Category Archives: Intentional Communities

Desegregate Connecticut

The Zoning Atlas developed by Desegregate Connecticut identifies the extent to which communities limit housing choices.

President Barack Obama once said, a childs course in life should be determined not by the zip code shes born in, but by the strength of her work ethic and the scope of her dreams. Yet we know where a child is born, and grows up, affects their future education, finances, and health. However, changing ones zip code is not always easy. From the availability of affordable housing to systemic policies hindering mobility, there are a myriad of factors limiting families mobility. Now is the time to urge state lawmakers to support legislation to dismantle discriminatory practices and advance fair housing in Connecticut.

The U.S. is facing an affordable housing crisis. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates a shortage of 6.8 million affordable and available rental homes for low- income renters. Nationally, only 37 out of every 100 extremely low-income families have access to available affordable housing. In Connecticut, only 11.6% of rental units are affordable for low-income families. The majority of these properties are located in areas with limited access to high performing schools and employment.

In Connecticut, 85% of government-subsidized units are located in moderate, low, or very low opportunity areas. This shortage disproportionately affects people of color: 73% of Black and Latino families live in low opportunity areas compared to 26% of white families, according to the Open Communities Alliance Out of Balance report. This limited availability of affordable, quality rental properties is compounded by historic and systemic policies hindering mobility in Connecticut.

Redlining began in the 1930s and its resultant disinvestment in minority neighborhoods continues to have effects today. While overt discriminatory practices were outlawed following the Fair Housing Act of 1968, more subtle, and often deliberate, policies and practices were enacted that continued to disadvantage inner city neighborhoods. Out of the 11.6% of rental units in Connecticut that are affordable to low income families statewide, 39.3% of those units are in the city of Hartford compared to 7.9% in the bordering town of West Hartford and 4.1% in the nearby suburb of Avon. We must work together to provide opportunity for all families and diversify housing options in our communities.

There are many benefits to housing diversity. From economics to education to health, we understand diverse communities are important, particularly for children. This is something Ive experience firsthand. I was deeply embarrassed by where I lived as a child. I can still vividly recall the feeling of dread when called upon to recite my address in middle school Spanish class. It was not the vocabulary that left me hesitant; rather, it was telling my peers that I lived in a low-income apartment complex funded by Section 8 that left me ashamed. I was embarrassed that my family needed government assistance to meet our basic needs, from housing to food to even clothing.

Only in hindsight did I realize these resources allowed my single mother to save money, obtain a better job, and ultimately build a better life for us. I was afforded the opportunity to attend high achieving schools, which ultimately allowed me to pursue a career as a physician. Now in my work, I often see myself reflected in the patients and families I work with. Many struggle with providing basic needs but all hope to build a better life for their children. With all of the inequalities they already face, how can they also strive against the systemic policies and practices in place?

Fortunately, when intentional inequalities and deliberate discriminatory policies are in place, they can be consciously dismantled. There are a variety of recommendations to improve this problem, from investing in segregated communities to increasing homeownership opportunities for minority families to advocating for housing diversity.

Desegregate Connecticut, a coalition of community members and nonprofit organizations that educates and advocates for housing reform, recommends a variety of interventions through zoning reform. Diversifying housing stock through multifamily homes, accessory dwelling units, and encouraging Connecticut cities and towns to incorporate more affordable housing units will increase the availability of affordable housing and diversify our communities.

These recommendations are laid out in Connecticut Senate Bill 1024, which I urge you to support. This issue is complex, but the facts remain that children growing up in poverty-stricken areas are far more disadvantaged and moving to better neighborhoods changes lives. Please visit Desegregate Connecticut to learn more about why and how you can help. Then ask your state legislators to vote in favor of Senate Bill 1024 to bring about a more equitable and diverse Connecticut.

Jing Marrero is a pediatric resident from South Windsor.

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Opinion It's time to truly embrace fair housing in Connecticut - The CT Mirror

When focused on community needs first, new research finds workplace volunteering can also double a customers loyalty to a company

Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP), in collaboration with Credit Suisse, New York Cares, New York Life, Philanthropy New York, USAA, Vanguard, and ViacomCBS, has released a new report, Value Volunteering, designed to uncover the true dynamics of corporate volunteering, pinpointing where and in what order the impact takes place. This research will allow companies to better utilize volunteering to address societal needs first, unleashing the power of people within corporations and sending benefits back to the company.

