaru_USA and @PetSafetyCenter continue partnership to help pet parents as temperatures rise and #RoadTrip Season begins http://bit.ly/2KvxvGN #SubaruLovesPets #petsafety

KEYWORDS: subaru, Center for Pet Safety, suv, Road Trip Season, NYSE:FUJHF

KeyBank Ranked #35 of “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” by DiversityInc

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SOURCE:KeyBank

DESCRIPTION:

CLEVELAND, May 2, 2018 /3BL Media/ - In recognition of its diversity and inclusion management, KeyBank has earned the #35 place on the 2018 DiversityInc “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” list. KeyBank was also ranked #13 on the “Top Companies for Diversity Councils” list. The honors were announced by DiversityInc at an event in New York on May 1.  

This year marks the ninth time KeyBank placed on the Top 50 list and the fifth consecutive appearance on the DiversityInc “Top Companies for Diversity Councils” list.

“Leading and living our commitment to do business fairly and responsibly, and in ways that benefit us all, is part of our corporate fabric,” said Beth Mooney, Chairman and CEO, KeyCorp. “KeyBank’s diversity and inclusion efforts are fundamental to how we run our business and to our culture. We are proud to be recognized for the ninth time by DiversityInc for how diversity and inclusion are reflected in our workforce, our workplace, and our marketplace.”

The DiversityInc Top 50 list, issued yearly since 2001, recognizes the nation’s top companies for diversity and inclusion management. These companies excel in such areas as hiring, retaining and promoting women, minorities, people with disabilities, LGBT and veterans.

"Events of the past year have demonstrated that decisive ethical leadership is necessary to guide any organization to success," notes Luke Visconti, founder and CEO of DiversityInc. "Successful leaders hold themselves accountable to be culturally competent, a skill that requires constant learning. DiversityInc Top 50 Companies have a metrics-evidenced ability to treat people more fairly than other large companies. They also have a greater-than-average return for their shareholders."

DiversityInc’s extensive annual survey yields an empirically driven ranking based on recruitment, talent development, senior leadership commitment and supplier diversity. This year’s competition was improved by new survey questions, increased emphasis on fairness over chasing numbers and more sophisticated analysis from DiversityInc’s data scientists.

“At KeyBank, leading with diversity and inclusion is at the heart of what we do every day and how we deliver in every way.  We are honored to, once again, be recognized by DiversityInc as a Top 50 Company for Diversity. This affirms our commitment to inclusion and our deliberate focus on being a responsible bank,” said Kim Manigault, KeyCorp’s Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer.

To view the entire Top 50 list, visit http://www.diversityinc.com/top50 or follow the conversation at #DITop50.

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About KeyCorp

KeyCorp's (NYSE: KEY) roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $137.0 billion at March 31, 2018. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, insurance, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,200 branches and more than 1,500 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

About DiversityInc

The mission of DiversityInc is to bring education and clarity to the business benefits of diversity. The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list began in 2001, when many corporations were beginning to understand the business value of diversity-management initiatives. The 2018 Top 50 Companies for Diversity results will be featured on ‪DiversityInc.com and in DiversityInc magazine. DiversityInc is a VA certified veteran-owned business and a USBLN certified business owned by a person with a disability. For more information, visit www.diversityinc.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn @DiversityInc.

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Tweet me:.@KeyBank is proud to be 35 on @DiversityInc’s Top 50 Companies for Diversity list for 2018! https://www.diversityinc.com/keybank #DITop50. http://bit.ly/2rexHSf

KEYWORDS: keybank, NYSE:KEY, diversityinc

CVS Health Recognized by DiversityInc as Top 50 Company for Diversity for Second Year in a Row

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Hiring and promoting more women and minorities to management helped company move up to #40 on 2018 list.

SOURCE:CVS Health

DESCRIPTION:

 

WOONSOCKET, R.I., May 2, 2018 /3BL Media/ - In recognition of its commitment to fostering a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace, CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today announced that it has been named to DiversityInc's 2018 Top 50 Companies for Diversity list for the second consecutive year. The company’s #40 ranking, up 10 spots from 2017, was announced last night during DiversityInc's signature event in New York.

“Being named to DiversityInc’s Top 50 list is an honor for all of us at CVS Health. Addressing the country’s most pressing health care challenges requires the very best our company has to offer,” said Larry J. Merlo, President & Chief Executive Officer, CVS Health. “Leveraging the diverse and unique talents of our colleagues is critical to meeting the needs of our customers and communities, and delivering on our purpose of helping people on their path to better health.”

CVS Health moved up on the Top 50 Companies for Diversity list due in part to hiring and promoting more women and minorities into mid-level and senior- level leadership roles throughout the company, compared to other Top 50 companies. In a continuing effort to expand its diverse supply chain, CVS Health also strengthened its focus on minority and women-owned businesses this year and was named #10 in Top Companies for Supplier Diversity by DiversityInc.

“We work hard at building a diverse workforce and inclusive environment at CVS Health, knowing that it helps us attract and retain strong talent. We have found that true innovation is enhanced when we seek out and include the diverse experiences and ideas of our customers, colleagues and communities,” said David Casey, Vice President, Workforce Strategies, and Chief Diversity Officer, CVS Health. “We’ll continue to make even greater strides in building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive culture where all colleagues can contribute and succeed.”

The DiversityInc Top 50 list, issued yearly since 2001, recognizes the nation’s top companies for diversity management. These companies excel in such areas as hiring, retaining and promoting women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ and veterans.

This recognition is the latest in a series of third-party acknowledgments for CVS Health’s commitment to supporting a diverse and inclusive workplace, including: FORTUNE'S Most Admired Companies; Corporate Responsibility Magazine's 100 Best Corporate Citizens; Human Rights Campaign's Top Places to Work for LGBT Equality; Military Times Best for Vets; the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index; and the Disability Equality Index's Top Places to Work.

To learn more about CVS Health's diversity management strategy, please visit cvshealth.com/diversity. To view the entire Top 50 list, visit www.diversityinc.com/top50.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,800 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 94 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

KEYWORDS: NYSE:CVS, CVS Health, diversityinc

Generation Good: Meet 5 Students Changing the Future of Food - and the World

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SOURCE:General Mills

DESCRIPTION:

MINNEAPOLIS, May 2, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Generation Z – also known as Post-Millennials, iGen and Plurals, among others – is a new wave of 60 million young people that we're just getting to know. They are true digital natives and the most diverse and multicultural generation we've seen in the U.S. Researchers have deemed them as individualists, realists and more globally-minded. However you define them, one thing is for certain – they are change-makers.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/83094241-general-mills-feeding-better-futures-finalists/

Gen Z not only has the desire to see positive change in the world, they are bringing their own ideas to the table. They look for solutions and seek to make things their own. The problem is, they don't always have the resources to grow their big ideas into big impact. That's why, this January, General Mills launched the Feeding Better Futures Scholars Program, an initiative encouraging bright young minds to share the programs they've launched in their communities that help combat hunger and protect important agricultural resources. The call was heard by students around the country, and they answered with incredible ideas.

Meet the five Feeding Better Futures Finalists who aren't waiting until graduation to change their world – they're doing it now.

Joy Youwakim, a student at The University of Texas at Austin and a Nederland, Texas native, applied for a permit to grow food on top of a Texas landfill near the Austin airport. Once approved, she successfully grew various crops on a 400-square-foot space on top of the closed landfill. The produce was tested by Food Safety Net Services and is safe for consumption, proving this is a model that could be duplicated across the U.S. in the future.

Jack Griffin, 19, created FoodFinder in his hometown of Duluth, Georgia, to address childhood hunger and close the information gap that exists between families looking for free food assistance and the programs providing that assistance. Now a junior at the University of Michigan, Jack's mission to make food more accessible to those in need continues to evolve amidst his studies. Today, FoodFinder's website and mobile app include 25,000 food programs with a presence in all 50 states, ensuring food insecure children and their families know exactly when and where they can receive free food assistance.

Braeden Mannering, 14, started Brae's Brown Bags ( 3B) in his hometown of Bear, Delaware, to provide hope and nourishment to homeless and low-income populations. Each bag is filled with healthy food, clean water and a note that tells the recipient he/she is cared about. His work has grown to different student chapters in Delaware, and he hopes to further expand and educate youth about food insecurity. Through 3B, Braeden has delivered more than 11,000 brown bags.

Ten years ago, Katie Stagliano, now 19, started Katie's Krops in Summerville, South Carolina, with the mission to empower youth to grow and maintain vegetable gardens of all sizes and donate the harvest to help feed people in need. Today, the College of Charleston student has grown more than 80 Katie's Krops gardens across the country, helping to donate 39,000 pounds of produce to food assistance programs in 2017 alone.

Kate Indreland, 19, set out to solve the problem of nutrient depletion in agricultural land in Big Timber, Montana. Her project to balance the soil on her family farm resulted in increased nutritional density in plants by 30 percent. As this continues, the nutrient density in the soil will continue to grow and benefit crops, livestock and ultimately human health. And with such promising results on her own farm, Kate's goal is to educate farmers and spread this technique worldwide so we can feed more people with better quality food.

To learn more about these five young heroes and their in-action solutions, visitFeedingBetterFutures.com. The grand prize winner will be selected in June and awarded $50,000, industry mentorship and the opportunity to present at the Aspen Ideas Festival in June.

