Latest news with #belonging
CBS News
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Mile Long Table invites all to a shared meal in Denver this Saturday morning at the Auraria Campus
This Saturday, Denver aims to host the longest shared meal in America. A table measuring 5,280 feet, seating just as many people, will be set at the Auraria Campus. Starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, people from all walks of life will eat together at the event designed to promote understanding and to increase everyone's sense of belonging. It costs just $5.28 for the family style meal, but free meals are available and donations are accepted. "Lots of ways to play, you can get a general admission ticket, you can sign up as a co-host -- a cohost invites people from your world, or a super host which is a company or organization, invites other people, or you can just show up at Auraria campus -- we'll have a seat for you," said Tim Jones, Founder of Longer Tables and Mile Long Table. Mile Long Table will also feature music, art and surprises. And there is special meaning in everything on the menu. "We have ancient grains that will reflect the Indigenous and pinto beans will reflect the Chicano heritage of the Aurarians that lived there. So we're really excited," added Jones. "And grilled chicken, fire smoked chicken. It's gonna be make-your-own meal, family-style at the table." Get tickets at
Forbes
21-07-2025
- Health
- Forbes
4 Ways To Foster Belonging And Well-Being In High-Pressure Workplaces
Margaret-Ann Cole is Chief HR & People Officer, Services for the UnderServed. In today's demanding work environment, cultivating employee wellness and belonging has become essential for organizational success. As the chief human resources officer at Services for the UnderServed (S:US), a New York City nonprofit managing a staff of 1,800 and providing $300 million in services annually, I've seen how prioritizing wellness creates thriving teams and stronger outcomes for those we serve. What's particularly important is ensuring employees—especially those in high-stress, high-responsibility roles—feel supported and connected. With the right environment, they can sustain their passion for work while maintaining personal well-being and meaningful connections. As CHROs, our responsibilities include nurturing and creating conditions for our people, organizations and the communities we serve to thrive. By implementing key strategies, we can significantly enhance employee wellness while improving satisfaction and productivity. Here are four proven approaches every organization should consider: 1. Embrace Preventative Healthcare The foundation of workplace wellness begins with comprehensive healthcare and regular preventative support. When employees prioritize their physical health, they build the resilience needed to thrive in demanding environments. People with strong physical health bring more energy to their work, engage more deeply with colleagues and clients, and have the physical reserves necessary to navigate high-pressure periods. Leaders can champion preventative care by creating supportive policies, like offering flexible time, providing wellness-related stipends and normalizing health-focused conversations (without requiring disclosure). At S:US, for example, we provide paid time off specifically for wellness appointments, send organization-wide reminders about preventative care during relevant health awareness months and share personal accounts of prioritizing health to model the importance of well-being. 2. Establish Movement And Wellness Programs Being physically active enhances cognitive function, which is vital for sustained engagement at work. Furthermore, when people engage in movement together, they build stronger interpersonal bonds. So establishing internal programs and initiatives can be an effective strategy for supporting employee wellness. We incorporate movement into our daily S:US operations. After noticing our staff is motivated by internal competition, we developed a "Beat the CEO" summer challenge where staff accrue points by exercising at the same level (or higher) than our top executive. The staff with the most points has a better chance of winning raffle prizes and other rewards. The key to success is creating an environment where physical wellness activities are viewed as investments in both individual thriving and team cohesion. When employees understand that their employer genuinely values their well-being, they develop stronger connections to the organization and their colleagues. 3. Strengthen Mental Health Support And Connection Mental health support is equally crucial when fostering belonging. Psychological well-being directly impacts how employees connect with others, contribute to teams and find meaning in their work. According to the American Psychological Association's 2023 Work and Well-being Survey, employees with access to mental health resources report higher job satisfaction and lower stress levels. Effective mental health initiatives that enhance belonging include: • Confidential counseling services with simple access protocols • Mental health awareness training • Resilience workshops that build shared language and understanding • Renewal programs that honor long-term commitment • Regular check-ins focused on both contribution and well-being Wellness programs with the greatest impact are often those that normalize mental health discussions, especially from the higher levels. When leadership openly acknowledges the mental or emotional demands of work and model healthy practices, employees feel empowered to prioritize their psychological well-being and support one another. 4. Encourage Affinity Groups To Deepen Community The profound power of community stands at the heart of belonging. Humans flourish through meaningful connections, drawing strength and purpose from shared experiences. When employees participate in workplace communities like affinity groups, their capacity for sustainable engagement grows exponentially. Affinity groups offer numerous benefits, including: • Fostering authentic relationships that transcend departmental boundaries • Creating psychological safety that enables innovation and growth • Providing perspectives that enrich both personal and professional life • Building cross-functional relationships that improve collaboration • Celebrating diverse backgrounds and experiences that strengthen work To encourage affinity group formation, leaders can survey employees about shared interests or identities, provide meeting spaces and modest budgets, offer executive sponsorship and, most importantly, give groups the autonomy to define their own purpose and activities. The Human Advantage Of Well-Being And Belonging As we navigate increasingly complex social challenges, a focus on employee wellness and belonging can become our greatest strength. The four strategies outlined above work in harmony to help create environments where employees connect meaningfully, sustain their commitment to work and flourish. Forbes Human Resources Council is an invitation-only organization for HR executives across all industries. Do I qualify?
Associated Press
16-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Andrea D. Carter Named to Microsoft MSN's Top 10 Women Disruptors to Watch in 2025
Carter earns recognition for transforming workplace culture with neuroscience-backed belonging and leadership strategies. 'Quiet disruption looks like leaders who listen and cultures that measure what matters.'— Andrea D. Carter TORONTO, CANADA, July 15, 2025 / / -- Andrea D. Carter, Founder of Andrea Carter Consulting and creator of the Belonging First Methodology™, has been named one of Microsoft MSN's Top 10 Women Disruptors to Watch in 2025. Recognized globally for reshaping the way organizations approach leadership, engagement, and performance, Carter is driving a powerful new era of workplace transformation rooted in neuroscience and belonging. Her approach begins with a bold but research-backed premise: belonging—not just inclusion—is the true engine of innovation, retention, trust, and resilience. By measuring five key indicators—comfort, connection, contribution, psychological safety, and wellbeing—Carter's Belonging First Methodology™ gives leaders and organizations a practical, data-informed blueprint for sustainable change. 'I've never identified with the term disruptor in the traditional sense,' says Carter. 'I'm not here to break things for the sake of innovation. I'm here because people are opting out of workplace cultures that are eroding their self-worth. Belonging is not a soft skill—it's a strategy. It's measurable, actionable, and scalable.' Carter's recognition by Microsoft MSN builds on a series of recent honors, including her selection as a Forbes Council Member, Top Strategic Advisor to Watch 2025, and multiple international innovation awards for her research on workplace belonging. Her consulting firm, Andrea Carter Consulting, has helped Fortune 500s, municipalities, and institutions embed belonging as a leadership competency—supporting organizations through volatility, disengagement, and cultural repair. From keynote stages to boardrooms, Carter equips leaders to build environments where people feel seen, supported, and safe to thrive. She adds: 'Quiet disruption looks like leaders who listen, cultures that value identity, and systems that measure what matters. That's how we future-proof our organizations—by making space for people to belong.' To learn more about Andrea Carter or bring the Belonging First Methodology™ to your organization, visit: Andrea Carter Andrea Carter Consulting email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DPR Construction Again Named One of the Nation's Best Places to Work by U.S. News & World Report
Award highlights DPR's 35-year focus on people, purpose, and building a workplace where everyone belongs REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DPR Construction, one of the nation's top technical builders, was named one of its Best Companies to Work For: Private Companies and one of the Best Companies to Work For: Engineering and Construction for the second consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice. "DPR has been focused on taking care of people since day one," said George Pfeffer, DPR Construction CEO and Leadership Team member. "For the last 35 years, we've continuously evolved how we do that, but the goal has remained the same: make sure that the people we rely on to help us build great things know that we want DPR to the be place that they grow, develop and build a great career." Creating a culture of belonging is a top priority for DPR, which follows a shared leadership model. It also invests in supporting its team's mental wellbeing, not only designing and tailoring internal programs but also collaborating with leading mental health organizations, like Mental Health America, which recently awarded the company a Gold Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health. "We want everyone on our team to feel energized coming to work and comfortable sharing their ideas," Pfeffer added. "Our success depends on the contributions and innovations of all of our teammates, so we work hard to ensure everyone understands that they are respected and empowered to speak up." In addition to providing competitive compensation, DPR offers industry-leading benefits to its team, including those in the skilled trades. Those include not only traditional benefits, like health and life insurance, but also additional offerings (which vary depending on tenure and union affiliation) like holiday pay, financial assistance for education expenses, free access to counseling, family planning assistance and more. U.S. News' Best Companies to Work For ratings reflect the ever-changing sentiments impacting employee decision-making when evaluating the "best" company for them. These sentiments are examined using factors that include quality of pay and benefits, work-life balance and flexibility, job and company stability, physical and psychological comfort, belongingness and esteem, and career opportunities and professional development. The Best Companies to Work For: Private Companies list features the top 277 companies out of 1,094 businesses evaluated across 14 industries. To calculate the ratings, U.S. News only considered privately owned companies with at least 5,000 employees that had at least 75 Glassdoor reviews written between 2021 and 2024. Developed with insights from a panel of six experts, the methodology also factors in data, including employee sentiment and regulatory enforcement data, gathered from U.S. News' partners Revelio Labs and Good Jobs First. In addition to this recognition from U.S. News, DPR has also recently been named a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators and one of America's Best Employers by Forbes. Newsweek has recognized DPR as one of America's Greatest Employers overall and for Mental Wellbeing and Diversity. DPR has also been recognized by its employees as a best place to work in more than 15 U.S. cities in the last year. People interested in working at DPR can explore benefits and current job openings on DPR's website. About DPR Construction DPR Construction is a forward-thinking, self-performing general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and commercial markets. DPR's portfolio of work ranges from large-scale new construction to small tenant improvements and special projects. Founded in 1990, DPR is a great story of entrepreneurial success as a private, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with offices around the world. Strategically focused on delivering more predictable outcomes through applications of virtual design & construction, prefabrication, its team of self-perform craft, and leveraging data to learn and improve from DPR consistently ranks among the top building contractors and employs over 12,000 professionals across its family of companies. For more information, visit About U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services. For more information, please contact: Jay WeisbergerDPR Constructionpr@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE DPR Construction Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Washington Post
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
LGBTQ+ Americans fight for the American flag in a new documentary
In the early minutes of the short documentary 'Reclaim the Flag,' actor and writer Lena Waithe rests her head in her hand and takes a few moments to consider the small American flag that she's been handed and that now rests in her lap. 'If you're a person that feels like you belong, that you've been embraced, then you'll wave it with pride,' she said. 'If you feel like your people have been killed, wronged, been able to be seen as less than human under the flag, you're going to be triggered by it. But yet still be born under it.'
