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'Undeniable and extraordinary' | Purposeful Connections

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Trailblazer. Champion. Pioneer. Force of nature.


The passing of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein marks the close of an era in American politics. The powerhouse Democrat was a leader on issues ranging from environment and gun violence to reproductive rights, and in the words of Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, "We lost a giant in the Senate." Throughout her career, Feinstein was a champion of civil rights and a voice for the underrepresented. She helped advance legislation to legalize gay marriage, increase the fuel efficiency of cars, develop the AMBER Alert system, ban assault weapons, and protect our nation's precious natural resources.


A statement on Feinstein's website puts her legacy succinctly: "Senator Feinstein never backed away from a fight for what was just and right. At the same time, she was always willing to work with anyone, even those she disagreed with, if it meant bettering the lives of Californians or the betterment of our nation... She left a legacy that is undeniable and extraordinary."


'Lazy girl,' or healthy girl?

Output, not hours worked: That's the core message behind the growing 'lazy girl job' movement, which describes jobs with reasonable hours, good pay, and benefits. Rather than promoting laziness, this trend underscores the importance of healthy boundaries and work-life balance. It's a critical trend for leaders to pay attention to, especially following the pandemic, which highlighted how traditional notions of productivity and commitment need to be reevaluated. Leaders should focus on output, fairness, and goal completion to create a more fulfilling work environment—not assigning unrealistic (and unhealthy) hours as targets for success. Employees have made it clear: Companies should prioritize their wellbeing and integrate work into their lives, rather than the other way around. // Fast Company—'Lazy Girl Jobs' are just healthy jobs—and the trend should be a wake up call for leaders


Ending senseless gun violence.

The newly-established Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which will be overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris, has a simple objective: "End the scourge of gun violence in America." Doing so may not be easy, but the establishment of this new Office is a vital step toward ending the senseless and tragic deaths caused by gun violence. The new office follows 2022's bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which works to keep guns out of the wrong hands. // The White House—President Joe Biden to Establish First-Ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. The White House—President Joe Biden to Establish First-Ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention // Sandy Hook Promise—Support the new Office of Gun Violence Prevention


Fridays for the Future A study by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne found that nearly 30% of Swiss citizens changed their daily habits in response to Greta Thunberg's Fridays for Future climate strikes, held in schools across the small nation. Not only did the majority of respondents view Greta and the movement favorably, but 30% made concrete changes in their transportation, purchasing, and recycling habits. Changes included using alternative modes of transport, seeking out local and organic produce, and reducing plastic waste. The study highlights the potential for individual actions to drive broader societal change, especially when supported by political action. // Euronews Green—Greta's school strikes led a third of Swiss citizens to change their habits


World-changing, world's best What does it take to be the world's best? Time and Statista's annual ranking of the World's Best Companies explores firms that "make things, like their forefathers did, while their employees, shareholders, and the planet profit, too." WSP* is one of the companies on this year's list, which is led by tech giants Microsoft, Apple, and Alphabet. WSP, a global engineering and professional services firm, also landed a spot on Fortune's coveted Change the World list, which is "rooted in the belief that companies can mobilize the creative tools of capitalism to help solve social problems." // Time Magazine—The World's Best Companies 2023 // Fortune—2023 Change the World List *WSP is a CCOP client.

Welcome to the forefront of corporate citizenship, where the Civic 50, an initiative by Points of Light, stands as a beacon for businesses. We invited Kevin Colman of Hasbro and Brandee McHale of Citi (two 11-year honorees) to share how their leading companies embed social responsibility and community impact into their business strategies and cultures.


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