Category Archives: Intentional Communities

Cliff Avril didnt fully realize the impact until after he retired, officially, in 2019. He didnt see how deeply one era of Seahawks football bonded the team with its city, how the Legion of Boom and a Super Bowl title made his efforts outside of football not only possible but optimal. How the combination of all that made his voice impactful and important.

Avril arrived in Seattle in 2013, after five seasons in Detroit. Michael Bennett, the Seahawks resident locker room philosopher, became his best friend. As Colin Kaepernick knelt and the fight against social injustice exploded, Avril, Bennett and their close friend, Pro Bowl wideout Doug Baldwin, all redoubled their off-field efforts. Police officers needed more training. Children needed more resources. Most, in an increasingly divided world, needed joy.

By 2017, the trio agreed on the difference between a mob and a movement: follow through. Their community involvement did not end when their playing careers did. Instead, they have some news. Big news, they believe. No, none of them plan to return to Lumen Field, at least not in uniform. But they did form a philanthropic organization, Champions of Change, and they all will display what remains of their athleticism in the city where they starred. In late June, the trio will hold a series of fundraising events designed to raise money for local, grassroots nonprofitsthe kind of organizations they partnered with while playing for the Seahawks.

The plan: a game changer auction, a day of service and a celebrity basketball game, which will take place at Climate Pledge on June 26. It will feature Seattle sports legends and mark the first of what they hope is an annual event.

In a conversation with Sports Illustrated, the retired Seahawks ruminate on why they must continue with their efforts, why follow through matters and how the landscape of athlete activism has changed since Kaepernick first knelt. Their conversation was less of an announcement and more of the kind of debate they used to have inside their locker room. Bennett cited philosophers, authors and activists. Baldwin connected then to now. Avril marveled at their impact. What follows is their why.

Sports Illustrated: I was talking to Dr. Harry Edwards recently, and he was describing how athlete activism tends to unfold in cycles. He said were nearing the end of the cycle you three were so deeply involved in. Agree?

Doug Baldwin: Were from an era where there was the proliferation of social media and advancements in technology and also just the expansiveness of being able to see whats happening in real time around the world. When you have instances like George Floyds death, you see that in real time. The collective mindset of society is: Where do we go from here? What is the follow through after the rhetoric and the conversation have died down a little bit? But that doesnt mean the problems dont still exist.

Michael Bennett: There is a sense that the revolution has been hijacked. The idea of protest has been hijacked by capitalism, because everything has turned into capitalism. Thats where athletes are having a hard time, because the NFL gets involved, and now (its) speaking for us. But at the same time, theres a lot of critiques in their own house. Everything the NFL does is facing outward. But they should be facing inward. Look at what happened to Brian Flores, whats happening to other Black coaches in the league.

Baldwin: Were moving out of the reactionary phase and now its like, O.K., what are we doing? How can we make sure these things dont happen again?

Bennett: I agree with Dr. Edwards. Theres not enough people studying the history, what happened before. We end up on the same stairs, rather than building a new staircase. The past, the present and the future are all connected at one time. Its just like space. Sometimes, space creates memories. And within those memories, we can see whats happened in the past. When I think about slavery, or Jim Crow, those experiences seem so far away from me. But at the same time, those systems are so close.

SI: You mentioned Flores and the lack of Black coaches in the NFL. How does that finally change? Will it ever?

Bennett: The player has to speak up for the coach, because, in the future, the player wants to become the coach. They need to demand change, just like they did for police brutality. Thats the kind of work that needs to be done.

Cliff Avril: Even the Flores situation, its about understanding what youre trying to do. In all reality, in America, you need capital to make real change. Now the thing is, making sure youre getting the right partners to make those changes. The Flores situation, its not surprising. People who are in the league know.

Bennett: For every luxury, somebody is suffering. We have to figure out how we can create the greatest luxuryfreedom from an incarcerated mind. Thats the point where I get confused, where the water is real cloudy, because we, as athletes, just become part of the symbolism. I see so many athletes who turned protests into business. Its weird.

SI: Did your ties to the Seattle community help? The work youve done here?

Scroll to Continue

Bennett: We think about Seattle for all of us. Its where we became men. We got married here, bought houses here, had kids here. The city became part of our lives, and it made sense for us to express our gratitude.

Avril: We dont take for granted those packed stadiums, or the fans who stood outside in the rain waiting for our flight to land. This is our second home.

Bennett: Its a maturation of who we are. Theres a connection for us on a human level. The bond we built is not on a physical or mental state. Its on a spiritual level we all shared. Seattle helped us find our purpose.

SI: How did you decide to work together?

Baldwin: We asked ourselves, Why dont we combine forces to galvanize the community in the way we know best? Were champions. We know how to bring teams together. We know how to strive for a bigger goal.

Bennett: It was something we were talking about as we got older in the league.

Baldwin: Over the past two years, weve been forced to kind of isolate from each other. We havent spent time together as a community. Add in all the issues weve seen play out on TV. With the divisive nature of our political landscape, its vital for us to get together, to see each other. For us to recognize were all human.

Bennett: When Cliff and I went to Haiti, it opened my eyes to thinking about things from a global aspect. Theres such an intersectional connection between property and education. In the words of the great Gil Scott-Heron, when it comes to people, money wins out every time. We realized that the communities we went into lacked foundation, lacked opportunity; theres a sense of scarcity, access to nutrition, ability for growth. We know what its like at the bottom. We know what its like at the top. Theres such a war on color. We need to empower soldiers of change.

Avril: Were passionate about this, because we come from the same community. Were not disconnected from the issues. Were trying to help because weve been there, and we empathize with them.

SI: The organizations youre supporting all seem to fall under the general umbrella of your aims. The Odessa Brown Childrens Clinic promotes improved pediatric care and family advocacy. DADS wants to eradicate the epidemic of absent fathers in America. Women United Seattle provides systematic support for kinship caregivers and the children they care for. Humble Design Seattle transforms empty houses into welcoming homes to combat homelessness. And Dignity for Divas (which, by the way, sounds like it could also be a support group for star receivers) restores self-worth for women who have lost their homes. All grassroots. All local. All specific. Intentional, I imagine?

Bennett: Our platform is driving us as a group, but we want the attention to focus on these organizations and the work theyre doing.

Baldwin: It also symbolizes why we were so great on the field. We genuinely liked one another. We genuinely cared for one another. How we played, we showed up, and not just to games but to everything. Childrens birthday parties. Celebrations. Times of need.

Avril: Were not doing this for any notoriety.

