The continued drive toward greater societal sustainability is very encouraging. The public sector, multilateral organizations, companies, investors, NGOs, and other stakeholders are adopting new strategies and embracing new approaches and best practices. Picture the installation of the vast array of a desert solar generating “farm” – that’s progress to cheer.

Arrow Electronics today announced that it is joining the Call for Code initiative with Founding Partner IBM, an effort designed to inspire new technology to address pressing social challenges. IBM’s five-year, $30 million USD commitment to the initiative is focusing its efforts this year on encouraging software developers around the world to create applications for natural disaster preparedness and relief.

Since being named chairman and CEO in 2011, Omar Ishrak has made diversity and inclusion a priority at Medtronic. In particular, when speaking with employees, shareholders and customers, he frequently emphasizes the need for more women in senior leadership roles.

Securing a job as a formerly incarcerated person can be challenging. Job applications frequently ask prospective employees to disclose their criminal history, and when former prisoners do, their applications are often denied. Formerly incarcerated people face several systemic barriers when it comes to reintegrating into society and finding a job that can make it difficult for them to support themselves and transition back into civilian life.

Today, women hold only 19% of computing degrees with women of color holding just 4%. Symantec has joined the Reboot Representation Tech Coalition to align existing philanthropic donations with peers and build a more inclusive workforce. Together, we plan to double the number of women of color graduating with computing degrees by 2025.

Timberland’s Global Leadership Team recently cooked and served dinner to 75 residents of Cross Roads House, non-profit organization that supports community members who are experiencing – or have recently experienced -- homelessness. The team, which had convened at the outdoor lifestyle brand’s global headquarters in Stratham NH for a strategy meeting, dedicated the afternoon to serve the local community together.

More than 100 female entrepreneurs and industry leaders attended a new networking event hosted by FCA US LLC, designed to link women business owners with the automaker’s top female leadership.

At the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) in San Francisco, California, Bloomberg joined 20 other leading companies to announce the launch of the Step Up Declaration. This new alliance is dedicated to harnessing the power of emerging technologies to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across all economic sectors and ensure a climate turning point by 2020.

Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) today announced $1 million in donations to support communities impacted by Hurricane Florence and the activation of special disaster assistance for customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia.