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ON OUR MINDS
Brought to you by our Social Impact Fellow Emma Hollander, who has spent this summer trying various chocolate chip cookie recipes in hopes of finding the perfect one.
The effects of the rapidly changing climate
Last week, the United Nations released a terrifying climate report. Global temperatures are the highest they’ve ever been, leading to more irregular and intense weather patterns. These severe climate impacts hit home this past week with the water shortage on the Colorado River causing the federal government to make water cuts. Seeing the effects of climate change in real time scares us but also motivates us to find solutions and ways to address the climate crisis — especially for corporations and organizations with the power to actually move the needle. Cutting carbon emissions, focusing on energy efficiency, and encouraging employees to do the same are all ways companies can reduce their carbon footprints. Tim Mohin, CSO of our client Persefoni, recently shared additional analysis of the climate report — addressing the importance of tracking financial flows in relation to carbon footprints. While it feels like the state of our climate is depressing (and to not sugarcoat it: it is depressing), there are still a few positives that we can take away from the new report.
Devastation in Haiti
Haiti was recently hit with a 7.2-magnitude earthquake. The death toll has climbed to almost 2,000 with 10,000 more injured. In the wake of this natural disaster hundreds of families have lost access to shelter and food. This disaster upsets us all, and it often feels hard to know how to help. The best way to help in these times is donating if you are able. Here are a few lists of nonprofits and fundraising campaigns curated by NPR and USA Today. Various businesses have been doing their part, too: Skechers will donate $1 million towards relief and Verizon is waiving fees for calls to Haiti through the end of the month, so people can call their loved ones there.
The mental health crisis facing youth today
The mental health crisis has become an overwhelming issue for American youth. Hospitals, specialists, and therapists have seen a steeply rising number of children and teens dealing with anxiety and depression. And although it’s alarming to think about, it makes sense. The pandemic forced children and teens to deal with problems they couldn’t have seen coming — from not being able to go to school, to not having proper social interaction, to being trapped in unstable home environments. Mental health concerns were rising years before the pandemic, but it seems that COVID has accelerated these problems from bad to worse, especially for younger kids. As students prepare to go back to school this fall, educators and counselors are focusing on addressing the long-term social and emotional impacts the pandemic will have on youth. We’re encouraged to see community-based campaigns creating partnerships between hospitals and local organizations to add support and care services for youth in need.
ON OUR RADAR
Read:
Engage:
Vote:
- Vote and register for the Solve Challenge Finals livestream, bringing together tech-based innovators with solutions to the 2021 Global Challenges from Digital Inclusion to Health Security & Pandemics.
- Vote in the South By Southwest PanelPicker to decide the sessions to be selected for the next SXSW and SXSW EDU 2022 conferences (featuring many of our clients!).
Cheer:
- Excited to see that Maven Clinic has become the first ‘unicorn’ dedicated just to women and family health in the U.S.!
- Did you see the viral picture of a 101-year old woman working on a lobster boat in Maine? Read her story in The Boston Globe.
- Give Blck, a Database that connects donors With Black-led charities, recently named its first CEO.
Apply:
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