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Wednesday Rundown: Weather & Trends in 2014 and Companies Putting People Before Profit

Kelsey Halling
/
Thread International Blog

These topics air Wednesday January 8, 2014 at noon and 8pm on 90.5 WESA. To leave a question or comment before or after the show dial 412-256-8783. Join the conversation LIVE between 12pm & 1 pm weekdays at 412-246-2002. More Essential Pittsburgh segments can be heard here

Weird, Wacky Weather
From mild, rainy and in the 40s, to stuck in the sub zero polar vortex, then back up to 50 degree temperatures in a matter of days; we're experiencing unprecedented temperature fluctuations and weather patterns this week. The question is, what's causing it and are there more strange things in store? We'll talk with science expert John Radzilowicz, Director of Professional Development at ASSET STEM.

Putting People Before Profit
There are many emerging companies and startups that blur the lines of for-profit endeavor with a non-profit mission. These "social entrepreneurs" are concerned with both financial sustainability and social impact. We'll talk about social ventures and social entrepreneurship with Tim Zak, Director of the Institute for Social Innovation at CMU and Ian Rosenberger, Founder of Thread, an East Liberty based company recycling plastic bottles in Haiti for use in the manufacturing of apparel.

Pittsburgh Magazine's Trends of 2013
Billed as everything that makes Pittsburgh awesome, Pittsburgh Magazine’s 412 Blog is a combined effort by the publication’s staffers. Covering up to the minute trends and stories. While it’s a new year, we’ve invited Sean Conboy, online editor to tell us about three of the most popular stories that appeared on the 412 blog in 2013.