Regenerative Agriculture:
In July, the Regenerative Agriculture and Justice Working Group released its policy priorities and position memo for the 2023 Farm Bill, which you can read and sign on to
here. The group also is developing a proposal for the upcoming White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to bring a unique perspective making the connections between sustainable business, regenerative and just agriculture, and nutrition and health. Additionally, the group discussed a comment submission to the USDA regarding the importance of reducing fertilizer use in agriculture by building soil health and on-farm fertility. The comment was organized by working group member Land Core and you can learn more
here.
Corporate Transparency and ESG Disclosure:
The working group met in July to discuss the current regulatory landscape and was joined by Tim Mohin, Chief Sustainability Officer at Persofini. The next working group meeting is scheduled for September 14th. If you would like to learn more about this working group please contact [email protected].
Circular Economy:
The Circular Economy Working Group met this month with guest speakers Mitch Hedlund (Founder & Executive Director of Recycle Across America), to adress the need to legislate for standardized labels on bins at a national level, and Miyoko Sakashita (Oceans Director Senior Counsel, Center for Biological Diversity), to discuss the
RFP published by the General Services Administration (GSA) on single-use plastic. Currently, ASBN is putting together a task force to assemble and submit a response to the RFP. Contact
[email protected] to join the task force, kicking off Thursday 8/28 at 2 pm ET.
The next working group meeting will be August 17th at 3pm ET.
Climate and Energy:
The Climate and Energy Working Group met in July to share intel from hill visits and talk about how to move forward in light of the reconciliation bill falling apart.
Business for Democracy:
The American Sustainable Business Network campaign,
Business for Democracy, launched six state collaboratives in July with three more in the works.
The Business for Democracy state collaboratives, composed of business organizations and individual businesses, are connecting the dots between a strong democracy and a vibrant entrepreneurial economy.
The two go hand-in-hand. Protecting democracy and our economy is on the ballot this November.
The Business for Democracy state collaboratives are using the trusted voice of small business to elevate the issue of democracy and the need to pass
voting reforms in Congress to protect both our democracy and economy.
The state collaboratives are not endorsing candidates. The six state collaboratives launched to date are MI, OH, PA, CA, AZ, and NC. Collaboratives in NV, WI and GA are being built.
To become a member of a state collaborative, please contact
Frank Knapp.
Alternative Impact Investment Structures:
There is a growing need for the impact investor and entrepreneurs to rethink how investments are made. How can impact investors and social entrepreneurs use investment structures to be more mission-aligned rather than push for a quick exit?
Tools of the venture capital trade are becoming increasingly popular, both among entrepreneurs and angel investors; but are SAFES and priced equity rounds the best options for impact investors and social enterprises? This working group explores alternatives to the VC toolkit; from revenue notes; to crowdfunding campaigns; to alternative corporate structures. We will develop case studies and best practices with a view toward educating the impact community and encouraging the broader use of alternative investment structures.
For more information, contact ASBN members:
Claude Arpels or
Babbie Jacobs.
Main Street Lending/CDFIs - see our webpage for a listing of CDFIs that are able to accept investments from individuals.
Beyond Wall Street II: Investing to Dismantle Racism and Oppression Faith Based Community Convening coming in September.
To educate and activate faith based organizations, foundations and individuals through a series of virtual events about the opportunities to participate in Community Investing, CDFIs, Community Land Trusts and other Main Street Lending. For more information or to include your Faith Based organization contact:
Tom Abood,
Babbie Jacobs or
Derek Peebles.
Transforming Business Ownership Project (TBOP):
Check out our new webpage! Transforming Business Ownership Project
The Transforming Business Ownership Project (TBOP) continues to advance its efforts in three key areas
1) Development of an Employer Pipeline for deal flow
2) Generation of Investor Interest, both individual and institutional
3) Passage and Implementation of innovative Public Policy measures.
Current Articles on Employee Ownership
Restorative Investing Task Force - See our new updated webpage!
Save the Date: October Presentation - Beyond Impact Investing and ESG
The truth is the financial system and institutions are not broken, they are designed to oppress and create inequity. Without intentionality to address systems change, impact Investing’s “do good do well” approach and ESG merely perpetuate these inequities and oppression. Flowing capital to BIPOC businesses or benefitting BIPOC alone also isn’t enough as it doesn't address inequities in the due diligence process, the terms, the impact metrics and even reporting requirements. The Restorative Economies Fund at the Kataly Foundation is based on its CEO, Nwamaka Agbo's restorative economics framework and focuses on systems change for the prosperity of all. In this session, we will learn more about what intentional finance for systems change based on restorative economics look like, examine some examples of restorative investing, and also discuss the policy changes needed to make this approach successful.
Investor Education for those identifying as female:
Starting in August I’ll be facilitating a small group that will lead participants through a 3-module Deep Dive course on How Angel Investing Works designed by Nancy Hayes. We still have a few spaces available. The course is free with Invest for Better membership ($100 donation for 1 year).
A 2-page description is attached. Meeting dates are:
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August 9 - 8-10pm ET
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August 23 - 8-10pm ET
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September 6 - 8-10pm ET
To enroll or for more information about this course or any of the following:
please contact
[email protected]
