Kenny Chesney: My Lessons a Year After The Hurricanes

Posted on by Julie Van Ness

We asked American country music star and part-time U.S. Virgin Island resident, Kenny Chesney, what lessons he has learned one year after the hurricanes wreaked havoc across the Caribbean.

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

How many people can say they’ve lived through two category 5+ hurricanes within two weeks? Would you know what to do if you suddenly lost your electricity, Internet, TV, cell phone coverage, landline, ATMs and roads? And your home got destroyed too. Additionally, what if you had no idea how many months this would last, or if anyone was coming to help. Chesney remembers the chaos well, and shared with us his impressions of that time and why he felt compelled to help.

What compelled you to take action to help St. John?

Knowing how many people’s lives were profoundly changed. From watching the weather channel and texts from friends, you knew it was bad. Knowing people’s lives were being torn away from them, people I knew… people whose names I might know, others by face only. When you think about that you have to get involved.

What are some of  the most impactful memories?

When I was on the island for the first few times after the storms, and seeing all the trees and brush just gone, seeing boats thrown up on land, houses that were nothing but a few bits of foundation or a piece of wall. You’re not prepared to see some place as lush and as happy-looking as the Saints, look like that. There was a look of exhaustion, confusion and sadness on the faces of people who we flew off island. There was a look in their eyes that I’d never seen before. It still haunts me – the restlessness of the people with nowhere to go. On the other hand, the people who remained and got stuck in to rebuilding were so happy.

What did you learn from dealing with this disaster, that other people might learn from?

Patience. There was urgency, and everyone’s going as fast as they can, but you can never go fast enough. You want to cut through red tape, but that’s not always gonna work. You have to figure out how to be effective and not get bogged down.

What was the greatest challenge in helping those affected by the hurricanes?

The fact that the whole island was basically wiped out. We were starting over. There was no power, we needed generators, medical supplies, tools, tarps, water and food, whatever was needed. For a while getting planes in and out of St. Thomas was tricky, but it was the only way to get supplies in.

What inspired you the most during the relief?

The people. The way they came together. Islands are like a small town; people have opinions and disagreements. When Irma hit, that was all gone. Residents had survived the storms, and they put everything else aside. They knew what was important: rebuilding their island, and they were  all doing what they could. It was awesome.

Kenny Chesney’s Love For Love City Fund supports and gives to local and national 501c3 charities aligned with their mission of getting relief where it’s needed, immediately and ongoing in the Virgin Islands. They are people who dig in when needed, give when they see struggle and seek to find the best ways to make a difference. Every little bit helps. Sales from his new album “Song For The Saints,” Featuring “Get Along” will help benefit the ongoing relief in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

Kenny Chesney: My Lessons a Year After The Hurricanes

Posted on by Julie Van Ness

We asked American country music star and part-time U.S. Virgin Island resident, Kenny Chesney, what lessons he has learned one year after the hurricanes wreaked havoc across the Caribbean.

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

How many people can say they’ve lived through two category 5+ hurricanes within two weeks? Would you know what to do if you suddenly lost your electricity, Internet, TV, cell phone coverage, landline, ATMs and roads? And your home got destroyed too. Additionally, what if you had no idea how many months this would last, or if anyone was coming to help. Chesney remembers the chaos well, and shared with us his impressions of that time and why he felt compelled to help.

What compelled you to take action to help St. John?

Knowing how many people’s lives were profoundly changed. From watching the weather channel and texts from friends, you knew it was bad. Knowing people’s lives were being torn away from them, people I knew… people whose names I might know, others by face only. When you think about that you have to get involved.

What are some of  the most impactful memories?

When I was on the island for the first few times after the storms, and seeing all the trees and brush just gone, seeing boats thrown up on land, houses that were nothing but a few bits of foundation or a piece of wall. You’re not prepared to see some place as lush and as happy-looking as the Saints, look like that. There was a look of exhaustion, confusion and sadness on the faces of people who we flew off island. There was a look in their eyes that I’d never seen before. It still haunts me – the restlessness of the people with nowhere to go. On the other hand, the people who remained and got stuck in to rebuilding were so happy.

What did you learn from dealing with this disaster, that other people might learn from?