Bennett: Im basically social media non-existent. My wifes like, Every time I post something, people think you dead. Theres all sorts of ways to talk about this stuff. We do it spiritually, and maybe thats our own battle with not being too corporate, to avoid trendiness. But sometimes you have to be a bit trendy to have a bigger voice. The work that were doing shouldnt be dormant. It should look enormous, in the words of Jay Z. Just to be clear, Im quoting Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, Jay Z on here.

SI: Can any of you actually play basketball?

Bennett: Im the best athlete. But everybody else is probably better at basketball. I dont really play basketball anymore.

Baldwin: Basketball is a great analogy for the work we are collaborating on in our community. We are attacking issues from angles that may not be in our comfort zone and thats O.K. As a team, we all have a different skill set we bring to the table. But they are complimentary, because we have the same intentions. [jokingly perhaps] And Mike is terrible at basketball.

SI: Should Kaepernick receive some credit here? Not for this weekend thats upcoming, but for the work, the impact and the follow through.

Baldwin: The era with Kaepernick, it put a spotlight on organizations like these that are doing great work on the ground. Corporations are feeling pressure to do something about the issues that we see on our TV screens. If we can galvanize the community to put more pressure on those organizations, to supply resources and change systems, thats a substantial impact. But theres another component of that thats important. Were working with organizations who are supporting human beings who need money and resources. Helping them expand their work is what this is about. The spotlight created the momentum. Were in the conversation. Were in the rooms where typically theres not a lot of people that look like us having those conversations.

Bennett: I think about something W.E.B. Du Bois said. Education is about teaching life. Theres a need for radical reform. Theres a social construct that has been placed upon us. And we focus on victimization a lot in America for the Black experience. To me, its about the resiliency of Blackness and the resilience of my culture, my people. Were looking at Booker T. Washington and the reconstruction of America.

Baldwin: Gonna quote anybody else, Mike?

Bennett: [laughs] At this moment, we should be focused on the light. How we can expand our tunnel, so more light can be on our flowers. So more light can be on the world that we see is ours. We can activate. Gotta start somewhere, right?

More NFL coverage:

The Kaepernick Effect at a Seattle High School From 2017: What Kaepernicks Philanthropy Tells Us About His Vision Behind the Scenes of Eric Kendricks Activism in Minnesota

See the rest here:

Three Seahawks Greats and a New Chapter of Athlete Activism - Sports Illustrated

When Major League Soccer decided to build Centene Stadium in St Louis, the first priority was honoring the hard truths of the past. The 22,500-seat soccer-specific stadium is designed with canopy shading and is 40ft below street level. It also sits on the same block that was once a part of Mill Creek Valley, the predominantly Black neighborhood on the Southwest end of St Louis once home to 20,000 residents, 800 businesses and more than 40 religious institutions. In addition to Madame CJ Walker, Americas first Black woman millionaire, Mill Creek was also home to Josephine Baker, Scott Joplin and General William Tecumseh Sherman. Even poet Walt Whitman was known to visit the thriving Black community. But in the summer of 1959, the residents of Mill Creek Valley were displaced and the neighborhood demolished in the name of urban renewal.

Now the embryonic MLS club St Louis City SC and Great Rivers Greenway are using the stadium as a platform to tell the story of Mill Creek Valley.

It was really setting a precedent of starting as a community-led brand and community-led club that was actually entrenched in the community in more ways than just the sport, says Khalia Collier, vice-president of community relations for St Louis City SC.

Mill Creek Valley, as it once was, spanned the downtown west district of St Louis. Today, the one-mile stretch of the Brickline Greenway linking Centene Stadium to Harris-Stowe State University, the citys HBCU, will be a standing tribute to the community that was lost. Artist and native St Louisan Damon Davis says Mill Creek Valley is a virtually unknown part of Black history he was previously not aware of.

I learned about it during the research phase of preparing the application, Davis says. I was kind of embarrassed. Growing up we learned about Black history and I knew about all these people around the world, but I didnt know this place existed.

Davis won the bid to design the artwork for the Counterpublic Civic Art Exhibition in 2023 and, after learning about the neighborhood, he wanted to know more. As a result, Davis was moved to create a monument that he says will never be forgotten. The public art installation runs along Market Street on the southwest side of the stadium and consists of eight pillars or hourglasses that represent time, or a collective history Davis says has been glossed over. Within each hourglass is a pyramid symbolic the earth or sand at a standstill.

If the sand is not falling that means time is not moving, so the idea of the pyramid being in the top chamber, is the idea we have stopped for a second to commemorate and to have reverence for these histories that were purposely covered up, Davis says. There was an intention behind removing these people from the narrative of St Louis and now there must the same intention behind bringing their stories back to life.

In between the pillars in front of Centene Stadium and Harris-Stowe University will be signage and individual pillars connecting the few remaining buildings from Mill Creek Valley along the greenway. The segment of the Brickline Greenway will include Harris-Stowe State Universitys renovated Stars Park, former home to the St Louis Stars of the Negro Baseball League, and Vashon Community Center, one of the only remaining structures from Mill Creek Valley, that will be converted into the Don and Heide Wolff Jazz Institute and National Black Radio Hall of Fame.

From the 1950s to the mid 80s, St Louis was considered the soccer capital of the US thanks to a large immigrant population from Germany, Italy and Ireland that produced more homegrown soccer players than any other state. Currently St. Louis has acres of soccer fields spanning out into the suburbs of the St Louis region, but when you cross the Daniel Boone Bridge you wouldnt know the sport exists in the same way, Collier says.

St Louis City FCs headquarters, training facility and stadium are strategically located within the downtown west district. The location makes it easy to prioritize resources and give sustainable infrastructure where it did not exist, Collier says. Right now, the expansion club is working through an infrastructure plan to make the game more accessible. The areas of impact are youth development which prioritizes Black and Brown children having access to soccer community investment, social justice, and health and wellness.

You can say bridging the gap in the game of soccer is really lofty, but how were going about doing it is incredibly intentional and were calling community members in, so they see these opportunities of us integrating technology and sport innovation in a way thats simply hasnt been done, Collier says.

The St Louis City SC app features stories about Mill Creek Valley, where fans can learn how the current landscape represents the row houses that made up the vibrant community. The stadium also incorporates plaques into the landscape as hedgerows representing homes and within the landscape is the address of each home. Because St Louis is a predominantly Black city, Collier says its important to share the history of the neighborhood and also include the community in what St Louis City SC is up to off the pitch.

