General Sessions | 2023 Corporate Citizenship Conference

TARGET  |  ALLY  |  LOWE'S  |  ALLSTATE |  GENERAL MOTORS  |  FEDEX

Sunday, April 30, 2023, 6:45 pm | General Session I: Creating Innovative Visions for a Sustainable Future

To create a resilient future where businesses and individuals can thrive, corporate citizenship professionals must develop a vision for what sustainable success looks like and map out the steps to get there. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting has long been used by innovative and forward-thinking companies to chart progress towards such goals and help them identify and address the issues where they can make the most impact. In this session, hear from one of the experts working most closely with the dynamics affecting our paths toward progress, GRI CEO Eelco van der Enden. Drawing on his experience directing world’s most widely used standard for sustainability reporting, van der Enden will share the trends and behaviors that he believes will shape our trajectory toward a world in which we want to do business, and a world in which we want to live.

Monday, May 1, 2023, 8:45am - 9:45am | General Session II: Target Scholars, a Partnership to Advance Racial Equity: How Can a Company Drive Philanthropy That Extends Beyond Financial Impact? 

That was the question Target set out to answer as it looked to accelerate its work to advance racial equity and create lasting, systemic change for Black guests, team members, and communities. In this session, Target’s Amanda Nusz and Kiera Fernandez will share the stage with Dr. Michael L. Lomax of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the nation's largest scholarship provider to students of color, to discuss the creation of the Target Scholars program, which launched in 2021. Going beyond financial assistance, Target Scholars offers college success coaching, professional development, networking, and mentorship opportunities to 1,000 Black students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to support their persistence and degree completion and continues to evolve to meet student needs.

Monday, May 1, 2023, 12:45pm - 1:45pm | General Session III:

Trust Based Philanthropy from the Grantee Perspective

All companies engage in philanthropy to some extent, but how can you build trust within your community? The Ally Charitable Foundation serves as an important platform to promote lasting, equitable change in local communities through a wide range of grants. In 2022, they committed a total of $3.4 million to support organizations focused on promoting economic mobility through financial education, workforce development, and affordable housing initiatives. In this session, Mike Rizer, executive director of corporate citizenship at Ally Financial, will discuss Ally’s journey with trust-based philanthropy. He will also interview partners to discuss its impact on Detroit and Charlotte.

Monday, May 1, 2023, 3:15pm - 4:15pm | General Session IV:

A Visit with Lowe's Hometowns 

Join us for a chat focused on Lowe’s community relations strategy through the Lowe’s Hometowns program. Lowe’s Hometowns is a five-year, $100 million commitment focused on projects that help revitalize communities across the country. Lowe’s integrates the program across all areas of its business, including marketing, partnerships, and vendors while also engaging Lowe’s store associates with opportunities to volunteer their time and build relationships with community partners. Hear from Julie Yenichek, Lowe’s Sr. Director of Community Relations; Katie Stearns, Chief Global Corporate Solutions Officer, Points of Light; Gary McCoy, a Lowe’s store manager who has served as a Lowe’s Hometowns project captain; and William McNeely, founder and CEO of Do Greater Charlotte, a recipient of the Lowe's Hometowns grant. They will share lessons learned and take a look at the ways in which Lowe’s Hometowns continues to grow and evolve.

Monday, May 1, 2023, 6:15pm - 7:15pm | General Session V: Embracing Sustainability in an Economic Downturn

Corporations are expected to take bold action and contribute to solutions that address society's most pressing global challenges, such as climate risk and social inequity, even in periods of economic downturn. As one of the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurers, The Allstate Corporation is leaning into its purpose of protecting customers and improving outcomes for all stakeholders served while advancing social equity commitments in an unpredictable world. Allstate believes its clarity of purpose lights the path forward through actions to drive positive change within the workforce, its operations, and communities. Join Allstate thought leaders for an engaging conversation about how doing what is right is good for business.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 8:30am - 9:30am | General Session VI: Cars and Community: How GM Continues its Social Impact Evolution

General Motors Vice President of Corporate Giving Terry Rhadigan will provide a comprehensive overview of the history and evolution of GM’s corporate grantmaking and employee engagement strategy from a foundation to a philanthropic function within the corporation. Terry will also engage Executive Director of Sustainability Strategy and Communications Hina Baloch in a discussion and Q&A session about the thought processes, strategies, successes, and challenges GM experienced as it introduced new focus areas and funds to better align its social impact strategy with its business objectives.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 1:00pm | General Session VII | Closing Keynote Featuring Rick Callender

Hear from our keynote speaker, Rick Callender, who will discuss climate justice and structural racism.

Rick Callender is the Chief Executive Officer of Valley Water, where he oversees an integrated water resources system that includes the supply of clean, safe water; flood protection; and environmental stewardship of waterways for Santa Clara County’s 1.9 million residents. Prior to joining the district, Mr. Callender worked as a Special Assistant to former City of San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer, as a Field Campaign Organizer for the California Democratic Party, as a Congressional Fellow for the United States House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Energy, and as a Congressional Fellow to Congressman Ronald V. Dellums. He also served as president of the San Jose-Silicon Valley NAACP from 2000 to 2008. Read full bio here.

This session is sponsored in part by support from the Edmund Burke Memorial Fund. Ed Burke was the founding Executive Director of the Center for Corporate Citizenship. His aspiration to see the assets of business create a just and sustainable world continues to inspire many.