Today nearly 1.3 billion people — almost 1 of every 5 persons on the planet — lack access to modern energy. Almost all live in poverty in rural sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia, unconnected to utility networks. Many companies offer stand-alone solar powered systems and mini-grid solutions, but the target communities often cannot afford the purchase price and lack the know-how to operate the systems. There are elements of a successful, sustainable approach to rural electrification projects, with examples of innovative business models and a case study of Schneider Electric’s Access to Energy program.

Mary-Ann Etiebet, Executive Director of Merck for Mothers, writes about the importance of providing maternity care to refugee women, highlighting MfM partner Doctors of the World’s research, program, and advocacy efforts to ensure more equitable access to care.

Tupperware Brands Corporation (Tupperware) will sponsor and co-host The Presidential Precinct's Global Leadership Forum: Promoting Gender Equality in Education, to convene leaders from around the world who are working to ensure that women and girls have equal access to education. The Forum will take place from November 13th-17th at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA.

October was National Arts and Humanities Month, a monthlong celebration of the role the arts and culture play in transforming Americas communities. To recognize the important role of the business community in advancing the arts, Americans for the Arts annually presents the BCA 10 awards celebrating ten businesses for their innovative partnerships with the arts.

Chuck Serianni has been recognized as CFO of the Year by the Arizona Chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI). The CFO of the Year award is given to chief financial officers who have demonstrated outstanding financial management and promote a better understanding of the role of finance in the business world.

Duke Energy received a perfect score of 100 percent in Human Rights Campaign's national benchmarking study that annually ranks companies on LGBT-friendly corporate practices and policies. The perfect score earned Duke Energy the distinction of "Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality."

Chef Miranda Rosenfelt took home the top honor last night at DC Central Kitchen’s signature fundraising event, Capital Food Fight, presented by Smithfield Foods. Local chefs Douglas Alexander of Art and Soul, Hamilton Johnson of Honeysuckle, Bobby Pradachith of Thip Khao, and Miranda Rosenfelt of Sally’s Middle Name went head-to-head in a thrilling culinary battle. Nationally recognized celebrities Washington Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman, TV personality Adam Richman, political analyst Ana Navarro, and New York-based Chef Joseph “JJ” Johnson judged the competition, while event founder and chair José Andrés of ThinkFoodGroup and chef and restaurateur Spike Mendelsohn co-hosted the annual event alongside Food Network’s Tregaye Fraser and Fanny Slater.

For at least 10,000 years, agriculture has been central to the way people live. Yet across that immense span of time, there probably has been no time when the enterprise of growing our food has been more crucial to the world than right now.

Wells Fargo & Company today announced a total of $500,000 in donations for three local nonprofits to help revitalize Austin neighborhoods through the Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT® program.

CITGO Lemont Refinery and the Village of Lemont and Lemont Environmental Advisory Commission partnered to host the semi-annual fall Recycling Day on Oct. 14. The event provided an opportunity for community residents to drop off unwanted recyclable items and household waste.