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(Image: Black Americans hold only 7 percent of tech industry jobs, like this role as a materials scientist working with 3D printing. Could HBCUs and tech leaders come together to bring more people of all backgrounds into the industry?) 

Black Americans make up 12 percent of the total U.S. population yet hold only 7 percent of tech industry jobs. The numbers in higher-level roles are even more staggering: Four percent of tech managers and less than 2 percent of C-suite tech executives are Black, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 

Why the discrepancies? Many companies, when posed this question, respond that the issue lies in the “pipeline” of talent: There are not enough qualified Black candidates applying for open tech positions. While many of these claims have been debunked, it is true that there needs to be a concerted push for expanded science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and job training in Black communities. 

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are a natural fit for many of these programs. According to the UNCF, America’s approximately 100 HBCUs produce almost 25 percent of all STEM degrees received by Black students. 

Here are several factors contributing to the racial divide in STEM education and careers and how HBCUs are partnering with tech companies to bring about change and equity in the industry. 

Providing internet access and building exposure to STEM in early years

When schools shifted to remote learning models last year in response to the coronavirus pandemic, much attention was paid to the digital divide, or the lack of reliable internet in marginalized communities. At least 12 million kindergarten through 12th grade students in the U.S. — including 2 million Black students — do not have reliable high-speed internet access at home. 

This June, HP launched its Partnership and Technology for Humanity (PATH) Initiative, which is a program to help HP accelerate digital equity for 150 million people worldwide by 2030. As part of PATH, HP co-sponsored the virtual PATH Summit to explore what it will take to reach digital equity in the next 10 years. During the summit, Dr. Dennis Kimbro, a professor at Clark Atlanta University, an HBCU, said: “Research has shown if a child engages in internet activities during elementary school, they will do it in their career. If you don’t expose them in these younger years, the game is over.” 

Dr. Almesha L. Campbell is assistant vice-president for economic and research development at Jackson State University (JSU), an HBCU in Mississippi. She further underscored the transformative power of college-based summer programs on introducing middle-schoolers to STEM careers: “Sometimes, college can be too late as students already have developed beliefs like ‘math is too hard,’ ” she told TriplePundit. “At JSU’s Young Innovators Program, we explore entrepreneurship, virtual reality (VR) and 3D printing. By the time these students get to college, they will blow us away with what they can achieve.” 

Unlocking practical experience with real-world technology

Familiarity and hands-on experience with the latest technologies can go a long way in helping college students discern the direction of their educational and career interests. HP has partnered with several HBCUs to provide cutting-edge technology to enhance students’ academic experiences. 

Last year, HP launched a pilot program with North Carolina A&T State University centered on 3D printing. The tech giant not only provided the equipment, but it also made a commitment for internship and apprenticeship opportunities for students. HP launched a similar program with JSU focusing on VR headsets and expects to roll out future collaborations with JSU built around 3D printing. 

Providing more exposure to professional organizations and decision-makers 

Campbell said HBCUs provide students with a rich sense of community. “It is a family dynamic, and we carry that with a sense of pride,” she told us. “We make sure we bring that pride to the opportunities we provide our students.” 

Lesley Slaton Brown, chief diversity officer at HP, said this community aspect makes it even more crucial for tech companies to welcome HBCU graduates’ uniqueness and talent. 

“We don’t just want to seek out their talent, but build opportunities,” Slaton Brown said. “It’s less about getting our company logo on signage and more about building relationships.” 

Another way in which HP has partnered with HBCUs is through the HBCU Business Deans’ Roundtable. HP joined the Roundtable as a founding member in 2017 and in that same year sponsored the first HBCU Business Challenge. During that competition, students gain practical business experience as they work on their business plans and obtain mentorship from HP executives to learn more about the industry and employment opportunities. Since the inaugural challenge, more than a dozen participants have gone on to accept positions with HP. 

Connecting what’s taught in the classroom to what is needed in the workplace 

In the ever-changing world of technology, there can be a gap between what skills are taught in the classroom and what skills are most needed in the workplace. There’s also a greater need to accelerate digital transformation as schools had to shift to online learning in days, not years, due to COVID-19.

To address these challenges, HP is joining with Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intel and Microsoft this September to present the inaugural HBCU Technology Conference. The conference comprises three separate tracks, each designed for a particular segment of the HBCU community: IT departments; faculty and administration; and students. For the student track, there will also be a Bot-a-Thon in which students can gain hands-on automation skills, and top finalists have the opportunity to interview for internship positions at HP and Microsoft.

“This conference will offer direct access to tech corporations and the opportunity to brainstorm in a nonjudgmental environment to better prepare students,” Slaton Brown said. “We can share the HP technology we are proud of but, more importantly, we can help decision-makers be equipped for the careers of the future.”

Campbell, who is on the planning committee for the student track of the conference, said the event has piqued the interest of students at JSU. “Students are excited to build their résumés. I see their hunger for learning – a hunger to know new things and interact with new technology,” she said. “Imagine how freshmen can transform their next three years of education and the classroom experience if they attend this conference — they will have a whole new network of connections.”

 
Click here for more information on the HBCU Technology Conference.

This article series is sponsored by HP and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Image credit: Unsplash/Science in HD

Now that the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge 2021 winners have been officially announced, we are excited for you to learn more about each winning team and the story behind each innovation. The Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge is an annual competition that awards cash prizes to early-stage tech entrepreneurs solving the world’s toughest problems. Now in its fifth year, the competition awarded its largest prize pool ever, $1 million USD, to 20 winning teams from around the world.