Patience. There was urgency, and everyone’s going as fast as they can, but you can never go fast enough. You want to cut through red tape, but that’s not always gonna work. You have to figure out how to be effective and not get bogged down.

What was the greatest challenge in helping those affected by the hurricanes?

The fact that the whole island was basically wiped out. We were starting over. There was no power, we needed generators, medical supplies, tools, tarps, water and food, whatever was needed. For a while getting planes in and out of St. Thomas was tricky, but it was the only way to get supplies in.

What inspired you the most during the relief?

The people. The way they came together. Islands are like a small town; people have opinions and disagreements. When Irma hit, that was all gone. Residents had survived the storms, and they put everything else aside. They knew what was important: rebuilding their island, and they were  all doing what they could. It was awesome.

Kenny Chesney’s Love For Love City Fund supports and gives to local and national 501c3 charities aligned with their mission of getting relief where it’s needed, immediately and ongoing in the Virgin Islands. They are people who dig in when needed, give when they see struggle and seek to find the best ways to make a difference. Every little bit helps. Sales from his new album “Song For The Saints,” Featuring “Get Along” will help benefit the ongoing relief in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.

If you like this, subscribe here for more stories that Inspire The Future.

Case Study: Thailand Promotes Partnerships for a Sustainable World

Posted on by Julie Van Ness

By sharing its Sufficiency Economy Philosophy as a model, Thailand is helping other developing nations achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, the final goal – revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development – may be the most compelling of all. Because the only way we can build a better world is by working together. So many of the challenges we face, from climate change to eradicating diseases, are borderless. Although we measure results on a nation-by-nation basis, unless nations can find ways to work together for the good of our planet and its peoples, our future will ultimately be unsustainable.

The Kingdom of Thailand has made its primary mission to enhance cooperation between North and South and also to strengthen South-South Cooperation. This exchange of resources, technology and knowledge between developing countries, often referred to as the Global South, can be complementary to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Thailand has worked to transform this vision into action. Even before its chairmanship, Thailand had been sharing its own model of development among countries grappling with the challenges of a changing world. That model is known as the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy.

Initiated by the late monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej through decades of working to uplift the nation’s poor people, the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy is an approach to development and to life that is based on moderation, reasonableness and prudent decision-making. It prescribes living in harmony with the environment and making wise use of resources in order to build resilience and wellbeing. Its principles can be applied to farmers, communities, businesses and nations. In the context of the philosophy, sufficiency does not mean living in isolation. It calls for communities to work together for the common good – the essence of partnerships.

Thailand understands the value of working together. Once a country in need of development assistance, Thailand is now a donor nation, providing fund and sharing its resources of knowledge, technical assistance, scholarships and capacity building with less developed nations. In 2015, the Kingdom provided $78 million in Official Development Assistance to other countries through the Thailand International Cooperation Agency, while foreign direct investment surpassed $58 billion, with much of it going to the developing world.

While generous funding is important, even more value lies in Thailand’s willingness to share its knowledge and experience with the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. To date, representatives from 105 countries have participated in workshops, seminars and training courses hosted by Thailand on the philosophy and its applications.

Thailand has been partnering with several countries to help them implement their own development projects based on Sufficiency Economy Philosophy principles and methods. Timor-Leste is employing decision-making processes based on the philosophy’s framework for sustainable agriculture projects and to support the launch of small businesses. Cambodia has established a Sufficiency Economy village as a pilot for more communities. Indonesia is using sufficiency principles shared by Thai advisors for ecological farming projects that raise incomes and quality of life for villagers. And neighboring Myanmar is working with Thai partners to establish sustainable development centers and rural development projects on sufficiency principles.

Far beyond Asia, the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy is being adopted for the benefits of local peoples. In the southern African nation of Lesotho, Thailand has supported the establishment of a center to introduce integrated farming and agro-forestry farming that is protecting that nation’s environment while providing greater food security and livelihoods for participants. Several nations in South America have also been applying approaches based on the philosophy.

“Development approaches like the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy of Thailand, that promotes development with values, which not only complement the [SDG] agenda, but our own national development framework, will certainly help us in implementing the SDGs,” Guillame Long, Ecuador’sMinister of Foreign Affairs, told the UN General Assembly last year.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 will require commitment and perseverance. For some countries in the Global South with limited resources and capacities, the tasks at hand may appear enormous. Despite its own limitations, Thailand achieved the Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule, owing a significant degree of that success to the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. Thailand is willing to partner with any country seeking knowledge, expertise and a proven path to sustainable development. Because there is only one way to build a better world – and that way is together.

