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Devi Ramkissoon, Executive Director of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN), will discuss the ways that SBN helps businesses be sustainable. Planet Philadelphia airs 4:00-5:00 PM EST 1st & 3rd Fridays/month at 92.9 FM WGGT-LP in Philadelphia & https://gtownradio.com everywhere. WHYY TV 12's program "You Oughta Know" aired a feature about Planet Philadelphia. See it here https://www.planetphiladelphia.com/about.html.
How do you promote sustainability effectively? Do you sugarcoat the bad news? Or scare them with the facts? When does green marketing become greenwashing or the reverse, greenhushing? The way we talk about sustainability can make a massive difference in its adoption. Especially in this febrile atmosphere of anti-woke, techbro, climate-denying toxicity. To get some insight on how to hold our tongues better, Vincent was joined by Rebecca Styles, who leads the investigations team at Consumer NZ and Fiona Stephenson, who leads comms at the Sustainable Business Network - both of whom are speaking at the Communicating Sustainability Masterclass in March 2025.
As New Zealanders struggle with the worst recession in 34 years, a group of economists have warned that the government's austerity programme is making it worse. One of those critics is Dr Ganesh Nana, former Productivity Commissioner and Chief Economist and Research Director at BERL, Business and Economic Research Limited. Ganesh is a regular advisor to industry and government and was part of the government's Welfare Expert Advisory Group. He's a cricket fan, numbers guy and has a passion for seeing Aotearoa New Zealand reach its full potential in all aspects, social, environmental and economic. Ganesh's concerns about our approach to managing the economy is incredibly timely. Vincent recorded this interview largely during an event at the Sustainable Business Network late last year.
Yesterday afternoon faciliatated a fascinating conversation with some amazing people at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance conference in Pōneke Wellington. Joining me were Rachel Brown (Sustainable Business Network), Manu Caddie (Hikurangi Enterprises), Kira Day (B Labs) and Kath Dewar (Good Sense). We covered a lot of ground - the future of business, role of nature, philanthropy and hybrid structures, director duties and consideration of ESG, advice for a high growth startup acting sustainably, the new Community Housing Funding Agency and a whole lot more. If you like this content check out the 400+ other conversations on Seeds Podcast at www.theseeds.nz Be watching out for my conversation with Katherine Trebeck who I was able to talk to at the event which will release soon. Some links to things discussed. Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa site: https://www.weall.org.nz Parry Field Lawyers https://www.parryfield.com/charities/social-enterprises-impact-companies/ Sustainable Business Network https://sustainable.org.nz B Lab site https://bcorporation.com.au/about/ Rua Bioscience https://www.ruabio.com Good Sense https://goodsense.co.nz
Vincent had the pleasure of interviewing Albert Tucker, chairman of the Karma Cola Foundation, and a leading figure in the Fairtrade movement. The interview was part of a talk he gave at a Sustainable Business Network event, so apologies for sound issues as it was a live recording. Albert is an amazing individual. He was born in Sierra Leone but fled with his family to the UK before the civil war.After graduating with an MA in Social Policy and Administration he moved into community working with Comic Relief and The Big Lottery fund. But his roots pulled him back to African and he now specialises in helping small-scale farmers to use trade to grow their communities, improve their income, and protect their environment. Vincent started by asking Albert to describe life for the cola farmers in Sierra Leone.
Today, Paul and Neil Hawkins discuss integrating sustainability into corporate innovation, focusing on blending value creation, project discipline, and collaboration to achieve long-term sustainability goals. An industry expert, Neil discusses his strategies and experiences from his extensive career promoting sustainable business practices. For 31 years, Neil was a key leader at Dow, ultimately serving as Chief Sustainability Officer and CVP, Environment, Health, & Safety for the last twelve years. He was the architect of the breakthrough “valuing nature” collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, and he integrated environmental and social considerations into the core of the Dow's business strategy and public reporting. He is widely recognized as one of the world's top sustainable business thought leaders. After Dow, as President of Michigan's Erb Family Foundation, a $350mm regional philanthropy, he focused on improving regional arts in the Great Lakes ecosystem, promoting environmental justice, and founding the Sustainable Business Network of Detroit. He served as interim CEO and President of the World Environment Center, facilitating a merger with Wildlife Habitat Council. He is President of Michigan Sustainability Associates, LLC and Research Advisor/Instructor at Harvard University in the Master of Sustainability ALM program. "Cultivate an environment where sustainability is not just a checkmark but a core value driving every stage gate process." ~Neil Hawkins Today on Innovation Talks: · Integrating sustainability into corporate processes is crucial: Embedding sustainability within every business process drives long-term success and profitability.· Leadership and employee enthusiasm are vital: Effective transformational change hinges on support from both top leadership and committed lower-level employees.· Addressing middle management resistance: The so-called "frozen middle" often resists change; successful strategies involve engaging and educating them.· Early efforts yield financial and environmental returns: Dow's initial sustainability goals delivered a $4 billion return on a $1 billion investment, demonstrating clear economic benefits.· Focus on expertise before implementation: Ensuring capable individuals are in place before integrating sustainability screens prevents ineffective practices.· Continuous progress in sustainable innovation: Companies increasingly adopt sustainability strategies, illustrating an industry-wide shift towards more sustainable practices.· Collaborative initiatives drive innovation: Partnerships with other industries and stakeholders can significantly accelerate sustainability goals.· Listening to stakeholders enhances outcomes: Understanding internal and external stakeholder needs is essential for effective sustainability integration. Guest contact information: Follow Neil Hawkins on LinkedIn for updates on sustainability topicshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-hawkins-he-him-his-695a977?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B9AeDqQXXSSSaugUSH2vRzQ%3D%3D Resources mentioned: Project Charter Bloghttps://www.linkedin.com/pulse/trick-sustainability-consulting-projects-project-neil-neil-adhpe/ Value Proposition Blog for Sustainabilityhttps://www.wholeworks.com/blog/value-proposition-framework-sustainable-development Systems Change --- Breakthrough versus Incremental -- Systems Shifthttps://www.wholeworks.com/blog/value-proposition-framework-sustainable-development Ready to Transform Your Innovation Strategy? If you're a product manager or innovator looking to streamline your processes and turn chaos into control, you won't want to miss this opportunity.Dive into our exclusive, free eBook on Innovation Ops strategies designed just for you.Learn the secrets to revolutionizing your approach and achieving success with clarity and precision.Download your copy today. Visit https://info.sopheon.com/innovationops-ebookStart your journey to becoming an innovation powerhouse now! This Podcast is brought to you by SopheonThanks for tuning into this week's episode of Innovation Talks. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Stitcher | Spotify | iHeart Be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and share your favorite episodes on social media to help us reach more listeners like you. For additional information about new product development or corporate innovation, sign up for Sopheon's monthly newsletter, where we share news and industry best practices! The fastest way to do this is to go to sopheon.com and click here.