When Alexander Patto, Nalin Patel, Tianheng Zhao, and Richard Bowman joined a water purifier project at Cambridge University, they were tasked with answering the question, “How do you tell whether the water is pure?” They realized quickly that the process around testing the microbiology of water hadn’t changed in over 30 years. Globally, water-born bacterial infections lead to over 500,000 diarrheal related deaths each year, which is over 2,000 deaths every day (more than malaria and HIV combined). Current water testing equipment is bulky, expensive and takes at least a day to give results. Alex and his team tried to work out how they might improve the process and after about a month of trying to solve the problem, they co-founded WaterScope.

What problem is your technology solution trying to solve? 

Alex: Access to information that will give people better drinking water sources. It’s trying to solve both inequality and in particular, bacterial contamination. At the moment, if you were to go into Tanzania, and there was a public tap, there’s just no way of knowing whether the water is safe to drink. The community is quite removed from the testing facility that comes in. So, what we’re trying to do is make a test that anyone can understand whether the water has got bacterial contamination. Currently the systems are very complicated. The WaterScope system aims to be empowering for the community. It allows the community to put mechanisms in place, to clean the water locally and get sustainable change at a local level.

Can you explain how the solution works?

Alex: At the moment, there’s two parts to the solution. First is the technology, which enables simple, portable bacterial testing, and then once you have the data and once you have the technology, and it’s being used, the second challenge is how then do you convert that to have impact back on the lives of people on the ground?

A person in the village would collect water from the source and they would filter it through our reusable cartridge. The cartridge has a disposable element to it which allows it to maintain the integrity of the test. The purpose of the cartridge is to take the lab into the field. It condenses the [testing] process into a small cartridge. Once they have the filtered sample, they put it into WaterScope’s imaging system, and they incubate it for up to 18 hours. Then, they take it out and capture an image, and at Waterscope we use machine learning to identify the bacteria. The importance of this method is that whoever is collecting the sample doesn’t have to be trained in microbiology.

After the results are captured, they are sent in real time to our database, which will then allow mapping and then intervention from potential governance. It allows for real time intervention. It also gives locals the agency to purify and periodically clean their water supply.

What inspired you to develop this solution? 

Alex: It just fell together. I was doing my PhD in genetics at Cambridge, and I found myself getting far removed from the impact I wanted to have. I was actively participating in outreach projects and bumped into three people who had similar inclinations. We found more scope based on some research that was being done in Physics, and we thought, maybe we can have an impact. I didn’t expect it to become my full-time job. We got a bit of funding from the university and from the humanitarian innovation fund, and we managed to get a pilot done. Having looked at the scale of the problem, it just felt right to do what we’re doing full time.

How will winning a prize in the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge help you advance your business?

Alex: We’ve got prototypes that we’ve tested in the field. Now Waterscope is looking to convert these prototypes to post-production prototypes for manufacturing and understanding how we keep the costs down. We also want to keep those distribution channels open allowing us to get it to people who need it. The other side is firm up the software, improving machine learning, improve the way we use cloud technology, and flesh out more of the community impact side of things. We’re aiming to commercialise by the end of 2022.

Waterscope is looking to use the funding to match fund an implementation project where we’ll work with ten potential communities to understand how we can have an impact on the key community stakeholders.

How has the global pandemic impacted your work? 

Alex: Quite significantly. We had a project funded by the United Kingdom government last year in which we were going to fly to Tanzania to train and collaborate field partners on the system, run workshops with community members, and the pandemic hit. So, we had to think around how to still get that field data and community data form the system without leaving the UK. We ended up reaching out to more people and spent a lot of time building a solid relationship over video conferencing. The benefit being now we have great partners on the ground, they’re very familiar with our system and that probably wouldn’t have happened before. We would have normally done an intensive week or two in the field and left again, so the pandemic changed our approach to trials. We now have that longevity with our partners. It’s also far more inclusive than it would have been, it doesn’t beat the face-to-face meeting and seeing someone use our technology. We’ve done a lot and we’re better for it, so we’re thankful for that.

Why did you decide to start your own social enterprise versus going to work for a company?

Alex: You get moments where my peers are out in London as consultants, earning a lot of money, and they enjoy that. I haven’t really thought about it too much. I find my days really fulfilling, I work with great people and I’m so fortunate that we now have our own company. It’s liberating. I find it hard imagining what it would be like to work for another company now because I’m so used to working with the WaterScope team. Funding is a constant battle, though.

My family has been supportive of this. My dad’s a builder and my mum’s a renovator. They’ve always worked for themselves, since I was young. I grew up on a farm in Wales and I’m the first person to go to university in my family. I think my mum sent the Cisco challenge voting to all her friends. It’s also something they can all get behind. When I was in the nitty gritty of research, conversations around dinner might be on cells and protein. It really wasn’t gripping. Now, it’s very easy to communicate the importance of what we’re doing, and people are naturally invested.

What advice do you have for other social entrepreneurs? 

Alex: Get a good partner. A partner you can rely on. Get an advocate on your technology in assessing where it’s used. Fundraising is hard. You’ll need resilience because you will apply for a lot of grants and funding streams, you’ll only get about 10 percent of them. You need to be able to handle rejection and failure. You’ve also got to build your network as strong as possible. Working in things like incubators certainly helps. We got into a fellowship here and there, that put us in contact with like-minded people, it was really helpful because my previous contacts were all academics. Get an advisory board, they will help you get other people involved. Try not to say ‘no’ to any opportunity that comes along. I give a couple of lectures in university and talks at events; you always meet new people. As long as you’re open to those opportunities, it will come. Get involved with some universities, their networks are vast.

Stay tuned for more articles in our blog series, featuring interviews with every Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge 2021 winning team!

Previously published in the 3BL Media newsroom.

Image credit: mrjn Photography/Unsplash

As consumer demand for more sustainable packaging increases, DS Smith is researching the use of seaweed in paper and packaging products. In particular, the British multinational packaging company is exploring seaweed as an alternative fiber to wood. If successful, it would be the first company in the packaging industry to take this approach. The company is also examining the potential of seaweed as a barrier coating, potentially replacing petroleum-based products.

“As a leader in sustainability, our research into alternative raw material and fiber sources will help us drive this project forward, looking at seaweed’s strength, resilience, recyclable properties, scalability, and cost. Seaweed could have multiple uses with a low ecological footprint that is easily recyclable and naturally biodegradable,” said Giancarlo Maroto, the managing director of paper, forestry, and recycling for DS Smith North America.

According to Maroto, the production process could reduce energy consumption and require fewer chemicals to extract the fibers. When considering any alternative fiber, however, it is critical to examine how to sustainable use the resource. There is concern about the proper management of seaweed resources to balance environmental risks and conserve marine resources.

Seaweed is already used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food and animal feed. In Asia, long-term cultivation of seaweed has existed for decades, often in the form of aquaculture. By contrast, it is relatively new in Europe. Typically, ideal nutrient, light and temperature levels are critical to cultivate a particular species. Increasingly, seaweed is being seen as an attractive option for furthering the sustainability movement, but using a sustainable approach is critical for achieving these objectives.

DS Smith has yet to release specific information on the feasibility of seaweed in its products, such as which species it is creating and how it would be recycled. For example, could existing recycling infrastructure be used and what are the options for sourcing seaweed? These are key factors for evaluating the sustainability of the potential product.

Earlier this year, DS Smith announced it will invest $140 million in a five-year circular economy research and development program. Its intention is to fast-track next-generation technology and collaborate with partners to create fiber-based and fully recyclable solutions. The goal is to create 100 percent recyclable packaging within two years and take 1 billion pieces of problematic plastics off supermarket shelves by 2025. By 2030, the company plans to offer 100 percent recyclable or reusable packaging.

One of its strategies is to identify the top ten difficult to recycle items and find solutions for a circular economy. Interestingly, the company is literally thinking outside the box by challenging itself to eliminate 250,000 truck journeys from the roads. One way to achieve this is to optimize transport by reducing wasted air in transit. DS Smith is also launching an educational campaign to engage 5 million young people in the circular economy by 2030.

In addition to seaweed, the company is also exploring other alternative fibers, such as straw, hemp and silvergrass. Also, more unusual sources include agricultural waste including cocoa shells or the fiber leftover from sugarcane processing.

Currently, about only 9 percent of plastics are recycled in the U.S., due to a variety of problems including difficulties in recycling certain plastics, the low cost for recycled plastic and the lack of recycling infrastructure. In addition to serving as an excellent move for a more sustainable society and economy, such sustainable packaging products could be effective in satisfying consumer demand.

Increasingly, shoppers are thinking about the ocean plastic crises and recyclability when making purchases. According to a survey from the Boston Consulting Group, 67 percent of consumers say they think it is important that the products they buy are in recyclable packaging. And, 54 percent take sustainable packaging into account when choosing a product.

Will seaweed be a key ingredient in the circular economy? It seems very promising.

Image credit: Brian Yurasits/Unsplash

Discounted food, supporting local business, eliminating food waste and an element of surprise - the only thing Too Good To Go, a food app committed to ending food waste, is missing is a market in my stomping grounds of Atlanta (reference “heartbroken” in the dictionary for an apt description of how I felt when I realized this).

The app serves as a marketplace for hungry users looking to score “surprise bags” from restaurants dealing with a surplus of food. Instead of a bakery, for example, tossing away its unsold baguettes and croissants at the end of the night, a bread-loving consumer may pop into the app and purchase the goods at a fraction of the market rate. Too Good To Go calls its commitment to reducing food waste, trading otherwise trashed food for profits for business owners and boosting savings for hungry consumers a win-win-win.

The company started in Denmark in 2016 but quickly moved across international borders into major European markets. In 2020, it made the leap across the pond into North America, debuting in New York City and Boston in late September. In just a year’s time, Too Good To Go has expanded to 11 major North American cities spanning the U.S. and Canada, with Baltimore the latest to join the likes of Philadelphia, San Francisco, Chicago and Toronto.

In five years of operation, Too Good To Go has made a lasting impact in the communities it serves, already establishing itself as the world’s largest business-to-consumer marketplace for surplus food. All in all, it’s helped its 43.5 million users connect to more than 108,000 businesses (restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets, hotels, etc.) to save 88 million meals, and counting.

With an estimated 1.3 billion tons of food wasted worldwide, accounting for one-third of food produced for human consumption, this social impact company knows it’s facing one of the world’s largest problems. Too Good To Go’s CEO Mette Lykke is hoping that its tangible meals saved for its users can serve as a springboard for bringing a cultural change around the way the world sees food waste.

