FCAS Introduces the Blue Square as a Unifying Symbol Against Antisemitism

Foxboro, Mass. [March 28, 2023] – The Foundation to Combat Antisemitism today launched a new, national campaign to mobilize all Americans, and especially non-Jews, to #StandUpToJewishHate by using the blue square emoji – 🟦 – as a unifying symbol of support. Jews only make up 2.4% of the American population^[1] yet are the victims of 55% of religious-based hate crimes^[2]. That startling discrepancy is the cornerstone of this new omnichannel campaign, created through a $25 million investment by Robert K. Kraft and his family, which combines alarming data with humanizing storytelling representing everyday instances of antisemitism to encourage audiences to recognize Jewish hate in order to stand up against it.

Through the #StandUpToJewishHate campaign, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism is establishing 🟦, the Blue Square emoji already on all smartphones, as a simple, but powerful symbol of solidarity and support for the Jewish community. The 🟦 will make its debut by taking up 2.4% of TV and digital screens, billboards and social feeds to call attention to the disturbing disparity between the Jewish population size and scale of hate the community faces, both online and in-person.

While high-profile events have started to make more people aware of antisemitism in the past year, many outside the Jewish community still are not aware of or recognize the scale of Jewish hate. According to a survey by Wunderman Thompson SONAR, over 52% of U.S. adults 18+ do not believe “antisemitism is a big problem,” and 45% believe that Jewish people are more than capable of handling issues of antisemitism on their own^[3]. Another recent study from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found that 85% of Americans believe at least one anti-Jewish trope^[4]. Additionally, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism has observed an increase in discussion of antisemitism online over the past two years, with the biggest increases in conversation in 2022 related to antisemitic flyers, conspiracy theories, and the Holocaust^[5]. We cannot let 2.4% of the population fight antisemitism on its own.

“The #StandUpToJewishHate campaign is designed to raise awareness for the fight against antisemitism, specifically among non-Jewish audiences and to help all Americans understand that there is a role for each of us to play in combating a problem that is unfortunately all too prevalent in communities across the country today,” said Robert K. Kraft, Founder of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. “We must stand up and take action against the rise of all hate and I hope everyone will post and share the Blue Square to show their support in this fight.”

Viewers will first see the 🟦 as part of an integrated ad campaign across NBCUniversal programming – including tonight on NBC’s Emmy Award-winning series, “The Voice” – with hosts and talent from some of the network’s most popular shows introducing the 🟦 and raising awareness to the rising threat of antisemitism. Utilizing NBCUniversal’s platform to bring this crucial message to audiences everywhere, the 🟦 will additionally be featured on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” and the Daytime Emmy-winning talk show “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” Also, Kraft will appear on “TODAY” to discuss the rise in antisemitism and efforts to combat it.

The #StandUpToJewishHate campaign will also appear on other major media networks and within other popular programming, including the NBA, NHL Playoffs and NFL Draft as well as be featured on numerous social media platforms in partnership with Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.

On the heels of introducing the 🟦, a series of advertisements directed by Derek Cianfrance will highlight scenarios inspired by real-life antisemitic activity the Jewish community currently faces, such as the fact that nearly 70% of Jewish Americans faced antisemitic hate online last year.^[6] While many Jews will be able to easily relate to the everyday scenarios in the spots, they were shot and scripted to especially humanize and contextualize antisemitism for non-Jewish audiences and feature the role non-Jews can play to #StandUpToJewishHate.

“Our Foundation has tracked a steady rise in antisemitic rhetoric on social media since 2020, with an increase of 14 percent in the past year,” said Matthew Berger, Executive Director of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. “We hope this campaign educates and empowers all Americans to speak out against antisemitism when they see it, either online or in their communities, and #StandUpToJewishHate.”