Case Study: Thailand Promotes Partnerships for a Sustainable World

Posted on by Julie Van Ness

By sharing its Sufficiency Economy Philosophy as a model, Thailand is helping other developing nations achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, the final goal – revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development – may be the most compelling of all. Because the only way we can build a better world is by working together. So many of the challenges we face, from climate change to eradicating diseases, are borderless. Although we measure results on a nation-by-nation basis, unless nations can find ways to work together for the good of our planet and its peoples, our future will ultimately be unsustainable.

The Kingdom of Thailand has made its primary mission to enhance cooperation between North and South and also to strengthen South-South Cooperation. This exchange of resources, technology and knowledge between developing countries, often referred to as the Global South, can be complementary to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Thailand has worked to transform this vision into action. Even before its chairmanship, Thailand had been sharing its own model of development among countries grappling with the challenges of a changing world. That model is known as the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy.

Initiated by the late monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej through decades of working to uplift the nation’s poor people, the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy is an approach to development and to life that is based on moderation, reasonableness and prudent decision-making. It prescribes living in harmony with the environment and making wise use of resources in order to build resilience and wellbeing. Its principles can be applied to farmers, communities, businesses and nations. In the context of the philosophy, sufficiency does not mean living in isolation. It calls for communities to work together for the common good – the essence of partnerships.

Thailand understands the value of working together. Once a country in need of development assistance, Thailand is now a donor nation, providing fund and sharing its resources of knowledge, technical assistance, scholarships and capacity building with less developed nations. In 2015, the Kingdom provided $78 million in Official Development Assistance to other countries through the Thailand International Cooperation Agency, while foreign direct investment surpassed $58 billion, with much of it going to the developing world.

While generous funding is important, even more value lies in Thailand’s willingness to share its knowledge and experience with the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. To date, representatives from 105 countries have participated in workshops, seminars and training courses hosted by Thailand on the philosophy and its applications.

Thailand has been partnering with several countries to help them implement their own development projects based on Sufficiency Economy Philosophy principles and methods. Timor-Leste is employing decision-making processes based on the philosophy’s framework for sustainable agriculture projects and to support the launch of small businesses. Cambodia has established a Sufficiency Economy village as a pilot for more communities. Indonesia is using sufficiency principles shared by Thai advisors for ecological farming projects that raise incomes and quality of life for villagers. And neighboring Myanmar is working with Thai partners to establish sustainable development centers and rural development projects on sufficiency principles.

Far beyond Asia, the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy is being adopted for the benefits of local peoples. In the southern African nation of Lesotho, Thailand has supported the establishment of a center to introduce integrated farming and agro-forestry farming that is protecting that nation’s environment while providing greater food security and livelihoods for participants. Several nations in South America have also been applying approaches based on the philosophy.

“Development approaches like the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy of Thailand, that promotes development with values, which not only complement the [SDG] agenda, but our own national development framework, will certainly help us in implementing the SDGs,” Guillame Long, Ecuador’sMinister of Foreign Affairs, told the UN General Assembly last year.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 will require commitment and perseverance. For some countries in the Global South with limited resources and capacities, the tasks at hand may appear enormous. Despite its own limitations, Thailand achieved the Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule, owing a significant degree of that success to the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. Thailand is willing to partner with any country seeking knowledge, expertise and a proven path to sustainable development. Because there is only one way to build a better world – and that way is together.

It’s Business Unusual at The United Nations

Posted on by Julie Van Ness

At the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Leaders Summit in New York last month it was clear that business has taken center stage in tackling the social problems we see around us.

In the past, conversations like these would have focused on the role of civil society and government in meeting the SDGs. But in recent years, the dialogue has expanded to include the business community and the benefits to them. There’s a growing recognition that there are big incentives at stake – some $12 trillion to be made in the pursuit of sustainability, as estimated by the Business and Sustainable Development Commission.