“Food waste is a huge, complicated issue that spans the globe, and we know that by working alone we can only achieve so much,” Lykke wrote in Too Good To Go’s 2020 Impact Report. “It’s this notion - of shared inspiration, of collective impact, of a movement against food waste, that helped us arrive at our ultimate mission: to inspire and empower everyone to fight food waste together.”

The Impact Report follows the journey of a banana from harvest to supermarket shelf, explaining the complex supply chain and deep human and environmental resources that were poured into a single banana. If a consumer buys that very banana, waits until it's overripe and finds it no longer appetizing, they may be inclined to throw it out considering the low personal financial cost of that 50-cent banana. What the consumer may not consider is all the energy and resources expended into getting that banana to their fruit bowl - the fertilizer produced at a factory with a considerable carbon footprint, the water to spur growth, the fuel used to carry bananas via trucks, ships and airplanes, even what goes into making the sticker that adorns the bananas. The second the banana hits the trash, all the energy emitted is wasted.

Beyond saving meals in these surprise bags, Too Good To Go has challenged itself to become a global resource for food waste, establishing a Knowledge Hub and a range of educational food waste tools for school- and university-aged students. It’s also influencing food waste at a policy level, zeroing in on bringing consistency and clarity to the confusing world of “use by” vs. “best before” vs. “sell by” expiration labels. Food waste due to confusion over date labels is not insignificant - a 2018 European Commission study found that 10 percent of food waste in the European Union can be traced to people misinterpreting these labels. Too Good To Go has been partnering with local and national governments as well as businesses around the EU to harmonize these expiry labels and bring awareness around safe food consumption.

As part of this cultural anti-food waste wave Too Good To Go is generating, the company’s social feeds are flooded with helpful tips and guides to preventing food waste. Even the craftiest food savers have something to gain from perusing its posts, like pouring unused coffee into ice cube holders or turning pineapple peels into iced tea.

So yes, when Too Good To Go does eventually enter the Atlanta market, I can guarantee it will have at least one happy customer. Until then, I’ll continue to refresh its Instagram page for city launches and sip on my new favorite drink: pineapple iced tea.

Image credit: Too Good To Go

Some kids are already back at school this week; next week is the big week for most students; the few lucky ones will have till after Labor Day. Whether we’re out of, or still in school, this year will feel much different when than a year ago, when we were teased to a summer largely free of lockdowns till things went awry with the virus again. While the pandemic and the Delta variant aftermath has become an era most of us at the very least just want to forget about – there is one industry that has benefited: the plant-based foods sector. We’ve been covering the industry here on TriplePundit for a reason – the market is hot, and the foods keep improving.

And who’s to blame consumers for shifting more toward plant-based protein options, as beyond the shortages, there were the COVID outbreaks, more product recalls – and face it, as we’ve reached “code red” with climate change, promises of supply chain innovations and promises of respecting animal welfare simply are not resonating with more people?

To that end, if you’re buying into the plant-based lifestyle, here are a few ideas from 3p that can help kickstart your day.

Breakfast bowls, sans the pork bacon

We’ve long said good-bye to that carb-heavy breakfast of cereal, toast with spread and orange juice. It was supposed to be a “square meal,” but too many of us ended up pear-shaped instead. Anyway, breakfast keeps being reinvented, and it’s becoming even more protein-based.

On that point, you might know Sweet Earth for its seitan strips, fake chicken (try the chipotle!) cauliflower mac, plant-based burgers, and hot dog alternatives that pan-fry well for any meal. Now you can add breakfast bowls to that lineup. The three flavors vary in levels of spiciness; all are packed with protein and have a decent amount of fiber. Fire them in the oven for 40 minutes if you have the luxury of time; two minutes in the microwave if you’re in a rush.

For lunch at the virtual office or in the company break room, Sweet Earth also has a wide range of deli “meats” and bowls as well.

Breakfast cereal 2.0

Breakfast cereal has sure evolved since corn flakes were invented by a pair of brothers running a Michigan sanitarium. In this century, years of stagnant sales quickly turned into a boom time last year as far more people found themselves working from home during the pandemic or did our best to add to our COVID bodies. While we all have our favorites, either for our morning start, as a snack - or in the case of Jane Fonda’s character on Grace and Frankie, maybe we’re hiding stacks of Benjis in those boxes (Season 7, Episode 1).

Nevertheless, cereal is always ripe for a reinvention. Catalina Crunch has turned the idea of sugary, carb-laden breakfasts on its head. The pea protein-based cereals sure taste like the breakfasts of our youth, whether you sample the cocoa or peanut butter flavors. Mind you, these cereals cost far more than the ones you’re accustomed to seeing in the supermarket aisle. If you have a Costco membership, the company’s Cinnamon Toast crunch, packed with 9 grams of fiber, 11 grams of protein and no sugar, is a better value and may be available at your local warehouse store.

Just fake, plant-based eggs

Yes, Moira Rose - you just fold it in!

Just’s egg alternatives have been around a while, but 3p still gives them a shout-out as they rank among the best in the plant-based breakfast space. The company’s folded egg, which come four per carton, are a winner. While they’re best pan-fried in olive oil, if you’re in a hurry, they are more than passable microwaved. Just recommends these mung bean-based goodies be cooked in the toaster. The company’s sous vide bites are worth a try, too.