The nascent club is eager to engage the next generation about career opportunities within the sport. The MLS is the youngest and most diverse sports league in the country and St Louis City want to reflect that on every level. Before the stadium opened, the club had the most participation of African Americans on any major project in the city of St Louis. The club also sourced staff from the local workforce to boost economic development in Black and Brown communities. Collier says thats just the beginning as they continue to hire ahead of the official start of play in March 2023.

In addition to the greenways, the Brickline connecting St Louis will be used as a catalyst for growth and partnership. Great Rivers Greenway is focused on community engagement based on equity and economic development, says Susan Trautman, CEO of Great Rivers Greenway. The vision for the Brickline Greenway is 20 miles of pathways that connects 17 neighborhoods including Forest Park, Gateway Arch National Park, Fairground Park and Tower Grove Park. While the area along Mill Creek is largely developed, GRG is partnering with several organizations in an equity economic development working group with goals centered around people, power, places and systems. Trautman says it was essential that the working group receive input from the community about how to revitalize the areas of disinvestment in North St Louis.

Its about using the community voice to make decisions about how land and real estate is developed, Trautman says. And working in tandem with our nonprofit partners we will have an equity economic director who encourage and support development that is driven by community need adjacent to the greenway.

GRG recently released an RFQ for design to build the Brickline North section. The organization then held a mixer to allow small businesses owned by people of color to become part of the major design team effort. GRG is focused on design and construction in the North St Louis area where there is not as much opportunity. and real estate development is focused on the 500ft to quarter-mile perimeter of the Brickline, where economic development is more likely to occur.

The biggest part of making sure people in the community are engaged is educating them on how they can be engaged and introducing them to opportunities where maybe they are a sub consultant to start so maybe they can grow their business, Trautman says.

From Davis artwork to economic initiatives, St Louis City SC is striving to be a new spirit in St Louis through the power of sport. And for the club, acknowledging the past is part of building for a better future. Collier says the monument dedicated to the story of Mill Creek Valley goes beyond the fan experience, but it pushed St Louis in the middle of a national conversation.

Not only do we get to educate St Louisans, we get to educate the world, Collier says. But this is going to be a national monument in St Louis and theres nothing like this in sports.

Visit link:

St Louis City SC looks to MLS future by remembering hard truths of the past - The Guardian

President BidenJoe BidenRepublican senators introduce bill to ban Russian uranium imports Energy & Environment Ruling blocking climate accounting metric halted Fauci says officials need more than .5B for COVID-19 response MOREs condemnation of Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinRepublican senators introduce bill to ban Russian uranium imports Hillicon Valley Invasion complicates social media policy Defense & National Security Blinken details Russia's possible next steps MORE as a war criminal marked a dramatic shift in how the U.S. talks about Russias invasion of Ukraine.

To officially affix the war crimes label to a countrys actions involves a vigorous, often decades-long legal process, and investigators are already beginning to look at Russias conduct.

But experts say the presidents blunt statement to reporters on Wednesday, after resisting using the term for weeks, could serve to more forcefully galvanize the international community toward further isolating Moscow and raise the cost for Russian officials complicit in its war against Ukraine.

The power of the term war criminal or war crimes is that it serves as a unifying factor around which allies can unite, said Mike Newton, a professor of the practice of law at Vanderbilt University and an expert in war crimes.

It says essentially, pick sides. Youre either on the side of the war criminals and therefore you support the murder of civilians, you support war crimes, or youre not.

The presidents new rhetoric, which is being echoed by other administration officials, comes as Putin escalates attacks, including launching strikes that have hit apartment buildings, hospitals and shelters, and as Bidens senior diplomatic and intelligence officials warn Putin may launch a chemical weapons attack in Ukraine as he grows more desperate against Ukrainian resistance.

Secretary of State Antony BlinkenAntony BlinkenDefense & National Security Blinken details Russia's possible next steps Italian minister of culture says Italy ready to rebuild bombed Ukrainian theater Biden raises stakes with allegations of Russian war crimes MORE warned Thursday that Moscow may be setting the stage to use a chemical weapon and then falsely blame Ukraine to justify escalating its attacks, and said he agreed with the presidents remarks.

Intentionally targeting civilians is a war crime, Blinken told reporters. After all the destruction of the past three weeks, I find it difficult to conclude that the Russians are doing otherwise.

The United Nations on Thursday said it has counted 2,032 civilian casualties, with 780 killed and 1,252 injured but believes the actual figure to be considerably higher.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who the U.S. blacklisted as part of wide-ranging sanctions on individuals supporting Russias war against Ukraine, said that Bidens comment was "unacceptable and unforgivable rhetoric," according to Tass news agency.

Blinken on Thursday said international human rights lawyer Beth Van Schaack, who was confirmed Wednesday by the Senate for the post of ambassador-at-large for Global Criminal Justice, will lead the State Departments investigation documenting possible war crimes.

White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiHealth Care Pelosi shoots higher on COVID-19 funding Defense & National Security Blinken details Russia's possible next steps Biden says US is open to help Ukrainian refugees MORE cautioned the legal process at the State Department to determine if Putin committed war crimes could take some time and didnt specify a timeline.

Its a legal process, where they review all of the evidence and then they provide that evidence and data and information to the international bodies that oversee the investigations, she said on Thursday. We would be supporting those efforts.

Reports and images from the war have shocked the world this week, including Russian attacks on civilian targets, kidnappings and hostage-taking.

The UN said casualties have been caused by shelling from heavy artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems, as well as missile strikes.Those findings underscore U.S. and NATO officials saying Russia has used cluster and vacuum bombs, indiscriminate munitions that can cause wide-ranging damage.

Blinken said Russias strategy is to break the will of the Ukrainian people.

In the southern city of Mariupol, the Russian bombing this week of a theater in which hundreds of civilians took shelter and which was marked with the words Children in Russian drew international outrage. More than 100 survivors reportedly emerged from the rubble on Thursday, the bomb shelter underneath the theater miraculously withstanding the Russian attack.

Last week an attack there on a childrens hospital and maternity ward similarly drew condemnation. The Associated Press documented at least one death of a pregnant woman and her unborn child, who was earlier photographed being carried from the wreckage on a stretcher.

The World Health Organization said it was one of 43 hospitals Russia has attacked.

Vice President Harris, responding to a question from a reporter while in Romania following the attack on the maternity ward, said We are clear that any intentional attack or targeting of civilians is a war crime. Period.

At least five journalists have been killed, and others injured, while reporting from the ground in Ukraine this month and Blinken has said their deaths, if intentional, could also constitute a war crime.