Workplace volunteering has been a staple of corporate community engagement for decades but is often designed first as an employee engagement tool, said Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas, Managing Director, CECP. Value Volunteering flips that notion on its head, saying to companies, Root your programs in the community, first. The business benefits will follow, and they will be significant.

Key findings from the report include:

The most successful workplace volunteering programs are intentional, thoughtfully designed, and authentic. Volunteer program design must be rooted in the needs of nonprofit organizations and community stakeholders.

Social impact and meeting community needs are the main results and value produced through workplace volunteering program, but successful programs can have ripple effects on business results.

Value Volunteering has proven that people reward companies for high-quality workplace volunteering in terms of reputation, trust, and customer loyalty. Even more, the effect on trust and customer loyalty approximately double when people believe that workplace volunteering truly makes a difference.

Workplace volunteering has built-in and built-for results, both of which are key for success:a) Built-in results include positive contributions to employee engagement, reputation, trust, and team building.b) Built-for results include positive contributions to recruitment, leadership skills, customer insights, employee retention, and client relationships.

Corporate community service serves community first, but also builds the company: 78% of the time, volunteers say that understanding the impact they are making motivates them to stay engaged.

Over half (55%) of nonprofits surveyed say that including corporate volunteers in an organizations strategy and program management helps deliver on mission achievement and builds relationships at the same time.

Workplace volunteering has greatly expanded over the last 10 years: 40% growth in both aggregate and average corporate volunteer hours is driven by efficiencies from technology/software, employee interest and demand, and the expansion of skills-based opportunities.

The report is the product of the Service for Impact working group, led by CECP and Philanthropy New York. Service for Impact was founded in 2009 to help corporate philanthropic leaders support their nonprofit partners in implementing the principles of Reimagining Service The group consists of corporate grantmakers and corporate volunteer leaders, fostering a peer network to share successes and challenges, brainstorm solutions, and explore new opportunities to make a difference in society while supporting business objectives through volunteerism. Talmetrix, an employee feedback and analytics company, executed the survey in the Variations in Value section, and served as an important thought partner on research design and interpretation of insights.

Credit Suisse is pleased to co-sponsor this research which digs deeper into the social and business value of corporate volunteering. We expect it will spark further dialogue among nonprofits and corporate practitioners, resulting in programming that has an even greater impact in the community, said Lalita Badinehal, Vice President, Credit Suisse.

Addressing pressing community needs requires a multi-faceted approach both in partnership and programming. When Covid-19 shut down our city, New York Cares stayed open thanks to the versatility of resources provided by our corporate partners, said Gary Bagley, Executive Director, New York Cares. From volunteer relief programming focused on emergency food assistance for families to virtual education for students and wellness checks for isolated individuals, our corporate stakeholders partnered with us to ensure an immediate and innovative response to community needs.

The findings from The Value Volunteering research shows how volunteering is an imperative for business, while driving social impact, said Matthew Nelson, Corporate Vice President, New York Life.

The Value Volunteering research affirms that focusing volunteer engagement on true community needs is critical to the design and implementation of workplace volunteering programs, said Kathryn ONeal-Dunham, Chief Executive Officer, Philanthropy New York. Deep partnership with nonprofit organizations and community stakeholders creates opportunities for companies to support meaningful social change.

USAA employees are passionate about serving the military and local communities through volunteerism, said Harriet Dominique, Chief Diversity, Inclusion, and Corporate Responsibility Officer, USAA. Throughout the pandemic, theyve continued to serve through many virtual volunteer events such as reading to military children and mentoring at-risk students, demonstrating that volunteering makes a significant impact for those in need in our community.

Vanguard has long been dedicated to supporting inclusive, resilient communities in which our crew live and work by donating our time, talent, and treasure, said Carra Cote-Ackah, President, Vanguard Group Foundation and Executive Director of Community Stewardship, Vanguard. This research emphasizes the power of effective partnerships and the potential of having a shared purpose.

Rooting workplace volunteer programs in the community can have ripple effects on both ends of the engagement spectrum not only driving community impact, but business results that prove the importance of these programs, said Adam Robinson, Vice President, Social Responsibility, ViacomCBS. As a content company with global reach and influence, this is essential to our mission of positively and powerfully impacting the audiences and communities we serve.