Pistachio milk

If you want a real treat and savor the taste of pistachio-flavored anything, then try Three Trees’ pistachio-based milk. It’s not anywhere as watery as most almond milks, doesn’t have the funk of hemp, flax or similar plant-based beverages, and honestly, the scent will remind you of a bakery in Istanbul, Tehran, or Glendale, CA… or the west side of LA. Mind you, considering the price per bottle, this is a splurge. Gently warm a cup or so on the stove top, add a few cardamom pods and you’ve got a new breakfast beverage – or it could be one half of that a.m. café au lait.

A backpack derived from trees

Plant-based doesn’t have to apply solely to morning grub. If you or one of your charges is in need of a backpack and doesn’t want a standard polyester one - and to be clear, if you have a budget that allows for spending beyond Target - check out Fjällräven’s Tree-Kånken backpack. These 16-liter packs are sturdy, eschew chemicals and according to the company, more than 90 percent of the water used to manufacture them is recycled.

The secret? The material used in these backpacks are made from a yarn derived from spruce and pine trees in Sweden. Yes, it’s true that Nordic country has had its own problems with deforestation. Nevertheless, Fjällräven says the fibers needed to make the Tree-Kånken comes from FSC-certified forests.

Your dog will soon score less attention. So, be Shameless!

Generally, dogs have been happier than people during the pandemic – after all, more were adopted during that time (Sadly, human beings are often awful, and shelters are getting crowded again.). And, our furry friends enjoyed far more company with many of us working and studying from home. As we spend more time away at the office, school or with friends, dog parents will have to compensate for that time spent alone.

Consider Shameless Pets dog treats as an option. These canine snacks are made with upcycled ingredients – for example, one flavor is made with blueberries that otherwise would have been discarded after picked. And while we’ll leave the benefits of a canine vegan diet to the veterinarians, one benefit of these meat-free treats is that the ingredients don’t come from some dubious overseas origin.

Image credit: Catalina Crunch

It could take years to fully understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. students and schools. But educators and experts already know that as schools reopen, families and educators are still in the throes of financial uncertainty and academic struggles, and the needs are extensive.

“The past year has been so challenging for K-12 students,” said Ann Pifer, executive director of the nonprofit AdoptAClassroom.org. “We thought we were making progress, but the lack of vaccines [for children younger than 12] will mean masks and distancing again for many school districts. The biggest issue is learning loss and helping students catch up. And going into this year, the needs are bigger than ever.”

AdoptAClassroom.org has provided funding for school supplies to classrooms and families in need since 1998. The nonprofit pivoted to offer immediate assistance to ease distance learning in the early months of the pandemic, and now it’s challenged to do so again as schools welcome back some students who have not been in physical classrooms in over a year. With school doors already opening in many districts, 92 percent of classrooms have students whose families cannot afford to purchase any school supplies for their children. 

The early months of the pandemic illuminate inequities in education 

As the pandemic shut down schools, educators were sent scrambling to create new lesson plans and become instant experts in distance learning. The situation not only brought national attention to many of the inequities among school districts, but it also exacerbated them. “There are vast differences between schools and between districts, and the public has not been aware of the extent of that issue,” Pifer told 3p. “The pandemic emphasized the technology gap: It showed where some students don’t have technology at home,” she added. “Before it was an inconvenience. Now we know it is a major equity issue.”

Launched in March 2020, AdoptAClasroom.org’s COVID-19 Relief Fund for Teachers and Students aimed to deploy rapid funds to purchase tablets and other supplies to help students reconnect with their teachers at high-needs schools across the nation, including New York, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles. In general, about 80 percent of the classrooms funded by the organization last year were located in high-needs schools nationwide 

But despite this effort and many others like it across the country, the inability to access classroom materials, including laptops, caused many students to fall behind. According to 65 percent of teachers surveyed by AdoptAClassroom.org, students who did not have the necessary tools were less likely to participate during distance learning. More than half of teachers said they had students who did not engage with their curriculum during the last school year at all. 

Teachers have been pulling out their own checkbooks to make up the funding gap. According to AdoptAClassroom.org, about 96 percent of teachers purchase supplies for their students, spending an average of $750 annually. Increased student needs during remote learning prompted teachers to dig deeper: About 30 percent of teachers surveyed by AdoptAClassroom.org reported spending $1,000 out of pocket on supplies last year. “A lot feel like they have to pull their own money,” Pifer said. “I wish more members of the public knew the sacrifices teachers make. Teachers were under incredible stress.”

As students return to school, businesses and community groups step up to resource classrooms

Studies show that while most children lost some academic ground over the past 18 months, students of color are falling further behind than their white counterparts. Those students and others who were under-resourced during distance learning will be playing catch-up this year, and the need is too great for even generous educators to meet on their own. “Classroom budgets will not be enough to cover expenses this year,” Pifer told us. 

Businesses and community organizations are stepping up to meet the need, many in partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org: Educators can register on AdoptAClassroom’s website and list the supplies or services they need, and AdoptAClassroom finds sponsors for them. The group has 30 partners participating at varying levels, some supporting classrooms throughout the year and others holding fundraisers for specific events. “Consumers care more than ever before what companies are doing to support communities, and whether they see them as positive forces,” Pifer said. 