Other Russian attacks viewed as potential war crimes include the bombings of civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, communication infrastructure, municipal offices, the attacks on and seizure of nuclear sites, and Ukrainian civilians reportedly being shot by Russian soldiers as they tried to flee the fighting.

The brutality in Ukraine has been shared on television, Twitter, Reddit, secure messaging systems and other platforms, making information on the ground widely accessible. Newton said this means more data for investigators.

Theres a new clarity of information, he said. But that just means you have to incorporate those things into your investigations. Thats the point, the political rhetoric of war crimes cant substitute for the granular legal analysis.

Investigations are already underway in a number of international fora to document and preserve evidence of possible war crimes.

Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim A.A. Khan QC announced on Feb. 28 that the court was opening an investigation into whether Russia committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

Khan traveled to western Ukraine and Polandon March 15 to assess the situation on the ground, meet with affected communities and to further accelerate our work by engaging with national counterparts, he said in a statement.

If attacks are intentionally directed against the civilian population: that is a crime that my Office may [investigate] and prosecute. If attacks are intentionally directed against civilian objects, including hospitals: that is a crime that my Office may investigate and prosecute.

On March 4, the United Nations Human Rights Council voted to establisha Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine that has a mandate to investigate all alleged rights violations, abuses related crimes and make recommendations on accountability measures. The resolution also called for Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

Thirty-two members voted in favor of the resolution to establish the inquiry, with only Russia and Eritrea rejecting the measure.

Also on March 4, 45 countries part of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) voted to invoke the Moscow Mechanism, appointing independent experts to investigate potential gross human rights violations and war crimes in any of the OSCE member states. The mechanism was established during a 1991 OSCE summit in Moscow.

Further, the International Court of Justice, the top arbiter for the United Nations,on Wednesdaycalled for Russia to immediately halt its military operation and withdraw its troops from Ukraine, responding to a complaint from Kyiv filed last month accusing Russia of falsely claiming genocide to justify its invasion.

The ICJ has no specific authority to compel Russia to withdraw, but its ruling is viewed as another venue where Moscow is being isolated.

Kremlin spokesperson Peskov rejected the courts ruling, telling reporterson Thursday that Russia cannot take this decision into account."

Putin could face trial if charged with war crimes and indicted, likely by the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

But it could take decades.

The trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is often used as a modern-day comparison. He was captured by U.S. forces in Iraq in 2003 and faced trial by an Iraqi Special Tribunal for crimes against humanity stemming from the mass killing of civilians in Dujail, Iraq in 1982. He was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging in 2006.

The wheels of justice will grind, Newton said. I just think we have to be in this for the long haul.

More here:

Biden raises stakes with allegations of Russian war crimes | TheHill - The Hill

Sponsorships support virtual event focused on developing leadership skills in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB)

PHOENIX, March 17, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--University of Phoenix is pleased to announce ETS, the worlds largest, nonprofit educational assessment, measurement, research and learning organization, and Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, a premier source of timely news, provocative commentary, insightful interviews and in-depth special reports on diversity in higher education, as sponsors of the Universitys first annual Inclusive Leadership Summit and Career Fair, April 12-15, 2022.

The free, virtual event is open to the public and focused on helping participants develop diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) skills as inclusive leaders and will provide opportunities for networking connection and employment.

"The Inclusive Leadership Summit and Career Fair brings an opportunity to focus on how industry leaders can address systemic inequities of a diverse workforce and workplace," states John Woods, Ph.D., provost and chief academic officer of University of Phoenix. "As sponsors, ETS and Diverse are organizations demonstrating leadership, commitment, and advocacy for equity and inclusion in educational settings, the workplace, and the community at large."

Diverse featured the Inclusive Leadership Summit and Career Fair in a March 15 article.

Titled "Creating the intentional leader of today, tomorrow and beyond," the University of Phoenix Inclusive Leadership Summit and Career Fair offers attendees access to a Career Fair as well as in-depth workshops, research presentations and choose industry-focused tracks: Leadership & Management, Healthcare and Education.

The Inclusive Leadership Summit integrates research findings from University of Phoenix Career Institute and Research Centers to influence topics addressed while highlighting academic fields of study offered at the University.

Story continues

Register for the University of Phoenix Inclusive Leadership Summit here.

About ETS

At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, and by conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually including the TOEFL and TOEIC tests, the GRE tests and The Praxis Series assessments in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. http://www.ets.org.

About Diverse: Issues In Higher Education

For more than three decades, Diverse: Issues In Higher Education has been Americas premier source of timely news, provocative commentary, insightful interviews and in-depth special reports on diversity in higher education. Savvy individuals who appreciate the crucial and ever-changing role that higher education plays in the lives of students, professionals, their families and their communities make reading Diverse a regular habit.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220317005941/en/

Contacts

Sharla HooperUniversity of Phoenixsharla.hooper@phoenix.edu

Excerpt from:

ETS and Diverse: Issues In Higher Education Announced as Sponsors for the University of Phoenix Inclusive Leadership Summit and Career Fair - Yahoo...

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC) is pleased to announce the keynote speakers for its upcoming Women's History Month Luncheon on Thursday, March 24th, 2022 in Washington, DC in partnership with AT&T.

The theme of the Annual Women's History Month Luncheon is "Redefining Empowerment" and features two dynamic women of power, Natalie Cofield, SBA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Women's Business Ownership, and Nicole Cober Johnson Esq., Founder of The BOW Collective.

"AT&T is a proud supporter of the U.S. Black Chambers of Commerce and we are excited to celebrate Women's HERstory Month with the organization. It is such an important time to highlight and uplift Women in the business community, and we applaud the U.S. Black Chambers of Commerce for being a champion for Women and Black-owned businesses." Says Tanya Lombard, AT&T Vice President, Global External & Public Affairs

Both Natalie Madeira-Cofield and Nicole Cober Johnson Esq. have a rich history of championing women entrepreneurs and women in leadership by providing executive coaching, access to capital, business strategies, and business development.

USBC couldn't be more excited for our upcoming event, powered by longtime corporate partner AT&T on March 24th in Washington, DC. This event will celebrate women entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds who have made significant contributions in business and their communities.

"USBC is being intentional about challenging the status quo by curating a conversation about women's entrepreneurship. We will honor the achievements of women who've broken through glass ceilings and challenged traditional definitions of success, while also examining the many factors that prevent Black women from achieving their entrepreneurial dreams." Says USBC President & CEO, Ron Busby.

The event will showcase the "Giants of Women's Entrepreneurship" and unpack how we can redefine what it means to intentionally empower women at every stage of their journey. National News Journalist Taylor Thomas will emcee USBC's Women of Power Luncheon, featuring fireside conversations moderated by Jotaka Eaddy, Founder, and CEO of Full Circle Strategies, and USBC EVP, Talisha Bekavac.