With 700 people packing the room – many of them CEOs and CSOs – I could sense momentum in the drive to do well by doing good. The leaders who spoke echoed this sentiment as evidenced in the beliefs they expressed and approaches they are taking. Here’s what I heard:

  • Alex Atzberger, President, SAP Ariba: Something has changed between 2007 and today. Sustainability is no longer a nice to have. It has actually become the business. We used to think about the triple bottom line, now it’s just the bottom line.
  • Jean Bennington Sweeney, Chief Sustainability Officer, 3M: The SDGs are a great way to begin finding a new culture of innovation. 3M give their people 15% of their working time to dedicate to following new ideas.
  • Lorna Davis, Chief Manifesto Catalyst, DanoneWave: Be clear where you are going. In discussing sustainability, it’s the people under 35 in our company that are driving us to ensure our activities are lined up with the SDGs. This in turn ensures we use the business as a force for good.
  • Lise Kingo, CEO & Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact: We can only deliver on the SDGs if we find ways to mobilize, and collaborate on actions and ideas to make a movement that is so big it creates a snowball effect and keeps getting bigger and bigger.
  • Abby Maxman, President and CEO, Oxfam: We all know when CEOs and executive boards decide to put creative energy behind the goals, it unleashes the drive to get there.
  • Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever: If we invest in women we actually get a higher return. When are we going to start focusing on the next generation rather than the next quarter?
  • Patrick Thomas, CEO, Covestro: If you’re not failing, you’re not trying hard enough. By 2025, we will dedicate 80% of our entire R&D budget to adopting the SDGs. From a culture perspective, the impetus is coming from younger generation – from millennials – and they are forcing us to think about things differently.
  • Mark Wilson, Group CEO, Aviva: If our modeling is accurate, 2017 will be second worst year in our history in terms of natural disaster events. The economics are compelling, yet why does skepticism trump facts? The solution is a mix of economics, science, but also psychology. Maybe we need to turn the path to the SDGs into a competitive sport!

I certainly left feeling inspired that business leaders are increasingly recognizing real and achievable opportunities to address the SDGs. As many speakers at the event cautioned, organizations must not only talk-the-talk, but walk-the-walk. That includes identifying new ways to collaborate and trying innovative technology-driven approaches. 

It’s Business Unusual at The United Nations

Posted on by Julie Van Ness

At the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Leaders Summit in New York last month it was clear that business has taken center stage in tackling the social problems we see around us.

In the past, conversations like these would have focused on the role of civil society and government in meeting the SDGs. But in recent years, the dialogue has expanded to include the business community and the benefits to them. There’s a growing recognition that there are big incentives at stake – some $12 trillion to be made in the pursuit of sustainability, as estimated by the Business and Sustainable Development Commission.

With 700 people packing the room – many of them CEOs and CSOs – I could sense momentum in the drive to do well by doing good. The leaders who spoke echoed this sentiment as evidenced in the beliefs they expressed and approaches they are taking. Here’s what I heard:

  • Alex Atzberger, President, SAP Ariba: Something has changed between 2007 and today. Sustainability is no longer a nice to have. It has actually become the business. We used to think about the triple bottom line, now it’s just the bottom line.
  • Jean Bennington Sweeney, Chief Sustainability Officer, 3M: The SDGs are a great way to begin finding a new culture of innovation. 3M give their people 15% of their working time to dedicate to following new ideas.
  • Lorna Davis, Chief Manifesto Catalyst, DanoneWave: Be clear where you are going. In discussing sustainability, it’s the people under 35 in our company that are driving us to ensure our activities are lined up with the SDGs. This in turn ensures we use the business as a force for good.
  • Lise Kingo, CEO & Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact: We can only deliver on the SDGs if we find ways to mobilize, and collaborate on actions and ideas to make a movement that is so big it creates a snowball effect and keeps getting bigger and bigger.
  • Abby Maxman, President and CEO, Oxfam: We all know when CEOs and executive boards decide to put creative energy behind the goals, it unleashes the drive to get there.
  • Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever: If we invest in women we actually get a higher return. When are we going to start focusing on the next generation rather than the next quarter?
  • Patrick Thomas, CEO, Covestro: If you’re not failing, you’re not trying hard enough. By 2025, we will dedicate 80% of our entire R&D budget to adopting the SDGs. From a culture perspective, the impetus is coming from younger generation – from millennials – and they are forcing us to think about things differently.
  • Mark Wilson, Group CEO, Aviva: If our modeling is accurate, 2017 will be second worst year in our history in terms of natural disaster events. The economics are compelling, yet why does skepticism trump facts? The solution is a mix of economics, science, but also psychology. Maybe we need to turn the path to the SDGs into a competitive sport!

