Regenerative Agriculture and Justice:
This month, Chris Pawelski, farmer and Director at
Farmroot, discussed his proposal for a farm bill program to connect specialty crop farmers to local food banks. Cathy Day, Climate Policy Coordinator at National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), joined the group to go over NSAC's emerging priorities around climate, local markets, conservation, and more for the farm bill. The group is currently developing informational "leave-behinds" for congressional staffers that outline the business case for farm policies that invest, support and incentivize regenerative and just agriculture.
Corporate Transparency and ESG Disclosure:
The working group met earlier this month and were joined by Jon Hale, Global Head of Sustainability at Morningstar.
Businesses for Conservation and Climate Action (BCCA):
Terrius Harris, BCCA's Indigenous Business Outreach Coordinator, attended the Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance (BNGA) October gathering in Standing Rock.
Business for Democracy:
This month the Business for Democracy working group had special guest Dan Weiner, Director of Elections and Governance at the Brennan Center for Justice. Mr. Weiner discussed the importance of Congress passing the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The ASBN Business for Democracy state collaboratives are advocating for passage of these Acts to secure our democracy as well as the bipartisan bills in the House and Senate to reform the Electoral Count Act.
Childhood Cancer Prevention Initiative:
CCPI was happy to support and participate in a lobby day advocating for further co-sponsorship and overall support of the Protect America's Children from Toxic Pesticides Act (PACTPA) hosted by Friends of the Earth. To learn more about ASBN's continued work on PACTPA please read and sign-on to the Investor Letter in Support of PACTPA, found here.
Investors Circle:
Entrepreneurs and Partners in the News
Congratulations on being 2022 Recipients of the Heinz Awards
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Many IC members have invested in Oweesta | For over 20 years, Oweesta has provided the tools, training, and capital to help Native people control their economic destinies. Congratulations Crystel Cornelius
Solstice - Solstice is becoming a part of MyPower, an affiliate of Mitsui.
“This partnership revolutionizes our capacity to bring solar power to underserved communities and expand into new states across the country.” Steph Spiers
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Solstice currently has spots available on solar farms in NY, IL & MA.
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sign up at no cost for these solar savings (up to 10% on your electric bill each month)
Goalsetter | Entrepreneur's 100 Women of Influence
Tanya Van Court, Founder; was named as one of Entrepreneur's 100 Women of Influence. Goalsetter, aims to close the wealth gap by teaching kids and families about financial literacy, and builds off her work as a former senior vice president at Nickelodeon.
BlocPower: City and County of Denver Partners, BlocPower and Energy Outreach Colorado, Collaborate to Implement a New Healthy Homes Program
Investors Circle
November 10th | In Partnership with FOOD FUNDED | 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM PST
Investors Circle is pleased to announce that we will be co-hosting the upcoming FOOD FUNDED event.
At this virtual gathering, food entrepreneurs and investors will convene for educational sessions and live investor presentations to catalyze investments in our food & ag system.This exciting partnership with FOOD FUNDED leverages our combined interests in JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) the food, ag, and impact investing space.
Discounted tickets. Contact Jillian for a complimentary ticket for all ASBN members.
Investor Education
Invest for Better
Racial Wealth Gap: Past, Present & Potential for Change
The nonprofit Invest for Better is partnering with Impact Collective for a new 3-month course. This course addresses the role our money can play in addressing systemic racism. Monthly live meetings (second Tuesday of each month, November 8, 2022 | December 13, 2022 | January 10, 2023) 12:00PM-2:00PM ET | 9:00AM-11:00AM PT. Meetings will feature different guest speakers and have multiple opportunities for intimate connections and conversations.
Investor for Better will also be offering four more Deep Dive courses this Fall. These courses will take place over a 3-month period and offer opportunities to learn together with other women.
The courses are run as peer-led Circles and the meeting schedule will be determined later this month by each facilitator based on enrollee availability.
Courses are free with Invest for Better membership, and new offerings will be made available several times per year.
You can learn more here or by emailing IFB's Program Manager, Jasmine Tanguay at
[email protected].
Mark Your Calendars
Rocky Mountain Gathering- December 6, 5:30-8:00 MST
NY Holiday Gathering - December 14th, 5:30 - 8:00pm ET
For more information contact Jillian at [email protected] or Babbie at [email protected]
If you are in New York we’d love to see you. Details to follow.
Dismantling Racism & Inequality Faith-Based Community Investing
Please visit our newly launched working group webpage
To raise awareness and drive value-aligned investment opportunities, we will host a series of conversations to allow investors to learn about the possibilities of faith-based investing and how to use these investments as a tool to dismantle racism and oppression.
Under the theme of Beloved Community, the “Introduction to Faith-Based Community Investing” series will feature dynamic speakers, clergy, and congregations who will give insight into the faith-based community investing movement, along with case studies from different faith communities. In addition, we will provide an overview of existing opportunities and how to take advantage of them based on the unique perspectives and values of the attendees.
Upcoming Events
November 10 | 7:30 – 9:00pm ET
Dismantling Racism & Inequality | Faith Based Community Investing – Part II
Registration Link
November 14 | 1:00 – 2:00pm ET | Informal Follow On Conversation with Faith-Based Institutions
Registration Link
In Case You Missed It - Webinars
Dismantling Racism and Oppression | Faith Based Investing - Part 1 - October 6
Recording
Panelists:
Dismantling Racism & Inequality | Community Investing for Institutions and Individuals | October 14th (stories of individuals who have invested in CDFIs) Recording
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Moderator: Pam Porter
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Panelists: Babbie Jacobs, Dorothy Adams, Tom Abood
For more information on upcoming convenings or to join us in shaping future Dismantling Racism & Inequality community and faith-based investing conversations, please contact Pam Porter, Tom Abood, Babbie Jacobs, or Derek Peebles.
