All posts by imreal

Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

ParivarBayArea and The LGBT Asylum Project forge enhanced partnership under the Center for Immigrant Protection (CIP)

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The CIP makes history as the first organization in San Francisco to provide comprehensive support to LGBTQ+ immigrants, centering TGNCI+ identities

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Parivar Bay Area and The LGBT Asylum Project are proud to announce their enhanced partnership as they continue their journey together as the Center for Immigrant Protection (CIP). As the first organization on Castro Street to provide comprehensive support for the unique and multifaceted needs of the LGBTQIA+ immigrant community, the CIP focuses on ensuring safety and well-being and celebrating social belonging, particularly uplifting TGNCI+ (Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, and Intersex) immigrants. The resource-rich space continues to offer comprehensive and accessible support services, including legal assistance and social integration while promoting awareness, education, acceptance, and resources to foster intersectional unity and rebuild lives in America.

With this enhanced partnership, Parivar Bay Area (PBA) and The LGBT Asylum Project will continue scaling their programs and services under the CIP with one mission and one voice to ensure the Center continues to meet the diverse needs of LGBTQIA+ asylum-seekers and immigrants to America, centering Transgender immigrants of the Global South.

While the CIP serves all LGBTQIA+ immigrants, the center’s primary focus is on supporting the most vulnerable within our community. Recognizing the challenges TGNCI+ immigrants face, the two organizations are uniting efforts in a shared commitment. CIP’s foremost objective is to go beyond the provision of legal services to address the holistic journey of TGNCI+ immigrants, supporting them at every stage of their immigrant experience from the moment they arrive. The center provides resources to support them throughout their journey as they put down roots in their home of San Francisco, an internationally known refuge for the LGBTQ+ community, a place where they can be safe, secure, healthy, and productive.

Moving forward as one voice and one tribe, Okan Sengun, Esq. (He/Him) has been appointed Executive Director, Center for Immigrant Protection (CIP) by the newly formed Board of Directors of the Center for Immigrant Protection. Mr. Sengun brings over 15 years of experience as an advocate for the most vulnerable. Since 2012, he has been securing asylum and legal protections for LGBTQ+ asylees with a deep commitment to serving Transgender migrants. Okan is an openly gay asylee from Turkey. Most recently, Okan Sengun was recognized as a grassroots immigrant leader by the City and County of San Francisco.

Anjali Rimi (She/They) has been elected to serve as the President and Chair, Board of Directors, Center for Immigrant Protection. Anjali served as the most recent president and CEO of ParivarBayArea and is a San Francisco Bay Area-based award-winning Global South Asian API “Kinner” immigrant Transgender woman and local legend known for her transgender advocacy. Read more about Anjali at anjalirimi.com

“In order to meet the needs of our clients and all LGBTQIA+ immigrants in our community while they start their new lives, we are proud to officially partner with ParivarBayArea (PBA),” said incoming Executive Director of CIP, Okan Sengun, Esq. “PBA has been providing services to Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Intersex immigrants from the Global South for the past five years, including three years under our fiscal sponsorship, and we’ve been working successfully together since then. Now is the time to strengthen our partnership between The LGBT Asylum Project and PBA, under the Center for Immigrant Protection, to ensure that all LGBTQIA+ immigrants in our community have access to life-saving services. These services should not be limited to legal assistance but should also address a wide range of needs, particularly those of TGNCI+ immigrants.”

“We are proud to come together as the Center for Immigrant Protection. Our commitment to tackling the unique and unaddressed needs of LGBTQIA+ immigrants sets us apart, said Anjali Rimi, newly elected President, Center for Immigrant Protection. “And we are dedicated to ensuring that TGNCI+ immigrants receive the holistic support they deserve so they are able to thrive in San Francisco and beyond.”

The Center for Immigrant Protection is the umbrella organization under which LGBT Asylum Project and ParivarBayArea have been working together since 2019, and this partnership marks a significant milestone in their journey. Headquartered on Castro Street, a historic district with a rich LGBTQ+ history, the mission of the newly fortified CIP is to empower and advocate for LGBTQIA+ immigrants while providing comprehensive and accessible support services to TGNCI+ immigrants, ensuring their safety and well-being and celebrating social belonging in the United States of America (USA), while building a community of light, love, and unity.

