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 Georgia State University’s Monique Moultrie and Spelman College’s Rosetta Ross will host a two-day conference, “When We Lead: Black Women’s Spiritual Activism and Social Change Conference,” Oct. 4 and 5 at the Emory Conference Center Hotel in Atlanta. This groundbreaking event will bring together scholars, religious leaders, activists and community members to explore the significant impact of Black women’s leadership in religious activism and social justice movements.

The conference is a celebration of Moultrie and Ross’ work on the Garden Initiative for Black Women’s Religious Activism, a three-year project funded by the Henry Luce Foundation. The initiative was established to address the lack of comprehensive documentation and recognition of Black women religious leaders’ contributions to American society.

The conference is intended for scholars of religious studies, historians, social justice advocates and anyone interested in understanding the critical role of Black women in shaping public life and religious activism. Attendees can look forward to in-depth discussions, mentoring opportunities and professional development sessions aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of Black women’s spiritual leadership across diverse religious traditions.

The Garden Initiative set out with four primary goals: to document and archive Black women’s religious leadership, create a mentoring hub for leaders, expand scholarship on Black women religious leaders beyond Christianity and advance public knowledge about the gendered role of Black religious participation in social justice movements.

“We’ve made great progress on each of our four goals since this project began,” Moultrie said. “Our mentoring hub was successfully launched and consists of 16 wonderful multireligious, intergenerational women leaders.”

Ross noted the Garden’s impact on significantly expanding scholarship on Black women religious leaders across diverse religious traditions.

Since its inception, the project has made significant strides. The Garden Initiative’s website now includes a comprehensive timeline of Black women’s religious leadership, activism and organizing from the 1800s to the present day. The site also features biographies and resource guides on prominent Black women religious activists such as Coretta Scott King and Harriet Tubman.

Although these two researchers have accomplished so much in just three years, they both say there’s more to be done with this project. A significant reason Moultrie and Ross set out to create the Garden Initiative is because most of the scholarly and popular attention to Black religious leaders, especially the influence of religious leaders in the civil rights movement, has focused on male leadership. Their hope is that this project will help change the public’s perception when it comes to Black religious leadership.

“My deepest hope is that people recognize that Black women religious leaders’ contributions have helped shape public life as we endeavor to help the nation be a more just and inclusive society,” Moultrie said.

“I have been pleased to learn how much I did not know about Black women’s religious leadership across traditions in the United States,” Ross said. “The research has yielded new knowledge for me about the existence of Black women I had not heard of who are making important contributions. If the Garden Initiative’s future progress helps people recognize the full impact of the contributions Black women make, then that recognition, for me, will be a significant legacy.”

Conference Details:

Event: When We Lead: Black Women’s Spiritual Activism and Social Change Conference

Dates: Oct. 4-5, 2024

Location: Emory Conference Center Hotel, Atlanta, GA

Registration: Early-bird registration through Sept. 13: $175; Regular registration: $200

Register Now: https://blackwomensreligiousactivism.org/2024-conference/

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SAMG) is pleased to announce that Chip Kelleher has joined the firm as a Managing Director. Kelleher will spearhead the further expansion of Silvercrest’s presence in the southern market by opening a new Atlanta, Georgia, office.

Kelleher brings with him a distinguished career in asset management and a robust network of relationships in the financial industry. He has a proven track record of delivering strategic investment solutions and fostering strong client relationships. At Silvercrest, Kelleher will leverage his expertise to enhance the firm’s offerings and extend its reach.

“I am thrilled to welcome Chip to the Silvercrest team,” said Richard Hough, Chairman and CEO of Silvercrest Asset Management Group. “Chip’s extensive experience, proven success, and deep understanding of the financial landscape make him an invaluable addition to the firm. Our new Atlanta office will strengthen our regional presence and provide our clients with an elevated level of personalized service.”

The Atlanta office will serve as a key hub for Silvercrest’s operations in the southern market, providing comprehensive asset management and advisory services. The expansion underscores Silvercrest’s commitment to growth and to meeting the evolving needs of clients across diverse geographic regions. Silvercrest already has a fast-growing Richmond, VA, office, and works with a substantial number of families and select institutions throughout the Southeast.