Restorative Investing Task Force
In Case You Missed It: Here is the recording.
Beyond Impact Investing & ESG | Friday, October 7
Panelists:
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Lynne Hoey, Chief Investment Officer @ Kataly Fund
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Laina Greene, Founder and CEO @ Angels of Impact
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Malia Lazu, CEO & Founder @ The Lazu Group (The Urban Labs)
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Laurika Harris-Kaye, Change maker, systems enthusiast, and seeker
The truth is the financial system and institutions are not broken, they are designed to oppress and create inequity. 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.
Transforming Business Ownership Project (Please visit our Webpage for Policy Updates)
Exploring Employee Ownership: Why Business Owners Choose it and what it Could Offer Your Company | Friday, October 21st | Recording
Whether you want to stay or go, employee ownership could strengthen your business and help preserve your legacy.
In honor of Employee Ownership month, the ASBN “Transforming Business Ownership” working group is pleased to present this special panel.
Speakers will include leaders of employee-owned businesses who can share different perspectives on the value of employee ownership and how it contributes to their company’s success, whether through employee engagement and retention, succession planning and ownership transitions, or just another way to express the company’s commitment to sustainability. Panelists will address different scenarios through which businesses can transition to employee ownership:
The original owner retires and wants to ensure business continuity and success into the future
The original owner wants to sell the business but continue on in a leadership role.
Panelists:
Kevin Koch | Technicians For Sustainability | Co-Founder
Rachel Battles | Happy Earth Cleaning Co-op | General Manager
Tommy Smith | Kaiser Permanente | Impact Spending | Manager-Economic Impact
Joined by Employee Ownership experts:
Thank you for theEmployee Ownership Experts who joined us for the October 28th in depth conversations:
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Corey Rosen | NCEO - Using an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) for business transition
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Ellen Vera | Co-op Cincy - Learn about what things to consider as well as the practical steps for selling your company to your employees
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Hilary Abell | Project Equity - Employee ownership as a strategy for quality jobs, business continuity / succession, and reducing inequality. Learn about Project Equity’s EO transition services, and our work on public policy (including co-founding Worker-Owned Recovery California and passing the California Employee Ownership Act in 2022).
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Jack Moriarity | Ownership America
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Karen Kahn | The Democracy Collaborative - Do you have general questions about what’s happening in the employee ownership field? What are the models? Recent trends? Innovations? Impact? Join journalist Karen Kahn, who has been covering the employee ownership field for the last four years at Employee Ownership News
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Matt Kruetz | Firebrand Artisan Breads - How to use a Perpetual Purpose Trust to lock in mission and democratize governorship.
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Ra Criscitiello | SEIU-UHW West - How labor unions and worker cooperatives can work together to expand employee ownership, with a focus on unionized staffing cooperatives in the healthcare sector.
Employee Ownership News/Events:
Resources:
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Delta Pipeline Inc - In 2017, they proudly instituted an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and became 100% employee-owned. They currently employ 68 team members. Delta Pipeline is a company with many success stories, including entry-level Pipelayer Helpers joining the team with no experience becoming fully-skilled Pipelayers, Foremen, Superintendents, and even Project Engineers.
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Denver’s Center for Community Wealth Building Accelerates Growth of Worker Cooperatives
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Kaiser Permanente, along with city and state, fund new co-op development | by Karen Kahn | Employees Ownership News
Employee Ownership:
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the California Employee Ownership Act (Senate Bill 1407, Becker) not law on September 29th, making California the second state to have an employee ownership "hub" within a state agency, and the first to create it through legislation. Read the press release celebrating the new law here.
The bill's sponsors, Worker-Owned Recovery California, Project Equity, and Ownership America, are engaging with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to help inform the law's implementation and to advocate for funding for outreach and technical assistance programs.
Calls to Action:
- California residents: please call your state senator's and assembly member's district office to thank them for supporting SB1407. The bill passed unanimously and we want to let everyone who voted for it know we appreciate their support of employee ownership.
- Advocates in other states: if you are interested in learning more about employee ownership policy efforts in California, and how you might take action in your state, contact Hilary Abell at Project Equity ([email protected]).
The success of SB1407 is one example of growing momentum toward employee ownership in public policy. Another example, at the federal level, is the inclusion of employee ownership in the CHIPS and Science Act that President Biden signed into law in August. As the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives explains in
their summary, several provisions of this new law help tech and manufacturing businesses to learn about and pursue employee ownership models.
Contact
Babbie Jacobs,
Eric Leenson, or
Derek Peebles with any questions or suggestions you may have. This work is a community effort.
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.
Livable Planet:
Thank you to those who could join us Tuesday for our monthly Livable Planet Working Group meeting. Here is the recording (Passcode: ZQ97?2Vj).
In the meeting, we heard a fruitful set of updates from members, grounded in our shared agreements and vision (attached), discussed ASBN engagement and the upcoming conference, and reflected on climate week NYC and the systemic constellation work we've been engaged with through Collective Transitions brought forth to the LPWG by Nancy Zamierowski, Luea Ritter, and Logan Yonavjak.
The Livable Planet Working Group's next official meeting will be on Tuesday, November 15th from 1-2:30pm ET. If you haven't, please register here. A poll for preferred days and times to meet in 2023 is forthcoming from ASBN.
