Partnerships

Fair Trade USA is the leading fair trade certifying body in North America, operating globally alongside the European-based Fairtrade International. Colleen Anunu, Fair Trade USA’s Senior Manager of Supply Chain, reflects on some of fair trade’s achievements and challenges, with a focus on the coffee sector. She also explains how Fair Trade USA and Oikocredit are teaming up to reduce price risks for coffee farmers.

JetBlue, New York’s Hometown Airline®, recently announced the winners selected to participate in its third annual BlueBud (buddies + budding new companies) business mentoring program. In celebration of the third round of the BlueBud program, JetBlue has selected three food and beverage brands from New York.

This year’s winners merge food and beverage with social impact. Toast Ale is a Bronx-based brewery that is reducing food waste by using surplus bread to make craft beer. Barber Farm Distillery is family owned, making craft vodka from potatoes grown on their farm. Luv Michael is a non-profit that produces nut-free gluten free granola made by workers on the autism spectrum.

The Advisory Council on Sustainability of Ingersoll-Rand plc, a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, appointed Andrew Winston as a member of the Council, effective immediately.

Whole Foods and Englewood Square marked its first anniversary in Englewood Monday with a big celebration featuring the mayor, aldermen and local entrepreneurs.

“It’s a good day for me,” said Ald. Toni Foulkes (16th). “I’ve been walking these streets since I was seven.”

“I know that JoAnn is watching,” Foulkes said about the late Ald. JoAnn Thompson (16th), who had the vision for Englewood Square.

KeyBank Community Development Lending & Investment (CDLI) has provided a total of $46 million in financing to Dominium for the new construction of North Range Crossing, a 216-unit affordable multifamily project in Commerce City, CO. KeyBank arranged for the affordable housing and development company a $32.8 million construction loan and a $13.1 million equity bridge loan using tax-exempt bonds issued by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) and an allocation of 4% LIHTC credits.

Over the past two years, Cenovus has intentionally supported organizations and causes that have experienced increased demand during the downturn - focusing on basic needs, mental health and vulnerable populations with more philanthropically-motivated donations.

When the price of oil was around the $100 mark, the community investment team at Cenovus was carefully investing millions of dollars in three strategic areas that aligned with both the integrated oil company's focus areas (learning, safety and well-bring, and sustainable communities) and their business values.

In recent years, companies have increasingly focused their CSR efforts on creating opportunities for women and girls. CSR gender efforts often start with a focus on bringing women “up to speed” through trainings, hiring quotas, and scholarships. For example, in the financial services sector, a significant number of companies have some portion of their CSR portfolio dedicated to financial literacy for women around the world. These investments focus on issues ranging from household finances to entrepreneurial business skills to salary negotiations.

American Express has long advocated for historic preservation and small businesses, engaging the public in activities that help commercial corridors thrive.

Arrow Electronics’ global headquarters campus located just outside Denver was one of five stops on the Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Counsel’s (MPMSDC) annual bus tour event last month.