Five Ways to Travel the World Virtually This Weekend
March 27, 2020
Take a virtual trip around the world with these digital resources and opportunities from five cultural institutions supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Read moreFollow the Data Podcast: “World War C” – Us Against the Microbe
March 27, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we live, the way we work, and the way we view the world. The virus has rapidly spread through communities worldwide, with devastating impact on people’s health, our economy, and our society. However, there are things we can do today to help slow or prevent the virus from spreading. And it starts with listening to our public health experts.
Read moreFive Ways to Explore Culture This Weekend with Podcasts, Online Courses, Livestream, and Music
March 21, 2020
Social distancing is impacting the way that we live and work. While most arts and cultural institutions have closed their physical doors for the time being, many are finding creative ways to bring people together virtually through digital cultural experiences. From museums embracing the hashtag #MuseumFromHome on social media to share digital gallery tours, to theater and dance companies offering performances and classes via online streaming platforms, cultural institutions are finding new ways to adapt and bring audiences entertainment and inspiration from the comfort of their homes.
Read moreFollow the Data Podcast: Buying A Car – A Road Safety Mission
November 18, 2019
Over 90% of the 1.35 million people killed in road traffic injuries every year are in low- and middle- income countries. Road traffic crashes are the eighth leading cause of death and are the leading killer of people ages 5 and 29. Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety concentrates investments to make the greatest impact in countries where manufacturers send cars without basic safety features, including seat belts, airbags or ABS breaking. Becky Bavinger of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Health team and Jessica Truong, Vice President of Programs and Asia Pacific Coordinator for the Global New Car Assessment Program (Global NCAP) spoke about the need for improved road safety and vehicle safety.
Read moreFollow the Data Podcast: Facilitating Learning: A Bloomberg-Harvard Education
November 4, 2019
The skills needed to be a mayor are many, and few have the time to pause and learn something new. The Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative was developed in response to the need for leadership and management training specifically tailored to city leaders. Bloomberg Philanthropies and Harvard University are uniquely qualified to develop such a program, combining resources to facilitate learning for city leaders currently holding office. Josh Skolnick of the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Government Innovation team spoke to the program’s director and faculty co-chair for executive education, Jorrit de Jong. Jorrit is also a Senior Lecturer at Harvard’s Kennedy School; he and Josh discuss the program’s nearly 99% recommendation rate, the use of data, experimentation and innovation and cross-sector collaboration.
Read moreFollow the Data Podcast: Protect Kids: Fight Flavored E-Cigarettes
October 21, 2019
On September 10th, 2019, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced the creation of a new $160 million initiative to end the youth e-cigarette epidemic. The three-year program, called Protect Kids, is led by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which will partner with other leading organizations including parent and community groups concerned about the nation’s kids and health. Dr. Kelly Henning, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Health program lead, spoke to Matt Myers, President of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, about the initiative, including the need to hold the federal government accountable for it’s stated intentions to ban flavored e-cigarettes.
Read moreFollow the Data Podcast: Census Series — The Bureau
October 7, 2019
Follow the Data’s Census Series has covered the “Who, What, When, Where, Why” and featured a case study on how one city, Detroit, Michigan, is preparing for the 2020 census. In the final episode of the series we learn more about the federal agency that manages the decennial census, among other things. Terri Ann Lowenthal, former staff director for the House of Representatives Census Oversight Subcommittee, speaks to Bloomberg Associates’ Municipal Integrity Principal, Rose Gill Hearn, about how the Census Bureau has evolved to prepare for the first “digital count,” about the agency’s commitment to confidentiality and the efforts made to achieve full census participation.
Read moreFollow the Data Podcast: My Brother’s Keeper: Impact in Houston, Texas
September 9, 2019
In today’s episode, we revisit a conversation about tackling persistent problems facing boys and young men of color. Bloomberg Associates – the international, philanthropic consulting arm of Bloomberg Philanthropies tailored for city government—works with the city of Houston, Texas on My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) initiatives. MBK aims to address opportunity gaps for boys and young men of color, offering new support from cradle to career through young adulthood. Last fall, Niiobli Armah IV of Bloomberg Associates’ Social Services team spoke to both the Mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner and Asa Singleton, an MBK program participant. The Mayor discussed inter-departmental collaboration, his personal experience with the MBK program, and long-term impact. Asa describes how he got involved with MBK, advice for others, and the opportunities he hopes to explore in the future.
Read moreFollow the Data Podcast: An American Problem with an American Solution
August 27, 2019
To support efforts to educate policy makers, the public, and media about the consequences of gun violence — and to promote efforts to keep guns out of the hands of people with dangerous histories — New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino founded Mayors Against Illegal Guns in 2006. The original coalition of 15 mayors quickly grew to 855 mayors by 2014. That same year, in an effort to combat the National Rifle Association (NRA), Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action — a grassroots network of moms with chapters in all 50 states — joined forces to create Everytown for Gun Safety. Today, Everytown has more than 5 million supporters across America.
Read moreFollow the Data Podcast: Everybody eats – obesity prevention in three nations
August 12, 2019
Nearly every nation is experiencing rising rates of overweight and obesity and no country has successfully reversed these trends. This poses a serious threat to people’s health and wellbeing; the significant healthcare costs associated with treating obesity and related conditions, such as diabetes heart disease and certain cancers, have the potential to undermine economic development across the globe. A major cause of the obesity epidemic is easy access to unhealthy, ultra-processed foods and beverages that are inexpensive and marketed heavily—especially to children. We need leaders who can stand up to the food and beverage industry and fight for communities where healthy foods are the norm, not the exception. Dr. Neena Prasad of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Health team spoke with three public health experts who are doing just that: Paula Johns, Director of ACT Health Promotion in Brazil; Professor Karen Hofman, Director of Priceless South Africa; and Deborah Chen, Executive Director of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica. They describe the food environments in their countries and highlight some of the successes and challenges of their work.
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