The hybrid event will host 80 special invited in-person guests in addition to being broadcasted for virtual attendees. The event is expected to draw a hybrid audience of more than 300 business owners, influencers, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and community leaders from across the country.

Attendees will hear from founders, investors, and community leaders who are setting new standards for the industry, discover how to get more involved with female founder initiatives, and network with other like-minded individuals.

For more details about this amazing event, check out the event page here.

Media Contact

Tiffany Murphy, The Culture Equity, 1 281-900-5494, usbc@thecultureequity.com

SOURCE U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.

Read more:

SBA Assistant Administrator Natalie Cofield and Nicole Cober Esq., Founder of The BOW Collective to Keynote USBC Women of Power Luncheon - 69News...

Litter, like the weather, is something easy to complain about but harder to change, at least on a community-wide level.

A small group of Columbus citizens is hoping to rally the city and county to join efforts in tackling the litter problem but needs all the help they can get if the campaign is going to reach critical mass.

During his weekly Wednesday press conference, Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin lent his support to the group, which is staging its first Pick It Up Possum Town litter clean-up event on April 2 in each of the citys six wards.

The goal of the grass-roots group is not merely to set aside a day to remove litter, but to create a sustainable anti-litter program that will focus on prevention.

In lending his support to the effort, the mayor introduced Mayor Possum, a bespectacled plush toy possum, a nod to the name given to the area by native Americans in the early 1800s, and his own childhood, when the Litter Bug raised awareness among children about litter.

When a person is taught to wear a seatbelt as a child, it becomes second nature to wear them as they grow up. The same principle applies to litter. The mayor said he plans to take Mayor Possum and his Dont Be a Litter Critter into schools and churches.

Littering is almost always a thoughtless act. Few people are deliberately motivated to mar the landscape with cans, bottles, wrappers, etc. So awareness is a first step in any campaign. Awareness leads to being intentional about properly disposing of litter. Those conscious acts become a habit that can create a culture.

Any successful anti-litter campaign follows that pattern.

In 1970, the Keep America Beautiful campaign introduced a memorable TV public service ad featuring a crying Indian as he surveyed a landscape polluted by litter. More recently, Texas employed its Dont Mess With Texas ad campaign, which saved the state millions of dollars in state highway clean-up funds as people were reminded to properly dispose of their trash.

For grown-ups who perhaps have never considered the full range of negative consequences of litter, its important for them to know that litter isnt simply an eyesore but has far-reaching implications. Trash can become a breeding ground for rodents, cockroaches and bacteria they often carry. Its a threat to public health, but it can also affect a community in other damaging ways: collecting in and clogging drains and sewers and costing the city taxpayer dollars for clean-up. The local economy can suffer, too. Tourists do not look favorably on communities where litter abounds.

Melissa Parsons, who is leading the group, hopes to collaborate with other groups in ongoing efforts in the area, including the Ive Got Your Block program in the Columbus Municipal School District, as well as programs at Vibrant Church and the YMCA, among others.

We encourage businesses, civic groups, churches and individual residents to join this continuing effort. We note the model used by The Salvation Armys Red Kettle program where groups volunteer to serve on a particular day or weekend.

In preparation for the April 2 clean-up day, Parsons group met with city council members to identify areas in their wards where litter is particularly bad. One practical suggestion is for the city to make sure there are trash cans in those areas. People will use a trash can for their disposables if there is one nearby. They are more likely to litter when no trash can is in close proximity.

Enforcement is often cited as a means of combating litter, but the most successful enforcement is again awareness. Years ago, the city had a litter control officer who, acting on tips from the public, sent letters to letters to offenders reminding them of the negative effects of litter. Aside from the most egregious examples of littering, the best enforcement may be raising awareness.

The litter problem wont be solved overnight. It will take a sustained, community-wide effort to keep our city and county clean.

The good news is that if each of us do our part, we can and will succeed.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.

Original post:

Our view: Awareness is the first step in combating litter - The Commercial Dispatch

Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim was a reunion, a thinktank and a launchpad in one, eliciting joy, camaraderie and urgency. It challenged and inspired, and for those approaching with curiosity, raised as many questions as it did answers.

One thing is for certain: the $274 billion natural products industry is flourishing, and its future is rooted in purpose. With 2,750 exhibitors, including 625 first timers, Expo West was the place to see whats next for this industry. Here are the top takeaways that will drive responsible growth, intentional innovation and far-reaching inclusion.

No stranger to entrepreneurship and Expo West, former Honest Tea CEO Seth Goldmans journey came full circle as he showed up as CEO of his new brand Eat the Change, which sells plant-based snacks such as mushroom jerky and carrot chews. "This is a movement conference. Its a business event, but we are all also working on a common cause," Goldman shared during Brand-Building Connections, a session geared toward young innovators that attracted many first-time exhibitors.

The State of Natural and Organic keynote centered around themes that will move the needle for the industry and society at large, specifically equity and impact. Carlotta Mast, New Hope Network senior vice president, called for the industry to "harness the technology and J.E.D.I to build a prosperous, high-integrity industry that creates health, joy and justice for all people while regenerating the planet." Meanwhile, Nick McCoy, managing director of Whipstitch Capital, made the economic case for it, pointing out heightened investor focus on ESG (environment, social and governance) that will drive responsible industry growth. "Primary investors are increasingly demanding ESG validation, he said. "Mission-driven companies will benefit from the increased demand and the impact will accelerate." Good news for the many Expo West brand and product launches focused on solving problems related to agriculture, climate change, waste, inequity and more.

A packed ballroom throughout Climate Day programming proved that plant-friendly practices are top of mind for the natural products value chain. We have always been mission driven but having high ideals and doing something good in the world is very different from looking at the data knowing what you have to do to have an impact, said Rebecca Hamilton, owner and co-CEO at W.S. Badger Co. Speakers throughout Climate Day reinforced that we are just scratching the surface of our climate work and emphasized that theres a great need to bring more equity into our climate activism.

Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr.s message that "climate justice is racial justice and racial justice is climate justice" echoed throughout the show. Investing in BIPOC farmers, bringing diverse voices to the table and addressing the communities most impacted by climate change is critical to advancing both movements. "For us, it means centering the voices of frontline communities, the people who are affected first and worst should be developing the solutions," said Karen Lickteig, community coordinator at B Corporation, which recently published its Climate Justice Playbook.

