Groundwork

Institute for Sustainable Communities Selected as National Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaker by the U.S. EPA

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Montpelier, Vermont, Feb. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montpelier, VT – The Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) is excited to announce its selection as a National Grantmaker for the Eastern region receiving $50,000,000 under EPA's Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking (EJ TCGM) program.

Key Points: 
  • Montpelier, Vermont, Feb. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montpelier, VT – The Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) is excited to announce its selection as a National Grantmaker for the Eastern region receiving $50,000,000 under EPA's Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking (EJ TCGM) program.
  • The goal of this program is to make it easier for small, community-based organizations—particularly those with low capacity or resources—to access federal environmental justice funding.
  • "ISC is thrilled to work with the EPA to support its national Environmental Justice Grantmaking efforts alongside our partners.
  • "Emerald Cities Collaborative looks forward to working with the Institute for Sustainable Communities and collaborating with ISC's partners," said Meishka L. Mitchell, President & CEO.

Fannie Mae Announces Single-Family Social Bond Framework

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 23, 2024

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fannie Mae (OTCQB: FNMA) today announced the launch of its Single-Family Social Bond Framework and updates to disclosures for the company's Single-Family mortgage-backed securities (MBS), aimed to further support access to credit and affordable housing as part of its mission and goals.

Key Points: 
  • The updated Social Bond Framework describes the Fannie Mae mortgage collateral eligible to be pooled, issued, and labeled as Single-Family "Social MBS."
  • The Fannie Mae Single-Family Social Bond Framework is being rolled out in alignment with Freddie Mac and in cooperation with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).
  • This opinion letter acknowledges that the Social Bond Framework is credible and impactful, and aligns with the four core components of the International Capital Market Association's Social Bond Principles 2023 .
  • Information on the Social Bond Framework and Mission Index can be found on Fannie Mae's website and via our Perspectives blog : "Mission in Focus: Enhanced Disclosures Lay the Groundwork for Single-Family Social MBS."

American Forests, GreenLatinos, Groundwork USA, and One Tree Planted Join Forces to Launch a New National Tree Equity Alliance

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 27, 2023

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Today, American Forests, GreenLatinos, Groundwork USA and One Tree Planted launched the Tree Equity Alliance, a new partnership to create a unified voice on the critical need for equitable tree canopy in communities and pooling the funding, community engagement, federal and local policy efforts, and planning expertise of these partners to advance "Tree Equity" across 100 cities by 2030. The coalition aims to deliver the benefits that robust urban forests offer in improving health, environmental justice, and economic outcomes, especially for low-income neighborhoods. New data from American Forests now shows that lower-income neighborhoods have 36% less tree cover and are 6 degrees warmer than higher-income neighborhoods in the summer, while communities of color tend to have 45% less urban canopy and are 9 degrees warmer.

Key Points: 
  • We are thrilled to join forces with GreenLatinos, One Tree Planted, and American Forests to model how through an intersectional, holistic approach, we can make tree equity a reality for all."
  • "We are proud to join forces with American Forests, GreenLatinos, and Groundwork USA to launch the barrier-breaking Tree Equity Alliance and plant trees in the urban communities that need it the most," said One Tree Planted's Director of Urban Forestry Tanner Haid.
  • "One Tree Planted is proud to implement urban tree planting projects that support Tree Equity Alliance goals."
  • The Tree Equity Alliance is launching on the heels of the largest federal investment in climate change and urban forestry in U.S. history.

What Germany's quest to define dignity – both before and after 1945 – tells us about society

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 21, 2023

At its conclusion, in 1945, legal scholars, politicians and the wider public agreed that life without dignity was meaningless.

Key Points: 
  • At its conclusion, in 1945, legal scholars, politicians and the wider public agreed that life without dignity was meaningless.
  • My doctoral research looks at the German quest, both before and after the conflict, to define dignity, in order to enshrine its protection in law.

An inviolable attribute

    • Article 1, which still has its distinctive validity today, reads:
      Human dignity shall be inviolable.
    • The German people therefore acknowledge inviolable and inalienable human rights as the basis of every community, of peace and of justice in the world.
    • Human dignity shall be inviolable.
    • The German people therefore acknowledge inviolable and inalienable human rights as the basis of every community, of peace and of justice in the world.

A universal definition

    • His idea was that all human beings have an inner worth and should be valued simply because they are human.
    • So in retrospect, Heuss’s definition of human dignity proved wise.
    • Kant’s framing of dignity may be concise, timeless, and universal, but his judgement of who is worthy of dignity – and who is not – was indeed marred by the ideologies of his own time.
    • The law, however, cannot equivocate on its status: as a legally recognised human characteristic, dignity must remain inviolable.

Foundation Support Specialists Launches New Location in Houston

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 9, 2023

HOUSTON, Jan. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Groundworks®, the nation's leading and fastest-growing foundation and water management solutions company, announced the expansion of Foundation Support Specialists (FSS) to the greater Houston area. FSS has been providing foundation repair services, crawl space encapsulation and concrete repair to San Antonio and Austin for over five years. The extension into the Houston market will allow them to serve more homeowners and businesses throughout the state.

