Daniel Dae Kim discusses anti-asian hate trends with T-Mobile during AAPI Heritage Month

Daniel Dae Kim Discusses anti-asian hate trends with T-Mobile during AAPI Heritage Month

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T-Mobile Hometown focuses on opening brick and mortar retail stores in small town and rural areas traditionally underserved

The Un-carrier celebrates America’s hometown pride — because many of us were raised with it.

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Small towns and rural communities are essential to our national identity. Whether rural and remote or suburban and growing, America’s hometowns are the fertile ground where millions of Americans put down roots, stretch their legs and live their dreams.

From coast to coast, hometown pride holds America together, and T-Mobile is proud to join in.

We recently <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/t-mobiles-next-un-carrier-move-5gforall">announced our latest Un-carrier move</a>. We call it 5G for All. With it, we’re rolling out America’s most expansive 5G network, spanning 1.6 million square miles — with 1.45 million of that coverage in <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/betting-big-on-brick-and-mortar-small-town-rural">small town America</a> — an area the size of the entire Midwest … plus Texas!

AND we’re bringing high speed internet to 10 million households in small towns and rural areas across the country, many that currently have limited access to broadband or none at all. We’re also offering to upgrade everyone in America with a working cellphone to a <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/offers/deals-hub">5G phone FOR FREE</a>! Because we mean it when we say #5GForAll.

Team Magenta has a lot of hometown pride — and that’s particularly true for our leadership team, many of whom come from unsung places across America. With all the support we get from the farthest corners of the country, we figured we’d give some back. Below you’ll find shout-outs from some of our executives to the hometowns that raised them. As you can see, we’re literally all over the map with a lot of love for our roots.

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Mike Sievert, Chief Executive Officer Hometown: Canton, Ohio Population: 69,837 Best thing about my hometown:  The friendliest people Town’s claim to fame: <a href="https://www.profootballhof.com/">Pro Football Hall of Fame</a> Unofficial mascot:  Did I mention footballs? Must-visit spot: Hey, have you been to the football museum with the football-shaped roof? Celebrity: Not really Iconic restaurant/meal/food item: Anything Greek or Italian Only locals know: It’s called “pop.” Soda is that clear, bubbly stuff you put in vodka. Closest road trip destination: <a href="https://www.cedarpoint.com/">Cedar Point</a>, greatest roller coaster park on Earth What you will find: Locals aren’t nosy, they’re friendly, OK? What you won’t find: Mountains. Or oceans.

Bonus: Follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeSievert">Twitter</a>, where I’ll be asking followers to “tell me you’re from a small town without telling me you’re from a small town.”

Peter Osvaldik, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer  Hometown: Bellingham, Washington Population: 96,014 Best thing about my hometown: Great outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, biking, boating Town’s claim to fame: The annual <a href="https://skitosea.com/">Ski to Sea</a> race Unofficial mascot: Rain? Must-visit spot: Chuckanut Drive Celebrity: Hilary Swank, Ryan Stiles Iconic restaurant/meal/food item: Potato burrito at <a href="https://www.casaquepasarocks.com/">Casa Que Pasa</a> Only locals know: <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/teddy-bear-cove">Teddy Bear Cove</a> Closest road trip destination: Mount Baker What you will find: Laid-back people who love nature (and beer) What you won’t find: Easy parking

Jon Freier, Executive Vice President of Consumer Markets Hometown: Odessa, Texas Population: 129,928 Best thing about my hometown: The people are incredibly friendly and brutally honest. Town’s claim to fame: Odessa is known for its cowboys and roughnecks and is at the center of the Permian Basin, which pumps out 4 million barrels of oil A DAY. Unofficial mascot: Jack Ben Rabbit (see below) Must-visit spot: Our replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the <a href="https://www.odessa.edu/community/GlobeTheateratOdessaCollege/index.html">Globe of the Great Southwest.</a> Also, our high school football stadium, Ratliff Stadium, was in the movie Friday Night Lights. Celebrity: Kelly Schmedes, who last played forward for the Boston Breakers of Women’s Professional Soccer and was a member of the U.S. women’s national team. Roy Williams, former NFL wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears. And First Lady Barbara Bush and former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. H.W. Bush was quoted as saying, “At Odessa, we became Texans and proud of it." Iconic restaurant/meal/food item: <a href="https://www.odessabarndoor.com/">The Barn Door</a>, <a href="https://odessamenus.com/johnnys-barbecue-menu/">Johnny’s Bar-B-Q</a>, <a href="https://www.labodegamexicanrestaurant.com/home">La Bodega</a>, <a href="http://www.dosamigos.com/">Dos Amigos</a>, Big Daddy's Catfish and Chicken (Somebody can’t pick just one!) Only locals know: Odessa was supposedly named by railroad workers who thought the area resembled their home in Odessa, Russia. Closest road trip destination: <a href="https://www.nps.gov/gumo/index.htm">Guadalupe Mountains National Park</a>, which you pass when going through Loving County, Texas, the least-populated county in America. What you will find: The world’s largest jackrabbit, named <a href="https://www.oaoa.com/news/jack-ben-rabbit/image_59ca886d-e50e-59c9-8668-ed4f7a2e2bee.html">Jack Ben Rabbit</a>. The <a href="http://www.odessameteorcrater.com/">Meteor Crater at Odessa</a>, one of the nation’s largest known craters. And the <a href="http://www.ocwg.org/">Odessa Chuck Wagon Gang</a>, which serves as a goodwill ambassador known for cooking up Texas barbecue for large crowds. What you won’t find: Rain. Odessa gets only 13 inches per year — about a third of the U.S. average.

Dow Draper, Executive Vice President of Emerging Products Hometown: Castle Rock, Colorado Population: 75,452 Best thing about my hometown: Stunning scenery right outside your front door, with an average of 243 sunny days a year! Town’s claim to fame: Castle Rock rhyolite, a greyish-brownish volcanic stone that’s found throughout the area — and nowhere else. At the turn of the last century, Castle Rock rhyolite was used to construct buildings throughout Colorado. Unofficial mascot: The outlet mall didn’t exist when I lived there, so let’s go with the <a href="http://crgov.com/2548/The-Star">Star</a> that sits on top of the Rock, which is the castle-shaped butte that towers above the center of town. Must-visit spot: <a href="http://crgov.com/2842/Rock-Park">Rock Park</a>, of course Celebrity: Amy Adams Iconic restaurant/meal/food item: Craft beer from one of the local breweries and this <a href="http://ecclesiamarket.com/">hip church-turned food hall and marketplace</a> Only locals know: Folks used to shoot July 4 fireworks from the Rock, but they stopped because the side of the hill kept catching on fire. Closest road trip destination: Denver (go, Broncos!) and Colorado Springs are within a 60-mile drive. So are some of the world’s best ski slopes. What you will find: Miles and miles of trails to explore — and fun, fit people excited to get out and hike, bike and ski every inch. (Personally, I prefer riding a motorcycle across the Rampart Range Road!) What you won’t find: Cowboys or horses — at least not as many as you used to see back in the day.

Callie Field, Executive Vice President & Chief Customer Experience Officer Hometown: Dalhart, Texas Population: 8,244! It’s grown from around 5,000 when I was a kid. Best thing about my hometown: The sky Unofficial mascot: Empty Saddle monument, which commemorates the pioneers who died while settling the Texas panhandle Must-visit spot: <a href="https://thegrill.org/">The Grill</a> — best cheeseburgers of my life Iconic restaurant/meal/food item: <a href="https://xitrodeoreunion.com/">XIT Rodeo</a> has three days of free food, including world’s largest barbecue, a watermelon feed and pork chops. They serve over 20,000 people in one day in our tiny town! Only locals know: How to find arrowheads, horny toads and devil’s claws Closest road trip destination:  Amarillo, Texas — 79 miles to the closest mall What you won’t find: Hard to come by a sushi roll or Biden yard sign

Janice Kapner, Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer  Hometown: Saratoga, California Population: 29,389 Best thing about my hometown: The peach orchards that were nearby when I was a kid. I could walk to the drugstore for a snack and walk through the orchards, swinging on trees and snacking on fresh fruit — a memory I won’t soon forget! Town’s claim to fame: It’s only 12.38 square miles and is known for being in the center of Silicon Valley, yet it began with a sawmill back in 1848 and then evolved to orchards long before it became an affluent community with a mountain winery. Unofficial mascot: Wine glass Must-visit spot: <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mountainwinery.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7CJanice.Kapner%40T-Mobile.com%7C6ed8688bc6d24d33a62008d904d4af33%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637546133830322248%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=%2BofpStryhLlwfPEVrRIrvRJxjbSlJOsMsw%2B4yY%2FYfYQ%3D&reserved=0">The Mountain Winery</a>, which has music events and concerts with a view that cannot be beat! Celebrity: Steven Spielberg attended Saratoga High School (so did my big sister!) and graduated in 1965. Iconic restaurant/meal/food item: Many say<a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebasin.com%2Fhome&data=04%7C01%7CJanice.Kapner%40T-Mobile.com%7C6ed8688bc6d24d33a62008d904d4af33%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637546133830332252%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=h3IHKY5zpO4soxMa1mocQh3CUQsMXa%2BRbWD4XZDgU78%3D&reserved=0"> The Basin</a>, but I will always love <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lafondue.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7CJanice.Kapner%40T-Mobile.com%7C6ed8688bc6d24d33a62008d904d4af33%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637546133830332252%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=w12oThgi9YWvoLw55%2F1aMThA7HGftJG%2F2E4oMLe1JzA%3D&reserved=0">La Fondue</a> in little downtown Saratoga village (best hot cheese to dip that you can find!).  Only locals know: I'm told that the locals refer to the city as ’Toga, but I never heard that. Don't miss the historical walk through old Saratoga, often called Old Town. Closest road trip destination: Cruz down to Santa Cruz with its beach boardwalk, white sands, warm weather and as down to earth as you can get! What you will find: A quiet but lovely town with historic signs and buildings dating back to 1884. What you won’t find: BIG nightlife. Not in this town. Head to San Jose, or better yet, San Francisco.

Mike Katz, Executive Vice President of T-Mobile for Business Hometown: Carbondale, Colorado Population: 6,972 Best thing about my hometown: The mountains. Carbondale is in the heart of the Rockies! Town’s claim to fame: Mt. Sopris, the only mountain in Colorado with two peaks of the exact same elevation Unofficial mascot: Rams! The mascot of my high school, Roaring Fork High School Must-visit spot: The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Mill">Crystal Mill</a>, just outside of town and probably the most photographed image in Colorado Celebrity: Trisha Bader Binford, WNBA star and current head basketball coach at Montana State Iconic restaurant/meal/food item: <a href="https://skipspourhouse.wordpress.com/">The Pour House</a>, a local’s watering hole with every bar food you could ever want Closest road trip destination: Aspen, just 25 minutes down Highway 82 What you will find: More than 300 sunny days a year What you won’t find: Traffic

Deeanne King, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas Population: 201,034 Best thing about my hometown: The great people, parks and family environment Town’s claim to fame: The best city to live, work and play! Unofficial mascot: Dorothy and Toto Must-visit spot: OP is known for its expansive parks and green spaces. <a href="https://www.opkansas.org/recreation-fun/deanna-rose-childrens-farmstead/">Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead</a> is one of my personal favorites! Celebrity: The three Kings of Comedy: Paul Rudd, Rob Riggle and Jason Sudeikis Iconic restaurant/meal/food item: Barbecue (and you can’t pick just one!) Only locals know: When the tornado sirens go off, that means go to your front porch. Closest road trip destination: Isn’t everything a road trip in KC? My favorite summer destination are the lakes nearby in Missouri and Arkansas. What you will find: Amazing, down to earth people and a family-friendly city. And great running trails! What you won’t find: Mountains. Or even hills.

T-Mobile Newsroom

T-Mobile has a lot of hometown pride — and that’s particularly true for our leadership team, many of whom come from unsung places across America. Here, we offer some shout-outs from some of our executives to the hometowns that raised them.

Hometown Roots, Big-Time Network | T-Mobile Newsroom

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Hometown Roots, Big-Time Network

Jocelyn Jacobson

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In recognition of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the actor, producer and activist joined T-Mobile’s EVP of Advanced & Emerging Technologies John Saw as part of the company’s Talking with Trailblazers employee guest-speaker series to address the rise of Asian hate in America, and how history can help lead a path forward to a better and more equitable place for all.

As a way to honor Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, T-Mobile teamed up with its Asia Pacific & Allies Network Employee Resource Group to sponsor events that share the personal experiences of the AAPI community. A particular highlight was the company’s most recent installment of its Talking with Trailblazers guest-speaker series with actor <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0196654/">Daniel Dae Kim</a>, who was keen to review how America’s problematic history has led to current anti-Asian events grabbing headlines, and the disturbing statistics behind them.

Between March 2020 and February 2021, more than <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/anti-asian-racist-hate-incidents">3,795 Anti-Asian hate incidents</a> were reported. Though much of these numbers appear to be fueled by rhetoric over the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim explained to an audience of more than two thousand T-Mobile employees tuning in virtually, that history seems only to be repeating itself when it comes to the collective narrative of racism against Asians in America.

“There have been a number of events that have not only made us the perpetual foreigner in America,” he said, “but also created a number of stereotypes that lead to the issues that we face today.”

Kim, who can currently be seen starring in Netflix’s Stowaway, and who became well known for his roles in pop culture phenomena like Lost and Hawaii Five-0, has been a longtime champion of increased diversity and Asian American representation in Hollywood. He recently <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svh-H5mMz2Q">testified before ​Congress</a> about anti-Asian hate in the country, speaking before the House Judiciary Committee regarding the HR908 bill condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment in September 2020 and again in March 2021.

“There was a 169% increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans nationally from this time last year, and in New York it’s a 223% rise from the same time last year,” explained Kim, a longtime resident of New York. “It’s emblematic of the fact that it’s not just the pandemic … anti-Asian sentiment is nothing new in America. If you’re a student of history, you know that from the 1800s and the first time that Asians set foot in America, there’s been legislations enacted against them that’s created stereotypes, and that they were the first ethnic group to ever be prevented from entering America as part of the Chinese Exclusion act in 1882.”

Kim spent an hour with John Saw, T-Mobile’s EVP of Advanced & Emerging Technologies, talking about these moments in history that have impacted the AAPI community, with a focus on how both Asian Americans as well as allies can promote diversity and inclusion to combat current trends of violence.

Kim’s mastery of the history and language around this subject is profound. Here are five key quotes from the event that gave us pause, along with some uplift and signs of hope ahead.

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On how the history of bigotry perpetuates stereotypes.

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“The Chinese Exclusion Act and the Page Act go hand in hand. The Page Act of 1875 excluded Asian women from coming over and so you had thousands of Chinese immigrants working on the railroads in America who no longer had hope of marrying or finding any companionship within their race. And so, the ironic thing was the reason why the government supported the Page Act because they thought the Chinese supported polygamy and prostitution, and by allowing Chinese women to come that it would only increase those industries. But by preventing Chinese women from coming over they actually stoked prostitution. So the idea of stereotyping started even then — the idea that the Chinese were dirty or untrustworthy or dumb. If you look at the portrayal of Chinese people in the news … it was very demeaning. The stereotypes start there and then in WWII you have over 120,00 Japanese Americans taken from their homes and imprisoned because they looked like the enemy in WWII, even though they were American citizens. It just perpetuates this idea that we were always foreigners, even some of those placed in Japanese Internment Camps were even third or fourth generation American. This appearance has led again in today’s news with the pandemic and the violence associated with the pandemic. These are the ways in which our history has influenced our perception, and our perception influences how we are portrayed in the media.”

On the importance of allyship across all communities.

“It’s really important to have allyship among all communities. We need to accept allyship and be allies … I think there's a tendency in these kinds of discussions about race and representation to present it as a binary equation, that the more that some Asian Americans rise, the more it adversely affects another population. And that really isn’t the way I encourage people to look at this. It’s not really a matter of one race or group against another. It really is everyone against racism and everyone against bigotry. There will be people of all races and creeds who are just going to be racist. But I believe that there are more people of every race who want to create a better society and create a country where we can all live together more harmoniously. It’s those people that are the most important to me right now, because I believe they exist. I believe our allies exist in the African-American community, the White community, that the Latinx community. It is a two-way street. We all need to reach outside of our home communities and think about the ways that their experiences might be different from ours and how we can seek to understand each other so that we can work together better. We can live together better. And that's why allyship is incredibly important.”

On speaking up, and speaking out.

“In the ways that there is work to do, it is incumbent on me the way it’s incumbent on any of us with any kind of a platform to speak out, because if we stay silent we are only perpetuating the problem. I am fortunate enough to be in that position where I can speak truth to power, so why would I not? Because if it’s not me, then who else? Those of us who have been lucky enough to achieve in this country are the ones who can help the most. The message I wanted to share with Congress was that this problem persists. I came back a second time because nothing had changed. I think we need to hold our leaders accountable for progress and change. I think that’s not just an Asian-American issue, that’s an issue on governance in general. We elect our leaders and we must speak up for the change we want to see. We must be the change we want to see, so I wanted to remind them that we are still here. The issue still exists. In fact, it might have gotten worse — and the one thing they cannot do is continue to ignore us.”

On the “White adjacent” and “model minority” myths.

“In a nutshell, the model minority myth is this notion that the most successful Asian Americans represent all Asian Americans. We see people like me, we see people who are doctors and lawyers, and we think, ‘Oh, well, Asian Americans don’t need our help. They’re fine.’ But the fact is, that Asian Americans have the largest wealth gap among all of the demographic groups in America. We have very wealthy Asian Americans, but we also have some of the poorest people in the country. In New York City, Asian Americans are the group with the most under the poverty line. ‘White adjacent’ means that we are so successful that we shouldn’t be considered people of color. It’s this idea that because Asians are perceived as successful and there’s a segment of us that’s very law abiding, that we are as close to White people as you can be while still being a person of color. But this notion that we’re too successful to be considered people of color is an implicit assumption that White equals success.

“And the thing that we’ve found throughout history is that our White adjacent-ness is conditional. When things are going great, then we’re kind of accepted as part of the group, and we’re the model minority, but as soon as things start going bad, as they have been during the pandemic or during the American auto and steel issues in the ‘80s, then we are the first to be scapegoated, and then hate crimes rise against us. This idea of conditional citizenship is right alongside this idea of being White adjacent, and why it’s insidious is because those two terms, along with model minority, also implies that there’s a comparison between us as a minority group and African Americans and the Latinx community. We’re all being compared, and therefore pitted against one another, when the fact is we all have very unique and distinct histories in the United States. To say that one has to be like the others is already a fallacy.”

“Right now, I am very encouraged because there are a number of efforts being made on part of the Asian-American community to galvanize and create national organizations in ways we haven’t seen before. There's a group called the <a href="https://www.taaf.org/">Asian American Foundation</a> that just formed, that has 40 of the top law firms in the U.S. and the Asian attorneys who are in those law firms have all agreed to do pro bono work for the victims of anti-Asian violence. That is a massive movement and change as we haven’t come together in that way before. There’s an organization about to launch in May called the Asian American Foundation. This is an unprecedented movement and coming together of Asian Americans around the country to form an organization to help in these situations and to increase education and amalgamate data for these kinds of hate crimes. And this is the first effort of this kind on this scale. I think we need to continue to get the message out there and organize and come together. It’s a real inflexion point for Asian-Americans in this country. Pressure makes diamonds, and our community has been under pressure.”

Daniel Dae Kim spoke at T-Mobile Talking with Trailblazers employee guest-speaker series to address the rise of Asian hate in America.

Daniel Dae Kim: “Pressure Makes Diamonds, and Our Community Has Been Under Pressure” | T-Mobile Newsroom

Daniel Dae Kim: “Pressure Makes Diamonds, and Our Community Has Been Under Pressure”

Shawna Ryan

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Military Appreciation Month is an opportunity to celebrate and thank the brave servicemembers that continue to do their part to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the nation. And as they do, T-Mobile will stand with them.

