LEADING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Featuring Paulo Brito, Faculty Instructor, Management Department, 

Colorado State University, College of Business

April 2024

Paulo Brito is a recognized scholar and educator in the areas of business, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. He is presently a Faculty Instructor in the Management Department of Colorado’ State University’s College of Business where he instructs students in the areas of Entrepreneurship, Social and Sustainable venturing, and International Business. 

Prior to serving as a faculty instructor he earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Presbyterian Mackenzie University in Brazil, his home country. He continued his education and earned a M.S. in Environmental Science from the Universidade de Sao Paulo and an M.S. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from Colorado State University. 

Before he came to work at Colorado State University, Paulo Brito was the founder of a Brazilian chapter of a conservation focused non-profit which promotes collaborative conservation efforts worldwide. In this capacity he developed organizational structure and adapted international guidelines to be relevant to the Brazilian cultural setting. Through this work, Paulo developed and maintained key international and domestic partnerships, raised funds nationally and internationally, and planned events for the organization. 

In addition to his teaching and conservation efforts, Paulo Brito is an accomplished author. He has organized and contributed articles to two award winning books on the subject of faith, social, economic, and environmental synergies for sustainable development. He has co-authored and authored a number of scholarly articles and also served as a reviewer for various publications and journals on topics of business and the environment. 

Presently, he is focusing his research on business opportunities created by the bioeconomy. Paulo Brito’s work academically and professionally has been dedicated to sustainability and better environmental practices. He shares his expertise and passion not only to his students and readers, but also to his community.  

In addition to his environmental and academic audiences, he has served and collaborated with G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice and our environmental justice work, serving as a keynote speaker at our Earth Day Forum and also now as a G.L.O.B.A.L. Board Director. We are grateful for the work of Paulo Brito and his dedication to sustainable practices and grateful for his collaboration in  our efforts for environmental justice. 

AN ADVOCATE TO PROTECT CHILDREN’S MINDS

Featuring Chris McKenna, Founder of Protect Young Minds

April 2024

When it comes to advocating against child abuse for child abuse awareness month, there are many aspects of prevention that may come to mind. One area that has become pressing and more prevalent is the area of online safety for children and the potential for abuse or grooming for abuse through online content. Chris McKenna, Founder of Protect Young Minds, is an advocate for protecting children from all forms of abuse, starting with online exploitation and abuse. 

Chris McKenna, and those who work for Protect Young Eyes, are committed to helping families, schools, and churches create safer digital spaces for children. He employs a four layer method to control digital access and encourages all families to have repeated conversations regarding the internet and the vulnerabilities that can occur from internet use. 

Protect Young Eyes was started by Chris to help parents and others who care about children’s online safety to fix the problems seen with internet safety for children. At the time, he felt that the issue of internet safety was talked about but no one was equipping parents and others on how to fix them. As an organization, Protect Young Minds fills in that gap by showing families, schools, and churches how to create safer digital spaces through education presentations, and a private learning community where parents and others can learn how to protect children online. Chris personally is a sought after speaker and has presented to families, groups and churches around the country on the topic of child exploitation and internet safety. 

Prior to founding Protect Young Eyes, Chris McKenna was a business risk consultant and worked with big companies around the world. He was then called into full time ministry and left the business world to become a full time junior high pastor. He comments on the fact that he was a youth paster from 2009 to 2016 which is when we saw the rise of the portable internet on smart devices, which impacted the direction he would take personally and professionally regarding internet safety for children. During this time parents were also asking him about the rise of SnapChat which was new at the time. 

Combined with his background in consulting, his experience as a youth pastor led the creation of a closed Facebook group regarding internet safety for children which eventually led to the formation of what is now Protect Young Minds. 

In addition to his work as founder of Protect Young Minds, Chris Mckenna is an advocate for children’s safety on a national level. He regularly testifies before Congress and advocates for legislation to protect children from abuse and exploitation online. His work and path to his current profession is an inspiration and an example of how God trains and equips each person for the purpose He has for them.