During our Natural Products Expo Virtual Expo West kickoff event keynote, Goodles co-founders Gal Gadot and Jen Zeszut revealed one of the driving forces behind their healthier mac and cheese company: joy. That theme was reinforced throughout the week at Expo West, whether with a NEXTY-winning natural glitter popcorn, mood-supporting supplements and beverages, the whimsical booths decorating the Anaheim convention center or Tabitha Browns empowering messages of self-care. "Joy is how I live my life. The world didnt give it and the world cant take it away." There seemed to be an awareness that despite the big and very real challenges we are facing as a global community, joy can amplify our work to support the health of people and planet. Indeed, embracing (and packaging!) happiness is a trend were hopeful wont fade away.

With more than 625 new exhibitors at Natural Products Expo West, innovation was on display in Anaheim. From the Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace to the North Hall and Hall E, emerging brands proved that theyre the heartbeat of Expo West. Categories and trends delivering the most innovation included plant-based, functional beverages and climate-friendly foods. While dietary supplement innovations werent giving us too much to talk about, cannabinoids beyond CBD and the evolution of alternative delivery formats such as shots and gummies infused some energy into the category. Innovation of the future will focus on serving broader demographics to ensure the natural products industry's impact is far-reaching and inclusive. Peruse our full trends guide, all exhibitors in NPEV and our NEXTY Award winners.

From full attendance of plant-based education sessions to the number of new foods and beverages on the show floor, plant based was abuzz. "Plant based is expanding its roots," said Kathryn Peters, SPINS executive vice president, during the State of Natural keynote. "It keeps propagating and propagating." Yet, industry leaders pointed to the need for more guardrails and transparency, as two plant-based movementsembracing whole real foods and pushing the envelope with food technologysparked lively conversation.

In advance of Expo West, Shelley Sapsin, New Hope Network's director of market integrity, shared New Hopes position on food tech, which had a strong presence in Anaheim. We do have a position but its not for, or against, food tech. Its about transparency. We all want solutions to some of the significant challenges we face: food access, climate change, fresh-water depletion, nutrient-deficient foods, food waste and more. At the show, it was clear that more conversations and deeper commitment to transparency are necessary, and that for some, food technology's presence is a direct conflict with the show's roots. But there were also bright spots. During Innovations in Plant-Based Meats and Alternative Proteins, Perfect Day and Chi Foods beautifully shared their unique approaches to plant-based foods and how theyre each striving to change the food paradigm.

New Hope Network has planned a year of activities on our community platform, Natural Products Expo Virtual. Discover thousands of amazing companies, more pre-show programming and livestreamed sessions including Climate Day, Pitch Slam and the State of the Natural & Organic Industry keynote.

Explore the Natural Products Expo West agenda and the NPEV agenda to learn more and make your plans. Access to NPEV is included with Expo West in-person registration.

Originally posted here:

The future of CPG: 5 takeaways from Natural Products Expo West - New Hope Network

LANCASTER, Pa., March 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- When the $65 million High Foundation Fund was established at Lancaster County Community Foundation last fall, it was truly extraordinary. That was just the beginning of S. Dale High's innovative plan to sustain his legacy of using business and philanthropy to contribute to the greater good of the community.

Today, S. Dale High and the High Family announce the transfer of family ownership of High Industries to High Foundation. This new structure, making High Foundation a major stakeholder of High Industries, will result in millions of dollars of profits being invested into the Lancaster community and other communities where High Industries provides economic investment and employment.

High Industries is a major force in building and rebuilding North Americas infrastructure. High companies employ nearly 2,000 coworkers in 11 businesses in 38 locations in six states. This new structure gives coworkers a direct line to creating more thriving, vibrant communities where they live and work. Profits will be invested into the High Foundation for the good of the community, toward initiatives that address poverty and community transformation, cultural and economic vibrancy, and collaboration and social innovation. High Foundation investments will be disbursed through:

Major partnerships and collaborationsThe grant application process on highfoundation.orgScholarships for children of High coworkersHigh Foundation Fund at Lancaster County Community Foundation

This is the creation of a new kind of company, said Dale High, where High Foundation has become the major shareholder and the community is the recipient of the profits of High Industries moving forward. This allows our coworkers the satisfaction of knowing that the profits they help generate will go back into the community. So, every day when they are building value, they are building it for the community.

A Higher Purpose

As he began to plan for the next chapter of High Industries, Dale High envisioned a change in the structure of the companyan inspired model that continues the companys legacy and work in the community. He asked the question, "What if we could create a company that directly benefits the community?" This shift continues the legacy of Dale Highs transformative and innovative leadership, which has guided High Industries in using business as a force for good in the community for decades, and High Foundation as a committed community partner for the past 40 years.

I am proud of Dale and our family for making this move, said Suzanne High. The High Family wholly supports this change as a continuation of its legacy and philosophy. While ownership of High Industries is changing to the High Foundation, the High Family will remain in the companies in a number of ways. For me, as Vice Chair of the High Foundation, I have seen firsthand the life-changing impact of our investments, and I am excited to see that continue to grow.

A Bridge to Opportunity

Since 1980, High Foundation has been a thought leader and community partner, contributing over $20 million to projects and initiatives that eliminate the cycle of poverty and enable the dignity, diversity, equality, and inclusion of all people. High Foundations 40year legacy of impact spans improvements in education, health and human services, arts and culture, historic preservation, environmental stewardship, and social enterprise in Lancaster City and beyond.

Robin Stauffer will continue to lead High Foundation as Executive Director and work with key community partners. High Foundation has put a strong governance structure in place to support future growth and collaboration. Additional Trustees have recently been added to the Board, and Committees have been created. High Foundation will be scaled appropriately to handle the growth that will occur as a result of the new structure, and the High Family has ensured that sufficient reserves are in place to maintain financial durability for years to come.

This is a remarkable gift from Dale High to High coworkers and our communities, said Robin Stauffer, Executive Director of High Foundation. This new structure multiplies the already generous impact High Foundation has had and emboldens the Foundation for even greater impact.

The Ultimate Example of Business for Good

Familyowned since 1931, Lancasterbased High Industries is a major force in building and rebuilding North Americas infrastructure. Since joining the family business in 1963, Dale has led High Industries to success through the thoughtful, intentional approach of putting people, community, and business for good above all else. Today, High companies employ nearly 2,000 coworkers in 11 businesses in 38 locations in six states.

High Industries will continue to thrive and grow under the leadership of its existing Board of Directors, CEO Mike Shirk, the High Executive Committee and High Industries leadership teams. High Industries will continue to maintain a healthy financial position and have the capacity to invest in its strategic plans.