For more information about the Center for Immigrant Protection, please visit https://www.cipsf.org.

Media Contact

Carole Barrow, Center for Immigrant Protection, 1 4153051561, [email protected], https://www.cipsf.org

SOURCE Center for Immigrant Protection

health and fitness

Connext, high growth healthcare staffing firm, reaches 1,000 global employees

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Tim Mobley, President of Connext Global Solutions, expressed gratitude for the collective efforts of the entire Connext team. “Reaching the milestone of 1,000 employees is a momentous occasion for us. It underscores the hard work, dedication, and expertise of our talented team members who have been instrumental in our, and our clients, success. We are immensely proud of what we have achieved together and excited about the future possibilities as we continue to grow.”

Connext Global Solutions has always placed a strong emphasis on placing high quality candidates quickly, providing a supportive work culture to prevent attrition, and layering in management support to make employees successful. The company’s success is a reflection of its commitment to both client and employee satisfaction as well as it’s unrelenting focus on recruiting, retention, and high level management support.

In celebration of this achievement, Connext Global Solutions will be organizing an internal event to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of its employees. This event will provide an opportunity for team members to come together, reflect on their collective achievements, and look forward to the future.

As Connext Global Solutions looks ahead, the company remains committed to maintaining its position as a leader in the remote healthcare staffing sector and continuing to provide unparalleled remote staffing services to its clients. Connext now helps clients with roles and functions in revenue cycle management, patient support, virtual nursing, IT and engineering, accounting, back office and much more. The company primarily provides staffing services out of the Philippines but is now starting to build a presence in Colombia. The expansion to 1,000 employees marks a new chapter in Connext’s journey, and the company is poised for even greater success in the years to come.

About Connext Global Solutions:

Connext Global Solutions is a company dedicated to providing high level managed remote staffing services to clients around the world. With a commitment to excellence, collaboration, and client satisfaction, Connext has emerged as a leader in the offshoring and remote staffing sector. For more information about Connext, visit their website at www.connext.solutions.

Media Contact

Taylor J Goucher, Connext Global Solutions, 1 8086756310, [email protected], www.connext.solutions

SOURCE Connext Global Solutions

Society: Christianity

transcosmos awarded Silver in the PRIDE INDEX 2023, an indicator of workplace commitment to LGBTQ-inclusive initiatives

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The PRIDE INDEX was established in 2016 by a voluntary organization, work with Pride as the first performance index to measure LGBTQ inclusion efforts at workplaces in Japan. Each letter represents one of the five pillars in the index: Policy (Action Declaration), Representation (LGBTQ network, the A stands for Allies), Inspiration (Raising Awareness), Development (Human Resources Management Policy and Programs) and Engagement/Empowerment (Social Responsibility and External Activities). Companies and organizations that satisfy designated requirements for each pillar receive scores, and are recognized as Gold, Silver and Bronze based on their ratings.

Inclusive corporate culture underpins the Silver award 
With the aim of offering a workplace where all people are treated fairly, actively engaged as themselves, and creating organizational synergy, transcosmos is driving efforts to increase LGBTQ allies and to create a pleasant workplace for all by fostering better understanding of LGBTQ (sexual minorities) and SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) among all employees.

transcosmos LGBTQ initiatives
Policy (Action Declaration)

  • On the Top commitment page under the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) section of its corporate website, transcosmos clearly states its fundamental policy on promoting DE&I
  • transcosmos clearly states it policy on promoting LGBTQ and SOGIE inclusion, expected attitudes and actions for employees on the LGBTQ Inclusion page on its corporate website

Representation (LGBTQ network)

  • Established an LGBTQ Hotline (transcosmos employees only) staffed with external professional LGBTQ counselors, offering an environment where all transcosmos employees can consult with the professionals
  • Participating in communities and building a corporate network across industries

Inspiration (Raising Awareness)

