Regenerative grazing is on the rise. But for value to be carried through the supply chain, the whole animal must be utilized — from hides to bones to the organs within.
Join one of ASBN’s newest members, CoAqua for the upcoming ASBN Live webinar, Growing the Circular Economy: CoAquas Journey to Support Farmworkers and Low-waste Sustainable Sourcing.
In this webinar, CoAqua will share how they practice low-waste and sustainable principles contributing toward a circular economy while uplifting the stories behind the farmers they support in Vietnam. They will share their ideas on navigating commonplace beverage industry green-washing practices and how they have made a commitment to harvesting coconuts in ways that honor the land and the farmers they support.
An entrepreneur who began his career at Merrill Lynch before joining Raymond James and specializes in business strategy, raising capital, wealth strategy, investment management, and business-exit strategies.
Previously, the COO of the Bruckel Organization with expertise in the development of long-term business strategies, value-creation for startup companies, and building brands. In 2022, Justin and Anthony launched CoAqua nationwide and have since grown CoAqua into one of the fastest-growing beverage companies in America. CoAqua is a coconut water brand that is sold in major retailers such as Sprouts, Wegmans, and ShopRite.
CoAqua is a mission-driven company specializing in super-premium coconut products, notably their flagship CoAqua Super Premium Coconut Water. Sourced from the verdant landscapes of Southern Vietnam, their coconut water has experienced tremendous growth due to its exceptional quality. At the core of CoAqua’s ethos is a commitment to sustainable farming and ethical sourcing practices, ensuring their operations support local farmers. Their dedication extends beyond their product line, as CoAqua is deeply invested in making a positive impact within their communities at home. CoAqua proudly allocates 2% of its revenue to the Bikes for Kids Foundation, a significant initiative aimed at mitigating generational poverty. This is achieved through a character-building bike rewards program for Title 1 third graders, which has led to remarkable outcomes: children who participate in the program and receive bikes are graduating high school at a rate over 1500% higher compared to their peers who did not receive bikes. As enthusiastic new members of the American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN), they look forward to meeting other businesses who share their values to use their skills and opportunities for the betterment of society.
Join the conversation with the American Sustainable Business Network and Forum for the Futureas we explore pivotal issues surrounding farm worker rights and the role businesses can play in driving meaningful change through advocacy and regenerative practices in their supply chains. This engaging roundtable discussion will feature insights from leading policy advocates, a third-party certifier, and a brand exemplifying their commitment to ethical principles within their supply chains.
Following the discussion, participate in two interactive breakout sessions designed to help your brand get tactical about linking justice and regeneration in your supply chain, while also engaging in impactful advocacy efforts pivotal to the ongoing Farm Bill negotiations.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from industry leaders and discover practical strategies for fostering a more equitable and sustainable agricultural system.
Guest speakers include:
The opportunity to be the Director of Farm Operations at Gaia Herbs is the culmination of Kate’s life journey thus far, as her earliest memories are of playing in the dirt in a home garden. Intrigue of living things led her to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences. Kate served as a Peace Corps Volunteer for three years in El Salvador and emerged with a conscience towards the global impact of conventional farming systems, health and nutrition, and cultural sensitivity. Bringing these learnings home, Kate worked as an apprentice on an organic farm and connected the dots from soil health to nutrition, leading her to pursue a Master’s Degree in Nutrition Sciences with a focus on Sustainable Agriculture. At Gaia Herbs, Kate combines all facets, from migrant farmworker health and awareness, organic and regenerative agriculture practices, local community relations, and working with fellow Gaians to provide the freshest, purest, quality herbs for the natural wellness of our bodies and world.
Forward-thinking leader skilled in providing strategic and operational direction, intra- and cross-unit coordination, and oversight for strategic business partnerships. Proven to achieve company business growth, expansion and increase profitability. Collaborative problem solver adept at leveraging financial modeling and making data informed-decisions, with excellent prioritization and project management skills. Highly proficient in identifying business opportunities, root cause of issues and translating complex processes into clear, understandable, and actionable strategies. International expert on life cycle management of operational plans, strategic alliance programs and large portfolio of business and non-profit partners, driving deep meaningful relationships that deliver mutually beneficial growth opportunities. Passion for international markets and willingness to travel.
My experience in a variety of public sectors including education, community development, and health care, along with my skills in program planning, immigrant advocacy, budgeting, and presentation give me a holistic view of the community. I thrive in a team setting but also excel independently, seeking out the correct resources to address community issues.
My work in research throughout Western North Carolina and as a Public Service Leader Fellow at UNC Chapel Hill has helped me gain analytical, community outreach, and collaboration skills. I enjoy working across natural barriers to bring people together.