People can #StandUpToJewishHate in a number of ways:

1. Post and share 🟦 – an emoji already available on most smartphones – as a hashtag across social media alongside a message of support for the Jewish community and commitment to stand up to Jewish hate.
2. Activate your network by making them aware of the #StandUpToJewishHate campaign and how they can use 🟦 as a powerful symbol of solidarity with the Jewish community.
3. Tell your story to followers on social media, describing an instance where you’ve either encountered antisemitism and how it affected you or witnessed someone standing up against hatred towards Jews.
4. Visit StandUpToJewishHate.org and subscribe to the Foundation’s ”From the Command Center” e-newsletter to keep up to date on how antisemitism is spreading online, learn ways to identify and report it, and find helpful tools and resources around antisemitism.
5. Follow the #StandUpToJewishHate campaign at @StandUpToJewishHate on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to keep up-to-date with 🟦 and learn more about antisemitism.
6. Report antisemitism immediately when you see it, and if it is an emergency, dial 911. You can learn more about how best to report antisemitism by visiting StandUpToJewishHate.org.

FCAS partnered with creative agency Wunderman Thompson, media agency Mindshare (including their content unit Content+), PR agency Weber Shandwick, and influencer agency Noun for #StandUpToJewishHate.

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About The Foundation to Combat Antisemitism

Robert K. Kraft founded the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism in 2019 to help address the rising hate against Jews in the United States and the existential threat it poses to Jewish people. The Foundation is focused on winning the hearts and minds of non-Jews through powerful, positive messaging and partnerships, motivating and equipping them to be defenders and upstanders for Jews as they continue to face antisemitism. FCAS’ work includes understanding and responding to antisemitic messages and hate speech posted online and sharing the story of the Jewish people and the threats they face today to drive awareness and solidarity amongst all audiences, especially non-Jews.

Different from historical strategies to fight antisemitism, The Foundation and Kraft Family use innovative approaches to analyze and respond to the new reality of antisemitism and hate against Jewish people. The Foundation’s key areas of focus include: raising awareness of antisemitism, monitoring and analyzing trends in antisemitism and hate on social media, engaging individuals to build familiarity, empathy and understanding toward Jews, and celebrating Jewish identity.

Media Contact

Sherman Fabes: sfabes@webershandwick.com
Anisha Chakrabarti: anishac@fcas.org

[1] “Jewish Americans in 2020,” Pew Research Center, May 21, 2021, https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/05/11/the-size-of-the-u-s-jewish-population/

[2] “2020 FBI Hate Crimes Statistics,” The United States Department of Justice, February 21, 2023, https://www.justice.gov/crs/highlights/2020-hate-crimes-statistics

[3] “Wunderman Thompson Bespoke SONAR Quantitative Study,” March 2022

[4] “Antisemitic Attitudes in America: Topline Findings,” Anti-Defamation League, January 12, 2023, https://www.adl.org/resources/report/antisemitic-attitudes-america-topline-findings

[5] “Command Center,” The Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, 2022

[6] “The State of Antisemitism in America 2022: AJC’s Survey of American Jews,” American Jewish Committee, 2022, https://www.ajc.org/AntisemitismReport2022/AmericanJews

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, today announced the recipients of a 2023 Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellowship. The $10,000 fellowships are designed to support active Society members in the dissertation writing stage of doctoral study.

This year’s class of fellows represents a group of 15 students spanning a number of academic disciplines from science and technology to arts and humanities.

The 2023 Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellows are:

• Petra Banks, Texas State University
• Cassandra Beattie, Kansas State University
• Paige Figanbaum, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Justin Z. Goldstein, Texas State University
• Jessica N. Hoyle, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• Sojung Huh, Texas State University
• Wesley Jeffrey, University of California, Irvine
• Hong-My Nguyen, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
• Dylan O’Hara, University of Maine
• Iqra Pervaiz, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
• Rotana M. Radwan, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Keyur Savla, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Elliot Varney, University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Rachel Washburn, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
• Emily Wiedenmeyer, Texas State University

“In its mission to support academic excellence and engage the community of scholars in service to others, Phi Kappa Phi created its Dissertation Fellowship to enable doctoral students to have the necessary resources to support the writing phase of their studies. By providing financial assistance to these doctoral students, our Society supports their continued academic and service journey,” said Society Executive Director and CEO Bradley Newcomer. “We are proud to support these scholars and look forward to seeing their completed dissertations in the not-so-distant future.”