Value Volunteering engaged both nonprofit and corporate partners. A landscape analysis of the research was done to assure that this work would be additive for nonprofits and companies. Focus groups and surveys helped fill in gaps in existing research, all with intention of understanding nonprofit and corporate perspectives toward greater impact.

CECP is a CEO-led coalition that believes that a companys social strategy how it engages with key stakeholders including employees, communities, investors, and customers determines company success. Founded in 1999 by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman and other business leaders to create a better world through business, CECP has grown to a movement of more than 200 of the worlds largest companies that represent $11.2 trillion in revenues, $23 billion in societal investment, 14 million employees, and $21 trillion in assets under management. CECP helps companies transform their social strategy by providing customized connections and networking, counsel and support, benchmarking and trends, and awareness building and recognition. For more information, visit cecp.co.

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Volunteering is an Engine of Social and Business Value Creation - Los Angeles Business Journal

By Jim Cooperman

Contributor

Thousands of young people in North America moved to the country in the late 1960s and the 1970s, with some setting up intentional, cooperative communities, including me.

By the mid-1970s, there were dozens of these communities throughout British Columbia and an organization was formed called the Coalition of Intentional Cooperative Communities (CICC) to share knowledge and build up the movement. Conferences were held quarterly, and a newsletter was distributed after each one.

A contact list in the April 1977 CICC newsletter lists approximately 230 individuals, communities, organizations and businesses throughout the province. There were 14 listed in the Shuswap region, including one in the Salmon River valley, one in Falkland, a few in Grindrod and Enderby and the majority located in the Lumby/Cherryville area.

While in the process of doing the research for this column, it was a delight to discover that I know some of the people that were part of these communities.

One of the best examples of a local intentional community was the Alternate Community near Lumby on Bessette Creek that began when Robin and Ken LeDrew moved to 14 acres and brought some of their artist friends with them from the Vancouver art collective they had been part of in the late 1960s. Robin explains how their community, which was to be based on experimental architecture, went through a number of phases that began with an early dis-organized, anarchistic-like scene with full-moon parties and people living roughly with many hardships.

After spending a year away that included time at a well-organized commune in Florida, they returned with intentions to revamp their community by focusing on more productive and progressive ideals, yet they found their land in disarray, with collapsed domes and the taxes unpaid. The next phase began when Ken returned from Vancouver after taking a course in intentional communities and with him were 30 people eager to begin communal living at the property.

Read more: Column: The magical English Creek landscape and bouldering destination

Read more: Solitary men lived in crude cabins and barely made wages in their quest for the motherlode

The group became a well-organized cooperative, with 2-3 meetings per week, at which decisions were made by consensus. All income was pooled, and they shared three vehicles. A huge garden fed everyone, and businesses were started, including a health food store in Vernon, a publishing company and a tree-planting and cone-picking company. With success came the inevitable problem of land ownership and, when the plan to put the land into a trust with everyone owning shares fell through, people left to become established elsewhere on property they owned or rented.

Some people stayed and others came to experience the next phase based on New Age philosophies that included Gestalt Therapy, dream circles and other alternative lifestyles. Today the property is just another family farm, with only a few of the originals left. In addition to her work as an artist, Robin had a successful career in social work and continues to contribute to the wider Lumby community as the president of the local arts council.

Robin remembers hosting one of the CICC conferences at their farm in 1977 and dealing with the logistics of feeding and housing 50 or more people from around the province for a weekend. She reminisced, We talked endlessly about progressive ideals and how to change the world, but in the end, the world changed us and change happened anyway. She also noted the irony of how they had to cope with living in what was then a conservative community, while now cannabis is legal and living close to the land has become more mainstream. However, Robin wished that more young people could have similar opportunities today, as living off the land with others builds character and teaches the values of cooperation.

There are many stories from those idealistic times, with more to come in subsequent columns. Perhaps what is most interesting is how history repeats itself. Many of the early settlers that left the cities in Europe to homestead here over 100 years ago for some of the same reasons that inspired us to move onto the land in the late sixties and seventies. Now there are young people who are once again moving to the land to grow food and share the work and the joy of country living.