“I am excited to join Silvercrest and to lead the firm’s expansion into the southern market,” said Kelleher. “Atlanta is a dynamic financial center with significant growth potential, and I look forward to building on Silvercrest’s reputation for excellence and innovation in asset management.”

The Atlanta office will provide a full suite of investment management services, including customized portfolio strategies and comprehensive financial planning.

Kia America closed August with record-breaking retail sales, higher than any other month in company history. The addition of the all-electric 3-row EV9 SUV led to a 27-percent increase in EV sales over the same period last year, while PHEV models increased 43-percent year-over-year, resulting in a 9-percent growth in sales of Kia’s electrified models over August 2023 and reinforcing the brand’s leadership position as the industry shifts toward electrification. Also, the sales of Kia’s SUV models posted a 9-percent gain, further underscoring the ongoing popularity of Kia’s utility vehicles.

Kia America August sales totaled 75,217 units, posting best August sales in company history, with SUVs accounting for 75- and electrified models 18-percent of the overall total. Four Kia models – Seltos (+30-percent); Sportage (+23-percent); Telluride (+5-percent); and Forte (+13-percent) – set best-ever August sales records, further contributing to the brand’s record-breaking sales performance.

“Kia’s dealer sales were higher than any month in company history by effectively managing inventory shortages as well as executing proactive marketing and sales activities in the month,” said Eric Watson, vice president, sales operations, Kia America. “Kia SUVs continue to gain popularity in the market up 9-percent YoY and our EV sales continue to strengthen up 27-percent YoY.  Our outlook for the remainder of the year is optimistic with increased availability on the refreshed K5 and the introduction of both Carnival hybrid and the all-new K4 sedan.”

In addition to the monthly sales performance, Kia America announced several initiatives, including:

• Kia America received the highest number of awards by a single brand with five Kia models taking top honors in their respective segments in the J.D. Power 2024 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study. For the fourth consecutive year, the K5 was the highest-ranked Midsize Car with the all-electric EV6 (Compact SUV) and Carnival (Minivan) topping their respective segments, each for the third time. The Forte was the highest ranked Compact Car for the second year in a row and the EV9 earned its first category award (Upper Midsize SUV) in the model’s first year on sale. 

• Kia America earned eight honors in the 2024 Newsweek Autos Awards. Individual vehicle awards included: Best Vehicle for Commuters for the Kia Sportage, Top Pick for Tomorrow Seekers for the all-electric Kia EV9, Top Pick for Suburbanites for the Kia EV9, Top Pick for Urbanities for the Kia Seltos, Top Pick for Empty Nesters for the Kia Sorento, Top Pick for Empty Nesters for the Kia Carnival, Top Pick for First-Time Car Buyers for the Kia Seltos, and Top Pick for Commuters for the Kia Niro. 

• The brand’s return to the ninth annual Rebelle Rally, marking the brand’s fifth consecutive year of competition in the grueling navigational challenge. A custom student-designed wrap will adorn the modified Telluride X-Pro SUV when the Rally takes place this Fall. 

Jay Bassett is a solar homeowner from Snellville, Georgia. He is a veteran and former EPA employee who was an organizer in the Solarize Gwinnett Campaign.

Jay Bassett’s home solar installation does more than generate electricity. It lets him give back. Jay went solar in September of 2023 through the Solarize Gwinnett program. The former naval officer and civil servant with the Environmental Protection Agency was a lead organizer of the effort.

“Part of what we are trying to do is get people thinking about if you put solar [on your home], how does this really build better communities?”

For Jay, this meant working with Solarize Gwinnett participants to donate their Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to local nonprofits. RECs represent the “green” value of solar energy. Utilities will buy them to meet renewable energy goals. This makes them valuable.

Solarize Gwinnett worked with the Atlanta-based organization Solar Stewards. Jay’s was the first household to work through the agreement process with Solar Stewards. He did this so others would feel more comfortable donating their RECs. “It is a way of giving back to your community without taking away from the benefits you get.” The donated RECs will support affordable housing as well as lowering electric bills and improve energy efficiency for families in need.

Jay’s system offsets about 2/3rds of his electric use. He also has a battery system. This lets him “receive the benefit of every kilowatt hour I generate.” It also ensures he can keep the lights on and food fresh if the power goes out.

Thanks to the Solarize campaign 20 homes in Gwinnett county are now producing their own renewable energy. The group’s installer, Better Tomorrow Solar, said they installed a total of 120.4 kilowatts of solar across the project. Each home received a discount by participating in the program.

The finances of going solar made sense to Jay. “We are already getting a bulk buy, at 2 bucks to 2.50 a watt, which is a good price.” He also said the 30% tax credit, part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) helped his decision. Jay plans to make the most of the available home efficiency and electrification upgrade provisions of the IRA as well.

When it comes to growing solar energy adoption, Jay believes that “building relationships is what is going to move the needle”. Since “relationships move at the speed of trust” he said the people and organizations that support solar need to engage their networks. This way, they can show the benefits of participating in a distributed energy system and how people can build equity with it.

Solar United Neighbors is a national non-profit organization dedicated to creating a clean, equitable, and resilient energy system that benefits everyone.

If you’d like to learn more about going solar and how incentives can benefit you, download SUN’s Go Solar guide: https://act.solarunitedneighbors.org/a/go-solar-guide.

Or contact SUN’s Solar Help Desk, which takes the complexity out of solar so individuals can make informed decisions. https://solarunitedneighbors.org/help-desk/.

USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue talks about the upcoming Board of Regents’ Scholarship and Awards Gala set for September 12 at Trilith Studios with Chairman of Chick-fil-A Dan Cathy.

 According to a new report from Brighton Health Plan Solutions, LLC, an overwhelming 75% of employers surveyed are engaged in direct contracts as part of their health benefits strategy, and 41% of those not currently in direct contracts are likely to consider them by 2025. This trend marks a significant and surprising shift in how companies manage their healthcare benefits and underscores significant opportunities for provider organizations to meet the rising demand for direct arrangements. Available in a free, downloadable report, the survey results reveal important insights about employer perception of direct contracting amid rising healthcare costs.

With healthcare costs continuing to escalate, organizations are embracing innovative provider strategies as an alternative to traditional models offered by insurance carriers. The survey of 150 benefits leaders sheds light on the factors driving the adoption of direct provider arrangements and outlines what employers prioritize in these contracts. The findings provide actionable insights for providers looking to align their offerings with employer expectations and capitalize on the increasingly favorable market for direct to provider health plans.

 “These insights from benefits leaders highlight the growing trend of direct provider arrangements and the substantial benefits they offer employers when they choose a flexible, collaborative and competitively priced provider partner,” said Michelle Zettergren, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Brighton Health Plan Solutions.

Key Findings:

• Engagement in Direct Provider Arrangements: 75% of benefits leaders are already engaged in one or more direct provider arrangements, reflecting a robust interest in this approach.

• Cost Savings Expectations: Employers anticipate health savings between 6% to 20% with direct contracting compared to traditional health insurance plans.

• Attributes Valued in Direct Contracts: Employers identified several key attributes when considering contracts with healthcare providers; 49% and 47% of respondents, respectively, said they considered improved benefits and cost control to be the best outcomes of a direct provider relationship.

• Preferred Shared Risk and Value-Based Contracting Arrangements: The survey highlights the top shared risk or value-based contracting arrangements that employers expect with directly contracted healthcare providers.

• Opportunities for Health Systems and Providers: The findings indicate a significant potential for health systems, especially those with integrated primary care networks, and other provider organizations to develop direct contracts that meet employer demands for cost savings, quality care, and seamless implementation. Providers should focus on building strong reputations, offering a variety of specialists, and ensuring provider access in multiple locations to attract and retain employer contracts.