The recipients were selected based on a number of criteria including how the fellowship will contribute to the completion of the dissertation, the significance of original research, and endorsement by the dissertation chair.

Established in 2014, the dissertation fellowships are part of the Society’s robust award and grants portfolio, which gives $1.3 million each year to outstanding students and members through study abroad grants, graduate fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives.

To learn more about the Phi Kappa Phi Dissertation Fellowship Program and this year’s recipients, please visit www.phikappaphi.org/dissertation.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 325 select colleges and universities in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society’s mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.” For more information, visit www.phikappaphi.org.

Media Contact
Alyssa Papa
Director of Communications
apapa@phikappaphi.org
(225) 923-7777

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, today announced the recipients of its Graduate Research Grants. The grants of up to $1,500 are designed to support graduate students who are active Society members seeking funding for research in support of career development opportunities.

The 20 grant recipients include students spanning a number of academic disciplines:

• Sabrina Rahman Archie, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
• Elisabeth Cuerrier-Richer, Texas State University
• Lacy Dolan, Mississippi State University
• Emma Erwin, University of Maine
• Shreyas Gaikwad, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
• Mario Jackson, North Carolina State University
• Ashley Jellison, University of Louisiana at Monroe
• Arjun Kafle, Texas Tech University
• Elizabeth L. Leclerc, University of Maine
• Aubree Marshall, Radford University
• Hong-My Nguyen, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
• Donovan Nichols, The University of Toledo
• Aine Norris, Old Dominion University
• Dylan O’Hara, University of Maine
• Mariam Oladejo, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
• Kartik Kumar Rajagopalan, Texas A&M University
• Alexandra C. Sheldon, University of Texas at San Antonio
• Brannon Smithwick, University of Southern California
• Natasha Strydhorst Unsworth, Texas Tech University
• Xinwen Zhang, University of Texas at Arlington

“The Graduate Research Grant program has had another amazing year.  This year’s recipients represent a diversity of institutions and disciplines. I am excited to see this award program fill an important need for our graduate student members.  It is a privilege to part of their academic journey, and we look forward to seeing their works mature in the future,” said Society Executive Director and CEO Bradley Newcomer.

Established in 2018, the grants are part of the Society’s robust award and grant portfolio, which gives $1.3 million each year to outstanding students and members through study abroad grants, graduate fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives.

To learn more about the Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Research Grant and this year’s recipients, please visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/GraduateResearch.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 325 select colleges and universities in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society’s mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engage the community of scholars in service to others.” For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Media Contact
Alyssa Papa
Director of Communications
apapa@phikappaphi.org
(225) 923-7777

Global designation evolves to shape today’s investment profession and the professionals who operate within it

Charlottesville, Virginia — 20 March, 2023: CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, announces significant enhancements to the CFA Program as part of its continual efforts to evolve the Program. These changes address the way today’s candidates learn and prepare them for successful careers as investment professionals, while also supplying the industry with the well-trained, ethical professionals it so requires.

Margaret Franklin, CFA, President and CEO, CFA Institute, commented:

“These enhancements represent an important milestone for our candidates and employers in the industry. In fact, they constitute the most significant changes we have ever made to the CFA Program since its inception in 1963. We conducted extensive research to get feedback directly from employers, candidates, prospective candidates, and the industry at large to inform how best to advance the knowledge and skills we provide to the investment professionals of the future.

“We can say with certainty that candidates are exceptionally keen to get an edge in the market for employment, and they are willing to work very hard for the advantage that the CFA Program provides. These changes will meet their needs by helping them to understand how to put investing concepts into practice on the job and be desk-ready on day one. The CFA Program signals clearly that candidates are serious about a long and successful career in investment management.”

The six changes are as follows:

1. Self-contained, digital practical skills modules will be introduced to the CFA Program to teach candidates on-the-job, practical applications. The initial practical skills modules include Financial Modelling for Level I; Analyst Skills at Level II; Python Programming Fundamentals (Level I or Level II) and Python, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (Level II). Additional practical skills modules are in development for Level III for the calendar 2025 exam series. Beginning in 2024, at least one practical skills module must be completed for each of Levels I and II but will not be graded as part of the exam.