Tweet me:Meet 5 students changing the future of food - and the world http://bit.ly/2I42JGV @GeneralMills #FoodSecurity #FightHunger #SustainableAgriculture

KEYWORDS: General Mills, feeding better futures, sustainable agriculture, food insecurities, NYSE:GIS


Earth Needs Our Action Every Day: The Path Ahead

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by Nate Hurst, Chief Sustainability and Social Impact Officer

SOURCE:HP, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Last year saw unprecedented natural disasters across the globe – from wildfires in California to record-breaking hurricanes in the U.S. Gulf Coast, eastern seaboard, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. At the same time, scientists warn that the risks posed by climate change are even more dire than predicted and will lead to even bigger impacts on heat and extreme weather. Combined, this has led to a spike in environmental consciousness, not only for the American people, but for businesses across the globe.

HP is proud to be one of the companies that has been committed to sustainability for decades. More recently, we’ve been heartened to see that more of the private sector has realized the importance of integrating sustainability across their businesses. As we look ahead to 2020 — which marks the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day — and beyond, we are inspired and energized by all that we have achieved, and motivated to do more to leave the next generation a healthy planet where business, people and communities can thrive.

Continue reading on Sustainable Brands >>>

Tweet me:.@HP's @NathanEHurst discusses the path forward for #sustainability as a business imperative via @SustainBrands @HPSustainable #climateaction #plasticpollution

KEYWORDS: sustainable brands, HP Inc, Nate Hurst, Thread International, plastic pollution

Eastman to Host GC3 Innovators Roundtable

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SOURCE:Eastman Chemical Company

DESCRIPTION:

May 2, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Eastman will welcome more than 190 leaders representing a cross section of industries and brands to its headquarters in Kingsport, Tenn. for the 2018 GC3 Annual Innovators Roundtable. Focused on sustainability and green chemistry solutions, the three-day forum created by Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3) provides a unique opportunity for companies and organizations to exchange strategies and best practices on how to accelerate green chemistry innovation and adoption, and to network to form new partnerships and collaborative projects.

"We believe that to be a truly sustainable company, one must create significantly more value than the resources it uses. And innovation is imperative to that value creation,” said David A. Golden, Eastman’s Chief Legal & Sustainability Officer. “We are honored to host the GC3 conference and bring innovative thought leaders together to find solutions to complex global challenges facing our industries. Through collaborative innovation, we can continue enhancing the quality of life in a material way.”

The Innovators Roundtable is set for May 8-10 and features a variety of dynamic panels and keynote speakers, including Golden, Richard Northcote of Covestro, and Nate Herman of American Apparel & Footwear Association. The event kicks off with the 3rd Annual Green & Bio-Based Chemistry Technology Showcase, highlighting technologies of 10 start-up companies. Featured panels include:

  • The GC3 Collaborative Innovation Project on Preservatives: Outcomes, Lessons, and What's Next
  • Notes from the Field: Retailers Advancing Green Chemistry
  • Presidential Green Chemistry Awards: Learning from the Champions
  • Working across the Supply Chain to Achieve Commercial Success for Green Technologies
  • Finding Safer Chemical Alternatives: Resources for Selecting Green Chemistry Technologies

Visit GC3’s website to learn more about the Innovators Roundtable. Learn more about Eastman’s commitment to sustainability and innovating with purpose at www.eastman.com/sustainability.

Tweet me:.@eastmanchemco will welcome more than 190 leaders representing a cross section of industries and brands to its headquarters in Kingsport, Tenn. for the 2018 GC3 Annual Innovators Roundtable. http://bit.ly/2jmAO6V

KEYWORDS: collaborative innovation, Green Chemistry, strategies, Partnerships, technologies, NYSE:EMN, Eastman Chemical Company

Let Numbers Be Numbers

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Carmen Perez, Director, Data Insights, CECP

SOURCE:CECP: The CEO Force for Good

DESCRIPTION:

How many times have you been tasked with charting a new course, only to be overwhelmed by the number of choices when picking a direction? Already there is a lengthy list of “S in ESG” metrics that relate to people and community initiatives. Each company is on a journey of narrowing its focus on those most critical for the company’s strategy, which will, of course, be different from corporate peers. However, if our collective goal is to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges, we need to find a way to measure the whole picture.

If we consider the range of “S in ESG” metrics a representation of the bricks, steel, and materials needed to create a better a better world through business, how can we build a (metric-driven) bridge to the future together?

Take, for example, community-driven initiatives. These types of programs do not have broad consensus around a metric or two that are the most common. Or, in the case of the environment, it might be Greenhouse Gas Emissions. In the case of governance, it might be a Board diversity metric. Based on challenges our network continued to repeat and with all the current standards and reporting in mind, it’s time to pivot and prepare for the future of “the S in ESG.”