The Un-carrier supports the military community year-round through hiring commitments, career programs, employee resource groups, military rate plans and more. These efforts break down into four categories, each a crucial component of the strongest portfolio of military and military-family benefits in the wireless industry.

“As the Executive Sponsor for the Veterans & Allies Network, I have the opportunity to see the many ways T-Mobile’s military employees take care of each other, both within the company and out in the wider world,” says Jon Freier, Executive Vice President, T-Mobile Consumer. “These people come from a common background of teamwork and service, and they bring an incredible focus, work ethic and sense of camaraderie to the Un-carrier. We couldn’t be who we are without them.”

Whether veterans in career transition or their spouses active in the workforce, military families add incredible value to our society during and after their service and T-Mobile is committed to providing them meaningful opportunities. Standalone T-Mobile previously made a commitment to hire 10,000 military vets and their spouses by 2023 – and now, inclusive of veterans and veteran spouses the Un-carrier brought on board with the Sprint merger, we’re pleased to share we’re over halfway there!

The first step on the hiring path is recruiting, and T-Mobile has been looking to Veterans themselves for ways it can improve recruiting and hiring practices from the get-go. Liv Abreu is a military partnership manager for T-Mobile’s Military & Diversity Recruiting program, who arrived at the Un-carrier after spending three years as an Army parachutist in the 82nd Airborne Division. Given her personal experience transitioning from military service to retail to management and recruiting, she knows exactly how valuable military-made skills are — and how to recognize them.

“Leadership, for example, is a basic skill you gain in the military,” Abreu says. “A lot of transitioning servicemembers might not be able to speak to their experience as leaders in the context of a civilian job, so it’s the job of the recruiter to talk the candidate through how to better communicate that skill.”

With their experience operating in cooperative teams, deploying in fast-paced environments and thinking on their feet, military people boast skillsets that are uniquely valuable to a growing workplace like T-Mobile. 

"There are soft skills that come with being trained in the military and that you acquire throughout your service, things you develop through your experiences that are 100% applicable to any job you apply for,” Abreu says. “You have to be able to pivot quickly and you need to be mission ready. That agility is not just physical but mental. You have to make quick decisions — sometimes life-threatening decisions — in a short time. In addition, military talent is laser-focused on the task at hand and our work in T-Mobile requires that strategic mindset.”

It’s a major Un-carrier priority to tap into this talent pool of those willing and able to contribute at all levels across the business. But the emphasis isn’t in on simply recruiting talented individuals — it’s also on retaining them and supporting them throughout their entire career trajectory with T-Mobile. With its <a href="https://livemagenta.com/l2/Featured-Services" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LiveMagenta</a> benefits package, T-Mobile offers a wide array of personal and professional development programs, from money management advisement to mental health and wellness counseling to life coaching.

Military employees of T-Mobile help one another, too. More than 12,000 have joined the Veterans & Allies Network (VAN), an employee resource group for military service members, current and otherwise, and their spouses. Members of VAN meet in local chapters and also convene in national, virtual meetups to find allyship, discuss relevant issues and volunteer for service projects in their communities.

While serving at home or abroad, during active duty, reserve or retirement, and military families need to stay connected. Not only does T-Mobile now offer all of its customers the fastest, broadest, most reliable 5G network in America, but the Un-carrier provides military <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans/military-discount-plans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the best unlimited rate plans in wireless.</a>

With the T-Mobile military discount, active-duty military members, Veterans, current or former Guard or Reserve members and Gold Star Families qualify for T-Mobile’s signature plan, Magenta Military. With 50% off family lines, customers can get four lines of unlimited talk, text and data for just $100 per month with AutoPay. And because 5G is included in all of T-Mobile’s rate plans, customers also get access to America’s largest, fastest, most reliable 5G network. PLUS free unlimited texting and 2G data in 210 foreign countries and destinations abroad, SD streaming and more.  

For $35/month/line with AutoPay, military customers can sign up for four lines T-Mobile’s Magenta Max Military plan, which includes unlimited talk, text and data that cannot slow based on usage, 4K UHD streaming on capable devices, 2X data speed and texting abroad and all the other perks of the Magenta Military plan. 

As part of our commitment to serve those who serve, T-Mobile is proud to support organizations that improve the lives of military and Veteran communities throughout every stage of life and career. For instance, T-Mobile partners with <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.hiringourheroes.org/" target="_blank">Hiring Our Heroes</a> (HOH), a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation initiative that helps servicemembers and military spouses prepare for and connect with meaningful employment.

Through this partnership the Un-carrier has access to several different pathways for sourcing military talent, including career readiness programs and recruitment fairs at bases and other official locations around the world. This year alone T-Mobile has brought in three management-level military employees, one of whom went into government affairs, another into consumer markets, and the third into emerging products. 

“The return on investment is absolutely there, but what’s more impactful for us is to follow that candidate’s journey and measure our impact as an organization showing up in these spaces,” Abreu says. “We love our partners at HOH and they love us. Doing the work we do together is so fulfilling, especially for me as a Veteran myself.” 

Additionally, since 2018, the company has <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/press/va-veterans-health-administration" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/press/va-veterans-health-administration" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">partnered </a>with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide up to 70,000 lines of wireless service to doctors, nurses and hospital staff across their hospitals. The Un-carrier also worked with the VA <a href="https://www.va.gov/scsp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Secretary's Center for Strategic Partnerships</a> (SCSP) to enhance access to the VA's telehealth platform, VA Video Connect, by providing free unlimited access to online telehealth services. Most recently T-Mobile brought 5G capacity to the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/t-mobile-brings-ultra-capacity-5g-to-miami-u-s-department-of-veterans-affairs-va-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VA Hospital in Miami</a>, with plans to expand to more facilities in the coming months.

And the Un-carrier’s VA partnership goes beyond the virtual. Earlier this year, the company brought a super-fast Ultra Capacity 5G network online at the Miami VA Medical Center. Now doctors and nurses throughout the facility can quickly access high bandwidth files such as imaging results, labs and medical charts without having to be tethered to a computer. It’s a high-speed upgrade that will positively impact the thousands of military patients the Miami VA serves every year.

Whether helping to stabilize the day-to-day unpredictability of the pandemic or overcoming the massive technical challenges of the nation’s largest 5G rollout, the contributions of military servicemembers are a crucial component in T-Mobile’s ongoing success. The same can be said for their contributions to the nation. America owes a debt of gratitude to those who serve in our armed forces, and T-Mobile is honored to give back to those who have already given so much of themselves.

For more information about the Un-carrier’s military-friendly initiatives and services, check out <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/responsibility/community/military" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">T-Mobile’s Military Community page</a>.