  • Launched LGBTQ training course (e-learning) for managers in the fiscal year 2021, and for all employees in the fiscal year 2023
  • Held an LGBTQ Forum (training program) for officers and managers with guest speakers in June 2023, in line with Pride Month. Began distributing the LGBTQ + Ally (*1) Handbook in the same period.
  • Confirmed the level of understanding and feedback after the training program, and incorporated inputs into the initiatives

Development (Human Resources Management Policy and Programs)

  • Employees can assign their partners as beneficiaries in same-sex relationships for their insurance plans under some Group Insurance, if conditions are met
  • Adopting gender-neutral hiring, giving due consideration to the gender section on application forms

Engagement/Empowerment (Social Responsibility and External Activities)

  • Cosponsored the Tokyo Rainbow Pride 2023 (*2), an event to celebrate the diversity of sexuality and life
  • Expressed support for Business for Marriage Equality (*3), a campaign to visualize companies that support marriage equality (legalization of same-sex marriage)
  • Declared support for Business Support for LGBT Equality in Japan (*4) a campaign for the introduction of a national LGBT Equality Act

*1 An ally is a person who understands and supports LGBTQ individuals or wants to do so
*2 An event that aims to raise awareness of LGBTQ and other sexual minorities in society and celebrate the diversity of sexuality and life (Hosted by a non-profit organization, Tokyo Rainbow Pride)
*3 Co-operated by three non-profit organizations: Public Interest Association of Marriage For All Japan -Freedom Of Marriage For All; Not-for-profit organization Lawyers for LGBTQ & Allies Network; and NPO Nijiiro Diversity (* Nijiiro means Rainbow color)
*4 Co-operated by four organizations: Japan Alliance for LGBT Legislation; leading international human rights non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch; ATHLETE ALLY, a non-profit organization that champions LGBTQI+ inclusion in and through sport; and ALL OUT, a global movement for love and equity

  • transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries.
  • Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.

About transcosmos inc.
transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior “people” with up-to-date “technology” to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients’ business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 164 bases across 27 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce Services to deliver our clients’ excellent products and services to consumers in 46 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the “Global Digital Transformation Partner” of our clients, supporting the clients’ transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment. Visit us here https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/

Media Contact

transcosmos inc., transcosmos inc., +81-3-6709-2251, [email protected], https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/ 

SOURCE transcosmos inc.

Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

Dream Vacations Ranked #2 Franchise for Veterans According to Entrepreneur Magazine

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This year, nearly 500 companies applied to be considered for Entrepreneur’s annual ranking of the top franchises for veterans. To determine the top 150 from that pool, Entrepreneur evaluated their systems based on several factors, including the incentives they offer veterans (such as franchise fee discounts), how many of their units are owned by veterans, whether they offer any franchise giveaways or contests for veterans, and more. The ranking also took into account each company’s 2023 Franchise 500 score, based on an analysis of 150-plus data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.

“Veterans hold a special place in our hearts, and they’re incredibly meaningful for the communities they live and work in,” said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager for Dream Vacations. “We are proud to have veterans as part of our Dream Vacations family. Their involvement on committees provides crucial feedback, and many are willing to mentor new franchisees. It is an honor to support them every day after the sacrifices they and their families have made for our country.”

Military veterans interested in starting a work-from-home business can purchase a Dream Vacations travel agency business at a 30 percent discount and receive an enlistment package valued at more than $5,000, which includes waived administrative fees valued at $1,350. In addition to having access to the Command Center, an internal portal with veteran-specific training and veteran-themed marketing assets, all veterans receive a waived training fee for a business partner and the ability to hire active-duty military spouses and veterans as associates at a discount. Additional veteran incentives include the ability to move residences and stay in business, travel discounts for military customers and access to veteran networking groups.

“Every ribbon and medal that is pinned onto the uniform of a veteran was earned through dedication to others, for their organization and the success in accomplishing each mission,” said Shane Gray, a proud veteran and Dream Vacations franchise owner in Marshall, Mich. “A veteran will provide this same type of dedication to the corporate office, each client, brand, and supplier, as well as their own business. This alone sets veterans apart from other travel agent franchise owners and has the potential for making them the best in the industry.”