2. Specialized pathways will be introduced at Level III beginning in 2025. A common core of study will exist for all three pathways at Level III, and candidates will be able to choose one of three job-role focused pathways:

I. Portfolio Management (the traditional version of Level III)
II. Private Wealth
III. Private Markets

All three pathways will be equally rigorous and in pursuit of one credential: the CFA charter.

3. An improved digital badging strategy will reinforce the value of Level I and Level II achievements to candidates on their CFA Program journey. Candidate feedback suggests that a formal acknowledgement of completing Levels I and II would be beneficial in their search for internships and full-time positions as an indicator of the seriousness of their commitment to a career in the investment profession.

4. The volume of study materials will be reduced at each Level to ensure candidate preparation remains at around 300 hours for each exam. In our research, we found that today’s candidates are spending significantly more than 300 hours to study for each Level of the CFA Program. Best practices in instructional design are therefore being incorporated to ensure that the content is efficient, accessible, and relevant while maintaining the rigor and value-add of the CFA Program. Some introductory content that most candidates would have learned during undergraduate studies will remain available to registered candidates in the preparatory materials but will not be tested on the exams.

5. Additional practice materials: when registration opens for the February 2024 exams this May, Level I candidates will have the opportunity to purchase the CFA Program Practice Pack, a new product that includes 1000 new practice questions and six additional Level I mock exams. Candidates are currently granted access to two mock exams at no additional charge eight weeks before their exam window. Based on candidate surveys, it was determined that significant demand exists for more mock exams and practice questions from CFA Institute.

6. Level I CFA Exam eligibility has been extended by a year to those who are two years away from completing their undergraduate degree. This change was previously announced on 16 November, 2022.

Chris Wiese, CFA, Managing Director and Head of Credentialing, said:

“We spent years researching market needs while contemplating these changes. We spoke to candidates, students, employers, our members and societies, and others in the financial industry ecosystem. As the $10 trillion private markets continue to play a larger role in investment portfolios and as the $130 trillion[1] wealth management segment requires more highly trained professionals, we landed on adding these two new pathways at Level III in addition to the traditional portfolio management route. We also know that the new Financial Modeling, Python, and Analyst Skills modules will be valuable to candidates and employers alike and dovetail with existing curriculum content.”

For further information on the CFA Program, please visit https://evolve.cfainstitute.org, where you can also watch a video explainer from Marg Franklin, accompanied by more detailed on the six changes by Chris Wiese.

For further information please contact pr@cfainstitute.org

[1] https://www.bain.com/insights/in-a-new-world-time-for-wealth-management-firms-to-shift-course/]

About CFA Institute

CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization is a champion of ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. Our aim is to create an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. There are more than 190,000 CFA charterholders worldwide in more than 160 markets. CFA Institute has nine offices worldwide and 160 local societies. For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org or follow us on Linkedin and Twitter at @CFAInstitute.

Blameless Will Award Two $2,500 Scholarships to College Students Studying Computer Science and Engineering

San Mateo, Calif.– March 16, 2023 - Blameless, the incident management workflow solution for DevOps and SRE teams, today proudly announces the launch of their Blameless Reliability Scholarship. The brand-new scholarship program will award two scholarships worth $2,500 to current or prospective college students in computer science, engineering departments or other relevant science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM occupations are projected to grow 10.8% between 2021-2031. This is compared to only 4.9% growth for all other careers. At the local collegiate level, 730,394 or 18.3% of college graduates earn degrees in STEM fields.

The Blameless Reliability Scholarship is the first step that Blameless is taking in investing in the future of STEM by aiding students in their pursuit of a science degree. The requirements to enter the scholarship program include:

• Be a resident of the United States and the District of Columbia;
• Be at least 17 years old at the time of application;
• Currently enrolled full time at an accredited 2 – 4-year technical/vocational college or university – to see if your school qualifies, go to ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home;
• Or have applied to an accredited college or university and are in the last year of high school;
• Be majoring in a computer science, engineering or other relevant STEM field;
• Have at least one (1) full academic year remaining in their program.