“By understanding and addressing the key attributes and expectations outlined in this survey in their marketing strategies and solution development, providers can better position themselves to succeed in this evolving market,” said Zettergren.

The full report offers a comprehensive analysis and practical recommendations for both employers and providers aiming to optimize direct contracting strategies.

Survey Methodology

The survey polled 150 benefits leaders across retail, services, construction, technology and other industries. Participants reported working in HR (55%), finance (31%) and operations (14%). When asked about their funding model, 64% were self-funded, 24% were considering self-funding for the future, 11% were not considering self-funding and 1% were not sure. Employer size included 1,000 to 4,999 benefit-eligible employees (58%), 5,000 to 9,999 benefit-eligible employees (23%) and 10,000 or more benefit-eligible employees (19%).

Kennesaw State University published the video game Corporation, Inc. on Friday, marking the university’s first game distributed by the KSU Game Studio.

Assistant Professor of Game Narrative Victoria Lagrange designed the game to foster empathy for marginalized communities by creating a protagonist who recently emigrated from Colombia. Users are tasked with performing the character’s work duties while also having to navigate several forms of discrimination.

“The idea is to experience what it’s like to be a recently emigrated woman who finds a job and who has a lot of pressure on them to make the right choices while experiencing discrimination,” Lagrange said. “What we’re hoping is that when people play the game, they really experience that firsthand, and then it changes the way they perceive people around them. So, maybe then they will meet someone who immigrated, and they will think about this experience that they had while playing the game.”

Corporation Inc. follows the protagonist, Maria, as she begins a new job as a hiring manager. Through daily tasks such as sorting resumes and interacting with coworkers, users can affect Maria’s story as they choose from different prompts in each situation.

The game’s story was crafted to gauge how video game narratives can affect human behavior and communities.

“The main idea is, can you play a game, experience empathy for the character, and can you change your actions in real life?” Lagrange said. “I played this game called Beyond Two Souls by Quantic Dream, where you play as a homeless person at some point in the game. Then I noticed that my perspective had changed afterwards. So, I want to see if it’s replicable, how long it is replicable for, and if there is a way to make the world better through video games.”

Lagrange operates the Game Narrative Lab within the Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, where students played a key part in developing the back end of the game, creating the visuals, and determining the narrative.

Cole Andrews, a senior interactive design major, worked to craft the narrative, writing and editing scripts while also consulting on character development.

Andrews said he drew more on his experience reading books rather than playing video games.

“Reading stuff like Lord of the Rings and The Inheritance Cycle, which is the Eragon books, really inspired me. Harry Potter, of course,” Andrews said. “I just read these books that are 200-300 pages in a day, like, ‘This is incredible.’ Getting immersed into a world is what really interested me and allowing players to experience that same thing, where it’s the interactive experience where you’re not just reading a book, you’re affecting the story. You’re affecting these characters in a way that hopefully matters if the game was designed well.”

Corporation, Inc. recently won the annual Life. Love Game Design Challenge, a contest hosted by Jennifer Ann’s Group that showcases the power of intentional game design to foster critical thinking and nonviolent engagement among young people.

Jennifer Ann’s Group is an Atlanta-based 501(c)3 nonprofit charity founded in 2006 with a primary focus on teen dating violence prevention, created in memory of Jennifer Ann Crecente. Through its innovative Gaming Against Violence program and community outreach interventions, Jennifer Ann’s Group is addressing the root causes of violence, promoting nonviolent solutions, empowering adolescents, and supporting educators and parents. Jennifer Ann’s Group believes their cross-cutting approach to violence prevention will lead to a safer world for young people around the world.

Lagrange’s interest in the topic was spawned by examining how people identify with violent characters, specifically the main character in A Clockwork Orange, Alex, and how those characters affect people’s satisfaction with the story.

“And so that eventually led me to video games,” Lagrange said. “And the one thing that I was super interested in with video games was how you can make choices in the story that would make the story evolve in a different way, and how that would influence your relationship with the player character, the one that you embody to make the choices for.”

The Game Narrative Lab will showcase Corporation Inc. at DreamHack Atlanta in October and is currently developing a new game called AlleyCat that also aims to foster empathy.