The only travel franchise to receive a 5 STAR ranking from the International Franchise Association’s VetFran initiative, Dream Vacations proudly supports military veterans and is consistently recognized by leading industry publications as a veteran-friendly franchise. Accolades include number one rankings from Military Times and Forbes, as well as inclusion on G.I. Jobs annual “Hot Franchises for Veterans,” US Veterans magazine’s “Top Veteran-Friendly Companies”, USA Today’s “50 Top Franchises for Military Veterans” and recognition by MSC Cruises in its Seaside Salute Award. The “Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General” program won gold from the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards and the IFA Franchising Gives Back Awards.

To view Dream Vacations in the Top 150 Franchises for Veterans list, pick up the November/December issue of Entrepreneur magazine, on newsstands November 14th or visit the full rankings online.

Military veterans with a passion for travel and entrepreneurship who are interested in opening a Dream Vacations travel franchise, please visit http://www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com or call 888-249-8235.

About Dream Vacations
Travel agents with the top-ranked home-based travel agency franchise Dream Vacations have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. A member of the International Franchise Association, Dream Vacations is part of World Travel Holdings and has received franchise partner of the year, a top-ranking status, by all the major cruise lines as well as national recognition for its support of military veterans. For more information about Dream Vacations, visit http://www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com. Like Dream Vacations on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise, follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise and watch its videos at http://www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness.

Media Contact

Michael Cadigan, Dream Vacations, 9549583627, [email protected], https://www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com/

SOURCE Dream Vacations

Health

UN Foundation Honors Extraordinary Global Leaders at ‘We The Peoples’ 2023 Awards Ceremony

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UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed Receives Marquee Champion For Global Change Award

NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The United Nations Foundation announced on Thursday the recipients of its annual We the Peoples Global Leadership Awards. Named for the inspiring opening words of the UN Charter, the We the Peoples awards recognize pathbreaking leaders and unsung heroes whose achievements have made measurable impacts in charting a course toward a better world for all.

The 2023 honorees are: UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed; President and Vice President of Esri, Jack and Laura Dangermond; Founder and CEO of Gro Intelligence, Sara Menker; Photographer and Purposeful Artist in Residence from Sierra Leone, Hickmatu Leigh; Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson, Dr. Fisk Johnson; and Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and their teams.

“We gather this year to recognize global leadership and resolve at a moment of profound challenge and strife in our world,” said Elizabeth Cousens, President and CEO of the UN Foundation. “At a time when it is more important than ever to reaffirm our shared humanity, we are honored this year to recognize extraordinary individuals who embody the spirit of the UN Charter, and who are determined to fight for progress, even against the odds.”

This year’s honorees were recognized for innovative and pioneering work that is transforming our ability to deliver for people and planet — from developing and harnessing technology for global good, to working tirelessly to ensure no one is left behind.

Champion for Global Change Award: H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations

In recognition of her indispensable role in the creation and adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, and her trailblazing work to elevate the voices of girls and women and ensure no one is left behind. Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed was presented with the marquee Champion for Global Change award by Elizabeth Cousens, UN Foundation President and CEO.

Goal 17 Innovation in Partnership Award: Jack and Laura Dangermond, President and Vice President of Esri

In recognition of their groundbreaking work to develop mapping technology, which helps the world locate issues and solutions — from addressing racial inequity to endangered species’ behaviors. The Dangermonds were presented with the Goal 17 Innovation in Partnership award by Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA.

SDG Vanguard Award: Sara Menker, Founder and CEO, Gro Intelligence

In recognition of her innovative work harnessing the power of data and technology to transform how the world handles supply shocks, food crises, and climate change. And in recognition of her commitment to help the world deliver on the promise of SDG 2: Zero Hunger. Menker was presented with an SDG Vanguard award by Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Global Compact.

SDG Vanguard Award: Hickmatu Leigh, Photographer and Purposeful Artist in Residence

In recognition of her inspiring use of art to reframe how young feminists are seen in Sierra Leone and beyond, and in recognition of her work championing girls’ education. Leigh was presented with an SDG Vanguard award by Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Secretary-General’s former Envoy on Youth (2017-2023).

