Lots to share.

In today’s episode of Up To Speed Live, Andy and Hans shared the following updates:

Update on our emergency response to wildfires and storms

Andy spoke live with Curtis Mentz, Senior Manager of Enterprise Sales Operations and member of our Crisis Response Team, from a fire response base camp in Pleasanton, CA. Curtis shared an update on the 24 wildfires in California where our response teams are actively offering assistance. He also mentioned that our teams are tracking and preparing for the two tropical storms impacting the Gulf of Mexico.

VtoV Employee Relief Fund

It’s a good time to remember our VtoV Relief Fund, which offers assistance to employees displaced from their homes due to natural disasters, fires or domestic violence. The fund is supported by V Teamers who want to be there for their fellow employees in their time of need. Please consider donating today. All donations are tax-deductible and eligible for corporate matching contributions.

Hans also answered questions related to the following topics:

New Mix & Match plans

Andrew Kameka, Corporate Communications Manager, asked Hans about our new Mix & Match Unlimited plans and if he has taken the Matchmaker quiz to determine which plan is right for him. Hans admitted he is excited for the new plans that offer even more value — including the Get More plan with the full Disney bundle, unlimited data, and discounts on connected devices, and a Just Kids Unlimited plan — all while keeping prices the same.

Back-to-school season is back again

Jill Schuls, VBG Marketing Manager based in Rolling Meadows, IL, asked how we’re working to help parents, kids and teachers as they return to school and face the challenges of adapting to new models of learning, including fully remote and hybrid models.

Hans shared that as a company, we’re doing a number of things to help ensure that these models don’t widen the digital divide.

• For our college students, we have a student discount available that makes staying connected, no matter where learning is taking place, more affordable than ever. We’re also providing connectivity to more than 36 million students in 38 states.
• One hundred and ten new schools are joining our Verizon Innovative Learning for the 2020-21 school year, bringing the program to over 260 middle schools nationwide. VIL provides free technology, free internet access, and experiential learning experiences to help give under-resourced students the technology, education, and opportunity they deserve.
• Since 2012, VIL has provided over $535 million in market value to support STEM education, helping students enhance their learning by infusing technology into the school’s curriculum.

By the way, we’ll have an entire back to school episode of Up To Speed later this week.

Stay connected with the Inside Verizon app

Knowing that we’ll be continuing in Phase 3 work plan during COVID-19 for an extended period, one challenge we all face is staying motivated and connected to one another. One great way to do that is to use the Inside Verizon app. The app, accessible only to employees, makes it easier to receive updates and stay connected with everything going on in the company. Here you can find Up To Speed, Coronavirus Resource Pages and more.

Download the app on your work or personal devices from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

Dinner talking points

Joe Pratico, Associate Director of Talent Acquisition in Basking Ridge, NJ, asked Hans what we should say to family and friends, considering that AT&T and T-Mobile have recently announced nationwide 5G coverage. Hans offered the following dinnertime talking points.

1. We have the fastest 5G network in the world. We like to say there’s 5G and then there’s Verizon 5G.
2. We invested in 5G to create new and transformative experiences.
3. We’re launching our 5G Nationwide network later this year. We said early on in the pandemic that we would continue to invest in 5G and make sure it was an amazing experience for our customers, and we’re on pace to do just that.

Our virtual March on Washington

August 28 marks the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr delivered his iconic "I have a dream" speech. This Friday at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT we will yield our time for Up to Speed Live to host a company-wide virtual March on Washington in partnership with our BOLD ERG. All V Teamers who participate will contribute to Verizon's company-wide goal of 2.5 million volunteer hours by 2025. You can sign up through our Volunteer Portal and march at 12 PM local time.

Up To Speed presents #Next20

This Thursday at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT, join us on our Up To Speed Twitter page for a special edition of Up To Speed featuring our #Next20 series. In this episode, V Teamers Rima Qureshi, Chief Strategy Officer, and Kala Garner, Network Engineer and BOLD ERG Leader, interview Dr. Clarence B. Jones, co-founder and director of the University of San Francisco’s Institute for Non Violence and Social Justice.

Dr. Jones was a personal friend, attorney, speechwriter and confidant to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and co-wrote Dr. King’s historic "I have a dream" speech that he delivered at the March on Washington 57 years ago. In this special installment of #Next20, Dr. Jones shares what he has learned as a leader on the front lines of the civil rights movement and his hope for the future.

How to look your best on video calls

This Wednesday, our very own Diana Alvear will be teaching her first LinkedIn Live class called “Ready for your close-up.” This former news correspondent is going to show you everything from framing and lighting to what to wear and more. Watch this Wednesday at 2 PM ET/11 AM PT on Inside Verizon’s LinkedIn page.

If you have any questions, email them to live@verizon.com.

Click here for a transcript of the webcast.

Get the latest information on our Coronavirus Resource Page (Inside Verizon, The Street).

Reminder, tune in to Up To Speed Live tomorrow at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT.

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