What does ‘nature' mean for business? How do companies incorporate nature dependency and nature opportunity into their strategy and action? And what is TNFD? Vincent was joined by two experts: Sam Rowland, the Programme Manager for Nature at the Sustainable Business Network and Kirsty Brennan, the Environmental and Sustainability Business Partner at the Lyttleton Port Company.
If you're into food that's not just good for you, but also good for farmers and the local economy, you'll want to make your way to the Rose Kennedy Greenway on September 17th. That's when Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts is hosting its annual Boston Local Food Festival, and there will be all kinds of tasty treats to try! Kerry Kokkinogenis and Caroline Brocker from SBN Massachusetts have all the details on this week's episode, and they talk with Nichole about how the recent floods impacted local crops.
A new report has found most businesses are keen to invest in nature projects - but want easy and trustworthy ways to do it. The Sustainable Business Network surveyed 283 businesses of various sizes throughout the country about their attitudes to putting their money into nature projects. The findings include 82 per cent being keen to "do the right thing"; 57 per cent reported being asked by stakeholders to be more environmentally friendly; 68 per cent said the economic situation is hindering their ability to do that and 28 per cent said they didn't know which projects to support. As a result of the report the Sustainable Business Network launched its Regenerate Nature Programme in Auckland yesterday, aimed at connecting environmental projects with businesses looking to support them. Kathryn speaks with Sam Rowland, Sustainable Business Network's Programme Manager and lead author of the report and Pete Gillespie, founder and head brewer of Garage Project which took part in the survey and has been involved with various sustainability projects
Philly's Sustainable Business Network on how our next mayor and elected leaders can support values-driven small businesses in Philadelphia
Roxanne Patel Shepelavy returns to her interview with Devi Ramkissoon, head of the Sustainable Business Network. In this episode they discuss which international city stands out for its success in social impact business, and what lessons Philly can learn from poorer, enterprising countries around the world. Join us for part 2 of this enlightening interview.
Roxanne catches up with Devi Ramkissoon, head of the Sustainable Business Network, to discuss her endeavors to build up healthy, local businesses overseas and what lessons she's brought back to Philadelphia. Join us for part 1 of this enlightening interview.
Julia Jackson joins Purposely Podcast to share her career journey and travel experiences that shaped her vision. Time living and working in South America led her to a career focused on sustainability and purpose. Julia also explains her role at Kiwibank and what it means to lead a purpose strategy for a major bank and play a significant role in their B Corp certification. Aged just 22 Julia announced to her parents that she was leaving New Zealand and heading to Latin America to travel and live there. A one-way flight to Buenos Aires was booked and, despite not speaking a word of Spanish, Julia set off on her big adventure. ‘It wasn't easy, and it was quite hard to make friends. It was quite lonely at times, and I wondered what on earth I was doing there. But it helped to build my resilience and up my tenacity, the experience was absolutely life changing'. Julia talks about the motivations behind the trip, citing her desire to breakout from her bubble and her ‘middle class privilege' after completing a degree in International Relations at Victoria University in Wellington, NZ. ‘Growing up I had a privileged childhood and I think I was always very conscious of that. My awareness influenced what I studied and my decision to go overseas and travel across Latin America. I wanted to use my privilege to give back and help the community in some way'. Her International Relations degree and the focus on international development was a motivating factor in choosing to travel in Latin America, over the more traditional England and Europe. Her fascination centred on two trends that were developing at the time, the first around environmental sustainability and the second on the self determination of communities, including initiatives like fair trade and the empowerment of people to choose their future direction. ‘I really wanted to see the theory in action, and I could see the potential to revolutionise things for the better'. Julia's travels coincided with the 2008 global financial crisis, and she found getting employment challenging. After travelling around Chile, Bolivia and Peru she would eventually go on to work in hospitality. However, first she took a volunteer role in Ecuador working in a hostel, initially in the Capital Quito and then in out of the way volcanic regions where they were building a new eco-resort. This was motivated by her desire to put her degree into action particularly the study she had done on sustainability. ‘So, I was building a greenhouse and helping them get the composting systems up and running, and all that sort of stuff. I absolutely loved seeing those systems really come to life'. Julia would eventually move on to Panama and then settle in Guatemala where she met her now husband who immigrated to New Zealand with her in 2011. ‘I met all these amazing indigenous communities that lots of people would never have had the opportunity to meet' Landing back in New Zealand Julia secured a role working in sales for an insurance company, however, it wasn't long before she joined a mission focused charity called Sustainable Business Network and she was able to put her studies and her life experiences into action professionally. Julia then joined Kiwibank in 2016 as a corporate social responsibility lead, seven years on she is Head of Purpose and Sustainability. Kiwibank, as far as banks go is in a unique proposition, it is a B Corporation which means it works hard to meet the highest standards of social and environmental impact. ‘It has been amazing to see the number of customers that are choosing Kiwibank because of the (B Corp) certification Sponsors: Benevity https://bit.ly/3k4FTE2 The Giving Department https://bit.ly/3KdYWWU --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mark-longbottom2/message
Many would be familiar with the post-Christmas cleanup, the pile of wrapping paper, cardboard boxes and plastic wrap strewn across the living room, the season is often a time of excess but is there a way to make Christmas more sustainable… On Wednesday morning First Light's Wilhelmina Shrimpton sought an expert's advice on this and spoke to Tori Calver the Head of Strategy and Impact at the Sustainable Business Network, Shrimpton asked Calver if it was even possible to have a sustainable Christmas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dru Oja Jay is joined by Mo Manklang of the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives to discuss recent changes to federal legislation championed by various cooperative organizations, and how laws can be changed further. Mo is the Communications Director and Policy lead at the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, a board members of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance and the Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia. CHIPS act update: https://www.usworker.coop/blog/the-usfwc-applauds-the-spotlight-on-worker-co-ops-in-the-chips-and-science-act/ Other policy updates from USFCW: https://www.usworker.coop/blog/category/policy * * * Podcast links: https://anchor.fm/halfpastcapitalism Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/halfpastcapitalism Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/HalfPastCapitalism Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/druojajay Half Past Blog: http://halfpast.dru.ca/
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Over the past 20 years, Sustainable Business Network have taken sustainable business practice from the fringes to front and centre. Founder/CEO Rachel Brown talks the journey, and how all businesses can work with them to improve their impact. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What does sustainability mean? And how does it differ from Regenerative Tourism? These are just two of the questions we tackle today on the show. We're joined by Tourism Industry Aotearoa's Sustainability Advocate, Gisela Purcell to discuss Sustainability in Tourism. We cover off the Tourism Sustainability Commitment that over 1500 NZ Tourism businesses have now signed up to, and the best ways to get started on your sustainability journey. We discuss measuring carbon and Gisela shares some free calculators you can use in your business if you're just starting out. (see below) It's an all encompassing chat about taking a more sustainable path in your business and in your personal life so we hope you enjoy this episode. Sign up for the Tourism Sustainability Commitment here: https://sustainabletourism.nz/sign-me-up/ Free carbon calculators: Sustainable Business Network: https://www.tools.business.govt.nz/climate/footprint/intro Ekos: https://ekos.co.nz/businesslitecalculator Toitū: https://carbonassess.toitu.co.nz/ www.destinatenz.com ______________________________________________ This is an independent podcast by tourism strategist Michelle Caldwell. We are absolutely dedicated to bringing you the best tourism business stories and sharing marketing tips and strategies to your ears each week! The best way you can support Destinate NZ is by subscribing, leaving a (rave!) review, (five star!) rating and spreading the word on social media with your friends, family, and colleagues- we love you for that!
The Sustainable Business Network is working with the Milford Foundation to encourage more young South Auckland people to get involved with working in nature.
I interview Jeffrey Hollender, CEO and Co-Founder of the American Sustainable Business Network . Hollender discusses the importance of public policy initiatives to advance ESG in the US, the future of ESG related regulations in the US, how best companies can engage with policy makers, and lessons learned from other countries with ESG regulations in place.
Rachel Brown, ONZM – Founder & CEO, Sustainable Business Network Rachel Brown is the founder & CEO of the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) and was one of the early champions of the ‘business for good movement' in New Zealand. Rachel launched her organisation 20 years ago at a time when people doubted the science emerging around human environmental damage. Back then sustainability was associated with ‘greenies' or ‘tree huggers.' Rachel, however, did believe the science and was determined to do something proactive to turn the tide on environmental damage in an effort to protect the planet. So why business and sustainability? In part because of her childhood, she describes a wonderful upbringing where her parents, especially her mother, introduced her to the science of sustainability at an early age. At the same time, she was intrigued by the growth and buzz of capitalism. Rachel quickly realised that business could play a productive and leading role in sustainability and could be a force for good rather than bad. In the podcast Rachel discusses those times and how ‘well meaning' business leaders refused to connect business practices to the environment. Often, they could not see a purpose beyond making a profit for shareholders - ‘nice people who would push me towards their charitable giving activity'. They hadn't made the connection that care for the environment was going to be crucial to the long-term success of their business or that a different approach could give them a competitive advantage. The SBN network she created now includes 600 organisations from a range of sizes and sectors. Rachel has overseen the creation of systemic collaboration projects focusing on climate action, designing out waste, and regenerating nature. SBN runs the Sustainable Business Awards, New Zealand's largest sustainability award programme as well as a series of successful training programmes. In 2009 Rachel was personally selected by Al Gore to present The Inconvenient Truth (part of the global climate change education programme). In 2012 she was invited by Al Gore to join an elite group of international presenters to be part of the Climate Reality Project broadcast. The broadcast reached over 3 million people across the globe. As a regular presenter, collaborator, investor and driver of action within NZ communities, Rachel is committed to the role business plays in supercharging and transforming NZ's economy into one that is smarter and more sustainable. Rachel regularly sits on government panels to inform on policy. Currently she is on the Advisory Panel of ‘Jobs for Nature', a Board member of the Milford Foundation, and on the business advisory panel for All of Government Procurement. She is a member of the advisory panel for the National Waste Strategy and the Million Metres Streams Advisory Board. Rachel also provides advice and support to a number of new and emerging businesses, individuals and social enterprises. In 2018 she was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for years of service to sustainable business. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-longbottom2/message
Former Green Party MP Barry Coates joins Purposely Podcast to share his founder story with Mindful Money. Mindful Money is a charitable social enterprise that aims to make investment a force for good. They aim to switch funding away from pollution and exploitation, and instead to massively increase funding for sustainability and the transition to a low emissions economy. Founded in 2018 the free platform https://mindfulmoney.nz/enables members of the public to find out what is in their KiwiSaver or investment fund and find an ethical fund that fits their values and criteria. Mindful Money also works with fund managers and the finance sector to raise standards for ethical/responsible/ESG investing and impact investment. They advocate for a legal and policy framework that will enable New Zealand to transition towards a sustainable finance system. Barry lived and worked overseas for many years, gaining a Masters in Management from Yale University, and experience in corporate strategy, fair trade, climate change and sustainability. When he returned to New Zealand he was Executive Director of Oxfam Aotearoa, initiator of a sustainability programme at University of Auckland and a Green Party list MP. Barry has been a member of the Government's Trade for All Advisory Board and Technical Working Group of the Aotearoa Circle's Sustainable Finance Forum, and he is a Board member of 350 Aotearoa. Barry was awarded the Sustainable Business Network's Sustainability Champion in 2016. Barry is highly respected and an expert on a wide range of sustainability issues. He lives a low impact life and leading the way for others to do the same. He has been a frequent and compelling face in the media and amongst other topics he has highlighted the impact of climate change on vulnerable people and the measures that the New Zealand Government and businesses must do to stop polluting. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mark-longbottom2/message
It's an attractive proposition – create positive outcomes for the climate, society and the environment, and also earn a financial return. The problem is that there, so far, are few opportunities for investors in Aotearoa. Impact investment is still in its infancy here although it is growing rapidly internationally. Our panel will discuss ways to scale up and grow the impact sector while maintaining the integrity of the term ‘impact investing'. We will look at the need for impact funds to support exciting start-ups and SMEs; the market opportunities; the need for a supportive policy environment; and the role of the public in creating demand for investment opportunities.We have a great panel to discuss these issues, facilitated by Barry Coates, CEO of Mindful MoneyRoy Thompson: co-founder and managing director of New Ground CapitalJo Kelly: CEO of Toitū Tahua, the Centre for Sustainable FinanceRachel Brown: CEO of Sustainable Business Network
Micah Gold-Markel founded Solar States with the mission of providing both solar installation and education. Micah grew up in Philadelphia, going to the local public school district, and in 7th grade, he started going to a private school. This experience provided some of his first exposure to the disparities in class and race in his own neighborhood. After high school, Micah worked in music production and software development. Looking for more fulfillment in his work, he found green energy. He was most inspired by Van Jones, a clean energy advocate brought in by the Sustainable Business Network of great Philadelphia. Van Jones, speaking on the Green Collar Economy, asked him personally why there weren't more diverse people in the clean energy movement and what he as a Philadelphia resident would do about it. The founding ethos behind Micah's company, Solar States is that the company will be the on-ramp to the green collar economy for inner-city Philadelphians. Micah says he found the right place at the right time and built partnerships in his community to make his mission possible. Youth Build Philly is an innovative school that takes students who have dropped out of high school and trains them on a vocation. Micah became a teacher and built out the solar installation vocation program. After hiring some of his students post-graduation, Micah began to understand what he had to be aware of to employ low-income individuals. Philadelphia Power Authority and Powercore PHL proved to be additional partners who provided a good employee base. Their partnership allowed Solar States to blossom further and run more training programs. Spencer Wright, who came through this program, currently runs the program. Macha's advice for others looking to do similar work? Don't recreate the wheel. There are partners out there who are doing similar work. Reach out, integrate yourself in the community, ask if a program is wanted, build partnerships to get started. Also - don't be afraid of failure. And don't think because you've failed a bunch of times that it isn't going to work. If you are dedicated to it – don't allow yourself to fail.
