Don Howard’s Post

It’s no secret that workers have rightfully been demanding higher-quality jobs, and research shows that employers who provide them see increased productivity and higher retention at their companies. Now, new research from RAND shows that ***companies that invest in frontline workers also see increases in their stock prices.*** In a new piece for World Economic Forum, George Zuo and I discuss the new data and why it should be encouraging not just to employers and investors, but to anyone advocating for workers. Thanks to Jeffrey Wenger for your work on the research. I hope you’ll read the full article and let me know your thoughts on this exciting new data. https://lnkd.in/gEg-dMRE

Insightful new research from The James Irvine Foundation board member Michael Chui and his colleagues at McKinsey & Company about the trends in generative AI, including how it impacts the autonomy of work. “A full realization of the technology’s benefits will take time, and leaders in business and society still have considerable challenges to address. These include managing the risks inherent in generative AI, determining what new skills and capabilities the workforce will need, and rethinking core business processes such as retraining and developing new skills.” As generative AI continues to rapidly evolve, protective measures that ensure workers are not left behind are essential. This includes thoughtful development, cross-sector collaboration, and most importantly, keeping worker voices at the center of decision making. I’m grateful for the researchers at McKinsey, who understand the implications of this technology on the workforce, as we navigate this new frontier. https://lnkd.in/gXwSmAJp

Congratulations and thank you Maria Anguiano!

“While in most jurisdictions the public and private sectors work in silos, in California we’ve helped build the muscle for public-private partnership that allows both sectors to draw on each other’s strengths and resources to help more people by working together.” Both government and philanthropy are powerful vehicles for driving change, but often one needs the support of the other to ensure solutions to challenges are fully, equitably implemented in the best interest of communities. Kathleen Kelly Janus’s new article in Stanford Social Innovation Review details the most important elements of successful public-private partnerships: relationship-building, public and private leadership, addressing real problems with real solutions, and communicating impact. At The James Irvine Foundation, we believe that public-private partnerships can help create more equitable opportunities for Californians. Thank you, Kathleen, for including an example of our work in this piece and for all your partnership over the years! https://lnkd.in/gP8SFG6X

Here’s a fascinating episode of Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting that explores the impact of a large-scale solar project on one rural community in Copake, New York — and what it can tell us about renewable energy projects across the country. In Copake, some residents fear that the solar project will harm the environment and wipe out critical farmland that the community relies on. These concerns are understandable, as many infrastructure and clean energy projects have a history of negatively impacting rural, tribal, and low-income communities. As billions of dollars go into building massive renewable energy projects across the U.S., this story underscores the importance of engaging with local communities to understand their needs and concerns, and ensure they benefit from good jobs and other benefits. As Matt Horton and I recently outlined in Inside Philanthropy (https://lnkd.in/g5CGtsrr), community engagement can help steer the green energy transition toward economic justice and equity. Philanthropy has a key role to play in facilitating these conversations and ensuring that public and private sector actors are held accountable to promised community benefits. With the right support, renewable energy projects can be a net positive for workers, economies, and the environment. https://lnkd.in/giJkWdSB

California’s Inland Empire is home to more than 4.7 million people — 12% of the state’s population — and is an economic hub. But the region is grappling with high pollution and too few quality jobs or opportunities for economic advancement. As Deborah Brennan underscores in this piece for CalMatters, despite the challenges facing the Inland Empire, individuals across sectors are working to close opportunity gaps for the region’s residents. Deborah highlights four different Inland Empire leaders with unique and innovative ideas for improving the region. What each approach has in common is a commitment to strengthening the workforce with better jobs. At The James Irvine Foundation, we’re focused on supporting Inland Empire communities as they create economies that work for all residents through our Priority Communities initiative. Community-based grantmaking allows us to work with trusted, local partners and community members themselves who understand the challenges these communities face and know how to design creative solutions. We’re proud to be part of concerted, cross-sector efforts to advance opportunity for low-wage workers across California. #CAeconomy #PriorityCommunities #QualityJobs https://lnkd.in/gUjCtkTH

As we kick off Pride Month, I’m pleased to share the perspectives of The James Irvine Foundation Program Officer Virdiana Velez, MPP. In this blog post, Virdiana touches on what Pride Month means to her as a proudly queer, Latina mother. Having experienced discrimination and prejudice in her early life, Virdiana is empowered by the work she does at Irvine to create lasting change for historically underserved communities. Thank you Virdiana for sharing your story, which can be read here:  https://lnkd.in/gz66C__j

Congratulations to the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for naming an impressive new leader, Amber D. Miller, as their next President. Amber’s accomplishments as a scientist and as dean of both Columbia University and the University of Southern California are a testament to the kind of leader she will be at Hewlett: curious, creative, compassionate, and committed to equity. I look forward to working alongside Amber during such a pivotal time for the nonprofit sector, as our organizations work to ensure everyone has the equitable opportunity to thrive.

Infrastructure and clean energy transition projects have a history of bypassing — and often harming — low-income, tribal, and rural communities. Both the energy and the profits typically flow outward to urban areas and wealthy shareholders, while the communities where these projects are located see minimal jobs or economic growth. Philanthropy is in a unique position to disrupt this trend, bridging the gap between federal dollars and local impact. In a new piece for Inside Philanthropy, Matt Horton of Milken Institute and Accelerator for America and I outline the current state of affairs in green energy investments, and suggest ways for philanthropy to address common challenges and steer the green energy transition toward justice and equity. Specifically, we recommend that philanthropy focus on three areas: 1) Facilitating community input and benefits agreements so that projects reflect the rights and interests of these communities. 2) Funding green jobs and workforce development programs to ensure that the millions of new jobs spurred by investments are high quality and broadly accessible. 3) Advising state and local officials on how to use federal dollars for maximum community benefit. I hope you’ll read the article and let me know what you think! #GreenEnergy #Philanthropy #Equity https://lnkd.in/g5CGtsrr