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Outdoors and Recreation

The Alternate Community garden, circa 1977. Notice the perfectly formed beds in the back made by a visiting helper from Germany who is the photo. (Dianne Wells photo) The Alternate Community garden, circa 1977. Notice the perfectly formed beds in the back made by a visiting helper from Germany who is the photo. (Dianne Wells photo)

Sue Vignola and Robin LeDrew with their red cabbage harvest, circa 1977. (Dianne Wells photo)

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Column: Shuswap intentional communities in the 1970s - Salmon Arm Observer

At Sounders FC, we are committed to protecting our planet. As the first carbon neutral professional soccer team in North America and the first carbon neutral pro sports team in the United States, we commit to measuring, offsetting, and reducing our footprint every year. We collaborate with partners to educate youth most affected by environmental justice in King County and empower them to improve community health outcomes.

This month, we are teaming up with our climate justice partners at EarthGen to transform Seahurst and Hilltop Elementary Schools into greener, healthier spaces for students and the community. Seahurst and Hilltop, both part of Highline Public Schools, are racially and linguistically diverse, with high free and reduced lunch rates. The campuses function as community spaces for local families, as some of the only green spaces in the area. Unfortunately, the spaces are lacking. At Seahurst, a coarse gravel field dominates the play yard. At Hilltop, the poor drainage system and heavy Seattle rains create a giant puddle which is not conducive to safe play.

Our collective commitment to Seahurst Elementary began on April 8, as we continued the Books and Balls program with our partners at the Northwest African American Museum, partnering to give away 350 RAVE Foundation soccer balls and over 700 books to students at the school. NAAM has curated childrens books by Black authors and artists that seek to not only help reflect personal experiences and reaffirm value for Black youth, but also allow all children to become familiar with diverse characters and storylines while enjoying a new book. RAVE Foundations gift of new soccer balls to pair with the books reflects RAVEs belief in removing barriers to participation in soccer for all children and that the right to play is a human right. RAVEs commitment to also Seahurst includes a special project on the playground details to be announced soon which will bring the space to life.

On April 23 and 30, over 100 volunteers from EarthGen, Sounders FC, and Delta will come together to bring the communitys visions to life.

The garden spaces contributed by EarthGen are rooted in education and community input. They began with stormwater and watershed curriculum at the middle school level. Local sixth grade students worked with EarthGen and landscape architects to create conceptual designs, incorporating their new knowledge, that was then presented to, and approved by, fourth grade students.

Input was also solicited from school staff, parents and the community at large through a bilingual survey, for community members to share what they would like to see in the space. Outcomes from the survey included a preference for logs and boulders as seating, and a love of adventure play. This intentional input from the community ensures that the community is heard that their needs are met, and that sustainable change is made.

The completed projects will be showcased late next month, as part of Sounders FCs Protect the Planet match.

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Sounders FC, RAVE Foundation and EarthGen team up to create greener spaces and healther communities at Seahurst and Hilltop Elementary Schools -...

The murder trial for the death of George Floyd concluded yesterday as the jury found Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts, and for many members of the Georgia Southern community, this came as an overdue relief.

I am glad to see Chauvin get convicted of all counts, said GS student Jennifer Hull. For the first time in a long time, I felt a small sense of pride to be an American. They finally made the right decision and have decided enough is enough and people need to be held accountable.

I was actually pretty happy with the outcome, said Chesney Beadle, a GS student, I felt like it shouldnt have taken as long as it did, because, in my opinion, he was guilty from the start.

The world watched Floyds final moments from a viral video showing Chauvin kneeling on Floyds neck for over nine minutes. This video alone was convicting enough for many students that watched.

You cant kneel on a mans neck for like 8 minutes while he pleads for his life and not be a murderer, GS student Quinn Harris said. That man is seriously sick in the head. I am glad he is away from society.

It should have taken less time, said Ariana White, a GS student. The man murdered someone on camera.

Floyds death sparked Black Lives Matter protests across the nation, and discussions on police brutality and discrimination of people of color expanded over the course of the year. For many, the verdict is a step in the right direction.

This has set an example for the black community: we are capable of anything and tired of getting mistreated. Its been a long time coming, said Zacaria Belton, a GS student. I think this really made an example out of the bad cops that think they can get away with anything.