Key Points: 
  • HOUSTON, Jan. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Groundworks ®, the nation's leading and fastest-growing foundation and water management solutions company, announced the expansion of Foundation Support Specialists (FSS) to the greater Houston area.
  • FSS has been providing foundation repair services, crawl space encapsulation and concrete repair to San Antonio and Austin for over five years.
  • The extension into the Houston market will allow them to serve more homeowners and businesses throughout the state.
  • "We're thrilled to bring our services and expertise to the great homeowners of Houston," said Matt Malone, founder and chief executive officer at Groundworks.

Ukraine farmer to address global agricultural experts at World Food Prize Foundation’s Borlaug Dialogue

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A farmer in Ukraine will draw attention to the plight of Europes breadbasket at the World Food Prize Foundations International Borlaug Dialogue next week.

Key Points: 
  • Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A farmer in Ukraine will draw attention to the plight of Europes breadbasket at the World Food Prize Foundations International Borlaug Dialogue next week.
  • The war in Ukraine has sent global wheat futures spiraling amid negotiations to release stockpiles of grain from blockaded ports, leaving farmers facing prolonged uncertainty.
  • Farmers are the frontline of our food systems, which means their resilience in the face of evolving challenges will define global food security, said Barbara Stinson, President of the World Food Prize Foundation.
  • The event will also recognize this years World Food Prize Laureate, NASA climate scientist Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig and the Borlaug Field Award Recipient, Mahalingham Govindaraj .

Agra Ventures Provides Farmako-Related Update on German Legalization of Recreational Cannabis

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 20, 2022

The Article predicts that the adult-use cannabis industry in Germany could be bigger than both Canada's and Uruguays markets combined.

Key Points: 
  • The Article predicts that the adult-use cannabis industry in Germany could be bigger than both Canada's and Uruguays markets combined.
  • For example, when Canada legalized recreational cannabis in 2018 it directly violated the UN drug treaties that it had previously signed.1 Almost four years later, recreational cannabis remains legal in Canada.
  • I believe that the legalization of recreational cannabis in Germany is a near-term reality, which I expect will create material value for AGRA and its stakeholders, despite some efforts to delay it.
  • Agra Ventures primary asset in Canada is Boundary Bay Cannabis located in Delta, BC, which is one of the largest cannabis greenhouse facilities focused on the cost-optimized cultivation of high-potency cannabis.

New Report from National Women's Law Center and Partners Examines U.S. Housing Crisis and Policies, Impact on Women of Color

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 15, 2022

Stable housing is an essential part of families' economic security & a critical part of a healthy, sustainable economy.

Key Points: 
  • Stable housing is an essential part of families' economic security & a critical part of a healthy, sustainable economy.
  • "In this powerful collaboration, my colleagues excavate the harmful housing policy decisions that litter our history and created the mess we face today.
  • Women particularly women of color were already more likely than white non-Hispanic men to spend the majority of their income on housing before the pandemic.
  • "Policymakers must use every available tool to address the acute crisis that so many women and families are facing today."

Prevent Cancer Dialogue welcomes attendees back to an in-person conference

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 26, 2022

Topics of discussion will include HPV vaccination, increasing lung cancer screening, technologies on the frontiers of earlier detection of cancer, and diet and microbiome influences on breast cancer risk.

Key Points: 
  • Topics of discussion will include HPV vaccination, increasing lung cancer screening, technologies on the frontiers of earlier detection of cancer, and diet and microbiome influences on breast cancer risk.
  • In addition to programming throughout the day, Prevent Cancer Dialogue will also feature posters on display that focus on research and/or programmatic work to reduce health disparities at the community level.
  • On Thursday, June 9, the Cancer Prevention Laurels will celebrate leaders in cancer prevention and early detection.
  • Nurses, nurse practitioners and certified health education specialists can receive continuing education credits for attending Prevent Cancer Dialogue.

SME's Additive Manufacturing Industry Awards Celebrate Innovation, Skill and Leadership

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 17, 2022

DETROIT, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SME, the professional association committed to advancing manufacturing and developing a skilled workforce, announced the winners of its Additive Manufacturing Industry Awards, which were presented today at RAPID + TCT 2022, North America's largest and most influential additive manufacturing (AM) event, which runs May 17-19 at Detroit's Huntington Place.

Key Points: 
  • The awards were presented by SME's AM Technical Community Leadership Committee and Direct Digital Manufacturing Advisory Team.
  • The Additive Manufacturing Industry Awards celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of individuals, teams and companies creating significant impact in commercializing AM.
  • It later was renamed SME's Rapid Technologies & Additive Manufacturing Community Advisors before eventually becoming what it is today.
  • Winning for their topic, "Hybrid Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing of Topology Optimized Aviation Components," the recipients from Virginia Tech are: