Hempgrid Names New Members to Corporate Team\nBy Artie Perry, Hempgrid Managing Member
\nHempgrid has named two experienced marketing communications strategists to its corporate partnership team, rounding out a highly talented national crew.
\nDo any of these sound like familiar “problem-tunities” influencing your imagination? • A global Pandemic\n• Economic crises and unemployment\n• Racial Reckoning and Police Reform\n• Geopolitical Conflicts\n• Broken global supply chains Is your imagination overwhelmed yet? Do you also see multiple different visions, depending on when, where, and how you are thinking about the present and the future? Great. So let’s invite “wisdom” to the party. It’s all around us, but we don't naturally access, organize, communicate and harness it. If you haven't documented your vision in writing or on a vision board, then do that. And then take the opportunity tap into the wisdom beyond that wide board. Start to weed out all those irrelevant visions your imagination has dreamed up. Here’s how: • Document and organize the different aspects of your vision in a standard format. But what if your vision is wrong or you need to change it? That’s certainly possible. You can adjust your vision over time. Never be so stuck on what felt right that what actually IS right eludes you. This isn’t a vision test; it’s a process by which you step apart from today and imagine a new tomorrow. It’s not about guessing it right. It’s about taking intentional action and making necessary as you gain experience and feedback. Documenting and communicating your vision will unite Imagination and wisdom. And you’ll find they are the best teammates you could ask for. By Jason Eargle, founding partner, Hempgrid There are many opportunities within the hemp industry, and in order for this plant to reach its full potential, we need to embrace the full potential of a wide variety of individuals. Admittedly, our nation’s agricultural community tends to be less diverse than our general population, at least in terms of ownership (labor is another story). Historically, minorities, women and small farmers have been disenfranchised within agricultural commerce and they still see many barriers to entry within the business. The 10-year restriction on convicted felons within the 2018 Farm Bill, for instance, delivers additional punishment to those who may have served time for past, non-violent cannabis offenses. Often the individuals most affected by this law are Black or Hispanic; they are not allowed to obtain the licenses that provide entry into this promising industry. Access is also an issue, as most of the land being owned by white farmers. But there is good news developing, and our organization applauds any ways in which the nascent hemp industry can truly embrace diverse talents, voices and opportunities. Despite institutional constraints like those imposed by the Farm Bill, Cannabis businesses have demonstrated a better record of hiring and retaining minority and women executives than other American businesses (as seen in the charts below). That’s progress - but there is still a lot of work to do. To that end, The Hemp Alliance Group and Hempgrid are designing a company and SOP’s designed to actively engage with people of color, historically black colleges and universities, minority- and female-owned companies, and more. Hemp is an amazing plant; it’s our hope that it can start to weave together a more perfect union. For all of us. Hemp… you know, the cannabis that can't get you high, right!? It should and it could offer solutions people urgently need during this global pandemic and shut-down environment. Consider the incredible upside of a more mature and developed domestic US hemp industry by observing through the lens of its ability to solve problems we currently face in the current Covid-19 lock down experience: Solution: Industrial hemp presents an array of opportunities for eco-friendly and purpose driven entrepreneurs and job seekers. Projected to create thousands of high paying jobs in the USA over the coming years in agriculture, manufacturing, research & development, medical, and nutritional sectors. Solution: Hemp has both natural antimicrobial and bacterial properties. It has high quality natural short and long fibers for different specialty non-woven textile and paper products which could increase production and diversification of the raw material supply chain and domestic production capability of PPE's. Researchers from Harvard University have found that Covid 19 death rates increased by 15% in areas with higher levels of air pollution. Solution: Hemp is one of the fastest growing plants, sequestering more carbon from the air than the agro-forestry industry, and a viable alternative to more carbon intensive synthetic material production processes. Pulp, the only ingredient in toilet paper requires the destruction of forest and natural habitats. Suprisingly, the US imports much of its pulp from other countries which now have border crossing issues and are holding up increased production of toilet paper. Solution: A renewable domestic supply of high quality hemp fiber for pulp, paper and packaging applications (and to replace single use plastics) would give farmers a new cash crop and would reduce supply chain issues for imported wood pulp. Solution: Hemp seeds are both tasty and very healthy. The oil can be used as a food ingredient or in natural skincare products. Hemp seeds have more protein and less carbohydrates than other seeds or nuts, while delivering healthy omega 3-6 fatty acids. Now more than ever, industrial hemp should be considered as a domestically produced, job creating, more environmentally friendly option as we face broken, risky global supply chains and growing geopolitical conflict. Get involved to create a better ecosystem with hemp. Invest your time, energy, capital, or interest into a very timely and timeless solution to many of our industrialized world problems. Hempgrid is here to help activate you or your company in the world of Hemp. Take an interest in hemp and learn more about it. Buy and try some all natural hemp products next time you are shopping online. Start a hemp business. Explore a career in hemp. ...or tell someone you love who is job hunting or soul searching to please take a look at this ancient, high-tech industry on-the-move with more purpose than just profits. What could be more appropriate than celebrating the 50th Earth Day by launching a globally focused organization that advocates passionately for one of the earth’s most interesting plants? Happy Earth Day, and happy birthday to Hempgrid. We’re a diverse team of executives, researchers and creatives who share an interest in sustainability – for the earth and for the marketplace.. Powered by the Hemp Alliance, Hempgrid unites growers, manufacturers, designers, investors, researchers, economic developers and others in an intricate, sustainable, global network. We do this in a few ways: •\tHempgrid partners work as trusted advisors to our members, lending powerful problem-solving muscle.\n•\tWe’re experienced managers who can bring project management, supply chain and other skills to bear for members.\n•\tIf our work isn’t relevant, we don’t want to do it; our team is accountability driven and focused on executing with excellence.\n•\tSome people like solving simple problems. We’re not some people; bring us the complex and let us engineer a creative solution. Ultimately, our success will be driven by the success of our members. And that’s where you come in. Tell us what you need! You can reach out through our contact page, or sign up for our newsletter below. Did you hear that South Carolina and West Virginia recently received federal approval for their state hemp plans? One of the most challenging aspects of the United States hemp industry is the variability in regulations from state to state. Currently states are divided on using the 2014 Farm Bill rules and regulations versus the 2018 Farm Bill guidelines. We at Hempgrid are confident that together we can provide more consistency and efficiencies to the global hemp industry through the power of our collaboration!
\n• Share your vision with others that you trust or respect.
\n• Discuss, debate and listen to those “key advisors” you’ve identified. These can be family, friends, mentors and colleagues. And they’ve got your back – so let them have your ear.\n• Watch while your vision comes into focus. And then take action. Start up new, shut down old, or pivot to pursue a shift. Set out to make your vision real.Problem: Unprecedented job losses, small and medium sized business failures
\nProblem: A severe shortage of facemasks, PPE, and reliance of imported raw materials to manufacture them.
\nProblem: Higher covid death rates caused by air pollution
\nProblem: There is a shortage in supply of toilet paper
\nProblem: Its difficult to eat healthy while in lockdown and potential protein shortages from meat plant closures.
\nSo What Next?
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