The Common Good Podcast is a conversation about the significance of place, eliminating economic isolation and the structure of belonging.Since it's founding over 30 years ago, the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts's mission has been to create local, green, and fair economies. Every year SBN hosts an annual conference to promote this mission and on June 4th, with the help of the Common Good Collective, our 31st Annual Conference was held virtually. The goal of the conference was to inspire collaborative action which will contribute to developing an economy that is local, green, and fair. This episode is an interview from the conference between Robin Young and Shirley Leung. Shirley Leung is a columnist and associate editor at the Boston Globe. She has written on everything from the intersection of business and politics to gender and diversity issues in the workplace. She has been a three-time finalist for the Gerald Loeb Award for Commentary. In 2018, Boston Magazine named her to its list of the “100 Most Influential People in Boston.” Shirley is also a contributor to WGBH's “Boston Public Radio” and “Greater Boston,” as well as a regular guest on New England Cable News. Previously, Shirley served as the Globe's interim editorial page editor. She also has been the Globe's business editor, where she oversaw its award-winning coverage of the 2008 financial crisis. Prior to the Globe, Shirley was a staff reporter at The Wall Street Journal. A graduate of Princeton University, she started her career at her hometown paper, The Baltimore Sun.Robin Young is the award-winning host of Here & Now. Under her leadership, Here & Now has established itself as public radio's indispensable midday news magazine: hard-hitting, up-to-the-moment and always culturally relevant. A Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Robin has been a correspondent for ABC, NBC, CBS, and the Discovery Channel. She is a former guest host of The Today Show on NBC, and one of the first hosts on Boston's ground-breaking television show, Evening Magazine. Robin has received five Emmy Awards for her television work, as well as two CableACE Awards, the Religious Public Relations Council's Wilbur Award, the National Conference of Christians and Jews Gold Award, and numerous regional Edward R. Murrow awards. A native of Long Island, Robin holds a bachelor's degree from Ithaca College. She has lived and worked in Manhattan, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, but considers Boston her hub. Follow Robin on Twitter, @hereandnowrobin and like the show, Here & Now on Facebook.You can find more information about the Common Good Collective and the reader here. Common Good Podcast is a production of Bespoken Live and Common Change - Eliminating Personal Economic Isolation. This episode was guest hosted by Manjulika Das and produced by Joey Taylor with music from Jeff Gorman.
Chris Morrison does not stop. He's the founder of Phoenix Drinks, All Good Organics and Karma Drinks (makers of Karma Cola). He co-founded the Sustainable Business Network, has been a director of the country's main organic certifier BioGro, and chairs Organics Aotearoa New Zealand. This year he received an NZOM for services to fair trade and sustainable business and, along with his wife Deb, has four children and various other voluntary projects on the side. Will the real Chris Morrison, please lie down?
Sponsored by Tierra Farm | Music by Aaron DessnerMartin welcomes activist, author, entrepreneur, and long-time friend Judy Wicks into conversation about her life's work to build economies based on cooperation and local self-reliance. In 2001, she founded the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, and co-founded the international Business Alliance for Local Living Economies. BALLE now includes some 30,000 local independent businesses in the U.S. and Canada. Judy envisions an economy that provides for the needs of all people while working in harmony with natural systems.2:50 All Together Now began in 2019, Judy talks about the impulse for founding this initiative.4:00 Judy talks about the importance of building an economy with local self-reliance at its core.5:00 We need a revolution of values. Many of our problems stem from a society that values money more than life itself. 5:30 Judy's first experience with indigenous people was when she lived in an Eskimo Village in 1969 as a VISTA volunteer. She recounts what this experience taught her about collaboration and sharing and how these lessons impacted her life.7:45 Judy's second experience with Indigenous wisdom was during the Zapatista Uprising in Chiapas, Mexico. This experience taught her the concept of local self-reliance. NAFTA was threatening the survival of the Zapatista people with GMO corn by making communities dependent on long-distance supply chains controlled by increasingly powerful multinational corporations that were putting local farmers and food-producers out of business.10:25 What led to the founding of BALLE – network of locally self-reliant businesses.11:30 Judy goes to Standing Rock to support Indigenous People in their efforts to honor Mother Earth, and protect children and the future by stopping the Dakota Access pipeline.14:00 Lakota Prophesy of the Black Snake: fossil fuel industry and pipelines.14:30 Judy realized the Black Snake in PA is fracking – and she takes up cause to stop fracking and begins to understand that the only way to go about this is by electing the right politicians.16:00 Now more than ever we need to look to Indigenous wisdom to find the path forward. 17:00 Story of White Dog Café and Judy's epiphany about ethical business practices.18:45 Transformational moment for Judy in what makes a sustainable business work: cooperation and a sustainable business system.20:00 Judy sells White Dog and dedicates rest of her life to building local economies; and starting nonprofits as the vehicle to do so.22:15 Judy's work in increasing supply and connecting farmers and entrepreneurs; and increasing demand through educating the public about importance of local self-reliance and weaning ourselves from corporate globalization.23:22 She has formed four educational coalitions focused on specific supply chains: industrial hemp and hempcrete as alternative building material, plant medicine (herbalists, CBD, medical marijuana), clothing & textiles, and heritage grain.25:50 In PA medical marijuana licenses are being sold to out-of-state corporations. Understanding that very little will be left for small farmers and black and brown entrepreneurs, All Together Now has organized a campaign called “Pot Profits for Pennsylvanians” - an urban and rural cannabis collective - to write legislation with allies to put a stop to this.Learn more: All Together Now | Proud Pennsylvania | Circle of Aunts and UnclesDonate to Hawthorne Valley
The Common Good Podcast is a conversation about the significance of place, eliminating economic isolation and the structure of belonging.Since it's founding over 30 years ago, the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts's mission has been to create local, green, and fair economies. Every year SBN hosts an annual conference to promote this mission and on June 4th, with the help of the Common Good Collective, our 31st Annual Conference was held virtually. We sought to inspire collaborative action which will contribute to developing an economy that is local, green, and fair. Over the coming weeks, presentations and discussions from the Conference will be featured here, on the Common Good Podcast. The first keynote presentation we'd like to feature is from Segun Idowu, the Executive Director of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA). Segun discusses Black Wall Street, Juneteenth and asks if we will rest in these ruins. After Segun speaks, Laury Hammel, the Executive Director of the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts responds to Segun's remarks.Segun Idowu is the Executive Director of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts. Segun Idowu is one of the foremost leaders in Boston, and was recognized as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the City of Boston" by Boston Magazine (May 2020). He has led the conversation on empowering Black communities in Massachusetts, and has made significant breakthroughs at the State House advocating for Black-owned businesses, holding city and state governments, to equity standards in contracting. With Segun's leadership, BECMA raised $1.5 million last year through an initiative called the Greenwood Challenge, the majority of the funds for which are expected to go toward a technical-assistance program for Black-owned businesses.Laury Hammel is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts. Laury Hammel is the President and CEO of The Longfellow Clubs of Massachusetts, which encompasses health and sports clubs, holistic health centers, children's centers, and camps that serve 15,000 members. Laury has helped dozens of Independent Business Alliances and other local business coalitions get started. Additionally, he founded the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts (SBN) in 1988, Business for Social Responsibility in 1991 and, in 2001, co-founded the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies.You can find more information about the Common Good Collective and the reader here. Common Good Podcast is a production of Bespoken Live and Common Change - Eliminating Personal Economic Isolation. This episode has been guest hosted by Manjulika Das and produced by Joey Taylor with music from Jeff Gorman.