Military Plans: Verify military status for account holder within 45 days and maintain valid military line on account; otherwise plan becomes Magenta (additional cost up to $20/line per month). Magenta: During congestion, heavy data users (>100GB/mo.) may notice reduced speeds due to data prioritization. Max: Activate up to 4K UHD streaming on capable device, or video typically streams at 480p. 5G: Fastest based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 5G median download speeds for Q1 2021. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission. Capable device required & coverage not available in some areas. Some uses may require certain plan or feature; see T-Mobile.com. Most reliable according to an audit report conducted by independent third party umlaut containing crowdsourced data for user experience collected from September 2020 until February 2021. Full details at: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.umlaut.com/en/benchmarking/USA" target="_blank">www.umlaut.com/en/benchmarking/USA</a>

Military Appreciation Month is an opportunity to celebrate and thank the brave servicemembers that continue to do their part to ensure the safety and

A Salute to Those Who Serve: T-Mobile Continues Support for Active-Duty Military, Veterans and their Families | T-Mobile Newsroom

A Salute to Those Who Serve: T-Mobile Continues Support for Active-Duty Military, Veterans and their Families

Jess Dillon

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https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/militaryappreciationmonth2021

<a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.nature.org/en-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Nature Conservancy</a> (TNC) is on a mission to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. In support of this mission, T-Mobile has contributed over $1.2M to TNC while unlocking an additional $600,000+ in matching grants and customer donations since 2018.

In celebration of Earth Day this year, T-Mobile recently <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/road-to-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shared details</a> on its continued approach to taking care of the environment, including a new $300,000 donation to TNC’s forest restoration and preservation efforts. Learn more about the <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/family-forests-powerhouse-in-climate-mitigation/?src=prt.cmp.eg.earth21.TMobile.EarthDay.2021" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plant a Billion Trees</a>, <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/family-forests-powerhouse-in-climate-mitigation/?src=prt.cmp.eg.earth21.TMobile.EarthDay.2021" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Family Forest Carbon Program</a>, and the <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.org%2Fen-us%2Fwhat-we-do%2Four-priorities%2Fprotect-water-and-land%2Fland-and-water-stories%2Fwhy-we-work-with-fire%2F%3Fsrc%3Dprt.cmp.eg.earth21.TMobile.EarthDay.2021&data=04%7C01%7Cjessica.dillon10%40t-mobile.com%7C05597de1a5ed4a0fef4b08d90101697c%7Cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7C0%7C0%7C637541928198335501%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=AQjH0KxQ%2By%2BG%2F1gv4L6B5W%2F4EJvzbhneLFl1xQc23WE%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Living with Fire</a> projects:

Forests are one of the most important ecosystems on earth — here are five reasons why: 

1. Climate Change Warriors: Forests help us fight against climate change.  

It’s well-established that healthy forests absorb the carbon in the atmosphere that contributes to climate change. In fact, trees are made of roughly 50% carbon! Although the exact amount of carbon pulled from the atmosphere varies widely based on environmental factors ranging from topography to temperature to soil texture, in places like the central Appalachians, each acre of forest can sequester around 2-3 metric tons of carbon each year.  

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2. Thirst Quencher: Forests filter your water, making your drinking supply cleaner and more reliable. 

From the tree canopy all the way down to root systems, forests play a critical role in cleaning, storing and protecting our water. Forests can act as natural sponges and filters, preventing sediment and nutrients from polluting water supplies and then slowly releasing the water back into waterways and underground aquifers. This can lead to higher quality water in a city’s watersheds. In the U.S., more than 50% of our water supply comes from rainfall captured and filtered through forest land.  

3. A Breath of Fresh Air: Forests clean the air so we can breathe more easily. 

Trees remove the kind of air pollution that is most dangerous to our lungs: particulate matter. In cities, urban forests help filter these unhealthy particles from the air, helping residents enjoy cleaner air. One <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/jrnl/2013/nrs_2013_nowak_002.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> that looked at air pollution benefits alone found that urban trees remove enough particulate matter to reduce annual health costs for populations by amounts ranging from $1.1 million in Syracuse, N.Y., to $60.1 million in NYC.

4. Like a Shot of Serotonin: Trees boost our mental health while raising our physical health. 

A healthy tree can lead to a healthy you and me. Time in nature — like a walk among the trees in a city park — correlates with a drop in anxiety and depression. The good news: it doesn’t take a lot of time in nature for these soothing powers to kick in. You may have felt the benefits from a short walk or hike in your neighborhood. We’re drawn to green spaces, and for good reason.  

Access to nearby green space also contributes to better physical health by encouraging us to move around and exercise. Because we move around more when we have access to trees and parks, nature can help lower rates of obesity. 

5. Home Sweet Home: Forests give a home to the wildlife we love. 

A single tree can provide a vital habitat for countless species. An intact forest can do even more, creating a home for some of the most diverse and resilient webs of life on the planet. A great diversity of plant and animal species make up the longleaf pine forests along the southeastern U.S., but we have an important role to play in keeping these habitats healthy for its residents. Controlled burns can be an integral part of a healthy forest ecosystem, as competing trees and shrubs can clog up the open grasslands and block out sunlight. These carefully planned efforts help recycle nutrients, thin out overgrown brush and ultimately improve habitats for native plants and wildlife. 

Image credits (in order): Devan King, Diane Cook and Len Jenshel, Skip Pidney - courtesy of The Nature Conservancy.

In celebration of Earth Day, T-Mobile announced a new $300,000 donation to The Nature Conservancy's forest restoration and preservation efforts.

Five Ways Forests Benefit People and Our Planet | T-Mobile Newsroom

Five Ways Forests Benefit People and Our Planet

In celebration of Earth Day, T-Mobile announced a new $300,000 donation to The Nature Conservancy&#039;s forest restoration and preservation efforts.

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Every April 22, the world comes together to mark an international day of environmental action. Whether you celebrate Earth Day by planting trees, cleaning up polluted habitats or recycling everything from old smartphones to soda cans — together we have an opportunity to make a global impact.  

As a leader in the U.S. wireless ecosystem, T-Mobile has a significant role to play in driving impactful transformation as the Un-carrier continues its ALL-IN approach to taking care of the environment. Not only has T-Mobile led <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.greenamerica.org/press-release/green-americas-2020-climate-energy-scorecard-wireless-carriers" target="_blank">Green America’s Wireless Scorecard</a> three years in a row, it also made CDP’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.cdp.net/en/companies/companies-scores" target="_blank">A List</a> for Climate Change, won the EPA’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.epa.gov/smm-electronics/sustainable-materials-management-smm-electronics-challenge-recognition-and-awards#results" target="_blank">Sustainable Material Management Electronics Challenge</a>, and was among the first providers to have its carbon-reduction goals approved by the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/" target="_blank">Science Based Targets Initiative</a>.

