Inclusion & Opportunity

Lloyds Banking Group has published its latest Helping Britain Prosper Plan update as part of its 2015 Responsible Business suite of communications. The Plan is the Group’s response to some of the biggest social and economic challenges facing the UK. The Group understands it can use its scale, reach and influence to address these issues through meaningful, measurable and stretching targets.

Around the world, women are increasing their contributions to social, economic, cultural and political development, but unfortunately, the progress towards gender parity significantly lags behind.

According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), 38 years have been added to their global gender parity prediction—that is, in 2014 the WEF predicted perfect gender parity would take place in 2095, and this year (2015) the prediction is pushed back to take place in 2133. The pace of progress is unacceptable and the time for change is now. This International Women’s Day, let’s explore how we can contribute to fostering female equality world-wide.

On February 18, 21st Century Fox and the National Geographic Channel launched a new social media campaign to drive support and awareness for girls' education. The initiative extends through March 10, giving viewers the chance to celebrate this year's International Women's Day by taking part in the campaign and contributing to the education of the more than 60 million young women who are out of school around the world. In celebration of National Geographic Channel's global broadcast premiere of "He Named Me Malala" on February 29, the campaign asks viewers to tweet with the hashtag #withMalala or change their Facebook profile to a special campaign video. For every post, 21CF will donate $1 to the Malala Fund, a nonprofit that empowers girls globally through education, up to $50,000.

Erika Irish Brown, Bloomberg’s Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion, today announced two hires to the company’s growing Global D&I team. Pamela Hutchinson will lead the D&I effort in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Hayden Majajas will oversee the Asia-Pacific region.

Caterpillar Inc. and SunSelect Produce, Inc. today announced a strategic collaboration that will take the waste products of Caterpillar’s combined heat and power cogeneration facility in Mossville, Illinois, and put them to productive use in SunSelect hydroponic greenhouses. The greenhouse is expected to utilize excess thermal energy and carbon dioxide from ATPS’s natural gas fired turbines. The agreement is subject to regulatory approvals, satisfactory due diligence, permitting and closing conditions.

The principles of Restorative Justice are a hot topic of conversation in and around Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in large part because of the outreach of the Skidmore College Project on Restorative Justice. As area schools explore best practices, a community forum looks at nation’s criminal justice system.

Critics argue that corporate diversity and inclusion programs fail to make a real difference. But that doesn't mean we should stop trying.