Leadership for a Better World Award: Dr. Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO, SC Johnson

In recognition of his legacy of leadership for a more sustainable world with expanded opportunity for all. Dr. Johnson was presented with the Leadership for a Better World award, with a special focus on his work to eliminate vector-borne disease, by Laura Turner Seydel, Director of the Turner Foundation, and Chair of the Captain Planet Foundation, and member of the UN Foundation Board of Directors.

And finally, each year the UN Foundation honors the compassion, courage, and determination of UN frontline workers with the UN Heroes Award.

In recognition of diplomatic ingenuity and negotiations to release grain and other agricultural products to world markets, helping to alleviate hunger and acute food insecurity for millions, Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for OCHA and Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, and their teams were awarded for the Memorandum of Understanding and negotiations on the Black Sea Initiative. The UN Heroes award was presented by Elizabeth Cousens, UN Foundation President and CEO.

The 2023 We the Peoples Awards Ceremony was held at Gotham Hall in New York City.

Photos will be available on the UN Foundation’s Flickr following the event.

About The UN Foundation
For 25 years, the UN Foundation has built novel innovations and partnerships to support the United Nations and help solve global problems at scale. As an independent charitable organization, the Foundation was created to work closely with the United Nations to address humanity’s greatest challenges and drive global progress. Learn more at http://www.unfoundation.org.

Media Contact

Megan Rabbitt, UN Foundation, 202-247-1777, [email protected]

SOURCE UN Foundation

Health: Psychology

Ascent® Protein Donates $10,000 to Team Red, White & Blue

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Ascent Protein, The Official Sponsor of Hard Work, announced this week a $10,000 donation to Team Red, White & Blue (RWB) – a non-profit organization forging America’s leading health and wellness community for Veterans.

DENVER, Nov. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Ascent Protein, The Official Sponsor of Hard Work, announced this week a $10,000 donation to Team Red, White & Blue (RWB) – a non-profit organization forging America’s leading health and wellness community for Veterans.

For a second consecutive year, Ascent partnered with Team RWB during a limited release of their Mocha Cold Brew flavor, and donated proceeds from the sales of the product to Team RWB. This year, the custom camo packaging also included Team RWB’s logo, letting Ascent’s consumers know that their purchase supports the Veteran community. Team RWB said funds will directly support our nation’s Veterans working toward prioritizing their health and well-being.

“Everyone at Team RWB was fired up to collaborate with Ascent Protein as the beneficiary of their Mocha Cold Brew Whey Protein again this year” said Mike Erwin, Founder and Executive Director of Team RWB. “The awareness, visibility, and donations that resulted from this partnership have already made a profound impact, showing America’s Veterans that their best days are ahead, and their country is behind them.”

Ascent 100% Whey is made using a native whey protein blend. Native Whey is the least-processed whey protein available. The company is continually innovating to deliver clean protein products for consumers seeking high quality ingredients to support muscle health and athletic performance. The Mocha Cold Brew Whey flavor delivers 25g of clean protein per serving and contains zero artificial flavors or sweeteners. Ascent is also Certified Gluten Free and Informed Sport Certified, meaning every batch is third party tested for banned substances.

Mocha Cold Brew & the custom camo packaging was first released in August of 2022 and quickly became a fan favorite, selling out in just under two weeks.

“We were excited to bring Mocha Cold Brew back for a second year and expand our partnership with Team Red, White & Blue by adding their logo to the package label,” says Dallas Doiron, Associate Director of Sales at Ascent Protein. “We have partnered with various military exchanges since 2017 and look forward to supporting our military and Veteran community in years to come.”

Since launching in 2016, Ascent has quickly become one of America’s fastest growing sports nutrition companies with its line of clean products. Ascent Protein is trusted by some of the world’s most prominent elite athletes, including professional running back Tony Pollard, CrossFit Games athletes Brent Fikowski and Christine Kolenbrander, and Team USA Weightlifting athletes CJ Cummings and Jourdan Delacruz.

About Ascent Protein

Ascent® was created to naturally improve athletic performance and is The Official Sponsor of Hard Work®. Ascent launched in 2016 and has continued to bring innovative products to the market, while remaining committed to their high-quality standards and offering products with straight-forward ingredients and nothing artificial. All Ascent products contain zero artificial flavors and sweeteners and are Certified Gluten Free, and Informed Sport Certified meaning they are third party tested for banned substances. Aligning with the admirable qualities in the athletes that Ascent serves – going the extra mile, completing an extra set, and never backing down from a challenge, Ascent pushes for high-quality results, knowing they do not come without hard work. For more information, visit Ascent Protein.