I certainly left feeling inspired that business leaders are increasingly recognizing real and achievable opportunities to address the SDGs. As many speakers at the event cautioned, organizations must not only talk-the-talk, but walk-the-walk. That includes identifying new ways to collaborate and trying innovative technology-driven approaches. 

Turning Global Goals Into Local Business

Posted on by Julie Van Ness

Marking 4 years since the launch of the SDGS, this years UN Global Compact Leaders Summit focused on empowering leaders to embed the Global Goals into the spirit and everyday practice of their businesses.

CEO, Lise Kingo, called for deeper integration of all the goals and reminded the audience of the importance of the ‘5 P’s’ “people, planet, partnerships, prosperity and peace” in meeting the 2030 targets.

After a day filled with optimistic examples of innovation towards the 2030 Goals, Lise Kingo’s closing speech centered on the theme of collective action. She urged business leaders to promote and live the Global Goals starting by finding ways to transform every employee into an SDG ambassador. She also stressed the importance of seizing the present moment to mobilize businesses, to pool ideas and actions and to create momentum for a future we all want. ”

“Leaps of innovation require a bravery that borders on absurdity,” said Kingo, urging us all to start thinking differently in a world faced with new challenges. As we’ve seen throughout history, it’s the crazy ideas that sometimes go on to become the “next big thing” in the world.

Turning Global Goals Into Local Business

Posted on by Julie Van Ness

Marking 4 years since the launch of the SDGS, this years UN Global Compact Leaders Summit focused on empowering leaders to embed the Global Goals into the spirit and everyday practice of their businesses.

CEO, Lise Kingo, called for deeper integration of all the goals and reminded the audience of the importance of the ‘5 P’s’ “people, planet, partnerships, prosperity and peace” in meeting the 2030 targets.

After a day filled with optimistic examples of innovation towards the 2030 Goals, Lise Kingo’s closing speech centered on the theme of collective action. She urged business leaders to promote and live the Global Goals starting by finding ways to transform every employee into an SDG ambassador. She also stressed the importance of seizing the present moment to mobilize businesses, to pool ideas and actions and to create momentum for a future we all want. ”

“Leaps of innovation require a bravery that borders on absurdity,” said Kingo, urging us all to start thinking differently in a world faced with new challenges. As we’ve seen throughout history, it’s the crazy ideas that sometimes go on to become the “next big thing” in the world.

How First Ladies are Becoming Model Citizens

Posted on by Julie Van Ness

She enlisted style to fight for social causes and invited First Ladies from around to network with top luxury brands. Evie Evangelou has combined runway glamor with sustainable fashion and celebrity names.

What do 55 impeccably dressed First Ladies from around the world have in common? Fashion, of course. When did you last see a shabbily-dressed First Lady? Each year, the wives of global leaders, top luxury brands and celebrities do lunch in New York. Madam Ban Soon-Taek, First Lady of the United Nations, welcomes DKNY founder Donna Karan. Franca Sozzani, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia, gets to share a joke with The Daily Beast founder, Tina Brown, and the Crown Princess of Norway, Mette Marit, may well get to exchange pleasantries with America’s own royalty – Hollywood’s Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron.

At the gatherings, First Ladies from around the world have an opportunity to network with top luxury brand executives and celebrities, cleverly taking advantage of the General Assembly of the United Nations, to which they have traveled with their spouse. The annual gathering is the brainchild of entrepreneur and former model Evie Evangelou, who realized the influence of such highly regarded people and formulated a plan on how they can inspire change.

Evangelou created Fashion 4 Development (F4D), inspired by what she saw by an exuberant career in the international arena of cultural diplomacy and international relations. F4D is a global platform that supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by harnessing the power of the fashion and beauty industries.

“Through your daily choices of what you eat and what you wear, you not only impact your life but the planet.”

After years of fashion and entertainment projects, which included UN programs, as well as gazing into a photographer’s lens as a model, Evangelou decided she could use the power of fashion to rather swing the spotlight onto social causes. She crafted a catchy tag line “Giving Back is the New Luxury” and set about showing how the fashion and beauty industries can develop creative strategies for sustainable economic growth.

fashion_02

“We want to promote Innovations that are designed to do more with less and influence the way fashion is produced and sold,” says Evangelou. In an unprecedented cooperation between diplomacy and fashion, leading women from politics, business, culture, fashion and the arts have come together to serve for the greater good of women worldwide. The focus is on the female side of HIV/AIDS and on highlighting the United Nation’s initiative “Every Woman Every Child.”

F4D’s global initiatives have been felt in 24 countries and have contributed to fashion production, trade, health, skills training and education. As in any business transaction, both parties want to see a return on investment. Evangelou has structured deals that create a win-win situation for brands and communities in need. A collaboration between Vogue Italia and Yoox.com saw 60,000 designer bags get produced in Africa, generating USD500,000 in wages for workers and delivering USD10 million worth of global media value to the fashion partners.

Givenchy provided costumes to Chinese singer Li Yuchun, allowing the funds that would have been spent on a performance wardrobe to be donated to Chinese healthcare for women and children. The approach raised USD200,000 for this cause, with Givenchy receiving USD500,000 worth of press coverage. With returns like these, outperforming the stock market doesn’t always need to involve aggressive business techniques – just a clever trade-off.

“Through your daily choices of what you eat and what you wear, you not only impact your life but the planet and the others you share it with.”

“We offer the conscious-minded woman access to the newest, most talented, green and compassionate designers,” says Evangelou. Not one to rest on her achievements, she has already created a new venture, Sustainia Living, a platform created in collaboration with Sustainia, an offshoot of leading Scandinavian think tank Monday Morning, with followers in more than 100 countries. “It’s the new fashion,” says Evangelou. “We’ve developed this project as a fashionable lifestyle choice to excite people about the benefits and possibilities of sustainability.” Moving beyond fashion, Evangelou has now added food to the mix, and thinks this is the way forward for a healthier you and a healthier world.

“Through your daily choices of what you eat and what you wear, you not only impact your life but the planet and the others you share it with,” she explains. Inspiring and motivating individuals to be conscious consumers, to develop conscious brands and to adopt conscious business practices is the goal of Sustainia Living.” At a recent U.N. function, Evangelou started proceedings by reading a message from her friend, Suzy Amis Cameron, environmental activist, founder, former actress and wife of Hollywood director James Cameron. “Every single bite you take tonight deliciously addresses climate change,” she read. An entire plant-based menu had been specially prepared for the event and  used as a striking example to guests that they had cut their total carbon “foodprint” in half that night.

As business leaders around the world wake up to the new opportunities around them, in an economy that values values, Evangelou’s job can only get easier. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people is a good start. Perhaps her success is best summed up by F4D’s Global Goodwill Ambassador Franca Sozzani: “Sometimes we get the feeling we don’t know where to start, but then we happen to meet people so capable and valued that all problems seem to slowly unravel.”

For men, meanwhile, Evangelou has launched the League of Gentlemen, with top fashion model Chris Collins. They came up with the idea of leveraging the voices and influence of distinguished gentlemen around the globe to harness the power of fashion, sports, entertainment and business to promote the work of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. There’s no need to perfect your “blue steel’ look from the movie Zoolander either – you’ll just need a serious attitude of wanting to change the world for the better.

How First Ladies are Becoming Model Citizens

Posted on by Julie Van Ness

She enlisted style to fight for social causes and invited First Ladies from around to network with top luxury brands. Evie Evangelou has combined runway glamor with sustainable fashion and celebrity names.

What do 55 impeccably dressed First Ladies from around the world have in common? Fashion, of course. When did you last see a shabbily-dressed First Lady? Each year, the wives of global leaders, top luxury brands and celebrities do lunch in New York. Madam Ban Soon-Taek, First Lady of the United Nations, welcomes DKNY founder Donna Karan. Franca Sozzani, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia, gets to share a joke with The Daily Beast founder, Tina Brown, and the Crown Princess of Norway, Mette Marit, may well get to exchange pleasantries with America’s own royalty – Hollywood’s Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron.

At the gatherings, First Ladies from around the world have an opportunity to network with top luxury brand executives and celebrities, cleverly taking advantage of the General Assembly of the United Nations, to which they have traveled with their spouse. The annual gathering is the brainchild of entrepreneur and former model Evie Evangelou, who realized the influence of such highly regarded people and formulated a plan on how they can inspire change.

Evangelou created Fashion 4 Development (F4D), inspired by what she saw by an exuberant career in the international arena of cultural diplomacy and international relations. F4D is a global platform that supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by harnessing the power of the fashion and beauty industries.

“Through your daily choices of what you eat and what you wear, you not only impact your life but the planet.”

After years of fashion and entertainment projects, which included UN programs, as well as gazing into a photographer’s lens as a model, Evangelou decided she could use the power of fashion to rather swing the spotlight onto social causes. She crafted a catchy tag line “Giving Back is the New Luxury” and set about showing how the fashion and beauty industries can develop creative strategies for sustainable economic growth.

fashion_02

“We want to promote Innovations that are designed to do more with less and influence the way fashion is produced and sold,” says Evangelou. In an unprecedented cooperation between diplomacy and fashion, leading women from politics, business, culture, fashion and the arts have come together to serve for the greater good of women worldwide. The focus is on the female side of HIV/AIDS and on highlighting the United Nation’s initiative “Every Woman Every Child.”

F4D’s global initiatives have been felt in 24 countries and have contributed to fashion production, trade, health, skills training and education. As in any business transaction, both parties want to see a return on investment. Evangelou has structured deals that create a win-win situation for brands and communities in need. A collaboration between Vogue Italia and Yoox.com saw 60,000 designer bags get produced in Africa, generating USD500,000 in wages for workers and delivering USD10 million worth of global media value to the fashion partners.

Givenchy provided costumes to Chinese singer Li Yuchun, allowing the funds that would have been spent on a performance wardrobe to be donated to Chinese healthcare for women and children. The approach raised USD200,000 for this cause, with Givenchy receiving USD500,000 worth of press coverage. With returns like these, outperforming the stock market doesn’t always need to involve aggressive business techniques – just a clever trade-off.

“Through your daily choices of what you eat and what you wear, you not only impact your life but the planet and the others you share it with.”

“We offer the conscious-minded woman access to the newest, most talented, green and compassionate designers,” says Evangelou. Not one to rest on her achievements, she has already created a new venture, Sustainia Living, a platform created in collaboration with Sustainia, an offshoot of leading Scandinavian think tank Monday Morning, with followers in more than 100 countries. “It’s the new fashion,” says Evangelou. “We’ve developed this project as a fashionable lifestyle choice to excite people about the benefits and possibilities of sustainability.” Moving beyond fashion, Evangelou has now added food to the mix, and thinks this is the way forward for a healthier you and a healthier world.

“Through your daily choices of what you eat and what you wear, you not only impact your life but the planet and the others you share it with,” she explains. Inspiring and motivating individuals to be conscious consumers, to develop conscious brands and to adopt conscious business practices is the goal of Sustainia Living.” At a recent U.N. function, Evangelou started proceedings by reading a message from her friend, Suzy Amis Cameron, environmental activist, founder, former actress and wife of Hollywood director James Cameron. “Every single bite you take tonight deliciously addresses climate change,” she read. An entire plant-based menu had been specially prepared for the event and  used as a striking example to guests that they had cut their total carbon “foodprint” in half that night.

As business leaders around the world wake up to the new opportunities around them, in an economy that values values, Evangelou’s job can only get easier. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people is a good start. Perhaps her success is best summed up by F4D’s Global Goodwill Ambassador Franca Sozzani: “Sometimes we get the feeling we don’t know where to start, but then we happen to meet people so capable and valued that all problems seem to slowly unravel.”

For men, meanwhile, Evangelou has launched the League of Gentlemen, with top fashion model Chris Collins. They came up with the idea of leveraging the voices and influence of distinguished gentlemen around the globe to harness the power of fashion, sports, entertainment and business to promote the work of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. There’s no need to perfect your “blue steel’ look from the movie Zoolander either – you’ll just need a serious attitude of wanting to change the world for the better.

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