Join us as we explore the transformative power of integrating social impact initiatives into your business model. Today’s consumers are increasingly drawn to businesses that prioritize social responsibility, community engagement, reducing environmental footprints, and ethical values, all of which help enhance brand reputation and customer loyalty. Learn actionable steps for seamlessly integrating social impact into your business operations that foster sustainable practices and drive business growth no matter if you’re a startup looking to create a brand identity or an established business seeking to revitalize your approach.
Key topics include:
CARNEVALE is an industry-leading advanced software design and development agency trusted by globally recognized brands like Ford, Rockstar Games, and Pfizer. The Tech Collaborative is a Grand Rapids, MI-based 501c3 born out of more than 20 years of CARNEVALE experience providing low and no-cost technology services to nonprofits like The Hip Hop Museum, Van Andel Institute, and High Line NYC.
Lydia Kauffman is a seasoned tech-industry leader known for her expertise in operations and passion for social impact. With a transformative vision, she expanded an agency’s social impact department into a thriving nonprofit organization called the Tech Collaborative which utilizes advanced technologies for positive change. Outside of the office, you’ll continue to find her engaged with the community as a yoga instructor, intuitive counselor, reading at the library, or buying second-hand at local thrift stores. Connect with her on [] LinkedIn.
The American Sustainable Business Network and The Belonging Collaborative cordially invite you to a crucial webinar on May 29, 2024, at 1pm ET. The webinar will focus on preserving equity across the investment industry. The session aims to provide a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in maintaining and enhancing racial equity in investing. It will emphasize the role of community capital and restorative strategies in this endeavor.
Highlights Include:
An examination of the current legal framework impacting racial equity investing, focusing on the need for vigilance and adaptability in response to evolving legal challenges. We invite you to participate in this important discussion, facilitated byDerekPeebles, Senior Director of Inclusive Economy at ASBN. Join us in our collective effort to preserve and advance equity within the investment industry. Speakers to be announced soon.
TheBelonging Collaborative
Belonging Collaborative is the collaboration of six peer networks to develop a shared vision to advance racial equity across the investment industry. The Collaborative includesAmerican Sustainable Business Network (ASBN),Confluence Philanthropy,The ImPact,Impact Capital Managers (ICM),Intentional Endowments Network (IEN),, andToniic. The Collaborative’s mission is to create an activated global network of values-aligned investors who collaborate, inspire action, and elevate the industry best practices for racial equity investing.
Allegra Stennett is co-founder of New Majority Capital, an impact investing firm focused on small business buyouts by underrepresented entrepreneurs. Allegra sits on the firm’s Investment Committee and also oversees external partnerships.
Prior to NMC, Allegra completed an MBA at MIT Sloan School of Management and an EdM in Education Policy & Management at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Following completion of her undergraduate studies, Allegra was a banker at J.P. Morgan in New York for 5 years. She split her time equally across the investment banking and commercial banking divisions. During her tenure, Allegra covered a variety of multi-billion dollar client relationships in the Healthcare, Industrials, Natural Resources, and Nonprofit sectors, launched a second language program to prepare 5,000 tri-state employees for international opportunities, and completed an expat assignment in London.
Allegra is a native New Yorker and currently resides in Boston.
Anandi Somasundaram is an independent social impact project manager, organizer and facilitator, and currently serves as the Program Lead for the Racial Justice Investing Coalition (RJI). RJI offers an introspective space for professionals working in capital markets to reckon with individual and institutional responsibility, pooling knowledge and building relationally with impacted communities to support orienting the frameworks and practices they operate under — both internally within their own organizations, as well as in their engagements with portfolio companies — towards racial equity and racial justice.
Anandi’s project management and facilitation work supports groups and organizations in building values-led, sustainable structures to support their own social impact work. As a community organizer, Anandi works primarily on issues related to economic justice and healing justice. Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Anandi worked in the health/insurance technology sphere, where she honed her program design and management skills. She received her BA in Economics and Community and Global Health from Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN.
Courtney Wicks has served as the Executive Director of IASJ since October 2021. Wicks is an experienced professional with proven management skills and a strong record of accomplishment in the development and implementation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies, policies, and objectives. She assumed her duties on October 18, 2021.
Courtney Wicks has 15 years of experience in the development and implementation of strategies, policies, and practices that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DE&Iâ€). She has a track record of driving transformational change and creates meaningful impact that helps attract, retain, and engage a diverse community while building DE&I leadership capabilities across the organization.