To apply for one of the two Blameless scholarship awards, students will need the following:

• Legal name and birth date;
• Current GPA (via official or unofficial course transcript);
• Proof of enrollment or acceptance in a college or university (this document can usually be obtained from the university’s student portal);
• A 400 – 800-word essay on the topic of “How Resilience Empowers” attached as a document or a Google docs link (ensure the sharing settings are updated).

The deadline to apply for the scholarship is Tuesday, May 30th, 2023. Please provide all of the required information by sending an email to community@blameless.com and find out more information at https://www.blameless.com/scholarships.

“We believe that human beings are at the heart of reliable services. We’re so excited to help empower the next generation of resilient engineers to build services that people can trust.” – Emily Arnott, Community Manager at Blameless

Additional Resources:

What is Site Reliability Engineering?
The Blameless Blog
Blameless Reliability Scholarship for Computer Science

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About Blameless

Blameless is an incident workflow solution that carries teams through a codified playbook from start to finish in one fluid motion. DevOps, SRE and on-call teams command, communicate, and complete incidents faster than ever before. Everyone learns through retrospectives and data-based insights. Leading brands such as Procore, Under Armour, Citrix, Mercari, Fox, and Home Depot, rely on Blameless to embrace a culture of continuous improvement, do more with less, and protect their customers.

Blameless is backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Accel, Third Point Ventures, and Decibel. For more information, please visit www.blameless.com and LinkedIn or Twitter.

Media Contacts

Elena Lopez | Sebastian Moradi
Jmac PR for Blameless
blameless@jmacpr.com

A class action lawsuit claims that Plaintiffs paid more for JUUL products than they otherwise would have paid if they had been given accurate information about JUUL products’ addictiveness and safety, and that JUUL products were unlawfully marketed to minors.

A $255 million settlement has been reached in the lawsuit with JUUL Labs, Inc. and related individuals and entities.

Altria (another defendant in the lawsuit) and related companies have not agreed to settle. The lawsuit will continue against them, and JUUL purchasers’ rights may be impacted by that ongoing litigation.

The group of people who JUUL Labs has agreed to pay is called the Settlement Class and it includes everyone who purchased JUUL products from retail stores or from JUUL directly online before December 7, 2022. Those who are in this group and want to get paid, must file a claim.

Millions of Emails and Mailed Notices are being sent to identified Class Members with information about the Settlement. Recipients can click a link in the email, or scan a QR code in the Mailed Notice, or return the postage pre-paid return postcard to file a claim. Those who do not receive an email or postcard about the Settlement can file a claim by visiting the website at www.JUULclassaction.com or obtain a paper claim form by contacting the Settlement Administrator at 1-855-604-1734.

Payments will be based on how much each claimant spent on JUUL products compared to other Settlement Class members. How much each claimant will receive is unknown at this time because it depends on how many claims are submitted. More information about how payments will be calculated is available in the Plan of Allocation at www.JUULclassaction.com.

In addition to filing a claim, class members may object to the Settlement, or request exclusion from the Settlement Class or the ongoing litigation Class related to Altria and other non-settling defendants. Class members who do not exclude themselves may be bound by the Settlement and the Lawsuit which may impact their rights. Full details about Class Member rights and options, including the deadlines to exercise them, are available at www.JUULclassaction.com. A full list of the products included in the Settlement and the ongoing litigation, as well as other important documents, are also available at www.JUULclassaction.com.

Right now, more than 20 million college students across the country are beginning to plan vacations, service trips, and visits home for spring break. As students consider the best ways to travel safely, they should consider taking the following steps to protect their health, property, and financial well-being.

Consider Protecting Your Trip

The COVID-19 pandemic showed us all how quickly external circumstances can change, whether due to weather, natural disasters, or epidemics. Depending on the cost of the trip or type of flight you’ve purchased, and the refund policy, families and students may want to consider buying additional insurance at the point of purchase.

