Creating Opportunity

Walmart began as a dream and with a simple investment – while still wearing his Army uniform, Sam Walton stood in front of the store he bought with $5,000 of his savings and a loan from his in-laws – and that first store has grown into the world’s largest retail company, creating economic opportunity for millions of people around the world in retail and retail supply chains. Since 2015, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have funded over $130 million to support projects designed to advance workers in retail and related sectors. Walmart is committed to a diverse workforce and announced in June 2020 it would commit a further $100 million over 5 years to create the Center for Racial Equity, which will address systematic racism in society head-on and accelerate change. The center will support philanthropic initiatives focused on the social determinants of health, strengthening workforce development and related educational systems, and criminal justice reform with an emphasis on examining barriers to opportunity faced by those exiting the system. Additionally, Walmart works to provide upskilling and educational opportunities for its workforce, including the company’s innovative Live Better U program, which provides associates with access to higher education for as little as $1 per day.

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    Diversity & Inclusion

    Walmart Is Joining a Growing Movement to Get Stay-At-Home Moms Back Into the Workforce
    Walmart Labs, the tech division of the retail giant, has signed onto Path Forward, a nonprofit that facilitates programs to aid caregivers—mainly moms—in returning to professional work after taking time off to look after children, a parent, or another loved one.

    Diversity & Inclusion

    Walmart's Sourcing From Women-Owned Suppliers Drives Business
    Even with the growth in women-owned businesses, these suppliers are having difficulty competing for corporate and government contracts and earning less than 1% of the money spent by the organizations, according to Elizabeth Vazquez, CEO and co-founder of WEConnect International, who helped create the corporate-led global nonprofit to educate and connect WOB with qualified buyers dedicated to diversifying their supply chains.

    Diversity & Inclusion

    Jobs for Unemployed Veterans
    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, just over 7,000 -- 4.5 percent of the 164,000 veterans in Oklahoma's work force -- are unemployed. But there's another 152,000 veterans who aren't considered in the work force, which means they're either not looking for jobs, or have given up looking. "I would like to see us do better," said State Senator Frank Simpson, "because I think military people bring some unique skills with them that maybe their civilian counterparts don't have."

    Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

    Growing Beyond Europe, Korona Candles Lights Up U.S.
    Today, a new chapter is being written in Dublin, Virginia, at the company’s first production facility in the States. Back in Poland, the company started the manual production of candles with a team of about 20 workers and several basic machines. It was very labor intensive, Agnieszka Fafara, the company’s president and CEO, explained. Ignited by the desire to manufacture top-quality candles, the company invested in automation and attracted more skilled employees in the process. Korona experienced tremendous growth in its hometown, building up to 900 employees.

    Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

    Congressman Helps Sleeping Bag Factory ‘Exxel’ at Creating U.S. Jobs
    The chief executive officer of Exxel Outdoors swam against the tide of manufacturers moving their businesses overseas – a calculated risk that has led to continued success over the last 17 years at a sleeping bag factory in rural Alabama. Helping smooth the way was Congressman Robert Aderholt of Alabama’s 4th District. The longtime U.S. representative co-sponsored and supported legislation that has helped companies like Exxel better compete in the global market, resulting in expanded production and more jobs in the States. Recently, we caught up with Aderholt after he toured the Exxel factory and asked him about the importance of American made.

    Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

    Meet the Team Making Eyewear for America in Brooklyn
    On the fifth floor, M Factory buzzes with the busy energy of an eyewear manufacturer. This type of space is rare to see in the U.S., for a very specific reason: Most eyewear manufacturing is done in Italy or China, and always has been. This is also one of the reasons why what M Factory is doing in Brooklyn is so exciting: Crafting quality, affordable eyewear is not something typically done in the United States.

    Diversity & Inclusion

    Walmart Outlines 2017 Goals for American Job Growth and Community Investment
    Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer with nearly 1.5 million associates in the U.S., today will discuss company plans to create American jobs and invest in local communities across the country. The investments in the coming year will support an estimated 34,000 jobs through continued expansion and improvement in the company’s store network, as well as e-commerce services, while providing specialty training for more than 225,000 of the company’s frontline associates.

    Education

    When a Second Chance at Education Changes Your Life
    My husband, an assistant manager at the Walmart supercenter in Palakta, FL, was searching for advancement opportunities on WalmartOne.com – the company intranet. What jumped out at me was the fact that eligible family members of Walmart associates could earn their high school equivalency free of charge via GEDWorks or the Career Online High School program.

    Diversity & Inclusion

    Shine a Green Light to Support Our Veterans
    Walmart hopes to ignite a national conversation on the value and contributions that veterans make in our communities and in the service of our nation.

    Diversity & Inclusion

    Walmart Foundation | Investing in Creating Economic Opportunity

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