The High Philosophy of building trustworthy relationships and being innovative leaders will continue to define corporate culture and values.

What will change is that profits from High Industries will be managed, grown, and distributed into the community through High Foundation under the leadership of the Board of Trustees and Executive Director Robin Stauffer. This means that profits will directly benefit the communities in which High companies provide economic investment and employment.

In the past, dividends distributed from High Industries went to the High Family. Now they will go directly to High Foundation for investment in the communities where our companies operate. This immediately grows the resources available to High Foundation. Its the ultimate commitment to social responsibility and doing business for good in an impactful and lasting way. Its a truly bold and unique move made possible through Dale Highs vision and dedication to making it happen, noted Mike Shirk, CEO of High companies.

To view Dale Highs announcement about this extraordinary gift to the Lancaster and High coworker communities, please visit http://www.highfoundation.org.

About High Foundation

High Foundation is a philanthropic nonprofit organization that is funded by members of the High Family, owners of High Companies. The Foundations overall mission is to align with community benefit organizations to support positive change within areas of identified need in communities in which High companies do business. The current focus of the Foundation is eliminating poverty and strengthening Lancaster City in Pennsylvania. In addition, the Foundation assists High coworkers in meeting the costs of a college education for their children through the High Foundation Scholarship Program.

About High Industries Inc.

High Industries Inc. is a Lancaster, Pa.based company with 2021 revenue of approximately $570 million. Its affiliates High Steel Structures Inc., High Concrete Group LLC, High Steel Service Center LLC, High Transit LLC, High Structural Erectors LLC, and High Construction Company deliver a wide range of products and services to customers across the East Coast and Midwest United States. These products and services include steel bridge superstructure fabrication and erection; precast concrete building systems; metal processing and distribution; heavyhauling transportation; steel and precast concrete erection services; general contracting and architectural design. More information is available by visiting http://www.high.net.

# # #

Attachment

Dave Nicholas High Companies 717-293-4545 dnicholas@high.net

Read more here:

Envisioning a Higher Purpose, High Family Transfers Ownership of High Industries to High Foundation - The Bakersfield Californian

Over the past six months, one of the more interesting tensions to play out has been watching companies of all sizes try to figure out the best way to bring their employees back to the office. On the one hand, the pandemic has taught many of us that there are a lot of jobs that simply don't require being in an office. At the same time, there are real benefits to having everyone together--even if not all the time.

For example, teams develop relationships differently when they're together in person, compared to only connecting online. There are plenty of situations where that difference matters enough to a company that they want to getpeople together.

Google has invested a lot of work and resources into figuring out how to balance those needs, and how to create environments that facilitate both. I've paid close attention as the company has shared its plans--including when it announced dates for bringing everyone back to the office, only to push thembackas different waves of the pandemic surged throughdifferent communities.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai, shared some of his thinking on returning to work, and how the office environment plays a role. His answer--one sentence, in particular--was the best I've heard yet:

The thing I'm most excited about is I think the future of work will be flexible... Specifically, we do think it's important to get people in a few days a week, but we are embracing all options. A set of our workforce will be fully remote, but most of our workforce will be coming in three days a week. But I think we can be more purposeful about the time they're in, making sure group meetings or collaboration, creative collaborative brainstorming or community building, happens then.I'm excited. I think people and teams are going to figure this out, but overall I feel energized that we get to rethink for the next 10 years.

The emphasis in that paragraph is mine because I want to highlight what I think is the best sentiment about bringing people back to the office that I've heard yet.The reason I think this is so important is that it articulates something that I think many people working remotely care about.

If you're going to have people come into the office, it should be for a reason. That reason shouldn't be only that you've spent a lot of money on a fancy workspace and you have to justify the expense. Having your team come in just so you can see them all sitting at tables with their laptops open isn't purposeful. It might make you feel better that they're all working in the same office, but it doesn't actually contribute anything to their individual work, or to your collaborative efforts.

If you're going to ask your team to come to the office a few days a week, you should be intentional about using that time for things you can't otherwise do virtually. If having an all-hands meeting is important, do it then. If working through hard problems would benefit from face-to-face conversations, do it while the stakeholders are together.

There's a flip side to this, which is that the rest of the time, you should let people focus on getting their work done. Don't fill their schedule with video meetings on days they aren't in the office. If you feel the need to constantly be meeting with your team to talk about what they're working on, you're doing it wrong. That's just basic people management, and it makes sense--if you make your team members spend all their time in meetings, they won't have any time to actually work.

Finally, I'll just call out one other thing from that part of the interview. "I think people and teams are going to figure this out," Pichai said. Google's CEO has faith that the best people to figure out how to get work done are the teams actually trying to get the work done. That's more important than you might think, and it isn't just Google that seems to be taking this approach.

Last fall, I wrote about an email from Amazon's new CEO, Andy Jassy, in which he told employees that "instead of specifying that people work a baseline of three days a week in the office, we're going to leave this decision up to individual teams." The people who are in the best position to figure out how to get work done are the people you trusted enough to hire for that purpose.

It's encouraging to see this mentality, even at giant tech companies. The good news is, it's something every manager, CEO, team leader, and entrepreneur can copy. Let your team figure out the best way to work, and whether they're in the office or not, be intentional and purposeful with their time.

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

Read more:

With One Sentence, Google's CEO Just Shared the Best Plan for Returning to the Office I've Heard Yet - Inc.

March 2, 2022

It developed in response to the inordinate number of industrial facilities and contaminated sites located near underrepresented or overburdened communities, which adversely and disproportionately affected the health and well-being of those communities. With the change in federal administrations and intense global discourse on climate change, EJ has now evolved and matured into concrete requirements to be considered in the realm of environmental permitting. Considering EJ concerns in permitting decisions gives affected communities a voice in the process for projects planned near them.

President Biden began his term by addressing the climate crisis head-on. Among his early Executive Orders, he created the Environmental Justice Interagency Council. The Council is comprised of 15 federal agencies, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), which chairs the Council, and the Department of Justice. The EPA has had an EJ Strategic Plan since 1994 when President Clinton directed federal agencies to develop EJ strategies to address the disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of federal programs on minority and low-income populations. Now, EJ principles are to be implemented in projects, initiatives, and enforcement actions across all federal agencies, using metrics of the affected population's exposure to pollution, to provide an opportunity for community involvement in the project process.