Keep Track of Your Tech

Traveling with technology, such as phones, tablets, computers, headphones, wearables, and more is now the norm. But if a student has their property lost or stolen while they’re away, the cost and time needed to replace their belongings can add up quickly. To reduce the stress of losing all the information you have on your technology items you can make sure your devices are password protected, install location tracking apps, and enable 2-factor authentication when available.

Lock Your Door (and More)

Students who live on and off campus should be sure to secure their room or apartment, unplug their electronics and appliances, and lock their valuables in a lock box. Even if they are away or traveling, students are responsible for damages stemming from electrical fires, floods, or . Students should consider renters insurance, like the one offered by GradGuard below.

What to Know Before You Go

GradGuard’s Renters Insurance, which is specifically designed for college students, provides coverage for students’ belongings not only while on campus but also while they are traveling worldwide.

“The rising costs of living and a college education means students have to be smart about what they buy and how they can get the most for their money. Part of that is making sure they protect their investments and GradGuard’s Renters Insurance, like our tuition insurance, is one way to make sure they can graduate college with less stress and less debt,” said John Fees, co-founder and CEO of GradGuard.

To learn more about GradGuard’s Renters Insurance, which enables students and families to easily replace a bike, laptop, cell phone, or other items that are stolen or damaged due to a covered incident visit www.gradguard.com/renters/. In addition, GradGuard’s industry-leading tuition insurance program is also a benefit that can be purchased. Visit our website to see the tuition insurance benefits available for your school.

About GradGuard

GradGuard is an authority on protecting students and families from the risks of college life. Trusted by a network of more than 400 participating colleges and universities, today GradGuard is the number one provider of tuition and renters insurance for college students. Since 2009, GradGuard has protected more than one million members at more than 1,200 unique institutions. For more information visit gradguard.com or follow GradGuard on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

For more Information:
Natalie Tarangioli
ntarangioli@gradguard.com

In partnership with STEM activist and influencer Alexis Williams, DoSomething is equipping students to advocate for more equitable STEM education in their schools

NEW YORK, March 7, 2023 – DoSomething.org, the national hub for youth-centered activism, invites students across the United States to join Make STEM 100%, a program designed to support exploration in the field and activate young people as advocates in closing STEM readiness and diversity gaps. The program, launched in partnership with 3M and the General Motors Foundation, helps demystify STEM opportunities available to students, highlights the importance of skills gained as a critical tool in a young change makers’ toolkit, and positions young leaders to advocate for more equitable STEM education and curriculum.

In a survey conducted in late 2022, DoSomething members ages 13-25, expressed interest in learning about career opportunities in STEM. Students indicated that their school and extracurricular activities did not prepare them for STEM careers and cited obstacles, such as lack of mentors and teachers with subject matter expertise, as well as a lack of confidence about pursuing STEM subjects.

“In the U.S., only 20 percent of high school graduates are prepared for college-level coursework in STEM. This woefully low statistic represents an equity gap and a direct concern for our membership and all young people,” said DoSomething CEO DeNora Getachew. “Yet STEM careers are projected to grow over 8 percent per year, faster than any other sector. Getting STEM readiness to one hundred percent is a critical pathway in creating equitable economic opportunity and mobility for all students and ensuring that they are equipped to forge a future in this growing and essential field.

DoSomething partnered with STEM activist, influencer, and NYU student Alexis Williams, for a ‘Two Truths and a Lie’ PSA that reveals these startling gaps through playing a STEM-themed version of the popular quiz game with students on the UCLA campus.

“As a black and latina queer programmer, I’m passionate about further exploring the intersection of social activism and tech,” said Williams. “Speaking with students and illuminating the current diversity gaps that still exist in STEM was a clear reminder that now is the time to act. Robust and equitable STEM education is key to building a future that serves us all!”

The PSA calls on students to take civic action and advocate for more equitable STEM offerings in their school to increase the number of students with access to STEM courses and skills. To learn more about the facts and how to be an advocate for change, you can view the PSA here.