I believe this proves as a win for the BLM movement as this movement was responsible for the global torch that was lit worldwide and inspired millions of people to protest and petition the government for change, said KymBria Green, a GS student.

The movements and discussions were echoed on GS campus, as the university put a focus on improving diversity, equity and inclusion on campus during 2020. In early spring of last year, the university hired its first associate vice president for Inclusive Excellence.

As I think about the events leading to the verdict, Im reminded that this was yet another preventable act of violence that undermines the experiences and cohesiveness of our communities, said TaJuan Wilson, associate vice president of Inclusive Excellence at GS. Here at Southern, we have taken and will continue to take intentional steps to make our community more equitable, anti-racist, and inclusive.

University President Kyle Marrero and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Carl Reiber released this joint statement yesterday: As an institution dedicated to Inclusive Excellence, we will continue to take measures to stand up for our shared values, and for one another. We will remain united in our resolve to address injustices and hatred in our community.

While many shared that they felt justice had finally been served, some made sure to note that no justice or court ruling can undo Floyds death.

Because of Derek Chauvins actions, we lost a father, a brother, a son, said Madison Wasdin, a GS student. Derek Chauvin deserved to be jailed for life; It is not up to a police officer to decide if someones life is worth ending.

While this verdict does not bring George Floyd back it is a big step in the right direction for holding law enforcement officers accountable for their actions, said Rachel Moody, I think this win will encourage the movement to continue to fight for justice for the many others such as Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Daunte Wright.

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Derek Chauvin found guilty on all counts, GS community reacts - The George-Anne

A man has appeared in court for a second time charged with starting two fires at the Findhorn Foundation.

Joseph Clark, of no fixed abode, is accused of starting the blazes that destroyed the charitys community centre and main sanctuary.

The two buildings were some of the oldest and most treasured on the park.

The 49-year-old, who was represented by Elgin-based solicitor Ben Thom, made no plea during the hearing, which was held in private.

Clark was remanded in custody after the appearance at Inverness Sheriff Court.

The blaze was discovered at the world-famous Findhorn Foundation in the early hours of Monday, April 12.

The Findhorn Foundation is a Scottish charitable trust registered in 1972, formed by the spiritual community at the Findhorn Ecovillage, one of the largest intentional communities in Britain.

It has been home to thousands of residents from more than 40 countries.

A police investigation was launched following the fire.

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Man appears in court for second time charged with starting Findhorn Foundation fires - Press and Journal

CINCINNATI One night after police said a 13-year-old girl was stabbed to death by another 13-year-old girl and less than a month since a 14-year-old Cincinnati boy was charged in multiple murders, community members are concerned about the spike in violent crime involving young people.

"You have to wonder what's going on in the mind of a 13-year-old that that person would want to take another person's life," said Ennis Tait, pastor of New Beginnings Church of the Living God and executive director of organizations Project Lifeline and Positive Force, which focus on reaching teens before they fall into a life of violence.

Tait said in cases like the stabbing on Monday night, the tragedy ripples through both the family of the victim and the suspect's family.

"Immediately when I think of the tragedy of, first of all, a young person being involved in an incident like last night, but having two of them, one to lose their life in the midst of the violence and one to lose their future," said Tait.

He said at both Project Lifeline and Positive Force, the organizations are seeing an uptick in delinquencies that usually don't happen until kids are out of school in the summer.

He said he believes the increase in teens involved in crime is related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and kids not having school as their safety net from hardships that may be happening at home.

Heather Chura-Smith, spokesperson for the Hamilton County Juvenile Court, said overall crimes committed by children had been trending downward.

"So, generally, I would say that our delinquency complaints in the community are down as they have been trending down over the past couple years," she said. "Unfortunately, as we've seen nationally and locally, there has been a slight uptick in the more violent offenses."

On any given year, she said, Hamilton County Juvenile Courts deal with around 10 homicide cases.

"We can't dance around it," said Tait. "We have to be very intentional about it. If we want our young people to be safe, we have to put our money where our mouth is."

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Communities concerned about multiple homicides this year involving teens - WCPO

Throughout Boston, residents are greeted with the sight of benches divided by armrests that may look unassuming, but in reality prevent people from laying down on them. These restrictive seat dividers are a type of hostile architecture: a design approach that purposefully makes an environment uncomfortable to prevent individuals experiencing homelessness from frequenting these areas.