Maximize Collective Action

T-Mobile employees, customers, partners and fans are critical allies to push the Un-carrier forward to drive meaningful environmental impact for our communities. 

To successfully address climate change, it requires an ALL-IN approach. This is why the company is empowering other organizations that are making meaningful conservation efforts. Building on a longstanding partnership, this Earth Day T-Mobile is donating $300,000 to <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/earth-day/?src=prt.cmp.eg.earth21.TMBL" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Nature Conservancy’s</a> forest restoration and preservation efforts.

On April 20, customers using the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.t-mobile.com/offers/t-mobile-tuesdays" target="_blank">T-Mobile Tuesdays app</a> can learn more and vote on how T-Mobile’s donation is directed across three Nature Conservancy projects:

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In addition to directing donations to The Nature Conservancy, on April 20 the T-Mobile Tuesdays app will also feature earth-friendly offers for customers like a free reusable tote bag, special intro offers for <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://try.imperfectfoods.com/s/overview?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=G_S_US_Brand_Core_Exact&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsLWDBhCmARIsAPSL3_3FUSSCn0LxQbEseCGosyj73lWSzLOqmJ9VUouwF1DhNLHQ0hI87F8aAs1dEALw_wcB&mrasn=693123.859830.OBWjkI31&xtref=www.google.com" data-type="URL" data-id="https://try.imperfectfoods.com/s/overview?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=G_S_US_Brand_Core_Exact&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsLWDBhCmARIsAPSL3_3FUSSCn0LxQbEseCGosyj73lWSzLOqmJ9VUouwF1DhNLHQ0hI87F8aAs1dEALw_wcB&mrasn=693123.859830.OBWjkI31&xtref=www.google.com" target="_blank">Imperfect Foods </a>sustainable grocery delivery service and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://thedyrt.com/pro?gclid=Cj0KCQjwsLWDBhCmARIsAPSL3_24YmAcXqBKWZtDYQWLr8Gnce2pMqoWhHV9RCEbHlI9xRiXlX5Qz9AaAv4YEALw_wcB" data-type="URL" data-id="https://thedyrt.com/pro?gclid=Cj0KCQjwsLWDBhCmARIsAPSL3_24YmAcXqBKWZtDYQWLr8Gnce2pMqoWhHV9RCEbHlI9xRiXlX5Qz9AaAv4YEALw_wcB" target="_blank">The Dyrt Pro’s</a> camping app, and even the chance to win a Tesla Model Y. T-Mobile will also celebrate #EarthDay on social media channels, which will highlight ways to go green using your phone.

Road to 100% Renewable Energy

In 2018, T-Mobile became the first major telecom to sign the <a href="https://www.there100.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RE100</a> and make the bold commitment to power its business and network with 100% renewable energy by the end of 2021. Three years and one historic merger later, T-Mobile is on track to meeting this goal by the end of this year.

“T-Mobile has made great progress toward both adopting and driving new development of sustainable power consumption,” said Amy Davidsen, North America Executive Director of the Climate Group, which co-leads the RE100 in partnership with CDP. “Their principled approach to staying on track to meet their renewable electricity goal this year is especially noteworthy considering the significant growth of their footprint due to their historic merger with Sprint. It’s encouraging to see a company rise to this unique challenge by setting and keeping ambitious deadlines to rapidly embrace the transition to a more sustainable future. This is the decisive decade of climate action and business leadership will remain paramount to ensure we are securely on a path to a safe climate by 2030.”  

One way that T-Mobile has continued to make progress on its renewable energy commitments, despite its larger footprint, is by making substantial investments to support America’s transition to a greener grid. As of this year, the Un-carrier’s renewable-energy portfolio includes nine renewable energy deals with wind and solar farms across the country. 

“As we celebrate one year as the supercharged Un-carrier, we are more focused than ever on managing our environmental footprint,” said Brigitta Witt, T-Mobile's Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainability. “We’ve led the industry with science-based targets and commitment to 100% renewable energy, but being a bigger company now means we have an even greater opportunity and responsibility to drive positive impact through our actions, our partners and the innovation rooted in our 5G technology. We can't wait to share more about our upcoming efforts in the months to come." 

For more information about T-Mobile’s sustainability and environmental efforts, visit the <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/responsibility/sustainability" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">T-Mobile Sustainability Page</a>.

Qualifying service required for T-Mobile Tuesdays. See App for offer details. Sweepstakes: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to residents of the fifty (50) United States, PR, USVI and DC. 16+. 4/20/21 5:00 AM ET - 4/27/21 4:59:59 AM ET. On how to enter and full rules go to amoe.t-mobiletuesdays.com/Promotion/Rules. Void where prohibited.

Every April 22, the world comes together to mark an international day of environmental action. Whether you celebrate Earth Day by planting trees,

Road to 100% Renewable: T-Mobile Is on Track to Reach Its Industry-Leading Environmental Commitment | T-Mobile Newsroom

Road to 100% Renewable: T-Mobile Is on Track to Reach Its Industry-Leading Environmental Commitment

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https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/road-to-renewable-energy

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For a fourth straight year, and fifth time overall, T-Mobile has been named one of FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. Here, the company’s VP of Corporate Real Estate & Facilities talks about the herculean task of beginning renovations on its expanded headquarters before the pandemic, and how they pivoted mid-stride to create a space that’s both inspiring and safe — and why, more than ever, T-Mobile is a great place to work.

If you build it, they will come. For two decades that hasn't just been a go-to movie reference for Darcey Estes, it's been her daily drumbeat. As T-Mobile’s VP of Corporate Real Estate and Facilities, Estes has traveled all over the country helping the company build spaces that innovate and evolve the way it works.

“I feel really proud that I’ve been given the opportunity to make a difference in the workplace environment,” says Estes. “What I get to do is reimagine and redesign and modernize our workplaces. I could not have a more fun job.”

After the company’s merger with Sprint in 2020, T-Mobile continued the exciting process of an ambitious renovation of both its original headquarters in Bellevue, Wash. and its new HQ2 campus in Overland Park, Kan. It's the kind of opportunity that was literally 20 years in the making for Estes.

But what if you build it, and suddenly people can't come?

“As someone who’s been dedicated to creating the best workplace environment possible for our employees and our offices nationwide, when the pandemic began, making the difficult decisions to close our offices and have our people work fully remote was quite a transition.”

On Monday, April 12, for a fourth year in a row and fifth time overall, T-Mobile was named to FORTUNE’s annual list of <a href="https://fortune.com/best-companies/2021/">100 Best Companies to Work For</a>, a highly coveted list created in conjunction with <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.greatplacetowork.com/" target="_blank">Great Place to Work</a> based on employee feedback. Because the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted everyone’s lives, this year’s list heavily emphasized how companies responded. How Estes and her team pivoted and updated T-Mobile’s extensive renovation plans and ponder innovative ways to solve new challenges in our new normal is one such shining example.

Starting in February 2020 and continuing even today, Estes and her team have adjusted in real time even as renovations were well underway, putting employee safety first and foremost. After helping to coordinate a shipment of some 40,000 masks to all back-office employees in the Spring of 2020, she got to work searching for ways to mesh her goal of creating inspiring spaces that promote productivity and wellbeing with the new responsibility of creating the safest environments possible.

After finalizing original plans of incredible new co-work spaces, high tech conference rooms, creative social spaces and top of the line amenities, Estes says her team then had to make further enhancements to integrate essential COVID-19 health safety features. Even the simple new normals like social distancing signage, capacity limits, sanitation stations, contactless building features and intensified cleanings were enormous tasks unto themselves.

Then there's the HVAC systems that were upgraded to maximize fresh air exchange rates, and MERV 13 filters were installed (considered hospital-grade filtration) that meet or exceed industry standards and utilize high-tech wizardry, like a solution called needlepoint bi-polar ionization to eradicate air particles (<a href="https://www.google.com/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.google.com/">google</a> it and have your mind blown).

“I’m really proud of all of the investments we have made to keep our employees safe,” says Estes. “All of our offices, care centers and retail stores will be certified by the <a href="https://www.wellcertified.com/">International WELL Building Institute</a> with the WELL Health-Safety rating which basically says T-Mobile meets the highest standards possible for our safety operations inside all of our facilities. And so when people do come back, we’re ready.”

Here Darcey Estes walks us through a bit more of the incredible redesign of T-Mobile’s headquarters in Bellevue, Wash. and Overland Park, Kan., highlights of her own 20-plus-year career at the company and, of course, why the Un-carrier is a truly great place to work.

You’ve had an incredible history with T-Mobile. What's been the evolution of the company’s spaces since you came on board?

I’ve been with T-Mobile for over 20 years. It was my first job out of college, and I started in the network engineering operations division of the company. I moved several times, from coast to coast, and always had really exciting assignments and worked with great people. Five years ago I moved to the Bellevue area to take over responsibility for the Corporate Real Estate Facilities Team. It was an exciting time to see our company shift focus to developing a long-term strategy for the workplace and reinvent our offices for employees. We decided to consider the overall workplace environment. We wanted our workplaces to be modern, full of technology and spaces that support our company culture, where our employees can celebrate and socialize and collaborate and innovate. We wanted our design to bring in lots of natural light and have ergonomic furniture and have a variety of places for people to work because everyone has different working styles, whether that’s heads-down work or collaboration with other teammates. We also wanted to make sure our workplace design was inclusive. We created a lot of areas that support our diverse workforce, from mothers’ rooms to multifaith rooms, wellness rooms, all-gender restrooms — and improving the overall accessibility across our campuses.

For the fifth time, and fourth year in a row, T-Mobile has been named one of FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. How does it feel knowing you’re someone whose work directly impacts employees on a daily basis?

It’s really important to me that our employees have a place when they come to work that supports how they work so that they’re most productive and that the overall workplace environment is one that’s fun and reflects our culture and our brand. Our culture, for those who are outside of T-Mobile, is fun and inclusive. We have a lot of camaraderie and celebrations, but we also work really hard. We love coming together to innovate and ideate and I think we’ve made magic when you think about some of our Un-carrier history.

As someone whose career has been dedicated to creating innovative and impactful work environments, what was it like to suddenly be involved in the initiatives to, in a sense, not have a work environment, and to move employees from HQ in Bellevue and Overland Park to full remote at the start of the pandemic?

I’m proud to say as a company we did a really good job. Our focus was on keeping our employees safe and that’s remained a priority for us at T-Mobile. Since last year, we began welcoming small numbers of people back on a 100 percent voluntary basis, and our offices are safer than ever. I’m really proud of all of the investments we have made. We’ve upgraded our HVAC and air filtration systems to hospital grade. We’ve implemented extensive cleaning protocols and social distancing markers. We even sent masks to employees nationwide who are working from home. All of our offices, care centers and retail stores will be certified by the <a href="https://www.wellcertified.com/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.wellcertified.com/">International WELL Building Institute</a> with the WELL Health-Safety rating which say T-Mobile meets the highest standards possible for our safety operations inside all of our facilities. And so when people do come back, we are ready and our offices are safer than they’ve ever been.

What do you believe the renovation will do for T-Mobile employees once people begin to return to the offices? How does it help with productivity, collaboration, safety and overall employee wellbeing?

We are really proud that the workplace design that we planned for the renovation at our headquarters both in Bellevue and Overland Park really supports things that employees want most in their workplace. They want to be able to come together as a team to collaborate and innovate and we’ve created a variety of spaces to do that from small, medium and large conference rooms; virtual conferencing spaces; fun and casual amenity floors, as well as beautiful spaces outdoors. Giving people access to fresh air and natural light is part of a great workplace environment. We have robust technology all throughout our spaces. We’re expanding our onsite food offerings and created a space for people to come together and safely socialize as well as do the amazing innovative work that’s we’ve been known for.

How do you envision the workplace will continue to change in the future?

I definitely think the workplace will continue to evolve. When we come back, it’s important that we continue to listen to our employees about what they need most and want most from the workplace. I think the next couple of years will really be important for us to continue to experiment with new ways of working and how we design the spaces and the amenities that employees value. It’s important to observe and figure out what is or is not working and then continue to adapt and respond to employee feedback.

Want to see more of T-Mobile’s beautiful new spaces? Check out the video and photos below!

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Darcey Estes talks about how her team pivoted during HQ renovations when the pandemic hit to create a space that’s both inspiring and safe.

Employee Spotlight: How This T-Mobile Standout Helped Make a Great Place to Work Even Greater | T-Mobile Newsroom

Employee Spotlight: How This T-Mobile Standout Helped Make a Great Place to Work Even Greater

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https://www.t-mobile.com/news/community/visionary-on-hq-renovations-and-covid-safety-upgrades

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As T-Mobile focuses on opening new retail stores every month of 2021, hundreds of which will be in smaller markets and rural areas, more of America’s underserved communities are touting the benefits of fast and reliable 5G coverage, increased competition and greater employment opportunities.

Jon Freier may be known for playing a very big role at T-Mobile as the company’s EVP of Consumer Markets, but ask him what has motivated him to succeed in his field and he’ll tell you it’s his very small-town upbringing.

"I grew up in the vast oil fields of West Texas in a small town called Odessa," says Freier, who got his start in wireless in 1994 and has been with T-Mobile since the company formed in 2001 (astute Friday Night Lights fans may also recognize Odessa as the town from which the high school football crazed story is based on). "I've seen first-hand the economic challenges that many rural Americans are struggling with and I know how investments in technology can lead to opportunity, job creation and keeping people rooted in the communities they love."

And while serving these smaller markets and rural areas is close to this Texas native's heart, it's also an important moment in T-Mobile's commitment to small-town and rural markets, Freier notes.

"For far too long, smaller towns and rural areas across the country have been under-resourced and underserved by all wireless and internet companies," he explains. "Not many people know this, but smaller markets and rural areas throughout the United States represent the largest geographic segment of the consumer market — it's roughly 50 million consumer households, or around 130 million people!"

Thankfully, <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/our-story/executive-leadership-team/jon-freier" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.t-mobile.com/our-story/executive-leadership-team/jon-freier">Freier</a> and his fellow leaders at the company say they have a plan to make sure these communities are getting the service they've been long overdue.

The company recently announced <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/t-mobiles-next-un-carrier-move-5gforall">T-Mobile Hometown</a>, with new services and investments meant to create thousands of jobs, bring billions in new investments and much needed internet connectivity — including 5G — to rural communities.

"We are committed to creating 7,500 new jobs in rural America over the next couple of years," says Freier. "5,000 of those jobs will be in the hundreds of new stores we plan to open in small towns."

This investment is already being felt by some of T-Mobile's most recent new store openings in rural areas like Brownwood, another small Texas town.

"What we’re doing as a company, putting our stores in these rural areas and rural markets … it's doing a lot for the communities and for the people who are able to come and be part of our family," says Brownwood retail manager Adam Peoples. "That's one thing I’m extremely happy to be part of and excited about."

Peoples' Brownwood location is an example of the hundreds of new stores T-Mobile is focusing on opening in small towns over the next few years where the company aims to invest in the people and local businesses that make up the heart and soul of America.

"When I came to Brownwood it was easy to see that the community was really in need of additional options, some additional service providers," explains Peoples. "I remember training my staff here in the store before we opened and people kept coming and let me know immediately some of the frustrations they were having."

Peoples and his team have become very popular in Brownwood, their town of 20,000 people, and it's no surprise, really. After the store's grand opening in February, they've been introducing the company's <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/business/t-mobile-analyst-day-2021">award-winning 5G network</a> to many who they say previously couldn't dream of having that kind of coverage and service.

"Brownwood is a small town here in the heart of Texas," says Mobile Expert Olithios Blaine, "but AT&T has had control basically my entire life. People were coming to our store asking when we would open because of the 5G here. I'm great with technology and even I was surprised T-Mobile brought 5G here. One thing about small towns like this is when things are good they're usually very expensive and people love how 5G is included in our plans."

For much of the company's history, T-Mobile has primarily been delivering wireless service to households and businesses in urban America, simply because it didn't have the spectrum to carry voice, text and data from one phone to the other in suburban and rural locations. But over the past seven years, T-Mobile has been on a mission to acquire more spectrum to reach all corners of the country. Culminating with the merger between T-Mobile and Sprint last year, the Un-carrier now has the largest, fastest and <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/umlaut-most-reliable-5g">most reliable 5G network in the country</a> according to <a href="https://www.umlaut.com/en/benchmarking/USA" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.umlaut.com/en/benchmarking/USA">umlaut</a>*, covering 287 million people across 1.6 million square miles, 1.45 million of those In rural America — nearly 2.5 times the geographic coverage of AT&T and more than 4 times the rural reach of Verizon. And by the end of 2021, T-Mobile plans to cover 200 million people with its Ultra Capacity 5G network, which can deliver download speeds of around 300 Mbps and peak speeds up to 1 Gbps.

"We're bringing real choice to America," says Freier, "because when we say '5G for all,' we mean it!"

Many of the Brownwood, Texas employees say they're excited to be part of the company's decision to maintain a brick-and-mortar presence in a digital-first world. While T-Mobile has put a laser focus on creating a seamless digital experience for customers, Peoples says in small towns like Brownwood, in-person customer service has been in high demand.

"I think it's still important for customers to have an in-depth retail experience," explains Peoples, noting the current health safety guidelines the store follows, like social distancing and mask-wearing, "but the brick-and-mortar locations are the cornerstone of our business. Customers are coming into our stores because of the experience they get here."

Peoples says this push to bring more stores like his to less-served rural areas also makes him feel part of the greater plan to help those in need of better connectivity and more employment opportunities, something Freier has made a personal mission.

"These smaller towns are incredible," says Freier. "They're worth fighting for. They're worth championing. Smaller towns aren't chapters of our past … they're invaluable to our future in America."

"I definitely admire Jon Freier's story," Peoples says. "I remember him telling a story about working at a small kiosk and some of the challenges he faced being from a small town. I love the fact that at T-Mobile we get to spearhead bringing rural communities into the fold of what T-Mobile has to offer and not just from a customer perspective, but also from an employee perspective. I think what we’re doing is showing people there are opportunities and you can grow in a smaller city."

And Brownwood’s local lawmakers are welcoming that investment in their community with open arms.

"With the opening of a T-Mobile location in Brownwood, it will increase jobs in the Brownwood Area," said Kim Springfield, Director of Member Services, Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce. "We are excited to have them."

Though no one is more excited than Peoples himself.

"I'm excited to help my employees whether they want to be in small cities or they want to expand their careers and go to bigger cities or whether they just want to feel like they have opportunities here for their friends, their significant others and their children," he says. "I think that T-Mobile is the beginning of what that’s going to be for Brownwood, Texas."

Keep checking back for an <a href="https://www.t-mobile.com/news/_admin/uploads/2021/05/051021-New-2021-TMO-Retail-Store-Openings-List.docx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">updated list of markets for T-Mobile's new 2021 retail store openings</a>

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* Most reliable according to an audit report conducted by independent third party umlaut containing crowdsourced data for user experience collected from September 2020 until February 2021. Full details at: <a href="http://www.umlaut.com/en/benchmarking/USA">www.umlaut.com/en/benchmarking/USA</a>. Opensignal Awards T-Mobile as America's Fastest 5G network — <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://www.opensignal.com/reports/2021/01/usa/mobile-network-experience-5g&data=04%7c01%7cDavid.Edwards83%40T-Mobile.com%7cb1e38a34a4104eac0ce008d8bf065416%7cbe0f980bdd994b19bd7bbc71a09b026c%7c0%7c0%7c637469381180953126%7cUnknown%7cTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7c1000&sdata=T0%2BRGKNGhyknqmlIhFSv3F82H7rOFzorjkoQs9iYtVs%3D&reserved=0">USA: 5G User Experience Report</a> January 2021, based on independent analysis of average speeds from mobile measurements recorded during the period September 16 – December 14, 2020 © 2021 Opensignal Limited. Capable device required; coverage not available in some areas. Some uses may require certain plan or feature; see <a href="http://t-mobile.com/">T-Mobile.com</a>.

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