The EPA, now led by Administrator Michael S. Regan, former Secretary for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality ("DEQ"), describes EJ as "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies." Every four years, it establishes a strategic plan to: (1) communicate priorities and strategies that serve as a planning and budgeting framework; and (2) provide the regulated community a glimpse of where the EPA's focus will be. The draft 2022-2026 Strategic Plan was published in October 2021 and is expected to be finalized by the second quarter of 2022. One of four overarching principles in the Plan is "Advance Justice and Equity"defined as taking decisive action to advance EJ and civil rights at the federal, state, local, and tribal level by embedding EJ and civil rights in all EPA work and strengthening civil rights enforcement in EJ communities.

The EPA plans to narrow its focus from the broader concept of EJ by vigorously enforcing civil rights protections within its programs. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VI"), federal agencies like the EPA can issue rules and regulations to ensure that no person is unlawfully discriminated against, or excluded from protection by, any of its programs or activities. Title VI states that "no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination." Section 601 of that Act prohibits intentional discrimination and disparate adverse impacts resulting from what may appear to be a neutral decision by entities that receive federal funds. Disparate adverse impacts are the most common violation in an environmental setting. Although there is no private right of action against an offending agency, Section 602 enables affected EJ communities to file an administrative complaint with the EPA. When the EPA receives such a complaint alleging prohibited disparate impacts, it investigates the permitting process of the project at issue. If the agency overseeing the project has not sufficiently considered impacts on an EJ community in its decision-making process, it risks losing its federal funding.

To assist in its investigations, the EPA has developed a color-coded mapping tool known as the EJSCREEN. This tool collects environmental and demographic indicators for a nationally consistent dataset and approach for environmental decision-making. The EJSCREEN: Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool | US EPA is publicly available, and users can input a geographic location to identify demographic and environmental conditions within a certain distance of an industrial facility.

In 2021, at least six Title VI complaints and investigations were initiated. Of note, one of these complaints involved the DEQ's issuance of three swine waste management and treatment system permits for farms in Duplin County. The complaint asserted that Black and Latino communities near the farms would be disproportionately impacted by the pollution and adverse health effects caused by the hog farms' operation. On January 13, 2022, the EPA agreed to investigate the DEQ's issuance of these permits.

During his tenure at the DEQ, former Secretary Regan raised the profile of EJ by creating an Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board and prioritizing efforts to enhance the state's Environmental Justice Program. This Program "works to ensure the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies." The EJ Program uses public data and tools to determine if the location of a proposed project is in an area populated by underrepresented communities that the project may disproportionately impact. It uses a Community Mapping System similar to the EPA's EJSCREEN. This System gathers and uses location, demographics and health, and permit or incident information for nearby projects to inform DEQ decisions to implement specific plans for local outreach and accessibility for public participation in meetings and the permitting process. An online comment tool the public to provide information or complaints anonymously about an environmental concern or an incident of discrimination involving an environmental concern. If the DEQ determines the project location is in an EJ community, it will initiate enhanced public outreach to determine if the community is interested or concerned, and will facilitate ways for the community to participate in the permitting process.

At the legislative level, House Bill 784 was introduced in early 2021 to statutorily address EJ considerations. The bill proposes revisions to several enabling statutes (such as those covering solid waste management, actions involving expenditures of state money or use of public land, water quality permits, and animal waste management systems) to incorporate Title VI requirements considering disproportionate adverse impacts to minority or low-income communities. In addition, a new statute section has been proposed to address permit applications for new or expanded facilities in an overburdened community by including public hearings within the community as part of the particular permitting program. While it is unlikely that this particular bill will be addressed in the upcoming term, given DEQ Secretary Biser's emphasis on EJ following Administrator Regan's efforts, there remains a possibility of further administrative action.

EJ should become part of any diligence review and project planning. Expect that project permitting will require EJ assessments. Meeting the applicable statutory health standards will no longer suffice. The EPA has been clear in expressing its view that compliance with environmental laws does not equal compliance with Title VI. Here are some factors to consider under this new EJ landscape.

First, owners and managers should identify EJ communities early in the planning process by utilizing the EJSCREEN or DEQ's community mapping system to understand how the agency will be viewing the neighborhood and proposed facility. Since there are not sufficient statutory or regulatory structures in place to follow, each project will proceed on a case-by-case basis, considering how the community's health in that particular location has been affected by historical environmental decisions. Applicants will need to anticipate more community engagement and public scrutiny of a project during the permitting process. Engaging with local communities before and outside of the formal permitting and environmental review process will serve the project well.

A recent federal appellate court decision is informative. In Friends of Buckingham v. State Air Pollution Control Board, 947 F.3d 68 (4th Cir. 2020), the Virginia permit-issuing authorities approved an air emissions permit for a natural gas pipeline compressor station planned for construction in a predominantly Black community. In doing so, they relied predominantly on a proposed design intended to exceed national requirements for ambient air standards. The Fourth Circuit, which covers North Carolina, vacated the permit decision and remanded the case for further proceedings because the permit-issuing authorities failed to properly conduct the EJ analysis required by Virginia's statute. In its analysis, the Fourth Circuit noted that the purpose of an EJ analysis is to determine whether a project will have a disproportionately adverse effect on the minority or low-income population in the proposed project's location. The court found the underlying pipeline permit analysis lacked factual findings on the character of the local community population when considering the potential injury to the health of that population, independent of national and state emissions standards under the Clean Air Act. Thus, meeting statutory health standards will not create a rebuttable presumption that no adverse impact will arise from a project; it's only part of the analysis.

Second, prepare for increased federal enforcement of activities in disadvantaged or overburdened communities. The EPA has increased its review of state-delegated permitting matters that normally would only involve the DEQ. Implementing proactive compliance measures, including self-audits and community outreach or engagement, can aid in staying ahead of potential friction points.

Third, expect enhanced regulatory scrutiny for projects, sites, operations, and cleanups. Facility inspections in burdened communities may increase; thus, implementing facility compliance programs and personnel training can manage issues before complaints are made.

Finally, the DEQ views its EJ Program as promoting a good neighbor policy as much as a constitutional requirement, and it expects regulated parties to participate. Legal counsel familiar with the EPA's and DEQ's requirements can assist early in the process.

-- 2022 Ward and Smith, P.A. For further information regarding the issues described above, please contact Amy P. Wang.

This article is not intended to give, and should not be relied upon for, legal advice in any particular circumstance or fact situation. No action should be taken in reliance upon the information contained in this article without obtaining the advice of an attorney.

We are your established legal network with offices in Asheville, Greenville, New Bern, Raleigh, and Wilmington, NC.

Go here to see the original:

Environmental Justice 101: Leveling the Playing Field in the Permitting Process - Ward and Smith, PA