 PNC Bank today released findings from its second annual Financial Wellness in the Workplace Report entitled, “The Evolving Needs of the Multigenerational American Workforce,” which summarizes survey data and in-depth interviews from more than 1,000 U.S. workers and more than 500 U.S. employers to better understand the financial health and wellness of today’s workforce.

Perhaps unsurprising in the current turbulent macroeconomic environment, the survey findings show that employers are continuing to feel the squeeze financially with the increased costs of benefits, worker retention and recruiting. Employers also recognize that their workforce – now spanning four generations – has increased challenges and stress about their personal finances, with 78% of U.S. employers saying their workers were financially stressed compared to 71% in 2023. The survey findings also demonstrate that worker stressors vary greatly from generation-to-generation, especially for sought-out employee benefits and personal financial goals.

Notable findings include:

• Gen Z is the most stressed about personal finances. Of surveyed U.S. workers, personal finance stress was highest with Gen Z (76%), followed by Millennials (72%) and Gen X (72%), then Boomers (59%).

• Top financial goals vary by generation. Gen Z’s top priority is strengthening their credit rating, while Millennials, Gen X and Boomers all prioritize saving for retirement.

• Benefits play a larger role in retaining Gen Z and Millennial workers. The likelihood of staying with an employer that offers more financial wellness benefits was highest among Gen Z (92%), followed by Millennials (85%), Gen X (72%) and Boomers (64%).

• Gen Z and Millennials are the most concerned about student debt. Results indicated student loan debt is difficult, with 54% of respondents saying it’s the most challenging debt to tackle.

• Gen X workers surveyed were the least likely generation to have worked with a financial planner, with the majority sharing that they do not have enough money to justify using one.

“The varying financial goals and priorities across America’s generationally diverse workforce shows how important it is to offer a mix of benefits that can appeal to a wide range of employee needs,” said Kaley Keeley Buchanan, senior vice president and head of PNC Organizational Financial Wellness. “In order to hire and retain great people across generations, which is critical to bringing diverse thinking and experience to your workforce, you must understand their needs and appeal to them. PNC’s Organizational Financial Wellness team offers businesses in-demand benefits to help meet the needs of their diverse workforces and improve productivity, performance and loyalty.”

Additional notable findings include:

• Three in 10 U.S. workers surveyed who have student loan debt say they are “at a standstill” until it is paid off. This increases to four in 10 among Gen Z workers.

• In the last year, access to financial planning benefits doubled for American workers surveyed. Notably, 28% had access to financial planning benefits in 2024 compared to 14% in 2023. One in three used a financial professional in the last three years.

• Three in five U.S. workers surveyed say they are living paycheck to paycheck. This sentiment is highest among Gen Z and Millennials.

As the needs of the talent market evolve, so should the way that businesses address them, if they want to attract and retain talent to effectively drive business performance. PNC Organizational Financial Wellness can help companies develop and implement innovative, tailored benefit programs that work well for them and for the talent they want to recruit and retain. More findings, including the complete report and related information are available at pnc.com/WorkplaceReport.

PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit http://www.pnc.com.

Methodology

The PNC Financial Wellness in the Workplace Report 2024 was conducted with employees and employers. The Employee Survey was conducted online with a national sample of 1,001 employees ages 21–69 who work full-time at companies with 100+ employees. The sampling error is +/- 3.0% at the 90% confidence level. The Employer Survey was conducted online with a national sample of 500 employers with 100+ employees and annual revenues of $5 million or more. The sampling error is +/- 4.4% at the 90% confidence level. The study was conducted by Willow Research (https://willowresearch.com/), a market research firm. Birth years are defined as: Gen Z 1997-2012, Millennial 1981-1996, Gen X 1965-1980, Boomer 1946-1964.

DISCLAIMER: This report was prepared for general information purposes only and is not intended as specific advice or recommendations. Any reliance upon this information is solely and exclusively at your own risk. NOTE: The sum of percentages may not add to the total due to rounding.