This week CECP released What Counts: The S in ESG, New Conclusions, a paper that centers on a bold goal for companies to report Total Social Investment using a shared definition by 2020

Read the complete blog: https://cecp.me/2w6QKUb

Tweet me:Read the latest post from @CECPTweets 'Insights Blog, the third in a series from CECP's Data Director @CarmenJSPerez's focusing on #CSR measurement and why companies should be focused on Total Social Investment: https://cecp.me/2w6QKUb

KEYWORDS: data, measurement, annual reporting, CECP

What Is Community Investment's Role Within a Diversity & Inclusion Strategy?

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SOURCE:SiMPACT Strategy Group

DESCRIPTION:

CALGARY, Canada, May 2, 2018 /3BL Media/ - June 5th, 2018 in Calgary, join LBG Canada companies for a full day discussion on how community investment can enable companies to achieve their vision for diversity & inclusion. 

Panelists include leaders influencing corporate thinking on abilities, LGBTQ inclusion, Action 92 and Indigenous inclusion, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. To see the full agenda, please visit: https://www.lbg-canada.ca/lbg-canada-western-conference-agenda/

"Community investment has a key role within a diversity and inclusion strategy," says Stephanie Robertson, Founder & CEO of SiMPACT Strategy Group and Facilitator of LBG Canada. "We look forward to the rich and important conversation that panelists and participants will enable.

While organized by SiMPACT Strategy Group on behalf of LBG Canada, the generous sponsorship of Imperial Oil is an invitation for all interested corporate practitioners to participate.

To register for the LBG Canada Western Conference, please visit: https://www.lbg-canada.ca/regional-meetings-contact-form/

To access the conference agenda, please visit: https://www.lbg-canada.ca/lbg-canada-western-conference-agenda/

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About LBG Canada

LBG Canada is a network of corporate community investment professionals from many of Canada's leading companies, who work together to apply, develop and enhance the use of the LBG Model and measurement framework in Canada. Participation in LBG Canada encourages companies to focus on strategy, measurement and reporting to demonstrate the business value achieved through investment in community. LBG Canada is facilitated by SiMPACT Strategy Group. For more information, please visit: https://www.lbg-canada.ca

Tweet me:What is #communityinvestment's role within a #diversityandinclusion strategy? Find out at the #LBGCanada Western Conference this June! http://bit.ly/2Fz6PS0 #CIMatters

KEYWORDS: LBG Canada, Western Conference, conference, Community Investment, csr, UN Sustainable Development Goals, Simpact strategy group

The Changing Definition of Talent - 2018 LBG Canada Western Conference

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SOURCE:SiMPACT Strategy Group

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LBG Canada announces Garth Johnson, CEO & Co-Founder of Meticulon, as a speaker at the 2018 LBG Canada Western Conference.

An experienced veteran of the web’s startup world, Garth Johnson has an infectious and memorable style that can be attributed to his breadth of experience. In the early days, Johnson developed his unique approach through television writing and production, copy editing, and market research. Garth is bringing us his experience as an executive at Fotolia and iStockphoto, both leaders in the ever-changing, dynamic microstock industry with a relatively straightforward approach: business and community are linked at all levels – something Meticulon is about as well.

Embracing this philosophy, coupled with his trademark humorous twist, Johnson develops business relations and strategic partnerships as CEO. Because of his business experience owning and managing several entrepreneurial businesses and his personal experience having a child with disabilities, Johnson became inspired to build the team that would make Meticulon’s vision of being not only the first but also the best IT Consulting firm in Canada to employ the unique abilities of our consultants with autism.

To learn more about Garth, please visit: https://www.lbg-canada.ca/get-to-know-our-speakers/

To access the agenda, please visit: https://www.lbg-canada.ca/lbg-canada-western-conference-agenda/

To register for the 2018 LBG Canada Western Conference, please visit: https://www.lbg-canada.ca/regional-meetings-contact-form/

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About LBG Canada

LBG Canada is a network of corporate community investment professionals from many of Canada's leading companies, who work together to apply, develop and enhance the use of the LBG Model and measurement framework in Canada. Participation in LBG Canada encourages companies to focus on strategy, measurement and reporting to demonstrate the business value achieved through investment in community. LBG Canada is facilitated by SiMPACT Strategy Group. For more information, please visit: https://www.lbg-canada.ca

Tweet me:Garth Johnson, CEO & Co-Founder of Meticulon, on the changing definition of talent at the 2018 #LBGCanada Western Conference. http://bit.ly/2FDhEST #CIMatters

KEYWORDS: LBG Canada, Community Investment, csr, UN Sustainable Development Goals, abilities, Simpact strategy group

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