Courtney began her career as a community organizer. She was most effective at building consensus and bridges between community organizations and institutional leadership on public policy initiatives concerning criminal justice reform, economic inclusion, environmental justice, health equity, and school equity and access. Courtney’s ability to work with diverse constituencies and translate community-based issues to government and institutional leaders landed her a Chief of Staff role within the State of New Jersey’s General Assembly.
One of Courtney’s most notable achievements was working with the Ramopough Indians leadership to galvanize support from members of NJ’s Congressional delegation and the Governor’s office for state and federal resources concerning an environmental disaster caused by Ford Motor Company’s illegal dumping on Ramapough lands. Courtney also received the Barack Obama Leadership award from the NAACP in 2014 for her work on criminal justice reform and school equity and access public policy initiatives. Franklin Walker, Superintendent of Jersey City Public Schools, appreciated her assistance in the development of the Athletes’ Academy, a college readiness program for athletes across the Jersey City school district. “Courtney Wicks is an individual who can be presented with a problem, size it up quickly, and develop a solution.â€
Most recently, Wicks held the position of Senior Vice President for Community Development at the Peyser Real Estate Group. At Peyser, she worked across departments to assure that the company’s real estate development projects and investment strategy were aligned with the diverse needs of communities in underinvested areas.
Courtney Wicks earned a B.S. in Business Management at Saint Peter’s University.
Michael H. Shuman is an economist, attorney, author, and entrepreneur, and a leading visionary on community economics. He is an Adjunct Professor at Bard Business School in New York City. He is also a Senior Researcher for Council Fire, where he performs economic-development analyses for states, local governments, and businesses around North America. He is credited with being one of the architects of the 2012 JOBS Act and dozens of state laws overhauling securities regulation of crowdfunding. He has authored, coauthored, or edited ten books. His two most recent books are Put Your Money Where Your Life Is: How to Invest Locally Using Solo 401ks and Self-Directed IRAs and The Local Economy Solution: How Innovative, Self-Financing Pollinator Enterprises Can Grow Jobs and Prosperity. One of his previous books, The Small Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition (Berrett-Koehler, 2006), received as bronze prize from the Independent Publishers Association for best business book of 2006. A prolific speaker, Shuman has given an average of more than one invited talk per week, mostly to local governments and universities, for the past 30 years in nearly every U.S. state and more than a dozen countries.
Derek Peebles is a key figure in community economic development, currently serving as the Senior Director of Inclusive Economy at ASBN. He focuses on sustainable economic growth by fostering collaborations among businesses, residents, and institutions to leverage private, public, and social capital for transformative community opportunities. His efforts include establishing peer networks, advocating for policy changes, promoting place-based finance, and revitalizing local economies. Previously, he led an organization that supported 60 business alliances across 32 states, aiding over 50,000 small business owners, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Derek’s work involves facilitating dialogues among various stakeholders including economic developers, investors, advocacy groups, and community organizations, aiming to align investment strategies with community needs and empower local stakeholders through connected conversations and focused strategies.
Faith-based investors from all over the United States are increasing their investment activities in order to align with their missions and support communities that have been affected by disinvestment, institutional racism, and lack of opportunity. The pioneers of faith-based investing have played a crucial role in capitalizing Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) for decades. Nowadays, many more faith-based organizations and congregations are following their footsteps.
On May 22, 2024 at 1 PM ET, ASBN will host a Zoom discussion for faith-based organizations that will focus on CDFI investment as a part of a faith-driven investment strategy. This discussion will build on our previous conversations about values- and mission-related investing in CDFIs. We have partnered with Pam Porter of Stepping Stone Partners and Liz Rogers of Tern Strategies to update research on this important topic of faith-based investors and CDFIs.
Join us for an interactive conversation covering:
The results of the research will be shared with everyone through the ASBN website and future webinars.
Pam Porter is managing partner of Stepping Stone Partners, a boutique consulting firm that works in close partnership with clients to achieve impact and build strong and trusted relationships. Pam brings extensive experience working with impact investors, asset managers, and community development practitioners nationally. Over the past 15 years, Pam has worked with a client roster that includes: Georgia Health Initiative, Baldwin Brothers Investment Advisors, National Disability Opportunity Coalition, and Appalachian Community Capital. Pam is also a member of Investors’ Circle and co-chair of Community Investing at American Sustainable Business Network. In these roles, she has worked closely with colleagues to create resources for individuals and mission-driven organizations to invest in CDFIs. Prior to running Stepping Stone Partners, Pam was EVP at Opportunity Finance Network for nearly a decade, where she led the national consulting practice providing services to thousands of CDFI practitioners each year and building strong relationships across the industry. Pam started her career at JPMorgan and holds a B.A. from Wellesley College.