One company supporting these efforts is Subaru of America, which has worked with AdoptAClassroom.org since 2016 as part of its Subaru Loves Learning initiative and this year expanded its participation. More than 600 Subaru retailers are partnering with high-need schools in their local communities, helping to ensure better education outcomes for K-12 students. AdoptaClassroom.org matches Subaru retailers with Title 1 schools in their local community and retailers work with school Principals to select classrooms that are in need to “adopt”. Teachers of the adopted classrooms are given funding that they can use directly on AdoptaClassroom.org’s marketplace, where teachers can purchase items for their students or their classroom. Through the Subaru Loves Learning campaign, Subaru will help more than 114,000 students and more than 4,700 classrooms across the country. 

"At Subaru, we are committed to ensuring that students have the resources they need to not only learn, but to bring the subjects to life, fostering real interest and intellectual growth in each young individual," Alan Bethke, senior vice president of marketing for Subaru of America, Inc., said in a statement. "We're excited to work with AdoptAClassroom.org to make learning more accessible for all children and get them on the path to success."

Pifer is impressed with the automaker’s vision. “I love the way Subaru really sees the big picture,” she said. “They know it’s about helping students succeed in schools. But they are not just giving money; it’s a broad and holistic approach.”

Corporations also are responding to a broader scope of needs. “We’ve really seen significant shifts in corporate philanthropy over the past year,” Pifer observed. “We see it being more responsive to societal issues, such as racial equity. It has caused many corporations to think about what they can do to make a difference.” 

For example, AdoptAClassroom.org launched the Racial Equity in Schools Fund last June in response to demand from educators for more and better learning tools for students who are Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC). “We received an unprecedented number of grant applications, more than ever before,” Pifer recalled. Donors overwhelmingly responded to the requests, and 574 educators across the country received funding to improve education for students of color. “Teachers needed materials and training to make changes in classrooms,” Pifer said. 

Stories like these are bright spots amidst the harsh lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic. Society has learned where many of the educational inequities are, and now the assignment is to address them so schools are not caught off guard again. “We have to put more focus on how we can bridge that technology gap and think about planning for the future,” Pifer said. “Schools need to be better prepared for future crises.” 

This article series is sponsored by Subaru and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team. 

Image credit: wavebreak3/Adobe Stock

Now that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has received final approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), employers should have a smooth pathway towards imposing vaccine mandates that protect their workers and their business from a lethal virus. Nevertheless, it will take a combination of patience and courage to overcome the collective hysteria that has engulfed tens of millions of Americans in COVID-19 vaccine refusal.

The FDA would like to have some words with you

The FDA’s announcement on the Pfizer approval has provided employers with ample support for imposing vaccine mandates.

The Pfizer vaccine, marketed under the name “Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee), has received final approved for ages 16 and up, which covers the bulk of the workforce. Ages 12 to 15 can continue to receive Comirnaty under its emergency use authorization. That covers practically every child or teenager who does odd jobs for the neighbors, helps in the family business, or holds a youth work permit.

In a press release, the FDA took a dig, though a mild one, at vaccine refusers who claim that the vaccine is untested. “While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated,” explained Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. (emphasis added).

The “untested” argument may have washed when the Pfizer vaccine was first made available last December, though the accusation is a slap in the face to the thousands of volunteers who participated in tests leading up to the authorization. Millions more have received it on an emergency basis. If that’s not sufficient testing, what is? Nevertheless, the FDA anticipates that final approval will make the difference for many vaccine refusers.

Vaccine safety: who can you trust nowadays?

The FDA’s optimism may well be justified. However, it is all but certain that millions of refusers will remain unswayed.

In the announcement of the approval, the FDA described its rigorous approval process in excruciating detail. Unfortunately, many of the very people who should read the FDA’s press release will not even know it exists.

If anything, vaccine refusers will probably zero in on the fact that FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock holds her position in an acting capacity and is therefore not the “real” head of the agency.

That argument would ignore Dr. Woodcock’s professional credentials and long history with the FDA, which dates back to 1986. She assumed the “Acting” title in January, after Trump’s appointee, Stephen Hahn, stepped down.

Continuity in leadership should have been a priority during the COVID outbreak, except that during Hahn had no previous experience of any substance in food or drug analysis. He was clearly unfit to establish public trust in the FDA’s vaccine approval process. During his brief tenure, he compiled a reputation for promoting unproven treatments including hydroxychloroquine.

Unfortunately, Woodcock also brings some baggage to the trust table. She is reportedly not in the running for the permanent Commissioner title when her term expires in November, possibly due to controversy over her recent decision to approve a treatment for Alzheimer’s against the conclusions of an advisory panel.

The roots of vaccine mistrust

The next permanent FDA Commissioner will have their work cut out for them, no matter how many COVID-19 vaccines receive final approval.

The main challenge will be stemming the tide of inaccurate information and outright lies that receive widespread attention through today’s media.

Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, medical professionals had become alarmed over the power of self-professed experts — including those with medical degrees — to sway millions through television appearances and other media.

Some observers also believe that a tipping point on the influence of quackery occurred long before the advent of the internet and social media. In 1998, the prestigious journal The Lancet published an article by the former physician Andrew Wakefield connecting the common measles-mumps-rubella vaccine to autism. The article was later revealed as fraudulent and The Lancet withdrew it in 2010, but the damage was done.

