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Microgreens: Creating Sustainable Food Systems

Unfortunately, many people around the world do not have access to a sustainable food system. According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, an estimated 690 million people around the world were undernourished in 2019, indicating this lack of access to a sustainable food system. As a result, individuals and communities have struggled to obtain nutritious food options, leading to negative impacts on health and well-being. Efforts to promote sustainable food practices and empower communities to take charge of their own nutrition can help create a more equitable and sustainable food system for everyone.

The Superfood…

Communities across the nation are looking for different foods and processes to create sustainable food systems. One of the main foods at the forefront of the conversation are Microgreens: nutritious and eco-friendly natural greens that offer numerous benefits for the environment and are becoming increasingly popular. They are harvested when they are just a few inches tall and packed with a concentrated amount of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Microgreens are super eco-friendly because they can be grown indoors, which means there is no need for land and water similar to traditional farming. Plus, they don’t need as much time to grow, so they offer fresh greens all year round without relying on out-of-season produce that has to travel long distances to get on people’s plates.

Not only are microgreens better for the planet, but they’re also better for people’s health. They’re packed with nutrients like vitamins and antioxidants, and they taste amazing! You can use them in salads, sandwiches, smoothies, or even just as a garnish on top of your favorite dishes.

That’s why at Generus we’re committed to promoting sustainable food practices and empowering communities to take charge of their own nutrition. By promoting food justice and empowering students to grow their own food, we can create a more equitable and sustainable food system for everyone.

Generus believes in coming together to make a positive impact on the planet and our communities, one microgreen at a time!

 

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How Volunteering Promotes Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

 

Across America, companies of all shapes and sizes are working to create a workplace that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. But reaching true Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) is easier said than done. Those who have found success find great rewards. 3 in 4 job seekers and workers prefer diverse companies which leads to more qualified applicants. Bottomline: bringing DE&I to your company can increase revenue, deepen employee inclusion, and improve employee recruitment. A major catalyst for this inclusion is company volunteering.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Why is volunteering important?

Volunteering is all about what we care about, the values we hold dear, and how much effort we put into supporting these values. These values reflect your vision for your community, the vision that you have for the people you care about, and the world that you live in. As Charity Village puts it, volunteering “is the interplay between what we value and the value that we create through our actions.”

How does volunteering promote DE&I?

Volunteering can help to build a sense of community and shared purpose within a company, which can in turn promote more equitable and inclusive practices. For example, if a company’s volunteer efforts are focused on addressing issues of poverty or discrimination, employees may become more aware of and invested in addressing these issues in the workplace as well. Finally, by actively seeking out and engaging with diverse organizations and communities in their volunteer efforts, companies can help to create more inclusive and equitable partnerships and networks. This can lead to more diverse perspectives and voices being represented in the company and in its decision-making processes.

So what happens when you put volunteering and DE&I together, you get something great! Generus makes these team-building events come to life. These events not only promote DE&I but also help improve employee engagement and workplace volunteerism. Let’s talk about some of these virtual volunteering opportunities.

Early Learning Kits for Children in Under-Resourced Communities

In this event, we explore how early interventions promote school readiness in toddlers and preschool-aged children from families with low income. These programs support early learning development, and family well-being and yield significant long-term impacts in building stronger communities by promoting equity and opportunity.

Painting Art Journals for LGBTQIA+ Youth and Young Adults

LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults are at greater risk for depression, homelessness, and death by suicide. Research has found that sketching and journaling provide important therapeutic benefits. Generus strives to bring support to the nonprofits through art and therapeutic writing helping all youth and young adults thrive.

 

Sources:

Paula. “The Value of Volunteering.” CharityVillage, CharityVillage, 26 Nov. 2019, https://charityvillage.com/the_value_of_volunteering/#:~:text=Volunteering%20reflects%20our%20values%20%E2%80%93%20what,society%2C%20and%20for%20those%20volunteering. 

Reiners, Bailey. “54 Diversity in the Workplace Statistics to Know.” Built In, Built In, https://builtin.com/diversity-inclusion/diversity-in-the-workplace-statistics. 

Tennille, Jerome. “Supporting a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy by Including Skills-Based Employee Volunteering.” Business 2 Community, Business 2 Community., 30 June 2020, https://www.business2community.com/social-business/supporting-a-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-strategy-by-including-skills-based-employee-volunteering-02323666.

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Work and the Loneliness Epidemic: Battle Isolation through Volunteering

Lonely employees are unproductive employees. And sadly, employees are lonelier today than ever before. Work and the loneliness epidemic are linked, and the shift to remote work has made it even harder to build and sustain bonds. But that doesn’t mean your team can’t come together and connect. In fact, through remote volunteering, team bonds can grow even more powerful.  

Here are 3 ways remote volunteering can combat the effects of loneliness.

Work and the Loneliness Epidemic

Improve Morale

Poor morale is an obvious side-effect of loneliness. Humans are social creatures, and we crave connection and purpose. But when we lack a positive team dynamic, we can feel unsupported and alone. On the other hand, when employees work toward something that matters to them, they feel heard and appreciated. In turn, morale improves and your team becomes closer and more engaged. 

Decrease Turnover

When an employee feels disconnected from work, they’re less likely to remain with their company. And it’s easy to feel disconnected when you never see or meaningfully interact with your team. Fortunately, remote volunteering offers a solution. By volunteering together, your employees will bond over shared goals and purpose. In turn, they’ll feel more like a team, which will make them less likely to seek a team elsewhere. 

Build Company Culture

If your employees don’t know each other, it’s impossible to build company culture. But when employees volunteer together, they’re actively building up a culture of accountability and support. In turn, your company will gain respect for its values, which will make recruiting top tier talent easier.

Employees want to work somewhere that cares. And when caring is part of your company framework, you become that much more appealing to new hires.

The Solution for Work and the Loneliness Epidemic

Connection combats loneliness, and it’s easy to connect over remote volunteering. If you want to help your company come together as a team, reach out to Generus today.