About Team Red, White and Blue

Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) is a nonprofit organization forging the nation’s leading health and wellness community. Founded in 2010, Team RWB supports Veterans through their health and wellness journeys by offering real-life and virtual opportunities to build a healthier lifestyle. For More information about Team RWB and its 200,000 members, visit teamrwb.org.

Media Contact

Kim DeVigil, Ascent Protein, 1 720-550-3751, [email protected], https://www.ascentprotein.com/

Sara Brewer, Ascent Protein, [email protected], https://www.ascentprotein.com/

SOURCE Ascent Protein

Society: Social Services

Catafago Fini LLP Secures Defense Jury Verdict on Behalf of Air China in $50 Million Sexual Discrimination Case

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Ms. Wang alleged that as a result of their purported actions, defendants Air China and LB Oceanfront Corporation sexually discriminated against her and created a hostile work environment, retaliated against her, and aided and abetted each other’s discrimination. Ms. Wang brought her claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law.

Following four days of testimony from seven witnesses, the jury heard closing arguments by the parties. During these arguments, Ms. Wang’s counsel asked that, in addition to compensatory damages, the jury award her $50 million in punitive damages. After deliberating for approximately an hour and a half, the jury came back with a complete defense verdict, finding zero liability on the part of the defendants.

“We are gratified that the jury has rendered a fair and just verdict for Air China,” said Jacques Catafago, a partner at Catafago Fini LLP and the lead attorney for Air China. “The jury found that Air China did not violate the laws Ms. Wang claimed it did, and found no fault on the part of the company or LB Oceanfront Corporation.”

The case is captioned Huan Wang v. Air China Limited, et al., No. 17-cv-06662, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The case was before U.S. District Chief Judge Margo K. Brodie.

Air China is represented by Jacques Catafago and Sarah M. Dyer of Catafago Fini LLP.

Media Contact

Wayne Pollock, Copo Strategies, 1 215.853.6699, [email protected]

SOURCE Catafago Fini LLP

Society: Social Services

67% Say the Economy Will Improve or Stay the Same, According to the EAA 2024 National Business Trends Survey

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“It’s great to see a number of positives from this year’s national trends,” said EAA Board of Directors Chair Kim Koy, president and CEO of the Employers Council. “We are seeing a shift to an ‘improvement’ mindset. While many still anticipate a decline, indicators show positive movement upward.”

When executives were asked what they believe are the most serious challenges to their business in 2024, talent acquisition ranked highest. Cybersecurity became a top concern, breaking into the list at #2, with talent retention falling to #3. Inflation challenges came in at #4, and developing future leaders also made it into the top five challenges in the 2024 report.

While talent acquisition remains a challenge, also showing a trend toward the positive, business leaders felt that hiring was easier this year than it had been in the previous years, with 44% of organizations hiring as originally planned compared with 37% in the previous year’s survey.

Executives reported that skilled professional staff (non-manager) positions remain the most challenging when it comes to recruitment (47%). Approximately 33% of respondents report that skilled production workers are the most challenging in terms of retention.

The top strategies that executives are using to overcome retention challenges were:

  • Adjusting pay ranges upward (74%)
  • Focusing on existing staff receiving additional training and development (65%)
  • Focusing on existing staff retention in jobs where recruitment is difficult (57%)

Variable pay is also indicated as a strategy used to overcome recruitment or retention challenges. Top variable pay strategies this year include: employee referral bonuses at 59%, followed by year-end bonuses (38%), and hiring (sign-on) bonuses (31%).

Executives were asked what they thought are the most important factors prospective employees are looking for. The top five responses in the 2024 survey were:

  1. Competitive pay (86%)
  2. Good work-life balance (77%)
  3. Flexibility in work hours (59%)
  4. Vacation/paid time off (37%)
  5. Competitive/robust health benefits (34%)

Inflation was once again taken into consideration in the current survey. When asked what pay adjustments have been or will be made to account for higher wage demands due to inflation, updated wage structures/pay ranges (49%) ranked highest, followed by increased starting rates (47%) and increased standard wages (42%).

Another hot topic was remote and hybrid work. The top response was “few if any, staff work remotely on a regular full-time basis” at 40%, with only 2% responding that all staff work remotely on a regular full-time basis. Regarding hybrid work, “some staff work on a hybrid schedule (33%)” with 28% indicating they do not have hybrid workers.

With the emergence of ChatGPT in 2023 the EAA National Business Trends Survey also ranked the top Artificial Intelligence (AI) uses organizations are considering: Marketing content production (19%), Website content production (16%), and Recruitment and talent sourcing (15%) ranked as the top three. Seven percent list cybersecurity/fraud management as an AI use already implemented, with an additional 12% considering this as a use in the future. With 47% of executives planning or continuing to implement investments in new technology in 2024 (the top measure to strengthen business results), we may see a greater increase in AI use in the 2025 report.

The EAA, a nonprofit national employer association, provides the National Business Trends as an annual survey to share information on what 1,049 organizations and executives did in 2023 and what they are planning to do for 2024 regarding the changing business climate. The report includes:

  • Business Outlook
  • Business Investment Plans
  • Staffing Plans
  • Recruitment/Retention Challenges
  • Job Creation Challenges
  • Business Improvement Measures
  • Pay Strategies
  • Business Challenges

For a copy of the full report of the 2024 National Business Trends Survey, contact McKenna Arnold at [email protected] | 503.585.4320

About Employer Associations of America (EAA)

EAA consists of 24 regional employer associations serving 35,000 companies and more than six million employees. Regional employer associations are dedicated to serving their members as trusted partners that help members maximize the performance of their employees and their organization through business expertise in compliance, recruitment, retention, surveys, safety, training, and organization development. EAA’s mission is to advance a national presence and to promote local success among members through unparalleled collaboration, excellence, and efficiency. To learn more about the EAA, visit http://www.eaahub.org.

Media Contact:

Kathryn Klopfer, EAA Representative

[email protected] | 262.696.3426

Media Contact

Kathryn Klopfer, MRA – The Management Association, 1 262-696-3426, [email protected], https://www.mranet.org/

SOURCE Employer Associations of America

Legal / Law: Criminal Law

Community Housing Capital to be Featured on Docuseries for its Work Financing $1.12 Billion in Affordable Housing Projects

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Nationally, housing costs have grown steadily over the past forty years during a time when wages have remained mostly stagnant. The Urban Institute found that affordability for people with extremely low incomes worsened between 2019 and 2021, with a nation-wide shortage of over 7.3 million units.

“Housing costs across the U.S. have risen dramatically over the past few years, driving increases in homelessness, directly affecting household wealth, which has further widened inequality and stifled economic growth,” said Cindy Holler, CEO of Community Housing Capital. “The purpose of this feature is to raise awareness about the housing affordability crisis, discuss the challenges housing developers face and garner support and advocacy for the work being done in this industry. The video will demonstrate the power of blending philanthropic capital with public investment to dramatically improve the low-income housing market.”

Housing developers of color face uneven access to financing from banks and financial institutions. “I saw firsthand in my more than 20 years of working for large commercial banks in the U.S. the institutional racism that people of color have faced trying to get fair access to capital,” said Dana Chestnut, SVP/ Chief Loan Officer, Community Housing Capital. “At CHC we created a finance product for housing developers of color. That product is minimum market rate capital so they can have full access and compete against their for-profit partners for funding.” Chestnut has also been interviewed for the feature.

One of the contributing factors to an inability to address affordable housing shortages is the high cost and short time horizon of financing available to developers. Building and preserving housing that is affordable to people living at and below the Area Median Income (AMI) often requires longer time horizons, innovation, and a commitment to maximizing social returns. CHC utilizes this “patient capital” approach to partner with non-profit housing developers in the NeighborWorks America network, two of which are being interviewed for the program.

New Urban Development (NUD), the real estate development arm of the Urban League of Greater Miami, is an affordable housing and commercial real estate developer and is based in Miami, FL. T. Williard Fair, President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Miami, said, “This is probably the most challenging environment that we’ve faced relative to the development of affordable/workforce housing here in South Florida. Specifically, the increases in cost of capital, construction costs, land, and insurance have added tremendous pressure on the delivery of much-needed affordable housing. Having CHC as a strategic partner has been a tremendous asset. Their intentionality in structuring financing – and the team’s experience – has yielded not only financial support but also access to technical resources and relationships.” Historically, NUD has facilitated the development of over thirteen housing projects comprising approximately 1,500 units.

Tony Reyes, Executive Director, ComitI de Bien Estar, said, “We are excited about the opportunity to provide solutions to challenges facing working families in finding affordable housing in America.” ComitI de Bien Estar, based in San Luis, AZ, is a membership non-profit located in San Luis, Arizona, serving primarily immigrant workers and their families. Since 2009, ComitI has received $70 million in capital from CHC, which it has used to build 517 homes for low- to moderate-income families to date, with additional projects underway.

For more information or to request an interview, please contact Elizabeth Vivirito at [email protected].

About Community Housing Capital (CHC)

Community Housing Capital (CHC) is an Atlanta-based national nonprofit and Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) that aggregates loan capital to finance the creation and preservation of affordable housing. To fulfill its mission, CHC provides predevelopment, acquisition, construction, and permanent financing on multifamily and single-family developments exclusively to NeighborWorks Organizations. Since 2000, CHC has invested $1.12 billion in direct loan originations and leveraged $3.38 billion in affordable housing development, supporting new construction jobs, and resulting in the creation and preservation of over 22,769 affordable homes. For more information, visit our website or read our 2022 Annual Report.

Media Contact

Elizabeth Vivirito, Community Housing Capital, 1 7733322570, [email protected], https://communityhousingcapital.org/

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SOURCE Community Housing Capital

Health: Abortion

Products That Count Publishes Insights Report on AI; Announces Founding Board of Directors

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“Product fundamentals continue to apply to all great products, including AI products,” says Products That Count Resident CPO Renee Niemi, who previously was one of the first CPOs at a Fortune 500. “The technology may be new, but the discipline remains the same.”

Recognizing the continued growing importance of product, Products That Count is proud to announce the formation of its Founding Board of Directors. The newly appointed board comprises 5 standout product executives with a strong record of product and business success and a scope of responsibilities that spans beyond product, to engineering, marketing, corporate development all the way to P&L accountability:

Diana Benli – Chief Product Officer at Cognizant’s TriZetto Product Group

Lisa Mitnick – Americas Portfolio Lead at Capgemini

Shiven Ramji – President of Customer Identity Cloud at Okta

Avijit Sinha – Chief Product Officer at Wind River

Mikhail Vaysbukh – Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Innovation & Solution Delivery at Elsevier

“This group of product executives serves as an inspiration for even the most accomplished CPOs. I couldn’t be more excited to introduce them,” says Products That Count Founder and Board Chair SC Moatti. “Products That Count has grown faster in the past 2 years than in the previous five. Our organization has helped reshape the entire innovation ecosystem, but our ambitions are even bigger and our board will guide us there.”

The role of product in driving business success has hit an inflection point. Product has become a major competitive advantage for leading companies, shifting the balance of power in the C-suite across industries and geographies, and transforming the quality of our lives globally. These factors have contributed to the intense growth of Products That Count in recent years because of its pivotal role in both driving and supporting the transformation of this sector.

About Products That Count:

Products that Count is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps everyone build great products. It celebrates product excellence through coveted Awards that inspire 500,000+ product managers and honor great products and the professionals responsible for their success. It accelerates the career and rise to the C-suite of >30% of all Product Managers globally by providing exceptional programming – including award-winning podcasts and popular newsletters – for free. It acts as a trusted advisor to all CPOs at Fortune 1000, and publishes key insights from innovative companies, like Capgemini, SoFi, and Amplitude, that turn product success into business success. Learn more at ProductsThatCount.org.

Media Contact

Ryan Bazinet, Products That Count, 1 415.867.7512, [email protected], productsthatcount.org

SOURCE Products That Count