A new public opinion study currently under consideration for publication by the research organization Plos One indicates that the 1998 Wakefield article was indeed highly influential. Though refusal of the MMR vaccine was and continues to be rare in the U.S., the researchers found evidence that the article sparked significant negative attitudes toward the MMR vaccine among the public.

The case for vaccine mandates vs. the rule of public opinion

The new study, titled “Quantifying The Effect of Wakefield et al. (1998) on Skepticism about MMR Vaccine Safety in the U.S.,” cites television and radio as the pre-Internet influencers that amplified falsehoods in the Wakefield article, exposing millions to fraud well beyond the rarified audience of The Lancet itself.

Multiply that by millions more, and you have the age of social media and the Facebook effect. In particular, critics of Facebook say the company continues to shoulder much of the blame for circulating misinformation and damaging lies about vaccine safety, despite taking some steps to clean up the discourse.

On the bright side, the new study on the Wakefield fraud indicates that vaccine mandates can far outweigh popular opinion about vaccine safety. Here in the U.S., tens of millions of parents routinely have the MMR vaccine administered to their children because their school districts mandate it, regardless of what they feel about the vaccine.

Signs of rebellion against anti-vaccination parents were already beginning to brew before the COVID-19 outbreak. For example, worrying signs of the economic impact of MMR refusal began to emerge in the summer camp industry by 2019, and some camps began mandating childhood vaccinations without religious exception.

Even if many anti-vaccination individuals continue to voice opposition to mandates after full approval by the FDA, the weight of their opinion can be swiftly and efficiently counterbalanced by government and private sector vaccine mandates, as well as mandates in academic institutions and other nonprofit organizations.

When it comes down to jab or job — or school — there is no room for argument, understanding, or accommodation. The science has spoken, and vaccine refusers will have to go elsewhere to have their bruised egos soothed.

After all, there’s always Facebook. Co-founder Mark Zuckerberg continues to deny and deflect its share of responsibility for spreading vaccine misinformation. The company is still reportedly refusing to share key data on medical misinformation with federal researchers, and earlier this month it threw a wet blanket on misinformation research conducted by a team at New York University.

However, Facebook does appear to be more than happy to continue serving as a platform for quacks and charlatans during the COVID-19 crisis, while making bank off the thoughts and prayers of its desperate users.

Image credit: Pexels

Among the many images seared into our collective memory during this pandemic are the photos of long queues of cars waiting to get bags or boxes of groceries from food banks. Here in California’s central coast, those of us at Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County continue to see high demand for food, and there are a lot of unknowns about what a new normal may be as the Delta variant continues to take its toll. The challenges we face in this county home to 275,000 is similar to what communities confront nationwide, from the Bay Area in Northern California to wealthy Fairfax County, just outside of D.C. in Virginia. Even as the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is poised to increase its benefits significantly, some won’t qualify – and many families who are eligible won’t necessarily apply for benefits due to the stigma associated with needing food assistance  

Numbers tell the story behind the dire need for food banks

Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County has been consistently distributing slightly more than 1 million pounds of food monthly for the last year, according to Suzanne Willis, chief development officer at Second Harvest Food Bank.

”Prior to the pandemic it was about 650,000 pounds monthly. At the height of the pandemic, April/May/June 2020, it was up to 1.2 million pounds. The need among food-insecure people has slackened only modestly but remains consistent. We’re anticipating this higher level of demand for the next 18 – 36 months,” Willis said.

The real concerns among food banks nationally is the news about employers desperately needing to hire. As COVID-19 restrictions are reduced, people who normally contribute to their local food banks, as well as larger donors, who are inspired to give during disasters, may at first feel less of a need to contribute any support. Nevertheless, it’s clear the demand for food assistance remains and sustaining support is still critical.

Economic headlines tell more

California’s full re-opening this past June masked continuing problems. While some people have been moderately or untouched by pandemic’s economic impacts, food banks are clearly facing continuing support needs by a larger number of people who are still harder-hit than before last year’s COVID-19 shutdown. Continuing that high level of financial support is essential for effective food bank operations and crucial for supporting the large numbers of local food-insecure families.

Key factors include retail price increases across many sectors, especially food and accumulated back rent and mortgages.

As CNN Business reported on June 4, “Global food prices surged to their highest level in a decade.” Global food prices rose for the 12th month in a row in May, up nearly 40% year over year, according to the United Nations’ food price index. Average prices are at their highest point in nearly a decade.

A LA Times article from earlier this year points at an additional problem: How long it will take citizens who owe back rent to recover? Evictions and debt could spike if the recently extended federal moratorium ends. This is true nationwide, as many U.S. states have stopped extended unemployment benefits just as the Delta variant has sparked another dangerous wave of the virus.

Santa Cruz County’s employment statistics only tell a part of the story –in many areas across the U.S. the cost of housing keeps in increasing. There is a large portion of our local population who are under-employed, meaning they work part- or even full-time but earn less, often far less than what’s necessary in our high-cost-of-living area. The poverty line by federal government standards, is about $24,300 for a family of four, according to 2018 statistics. That’s more than 15 percent of our county’s population that fits the federal definition for poverty. However, when considering the cost of living and the availability of social services, more than 23 percent of our county’s residents fall below a more realistic poverty line of $33,953 for a family of four.

Seasonal workers in agriculture - the people picking, packing and processing the healthy food we all eat - often fit into this category. So do many college students, retail workers and those working in the hospitality sector. Baristas at the coffee shop, bank tellers, restaurant waiters and hotel staff are likely earning well below the poverty line.