Liz Rogers is the CEO of Tern Strategies, a consulting practice at the intersection of strategic communications, investment and policy development. In her prior role as Chief Communications Officer at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), Liz was a key player in financial management and product design, capital raising, and investor relations. At CEI and as Vice President at national healthcare advocacy organization, Oral Health America (OHA), Liz’s leadership helped secure over $160 million in debt, equity, program-related investments, and grant awards. Her issue-driven communications initiatives at CEI and OHA include award-winning, multi-faceted programs and campaigns that were instrumental in attracting capital, building coalitions, and influencing state and federal policy change. Early in her career, Liz owned Rogers Public Relations Co. and was a producer at Chicago Public Radio. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Virginia, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and University of Southern Maine.
Derek Peebles is a key figure in community economic development, currently serving as the Senior Director of Inclusive Economy at ASBN. He focuses on sustainable economic growth by fostering collaborations among businesses, residents, and institutions to leverage private, public, and social capital for transformative community opportunities. His efforts include establishing peer networks, advocating for policy changes, promoting place-based finance, and revitalizing local economies. Previously, he led an organization that supported 60 business alliances across 32 states, aiding over 50,000 small business owners, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Derek’s work involves facilitating dialogues among various stakeholders including economic developers, investors, advocacy groups, and community organizations, aiming to align investment strategies with community needs and empower local stakeholders through connected conversations and focused strategies.
Andrew Behar is CEO of As You Sow, the nation’s leading non-profit practitioner of shareholder advocacy and engagement. With a 30-year track record of success, As You Sow advances values-aligned investing and uses shareholder power to compel companies to reduce material risk on issues including climate change; toxins in the food system; ocean plastics; diversity, equity, and inclusion; racial justice; and wage equity. Previously Andrew was a documentary filmmaker and entrepreneur founding start-ups that developed innovative physiological monitoring devices and grid-scale fuel cells. He is an inventor on five patents and was recently named as one of the Purposeful-50 “true changemakers who deliver on social justice, environmental protection, diversity, inclusion, racial equality, and gender and pay equity.†He is currently on the board of the Responsible Sourcing Network. His book, The Shareholders Action Guide: Unleash Your Hidden Powers to Hold Corporations Accountable, was published by Berrett-Koehler.
Kristin is founder and CIO of Nia Impact Capital, a diverse-led, woman owned asset manager investing in the transition to a more just inclusive and sustainable economy. Kristin is devoted to democratizing access to impact investing, promoting inclusion and diversity in leadership, to re-envisioning capitalism, and to changing the face of finance.
The event is designed with the intention of expanding the thinking, principles, and direct experiential engagement in building a circular community. This is an opportunity to directly engage in moving towards a circular model that is incremental, creative, innovative, provides economic vitality/stability and makes good common sense. This event will offer space for invention, imagination, creative problem solving and exploration, all within the context of building circularity. We can take a fresh look at how we use the existing resources in our community by continuously reusing, repurposing, repairing, and reimagining how they might be used. Activities, information and opportunities in this event will be geared towards all age groups and demographics, with a special emphasis on targeting high school and college students.
Calling all Business, Community, and Economic Development leaders! The Pennsylvanian Sustainable Business Network will be hosting the first Clean Energy Manufacturing Summit on April 16th from 1-5pm at the Energy Innovation Center in Pittsburgh. We want to hear your voice about what opportunities and challenges manufacturers are facing in building the new Clean Energy Economy. We have limited space so make sure to sign up!
Join us for an insightful webinar and discover how you can harness the power of federal resources to advance sustainable materials management practices with your organization. Learn about available tools, funding opportunities, and best practices to optimize resource use, reduce waste, and promote environmental stewardship. Whether you’re a business owner, policymaker, or environmental advocate, this webinar will provide valuable insights and actionable strategies to drive positive change. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from expert Eugenia Manwelyan ofGershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc.and join the movement towards a more sustainable future.
Eugenia Manwelyan has 15 years of experience planning and implementing complex projects ranging from food waste recovery and landfill diversion to circularity and industrial symbiosis. She is a well-versed planning practitioner with expertise in federal funding and environmental justice. Eugenia has played a wide range of multidisciplinary roles as a consultant, public sector planner, non-profit executive director, and visiting professor at Columbia University.
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Register to join Rick Steves, beloved public television host, best-selling guidebook author, and outspoken activist. Rick Steves is known for encouraging Americans to broaden their perspectives through travel. He is the founder and owner of Rick Steves’ Europe, a travel business with a small-group tour program that brings more than 30,000 people to Europe annually. Each year, the company contributes to a portfolio of climate-smart nonprofits, paying a self-imposed carbon tax.