Restrictions on fishing and new marine protection areas are being introduced to protect Auckland's Hauraki Gulf.Gulf X is a major marine restoration project launched by The Sustainable Business Network in 2019.GulfX works with businesses to, among other things, reduce marine plastic pollution and cut transport pollution through promoting copper-free brake pads to cut down on heavy metals in storm water polluting the Gulf.Sustainable Business Network CEO Rachel Brown told Kerre McIvor protecting our marine environments is more than just about fisheries.“A real problem that we still haven't solved is sediment, that's the stuff we've been trying to look at… it sits in the harbour and makes that regeneration of fish stocks and mussels really slow.”LISTEN ABOVE
Colgate has just spent five years trying to figure out how to make its toothpaste tubes recyclable.And in a simple act of kindness, it's given its new tube technology to its competitors so as many tubes as possible can be recycled.James Griffin, General Manager Projects and Advisory, from the Sustainable Business Network spoke with Kate Hawkesby.“Traditionally, toothpaste tubes are made from a multi-layer approach, so different materials. It means of course, it makes it very hard to recycle at the end of life.”LISTEN ABOVE
Gymnastics NZ has offered its sincerest apology following an independent investigation into its culture, which found a climate of fear and retribution. Stuff senior sports journalist Zoë George, joins us to discuss the report's recommendations. Donald Trump's second impeachment trial began in the US Senate today with a US Capitol riot video described as chilling. More than 60 organisations have joined a nationwide campaign to reduce waste. James Griffin from the Sustainable Business Network tells The Panel about the campaign and how it got started.
Dale Hendricks has been growing and propagating plants professionally since 1975. In 1988 he co-founded North Creek Nurseries, Inc in order to propagate and grow perennials and grasses with an emphasis on natives and garden selections of natives. In 2009 he founded Green Light Plants, LLC to build carbon-friendly and regenerative landscapes; growing native, woodland, and permaculture plants, organically and joyfully. He has been honored with the American Horticulture Society's Individual Commercial award and the Perennial Plant Association's Young Professional Award, and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society award of merit. He has taught plant propagation at Longwood Gardens and lectures widely. He served on the founding board of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia and as co-chair from 2004-2007. He lives in Landenberg, Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania with his family where he gardens, propagates plants, and grows good soil. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/plantatrilliontrees/support
Furniture giant Ikea will soon start selling spare parts for its products in a sustainability push.You'll be able to buy items like sofa legs and arm chair covers instead of having to throw the whole thing out.The question is, can selling spare parts for things like furniture and whiteware become common place worldwide?Sustainable Business Network's general manager projects and advisory, James Griffin told Kate Hawkesby as a society, we can't continue with our throwaway culture."It's clear we need to reduce the pressure on the environment, customers want products to last longer."LISTEN ABOVE
Mo Manklang, Policy Director at the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives discusses findings of the Federation's survey, "Worker Co-ops: Weathering The Storm of COVID-19 and Beyond," and how those those findings will shape the work ahead toward building a stronger economy. As Policy Director, Mo Manklang leads policy efforts at the federal level, works with its membership on state and local initiatives, and heads up health benefits initiatives. She has been convening people in cooperatives and social impact for the past twelve years in a variety of roles, including five years with local news and events group Generocity.org. Mo is a founding board member of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance, the Media and Marketing Committee of the Kensington Community Food Co-op, the Policy Committee of the Sustainable Business Network. She is also the co-founder and organizer of The Bechdel Test Fest, an annual festival highlighting women and transgender comedians in Philadelphia.
Anna Shipp is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia. She has dedicated her career to social and economic equality and climate resilience. Anna joined Micah and Jared to discuss B Corporations and SBN'S work helping transition Philadelphia to a more sustainable economy. We're talking jobs, jobs, jobs: "Before COVID, renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors were outpacing job growth in Pennsylvania by 5x and employed more than twice the number of workers as the states entire fossil fuels industry. 2 out of every 3 employees that were in that industry were employed by businesses with fewer than 20 employees and 80% of those jobs were in the trades." “SBN wants to make sure that this balance of business voice is there. We’re here to say ‘climate resilience and thriving economy are not mutually exclusive as the narrative would you want you to believe, they are part and parcel and wildly interdependent.”
Anna Shipp is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia! In today's episode, we chat about building a just, green, and thriving economy centered by local, independent businesses. We also discuss the challenges that systemic racism and COVID-19 present in creating that economy.