Hostile architecture is one of many ways the government and institutions work to push unhoused communities out of sight.

The pandemic has only exacerbated this kind of inaccessibility, especially on our campus. Access to areas that had previously been places of refuge for vulnerable populations has been heavily curtailed due to social distancing measures.

The George Sherman Union and the Mugar Library were previously open to non-students and used to be essential sources of food, warmth, bathroom facilities and water for the unhoused population. Now, no one can enter the GSU if they are not students and do not have a green badge.

Moreover, on-campus stores and dining facilities such as City Convenience do not accept cash, and in some cases, can only be accessed through GrubHub. These kinds of cashless payment restrictions have been shown to negatively affect low-income households, especially the individuals experiencing homelessness who may not have access to any other kind of funds.

The pandemic has provided a place for institutions to further pre-existing wealth inequality under the guise of protecting public safety whether intentional or not.

This is not to say that Boston University is not justified in enacting these restrictions. But the pandemic has exposed how these types of public health measures both at BU and the world at large do not consider its most vulnerable community members.

Whether it be through off-campus housing or simply walking around campus, students regularly interact with Boston residents. Students may even pose a significant risk to Boston residents with COVID-19 transmission: House parties held by college students in particular were a huge area of concern of community transmission for South Boston residents. Boston became a high-risk community after reports of these parties.

Opening access to BU community testing sites for Boston residents who need it would be a significant step in ensuring public safety for all.

BU holds significant power over the landscape of Boston. For years now, the University has significantly contributed to the gentrification of the city, particularly in Kenmore Square. BUs presence in the area has only grown since the pandemic: Due to the devastating effects of COVID-19 on restaurants, BU-affiliated properties are rapidly becoming the backbone of Kenmore.

Extending resources to the very communities BU helped push out of their neighborhoods is the very least it could do.

There are over 6,000 unhoused people in the city of Boston. From 2019 to 2020, there was a 6.8% increase in the number of families without a home, according to the 40th Annual Homeless Census. The pandemic has only worsened the housing crisis, making a population without resources to get treatment or get tested all the more vulnerable.

Taking care of those people does not work against public health measures, but rather should be an essential and central part of these plans and safety measures.

This is not to say that BU is solely responsible for addressing Bostons housing crisis, but as a prominent community member, BU has a responsibility to do better.

This can be enacted in small ways. For instance, people do not necessarily need to show their ID to get on the BU Shuttle, making this a resource available to everyone who regularly traffics our campus. BU could better distribute our resources by making other services such as our testing resources, dining services and buildings safely accessible to residents.

Last year BU opened part of its campus up to house staff from homeless shelters. BU could expand these efforts and offer housing to individuals without shelter during the summertime.

But it is not enough to simply remove hostile elements of our campus. It is also important to be actively anti-hostile towards our most vulnerable communities. BU should create spaces and resources that explicitly address the systemic roots of homelessness.

The Individual in Community HUB requirement requires students to learn to accept individual responsibility and work as engaged members of their communities.

Does our campus, as a major community member of Boston, reflect this shared responsibility?

BU should work on striking a balance between making campus regulations that are COVID-19 safe while also holding space for the most vulnerable members of our community.

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EDITORIAL: Boston University should better support Boston's unhoused population - Daily Free Press

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fifth Third Bank, National Association, has been named to the Forbes list of Best Employers for Diversity 2021. This prestigious award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The awards list was announced April 20 and can currently be viewed on the Forbes website.

Talent diversity is of upmost importance at every level of our Company, from our Board of Directors to our executive leadership team to our nearly 20,000 employees throughout our markets, said Peg Jula, Fifth Thirds chief human resources officer. Being named to the Forbes Best Employers for Diversity list demonstrates our commitment to cultivating an inclusive workforce that can effectively serve a diverse customer base and all communities.

We are intentional about creating an inclusive and trusting environment where all ideas are welcomed and where employees feel comfortable and empowered to have discussions about diversity and inclusion, said Stephanie Smith, the Banks chief inclusion and diversity officer. Accelerating racial equality, equity and inclusion is one of our strategic initiatives, and we believe in the power of leveraging our diversity and commonality as we strive to be the One Bank that people most value and trust.