DoSomething also convened a group of experts and young leaders in STEM for a virtual event to discuss STEM equity and representation; how young people can create their own STEM roadmap in the field; and provide concrete ways for young people to gain confidence to pursue STEM opportunities. The entire conversation can be viewed here.

Make STEM 100% also features a curated resource guide for young people to share offerings (courses, internships, partner organizations, etc.) with their peers to advance their interests and gain real life experience in the field.

“The outlook for science is promising — especially among young people. Our State of Science study found that Millennials and Gen Z both have a higher appreciation for science and expect it to drive social impact, with a focus on solutions for sustainability, healthcare and STEM equity,” said Dr Jayshree Seth, 3M Corporate Scientists and Chief Science Advocate. “But more work is needed, and we need more diverse voices. The world requires innovation. Innovation needs science. Science demands diversity. Diversity warrants equity.”

“A strong education and foundation in STEM can serve as a catalyst for change in our society,” said Terry Rhadigan, vice president of Corporate Giving at General Motors. “We believe that the Make STEM 100% program will help to close gaps and equip students from all backgrounds with the STEM skills and knowledge needed to tackle a wide range of issues that impact young people, including racial discrimination, climate change and more.”

Students that participate in either portion of the program by March 27th–advocating to their school administrators for more robust STEM education or sharing a STEM resource guide–are automatically entered to earn a $1,000 scholarship.

To learn more, please visit dosomething.org

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About DoSomething.org

DoSomething fuels young people to change the world. As the national hub for youth-centered activism, DoSomething has activated more than 5 million young people representing every U.S. area code and over 130 countries. DoSomething has registered over 360,000 new voters since 2018 and awarded more than $1.8 million in scholarships to young people since 2010. When you join DoSomething.org, you are joining a reflective and inclusive collective of young people who are collaborating to develop and implement the solutions to the most pressing issues facing society today.

Media Contact

jkaminski@dosomething.org

Program will Award $60,000 in Scholarships to Students from Traditionally Underserved Populations

BOSTON, MA (March 6, 2023) – Charles River Associates (CRA), a worldwide leader in providing economic, financial and management consulting services, today announced the launch of the CRA All-Access Scholarship, which will support students pursuing degrees in business, economics, engineering, mathematics, science or technology. In the inaugural year of the program, CRA will award $5,000 each to 12 deserving students for their junior year at an accredited institution.

In keeping with CRA’s companywide All-Access Initiative, which champions the importance of higher education, particularly within traditionally underserved populations, the All-Access Scholarship is aimed at encouraging female students and students from underrepresented communities and/or socioeconomically challenging backgrounds to pursue higher education.

“Historically, economics has been one of the least diverse of all the academic fields,” said Raquel Tamez, CRA’s Chief Inclusion and Engagement Officer. “CRA’s All-Access Scholarship Program was created to help address this issue, by giving female students—as well as those from historically underrepresented communities—the financial support they need to make the most of their educational experience.

“Moreover, as a firm with offices in cities around the globe, we want to do our part in ensuring that the talent pipeline in our fields of expertise truly reflects the diversity and dynamism of the communities where we work and live.”

To be eligible for this program, applicants must be current, full-time college sophomores attending an accredited college/university and majoring in Business, Economics, or STEM with an overall GPA of 3.5. Ideal candidates will have a record of leadership and community service, exhibit financial need, and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity.

The deadline to apply for the 2023-24 CRA All-Access Scholarship is April 3, 2023. For more information and to begin the application process, visit crai.com/cra-all-access-scholarship.

This program is administered by International Scholarship and Tuition Services Inc., an independent company that specializes in managing sponsored educational assistance programs.

About Charles River Associates (CRA)

Charles River Associates® is a leading global consulting firm specializing in economic, financial, and management consulting services. CRA advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings, and guides corporations through critical business strategy and performance-related issues. Since 1965, clients have engaged CRA for its unique combination of functional expertise and industry knowledge, and for its objective solutions to complex problems. Headquartered in Boston, CRA has offices throughout the world. Detailed information about Charles River Associates, a registered trade name of CRA International, Inc., is available at www.crai.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

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