With all the affluence visible in Santa Cruz County, the population of people facing food insecurity unfortunately isn’t shrinking. Food banks are one of the safety nets we can’t allow to fall apart. In many cases, after people pay rent or their mortgage in this county, they don’t have money left for food. Accessing food at no cost lets people avoid evictions and foreclosures, plus they remain healthier.

As your company, large or small, considers how to give back to your local community, consider a generous donation to your local food bank. While a live or virtual “canned food drive” may have good intentions, the reality is your local food bank will know how to meet the needs of local citizens. “Financial donations are more flexible. The needs of people in crisis can change weekly, daily or even hourly, and cash donations allow nonprofits to respond to those needs more rapidly,” wrote Katherine Wiles for Marketplace.

Cash donations also go much further as food banks across the nation can turn one dollar into four meals due to partnerships with food manufacturers or farmers to purchase food at cost or wholesale.

Image credit: Second Harvest Food Bank/Facebook

ZenLuxCo’s overall mission is to help promote the empowerment of women and provide practical solutions to ultimately allow women and girls be their very best selves and present their best foot forward. “We are big on self-care and pampering for women and girls of all ages and walks of life, and sell a variety of products,” said Ashley Blain, the company’s founder. “Our kits are specially and carefully curated for individuals who cherish all things beauty, skincare and self-care. The need we fill is providing products that makes self-care routines and skincare routines easier.”

In a recent interview with TriplePundit, Blain was confident, even ebullient, about her company’s prospects. As an owner of a Black-owned business, however, she made it clear that her company does face its share of challenge.

“It’s hard to find Black-owned businesses because a small number of us are entrepreneurs, and within that small number it can be hard to distinguish which businesses are Black-owned,” Blain added. “I am so glad there are apps and websites dedicated to highlighting Black-owned businesses, thus making it easier to find them.”

More companies are realizing the benefits of reaching out and having a more inclusive approach when it comes to assisting Black-owned businesses. United Airlines, for example, recently launched an app that lists such companies and services in the Houston area, one of the carrier’s largest hubs.

For consumers keen on supporting Black-owned businesses, here’s the mantra: research, show up (virtually or in-person), write reviews, share on social, spend and repeat.

“Consumers can support black owned businesses by simply buying from them. It also helps to leave reviews on websites and social platforms as it provides credibility to other consumers and potential customers,” explained Blaine. “Telling family and friends about the product or service you have received from a Black-owned business helps to further promote them. When everyone as a whole chooses to use their buying power to support Black-owned businesses, it helps to uplift us all.”

As for owners of Black-owned businesses seeking to gain new customers, Blain suggested going local. It’s no secret Black entrepreneurs and business owners have had their struggles tapping into federal funds over the past 18 months; and while there are nonprofits that can help with the red tape, access to resources is still an ongoing problem.

“One of the resources I turned to is the NYC Department of Small Business Services. I started my business during the pandemic, and the resources they have provided still help me to this day,” Blain said.

Blain’s company launched June 1; so far her best seller has been a line of “Me Time” kits.

Image credit: ZenLuxCo

A Washington Post analysis of the financial promises that 50 of America’s largest companies made to Black America last summer shows that those once-bold pledges have so far led to questionable impact.

First, the amount of dollars that companies have actually spent versus what they had promised turned out to be a pittance, according to the Post’s number-crunching. To date, only 3.5 percent of the almost $50 billion in financial commitments could be verified.

This research has found that while CEO after CEO proclaimed last summer that they stood with Black Americans, only a sliver of those funds was given to organizations that are dedicated to pursuing criminal justice reform, which is what last summer’s Black Lives Matter rallies and protests across the U.S. were largely about in the first place.

The Post’s reporters also found that 90 percent of those large corporate pledges – more than $45 billion – were loans or other investments from which such companies would profit.

This is not "necessarily a bad thing," observes Ellen McGirt, senior editor of Fortune and lead author of the publication's lauded RaceAhead newsletter. "But it’s a thing worth understanding."

Programs designed to boost homeownership for Black families, which would help generate financial returns for any company, aren’t a bad idea at face value. But one such home buyer grant program in the Minneapolis area would allow anyone to buy a home in a majority Black or Latino neighborhood no matter what their race may be, which would allow white families who hold more wealth to benefit and in the end risk even more gentrification and displacement of Black families.

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Less than 10 percent of this multibillion-dollar promise for Black America went toward grants for community groups. “The $4.2 billion in grants, to be disbursed over as long as a decade in some cases, represents less than 1 percent of the $525.6 billion in net income earned by the 50 companies in the most recent year,” the Post concluded.

The one beneficiary of corporations’ largess? Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have reaped $345 million in donations, though the Post’s review said the end result could be a wider gap between smaller schools and the more elite HBCUs.

At a higher level, while companies may have appeared to be bold and courageous last summer, in the end they, their CEOs and their boards of directors are still risk averse. Donations for causes such as health, equity and education are seen as safe and much less triggering than any reforms targeting policing and the criminal justice system.

“Education is a fairly noncontroversial, conservative impulse in terms of corporate donations,” Robert E. Weems Jr., a professor of business history at Wichita State University, explained to the Post, adding, “when in fact George Floyd as a catalyst specifically had to do with criminal justice and policing.”

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