The Best Employers for Diversity were selected based on Statista's innovative methodology, guaranteeing unbiased results and providing reliable insights. Over 50,000 U.S. employees were surveyed in companies with a minimum of 1,000 employees to identify the Best Employers for Diversity. The evaluation was based on four different criteria:

To learn more about Fifth Third Banks inclusion and diversity efforts, please visit: http://www.53.com/diversity.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, National Association, a federally chartered institution. As of Mar. 31, 2021, Fifth Third had $207 billion in assets and operated 1,098 full-service banking centers and 2,383 ATMs with Fifth Third branding in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In total, Fifth Third provides its customers with access to approximately 53,000 fee-free ATMs across the United States. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending and Wealth & Asset Management. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of Mar. 31, 2021, had $464 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $58 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations through its Trust and Registered Investment Advisory businesses. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at http://www.53.com. Fifth Thirds common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol FITB. Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858. Deposit and Credit products are offered by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

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Fifth Third Bank Named to Forbes Best Employers for Diversity 2021 List - Business Wire

ST. LOUIS, April 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Financial-services firm Edward Jones joined organizations across the U.S. to participate in CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion's third annual "Day of Understanding and Reflection," the business community's largest movement to host candid conversations and help advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.

While CEO Action signatories continue to facilitate conversations with their people year-round, the Day of Understanding and Reflection in April provides leaders across the coalition's 1,600 organizations a collective opportunity to lead open dialogue and inspire change with more than 13 million employees.

Edward Jones invited its 49,000 associates to set aside time from their day-to-day work and learn more about one another's experiences through virtual group discussions, coffee chats, and a variety of other resources.

"At Edward Jones, our purpose is to partner for positive impactto improve the lives of our clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society," said Edward Jones Chief Human Resources Officer Kristin Johnson. "This day provided anopportunity for each ofus to spend time sharing,thinking and learning about what we can do to strengthen our sense of belonging for all, especially at a time when our colleagues and communities may be hurting. By encouraging an ongoing dialogue, we are helping to foster cultures of trust and belonging and reinforcing our commitment to greater inclusivity across our organization and the communities we serve."

Through CEO Action, Edward Jones will continue to work with leaders across the coalitionleveraging opportunities for greater collaboration, sharing leading practices and helping one another turn conversation learnings into bold actions. Together, these organizations have the power to change how millions of people talk to their colleagues about tough topics, fostering an inclusive culture and moving the needle toward a more just and equitable future.

In June 2020, Edward Jones bolstered its promise to diversity, equity and inclusion by making a Five-point Commitment to build a culture of belonging for its 49,000 associates and a more equitable world. First among those actions was to give everyone a voice, an experience the firm started in 2017 through a Courageous Conversations program on race and social justice.

These dialogues, which continue to this day, have included thousands of Edward Jones colleagues on topics designed to build empathy and create a deep understanding. This program has been so impactful, that in 2020 Edward Jones began taking these conversations into the communities it serves with community courageous conversations taking place in Kansas City, Raleigh-Durham and St. Louis in 2021.

"While these conversations are happening in our workplaces and communities year-round, this is a collective moment for us as human beings to be intentional and deliberate in how we support one another and through listening, learning and reflection challenge ourselves to build a more diverse, equitable and inclusive society one where everyone is able to be their authentic selves, has access to the same opportunities and feels a sense of belonging. Every Courageous Conversation I have participated in have been life changing for me," Johnson said.

For more information on the Day of Understanding and the "action" behind the CEO Action pledge, please visit http://www.ceoaction.com/dayofunderstanding.

About Edward JonesEdward Jones, a FORTUNE 500 firm headquartered in St. Louis, provides financial services in the U.S. and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm's business, from the investments its financial advisors offer to the location of its branch offices caters to individual investors. The firm's 19,000-plus financial advisors serve more than 7 million clients and care for $1.3 trillion in assets under management. The Edward Jones website is at http://www.edwardjones.com, and its recruiting Web site is http://www.careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.

SOURCE Edward Jones

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Edward Jones Joins CEO Action's 'Day of Understanding and Reflection' - PRNewswire