We have an amazing guest on: Judy Wicks! I have been wanted to get Judy on for a while and I am so excited to have her! For those of you who don't know Judy Wicks is an author, activist and entrepreneur. Judy founded Philadelphia’s iconic White Dog Cafe in 1983. She was also a pioneer in the farm to table movement and a model in sustainable business practices. She has gone on to found Fair Food Philly, the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia and, nationwide, the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies. With her All Together Now project she is connecting Pennsylvania’s rural agricultural community with the urban communities to build a sustainable and resilient regional economy. Judy's principles of sustainable business practice started when she spent a year working and living in an Eskimo village and seeing how the indigenous population shared and supported each other. After that she and her former husband started the first Free People store, which was the beginning of what we now know as Urban Outfitters. She then started in the restaurant business and went on to open the famous White Dog Cafe. What I love about this interview is Judy really gives us a history of important parts of Philadelphia's culture. She went on to publish her autobiography: Good Morning Beautiful business all about her entrepreneurial journey and how to build a new compassionate economy that works with the planet. Judy is still deeply involved in the community and fighting social injustice, she recently when to DC to march in Jane Fonda’s fire drill Friday's and has been supporting and protesting with Black Lives Matter movement. It was great to talk to her and hear about how she figured out all of these things.
Mo Manklang, Communications Director at the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives discusses the Federations response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and feedback received from it members regarding how they are fairing. Mo also shares information regarding virtual offerings that are available to support cooperators including solidarity sessions, and worker cooperative information sessions. Mo Manklang is the Communications Director for the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives. She leads policy efforts at the federal level, works with its membership on state and local initiatives, and heads up health benefits initiatives. She has been convening people in cooperatives and social impact for the past twelve years in a variety of roles, including five years with local news and events group Generocity.org. Mo is a founding board member of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance, the Media and Marketing Committee of the Kensington Community Food Co-op, the Policy Committee of the Sustainable Business Network. She is also the co-founder and organizer of The Bechdel Test Fest, an annual festival highlighting women and transgender comedians in Philadelphia.
Today on the Green Desk, Bronwyn had a kо̄rero with Phil Jones from the Sustainable Business Network about their GulfX project which aims to restore the mauri of the Hauraki Gulf. The recently published State of our Gulf report highlighted the increasingly dire state of the marine park. Some of the more shocking statistics of the included the occurrence of ten mass mortality events due to fish and shellfish in the gulf in the past ten years, and nine toxic algal blooms. This is due in part to the fact that 3,730 tonnes of nitrogen flow into the Firth of Thames from rivers in Hauraki each year. Crayfish are also functionally extinct in the Gulf, despite once being one of its most abundant species. While overfishing is undeniable a serious cause of biodiversity loss, the GulfX project chose to focus on some of the lesser-known terrestrial sources of environmental degradation such as sediment, plastic and heavy metals. Phil began by telling Bronwyn what we mean when we talk about the Hauraki Gulf:
Urban Islanders Season 2 Episode 1 initiates our coverage of DACO by way of their second annual Cannabis Opportunities conference, hosted at Temple University.Judy Wicks – Entrepreneur and Founder of All Together Now PennsylvaniaWebsite: https://alltogethernowpa.org/Author, activist and entrepreneur, Judy Wicks is best know for founding Philadelphia's iconic White Dog Cafe in 1983, a pioneer in the local food movement. In 2000, Judy founded Fair Food Philly to connect farmers with the urban marketplace. In 2001 she founded the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia and the nation-wide Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE). Judy's memoir Good Morning, Beautiful Business won a national gold medal for business leadership and has been translated into Chinese and Korean. Judy currently runs to projects - the Circle of Aunts & uncles, a micro loan fund for local entrepreneurs, which she founded in 2015, and All Together Now PA, to build regional economies, founded in 2019. Zorodzai Marovake – Founder and CEO of the Zimbabwe Industrial Hemp TrustDr Z. Maroveke (Dental Surgeon) is a Zimbabwean National who is very passionate about building her country. She is the Founder & C.E.O of the Zimbabwe Industrial Hemp Trust and the interim Vice President of the Cannabis Industries Association of Zimbabwe. Through the Trust she has successfully pioneered lobbying Government since 2015 to separate Industrial Hemp from Medicinal Cannabis through S.I 208 on 20 September 2019. She is heavily involved in guiding the emerging Industry through policy development and Research and Development. She participated in the DACO Conference 2019 courtesy of State Senator Shariff Street’s invitation and the Co-founder of DACO Madam Cherron Thomas.James Hillyard Jr. - MusicianContent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKumEbSyBUk&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzEfXnQ4eP-URvABJOPmCfg James is an artist of multiple mediums native to Philadelphia.Victor Lewis - Community Activist Victor Lewis El is a community activist, who teaches people to live a life based on love of self and neighbor, to be empowered through knowledge, and to regularly participate in community outreach activities to uplift those in need.As a local businessman for more than 20 years in the acquisition and sale of antiques, collectibles, precious stones and metals, Victor formed Easy Transitions 101 in 2015 to be able to assist families and businesses transition from one situation to another. These transitions were often during difficult times and Victor set out to educate them on the best ways to make their transitions a little easier and even profitable for them.Desiree Ivey - Co-Founder of DACOWebsite: https://www.wearedaco.com/DACO Misson: Our purpose is to help elevate awareness of wellness and economic opportunities in cannabis. We host annual Cannabis Opportunity Conferences in Philadelphia to demystify the profession and culture of the cannabis industry in minority communities of the US and globally in the African diaspora, while recreating a narrative of opportunities and restorative justice for the growth of the community in light of the massive shifts and associated stigma of the cannabis industry.Music: Lessazo “Soleil D’Hiver” – Music: http://altermusique.org/Lessazo/Support the show (http://urbanislanders.org)
As an end cap to Organic Week NZ, the Sustainable Business Network organised a series of speakers on urban farming in Aotearoa. Laura went along and spoke to two out-of-towners about their projects and vision for sustainable and regenerative community agriculture in our cities. You'll hear Bailey Peryman from Cultivate Christchurch, and Sarah Smuts-Kennedy of For the Love of Bees. Find related interviews in our back catalog with Julia Milne of Common Unity Project, and Jen Cooper from Kaicycle.
Jamila Medley, executive director of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA)is interviewed on Everything Co-op on December 13, 2018 on Everything Co-op. Host, Vernon Oakes and Jamila discuss how PACA has used the cooperative business model to support businesses, and grow the cooperative economy. They also discuss the structure of PACA and how the organization continues to uncover ways to support their cooperative members organically, as their needs surface. Jamila Medley is a passionate advocate and educator for the advancement and growth of the cooperative economy. Her career has been devoted to supporting mission-based organizations in the nonprofit and cooperative sectors that serve diverse constituencies. In her work with existing and start-up co-ops, she provides support for leadership development, cooperative economics education, navigating group dynamics, and creating adaptive systems to support group process and learning. Medley has been a presenter at several conferences and events, such as: CommonBound, Co-op Impact Conference, and the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia's Best Practices Forum. She has presented on a range of topics, including the intersections of race, class, displacement and food co-ops; creating and sustaining democratic workplaces; and building an analysis around relationship-centered cooperative development. Jamila holds a M.S. degree in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her B.A. degree in Urban Studies from Connecticut College. She is the Philadelphia Community Fellow for the 2018 Shared Economics in Equitable Development Fellowship, serves on the board of directors for Media Mobilizing Project, and also works as a consultant with CDS Consulting Co-op. To learn more about PACA, CDS Consulting Co-op or Jamila Medley visit https://philadelphia.coop/about-us/staff/
Sustainability Now - exploring technologies and paradigms to shape a world that works
Business as a force for good? Chris Jacobs, CEO of Communally, a certified B Corporation, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia fills us in on a new paradigm for business that actually balances purpose and profit. Certified B Corporations are legally required to consider their impact on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. Join us to learn more about the global movement to do business based on doing well by doing good.
WBZ's Jordan Rich talks with Matt Robinson of matts-meals.com about this year's Local Craft Spirits Festival presented by Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts.
My mum assures me that people say dumb stuff to you when you turn 30, and Laurie Foon of the Sustainable Business Network says it's ok to follow your passion and love where it leads you. Theme music by Martin Andrews and the B-Sides [martinandrews.bandcamp.com/track/poison-tree] Additional music from www.bensound.com The song at the very end it by Lost Bird [lostbird.bandcamp.com] Photo credit to Jade Winton-Lowe [https://www.instagram.com/jadewintonlowe/]
Wicks is the founder of White Dog Café, Fair Food Philly, the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, and the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies.Judy Wicks delivered "Building a New Economy: What's Love Got to Do with It?" on October 10, 2014.If you would like a physical copy of this lecture or others like it, visit centerforneweconomics.org/order-pamphlets to purchase pamphlets of published works and transcripts. The Schumacher Center's applied work seeks to implement the principles described by these speakers within the context of the Berkshire hills of Massachusetts. Our work, both educational and applied, is supported by listeners like you. You can strengthen our mission by making a donation at centerforneweconomics.org/donate, or call us at (413) 528-1737 to make an appointment to visit our research library and office at 140 Jug End Road, Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Imagine hundreds of earth conscious communities networked across our nation by goodwill (and fiber optics) being embedded in both the rural sector and urban environments, that have their own currency, of both Green Dollars and Time Banks.These all linked by localised computer networks (but also without computers) that if you are short of NZ hard currency you can still earn, trade and be innovative business people and entrepreneurs. Where volunteers actually get paid, and there is no lack or want.Starting from a background in organic gardens, permaculture, and community projects over the past 25 years, Laurence has sought key levers for change.In the early to mid 90’s he founded the Environmental Business Network drawing more than 500 companies into its membership under his leadership, (the network later became the Sustainable Business Network). In this time he worked with people like Anita Roddick of The Body Shop and Dr Karl Hendrik Robert founder of The Natural Step. Advocating community solutions led to Transition Towns and Living Economies -as movements. In conjunction with AnewNZ he runs 'The Bank of Real Solutions' a clearing house of community success stories which runs the by-line, ‘Out-thinking the problems because we can.’He believes our barriers to a sustainable future are not from a lack of ability but from systemic corruption and cowardice, but most of all – a lack of imagination.He lives in Golden Bay with his wife and 3 daughters and is enthusiastically involved with several community projectsIn the age of globalisation, community is the anecdote ... and 'possibility is the new currency'. Want to belong and feel part of a greater, more coherent organism - where the synergy of people is based on working and playing towards the benefit of the whole? Then in the worlds of Bruce Lipton "work towards shaping and creating community".Transition Towns: www.tt.org.nzLiving Economies: www..le.org.nzAnewNZ: www.anewnz.org.nzThe Bank of Real Solutions: www.realsolutions.org.nz
Judy Wicks is owner and founder of White Dog Cafe, a company started in 1983 as a take-out coffee and muffin shop in the first floor of Judy's home. White Dog Café has a four-part mission of serving customers, community, employees and the natural environment. Judy has supported this commitment to serve, and as a result, has become a national leader in the local, living economies movement. She is founder of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN) and co-founder of the nationwide Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), the world's fastest growing network of sustainable businesses committed to building local economies and transforming the community economic development field.